A Perfect Day

I love this time of year. It puts a spring in my step, and it's not just because JH goes back to school. I've always felt this way - Autumn is my favorite season, followed closely by spring. There's just something about the weather changing, bringing new exciting opportunities.

Yesterday we had a very. busy. day. It started early in the morning when I went for a job interview at an elementary school in our district and was hired to work as a one on one aide. I'm thrilled - it will be something completely new and challenging, and everyone I met at the school is so passionate about what they do. It's also the same hours as JH is in school, with the same holidays, so that's a huge bonus. I start next week, after I get fingerprinted and reference-checked.

After I got home, we hopped in the car for a three hour drive to Seattle to see some friends who were there visiting from LA. I took care of the little guy from the time he was three months until he was three years old, so he and Joe-Henry are like brothers.





They couldn't be more different - C. is in constant motion, a blurry blonde head running by, and JH is caution personified, but they love each other to bits and pieces. I feel so lucky we got to see them. We hit the Seattle Zoo, and had a great time, but the boys had a hard time saying goodbye.



After they left, I took JH to Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union.



When Charley and I were dating, we used to ride over there on his motorcycle (oh, we were BAAAADASSES!), and down fish and chips and make googly eyes at each other. We were lovestruck, and Seattle will always mean romance to me.


It even felt that way with JH. Not in a sicko way, just... well, it just felt perfect. It was a gorgeous day, and there is nothing quite like sitting lakeside, watching the boats, and feeding the ducks. This one was so funny - it had a growth on the side of it's head and it limped and it was particularly adept at begging for fries.

When we finished our dinner, we headed home. The moon came out just about the time we reached home, so I drove in the dark of the car, not listening to anything but JH. His Daddy loaned him his iPod and headphones, and about every two minutes he would tunelessly belt out a snippet of "Burning Down The House" or "Old Joe's Place" from the soundtrack to "A Mighty Wind". As the moon rose, he shouted

"Watch out
You might get what youre after
Cool babies
Strange but not a stranger
Im an ordinary guy
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE!"

Perfect days don't happen that often. I'll tuck this one away for later.

5 days...

...Until the start of school.

How does that happen? I know I was complaining about summer break at the beginning, but here's what happened....

I really started to enjoy this kid's company. We fell into a pretty easy rhythm:

Him: Wake up, watch tv, eat cereal, play with some sort of transportation toy, start to whine, eat some lunch, go to the park (or grocery store or post office), come home have a snack, play with some sort of transportation toy, watch the news, eat dinner, watch Jeopardy!, take a bath, delay bedtime by an hour or so by asking a million questions.

Me: Wake up earlier than him, make the coffee, read my blogs, write if I feel like it, clean the kitchen, start the laundry, make him breakfast, read the paper, order him to turn off the tv, take my shower, turn my brain over to him for the rest of the day, collapse at bedtime.

He grew about a foot this summer, and when he got his haircut the other day, when he was done I realized I have a big kid now.



He wears a watch and talks politics. But he still laughs at fart jokes, so we have something in common at least.

I took him to the ice cream social at his school so he could meet his new teacher. She asked what he wanted to learn about in first grade. He said Mechanical Engineering. She looked scared. She's going to be busy this year.

I have a job interview this morning. I'm excited and scared and nervous. I hope I don't fart during the interview.

At least Joe-Henry would still think it was funny.

All Creatures Great and Small

We took to the air this weekend, to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday in beautiful Carpinteria, CA. I won't tell you how old she is, but I will tell you what Joe-Henry says about her. "You're the perfect age, Grandma. Not too old, and not too young." She has always looked gorgeous, and aging doesn't seem to be on her agenda, ever. She will always and forever be a dish.


We've been spending lots of time lavishing love and attention on the dogs. Joe-Henry loves to help Grandpa walk the dogs, and this guy needs extra special attention.


