Part of Emily's "Your blog is fabulous" post included a list of her current obsessions. I didn't include my list with my Fabulous blogs post, but her list did get me thinking so now I present you with a list of obsessions -- some long-standing and some new:
1. Lipwear. I am on the constant lookout for the perfect color and texture lipwear. This includes the perfect lip balm (still the original Chapstick in my book), the perfect lip gloss, and the perfect lipstick. I own a ridiculous number of each. Any trip to Sephora or other cosmetics store includes the purchase of some kind of lip wear. Recent purchase include: Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Tangerine, Neutrogena LipSheer in Peach Sorbet, and Chapstick True Shimmer in Botanical Berry. I'm not a big lip liner fan though.
2. Twitter. To me Twitter is one of the most fun things to come out of the whole "social networking" web stuff. I love keeping up with my friends. I love keeping up with those who tweet informative stuff in the news and sites like makeuseof.com (MakeUseOf) -- they find the most interesting things on the web. And I love the fun stuff like the National History Museum Whale (NatHistoryWhale). I check Twitter frequently and I tweet frequently. If you want to follow me, I am marcyjill.
3. Mayfair Jelly Eggs. These are the cheap Easter jelly beans they sell at Stop & Shop. They are so bad they're good and I am sure they are the reason I am not losing weight like I would like to be despite trying.
4. My iPhone. When all the crazy stuff happened at work back in December my work-supplied Blackberry was taken away. I decided that having lived with a "Smart" phone for so long, I could no longer do without one and decided to replace it with an iPhone. A gadget I had long been coveting. I cannot go anywhere without it now. It is my everything device where I get email, text messages, twitter, internet, facebook, train schedules, , GPS, camera/photos, games, notes, calendar, to-do lists, shopping lists, ebooks, music, audiobooks, movies, TV show episodes, and, um, oh yeah, phone calls! In my book it is the perfect gadget.
5. Hotels.com Ever since I planned our trip to Dallas in the Fall I have been really into this website. I know the need for hotels doesn't come up that often, but even just fantasizing about getting away can be fun and this site makes it easy to explore hotel options just about anywhere. The ratings and reviews are generally on target and I have not been disappointed with any of the hotels I have found through the site.
6. Pandora This is the coolest music site out there. I am completely obsessed with fine-tuning my station which I have tried to make into my personalized version of the Sirius satellite radio station, The Spectrum. Which basically means just like The Spectrum, but no U2 or Bruce Springsteen. If you haven't tried out this site, you should. I can even share my station with you -- just let me know if you're interested.
I am sure there are other obsessions currently crowding my brain, but there you have my top 6.
27 March 2009
25 March 2009
Your Blog is Fabulous
The wonderful Emily has selected me for a "Your blog is fabulous" award. And considering the other bloggers she chose, I am extremely flattered to be in such good company. If you haven't read her post about this award you should and then you should check out the other bloggers on her list. But, back to me, I feel I must share what she wrote:
Few people in the world make me think, "Well, maybe having a child isn't such a bad thing after all." (Of course, if I could guarantee having a child like Zoe...) I'm pretty sure it's because she is so incredibly honest about the whole "motherhood experience." Oh, and despite what you might think, she isn't all about Zoe. She gives you plenty of other hilarious (and sometimes poignant) observations about this thing we call life.
Wow. Thanks again!
OK, so now I get to give out the award myself. My awards go to the blogs that inspire me. Here we go...
1. traciedesigns -- I love the design inspiration she shares regularly along with her down to earth view on life. Tracie is just all around fabulous from blog to friend to shoes!
2. It's Sara with no H -- I've never met Sara in real life, but I am sure that if I did we'd be instant friends talking endlessly over coffee or drinks or something. I feel like we share a similar point of view on marriage and motherhood.
3. Musings from the sofa -- The musings range from books to husbands to England and back again and they are all excellent posts with an independent point of view that I admire. I've learned a lot about Ms. Musings and a lot of English-speak and English spelling along the way. I always look forward to her posts. She also has the best tags for her posts!
4. Noble Savage -- Again, I've never met her, but I am sure we would be fast friends and have much to discuss. Her adventures in motherhood and as a strong feminist woman are inspirational. Her rough patches remind me I am not alone, her good times make me smile, and her strong point of view motivates me.
5. Telecommuter Talk -- I guess it is cheating to award the person who awarded you, but I simply could not leave Emily off this list. Her blog makes me laugh out loud, inspires me to action, inspires me to read, inspires me think, and of course inspires me to memes. Emily is not only Queen O' Memes, she is Queen O' Blogs! I love that our blogs have brought us closer together as friends too.
Thank you all for the regular inspiration! My awardees are welcome to pass along the award.
23 March 2009
Fashion Innocent
Among Zoe's many lovely birthday presents from family and friends was a grey DKNY zip up sweatshirt. It is a cute hoodie that has the big DKNY logo on the front. (Honestly, I didn't know DKNY even had a children's line. License of the name maybe?)
When Zoe pulled it out of the wrapping paper she held it up, examined it and said, "Those aren't my initials."
When Zoe pulled it out of the wrapping paper she held it up, examined it and said, "Those aren't my initials."
21 March 2009
It was 7 years ago today...
Zoe was born!
This picture was taken just minutes after she was born. The first of thousands and thousands.19 March 2009
25 Most Influential Authors
I was tagged by Emily for this one and was therefore compelled ...
Here are the instructions:
"Name 25 writers who have influenced you. These are not necessarily your favorite writers or those you most admire, but writers who have influenced you. Then you tag 25 people.”
I don't think I will tag 25 people because Emily tagged just about everyone I know already, but if you weren't tagged and you want to do this, consider yourself tagged.
Children's authors
1. Beverly Cleary -- The Mouse and the Motorcycle was one of the first books I really loved.
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder -- I think I read them all multiple times.
3. Judy Blume -- Loved her! Even read Forever and can't wait until Zoe is ready for some of her books.
4. Francine Pascal -- I admit it, I read a lot of the Sweet Valley High books.
The classics
5. Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird really moved me.
6. Jane Austen
7. Goethe -- That Faust guy shows up everywhere!
8. Fyodor Dostoevsky -- because I thought I kind of liked Russian authors -- or should like them -- until I read Crime and Punishment and then I realized I hate them.
The playwrights & poets
9. William Shakespeare (also a classic, of course)
10. Edward Albee
11. Sam Shepard -- yes he's an actor, but he is a much better playwright.
12. Walt Whitman
13. Henrik Ibsen
Short stories
14. Raymond Carver -- After reading Cathedral I understood just how incredible a short story could be.
15. Lorrie Moore -- if you haven't read her and like short stories, start with Birds of America.
16. Flannery O'Connor -- hated her the first time around in school, but I have grown to really appreciate her work.
Modern Fiction
17. Tom Robbins -- I think I've read all of his books except the latest. He's so weird and wonderful.
18. John Irving -- I read The Hotel New Hampshire at around age 11. I was kind of freaked out, but I never stopped going back for more.
19. Anne Tyler
20. Jay McInerney
21. John Krakauer
22. Milan Kundera
Other
23. Maureen Dowd
24. Steve Martin
25. Malcolm Gladwell
Here are the instructions:
"Name 25 writers who have influenced you. These are not necessarily your favorite writers or those you most admire, but writers who have influenced you. Then you tag 25 people.”
I don't think I will tag 25 people because Emily tagged just about everyone I know already, but if you weren't tagged and you want to do this, consider yourself tagged.
Children's authors
1. Beverly Cleary -- The Mouse and the Motorcycle was one of the first books I really loved.
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder -- I think I read them all multiple times.
3. Judy Blume -- Loved her! Even read Forever and can't wait until Zoe is ready for some of her books.
4. Francine Pascal -- I admit it, I read a lot of the Sweet Valley High books.
The classics
5. Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird really moved me.
6. Jane Austen
7. Goethe -- That Faust guy shows up everywhere!
8. Fyodor Dostoevsky -- because I thought I kind of liked Russian authors -- or should like them -- until I read Crime and Punishment and then I realized I hate them.
The playwrights & poets
9. William Shakespeare (also a classic, of course)
10. Edward Albee
11. Sam Shepard -- yes he's an actor, but he is a much better playwright.
12. Walt Whitman
13. Henrik Ibsen
Short stories
14. Raymond Carver -- After reading Cathedral I understood just how incredible a short story could be.
15. Lorrie Moore -- if you haven't read her and like short stories, start with Birds of America.
16. Flannery O'Connor -- hated her the first time around in school, but I have grown to really appreciate her work.
Modern Fiction
17. Tom Robbins -- I think I've read all of his books except the latest. He's so weird and wonderful.
18. John Irving -- I read The Hotel New Hampshire at around age 11. I was kind of freaked out, but I never stopped going back for more.
19. Anne Tyler
20. Jay McInerney
21. John Krakauer
22. Milan Kundera
Other
23. Maureen Dowd
24. Steve Martin
25. Malcolm Gladwell
16 March 2009
Race Day
Sunday morning Zoe ran in her first race. It was a 1/2 mile kid's "fun run." She was pretty nervous about it, but when it came down to it she ran her heart out and was really happy with herself after. It was so much fun to watch and even better to see her feeling so proud of herself when the run was over.
Here she is just seconds from the finish line:
Here she is just seconds from the finish line:
15 March 2009
Butterflies are free
We had a family field trip to the Museum of Natural History this weekend. My favorite exhibit is usually the Hall of Ocean Life where my friend NatHistoryWhale hangs out, but we managed to catch the butterfly exhibit this time (something I always seem to miss) and I have to say it was pretty darn cool.
12 March 2009
The Pants 180
For the last year, maybe longer, Zoe has almost exclusively worn "soft pants" or their shorts equivalent. "Soft pants" are stretch pants, but they are not as tight as leggings. They are like yoga pants, but they are not wide-legged either. I know this because of all the "soft pant" rejects that crowd the bottom drawer of Zoe's dresser. This fall Old Navy was good enough to produce the perfect "soft pants" and for once I was smart and I bought them in every color except pink. Pink anything went the way of skirts, dresses and all other pants at that same moment last year.
For the most part I let Zoe pick out what she is going to wear each day. I let her pick her pants and then help her choose a shirt that matches. On Thursdays I get to select her outfit and as long as it is not a skirt or a dress she usually wears the outfit I select. I almost always choose the one pair of jeans that she owns and a shirt she rarely wears. Every week since school started she has complained about these jeans and sometimes has even managed to talk me out of selecting them.
This week on Tuesday night when we were picking out clothes for Wednesday Zoe said I should pick and that would mean I wouldn't get to choose for Thursday. I agreed to that and immediately reached for the jeans. She happily wore her jeans to school on Wednesday and then on Wednesday night when we were getting ready for bed and about to choose Thursday's clothes she informed me that she wanted to wear jeans every day from now on. Excuse me? Did I hear that correctly? Apparently so because when I explained to her that her one pair of jeans was dirty she asked me to please wash them so she could wear them again. I agreed because I am sick of the "soft pants" and what is one more load of laundry anyway. At the risk of her changing her mind, I had to ask her why, after all these months and months of wanting to wear nothing but soft pants, did she suddenly decide it had to be jeans?
Her answer: Because I am an artist and all artists wear jeans everyday.
I have absolutely no idea where that came from and I didn't even ask.
For the most part I let Zoe pick out what she is going to wear each day. I let her pick her pants and then help her choose a shirt that matches. On Thursdays I get to select her outfit and as long as it is not a skirt or a dress she usually wears the outfit I select. I almost always choose the one pair of jeans that she owns and a shirt she rarely wears. Every week since school started she has complained about these jeans and sometimes has even managed to talk me out of selecting them.
This week on Tuesday night when we were picking out clothes for Wednesday Zoe said I should pick and that would mean I wouldn't get to choose for Thursday. I agreed to that and immediately reached for the jeans. She happily wore her jeans to school on Wednesday and then on Wednesday night when we were getting ready for bed and about to choose Thursday's clothes she informed me that she wanted to wear jeans every day from now on. Excuse me? Did I hear that correctly? Apparently so because when I explained to her that her one pair of jeans was dirty she asked me to please wash them so she could wear them again. I agreed because I am sick of the "soft pants" and what is one more load of laundry anyway. At the risk of her changing her mind, I had to ask her why, after all these months and months of wanting to wear nothing but soft pants, did she suddenly decide it had to be jeans?
Her answer: Because I am an artist and all artists wear jeans everyday.
I have absolutely no idea where that came from and I didn't even ask.
10 March 2009
Reading Material
My husband tends to use our bathroom as a mini library where he stores an assortment of reading material. Every time I use the bathroom I am then subjected to a microcosm of his reading tastes and proclivities and I wonder how 2 such opposite people share the same living space. We both love books and magazines, but that is where the similarities end.
