Probably the most surreal thing about living in this house is the view. A few weeks ago, Collier woke me, saying, "I wanted to let you sleep in, but look...I took pictures of the sunrise."
(In unison: "Awwwwwwww!!)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunrise
Probably the most surreal thing about living in this house is the view. A few weeks ago, Collier woke me, saying, "I wanted to let you sleep in, but look...I took pictures of the sunrise."
(In unison: "Awwwwwwww!!)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
This Land is Your Land
When I was in second grade, my parents put me - their only child - on a plane from Portland to Burbank to visit my godmother for a week. She took me to the San Diego zoo to ride on the back of an elephant. She took me to Universal Studios where I thought a shark was going to snatch me out of the tour bus, and that same tour bus got stuck on a failing bridge. She took me to walk the walk of stars, my hands quick to see if they would fill the cemented hand prints of Marilyn Monroe.
But nothing compared, in my mind, to Disneyland.
I remember those spying eyes in the haunted house. I remember that it was a small world after all. I remember zooming around a dark space mountain. I was transported to a child's wonderland; the place where all dreams do come true. Even when I left, for years and years after, my mind would wander back to that place where anything was possible.
As I grew up and matured and began to form very sound logic and analyze all things with intense discernment, I (naturally) chalked Disneyland up to a deceptive conglomerate, luring children - parents in tow - into a world that would spit them out when their money was gone. Children need to learn that life is harsh; it's not some fairytale where Snow White will take a picture with you and all your woes will dissappear. Dammit.
That growing up and maturing thing? The one with sound logic? Yeah, that's your twenties. Clearly you know everything when you are 20-something.
This year we are taking our children to Disneyland. I can't wait to offer them yet another moment when anything feels possible. A moment when they believe all dreams do come true. That will all fade soon enough; life will happen, they will grow and mature and analyze with intense discernment (what is that, anyway??). But before that happens, I want them to take a picture with Goofy. I hope they enjoy the Pirates of the Carribean, and Tom Sawyer Island, and the Enchanted Tiki room.
And more than anything else, I hope they learn that it actually is a very, very small world...after all.
But nothing compared, in my mind, to Disneyland.
I remember those spying eyes in the haunted house. I remember that it was a small world after all. I remember zooming around a dark space mountain. I was transported to a child's wonderland; the place where all dreams do come true. Even when I left, for years and years after, my mind would wander back to that place where anything was possible.
As I grew up and matured and began to form very sound logic and analyze all things with intense discernment, I (naturally) chalked Disneyland up to a deceptive conglomerate, luring children - parents in tow - into a world that would spit them out when their money was gone. Children need to learn that life is harsh; it's not some fairytale where Snow White will take a picture with you and all your woes will dissappear. Dammit.
That growing up and maturing thing? The one with sound logic? Yeah, that's your twenties. Clearly you know everything when you are 20-something.
This year we are taking our children to Disneyland. I can't wait to offer them yet another moment when anything feels possible. A moment when they believe all dreams do come true. That will all fade soon enough; life will happen, they will grow and mature and analyze with intense discernment (what is that, anyway??). But before that happens, I want them to take a picture with Goofy. I hope they enjoy the Pirates of the Carribean, and Tom Sawyer Island, and the Enchanted Tiki room.
And more than anything else, I hope they learn that it actually is a very, very small world...after all.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A.D.
Around Christmastime, Karin brought Aidan over for dinner while Tom was in Mexico with friends. We had fun watching him play with Oliver...hope you do, too!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Oliver Twist
Collier and I agree: Oliver has added at least a full year to Chelsea's life. Let me explain...
Oliver has enough energy to power our entire house for 7.84 months. At minimum. When we brought him home, Chelsea wasn't sure what to think. This is her house and he's clearly a temporary tenant, a guest, or better yet, an invader. Clearly. But wait, wha'? Why are my humans not taking this little rat back to wherever he came from? Why does he seem to be staying...what is going on here?!
I think Oliver finally jumped directly into her gut enough times to win her over. After she had him on his back, jowls wrapped around his little neck, I think it occured to her: I love this lil guy! They've been playing their attack, chase, jaws around neck game at least twice a day ever since, hence the extended life of our dalmation. I think some of that energy rubbed off...scratch that...shot off...scratch that...hurled itself at Chelsea. From a chair. More of a pounce, really. It was an energy transfer. And it's added a year to her life.
P.S. Chelsea visited the vet today for minor surgery and while she's fine, she is sleeping, and Oliver has no idea what to do with himself. Since the weather is so nice we have the front window open, and Oliver is staring intently outside from his perch on Chelsea's arm chair. His ears perk up every time he hears a bat.
