Not much, or, Otherwise dull

There has been a lot happening but none of it is worth writing about. I am doing my day to day and that is pretty much all I can say about it. 2009 has become, as the kids say, old and busted. I am looking forward to the New Year and whatever it brings me.

Reunion.

Michael Arquero was one of my closest friends in high school. We were together pretty much ever weekend for three years, since we were both in band, and cling together like desperate lovers is what band people do. When we went to college, he landed in Detroit at art school, and I ended up doing whatever it is I've been doing for twenty years. Well, we both showed up at the HN reunion, and this is how we looked. Not too bad. And no, he wasn't pinching my rear in this picture, although his wife alleged that we were smiling like he was.

Three, or, Glad that's over with

Then......

Now.

No one tells you when you have premies what it's going to be like, because they don't know what the outcomes are going to be. They don't know....heart problems? Asthma? Cognitive delay? Speech problems? Vision problems? It's a crapshoot, really. And throw the multiple thing in, and it's even more of an over under. Somehow I managed to have two kids at 33.3 weeks who are super smart, funny, talented, polite, coordinated, interesting and very much their own identities despite the twin situation. I got lucky, and I know it.

And no, the serene smile on my face wasn't the glow of motherhood. It was the constant pump of morphine into my back. Sorry to burst your bubble. :-)

Tired, or, The Latter Days of Summer

I haven't had much to write about in the last few weeks because I am afraid I have gotten rather boring. Same day, in and out. The children are interesting. Emma is pretty much potty trained. She also has croup, which stinks, but at least she scores popsicles on demand. I joined a gym and went to yoga tonight. Whew! Is it hard work. I know I'll feel it tomorrow. School starts for all the girls on 9/1, and for the first time in four years I'll have three uninterrupted hours to myself four days a week. I am alternating between being alarmed and a little skittish and basking in the glory of solitude. I think this might be my last year of stay-at-home.....the call of the classroom is growing, even if I only get a job at a local college teaching 101 part-time. I feel I've been too long out of the game. Who knows.....

More pictures to come......just..........tired.

Bawlmer, or, Hi, Hon

Here are some photos from one of my new favorite places, Bawlmer Murrylin. It is a wonderful combination of metropolitan snazz and pink flamingo chic. I didn't see John Waters, but I did walk around Johns Hopkins, which I believe would be a wonderful place for Emma. Vaccaro's has the best cannoli in the world, and the quick access to DC cannot be underscored enough...thank you, God and Congress, for the National Portrait Gallery.

Gift from the Sea, or, God Bless AML

Here's the thing about traveling. I like it, but it's a lot of work now. I have to clear my calendar, which means finding someone to do all the legwork with the kids, manage the house, etc. I have wanted to go to Baltimore to see my BFF Lynn in her Louise Jefferson de-luxe apartment in the sky, but absolutely could not go with my family. The kids would fill up that space like wild dogs on a skiff. So after reading Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea, I was inspired. I would go on vacation alone, and everyone else would make it work. Of course, there was quid pro quo...Bill could have his own vacation too, to a place of his own choosing. It just so happened that both vacations occurred in June, but that actually worked out too. By half year mark, I think we were both tired and needed a regroup.

I will post more about Baltimore another day, when I have pictures to narrate. But here's what I will say on the general topic of vacationing alone: do it. Do it at least once a year. Do it for a weekend, or three or four days. Do it to a place where someone you know and love lives, so that you're not lonely. Make your own schedule. Eat what you want. Don't call home too much. Read a crappy book while you're there. Breathe a little. I did, and wow, I feel like a million bucks.

Around the House, or, Now Look What You've Started

This is my new corner project. See that nice Home Organizing book on the counter? That's no accident. I love this counter and specifically asked for it when we redid the kitchen. I envisioned it as my own little workstation. Well, look what's happened. There's a maraca, a dolly gurney, a PECS card for the potty, some random catalogs, the girls' hair do dads, Viewmaster thingys, my phone charger...this space is officially Not Working. I need to get stuff off the counter, get a file folder thingy on the wall, get something cuter to handle my supplies (bags of pens, staplers, tape, etc. is not getting the job done).....the wall that surrounds the fridge is tall and narrow and perfect for quick-view stuff, like a cute bulletin board, or something. I don't know. All I know this, this spot makes me a sad panda. And that's not what we're going for.

Grobles gave us some plants at our chinese-cambodian-italian dinner last night so I spent all morning putting them in, watering them, and the re-organizing everything else in the yard so that it looks weeded and clean. It's hard to admit that I can't have the backyard I really want (no grass, just plants and a path) because the kids need the space to play, but my day is coming. In the meantime, these new hosta and legolaria are going to have to whet my appetite for better yard days ahead.