I usually read only one book and one magazine at a time. I don't like to be reading too many things at once. This is not the case for Rob. I tend to treat my books quite well. I would never dream of dog-earring a page unless it was an extreme emergency. The other day when Zoe fell out of the tree she was climbing at the playground I still put my bookmark in place before rushing over to her. (She was fine and did not fall from very high.) I would never ever leave a book in the bathroom and subject it to the humidity of days of showers and the curious fingers of the child who shares our bathroom. I couldn't. I also tend to buy mostly one genre of book -- fiction. Occasionally I dip into biography and history, but I generally stick with fiction.
When I get a magazine I read it (or at least skim it) and then pass it to someone else or recycle it. I do not leave magazines lolling about for months at a time nor do I ever re-read them. Once in a blue moon I will save a particular issue of a magazine, but that is so rare that I only have 4 magazines (3 New Yorkers and one New York Times Magazine) saved and I have never re-read any of them.
Rob's reading material in our bathroom includes:
A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life -- warped hardcover with every 3rd page dog-eared
Latin Can Be Fun -- Seriously. And with the "Bargain" sticker still on it, of course
The February 2008 issue of Cigar Aficionado -- which has been in the bathroom since February 2008 and is barely holding together as a magazine anymore
The November 2008 issue of Outside Magazine -- see above
The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook with Zoe's drawings added to some of the illustrations
The most recent issue of Cook's Illustrated -- a magazine he subscribes to and yet I have never seen him cook one recipe from it.
The American Van Catalog -- also dog-eared which scares me since he is supposed to be getting rid of the van next month
The Selected Poems of D. H. Lawrence -- no complaints with that one
Interesting portrait of the man, isn't it?
I usually read only one book and one magazine at a time. I don't like to be reading too many things at once. This is not the case for Rob. I tend to treat my books quite well. I would never dream of dog-earring a page unless it was an extreme emergency. The other day when Zoe fell out of the tree she was climbing at the playground I still put my bookmark in place before rushing over to her. (She was fine and did not fall from very high.) I would never ever leave a book in the bathroom and subject it to the humidity of days of showers and the curious fingers of the child who shares our bathroom. I couldn't. I also tend to buy mostly one genre of book -- fiction. Occasionally I dip into biography and history, but I generally stick with fiction.
When I get a magazine I read it (or at least skim it) and then pass it to someone else or recycle it. I do not leave magazines lolling about for months at a time nor do I ever re-read them. Once in a blue moon I will save a particular issue of a magazine, but that is so rare that I only have 4 magazines (3 New Yorkers and one New York Times Magazine) saved and I have never re-read any of them.
Rob's reading material in our bathroom includes:
A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life -- warped hardcover with every 3rd page dog-eared
Latin Can Be Fun -- Seriously. And with the "Bargain" sticker still on it, of course
The February 2008 issue of Cigar Aficionado -- which has been in the bathroom since February 2008 and is barely holding together as a magazine anymore
The November 2008 issue of Outside Magazine -- see above
The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook with Zoe's drawings added to some of the illustrations
The most recent issue of Cook's Illustrated -- a magazine he subscribes to and yet I have never seen him cook one recipe from it.
The American Van Catalog -- also dog-eared which scares me since he is supposed to be getting rid of the van next month
The Selected Poems of D. H. Lawrence -- no complaints with that one
Interesting portrait of the man, isn't it?
09 March 2009
A Broken Promise
One year ago I promised that I would not write and complain about my braces in this blog ever again, but I lied. I have decided that one full year of braces wearing entitles me to one more post complaining about them.
It seems like ever since I hit that one year mark last week (February 27) I realized just how much longer I have to go. I know I should be thinking that I am halfway there. Woo hoo! But, no. Another year feels like a really long time to have to deal with the following:
It seems like ever since I hit that one year mark last week (February 27) I realized just how much longer I have to go. I know I should be thinking that I am halfway there. Woo hoo! But, no. Another year feels like a really long time to have to deal with the following:
- Concern for what food particles are lodged in my teeth after every single meal. This is particularly exacerbated when eating out at a restaurant where I often spend post-eating time either not smiling or covering my mouth with my hand when I do.
- Awkward smiling. Almost every time I do smile my lips have to navigate their way around these things in my mouth.
- Seeing them on my smile in pictures. Yuck.
- Waking up every morning with the insides of my mouth dried onto the braces and gently having to peel them apart.
- Rubber bands. No one told me about the rubber bands. Miserable little things.
- The random moments when the inside of my cheek catches on part of the brace. Ouch!
- The never ending string of orthodontist appointments. Seems like every time I turn around I have to go back there. I like my doctor and most of the people who work at the office, but every 3rd time or so I get the assistant who takes at least twice as long as the others to but the bands back on and it is like torture.
- The smell of popcorn that I cannot have. I don't miss most of the other banned foods, but popcorn is really tough especially when I am at the movies.
05 March 2009
Questions for Mom
Seems like lately Zoe speaks in questions and they all tend to start with "Mom?" Heard in a typical day:
"Mom? Can I watch TV?"
"Mom? Can I have a snack?"
"Mom? What's 23+23?"
"Mom? Did you see what I made?"
"Mom? What does this say?"
"Mom? Can I mail this letter to Sophia?"
"Mom? Can I have a playdate with Hannah?"
"Mom? Can I have more milk?"
"Mom? Can I be done?"
"Mom? What is your favorite color?"
"Mom? Can I have dessert?"
"Mom? How do you spell airplane?"
"Mom? Where's my journal?"
"Mom? Can we get that?"
"Mom? Can you take me to the bathroom?"
"Mom? When is my birthday?"
"Mom? Did you know that a baby kangaroo is called a Joey?"
"Mom? Can I have 5 more minutes?"
"Mom? Where's Daddy?"
"Mom? Can I have some more?"
"Mom? Can you tuck me in?"
"Mom? When are we going to be there?"
"Mom? When can we go?"
Luckily, just when I am getting exasperated I get this:
"Mom? I love you."
"Mom? Can I watch TV?"
"Mom? Can I have a snack?"
"Mom? What's 23+23?"
"Mom? Did you see what I made?"
"Mom? What does this say?"
"Mom? Can I mail this letter to Sophia?"
"Mom? Can I have a playdate with Hannah?"
"Mom? Can I have more milk?"
"Mom? Can I be done?"
"Mom? What is your favorite color?"
"Mom? Can I have dessert?"
"Mom? How do you spell airplane?"
"Mom? Where's my journal?"
"Mom? Can we get that?"
"Mom? Can you take me to the bathroom?"
"Mom? When is my birthday?"
"Mom? Did you know that a baby kangaroo is called a Joey?"
"Mom? Can I have 5 more minutes?"
"Mom? Where's Daddy?"
"Mom? Can I have some more?"
"Mom? Can you tuck me in?"
"Mom? When are we going to be there?"
"Mom? When can we go?"
Luckily, just when I am getting exasperated I get this:
"Mom? I love you."
03 March 2009
Pictures of Puerto Rico
We're just home from Puerto Rico one day late as Mother Nature thoughtfully provided us with a snow storm on Monday and forcing us to prolong our stay. That extra day was a really nice treat. Coming home to 25 degree weather, but looking at the pictures tonight has brought back all the sun, warmth, and relaxation.
I have a bunch of pictures, but some of my favorite are here.
25 February 2009
Words for Wednesday:
I almost forgot and it is only my second week back! OK part of the reason is because I couldn't think of a good song this week. I'm in a comfortable, but enjoyable rut listening to the same playlist on my iPod over and over as I work and I probably have already posted the lyrics from the best of those songs already.
The other part of the reason is because I have the song "Free to be... You and Me" stuck in my head. Zoe has been playing it a lot lately. Over and over and over actually. Does anyone else remember listening to this as a kid? The one by Marlo Thomas & Friends? I loved it so when I saw it at this year's book fair at Zoe's school I had to buy it for her. At first she wouldn't listen to it -- most likely because I love it so much and want her to like it too. Now that she's given it a shot, she's hooked just like I was.
Unfortunately, as an adult, the songs get a little annoying after awhile. Especially the chorus of the title song, but overall it is still good.
So, here's the words and if any one's interested in taking a walk down memory lane, let me know and I'll send you a copy of the CD.
Free to Be... You and Me
Music by Stephen J. Lawrence, Lyrics by Bruce Hart, Performed by The New Seekers
There's a land that I see where the children are free
And I say it ain't far to this land from where we are
Take my hand, come with me, where the children are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we'll live
In a land where the river runs free
In a land through the green country
In a land to a shining sea
And you and me are free to be you and me
I see a land bright and clear, and the time's comin' near
When we'll live in this land, you and me, hand in hand
Take my hand, come along, lend your voice to my song
Come along, take my hand, sing a song
For a land where the river runs free
For a land through the green country
For a land to a shining sea
For a land where the horses run free
And you and me are free to be you and me
Every boy in this land grows to be his own man
In this land, every girl grows to be her own woman
Take my hand, come with me where the children are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we'll run
To a land where the river runs free
To a land through the green country
To a land to a shining sea
To a land where the horses run free
To a land where the children are free
And you and me are free to be
And you and me are free to be
And you and me are free to be you and me
The other part of the reason is because I have the song "Free to be... You and Me" stuck in my head. Zoe has been playing it a lot lately. Over and over and over actually. Does anyone else remember listening to this as a kid? The one by Marlo Thomas & Friends? I loved it so when I saw it at this year's book fair at Zoe's school I had to buy it for her. At first she wouldn't listen to it -- most likely because I love it so much and want her to like it too. Now that she's given it a shot, she's hooked just like I was.
Unfortunately, as an adult, the songs get a little annoying after awhile. Especially the chorus of the title song, but overall it is still good.
So, here's the words and if any one's interested in taking a walk down memory lane, let me know and I'll send you a copy of the CD.
Free to Be... You and Me
Music by Stephen J. Lawrence, Lyrics by Bruce Hart, Performed by The New Seekers
There's a land that I see where the children are free
And I say it ain't far to this land from where we are
Take my hand, come with me, where the children are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we'll live
In a land where the river runs free
In a land through the green country
In a land to a shining sea
And you and me are free to be you and me
I see a land bright and clear, and the time's comin' near
When we'll live in this land, you and me, hand in hand
Take my hand, come along, lend your voice to my song
Come along, take my hand, sing a song
For a land where the river runs free
For a land through the green country
For a land to a shining sea
For a land where the horses run free
And you and me are free to be you and me
Every boy in this land grows to be his own man
In this land, every girl grows to be her own woman
Take my hand, come with me where the children are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we'll run
To a land where the river runs free
To a land through the green country
To a land to a shining sea
To a land where the horses run free
To a land where the children are free
And you and me are free to be
And you and me are free to be
And you and me are free to be you and me
23 February 2009
22 February 2009
A Couple of Connecticut Yankees
A new meme is sweeping through my blog roll and I am loving it! I was officially tagged by Emily for this one. And here goes...
What are your middle names?
Mine is Jill. Thus Marcyjill in case any of you were ever wondering. Jill is the name I was supposed to have until my great grandmother, Mary, died 2 weeks before I was born. In the Jewish tradition I was named after her, but since my brother was already around and named Jon, my parents didn't want to round out their nice Jewish family with Jon and Mary. Rob's middle name is Frank. For 33 years or so he thought it was Franklin until we showed his mother the proof for our wedding invites when she told him his middle name is actually just Frank. This was corroborated by his birth certificate. I'm not sure how you get to be 33 without knowing what your middle name is, but Rob did.
How long have you been together?
Since June of 1997.
How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We met in 1989, the summer after my freshman year in college. Rob was my brother's friend.
Who asked whom out?
He asked me out first about 6 months after we met. He never called me after that date. We ran into each other here and there because he was, as I mentioned, friends with my brother. So we had about 3 more first dates just like that where he asked me out and then never called over the course of 7 years until that date in June of 1997 "took."
How old are you?
I’m 38, he's 43. I love that he calls me his "child bride."
Whose siblings do you see the most?
Rob has 2 brothers and I have one and all three live within a half hour of us. We see one of Rob's brothers and one of mine with about equal frequency. The other brother not so much.
Which situation is hardest on you as a couple?
Rob has his own business. As a result he often agrees to what I consider insane work hours without giving much thought to my schedule or Zoe's. He leaves all that to me arguing that he has to take the work when it is available. It is our biggest source of argument, frustration and other difficulty. (I've noticed that almost every one who as answered this has cited work-related issues as the thing hardest on them as a couple. Just and observation.)
Did you go to the same school?
No, but our high schools did play each other in sports. College wasn't even close.
Are you from the same home town?
Nope. He's a Norwalk boy through and through and I grew up in Monroe and hated every moment of it.
Who is smarter?
Rob is no dunce, but I am the smart one.
Who is the most sensitive?
It depends on if you mean physically or emotionally. Rob is a big baby when it comes to being sick in any way. If he has a paper cut, it is the worst paper cut ever requiring band aids and neosporin. He will sleep for 3 hours just because he has a headache. I am from peasant stock and generally just get on with things as much as possible when faced with physical ailments. Emotionally, unless it is from his parents, Rob is mostly unaffected by any real or imagined slights, insults or other bother. I, on the other hand, obsess and have been known to ruin perfectly lovely evenings because I am insecure, obsessing, or insulted.
Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Wild Rice. It is walking distance from our house and it is really good, but reasonably priced Asian food. One of our favorite dates is walking to Wild Rice and then going to the bookstore afterwords. This winter, however, we've been driving there more.
Where is the furthest you have traveled together as a couple?
Mileage-wise it has to be Italy, but I think our drive to Dallas is the trip that really qualifies. Either way, we always travel very well together and have been planning more and more trips lately.
Who has the craziest exes?
Hands down that goes to Rob. His craziest ex has done pounds of cocaine as well as jail time for "soliciting."
Who has the worst temper?
Again, Rob. I boil over more often, but when Rob does it is scary. He once made Zoe wet her pants by just yelling at her. I am really glad it doesn't happen often.
Who does the most cooking?
Until this year that would have been Rob. Over the course of our relationship he wins, but in 2009, I win.
Who is the most stubborn?
He is, and nothing you can say can convince me otherwise.
Who hogs the bed most?
He does! We have a king size bed and sometimes even that doesn't seem big enough.
Who does the laundry?
I do. I am particular about my laundry methodology so I have banned Rob from the laundry. I know my particularness makes me seem crazy in his eyes and so be it. I like my clothes washed, folded, and even put away with regularity.
Who’s better with the computer?
Me. Rob is getting better, especially since he bought his Mac, but I have always been more tech savvy with computers and most forms of technology.
Who drives when you are together?
He does. Many years ago we were going somewhere with my mother and there was a couple in the car next to us and the woman was driving and my mother commented, "never trust a man who doesn't drive." Rob has generally felt it to be his duty to drive since then. I don't really love to drive so I gladly accept his being the driver.
Tagging: Tracie, Sara, and Courtney.
What are your middle names?
Mine is Jill. Thus Marcyjill in case any of you were ever wondering. Jill is the name I was supposed to have until my great grandmother, Mary, died 2 weeks before I was born. In the Jewish tradition I was named after her, but since my brother was already around and named Jon, my parents didn't want to round out their nice Jewish family with Jon and Mary. Rob's middle name is Frank. For 33 years or so he thought it was Franklin until we showed his mother the proof for our wedding invites when she told him his middle name is actually just Frank. This was corroborated by his birth certificate. I'm not sure how you get to be 33 without knowing what your middle name is, but Rob did.
How long have you been together?
Since June of 1997.
How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We met in 1989, the summer after my freshman year in college. Rob was my brother's friend.
Who asked whom out?
He asked me out first about 6 months after we met. He never called me after that date. We ran into each other here and there because he was, as I mentioned, friends with my brother. So we had about 3 more first dates just like that where he asked me out and then never called over the course of 7 years until that date in June of 1997 "took."
How old are you?
I’m 38, he's 43. I love that he calls me his "child bride."
Whose siblings do you see the most?
Rob has 2 brothers and I have one and all three live within a half hour of us. We see one of Rob's brothers and one of mine with about equal frequency. The other brother not so much.
Which situation is hardest on you as a couple?
Rob has his own business. As a result he often agrees to what I consider insane work hours without giving much thought to my schedule or Zoe's. He leaves all that to me arguing that he has to take the work when it is available. It is our biggest source of argument, frustration and other difficulty. (I've noticed that almost every one who as answered this has cited work-related issues as the thing hardest on them as a couple. Just and observation.)
Did you go to the same school?
No, but our high schools did play each other in sports. College wasn't even close.
Are you from the same home town?
Nope. He's a Norwalk boy through and through and I grew up in Monroe and hated every moment of it.
Who is smarter?
Rob is no dunce, but I am the smart one.
Who is the most sensitive?
It depends on if you mean physically or emotionally. Rob is a big baby when it comes to being sick in any way. If he has a paper cut, it is the worst paper cut ever requiring band aids and neosporin. He will sleep for 3 hours just because he has a headache. I am from peasant stock and generally just get on with things as much as possible when faced with physical ailments. Emotionally, unless it is from his parents, Rob is mostly unaffected by any real or imagined slights, insults or other bother. I, on the other hand, obsess and have been known to ruin perfectly lovely evenings because I am insecure, obsessing, or insulted.
Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Wild Rice. It is walking distance from our house and it is really good, but reasonably priced Asian food. One of our favorite dates is walking to Wild Rice and then going to the bookstore afterwords. This winter, however, we've been driving there more.
Where is the furthest you have traveled together as a couple?
Mileage-wise it has to be Italy, but I think our drive to Dallas is the trip that really qualifies. Either way, we always travel very well together and have been planning more and more trips lately.
Who has the craziest exes?
Hands down that goes to Rob. His craziest ex has done pounds of cocaine as well as jail time for "soliciting."
Who has the worst temper?
Again, Rob. I boil over more often, but when Rob does it is scary. He once made Zoe wet her pants by just yelling at her. I am really glad it doesn't happen often.
Who does the most cooking?
Until this year that would have been Rob. Over the course of our relationship he wins, but in 2009, I win.
Who is the most stubborn?
He is, and nothing you can say can convince me otherwise.
Who hogs the bed most?
He does! We have a king size bed and sometimes even that doesn't seem big enough.
Who does the laundry?
I do. I am particular about my laundry methodology so I have banned Rob from the laundry. I know my particularness makes me seem crazy in his eyes and so be it. I like my clothes washed, folded, and even put away with regularity.
Who’s better with the computer?
Me. Rob is getting better, especially since he bought his Mac, but I have always been more tech savvy with computers and most forms of technology.
Who drives when you are together?
He does. Many years ago we were going somewhere with my mother and there was a couple in the car next to us and the woman was driving and my mother commented, "never trust a man who doesn't drive." Rob has generally felt it to be his duty to drive since then. I don't really love to drive so I gladly accept his being the driver.
Tagging: Tracie, Sara, and Courtney.
19 February 2009
Charlotte Interviews Me
Apparently "the interview" is an oldie, but it is new to me. I discovered it when I read Charlotte's (of Charlotte's Web) interview and I liked the idea. Happily Charlotte agreed to interview me. So, here goes...
1. One of your resolutions this year was to cook more often. Tell us about something you have cooked this month, and how it was received by your family.
I have been doing some cooking, but nothing too adventurous. The best meal I prepared was sauteed chicken breasts with green beans, corn and corn bread. The corn was frozen and microwaved because Zoe won't eat green beans, but everything else was made fresh. Zoe would only eat the corn and the cornbread, but my husband ate every bite so I took it as a good sign. I have to admit I liked it too. Much of the point of my cooking is so that my family and I eat healthier meals and I feel like this meal was a success on that front too.
Here's some photographic evidence of this meal:
2. You trained as a costume designer, and now work in a completely different industry. How do you channel your creativity?
These days I find my creative outlets to be either writing or photography. That is one of the reasons I love blogging so much -- it is a great space for both. I dream of someday doing some drawing and painting again and I have some interesting collage ideas in my head, but I right now life is so busy it is hard for me to make time and space for that.
3. Money is no object. What is your dream vacation?
That is a tough question because I am not sure if my dream vacation is in one spot or if it involves multiple locations. Either way it involved 5 star accommodations. I love beautiful hotels.
So if I had to choose one place I think a month or two in Barcelona staying a suite with a beautiful view would be divine. I would do it all, immerse myself in the Barcelona life and hope to get mistaken for a local by the end of the trip.
A traveling vacation would probably be the Pacific Northwest of North America. I'd like to start in Seattle, WA and explore north and west of there. I am sure I would need a month or two for that as well.
4. You love reading. What was the last book you read, what are you reading now and what is next on your TBR pile?
I just finished a book called Smart Girls Like Me by Diane Vadino. It is slightly above chick lit on the fiction scale of quality. Can't say I would really recommend it, but it is not a bad book.
I am currently reading The Saturday Wife by Naomi Ragen. I have only read the first chapter so far so I can't comment on it yet.
Next up is The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. This is my bookclub's next selection.
5. The Michelle Obama Vogue cover. Discuss.
I think Michelle Obama is a gorgeous woman with great fashion sense and the Vogue cover certainly backs that up. I don't have any issues with her being on the cover of Vogue -- I think it is fabulous. It shows her to be young, relevant and "with it." The role of "First Lady" is strange and ambiguous in my opinion, but I have high hopes for Mrs. Obama's definition of it.
Rules:
1. If you want to be interviewed, leave me a comment, and I will send you some questions.
2. Update your blog with the answers to the questions and link back to the original post.
3. Include the rules in your post.
1. One of your resolutions this year was to cook more often. Tell us about something you have cooked this month, and how it was received by your family.
I have been doing some cooking, but nothing too adventurous. The best meal I prepared was sauteed chicken breasts with green beans, corn and corn bread. The corn was frozen and microwaved because Zoe won't eat green beans, but everything else was made fresh. Zoe would only eat the corn and the cornbread, but my husband ate every bite so I took it as a good sign. I have to admit I liked it too. Much of the point of my cooking is so that my family and I eat healthier meals and I feel like this meal was a success on that front too.
Here's some photographic evidence of this meal:
2. You trained as a costume designer, and now work in a completely different industry. How do you channel your creativity?
These days I find my creative outlets to be either writing or photography. That is one of the reasons I love blogging so much -- it is a great space for both. I dream of someday doing some drawing and painting again and I have some interesting collage ideas in my head, but I right now life is so busy it is hard for me to make time and space for that.
3. Money is no object. What is your dream vacation?
That is a tough question because I am not sure if my dream vacation is in one spot or if it involves multiple locations. Either way it involved 5 star accommodations. I love beautiful hotels.
So if I had to choose one place I think a month or two in Barcelona staying a suite with a beautiful view would be divine. I would do it all, immerse myself in the Barcelona life and hope to get mistaken for a local by the end of the trip.
A traveling vacation would probably be the Pacific Northwest of North America. I'd like to start in Seattle, WA and explore north and west of there. I am sure I would need a month or two for that as well.
4. You love reading. What was the last book you read, what are you reading now and what is next on your TBR pile?
I just finished a book called Smart Girls Like Me by Diane Vadino. It is slightly above chick lit on the fiction scale of quality. Can't say I would really recommend it, but it is not a bad book.
I am currently reading The Saturday Wife by Naomi Ragen. I have only read the first chapter so far so I can't comment on it yet.
Next up is The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. This is my bookclub's next selection.
5. The Michelle Obama Vogue cover. Discuss.
I think Michelle Obama is a gorgeous woman with great fashion sense and the Vogue cover certainly backs that up. I don't have any issues with her being on the cover of Vogue -- I think it is fabulous. It shows her to be young, relevant and "with it." The role of "First Lady" is strange and ambiguous in my opinion, but I have high hopes for Mrs. Obama's definition of it.
Rules:
1. If you want to be interviewed, leave me a comment, and I will send you some questions.
2. Update your blog with the answers to the questions and link back to the original post.
3. Include the rules in your post.
18 February 2009
Words for Wednesday: Crowing
It has been over a month since I posted a "Words for Wednesday" post. I've thought about it, but mostly forgot about it until I read Emily's post from last night about her music discussion with Bob. That very funny story motivated me this morning so I am throwing my hat (or my blog) back into the ring.
This week's song is "Crowing" by Toad the Wet Sprocket. I have loved this song since the first time I ever heard it -- especially since at that time I was going through a particularly painful heartache. It used to bring tears to my eyes and even today I still get a tingly kind of feeling when I hear it.
Overall I think the song is about not being able to change someone, a lesson that can be just so hard to learn sometimes. The chorus is all about that. "You give him love and affection but you couldn't keep him there." At the same time it says that you can't make yourself into something you're not "And the more skin that you shed the more that the air in your throat will linger when you call him your friend," says that so perfectly.
Crowing
Been waiting
To find
You could've been happier
Given the time
If he'd make up his mind
You'd give yourself to anybody
Who would cross that line
chorus:
And it was never question
He was crowing for repair
You'd give him love and affection
But you couldn't keep him there
Get over regrets
While you were sleeping with the angels
He was under the bed
And the more skin
That you shed
The more that the air in your throat will linger
When you call him your friend
chorus
Staring at a cold little hand
Reading fault lines
Of a shell of a man
You were waiting for a word from above
Wouldn't you know it
No answer ever did come
And it was never question
You were crowing for repair
You'd give him love and affection
But you couldn't keep him there
This week's song is "Crowing" by Toad the Wet Sprocket. I have loved this song since the first time I ever heard it -- especially since at that time I was going through a particularly painful heartache. It used to bring tears to my eyes and even today I still get a tingly kind of feeling when I hear it.
Overall I think the song is about not being able to change someone, a lesson that can be just so hard to learn sometimes. The chorus is all about that. "You give him love and affection but you couldn't keep him there." At the same time it says that you can't make yourself into something you're not "And the more skin that you shed the more that the air in your throat will linger when you call him your friend," says that so perfectly.
