The letter P

Pretty pictures:

• the kids loving the Tensai Bakabon comic a colleague of Cap's sent back with him for them.

• black raspberries, local and organic, from this week's fruit share.

• black raspberry, blueberry, banana, rice milk and maple syrup smoothie.

• Japanese curry (thanks to Cap's friend who sent some back with him).

Panic (a low level panicky anxiety):

• Gem needs oral surgery.

• Gem's begun using the word "depressed" to describe, casually, how he's feeling.

• insomnia continues (vicious cycle, this one).

June playlist

I've posted some of these along the way...here's the round up, aka June Jamboree 2011:

Betcha By Golly Wow by The Stylistics

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad by Meatloaf

Always On My Mind by Pet Shop Boys

Try A Little Tenderness by Otis Redding

Zombies On Your Lawn by Laura Shigihara (Sag pick)

Brainiac Maniac by Laura Shigihara (Sag pick)

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues by Elton John

Running On Empty by Jackson Browne

Got To Get You Off My Mind by Solomon Burke

Who Are They by Mem Shannon

Mr. Go by Bonerama

I Didn't See It Coming by Belle and Sebastian

Zombotany by Laura Shigihara (Gem pick)

Maapallo by Raappana

If You Run by The Boxer Rebellion

Living Without You by Blame Sally

Mr. Big Stuff by Jean Knight

The best "plan"

...is to not have a plan at all.

This post resonated with me when I read it last week or the week before.  This morning, I remembered it fondly as I realized the plans I had mentalized for today were not going to happen. 

The process wasn't stressful (as it sometimes is...in which case the post is a must-read).  I don't feel well.  Woke up moving extremely slowly.  My run-of-the-mill low energy tends to burn off within an hour of waking up.  But, what I am contending with today is something else.

Okay, those of you don't want to hear about sex/my sex life, stop reading now.

Last night, I had sex.  And today I am feeling like I sometimes do after a massage.  (It's all good body work in the end if done right...amirite?)  Stagnated and stuck points of energy were busted open and the toxins are now moving around.

Time to drink lots of fluids and flush those suckers out.

I'll be here with my feet up in this juicy organic strawberry-scented room reading Stephen King and drinking my English breakfast tea with honey and coconut creamer.

Salad turnips will be pickled, chicken will be stocked, kitchen floor will be washed...some. other. time.

Considering

...a no spend July and meatless Mondays...

I have been for awhile, vaguely.  Now that July is upon us, I am considering it more...vigorously.  We'll see how my attention holds out!

Big sur

Before Matt Pond, there was Jay Farrar.

This song...the audio equivalent of a soft and beautiful hug.

(Thank you, library.)

Cheering

a Pokemon trainer happy to be returning to league play.

luscious local low-spray cherries from the CSA.

The cherries are so unbelievably scrumptious.  I am not usually a fan of cherries, but these?  I fall in love again every June's end.  I'm hoping they have more at the farmer's market on Saturday because I would love to make this.

And that smiling boy.  I was feeling so down I really didn't want to leave the house today.  But, I could not refuse them their eager return to Pokemon league (an art class Sag took this Spring kept them away for a few months).  I survived (I noticed again that leaving the house makes me feel better when I am feeling low), they got their fix, and we picked up our CSA bounty on the way home.

Peace.

One more

Allen Toussaint.  This played over the end credits of the Treme episode I watched tonight.

I have no words...but I do have a mess of feelings.

Tonight's lull-a-by

Cap's home.

Looking myself in the eye

Sounds more like a statement than I intend.  But, I feel like my path is diverging.  Curving.

The changing Season.  Cap's return today (from 2 weeks in Japan...land of the rising radiation).  Riding a wave on a part of the ocean of Flow that is less 'hormonal'.

I had some insomnia again last night.  There is a hum of anxiety that vibrates louder once I lie down.

• Clutter.  

• Improving what we eat.  

• The more formal aspects of learning at home.  

• Cleaning.  

• Finances.  

• Organization.  

• Fitness.

Suddenly I don't see a path.  I see myself surrounded by vertical walls with ropes dangling down.  And I've got no upper body strength to speak of.

I don't feel bad...I feel a mix of surprise and disbelief and marvel.  Because this place seems familiar.  No.  This place is familiar.  I've been here before.  But I'm not the same.

Lullaby

My mister from a while back.  Peace and good night.

Going the distance

Charlie was the best thing in this movie for sure :-)  But, the sentiment of "going the distance" when you find something worth running/waiting for, was not lost on me.  This was a nice movie and the R-rated humor popped.

127 hours

Finally saw it.  What a story...the film did not disappoint.  Loved hearing this song...

Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day
... lovely day, lovely day, lovely day ...

Bleh

Insomnia kept me up till 'round 4am.

Finished Beat The Reaper (3 stars out of 5...petered a little in the second half, but it remained engaging).

Gem is starting to feel under the weather.

Comforting myself with General Tso's chicken and lo mein.

My ass feels fully kicked.  Please send chocolate...

Maapallo

My days...well, technically, my nights...often end with music.

This evening I watched an episode of Treme (I am catching up on Season 2).  As I've mentioned before, this show is a treasure trove of music.  Tonight I was thrilled to see Al Johnson perform Carnival Time.  I didn't realize the man was still alive.  Shame on me.

Between the tv and bed I often get caught in the glow of the computer screen.  Tonight I surfed through YouTube for a bit.

(I'd received an apologetic e-mail from an indie record company employee this afternoon...I am holding out just a bit longer to the hope that my complimentary EP (in CD form) promised to me by none other than Mr. Pond himself, months ago, might actually arrive sometime soon.)

I thought I'd finish my musical meandering with a listen to Love To Get Used, off the EP I am waiting for.  As my head started bopping (take a listen and tell me if you don't start bopping yourself...I will be surprised) my eyes and cursor scrolled down the sidebar of 'related' videos and I was startled to see Finnish text.

I clicked over, immediately curious.  And had to smile...and scratch my head.  Finnish reggae is, stunning in it of itself...conceptually...but how the heck are these two songs connected?  Maybe in the lyrics...  The song is entitled Earth, but that's how far I got in my translating.

Check it out...

Amidst the chaos

...they find their bliss.

It's interesting being an adult who was a child that grew up in a very organized home...and is now parenting children growing up in an unorganized home...

Beat the reaper

Finding it hard to put this book down...reading while doing laundry...ran errands this morning, cooking the kids a steak for dinner. Energy seeping back. Click here for the NYT review.

Louie and Burn Notice tonight!

Weird al doing gaga

We've been enjoying this...

I ♥ FNL

I plowed through the episodes and have finished watching Friday Night Lights, the tv series.  I highly recommend it.  It's right up there with my favorite series of years past.  I am sad it's over, but really happy for all involved that they got to finish the series as they wanted.

There's no single photo or video clip that can encapsulate the show or how I feel about it.  If you haven't seen it, do! (Here's a more detailed review than mine :-)

Valrhona noire orange

can't just have one.

Yesterday was a bit of a tough day for me.  Not coal miner tough...my life will never be coal miner tough...so, maybe, you don't want to read any further.

Or, maybe you do.  Because this post is not being written to vent.  Rather, it is to dance and sing at the discovery of another of the universe's amazing creations.

Valrhona Noire Orange chocolate.

Merci, merci, merci to Kelly for bringing me some last night (I just finished it :-)  It is helping me get through this patch of "period".

I am rearranging activity again today.  You know when I cancel my appointment with Vinny that life is not as usual...

Peace and love y'all (it's official, Dillon-speak has taken over my brain)...

Drinking it in

A shift.  Again.  As there always will be.

In the last 48 hours or so my body has been asking for a lot more water than usual.  My period has started and today, the second day, is when the heaviest part of the flow occurs.  I haven't noticed an uptick in the need for water before, but it sure makes sense...and feels very right.

When I went to bed last night I was bone tired.  When I woke this morning I was weak with a touch of dizzy here and there.  

(A month ago, on the second day of my last period, I was in Barcelona.  I stayed "home" while Barbra went to Girona with Eva.  I rested my body and relaxed my mind.  I listened to music and played Free Cell on my iPhone.  I remember.)

I've made arrangements, I've rearranged.  It will be a mostly restful day.

Thanks to Kelly, I've thought about how asking for help in our society is so often viewed as a sign of weakness...and how I disagree with that notion, deeply.  (She is picking up our CSA share for us, too...thank you sweet friend.)

I'm drinking it in today.  Water, love, care, peace and energy.  I hope you do, too.

Happy summer

Wishing you a peaceful Summer solstice full of love and light.

And song...always song...

Monthly anthem

Tickling the ear drums

Sag's new favorite song...(it made a big impression at the concert last week :-)

This morning

Chicken salad is made, reading the blogosphere's response to last night's The Killing, intending not much more than resting this menstrual body (ever-shifting PMS you got me once again).

Hope you have a good one.  Peace and love.

Happy father's day

...to all celebrating today.  Peace and love.

A lovely moment

We celebrated a friend's birthday today.  There was sun, soccer, some tears (a wind-knockin' soccer ball hit to the chest followed by the non-allergenic treat-from-home being contaminated by unknowing fingers)...a lovely celebratory moment amidst yet another busy day.

