Scratch

Ferris is playing this game:
1. She picks up the soggy remains of her rawhide bone, and drops it on the ground.
2. She backs up, tail wagging, and stares at it.
3. She growls at it, then lunges forward, picking it up as she runs around the living room.
4. She brings it to me, and drops it in my lap.
5. I say, “that’s really interesting, Ferris,” and drop it on the floor, where she picks it up, and takes it back to the middle of the room.
Then she goes and does the whole thing again.
See, Anne went up to Oregon this weekend, and the kids are with their dad, so it’s just me and Ferris hanging out. This is how we entertain ourselves in the absence of any real responsible people around.
It’s actually a good weekend for me to take a break, because I’ve been writing and re-writing pretty much non-stop since last Friday –dramatic pause– and I finished my first draft of my book on Thursday. It went off to my editor yesterday morning, and I’m anticipating doing some rewrites next week.
I’m really excited about it, and I hope to have a limited first printing ready in time for Xmas. I’ll post details when I get it all worked out.
The weekend so far:
I went with some friends to see Die Another Day last night at the Arclight. I’m not an action movie guy at all, but I love James Bond, and this is easily the best Bond picture I’ve seen in maybe five years, aside from some inexcusably terrible miniature and FX work, the script is fun, paying tribute to some of the my favorite Bond pictures.
This morning, I went on a hike with my brother and my friend Mykal. We were hoping to find the Dawn Mine Geocache, but we couldn’t even get on the right trail to the damn mine before we ran out of time and had to get back to the car. We went up to a beautiful waterfall, though.
Oh, and last week, when I took the kids to find the Geocache at Rubio? Yeah. I walked RIGHT. FUCKING. THROUGH. Poison oak. It is all over my right forearm, my left bicep, my forehead, on my left knee, my neck, and my right ankle. I think I qualify for some sort of “complete dumbass” award for not seeing it.
Lame.
The really cool thing, though, is that I sort of look like one of those guys in “Scanners” right before they blow up. And kind of like pictures of the moon. And also sort of like an alligator…but a scary X-files mutant alligator from hell who shoots death beams out of his eyes and creeps out of your bathtub at night to suck your skin off, and sing Copacabana in your living room.
I read somewhere that massive itching can make one go a little batty…but I don’t believe it.

105 thoughts on “Scratch”

  2. hehe, i’m sorry about the poison oak, Wil… be careful next time. 🙂
    that x-files mutant alligator singing copacabana just made me laugh! =D
    haha! you could really picture them doing something like that on the show. =P
    have a good rest of the weekend HMIC, Ferris and everybody! =O)

  4. After non-stop working on various projects etc for the past couple of weeks you definately deserve this break and complete alone time can sometimes give you that time to just breathe that is needed. Enjoy it, cherish it and then be exstatic when your family is back 😀
    Sorry to hear about the poison oak…that has got to suck, I can’t say that I have ever had the displeasure of finding myself in a patch of it but here is some “No more itching” mojo for you! 🙂

  6. Poison Ivy (outside of the second movie, *horny growl*) sucks ass! errm, oak too (but there’s no “Poison Oak 2” the movie, at least not one with T&A… Is there??), but yah.
    Strange. The last time I got poison oak was geocaching as well down here in Sandy Eggo.
    Evil I say… EVIL.

  7. Poison Oak.
    Ick.
    Go with the steroids, Wil. I know Nancy sez “just say no” but now’s your chance to get some good sterones and beat the itch, and perhaps lose the Twig Boy image. At least in your mind.
    You can do those fun Hulk and Terminator impressions without feeling as self-conscious.
    Later.

  8. lol @ ‘Scanners’
    lol @ mutant alligator from hell
    lol @ death beams from eyes.
    lol @ Copacabana
    Wait a dash darned minute…
    …COPACABANA……….eeeeeeeeek! Run for your lives!!!!!

  9. Don’t do steroids. I spend half my life on and off those things. I’m fine while I’m on them, but I turn in to mad B***h from hell when I stop taking them. I just can’t do it.
    Try and cope with out them or come of them if you are alone for a day or two.
    Spike
    11.23 gmt

  10. where in oregon is anne? you two should come visit eugene sometime . . . i know a bunch of kids here who’d love to meet you (me included) . . . and i know you’ve been here before! so come visit!!

