How Did I Miss This...

“A yellow dot is looming on the horizon and coming toward the banks. His arrival causes big gatherings and astonishment. “The Duck” does not have any border, it does not discriminate between people and does not convey any political message. He only represents a friendly figure shining forth with its bright yellow, all along its journeys to calm down the world tensions”
– Florentjin Hofman

Title: Rubber duck
Year: 2007
Location: river the Loire, France
Dimensions: 26 x 20 x 32 meters
Materials: inflatable, rubber coated PVC, pontoon and generator
Production: le Lieu Unique and the Biennial Estuaire

I just discovered Florentjin Hofman and wonder how I could miss something this, well, large and yellow. I mean, a duck is news to me. Well, a duck of this size, to be precise. If it weren't for random posts I would miss out...but then again, am I missing out. Is a duck news?

I feel myself rather torn. Am I missing out because I spend to much time doing this. Sometimes I find myself thinking: Why haven't they updated, it feels like forever. And other times it is more like: How can they post so much. I can't find time to sit and write, how do they do it, and do it so well? Torn. You get it.

I had to laugh when I found this graphic...ok, I get it. It can be isolating, but it feels so connecting. And I have to admit I like to see my inbox full; it's just friendlier. And it doesn't feel so fake keeping up with friends. But sometimes I wonder if I should stop and put my energy into a more tangible journal. Do you ever wonder, or is it just me?

No Way...

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

I just adore this kid! He cracks me up -- constantly! And after he said this to me (to translate: no way, you gotta kidding me), he called my brother "Ridiculous!" Oh, and as for the rooster, Chase has carried it around for three days straight. He was born the year of the Rooster (James is studying the Chinese New Year) and it is now his most prized possesion.

Jewish Penicillin

A friend brought over the real deal - Matzah Ball Soup. And after a more complicated surgery than I had hoped, followed by adverse side effects to the general anesthesia, the soup was perfect. Becky told me it was "Jewish Penicillin," (she would know) and boy was she right.

An entirely tangential side note: before surgery you usually have to fast for 12 hours. You can't even chew gum (they didn't tell me this - and almost had to reschedule). I was simply thinking that after not eating my breath was probably less than fresh, so in went the gum. Fortunately, it worked out...but thought I would pass it on. I feel like it is the sort of thing that could come up for someone else, too.

Thank you for all your well wishes! I so appreciated them.

Rhyme Time

The only word I can think of to rhyme with surgery is perjury...what does this tell me? Well, they are both ugly words...and if nothing good rhymes with surgery it can't be a good thing...and I have surgery tomorrow.

Follow my reasoning out...rake rhymes with bake, take, steak, and cake! So, rakes must be good.

"Transporting" is Right

Leslie found this beautiful picture by Irene Suchocki over at Etsy. I had to tell you about it because first, it's beautiful, and second, Leslie is famous. She is guest blogging at Design Mom this week.

And if you are newer to blogging, let me translate. My friend that I lived in London with (you can click on her name and go to her sight), was browsing Etsy (a web site that is like a virtual arts and crafts fair - all sorts of people make things and sell things - you can search by color or object - and its all pretty affordable) and found a painting by some talented lady. In addition, she is writing blogs over at a really popular website - I think its a top 3 "mom" blog site - anyhow, that makes her famous to me!

Oh, and with my stone, pain, and nausea I could use a little transporting...I know, still!

LalalaLondon

My littlest sister, Abbie, is off...to study abroad in London...I already miss her...and desperately want to be her right now...she just did her first post at AndtheFreshness.blogspot.com -- hooray!

She has so much loveliness ahead, but I can't help but think back. Living in London was one of my happiest times. There is just something magical about a place with so much rich history. In fact, when my mind drifts I often find myself somewhere in England - usually the North (Chatsworth maybe). Do you ever do that? Anyhow, it wasn't just the places, it was the people I was with.

