I am addicted to:
Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips
being sockless
bobby pins
Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Afrin (shut up)
Arnicare Gel
I am avoiding:
celebrity obituaries
people with coughs
egg sandwiches
packing
mowing the lawn
sleeping with the windows open
having the car washed
but I'm interested in:
eating more fresh fruit
taking long walks on the beach
light tanning
public radio
watching old rock videos
This is a mish-mash week with my boss away for all but one day - then I leave for a week - my first vacation since I went to work.
Today I am leading a tour of 20 college kids through the office. I used to love doing this kind of thing but I happen to have a nasty head cold and am not sure how it will effect my performance.
Then I am rushing home to a meeting with Youngest's doctor to discuss our future course of action. Youngest and I are both feeling a little hopeless and frustrated - so I'm not looking forward to this conversation.
With my boss returning Thursday I'm guessing it will be a long, busy day.
I'm planning on spending Friday packing for the Cape.
(Aren't you grateful I've plotted this all out for you?)
My bathing suits don't fit me. Too big on top and bottom. I'll say it again: it's a very strange thing to be suddenly smaller and a different shape when one hadn't planned to be. And no, I am not going to shop for a new bathing suit - I'm going to wear a series of serapes and board shorts. Heck, I'm not sure it's going to be warm enough to wear a swimsuit on the Cape, so we'll see.
BTW: the house we are staying in has wifi now.
the weekend in pictures
Aside from K and I feeling emotional and sentimental, graduation was somewhat ridiculous.
Middle would have been happy not to participate but, while we agreed to do NOTHING to celebrate his graduating, K and I felt it was important for him to "walk."
We awoke to very threatening skies and one very creased gown.
Apparently, the gowns cannot get wet.
I'm sure this proved interesting in households wherein the graduate wore something white beneath their gown-that-was-the-color-of-an-old-Chevy-Impala.
Also? The folds do not "fall out" and one is forced to find a heat setting on the iron somewhere between "completely ineffective" and "melt."
Because though the weather held during the two hour ceremony (dear GOD, why must they recite The Road Not Taken?!) it rained pretty damn hard before the two hour ceremony, which meant for 300 very wet chairs and a very muddy field.
Middle was close to the front of the processional.
Which really only proved to make me a little miserable as he got his diploma during the first hour...
There he is, getting the handshake. What's that you say? You can't see our darling Middle for the photographers? Sorry, you're upset because the cameramen are completely blocking your view? Fear not. The irony is not lost on me.
There were occasional moments of anarchy. (Youngest wondered how they sneaked the beach ball IN - I wondered how they blew them UP.)
There were plenty of kids who customized their caps (I am pleased to tell you.)
Did you know the "Rat A Tat Tat" thing? I did not.
Also, they had no valedictorian, though there was a guy who spoke whom everyone seemed to love (much cheering). I'll have to ask Middle about him and how he was chosen.
The hat toss was a little anticlimactic. Then again, Middle made sure the whole thing was as anticlimactic as possible. He did pose for me, on the sweltering, muddy field. He put his hat on TOP of his head, rather than on. Then he went and got his real diploma from the cafeteria and we went home.
There he is. My Middle - with his cap and gown.
On the road not taken.
By himself.
(The way he likes it.)
Fear not.
This irony is not lost on me either.
Middle would have been happy not to participate but, while we agreed to do NOTHING to celebrate his graduating, K and I felt it was important for him to "walk."
We awoke to very threatening skies and one very creased gown.
Apparently, the gowns cannot get wet.
I'm sure this proved interesting in households wherein the graduate wore something white beneath their gown-that-was-the-color-of-an-old-Chevy-Impala.
Also? The folds do not "fall out" and one is forced to find a heat setting on the iron somewhere between "completely ineffective" and "melt."
Because though the weather held during the two hour ceremony (dear GOD, why must they recite The Road Not Taken?!) it rained pretty damn hard before the two hour ceremony, which meant for 300 very wet chairs and a very muddy field.
Middle was close to the front of the processional.
Which really only proved to make me a little miserable as he got his diploma during the first hour...
There he is, getting the handshake. What's that you say? You can't see our darling Middle for the photographers? Sorry, you're upset because the cameramen are completely blocking your view? Fear not. The irony is not lost on me.
There were occasional moments of anarchy. (Youngest wondered how they sneaked the beach ball IN - I wondered how they blew them UP.)
There were plenty of kids who customized their caps (I am pleased to tell you.)
Did you know the "Rat A Tat Tat" thing? I did not.
Also, they had no valedictorian, though there was a guy who spoke whom everyone seemed to love (much cheering). I'll have to ask Middle about him and how he was chosen.
The hat toss was a little anticlimactic. Then again, Middle made sure the whole thing was as anticlimactic as possible. He did pose for me, on the sweltering, muddy field. He put his hat on TOP of his head, rather than on. Then he went and got his real diploma from the cafeteria and we went home.
There he is. My Middle - with his cap and gown.
On the road not taken.
By himself.
(The way he likes it.)
Fear not.
This irony is not lost on me either.
still raining
I'm home today to attend graduation.
It is gray and muggy here - which is no surprise as it has rained EVERY DAY.
I would imagine that the field (on which we assemble and applaud) is very muddy (and I'm positive that some women will be wearing heels) and would guess that by the time the ceremony is over (and the rain begins, as it is expected at 1:00) that there will be nothing left of the grass.
But it's not mine to worry about...so....
What a week I've had!
Do I say that every Friday?
I don't mean to imply that anything bad happened but I was just so busy and there were all kinds of crises and it all worked out in the end. I don't mind it when things go awry (the business trip I planned for my boss being changed a few times) or if there is emotional turmoil in the office (an assistant let go) or when I literally need to run from one end of the building to the other (forgotten papers). I love being exhausted at the end of the day. I love working completely behind the scenes (no one ever sees my best work) and having it all come together at 5:30.
It's all especially handy in distracting me from things that might make me a little crazy at home too...
Youngest is now in his "spending time on the couch playing video games" portion of summer vacation. If I was at home this would madden me. He stays up very late too (and I've noticed that pattern in my former 15 year old boys) and sleeps very late in the morning. Happily, I'm not usually here to be aggravated by that.
My sister-in-law asked me, yesterday, about what I'm bringing to the Cape (she and her family go to the Cape too and we share the cooking) and I've been so busy that I haven't given the Cape much thought. If I was at home all day I'm sure we'd be nearly ready to go - as it stands, I think I'd better give it some thought this weekend (and, perhaps, make some piles of clothing to think about packing).
Have you seen this? As ten million people have seen it I find it unlikely that you haven't, but go, watch it again. It makes me smile until my face hurts.
I'm off to see the receiving of the diploma!
It is gray and muggy here - which is no surprise as it has rained EVERY DAY.
I would imagine that the field (on which we assemble and applaud) is very muddy (and I'm positive that some women will be wearing heels) and would guess that by the time the ceremony is over (and the rain begins, as it is expected at 1:00) that there will be nothing left of the grass.
But it's not mine to worry about...so....
What a week I've had!
Do I say that every Friday?
I don't mean to imply that anything bad happened but I was just so busy and there were all kinds of crises and it all worked out in the end. I don't mind it when things go awry (the business trip I planned for my boss being changed a few times) or if there is emotional turmoil in the office (an assistant let go) or when I literally need to run from one end of the building to the other (forgotten papers). I love being exhausted at the end of the day. I love working completely behind the scenes (no one ever sees my best work) and having it all come together at 5:30.
It's all especially handy in distracting me from things that might make me a little crazy at home too...
Youngest is now in his "spending time on the couch playing video games" portion of summer vacation. If I was at home this would madden me. He stays up very late too (and I've noticed that pattern in my former 15 year old boys) and sleeps very late in the morning. Happily, I'm not usually here to be aggravated by that.
My sister-in-law asked me, yesterday, about what I'm bringing to the Cape (she and her family go to the Cape too and we share the cooking) and I've been so busy that I haven't given the Cape much thought. If I was at home all day I'm sure we'd be nearly ready to go - as it stands, I think I'd better give it some thought this weekend (and, perhaps, make some piles of clothing to think about packing).
