And I am most grateful...
...for a crazy, loving, funny, over-the-top Irish family.
...for friends who make me laugh.
...for creativity.
...for friends with babies, toddlers, and kids.
...for President-Elect Barack Obama.
...for those people in my life who remind me of all I have to give.
...for health.
...for cousins.
...for email and cell phones and blogs and facebook and all the wonderful ways available to me to keep in touch with far-flung friends and family.
...for fleece blankets.
...for heating pads.
...for tween girls (but not for their shrieking).
...for hope.
Dayenu.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
randomly and weirdly me
I am behind on blogging, but I'll be blogging 2x tonight as I've been tagged in 2 "surveys."
The lovely and talented Melissa has tagged me for a Random and Weirdly Me post!
Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself, some random, some weird.
3 Tag 7 people (if possible) at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.
Without further ado ... here are my seven random and weird ...
1. I had 6 toes on each foot at birth. (2 big toes on each foot!)
2. I had a hard time learning to dive (into a pool), but once my younger sister figured it out, it took me about a day and a half.
3. I tend to forget things--keys, jackets, medication...deodorant (not often)!
4. I talk to myself...often. It's how I think things through.
5. I still contemplate going back to school for an M.Div. or somesuch degree. It's especially appealing after a weekend like this one where I helped to facilitate a retreat.
6. I am currently drinking Polar beverage's "Orange Dry." (Yes, I'm struggling to come up with 7 facts.)
7. I "stole" tin foil this weekend. Yes, there is a funny story there.
I tag:
My blog friends have been tapped already!
The lovely and talented Melissa has tagged me for a Random and Weirdly Me post!
Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself, some random, some weird.
3 Tag 7 people (if possible) at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.
Without further ado ... here are my seven random and weird ...
1. I had 6 toes on each foot at birth. (2 big toes on each foot!)
2. I had a hard time learning to dive (into a pool), but once my younger sister figured it out, it took me about a day and a half.
3. I tend to forget things--keys, jackets, medication...deodorant (not often)!
4. I talk to myself...often. It's how I think things through.
5. I still contemplate going back to school for an M.Div. or somesuch degree. It's especially appealing after a weekend like this one where I helped to facilitate a retreat.
6. I am currently drinking Polar beverage's "Orange Dry." (Yes, I'm struggling to come up with 7 facts.)
7. I "stole" tin foil this weekend. Yes, there is a funny story there.
I tag:
My blog friends have been tapped already!
Monday, November 03, 2008
Election Eve Musings
On the first Tuesday in November...2004...I voted first thing in the morning and went about the rest of my day without a second thought. After work, I headed to the victory party for Maryland congressman Chris Van Hollen--no butterflies, no worries. I was ready to watch states turn from gray to blue...or red...and then listen to Chris' victory speech. After all, he was running in Montgomery County, Maryland...and he was a Democrat. No worries. We got to Chris' party early, grabbed a drink and some seats at a table in the corner. We stacked a few plates with appetizers and talked about the day, occasionally stealing a glance at the 12 foot high, 25 foot long wall of television screens along the back of the room. At about 7 o'clock, we noticed that people were standing five deep, eyes fixed on the TV screens. States were flipping from gray to red at an alarming rate. We saw what was happening, and slowly, people started to leave. Chris had won. He hadn't even arrived at his party yet, and we were leaving. No one looked up--we stared at the ground and quietly climbed into our cars.
Over the next few days, it felt as if we were living in a parallel universe. Sure, the Democrats had run a stuffed shirt whose entire political strategy hinged on saying, "George W. Bush will do X, Y, and Z...and I won't!" Sure, he hadn't done much to tell us what he would do but, but he was running against George.W.Bush. If you lived inside the Washington Beltway, or in any other blue bubble on the east and west coast, you were shell-shocked.
Here we are, four years later, and I feel as though I'm experiencing some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder. I've been anxious and terrified for the last year. I can't watch the news--Wolf Blitzer, Joe Scarborough, Tom Brokaw, Meredith Vieira, Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, Mika Brzezinski--they all make me crazy--though I do miss Tim Russert. If Tim were here, Sarah Palin couldn't have avoided Meet the Press, and he'd have eviscerated her in that "small town," Buffalo, intelligent, Jesuit-educated way he had...and he'd have done it smiling sweetly. I might feel better about this election. I do watch Jon Stewart though. He's my saving grace in the madness, though these days, his own anxiety and fury are barely veiled by humor.
Tomorrow is it. And I am convinced that our country does not need a Joe-6-Pack, a Nancy-the-Teacher, a Joe-the-Plumber, or a Sarah-the -Hockey-Mom as President. We don't need someone "just like us"--we need an extraordinary person with extraordinary vision. We're living in a dark and twisty, scary and damaged, broken world...and we need some hope.
But I worry. I worry about long lines. I worry that Colorado will see North Carolina and/or Virginia go blue and not bother to vote. I worry because polls had Barack Obama beating Hillary Clinton by double digits in New Hampshire, and she turned around and beat him. I worry that people are racists, that people still believe he's a Muslim (as if there's something wrong with that), and a terrorist. I worry about "undecideds"--as my friend Bill said to me today, "HOW CAN SOMEONE STILL BE UNDECIDED????" I try to remember an email I received a few weeks ago. It's a picture of Barack Obama at the convention, arm extended in that "Obaman" way. The caption reads: EVERYONE CHILL THE FUCK OUT. I GOT THIS!
And still I worry. I worry about what happens if we DO get President Barack Obama this January. I worry that people have bought into this Messiah complex and actually expect him to be perfect. I like Barack Obama--I'd be thrilled if he were my president. But a few months ago, I voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary. I wish I could have voted for both of them, but I had grown tired of the media turning Hillary into a schoolyard bully, while Barack was an innocent kid who'd never played the political game. I worry that his imperfections, his humanity, will be amplified to those who believe he can save our country and the world by Christmas 2009.
Tomorrow night, I plan to watch election returns with my friend Nichole. There will be a beer in my hand. I try to remind myself that, no matter what happens, I will wake up on Wednesday and go to work. No matter what happens, I will meet Matt and Rachel's teeny, perfect, sweet baby twins on Saturday. No matter what happens, life will go on. (Though in my most freaked out moments, I have visions of a 269-269 tie, or counting votes on Wednesday and Thursday and beyond.)
And then I remember what I learned this morning, watching the only "news" I can bear to see--ESPN. The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the Washington Redskins tonight on Monday Night Football. The game is in Washington. In the last FIFTEEN elections, the 'Skins last home game has been an accurate predictor. If the 'Skins win, the incumbent party holds the White House. If the 'Skins lose, the challenging party wins the White House.
So, if you are so inclined, root for the Steelers tonight...and if they lose, remember that these kinds of "records" are meant to be broken.
