don't mess with the big 4-0!

last night shauna's birthday action got moved from the third beach to our place because of the weather at its not being able to decide what it was going to do..so...there we were yesterday getting snacks ready, cleaning the house, primping, putting stuff in its place, etc...and by 5 pm, we were ready to rock.
we had a nice spread of food, some fine wines and such and just enough folks came over that there were still places to sit and not feel too crowded, and the food held-up until 1 a.m. when allison and heather finally packed it in...good times...
this morning i shook shauna out of her slumber and got her to drive me to do a few lawns....actually, we had planned it the day before and it worked out pretty well. i still have a couple more to do this afternoon but i'm giving shauna the rest of the day off and miss. marcy is gonna help me cut a couple more lawns.
ok...i have shit to do....

more later.

g. xo

mark and emilie make the gang sign 40 birthday greeting...



the garbs got himself a new shirt yesterday..actually two...

happy birthday shauna!

it's a milestone year for ms. shauna...that's the truth. 40...and i don't think she minds me telling ya so. she seems kind excited by it really. so happy birthday shauna....i hope it doesn't rain today, and if it does, it doesn't matter, we'll head indoors and celebrate inside...

i love you.

g. xo

say cheese

this came through the old e/mail mailslot a few minutes ago...

The VANCOUVER AUTO SHOW is a group exhibition based on the theme of the automobile. New works by Roy Arden, Alison Yip, Evan Lee, Chris Gergley, Adam Harrison, and Derek Root as well as vintage photographs by Thomas Barrows and Danny Lyon among others will be on exhibit. In conjunction with our exhibit, the MONTE CLARK GALLERY is pleased to present its annual PARKING LOT PARTY featuring work by Byron Dauncey, taking place Saturday August 2^nd at 8pm.

this is great....

...juvenile but great...

check it out.

g. xo

she was a coffee girl, we went for a ride in my plymouth to get a pepsi....

the long and short of it is...i'm still sore. maybe i'm a little better but then again, maybe not. i've had a couple acupuncture sessions - mystic bullshit so far - and some 'cupping'...more jingus from the far east i suspect...a back that looks like a hundred hickies all for one low low price. i've had two sessions at yaletown sport and spinal. i'm a little more convinced by that action. actual hands on action as opposed to someone sticking some needles in me, leaving me alone with my thoughts for twenty minutes while she eats a snack and then she takes the needles out and that'll be 75 bux please. i'm being flip...she's awesome and it's all very interesting but, i feel the same...or maybe a little worse after two sessions of being the pin cushion.
on tomorrow's agenda is a CAT scan, or CT scan. high tech medical xray imaging thingus at st. paul's where issy did her nurses training...pretty exciting. and i'm hoping it helps in some way...
the other night, saturday, shauna, devon and i headed over to deepest burnaby to al's place for a little summer party action. colleen, al's wife had some tasty snacks for us and in the back yard was al's kids trampoline...which devon and shauna discovered - as did al's pal jim discovered as well. and, at one point decided that he should be on the trampoline at the same time as devon...jim's in the 300lb club so...well, maybe you get the picture. devon got more than the picture....katherine and corie showed-up and katherine immediately took to the trampoline, corie took to the beer.and then he and shauna traded jabs...shauna's been doing some kickboxing at the gym.
we left al's and headed to a restaurant/bar place on main street where a couple of shauna's pals were - one was playing in a band and the other was just there hanging out....the band that was there was headed-up by a guy who was a little daniel johnson-like in his delivery. or like smog. or...songs of the everyday. "i woke up this morning/i had a piece of toast/it had butter/ she called and then i left" or "coffee shop girl/you're the one for me/let's take a ride/see what we see" like that. there's room for that for a few songs, and then....
ok..
today mishi and i took turns helping each other out. she needed to go to north van. and i needed a ride to a couple lawns..so, away we went. off to capilano rock and gem first - home of all things stone and gem like and other jewelry related items...it's right across from a lawn place i like so....and then we went and chopped a couple lawns - mishi watched...can't blame her really. then off to liberty for some snacks...mishi grew-up on liberty bakery except it was called elsie's when it was in kits..long story. thanks mishi for the help. and the snack.
ok...that's that.
i forget anything else that may have happened....