Have you seen this? As ten million people have seen it I find it unlikely that you haven't, but go, watch it again. It makes me smile until my face hurts.
I'm off to see the receiving of the diploma!
whilst walking
I told you I've been walking from the station to my office - 16 blocks, which means I don't get to see little kids going to school but I do get to feast my eyes on all sorts of sights....
Today I was nearly hit by a woman in a red skirt who was riding one of those folding bicycles. It wasn't my fault, she had swerved around a taxi which had not turned the corner as I was crossing the street, but she gave me a fright. I thought she might slow down and yell at me or even turn around and see if I was okay, but she kept peddling and didn't look back.
I passed a kid in cap and gown. He was beaming, walking along with his mother. And then, steps later, I passed a young woman with a rose in one hand and a wee stuffed bear in a cap and gown in the other. If the weather permits we will watch Middle graduate tomorrow. (I cannot imagine the weather permitting ANYTHING at this point. It rains every day and there are severe storms being forecast for tomorrow morning.)
Along the avenue, I found myself amongst a group of people on their way to the gym. Water bottles, shorts, flip flops - one doesn't usually see these outfits in town, save for early in the morning.
The fruit men on the corners have a lot of berries now and I need to stop and buy a box of them to bring to lunch. One of the ladies I lunch with always has the nicest looking strawberries as she walks through the green market on her way to work and buys them then. She has been on an asparagus kick of late - asparagus in some form for lunch every day for weeks - and she made the most delicious asparagus soup in the world. But yesterday she had taken advantage of the berries in the market and brought in the MOST amazing berry crumble I have ever had.
I turned the corner onto my street and got excited. There is a huge feature film shooting on my street and I lovelovelove to look at the crews and the trucks and see what's up. This is certainly one of the biggest shoots I've ever spied on with dozens of trucks on the street and cables everywhere. They are using the building next to my office for "holding" which means there must be an awful lot of extras and the kitchen facilities they've set up are very impressive. Last week there was a giant 18-wheeler kitchen truck with a tent behind it in which prep chefs were doing mis-en-place. Stunning. You can tell the day before the crew is going to arrive as the entire street gets blocked off with orange traffic cones. Then the Teamsters arrive and sleep in vans, then the haggard-looking PA's show up and, between lunch-time and the time I go home the whole shebang is up and running. By the time I come back to work in the morning (it's a night shoot) everything is all shuttered up, locked tight, waiting for it to start again.
Today I was nearly hit by a woman in a red skirt who was riding one of those folding bicycles. It wasn't my fault, she had swerved around a taxi which had not turned the corner as I was crossing the street, but she gave me a fright. I thought she might slow down and yell at me or even turn around and see if I was okay, but she kept peddling and didn't look back.
I passed a kid in cap and gown. He was beaming, walking along with his mother. And then, steps later, I passed a young woman with a rose in one hand and a wee stuffed bear in a cap and gown in the other. If the weather permits we will watch Middle graduate tomorrow. (I cannot imagine the weather permitting ANYTHING at this point. It rains every day and there are severe storms being forecast for tomorrow morning.)
Along the avenue, I found myself amongst a group of people on their way to the gym. Water bottles, shorts, flip flops - one doesn't usually see these outfits in town, save for early in the morning.
The fruit men on the corners have a lot of berries now and I need to stop and buy a box of them to bring to lunch. One of the ladies I lunch with always has the nicest looking strawberries as she walks through the green market on her way to work and buys them then. She has been on an asparagus kick of late - asparagus in some form for lunch every day for weeks - and she made the most delicious asparagus soup in the world. But yesterday she had taken advantage of the berries in the market and brought in the MOST amazing berry crumble I have ever had.
I turned the corner onto my street and got excited. There is a huge feature film shooting on my street and I lovelovelove to look at the crews and the trucks and see what's up. This is certainly one of the biggest shoots I've ever spied on with dozens of trucks on the street and cables everywhere. They are using the building next to my office for "holding" which means there must be an awful lot of extras and the kitchen facilities they've set up are very impressive. Last week there was a giant 18-wheeler kitchen truck with a tent behind it in which prep chefs were doing mis-en-place. Stunning. You can tell the day before the crew is going to arrive as the entire street gets blocked off with orange traffic cones. Then the Teamsters arrive and sleep in vans, then the haggard-looking PA's show up and, between lunch-time and the time I go home the whole shebang is up and running. By the time I come back to work in the morning (it's a night shoot) everything is all shuttered up, locked tight, waiting for it to start again.
notes from the commute
It’s all rote now – we hop on the scooter at 7:20 and waltz on to the 7:34. We walk to the third car from the rear (this has been carefully determined through many experiments in trial and error – involving much error) where we sit in a double seat on the land-side (which disappoints K as he prefers the water-side) toward the back of the car. We have to sit toward the back of the car so we aren’t too close to the sets of facing seats as the people who sit in those seats tend to be chatty. We don’t especially mind chatty folks but we’d rather not be forced to listen to their conversations.
And who sits around us? I’m going to tell you.
Across the aisle from us is The Sandwich Lady. The Sandwich Lady eats, what I’m guessing is, half of her lunch when she boards the train. For a while it was a turkey sandwich – half a turkey sandwich – and for a long time it was a baloney and American cheese sandwich, but the other day I noticed she had a liverwurst sandwich (which instantly made me want one). She’s a holdover from the early 80’s, The Sandwich Lady, and does not wear a wedding ring – though she has lots of jewelry. Her ears are pierced three times and she switches out her earrings. She has rings on most of her fingers, which I can only describe as the kinds of rings that single ladies buy for themselves. I like to imagine The Sandwich Lady laughing and smiling with her co-workers but, to tell you the truth, she seems a little sad to me. I wonder if she has her breakfast on the train so she doesn’t have to have it at home alone. I haven’t had a chance to smile at her.
Cole-Haan sits a couple of seats in front of us. Mr. Haan is a thirty-something guy who walks from an outer parking lot. I haven’t been able to see his car as we (on the scooter) are able to park right at the station – but I’ll bet it’s a nice one. Cole wears natty suits – but not too natty as to be obnoxious, and sometimes he has to put on his cuff links when he sits down on the train. It’s not easy to pull off French cuffs and links nowadays but he does it. He has beautiful brown dress shoes and a gorgeous bag from Cole-Haan. His belt is very nice too – I’ve seen it as sometimes he removes his jacket before he sits down. Coincidentally, Mr. Haan gets off the train and walks to a building just beyond my office. I’ve thought of following him as I’d like to know what he does for a living, looking so snappy like that, but I don’t wish to stalk him. Cole-Haan reads a Kindle everyday. And he drinks a Fresca from a can.
Behind us and back a couple of rows is The Couple. The Couple are older than we are and look weary when they board the train. Actually, I should say that HE looks weary, she looks ready to face the day. She has that kind of hair-do that one has a beautician wash, cut and style once a week. One does not wash that hair-do in between appointments. Despite this lapse in hair hygiene, She dresses beautifully in skirts and blouses with tasteful and expensive jewelry. He wears suits. Unremarkable suits. Their appearance is incidental. I know them because She never stops talking – from the moment they walk into the car to the moment the leave the train. She drones on and on at him. It is very rare that he interjects and she is good about keeping her voice very low but she goes on and on and on. Aren’t you amazed that She doesn’t drive me crazy? Sometimes I listen to my iPod.
The Chatty Bunch sit in the facing seats in the middle of the car. As I said: we avoid sitting too near to them as I tend to be cranky in the morning and their exuberance can be off-putting to me. Want to hear about toilet training/tennis games/sporting events/ country club/ traveling/ poor service at local restaurants/ little league/ movie that just opened? Sit near The Chatty Bunch. You just might be treated to the details surrounding a divorce or find out how to get a fabulous deal on a new car. Not for me. Don’t bother pointing it out – I realize that they are just being social and I’m a grouch. I only ever complain about them to K and was thrilled, last week, when the loudest of the Chatties showed up with a Kindle. I’m hoping he becomes absorbed in reading as I tire of hearing about his in-laws.
