Going from day to day over the last, I’ve always felt that Las Vegas has lacked something, some indefinable feeling that something is just wrong about the city. It took me until last night, when we were driving past a food stand on our way to the hospital (more below) to precisely pin down what it was: The city is too planned, and this fact takes away the feeling of belonging that comes with many other places I’ve been, both big and small. The city is a straight grid dropped down over the desert; north to south and east to west. There’s a retail park here, a housing development there, public amenities over here and here. I’m not going to admit to a belief in feng shui, but I will admit that Las Vegas feels a little like Minas Morgul at times, that it’s a place which really shouldn’t be.

Back to the hospital: Mariah has had a bad ear infection for the last four days, but took until last night before she would finally go to the hospital and get it looked at. Their resident ear and throat specialist referred to it as ”all funky” and sent her home with a prescription for ear and pain medication at a cost (so far) of almost two hundred dollars. What’s wrong with America that they can’t have universal health care like oh, everywhere else? It was sickening that the first and last things we were asked were, “Have you insurance?” “How would you like to pay?” Why wasn’t it, “Where does it hurt?” It pissed me off no end that this country can be so backward at times because I come from a country where the most pressing medical question isn’t how the patient will pay!

She’s home on the couch, sick, now.

I took a few photos of Caira yesterday, to prove that can still do it. I’m not going to say what I think of where my photographic skills stand, but I will say that I find that I’m still in love with the fifty. I have this horribly afflicted love for bokeh and the lens is still perfect, if cheap, for it.

Last, but not least, I’m an uncle, as of Thursday night Friday morning. Ella Mary Grealish was born at 0200 on May 16 2008, underweight but otherwise healthy. Nice one Jen.

Whiny, clingy, green poop, sleepy. All the symptoms are there. :[

I can sit down and bash out a few pages for my story (I will get the latest manuscript out to you, I promise!) without a moment of hesitation, but I draw a blank whenever it comes to talking about me. The trouble therein is that one of the central characters of my story is based (very loosely) around me, as who’s head is supposed to easier to get into than your own?

Right, my arse it is.

I have all the scars and issues that comes with both an occasionally bad childhood, and previous emotionally fraught relationships. Should I use the character to attack those people I don’t like?

In my defence, we’re all sick with the flu. It hasn’t been conductive to bright thoughts, as we’re tired and cranky, and very much wanting to be well again. Mariah took Tuesday off work sick, I was sent home from work, and Caira had to go to the doctor yesterday evening. I pity the baby as she’s in a bad way, and doing anything right now hurts her. She’s not sleeping well, and spent last night trying to give Mariah a sound trashing as she kept crawling onto her face.

Bleh. :[

Christmas has come a little early for all of us. Caira’s grandparents came up from California at the start of the week and pretty much spoiled Caira rotten for the entire time that they were here. Some magnificent gifts were given, and the brat came away very happy.

Mariah bought me an electric scooter that promptly died on the first day I used it to go to work, stranding me at Las Vegas Boulevard. I was two hours late for work and had to spend another three that night pushing it home. We think we know what the problem with the scooter is, and how we might go about fixing it, but we need to find the time to go and buy replacement parts.

Nope. No siree. I’m definately on the mend, but it’s been five days of a sore neck, aching chest, headaches, nausea, sniffles, coughing. Mariah and Caira haven’t been in much better. Mariah caught the bug first and worst of us all, and Caira’s been off her food for the most part.

Double plus ungood.

Photos!

We went to Angel Park the week before last - sodas were quaffed, food was eaten, and fun was had by all. Best of all, the sunset was incredibly spectacular. There’s nothing in my life that’s matched watching a storm closing in from three sides, preceeded by a wall of dust several miles high. Amazing stuff.

At some point I need to put more photos up, I had some really pretty ones taken.

Next off, thank you to everyone who have sent us congratulatory cards. Mariah’s…a little unsure over being called “Mrs Mark Grealish,” but I know you all meant the best. Thank’ee all.