Memorial Day + Kevin Smith drinkfest 2009

This Memorial Day was spent much like last year's: up early for the town parade, followed by breakfast at our town diner. No duck race afterward, though. Too tired from the gorgeous weekend!

After Rob got over the flu on Friday, we celebrated his birthday by drinkin' lots 'o wine + watchin' Kevin Smith movies. A quick review:

Clerks II: eh. Was rilly nice not to be watching with my mom, as I did the first one (sorry, Mom!), but the timing was all off. And no 'Salsa Shark'! Donkey show just not the same.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno: liked it, but still a bit heavy on the cheese. (What's up with the cheez, Mr. Smith??) I miss the days of Mallrats + Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back... which just makes me feel really old!

















(Sticky chocolate fingers. No parade is complete without the throwing of CANDY!)

Better and better

I realize I never followed up on my best week ever. Was it the best ever? Yes, it was - but not because it was a 24/7 carnival of awesome.

Instead, a shift in my perception occurred when I realized that today is always better than yesterday, because it's happening NOW. "Now" is the culmination of all of my learning + growing, so in theory it must always be the time in which I am at my best, no? Even if I'm tired or sick, or fearful or worried about something, I will always have more skills with which to deal with these things "in the now".

This is, perhaps, barring any larger catastrophe! But I really like the concept, and hope to take it further.

How to be successful

Ellen DeGeneres's "common cement" speech at Tulane University last week. Some really great personal stuff wrapped up in all teh funny.



ALSO? Even more amazing was our President's speech at ASU last week. If you haven't seen it, you can watch it here, here, and then here (in three 9-minute videos on YouTube).

Play is serious business. For reals.

Here's a recent Daily Groove post about the serious importance of lightness + play. Thought it was both obvious + enlightening (as so many good things are, yeah?).

:: Taking Children Seriously ::

We live in a society that doesn't take children
seriously. Sure, we care deeply about children's
welfare; we do our best to help them to grow into
healthy, successful adults.

But we, as a society, rarely take children seriously
the way they take *themselves* seriously.

To children, *play* is serious business -- channeling
enormous creative energies and making huge
discoveries. But to adult society, it's "just" play,
so interrupting or limiting it is not a big deal.

To children, *feelings* are extremely important,
not "just" feelings.

If you want to take your child more seriously, don't
do it the conventional adult way, which is to assign
*weight* to the child's concerns. That only teaches
heaviness.

Children take *lightness* seriously. And when you take
their lightness seriously, *you* benefit by learning
to take yourself *less* seriously! :-)

Oh, yes, play is very serious for Leah. It's an all-day endeavor for her, clearly. I can see her thought process at work as she seeks out the next Thing To Do. Sometimes I'm tuned in + can help her pursue her plans, but other times I just want to do what I want to do... because it's more important. (Sometimes it is, but, well... most times it truly isn't.)

But there was no conflict on Saturday, while Rob + I attended my boss's youngest daughter's Bat Mitzvah. (Which is kinda crazy, because she was just Leah's age when I started this job!)

Anyway. Partying with an enormous group (84!) of ecstatic-ly loud 13-year-olds was awesome. Just completely full of joy, exuberance, and loud, loud music! So much dancing. A great time. Leah would have approved, but she was happily playing - well past her bedtime - at home with a new babysitter. Lightness for everyone.

Spelling bee

So she can now spell two words:

1. L-e-a-h

and

2. b-u-t-t

Hahahaha! All part of the quality learnin' she gets at home...

My little honey bee

Lately (for the past month?) Leah has been crazy-in-love with a certain Lucinda Williams song called "Honey Bee". She requests it at home, on repeat. Dancing ensues. She demands it in the car. Again and again. And we play it because it is awesome. She sings her own version:

Oh my liittle huneh bee
I'm so glad you stuung meh
All up in my haayh
Honey bee I sweahh
We make quite a paayhh
Oh my liittle honeh bee...

So adorable. Am so thankful it's not something like The Backyardigans.

Honey Bee - Lucinda Williams

Every Day

I hope everyone out there who mothers enjoyed their annual day of recognition yesterday. I, for one, had a beautiful day with my little family + Leah's beloved Dahlay + Grandpa. Gorgeous weather, good company + a lovely bottle of wine make me very happy.

But still, the concept of Mother's Day kinda sticks in my side. Much like Earth Day, I think we should be in the practice of honoring mothering (and fathering/parenting/any kind of care giving) every day.

While talking about the meaning of yesterday, Leah asked, "When is it kid's day?" Oh, so funny, she is. And, of course, I told her: "Every day!"

From today's Daily Groove, a daily dose of parenting/life wisdom by Scott Noelle:

:: EVERY Day Is "Mother's Day" ::

Yesterday was Mother's Day in many countries, and
mothers around the world were honored and appreciated
for the many ways they bless our families. But the
holiday is often tainted by our culturally induced
tendency to glorify *self-sacrifice*.