He's only eleven, but he's had a siezure disorder for the last six years, and is on heavy duty meds. But his nose still works the way it should. He can smell food from miles away.


He weighs a ton, and smells like, well, a basset hound, but he's family. He brings grown men to their knees with his sweetness. And this little girl is smart enough to do your taxes.


It's nice to get a dose of family here, and to fill our senses up with California. There's the beach, of course, and the little creatures that thrive here like nowhere else. I am determined to get at least one decent shot of the hummingbirds that seem to be playing a game with me.

"Where's your camera NOW, lady! Haaaahaaahaaaa..." and they speed away while I futz with the lens cap. I did manage this one shot, but it's my mission to get a better one this weekend.


I love the lizards, of course, but this little frog was so cute. He was about as big as my thumb, and he hung on to the adirondack chair for dear life.


We'll see lots more family today, and there will be baseball and birthday cake. Then it's home tomorrow to my sweet hubband, who had to work, but then was felled by something nasty that seems to have crawled up his nose and stayed there. On the phone he sounds like he might have tried to stick an orange up there. I'm glad he's got the house to himself to rest up.

We miss you, sweetie. Feel better soon.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Hoo!

If you are one of those lucky enough to call the fabulous Suttonhoo a friend, then you are lucky beyond measure. If you only know of her from her amazing blog Detritus, then let me tell you a few things about her that you might not know...

She works like a demon. She's got the goods, and then some when it comes to talent, but she's so humble you'd never guess it. She's got her arms open to life, and if you look up the word "lovely" in the dictionary, you'll see her picture. She would never write anything mean about anyone on tv. But if YOU did, and say, you got busted? She would say something to make you feel better. And then she'd laugh at you a lot. Which is why you love her.

She's one of those gorgeous smart girls. If you read her blog, you know she's tall, too, so she could kick yer ass if she needed to, but she wouldn't ever need to, because she would disarm you with her charming wit immediately, and you would never even feel foolish for having wanted to tussle with the likes of her. Just lucky that you didn't.

She's the kind of friend who shows up. When we both lived in Seattle, she helped us move (twice, in one year), and when we moved to LA and I had been there only days, I received a call to tell me my father lay dying in a nursing home three states away. She met me during a layover at the Seattle Airport with bagels and a hand to hold. She's just so kind.

She loves a great cup of coffee, The New York Times, and laughing at mortifying stories. She won't shy away from a good, cleansing cry, either. And no matter how much time or distance stands between you, she will remember your stories. Sometimes better than you do. Because she likes stories and she loves you.

D., I wish you a full cup of dark, rich, hot coffee and something chocolate to go with it.
To your next year - may it be full of adventure (the good kind), and laughs (the best kind), and dear friends (the only kind).
Love you to bits and pieces.
Mrs. McQ

From "You Are Your Birthday" by Ellin Dodge

If August 24th is your birthday:

You are sensitive, detail conscious and want all the comforts of home. In youth your pettiness, jealous outbursts and overly humble manner created disharmony in your community. When you become cooperative and maintain friendships, your youthful relationships are helpful in mid-life. Love and a peaceful atmosphere at home or business are essential to your emotional and practical well-being. A helpmate, teacher or assertive friend is inspirational and helps you to make decisions. You intend to improve your material standards, have your own home and are willing to work in youth.

In your twenties you relate best to males due to your sensitivity to your mother as a tot. You are opinionated and play devil's advocate to get a rise out of everyone. It is difficult for you to be decisive or patient until you get in touch with your true feelings. As a child, your temper tantrums or violent dislikes were ignored. If you were encouraged to share your personal opinions, develop your intellectual strengths and build self-confidence, you would not make mountains out of your personal molehills or be too self-concerned.

You are too intent upon surviving before the war begins. In mid-life you assume responsibilities and begin to recognize your exceptional talents. You are a late bloomer and begin to receive recognition after age forty.