Crowing
Been waiting
To find
You could've been happier
Given the time
If he'd make up his mind
You'd give yourself to anybody
Who would cross that line
chorus:
And it was never question
He was crowing for repair
You'd give him love and affection
But you couldn't keep him there
Get over regrets
While you were sleeping with the angels
He was under the bed
And the more skin
That you shed
The more that the air in your throat will linger
When you call him your friend
chorus
Staring at a cold little hand
Reading fault lines
Of a shell of a man
You were waiting for a word from above
Wouldn't you know it
No answer ever did come
And it was never question
You were crowing for repair
You'd give him love and affection
But you couldn't keep him there
16 February 2009
14 February 2009
Sick Boys
Why are men such babies when they are ill? This week my husband has the virus that just about everyone has been passing around. You would think he was dying of diphtheria the way he has been carrying on. Moans and groans and get me tissuse, soup, Nyquil, etc. Not moving from the couch where he has covered himself with ever throw blanket we have and littered dirty tissues all around.
Zoe and I had the same thing two weeks ago. It is a bad one virus, that is for sure, but do you think I got much sympathy when I was sick? When I asked him to stay home one day to help take care of and Zoe so I could go to the walk-in clinic he gave me a look that said I had to be out of my mind and of course he had more important things to do. And when I asked him to please get me some cough syrup he rolled his eyes so far back into his head, I am surprised they didn't get stuck there.
So yesterday I told my feeling better husband two things:
1. The way you have felt the past several days is exactly the way Zoe and I felt 2 weeks ago. Please try to keep that in mind next time I ask you for help when I am feeling ill.
2. Just because he has been sick, he is not excused from buying me a Valentine's Day gift and calling in an order for flowers will not do.
Not sure I will have much luck with the the first thing, but he did come through on the second so I will forgive him -- this time.
Zoe and I had the same thing two weeks ago. It is a bad one virus, that is for sure, but do you think I got much sympathy when I was sick? When I asked him to stay home one day to help take care of and Zoe so I could go to the walk-in clinic he gave me a look that said I had to be out of my mind and of course he had more important things to do. And when I asked him to please get me some cough syrup he rolled his eyes so far back into his head, I am surprised they didn't get stuck there.
So yesterday I told my feeling better husband two things:
1. The way you have felt the past several days is exactly the way Zoe and I felt 2 weeks ago. Please try to keep that in mind next time I ask you for help when I am feeling ill.
2. Just because he has been sick, he is not excused from buying me a Valentine's Day gift and calling in an order for flowers will not do.
Not sure I will have much luck with the the first thing, but he did come through on the second so I will forgive him -- this time.
11 February 2009
Insomniac's poem
The thoughts around my head do creep,
making it hard indeed to sleep.
I really do feel quite weary,
and my eyes are red and teary.
Try to go back to that nice dream,
not as easy as it might seem.
And just as I return to sleep,
the clock does its thing, beep, beep, beep.
making it hard indeed to sleep.
I really do feel quite weary,
and my eyes are red and teary.
Try to go back to that nice dream,
not as easy as it might seem.
And just as I return to sleep,
the clock does its thing, beep, beep, beep.
09 February 2009
25 Random Things About Me
Those who know me on Facebook and my blog will see the repeat, but this seemed like a good blog post as well as a Facebook tag. So, here it is, 25 random things about me...
1. My eyes change color – sometimes they are blue and sometimes they are green.
2. I am one of the pickiest eaters I know, but lately I have been trying to get better.
3. I think of myself as a New Yorker even though I only lived in New York for about a quarter of my life. I know I will live there again.
4. I eat ice cream almost every day. My current favorite flavor is peanut butter cup.
5. My idea of a great night out is dinner and a movie.
6. I think my UPS driver thinks I have some kind of shopping problem because of the number of deliveries he makes to my house. I do shop online a lot, but he’s never made any comments about it, so I am probably paranoid.
7. I am frequently taken by surprise and amazed by my love for my daughter and the love she has for me.
8. I don’t love babies. They’re OK. Certainly adorable, but I don’t go crazy over babies. I loved my baby, of course, but in general I rarely get excited over babies – even babies that are from family and close friends. It makes me feel bad, but I can’t help it.
9. When I was pregnant I thought I wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom, but it didn’t work out that we could afford it. At the time I was very disappointed, but since having my daughter and going back to work, I have always been glad it worked out that way. Working is good for me.
10. I was almost constantly ill as a child. I had to have gamma globulin shots regularly in an attempt to boost my immune system.
11. Sometimes I think I am the smartest person in the room and sometimes I think I am the dumbest, but rarely do I feel somewhere in between.
12. I am working on trying to start a charity organization that provides backpacks and school supplies to kids who can’t afford them.
13. Most of the time I start with the shoes when figuring out what I am going to wear on any given day.
14. I am not a fan of Bruce Springsteen or U2. I am the opposite of a fan.
15. I currently have chapstick tubes in the bathroom, on my nightstand, in my purse, and in my car.
16. Speaking of lips -- I love to buy lipstick.
17. I knew my husband was the man I wanted to marry when I realized that I could be completely myself with him all the time. I have never felt that way with any other man. I think it has made all the difference these last (almost) 10 years.
18. I hate to fly because it scares me. I do it anyway, but I hate it.
19. I used to be a costume designer.
20. I’m really happy about my decision to only have one child.
21. I hate when I have to call people I don’t know for information, appointments, take-out orders, etc. I will almost always try to fob this off onto others when at all possible. I am grateful that my husband is almost always willing to make these calls for me.
22. I own and use 4 computers and 3 iPods. I am a technology junkie.
23. I love the show “Top Chef” even though I don’t love to cook.
24. I get claustrophobic in large crowds. I think it is because I am short.
25. I consider myself lucky to have so many great friends.
1. My eyes change color – sometimes they are blue and sometimes they are green.
2. I am one of the pickiest eaters I know, but lately I have been trying to get better.
3. I think of myself as a New Yorker even though I only lived in New York for about a quarter of my life. I know I will live there again.
4. I eat ice cream almost every day. My current favorite flavor is peanut butter cup.
5. My idea of a great night out is dinner and a movie.
6. I think my UPS driver thinks I have some kind of shopping problem because of the number of deliveries he makes to my house. I do shop online a lot, but he’s never made any comments about it, so I am probably paranoid.
7. I am frequently taken by surprise and amazed by my love for my daughter and the love she has for me.
8. I don’t love babies. They’re OK. Certainly adorable, but I don’t go crazy over babies. I loved my baby, of course, but in general I rarely get excited over babies – even babies that are from family and close friends. It makes me feel bad, but I can’t help it.
9. When I was pregnant I thought I wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom, but it didn’t work out that we could afford it. At the time I was very disappointed, but since having my daughter and going back to work, I have always been glad it worked out that way. Working is good for me.
10. I was almost constantly ill as a child. I had to have gamma globulin shots regularly in an attempt to boost my immune system.
11. Sometimes I think I am the smartest person in the room and sometimes I think I am the dumbest, but rarely do I feel somewhere in between.
12. I am working on trying to start a charity organization that provides backpacks and school supplies to kids who can’t afford them.
13. Most of the time I start with the shoes when figuring out what I am going to wear on any given day.
14. I am not a fan of Bruce Springsteen or U2. I am the opposite of a fan.
15. I currently have chapstick tubes in the bathroom, on my nightstand, in my purse, and in my car.
16. Speaking of lips -- I love to buy lipstick.
17. I knew my husband was the man I wanted to marry when I realized that I could be completely myself with him all the time. I have never felt that way with any other man. I think it has made all the difference these last (almost) 10 years.
18. I hate to fly because it scares me. I do it anyway, but I hate it.
19. I used to be a costume designer.
20. I’m really happy about my decision to only have one child.
21. I hate when I have to call people I don’t know for information, appointments, take-out orders, etc. I will almost always try to fob this off onto others when at all possible. I am grateful that my husband is almost always willing to make these calls for me.
22. I own and use 4 computers and 3 iPods. I am a technology junkie.
23. I love the show “Top Chef” even though I don’t love to cook.
24. I get claustrophobic in large crowds. I think it is because I am short.
25. I consider myself lucky to have so many great friends.
05 February 2009
LibraryThing meets Twitter
I might be late coming to the party on this, but this is news to me: LibraryThing is now offering integration with Twitter. It lets you add titles with tags to your LibraryThing library. That is great for wishlist creation or purchases. And best of all the site reports that coming soon you'll be able to let your Twitter friends know when you add or review a book. Fun stuff!
Here's a link to all the details.
Here's a link to all the details.
01 February 2009
Judgement Day
Tomorrow around noon I will be boarding a plane for California. I am going out to meet the new work team in person at the new company's HQ. I have 2 days full of meetings that include just about every person I have or will ever send an email to or be on a conference call with.
If there was ever an opportunity for a "what should I wear?" crisis, this is it. It took me quite a long time to pack. I tried on every outfit I considered. It was ridiculous really, but I am about to be judged by new people -- some of whom are key in my career. I think my appearance is pretty important in this instance.
I actually started thinking about what I was going to bring a few weeks ago when I ordered a suit from Banana Republic online. It is basic and black, but it is new and quite nice. I tried it on this morning with the shirt, shoes and belt I am planning to wear with it. I just bought the belt yesterday while out shopping with Becky so I especially wanted to see how it would look. I liked it, but I wanted a little confidence boost so I decided to show Rob and get his reaction. He was in the bathroom giving Zoe a bath and I walked in and asked him,
"How do I look?"
"Very professional," he said. "But you probably want to take the tag off that belt."
"Yes, I realized that," I said. "So despite the tag, does this look OK?"
"Yes," he said. "Zoe, doesn't Mommy look pretty?"
Zoe then popped up from the bubbles and rubber ducks and looked me over.
"I think you want to take that tag off," she said and went back to arranging her bubbles and rubber ducks.
I promptly left the bathroom and returned to my packing in private. I guess they were giving me a taste of what I am in for, right?
Well, even if they don't like my belt or my suit or me, it will be warm in California. 72 degrees and sunny warm. That alone will make this trip worth it!
And don't worry, I took the tag off the belt before I put it in the suitcase.
If there was ever an opportunity for a "what should I wear?" crisis, this is it. It took me quite a long time to pack. I tried on every outfit I considered. It was ridiculous really, but I am about to be judged by new people -- some of whom are key in my career. I think my appearance is pretty important in this instance.
I actually started thinking about what I was going to bring a few weeks ago when I ordered a suit from Banana Republic online. It is basic and black, but it is new and quite nice. I tried it on this morning with the shirt, shoes and belt I am planning to wear with it. I just bought the belt yesterday while out shopping with Becky so I especially wanted to see how it would look. I liked it, but I wanted a little confidence boost so I decided to show Rob and get his reaction. He was in the bathroom giving Zoe a bath and I walked in and asked him,
"How do I look?"
"Very professional," he said. "But you probably want to take the tag off that belt."
"Yes, I realized that," I said. "So despite the tag, does this look OK?"
"Yes," he said. "Zoe, doesn't Mommy look pretty?"
Zoe then popped up from the bubbles and rubber ducks and looked me over.
"I think you want to take that tag off," she said and went back to arranging her bubbles and rubber ducks.
I promptly left the bathroom and returned to my packing in private. I guess they were giving me a taste of what I am in for, right?
Well, even if they don't like my belt or my suit or me, it will be warm in California. 72 degrees and sunny warm. That alone will make this trip worth it!
And don't worry, I took the tag off the belt before I put it in the suitcase.
28 January 2009
2009 Resolutions
OK I have been giving this some thought and I think I have arrived at my final list of resolutions for 2009. In no particular order:
1. Read another 50 books. I am proud of myself for getting through that many books last year. The goal definitely kept me reading more and watching TV less. I want to continue that. Included with that goal is that I want to read more of the books I already own. Not sure if I will track that, but maybe I should.
2. Stay on top of my inbox. I tend to let my email inboxes get ridiculously long and crowded -- especially my work email. This year I am determined to be more diligent about deleting or filing emails as necessary because half the time when I look back at emails I can't even remember why I kept most of the them.
3. Cook. No, not cook more, because I don't really count microwaving or heating something up in the toaster oven as cooking. I want everyone in my house to eat healthier meals. I try to buy good food, but we also tend to go out a lot. So, my goal is to cook one dinner per week. I've cooked 2 dinners so far in January. Nothing glamorous, but they were hot and they got eaten. Also I have a great source of inspiration because Becky, knowing of my secret intentions for this year, gave me a fantastic cook book for Christmas. I haven't gotten past putting post-it notes on the recipes I want to try because I think I am a little intimidated, but I am looking forward to giving some of these recipes a shot.
