I knew you book humpers wouldn't let me down! Thank you so much for your reading recommendations - now to carve out some time to hit the bookstore before our travel begins. For someone on the cusp of a two-week vacation, I'm feeling awfully calm. I'm nowhere near packed and I've still got a lot of loose ends to tie up on the work front, but somehow I remain chill. I know it'll all get done, it always does.
You'd think I'd be a bit more freaked out, especially about the prospect of spending two weeks at the mercy of the elements with a sorta-walking baby who loves his TV time and is very particular about his routines. We went last year for a few days, but he was a whole other kind of creature at that time. The truth is, I have no idea what to expect aside from the likelihood that he'll be a miserable boo, at least until he gets used to it. So I'm just throwing my hands up to the universe. Worst case scenario, we go home. Which would make me sad, but hey, a staycation is still a vacation. HR represents the third generation of babies in my family who have camped out this way, though, so I have a feeling it'll all work out just fine. I'm more psyched than anything, which is a great thing to be in regard to vacation. Otherwise, why do it? Right?
**SYTYCD thoughts: Sasha and Twitch! I have to say I didn't go crazy for him during his season, because that was Joshua's season and Joshua is my all-time favorite contestant so he overshadowed the rest. But as an all-star, Twitch has come into his own for me, and the pairing with Sasha last night--as well as the KILLER routine by Christopher Scott (thank you for the palate cleanser after the Uganda debacle of last week)--was the highlight of the show. I may have re-watched it a few times. I feel like Mitchell was thrown under the bus by Tyce's choreography, which sucks. And I always thought Jordan was overrated, but she was great last night. Plus she was paired with Brandon-- welcome back, B, you are stone amazing. I have no idea who's headed to the bottom three, which is kind of cool. Also, Neil Patrick Harris, please be on every show ever.**
Even with all my zen, I do have a lot that needs my attention, but before I chuck my deuce up at you for the next fortnight, here's my anthem from a couple of summers ago. I just can't help loving that Ryan Adams.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Attention Nerds
Last night I finished Stewart O'Nan's Emily Alone and I'm sad because there's no more. I really fell for the Maxwell family over the course of the two books about them, and that's no mean feat considering they're all pretty irritating. It takes a major talent to write a story with absolutely zero action about a cast of very flawed human beings and leave the reader wanting more when it's over. I hope he writes more about the Maxwells, any of them, but I'm guessing O'Nan never intended Wish You Were Here to spawn a series, more likely he just couldn't get his characters out of his head. Understandable.
Anyway, this leaves me virtually bookless for my vacation. Not that I'll have the time to read that I used to thanks to my friend the baby, but just the idea of striking out for two weeks empty handed is unacceptable. The two books I'm co-reading right now are behemoth hardbacks that I can't justifiably pack into our already maxed out car. And I refuse to bring my Kindle on a camping trip on principle. Sooo... any paperback suggestions? I'm not against bringing something serious to the beach (this is the scene where I read Roots and Helter Skelter in my adolescence), but unless it comes with an emphatic, must-read endorsement, I'm leaning toward lighter fare. Maybe even the literary equivalent of this:
Thanks in advance!
Anyway, this leaves me virtually bookless for my vacation. Not that I'll have the time to read that I used to thanks to my friend the baby, but just the idea of striking out for two weeks empty handed is unacceptable. The two books I'm co-reading right now are behemoth hardbacks that I can't justifiably pack into our already maxed out car. And I refuse to bring my Kindle on a camping trip on principle. Sooo... any paperback suggestions? I'm not against bringing something serious to the beach (this is the scene where I read Roots and Helter Skelter in my adolescence), but unless it comes with an emphatic, must-read endorsement, I'm leaning toward lighter fare. Maybe even the literary equivalent of this:
Thanks in advance!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Eye Candy
I've lived in the greater Boston area exactly half of my life at this point, and I've always felt that I don't take advantage of what's available to me. For example, we're members of the Museum of Fine Arts and if we make it there once a year we consider it a success. It's a damn shame. We always say we'll do better, and then life gets all up in our business. Of course that sounds like and excuse - the goal is to take charge, to be the boss of life. But who besides, like, David Lee Roth or J.K. Rowling gets to get in life's way, you know what I'm saying?
