July 30, 2010
Lucky, Part Deux
Up in New England on vacation now, I spent the other day with Aunt Elsebet. The girls picked blueberries, and ran around her barn. This morning, I woke up at LOS's place in Vermont to see deer grazing in the field. Tomorrow, over to FoilMormor's. The girls are swimming, running, biking, museuming, and generally having a great time. My family seems happy and well, and god, it's nice to be someplace where you need to wear a sweater in the evening.
July 18, 2010
Lucky
Despite the hardships of the last few years, I realize how lucky I am. Right now, for whatever reason, I feel the need to list the good in my life. So here goes.
1--I have wonderful friends, here (Innana, SNV) and around the world (Francesca, CookieDear, Kira -- even though I've never met Kira in the flesh, she has been a lifesaver several times).
2--TigerGrrl and DestructoGirl are truly magnificent: smart, healthy, beautiful, strong, and FUNNY.
3--My relationship with my mother is pretty much the best it has ever been, and I'm seeing her in less than two weeks. Yippee!
4--I have sisters.
5--My home, though small, is pleasant and comfortable and in a great community and school district.
6--With a few exceptions, who are outweighed by the norm, I have wonderful neighbors who are becoming friends. One neighbor is making a cake for TigerGrrl's impending eleventh birthday while I make the pizza.
7--The Foilkids' school district is great, and, thank heavens, DestructoGirl is starting full-day kindergarten this fall.
8--The Saintly Babysitter stayed with us up until two months before DG started school. I hear horror stories about child care, but I've never really had to worry. DG now goes to a home day care that she loves (she has lots of friends there). TG is almost beyond day care, and I've let her do a few half days at home alone (given that there are two women within 500 yards of my house home during the day who are TG's friends helps.
9--Cousin Roland and his wife (who nearly died last year in childbirth) had healthy twins through a surrogate. I'm almost done knitting the appropriate gifts.
10--Innana and I had a great day yesterday bopping out to Front Royal, where it was marginally cooler than it is here in the burbs.
11--I have books to read, music to play, projects to knit, trails to bike on, and an ice rink to skate on nearby.
I could go on for quite a while, but I'll stop now.
1--I have wonderful friends, here (Innana, SNV) and around the world (Francesca, CookieDear, Kira -- even though I've never met Kira in the flesh, she has been a lifesaver several times).
2--TigerGrrl and DestructoGirl are truly magnificent: smart, healthy, beautiful, strong, and FUNNY.
3--My relationship with my mother is pretty much the best it has ever been, and I'm seeing her in less than two weeks. Yippee!
4--I have sisters.
5--My home, though small, is pleasant and comfortable and in a great community and school district.
6--With a few exceptions, who are outweighed by the norm, I have wonderful neighbors who are becoming friends. One neighbor is making a cake for TigerGrrl's impending eleventh birthday while I make the pizza.
7--The Foilkids' school district is great, and, thank heavens, DestructoGirl is starting full-day kindergarten this fall.
8--The Saintly Babysitter stayed with us up until two months before DG started school. I hear horror stories about child care, but I've never really had to worry. DG now goes to a home day care that she loves (she has lots of friends there). TG is almost beyond day care, and I've let her do a few half days at home alone (given that there are two women within 500 yards of my house home during the day who are TG's friends helps.
9--Cousin Roland and his wife (who nearly died last year in childbirth) had healthy twins through a surrogate. I'm almost done knitting the appropriate gifts.
10--Innana and I had a great day yesterday bopping out to Front Royal, where it was marginally cooler than it is here in the burbs.
11--I have books to read, music to play, projects to knit, trails to bike on, and an ice rink to skate on nearby.
I could go on for quite a while, but I'll stop now.
July 14, 2010
If You Give A Pig A Pancake (Hilarity Ensues, and Also Disaster)
Once again, I took the girls to Adventure Theatre, along with a five-year old friend of DestructoGirl. To those not familiar with the books* here's the plot synopsis: A child gives a pig a pancake, and nothing good, but lots of fun, happens. Except for it's everything good. DG was in full open throated guffaw mode, and almost eleven-year old TigerGrrl was delighted. Two boys, age thirteen and twelve, rejected the delights offered by Adventure Theatre, and instead opted for exploring Glen Echo Park for the hour that I had the girls at the play. So all and all, it was a success for all concerned.