(EDITED TO SAY--STEELERS WIN!!!)
Over the next few days, it felt as if we were living in a parallel universe. Sure, the Democrats had run a stuffed shirt whose entire political strategy hinged on saying, "George W. Bush will do X, Y, and Z...and I won't!" Sure, he hadn't done much to tell us what he would do but, but he was running against George.W.Bush. If you lived inside the Washington Beltway, or in any other blue bubble on the east and west coast, you were shell-shocked.
Here we are, four years later, and I feel as though I'm experiencing some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder. I've been anxious and terrified for the last year. I can't watch the news--Wolf Blitzer, Joe Scarborough, Tom Brokaw, Meredith Vieira, Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, Mika Brzezinski--they all make me crazy--though I do miss Tim Russert. If Tim were here, Sarah Palin couldn't have avoided Meet the Press, and he'd have eviscerated her in that "small town," Buffalo, intelligent, Jesuit-educated way he had...and he'd have done it smiling sweetly. I might feel better about this election. I do watch Jon Stewart though. He's my saving grace in the madness, though these days, his own anxiety and fury are barely veiled by humor.
Tomorrow is it. And I am convinced that our country does not need a Joe-6-Pack, a Nancy-the-Teacher, a Joe-the-Plumber, or a Sarah-the -Hockey-Mom as President. We don't need someone "just like us"--we need an extraordinary person with extraordinary vision. We're living in a dark and twisty, scary and damaged, broken world...and we need some hope.
But I worry. I worry about long lines. I worry that Colorado will see North Carolina and/or Virginia go blue and not bother to vote. I worry because polls had Barack Obama beating Hillary Clinton by double digits in New Hampshire, and she turned around and beat him. I worry that people are racists, that people still believe he's a Muslim (as if there's something wrong with that), and a terrorist. I worry about "undecideds"--as my friend Bill said to me today, "HOW CAN SOMEONE STILL BE UNDECIDED????" I try to remember an email I received a few weeks ago. It's a picture of Barack Obama at the convention, arm extended in that "Obaman" way. The caption reads: EVERYONE CHILL THE FUCK OUT. I GOT THIS!
And still I worry. I worry about what happens if we DO get President Barack Obama this January. I worry that people have bought into this Messiah complex and actually expect him to be perfect. I like Barack Obama--I'd be thrilled if he were my president. But a few months ago, I voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary. I wish I could have voted for both of them, but I had grown tired of the media turning Hillary into a schoolyard bully, while Barack was an innocent kid who'd never played the political game. I worry that his imperfections, his humanity, will be amplified to those who believe he can save our country and the world by Christmas 2009.
Tomorrow night, I plan to watch election returns with my friend Nichole. There will be a beer in my hand. I try to remind myself that, no matter what happens, I will wake up on Wednesday and go to work. No matter what happens, I will meet Matt and Rachel's teeny, perfect, sweet baby twins on Saturday. No matter what happens, life will go on. (Though in my most freaked out moments, I have visions of a 269-269 tie, or counting votes on Wednesday and Thursday and beyond.)
And then I remember what I learned this morning, watching the only "news" I can bear to see--ESPN. The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the Washington Redskins tonight on Monday Night Football. The game is in Washington. In the last FIFTEEN elections, the 'Skins last home game has been an accurate predictor. If the 'Skins win, the incumbent party holds the White House. If the 'Skins lose, the challenging party wins the White House.
So, if you are so inclined, root for the Steelers tonight...and if they lose, remember that these kinds of "records" are meant to be broken.
(EDITED TO SAY--STEELERS WIN!!!)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Yankee Stadium
I feel like I just watched a piece of my childhood die. The last game (most likely) in Yankee Stadium. Growing up, the Yankees were among the worst teams in baseball. There were names like Stump Merrill, Alvaro Espinoza, Steve Sax, Mel Hall and Jesse Barfield. But it didn't matter to me, didn't matter in my household. The Yankees were my mom's team--my Nana and my Pa's team. We sat along the 3rd baseline in my dad's work seats. We saw a lot of losses in those days, but we didn't care...the sky seemed bluer and the grass seemed greener in Yankee Stadium. My sister, my brother and I would listen to my parents recount their own stories about Yankee Stadium.
And there was Don Mattingly. #23 was the favorite of almost every child in the tri-state area. I fell asleep every night from about 3rd grade through high school to the sound of Phil Rizzuto's voice, calling the games on the radio ("and the ball goes RIGHT THROUGH Espinoza's legs at short!" was a nightly ritual).
Then came the mid-90s. Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera...their names are now the stuff of Yankee legends. I went to my first Yankee game in years (darn living out of state) last year, and had to wait until the bottom of the 9th to see a walk-off grand slam. In my only game this year, my last game at Yankee Stadium, my dad, uncle and I stuck it out again for a walk-off, 2 out, bottom of the 9th homer. We sat in my sister's seats--upper deck, right behind home plate--we could see the entire Stadium. Good way to say goodbye.
Tonight's game started with a tribute to the great Yankees of the past. Mantle, Maris, Gehrig, Rizzuto, O'Neill, . And of course, the biggest ovation of all was for Bernie Williams. The last game pretty perfect--Andy Pettitte gets the win, Jeter left the game to a standing O and Enter Sandman blared through the speakers as Mariano Rivera got the close. Watching those guys tonight, especially as they took a final lap around Yankee Stadium, as Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Pettitte stood together on the mound for a photo op.
Someday, I'll take my own kids to the new Yankee Stadium. And it will be magical, and it will be majestic, and it will be wonderful. I'll watch their faces as they take it in for the first time, wearing t-shirts bearing the numbers and names of their favorite players, kids who are only in high school and even middle school right now. But I'll point across the street...and I'll tell them about MY Yankee Stadium, the Stadium where their grandparents and great-grandparents and great-great grandparents watched the Yankees. I'll tell them about Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. I'll tell them about the walk-off homeruns I witnessed...and the many many losses too.
Goodbye, Yankee Stadium. Thanks for the memories.
(Note to self...don't post tired...I'll be back to fix glaring errors and bad grammar later.)
And there was Don Mattingly. #23 was the favorite of almost every child in the tri-state area. I fell asleep every night from about 3rd grade through high school to the sound of Phil Rizzuto's voice, calling the games on the radio ("and the ball goes RIGHT THROUGH Espinoza's legs at short!" was a nightly ritual).
Then came the mid-90s. Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera...their names are now the stuff of Yankee legends. I went to my first Yankee game in years (darn living out of state) last year, and had to wait until the bottom of the 9th to see a walk-off grand slam. In my only game this year, my last game at Yankee Stadium, my dad, uncle and I stuck it out again for a walk-off, 2 out, bottom of the 9th homer. We sat in my sister's seats--upper deck, right behind home plate--we could see the entire Stadium. Good way to say goodbye.
