Saturday, November 21, 2009
A bought me Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, Persepolis, for my birthday a few months ago. I just completed the book. This book is insightful, funny, odd-ball, coming-of-age, idealistic and profound. Satrapi's biography is unusual because it takes place in Iran and it is unapologetic about the circumstances in which she is born since she is of the mind that it is absolutely normal. Reading it gave me pause since there are many moments in which I couldn't believe the circumstances in which she was being raised, while recognizing that she would think the exact same thought of my upbringing. The most refreshing component of the novel was it's authenticity. I'm not entirely sure how Satrapi does it, but her raw view of the world as she was raised is sincere while fractured. Death is normal, testing authority is required, survival is essential while risk is equally thrown into the mix. All this in a comic. She is also incredibly self-deprecating and downright funny. Bottom line, stay true and damn the veil.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
still cool
A while back my parents got a hold of a Lego Duplo train set for Birdie. Along with lego train tracks, vehicles and people are pieces that can be made to act as bridges or stations. Birdie not only enjoys it but is enchanted by it. The first time after we set up the scene and later proceeded to dismantle the tracks, I thought her response would be complete meltdown. Instead her reaction was intruiged and curious. What could we build now?
It was then that I rediscovered... she and I are blood.
I love Lego. I could never get enough. You know how there are girls out there who play secretly with Barbies a bit longer than they should? With me, it was Lego.
I recall unusually cooperative scenes between me and my sister on Sunday mornings, playing Lego in the early hours after waking. We did so under the auspice of not waking my parents (because I imagine that we were their morning alarm on any other day) so as to avoid a trip to church. One out of three times, it worked. I think we could play Lego, building and rebuilding our hospital room set in a variety of ways for upwards of four hours. The occasions my dad figured our scheme out were not well received, but he had his reasons. We had ours.
So, we're back in Legoland and it's still way cool.
For that reason, I can't wait until Christmas.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
careful, momma
Apparently, momma doesn't know best. In fact, I may come up with some cool suggestions and be decent to play or dance a jig with, but I definitely don't know what the best option (or retort) is... Birdie does. This kiddo is well on her way to independence. For example...
Momma: "Time to go on the slide?"
Birdie: "YEAH! The big-un!" (kiddo well on her way scrambling up to it)
Momma: "The big one?" (arms up ready for anything knowing she's sure-footed)
Birdie: "Yeah, cuz I'm a big-girrlll!"
[Birdie swings from the top bar above the slide - smiling huge]
[Momma hesitant.]
Momma: "Yes, you..."
Birdie slides from letting go of the bar, swoosh.
Momma:"... are."
Birdie: "ag-gen?"
Birdie: "I wanna mic-a-mac (picnic)."
Momma: "Okay, let's get some tea."
Birdie: "No, it's not."...
Birdie pauses... "It's water, Momma."
Momma: "Right."
Later on, at the mic-a-mac...
Momma: "I'll take some more tea, thanks."
Birdie, observing my pour... walks over and gingerly touches my arm and then gestures a stop sign...eyes wide and right in front of my face: "Careful, Momma."
After Birdie obeys a direction given...
"Oh, Birdie, you're a gem!"
Birdie: "Thanks"
Okay, so she's really taking things on and chatting, but she's still a snuggle-bear that likes to hold hands and blurt out random valentines of love. Phew!
Momma: "Time to go on the slide?"
Birdie: "YEAH! The big-un!" (kiddo well on her way scrambling up to it)
Momma: "The big one?" (arms up ready for anything knowing she's sure-footed)
Birdie: "Yeah, cuz I'm a big-girrlll!"
[Birdie swings from the top bar above the slide - smiling huge]
[Momma hesitant.]
Momma: "Yes, you..."
Birdie slides from letting go of the bar, swoosh.
Momma:"... are."
Birdie: "ag-gen?"
Birdie: "I wanna mic-a-mac (picnic)."
Momma: "Okay, let's get some tea."
Birdie: "No, it's not."...
Birdie pauses... "It's water, Momma."
Momma: "Right."
Later on, at the mic-a-mac...
Momma: "I'll take some more tea, thanks."
Birdie, observing my pour... walks over and gingerly touches my arm and then gestures a stop sign...eyes wide and right in front of my face: "Careful, Momma."
After Birdie obeys a direction given...
"Oh, Birdie, you're a gem!"
Birdie: "Thanks"
Okay, so she's really taking things on and chatting, but she's still a snuggle-bear that likes to hold hands and blurt out random valentines of love. Phew!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
therapy
The fall season proves to bring a few things into focus... which I really cherish these days.
