The last four days have been full of lots of things, some less wonderful than others: Laundry Pink eye Performance evaluations Ordering kitchen curtains Head colds Dead hamster Babysitter in the emergency room Big media deals Sudafed extra-strength non-drowsy Office moves Science project Insomnia Last night after a perfect winter's night dinner (roast chicken, carrots and potatoes with broccoli on the side) Baby and I were on our way to the bath when we were drawn to the racket in the study. There Eldest and Middle were blaring music (Fatboy Slim, Rolling Stones) and doing some weird sort of fighting...
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Yesterday a letter came in the mail that I was hoping I'd never get. It was a subpoena to appear in court next month as a witness in the felony hearing of a guy I've never met. The backstory: in December I got a phone call from a detective in a nearby town. It seems my credit card had been stolen from my car (don't ask why I had my card in my car, which is stupid but as it turns out a lot more common a practice than you might think). The guy who stole it charged $1.83 at...
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Last week we were on vacation and I had a lightbulb moment. It happened as I was following (or attempting to) Eldest down a mountain, on skis, leg muscles burning, trying not to hit the big bruise on one knee that I got God knows how. Anyway, the lightbulb was this: if I ever have to choose between fun and relaxing, I will take fun. In fact, I never choose relaxing. Period. Take skiing: fun, but not relaxing. Our last vacation, spent largely on horseback: fun, not relaxing. The previous summer vacation: Legoland (incredible), SeaWorld (sorry, but so not worth...
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This week my kids don't have school and so, as we do every year, we have gone skiing. Which is wonderful and indulgent and crazy expensive and involves unappealing air travel where we are forced to change planes because a direct flight costs almost as much as a year of college. Anyway, in our decision to have a third child there were a lot of factors my husband and I considered: family dynamics, age of siblings, the fact that we would no doubt have a third boy and therefore have to withstand that much more destruction around the house. And,...
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I heard on the radio this morning that 20% of all Valentine's cards and flowers are sent from people to themselves. Love that! At this point I still get something (well, most years) from my husband and kids, even if today that included a fat lip from Middle who, when I requested a hug, led with his (very hard) head, right into my upper lip. Yes, he has already started giving those boy semi-hugs which involve turning his head to the side and trying to minimize all body contact. Alas. Anyway, there will no doubt come a day when I...
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Words that matter, Saturday and Sunday: Patience Denim Community Barrettes Pancakes Trust Knock knock jokes Houseplants Movies Bed Ping pong Surprise Pizza Discipline Waiting Solitude Words that matter, Monday through Friday: Diplomacy Efficiency Heels Productivity Cunning Sushi Suspended disbelief Healthy paranoia Schadenfreude (hey, at least I admit it) Innovation Meetings Competition Starbucks Lipstick Hurrying Charm
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Thursday night, 8 p.m. Middle's cello went missing at school a week ago and I just hear about it tonight; it could be in California by now. Babysitter has been out with a serious medical issue for two weeks. Her wonderful, wonderful mother is filling in, for which we are so lucky and grateful. Still, some systems have broken down, as you might imagine. The only thing my kids ever seem to do anymore is play Guitar Hero. We are having frozen macaroni and cheese for dinner. It is actually good, but still. And these green beans have definitely seen...
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Take the dog to the park and stay until he's tired Write down the names of new wines I've tried and liked, instead of just hoping I'll remember what the label looks like when I go back to the store Learn to play chess Darn socks Go to the nursery with a plan for my garden instead of winging it, buying what looks good and hoping for the best Go to the gym every single day Read Gravity's Rainbow and really try to understand it Take a snowboard lesson Improve my handwriting Actually talk to people on the train instead...
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So on Saturday afternoon, while I was innocently out and about at the gym and the hardware store, our lovely neighbor and good friend Chloe came by to sell us Girl Scout cookies. You can imagine what happened: left to his own devices, my husband bought eleven boxes. That's right, *eleven.* We have a family of five, although Baby does not yet eat cookies. So yes, that's nearly three boxes per person. Just for the record, last year I placed the order from Chloe. I ordered four boxes. Then, yesterday, another girl appeared with her mother at our front door....
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The other night at book club I sat next to a child psychologist who taught me a new word that I just may have engraved on my tombstone. The psychologist is Paul Donahue, husband of the lovely book club member Jenny. Paul has just published a book called Parenting Without Fear (and hello, who wouldn't want to read that?) and is a terrific dinner party companion. (Technical note: we include spouses once a year for an incredible meal of raclette at Ann Marie's house, but that is another tale altogether). Anyway, the word Paul taught me is "perseverate," which, applied...
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