Tonight's game started with a tribute to the great Yankees of the past. Mantle, Maris, Gehrig, Rizzuto, O'Neill, . And of course, the biggest ovation of all was for Bernie Williams. The last game pretty perfect--Andy Pettitte gets the win, Jeter left the game to a standing O and Enter Sandman blared through the speakers as Mariano Rivera got the close. Watching those guys tonight, especially as they took a final lap around Yankee Stadium, as Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Pettitte stood together on the mound for a photo op.
Someday, I'll take my own kids to the new Yankee Stadium. And it will be magical, and it will be majestic, and it will be wonderful. I'll watch their faces as they take it in for the first time, wearing t-shirts bearing the numbers and names of their favorite players, kids who are only in high school and even middle school right now. But I'll point across the street...and I'll tell them about MY Yankee Stadium, the Stadium where their grandparents and great-grandparents and great-great grandparents watched the Yankees. I'll tell them about Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. I'll tell them about the walk-off homeruns I witnessed...and the many many losses too.
Goodbye, Yankee Stadium. Thanks for the memories.
(Note to self...don't post tired...I'll be back to fix glaring errors and bad grammar later.)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Cancer sucks
When my mom called me on Friday to say that my friend Dana had called my house in NJ looking for my cell phone number, I knew Erin was gone. She was diagnosed with liver cancer about 3 years ago, had a transplant back in December, but never really got better.
I met Erin in high school. She'd gone to grammar school with Dana--and D and I had become fast friends. Erin had an easy smile and was truly one of the nicest people I've ever known. I'm not sure if she ever said a bad or negative thing about anyone. You couldn't help but like her. We lost touch after college, but Dana kept me updated on her health. I always meant to send Erin a card or a package...and always though I'd have more time.
Yup, cancer sucks. Tell me again why we're spending gazillions in Iraq???
I met Erin in high school. She'd gone to grammar school with Dana--and D and I had become fast friends. Erin had an easy smile and was truly one of the nicest people I've ever known. I'm not sure if she ever said a bad or negative thing about anyone. You couldn't help but like her. We lost touch after college, but Dana kept me updated on her health. I always meant to send Erin a card or a package...and always though I'd have more time.
Yup, cancer sucks. Tell me again why we're spending gazillions in Iraq???
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Sunday Sixteen
I owe y'all at least a 16 after 6 weeks away!
1. Work is insane right now. This is my first summer with the writing gig...and every year, I think "summer can't get any busier." And every year, it does.
2. My trip to LA was amazing. I visited my old school--my kids are now 7th, 8th and 9th graders!! I caught up with a few friends and spent a LOT of time with my CA family. Problem with that is that I miss them more than ever now--I'd forgotten how wonderful it is to sit on their old, worn, faded, blue couch (my bed on many a night during my years in LA) and just be. They are some of my favorite, most cherished people in this world. I also got to see our dear T twice!
3. I completed my 2nd triathlon last month. This one was down the Cape, in Falmouth. I loved it...the water was warm (I didn't look insane for wearing a speedo), the bike course was great, there was a fog bank holding off the sun, the run was FLAT. My bike chain fell off on a downhill as I shifted gears, so that was a bummer, but the rest of it was great. I hope to do that race every year.
4. Falcon Ridge was an adventure this year. Tracie, Nic, my friend Ali and I planned to leave Wednesday after work, but as Wednesday approached, the weather websites forecasted rain of Biblical proportions. So, we had a sleepover at my house on Wendesday night waited until Thursday. When we arrived, we were told we couldn't drive up the hill to our campsite (rhi and Steven had already staked our spot) so we had to triage our supplies and decide what we really needed (tents, sleeping bags, a change of clothes) and make the trek through the mud and water a couple of times.
5. Luckily, the weather could not stop the fantastic music: Crooked Still, Red Molly, Jason Spooner Trio and all our old favorites. We took our now-annual-trip-to-the-waterfall on Friday, basked in whatever sunshine we could find and spent a lot of time singing along.
6. Every year, I walk away from Falcon Ridge saying, "I forgot how much I loved X." One year, it was the Nields, one year Tracy Grammer...this year, it's Eddie from Ohio. My goodness! Luckily, our friend fumblerette made me a few EFO mixes that are giving me my fix. Right now, there's nothing better than Julie Murphy Wells singing, "I'm an Irish woman, I love weddings and funerals, beginnings and endings, the front and the back."
7. I discovered the FRFF showers this year. Thank you, Tracie, you've changed my life.
8. Saturday night, the rain returned. We'd enjoyed an evening of Nerissa and Katryna, Dar, EFO and Martin Sexton, but the sky was flashing. Ali and I decided to sleep in the car--I don't play around with lightning. But of course, that meant less sleeping and more uncomfortably shifting around all night, trying to catch 30 minutes of sleep in between. The next morning, N checked the iPhone (we aren't *that* dirty hippy) and we decided to go down for the Gospel Wake-Up (possibly the best hour of the weekend), return to camp to finish the pack-up, drive down the hill, catch Tracy Grammer's mainstage set and leave before the rain started. But the second we parked at the bottom of the hill, the thunder rumbled--we braved it anyway (we were hungry) until we started getting pelted with *hail*!!! And so ended our FRFF experience...we fled the scene and our 90 minute drive to the Woo only took us 4 hours.
9. I came home from FRFF, spent a few days at the office, then headed down the Cape to spend some time with my family on the tail end of their 2 week vacation. Nothing like my parents, my sister, my grandmother, my mom's sister and my dad's brother in one house! Actually, I love it. My other grandmother (dad's mom who passed away a few years ago) and my uncle (the one who was with us on this vaca) came on every vacation with us from the time I was 8 until I was about 18.
10. Summer is more than half over! Not sure how that happened, but I have a few more good trips planned. In less than 2 weeks, Tracie, Nic and I are headed to one of my favorite places on earth--and A&G are meeting us there! I lived in MD one summer during college, and my mom's cousin was building this house on the eastern shore--I love it there and can't wait to share it with friends. I also can't wait to eat crab!
11. The following weekend, I think I'll be down the Jersey Shore. My sister and her friends rent a house every summer and spend their weekends there--I've been meaning to go for 2 years now. I love Cape Cod and all, but the Jersey shore has waves that knock you down--and knock your suit off!
12. I'm on the hunt for a place to go horseback riding. So far, I've found only one place in MA, though I'll keep looking in CT and RI, maybe even NH. I haven't been on a horse in a few years and if I could find a place to ride once a month or every other month, I'd be a pretty happy camper.
13. My cousin and her kids have officially moved from London to NY!! Minty's almost 6 and Ned is almost 4--they arrived on July 1 and I spent the 4th and 5th of July with them. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of them.