And who sits around us? I’m going to tell you.
Across the aisle from us is The Sandwich Lady. The Sandwich Lady eats, what I’m guessing is, half of her lunch when she boards the train. For a while it was a turkey sandwich – half a turkey sandwich – and for a long time it was a baloney and American cheese sandwich, but the other day I noticed she had a liverwurst sandwich (which instantly made me want one). She’s a holdover from the early 80’s, The Sandwich Lady, and does not wear a wedding ring – though she has lots of jewelry. Her ears are pierced three times and she switches out her earrings. She has rings on most of her fingers, which I can only describe as the kinds of rings that single ladies buy for themselves. I like to imagine The Sandwich Lady laughing and smiling with her co-workers but, to tell you the truth, she seems a little sad to me. I wonder if she has her breakfast on the train so she doesn’t have to have it at home alone. I haven’t had a chance to smile at her.
Cole-Haan sits a couple of seats in front of us. Mr. Haan is a thirty-something guy who walks from an outer parking lot. I haven’t been able to see his car as we (on the scooter) are able to park right at the station – but I’ll bet it’s a nice one. Cole wears natty suits – but not too natty as to be obnoxious, and sometimes he has to put on his cuff links when he sits down on the train. It’s not easy to pull off French cuffs and links nowadays but he does it. He has beautiful brown dress shoes and a gorgeous bag from Cole-Haan. His belt is very nice too – I’ve seen it as sometimes he removes his jacket before he sits down. Coincidentally, Mr. Haan gets off the train and walks to a building just beyond my office. I’ve thought of following him as I’d like to know what he does for a living, looking so snappy like that, but I don’t wish to stalk him. Cole-Haan reads a Kindle everyday. And he drinks a Fresca from a can.
Behind us and back a couple of rows is The Couple. The Couple are older than we are and look weary when they board the train. Actually, I should say that HE looks weary, she looks ready to face the day. She has that kind of hair-do that one has a beautician wash, cut and style once a week. One does not wash that hair-do in between appointments. Despite this lapse in hair hygiene, She dresses beautifully in skirts and blouses with tasteful and expensive jewelry. He wears suits. Unremarkable suits. Their appearance is incidental. I know them because She never stops talking – from the moment they walk into the car to the moment the leave the train. She drones on and on at him. It is very rare that he interjects and she is good about keeping her voice very low but she goes on and on and on. Aren’t you amazed that She doesn’t drive me crazy? Sometimes I listen to my iPod.
The Chatty Bunch sit in the facing seats in the middle of the car. As I said: we avoid sitting too near to them as I tend to be cranky in the morning and their exuberance can be off-putting to me. Want to hear about toilet training/tennis games/sporting events/ country club/ traveling/ poor service at local restaurants/ little league/ movie that just opened? Sit near The Chatty Bunch. You just might be treated to the details surrounding a divorce or find out how to get a fabulous deal on a new car. Not for me. Don’t bother pointing it out – I realize that they are just being social and I’m a grouch. I only ever complain about them to K and was thrilled, last week, when the loudest of the Chatties showed up with a Kindle. I’m hoping he becomes absorbed in reading as I tire of hearing about his in-laws.
my own meme
10 things I like right now
coffee ice cream cones at the train station
air conditioning
72 degrees (f)
bobby pins
navy blue toenail polish
the scent of barbecued food
sleeping with the windows open
pita chips
sunscreen
seeing my co-worker's summer wardrobes
10 things I do not like right now
mildew
the price of gasoline
pollen
the scent of wet dog
all of my shoes
aging
my hair
I'm going to stop at seven - too negative
10 things I do not care about right now
the price of heating oil
socks
antiques
snow boots
rabbits in the garden
robots
chocolate
summer "blockbuster" movies
knitting
sorbet
coffee ice cream cones at the train station
air conditioning
72 degrees (f)
bobby pins
navy blue toenail polish
the scent of barbecued food
sleeping with the windows open
pita chips
sunscreen
seeing my co-worker's summer wardrobes
10 things I do not like right now
mildew
the price of gasoline
pollen
the scent of wet dog
all of my shoes
aging
my hair
I'm going to stop at seven - too negative
10 things I do not care about right now
the price of heating oil
socks
antiques
snow boots
rabbits in the garden
robots
chocolate
summer "blockbuster" movies
knitting
sorbet
cousins
A long time ago, two little cousins, born less than a week apart, played on a deck overlooking a lake.
They played on the deck and watched bats fly overhead at dusk and rode in canoes and swam in the pond...and, last weekend, 15 years later, they finished high school and set their sights on the very same art school.
Both cousins were very cooperative and deigned to pose again - the girl-cousin's mom took the first picture, all those years ago. That original picture hangs in several homes.
This time there were a couple of challenges - and I'm not as good a photographer.
But the thing that became clear, as I made them pose and watched them interact, is that they are just the same at 18 as they were at almost three.
They are the loveliest kind of children - mild mannered and quiet and sincere and interesting.
They are both talented and funny and smart and good-looking.
In September they will both be at the same university, completely by chance, and it's going to be thrilling to see what they make of it.
They played on the deck and watched bats fly overhead at dusk and rode in canoes and swam in the pond...and, last weekend, 15 years later, they finished high school and set their sights on the very same art school.
Both cousins were very cooperative and deigned to pose again - the girl-cousin's mom took the first picture, all those years ago. That original picture hangs in several homes.
This time there were a couple of challenges - and I'm not as good a photographer.
But the thing that became clear, as I made them pose and watched them interact, is that they are just the same at 18 as they were at almost three.
They are the loveliest kind of children - mild mannered and quiet and sincere and interesting.
They are both talented and funny and smart and good-looking.
In September they will both be at the same university, completely by chance, and it's going to be thrilling to see what they make of it.
dates
How many days until we leave for the Cape? (I had no idea.) 13.
13 days until my first real vacation from work. I'm very excited but, as I've just realized it's only 13 days until we leave for the Cape, I'm a little anxious too. Much to do.
How many days until Blogher?
32. I really shouldn't count down to Blogher, per se. It's not that I don't enjoy the conference - and I am very excited about meeting some people (Schmutzie and Palinode, Angela) - but the real draw is seeing the women I call My Chicago Friends. I'm just about busting with excitement to see My Chicago Friends.
How many days till my super secret birthday adventure?
82, which is 118,080 minutes.
13 days until my first real vacation from work. I'm very excited but, as I've just realized it's only 13 days until we leave for the Cape, I'm a little anxious too. Much to do.
How many days until Blogher?
32. I really shouldn't count down to Blogher, per se. It's not that I don't enjoy the conference - and I am very excited about meeting some people (Schmutzie and Palinode, Angela) - but the real draw is seeing the women I call My Chicago Friends. I'm just about busting with excitement to see My Chicago Friends.
How many days till my super secret birthday adventure?
82, which is 118,080 minutes.
bullet friday, as per Badger
- Not only did I walk to the office but I walked home from the station.
- I bought pizza instead of cooking the sausage I defrosted two days ago.
- I've never knitted a sock.
- I ate two and three-quarters slices of pizza.
- And I'm feeling kind of full.
- Youngest finished school today.
- The sun came out for a little while, but it's still only 50-something when we leave the house. This makes for chilly scooter rides.
- While discussing pro-accounts this evening, Middle made a joke and said that a Twitter pro account lets you type 170 characters.
- There is no Twitter pro account.
- I wore a hat at work yesterday. It didn't go well - I only meant it as an accessory.
- The music from Little Big Planet is an earworm, but it's cute.
- We're going to a graduation party tomorrow.
- It's supposed to rain. Again.
Who has the coolest summer internship?
A text from Middle, 1:35 pm, yesterday:
- Just wrapped a person's whole body in duct tape.
Who has the coolest full-time job?
It's hard to say. K's company has a roof-top deck with lounge chairs.
Who's going to have the best summer off?
That would be Youngest who is devoting July to Little Big Planet and Cape Cod and August to The Other Incredible Art School In Our Metro Area.
