EGGcelent

This has been the scene at Northwest Asthma and Allergy for the last four years.

Every Fall we drive up north to have poor little M poked and prodded only to determine that, Yes, she is still allergic to eggs.

Last week was especially annoying. The office moved to a new location even more north, and it was raining especially hard. I thought we left with enough time, but it turns out that even Seattlites can't handle more than a constant drizzle. About 30 minutes before our scheduled appointment, when I saw the sign reading that Seattle was still 40 minutes away, I decided to give them a call. The receptionist was quick to want to reschedule my appointment because she didn't think I'd make it there even with the 15 minute grace period they allow. I told her that if I didn't make it, there would be no need for me to reschedule because I wouldn't be coming back, but that until then, I'd be hauling ass up I-5.

We made it with one minute to spare. The usual routine followed except that this time around there was no visible sign of allergy! It made the weaving in and out of traffic worth it.

I can't say that her allergy has been a big burden on us. She could eat baked egg and more recently Caesar dressing and mayonnaise, and if anybody tries to feed her "just and egg" she'll tell them where they can shove it. So, see, all our bases are pretty much covered, but it is nice to have that whole ordeal be a thing of the past.

Not that she'll be indulging in omelets anytime soon. She told me that she won't try an egg until she's 8. I have other plans. The doctor wants us to do a taste test and I'm willing to be she won't refuse French toast!

Spring Forward; Fall Back

Each spring and fall, when it's time to change the clocks, I always think of my Nino (my godfather). He is the one that taught me the saying that is my title: Spring Forward; Fall Back.

I don't remember when it was, though I was probably in my teens, but I do remember thinking it was genius. I may have even thought that he made it up, because if anybody could have made it up, it was him. He was genius. He was an amazing, though somewhat odd, man.

I can go on and on about him. But not today. One day I will be ready. Today it just hurts too much. I guess one could say that I think about him frequently. It's usually just a fleeting thought as I go about my day. Today there's been reminders of him all day long. We have a lot of clocks. On my way home from running errands; however, it dawned on my that the anniversary of his death was coming up. NO, was my next thought, it had already come and gone. In October!

How could the day have passed me by without so much as a thought of him? This is a man who was such a big part of my childhood and my life in general. This is a man who up until the end held onto mine and my brother's pictures in spite of the fact that he hadn't seen us in at least sixteen years. This is a man who still had some of my Barbies and maybe even a few of my brother's Matchbox cars; things that we left behind at the house in LA but that he couldn't bear do the same with when he packed up and moved to Mexico because they were the only tangible memories of the son and daughter he never had.  

I idolized this man, I loved and respected him. As with most relationships, it wasn't perfect. In my early-20's he let me down, and I'm pretty sure I returned the favor twofold. But I never stopped loving him. I used to think that one day I'd meet up with him in Mexico and tag along on one of his adventures. Unfortunately that day never came. Time passed us by. And then one day the phone call came. 

Juan Edmundo Tobias

My Nino.

I miss you. I love you. I'm sorry.

The Gotham City Posse

Halloween was pretty low-key this year. Our neighborhood didn't do anything in the way of getting together like we did the last couple of years, which I'm hoping is because Halloween was on a Wednesday.

Really???? I think we should start a petition that designates the last Saturday of October, Halloween.

I mean, if we can celebrate presidents' birthdays on random days, Halloween should be a breeze.

I'll keep you posted on how that works out for me.

Anyway, about a month ago while at Wal-Mart, M spotted a Bat Girl costume and had to have it.

It was adorable, so I splurged the 20 bucks and got it.

 J had mentioned he wanted to be a ninja, and I was resigned to the fact that theme costumes for the kids would no longer be. However, once he realized she was going to be a superhero, he changed his mind and decided he'd go as Batman.
I was thrilled because he already has the costume that was a hand-me-down from Baby Joe. 

But, he changed his mind.
Daddy would be Batman and he would be Robin.

In keeping with the theme, I would go as Catwoman.

Never mind that we didn't go anywhere. We all dressed up.

They walked the neighborhood and I passed out candy.

And here we are:

THE GOTHAM CITY POSSE

Aren't we cool?

Robin thinks so!

And one more of the superheroes together.