Everyone here is sick, or at least all the children are. Children. All the young men I live with are sick. And the car accident I was in 20 years ago is pulling things out of whack in my back. Oh super ouch. You'd think we would have had a really bad day, right?
Nope.
It was a great day. The boys watched the entire season three of "Friends", and I got to watch some of it with them. Sometimes my sons look at me like I've got horns, like when I know the "We Were On A BREAK" episode. But it was great.
I made soup for a fundraiser lunch tomorrow, and Chicken Pot Pie for dinner. I listened to "Prairie Home Companion" and drank red wine while I cooked and cleaned and listened. My husband was out in the garage building set pieces for the Seussical play that's coming up. And we were happy. All of us, even though we're sick or hurt or working super hard, we had a great day.
Things could change radically. Jobs are in transition here, and who knows what will happen? It could be really different. We might not have these quiet Saturdays in this same way. But we've worked very, very hard before. We've been dirt poor, we know how to do that. We'll be fine.
Nice little respite here as we move into early spring, into a new phase. Into the future.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Today....
This is my frame of mind today....
I just adore Ellis.
And hey y'all. She's a UU. She will come play your church. You would never regret it.
http://www.ellis-music.com/news/
I just adore Ellis.
And hey y'all. She's a UU. She will come play your church. You would never regret it.
http://www.ellis-music.com/news/
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hide-and-Seek
Everyone I went to high school with is suddenly on Facebook. They all joined last Wednesday at 12:51 PM. OK, not really, but it sure seems that way. Suddenly I am back in touch with almost all of the people from World Studies class junior year.
It's not bad, not really. I mean everyone seems to be kind, warm, good folks. It's been a long time, we've all been humbled and tossed around by life some, I guess. If you sit with a person long enough you'll find that everyone has a story that will break your heart. And most of us have had our hearts broken a time or two. It makes more room, having survived a it, you watch better, listen better--it makes you pat each other on the arm and say "there-there".
But I am finding that lost girl is still there inside me. The girl that wasn't quite smart enough for the gifted program, wasn't pretty enough to be of interest to the boys (or girls either), wasn't a good musician or artist or athlete. I was a chubby girl with bad hair and stupid clothes. And that lost girl had no idea how much she was just like almost everyone else--in one way or another, anyway.
Hearing about what all these people have done in the 24 years since we knew each other is letting that lost girl back up to the surface. Seems that all the people I knew are doctors and lawyers, or should I say physicians and attorneys. They live overseas. They have good lives that are well examined and they've probably even taught themselves to make homemade organic yogurt from the milk they get from their pygmy goats in their green urban back yards. And they play the mandolin.
OK, maybe that's a little too far.
The lost girl feels a little bit better though. This is one amazing life she wound up with. It's filled with dear, wonderful friends and a family she treasures. It has good work and good play. She lost some weight and found a good hairstylist. The love of her life shares her bed at night, and he washes the dishes almost as often as she does. It is good. Maybe she's almost found.
This could be what it will take for her to finally get found all the way. Not just the feet peeking out from behind the curtains in the big "hide-and-seek" game that is life. But all the way "gotcha" found. And then the lost girl can take her place here in the good life, where there is no more gifted program and life is real and whole. And good.
And I swear, if all those high school folks tag me in every meme that comes along, I'm gonna un-friend their 80s-loving-big-haired selves right off my profile. Yeah.
(any likness to high school friends, real or imagined, is completely unintentional)
It's not bad, not really. I mean everyone seems to be kind, warm, good folks. It's been a long time, we've all been humbled and tossed around by life some, I guess. If you sit with a person long enough you'll find that everyone has a story that will break your heart. And most of us have had our hearts broken a time or two. It makes more room, having survived a it, you watch better, listen better--it makes you pat each other on the arm and say "there-there".
But I am finding that lost girl is still there inside me. The girl that wasn't quite smart enough for the gifted program, wasn't pretty enough to be of interest to the boys (or girls either), wasn't a good musician or artist or athlete. I was a chubby girl with bad hair and stupid clothes. And that lost girl had no idea how much she was just like almost everyone else--in one way or another, anyway.