  11. The moon is scrumptiously cool when viewed through a telescope. Someone should train a telescope on you and see how cool you look.
    I’m all alone today, too. My roommate is out, heaven knows where, but I suppose I can’t complain about her social habits, as I was out until 4 am this morning…I could run next door for human contact, but I prefer to hole myself up in my room, reading stuff on wilwheaton.net and listening to the Platters…
    Do you actually read all these posts?

  12. WOW,I just watched the Nemesis trailer at IFILM.com am I crazy or what but I think the Nemesis is Picards SON! All that talk abought sharing DNA and stuff.C

  13. Awwwwwwww! Poor baby! Poison oak sucks! If the itching gets really bad, take a hot bath with a couple spoonfulls of baking soda in it. It should help. Feel better soon!

  15. Copacabana is now running through my head.
    Thanks.
    I mean, thanks EVER so.
    The only reason I forgive you is that it once again got rid of that damn Kikkoman song.

  18. Sorry to hear about the posion oak. That really bites. It is nice to have a good free weekend to just take it easy though and I am glad you had a chance to take advantage of it.

  19. Kudos on your first draft, wil. It looks like your on your way to obtaining another one of your wishes!
    I did the facial poison oak thing myself once. In my case, someone was burning the leaves of it and the smoke was blown in my face. Dr. said it was a good thing that I didn’t breathe it or it would have really sucked for me. I thought it was enough of a tragedy that it happened one week before the senior high school pics were to be taken. Had the mutant X-file alligator look down pat just in time for the photo session.
    Right now I am taking care of my son who has a bad case of bronchitis. I figure it will be my turn to have it just in time to have to make the Thanksgiving dinner and have my whole family over to the house.

  22. It’s not too hard to see who you’re missing. Hope she gets home soon.
    Oh yeah, use the “c” lotion and resist the temptation to scratch.
    be blessed.

  23. I’ve been caching for almost 18 months & never leanred what the damn stuff looks like. i recently hid a geocache and the first finder says,”I’m guessing Teamgwho has no idea what poison ivy looks like. I’m also guessing he’s at home covered with the stuff and scratching like hell.” or something to that effect. I had several people email me links to poison ivy related sites (much like has happened here amusingly enough…) I had to go back & move the damn thing. Luckily I didn’t catch on on me.
    William

  24. Leaves of three, let it be.
    Leaves of five, stayin’ alive.
    Seriously, if you do scratch it, make sure you rinse thoroughly afterwards. The fluid from the little boils is what spreads the rash. The last time I had it, I took a needle and drained all the fluid. It didn’t spread and was gone quickly.

  25. Yuck. Sorry to hear about the poison oak fiasco.
    Get better soon. :]
    Can’t wait for the book to come out.
    Oh yeah, and Ferris sounds like he’s such a sweet dog.

  26. Oregon is SO not boring… I love this place.. i moved up here from Southern California (Torrance to be exact) and I wouldn’t move back for the world… Hope Anne has fun and you should come up and visit, Wil! I promise we can take good care of you here 🙂

  27. sorry to hear about the poison oak big guy..
    but glad to hear that you had a pretty relaxing weekend otherwise…
    …and that copacabana joke almost made me shoot gingerale through my nose for laughing so hard..
    anyhow, exciting news about the book!
    can’t wait to hear details on how to buy it…
    cheers wil
    tyson

  29. Hey… I live in Oregon. Hurray for this helpful comment.
    Sorry to hear about the poison oak though… I’d say more, but my phone line is sucking at the moment and I might get disconnected any moment now.

  32. Sorry about the poison oak. I’ve never had a problem with it, but my mother is seriously allergic. I hope you get over it soon!
    Congrats on sending off your first draft!! Can’t wait for a copy of your book.
    Enjoy your time with Ferris! My time alone with my two cats is most interesting, but a lot of fun. Of course, cats are always weird. Their new game is to carry off the snowflake ornaments that I’m making. Its interesting to see a cat walking around with a snowflake hanging out of its mouth.