4. Try doing more sports and outdoor activities. I'd like to really get in skiing and ice skating this winter. In the spring I want to go hiking and take some tennis lessons. Not sure yet about summer and fall since those tend to be my most active times anyway, but I will think of something to do. Maybe more of the same. Whatever it is, I want to do more of it.
5. Get rid of the clutter. My house isn't severely cluttered, but we've been living here almost 6 years and stuff builds up in all the hidden places like the closets and the cabinets. When I set up my home office and had to move a bunch of stuff around I realized how much clutter had build up. Main goals are the kitchen cabinets and the upstairs hall in the alcove that has the desk. Not sure anyone has a clear idea of the full inventory of those areas, but they are not being put to their best use right now.
So, I'll check back in 12 months and let you know how it goes...
1. Read another 50 books. I am proud of myself for getting through that many books last year. The goal definitely kept me reading more and watching TV less. I want to continue that. Included with that goal is that I want to read more of the books I already own. Not sure if I will track that, but maybe I should.
2. Stay on top of my inbox. I tend to let my email inboxes get ridiculously long and crowded -- especially my work email. This year I am determined to be more diligent about deleting or filing emails as necessary because half the time when I look back at emails I can't even remember why I kept most of the them.
3. Cook. No, not cook more, because I don't really count microwaving or heating something up in the toaster oven as cooking. I want everyone in my house to eat healthier meals. I try to buy good food, but we also tend to go out a lot. So, my goal is to cook one dinner per week. I've cooked 2 dinners so far in January. Nothing glamorous, but they were hot and they got eaten. Also I have a great source of inspiration because Becky, knowing of my secret intentions for this year, gave me a fantastic cook book for Christmas. I haven't gotten past putting post-it notes on the recipes I want to try because I think I am a little intimidated, but I am looking forward to giving some of these recipes a shot.
4. Try doing more sports and outdoor activities. I'd like to really get in skiing and ice skating this winter. In the spring I want to go hiking and take some tennis lessons. Not sure yet about summer and fall since those tend to be my most active times anyway, but I will think of something to do. Maybe more of the same. Whatever it is, I want to do more of it.
5. Get rid of the clutter. My house isn't severely cluttered, but we've been living here almost 6 years and stuff builds up in all the hidden places like the closets and the cabinets. When I set up my home office and had to move a bunch of stuff around I realized how much clutter had build up. Main goals are the kitchen cabinets and the upstairs hall in the alcove that has the desk. Not sure anyone has a clear idea of the full inventory of those areas, but they are not being put to their best use right now.
So, I'll check back in 12 months and let you know how it goes...
26 January 2009
Perspective
You know those days when one thing after another screws up your plans for the day? That seems to be the story of my life lately. I have canceled or rescheduled more plans, meetings and appointments in the last month than I think I ever have. I have had more last minute doctor appointments, more minor emergencies, and more phone calls than I thought possible in a 30-day period.
Maybe it is because work is busier than ever, maybe it is because I am still adjusting to working from home or maybe it’s just all a coincidence, but I am just feeling like I can't get a handle on things and I can't get ahead. No amount of to-do lists, getting up early, or staying up late seems to help. And I feel like I am constantly complaining which is probably true since that is clearly what I am doing right now!
So, this morning when Zoe woke up with a fever and an earache my first reaction was less maternal concern and worry and more total annoyance combined with a dash of anger at the fact that I knew there was no way Rob would stay home to take her to the doctor and I would have to rearrange more meetings, get a lot less work done than I hoped, AND cancel my dinner plans with Heather who I have been trying to have dinner with since November. Had Rob not been home at the time, I am sure I would have taken out my frustration on Zoe instead. It was not my best Mommy moment and I am not proud of it.
I did get over myself and manage to make all the necessary adjustments to my plans for the day to accommodate Zoe. Poor, sick, Zoe who burned with fever all day long and lay on the couch like wet dishrag barely making a peep after we returned from the doctor. She called for me to come snuggle with her around 6:30PM which I gladly did, but as I was holding her, I could feel her heart pounding in her chest and it freaked me out. It was as if she had just been running around like crazy, but I knew she was just laying there ad had been for hours. I called the doctor's office and left a message and was ready to rush to the ER by the time the on-call nurse called me back (about 6 or 7 minutes later).
The nurse kindly explained to me that her increased heart rate was a normal side effect of a high fever and quite expertly calmed me down without making me feel completely foolish. She suggested I give Zoe Motrin rather than Tylenol and give her a cool washcloth for her head and feet to help bring the fever down. When I hung up the phone I shed a few tears of relief and then took care of Zoe, got her fever down a bit and got her into bed and finished up some work.
And now here I am grateful that something is not really wrong with Zoe, where I hoped to be with work stuff, and even though I am still missing Heather, I feel like a real selfish bitch for my earlier behavior. I think maybe tonight was the check I needed to get things back into perspective.
Maybe it is because work is busier than ever, maybe it is because I am still adjusting to working from home or maybe it’s just all a coincidence, but I am just feeling like I can't get a handle on things and I can't get ahead. No amount of to-do lists, getting up early, or staying up late seems to help. And I feel like I am constantly complaining which is probably true since that is clearly what I am doing right now!
So, this morning when Zoe woke up with a fever and an earache my first reaction was less maternal concern and worry and more total annoyance combined with a dash of anger at the fact that I knew there was no way Rob would stay home to take her to the doctor and I would have to rearrange more meetings, get a lot less work done than I hoped, AND cancel my dinner plans with Heather who I have been trying to have dinner with since November. Had Rob not been home at the time, I am sure I would have taken out my frustration on Zoe instead. It was not my best Mommy moment and I am not proud of it.
I did get over myself and manage to make all the necessary adjustments to my plans for the day to accommodate Zoe. Poor, sick, Zoe who burned with fever all day long and lay on the couch like wet dishrag barely making a peep after we returned from the doctor. She called for me to come snuggle with her around 6:30PM which I gladly did, but as I was holding her, I could feel her heart pounding in her chest and it freaked me out. It was as if she had just been running around like crazy, but I knew she was just laying there ad had been for hours. I called the doctor's office and left a message and was ready to rush to the ER by the time the on-call nurse called me back (about 6 or 7 minutes later).
The nurse kindly explained to me that her increased heart rate was a normal side effect of a high fever and quite expertly calmed me down without making me feel completely foolish. She suggested I give Zoe Motrin rather than Tylenol and give her a cool washcloth for her head and feet to help bring the fever down. When I hung up the phone I shed a few tears of relief and then took care of Zoe, got her fever down a bit and got her into bed and finished up some work.
And now here I am grateful that something is not really wrong with Zoe, where I hoped to be with work stuff, and even though I am still missing Heather, I feel like a real selfish bitch for my earlier behavior. I think maybe tonight was the check I needed to get things back into perspective.
21 January 2009
This is how old I am
I got this from both Charlotte and Emily and I really liked both of their posts so I thought I'd give it a go myself.
I saw the original Broadway production of "Annie" with Andrea McCardle and after the show my father bought me the cast recording of the music. It was a vinyl record, of course. I played it endlessly on my record player and memorized every song. That is probably when I fell in love with theater.
Speaking of vinyl, I can remember buying the 45s of "Pop Muzik" by M and "Another Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd. Also committed those songs to memory. I think I can still sing them word for word.
I remember when Dr. Scholls sandals were all the rage. They were banned from my elementary school because a girl broke her ankle in them -- or so we were told. I had blue ones.
The first VHS movie I ever watched was "Death Race 2000" at my California cousins' house. The VHS machine was as big as my printer/scanner/fax is today and the "remote control" was on a long wire.
I was at sleepaway camp when Diana Spencer married Prince Charles. One of the counselors snuck me into the counselor's cabin to watch. I also saw the movie "E.T." while at sleepaway camp on "lifer's night out." (A lifer is someone who goes to sleepaway camp for all 8 weeks.)
I waited in line to see "Star Wars."
I watched Luke and Laura get married, but I never thought Luke was good looking. That perm was hideous to me even then.
My best friend and I used to pass notes back and forth on actual paper. Sometimes we'd decorate the notes with stickers.
I wore stirrup pants and thought they looked good. Considering how young and thin I was at the time, they probably didn't look that bad, just not great.
I cried at the last M*A*S*H episode.
The first computer I used was running DOS and the first time I used an Apple I saw the light. I have been a computer lover ever since.
Our first home printer was a dot matrix printer and it was so cool. We were one of the first people I knew to have a printer at home. I used to love to tear the edges off the print outs and decorate with them like streamers.
I only knew 2 people in college who had their own computers.
The first president I was old enough to vote for was Bill Clinton.
I was married in the previous century.
I saw the original Broadway production of "Annie" with Andrea McCardle and after the show my father bought me the cast recording of the music. It was a vinyl record, of course. I played it endlessly on my record player and memorized every song. That is probably when I fell in love with theater.
Speaking of vinyl, I can remember buying the 45s of "Pop Muzik" by M and "Another Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd. Also committed those songs to memory. I think I can still sing them word for word.
I remember when Dr. Scholls sandals were all the rage. They were banned from my elementary school because a girl broke her ankle in them -- or so we were told. I had blue ones.
The first VHS movie I ever watched was "Death Race 2000" at my California cousins' house. The VHS machine was as big as my printer/scanner/fax is today and the "remote control" was on a long wire.
I was at sleepaway camp when Diana Spencer married Prince Charles. One of the counselors snuck me into the counselor's cabin to watch. I also saw the movie "E.T." while at sleepaway camp on "lifer's night out." (A lifer is someone who goes to sleepaway camp for all 8 weeks.)
I waited in line to see "Star Wars."
I watched Luke and Laura get married, but I never thought Luke was good looking. That perm was hideous to me even then.
My best friend and I used to pass notes back and forth on actual paper. Sometimes we'd decorate the notes with stickers.
I wore stirrup pants and thought they looked good. Considering how young and thin I was at the time, they probably didn't look that bad, just not great.
I cried at the last M*A*S*H episode.
The first computer I used was running DOS and the first time I used an Apple I saw the light. I have been a computer lover ever since.
Our first home printer was a dot matrix printer and it was so cool. We were one of the first people I knew to have a printer at home. I used to love to tear the edges off the print outs and decorate with them like streamers.
I only knew 2 people in college who had their own computers.
The first president I was old enough to vote for was Bill Clinton.
I was married in the previous century.
20 January 2009
This is the day!
I am so excited for about this day. I can't remember ever paying so much attention to inaugural events before, but this is clearly something special. The world is set to change TODAY.
In celebration of today I have made my very own Obamicon!
(Great big thanks go out to Charlotte for sharing this on her blog last week.)
In celebration of today I have made my very own Obamicon!
(Great big thanks go out to Charlotte for sharing this on her blog last week.)
16 January 2009
You'll Flip for Zoe
A ZoesMom production:
Zoe's Little Gym performance
01/13/09
P.S. Of 6 posts this month 4 of them have had photos or video -- can you tell I got a new camera for Christmas???
Zoe's Little Gym performance
01/13/09
P.S. Of 6 posts this month 4 of them have had photos or video -- can you tell I got a new camera for Christmas???
12 January 2009
More life lessons from Zoe
Sunday afternoon we took Zoe sledding on a big hill in a nearby park. Zoe can be pretty fearless so she was raring to go when we got to the top of the hill. Rob and I were both a bit nervous about pushing our little girl off down a hill that steep, but we were there and she was ready so we put her in the sled and off she went laughing the entire time. She practically ran back up the hill.
On the third run down Zoe's hat came off when she was almost at the bottom of the hill. After she reached the bottom she headed up the hill to retrieve it. There were a lot of people on the hill so what happened next wasn't even that surprising. A sled loaded with 2 kids and a Dad hit her and knocked her right off her feet. It was one of those moments where time just stops.
Rob and I ran down the hill as quickly as we could. I thought she had to have either have a concussion or a broken bone. It was a nasty looking hit. We looked her over carefully. She had a cut on her nose and a scrape on her forehead, but otherwise, miraculously, she looked OK. She stopped crying as we headed back up the hill, but when Rob and I headed toward the car rather than heading back to the sledding she started to cry again.
"We don't have to go home now, do we?" she cried. "I want to do more sledding!"
We decided that if she felt up to it than she must be OK and a huge smile spread across her face when I said she could go down for a few more runs. And she was off and running again, smiling, laughing, slightly more cautious, but just as enthusiastic.
Zoe has always been like that. I think of her as being "unsinkable." When she wants to do something, go somewhere nothing stands in her way. A little thing like being tackled by a sled wasn't going to ruin her day of sledding.
Makes me think there is a good lesson in there for me too. I can't let the little setbacks ruin the big picture. It is so easy to fall into that, but life is so much happier when you don't.