For today, though, armed with our membership cards and capitalizing upon my job's flexibility and physical proximity to the Museum, we were able to put together a quick lunchtime trip to look at ahhht. Mike and I had both been keen to see this exhibit and as it will be gone by the time we get back from vacation, we settled on today. Turns out it was a great collection to count as HR's first museum visit because it's all flash and ooh and ahhh. I personally loved it, not because I'm into whimsy in and of itself, but because every now and then there are things that make you smile, that are beautiful and interesting and are done just because, and they are as vital and necessary as Important Art. This particular "just because" was a welcome oasis of color and light and happiness (not to mention baby cuddles) in the middle of a packed workday, and helped remind me not to overthink so much, to just get out and do. At the very least, I'm grateful we got our act together and didn't let this show pass us by.
And while I'm all hopped up on sparkles and bubbles and fairyfarts, here's this song, an unofficial ode to summertime magic. And probably MDMA. But I'm going with my thing.
For today, though, armed with our membership cards and capitalizing upon my job's flexibility and physical proximity to the Museum, we were able to put together a quick lunchtime trip to look at ahhht. Mike and I had both been keen to see this exhibit and as it will be gone by the time we get back from vacation, we settled on today. Turns out it was a great collection to count as HR's first museum visit because it's all flash and ooh and ahhh. I personally loved it, not because I'm into whimsy in and of itself, but because every now and then there are things that make you smile, that are beautiful and interesting and are done just because, and they are as vital and necessary as Important Art. This particular "just because" was a welcome oasis of color and light and happiness (not to mention baby cuddles) in the middle of a packed workday, and helped remind me not to overthink so much, to just get out and do. At the very least, I'm grateful we got our act together and didn't let this show pass us by.
And while I'm all hopped up on sparkles and bubbles and fairyfarts, here's this song, an unofficial ode to summertime magic. And probably MDMA. But I'm going with my thing.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Kissing Up
Busy! Here are five things that make me smile:
1) My new side project. Youse with kids: won't you please submit some pics?
2) "Tractor." That's HR's confirmed second word. I can't get enough of hearing him say it.
3) This time next week I'll be beginning my vacation at the beach.
4) Did I mention that this time next week I'll be beginning my vacation at the beach?
5) Kissing: one of the better human inventions. I never talk about it, but it's never far from my mind. The subject actually relates to my song pick of the day, so kindly bear with.
One summer I had enough extra lettuce to join the Columbia Tape Club. It happened to be the same summer I made my belated entry into the world of making out. I'd had a couple kisses here and there, pecks really, and that was all well and good. But then there was the dude that wasn't scared of me like the other ones seemed to be and lo and behold I was in the makeout club. Oh, friends. For all its misery, there are ways in which being a teenager wins the award for excellence, life-wise. Even with all its awkwardness, learning about making out is a blue ribbon experience. Without going into detail (a lay-dee like myself has some secrets), I will always remember that summer fondly, even the dude, although that didn't end so well. The point is, the Juice soundtrack (along with Pearl Jam's Ten, Lou Reed's Magic and Loss and some other selections that will both date me--as if my admission that I belonged to a tape club didn't take care of that on its own--and out me as a musical omnivore) was one of my introductory CDs. I listened to it into the ground, and to my ears it stands the test of time in the way that the movie does not.
Rakim is awesome, and I can't hear this song without thinking of the summer of my burgeoning independence, and other assorted loveliness.
1) My new side project. Youse with kids: won't you please submit some pics?
2) "Tractor." That's HR's confirmed second word. I can't get enough of hearing him say it.
3) This time next week I'll be beginning my vacation at the beach.
4) Did I mention that this time next week I'll be beginning my vacation at the beach?
5) Kissing: one of the better human inventions. I never talk about it, but it's never far from my mind. The subject actually relates to my song pick of the day, so kindly bear with.
