Confidential to Bud:
Happy birthday!
Bradley visited in March, and we went to an oral nap argument at the Supreme Court. It has been decided that our argument day was the most boring of OT 2012. Later in his visit, we went back to the Court for a full tour, including the Supreme Court gym. The basketball court is jokingly referred to as “the Highest Court in the Land”. Here is a video of Bradley shooting a hoop:
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The basketball court is right on top of the courtroom. There are rules and signs warning anyone using the gym to first check to make sure nothing is happening downstairs that dribbling balls can interrupt. But on the Friday night we were there, a night time courtroom event did not occur to Josh until we started dribbling balls. That’s why the two of them rush to catch the ball after the basket.
But it might have made a better video if Justice Scalia came bounding up the stairs asking who was making all that racket.
Two weeks ago, Bradley came to visit for the first time since I’ve moved to D.C. And next weekend Mum is visiting for the first time. This makes Dad the last to visit.
I think he’s holding out for my wedding.
The timing of this visit meant that Bud was the first McMahon family member to see Sparkly, the Engagement Ring in person. This was just par for the course in our sibling relationship. Not only did we share a bathroom growing up, but he also helped me pick out my prom dress at Dillards.
He said he would NOT visit any wedding stores. But we did pop into my church and visit two potential reception sites.
After exhausting his limited patience for wedding related site-seeing, we visited my favorite Smithsonian. Bradley tried out a potential career post graduation: big rig mail delivery.
I finally made it to the Air and Space Museum after being in D.C. for two years. No one else who has visited wanted to go there. We spent a lot of time at this museum, along with all the other three to six year olds visiting D.C.
The weather in D.C. for June and July has been hotter than I’ve ever experienced here. During Bradley’s visit, a heat wave rolled in with the highest temperatures D.C. has seen in 80 years.
That’s always the best weather to truck out to BFE to see Thomas Jefferson.
On the last night, we had drinks with some of my D.C. friends who I think Bradley enjoyed finally meeting after hearing all my stories. It was a really great way to cap off our week of togetherness.
Rest of the photos can be viewed here.
My brother and I discussing the news that the National Zoo’s giant panda was not pregnant:
Bradley: Mei Xiang needs to get her act in order
three pseudo pregnancies
me: I know!
who has a pseudo pregnancy other than women on soap operas?
Pandas!
*brief discussion of a summer job interview he had that day*
Bradley: it’s whatevs
me: it’s no pregnant panda
Bradley: what the hell
that panda is just an attention grabber
every summer she probably goes
“it’s really hot, if i i fake being pregnant they will put me in that air condition room for a couple weeks until they realize im not. score”
or the zoo’s doctors just aren’t any good
me: that’s where you missed your calling
veterinary medicine
Bradley: it is statistically harder to get into vet school than med school
your vet had a higher gpa and mcat score than your doctor
Bradley: you know the Seinfeld where Kramer goes to the Vet because they have to deal with several animals and thus are more qualified
me: because animals don’t talk
Bradley: it’s not a bad idea
they were probably like “Mei Xiang are you pregnant? Are you gassy or bloated? Do you have any cravings?”
me: bamboo dipped in peanut butter
Bradley: and Mei Xiang was like “can you stop poking me i want to go back to sleep I haven’t slept in 15 minutes” so she rolled onto her back and
the doctors were like “she is showing us her belly, she’s pregnant”
me: supposedly she “nests”
and that’s what raises their suspicions
Bradley: that’s stupid
they are pandas
me: they aren’t robots!
they have maternal instincts!
Bradley: i always found adult pandas too silly for my taste
they eat and sleep – and that’s it
me: you like baby pandas on slides?
Bradley: i remember in 9th grade a video of how Pandas were sleeping so much they wouldn’t reproduce that’s why they are endangered somewhat
like Pandas stopped being attracted to pandas
and yes i love pandas on slides
me: who doesn’t
Confidential to Master Bradley:
Happy TWENTY FIRST birthday! I hope you didn’t fall off your top bunk bed last night after imbibing too much.
I would also like to add that I had fun with you last weekend in California. I hope you had fun even if I got on your nerves. Reverting to having to wear flip flops in the shower can put a girl on edge.
I’m sorry you have two sisters which really means you got three mothers out of the deal. And we say things like “Did you get enough to eat?” and “Watch out for that MetroBus!” while you are driving.
But I think having so much female influence in your life has made you a better guy. Like on Saturday night when your friend couldn’t get her fancy automobile to lock, you were the only guy out of the three standing in the parking lot who jumped over to help her out. Your other friends just stood there discussing what type of wading pool they would like to get for the house you are renting next year. (And I know it’s not because you like her, but I think she might like you. Actually, I think all your lady friends might have a crush on you.)