Who is going to win the Healthy Award?
Me! I've been walking from the train station to my office (it's 16 blocks).
Who had lunch with two of the funniest women in the world?
Me again!
Who's lunch tab was picked up by a very kind gentleman with whom I have professional contact?
I guess I gave that one away. How cool is it to have the waitress come to the table and say: ladies, your lunch has been paid for by the gentleman sitting over there.
Who is going to a party to celebrate their niece's graduation this weekend?
They're getting easier, aren't they?
Who craves pita chips and cake icing?
Not Oldest. Oldest likes bodega food.
Who had never, until last Sunday, eaten an egg?
That would be Youngest. I don't know how it happened but it did. He's had eggs IN things but never on their own. Last Sunday, K went out and got us each an egg sandwich for breakfast. That's two fried eggs, bacon and cheese on a roll. Youngest was only slightly impressed.
Who's the cutest guy in the world?
K. Fresh off the scooter in his jeans and sneakers.
Oldest, in his beanie and old school Levis.
Middle in his Slusho tee shirt.
Youngest, wearing black skinny jeans and a white tee shirt.
- Just wrapped a person's whole body in duct tape.
Who has the coolest full-time job?
It's hard to say. K's company has a roof-top deck with lounge chairs.
Who's going to have the best summer off?
That would be Youngest who is devoting July to Little Big Planet and Cape Cod and August to The Other Incredible Art School In Our Metro Area.
Who is going to win the Healthy Award?
Me! I've been walking from the train station to my office (it's 16 blocks).
Who had lunch with two of the funniest women in the world?
Me again!
Who's lunch tab was picked up by a very kind gentleman with whom I have professional contact?
I guess I gave that one away. How cool is it to have the waitress come to the table and say: ladies, your lunch has been paid for by the gentleman sitting over there.
Who is going to a party to celebrate their niece's graduation this weekend?
They're getting easier, aren't they?
Who craves pita chips and cake icing?
Not Oldest. Oldest likes bodega food.
Who had never, until last Sunday, eaten an egg?
That would be Youngest. I don't know how it happened but it did. He's had eggs IN things but never on their own. Last Sunday, K went out and got us each an egg sandwich for breakfast. That's two fried eggs, bacon and cheese on a roll. Youngest was only slightly impressed.
Who's the cutest guy in the world?
K. Fresh off the scooter in his jeans and sneakers.
Oldest, in his beanie and old school Levis.
Middle in his Slusho tee shirt.
Youngest, wearing black skinny jeans and a white tee shirt.
cheap shoes
I know everyone was very disappointed about my recent shoe experience. (If everyone equals five of you.) I'm not going to say much about it - I ordered shoes from a company that I perceived to be young and exciting (see? already saying too much). The shoes looked adorable on the website but ordering was difficult: fall in love with a pair of shoes, realize they are not available, repeat this several times and then read that they are sold out...I finally received a pair that did not fit me well and did not appear to be well made. That second bit would not have put me off as they were inexpensive and one cannot expect too much from cheap shoes. But that first part, the not fitting properly, was a deal breaker. The toe box was cramped and the heel slid off my foot with every step. I don't know about you but I don't go off to purchase "heel savers" and the like for shoes that cost slightly more than a pair of jeans.
You know the rest, I think, I asked to return them, the company pointed out that they don't accept returns, I explained that I didn't think that was a good way to do business nowadays and they relented. For all I know they may be lovely people who are doing their best to start a business in a tough economy - but I'd say they have inventory and quality issues and they've gotten some nice press attention so I hope they can work those things out. (This sounds very condescending of me but, believe me, I would much rather purchase goods from small companies.)
In the meantime, I feel it is my duty to provide you with an alternative (cheap) shoe company.
Widely available (Solestruck has free shipping worldwide!), very hip, comfortable and inexpensive, Jeffrey Campbell shoes are my new favorites.
Priced at $49.99 I could learn to make blue suede a neutral!
I love anything tied at the ankle! (Did that come out funny?)
Grey is very chic.
My husband is rolling his eyes, but I love them...
He wouldn't roll his eyes at these in quite the same way.
A word of advice: google the style you like and shop around. I've seen Mr. Campbell's shoes priced at $49 and $69 and $129. There are deals to be had. And, it would appear, that the line changes frequently, so, if you miss out on a style you liked, hang on for a couple of weeks and see what's new. Shoes do tend to sell out quickly at the Urban Outfitters and Free People sites. (Did you know you can order shoes at these sites and return them in the stores? Very handy.)
Finally, for those of you who have second thoughts about ordering shoes on line, I would encourage you to try it. Order two sizes if you aren't sure about fit and send one back. If a site offers free shipping you aren't spending much more time and money to return what you don't like than you would if you were driving around to purchase shoes like this. And that's the kicker (if you will) about shoes like these: I'm not seeing them in stores.
So! There you have it. Inexpensive, attractive, easily available.
I think Jeffrey should have sent me a pair as a thank you, don't you?
You know the rest, I think, I asked to return them, the company pointed out that they don't accept returns, I explained that I didn't think that was a good way to do business nowadays and they relented. For all I know they may be lovely people who are doing their best to start a business in a tough economy - but I'd say they have inventory and quality issues and they've gotten some nice press attention so I hope they can work those things out. (This sounds very condescending of me but, believe me, I would much rather purchase goods from small companies.)
In the meantime, I feel it is my duty to provide you with an alternative (cheap) shoe company.
Widely available (Solestruck has free shipping worldwide!), very hip, comfortable and inexpensive, Jeffrey Campbell shoes are my new favorites.
Priced at $49.99 I could learn to make blue suede a neutral!
I love anything tied at the ankle! (Did that come out funny?)
Grey is very chic.
My husband is rolling his eyes, but I love them...
He wouldn't roll his eyes at these in quite the same way.
A word of advice: google the style you like and shop around. I've seen Mr. Campbell's shoes priced at $49 and $69 and $129. There are deals to be had. And, it would appear, that the line changes frequently, so, if you miss out on a style you liked, hang on for a couple of weeks and see what's new. Shoes do tend to sell out quickly at the Urban Outfitters and Free People sites. (Did you know you can order shoes at these sites and return them in the stores? Very handy.)
Finally, for those of you who have second thoughts about ordering shoes on line, I would encourage you to try it. Order two sizes if you aren't sure about fit and send one back. If a site offers free shipping you aren't spending much more time and money to return what you don't like than you would if you were driving around to purchase shoes like this. And that's the kicker (if you will) about shoes like these: I'm not seeing them in stores.
So! There you have it. Inexpensive, attractive, easily available.
I think Jeffrey should have sent me a pair as a thank you, don't you?
random with photos
I'm all over the place, I tells ya. I've got a lot on my mind and plenty on my laptop. (The other night, K was walking into the room with his laptop, a gigantic Macbook Pro, I think, and he accidentally clunked me in the arm with it and, with a sudden stroke of genius, I belted out: hit me with your laptop, yeah, hit me with your laptop - hit me with your laptop, fire awaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!)
I want, and sort of need, new eyeglasses. I haven't had my prescription checked in three years and my sunglasses prescription is even older than that. But I'm torn...
Sometimes I think this is the way to go:
and, then, yesterday, I tried on a pair of these:
and they were quite heavenly. And though I have often said that as they are on my face for 12 to 18 hours a day I'd like them to have a specific look - and though these are sort of anti-glasses, I think I love them. Funny thing, though...my local optician says that these anti-glasses are not covered by my insurance and wants many more hundreds of dollars than I am willing to spend. But, when I look on line at these glasses, they are somewhat reasonable. I'm going to check with an optician in town.
I'm slightly obsessed with luggage tags of late.
Go figure.
A good place to look at luggage tags is at pylones.com. There are lots of cute things there. In fact, it's nearly too cute for me. I don't really do cute.
A stolen shot of the very concert Middle attended last week:
he's still talking about it.
