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I’m going to be an uncle. My brother’s wife (sister-in-law? I can’t decide which phrase sounds less impersonal) announced on Christmas Eve that she’s three months pregnant. Of course, Tamara, my mom, and my little brother’s girlfriend suspected as much already. I’m going to be the uncle that teaches the kid how to swear. Maybe now would be a good time to start hunting and fishing, too.
My little brother and his girlfriend adopted a Chow/Lab puppy, and named him Walker, as in John Walker Lindh, or Walker, Texas Ranger. He’s adorable as Hell. He pisses everywhere.
The front page of chompy.net looks right on IE6 again. I did some googling around, and found the fix for the stupid IE bug that was causing all sorts of wonky things to happen. The fix makes no sense, if you ask me, but it works.
Tam and I learned how to play Go! When you are about to capture your opponent’s stones, you are encouraged to politely say “Atari!” because Go is a courteous and respectful game.
We saw Catch Me if You Can, and I liked it. I’m not a big fan of Steven Spielberg or Tom Hanks, so that was a nice surprise. The opening credits are animated!
I’ve always been a little confused about my family name — on my Mom’s side we have the Nguyens, and on my Dad’s side we have the Allens and the Brunets — but my Dad finally explained it to me. Shortly after arriving in the U.S. during the Great Depression, the Brunets simply changed their family name to Childress to better assimilate (and to avoid anti-French prejudice, apparently). But I wonder, why did they choose the name ‘Childress?’ The answer probably died with my grandfather. At any rate, you people probably think your tired anti-French sentiments are cute, but look what happens: I end up stuck with this awkward, clunky surname, neither lyrical nor mellifluous. If I had my druthers, I’d choose a bold, polysyllabic Russian name, and insist on always being addressed in full: Jacob Jacobovich, for example, or Yegor Yegory Yegornikov, or maybe Akaky Akakievich.
Nathalie should be in town, Rachelle was here yesterday and today, and Karla’s on her way! So many good people.
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When I was home for Christmas I kept my jacket pockets stuffed with chocolates to hand out to my nephew on the sly. I’ve been known to run races, play dinosaur wars, and wrestle. I’m also the uncle who shows up with fireworks and tells people to drink as many cokes as they want. That is to say, I’m the favorite uncle.
It’s a good job, Jacob. I think you should try it out.
Next time I go home I may bring a BB gun. My sister would eventually talk to me again.
posted by seth on December 28, 2002 4:11 PM
it makes me so sad. i know that i probably won’t ever get to be the favorite aunt, because i don’t think my brother will be having any babies. i was lucky to have two favorite aunts, one of my mother’s sisters and my father’s sister. they were both amazingly free-spirited, exuberant ladies and we made many messes together, giggling uproariously all the while. i think i would make a good favorite aunt, but not such a good mother, so it’s a little sad. perhaps i will help corrupt jacob’s little neice or nephew.
posted by tam on December 28, 2002 4:18 PM
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