11 January 2009
Asking for what you want
I don't know why, but for most of my life I have had trouble asking for what I want. I would go so far as to say that I occasionally have a low-level fear in some situations. I don't like talking to strangers, I despise having to ask for information or help, and I will almost always try to work something out myself first even if it would be faster to just ask someone. I even hate having to do something as simple as calling in an order for take-out food. This is one of the reasons why I love the internet so much. I can get my prescriptions filled, get driving directions, order from a catalog, and even grocery shop without having to talk to anyone. And the internet is often faster and more efficient than the "old-fashioned" way. However, there are still many situations in life where relying on the internet is not an option or is simply not going to lead to the result I am after.
Zoe, on the other hand, has absolutely no fear or issues with asking for what she wants. She usually orders for herself when we're in a restaurant and she is never afraid to ask a question of anyone. Several months ago we were at Danbury Mall and Zoe wanted to go to Claire's. I didn't know where Claire's was in the mall so I told Zoe we'd have to find a directory. That wasn't working for her so she marched into the next store and went right up to the counter and asked "Where's Claire's?" I was amazed. Of course she got the directions and we were able to head right to the store. Where did she learn to be so fearless about asking for what she wants? Then I realized that a better question was "what exactly is my problem?"
Since that day I have been making an effort to ask for what I want and it is actually working. Just this past week I was able to get the cost of shipping for my new desk refunded to me because of poor customer service. The store didn't offer it to me, I spoke to the store manager and asked for a refund and it was granted. That felt really good. Last month when I was going through my job change my original offer letter had a title that I felt was a demotion so I asked for a different title -- and I got it. That was a tough one for me to do despite the fact that I was able to handle it via email. The old me never would have done that.
I spend so much of my time with Zoe teaching her how to do things or how to behave, showing her new places, giving her new experiences, but every now and then she has a lesson for me. It takes me by surprise every time -- especially because it turns out to be so helpful to my life.
Zoe, on the other hand, has absolutely no fear or issues with asking for what she wants. She usually orders for herself when we're in a restaurant and she is never afraid to ask a question of anyone. Several months ago we were at Danbury Mall and Zoe wanted to go to Claire's. I didn't know where Claire's was in the mall so I told Zoe we'd have to find a directory. That wasn't working for her so she marched into the next store and went right up to the counter and asked "Where's Claire's?" I was amazed. Of course she got the directions and we were able to head right to the store. Where did she learn to be so fearless about asking for what she wants? Then I realized that a better question was "what exactly is my problem?"
Since that day I have been making an effort to ask for what I want and it is actually working. Just this past week I was able to get the cost of shipping for my new desk refunded to me because of poor customer service. The store didn't offer it to me, I spoke to the store manager and asked for a refund and it was granted. That felt really good. Last month when I was going through my job change my original offer letter had a title that I felt was a demotion so I asked for a different title -- and I got it. That was a tough one for me to do despite the fact that I was able to handle it via email. The old me never would have done that.
I spend so much of my time with Zoe teaching her how to do things or how to behave, showing her new places, giving her new experiences, but every now and then she has a lesson for me. It takes me by surprise every time -- especially because it turns out to be so helpful to my life.
07 January 2009
Dancin' to the 80s
Just like my parents did, I like to play the music of my youth for Zoe. She really enjoys some of the 80s stuff -- especially R.E.M. and The Cure. Tonight, for a change of pace, I played her some Madonna while she was in the bathroom having a bath and getting ready for bed.
Dancing ensued.
Dancing ensued.
05 January 2009
The Tooth Fairy comes tonight!
We were starting to lose hope, but at last it has happened -- Zoe lost her first tooth in school today. She is so excited! At least I know I will be able to get her to sleep tonight because, after all, the Tooth Fairy can't come if you're not sleeping.
Personally I hated losing my teeth. The feeling of a loose tooth grossed me out and I hated that feeling of no tooth being there. Also I was a little afraid of the Tooth Fairy reaching under my pillow. But Zoe is excited about losing the tooth and can't wait to see what the Tooth Fairy brings.
Now I just have to figure out the going rate for the first lost tooth.
01 January 2009
2008 Books Read
Here is the list of all 50 books I read in 2008. I'm quite proud of that number!
1. Mansfield Park
2. Love, Rosie
3. Lost and Found
4. Firefly Lane
5. Cotillion
6. Tom Jones
7. Bringing Home the Birkin
8. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
9. Venetia
10. On Chesil Beach
11. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
12. Gossip Girl
13. Imagine Me and You
14. Bringing Down the House
15. Don't Make Me Think
16. The Wonder Spot
17. Interpreter of Maladies
18. The Big Sleep
19. The Unknown Ajax
20. Not Another Bad Date
21. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
22. The City of Falling Angels
23. Love the One You're With
24. An Assembly Such as This
25. The River King
26. Second Chance
27. Dirty Girls On Top
28. Things Fall Apart
29. The Beach House
30. Digging to America
31. Pretty Little Mistakes
32. Replay
33. American Wife
34. The Sari Shop
35. Duty and Desire
36. These Three Remain
37. 24-Karat Kids
38. Vanity Fair
39. My Best Friend's Girl
40. When You are Engulfed in Flames
41. Born Standing Up
42. The Uncommon Reader
43. Rocket Man
44. Blink
45. Night Fall
46. The Outcast
47. The Last Summer (of You & Me)
48. Dog Handling
1. Mansfield Park
2. Love, Rosie
3. Lost and Found
4. Firefly Lane
5. Cotillion
6. Tom Jones
7. Bringing Home the Birkin
8. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
9. Venetia
10. On Chesil Beach
11. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
12. Gossip Girl
13. Imagine Me and You
14. Bringing Down the House
15. Don't Make Me Think
16. The Wonder Spot
17. Interpreter of Maladies
18. The Big Sleep
19. The Unknown Ajax
20. Not Another Bad Date
21. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
22. The City of Falling Angels
23. Love the One You're With
24. An Assembly Such as This
25. The River King
26. Second Chance
27. Dirty Girls On Top
28. Things Fall Apart
29. The Beach House
30. Digging to America
31. Pretty Little Mistakes
32. Replay
33. American Wife
34. The Sari Shop
35. Duty and Desire
36. These Three Remain
37. 24-Karat Kids
38. Vanity Fair
39. My Best Friend's Girl
40. When You are Engulfed in Flames
41. Born Standing Up
42. The Uncommon Reader
43. Rocket Man
44. Blink
45. Night Fall
46. The Outcast
47. The Last Summer (of You & Me)
48. Dog Handling
49. Bookends
50. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
31 December 2008
2008: The Year in Review
In January of this year I posted my new year's resolutions. The theme was "The Year of More" and my resolutions were: (see original post here)
1. Read more
2. Take more photos
3. Run more
4. Blog more
5. Hire babysitters more
2. Take more photos
3. Run more
4. Blog more
5. Hire babysitters more
So, how did I do, you ask? Well...
1. I definitely did read more. I successfully completed the 50 book challenge. It was down to the wire since I just finished the 50th book today, but I did it! The complete list can be seen on the right side bar. Some of my favorite books read this year include The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Interpreter of Maladies, Blink ( a rare foray into non-fiction), and When you are Engulfed in Flames. I am hoping to read another 50 books in 2009 and will keep a running tall on my blog as I did this year.
2. I failed miserably at this one. I never made one excursion just for the sake of photography. I never eve cracked the book on my camera that I bought. I did get a few good photos this year, but there could have been so much more. I will have to do a post on my favorite photos from 2008 very soon.
3. I did well with running for the first half of the year and then about halfway through the summer I just got bored with it. Running became more like torture so I decided to take a break from it. I haven't gone back yet, but I'm thinking about it again now. I think I just can't do all running all the time. I prefer to mix up my work outs. I never ran another 5K this year and that is a bit disappointing.
4. I was highly successful at blogging more. I had a total of 96 posts in 2007 (an average of 8 posts per month) and including this post I had a total of 154 posts in 2008 (an average of 12.8 posts per month). I hope to continue at this pace in 2009.
5. I was lucky enough to find a wonderful babysitter and I have definitely kept her busy this year. I have no plans of letting up on that in 2009 either. It has been very liberating to rely on a babysitter and I feel lucky that we can afford it. Which reminds me, I must email her about some upcoming nights in January...
All-in-all 2008 was not a bad year. It had its ups and downs -- ups especially on the vacation front (Italy and the SXSW tour) and downs especially on the work front. Everyone I love is healthy and pretty happy so I am feeling lucky. Best of all, there is much to look forward to in 2009. 2009 resolutions are coming soon...
24 December 2008
22 December 2008
Mini-hiatus
I've just decided to take a mini-hiatus from blogging. My to-do list runneth over as does my nose from this cold and as much as I would like to be blogging about the Hanukkah and Christmas fun and craziness, I need the time I'd spend blogging to either wrap presents or nap. So, I'll be back sometime after the 25th and before the 31st. Until then I hope you all have a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas!
19 December 2008
My To Do List
I'm sure the title of this post excited you (NOT!) but I cannot get over the things on my to do list and they all need to be done by 12/24 -- also known as Christmas Eve. I woke up at 5AM thinking about this list and I feel the need to share it. So, without further adieu and in no particular order I present my list:
(Please note that this does not include any items from my work-related to do list.)
(Please note that this does not include any items from my work-related to do list.)
- Buy a Hanukkah gift for my cousin who I just found out will be at my father's house on Sunday night for the first night. He's 10 and a wonderful kid so I don't want to get him just anything, but I have no idea what 10 year old boys like.
- Buy the rest of Rob's Christmas present. I am not quite sure what that is going to be yet.
- Buy stocking stuffers. That one is pretty easy and can be fun.
- Buy salad stuff to make salad for the aforementioned Hanukkah party. Another easy one.
- Buy stuff to make baked ziti for Christmas Eve party (which is not at my house so I am not complaining!)
- Buy chocolate at Munsons -- especially the sugar free assortment for my friend with diabetes and nonpareils for my cookies. Going to Munsons is not hard duty.
- Buy cookie making stuff. Cookie day is Tuesday. (I think that is it for the stuff I need to buy.)
- Make 2 dozen cookies with Zoe for here first grade cookie exchange on Monday. Would someone please explain to me the educational benefit of a cookie exchange?
- Decorate the Christmas tree we got on Sunday and has been standing naked in my kitchen all week. The poor thing!
- Get a hair cut. I need it bad.
- Wrap presents. Daunting, daunting thought. I love buying presents, but I hate wrapping them.
- Make cookies all day Tuesday. That will be a fun, but very tiring day.
- Make salad.
- Make baked ziti.
- Get my iMac fixed. Fingers crossed that my baby can be saved.
- Load 2 different iPods that are Christmas gifts.
- Plan the Christmas morning breakfast menu.
- Get the Jeep's oil changed.
- Negotiate with Zoe on her Christmas Eve attire.
17 December 2008
Words for Wednesday: Losing My Religion
So I can't believe how many weeks I have been doing "Words for Wednesday" posts and this is my first R.E.M. song. I love R.E.M. and have loved them since 1984. So many of their songs are poetry, amazing poetry. "Losing My Religion" was one of their more popular songs and maybe that is because it is such and evocative song. The thing I most love about it is that it could be about so many things and it all depends on what you bring to it. There's a lot of pain in these words, but the way they are expressed makes you feel that you are not alone in your own pain rather than just feeling sympathetic.
R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
(chorus)
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight, I'm
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
(repeat chorus)
But that was just a dream
Try, cry, why try?
That was just a dream
Just a dream, just a dream
Dream
R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
(chorus)
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight, I'm
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
(repeat chorus)
But that was just a dream
Try, cry, why try?
That was just a dream
Just a dream, just a dream
Dream
16 December 2008
Fun on Ice
Last night I had the good fortune to go see David Sedaris at Avery Fischer Hall in Lincoln Center.
Yesterday afternoon as my mother and I were figuring out what train we were going to take and where we were going to eat dinner I asked her if she had read anything about what exactly David Sedaris would do on stage. She hadn't. Neither had I. Google was of very little help because the best thing I came up with was a link to his agent's site which only gave a basic bio. It hadn't even occurred to me to think about what exactly we'd be seeing until just that moment. I mean, its David Sedaris, of course I want to go see him. Duh!
Mom and I traveled into NYC by train in the afternoon. Upon arrival we headed downtown to West Elm so I could pick out furniture to outfit my new work from home life. I got some great stuff and it is coming next week. Yay! Then for old time's sake we headed to our favorite West Village Chinese food joint, Sammy's Noodle Shop where we indulged. Yum! Many years ago not many weeks went by without us eating there so we try to get back there as often as we can. As we were finishing dinner we both started wondering again about what we were about to see, but we were both at a loss.
After dinner we grabbed a cab and headed uptown to Lincoln Center and can I tell you just how annoying the mini TVs in taxis are? Ugh! We picked up our tickets from Will Call and noticed that there was a display of signed David Sedaris for sale and a notice that he would be signing books at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble after the show. And then I started to get a little disappointed. Was this just going to be a typical author appearance on a large scale? Quick, but amusing speech, quick reading, and Q&A where a bunch of people ask questions that are so obviously trying too hard. I hoped I didn't pay for a glorified author visit.
