Tomorrow marks the last day of radiation treatment for my mother’s brain tumour. 29 visits, three blasts a trip, has taken a very heavy toll on her health, far more than any of my reading had prepared us for. From here there are supposedly two ‘bad weeks’ before she stands any chance of getting better; I can’t really imagine how she can get any worse. I’m not sure how my father and sister are able to cope with it day to day, watching our strong independent mother lose so much function so fast. And perhaps forever.

Even though you don’t know her, if you believe in prayer, voodoo, magic, or whatever, I ask that you please will her fast relief from her symptoms.

I hope there is video of this somewhere

and pictures here

I guess I’m just not geeky enough but why would anyone want to watch movies on their cellphone?? Half the time the sun here makes it impossible to view the screen in daylight and I can’t believe that you can really see Batman very well on the tiny screen. And if you’re indoors, why not watch it on the TV instead?

So its high school graduation time and every parent is ‘oh so proud’. When did it become a major event to get a kid through school? They even have pre-school graduation ceremonies - is it so unlikely that a kid will not die of drugs, HIV or who knows what that they need a ceremony ? And of course no ceremony is complete without the parents having to shell out for a major gift (I bet the number of new car owners increased dramatically this week). Its little wonder that kids here have such an entitlement attitude, when you grow up thinking that you’re a hero just for getting out of bed and doing some homework each day its no wonder that you think you’re too good to get a job and actually earn a living for yourself. If I see one more picture of 6 year olds in cap and gown receiving ‘diplomas’ I swear I’ll drink another vodka.

I forgot one of the biggest news items last week - the El Pollo Loco is now open in El Centro!!! I’m kinda miffed because they no longer have chips and salsa as a side dish but, as one esteemed reader put it earlier, crazy chicken is in the desert!