Not that he understood me, but I asked him if he heard his own kind calling him.
Oliver has enough energy to power our entire house for 7.84 months. At minimum. When we brought him home, Chelsea wasn't sure what to think. This is her house and he's clearly a temporary tenant, a guest, or better yet, an invader. Clearly. But wait, wha'? Why are my humans not taking this little rat back to wherever he came from? Why does he seem to be staying...what is going on here?!
I think Oliver finally jumped directly into her gut enough times to win her over. After she had him on his back, jowls wrapped around his little neck, I think it occured to her: I love this lil guy! They've been playing their attack, chase, jaws around neck game at least twice a day ever since, hence the extended life of our dalmation. I think some of that energy rubbed off...scratch that...shot off...scratch that...hurled itself at Chelsea. From a chair. More of a pounce, really. It was an energy transfer. And it's added a year to her life.
P.S. Chelsea visited the vet today for minor surgery and while she's fine, she is sleeping, and Oliver has no idea what to do with himself. Since the weather is so nice we have the front window open, and Oliver is staring intently outside from his perch on Chelsea's arm chair. His ears perk up every time he hears a bat.
Not that he understood me, but I asked him if he heard his own kind calling him.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Weekend
For such a gorgeous day, I feel guilty that we didn't get outside more. Sundays are tough. Part of the mormon religion is recognizing Sundays as the Sabbath. We try very hard not to work, not even housework, and we try not to shop or go anywhere that profits from someone else working on a Sunday. It's a family day and we've been working hard to live by that.
Speaking of the mormon religion, I'm getting frustrated with the missionaries. They stop by unannounced, even though we've told them we don't appreciate people just stopping by. They call me weekly to schedule discussions. I understand that my children are baptised, and I do love going to the church and even think of it as my church. But I struggle with one basic principle: that there's only one way to God. I don't presume to have the answer, so I guess it's a difficult thing to accept others who "know" they have the answer. And yet I understand that you'd have to know your way is the right way, otherwise why would you follow it?
Enough of that. I think love is above all else, so I'm gonna love even those who believe differently. This world is already too tough a place for religious intolerance.
So Darien spent a few hours up at his school. He's got a new friend, a girl, and I think he believes she's his girlfriend. Little does he know that he's not allowed to have a girlfriend at age 11! Poor thing - to have me for a mom. Why is it so hard to remember your own thought process at that age? I swore to myself, when I was a child, that I would always remember what it was like. But I didn't. I can't. It's an impossible task.
Game night last night was at the Baker's. We always have a blast and I hope we stick with this once-a-month thing. Dinner was as great as the company. Plus, as parents, I think it's good for us to get together and have fun. Once parents settle in and become responsible adults - trust me, it usually doesn't happen BEFORE the having of the children - they tend to stop taking care of themselves and center their lives around their children. Everything has its time and place and putting your children at the center is no exception; however, I've seen too many mid-life crisis, too many failed marriages from people who lose themselves to their parental lives. Gotta laugh, gotta remember to have fun, and above all else, love. Love you, love your husband or wife, and love being alive.
[/soapbox]
Oh, would you look at the time? Time to help the kids with homework...
Speaking of the mormon religion, I'm getting frustrated with the missionaries. They stop by unannounced, even though we've told them we don't appreciate people just stopping by. They call me weekly to schedule discussions. I understand that my children are baptised, and I do love going to the church and even think of it as my church. But I struggle with one basic principle: that there's only one way to God. I don't presume to have the answer, so I guess it's a difficult thing to accept others who "know" they have the answer. And yet I understand that you'd have to know your way is the right way, otherwise why would you follow it?
Enough of that. I think love is above all else, so I'm gonna love even those who believe differently. This world is already too tough a place for religious intolerance.
So Darien spent a few hours up at his school. He's got a new friend, a girl, and I think he believes she's his girlfriend. Little does he know that he's not allowed to have a girlfriend at age 11! Poor thing - to have me for a mom. Why is it so hard to remember your own thought process at that age? I swore to myself, when I was a child, that I would always remember what it was like. But I didn't. I can't. It's an impossible task.
Game night last night was at the Baker's. We always have a blast and I hope we stick with this once-a-month thing. Dinner was as great as the company. Plus, as parents, I think it's good for us to get together and have fun. Once parents settle in and become responsible adults - trust me, it usually doesn't happen BEFORE the having of the children - they tend to stop taking care of themselves and center their lives around their children. Everything has its time and place and putting your children at the center is no exception; however, I've seen too many mid-life crisis, too many failed marriages from people who lose themselves to their parental lives. Gotta laugh, gotta remember to have fun, and above all else, love. Love you, love your husband or wife, and love being alive.