Katie, Mum, and I can’t take all the credit for you being such a desirable man on campus; I know you learned the take-charge thing from Dad, who grew up with four sisters and a mother. Even though you couldn’t solve the car problem, I then realized why all the ladies love cool Brad: you are now a grown ass man.
All the pictures from my weekend adventures in California are here.
I leave today to visit Bradley in California for the first time (I’m the last family member to visit USC). It better be like everything in this video, or I’m going to be seriously disappointed with the progression of college life since I graduated two years ago:
Gchat with Bradley, last week, after I received notification that he got a Twitter account:
me: What sweet Hell is this!?
Brad: hmm? I like that phrase, sweet hell?
me: It’s actually “fresh hell”, and it’s Milton but you know the idea is the same. You on TWITTER!?
Brad: Yeah, Milton?
me: Yes
Brad: Who is Milton? The philosopher?
me:The poet who wrote Paradise Lost. It’s a phrase in there: “What fresh hell is this?”. I think I got all of this from the Simpsons so don’t think I’m like some scholar now.
Brad: lol Ahh that Milton. You know the Simpsons got me through 12 years of school with references. In 6th grade I was the only one that knew the word “mutiny” because of the Simpsons.
me: Um, it’s the best educational tool America has.
If you follow my blog in a feed reader, come on over to the main site, baby! I’ve been taking an Adobe Creative Suite course since the beginning of the new year. This is a rudimentary new layout and blog header using my Illustrator knowledge. I’m still adjusting colors and font sizes.
Since my blog is FIVE YEARS OLD as of last month, I thought it was time for a change.
Recently:
Bradley
Bet: That he couldn’t grow out his beard the entire length of Christmas Break
Wager: 10 Chipotle dollars, which are more desirable than cash as they can be turned into burritos with greater ease
Outcome: He lasted until about two days before the deadline and had to shave it off.
Katie
Bet: That she can’t clean her room, where there is visibly less clutter in the space, by the time I come home in March
Wager: Fresh Sugar Eau de Parfum, retail value $75 (which she is too cheap to buy herself)
Outcome: Ongoing, but if history is any indication, my money is safe in my pocket.
Via Gchat.
Bradley on housing for next year:
Brad: so i have some bad omens
i know we are Catholic and superstition, and Harry Potter makes us go to hell, but when we went to go see this house and meet our realtor my one roommate clipped the tail light of the car in front of us while parallel parking then today when we were turning in our application Chris couldn’t get Nick’s car started because the battery was dead
me: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DO NOT GO IN
Brad: I know
me: THAT HOUSE IS NOT CLEAN
Brad: but it’s really clean inside and it’s yellow and it has a small porch and it’s as close to campus as i am now
me: ok but you need to get some holy water and you KNOW I am NOT joking
Brad: yeah
Katie on perfume:
Katie: something fresh is more me
bright fresh not Clinique Happy though
me: Jeez louise I hate that smell
don’t tell Mum she bought it for me once
Katie: years ago
me: and I think I sold it at the garage sale in April
it was maybe 10 years old
that’s prime fragrance time
Katie: mhmm it was aged
someone shopping had Clinique Happy on, and I was like,
“are you a 12 year old girl?”
it’s not the right scent
me: lol
it’s right for a 12 year old girl
that’s about it
Katie: and too distinctive
me: yes that’s its flaw
it smells like Clinique Happy
A recent Gmail chat with Bradley, my brother:
Bradley: I have no idea what you listen to now
Me: Mainly Russian choral music
Bradley: Really? I just got like 3 new cds, mostly Georgian Bell Arrangements
Me: Interesting. 17th or 18th century arrangements?
Bradley: Contemporary
Me: not as good as the classics
Bradley: I’ve got a different ear than you. What can I say.
Me: We’ll have to agree to disagree
His suggestions for new music were the following:
The Thermals
Death from Above 1979
Girl Talk
Please note that I discovered those first two bands when I was in college. He did not stumble on those himself. *Ahem*
Point is, I need new music and I need it now. I’m going on a long Thanksgiving giving journey north. And I leave tomorrow.
Do you read this blog? Do you listen to music that was not featured on American Idol? Do you know of a musical artist I might like?
I get bored easily, so anything repetitious is primed for the “next” button. Belle and Sebastian and Bloc Party, I’m looking at you (Bloc Party, I could write an entire post on how the beginning of all your songs sound great then just blend into a cacophony of indie grossness.) I’d like something fall like, but not Christmasy yet. Here’s what I’m thinking of trying:
Fleet Foxes
Department of Eagles
My roommate suggested the Mamma Mia! soundtrack. Anything else?
Things Bradley hates, in ascending order:
lasagna
cats
spiders
Katie working at Books & Notions
Me not going to the doctor after the car accident
sour cream
