bubblefish

new ride

2010-09-16T21:24:00.003-05:00

it's been so long since i posted that bubblefish has grown out of her bike and in to a new one. this new one is especially dear to me because it was given to her by a childhood friend of mine who just happened to hear that she needed a bike. how lucky am I? I can even tell you how thankful I am.

Here's something new.

2009-03-30T11:29:00.003-05:00

Big fun here at bubblefish central. Now she wants to ride her bike every day to school. I't great, except when it's 20 degrees with a wind chill in the teens. But, more good weather ahead...

one word: proud

2009-03-12T20:31:00.002-05:00

Tonight was Bingo night at Bf school. Very exciting, for about 15 minutes, then constantly saying, Did you get that last number? If you want to win a prize you need to pay attention to your card. (for the next hour and forty five minutes). We sat with a friend of BF and her family, and the dad won a round where he won for the whole table! Woohoo! Then Bf won, picked a Webkinz stuffed toy frog (a red eyed tree frog!). She was soooo happy. I won, and she picked out a foam kit for easter for me, which i then gave to her because she LOVES making things out of foam (well, out of anything). As we were leaving we saw another friend, and she looked sad. What's the matter? we asked. She won a panda webkinz but said she didn't like him. Then she handed her panda to BF. I whispered into BF's ear that maybe, if her friend and she wanted to, she could trade her frog for the panda. She didn't hesitate and asked if she would like her frog, for the panda. Oh, yes! she said. And so the trade was made. BF was still a bit bewildered by the whole interaction, it happened so fast. So she was out a frog, which she loved, for a panda, that her friend didn't love. I like the panda, she said. he's cute. He's Stillwater, right Mommy? Right! Right! I said. Yes. He sure is Stillwater. Outside I told BF what a generous gesture she made by trading with her friend, to make her happy. I was so astonished and amazed at her generosity. She is always very eager and willing to share. I am so proud. I just love her so much.

glass of milk?

2008-11-17T12:10:00.003-05:00

the new york times chocolate chip cookies.
now my default recipe for cc cookies. Oh, and also 5" across.

out of order halloween pictures

2008-11-17T12:08:00.003-05:00

here if bf on halloween. she and i created this masterpiece hot dog out of felt.

connect - i - cut --more

2008-11-17T12:06:00.003-05:00

more pics from our trip. we stopped at caserta's in east providence on the way home. long day. but not long enough.

connect - i - cut

2008-11-17T11:27:00.003-05:00

drove down to see a friend and his family from the way back machine. the place is still quite beautiful, and things look pretty much the same since the last time i was there in my youth. we got a brief history of the house, built in the mid 1700's, with newer add ons in the late 1700's, and 1800's. I think that the chair i sat in was original to the house. we brought a muffeletta, a greek salad, pesto pasta and some man hole cover cookies. exciting part for bf was the deer sightings we had, saw 4-5 in one group and a single male with short antlers. they were really close to us too. she also got a package of goodies and a stuffed koala bear. she made out. i got nuthin!

walking home from school

2008-10-07T19:21:00.003-05:00

bf and i were walked home from school today. the weather was warm and sunny. from the door of the school she took my hand. and we walked together sometimes talking and sometimes not. she would stop occasionally and pick up a leaf or a tree nose or acorn and grab my hand again and walk. i'm not saying it quite as wonderfully as it actually was. it so touched my heart. this is why i love being a stay at home mom. i love holding her hand.

maine, part 28

2008-08-22T20:02:00.002-05:00

here are some shots of braggs house and barn. true blue farmhouse with a wood burning sugar house around back.

maine, part 27

2008-08-22T19:47:00.003-05:00

it's been an enlightening trip. filled with rain and then sun. not quite warm enough to swim for the most part, but we did anyway. last day here was the hottest. got a gallon of honey from mr beep, and a free donut! we didn't have any luck in the maple department. we did visit the kittens on braggs porch and took pictures of the barn and house. i do wish we had that grade b dark amber though. sigh. here's more shots from the two week trip. photos below are from beeps. maggie the big white dog that loves to have her belly rubbed. Homemade soft serve, made up for us while we waited by the man himself (bf took the shot of mr beep).

maine, part two

2008-07-18T21:22:00.002-05:00

visit to edna's and to peter's houses. same mountain.

maine

2008-07-18T21:15:00.003-05:00

here at the camp with a brand new internet connection. so here are some shots from our time up here. been here two weeks and plan on one more before we go home.
crazy weather turned the water black
BIG excitement! BF lost her first tooth! W also lost a tooth the day before, too.
Strawberries. Picked over 90lbs with three kids and two adults in three days. whew.
beautiful girl, oldest cousin.

well

2008-04-29T20:47:00.002-05:00

I have had some sad events befall me in the recent past. I lost my dear friend Nita across the street, who i just wrote about a few weeks back. It was sudden. And terrible. I have been mourning her for a month now. She passed on March 30th. Her house stands dark across the street. The last thing I look at at night, and the first in the morning. After a month, it's more bearable now. I was just now able to write a note on the funeral home's guest book. it left me sobbing. i miss her. she was a real strong presence in my life. i am terribly sad. But, I know she is in a better place, and that she is not suffering any more with chronic pain, and lameness. she was a good person. salt of the earth. she will always be with me.

Easter Finery

2008-03-25T10:10:00.001-05:00

Here are the cousins in all their fancy clothes.

matching

2008-03-20T21:41:00.002-05:00

At the beginning of the school year BF got in to the habit of visiting nita (our 90 yo neighbor across the street) after school by herself and tell her about her day. We got out of that practice, and I asked her the other day if she wanted to have a visit with nita to show her some school work and pictures she'd done. So I set up a day with Nita, and BF even crossed the street (quiet, dead end street) by herself for the first time (me coaching from the curb). She was very proud of being able to have an alone visit with nita. A half hour passed and I went over to collect BF and I found them playing a matching pairs game that nita had from way back. bf was giggling away, and they were having a grand old time. i almost felt as though i should have not come over as soon as i did. BF was having a great time. later that night i got a call from nita telling me what a fun time she had with bf and how wonderful it was to hear her laugh so much. i was so pleased that they had a nice visit. bf and i plan to visit her tomorrow morning to bring her some fresh squeezed oj, and hopefully plan another fun afternoon without mama. i just love nita. And BF.

it seems

2008-03-02T21:48:00.002-05:00

like this year is not starting out so well. January saw both my parents in the ER for various reasons. With them finally getting out from underneath all their follow up visits, they literally took off and drove to Florida to visit a few long time friends. One is healthy, the other in in the process of getting chemo and radiation. So they visited the healthy friend first, and my father ends up in the hospital this morning with pneumonia in both lungs! This is not good. But he is happy with the care he is receiving, and mom is staying with him tonight in his private room. We are standing at the ready to fly down there to drive them back if need be. It really sucks when you have a sick parent so far away.