Tomorrow, a non-Father's Day with some friends...

Peace and love...and if you could send a smidge my way...thank you.

Keepin' it real

So, I'm feeling pretty good today.

After wicked loud thunder storms passed through around 6am, I remained conscious for awhile.  With Cap gone, I was the keeper of the castle and it was my job to batten down the hatches and comfort the princes.  Though the weather report had said the thunder would come through around 4am, I could see that that the sky was lightening...but went into denial as I forced myself to fall back asleep.

About an hour later the phone rang.  My body revolted as I screeched awake...how could it feel so unpleasant when surely I'd caught a few more hours of sleep?  You know how sometimes when you fall asleep for only a short while you wake up really disoriented?  Or, when you are in REM sleep and something jars you awake?  It was like that...

Despite the rude awakening, I managed to tame the kitchen a bit and get the laundry going.  The kids got themselves going with their work.  Things were going slowly, but they were going.  Then, Tiina called and we decided to go ahead and have the playdate we'd thought about having when our lake date with Bridget fell through.

I hung up the phone and thought simultaneously, "what the frak did you just agree to?" and "it's okay, it's cool, what do I have to do?"

I washed the rice pot and put on some fresh rice to cook.  I dug through the fridge and pulled out cauliflower to roast and frozen haricot verts to steam.  I popped some briny kalamata olives into my mouth (I officially have a new favorite food: olives!)  I cleared off the big table with the help of the kids and wiped it down.

By the time they arrived, bearing goodies from Whole Foods (strawberries, raspberries, grapes, sushi, hotdogs, buns and these chocolate walnut meringue-y lumpy things that were GFCF without Tiina even knowing it), I had made peace with having the folded piles of laundry remaining on the couch and the kids' room being pretty cluttery.  These were not friends who were going to care about such things.

We had a lovely visit and late lunch and then they were gone, off to pick up the youngest member of their family from school.

Buoyed by momentum, I cleared the table, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, put away leftovers, monitored the kids while they did a thorough pick up of their room (running the vacuum in there later, I am), spoke to the mechanics who apologetically called to say the car will not, in fact, be ready till tomorrow morning, and finalized arrangements with Danielle about her kids coming over to watch Pirates of the Caribbean.

Then, as I got into a corner of the living room to "fluff" the beanbag chair back into shape, I caught sight of this:

Yeah, that's me, keepin' it real...

Speaking of moving the body

Happy-making :-)

I Didn't See It Coming (Richard X mix) from Belle & Sebastian on Vimeo.

Treme

I've been watching Season 2 of Treme "on demand" on HBO.

It's a David Simon show (The Wire, Homicide), which automatically put it on my radar...put it on high alert.  Treme shares significant qualities with the other shows, but it is also quite distinctive.  In Treme, the music does not take a backseat.  The songs layered with the stories (there is a sprawling ensemble cast with many Simon alums) stand along side them and inform them...these tunes are not mere decoration...or atmospheric minutiae.

Yesterday, at the end of one of the most wearying days in recent memory, I watched a couple of episodes and though elements of the story were harsh (the show is set in post-Katrina New Orleans and in typical Simon style, it pulls no punches), the music...the music was so uplifting, soulful, and nourishing.

I react in similar ways to food and music.  It's all about pure, sensory pleasure and feeling...righting of wrong...connecting to something original...a big hug with the universe.

But, with food, I am beginning to have issues...at 45, my body really can't handle what I pile onto my palate and down my gullet, especially as I am a middle-aged person who doesn't move her body or energy around much.

But, music, I can sample whatever I want, fall into grooves as deeply as I can, and lose myself in beats...taking it all in without thought or control...and not concern myself with stagnating energy and clogging arteries.







Peace and love y'all.

Dot

Feeling dot like.  Depleted.  Small.  Back soon.  Peace and love.

Decemberists in brooklyn

A big family event last night. The kids' first all ages rock show, inspired by Sag's love of The Decemberists.

When Cap and I went to see them at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan earlier this year, Sag was deeply disappointed to be left home. At the time, everything had happened so quickly. The kids and I fell fast in love with The King Is Dead while we streamed it on NPR right before the album was released. I googled concert dates and discovered they were kicking off their album release tour in NYC the following week. I searched for tix despite a 'sold out' note on the website and found great seats. Snagged some babysitting from my mom, rationalized the spending of cash with my birthday in mind, and boom, the concert came, was glorious, and went.

And I had one bummed out 9 year old to contend with.

I promised to take him when they came around again. They played a benefit show at the Prospect Park bandshell last night. Rain or shine, and it rained...pretty steadily for the first hour we were there, though it was never a downpour, thankfully.

