Part Two - Chapter Thirteen

Friday, January 25, 2019

[Ceci is on a jet to Las Vegas to compete in a mahjong tournament]

Ceci

Damn, you are one fine writer and scholar. I thank you for this and I'm flattered of course by the line about my green eyes. They are remarkable. They have gold centers. They go back a long way too.

Landed.

VEGAS!

Jack

Ceci, you sweet thang, are you kicking mahjong ass?

I'm skiing with a bunch of Detroit music people.

In a hot tub. Pretty Psyched.  Wearing my new bathing suit with the mermaid patch.

I'm going to assume you are deep in the trenches of mahjong, and just talk to myself:

First, don't think I missed you bragging ("My green eyes. They are remarkable. They have gold centers.").

Was that an immodest slip brought on by in-flight alcohol, or are you developing a big head? Either way, I'm digging the self-love and heavy experimentation with airline cocktails.

Second. I just finished a dirty martini which was nasty and great, it's 3A.M., and my stomach feels green.

Ceci

❤️

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Ceci

Trip was a whirlwind of fun. I'm lucky to have such an amazing posse of friends.

You know that I write raps about Mahjonng, right? Well I worked on some new ones for Mahj Vegas and got the girls to come up with verses on their own. No cost fun right there!

Went back to Detroit on Tuesday and the polar vortex hit.

Jack

I want to hear Puff Ceci's rhymes!

Ceci

Did you know that was my rap name?

Jack

It was tattooed on an inmate's breast in Supermax.

Friday, February 8, 2019

Jack

My Mom spent the night in the hospital.

Waiting for tests. Have you ever flown stand-by?

Ceci

Keeping her in my thoughts.

I've only flown stand-by once, and it worked. They got me on the flight.

Jack

Yay!! Mom discharged. At home. All cool.

Ceci

Excellent, I was just wondering.

Jack

Yeah. She's got a heart condition that causes fainting, but not lethal. Pretty great! Now all the nurses in my family (they are legion) will descend on her to inflict the tough care they call love.

Ceci

❤️

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Jack

Happy Valentine's Day, Ceci!

Hope everything is going your way. ❤️

Ceci

It really is!

❤️ HVD!

My Bill Davidson movie premiers to 300 invited guests on March 31st.

Jack

Congratulations! It's your baby. March 31st, childbirth!

Ceci

It's been decided, I am credited as the "Director".

Jack

Oh jeez! Damn! WOW!!

How will academics categorize this period of your art? The Basketball Years? The Ferndale Era? The I-75 Epoch?

Very proud of you.

(They're paying, right?)

At the premier, will there be a red carpet?

You in a fabulous gown??

And I know your husband has first dibs on being your date, but if for any reason he can't make it, I AM YOUR ARM CANDY!

And before you decide, please factor in that it is now the height of ski season, so my ass is perfect, like a ripe plum.

Ugh! Driving in a blizzard. Avalanche closed the road!

No signal.

Stranded.

Talking to myself.

Again.

I have the greatest idea EVER!

The movie you directed is debuting at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

It's a big deal.

You need a gown. I can fly in. We can go to a custom dress shop, or anywhere you want to go, but we find you something really nice, something gorgeous, something you love because this is your movie premier, your night, and you deserve it.

Please, don't fight me on this. Please say yes.

Avalanche cleared!!

Ceci

I'm probably just gonna grab something from H&M.

Jack

Okay. Found this on H&M.com.

Friday, February 15, 2019

Jack

We don't have to go to a fancy place. Look what I found at Home Depot.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Jack

Sears & Roebuck.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Jack

Target.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Jack

Office Max.

Friday, February 22, 2019

Jack

Walmart.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Jack

Ace Hardware.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Jack

Fashion Bug (my favorite).

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Jack

Costco.

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Jack

Ikea.

Friday, March 1, 2019

Jack

Lowes.

Ceci

👍

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Jack

Oooh.....the silent chick has a soft spot for blue?

[Note: Two weeks of silence between Ceci and Jack.]

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Jack

Ceci? Are we in a fight?

I've never had a fight with you before.

Is this what it's like?

If we are, is it because I pushed you to shop for a dress?

If this is a fight, then I'm wrong. You're right.

I lose. You win.

Can we make up now?

Ceci

No no no, no fight.

I'm completely involved in my three-year-plus documentary project. Wrapping up with what seems like hundreds of loose ends.

Andy had his opening and he had his deadline and I had to pick up the slack too.

Jack

No fight, Great!

Are there still have tickets to your movie?

Would you like me to be there?

Ceci

Yes.

I'll send you an invite.

If you can make it, that would be cool. It will be hectic, about 400 people expected. We are also going to kick off the Jewish Film Festival on May 2nd.