He told wonderful stories about the very last day of school, Middle did. It seemed so poignant. Toward the end of the day all of the seniors went outside to circle of grass in front of the school. The assistant principal counted down the final seconds of school with them and gave them the letters they had written to themselves in 7th grade. It chokes me up thinking about it. He took wistful-looking pictures of the crowd. (I'm going to be very sentimental at graduation on the 26th.)
Yet another freaky email from my friend Anthropologie. I own that very scarf, from that very store, but it doesn't look like that. I like her hair too. And the bird. And her posture - I LOVE HER POSTURE.
Yet another cute item.
Great business card design my brother did for me nearly four years ago. Was I able to find it when I was ORDERING business cards? NO.
Cool new thing?
Photo stats on flickr.
A brand new thing for me to obsess over.
I'd rather light a candle than curse yer darkness. I'm watching Raising Arizona.
I'm watching Raising Arizona and I'm reading Pretty In Plaid. Hard to tell which is funnier.
I want, and sort of need, new eyeglasses. I haven't had my prescription checked in three years and my sunglasses prescription is even older than that. But I'm torn...
Sometimes I think this is the way to go:
and, then, yesterday, I tried on a pair of these:
and they were quite heavenly. And though I have often said that as they are on my face for 12 to 18 hours a day I'd like them to have a specific look - and though these are sort of anti-glasses, I think I love them. Funny thing, though...my local optician says that these anti-glasses are not covered by my insurance and wants many more hundreds of dollars than I am willing to spend. But, when I look on line at these glasses, they are somewhat reasonable. I'm going to check with an optician in town.
I'm slightly obsessed with luggage tags of late.
Go figure.
A good place to look at luggage tags is at pylones.com. There are lots of cute things there. In fact, it's nearly too cute for me. I don't really do cute.
A stolen shot of the very concert Middle attended last week:
he's still talking about it.
He told wonderful stories about the very last day of school, Middle did. It seemed so poignant. Toward the end of the day all of the seniors went outside to circle of grass in front of the school. The assistant principal counted down the final seconds of school with them and gave them the letters they had written to themselves in 7th grade. It chokes me up thinking about it. He took wistful-looking pictures of the crowd. (I'm going to be very sentimental at graduation on the 26th.)
Yet another freaky email from my friend Anthropologie. I own that very scarf, from that very store, but it doesn't look like that. I like her hair too. And the bird. And her posture - I LOVE HER POSTURE.
Yet another cute item.
Great business card design my brother did for me nearly four years ago. Was I able to find it when I was ORDERING business cards? NO.
Cool new thing?
Photo stats on flickr.
A brand new thing for me to obsess over.
I'd rather light a candle than curse yer darkness. I'm watching Raising Arizona.
I'm watching Raising Arizona and I'm reading Pretty In Plaid. Hard to tell which is funnier.
the truth
Well that was fun!
You are all wonderful guessers...
It's true - I have never seen a single episode of Conan. I've never seen a Conan the Barbarian movie either. Neither of these facts would keep me from discussing their hair, though, Amy.
I've eaten pudding - though never rice or bread pudding*. I HAVE HAD VANILLA PUDDING.
But now that I think about it, only as a cake filling. But, still, a lie.
I DID walk around a track, in the rain and mist, for 12 hours in the Relay for Life a few years ago.
I started off pretty psyched - and I don't remember what shoes I was wearing in the beginning, but I know I called Oldest at about one in the morning and that he brought my Birkenstocks to me. It wasn't a very big track and we had to switch directions with some frequency so we didn't get sore. As time wore on and I grew tired and frustrated, I told myself that I was doing it for a friend of mine who has survived two bouts of breast cancer. When I told her I had done it with her in mind she told me I was crazy - that she didn't believe in acts of charity like relays for life.
*My boys are, at this very moment, arguing that I have eaten bread pudding. I disagree but I may have psychologically blocked it.
You are all wonderful guessers...
It's true - I have never seen a single episode of Conan. I've never seen a Conan the Barbarian movie either. Neither of these facts would keep me from discussing their hair, though, Amy.
I've eaten pudding - though never rice or bread pudding*. I HAVE HAD VANILLA PUDDING.
But now that I think about it, only as a cake filling. But, still, a lie.
I DID walk around a track, in the rain and mist, for 12 hours in the Relay for Life a few years ago.
I started off pretty psyched - and I don't remember what shoes I was wearing in the beginning, but I know I called Oldest at about one in the morning and that he brought my Birkenstocks to me. It wasn't a very big track and we had to switch directions with some frequency so we didn't get sore. As time wore on and I grew tired and frustrated, I told myself that I was doing it for a friend of mine who has survived two bouts of breast cancer. When I told her I had done it with her in mind she told me I was crazy - that she didn't believe in acts of charity like relays for life.
*My boys are, at this very moment, arguing that I have eaten bread pudding. I disagree but I may have psychologically blocked it.
I know a good post when I see one
Two truths and a lie:
1. I've never seen a single episode of Late Night With Conan O'Brien.
2. I've never eaten rice pudding, bread pudding or vanilla pudding.
3. A few years ago, I signed up to walk a night-shift at a Relay For Life (wherein teams walk around a track for 12 hours or so having collected money for a charity). It was part of a project my book club was doing. Not a single other team member showed up and I walked the entire 12 hours with a girlfriend I wrangled into it at the last moment.
1. I've never seen a single episode of Late Night With Conan O'Brien.
2. I've never eaten rice pudding, bread pudding or vanilla pudding.
3. A few years ago, I signed up to walk a night-shift at a Relay For Life (wherein teams walk around a track for 12 hours or so having collected money for a charity). It was part of a project my book club was doing. Not a single other team member showed up and I walked the entire 12 hours with a girlfriend I wrangled into it at the last moment.
notes from the commute
The older man is larger, has salt and peppered hair and adopts a posture. He looks forward or reads his newspaper.
The other man is thin, scrappy-looking, with a wide gapped-tooth mouth. He has called the older man over to sit with him in the seats across from us. The thin man turns his body, somewhat dramatically, to face the older man and makes all kinds of attempts to engage him. But he is too enthusiastic and has an evangelical quality. The older man barely tolerates him. He feigns interest as the scrappy fellow pulls out his phone and calls the man's wife.
"You know who I'm sitting with right now?" he says loudly as if it is Jesus himself, and also his best friend, "Your husband! Want to talk to him?"
He passes the phone to the older man..."I'll see you at the station."
The other man is thin, scrappy-looking, with a wide gapped-tooth mouth. He has called the older man over to sit with him in the seats across from us. The thin man turns his body, somewhat dramatically, to face the older man and makes all kinds of attempts to engage him. But he is too enthusiastic and has an evangelical quality. The older man barely tolerates him. He feigns interest as the scrappy fellow pulls out his phone and calls the man's wife.
"You know who I'm sitting with right now?" he says loudly as if it is Jesus himself, and also his best friend, "Your husband! Want to talk to him?"
He passes the phone to the older man..."I'll see you at the station."
in which I justify my purchases/sounds like *port knack*
It was sample sale time again today.
I set out with only my wallet, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT GOING TO PURCHASE ANYTHING, and went through the secret back door to the sample sale downstairs from my office.
What should I have brought? My cell phone for one - I don't like to buy things without discussing them with my partner (though there was that cheap dress last week which is GOING BACK TOMORROW) and a wheelbarrow - yes, or a moving van, because I bought a lot of stuff.
It was not my intent to buy a lot of stuff - I PROMISE.
The thing is: that bag that I put my makeup and toothpaste and stuff in when I travel? is about 25 years old and has some stains on it (yes, I've washed it) and the vinyl lining is torn. So, it stands to reason that I could replace it cheaply (I don't like when people say "for cheap") at this sale.
And I did, indeed, replace it. Twenty bucks, which, now that I've done it, I think was too expensive - but you know the deal at sample sales: NO RETURNS.
Anyway, I browsed around for about 20 minutes, completely lost in a sea of Japanese tourists and totally overwhelmed by the variety of merchandise, and the patterns and the colors and the prices, and THE GIANT PILES OF BAGS.