14. I recently saw a foot doctor to see if he could help me with my ankle and knee pain (which I'm fairly certain originates with my wide, flat feet). He wants to try a few things before orthotics, including a night splint. Yeah...you try sleeping in this.
15. My goal for the end of September is to have my Massachusetts and New York teaching credentials in order.
16. I am counting down to the last weekend in January.
1. Work is insane right now. This is my first summer with the writing gig...and every year, I think "summer can't get any busier." And every year, it does.
2. My trip to LA was amazing. I visited my old school--my kids are now 7th, 8th and 9th graders!! I caught up with a few friends and spent a LOT of time with my CA family. Problem with that is that I miss them more than ever now--I'd forgotten how wonderful it is to sit on their old, worn, faded, blue couch (my bed on many a night during my years in LA) and just be. They are some of my favorite, most cherished people in this world. I also got to see our dear T twice!
3. I completed my 2nd triathlon last month. This one was down the Cape, in Falmouth. I loved it...the water was warm (I didn't look insane for wearing a speedo), the bike course was great, there was a fog bank holding off the sun, the run was FLAT. My bike chain fell off on a downhill as I shifted gears, so that was a bummer, but the rest of it was great. I hope to do that race every year.
4. Falcon Ridge was an adventure this year. Tracie, Nic, my friend Ali and I planned to leave Wednesday after work, but as Wednesday approached, the weather websites forecasted rain of Biblical proportions. So, we had a sleepover at my house on Wendesday night waited until Thursday. When we arrived, we were told we couldn't drive up the hill to our campsite (rhi and Steven had already staked our spot) so we had to triage our supplies and decide what we really needed (tents, sleeping bags, a change of clothes) and make the trek through the mud and water a couple of times.
5. Luckily, the weather could not stop the fantastic music: Crooked Still, Red Molly, Jason Spooner Trio and all our old favorites. We took our now-annual-trip-to-the-waterfall on Friday, basked in whatever sunshine we could find and spent a lot of time singing along.
6. Every year, I walk away from Falcon Ridge saying, "I forgot how much I loved X." One year, it was the Nields, one year Tracy Grammer...this year, it's Eddie from Ohio. My goodness! Luckily, our friend fumblerette made me a few EFO mixes that are giving me my fix. Right now, there's nothing better than Julie Murphy Wells singing, "I'm an Irish woman, I love weddings and funerals, beginnings and endings, the front and the back."
7. I discovered the FRFF showers this year. Thank you, Tracie, you've changed my life.
8. Saturday night, the rain returned. We'd enjoyed an evening of Nerissa and Katryna, Dar, EFO and Martin Sexton, but the sky was flashing. Ali and I decided to sleep in the car--I don't play around with lightning. But of course, that meant less sleeping and more uncomfortably shifting around all night, trying to catch 30 minutes of sleep in between. The next morning, N checked the iPhone (we aren't *that* dirty hippy) and we decided to go down for the Gospel Wake-Up (possibly the best hour of the weekend), return to camp to finish the pack-up, drive down the hill, catch Tracy Grammer's mainstage set and leave before the rain started. But the second we parked at the bottom of the hill, the thunder rumbled--we braved it anyway (we were hungry) until we started getting pelted with *hail*!!! And so ended our FRFF experience...we fled the scene and our 90 minute drive to the Woo only took us 4 hours.
9. I came home from FRFF, spent a few days at the office, then headed down the Cape to spend some time with my family on the tail end of their 2 week vacation. Nothing like my parents, my sister, my grandmother, my mom's sister and my dad's brother in one house! Actually, I love it. My other grandmother (dad's mom who passed away a few years ago) and my uncle (the one who was with us on this vaca) came on every vacation with us from the time I was 8 until I was about 18.
10. Summer is more than half over! Not sure how that happened, but I have a few more good trips planned. In less than 2 weeks, Tracie, Nic and I are headed to one of my favorite places on earth--and A&G are meeting us there! I lived in MD one summer during college, and my mom's cousin was building this house on the eastern shore--I love it there and can't wait to share it with friends. I also can't wait to eat crab!
11. The following weekend, I think I'll be down the Jersey Shore. My sister and her friends rent a house every summer and spend their weekends there--I've been meaning to go for 2 years now. I love Cape Cod and all, but the Jersey shore has waves that knock you down--and knock your suit off!
12. I'm on the hunt for a place to go horseback riding. So far, I've found only one place in MA, though I'll keep looking in CT and RI, maybe even NH. I haven't been on a horse in a few years and if I could find a place to ride once a month or every other month, I'd be a pretty happy camper.
13. My cousin and her kids have officially moved from London to NY!! Minty's almost 6 and Ned is almost 4--they arrived on July 1 and I spent the 4th and 5th of July with them. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of them.
14. I recently saw a foot doctor to see if he could help me with my ankle and knee pain (which I'm fairly certain originates with my wide, flat feet). He wants to try a few things before orthotics, including a night splint. Yeah...you try sleeping in this.
15. My goal for the end of September is to have my Massachusetts and New York teaching credentials in order.
16. I am counting down to the last weekend in January.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sunday Send-off
I leave for Los Angeles on Tuesday. Apparently, 4 years is just the right amount of emotional distance, because I'm actually excited about this trip! I am looking forward to doing what I *want* to do and seeing who I *want* to see. I get to see Teresa! I get to eat at my favorite restaurants! (Ethiopian food, Wahoo's Fish Tacos, In N Out burger, Bay Cities Deli!!!) I get to see the people in LA that I actually enjoy.
But, I've been remiss in blogging, as I was reminded today. I realized that I never posted pics from my trip to Atlanta (of which I don't have many).
View from my hotel room:
Flowers in March (when it was still frosty in MA):
At the suggestion of an alum from the HC Class of '56, a resident of Atlanta and a good buddy of mine, GretaJane and I hit up the Cyclorama (which was surprisingly cool!):
It was a fun trip!!
Next photos are from today. I headed to Providence bright and early this morning to paint Matt and Rachel's new house!! It was a full day, but I had fun painting with Matt, Rachel's mom, Nic, Tracie and their friend Ralph. Rachel ordered our lunch and brought us drinks, and did some packing at the current house since paint fumes are bad for the babies!!
(See before and after videos here:
Before
&
After)
Here are a few pics:
A rare photo of moi:
The finished study (it's more terracotta than orange in real life):
Ralph painting the master bedroom a lovely cloudy sky blue:
Nic and Tracie paint the guest room "winsome lilac":
Babies' room, yet to be painted...these are the options. Also, Rachel and Stephanie hanging out in the babies' room.