A giant step backwards

2008-01-30T09:54:00.000-05:00

This is for my dear friend. BF said, That's not him!

trying to figure out where the days go

2008-01-30T09:03:00.001-05:00

- 4:40am bf is up and around
wants to play games on her camera
argues with mama -- gives up camera
goes back to sleep
- at 5am my alarm goes off for the gym -- i shut it off because dh was up until 1 or 2 am and my getting up will disturb bf and he won't get any more rest -- so i decide to go to the gym after i drop bf off at school
- go back to sleep
- 7am - got up
- checked email - 1 from poetick
- made sure bf had undies on
- went downstairs to the kitchen
- emptied the dish drainer
- loaded the dishwasher
- swept the kitchen floor
- swept the back hall
- scooped the cat box
- put all of the dry snow gear away
- cleaned off bf's boot that fell into the catbox
- turned on the oven to make the cookies for neighbor who plowed the end of our driveway
- cut up peaches for bf's breakfast
- got out her vitamin and calcium
- got out my various vitamins
- got out bowls for cereal - bf get spoons
- bf decides we'll have a crafting morning - she organizes things to work on and puts them on the kitchen table
- we eat breakfast
- we bus the table
- we get crafting - i make a valentine for bf and she makes a flet blanket for a very small stuffed animal for me, and also it's a valentine
- started this list
- started baking the cookies
- put the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher
- cleaned up the crafting table
- wrap christmas present to send to california (a little late)

and it's only 9:40am. Got to get bf dressed, brushed and washed. Got to plan that tomorrow we will do a practice run to school at 8:30 - 8:45am. She starts morning kindergarten next week. Got to get all the books from upstairs that have been read in the past week and record it for the reading incentive program at school.

More list of the rest of the day later. Wow, how exciting, I bet the suspense is killing you.

Tada!

2008-01-12T08:33:00.000-05:00

We got a new hopper yesterday!
Here's my shot (with bf's camera).

Here's BF's shot.

The new camera

2008-01-11T14:21:00.001-05:00

Boy oh boy, does bf love to take pictures, and video. she is having a great time with her new camera. Here are some shots.

The day after Christmas and the day after that

2008-01-04T07:16:00.000-05:00

The remains of the day

Dessert remains

On the way to Noni and Cocos

Auntie O and BF had a great time together

Coco's new game for BF and she kept beating him

More action shots from Christmas day

2008-01-04T06:48:00.001-05:00

A newspaper collector for F

Exploring new horizons

Everything is good with N

W likes the chattering wind up teeth we gave him (to a fault)

N is going to see Joan Baez with her three daughters (when was that again?)

whew

2008-01-03T07:34:00.000-05:00

It has been quite a while since I posted last. The holidays seem to take over my life. Well, it was a great time, and great food. Fun was had by all. Now bubblefish wants to open up a valentines store with her cousin m. she made a sign and everything. right now, she has strep throat, which really stinks because once you get it, you tend to get it again. crapola. last night, after mad coughing fits, she got to sleep and is still sleeping. the poor thing is exhausted from all the coughing she is enduring. Here are some christmas morning shots.

Tape! My tape fiend got some of her own to waste! She's psyched!

Stocking loot

OOOOoooo, felt! Super!

Awww, "strawby" is what she named him. A friend for Lemon! His leaves are over stuffed, i need to fix that.

Even Fritz liked his new toy.

All the pictures I took of dh didn't come out so well, but he loved his stuff too.

the magic annisquam

2007-11-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday we went visiting Noni and Coco at their house in Cape Ann. Despite being overcast, the light created fairly saturated colors. Of course the landscape is quite beautiful no matter what the weather. Note the Hopper-ish pole in front, not quite his framing, i know...also note the trellis, I have to have one. It matches perfectly with the storybook stucco house. The photos are mere snapshots, and are quite hastily done, just enjoy the landscape, ok?

all hallow's eve

2007-11-03T08:36:00.000-05:00

BF went as our cat, Fritz. Very funny. Except for the part that she kept tripping up people's stairs. Then she figured out that she should take mama's advice and pull the mask up walking from house to house, and down when she knocks on the door.

Also, the Sunday before Halloween, bf and I surprised Papa with a late birthday/Halloween cake. See, we made a lovely chicken curry dinner with fancy chocolate pudding on his birthday (but no actual cake). So it was a big surprise.

ghost in your genes

2007-10-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

I just watched a truly amazing and scary show called "ghost in your genes" on Nova. A must see. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/
Here is a photo that bubblefish took of me up in Maine.

Atmospheric Shots

2007-10-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

Fair day

2007-10-12T10:07:00.000-05:00

first things first.
Beautiful cow
WOOHOO!
Cousins
Woa.

Maine Goodness

2007-10-10T13:21:00.000-05:00

Beautiful weather during our annual trip to Maine for the Fryeburg Fair. Also, we went apple picking and swimming? Yes, swimming! It was hot.

An early morning walk with Nana

What we found on our walk

Our new bunkhouse (in our dreams)

Snow Falls

Bubblefish's new friend

my little girl is growing up

2007-09-11T07:17:00.001-05:00

first days

2007-09-11T07:15:00.001-05:00

at the beach

2007-08-30T13:43:00.000-05:00

beautiful late afternoon at the beach with cousins.

the annual balloon festible crowd

2007-08-22T07:50:00.000-05:00

At the camp

overbrook continued

2007-08-22T07:43:00.000-05:00

overbrook

2007-08-22T07:38:00.000-05:00

waiting for the last pitch

2007-08-16T08:46:00.000-05:00

check

2007-08-14T06:33:00.001-05:00

out this guys photos....http://www.flickr.com/photos/81386294@N00/
He taught me everything I know. Except for the socks.

we have a winner!

2007-08-14T06:19:00.000-05:00

The tickets are taken! Thanks R+S, I knew you'd pull through for us. See you tomorrow!
And F, rip their legs off in Salem! And K, next time for sure, ok? I'm sure E won't go out of town. And G+L, I love you guys lots, and those beautiful kids of yours. And J+K, we'll get a winner one day, with A making us homemade pizza, right? And W+S, Padres and Red Sox, now that would be a game to see! sadly, we are geographically challenged. I'm sorry I made you so sad, W.

Go Red Sox!

Meanwhile, here's picture from the files, 2002, DH, BF and Bear.

oh, and

2007-08-11T23:44:00.000-05:00

we still have two extra tickets for wed's game! No takers yet...1:20 start...anyone?

a daddy and his ducklings

2007-08-11T23:32:00.000-05:00

just about the sweetest thing. I literally got choked up looking at these picture (yes, I am a dork) thinking the journeys we have all made and how amazing it all is. And if my dh would just get off the phone...I had a great time visiting with mama duck and the whole brood. BF was cheering and climbing trees with all her new friends.