below are some pics from the last few days....enjoy.

g. xo

this guy....

corie and shauna fight it out...



als' loves the edging job is gave his lawn.

al's big sushi.

she's a coffee girl.

mishi rocks out.

more jingus, less jangus

photo by the garbs

issy sent me a note yesterday and in it she used the word jingus...i love it. just one day after giving her the rundown on the usage of the word - if it is a word at all. it is to me.
not much to report really...
i went for some acupuncture yesterday and, although i didn't know about this, some cupping as well. that was a treat. i have to say i don't feel much different today but i'm hoping tomorrow may and will be different....i have an appointment for more pins and cupping so maybe, just maybe, it'll actually do something this time.
the garbs and i cut a little grass today. a lot of our/my lawns need some love in the way of rain so some didn't need a cut at all...so come on rain. just a little, don't freak out.
so tonight at the house was pretty exciting...a little traction, some neck exercises, some omelete action, more neck exercises, letterman and csi...man, i rock. but really, i kinda like it that way.
ok...sleep soon. i'm gonna get up early and do something. not sure what, but something.

g. xo

rock show, rock on, show sale....

i was the bus master today taking no less than seven buses. and i have to say, and i have said this before, i don't hate the bus, i hate the bus when you have to transfer. and the fact that you never actually get where you're going - close maybe, but not really there. anyhow...i gave it a go today, as i have been for the last 48 days or so.
i had to go over to fraser street to look at a lawn that may become part of the trap line for lawn order. after i had a look-see i made my way over to see the kids at voltage and see what's what. on my way over, walking down 28th i saw a table near a fence with rocks in a bowl or dish. and as i got closer i saw that they were for sale. and why not? and if i wanted to buy one i was to put the money through the fence. i don't need a rock but maybe you do, and if ya do, 28th ave is for you between main and fraser. go girl.



i then, after a couple more buses, hoped the south delta 601 and went and saw issy. i thought it would be fun to have lunch with her - it was - and pick-up the sunglasses she had picked-up for me in point bob.
one of the pairs of glasses is so bad - the color of the frames (the brand is primo...) - that i may have to sell them back on ebay. they're brand new and i'm sure someone will/would love them...

issy was wowed by the new iphone (oh, i just got one..), especially with the photos on it and the fact i could take her picture with it and then make it big and small and back again...issy also asked me to explain the meaning of 'jingus', and now that i have i think she's gonna use it...go issy!
i then hustled back into town to try and get to 2nd city signs to pick-up a piece of cut vinyl i was having made for the topanga but when i got there they were having troubles with their cutter and it reading my file so...i went away empty handed but it wasn't a fruitless task as marcy had called and had decided to come and get me....so marcy gave me a ride home, dropped some gossip on me and we had a nice visit...
and so it was, my day. tomorrow is acupuncture at glow in yaletown - i know k-win....it was like a sign for above. i'm still gonna to your gal on burrard as well....i'm trying everyone...

good times...

g. xo

file under: what the fuck?

this is the injector knife.
really....what the fuck?


good lord.

g. xo

we went to vera's and met vera...

...not that vera.
so there we were, last night, having dinner at vera's after dropping off stella when i noticed a woman getting, or trying to get, directions from a guy next to us...she was clearly lost and the guy, bless his heart, was a little confused and really, just wanted to get his burger and go...which he did...so i stepped in and after writing down the directions to the airport (which wasn't really where she wanted to go really...) it became even more clear that if i (and really if 'we' since shauna was now being implicated in this) really wanted to help we'd take her there ourselves...sort of. so we told her, as her husband, patrick, sat outside in their rent-a-motorhome, that after we ate our burgers, we'd show them how to get there....'there' was actually the IKEA in richmond.
so with burgers done we hopped in the elephant and made our way to the IKEA with them, vera and patrick, in close and hot pursuit.
turns out vera and patrick are celebrating their 4oth wedding anniversary by coming to canada from ireland and renting a motorhome and seeing what's what. they flew to toronto, then to calgary - where they picked-up the crusing vessel and then it was off to lake louise, banf, and finally hope where they left from today at 5 p.m....and then things went south...or actually, north. somehow while trying to get to richmond, they ended-up heading towards whistler...oops. and then somehow made their way to vera's on cornwall...where they met us....we made things right.
so we dropped 'em off at IKEA and made our way home feelin' pretty good. i still had a sore back and such, but .....
ok...enough of that...i'll give the doctor report later....