Alright, all. I took tomorrow off--I have a foot doctor appt. to see if he can help my knees, I need to organize and pack, and head out to Northampton for the evening. The airport shuttle picks me up at 5:45 (bleeeeeh) Tuesday morning. I come home at 1 AM (blllllllleeeeeeeehhhhhh) on the morning of the 26th. I'll bring photos!
But, I've been remiss in blogging, as I was reminded today. I realized that I never posted pics from my trip to Atlanta (of which I don't have many).
View from my hotel room:
Flowers in March (when it was still frosty in MA):
At the suggestion of an alum from the HC Class of '56, a resident of Atlanta and a good buddy of mine, GretaJane and I hit up the Cyclorama (which was surprisingly cool!):
It was a fun trip!!Next photos are from today. I headed to Providence bright and early this morning to paint Matt and Rachel's new house!! It was a full day, but I had fun painting with Matt, Rachel's mom, Nic, Tracie and their friend Ralph. Rachel ordered our lunch and brought us drinks, and did some packing at the current house since paint fumes are bad for the babies!!
(See before and after videos here:
Before
&
After)
Here are a few pics:
A rare photo of moi:
The finished study (it's more terracotta than orange in real life):
Ralph painting the master bedroom a lovely cloudy sky blue:
Nic and Tracie paint the guest room "winsome lilac":
Babies' room, yet to be painted...these are the options. Also, Rachel and Stephanie hanging out in the babies' room.
Alright, all. I took tomorrow off--I have a foot doctor appt. to see if he can help my knees, I need to organize and pack, and head out to Northampton for the evening. The airport shuttle picks me up at 5:45 (bleeeeeh) Tuesday morning. I come home at 1 AM (blllllllleeeeeeeehhhhhh) on the morning of the 26th. I'll bring photos!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Venturing into the Unknown
After 3 years of writing in the Big Yellow House, I'm really venturing into fiction...and the unknown. I've written 2 parts of a story and I'm not sure where it's going. It's exciting, and intimidating...but I'm safe in that room and so, I write. This is FUN!
*************************************************************
PART 1
She glanced one last time in the rearview mirror, taking a mental photograph of the white lighthouse as it disappeared from view. She heard a whine from the backseat.
"It's OK, Sadie. It's OK."
She turned up the radio and Bruce Springsteen's voice mingled with the sea air. "It's going to be OK," she repeated.
She drove down the main street of town, not daring to look out the window for fear she'd catch someone's eye, and slid into the left lane to turn for the highway, but changed her mind and jerked the car to the right, toward the water.
Hopping out of the car, she grabbed her camera bag from the backseat. She wanted to take Sadie with her, but she know that her canine companion would want to play in the surf. That was not an option. Pulling her Yankee cap down further over her eyes, she jogged to the boardwalk and snapped a few photos of the rickety, weathered wood, the boardwalk ice cream shop, the turned down lifeguard chairs lying in the sand, and the waves. Her legs ached to dip into the water, but she knew she couldn't. After turning for a last long shot of the lighthouse, blurry through her tears, she ran back to the car, wiping her eyes, and pulled out onto the street. She pointing her jeep towards the highway, closed the windows and flipped on the AC--she didn't want to smell the salt and sand anymore.
* * * * * * * *
PART 2 (You should know that our prompt/challenge was to use these 5 objects in our story: stringless guitar, pizza cutter, duffel bag, Bible, bonzai tree.)
By the time she hit the Jersey Turnpike, the Bruce Springsteen CD had played through. She reached into the pile of CDs next to her and grabbed one, trading it for Bruce without even looking. The unmistakable low strings of Crooked Still filled the car--this would work. Her phone buzzed in the cupholder beside her. She ignored it and kept driving. Ten minutes later, it rang again. She ignored it and turned up the music.
As she approached the Delaware Memorial Bridge, she realized she hadn't eaten since lunchtime yesterday. She pulled off the highway into the Clara Barton Rest Stop. Opening the trunk, she pushed aside her sad, stringless guitar. A year and a half ago, just a few weeks after bringing Sadie home, she'd been upstairs when she hear the horrible crash of her guitar hitting the floor, strings vibrating painfully. The sound itself scared Sadie away before she could do any permanent damage. She'd found the puppy backed int a corner, growling at the fallen guitar with 4 snapped strings. Though she'd never gotten around to restringing it, she'd tossed it in the car at the last minute--maybe she'd string it on this trip. She pulled Sadie's red leash out of one of the duffel bags jammed in the trunk.
"C'mon, girl," she said. She let Sadie stretch her legs for a few minuts before leading her back to the car. "I'll be right back, " she said, rubbing the dog behind her golden ears and checking the travel bowl to make sure there was still water inside before shutting the door and jogging inside.
About half an hour into the drive, she'd realized she was squinting--and that her sunglasses were back on the kitchen table. Just inside the doors, under a sign that read "Clara Barton Rest Stop. Welcome to the Garden State," was a cart covered in sunglasses. She plucked a pair of plastic $18 shades and set them down next to the register, in front of a tiny bonzai tree, handing the man a $20.
She turned and looked around the entryway at her options and settled on pizza. There was a bit of a line and she found herself staring blankly at the teenaged boy rolling the pizza cutter methodically over one pizza, then another and another.
"Ex-cuse me, ma'am." She looked up at the teenage girl rolling her eyes, "Can I help you?"
"Two cheese slices to go, a water and an iced tea, please"
She opened her wallet to hand the cashier money and realizing she only had 2 singles, pulled out her ATM card instead. The cashier smiled at her from behind big, round glasses and looked quickly at her card. "Thank you, C-Carries?"
She smiled. "It's Karis. Thanks," and took back her card.
"Karis? What is that?"
"It's Greek. Have a good one."
She walked back to the car shaking her head. Her father had wanted to name her Grace, but that was too plain and ordinary for her mother. They had settled on Karis, which meant grace in Greek, thereby honoring her father's idea and her mother's heritage. They thought it was perfect, but they didn't have to go through life spelling and pronouncing it for everyone.
When she got back to the car, she set her pizza on the passenger seat and stuck the drinks in the cupholders. She moved the cellphone, noting that she now had 4 missed calls, all from the same number. She tore off a piece of pizza crust and gave it to Sadie. It was the least she could do--the poor dog hated car rides.
An hour later, as she approached Baltimore, the phone rang again. Looking at the number, she flipped it open, taking a deep breath.
"Hi."
"Hi? Karis, I've been calling for hours. What the f - "
"I can't. Annie, I'm sorry, but I can't right now."
"Are you OK?"
"Please, An, I'll call you when I get there. Maybe I'll be able to explain. Please?"
"Alright. Be careful. Keep your phone charged. Lock your doors. Pull off if you get tired. ... I love you."
"Promise. I love you too."
She closed the phone and threw it on the floor of the backseat. It was time to switch CDs again.
