Travels with Grumpus

The battle for the liberation of Manila, near the end of the second world war, is an important event in the Mickey and Maya family history. Mickey’s grandfather was the first known allied casualty in that battle (scroll down that article and you’ll see his name), and I will tell that story another time. My grandmother had spent the war with the resistance, then imprisoned for that insolence, and then finally widowed in a bombing raid. She was 25 when the Americans came marching into Manila but had already lived several lifetimes when a brash young American soldier came into her life.
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UPDATED

The Rickey and Mickey show was revived last week. Hard to say what they first thought of each other when they met 6 years ago, but I think it’s safe to say it wasn’t like at first sight. Grumpus is pretty much the anti-Rickey, and vice-versa, and I think there’s plenty in each person to irritate the other one. I don’t think Rickey necessarily agreed with Grumpus’ political conservatism. And suffice it to say that Rickey’s “House of God, God speaking” phone greeting did not endear him to Grumpus. But since the bro and I had been friends with Rickey since childhood, Grumpus knew that Rick was part of the 96th St. apartment. And I guess Rickey realized that Grumpus was there to stay.

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So Mona was married yesterday

And Rickey beat me to the punch but let’s weigh in with our side of the story.

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Well it’s Mona’s big day today. Ate Maya is getting ready in her hotel room for a day of primping, wedding-ing, eating, drinking and crying. Mona has been the exact opposite of Bridezilla in the proceedings thus far which is remarkable in itself, but even more amazing when you consider the fact that we are in New York City, she has been handling everything prior to our arrival completely solo, etc.

Jetlag and general overwork claimed half our table at last night’s rehearsal dinner, but I don’t have any worries for today. We’re starting at 2, and should be well on our way to total inebriation by 5:30. Mass at St Patrick’s, reception at Cendrillon.

Pictures, stories, more details to follow.
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When Jeeves said he was going to make something out of Bertram Wilberforce Wooster he sure wasn’t kidding. Who would’ve thought Bertie would one day become a master diagnostician?

Still single, though. Aunt Agatha would not be pleased.

Maya left for New York this morning so for a few days I will wallow in the mire of pseudo-batchelorhood. It always amazes me how quickly being on my own grows old. After entertaining, and quickly discarding, thoughts of calling in the Russian hookers, and thereafter perfunctorily trolling the Web for porn, it hits me - it is SO quiet without Maya. Whether it’s decrying the injustice of Elliot’s elimination or extolling the virtues of reading the Economist or just plain “yappin’ away” as we like to call it, I realize how Maya’s chatter and voice are such constants in my life. Those quick phone calls during the day just to see how she’s doing or to ask what’s for dinner, Maya’s voice fills in the gaps in my day. That and her constant mugging for the non-existent cameras for our imaginary sit-com. Guess I just miss her.

That being said, thank God I don’t have to hear Elliot Yamin’s version of “Moody’s Mood for Love” again!

Peace out.

Into a hundred million tiny little pieces. I’m not doing this again next year. Goodbye, E-biscuit. You were awesome.

His last words?

“I’m just a counter clerk in a pharmacy. I’ve been waiting my whole life for a shot like this.”

Gaaaaah. Why am I crying?

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I just love ’80s music! Even when it’s bad.

For the love of God, sweetie. Not Elliott again!

Who do you love, me or Elliott?

Hey, do you wanna have lunch later? I know that’s a sure way of getting you showered and out of the house today.

And the little scrappy one makes it through to the next round! Yes folks, he came out of the gate charging last night, paced himself well, then pulled away and CHARGED TO THE FINISH IN PERFECT FORM! He’s in this to win, folks! The crowd goes wild! The crowd is ON ITS FEET!!!! To the top, they’re chanting, to the top! WE WANT THE CROWN!

(a moment of silence for Chris)

YEAH BABY!

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Mickey :

On Taylor: He kinda looks like Elvis’ retard brother

On Chris: [nothing]

On Elliott: Congratulations, sweetie.

On Katharine: She’s purty. She’s real purty.

Maya:

Well right now I’d like to give a shoutout to all my peeps. Thanks to Rickey for giving me prime real estate on his blog, for plugging my boy, and for buying that darn phone and voting for him! Thanks to Michelle J for enthusiastically supporting my cause and letting her fingers do my votin’. Yes dear readers, she’s a Yaminion too although she don’t know that there’s a name for us folk.

Most of all though, props to my sister Mona, aka Halimaw, who, when I asked her to waste two hours of her Tuesday night, 17 days before her wedding, not only said YES, but said “Yes AND I will get three other people and seven phones together to vote for your little man, big sister. Because I love yah! Smack.”

Yeah, baby! I said YEAH, BABY!

And that was Maya, signing off from Singapore. Peace out.