When mothers are treated like royalty for one day as
a reward for their selfless devotion to the family,
it subtly undermines the partnership between mothers
and those they care for, *and* it perpetuates the
notion that mothering is a grind the other 364 days
of the year.

So here's a radical proposition for every mother who
has ever bought into the idea of self-sacrifice as a
virtue:

Decide that EVERY day is Mother's Day! Don't settle
for anything less than a predominantly pleasureful
path of mothering.

And remember that the best way to raise kids who
enjoy life is to let them see your commitment to
enjoying life yourself!


Love his perspective! Not to mention the amazing little creature who made me a mother almost 4 years ago. Happy Every Day, everyone.

Gram visit

At the end of my Best Week Ever, my mom came to visit from Massachusetts... arriving Friday afternoon, and heading back north yesterday morn.

Leah, as always, stuck to her side like a shadow. It's so great to see the two of them bonding, and reminds me that true connections don't need to be hindered by geography.

Out to dinner (Mexican)


















































































Picking up flowers for my little garden









































Post-museum

Aaaaah!

My probably-most-favorite author, John Irving, has a new book coming out this fall! So, so, so excited. I've been in a reading drought, and had just picked up his most recent book to re-read when I found this. Oooweee!

Everybody's Gotta Live

Amanda Palmer in Harvard Square last summer, lip-synching "Everybody's Gotta Live". So happy to have it stuck in my head. Love that girl!

From Eckhart Tolle

"People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly. They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have. And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself, a perfection that lies beyond what is happening or not happening. Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is untouched by time."

More here.

Best week ever

This is gonna be my best week ever.

Why? Oh, that's just what I said yesterday, when I decided to see what happens when I make a conscious decision to make the next several days rilly rilly great.

I know life circumstances are bigger than solely making our own happiness, but I believe that the decision to be happy is a large part of actually being happy. Changing your perspective goes a looong way. Not to mention, changing the weather to the little bit of heaven that's going on right now.

So I now declare this to be the Best Week Ever. So far. Let's see what happens...

Kicking off the week was a girl's weekend away in Beacon, NY in celebration of a good friend's 40th birthday. SUCH a great time with all the ladies. Went to the amazing space that is Dia (favorite was Richard Serra's enormous sculptures... so cool to walk around/into), walked about town, devoured little morsels of tasty food back at our host's incredible little house, larger morsels later on, all the while drinking champagne. Sounds decadent, no? Have not felt that free in a while. Years, perhaps.

Today I'm basking in spring-y warmth and time with Leah, who's also loving the freedom this weather brings. She's been all over the place today, beginning with a post-breakfast painting fest (see painted feet above, as her encore piece). Seems like we've been more in sync today. We've been managing to find solutions that make us both happy, instead of going one way or the other. Awesome.

Have a pot of spicy split pea soup on the stove, about to make this meatloaf, which will keep us fed relatively inexpensively for the next few days. Then yoga tonight!

Earth (every) day

My gift to you this lovely Earth Day is a link to my favorite Earth Day post, written by my friend Michelle over at ChowMama. Chock full of good things to eat and do.

What will you be doing? Am going to borrow her idea about eating dinner by candlelight as a good way to talk to Leah about conserving energy, then finally start my herb garden. And am totally making the slaw tonight!

Backyard weekend

Sorry 'bout the poor picture quality... only had my phone with me.

Zoo birthday party

Hooray for sunlight! (And an actual camera.)

Despite the look on her face here, Leah looooved the carousel, and kept trying to drag us back for another ride. Which she can do next month for her birthday.

Marvelous

I know this video of Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent is everywhere, but if you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and do so. (Yes, the whole thing! It's only 7 minutes long.)

And some really great commentary here, at Feministing.

Easter happenings

Easter egg hunt with her friends at a local playground. SO cold, but beautifully sunny. She raced around to find her allotted 12 eggs while adults had coffee + donuts. I couldn't have any, but totally enjoyed the idea of them!















In her Easter finery. And mittens.



















Decorating a life-sized drawing of herself with Auntie Marya. (Leah lay on top of the paper while Marya traced around her, prompting lots of giggles as ticklish spots were grazed with the pencil.)




Helping to feed her great grandmother (aka "Big Leah"). She LOVED doing this. Such a sweet girl.











And speaking of sweet... what is the deal with sugar in Easter treats? I'm not totally opposed to it, though its dangers are well-documented.

What I am opposed to is the effect of sugar on the girl. She turns into a cranky addict, desperately pleading for more... making deals with me for just one more piece of cake. Sneaking candy out of hiding spots with wild eyes. And then dissolving into hysteria when her efforts are thwarted.

Of course I feel her pain, having done the same things in my not-too-distant past. But dude - sugar makes her nuts!

When Death Comes

by Mary Oliver

When death comes

like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox

when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth,
tending, as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world. 

Happy day!

CONGRATULATIONS to my home state of Vermont for doing the
right thing. Now, on to my current state of New Jersey!