One summer I had enough extra lettuce to join the Columbia Tape Club. It happened to be the same summer I made my belated entry into the world of making out. I'd had a couple kisses here and there, pecks really, and that was all well and good. But then there was the dude that wasn't scared of me like the other ones seemed to be and lo and behold I was in the makeout club. Oh, friends. For all its misery, there are ways in which being a teenager wins the award for excellence, life-wise. Even with all its awkwardness, learning about making out is a blue ribbon experience. Without going into detail (a lay-dee like myself has some secrets), I will always remember that summer fondly, even the dude, although that didn't end so well. The point is, the Juice soundtrack (along with Pearl Jam's Ten, Lou Reed's Magic and Loss and some other selections that will both date me--as if my admission that I belonged to a tape club didn't take care of that on its own--and out me as a musical omnivore) was one of my introductory CDs. I listened to it into the ground, and to my ears it stands the test of time in the way that the movie does not.
Rakim is awesome, and I can't hear this song without thinking of the summer of my burgeoning independence, and other assorted loveliness.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Mi Famiglia
First things first - SYTYCD:
**Best: Jordan/Tadd Vulture contemporary tied with Melanie/Marko Dee Caspary contemporary (cheer up, Dee). I can't believe I'm going to say this but Clarice and Jess have really grown on me - loved their routines last night, he can do just about anything even though he's an irritating baby boy when he's not dancing. Oh, and I actually liked a Tyce Diorio routine, I was happy that Sasha and Alexander actually got to tear into it. Worst: Caitlynn/Mitchell hip-hop. It's not totally their fault, "message" dances make me want to poke my eyes out. Still they could have danced it better. I'm just hoping it won't send them home because I like him a lot and she hasn't done anything to piss me off. I think that Alexander and Ryan should go tonight, though they'll never willingly send their darling Ryan home for whatever reason. I'm so excited to hear about the all-star announcement tonight I can't even tell you.**
ANYway. As vacation beckons, I have gotten to ruminating about my family, as I always do, since we'll be spending so much quality time together. I came upon something I wrote a few years ago after one of my friends saw pictures from my cousin's wedding and remarked about how our smiles might be our best shared family trait. I wrote:
It's true, there's something behind there, like we know something and that we're capable of some intense revelry at any moment. I've decided it basically comes from a lifetime of taking for granted that we are awesome. I don't mean it like, oh man we are perfect and can do no wrong and every bad choice we've made has been unconditionally supported and there's always been someone to fight our battles. Far from it. It's true that none of us have ever felt like we can't turn to our family - knowing that they have our back certainly gives a sense of safety that lies beneath it all. They gave us just enough rope, and so far, luckily, nobody's used it for hanging. We're tough, independent cookies to a one. From the time we were born it was subconsciously instilled that we were loved and that there wasn't anything we couldn't do if we wanted. And something about that produced a generation free from general insecurity. I don't know how our parents managed to make us this way, but I commend them for it and I hope I can do the same for my kids. I know it's a fine line between that and totally spoiled and/or assholishly egocentric.
I think you can just tell by meeting us and how we interact with our significant others how we were raised. It is not uncommon to see us roll our eyes at each other when our dudes get whiny and needy, and I'm convinced it's our family's fault that we have no patience for it. There was no patience for us when we tried it.
In sum, my family: sacred and profane and aggressively loving and kind of a pain in the ass at times. But we are the most fun you can imagine. And if you ever met our parents, you realize it's not accident.
I still feel this way, maybe even more strongly now that I know what it's like to be raising a child (though the jury will be out on my own parenting skills for a long time). I have the best examples to work from, so here's hoping I don't screw it up.
Also: Happy 60th birthday tomorrow for the one, the only, Peter Perry. Love you Dad - this one's for you.