[/soapbox]
Oh, would you look at the time? Time to help the kids with homework...
My gut hurts...
...from laughing so hard! Who knew 'Animal Farm' could be so funny?! Collier's mom - hahahaha! - wasn't so happy when we walked in the door at 1:15am.
Sidebar: yes, I AM going to see how many vocabulary words I can cram into my post.
It was a dark and purple night as Jason slipped into his footie pajamas. All he could think about was getting into bed with Jen's mom. He crept toward the bedroom, when out of nowhere came Trish Stratus walking two midget bitches on leashes, wearing a white tshirt with fake gems glue-gunned onto the front: Cockfishers. "Those dirty rotten nazis!" Jason thought.
How to get rid of them? Jason ran to the closet and grabbed his ice skates. He didn't know where the girls had gone, so he moved slowly across the hard wood floor. Creeeeeek. "There they are," he thought.
As he heard the footsteps get closer and closer, Jason suddenly realized they were right around the corner. Jason jumped in front of Trish Stratus and the midget bitches, swinging his left arm around with full force. Trish Stratus screamed. "TOOOEEEEE PICCCCKKKKK!!!!" (Sidebar: you had to see where that was going, right?!?!)
Trish Stratus and the midget bitches ran out of the house and J sighed with relief. Now he could get back to Jen's mom. He set his bloody skate shoe down on the kitchen counter, right next to his tickets to the 2010 Taser Show and headed toward bed, knowing he'd be protected from rapists and Heather's.
Jason's mom would be proud.
Sidebar: yes, I AM going to see how many vocabulary words I can cram into my post.
It was a dark and purple night as Jason slipped into his footie pajamas. All he could think about was getting into bed with Jen's mom. He crept toward the bedroom, when out of nowhere came Trish Stratus walking two midget bitches on leashes, wearing a white tshirt with fake gems glue-gunned onto the front: Cockfishers. "Those dirty rotten nazis!" Jason thought.
How to get rid of them? Jason ran to the closet and grabbed his ice skates. He didn't know where the girls had gone, so he moved slowly across the hard wood floor. Creeeeeek. "There they are," he thought.
As he heard the footsteps get closer and closer, Jason suddenly realized they were right around the corner. Jason jumped in front of Trish Stratus and the midget bitches, swinging his left arm around with full force. Trish Stratus screamed. "TOOOEEEEE PICCCCKKKKK!!!!" (Sidebar: you had to see where that was going, right?!?!)
Trish Stratus and the midget bitches ran out of the house and J sighed with relief. Now he could get back to Jen's mom. He set his bloody skate shoe down on the kitchen counter, right next to his tickets to the 2010 Taser Show and headed toward bed, knowing he'd be protected from rapists and Heather's.
Jason's mom would be proud.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Let's try this again...
Today has been a great day! I LOVE the sunshine and today is flawless. This weather gets me antsy, itchin' for summer. Summer is barbeques. It's heat and fresh flowers. Summer is jumping into rivers, cycling around town, choosing the patio at restaurants, moonlit walks, reading in the park, being outside and feeling the breeze and the sun on your skin. I do love that first rain of the year, around September...but nothing buts that first day of pure sunshine after months of cold, wet weather.
Portland is like that. It rains a lot here. I used to laugh at people who use umbrellas, but I've become one of those people. Actually, I bought a rain hat recently. Then I don't have to hold an umbrella ALL the time because it ALWAYS rains;-)
I love the person my daughter is becoming. She's watching a TV show, female cops arresting people. One of them, says, "Lower your voice and shut your mouth." My daughter catches how unintelligent that comment is. She's just like her mother. I carefully craft my words. And I notice when others do not. Lately I feel as if I'm losing my vocabulary. I can't lose my words...they are one of the ways through which I define myself.
I feel alive today. I am so excited to work out, to accomplish, to invest in me today. Something has changed, has moved, inside me. I just feel excited and giddy and happy and alive:-)
Portland is like that. It rains a lot here. I used to laugh at people who use umbrellas, but I've become one of those people. Actually, I bought a rain hat recently. Then I don't have to hold an umbrella ALL the time because it ALWAYS rains;-)
I love the person my daughter is becoming. She's watching a TV show, female cops arresting people. One of them, says, "Lower your voice and shut your mouth." My daughter catches how unintelligent that comment is. She's just like her mother. I carefully craft my words. And I notice when others do not. Lately I feel as if I'm losing my vocabulary. I can't lose my words...they are one of the ways through which I define myself.
I feel alive today. I am so excited to work out, to accomplish, to invest in me today. Something has changed, has moved, inside me. I just feel excited and giddy and happy and alive:-)
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