You have lived unconventionally and sensually and learned about life as you encountered changes and surprise. The people and experiences that you met in youth are stepping-stones to your concentration in later years. You have material protection.

Positive Energy

Due to recent events on this blog, I've decided to take a new road.

Without further explanation:



"You look fabulous today! Have you lost weight? Is that a new haircut? You are doing a great job!"

I mean that sincerely.

Have a happy day.

So. Busted.

A while back, I posted something mean about someone on tv.

I've been spanked.

"Thanks Joe-Henry, for your unconditional support. Truthfully sometimes I do get shy, but I always feel at ease when I am with children. Children are open, honest, and non-judgmental, but most importantly they are loads of fun and incredibly imaginative.

I hope that you are enjoying your summer. Keep up the good work with your reading. Words are the window to the world!

Your Friend,

The Giggly Miss Lori

PS Don't be too hard on your Mom. Moms are human. We all get exhausted and annoyed sometimes. It's great that she has this blog as an outlet. We should all have a safe place to go to express our true feelings. Don't worry, I don't take it personally. :)

Let Your SMILE Shine On!

Miss Lori"


Sorry Miss Lori. Thank you sincerely for your generous comment. Joe-Henry was really excited a) to see that you responded, and b) that mom got busted. Honestly, though, it was a great teachable moment. For me. I'm glad you didn't take it personally. I would honestly feel terrible if I hurt your feelings.

I will be listening with new ears. You have my utmost respect.

Your new fan,
AnnieMcQ

say what you will....

I have a dear friend who has been taking pole dancing classes. She loves it and her husband is reaping the benefits of her new sexy confidence. I have lots of body confidence, but get really embarrassed when I dance.

I have always been very private about my sexuality. Well, except for that time when I taped myself getting a pearl necklace in a three way with a cabana boy, the stable boy and an actor who, for the purposes of his anonymity I will give the pseudonym George C. Looney. That really came back to bite me in the ass. It's all over the internet. Search word "Kitty Lanai".
(Edit: I know that if you can count, that's technically a fourway, but the cabana boy and the stable boy had to tag team because George and I wore them out.)

Anyhoo, this weekend there was a little festival in our town, and these ladies had it all goin' on. There were a lot of young punks there who laughed at first, but these women got the better of them. And Joe-Henry thought they were all terrific. (Of course, now he wants finger cymbals....)











They were very inspiring, so who knows. This studio recently opened up here....

The Forecast for Today

I am a technical nincompoop. So it's a good thing that I'm married to a man who loves nothing more than to curl up with a frosty O'Douls and read manuals. For fun. I have been trying for a couple weeks to make it past page two of my new camera manual, and let me say, Nikon needs to take into account that some of their customers need more help than others, and they could at least put in some kind of narrative, for the love of Mike.

Anyhoo, all this to say, yesterday JH and I went to Costco, where I was NOT going to buy him anything, because all he does is get stuff that he doesn't use and it fills up our house and it overflows until I go "AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHKKKKKK!" and stomp around throwing stuff in giant garbage bags to haul to Goodwill to be appreciated by children who have nothing but rocks to play with for fun. Wow. I digress yet again. I'm getting really good at this....

SO, we're taking a short cut through Costco from the batteries to the Ranch Dressing, when I see these giant maps. I had been thinking about getting him some big maps for his giant yellow wall above his bed, because a) I want to absorb some geographical knowledge before he starts school so that I'm not called into the principal's office and asked to please desist from helping him with his homework ever again, and b) maps are pretty. So I stop to look at the maps, and JH looks up at me from the cart with a pleading look in his eyes, and I realize I forgot to put on my face of steel, so the maps go into the cart. I rationalized it by saying it's not a toy. It's not, and it looks great on his giant yellow wall. Dammit.