out,

g. xo

my man patrick murphy

shauna and vera murphy.

wicked jingus this neck thing....

if you called me and i didn't call you back...or something like that - it's not that i didn't want to or mean to...i hear the messages and such and then once the back starts to hurt - which is most of the time, my focus shifts to it and only it and i forget what i just told myself to remember....does that make any sense?....
i'm off today to measure up a new GP that has been recommended to me - a GP that my good pal tobe goes to and he seems to like him so...maybe i will too. as you may or may not know, my last GP, who i went to for many years over in kits, had a heart attack and is now taking it easy, so i have been without a regular doc. for a little while now...when i was at emergency the other morning the resident (i think he was....) suggested this new guy who, besides his practice across the street from st. paul's, also is an attending at st. paul's...so we'll see today if we hit it off and make plans for a second date.
i'm also going to explore some eastern medicine and see about some acupuncture. there's a woman that k-win and lisa go to up on burrard street that i'm gonna drop-in on...i've never had the pins stuck in me but at this point i'll try anything.
also, i'd like to thank everyone who has sent suggestions my way of people to see and things to try...i'm looking into all the options and going from there...

ok...

i've got shit to do that doesn't involve doctors as well - helping to get the new headquarter store in richmond going (unless he's found someone else since i've been a bit flaky because of my pain....), a couple new signs for topanga cafe, getting a new phone because telus has been fucking me for too long and it's time to say adios to them...and maybe even, in time, losing my home phone as well...i hardly ever use it...and somehow getting my new sunglasses from issy - who smuggled them in from point bob for me.....

ok.

talk later.

g. xo

here are a couple random pics form the last while....

my pal jenn was in sweden and saw this yarn/knitting store called 'garn'.

my hod looks good these days. as it always does.

in case you were wondering what the inside of woodward's looks like around now.

mr. backpain to you buddy.

ok...
so the blog has taken a bit of a backseat to my back pain....sure, sure, i cut a few lawns - but not without the help of the garbs and a load of back medicine. and i have been seen walking the streets doing errands and such, sure sure....that was me....riding my bike to raeside equipment to get some stuff for the garbs...sure, it was...then it was me later on the couch flat out wishing there was a god...or in the home traction unit wishing it didn't make my teeth hurt so much....so yes, i'm getting by, but there's a price to pay...
on a lighter note...ok..there is no lighter note right now...
i will celebrate a year with shauna tomorrow...how?..maybe a fatburger or something...maybe i'll do something classy like rent an air balloon and write something nice on it like , "i love you baby...." or maybe, just maybe, i'll just wake-up in the morning and tell her i love her and we'll figure out somewhere to go for dinner...better left to that i think....
i love you baby....can you rub some more A535 on my back? it's killlin' me....

g. xo

i need a new drug....

one that won't make me feel like puking or make me fall off to sleep...and maybe one that actually dulls the pain. this afternoon i went and got my prescription filled for my oxycodone 5 + aminophen. not as impressive as i had hoped. but better than a kick in the nuts.

wicked.

more on this as it develops...

g. xo

lights, action, hockey...hey honey, can you take me to the hospital?