I had figured the one bag would be it BUT THEN I found myself in an area with only tan, green and black bags. I'm sure, knowing how I dress, you can imagine that I thought I had died and gone to heaven. No crazy blue checks, zero orange stripes...this section was made for me.
It was, it turns out, the men's line. Surprise!
They had great stuff!
I grabbed a large black messenger bag, with only a teeny bit of velcro (I hate the velcro) and was delighted to note that it was marked down to $25 - from a retail price of $138.
I wished I had my phone as I was going to call and ask Middle if he'd carry it while he decides which super-technical bag he wants to buy for his laptop and camera. Since I didn't have my phone, and the sale was only downstairs, I bought it and found out it was reduced AGAIN to $20 and went back to my office - feeling hopeful.
Once there, I called K to tell him about the Japanese tourists. And the bag.
K has been having terrible trouble with his messenger bag killing his neck (too heavy, bad strap) and he asked if I'd go get another bag for him.
We talked a little about it and I realized that Oldest has been carrying a holey, grimey, very old messenger bag for a long long time. Don't you think he should have one too?
And what about Youngest? His backpack smells like every lunch I've ever put in it. Wouldn't he look snappy going to "pre-college" at The Art School He's Interested In this summer with a NICE NEW BLACK MESSENGER BAG WITH ONLY A TEENY BIT OF VELCRO ON IT?
Of course he would.
And that's why I bought that tote bag too.
I set out with only my wallet, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT GOING TO PURCHASE ANYTHING, and went through the secret back door to the sample sale downstairs from my office.
What should I have brought? My cell phone for one - I don't like to buy things without discussing them with my partner (though there was that cheap dress last week which is GOING BACK TOMORROW) and a wheelbarrow - yes, or a moving van, because I bought a lot of stuff.
It was not my intent to buy a lot of stuff - I PROMISE.
The thing is: that bag that I put my makeup and toothpaste and stuff in when I travel? is about 25 years old and has some stains on it (yes, I've washed it) and the vinyl lining is torn. So, it stands to reason that I could replace it cheaply (I don't like when people say "for cheap") at this sale.
And I did, indeed, replace it. Twenty bucks, which, now that I've done it, I think was too expensive - but you know the deal at sample sales: NO RETURNS.
Anyway, I browsed around for about 20 minutes, completely lost in a sea of Japanese tourists and totally overwhelmed by the variety of merchandise, and the patterns and the colors and the prices, and THE GIANT PILES OF BAGS.
I had figured the one bag would be it BUT THEN I found myself in an area with only tan, green and black bags. I'm sure, knowing how I dress, you can imagine that I thought I had died and gone to heaven. No crazy blue checks, zero orange stripes...this section was made for me.
It was, it turns out, the men's line. Surprise!
They had great stuff!
I grabbed a large black messenger bag, with only a teeny bit of velcro (I hate the velcro) and was delighted to note that it was marked down to $25 - from a retail price of $138.
I wished I had my phone as I was going to call and ask Middle if he'd carry it while he decides which super-technical bag he wants to buy for his laptop and camera. Since I didn't have my phone, and the sale was only downstairs, I bought it and found out it was reduced AGAIN to $20 and went back to my office - feeling hopeful.
Once there, I called K to tell him about the Japanese tourists. And the bag.
K has been having terrible trouble with his messenger bag killing his neck (too heavy, bad strap) and he asked if I'd go get another bag for him.
We talked a little about it and I realized that Oldest has been carrying a holey, grimey, very old messenger bag for a long long time. Don't you think he should have one too?
And what about Youngest? His backpack smells like every lunch I've ever put in it. Wouldn't he look snappy going to "pre-college" at The Art School He's Interested In this summer with a NICE NEW BLACK MESSENGER BAG WITH ONLY A TEENY BIT OF VELCRO ON IT?
Of course he would.
And that's why I bought that tote bag too.
there is no title for this post
Remember how I said I've been making fewer mistakes at work? Yeah, well, FORGET THAT.
I'm great at fixing them, though. You ALMOST wouldn't know I screwed up.
Also? I have ANOTHER pair of shoes that tear up my feet.
I stopped at the pharmacy yesterday, on the way to work, to purchase some kind of foot-saving pads and was completely overwhelmed by the choices and unable to make a decision - which isn't like me.
What can it mean when there are 20 or so products available to keep your shoes from tearing up your feet? It's not good - I know that.
I could really use a piece of chocolate right about now, and, I'm sorry to say, I don't think I like milk chocolate anymore. Someone at work, when offered a piece of milk chocolate last week, said: I don't care for milk chocolate and, suddenly, I realized THAT I DON'T EITHER.
I plan on blaming it on my maturing palat.
Let's see...what else...did I tell you that Oldest found his keys? HE DID. They were on the beach, not in the water, and he was pretty thrilled. He's started to bring me beach glass (he works for a guy who has a house on the beach) so it's starting to feel like summer.
Do you know, as soon as Middle was back in the car on Sunday night there were photos of the concert he was at on line?
We got wifi at work.
Did I mention that?
We have big plans with the wifi at work. I'm excited.
Did I mention that our weekend was planned in a family meeting at 9pm on Friday?
It was coordinated by the hour - much like my office life.
Middle set it up on a spread sheet on his laptop and it went something like this:
Call times were set for 6am and 10am depending on age.
K and I arose at 5, just to be on the safe side, on Saturday and he went "to work."
Work was the drop-leaf table at the end of our bed. He was cutting a piece for his boss.
I threw in some laundry and folded some laundry and ironed some laundry.
The whole weekend went like that...orchestrated perfectly, each of us moving independently but together. Okay, then, I'll come back home to feed the dog, said Oldest, as we hashed out the two days at the family meeting.
I'll tell you: it's interesting operating as a household of adults (though Youngest still has his moments of naivite and youth).
What else can I say?
It's Tuesday.
And I'm wearing this:
Is that a copy of that Thomas Jefferson book she's holding?
I'm great at fixing them, though. You ALMOST wouldn't know I screwed up.
Also? I have ANOTHER pair of shoes that tear up my feet.
I stopped at the pharmacy yesterday, on the way to work, to purchase some kind of foot-saving pads and was completely overwhelmed by the choices and unable to make a decision - which isn't like me.
What can it mean when there are 20 or so products available to keep your shoes from tearing up your feet? It's not good - I know that.
I could really use a piece of chocolate right about now, and, I'm sorry to say, I don't think I like milk chocolate anymore. Someone at work, when offered a piece of milk chocolate last week, said: I don't care for milk chocolate and, suddenly, I realized THAT I DON'T EITHER.
I plan on blaming it on my maturing palat.
Let's see...what else...did I tell you that Oldest found his keys? HE DID. They were on the beach, not in the water, and he was pretty thrilled. He's started to bring me beach glass (he works for a guy who has a house on the beach) so it's starting to feel like summer.
Do you know, as soon as Middle was back in the car on Sunday night there were photos of the concert he was at on line?
We got wifi at work.
Did I mention that?
We have big plans with the wifi at work. I'm excited.
Did I mention that our weekend was planned in a family meeting at 9pm on Friday?
It was coordinated by the hour - much like my office life.
Middle set it up on a spread sheet on his laptop and it went something like this:
Call times were set for 6am and 10am depending on age.
K and I arose at 5, just to be on the safe side, on Saturday and he went "to work."
Work was the drop-leaf table at the end of our bed. He was cutting a piece for his boss.
I threw in some laundry and folded some laundry and ironed some laundry.
The whole weekend went like that...orchestrated perfectly, each of us moving independently but together. Okay, then, I'll come back home to feed the dog, said Oldest, as we hashed out the two days at the family meeting.
I'll tell you: it's interesting operating as a household of adults (though Youngest still has his moments of naivite and youth).
What else can I say?
It's Tuesday.
And I'm wearing this:
Is that a copy of that Thomas Jefferson book she's holding?
The Wackness
I got Middle to the arena at about 4:00. He had heard that his favorite band would be doing a sound check then and was hoping to be able to catch it. We made it in time and he and his friend J spent some time wandering around the parking lot with their cameras.