He was so excited about his map, oh sweet GEEKDOM, he was excited! Because do you know what he wanted to do more than anything when we got home? See how far it is from Vancouver to Grandmas? Find out where China is, where they make all those child-killing toys? NO! He wants to do the WEATHER! So I put the map up above his bed, and last night after dinner and a walk, we got the complete forecast. And because I'm a brilliant multi-tasker, I thought, "I'll tape this and upload it for my blog, so that I won't have to write anything, because me no have words." I did, and the forecast is very HOT. It's a scorcher in Russia and Phoenix, but mild throughout the rest of the world, except for someplace called "Binky" near the Marshall Islands, where it's very warm and very tiny and they give out dirty looks if you giggle silently at thier name.

OH, and the reason I started this blog saying that I am a technical nincompoop? Because, while I managed to tape it, I cannot get it uploaded to the internet-o-sphere. I've tried and tried, and in fact in the time I've taken to write this, I've been having a race on my computer between Safari & Firefox to see who will upload it the fastest. Answer: they both are taking too long.

So you are subjected to this post instead.

Check back later to see if I get it up. (Yeah, that's what HE said)

Or to see if I have thrown my laptop out the window.

Edit: The Genius woke up and talked me through my idiocy. Wooohoooo! My laptop, my window and my sanity are safe!

A Summer Day

I took some pics when we had a playdate a couple days ago, and liked these of the boys "flying" through the sprinkler...





...but the boys tired of the sprinkler and wanted to "fight!" So we got out the really sharp swords and let 'em have at it...




...oh, we're just kiddin' around. All's well that end's well!

The Teacher and The Lesson

After I posted last, about Joe-Henry going through a tough transition and my inability to help him, he decided to give me a hand. He didn't automatically change his behavior or anything, but he basically told me to open my parenting tool kit and try something else.

When he was around three, he used to take so long eating his meals that I would despair of him ever doing anything anywhere but the dining room table. Somehow I came up with the "Whatever you do" game, where I would say "Whatever you do, Joe-Henry, DO NOT eat two bites of dinner, or I might just explode!" He would eat two bites and then laugh hysterically while I "acted" angry. It worked great and eventually he started to eat on his own, without being prompted so much.

The other night, after basically begging him to get through dinner, he finally turned to me and said "Mom, can we play the 'Whatever You Do' game?" We did and he finished dinner, as well as got himself through the bath, dressed for bed with his teeth brushed and it was the smoothest night time transition we've had in a long time. He got what he needed and I got what I needed.

Lessons learned around here are more often than not taught by the Master. And the Master is not me.

In Living Color

This morning as I was watching Joe-Henry in swimming lessons floating on his bright yellow floating noodle, I thought "I have to blog about this. About how yellow is his favorite color, and he's so positive and keeps trying and doesn't feel the least bit bad about being the only one in class that needs an assist from the teacher. I'll start with the bright yellow noodle."

It's true - he is my inspiration, and yesterday when I was huffing and puffing on my bike, I'd put my head down and think "be like Joe-Henry! Don't feel bad about being last, feel great about doing your best! Think YELLOW!", and it got me up the hill. And I do admire the way he tries and tries and keeps trying and honestly never feels bad if he's not first at something. He's always cheering for the other kids, confident in his own stellar self. I feel so proud of him for being exactly who he is.

But then we had the rest of the day, and I'm finding the need to blog about (cue scary organ music)... the other colors in our palette. He's venturing further afield these days, and when he gets close to me, he just has to test the strength of every tie we have. I'm at a loss. Joe-Henry, once the easiest going kid on the planet, is going through something huge, and I feel as though I'm the last person to be able to get him through it. He's going from little kid to slightly bigger kid, and the ways he chooses to navigate it are driving me nuts.

First there's the baby talk. When I tell him not to, he'll say, "it's not baby talk mom, I'm just small and furry". When I ask him why, he says "because I love you!" or "I just am!" He talks in a normal voice to his dad, who seems unfazed by it, possibly because he doesn't get it as often as I do, but it's makes me want to run shrieking from the room.