**Best: Jordan/Tadd Vulture contemporary tied with Melanie/Marko Dee Caspary contemporary (cheer up, Dee). I can't believe I'm going to say this but Clarice and Jess have really grown on me - loved their routines last night, he can do just about anything even though he's an irritating baby boy when he's not dancing. Oh, and I actually liked a Tyce Diorio routine, I was happy that Sasha and Alexander actually got to tear into it. Worst: Caitlynn/Mitchell hip-hop. It's not totally their fault, "message" dances make me want to poke my eyes out. Still they could have danced it better. I'm just hoping it won't send them home because I like him a lot and she hasn't done anything to piss me off. I think that Alexander and Ryan should go tonight, though they'll never willingly send their darling Ryan home for whatever reason. I'm so excited to hear about the all-star announcement tonight I can't even tell you.**
ANYway. As vacation beckons, I have gotten to ruminating about my family, as I always do, since we'll be spending so much quality time together. I came upon something I wrote a few years ago after one of my friends saw pictures from my cousin's wedding and remarked about how our smiles might be our best shared family trait. I wrote:
It's true, there's something behind there, like we know something and that we're capable of some intense revelry at any moment. I've decided it basically comes from a lifetime of taking for granted that we are awesome. I don't mean it like, oh man we are perfect and can do no wrong and every bad choice we've made has been unconditionally supported and there's always been someone to fight our battles. Far from it. It's true that none of us have ever felt like we can't turn to our family - knowing that they have our back certainly gives a sense of safety that lies beneath it all. They gave us just enough rope, and so far, luckily, nobody's used it for hanging. We're tough, independent cookies to a one. From the time we were born it was subconsciously instilled that we were loved and that there wasn't anything we couldn't do if we wanted. And something about that produced a generation free from general insecurity. I don't know how our parents managed to make us this way, but I commend them for it and I hope I can do the same for my kids. I know it's a fine line between that and totally spoiled and/or assholishly egocentric.
I think you can just tell by meeting us and how we interact with our significant others how we were raised. It is not uncommon to see us roll our eyes at each other when our dudes get whiny and needy, and I'm convinced it's our family's fault that we have no patience for it. There was no patience for us when we tried it.
In sum, my family: sacred and profane and aggressively loving and kind of a pain in the ass at times. But we are the most fun you can imagine. And if you ever met our parents, you realize it's not accident.
I still feel this way, maybe even more strongly now that I know what it's like to be raising a child (though the jury will be out on my own parenting skills for a long time). I have the best examples to work from, so here's hoping I don't screw it up.
Also: Happy 60th birthday tomorrow for the one, the only, Peter Perry. Love you Dad - this one's for you.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Glamoring
I'm going on vacation soon (not soon enough, but still). It is my sincere hope that I come back with a desire to write again. Obviously I haven't been in touch with my writing muse for some time. You never know, she may choose to visit as soon as tomorrow, but I'm not counting on it. In any case I'm hoping that today you won't notice that I've not written an entry at all but razzle-dazzled you with an extra song in lieu of coherent thoughts. A good, old-fashioned two-for-one summer jam special, courtesy of the Cherry siblings.
Neneh rocked it first (and clearly best) back in the olden times...
And Eagle Eye brought it home all smooth and folk-like just before the turn of the century.
The combo makes me want to jam out barefoot and drink a cheap beer in a paper bag. Join me?
Neneh rocked it first (and clearly best) back in the olden times...
And Eagle Eye brought it home all smooth and folk-like just before the turn of the century.
The combo makes me want to jam out barefoot and drink a cheap beer in a paper bag. Join me?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Heart & Soul D-D-Dance
HR started swimming lessons this morning and I'm not going to lie, it made me tear up a little bit watching him and Mike bobbing around in the pool. By the time he has his first day of school I should be in top form if this is already happening. He seemed to really love the water bit, but every time he remembered I was there he got all whiny and started reaching out for me. Next time I'll have to watch from a hiding place or actually get in the pool. Today it was so sultry in the pool room I should have just jumped in clothes and all.
The recent oppressive heat reminds me why summer is such a great time for movies: air conditioning for those without. Not that I go to the movies anymore-- with any luck I will at least get to the Harry Potter before the big holiday movie hype begins. But summertime and movies go hand in hand even in these instant-watch times. I got to thinking the other day about the ancient custom of the "movie song." Old people like me: remember when songs were specifically written for movies and marketed as such? Does this happen anymore? I guess the Oscars think so, but it's not like it used to be. It was just expected in those days that the videos for the songs would contain clips from said movies. I don't think I've seen a movie-related video in over a decade (if I've seen a video at all). Weird how you take things for granted and suddenly you realize they're extinct. Is this how our grandparents felt about 78 records and Brilliantine?
Anyway, today's selection is a summer song extraordinaire and a perfect example of what I'm talking about. I almost went with INXS's "Good Times" from The Lost Boys, but the celebrity cameos in this video won out. A word of warning: most of them will make you sad in one way or the other.