She drove all night, with Billy Joel, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beatles and Carole King as her soundtrack. She stopped every few hours to let Sadie out and grab a drink or a snack. In Tennessee, she'd been accosted by a Bible salesman, reminding her that she was a sinner.
"Jesus saves!" he cried.
Sadie growled. The man followed Karis to her car, quoting from Scripture. Finally, she turned to face him.
"I'm Catholic," she said.
He stopped in his tracks. "Oh."
*************************************************************
PART 1
She glanced one last time in the rearview mirror, taking a mental photograph of the white lighthouse as it disappeared from view. She heard a whine from the backseat.
"It's OK, Sadie. It's OK."
She turned up the radio and Bruce Springsteen's voice mingled with the sea air. "It's going to be OK," she repeated.
She drove down the main street of town, not daring to look out the window for fear she'd catch someone's eye, and slid into the left lane to turn for the highway, but changed her mind and jerked the car to the right, toward the water.
Hopping out of the car, she grabbed her camera bag from the backseat. She wanted to take Sadie with her, but she know that her canine companion would want to play in the surf. That was not an option. Pulling her Yankee cap down further over her eyes, she jogged to the boardwalk and snapped a few photos of the rickety, weathered wood, the boardwalk ice cream shop, the turned down lifeguard chairs lying in the sand, and the waves. Her legs ached to dip into the water, but she knew she couldn't. After turning for a last long shot of the lighthouse, blurry through her tears, she ran back to the car, wiping her eyes, and pulled out onto the street. She pointing her jeep towards the highway, closed the windows and flipped on the AC--she didn't want to smell the salt and sand anymore.
* * * * * * * *
PART 2 (You should know that our prompt/challenge was to use these 5 objects in our story: stringless guitar, pizza cutter, duffel bag, Bible, bonzai tree.)
By the time she hit the Jersey Turnpike, the Bruce Springsteen CD had played through. She reached into the pile of CDs next to her and grabbed one, trading it for Bruce without even looking. The unmistakable low strings of Crooked Still filled the car--this would work. Her phone buzzed in the cupholder beside her. She ignored it and kept driving. Ten minutes later, it rang again. She ignored it and turned up the music.
As she approached the Delaware Memorial Bridge, she realized she hadn't eaten since lunchtime yesterday. She pulled off the highway into the Clara Barton Rest Stop. Opening the trunk, she pushed aside her sad, stringless guitar. A year and a half ago, just a few weeks after bringing Sadie home, she'd been upstairs when she hear the horrible crash of her guitar hitting the floor, strings vibrating painfully. The sound itself scared Sadie away before she could do any permanent damage. She'd found the puppy backed int a corner, growling at the fallen guitar with 4 snapped strings. Though she'd never gotten around to restringing it, she'd tossed it in the car at the last minute--maybe she'd string it on this trip. She pulled Sadie's red leash out of one of the duffel bags jammed in the trunk.
"C'mon, girl," she said. She let Sadie stretch her legs for a few minuts before leading her back to the car. "I'll be right back, " she said, rubbing the dog behind her golden ears and checking the travel bowl to make sure there was still water inside before shutting the door and jogging inside.
About half an hour into the drive, she'd realized she was squinting--and that her sunglasses were back on the kitchen table. Just inside the doors, under a sign that read "Clara Barton Rest Stop. Welcome to the Garden State," was a cart covered in sunglasses. She plucked a pair of plastic $18 shades and set them down next to the register, in front of a tiny bonzai tree, handing the man a $20.
She turned and looked around the entryway at her options and settled on pizza. There was a bit of a line and she found herself staring blankly at the teenaged boy rolling the pizza cutter methodically over one pizza, then another and another.
"Ex-cuse me, ma'am." She looked up at the teenage girl rolling her eyes, "Can I help you?"
"Two cheese slices to go, a water and an iced tea, please"
She opened her wallet to hand the cashier money and realizing she only had 2 singles, pulled out her ATM card instead. The cashier smiled at her from behind big, round glasses and looked quickly at her card. "Thank you, C-Carries?"
She smiled. "It's Karis. Thanks," and took back her card.
"Karis? What is that?"
"It's Greek. Have a good one."
She walked back to the car shaking her head. Her father had wanted to name her Grace, but that was too plain and ordinary for her mother. They had settled on Karis, which meant grace in Greek, thereby honoring her father's idea and her mother's heritage. They thought it was perfect, but they didn't have to go through life spelling and pronouncing it for everyone.
When she got back to the car, she set her pizza on the passenger seat and stuck the drinks in the cupholders. She moved the cellphone, noting that she now had 4 missed calls, all from the same number. She tore off a piece of pizza crust and gave it to Sadie. It was the least she could do--the poor dog hated car rides.
An hour later, as she approached Baltimore, the phone rang again. Looking at the number, she flipped it open, taking a deep breath.
"Hi."
"Hi? Karis, I've been calling for hours. What the f - "
"I can't. Annie, I'm sorry, but I can't right now."
"Are you OK?"
"Please, An, I'll call you when I get there. Maybe I'll be able to explain. Please?"
"Alright. Be careful. Keep your phone charged. Lock your doors. Pull off if you get tired. ... I love you."
"Promise. I love you too."
She closed the phone and threw it on the floor of the backseat. It was time to switch CDs again.
She drove all night, with Billy Joel, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beatles and Carole King as her soundtrack. She stopped every few hours to let Sadie out and grab a drink or a snack. In Tennessee, she'd been accosted by a Bible salesman, reminding her that she was a sinner.
"Jesus saves!" he cried.
Sadie growled. The man followed Karis to her car, quoting from Scripture. Finally, she turned to face him.
"I'm Catholic," she said.
He stopped in his tracks. "Oh."
Thursday, May 15, 2008
T13
1) I think I have an allergy issue. I was dizzy earlier this week. About this time last year, I had dizzy spells and it turned out to be fluid in my ears. I've been taking allergy meds and the heavy head is better.
2) I started triathlon training yesterday. 9 weeks from Sunday, I'll compete in the Falmouth Tri.
3) N and I went to see Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry at the Iron Horse last weekend. I always forget how much I love TG--her songs, her stories, her humor. It made me very excited for FRFF.
4) I booked my flight to L.A. this week. 9 days in June--I'm excited.
5) Even with missing 7 work days for L.A., I have 3 days to take before June 30!
6) I made an appointment with a podiatrist today. They want to x-ray my feet and were surprised to hear me say I've had many an x-ray of my foot. I don't think they are expecting a web-footed girl with scars from toe amputation, do you?
7) My cell phone is no longer holding a charge. It makes me very sad. I really don't want to spend money on a stinking new battery.
8) On a lunch errand today, I ran into one of my ball players and her mom. The mom needed a full 30 seconds to recognize me since I wasn't in shorts and a t-shirt.