This particular arena is in a gorgeous spot – and the sky was a beautiful blue and there was a warm wind blowing. They liked standing on the roof of the Jeep best, taking photos of the crowd. And it was a big crowd too – that early. We heard about people flying in from all over to be at this show – reportedly one of the last shows that Middle’s favorite band is going to do. It was a very different crowd than the one I observed last summer while sitting outside that arena – I don’t know if it is regional or because it was “the last show” but the crowd was older and far less weirdly decked out. They looked, if I can make a sweeping statement, more musically mature. Sure, there were a few people with lots of studs in their faces but there seemed to be a healthy mix of kids Middle’s age along with people in their 30’s and 40’s.
Because we were there so early, I got a primo parking space. I don’t think I could have been more than a couple of hundred yards from the stage (can that be?) which was outdoors.
The boys went off to find their seats and I settled in with the Sunday paper, some office work (which I never got to) and my laptop.
I had told K that I’d need a movie to watch in the car and he offered
Atonement, which I rejected. I told him I needed a Juno and he returned from the library with The Wackness.
Middle was totally impressed with The Wackness – said it is one of his favorite movies and I’ll admit, it took me a little while to get into it – but I liked it very much too.
The Wackness, if I may, is a movie about a kid who sells drugs in the way that Juno is a movie about a girl who gets pregnant. There’s a lot going on. And when Shapiro got on that elevator, at the end, my heart broke a little too.
Oh, so, the thing about my primo parking spot? I heard the entire concert. This made me very happy. It was perfect, in fact, as I love the band too but could never have sat through it with Middle.
For weeks and weeks we’ve been asking Middle what he’d like to do for graduation. When Oldest graduated, we threw a party at the house. Family came from all over and we had a great barbecue. We celebrated his accomplishment and were very proud. We offered Middle the same kind of party – he wanted nothing to do with it. I suggested dinner in town with just our family, he said no. I told him he could bring some friends out for burgers. He didn’t want to. I explained that we wanted to celebrate his achievement somehow and he said he understood but did not feel a celebration was in order. (I’m hoping he changes his mind the next time he graduates.)
The warm wind turned colder. The sun set and made pretty colors and I texted Middle to ask how cold he was in his thin tee shirt and he texted back that he was freezing. Just as I got that text a woman walked past me and said, into her phone, “I just wanted to tell ya: I love ya and I’m thinking about ya.”
I texted back that Middle should look for a tour sweatshirt.
He replied that they were too expensive.
How expensive?
Very expensive.
I bit my lip and texted back as fast as I could that K and I wanted him to buy one.
I sat in the car thinking of him, watching his favorite band, cheering with that giant crowd – not wanting anyone to make any kind of fuss over him – hoping he was warm, hoping he let us treat him to that sweatshirt and by the time the concert was over he told me the sweatshirts had sold out. He returned to the car beaming. In a new hat.
Happy graduation Middle.
You’ve made us proud.
This particular arena is in a gorgeous spot – and the sky was a beautiful blue and there was a warm wind blowing. They liked standing on the roof of the Jeep best, taking photos of the crowd. And it was a big crowd too – that early. We heard about people flying in from all over to be at this show – reportedly one of the last shows that Middle’s favorite band is going to do. It was a very different crowd than the one I observed last summer while sitting outside that arena – I don’t know if it is regional or because it was “the last show” but the crowd was older and far less weirdly decked out. They looked, if I can make a sweeping statement, more musically mature. Sure, there were a few people with lots of studs in their faces but there seemed to be a healthy mix of kids Middle’s age along with people in their 30’s and 40’s.
Because we were there so early, I got a primo parking space. I don’t think I could have been more than a couple of hundred yards from the stage (can that be?) which was outdoors.
The boys went off to find their seats and I settled in with the Sunday paper, some office work (which I never got to) and my laptop.
I had told K that I’d need a movie to watch in the car and he offered
Atonement, which I rejected. I told him I needed a Juno and he returned from the library with The Wackness.
Middle was totally impressed with The Wackness – said it is one of his favorite movies and I’ll admit, it took me a little while to get into it – but I liked it very much too.
The Wackness, if I may, is a movie about a kid who sells drugs in the way that Juno is a movie about a girl who gets pregnant. There’s a lot going on. And when Shapiro got on that elevator, at the end, my heart broke a little too.
Oh, so, the thing about my primo parking spot? I heard the entire concert. This made me very happy. It was perfect, in fact, as I love the band too but could never have sat through it with Middle.
For weeks and weeks we’ve been asking Middle what he’d like to do for graduation. When Oldest graduated, we threw a party at the house. Family came from all over and we had a great barbecue. We celebrated his accomplishment and were very proud. We offered Middle the same kind of party – he wanted nothing to do with it. I suggested dinner in town with just our family, he said no. I told him he could bring some friends out for burgers. He didn’t want to. I explained that we wanted to celebrate his achievement somehow and he said he understood but did not feel a celebration was in order. (I’m hoping he changes his mind the next time he graduates.)
The warm wind turned colder. The sun set and made pretty colors and I texted Middle to ask how cold he was in his thin tee shirt and he texted back that he was freezing. Just as I got that text a woman walked past me and said, into her phone, “I just wanted to tell ya: I love ya and I’m thinking about ya.”
I texted back that Middle should look for a tour sweatshirt.
He replied that they were too expensive.
How expensive?
Very expensive.
I bit my lip and texted back as fast as I could that K and I wanted him to buy one.
I sat in the car thinking of him, watching his favorite band, cheering with that giant crowd – not wanting anyone to make any kind of fuss over him – hoping he was warm, hoping he let us treat him to that sweatshirt and by the time the concert was over he told me the sweatshirts had sold out. He returned to the car beaming. In a new hat.
Happy graduation Middle.
You’ve made us proud.
fortunately Saturday
It was sort of a crummy week.
Is Mercury in retrograde?
My boss asked me that yesterday after a day that can really only be described as A SHIT STORM.
Everything was an emergency. Everything was urgent - needed to be dealt with that MINUTE.
The icing on my cake was an email, from someone I have very little to do with, that was insulting to me - and slightly disrespectful. (Yes, yes...I know, Badger and Jen and - I don't know - countless other people would be delighted to come to my office and kick some ass. Thank you.)
There was distressing news at home, I've had little or no time to deal with anything in my house and on my Friday half-day, in the pouring rain, I rushed to my doctor (a check-up which took months to schedule and hours to sit through) and then hurried back home to bring Youngest to his doctor as he is in the midst of his fourth significant asthma attack in six months. This last bit is not good and we will now have to re-evaluate our plan of action and his care. Again. (I am asking you, kindly, to refrain from emailing me regarding this as while I truly appreciate your concerns I am long past being comforted by hearing about what worked for someone you know. Did that come out with a tinge of meanness? Please don't take it that way - I am weary.)
Our weekend has been planned, literally, on Middle's laptop - hour by hour, with a flowchart and call times. Mine starts at six this morning and ends at midnight tomorrow during which time I will have, hopefully, gotten Youngest stabilized, done the laundry and the food shop, gone to a brunch that I really do not have the hours to give to, and ends sitting in my car listening to a band perform at an outdoor venue while Middle is at the concert.
The trick is getting smoothly from here to there - with an Ikea run in the middle (10:00 today).
I did have a wonderful bright spot this week.
Another assistant asked if I'd like to have lunch. M joins the group I eat with from time to time but I hadn't seen her for about a week. She swung by my desk and we LEFT THE BUILDING. Before I knew it, we had settled into a table at a Cuban restaurant. The food was terrific - but the SANGRIA (just one glass) in the middle of an awful day? BRILLIANT.
So, yeah, I'm advocating a COCKTAIL at noon.
We both decided that Thursday is the new Friday.
I have a "notes from the commute" sitting in drafts and some pictures and thoughts on a recent Anthro email all nearly ready to post...but first: the laundry.
Is Mercury in retrograde?
My boss asked me that yesterday after a day that can really only be described as A SHIT STORM.
Everything was an emergency. Everything was urgent - needed to be dealt with that MINUTE.