wednesday

2007-08-08T06:52:00.000-05:00

well, i think i injured my neck last friday at the gym. all weekend it was hurting, I could not turn my head, or get up out of bedwithout a painful struggle. monday it was the worst, but today it seems much better, albeit a little stiff still. man i am getting old, it takes so much longer to recover from this stuff.
today bf goes to see the dentist. she loves the dentist, especially the part where she gets the toy at the end and a new toothbrush.
Our garden this year not quite the shining star I thought it would be. We've got a few tomatoes, ate about 5 pole beans (but the plants are turning yellow) and I have yet to use the thai basil. I think this week I will use some basil and make some pesto base. Our new tree (added on mother's day this year), the redbud, is faring well. I try to keep it watered, along with the small cherry tree in the front yard, it looks as though they may survive this year! Hooray! Now if I can just get dh home long enough to mow the lawn.
Oh, (and to do all this backwards reporting), we (me, bf and dh) had a vacation up at the camp two weeks ago now. We swam, and ate, and slept. Had a visit with some friends and their little 3 month old baby. the pond was "bath water warm" and bf and dh did alot of swimming out to the raft (with the assistance of swim vest and boogie board).had an all around great time, finished off by the family reunion on Bailey island, Me. it was spectacular. bf loved swimming in the ocean (more like a quick dip, she said, because it was cold!) The view from the house is that picture of the rocky coastline of maine below, before the fog rolled in and blanketed the beach and the view. we ate supper at Fat Boy Drive in and had some (cheap) yummy burgers and crinkle fries (my favorite. finished off with a dairy joy soft serve.
Got some bills to pay and calls to make.

it seems

2007-08-06T08:32:00.000-05:00

that there is so much going on right now that the only words I have are pictures.

still thinking about Hopper

2007-08-01T10:14:00.001-05:00

the desert of maine, bailey island, me, driving back to camp from bailey island, our new ancient log bench (dragged up from the depths of the pond)

edward hopper

2007-07-17T20:13:00.000-05:00

today my father and i finally went to the Hopper show at the MFA. Despite the dense crowd of people there with shoulderbags, the show was wonderful. Inspirational. And sad. I was trying to figure out why his women seemed so disconnected, vague, stiff. When I got home I did some reading from the show catalog, and online about his wife, and his marriage. It seems that she refused to let him use other female models, and always posed for him. Their marriage was rife with discontent and mutual physical abuse. These facts were recorded in Jo's (his wife's) personal journals that still survive. Aha! That fact says alot about his energy in painting her every time he wanted a female in his paintings. I adore his watercolors. The energy, the moment captured so well by a single brush stroke of dark green shadow. Beautiful motion, dripping trees, or swaying grass in landscape, and the "interruption" of buildings in the landscape were striking. his use of light is cinematic. The clear air of the cape, and the thickness of New York city air. What I didn't like was his water, too oddly blue, swirly, weird. A small amount of water was fine, but when there was a sailboat on water, or ocean view with water in the foreground, no. yikes. what a joy to see the show, i left there, after three hours, wanting to see more. I wanted to see how he viewed women in Europe (as opposed to america), I wanted to see some of Jo's work (nothing). I wanted to see more, more, more. I usually never want to buy the show catalog, but I left wanting to buy one (and got one). I couldn't wait to open it, and read more. Go see it if you can, at the MFA. you won't be sorry, just look out of the shoulderbags.

some pictures

2007-07-15T08:49:00.000-05:00

not award winning or anything but merely documents....

who can you save

2007-07-13T21:23:00.000-05:00

at the gym today I listened to this american life's podcast about "who can you save". it was interesting in that it told stories of when you can save someone, and when you can't. it came at an interesting intersection of events in my life. This episode also pointed me to radio lab - and i am downloading their podcasts right now to check them out, which pointed me to selected shorts which pointed me to...my stomach has been unsettled for three days. huh. i wonder why.

today

2007-07-12T00:09:00.000-05:00

BF and I went up the the city to meet noni and and our cousin at the science museum. it was very humid and the dew point is very high too, making it a little like walking through soup. we (the adults) were underwhelmed at the exhibits. they were not all working, and the place felt dusty and worn out. i guess the kids had fun, mostly with the super cold show (the only show we saw). the place was really crowded. it was air conditioned, though. later we went to the north end and shared a pie at reginas. we headed home late, even BF was saying she was tired. now i have a stomachache.

suddenly your mine

2007-07-09T20:57:00.000-05:00

Just watched part of a movie. This is the thrid time i have seen this movie. I have yet to see it in it's entirety. maybe it will take me a whole year to see the entire movie, who knows. with an actor who reminds me alot of my dh when we first met. i like some of the music, and some of the camera work. i guess if i am doing the video thing more i ought to see more films, eh?

lots to do tomorrow. going down to brewster to visit my friend visiting from cali, and her fam. then for dinner going out with I, and i no doubt will hear all about the goings on in her crazy family, and all the hell that she's going through. i made a muffeletta and some chocolate chip cookies, was going to make a greek salad, but forget it. i'll bring some pineapple.

just finished "String too short to be saved". My gdh recommended it. i was crying like a baby. the book is wonderful, but you must read the epilogue. really brings things into focus. just gave it to my sister to read up in maine. i hope she does, it's the perfect place to read it.

yes, i know

2007-07-08T08:26:00.000-05:00

i was being paranoid. everyone is fine, and i am a freak. but, hey, at least i'm consistent. i should explain a little. see, the traffic next door to us starts to pick up at around 10:30pm. People drive up and leave at regular intervals, and I am constatntly woken up but doors slamming and cars starting. Noboby really goes in to our yard, except for when they drunkenly back over the signpost in front of our house and on to our lawn, taking off quickly and leaving deep gouges in the yard, or they throw their homemade b*ngs into our back yard, and the constant little of beer cans in the gutter. For the most part, they keep to themselves, and are friendly. Ok...we are off to go swimming on this really hot and sticky day. I was hoping to get up earlier. There is always tomorrow.

Yesterday we went to the Plymouth Rock (looks, it's a rock!), the Mayflower (must have been crowded!), and the Plimoth Plantation (gee, the Indian exhibit is much cooler, temperature-wise) we spent more time there than anywhere else. Then we went swimming -- and now will will go again if the kids ever put on their bathing suits. LET'S GO! BUS IS LEAVING!

could it be?

2007-07-07T23:24:00.000-05:00

We have our niece visiting from ca here tonight, and I can't seem to sleep because she is downstairs in the sunroom sleeping, and she is too far away for my comfort, I guess. It is humid, but i don't want to run the ac because then I can't hear anything in my house (i.e. her if she wakes up), so i am sweaty, tired and wide awake here after a two hour attempt at falling alseep. dh finally came to bed at 12:24am. along with the box fan for the window, so things have improved slightly. i will try to get up tomorrow early, make eggs, toast and smoothies so that we can get in an early swim down at fresh pond. wish me luck.

uh, ok.

2007-07-03T23:28:00.000-05:00

It seems like a lost cause, this blog thing. Well, even if I am talking ot myself, I guess that's, um, therapeutic? Let's see, I have had a birthday, along with a lovely dinner at my sister's house. I finally got back in touch with a teacher i had in college. it was great to see him and his wife are doing well. I went to maine for a week with my sister and her kids, and she played Little House in the Prairie (book on tape) for the kids on the ride up, and bf LOVED it. She said, I want to own that, mummy. Let's start by getting it out of the library. No, I want to OWN it. Ok, get a job. No, I got some of the other books in the series from the library. Haven't listened yet, but she's now transfixed by the "read-along" Frog and Toad are Friends books with cd. She is asking to listen to that every time in the car. Our great neighbors made us dinner last night and gave me a gag gift: a tee shirt with the words "He's at a gig" on the front and "Gig Widow" on the back. Funny as hell. But, sadly, very true. Tomorrow we will go and gorge ourselves on TOm's buffalo wings, avocado rice salad, and the standard dogs and burger fare that is the fourth of July in "america's home town" No, I don't beleive the hype. But the food is great! I am now pacing the widows walk of my manion waiting for my husband to come back from the sea that is music. I bid you adieu (waving hanky at you).

crap

2007-06-08T21:54:00.000-05:00

has it really been a month since i posted last? woa. BF will be "graduating" from preschool june 13th. i cannot beleive it is really true. she is such an incredible gift, i am so lucky that i have such a wonderful, funny, talented, sweet and kind daughter. She has not really shown any stress about the event, and has shared her songs she will perform with the class, along with the moves. Yet I can't help but think that she's a bit stressed because last night she cried out so i went into her room and she hugged me and said "this is for you mummy" using both hands she pretended to hand me something. her eyes were darting around from side to side like she was looking at something, and I could tell that she wasn't awake. it was kind of spooky watching her. I tucked her back in and she went back to sleep, eyes shutting like a sleepy doll. Then I went to bed and lay awake completely freaked out by what just happened. By the way, do I get her a gift for graduation? A book? Cash? A new car (toy car, that is)?