9) I'm going home in a few weeks to be my parents' daughter's Confirmation sponsor. Katie and I have the same birthday--she was my 14th birthday present! I can't quite believe that the tiny infant I used to babysit is 15 years old!!
10) In the last few weeks, my email box has brought me many an email from my dearest darling Big Yellow friends--on an almost daily basis. This makes me exceedingly happy. And grateful.
11) This is a very busy time at work...someone joked recently that there isn't any truly "quiet" time. I tried to contradict her, but...well, she's right. Thankfully, I really do enjoy my job and I find the new responsibilities challenging. Even if I do daydream about 7 year olds.
12) I got a new print that I need to have framed. It has a watercolor of a bicycle and reads, "It has something to do with giving back while moving forward."
13) I am the 4th of 24 in my generation of cousins. Our parents' efforts to get us all together as children has paid off. We're friends. We enjoy one another's company. We get together just because, with our parents and without our parents. It's such a gift that our parents gave us.
2) I started triathlon training yesterday. 9 weeks from Sunday, I'll compete in the Falmouth Tri.
3) N and I went to see Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry at the Iron Horse last weekend. I always forget how much I love TG--her songs, her stories, her humor. It made me very excited for FRFF.
4) I booked my flight to L.A. this week. 9 days in June--I'm excited.
5) Even with missing 7 work days for L.A., I have 3 days to take before June 30!
6) I made an appointment with a podiatrist today. They want to x-ray my feet and were surprised to hear me say I've had many an x-ray of my foot. I don't think they are expecting a web-footed girl with scars from toe amputation, do you?
7) My cell phone is no longer holding a charge. It makes me very sad. I really don't want to spend money on a stinking new battery.
8) On a lunch errand today, I ran into one of my ball players and her mom. The mom needed a full 30 seconds to recognize me since I wasn't in shorts and a t-shirt.
9) I'm going home in a few weeks to be my parents' daughter's Confirmation sponsor. Katie and I have the same birthday--she was my 14th birthday present! I can't quite believe that the tiny infant I used to babysit is 15 years old!!
10) In the last few weeks, my email box has brought me many an email from my dearest darling Big Yellow friends--on an almost daily basis. This makes me exceedingly happy. And grateful.
11) This is a very busy time at work...someone joked recently that there isn't any truly "quiet" time. I tried to contradict her, but...well, she's right. Thankfully, I really do enjoy my job and I find the new responsibilities challenging. Even if I do daydream about 7 year olds.
12) I got a new print that I need to have framed. It has a watercolor of a bicycle and reads, "It has something to do with giving back while moving forward."
13) I am the 4th of 24 in my generation of cousins. Our parents' efforts to get us all together as children has paid off. We're friends. We enjoy one another's company. We get together just because, with our parents and without our parents. It's such a gift that our parents gave us.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Friends
Last weekend, I spent yet another fantastic 3 days with some of my most favorite people in all the world. We sang, ate, drank, danced, laughed and listened. On Friday night, we found our seats in a familiar dark corner room at our bar of choice, quizzing each other about state birds and celebrating TWO babies to arrive in November. On Saturday night, we all sat around in a cozy yellow living room and sang great songs and silly songs late into the night. Sunday afternoon, we didn't want it to end and ate slowly at Tokyo and Taipei, sharing pictures and quiet stories. We hugged and waved as we walked out of sight, promising we'd be in touch. That night, a flurry of emails flooded our inboxes as we relived the weekend and started our countdown til January.
For most of us, our reunion happened much sooner than we anticipated...and much sooner than we would have liked. Our friend, the always witty, perfectly sarcastic and compassionate Andrea Coller, died last Wednesday night after a long battle with cancer. I couldn't quite wrap my mind around it when I heard the news--I closed my eyes and heard her voice in my ear, reading her story...and I heard our laughter in gales in response to her straight-forward storytelling. I didn't know Andrea well--but we've been on several writing retreats together now and in that familiar living room in a big yellow house, strong bonds formed even if we didn't talk for 6 months at a time. I consider myself lucky to count Andrea among my friends...but I was also a fan--of her writing, her music, her fashion and her one-of-a-kind personality.
About a year ago, Andrea began an essay on our retreat. I remember laughing so hard my face hurt while falling deeply in love with her writing. She submitted that piece to a contest for Glamour magazine...and out of thousands of entries, hers won. She was surprised. We, her writing companions, were not. The piece embodied brilliance. Last weekend, Andrea talked about how excited she was to see the article in print--and to get the feedback from the judges. Even though the magazine hit the newsstands over a week early, Andrea missed it. So we're celebrating it for (and with) her. Go buy the lovely Glamour with a botoxed Jessica Simpson on the cover. Open it to page 150. Or simply go here:
"I Want My Life Back"
Interview with Andrea
(And for that feedback Andrea wanted to read, you can go here and scroll about 2/3 of the way down to read judge Jennifer Weiner's thoughts on Andrea and the piece. Thanks, Matt.)
Andrea's funeral was on Monday. A group of us from retreat gathered in Northampton on Sunday to be together, remember Andrea and celebrate our friendships. I can't help but think Andrea was smiling down on us as we sang music she loved and splashed around in the hot tub. At the service, I looked to my left and my right and saw people for whom I am especially grateful. They make me laugh, they let me cry, they listen and they accept with open arms and hearts. We're lucky to have each other--and we were lucky to have Andrea. When January finally comes, we'll be popping TicTacs and drinking 007s...and we'll try to be as funny and as honest as she always was.
Enough said, sha la la la la la la la la la...
For most of us, our reunion happened much sooner than we anticipated...and much sooner than we would have liked. Our friend, the always witty, perfectly sarcastic and compassionate Andrea Coller, died last Wednesday night after a long battle with cancer. I couldn't quite wrap my mind around it when I heard the news--I closed my eyes and heard her voice in my ear, reading her story...and I heard our laughter in gales in response to her straight-forward storytelling. I didn't know Andrea well--but we've been on several writing retreats together now and in that familiar living room in a big yellow house, strong bonds formed even if we didn't talk for 6 months at a time. I consider myself lucky to count Andrea among my friends...but I was also a fan--of her writing, her music, her fashion and her one-of-a-kind personality.
About a year ago, Andrea began an essay on our retreat. I remember laughing so hard my face hurt while falling deeply in love with her writing. She submitted that piece to a contest for Glamour magazine...and out of thousands of entries, hers won. She was surprised. We, her writing companions, were not. The piece embodied brilliance. Last weekend, Andrea talked about how excited she was to see the article in print--and to get the feedback from the judges. Even though the magazine hit the newsstands over a week early, Andrea missed it. So we're celebrating it for (and with) her. Go buy the lovely Glamour with a botoxed Jessica Simpson on the cover. Open it to page 150. Or simply go here:
"I Want My Life Back"
Interview with Andrea
(And for that feedback Andrea wanted to read, you can go here and scroll about 2/3 of the way down to read judge Jennifer Weiner's thoughts on Andrea and the piece. Thanks, Matt.)
