Happy Football Weekend

Dad, I love the football under your arm in this photo.

Flowers + Damask

I never showed you these flowers I did for a wedding last year...the bride was gorgeous in a short dress and he took amazing photos!

Baa-nah nuuuhh SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG

Baa-nah nuuuhh SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG!!!!

Ba-nana slug, banana-nana-nana
Ba-nana slug, banana-nana-nana
Ba-nana slug, banana-nana-nana

If kissing a banana slug brings good luck, what does licking do? Don't worry, we didn't find out.

High-larious Hostage Situation

I am loving the hostage situation going on over at is*ly. In fact, I think it is the way every playdate should begin.

I just visited a school that does a gingerbread unit better than I could dream. The Kindergarteners read about the gingerbread man, bake cookies together, but when they return the cookies are gone. It turns into the ultimate "did they run away" or "were they stolen" - they learn about words like alibi and motive. And take bite imprints from prime suspects...I am about read to play this game at home.

All the intrigue in the air...isn't life more fun when we get to roll play like our children?!

Subway Memories

Christoph Niemann did an interesting piece in the NY Times awhile back. He illustrated his life with the subway as his instrument...his children "see everything through a subway lens. When they fight about who gets which cup for their apple juice, they don’t refer to them by color...I don't want the 1,2,3 I want the N, R, W, Q."

The first time in my life I got on a New York Subway, I was a terribly, mixed-up disaster. I was actually on the last car on the 1 and tried to go to South Ferry. But everyone that lives there knows, the last five subway cars don't open up at that stop (they will someday, I think there are plans to extend the platform). Anyhow, I remember sailing past that stop, so confused, wondering where I went wrong. It didn't take long before I was confidently rocking back and forth, trying to prevent people from making the same mistake I did.

The subways were an easy friend. Once in awhile they would let you down. For example, in the middle of the Summer you would hurry to an empty car thinking that you hit the jackpot. But the moment you felt the heat sweltering, you realized that the a/c was out, making it a trap of heat, smells and moisture. It only took another stop before you crowded onto the other car, watching the same ritual happen with another unsuspecting traveler.

James became one of the regulars. He could direct any traveler anywhere; a four year old helping people avoid this line and reminding them to transfer here. He could even hear the difference certain trains made, "Mom, this A sounds like a W." When we got off, I looked back, and sure enough, the W had been running on the A line for some reason or another."

I have been doing a lot of thinking about Manhattan and incidentally, the friend who directed me to this article. The cartoons are pretty hysterical, but there is more to it. There is truth to the idea that we use the things that surround us to define us; our lens by circumstance, not choice. I hope I can carefully choose the glasses I wear because they are the ones my children look through as well. I think that for now, I might be their lens. And I want them to see a bright shiny future full of hope and possibility for what they can bring to the world.

iFriend

I didn't know in getting a phone I would be making a friend...a lovely phone that makes call waiting easy and voicemail easier. A phone that takes pictures like this one of a little boy who is clearly King of the Playground. A phone that has a timer I can set so that I don't miss the meter expiring (25 cents for five minutes - are you kidding me San Francisco - who has that many quarters). A phone that I can even post on.

Almost sent from my iPhone - I am guessing I could at least...

Double Bird Strike

I found myself glued to the news. The birds that took down an Airbus and an amazing pilot who glided the plane into the Hudson, barely avoiding bridges and such. No one died, and injuries were minimal. The captain barely said anything, but he did say, "Brace Yourselves" right before impact.

My first apartment in Manhattan looked out on the Hudson. And all of the photos seemed to be in my backyard. I am guessing friends probably looked out their windows and watched the ferries rush in.

Amazing. I think I'll be using the phrase "double bird strike" for those days that seem to have crushing blows...you know those days...and I'll try to remember that even with two engines down there is still room for a miraculous ending.

Green Eggs and Salami

Chase and his Grammy read and read and read. This morning, they read a daring tale about the adventure of a chicken named Louise. They also read Green Eggs and Ham which prompted Chase to request the same for breakfast. Now, Chase's requests are less like requests and more like desperate yearnings for an immediate response. I sighed looked in the fridge and said, "What about green eggs and salami?" Luckily, salami sufficed. And after a few drops of green food coloring we were in business. But when he said, "Try some, Mamma." I knew my line, "I do not like green eggs and ham." He countered with, "Try them, Try them, and you may." So, gulp, I tried them and can honestly say that eating green eggs do taste different. And I don't like them in a boat, or in a coat, or with a rhino or with anything else silly that can rhyme. But Chase did, and that makes me happy.

I know, they do NOT look good! Would you try them? I personally don't know how I feel about that green-egg-pusher Sam. Enough already, he doesn't want it.

Happy New Year; Looking Ahead