My DH has lost his grandfather this past week. Unable to obtain a passport in a timely fashion he will not be flying to south amaerica to bury him. the news hit him harder than he thought it would, and he hasn't been getting good rest for the past few days. Considering the hours he keeps, he needs every bit of rest he can get. So he's been sad, and I am sad for him. His grandfather was a lovely man, smart, well read and charming. I met him only twice, once when we fisrt started dating and at our wedding. DH didn't spend a whole lot of time with him during his lifetime either. He was always wanting us to come down to Chile for a visit. And we never did. And DH (I fear) is feeling a tremendous amount of guilt.

More later. My head is pounding. Good night.

toothless kids and smiles

2007-05-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

some more shots

2007-05-10T11:40:00.000-05:00

been using my camera alot

2007-05-10T11:37:00.000-05:00

easter, birthday, recital

2007-05-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

been a bit crazy around these parts. here's some pictures: bf at the diner, bf at rehersal, bf's birthday cake, and the gang from the party. I also attended a Pawsox game, which was alot of fun (freezing, but fun), and need to edit some easter pics to post. My epson r1800 will soon be taking a flying trip out my window, I have been trying to print, but it doesn't want to (insert printer sticking it's tongue out at me). Does anyone have any recommendations for my next purchase? More later.

write it down

2007-03-29T07:07:00.000-05:00

last night at dinner dh was talking about a seminar he attended at work that addresses productivity and gives exercises that aid in clearing your brain for work. He was describing one function, the act of writing things down, little things that clog up your brain space, so that you rid you brain of them and they will then be categorized in written form. not realzing that bf was listening, she chimes in, "yeah, i need to write down the caterpillar dream because it's bad and i don't want it in my head any more." so this morning we did the exercise, and wrote down three bad dreams she's had, including one from last night. I hope this exercise works for her. i know how bad dreams can haunt you, it is not good.

it doesn't get better than this

2007-03-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

While I was tucking in BF, she looked up at me and said happily, "I always wished for a mama as nice as you, even when I was in your belly! I'm so glad I found you! You're the nicest mama ever!" I thought I might cry. It is just the best thing I have ever heard.

Help Desk

2007-03-04T06:57:00.000-05:00

I nearly busted a gut when I watched this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAWR6hzZek
(note: It's in Norwegian, with English subtitles)

Vienna waits for me

2007-03-03T18:34:00.000-05:00

Heard another Billy Joel song the other day. I have been listening to alot of it, along with the whole "The Stranger" album. I cannot, believe that it was released in 1971! Wha? I just can't accept that. So I called Dad and said Vienna waits for me. He immediately asked "So, when are you going to Vienna?" Pastry capital of the world. Sign me up! BF's eyes lit up when she heard about pastry. I told her that the city was filled with art, and architechture. She responded " I wish my art was there." Someday, bf, someday...

aw man!

2007-03-03T06:32:00.000-05:00

Late last night bf threw up again, twice. Poor thing. This moring she is a dishrag. So much for going to the playground. I finally gave her water last night, and she discovered that indeed she was really thirsty. That was around 5:30. Getting ready for bed she said she felt like she was going to throw up, but didn't. At around 11:30 she threw up. Then again 15 minyutes later. I woke up with a headache...and this post is crappy too! Woohoo!

been working too hard

2007-03-02T05:20:00.000-05:00

So during the whole vomiting day, I gave bf a headband so that her hair wouldn't get into the throw up in the bowl. She has been carrying it around for two days. Day one she started calling it Softie (it's made out of stretch velvet). Ok, that's his name. But yesterday she tells me that Softie has a full name. It's Softie McCormack. I nearly bust a gut. And those who know me will know why. My daughter really cracks me up. Oh, and I need to step away from the computer. Off to the gym.

Look what I found!

2007-03-01T07:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, in between cleaning throw up bowls, I found this (below) on parenthacks.com, a blog I like to read daily. Here's the top paragraphs of the post, (be sure to read the comments, she is accepting all kinds of things for the children of Iraq). Link to site at the bottom of my post.

_______________________________________________

SPREAD THE WORD: SEND YOUR USED STUFFED ANIMALS AND TOYS TO CHILDREN IN IRAQ
I am speechless. I just got an email from Edmay Mayers, a member of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers who is currently stationed in Iraq. She read the post on where to donate stuffed animals, and offered her own suggestion:

Please, please, please – I know where you can give all the stuffed animals and toys away – I am presently stationed (deployed) in Iraq. The children here love the stuffed toys – I can hardly keep up with the cost of them – I am continuously ordering more and more from Oriental Trading Company and candy for the young ones too. If there is any way at all please have any and all sent to me at the address listed below and I will ensure that the children in Iraq receive all that is sent.

When I sent a followup note to be sure I had the proper address, here was her reply:

The mailing address is as follows:

Edmay Mayers
USACE - GRS
APO AE 09331

That is all there is --- it will reach me and I will give them to our PSD teams who will be more than happy to give them to the children. Please see attached photo of some of the children here that were given candy and stuffed animals on the road. These are the poorest of the poor here in Iraq - down the back roads. They are precious, innocent little ones who are just caught up in all the mess - they are beautiful.

I Googled Edmay to find out more, and came upon this amazing article about her passion for Iraqi children, posted just days ago on Operation Iraqi Freedom: Official Website of Multi-National Force - Iraq.
_______________________________________________

So, here's the blog posting:
Here's the link: http://www.parenthacks.com/2006/09/spread_the_word.html
Here's the link for free shipping supplies: http://www.parenthacks.com/2006/10/free_postal_sup.html

oh boy

2007-02-28T21:29:00.000-05:00

what a day. First, bf was throwing up every hours for three hours, then she started throwing up every half hour for three hours, then she was throwing up every fifteen minutes until around 4:30 she stopped and was able to drink some gatorade very slowly over the course of three hours rounding it out with a half of a saltine, then she went to bed and promptly threw it all up. i told her to stop drinking her gatorade and get some rest. she tinkled, finished her gatorade and her saltine and fell asleep. she is wiped out. i am glad she is sleeping, she didn't nap during the day at all. i am hyper paranoid about getting sick because i had this stomach bug the day after the frankie and mark dinner and was out cold for two days. the recovery to regular food was quite slow too. i am going to sleep now because the is a strong possibility that i will be awakened tonight.