  33. WORD about the FX in the Bond movie. I turned to my fiance during at one point and said “You know, the action sequences are incredibly cool, but the special effects themselves suck pretty hard”.
    Glad I wasn’t just being an FX snob about it. 🙂

  35. Heh heh…. you better BELIEVE that itching can lead to temporary insanity… Look at me for example. I got some Poison Ivy 2 years ago, haven’t recovered yet. Buy yourself some Calamine and a new hairbrush, and go to town with your bad self.
    Feel Better, Wil.

  36. First, get a goat. Now, get it to eat poison oak.(not tough)Wait 8 hours and drink it’s milk.
    It’s a miracle! or…
    I had poison oak and so did a friend of mine who also had scabies. (Don’t ask) Used the ointment his doc prescribed. Cleared right up.
    P.S. It was too poison oak, and I’m not gay.

  37. Sorry to hear about the poison oak, Wil. That sucks. But, I’m jazzed about your book coming out! Can hardly wait. 🙂
    Tracey

  38. Man, I never realized all the star trek fans hated you.
    Though, I do indescriminately hate most people I only see on tv and thus have no right to judge.
    Oh yeah, You suck! Boo! Go home!
    Take Care,
    me
    P.S. Will you sign my ass?

  40. My husband just got over poison oak…he went traipsing through the woods a few weeks ago. Looked like Zorro branded his forhead…he had a huge slash across it. I had to live with his complaining that his head itched constantly…Sorry you are having it rough. He said aveeno ointment helped with the itch…the base is oatmeal which is supposed to help. Hope you feel better.
    Congrats on the rough draft!

  42. Its true, itching /can/ make someone go batty. Why do you think crazy hospital patients are always scratching themselves?
    Just rub Wil, don’t scratch, cuz you have finger nails. And when you’re in the shower, try and use the hottest temp. of water you can stand. I used to get bitten by mostquitoes all time and I’m semi-allergic, so I swell ALOT.
    Anywho, nice post.

  45. Well I’ve been offline very busy the past
    few days but thought I’d stop in for a moment
    to see what kind of trouble Wil has gotten
    himself into lately. :LOL:
    That poison ivy has got to SUCK! Too bad you
    don’t get points for at least finding the poison
    ivy! :LOL: Maybe better luck next time on the
    geocache.
    It’s times like these that make me so glad that
    I am completely immune to poison ivy :EVIL GRIN:

  46. Well I’ve been offline very busy the past
    few days but thought I’d stop in for a moment
    to see what kind of trouble Wil has gotten
    himself into lately. :LOL:
    That poison ivy has got to SUCK! Too bad you
    don’t get points for at least finding the poison
    ivy! :LOL: Maybe better luck next time on the
    geocache.
    It’s times like these that make me so glad that
    I am completely immune to poison ivy :EVIL GRIN:

  47. Well I’ve been offline very busy the past
    few days but thought I’d stop in for a moment
    to see what kind of trouble Wil has gotten
    himself into lately. :LOL:
    That poison ivy has got to SUCK! Too bad you
    don’t get points for at least finding the poison
    ivy! :LOL: Maybe better luck next time on the
    geocache.
    It’s times like these that make me so glad that
    I am completely immune to poison ivy :EVIL GRIN:

  48. Well I’ve been offline very busy the past
    few days but thought I’d stop in for a moment
    to see what kind of trouble Wil has gotten
    himself into lately. :LOL:
    That poison ivy has got to SUCK! Too bad you
    don’t get points for at least finding the poison
    ivy! :LOL: Maybe better luck next time on the
    geocache.
    It’s times like these that make me so glad that
    I am completely immune to poison ivy :EVIL GRIN:

  49. Well I’ve been offline very busy the past
    few days but thought I’d stop in for a moment
    to see what kind of trouble Wil has gotten
    himself into lately. :LOL:
    That poison ivy has got to SUCK! Too bad you
    don’t get points for at least finding the poison
    ivy! :LOL: Maybe better luck next time on the
    geocache.
    It’s times like these that make me so glad that
    I am completely immune to poison ivy :EVIL GRIN:

  50. Well I’ve been offline very busy the past
    few days but thought I’d stop in for a moment
    to see what kind of trouble Wil has gotten
    himself into lately. :LOL:
    That poison ivy has got to SUCK! Too bad you
    don’t get points for at least finding the poison
    ivy! :LOL: Maybe better luck next time on the
    geocache.
    It’s times like these that make me so glad that
    I am completely immune to poison ivy :EVIL GRIN:

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