yup...
after cutting the grass at king edward and windsor, thanks to shauna giving me a ride up there, shauna came back and tole me while i was out cutting bc hydro decided to have an explosion and we were without power...nice. we decided to get on our bikes and get a coffee and a snack and whatever... while riding the bike was fun and such, the neck and back really started to act up so i chose to go back to the couch for some relax action.
then, like an idoit, i decided playing hockey would be a great idea. who cares if i can't turn my head, or skate well enough, i wanna play....so off i went. and by the time i got home i was fucked.
seriously fucked.
and at 5:30 am i had had enough of the pain and literally slithered off the bed and ot dressed and tried to make a break for it...the emergency dept. of st. paul's hospital...i had almost made my getaway when shauna woke-up and asked me what i was doing...busted. she was less than impressed that i would leave without asking for a ride or help or both...
so off went to st. paul's together. good times.
and by 6:15 am i had a whole new set of drugs in me and a prescription for some more...
so i see more traction in my future, more drugs and maybe some other such things...pilates, acupuncture maybe...

hey have a great day....

here are some wicked lawn pics....

g. xo

old manitis

i have never had this much pain in my back before. i have been doing the home traction but not often or regularly enough and i had a flare-up friday that's still with me now....worse than ever. i took six back pills with codeine yesterday in a two hour period and nothing. i may as well have been eating smarties.
so far this morning it's two codeine, three advil. we'll see what happens. i have a big lawn to do up on windsor street and a hockey game at 8 pm....i hope i have enough pills.

have a great day....

g. xo

lightning strike

wow...
it's been a couple of days alright.
i don't really know what the fuck. i have been, the last few days, splitting my time between battlestar galactica - now done done done, and supernatural....not done, not even close. some late nights on supernatural. home around 2:30 am on thursday morning and i rolled in around 5:30 am this morning and then was up at 9 am to go knowck off a couple lawns i needed to get done...there were actually four i needed to get at but due to a lack of rain and other concerns, we only mowed two and went and looked at another to give a quote on...

the other morning before work on supernatural ang and i cut three lawns before i had to head off to the land of craft service...i'm trying to keep my cutting confined to a couple of days in a row during the week but this movie/tv stuff is kinda fucking that up...oh well...that's life in the big city.

we're off to cirque circus tonight with issy - shauna and i are...and maybe if i get up the gumption, i may meet shauna up on main street and go to an open house warming thingy....but i'm pretty set in the red chair right now...and i need to eat...something.

more later...

here are a few pics from the last few days....have fun today.

g. xo

let the jumping begin.

keep on keeping score at home...

hi there...

for those of you scoring at home....

rich rock and laurie mercer still owe me money....i know deep in my heart, actually not even that deep, that i'll never see it but, i like passing it along that they're fucking deadbeats....

have a great wed.

i love you.

g. xoxo

that's mr. redneck to you...

...yup, got a little sun today out on the set of supernatural...some kind of kids tv show..ok, teenager show...it's spooky. i figured it was gonna be a nice day but, as usual, forgot to use any sunscreen so, i have a nice super duper red farmer tan...
it was good to get out and work on set with dar and james....good guys. i didn't know any of the other guys, well, not personally, i knew names and reputations....some good reps, some bad...one such guy, ian korver, is a good guy who at the end of the day gave me a ride home...thanks ian.
this morning at 5 am issy and i headed out to set which was out near the boundary bay airport...she's a winner that issy. i made it out to tsawwassen last night around 10 pm after cutting a few lawns with ang and then getting the famous south delta 601 bus near the art gallery...issy and i watched a little tv and then it was time to sleep...i was tuckered out but had a shitty sleep because i couldn't clear my brain out....and really, a grown man sleeping at his mom's so he can get to work on time in the morning....and her having to drive him....wicked. one of life's speedbumps...i'm making it ok...
then after 14 or so hours of work in the fuckin' sun, i got out of the car in fron of my building and realized that if i called a cab and got my shit together pronto, i'd be able t make my 8:45 pm hockey game...the bombers are playing 4 on 4 summer hockey - very much like pond hockey. lots of skating, breakways and we 've enlisted some other players from other teams we usually play against to play with us so it's good fun...and you sweat like a fat kid cutting lawns in august...we won, i think 6-4...i had two breakaways, but no goodness, and, in fact, had a bunch of shots but nothing...

ok...i need to get to bed, i'm working battlestar galactica tomorrow...wicked!

night s.

g. xo

one of the perks of set....little boxes of cereal...i love the loops...

dar...good guy...great dancer...



dar was having some am alergy problems and found stuffing stuff up his nose helped..