Adventures with the pink balloon

My pink-lovin' girl got a pink(!) balloon during our trip to Trader Joe's last week, and played with it for days afterward. Making her an easily-followable bright pink spot.

I've documented her request to "play outside with my balloon" with a buttload of pictures, kicking off with "drawing with my balloon". Enjoy.

Doin' stuff

Puddle-jumpin' at Trader Joe's




















Water-sippin' at Whole Foods (shoppin' day)



















Sleepin' in her food




















Drawin' this mornin (uh, yeah... slept in her clothes)

"Mommy, you're my most favorite one"

Awesome! I didn't ask which one I am... I'm just happy to be her favorite something.

Barbara Bush playing with her lego car

Where The Wild Things Are

Gorgeousness! Coming October 16, 2009. I am SO there. Thank you, Spike Jonze!

My little yogi

Yesterday I popped in a yoga dvd for the Bean while I took a shower, and she LOVED it! (I spied on her.) So happy.

She's been blossoming at an alarming rate lately. I can hardly keep up with the changes (mostly language, understanding new concepts, even the way her voice sounds). Much like the days I could hardly keep up with her toddling + climbing all over the place... 2 years ago!
The images below are from a place called Kidz Village. We were lured there by friends this past Friday. And despite the pics + (scary!) video on the website, it was surprisingly small + low-key. Or maybe I'm finally getting used to kid-chaos?

She was in heaven there: dress-up clothes, fake hair to brush (really, that's not my head!), a microphone she was more interested in "fixing" than singing into, a mini movie theater, huge padded slide/gym sort of thing.

Tweet love

I will now admit my (former) addiction to Facebook. Why former? Because I've discovered Twitter, which is even better. Updates in 140 characters or less - short, sweet, to the point. Favorite right now - strangely poetic tweets from (someone who might be) Christopher Walken:

I claim to be frightened of horses but do so only to get out of attending parades. It's peculiar but has served me well. The horses get it.

An escalator in Grand Central Station is out-of-service. I stood on it for a minute or two in the name of subtle irony. No-one else did.

(Mostly) fascinating updates, pictures + links from my favorite people, bloggers, politicians + organizations... oh, so satisfying. If my posts here are mostly child-focused (and 140 characters or less in length), it's because I'm posting all the fun (to me) links ovah there...

Yeah, I'm an information junkie/nerd. I can admit that, too.

Also

Yesterday during our "quiet time"* I discovered that Leah had retrieved a large metal bowl from the cabinet, eggs from the fridge and cracked one of those suckers into the bowl... to make an omelet!

*Quiet time = time for me take a break/attempt a nap. Especially after a day of pain + doctor appointments. The girl has this quiet time each day at daycare, but scoffs at the concept at home, choosing to use the time to engage in mischief. When will I learn? Perhaps when that mischief becomes less amusing.

So. relieved.

Yesterday, while I was out getting poked with needles (acupuncture), Leah apparently sat on her hand + twisted her arm. She wouldn't let us near it, but was able to wiggle her fingers a little + seemed in decent spirits - sporadically. That little nugget of optimism, combined with our intense dislike of emergency rooms, kept us at home overnight. I got her to the doctor this a.m., who sent us to an orthopedist's office this afternoon. Where he kindly + gracefully moved her arm up + away from her body and instantly fixed the problem - Nursemaid's Elbow!

What. a. relief.

Last night was pretty miserable for all of us, so I am really looking forward to bed-for-real tonight. SO looking forward.

Here are some scenes from the weekend:

Leah's "O". I remember making one out of toys in my garage when I was about her age. And LOVING it.


















Fun with worms. We talked about how worms are 2 sexes in one. Cool stuff.

Weekend awesomeness

I've been so busy with work this week that I haven't written anything about this fabulous past weekend. (Which is good. Am not complaining about the busy.)

Wednesday (ok, not weekend, but it's Thurs for me, since no work on Fri): got some beautiful green color in a few leaves at the top of my tattoo. Added benefit of getting to spend time w/ awesome tattoo artist.

Friday: went to see Margaret Cho in Englewood (NJ) with some super-cool ladies. Got to hang w/ Margaret afterward. Fun!

Saturday: striptease class and then dinner at Lips. (Was bachelorette party for good friend Elene). More fun!

And now, my tattoo seems to be healing fabulously, so I will go out on a limb here + say that good times = good healing. I will make sure to continue on this path.

Supergirl

Funerary sadness + joy

Tuesday was my Gram's funeral. Although postponed a day due to the snow-stormy weather, most of my family assembled at the church she + my Granddad were part of for decades-- near Philly, where I (mostly) grew up.

Unexpected: an open casket and the almost-grown (wow!) children of cousins I hadn't seen in years. The only thing I'll say about the open casket experience: I would really like to be cremated after I go.

Overall it was a positive day. Good people remembering a good person. Family from far + wide, though missing a few I'd have been happy to see. And strange realizing I might not see all of them again.

I'm thinking these images embody her spirit well: children connecting, laughing, playing, dancing. Two little Grams. :)