Andrea's funeral was on Monday. A group of us from retreat gathered in Northampton on Sunday to be together, remember Andrea and celebrate our friendships. I can't help but think Andrea was smiling down on us as we sang music she loved and splashed around in the hot tub. At the service, I looked to my left and my right and saw people for whom I am especially grateful. They make me laugh, they let me cry, they listen and they accept with open arms and hearts. We're lucky to have each other--and we were lucky to have Andrea. When January finally comes, we'll be popping TicTacs and drinking 007s...and we'll try to be as funny and as honest as she always was.
Enough said, sha la la la la la la la la la...
Sunday, April 06, 2008
One word
1. Where is your cell phone? table
2. Your significant other? ha
3. Your hair? annoying
4. Your mother? brilliant
5. Your father? determined
6. Your favorite thing? kids
7. Your dream last night? blank
8. Your favorite drink? coke
9. Your dream/goal? children
10. The room you're in? disaster
11. Your ex? crazy
12. Your fear? alone
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
14. Where were you last night? Lost
15. What you're not? patient
16. Muffins? nah
17. One of your wish list items? Africa
18. Where you grew up? Jersey
19. The last thing you did? drink
20. What are you wearing? pjs
21. Your TV? basketball
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? shiny
24. Your life? content
25. Your mood? cozy
26. Missing someone? yes
27 Your car? reliable
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29 Favorite Store? lovely
30. Your summer? fun!
31. Like someone? indeed
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? play
34. Last time you cried? sweet
2. Your significant other? ha
3. Your hair? annoying
4. Your mother? brilliant
5. Your father? determined
6. Your favorite thing? kids
7. Your dream last night? blank
8. Your favorite drink? coke
9. Your dream/goal? children
10. The room you're in? disaster
11. Your ex? crazy
12. Your fear? alone
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
14. Where were you last night? Lost
15. What you're not? patient
16. Muffins? nah
17. One of your wish list items? Africa
18. Where you grew up? Jersey
19. The last thing you did? drink
20. What are you wearing? pjs
21. Your TV? basketball
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? shiny
24. Your life? content
25. Your mood? cozy
26. Missing someone? yes
27 Your car? reliable
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29 Favorite Store? lovely
30. Your summer? fun!
31. Like someone? indeed
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? play
34. Last time you cried? sweet
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Schuyler's Monster
Last week, I read every night before bed, then forced myself to put the book down and go to sleep. I could have read it all in one sitting, but I wanted to enjoy it...I didn't want the story to end.The book is Schuyler's Monster by Robert Rummel-Hudson. I've been reading Rob's blog for about three years now, and while I enjoy his writing a great deal, it will surprise none of you that it was his daughter, Schuyler, who captured my interest and a piece of my heart. Rob manages to write about Schuyler in a way that doesn't shine a spotlight on her, but instead reflects the light that eminates from inside her--through a crooked, broad smile and huge, sparkling eyes.
I was excited to finally have my hands on this book, but I knew I was in trouble when I started crying while reading the acknowledgments. Rob's writing has the ability to make me laugh out loud, but many times I have read his words with tears sliding down my cheeks. Life has not been gentle with Schuyler, but she has a rough and tumble spirit that will not be contained.
The book chronicles Rob's journey as a father...from the first days of diapers and jaundice, through the questions around why Schuyler wouldn't, or couldn't, speak, and all the way to Plano, TX, and a group of people who embrace, celebrate and revel in his daughter's unique being. As Schuyler grows and learns to look her monster in the eye, Rob is there, sword in hand, to fight right along with her.
I planned to be more articulate about this book, but I'm having trouble putting it all into words. Go buy the book...then go read the blog--and even more importantly, go look at the pictures on flickr. I dare you to resist Schuyler.
***************************************************
In other news...look what arrived last week!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
4 things...(a different kind of T13)
A friend sent me this one...feel free to take it to your own blog and fill in the blanks!
Four jobs I have had in my life...
1. bus girl/hostess/foodrunner at a local pub
2. nanny
3. teacher
4. writer
Four movies I would watch over and over (no matter if they are on crappy TV and cut up): (Not in any order)
1. A League of Their Own
2. When Harry Met Sally
3. Juno
4. Silence of the Lambs
Four places I have lived:
1. New York
2. New Jersey
3. Massachusetts
4. California
Four TV Shows that I watch (right now):
1. Lost
2. Survivor
3. American Idol (I know, I know, but my friends at work watch it and if I don't, I'm left out of the lunch conversation!)
4. Grey's Anatomy
Four places I have been (that i love):
1. Cape Cod
2. Outer Banks of NC
3. Ireland
4. Eastern Shore of MD
Four People who e-mail me (regularly):
1. Melissa :)
2. Anne
3. Whitney
4. Dennise (she does our "death notices" at work!!)
Four favorite things to eat:
1. Crab
2. Lasagna
3. Ice Cream (let's face it, this is #1)
4. clam chowder
Four places I would rather be right now:
1. beach
2. Ireland
3. South Africa
4. ski slopes
Four things I am looking forward to this year:
1. BY retreat in April
2. Trip to CA in June
3. The possibility of my cousins moving to NY from London
4. Central Park Triathlon
Four jobs I have had in my life...
1. bus girl/hostess/foodrunner at a local pub
2. nanny
3. teacher
4. writer
Four movies I would watch over and over (no matter if they are on crappy TV and cut up): (Not in any order)
1. A League of Their Own
2. When Harry Met Sally
3. Juno
4. Silence of the Lambs
Four places I have lived:
1. New York
2. New Jersey
3. Massachusetts
4. California
Four TV Shows that I watch (right now):
1. Lost
2. Survivor
3. American Idol (I know, I know, but my friends at work watch it and if I don't, I'm left out of the lunch conversation!)
4. Grey's Anatomy
Four places I have been (that i love):
1. Cape Cod
2. Outer Banks of NC
3. Ireland
4. Eastern Shore of MD
Four People who e-mail me (regularly):
1. Melissa :)
2. Anne
3. Whitney
4. Dennise (she does our "death notices" at work!!)
Four favorite things to eat:
1. Crab
2. Lasagna
3. Ice Cream (let's face it, this is #1)
4. clam chowder
Four places I would rather be right now:
1. beach
2. Ireland
3. South Africa
4. ski slopes
Four things I am looking forward to this year:
1. BY retreat in April
2. Trip to CA in June
3. The possibility of my cousins moving to NY from London
4. Central Park Triathlon
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