Then there's this behavior he'll pull when we're with other people. Today he had a playdate, and he would deliberately act out or do something he's not supposed to do, or if I told him not to, he'd do it anyway. It's full on brat behavior, and it completely takes me by surprise. I guess it shouldn't - he's precocious as all get out. I need to be better at follow through, but I'm inevitably thinking of the guest, not wanting to make them uncomfortable, but at the same time, I don't want to wait until they're gone to acknowledge his behavior. For recovering Lutherans, confrontations in public are about as uncomfortable as getting caught naked in public.

The third thing that has me on the brink is his desire for stuff. We can't go to the store without him begging and pleading to get something. The other day he said "I want to go to Grandma and Grandpas! They love me because they buy me stuff and you don't!" I have a difficult time with this. I don't want to take away my in-laws enjoyment - they love to get him goodies - and I believe it's their right to spoil him. But it's at a point where it's not in his best interest and is making him unpleasant to be around. I know it's something he'll grow out of (at least, God, I hope so), and I know he doesn't REALLY think I don't love him, but I don't want him to grow up thinking that "stuff" will make him happy.

We'll figure it all out, and we'll get to the other side of this growth period where everything seems precarious and fraught with the possibility of a tantrum. And he'll return to me, my sweet child, older and wiser and full of love and sweetness. And I'll be a better mom tomorrow than I was today because he's making me take my game to the next level. It is what it is, and I wouldn't ask for anything else.

So the blog that started out to be about yellow, turned out to be about more than one color. That's parenting for you - it's nothing if not colorful.

the best laid plans, in perspective

Last year my brother and his girlfriend talked us into doing the Providence Bridge Pedal, a very Portland event where cyclists get to cross from 6 to 10 bridges. Even though some of the bridges were steep, there was always the rush of the downhill side. The ride culminates going over the Fremont Bridge, and last year I was one of the last to cross it. It offered views of Portland that are unparallelled, gorgeous vistas you just can't get when you cross those bridges in a car. The ride was a challenge for me, but so rewarding, and we all looked forward to doing it again this year. We loaded our bikes onto the Max Train this morning at 8:00 a.m. to get us downtown for our 8:30 start time. Last year when we took the train, our bikes were the only ones on the train. This year the train was packed with cyclists, and when we arrived downtown there was a larger than usual crowd.

We got our vests, and waited at the starting point. And waited. And waited. Apparently, there was a traffic jam with the 10 bridge crowd. We finally got on the road at 9:15, hitting the first bridge at 9:20, having to walk across the first bridge due to heavy bike traffic. After crossing on foot, we hopped back on the bikes again and rode for a whopping 5 minutes until we hit another back up. This one went on for at least a mile, and it was wall to wall people as far as the eye could see. We were at least half mile from the bridge, where yep, they were walking us again. We waited there until 10:00, when we decided we'd had enough. We hadn't moved, and honestly it was worse than the 405 in rush hour in LA. This wasn't the event we'd signed on for at all. So we turned around, and figured, hey, we're on bikes, we can go whereever we want. So we went here instead and had coffee and pastries and bitched a little about being disappointed, but then really enjoyed a lovely ride through some great neighborhoods in Portland. After our lovely little nosh, we headed back down to see if we could join up at the end of the bridge pedal, to try to make it over the Fremont, but just as we got there they were closing the bridge to bikes and reopening it to car traffic. So we decided to just ride home. We managed to get a great ride in, but it seemed to be more uphill than down, and my legs are feeling it tonight. I held up my part of the bargain, pulling up the rear EVERYWHERE we went, and I would huff and puff my way up a hill, while the rest of the gang got a nice rest and a chance to chat and catch their breath. I'd pull up and before I could catch my breath, we'd be off again. Even though I'm disappointed with not being able to go over all the bridges, it was a great ride with the people I love the most, AND there were coffee and pastries! Who can complain about that?!