Oh, and by the way, bf has had a dry pull up for five days in a row! she's in bed tonight with undies. keep your fingers crossed for her.

Just another exciting day at our house!

call it mother's intuition

2007-02-28T10:56:00.000-05:00

But I had a feeling that bf wasn't feeling well. this morning she was looking a bit peaked. she threw up. and she's thrown up every hour on the button since 7:30am. Poor little bean. She keeps asking for gatorade and crackers, but she can't have anything - cause it'll come right back up. And now it's seems we have graduated to every half hour.

meanwhile i am working on daph web and my own...i am covered with cat fur.

sweet potato bisque

2007-02-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

bf and i made the most amazing soup for supper tonight. i also cooked up a chicken sausage and some homemade croutons and the soup was complete, and divine. Yum. I found out that Sue got married in January, hooray for her. night is almost there, said bf.

what every parent longs to hear, and then some

2007-02-27T08:27:00.000-05:00

"Mama, you are the best mommy ever!" and "Papa is the best Papa ever!"
Then yesterday: "Mama, I am going to live with you forever and ever." umm, well....

no, seriously

2007-02-20T18:29:00.000-05:00

Sunday, in the wee hours of the morning the phone rings and rings and rings. WHa? it's 4:12am.
It's my sister, who, because she was feeling nauseous was not sleeping, heard a loud diesel truck idling outside her house and peeked outside to see what it was. Now she also happens to live next door to the parents. It's a fire truck and after thumping her husband to wake up and check it out, she finds out that Dad (on his second day of the stomach bug) passed out, Mom is throwing up and their cat died, all at the same moment. That is a crappy way to start the day. Mom sent dad to the hospital. It's the stomach bug, don't get it, whatever you do.

This February vacation has been one big pizza fest. Let's see, Sat had dh's dad and step mom plus k,v and their three kids for pizza. (then sunday was spent at the hospital with dad) then monday, (after dad is released from the hospital with a clean bill of health) we have a playmate from bf's school and her mom and sister over for pizza. right now i should be calling my neighbor about dinner with them (pizza). we will be visiting another friend in pocasset tomorrow, and thurs is craft time at church and friday will be out to visit f&m, mostly m and bring cookies...sat, doing taxes...geez. busy busy. oh and dh has gigs thur, fri sat and sun nights. Fun! Oh well.

Here's who visited us today. he is such a cutie!

the music

2007-02-13T18:48:00.000-05:00

that accompanied me along the way of making this video was Billy Joel's Turnstiles. I have been listening to that for a month straight. When I was not working on the video, I was listening to that album, all the way through. Good stuff.

here it is...

2007-02-12T20:37:00.001-05:00

Please be kind, it is compressed, so it's a not as smooth as it should be, and the music is a tiny bit off at the beginning of rem. If you want to see it in its original format you can request a dvd! leave a comment.

We did it!

2007-02-11T01:01:00.000-05:00

It was everything I'd hope it would be. What an overwhelmingly emotional night. I was so excited to show the video, Frankie and Mark had heard about the video from Bill. It was shown at 8:30 before the presentations, and it was a big hit. everyone loved it.
i think what touched me most was listening to frankie speak later in the evening and i guess that we were in sync about the roots of cycling. he kept referring to my video and how all of the people who were around, the club, the racing circuit, were all part of the fabric of who he became and what he carried with him. I was blown away, really. he spoke about his family, his own, and the family of cycling, mentioned almost all of the people that were in the video, he mentioned pete and lodi, attributed their interest in cycling to them. spoke about working at the bike shop, me showing him how to dust the bikes, HA! he really was touched by the sentiment that i was working so hard to get across, and i did it! hooray for me! it was so wonderful to see him and mark, mary and suzanne, and frankie really hasn't changed at all. mary too, down to earth. Most of all, it meant alot to me that they have this momento of what was just the beginning of an incredible career for both of them. a really big thank you to my parents who got behind this idea of the video 100% and made it happen. i think i will sleep all day tomorrow. then i will go to the gym. it's 1am. good night.

I want

2007-01-14T19:59:00.000-05:00

this project for Frankie and Mark to be a success. I am early in the game here and I am not yet feeling it. I have a huge pile of photos but am already seeing gaps, people missing, Lodi, Beth, Pete, to name a few. I want it to work as a timeline of sort (loosely) and I have turned my house upside down to find snapshots and drawings -- also my mom and dad are combing through their archives. It has to be special because they are so special, a gift to this beleaguered sport. I have stepped away from the movie for the day, I will have fresh eyes tomorrow. I have been searching the web tonight to get a little bit of a knowledge base about their current history in cycling. There is a lot to wade through. I also got a glimpse at the guest list so far. It is a bit of a relief to find that I know quite a few of them. I will be going to this event without dh (he has a gig) so I am sort of sad about that, I wanted to share this with him. Keep me in your thoughts, I have got to make this work the way it should - for Frankie and Markie.

so

2007-01-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

I am focusing on finishing some work for my GDH so that I can finally clear my conscience -- and yesterday my parents and I sat down an viewed a million billion slides and contact sheets from the way back machine which is the 1980's. Back then cycling was a huge part of our lives then and two of our former club members went on to become world class cyclists. A tribute dinner is planned for them and I had the big idea that we create a dvd of images from that time in their lives. My father was really the documentarian for the club, photographing alot of events, cycling and social, so we have a vast library to choose from.

Now picking the music has been on my mind. "Kids in America" was a solid choice. But after looking at the slides and contact sheets, maybe something more reflective would be good. "These are the days" by Natalie Merchant would be the obvious choice...There will only be one run through with music -- then it will be put on a loop and the photos will just flip through.

Or Wonderwheel by Dan Zanes (get it!) - just listened to it, looks like it may end up being the winner...

IMAGE: That's Frankie's first race, first final sprint and first win (far left).

here's a glimpse into holiday fun

2007-01-06T13:52:00.001-05:00

big fun was had by all... cousins, coco, hello kitty, being an angel, lemons, and then lemon has a new face! hello kitty, and a lemon borrowing cozy hat and scarf...hello kitty and sue's getting married.

merry

2006-12-24T22:07:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas! I hope this holiday season is relaxing and fun for all. I am done with everything before midnight tonight - a miracle in itself - and that's only because dh said he would wrap my last big gift for bf, a special gift from Santa. (I'm not even sure that this will happen because as I was coming upstairs he decided to lay down on the sofa for a while, probably not the best plan at this point for him, he hasn't wrapped a single thing.) Yes, my kid is the only one in the world that wants a stuffed lemon for Christmas. Now I don't mean a real lemon, I mean a plush filled 3d with 5 panels lemon pillow. And why do I think that my kid is the only one in the world who wants a stuffed lemon? Because I could not for the life of me find a pattern. I had to fashion one for Santa to follow. Gee I really hope she likes it. It looks really cute, lemon colored cotton velvet...I think it's cute.