Stream of Consciousness

Warning: this stream of consciousness might not make sense...so read on at your own risk

i swear self-doubt is a creaping creature i can not rid myself of. [deep breath] i went back to the doctor because i'm not producing any treasures, but at the same time, i'm not in that much pain. in fact, at some moments during the day i don't feel a thing. so, as i sat down with the doctor i expected him to say something like, you never had a kidney stone, you must have imagined it all. the pain. the emergency room. never happened. and because i have a vivid imagination, i was prepared to say, something like, woops. i was afraid i was wrong. [deep breath] but, thankfully i'm not delusional (or maybe i'd rather be wrong because then i wouldn't have to keep medicating and hoping and drowning myself in water), there is indeed a pea size stone inside my body. so, i was right. it did hurt. and sometimes still does. and its ok. and might take two weeks. and that's just what happens...but what are the kinds of things i do imagine? what am i wrong about. i seem to ask myself and doubt myself more than i should. i'll find an awesome book and then a month later i'll read about it somewhere and think, why didn't i tell everyone about that -why didn't i trust myself and my taste. perhaps i am just in a self-doubting phase that comes about when the rug is ripped from underneath you. or perhaps, my self-esteem isn't what it should be. no, that's not it. i fancy myself too much, truth be told. maybe its just what makes us human - questions, that is (not doubt). sigh. i can't think about this any longer, tomorrow. i'll think about it tomorrow. and for now, i'll remind myself that there are stones i like: diamonds, emeralds, sapphires (i just love sapphires), and obsidian with its jet black and shiny surface. yes, i'll just think about that now.

the real E.R.

I hate it when my blog titles are right, because it indeed "Could Be Worse" and it has been. I've been spending my time between the bathroom and the hospital...don't you wish going to the hospital was a little bit more like tv: the fast dialog and pace of ER or the beautiful faces of Grey's Anatomy or I'd even take the the sarcastic rudness of Dr. House because at least his hospital seems clean. If only...


I've been having back pain, and when it became intolerable I knew it wasn't just a strained muscle. I knew that something was really wrong. After an emergency visit that lasted eight hours, an IV, a CT scan, and a good deal of morphine I learned that I have a kidney stone.


A kidney stone; doesn't that sound horribly daunting. Doesn't that sound like something that happens to other people and not you. Aren't I too young - or rather, I wish I was too young. What I learned is that it's just about managing the pain until it passes. Passes - ugh. Moving forward, I won't be using the term passes because its just sounds so terribly wrong. We use "pass" for gas and death - and I would rather not use it for little rocks forming inside my body. Because what business do little rocks have in my body?!

And as for the pain, I can only compare it to labor - truly. But, there won't be a cute little baby at the end which makes it all worthwhile. Yuck...

It Could Be Worse

My obsession started with a dress. A green dress.

First Cee wore black, then pink, then decided upon green --well, that's what happened in the book.


In the movie, she only changes once. But thankfully still ends up wearing green. This green dress.


I can imagine myself walking down Scarlett O'Hara's stairs, or running through Anne's fields wearing this very dress. Or I could be Cee - because I do love a tragedy. Sigh.


What do you think about a girl (me) who obsesses with a dress? I know what I think...I think that there could be worse things to obsess over, and that at least she has nice posture (well, nicer posture then I).

Resolution 2008

I do not make resolutions; therefore, I do not fail at resolutions. Its that simple - don't make 'em, you can't break 'em. Besides, everyone seems to resolve to eat less and exercise more -- how boring is that?! Pretty boring. Anyhow, we all know we should, so there's no reason to give it an austere title like: RESOLUTION.

But, about four months ago I thought of one. A real one. A good one. Something I really need to work on. But did I start working on it then, in my moment of epiphany? No! If I had done that, there would be no resolution for 2008. So, here it is, my Resolution for real...

I've got to work on my posture.

I will work on my posture.

But, I still don't know how. Apparently, the resolving isn't enough. I need a game plan. The only thing I can think of is to set my phone at various times throughout the day to check myself. Sigh. I'm afraid I'm already doomed.

No, I'll work on it. You'll see. I resolved, for Pete's sake!