I'm not exactly sure what to call what we saw besides a veritable laugh riot. It was part reading, part lecture, and part performance piece. It was all wonderful. I'm not sure how much of David Sedaris in print and now as I have seen him in person is persona and how much is the real David Sedaris, but I have a hard time believing it isn't more true than act. I like him more today than I did before I saw him last night and I was even tempted to go to the signing afterwards. Especially since he said on this last book tour he moved all men under 5'6" and all women in braces to the front of the line. Hah! The only time wearing braces could ever be a benefit.
For all my book loving friends I have to mention that David Sedaris included a book reommendation at the end of his performance. Last night's book was The Braindead Megaphone by George Saunders and it sounds hysterical. I've already added it to my Amazon cart. There is a list of book reommendations from David Sedaris here. There is a number of very interesting looking books there.
Yesterday afternoon as my mother and I were figuring out what train we were going to take and where we were going to eat dinner I asked her if she had read anything about what exactly David Sedaris would do on stage. She hadn't. Neither had I. Google was of very little help because the best thing I came up with was a link to his agent's site which only gave a basic bio. It hadn't even occurred to me to think about what exactly we'd be seeing until just that moment. I mean, its David Sedaris, of course I want to go see him. Duh!
Mom and I traveled into NYC by train in the afternoon. Upon arrival we headed downtown to West Elm so I could pick out furniture to outfit my new work from home life. I got some great stuff and it is coming next week. Yay! Then for old time's sake we headed to our favorite West Village Chinese food joint, Sammy's Noodle Shop where we indulged. Yum! Many years ago not many weeks went by without us eating there so we try to get back there as often as we can. As we were finishing dinner we both started wondering again about what we were about to see, but we were both at a loss.
After dinner we grabbed a cab and headed uptown to Lincoln Center and can I tell you just how annoying the mini TVs in taxis are? Ugh! We picked up our tickets from Will Call and noticed that there was a display of signed David Sedaris for sale and a notice that he would be signing books at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble after the show. And then I started to get a little disappointed. Was this just going to be a typical author appearance on a large scale? Quick, but amusing speech, quick reading, and Q&A where a bunch of people ask questions that are so obviously trying too hard. I hoped I didn't pay for a glorified author visit.
I'm not exactly sure what to call what we saw besides a veritable laugh riot. It was part reading, part lecture, and part performance piece. It was all wonderful. I'm not sure how much of David Sedaris in print and now as I have seen him in person is persona and how much is the real David Sedaris, but I have a hard time believing it isn't more true than act. I like him more today than I did before I saw him last night and I was even tempted to go to the signing afterwards. Especially since he said on this last book tour he moved all men under 5'6" and all women in braces to the front of the line. Hah! The only time wearing braces could ever be a benefit.
For all my book loving friends I have to mention that David Sedaris included a book reommendation at the end of his performance. Last night's book was The Braindead Megaphone by George Saunders and it sounds hysterical. I've already added it to my Amazon cart. There is a list of book reommendations from David Sedaris here. There is a number of very interesting looking books there.
12 December 2008
Routine
The funny thing about routine is that both too much and not enough are not good.
With my recent change in work situation my regular life weekday routine has been trashed and I am feeling kind of out to sea. It is both disconcerting and liberating. It is an opportunity to re-think the routines I'd established, shake things up, do things differently and hopefully better, but it has also left me feeling terribly inefficient and unmotivated.
I've had a thing for quotes lately and I recently found these two quotes:
"Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street." Ben Nicholas
and
"As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge." Henry Van Dyke
The thing is, I think they're both right. The key is to find the balance and that is what is missing in my life right now. The holiday season always throws routine a loop anyway, but this year is extreme and I am having trouble feeling festive. Zoe is counting down the days until Christmas and I'm not even sure what day it is half the time. Everything seems so much harder because I have to think about it so much more. I know 6 months down the road things will look different, but that just looks like a long road right now.
With my recent change in work situation my regular life weekday routine has been trashed and I am feeling kind of out to sea. It is both disconcerting and liberating. It is an opportunity to re-think the routines I'd established, shake things up, do things differently and hopefully better, but it has also left me feeling terribly inefficient and unmotivated.
I've had a thing for quotes lately and I recently found these two quotes:
"Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street." Ben Nicholas
and
"As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge." Henry Van Dyke
The thing is, I think they're both right. The key is to find the balance and that is what is missing in my life right now. The holiday season always throws routine a loop anyway, but this year is extreme and I am having trouble feeling festive. Zoe is counting down the days until Christmas and I'm not even sure what day it is half the time. Everything seems so much harder because I have to think about it so much more. I know 6 months down the road things will look different, but that just looks like a long road right now.
10 December 2008
Words for Wednesday: What's Been Going On
My song for this week, Amos Lee's "What's Been Going On" takes a page from Becky's penchant for male angst music -- tormented lyrics and jangling guitar included.
I am a pretty new Amos Lee fan and once again have to thank my favorite Sirius Satellite Radio station, The Spectrum, for the introduction. I think just about anyone who has tried to return to a place that used to be home can relate to the words to this song. It is a beautiful, simple, tortured song and you just have to hear it to really appreciate so I highly recommend you watch the youtube video or just take my word for it and buy the song on iTunes.
What's Been Going On
by Amos Lee
And no one says a word to me
They're concerned with my jealousy
Well I guess that's how it's gotta be
From now on
And time, it swallows everything
From the mighty to the meager thing
And it's as dark as it is comforting
To play along
Well what's been going on?
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
Around here
There goes her old beat up car
Outside of our old favorite bar
She's proudly in there playing her guitar
With stars in her eyes
Those are some of my favorite memories
All of those carefree melodies
While I'm out of here on this raging sea
About to capsize
Well what's been going on?
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
Around here
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
Around here
And no one says a word to me
They're concerned with my jealousy
I guess that's how it's gotta be
From now on
I am a pretty new Amos Lee fan and once again have to thank my favorite Sirius Satellite Radio station, The Spectrum, for the introduction. I think just about anyone who has tried to return to a place that used to be home can relate to the words to this song. It is a beautiful, simple, tortured song and you just have to hear it to really appreciate so I highly recommend you watch the youtube video or just take my word for it and buy the song on iTunes.
What's Been Going On
by Amos Lee
And no one says a word to me
They're concerned with my jealousy
Well I guess that's how it's gotta be
From now on
And time, it swallows everything
From the mighty to the meager thing
And it's as dark as it is comforting
To play along
Well what's been going on?
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
Around here
There goes her old beat up car
Outside of our old favorite bar
She's proudly in there playing her guitar
With stars in her eyes
Those are some of my favorite memories
All of those carefree melodies
While I'm out of here on this raging sea
About to capsize
Well what's been going on?
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
Around here
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
What's been going on?
Around here
And no one says a word to me
They're concerned with my jealousy
I guess that's how it's gotta be
From now on
09 December 2008
Homemaking, A-Z meme
It has been a slow (non-existent) blogging week for me so I was happy to discover and tag myself for this meme I found both at Becky's and Emily's. Anyone who knows me is probably scoffing already and even though they are right, I will proceed regardless.
A is for Aprons. Yes/no, favourites?
Once a year and only once a year do I don an apron. On December 23 of every year I get together with 2 of my sisters-in-law to bake Christmas cookies. We bake all day, get covered in flour and everything else and generally have a great time. Plus we make a ton of cookies. I wear the apron because I was given it as a gift and it has cute snowmen on it.
B is for Baking. Favourite thing to bake?
See above. I enjoy baking cookies. Baking is the only kind of cooking I can say I actually enjoy.
C is for Clothesline, do you have one?
No, but the neighbors right in back of us do so we get to see their clothes drying on the line all the time without the work. It is quite a view -- especially when the nightgowns are up.
D is for Doughnuts. Have you ever made them?
Yes. Once. In 7th grade home economics. Buying them at Dunkin Donuts is a lot easier.
E is for Everyday. One home making task you do every day.
Laundry. Dirty clothes, sheets, and towels multiply exponentially in my hamper therefore rare is the day that goes by that I don't do at least one load of laundry. It just never ends. And if I skip a day it is as if I skipped a month.
F is for Freezer. Do you have a separate deep freeze?
No, but I wish we did. I would stock it with ice cream. What else would you use it for?
G is for Garbage Disposal Unit. Do you have one?
Yes, we have one. I use it now and then. It is rather convenient at times, but I did not know it was bad for the environment as I read on Emily's post. I will have to look into that and re-think my disposal use.
H is for Handbook. What’s your favourite home making resource?
My favorite home making resource is not a handbook, it is a person -- my cleaning lady. She is heaven sent. My second favorite resource is take-out menus.
I is for Ironing. Love it or hate it?
Hate it and won't do it unless it is absolutely necessary. I would rather wear it wrinkly or send it to the cleaners to deal with it.
J is for Junk Drawer. Have one, and if so, where?
One in the kitchen for things like tape, pens, coupons, clips, etc. And one in my bedroom for small miscellaneous items like wallets, sunglasses, bits and pieces given to me by Zoe, etc. Also every drawer in Rob's dresser. He just doesn't get the idea of a sock drawer, a t-shirt drawer, etc.
K is for Kitchen. Colour and decorating scheme?
Our kitchen has cream-colored walls and counter tops with a black island top and red cabinet fronts. It is fairly modern with stainless appliances, but the flower tiles and the oak trim take away from the modern look.
L is for Love. What’s your favourite part of home making?
Decorating. I love to pick out paint colors, new furniture, art for the walls, etc. I will even paint and hang and move around heavy furniture.
M is for Mop. Do you have one?
Yes. We actually have a couple of them. When our dog, Spanky, was still around, mops often came in handy.
N is for Nylons. Machine or handwash?
I detest nylons and I usually run them in their first wearing and then just throw them in the trash. Tights I will wash in the machine.
O is for Oven. Do you have a window or do you open the oven door to check?
We have a window, but I never use it. I always opent the door.
P is for Pizza. What do you put on yours?
I am the most boring and un-adventurous eater you will ever meet so I only make plain cheese pizza.
Q is for Quiet. What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
Read or write blog posts or read my book or the current issue of The New Yorker.
R is for Recipe Card Box.Yes/no? If yes, what does it look like?
Uh, no. I have a couple of recipes stuffed in the junk drawer, but I haven't read them since I put them in the drawer.
S is Style of House.
Converted Cape with many modern touches -- hopefully more to come.
T is for Tablecloths. Do you use them?
I used to when I had a real table. Now our kitchen has a big island and no table. I like tablecloths and miss using them.
U is for Under the Kitchen Sink. Organised or toxic wasteland?
Definitely organized. Sometimes it gets a little crazy down there, but I clean it out fairly regularly.
V is for Vacuum. How many times a week?
Does that include dustbuster use? Because if so, then vacuuming happens every day. If not, once a week.
W is for Washing. How many loads of washing do you do a week?
At least 7 and probably more like 11.
X’s - do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?
I keep a to do list for work, but not usually for personal things. Once in awhile I make a personaly to do list, but I generally don't have trouble remembering the personal items.
Y is for Yard. Who does what?
Rob does it all except for grass-cutting and taking care of the outside furniture. I clean the furniture and move it back into place after the grass-cutters come.
Zzzzzs - what’s the last task before going to bed in the evening?
Put the dishwasher on -- we fill it just about every day.
A is for Aprons. Yes/no, favourites?
Once a year and only once a year do I don an apron. On December 23 of every year I get together with 2 of my sisters-in-law to bake Christmas cookies. We bake all day, get covered in flour and everything else and generally have a great time. Plus we make a ton of cookies. I wear the apron because I was given it as a gift and it has cute snowmen on it.
B is for Baking. Favourite thing to bake?
See above. I enjoy baking cookies. Baking is the only kind of cooking I can say I actually enjoy.
C is for Clothesline, do you have one?
No, but the neighbors right in back of us do so we get to see their clothes drying on the line all the time without the work. It is quite a view -- especially when the nightgowns are up.
D is for Doughnuts. Have you ever made them?
Yes. Once. In 7th grade home economics. Buying them at Dunkin Donuts is a lot easier.
E is for Everyday. One home making task you do every day.
Laundry. Dirty clothes, sheets, and towels multiply exponentially in my hamper therefore rare is the day that goes by that I don't do at least one load of laundry. It just never ends. And if I skip a day it is as if I skipped a month.
F is for Freezer. Do you have a separate deep freeze?
No, but I wish we did. I would stock it with ice cream. What else would you use it for?
G is for Garbage Disposal Unit. Do you have one?
Yes, we have one. I use it now and then. It is rather convenient at times, but I did not know it was bad for the environment as I read on Emily's post. I will have to look into that and re-think my disposal use.
H is for Handbook. What’s your favourite home making resource?
My favorite home making resource is not a handbook, it is a person -- my cleaning lady. She is heaven sent. My second favorite resource is take-out menus.
I is for Ironing. Love it or hate it?