Well, good night. I hope Santa is good to you.

creaky

2006-11-30T14:25:00.000-05:00

I am creaky today. I had a very-personal-oscopy and biopsy done yesterday and I didn't think that I would still feel crappy today, but guess what?

no worries though, the doctor was not concerned by what she saw. Still though, she did a biopsy to see what she's dealing with - to be on the safe side, I guess. Real tired today. Took a short nap and while I was napping someone else fell asleep (bf). I glanced in to see her angelic face sleeping face. This morning she asked me "when do I not have to take naps anymore?" well, obviously not today.

I need to go visit my much neglected neighbor whom I adore but never see even though she lives right across the street. I asked bf the other day if she missed nita. She said no. No? "No, mama, she right over there."

I really have to start moving forward with the gift giving holiday. papa wants to take bf xmas shopping, maybe this weekend. She already told me what she wants to get for me "Mama, I want to get you a dress, tights, shoes and roses." "What do you want to get papa?" "Wine and beer." That left me scratching my head. Huh?

walking damonnia

2006-11-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

mama, what is walking damonnia?

...it's a tug of war

2006-11-19T14:15:00.000-05:00

what with one thing and another.

BF has a new favorite song "The angels wanna wear my red shoes". I am so proud! I also have decided to delve into the Beatles, more Elvis Costello, the Specials and Paul McCartney (with and without Wings). She listened to "Green Shirt" and "Oliver's Army" and I played a tape of the Specials for her -- I have ordered the cd's from the library. The other morning I woke up with "Senior Services" in my head (Elvis Costello), and it inspired me. She really enjoys hearing new music - she will listen very intently and try to sing along if she can.

She is quite a perceptive kid. Maybe I have a slightly biased view but last Monday we drove down to the cape to visit her Little friend N from dancing. It was a dreary day, rainy and dark. As we were going over the Sagamore bridge I told her "Look for boats in the canal!" She looked and said "No boats, it's a lousy day to be on a boat today, mummy." Huh.

Newsflash -- BF had a haircut! At least 6" off. She looks quite grown up.

She loves the cut and is constantly swinging her hair around. It's much easier on mummy too, as far as brushing goes.

trying

2006-11-16T09:46:00.000-05:00

i really am trying to update this blog ona regular basis, really. Here's a sample of this very moment as I sit in front of the computer (scene, I am typing):

This morning ("i need some,can i please have some red pinky socks") I am ("can I please have some red socks") ("I need stuff for my backpack because there is only one shirt - I remembered!") Am I writing something here? Did I start a thought? I think maybe I can remember it -- probably will on the way to the hairdressers with bf. (Temporary retreat to bedroom to select things for backpack) heads starting to clear, I can have a complete thought without being interrupted. maybe i should lie down. Ok, what was I saying?

Right.

This morning bf asked me for a Friday egg. But it's only thursday, I said. What will you have tomorrow? She had to think about that.

So we had a friday egg, a bowl of cereal, pears, and milk - oh and a piece of auntie jenny toast.

(I got some tights for the backpack, h here's the tights, look at the tights, look at what color the tights are (singing) this white tights will look really pretty with the green skirt, wouldn't that be pretty together? How about the white tights with the green skirt and the pink shirt)

sigh...

New

2006-11-07T08:24:00.000-05:00

bravia-advert.com/commercial/braviaextcommhigh.html

I saw this two days ago I love it. The whole general feeling and the music. i wish i would have thought of this. it is very inspirational. and now i have to get that album.

i am sick with the cough and nose thing going around. i hope to feel better by thursday, as that is my 10th wedding anniversary and we are going out to dinner. i want to be able to order something other than soup.

gotta go vote.

UPDATE: I got the album. I updated the link to go directly to Sony because it's a much better quality video.

BOO!

2006-11-02T07:58:00.000-05:00

gee, where do I start

2006-10-30T14:08:00.000-05:00

Early this month I had my 20 year high school reunion. (whew!) dh and I were not sure how the evening was going to go, but we (I) decided that I wanted to try to catch up with some of my friends (the five, maybe six friends I had). The evening started out a bit awkward, but quickly melted into a great evening, with dh and I really glad we went -- the one thing I couldn't get over was that everyone was lit up (save a few of us)! Why was I astonished that everyone was drinking heavily? All I can say is that I never was a big drinker - I guess. One of the people I wanted to catch up with was there with his wife (who traveled from Florida) - and we ended up spending most of the whole evening talking with them, and enjoying ourselves tremendously (without the aid of alcohol) and happily, they visited our house the next day and bf and their son were fast friends. We hope to see them later in November when they come up for her 20th reunion...

oh, yeah, and I read a book. "The Time Travelers Wife" -- that is another thing entirely.
oh, and I got a camera (thanks, ss) and am trying to figure out how to use it. I am making fast progress.

and I made my own witch hat out of newspaper for Halloween, and bf made her own candy corn hat. She is a ghost with a candy corn hat (at her request), and she wanted me to be a witch. This morning, before the preschool Halloween party, I put on some witch makeup and I scared bf. Then she said, you aren't as scary without your hat on, mummy. I pretty much scared all the kids at the party too -- that was fun, and nobody knew who we were, for a few minutes anyway. But isn't that the whole point?

and and and

and when bf grows up, she wants to be a whale driving a race car, with the number 100 million on the side.

and I need to update this more often

and I need to grow another set of arms.

so much

2006-10-05T06:32:00.000-05:00

have you ever had a friend one day, and then they just disappear? I have been the disappearing one and the dumped one. most recently, i was the dumped one. let me just say, it's very weird. in my experience it was a mom of a bf friend. we started hanging out alot this summer. she's funny, and sharp witted. her husband is really nice, and dh and i enjoyed having them over for cook outs. we even invited them up to the nh house, took them to s-land, and had an all around fun time. i knew from the start that this person wasn't really a big social butterfly, and had admitted to me that she didn't like people much. so my guess is that i annoyed her sufficiently enough that she had enough of me. but what i didn't know was that i was really annoying. my mom said that maybe she's going through a rough time. i know all about going through a rough time and holing yourself up, giving birth did that to me. the problem is, the dumped is left to guess what happened. is she critically ill? is she divorcing? does she need me, but can't ask? so my mom said that i should call her every once and a while - so i have been, and this is on my mind because i called her and left a message (a cheerful hello) yesterday. in all honesty, if she were wanting to not speak to me, then calling is probably not a good idea, but how am i to know? it was so sudden. but, what am i gonna do, right? oh well.

california visits

2006-10-04T06:43:00.000-05:00

This past weekend a blast from the past came to visit with his wonderful family. We brought them to nana ita's house in the mountains of nh. bf and q had a grand time together. dh is still suffering from the hike we took. just shows him that he needs to go on more hikes, i guess. we drank some really great wine, ate some softshell lobsters and chatted alot. it was finally a trip that we got to spend some good quality time with our friends. alot of baseball was spoken (go padres). we brought them to storyland. The foliage was spectacular. the weather was, well, new englandy. bf really took to them, they were very sweet with her. i don't have a camera yet, and the photos are awful that the video camera took. i just started to download the video clips this morning before bf's school. so i hope to be able to piece something cohesive together soon.

and yet this post really doesn't portray how we laughed til we cried about the "d-ream" rock while trying to play scrabble. or being completely soaked on our hike - me wearing a shower curtain - soaked from sweat on the inside and drenched with rain on the outside - giving me the extra workout i was missing at the gym. or swinging on the swings in north conway center in the dark, talking about the olympic training center and other mutual friends -- realizing we've forgotten alot, or maybe that was just me. the home made fruit cobbler, toads on a hole with toasted rounds - i am talking with my stomach - pizza and more pizza until it made me sick sunday night. home made pesto which q kept commenting "yum!" the moat, the beer, the toasted wine, maple candy, flying airplanes, the chuao (of course), good coffee, switching passengers in boston, after a few (really) near death experiences for me, and realizing that on the way up - we mostly talked about the same things (funny) in each car. ok, that feels more real.