When we got home, we puttered around the house, and I started to get a little headache, which turned into a whopper of a migraine at around 5:30. I had started dinner while Charley changed his guitar strings and Joe-Henry laid out a little Max Train route all over the living room floor with post it notes and toy trains. I took an Excedrin Migraine, and I got the pasta sauce started and put the noodles on, but then I had to go lay down on the couch. Suddenly I was immobile, and Charley covered me up and brought me an eye pillow because the light, even through my closed eyelids, was excruciating. Joe-Henry was so amazing - he took such good care of me. I fell asleep to the sounds of them whispering to each other and eating dinner, music playing softly in the background. The last thing I remember thinking was that I hoped they'd find someone worthy of their goodness, because if I didn't die from the headache, it would be a miracle.

Two and a half hours later, I woke to a dark house and blinked hard at the clock. It was after 9:00 p.m., Charley was putting Joe-Henry to bed. My little guy was so excited that I was okay, he had to blink back tears. Honestly, so did I. I felt like the world was new, and all was good and I was ravenous. I ate two bowls of pasta, while Joe-Henry snuggled next to me, and chattered happily about his trains and the stops, and showed me the "get well" card he made me. I finally got him to sleep at 10:00, telling him about my daddy, and all the good people who took care of me when I was little and my mom got very sick.

I don't often suffer from migraines, and I don't know if you ever have. But there is something that happens after - it's nearly delirium. I feel so peaceful and grateful and giddily happy. It feels so wonderful to be alive.

Of course, talk to me tomorrow. I imagine my thighs and my ass will tell a different story.

Captain Kid

Aye, aye, Cap'n.

Retraction

After Joe-Henry happened upon my computer, upon which I had posted a picture of his beloved Miss Lori (see post below), he scolded me but good. He can read, you know, so he knows I said something unkind. And really, after posting it, I felt bad. Like, karmically (sp?) bad. I truly do think she's probably a loving, talented person dealing with horrible direction. So Miss Lori, I apologize. Joe-Henry says the reason you act that way is probably because you feel shy and uncomfortable in front of the camera. If that's the case, well, you should get another job, but I digress.

So, I take it back. Miss Lori is NOT more annoying than Barney.

But these guys make me want to stick my head in an oven.

More Annoying Than Barney

I know this is really mean-spirited, and honestly, I hate myself for feeling this way. But this woman grates on my nerves in the worst way. For those of you who are lucky enough to not know who she is, this is Miss Lori from PBS Kids. To be fair, I don't blame her - I blame her director, who must tell her to end every single sentence with a fake giggle. And to open her eyes really, SUPER DOOPER WIDE! I wish she could just speak to the kids and pretend animals like a normal human being instead of pouring a bottle of syrup on every thing she says. I know she doesn't talk like that in real life. She has three kids of her own, for heaven's sake.

I did a lot of kid's theater, and kid's won't let you get away with that crap. They'll squirm and yell insults like they've been training with Don Rickles. So here's a suggestion for PBS kids: Get a live audience in there for this poor woman, so she can stop talking down to your viewers.

Transitions

When I was in college, getting that truly useful degree in Speech/Theater, I knew, I just KNEW, that I'd never need to get a day job. I'd be living in New York, working on Broadway, hobnobbing with the hoi paloi every night and waking up at noon the next day to shop on Fifth Avenue, then rush to the theater to give another Tony-worthy performance.

Because in College, unlike High School, you really DO know everything, and you're paying good money to prove it. Or your dad is. WhatEVER.

