meaningless minutiae

Florida Snapshots

Time at the brand-new and utterly deserted playground
Reading in bed while a 4 year old boy watches Justice League on the computer next to me
Grace’s increasing fluency navigating both an iPhone and a Mac, and her obsession with americangirl.com
Louboutin espadrilles on top of Wired magazine
Endless Go Fish games
Shivering by the pool, wrapped in towels, while the fat-less (thus uninsulated) children swim happily for hours
Walking out to the end of the rough wooden pier into the ocean, watching kites flying, fish jumping, and birds swooping into the water.
Toasts to Thanksgiving, new hearts, one month birthdays, and anniversaries, both 43 and 5 years
Goggles, pool noodles, and water guns
Stunning sunsets from the living room windows
Whit’s utter ineptitude at Jenga
Asleep by 9:30 every night!
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, and Olive Kittredge (two Annes, a translation, and a Pulitzer prize winner)

Weekend in photographs

Despite forecasts calling for a Two Day Nor’Easter, Saturday dawned bright and clear and cold. Soccer for all. Whit spiced up his soccer outfit with his usual flair.
Grace and I headed to the Common, where the Orange Frogs played the Teal Something or Others. I confess I was not paying super close attention and I don’t know what the score was.
Later that afternoon, my dear friend Jeri came to take pictures of the kids. We went to a nearby park and just played. I was sent to the sidelines to watch and told to stop telling me kids “no!” – harder than it sounds!
Grace demonstrated her weird upper body strength
Whit developed an enormous crush on Jeri. I have never seen him be so cooperative or downright flirty with anyone (yes, Jeri, I realize he was not that cooperative, but believe me, this was some kind of record). I think he wants to be a photographer now.
Saturday night Grace and I started reading the book for our first Mother Daughter Bookclub, the inaugural meeting of which is next weekend. The Boy Who Grew Flowers is a charming story and I highly recommend it.

Sunday brought the promised storm. The children bundled up to go watch a regatta with Matt. It was freezing and pouring rain. Going Outside No Matter What is a kind of mantra around here.
Then in the afternoon I took Grace and Whit to see Where the Wild Things Are. Spectacular.

Latest learnings

Oh I am so uninspired today. So totally uninspired. Even the bright zinnias I bought at the farmer’s market did not enliven any creativity. But, ah! Farmer’s market! That’s because it is day 3 of my Eat Like an Adult effort. This is an attempt to stop getting deathly sick every 3 months. Hoping a few more vegetables and a little less licorice might motivate my immune system from its current death slump. I also ordered the vitamins you recommended, Hads.

Kelly, I loved your post today about 10 things you had learned in 1o days. Made me think what – if anything – I have learned in the last 10 days. Not sure there are 10. In fact these are less learnings and more random musings, and sadly much less wise and thoughtful than yours, Kelly!

1. A week in bed is definitely not all bad. I did not feel bored at all. I also did not make any substantial dent in The Stack, sadly enough (no, immune system and universe, I am not asking for yet another retreat-into-bed illness).

2. It is both possible and really, really lovely to reconnect with an old friend after some years of ebb tide. A true friend is one where you can jump right back in.

3. Brie + guacamole + sauvignon blanc = a balanced dinner.

4. I have no idea what I think about the H1N1 vaccine and the mercury and the rushing the whole thing to market. I do not know what to do re: the children and welcome any and all input. I’ve never gotten them even regular flu shots as my pediatrician has always generally convinced me not to, but this year he has changed his tune so they will get those. But the swine flu specific one? My gut is saying no.

5. I am relearning and rediscovering my passion for Planned Parenthood through agreeing to co-chair the annual Cambridge house party. I really do dig that organization and everyone I’ve met who is involved. I’m honored to co-chair though as usual tremendously uncomfortable asking for money.

6. 3 weekends in a row away from home = 2 too many

7. I will not be running the BAA 1/2 marathon on October 11th. Very sad. In fact I wonder when I will ever run again. I’m still coughing a little and generally feeling exhausted.

Seven. Random. All I’ve got today.