Hate it and won't do it unless it is absolutely necessary. I would rather wear it wrinkly or send it to the cleaners to deal with it.
J is for Junk Drawer. Have one, and if so, where?
One in the kitchen for things like tape, pens, coupons, clips, etc. And one in my bedroom for small miscellaneous items like wallets, sunglasses, bits and pieces given to me by Zoe, etc. Also every drawer in Rob's dresser. He just doesn't get the idea of a sock drawer, a t-shirt drawer, etc.
K is for Kitchen. Colour and decorating scheme?
Our kitchen has cream-colored walls and counter tops with a black island top and red cabinet fronts. It is fairly modern with stainless appliances, but the flower tiles and the oak trim take away from the modern look.
L is for Love. What’s your favourite part of home making?
Decorating. I love to pick out paint colors, new furniture, art for the walls, etc. I will even paint and hang and move around heavy furniture.
M is for Mop. Do you have one?
Yes. We actually have a couple of them. When our dog, Spanky, was still around, mops often came in handy.
N is for Nylons. Machine or handwash?
I detest nylons and I usually run them in their first wearing and then just throw them in the trash. Tights I will wash in the machine.
O is for Oven. Do you have a window or do you open the oven door to check?
We have a window, but I never use it. I always opent the door.
P is for Pizza. What do you put on yours?
I am the most boring and un-adventurous eater you will ever meet so I only make plain cheese pizza.
Q is for Quiet. What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
Read or write blog posts or read my book or the current issue of The New Yorker.
R is for Recipe Card Box.Yes/no? If yes, what does it look like?
Uh, no. I have a couple of recipes stuffed in the junk drawer, but I haven't read them since I put them in the drawer.
S is Style of House.
Converted Cape with many modern touches -- hopefully more to come.
T is for Tablecloths. Do you use them?
I used to when I had a real table. Now our kitchen has a big island and no table. I like tablecloths and miss using them.
U is for Under the Kitchen Sink. Organised or toxic wasteland?
Definitely organized. Sometimes it gets a little crazy down there, but I clean it out fairly regularly.
V is for Vacuum. How many times a week?
Does that include dustbuster use? Because if so, then vacuuming happens every day. If not, once a week.
W is for Washing. How many loads of washing do you do a week?
At least 7 and probably more like 11.
X’s - do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?
I keep a to do list for work, but not usually for personal things. Once in awhile I make a personaly to do list, but I generally don't have trouble remembering the personal items.
Y is for Yard. Who does what?
Rob does it all except for grass-cutting and taking care of the outside furniture. I clean the furniture and move it back into place after the grass-cutters come.
Zzzzzs - what’s the last task before going to bed in the evening?
Put the dishwasher on -- we fill it just about every day.
03 December 2008
Words for Wednesday: Albuquerque Turkey
There is nothing meaningful about my song lyrics this week. This week's song is something Zoe learned in school for Thanksgiving and she has been singing it non-stop despite the fact that Thanksgiving is over. It is one of those brain-infecting songs and while I was trying to think of something good for this post these were the only lyrics I could think of. I will spare you a link to the actual music so that if you don't know the song you won't also be infected.
I promise to try to come up with something better for next week, but for now...
I promise to try to come up with something better for next week, but for now...
Albuquerque Turkey
(sung to the tune of "Clementine")
Albuquerque is a turkey
And he's feathered and he's fine
And he wobbles and he gobbles
and he's absolutely mine.
He's the best pet that you can get..
Better than a dog or cat.
He's my Albuquerque turkey
And I'm awfully proud of that.
He once told me , very frankly
he preferred to be my pet,
not the main course at my dinner,
and I told him not to fret.
And my Albuquerque turkey
is so happy in his bed,
'Cause for our Thanksgiving dinner...
We had egg foo yong instead.
02 December 2008
SXSW Tour: What I have learned
Here is a list of things I learned on my SXSW road trip:
1. Just because a hotel room says it is non-smoking, it doesn't mean it won't smell like smoke.
2. The GPS woman (we named her Greta) gets easily annoyed when you stop for gas or lunch or whatever. I swear I heard her sigh after her 3rd "Recalculating."
3. Cabela's is not a store for me -- or really anyone who is not interested in either making things dead or moving dead things around.
4. Tennessee has a lot more to offer than is obvious from the highway. Like The Arcade restaurant -- I am still thinking about that French Toast!
5. Always take more audio books than you think you'll want.
6. Families on Thanksgiving are basically all the same -- it is just a lot less stressful when it isn't your family (or in-laws).
7. The highway between Dallas and Little Rock is so flat and straight that you could put the car on cruise control and get in the back seat for awhile.
8. Tex-Mex food eaten in Texas is so much better, but turkey is turkey no matter where you are.
9. Any trip that involves going through New Jersey will mean taking at least 2 wrong turns.
10. When you're doing your final hotel room check to make sure you have everything always, always, always check under the covers.
That's what I learned. What I knew going in was that we were going to have a great time both in the car and in Dallas, we were going to eat a lot, and that I am lucky to have a husband and kid who were as enthusiastic about this trip as I was. I also knew it was going to be absolutely fantastic to be with Karen and her family and that it would be really, really hard to say good-bye.
1. Just because a hotel room says it is non-smoking, it doesn't mean it won't smell like smoke.
2. The GPS woman (we named her Greta) gets easily annoyed when you stop for gas or lunch or whatever. I swear I heard her sigh after her 3rd "Recalculating."
3. Cabela's is not a store for me -- or really anyone who is not interested in either making things dead or moving dead things around.
4. Tennessee has a lot more to offer than is obvious from the highway. Like The Arcade restaurant -- I am still thinking about that French Toast!
5. Always take more audio books than you think you'll want.
6. Families on Thanksgiving are basically all the same -- it is just a lot less stressful when it isn't your family (or in-laws).
7. The highway between Dallas and Little Rock is so flat and straight that you could put the car on cruise control and get in the back seat for awhile.
8. Tex-Mex food eaten in Texas is so much better, but turkey is turkey no matter where you are.
9. Any trip that involves going through New Jersey will mean taking at least 2 wrong turns.
10. When you're doing your final hotel room check to make sure you have everything always, always, always check under the covers.
That's what I learned. What I knew going in was that we were going to have a great time both in the car and in Dallas, we were going to eat a lot, and that I am lucky to have a husband and kid who were as enthusiastic about this trip as I was. I also knew it was going to be absolutely fantastic to be with Karen and her family and that it would be really, really hard to say good-bye.
01 December 2008
Rocket Man
I received and Early Reviewer's copy of Rocket Man by William Elliott Hazelgrove through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. In general I am predisposed to like these books because I had some initial interest in reading it based on the description and that was certainly the case with this book. I was quite pleased that I was chosen to receive this book. Unfortunately this book did not live up to my expectations at all.
Rocket Man is a story of middle-aged, middle class white men's angst. It is the story of Dale Hammer living and struggling in suburban America and battling both with and for the "American Dream." Dale is, in my opinion, the worst kind of snob -- the kind who despises people for finding success and/or happiness in situations where he cannot and therefore looks down on those people as being less intelligent. Worse than being a snob, he is also a hypocrite. We are supposed to feel sorry for him because his father wasn't there for him growing up and yet he cannot stop himself from disappointing his own son at every turn. His own father mis-treated his mother and yet he mis-treats his wife albeit not in the same way it is still mis-treatment. There is no redeeming moment, no better qualities that shine through Dale. The female characters are paper doll thin stereotypes. The plot itself only loosely hangs together. And although the last couple of pages try to redeem him and give him a happy ending, it is hard to believe Dale won't sabotage this happiness as he has sabotaged all other happiness in his life.
After visiting the author's website, I see that this book is supposed to be satire and I think I missed that. I'm not sure if that's me or the book.
[My original post included some negative comments about the copy-editing, but I received a note from the author that the copy I received was an un-corrected galley. I looked for that on my book, but it didn't say it anywhere so I thought it was a final version. I'm glad it is not the final version. My apologies to the author and editor.]
Rocket Man is a story of middle-aged, middle class white men's angst. It is the story of Dale Hammer living and struggling in suburban America and battling both with and for the "American Dream." Dale is, in my opinion, the worst kind of snob -- the kind who despises people for finding success and/or happiness in situations where he cannot and therefore looks down on those people as being less intelligent. Worse than being a snob, he is also a hypocrite. We are supposed to feel sorry for him because his father wasn't there for him growing up and yet he cannot stop himself from disappointing his own son at every turn. His own father mis-treated his mother and yet he mis-treats his wife albeit not in the same way it is still mis-treatment. There is no redeeming moment, no better qualities that shine through Dale. The female characters are paper doll thin stereotypes. The plot itself only loosely hangs together. And although the last couple of pages try to redeem him and give him a happy ending, it is hard to believe Dale won't sabotage this happiness as he has sabotaged all other happiness in his life.
After visiting the author's website, I see that this book is supposed to be satire and I think I missed that. I'm not sure if that's me or the book.
[My original post included some negative comments about the copy-editing, but I received a note from the author that the copy I received was an un-corrected galley. I looked for that on my book, but it didn't say it anywhere so I thought it was a final version. I'm glad it is not the final version. My apologies to the author and editor.]
30 November 2008
SXSW Tour: The Final Day
Yesterday was a good travel day. We got from Little Rock, AR to Roanoke, VA and we managed a couple of good stops in between. We hit the road early from Little Rock and hung on 'til Memphis before stopping for brunch. I googled "best places for brunch in Memphis" and was presented with a couple of nice lists. Both lists included The Arcade Restaurant and since it was right near Beale St., we decided to give it a shot. All I can say is yum! The best french toast I ever had and they had beignets which are nearly impossible to come by in New England. If you're ever in Memphis definitely add The Arcade to your list of restaurants to visit.
After a quick peek at Beale St., a drive by Graceland and a stop for souveniers at Zoe's request (for show and tell) we were back on the road. We pushed through to Knoxville where we stopped for dinner. I'm sure we didn't see the pretty parts of Knoxville (should there be any), but we did find a very convenient shopping and eating area where we were able to get some dinner and pick up a car charger for the iPod which was a pressing need. All-in-all Tennessee redeemed itself on this return leg. What we saw coming down did not appeal. We didn't get to Roanoke until 1AM and I am not sure how Rob managed to drive so long, but he did and I was grateful.
And now were off for our final travel day. We're getting a late start because we got in late so I am not sure if we'll make any good stops today, but we'll see
After a quick peek at Beale St., a drive by Graceland and a stop for souveniers at Zoe's request (for show and tell) we were back on the road. We pushed through to Knoxville where we stopped for dinner. I'm sure we didn't see the pretty parts of Knoxville (should there be any), but we did find a very convenient shopping and eating area where we were able to get some dinner and pick up a car charger for the iPod which was a pressing need. All-in-all Tennessee redeemed itself on this return leg. What we saw coming down did not appeal. We didn't get to Roanoke until 1AM and I am not sure how Rob managed to drive so long, but he did and I was grateful.
And now were off for our final travel day. We're getting a late start because we got in late so I am not sure if we'll make any good stops today, but we'll see
Today's plan:
SXSW Tour: Final day
Destination: home
Expected travel time: 9 hours -- not including expected traffic. Hopefully it won't be too awful coming in to the tri-state area, but I don't have high hopes.
29 November 2008
SXSW Tour: The Return
Yesterday afternoon after a tearful good-bye, we were on the road again. Destination: Little Rock, AR. We arrived with no problems. The drive was about as straight, flat, and boring as it gets and we made good time. Luckily the scenery improves today.
Our stay in Dallas was lots of fun and lots of eating! Between Thanksgiving lunch and all the other eating we did, I think I might need to fast for a few days. My favorite meal by far was had at Mi Cocina in Dallas at Highland Park Village. It was Tex-Mex food and it was sooooo good. Other highlights included watching Zoe and Karen's daughter play together non-stop, a grown-ups night out with the kids at an amazing place called Adventure Kids Playcare which is drop-off babysitting (an amazing thing I wish we had nearby), and, of course, our first time on a real Texas ranch -- the Triple S Ranch. More on the ranch later. Right now we have to get going because we have a long day ahead.
Our stay in Dallas was lots of fun and lots of eating! Between Thanksgiving lunch and all the other eating we did, I think I might need to fast for a few days. My favorite meal by far was had at Mi Cocina in Dallas at Highland Park Village. It was Tex-Mex food and it was sooooo good. Other highlights included watching Zoe and Karen's daughter play together non-stop, a grown-ups night out with the kids at an amazing place called Adventure Kids Playcare which is drop-off babysitting (an amazing thing I wish we had nearby), and, of course, our first time on a real Texas ranch -- the Triple S Ranch. More on the ranch later. Right now we have to get going because we have a long day ahead.
Today's plan:
SXSW Tour: Day 7
Destination: Roanoke, VA
Expected travel time: 12 hours
Sights: Hopefully we'll have lunch in Memphis and pick up some Elvis souveniers!
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