Holly Twyford, as Felicia the pig, was a delight. She had this great snort when she laughed or was surprised (actually, an oink of sorts) that my girls are still imitating, three days later. They'll chortle, then remember, and add a snort. As an adult, I felt mildly sorry for Brenda Locke, playing the imposed upon child, but she had her own great moments, especially when reading aloud a note from her mother, advising her to take off her helmet before eating her breakfast and then proceeding to stage an imaginary spacecraft atmosphere re-entry and landing.
Both actresses played off each other nicely and have given my daughters epic excuses for why my living room is a disaster area: "Well, I gave a pig a pancake, then she needed some syrup, then she got sticky, then she needed a bath, then she needed some bubble bath . . ." This is not helped by the fact that my daughters are now the proud owners of two guinea pigs, one quite pig like, and the other a shy retiring type. And no, they aren't fed pancakes or given bubble baths. So clearly, all the responsibility for the mess that is my house rests on the shoulders of Mss. Twyford and Locke, who really should volunteer to help clean up, both here and at the stage.
The whole production is a blast, but the best part for the little ones is the epic mess (or, as TG said: "Housekeeping fail, Mama. They must be related to you.") left behind when the show ends. I actually worried what would happen when the little girl's mother got home (or her not-quite-all-there father descended to actually check out what his daughter was up to). All three girls were laughing and chortling and trying to decide what would happen next after Felicia built a tree house and decorated it using Laura's mother's sheets. But clearly, one just had to start imagining: first, they gave a pig a pancake, and then . . . .
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the delightful set, with a piano and deep-soaking bathtub, both of which appear out of kitchen appliances when needed. Many a time, I've been feeling grungy in the kitchen thinking "Why can't I have a bathtub here?" This problem is solved in this production
*If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.
Holly Twyford, as Felicia the pig, was a delight. She had this great snort when she laughed or was surprised (actually, an oink of sorts) that my girls are still imitating, three days later. They'll chortle, then remember, and add a snort. As an adult, I felt mildly sorry for Brenda Locke, playing the imposed upon child, but she had her own great moments, especially when reading aloud a note from her mother, advising her to take off her helmet before eating her breakfast and then proceeding to stage an imaginary spacecraft atmosphere re-entry and landing.
Both actresses played off each other nicely and have given my daughters epic excuses for why my living room is a disaster area: "Well, I gave a pig a pancake, then she needed some syrup, then she got sticky, then she needed a bath, then she needed some bubble bath . . ." This is not helped by the fact that my daughters are now the proud owners of two guinea pigs, one quite pig like, and the other a shy retiring type. And no, they aren't fed pancakes or given bubble baths. So clearly, all the responsibility for the mess that is my house rests on the shoulders of Mss. Twyford and Locke, who really should volunteer to help clean up, both here and at the stage.
The whole production is a blast, but the best part for the little ones is the epic mess (or, as TG said: "Housekeeping fail, Mama. They must be related to you.") left behind when the show ends. I actually worried what would happen when the little girl's mother got home (or her not-quite-all-there father descended to actually check out what his daughter was up to). All three girls were laughing and chortling and trying to decide what would happen next after Felicia built a tree house and decorated it using Laura's mother's sheets. But clearly, one just had to start imagining: first, they gave a pig a pancake, and then . . . .
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the delightful set, with a piano and deep-soaking bathtub, both of which appear out of kitchen appliances when needed. Many a time, I've been feeling grungy in the kitchen thinking "Why can't I have a bathtub here?" This problem is solved in this production
*If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.
July 3, 2010
Day Trip
It's time for a mini-road trip with Innana, probably to McKay's. It's a beautiful day and we're heading out. Of course, this has been a hectic, stressful week, with the Saintly Babysitter departing (sigh) to a new family with babies. The girls are with PdeFF, so I'm having a relaxing weekend, no matter what. Not to put any pressure on me.
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