So now, here I am, a middle-aged woman with questionable skills figuring out what to do with the rest of my time granted on earth. I'm not ruling out theatre, but working in theatre usually involves late nights, and as much as I would love to be out past dark, I treasure bath and bed time. Plus we've started reading "Harry Potter", and I want to find out how that whole deal works out. So I'm looking for something I can do when JH is at school. I have mad skills - I'm great with Photoshop and Illustrator (well, I'm proficient, at least), I know my way around computers, I type probably 80 wpm (I haven't timed myself recently, I'm just going by the fact that my fingers look blurry to me when I'm typing. I'm either really fast or my eyes are going. Which isn't too hard to believe.) I'm hard-working, friendly, and adaptable. And I'm excellent at "acting as if". For example: "Mom! You aren't the boss of me!", to which I think "Don't I know it", but I "ACT AS IF" I am. (See! All that theater training WAS useful!)

I opted to stay home with Joe-Henry until he went to school full time. We did the math for daycare, and what I could earn wouldn't cover how much it would cost to send him someplace every day. Plus, I felt that we had tried for so long to have a child, I really ought to see what it was like to hang out with him. I won't say I loved every minute of it. Well, I won't say that now, but I know that later on, when I look back on those days, the memory of him severly trying my patience will become precious to me. Right now though? He's still precious to me, but I'm finding my mind wandering a bit, wondering what it's like to be able to finish a project, or do something other than dishes, laundry, search for lost toys, plan dinner, be the nurse, be a clown, etc. Don't get me wrong - I have no doubt that even when I DO find employment outside the house I will still be doing all those things, I just won't be doing them for the six to eight hours I'll be somewhere else interacting with the hoi paloi.

I'm excited about this new phase, and looking forward to seeing what it brings. I'm also excited to have a paycheck. Not because I want to spend all my money on shoes. No, it'll just be nice to see those creases in the center of my husband's forehead relax a bit. I'm also looking forward to giving JH a new way to introduce me when we play "Jeopardy!" every night. Because now I'm getting one of three things: "Joe-Henry's MOM!", or "A Volunteer at H. Elementary!" or "A Person Looking For A JOB!" Ummmmmmm, yeeeaaaahhhh.

So wish me luck. My resume is up to date. I've got two things to wear to interviews. And I have knowledge about a wide array of subjects.

I won at Jeopardy! just last night!

Happiness is...

... a room to play in, to mess up in, to listen to music in, and occasionally to sleep in.

Joe-Henry has, until yesterday been afraid to play alone by himself anywhere in the house, which means that he and his things are always underfoot. It also means that he can't have any privacy from my prying mommy ears.

But yesterday there was a miracle. I'm not sure what brought it about, it just happened.

He went into his room to look for something and didn't come out. When I went to check on him half an hour later, he was listening to music and playing with his globe and drawing and cutting out these little signs, which went up all over the door.
I was so happy for him. It meant he wasn't afraid, he was comfortable and content and happy and engaged. It also meant that I had some uninterrupted time to look at the manual for my camera and fill out the rest of a lengthy job application.

I love these pictures of him and his room. I love that it's a mess. I love him. So much.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

I love outdoor baseball. We are lucky enough to live in the Northwest, where outdoor baseball isn't too hot or humid or sticky. A gentle breeze and a cold beer, and if you're really lucky, garlic fries! Go Beavers!
That just sounds strange, though, doesn't it?!

wallflower

I'm having a blast with the new camera, but all I can say is "Thank goodness it's digital. I'd never be able to afford this hobby if it were film."

Here is one practice shot that made the cut today.

I love orange.

The Most Wonderful Husband on the Planet...

... got me a Nikon D40 SLR kit for my birthday. So I took a picture of him. Isn't he handsome?



I took lots of pictures of this cute kid at the park







and at the farmer's market parking lot...


until he got a bit bored with all my picture taking....



I finally let someone else have the camera, but just for a second.


I promise I'll TRY not to bore you with my pictures of everything that moves and or doesn't move within a mile radius of whereever my butt happens to be planted.

New Arrival

Happy Birthday to the blogosphere's newest mascot! Check out the details at Purelight, aka Thumper's Proud Grandma! I, Rodius and his lovely wife Mrs. I, Rodius are doing well after the surprising arrival of Thumper. Congratulations!