Hearing about what all these people have done in the 24 years since we knew each other is letting that lost girl back up to the surface. Seems that all the people I knew are doctors and lawyers, or should I say physicians and attorneys. They live overseas. They have good lives that are well examined and they've probably even taught themselves to make homemade organic yogurt from the milk they get from their pygmy goats in their green urban back yards. And they play the mandolin.
OK, maybe that's a little too far.
The lost girl feels a little bit better though. This is one amazing life she wound up with. It's filled with dear, wonderful friends and a family she treasures. It has good work and good play. She lost some weight and found a good hairstylist. The love of her life shares her bed at night, and he washes the dishes almost as often as she does. It is good. Maybe she's almost found.
This could be what it will take for her to finally get found all the way. Not just the feet peeking out from behind the curtains in the big "hide-and-seek" game that is life. But all the way "gotcha" found. And then the lost girl can take her place here in the good life, where there is no more gifted program and life is real and whole. And good.
And I swear, if all those high school folks tag me in every meme that comes along, I'm gonna un-friend their 80s-loving-big-haired selves right off my profile. Yeah.
(any likness to high school friends, real or imagined, is completely unintentional)Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Looks like Home
Here's the thing.
This time when our president stood at the platform and gave a great speech with a call to action for all of the citizens of the U.S. I noticed something I've never seen before.
This time the folks on that platform behind him looked like us. They looked like my family. It looked like us. There were white folks, and black folks and Asian folks and hapa folks. We can relate to Konrad Ng, the Canadian Chinese brother-in-law of the president. We can relate to Maya, our president's sister. We can relate to our president and his mixed race heritage. We can relate.
Even though I am the white one in my family, the people I hold dearest and closest and who live daily in this house with me are represented here on this platform.
It is something I can't even put words to. But is one of the most profound moments for us. Ever.
This time when our president stood at the platform and gave a great speech with a call to action for all of the citizens of the U.S. I noticed something I've never seen before.
This time the folks on that platform behind him looked like us. They looked like my family. It looked like us. There were white folks, and black folks and Asian folks and hapa folks. We can relate to Konrad Ng, the Canadian Chinese brother-in-law of the president. We can relate to Maya, our president's sister. We can relate to our president and his mixed race heritage. We can relate.
Even though I am the white one in my family, the people I hold dearest and closest and who live daily in this house with me are represented here on this platform.
It is something I can't even put words to. But is one of the most profound moments for us. Ever.
Hail to the Chief
Oh, it was a great day. I'm so happy that Barack Obama is my president. Really, he's my president??
Yes! He's your president, too! That is unless you are from someplace that is not the U.S. then bless you for reading this far anyway.
We had a big Inaugural Ball Bash. It was pot luck Except for the essentials. Like the Obamacakes. And the Joe Biden Jello. That was the best. The kids went WILD over it.
Some of them even sang about how wonderful the transition had gone, and how beautiful Michelle's gowns and suits were. Or maybe they just moved their mouth like they might be singing if they were old enough to know what singing was....
And some of us DID come in Ball Atire. Especially those that are young and just married. They think this is all marvelous, and of course they are absolutely right. Some of us just lag behind a little.
And in the end, if it was a really good party, the there is a phenomenal mess. Must have been a good one.
I mean really, what else could a person want? Good friends, good food, good drinks and a phenomenal president....
must be paradise!
And after all, isn't it really about honoring our leaders? Maybe "Ale to the Chief" is the wrong path to take....but it's all about hope!
Thanks to all those who celebrated tonight, and all those who are solid americans. We're wickedly lucky to be here in this time, in this place. Let all be so blessed.
Yes! He's your president, too! That is unless you are from someplace that is not the U.S. then bless you for reading this far anyway.
We had a big Inaugural Ball Bash. It was pot luck Except for the essentials. Like the Obamacakes. And the Joe Biden Jello. That was the best. The kids went WILD over it.
Some of them even sang about how wonderful the transition had gone, and how beautiful Michelle's gowns and suits were. Or maybe they just moved their mouth like they might be singing if they were old enough to know what singing was....