If my calculations are right, I'll have spent 11 days at home in September... all told. So, when home is extra homey, I'm really pleased. Flying home for dinner on Friday evening and then heading to the garden centre this morning was a overwhelmingly welcome switch. A and I opted to purchase trees that would grow and 'shrub' along our fence instead of changing fences. The exercise of removing unwanted old, sad growth and inserting happy, fresh trees is nothing less than therapy. For example, my sore back and dirty-hands-after-washing are really yummy experiences to this fully mental work-brain. To give some ammo to the reason why it feels so good is that we're rubbing up against one year of owning our first home. Wow, it's a fantastic reward to come full circle on this decision to purchase our home - loving our community, planting our own seeds (or bulbs) and pushing some dirt around to prove our point that we're in...
To discover the personal meaning of home is truly defining.
If my calculations are right, I'll have spent 11 days at home in September... all told. So, when home is extra homey, I'm really pleased. Flying home for dinner on Friday evening and then heading to the garden centre this morning was a overwhelmingly welcome switch. A and I opted to purchase trees that would grow and 'shrub' along our fence instead of changing fences. The exercise of removing unwanted old, sad growth and inserting happy, fresh trees is nothing less than therapy. For example, my sore back and dirty-hands-after-washing are really yummy experiences to this fully mental work-brain. To give some ammo to the reason why it feels so good is that we're rubbing up against one year of owning our first home. Wow, it's a fantastic reward to come full circle on this decision to purchase our home - loving our community, planting our own seeds (or bulbs) and pushing some dirt around to prove our point that we're in...
To discover the personal meaning of home is truly defining.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
FB
In January, I joined Facebook. By mid-August, I threw in the towel.
I surrender... to be forever out of the FB world.
I have to agree with the NYT article, that I didn't like what FB brought out of me. Snooping on people that I became friends with but chose to never interact with. Writing proclamations of what I was doing that really were meant to solicit interest rather than identify my state of mind. The high school nature of the beast - be my friend, ignore a friend, and tag people on pictures that would otherwise have never been seen by anyone else - turned me off. The worst part? Learning about events that I could have easily been involved in and finding out after the fact - ouch. Better not to have known at all, if I hadn't been on FB, I'd be obliviously content.
I also had some real concerns with keeping my privacy. Work folks checking in to see my life was too close to be comfortable. Sure, some friends would be great to make with work but then that whole lot of worms is wide open... Again, if you invite so-and-so to the wedding, you have to invite you-know-who.
Just like a lint-roller, rip a strip off the roll and start fresh.
I surrender... to be forever out of the FB world.
I have to agree with the NYT article, that I didn't like what FB brought out of me. Snooping on people that I became friends with but chose to never interact with. Writing proclamations of what I was doing that really were meant to solicit interest rather than identify my state of mind. The high school nature of the beast - be my friend, ignore a friend, and tag people on pictures that would otherwise have never been seen by anyone else - turned me off. The worst part? Learning about events that I could have easily been involved in and finding out after the fact - ouch. Better not to have known at all, if I hadn't been on FB, I'd be obliviously content.
I also had some real concerns with keeping my privacy. Work folks checking in to see my life was too close to be comfortable. Sure, some friends would be great to make with work but then that whole lot of worms is wide open... Again, if you invite so-and-so to the wedding, you have to invite you-know-who.
Just like a lint-roller, rip a strip off the roll and start fresh.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
2
Birdie busted munching her monkey birthday cake - thanks, Oma!
Bubbling the day away
- dreamily happy.
Birdie girl on her birthday.
Big whopping 2.
2 is funner than 1.
Yep...
This girl is locomotion.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
beep
This is a test, it is only a test...Cut off the cable about two months ago. It actually got cut off about two weeks ago. When the TdF started, we were questioning our decision - should we call Shaw again and tell them we have reneged? Nah, we can check it out online if need be. Then the cable kept going and we saw Contador go on to do his tappity-tap-tap happy climb to the Yellow Jersey podium. Went to the prairies for a reunion and came back to a blank screen. Nada.
It's good. I have felt very happy about the multi-layered savings although more importantly the principle of it. We simply cannot choose TV as an option to suck time. We now actively choose our activities and when inclined, our viewing is pre-selected, before the settling in for the evening activity.
Treehouse was already off-limits because of the banality of ninety percent of it's programs. Seinfeld was a comfort like a warm sudsy bath but, yeah, seen 'em all. And, what did we have to look forward to? Well, there is Mad Men, although with Birdie's sleepy-time turn-in of late, we likely would have missed part of that too - which would have been infuriating. I'm happy to check in in DVD when it comes out - and greedily anticipate these moments.
Thus far, it's novel. I find my spare moments - which are to be truly cherished - bring about things like organizing photos, reading an article or having a conversation over wine and chocolate with A.
Ask me in a year, how's that test going? I hope I forget what you mean.
