BrockLi Soup

Ten days ago, I hadn’t even heard of James Kim. He first came across my radar a day or two after he and his family went missing, when a few bloggers posted to ask if anyone had seen or heard from him. Since then, the family has come across my news reader more and more, culminating with the rescue of his wife and children on Monday.

For a few days, it was hard for me to understand how this family could have disappeared. I’m used to being in the middle of any major winter storms, and I didn’t even realize that the rest of the country was getting socked with snow until after it had happened.

I just read that James’ body was found earlier today, and despite the fact that I didn’t even know his name last week, I can’t help but feel for him and his family. His was the kind of experience every father prays they won’t have to face, and just thinking about it makes me wonder how I’d fare in his position. I can’t imagine what that family went through this past week, or what they’re going through now. I can’t offer prayers, but my thoughts are with them.

The best ideas come while I’m in the shower or walking between home and work. My shower whiteboard idea was borne out of this (but I never did order one), and on days like today, I’ll stop at a bus stop bench to scribble things down before I forget (sure do love that Moleskine).

It would seem that taking more walks or spending more time in the shower might spur some creativity, but that’s not how it works. If I’m actually TRYING to think of something, it doesn’t happen; I have to let my mind wander, because most times I’ll have a great idea about something unrelated to what I AM thinking about.

The obvious solution is to wander around town in a drunken stupor, because then I can’t actively think about anything. I’ll let you know how it goes.

This past week marked the 25th birthday of the illustrious Mr. Lee, so he decided to have a weekend-long shindig down at his place near Raleigh. I almost didn’t make it - he called me Wednesday night about it, leaving me little time to make plans (bastard), but Schmitty, Aubri, Kidder and I drove down after work Friday. We met Rhubarb and Becky - and of course, Dan and Darrin - there, and had the bitchenest weekend I’ve had in…well, in two weeks (to be fair, the Meteor Shower Party was just last month, so it’s been a pretty good season already).

We didn’t get there until after 11, but we made up for it by drinking until about 5:30 in the morning. I had forgotten how incredibly ridiculous those guys can be, and I’m not sure I’ve ever laughed that much in one night. Saturday brought Raleigh-style garbage plates (so-so), some lounge-around recovery time, and then more people and beer pong around 6 in the evening.

I had been looking forward to a quiet, relaxing weekend, and almost didn’t go. I’d had a rough week at work (particularly Friday) and two eventful weekends before, so I was pretty run-down and pissy by the time we left Friday. I couldn’t have been more relaxed this morning, though - a weekend with those guys was just what I needed. Dan and Darrin are incredibly gracious hosts, and for some reason I kind of love their house (and sort of want to move there). We had an absolute blast, and no amount of relaxing at home would have been as refreshing. I don’t get that many opportunities for spur-of-the-moment weekend road trips anymore, but I’m convinced that they need to happen more often.