And some of us DID come in Ball Atire. Especially those that are young and just married. They think this is all marvelous, and of course they are absolutely right. Some of us just lag behind a little.
And in the end, if it was a really good party, the there is a phenomenal mess. Must have been a good one.
I mean really, what else could a person want? Good friends, good food, good drinks and a phenomenal president....
must be paradise!
And after all, isn't it really about honoring our leaders? Maybe "Ale to the Chief" is the wrong path to take....but it's all about hope!
Thanks to all those who celebrated tonight, and all those who are solid americans. We're wickedly lucky to be here in this time, in this place. Let all be so blessed.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunny Day and the Inauguration Party Planning.
The sun has been out for TWO days now here in the Pacific Northwest. Oh thank you lord. It's so much better when the sun is out. And our mountain has been out, all our mountains even, the big one Mt Rainier to the south and the cascades to the east, and to the west the Olympics.
Oh so lovely.
And today it must have been 50 something. Heavenly. I didn't plant flowers though, instead I worked a kind of a long day at church (record attendance for children of 44 today) then went to the Y and then the whole family went to a movie and out for dinner at a little diner. It was fun. After a horrible day yesterday of children at each other's throats, this helped a lot.
Maybe we should always have a family date on Sunday evenings, but never will we tell them it's a "plan". No, just make it happen. That might be good. Right now they are playing rock music together, then their plan is to watch the Office and play the Office trivia game. Might just be worth it to have them get along.
On Tuesday we're having our own Inaugural Ball here at our house. You don't have have VOTED for Obama to come to the party, you just have to be happy that he's taking office. This allows my highly principled friends who vote third party to come. And the Canadians. And the kids!
Black tie and ball gowns are optional. I'm sure there will be many more Obama t-shirts, but wouldn't put it past some of my dear ones to show up in formal wear.
The menu includes:
Change Chowder
Hope Hummus
Joe Biden Jello (red jello with whipped cream and blueberries!)
Barack Brats
Revolution Rum
I think the cooler still has the "No Beer for Children" sign on it. And I'm sure there will be enough hammy kids that another "Think Studios" production will happen.
We'll all watch the ceremony again. We'll all watch the 2004 speech at the DNC. We'll watch some jib jab.
And we will break open the real french champagne. And celebrate. Should be a fun party. Wish I had more time to decorate and plan the Gala, but so what! It's gonna be a party, and an amazing change.
Oh so lovely.
And today it must have been 50 something. Heavenly. I didn't plant flowers though, instead I worked a kind of a long day at church (record attendance for children of 44 today) then went to the Y and then the whole family went to a movie and out for dinner at a little diner. It was fun. After a horrible day yesterday of children at each other's throats, this helped a lot.
Maybe we should always have a family date on Sunday evenings, but never will we tell them it's a "plan". No, just make it happen. That might be good. Right now they are playing rock music together, then their plan is to watch the Office and play the Office trivia game. Might just be worth it to have them get along.
On Tuesday we're having our own Inaugural Ball here at our house. You don't have have VOTED for Obama to come to the party, you just have to be happy that he's taking office. This allows my highly principled friends who vote third party to come. And the Canadians. And the kids!
Black tie and ball gowns are optional. I'm sure there will be many more Obama t-shirts, but wouldn't put it past some of my dear ones to show up in formal wear.
The menu includes:
Change Chowder
Hope Hummus
Joe Biden Jello (red jello with whipped cream and blueberries!)
Barack Brats
Revolution Rum
I think the cooler still has the "No Beer for Children" sign on it. And I'm sure there will be enough hammy kids that another "Think Studios" production will happen.
We'll all watch the ceremony again. We'll all watch the 2004 speech at the DNC. We'll watch some jib jab.
And we will break open the real french champagne. And celebrate. Should be a fun party. Wish I had more time to decorate and plan the Gala, but so what! It's gonna be a party, and an amazing change.
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Perfect Solution
I have been so down inside myself. I miss my dog, it's dreary and I'm just clumping around here in my own pity party. With big ol' wooden clogs!
Listening to some fine David Wilcox always helps:
Listening to some fine David Wilcox always helps:
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