The icing on my cake was an email, from someone I have very little to do with, that was insulting to me - and slightly disrespectful. (Yes, yes...I know, Badger and Jen and - I don't know - countless other people would be delighted to come to my office and kick some ass. Thank you.)
There was distressing news at home, I've had little or no time to deal with anything in my house and on my Friday half-day, in the pouring rain, I rushed to my doctor (a check-up which took months to schedule and hours to sit through) and then hurried back home to bring Youngest to his doctor as he is in the midst of his fourth significant asthma attack in six months. This last bit is not good and we will now have to re-evaluate our plan of action and his care. Again. (I am asking you, kindly, to refrain from emailing me regarding this as while I truly appreciate your concerns I am long past being comforted by hearing about what worked for someone you know. Did that come out with a tinge of meanness? Please don't take it that way - I am weary.)
Our weekend has been planned, literally, on Middle's laptop - hour by hour, with a flowchart and call times. Mine starts at six this morning and ends at midnight tomorrow during which time I will have, hopefully, gotten Youngest stabilized, done the laundry and the food shop, gone to a brunch that I really do not have the hours to give to, and ends sitting in my car listening to a band perform at an outdoor venue while Middle is at the concert.
The trick is getting smoothly from here to there - with an Ikea run in the middle (10:00 today).
I did have a wonderful bright spot this week.
Another assistant asked if I'd like to have lunch. M joins the group I eat with from time to time but I hadn't seen her for about a week. She swung by my desk and we LEFT THE BUILDING. Before I knew it, we had settled into a table at a Cuban restaurant. The food was terrific - but the SANGRIA (just one glass) in the middle of an awful day? BRILLIANT.
So, yeah, I'm advocating a COCKTAIL at noon.
We both decided that Thursday is the new Friday.
I have a "notes from the commute" sitting in drafts and some pictures and thoughts on a recent Anthro email all nearly ready to post...but first: the laundry.
beautiful things
I really love Three Beautiful Things. Not every day - sometimes not for weeks at a time, but every once in a while I find myself there marveling at how perfectly Clare can capture a moment.
I don't have the patience to list three beautiful things as adeptly/frequently/poetically but I will freely admit that I find myself walking around mentally cataloging three beautiful things with some frequency. And that, in itself, is an accomplishment.
I had a terrible day yesterday. I walked to work from the train (14 blocks) which I enjoy if my iPod is charged. Ten blocks before my street I noticed two policemen looking up. A distraught looking man was on a ledge about 40 feet above the street. It unsettled me (to put it mildly) and I walked away as fast as I could. Then, just as I mentioned that I've been making fewer mistakes at work, I made a couple of critical errors. In the aftermath I realized that Youngest and I have similar personalities - all it took was a glance from my boss and I wanted to hide in a corner. Had he admonished me for my faults I might have had to lock myself in a room somewhere. Fortunately, he seemed to realize that it was not necessary to mention my mistake - or maybe it was the nothing-you-say-to-me-will-be-as-bad-as-what-I'm-thinking vibe I was giving off that kept him from discussing my slip up.
Anyway.
I went, after work, over to Old Navy. My boys needed socks and underwear and it seemed like a good place to try. I scored some new crab boxer shorts and was very happy. Do you realize that I wrote that post four years ago? FOUR YEARS. Have any of you been reading since then? Can we all meet for coffee?
So, Old Navy - after work...I successfully purchased boxers and socks for three boys, PLUS I found a fold-over-waist jersey skirt and some longshort sleeved tee shirts for me and I'm very pleased. Of course, I continue to assume I'm a medium so every trip to a store results in a return trip. I'm like those people who buy clothes that will fit "as soon as I lose weight" but the opposite. I keep thinking I can't possibly stay this size but it seems like I am. It's very strange. I keep thinking all the stores must have changed their sizes.
Am I rambling?
It's Wednesday. I've promised to take Middle to Ikea for some shelves on Friday. Smart boy, that Middle, he's taken to straightening up his room and has realized that the crappe on his floor has no place to be stowed. Who doesn't like a trip to Ikea?
That's a rhetorical question.
As for Thursday, I'm ignoring it.
I don't have the patience to list three beautiful things as adeptly/frequently/poetically but I will freely admit that I find myself walking around mentally cataloging three beautiful things with some frequency. And that, in itself, is an accomplishment.
I had a terrible day yesterday. I walked to work from the train (14 blocks) which I enjoy if my iPod is charged. Ten blocks before my street I noticed two policemen looking up. A distraught looking man was on a ledge about 40 feet above the street. It unsettled me (to put it mildly) and I walked away as fast as I could. Then, just as I mentioned that I've been making fewer mistakes at work, I made a couple of critical errors. In the aftermath I realized that Youngest and I have similar personalities - all it took was a glance from my boss and I wanted to hide in a corner. Had he admonished me for my faults I might have had to lock myself in a room somewhere. Fortunately, he seemed to realize that it was not necessary to mention my mistake - or maybe it was the nothing-you-say-to-me-will-be-as-bad-as-what-I'm-thinking vibe I was giving off that kept him from discussing my slip up.
Anyway.
I went, after work, over to Old Navy. My boys needed socks and underwear and it seemed like a good place to try. I scored some new crab boxer shorts and was very happy. Do you realize that I wrote that post four years ago? FOUR YEARS. Have any of you been reading since then? Can we all meet for coffee?
So, Old Navy - after work...I successfully purchased boxers and socks for three boys, PLUS I found a fold-over-waist jersey skirt and some longshort sleeved tee shirts for me and I'm very pleased. Of course, I continue to assume I'm a medium so every trip to a store results in a return trip. I'm like those people who buy clothes that will fit "as soon as I lose weight" but the opposite. I keep thinking I can't possibly stay this size but it seems like I am. It's very strange. I keep thinking all the stores must have changed their sizes.
Am I rambling?
It's Wednesday. I've promised to take Middle to Ikea for some shelves on Friday. Smart boy, that Middle, he's taken to straightening up his room and has realized that the crappe on his floor has no place to be stowed. Who doesn't like a trip to Ikea?
That's a rhetorical question.
As for Thursday, I'm ignoring it.
like they had in France
DELMAR
A miracle! It was a miracle!
EVERETT
Aw, don't be ignorant, Delmar. I
told you they was gonna flood this
valley.
DELMAR
That ain't it!
PETE
We prayed to God and he pitied us!
EVERETT
It just never fails; once again you
two hayseeds are showin' how much
you want for innalect. There's a
perfectly scientific explanation for
what just happened -
PETE
That ain't the tune you were singin'
back there at the gallows!
EVERETT
Well any human being will cast about
in a moment of stress. No, the fact
is, they're flooding this valley so
they can hydro-electric up the whole
durned state...
Everett waxes smug:
EVERETT
Yessir, the South is gonna change.
Everything's gonna be put on
electricity and run on a payin' basis.
Out with the old spiritual mumbo-
jumbo, the superstitions and the
backward ways. We're gonna see a
brave new world where they run
everyone a wire and hook us all up
to a grid. Yessir, a veritable age
of reason - like the one they had in
France - and not a moment too soon...
Yes, sir, they're gonna wifi up my whole office!
They're gonna run everyone a wire - no, wait - they're gonna take away our wires and unhook us all from the grid. And we're gonna Twitter and write blogs and post photos on flickr...we're gonna see a brave new world, a veritable age of reason.
And I've only been there seven months.
I'm still loving my job - I'm just deciding on my business cards, the company is about to celebrate a landmark anniversary, we have a bestseller (an amazing thing these days) and I make fewer mistakes every week.
Last weekend I volunteered to work a trade show and spent Saturday attempting to be helpful to staff members who were working their butts off. I pitched in where I could, was there for some significant events and fell into the groove - I felt, for one of the first times, like one of the gang. We were there, among our peers in the industry and I realized that I'm really proud of the work we do and excited to be with the group I'm with. It was pretty terrific.
Back at the office, this morning, I spent a while on the phone with a consultant who is going to help bring the company up to speed in internet world and then met with the new IT guy - who's bringing the wifi...and not a moment too soon.
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