The recent oppressive heat reminds me why summer is such a great time for movies: air conditioning for those without. Not that I go to the movies anymore-- with any luck I will at least get to the Harry Potter before the big holiday movie hype begins. But summertime and movies go hand in hand even in these instant-watch times. I got to thinking the other day about the ancient custom of the "movie song." Old people like me: remember when songs were specifically written for movies and marketed as such? Does this happen anymore? I guess the Oscars think so, but it's not like it used to be. It was just expected in those days that the videos for the songs would contain clips from said movies. I don't think I've seen a movie-related video in over a decade (if I've seen a video at all). Weird how you take things for granted and suddenly you realize they're extinct. Is this how our grandparents felt about 78 records and Brilliantine?
Anyway, today's selection is a summer song extraordinaire and a perfect example of what I'm talking about. I almost went with INXS's "Good Times" from The Lost Boys, but the celebrity cameos in this video won out. A word of warning: most of them will make you sad in one way or the other.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Baby Steps
Big Effing News in Joyberrypieville: HR took his first steps. He didn't even notice he did it, which is probably how he did it without freaking out, but it happened and here we are. It was Friday, on two distinct separate occasions, which is how I know it's for real even though it hasn't taken place but once more since. Time to batten down the hatches.
What a great weekend, sincerely. Beyond the latest milestone, we visited our friends in Maine on Saturday and it was a gorgeous day, a perfect backdrop for celebrating a truly gorgeous person. We didn't get to stay over and we had to leave before the actual memorial (which I think is why I'm still not really processing that Leo's gone, even after going to "his" place) but I'm so happy we got to be part of any of it. Next year--and there will be a next year--we'll do it right. But I warn everyone now all this repressed grief will probably come flooding out. Yeee-ikes.
Incidentally, Saturday turned out to be what was probably the best day of HR's little life because not only was there a dog and a pool at the gathering (two of his favorite things)
but also this bit of heaven.
I did not know that my boy was so into tractors. It's funny how you can just go along raising this kid and being half-assedly gender neutral and he comes out with a raging passion for farm equipment, you know, like boys are supposed to do. Once he spotted that John Deere he did not want to leave its side. Then later in the afternoon, when we got back home, there was a fire truck on our street (luckily not for a fire at our house or any other) and the firefighter waved at the baby as he passed and it was the toddler equivalent of winning the lottery. Life! So crazy good sometimes!
Yesterday we had a baby date with an inflatable pool followed by a cook out and Mike's dad is doing better and we stayed on a pretty blissful roll. I'll take it.
So here's a thing: "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO. This whole thing is a joke, right? A band, now, called what it's called and the dudes in it looking like they do (which is cartoonishly awful, like a caricature of a caricature of a hipster ironic wet dream) and the title which might as well be changed to "Generically Generic Radio Hit." And yet, and yet... it's super catchy with the house-y bleep-blurps and it does in fact make me want to lose my mind. Deep down I hope they are subversive geniuses like Andrew WK but even as I know that's not the truth, the song has somehow wormed its way in as my jam of the summer. I'm not proud of it, but it's beyond my control.
What a great weekend, sincerely. Beyond the latest milestone, we visited our friends in Maine on Saturday and it was a gorgeous day, a perfect backdrop for celebrating a truly gorgeous person. We didn't get to stay over and we had to leave before the actual memorial (which I think is why I'm still not really processing that Leo's gone, even after going to "his" place) but I'm so happy we got to be part of any of it. Next year--and there will be a next year--we'll do it right. But I warn everyone now all this repressed grief will probably come flooding out. Yeee-ikes.
Incidentally, Saturday turned out to be what was probably the best day of HR's little life because not only was there a dog and a pool at the gathering (two of his favorite things)
but also this bit of heaven.
I did not know that my boy was so into tractors. It's funny how you can just go along raising this kid and being half-assedly gender neutral and he comes out with a raging passion for farm equipment, you know, like boys are supposed to do. Once he spotted that John Deere he did not want to leave its side. Then later in the afternoon, when we got back home, there was a fire truck on our street (luckily not for a fire at our house or any other) and the firefighter waved at the baby as he passed and it was the toddler equivalent of winning the lottery. Life! So crazy good sometimes!