Afraid so

2006-09-24T20:15:00.000-05:00

Is it starting to rain?
Did the check bounce?
Are we out of coffee?
Is this going to hurt?
Could you lose your job?
Did the glass break?
Was the baggage misrouted?
Will this go on my record?
Are you missing much money?
Was anyone injured?
Is the traffic heavy?
Do I have to remove my clothes?
Will it leave a scar?
Must you go?
Will this be in the papers?
Is my time up already?
Are we seeing the understudy?
Will it affect my eyesight?
Did all the books burn?
Are you still smoking?
Is the bone broken?
Will I have to put him to sleep?
Was the car totaled?
Am I responsible for these charges?
Are you contagious?
Will we have to wait long?
Is the runway icy?
Was the gun loaded?
Could this cause side effects?
Do you know who betrayed you?
Is the wound infected?
Are we lost?
Will it get any worse?

-- Jeanne Marie Beaumont

look what i drew!

2006-09-18T20:45:00.001-05:00

"It's an animal with a g on it's face!" I said.
"No, I wanted to draw a caterpillar, but i drew him wrong so i crossed it out. but it's still a drawing." said bf.

mummy

2006-09-18T20:45:00.000-05:00

"You will always be in my heart! And I will always be in your heart." says bf.
"Yes." I say.
"And I can stretch out my shirt with my knees!"
"Yes." I say.

are we there yet?

2006-08-31T21:29:00.000-05:00

instead of having quiet time today,, my daughter decided to get out her suitcase and pack her clothes for our trip to nh -- which we don't leave for until tomorrow. she pack very efficiently and all i really needed to do was take out one tee shirt and add one pull up. amazing. she's all ready to go! except dh and i are madly doing laundry so that we will have something to pack...I cried like a baby tonight over a silly tv movie. it was such a girl movie - but i have to say that i haven't done that in a while. jus an odd behavior that i have, crying at made for tv movies. i was out of practice for a while.

trying to get someone to print the business cards is going to be my undoing. i'm ready to print them myself...

heart

2006-08-26T19:37:00.000-05:00

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about hearts. It is BF's favorite shape. So she has taken it a step further. If she is especially happy, she will get lovey dovey and say "mama, you're a heart person." it is truly a sweet moment.

Today we got up late because we had pizza last night at the neighbors house. we went slower than we should have and ended up running around like crazy to get to the b-day party out in carver. we were late, not uncommon to us, but a new phenomenon to our (newer) friends. I made a kid music CD library for little J. i sure hope she likes it. it wasn't the most glamorous present - so it was not nearly as interesting as the harmonica that was taped on top of the cds.

I have recently rediscovered pee wee's playhouse. thanks to the local library, we can get it on dvd. it's so funny to see again. something i thought was so innovative, and cutting edge appears to me now like an 80's version of a 50's variety show -- which makes me like it even more than i did before. it's funky and funny, but thoughtful. Ha, who ever thought i'd be saying that about a tv show. bf really enjoys it alot. don't get me wrong, i don't promote the watching of television, i am just (really) selective.

i need to go to sleep and get up tomorrow and reorganize the garage. my goal is to set up some shelves in the garage to house the yard sale/craigslist stock - then stuff can be pulled out of the house and live somewhere (labeled) ready for sale or the garbage (who knows!) and not be mixed in with the stuff we are keeping - ultimately to clean out the basement entirely and clean it somehow - seal or dispose of the asbestos, and figure out how to make the basement water tight...(right...)

touch me

2006-08-25T06:58:00.000-05:00

Summer is late, my heart.
Words plucked out of the air
some forty years ago
when I was wild with love
and torn almost in two
scatter like leaves this night
of whistling wind and rain.
It is my heart that's late,
it is my song that's flown.
Outdoors all afternoon
under a gunmetal sky
staking my garden down,
I kneeled to the crickets trilling
underfoot as if about
to burst from their crusty shells;
and like a child again
marveled to hear so clear
and brave a music pour
from such a small machine.
What makes the engine go?
Desire, desire, desire.
The longing for the dance
stirs in the buried life.
One season only,
and it's done.
So let the battered old willow
thrash against the windowpanes
and the house timbers creak.
Darling, do you remember
the man you married? Touch me,
remind me who I am.

Stanley Kunitz

edna and the balloon festible

2006-08-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

We (BF and I) escaped to Maine this past week. We surprised mom and dad, j,n, and w in the parking lot of dairy joy. What fun! Wednesday k, i, and m came up and Thursday we all went to Edna's farm on Holman mountain. The farm is no more, but the homestead (dating from late 1700's) was still standing, but uninhabitable. Edna had a trailer placed beside the old farmhouse, and proudly showed us the inside, which was light and bright. It was a beautiful late summer day, warm, dry and sunny with little fluffy clouds here and there. We brought lunch and made sandwiches for everyone. edna's son peter came over and gave tractor rides on the 1950's vintage international to each of the kids. They all climbed in the trailer or on the atv to go down the hill to see Peters horses, Lilly the donkey, two goats, and Mr whiskers the rabbit via the old Holman mountain road. Edna had made an apple pie and we eagerly devoured it - each kid fighting over the size of their piece. It was a truly remarkable day. My grandfather, who was dear friends with Arly (edna's husband) ever since childhood would have been so happy to see us all their visiting the farm. That evening back at the camp I found out that Arly was a relative by marriage to my grandfather (hence: me).

The next day at 6am we were all standing on the green in lewiston watching the hot air balloons take off on a completely windless morning. There were all sorts of different colors, and shapes. The all time favorites were the bees Joey and Lilly, who took off holding hands and a few hundreds yards up, released hands. On the way back to the car, in the bank parking lot, a balloon was touching down. Someone yelled "we need hands!" We all stopped because we could see they needed help. "we need a big strong guy!" "DAD!" we all yelled. And there was Farber, holding the line which held the balloon on the ground. "there's three tons of air in there!" all the kids helped, along with a bunch of other people, to squeeze the air out of the balloon and throw it in a bag. We all toasted (with juice) to a successful launch and landing and learned from the pilot about the history of ballooning. It was quite interesting. Later that day we came back to the fairway and each kid got a ride. I love the color of the fair against the early evening. BF loved the fireworks - she kept saying "beautiful!"