Jack

Did you invite Eileen? Maybe I can coax her out as my date.

Ceci

No, I did not.

But if you invite her as a guest I think that's great.

Jack

I'll see what I can do.

Friday, March 15, 2019

Jack

Eileen is in! We're deciding on formal wear and color scheme. : )

Ceci

Cocktail party, not black tie 😊

Jack

No lime tux?*

*Even if Satan and Jesus join forces, they could not make me do anything to detract from your big night.

Ceci

Hahaha! You know that is a great idea for a show.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Jack

I'm trying not to bug you in your final days, but are you sleeping? Eating? Breathing?

Ceci

I did a sleep study last night.

Apparently, I never really sleep, just stop breathing over and over.

It probably has a lot to do with my "extreme high blood pressure" and exhaustion.

Go figure.

Jack

If someone told me to cool it one week before trial, I wouldn't have the time to listen, but, just as you would do me, I'm going to lecture your ass.

Put it in your calendar that you WILL take 30 minutes for yourself -- EVERY DAY!! Walking (best), sleeping, or flipping through a magazine, but you will take it for your kids, your family, your co-workers, and for yourself. All of us need you, but you are no damn good to anybody if you have a stroke. All of us Ceci-dependent bastards owe you 30 minutes a day.

30 minutes. In your calendar. IN INK!

Metabolism goes up. Weight and blood pressure down. Bone density up. Sleep up. Better sleep, better memory. Sharper. Like a business ninja.

So, please take a walk.

❤️ Jack

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Ceci

Just found the time to read this.

I'm going to let it sink in. Morning is the worst for me. Some clients are so demanding that if you're not there for their every whim, they'll find somebody else. I swear.

Andy is not very supportive, I don't even talk to him about this cause I'm the one towing the line and I've never been able to count on him to step up. He sucks with money and he's lazy around the house.

So, there's a little tip of the iceberg.

I'm saying it because I know my stress level is horrible and I know what you wrote about taking time for myself is so true I could cry. Also I've been working 12 hour days and I'm beat-up right now. All I would love is to have some time for myself in the morning. Thanks buddy for letting me dump some of this weight. Now I'm back at work today, so it goes on but I do feel better. Phew.

Jack

Glad you are feeling a little bit better. Sorry you have to deal with all that crap on top of all that crap.

We will fix all that shit.

I am telling everyone about your movie, librarians, strangers, prison inmates. And then I tell them how you are this really fine peach. The prison inmates don't believe me, so I send them your picture, phone number, and home address.

See you soon!

Ceci

Yes, I need to hang in there.

Jack

And beets lower blood pressure.

Bananas also good.

Ceci

I'd love some borscht.

Jack

Oh God! Beet soup with bread and butter. Soup fantasy! I want it now!

Ceci

I know. I know. I want some bad.

Jack

Yes! Yes!! YES!!!

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Jack

Get up, stretch your legs, step outside, feel the sun, take a breath, then get your ass back to work.

Will be there Saturday.

Ceci

❤️

I've been pep talking to myself.

Jack

Audio hallucinations? Psychotic?

Ceci

No, but today is my first day away from the office in two weeks.

We've been going in over the weekend.

Jack

Geez! Maybe take a shower, and an Ambien.

I'll bring soap.

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have a BLAST! Can't wait to see you!

And your movie.

And which socks?

Ceci

Argyle is tops!

[Jack flies to Detroit.]

[Vote ⭐ for making up after a fight that did not happen!]

Photo 1 & 10: Dancer Jump by Allinoch, 2017 (Pixabay #2722666).

Photo 2: Girl in Garden by Xusenru, 2016 (Pixabay #1391274).

Photo 3: Red Gown by KatyLison, 2016 (Pixabay #1292792).

Photo 4: Party Party by 2196557, 2016 (Pixabay #1248728).

Photo 5: Wedding Dress Pink by Maya_7966, 2016 (Pixabay #1486004).

Photo 6: Woman Standing by Free-Photos, 2015 (Pixabay #918784).

Photo 7: One Blonde by Nastya_Gepp, 2017 (Pixabay #3075755).

Photo 8: Model Party by 2196557, 2015 (Pixabay #1248728).

Photo 9: Prom Dress by FamilyPhotoStudio, 2016 (Pixabay #1450373).

Photo 11: People Crowd by StockSnap, 2017 (Pixabay #2560216).

Photo 12: Girl Model Blue by Anna_bella, 2017 (Pixabay #2417576).

Photo 13: Blonde Woman by Yama BSM, 2016 (Pixabay #1339853).

Photo 14: Taken and owned by the authors, 2019.