Yesterday we had a baby date with an inflatable pool followed by a cook out and Mike's dad is doing better and we stayed on a pretty blissful roll. I'll take it.
So here's a thing: "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO. This whole thing is a joke, right? A band, now, called what it's called and the dudes in it looking like they do (which is cartoonishly awful, like a caricature of a caricature of a hipster ironic wet dream) and the title which might as well be changed to "Generically Generic Radio Hit." And yet, and yet... it's super catchy with the house-y bleep-blurps and it does in fact make me want to lose my mind. Deep down I hope they are subversive geniuses like Andrew WK but even as I know that's not the truth, the song has somehow wormed its way in as my jam of the summer. I'm not proud of it, but it's beyond my control.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Time to Show Up
I forewent SYTYCD last night in favor of baseball, so nobody tell me who was awesome or not. I like to decide for myself. Looking forward to a double shot of dancing tonight- DVR is the best/worst thing in the world for those with an instant gratification problem. I can stop at any time.
On the serious tip, Mike's dad is having some health problems so we're all on edge. And as much as I'm looking forward to seeing some great friends this weekend, the detail that part of the gathering's purpose is to spread our dear departed friend's ashes makes me a little less excited. I haven't seen any of those guys since the last time I saw him, so going to that place and seeing those people without him is going to make his loss real. Really real.
While I'm being emotional, I have avoided weighing in on the Caylee Anthony issue. Not I don't have an opinion, and not because it doesn't break my heart because, you know, I have a heart. It's because 1) I see enough dark shit every day at my workplace and I try very hard to limit the amount of terrible things I let into my brainspace (I'm about as successful at this as you think) and 2) every time I see a picture of this sweet, gorgeous baby girl, it haunts me, but no more than the thought of the many more sweet, gorgeous babies who are missing and dead and we will never know enough about it to get outraged because they are not so camera-friendly (white) and their parents aren't such media draws (pretty, young, white). That's cynical as hell, but prove me wrong.
And that's why I don't want to write about it any more. Nobody needs to be reminded to hug their little ones extra hard these day, I think. Anyway, there's so much horrible in the world. Luckily there's also this.
On the serious tip, Mike's dad is having some health problems so we're all on edge. And as much as I'm looking forward to seeing some great friends this weekend, the detail that part of the gathering's purpose is to spread our dear departed friend's ashes makes me a little less excited. I haven't seen any of those guys since the last time I saw him, so going to that place and seeing those people without him is going to make his loss real. Really real.
While I'm being emotional, I have avoided weighing in on the Caylee Anthony issue. Not I don't have an opinion, and not because it doesn't break my heart because, you know, I have a heart. It's because 1) I see enough dark shit every day at my workplace and I try very hard to limit the amount of terrible things I let into my brainspace (I'm about as successful at this as you think) and 2) every time I see a picture of this sweet, gorgeous baby girl, it haunts me, but no more than the thought of the many more sweet, gorgeous babies who are missing and dead and we will never know enough about it to get outraged because they are not so camera-friendly (white) and their parents aren't such media draws (pretty, young, white). That's cynical as hell, but prove me wrong.
And that's why I don't want to write about it any more. Nobody needs to be reminded to hug their little ones extra hard these day, I think. Anyway, there's so much horrible in the world. Luckily there's also this.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Oh, Futility!
As I get older, I find summer to be more and more overrated. I'm more sensitive to the heat, I don't get a three-month vacation, I appreciate air conditioning but don't actually like it, the sun can kill you for real, blah blah blah. There are a million things to love about it of course, like milkshakes and swimming and corn on the cob and fireflies. The shortness of the season really drives up its stock, and I think that's why I get so excited about its arrival every year. But now that I'm an aging mama, I realized I'd rather it just be fall all the time, unless of course I'm on vacation at the beach. If I could be on vacation at the beach for extended periods of time, then by all means leave the sub-80-degree weather to the simple folk. As circumstance would have it though, I am one of those simple folks, and with having to go to a job and live in a house and cart around and slather sunscreen on a rugrat, I have fully turned into one of those people I never used to understand. And I'm OK with that. It is what it is. And before I know it, what is will be ten feet of snow and I'll be cursing yet another season. But only just a little, I don't like to waste too much time bitching about things I can't control. I'd rather save that energy for applying my various salves and yelling at neighborhood ruffians.