Back to reality, well, with a bit of a detour. Saturday we drove down to Gloucester to take a ride on coco's new boat, a 17" Boston whaler. It was a very nice boat. After a wonderful lunch of shrimp salad sandwiches we took the boat to a beach that is only accessible to boats. Loads of dunes and sand and terms and gulls. Gathering sea clam shells and seaweed and bf having a fun time making "dinner" for everyone. The tide moved fast and we hopped back in the boat to make it home for a wonderful rib dinner (bf had 4 ribs! That's my girl!) and it was late late. After ice cream sandwiches I started babbling about our trip to Maine and how wonderful it was, rapidly putting everyone to sleep. Finally dh says, "I'm falling asleep" and that was our cue to hop in the car and head home. Another long day for bf, who handled it quite well. Sunday was a nothing day, waking up late (9:30) and doing zip all day. Monday (today) we visited the newest William, and brought pesto. In the afternoon we went to see j and brought her mom some pesto for her birthday. I still need to go to the store but I am too tired. I just want to go to bed and it's 7:30. (sigh)

afraid so

2006-08-12T14:12:00.000-05:00

BF has a new name for me.
"MOMMY, MOMMY, TATAMI, SALAMI, I LOVE YOU!"

much

2006-08-04T09:49:00.000-05:00

much better ankle, no gym for three days now. i am really missing it.
we are waiting, somewhat impatiently, to leave the house for a play date at little n's house with j.
we just pulled out the train set so i am hoping that will filll up the next hour or so before we leave.

i am really missing not having a camera. my ancient epson 3000 just stopped working. it had been threatening to stop but now, it's for real. i have had my heart set on the s80 for a couple of months now but may settle for the less expensive fujifilm f30 which looks good. i wish these things had aa batteries. it's not very convenient having special batteries -- then you have to get at least two sets and make sure they are charged up and blah blah blah. canon does has superior color...

i think that a's bc is almost designed! Yippee! Now if he will just answer the phone...hello?

what was your favorite part

2006-08-02T20:33:00.000-05:00

about today? I asked bf yesterday. "playing house with ben."

what was your favorite part about today? I asked bf today.
"Going to the dentist." she said."My favorite part about today was playing the balloon game with you." I said.

I wish my foot would get better, not worse.
I will do elliptical tomorrow morning, that is if i can walk on my foot without pain.
I've got to get some rest now.

all right

2006-08-02T04:37:00.000-05:00

I may have overdone it with the gym. This morning as i write at 5:30am my ankle is sore. sore enough to kep me from the gym. but i will plan on going tomorrow and this morning will take the opportunity to water the plants before they get cooked today. last night bf went to bed at 5:45pm. she was so tire that her eyebrows hurt. that's when i know she's really tired. yesterday ben came over and we had swimming lessons in the afternoon and she did not rest between events. i remembered this morning that friday is dancing school girl play date. i have to remember to call k this morning.

"mama, is it always summer on summer street?" that is the big question.

so how is the s80?

time

2006-07-31T06:05:00.000-05:00

being as busy ias i seem to have been lately, my dear friend sent me an email. "you never call anymore, is everything ok between us?" Yikes! I guess I never really realized how busy i have been with my own little world. She has recently had a baby, and bf and I went to visit her and her family in the hospital up in boston. I called her as soon as i got the email, but no answer, even on her cel phone. then i sat down at the computer and responded to her email and found myself babbling away about what was happening in my life. Funny, I was recently thinking that I don't have my adult interaction these days out of earshot of children, and when i get it, i tend to babble. i really have to get out more. the aquarium, the mfa, the park. Hey where is everyone!

and yet

2006-07-15T21:41:00.000-05:00

i failed to list the biggest news of all:
dh has gotten himself a new job!
he starts july 31.
he'll be working for musical education college. his alma mater.
it will be a big change for him.
he's been at his current job for 10 years - so he's a loyal sort.
and he's not so good with change.

i've seen a remarkable change in him.
His back hurts less. He smiles all the time.
I couldn't be more happy for him.

now i have to delegate some more church work that has seemed to jump up in my face.
I really need to just unplug, but i think i'll do that, and i start feeling guilty. but really, i can't do everything. and i know it. so i've got to delegate and get out from underneath all of this.

of mice and women

2006-07-13T11:04:00.000-05:00

Since I wrote last, I have:

had a mouse in my house
had a birthday
joined the gym (and have been going every morning, save three days)
discovered that we need new screens and or windows in our basement to keep critters out
gotten our laptop back
discovered podcasts with my my birthday ipod
been cleaning everything with bleach and water.
our dear friends had a baby girl. She's as cute as her siblings.
BF started swimming lessons at the gym.
talk to KW, it's been to long and she's still funny as hell
need to send E+K a housewarming present for their fabulous new home (I've got some ideas)
got the windshield replaced in the honda
got the ac recharged in the honda
got the oil changed in the honda
got a new inspection sticker for the pt
weeded, then weeded some more
grew 2 yellow cherry tomatoes, one BF ate, the other dh ate (many more to come)
my digital camera will not turn on (so how is that S80 E?)

gym at 6am = my time and more energy = very good happy mama

too much

2006-06-03T21:40:00.000-05:00

I made WAAAAYYY too much cole slaw. Yikes. UJ's party was a success, and my dogs are barking, on my feet most of the whole time. I came home and wanted to go straight to bed, but had to revise my letter to a speech. With much help from my father, here it is:

Thank you for providing this forum to discuss the budget and the future of the church house.

Giving up our use of the church house in favor of a commercial daycare is, in my opinion, not compatible with the role of the church in the community. The up front cost to bring in this enterprise - a playground - is prohibitive in our present financial condition. The twelve hour days, five days a week schedule proposed would incur serious and premature wear of the building, prevent other income opportunities, and displace our current users. There also exists the potential for the daycare to expand into a preschool and take over the Sunday school space, ignoring a big reason why we renovated the church house in the first place.

Many good ideas for church house use were presented on the May 23rd in the evening meeting: leasing space to a college, ramping up advertising of our church and services such as reception rental (after the completion of the kitchen), and many more. Some in the audience volunteered to increase their pledges to meet our budget shortfalls, and the exchange of ideas on how to create future income are a tribute to the dedication of our members.

We have all recently invested alot energy and money in our church house. I am grateful to be given a voice in plans for its future. A commercial daycare is not an appropriate financial solution, and not in line with our mission. We are one family in the service of God. We have many talents and if given opportunity, will rise to the needs of our church. Please, ask us.

And you can kiss my *ss. Well, I won't really say that, but I sure feel like it. So now I will sleep. I'm exhausted.

oof

2006-06-03T06:04:00.000-05:00

6:15am "MAMA!" silence "MAMA!" silence "MAMA! UM EARW!" (mama, come here!)
We are on night five of no pull ups, and we have had two dry nights and three wet ones. But as my sister says, there's no turning back now. Oh well.

Today I must make a ton of coleslaw, and some cornbread. I also want to spend some time working on andreweb. It will have to be this morning before 11am, and after bedtime. dh has three gigs this weekend and he is going off overnight tonight because one of the gigs starts at 8:30 am in nh tomorrow. Tomorrow bf and i will go to CI's ballet performance in boston with the rest of the cousins, and then to jacob wirths for some german food.

Something is wrong with the cat, he is howling weirdly for the past few days. I won't elaborate, Tom. But dh and bf may bring him to the vet today. And I can work on andreweb.

How about loster, maple syrup, saltwater taffy (blech). There's a combination!

For some reason my hamstrings are really sore, all last night and this morning. Mighty uncomfortable.

I forgot how much I like tuna with celery.