Anyway. This song brings me back to a hot, brief summer of my early childhood. This video I found of it lends credence to my theory that life is no more or less astounding at any given time, it just shows up in different ways.
Anyway. This song brings me back to a hot, brief summer of my early childhood. This video I found of it lends credence to my theory that life is no more or less astounding at any given time, it just shows up in different ways.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Pop Pop!
This 4th of July was probably one of the best of my life. For sure because we had a rare day of family time, but also because I hate loud noises and pushy crowds and having a kid who goes to bed before dusk makes a pretty good excuse to forego the fireworks mishegas. I was just as happy to exercise my freedom to retire to the couch with my husband, an ice-cold tallboy and Showtime On Demand. I love you America, but the blowing things up part, not so much. If my boy wants to see the fireworks when he gets older, I'll go along (I don't want to predispose him up to be afraid of anything) but I'd never pressure him. Growing up it seemed to me that there wasn't much sympathy for kids who didn't want to go to the 4th of July display, like it was encouraging bad character if you let your child skip the festivities. For some reason my similarly sensitive brother and I were chided by adults every year, like maybe they were saying we were not patriotic? More likely, that it was silly to be afraid and we should face our fears. But screw that. I don't know why anyone else would have cared to begin with, but I'm grateful to my parents that they never made us go. I don't see the point of standing around being miserable when it's supposed to be a celebration.
That said, we celebrated by getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather and the virtually empty cities of Cambridge and Somerville. It was like a ghost town all weekend, which is a neat novelty. We got a late lunch and sat in the park and people watched. HR is so much fun lately. You know I have loved him as fiercely as a person can love from the second I saw his little heartbeat, but the liking of him didn't come right away. That sounds terrible even to other people who have kids, I suppose, but I think there are parents who understand what I mean. For what seems like such a long time in the beginning they're just your babies and you're learning about each other and worrying and attending to basic needs. Then one day they sprout these personalities and you start being excited to just hang out together. HR is such a funny little chap. He's a cuddlebug, so loving and sweet and happy. He's also a total diva in some ways. We sat on the grass in the park yesterday and even with a blanket down he was like, "SCREE! HOT LAVA!" He could not have climbed up my body fast enough to avoid the green earth. Oh, my city kid.
Watching him grow and learn at a lightning pace is a gift, and it is blowing my mind. We're pretty sure he's been saying "turtle" which, as a first word, strikes me as hilarious. And his hair is a mop to be reckoned with. My new-ish camera throws out some mean red lights that makes him frown so I can never get the perfect picture of his bedhead and heart-obliterating smile, but just know I wake up to that every day and suddenly being conscious at 5:15 is forgivable. That's my idea of a light show.
Summer's really rolling now. Happy, happy y'all.
That said, we celebrated by getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather and the virtually empty cities of Cambridge and Somerville. It was like a ghost town all weekend, which is a neat novelty. We got a late lunch and sat in the park and people watched. HR is so much fun lately. You know I have loved him as fiercely as a person can love from the second I saw his little heartbeat, but the liking of him didn't come right away. That sounds terrible even to other people who have kids, I suppose, but I think there are parents who understand what I mean. For what seems like such a long time in the beginning they're just your babies and you're learning about each other and worrying and attending to basic needs. Then one day they sprout these personalities and you start being excited to just hang out together. HR is such a funny little chap. He's a cuddlebug, so loving and sweet and happy. He's also a total diva in some ways. We sat on the grass in the park yesterday and even with a blanket down he was like, "SCREE! HOT LAVA!" He could not have climbed up my body fast enough to avoid the green earth. Oh, my city kid.
Watching him grow and learn at a lightning pace is a gift, and it is blowing my mind. We're pretty sure he's been saying "turtle" which, as a first word, strikes me as hilarious. And his hair is a mop to be reckoned with. My new-ish camera throws out some mean red lights that makes him frown so I can never get the perfect picture of his bedhead and heart-obliterating smile, but just know I wake up to that every day and suddenly being conscious at 5:15 is forgivable. That's my idea of a light show.
Summer's really rolling now. Happy, happy y'all.
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