Sag wanted to be up close (it was a general admission show with no seats...I did not realize when buying the tix that there were no seats) so we left Gem and Cap under the overhang of big old trees in the grassy area in back and wove through the crowd to a spot about ten human rows from the stage.

The crowd was amazing. The folks around us, in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, were tickled to see a kid in their midst. Sag hung in there, at least a foot shorter than everyone else, in a mass of wet slickers and damp blue jeans. The band crew was clearly concerned about the continuing rain and waited as long as they could to start the set (we arrived to the bandshell as the opening act finished their last song and then proceeded to wait nearly an hour for The Decemberists to start...on our feet, all of us, in the rain...)

Just as Sag had had enough and decided to forego our sweet spot to return to Gem and Cap, a woman who had been standing behind him appeared with a chair for him. She was a goddess savior and changed our lives forever. Having a chair to sit on gave Sag the energy to wait out the tech crew. And when the show started about ten minutes later, he stood on the chair and had an unobstructed view of the concert (I cannot express in writing how intensely this kid absorbed the totality of his experience), and someone he truly finds interesting, the lead singer/band frontman, Colin Meloy.

I am still awestruck by the kind act of this stranger. I will never forget what she did and will be grateful, the rest of my days, for how she helped give Sag an incredible first experience seeing his favorite band (the fingers came out of his ears after a song or two when his system adjusted...ear plugs next time!)

The kids lasted about half the show. We departed after seven songs, satisfied, sleepy, and a bit cold and wet. We walked back to the F train through the streets of Park Slope (I understand the appeal, I really do), rode the subway back to my mom's, picked up our stuff, used her loo and gave her hugs, and then we drove back home.

The kids tumbled into bed and slept through the night, a rare thing for Sag, I gave Cap a long overdue haircut, he finished packing, and while the rest of us slept, Cap got into a cab sometime after 3am and took off from Newark at 6am for his annual research trip to Japan.

The kids and I will have a quietish day, but also some routine...Vinny this afternoon, common meal tonight (not at our house :-), the comic book store somewhere in between.  Now, off to break fast.



(from last night's show...)

Good for some giggles

Two videos making the rounds in my corner of Facebook lately...





I'm pretty certain the Whole Paycheck one will be pulled off the web soon, forcibly, by Whole Foods. So check it out right quick :-)

Melange

We laughed, we cried, we were impressed, we gnashed teeth...it was time, for thank you cards.

I was stunned to see the change that has occurred in Gem's handwriting.  It's a gift to see efforts pay off!  When I commented, he said, "D'Nealian has become a reflex...I blame you."

He's smiling here, but he was begging for me to decrease my demand of getting half the cards done today.  Eventually, he shed some tears of frustration as I made the rare move of not budging.  (I have my own issues with thank you cards, as in, I rarely send them because my attention wavers once I "let them go" for too long.  Gem's cards from last year's birthday are in a bag somewhere, a pile of "things to get to" shoved in a bag during a "clean up".  He had written them, I just never got to getting stamps and then sending them out.  This may be "lame" to you, but it's the life of a someone with ADD...)

In between tears, and with reminders to sit flat on his bottom and lift his head off the table, here he is writing.  The content of his cards, though simple, had a straightforward, emotional quality to them that I enjoyed reading.

My coffee, with caffeine, sugar and coconut creamer, helped me stay clear.

My lunch, seaweed soup with rice (miso soup with rice is one the most comforting foods I know), will help power me through the rest of the day.  Here's something else that will put me outside the box for many: I am trying to gently extricate myself from attending the boys' first playoff baseball game tonight.  Believe me, I hear the "bad mother" voices...but if Gem becomes okay with it (Sag is fine with it...Gem is fairly convinced that it would give them good luck for me to be there), I am staying home...my system needs some inside-quiet-alone time.

From the kitchen

I am bushed...don't let this post fool you.

However, as tired as I am, it's more physical than mental.  (Cap has finished his second immense, laborious push towards birthing his book...the lightness that is so evident in and around him today is buoying my spirits greatly.)

I made two things this morning.  Neither which required much work.  I am glad the clarity of mind was there to nudge me to use ingredients I had on hand (that were not gettin' any fresher) to make favorite dishes that have lain dormant for quite some time:

seaweed soup.

vegan pesto.

The seaweed soup is something I learned from my friend, Melody.  So simple and super nourishing.  Today's version was made with the leftover homemade pastured and/or organic chicken stock (most of this batch went to the alphabet soup).  Seaweed is loaded with minerals and even contains some protein!  I added a couple of tablespoons of organic miso.  I wish my blog was available in aroma-rama because this soup smells soooooo good.

Pesto.  One of my favorite foods.  This is my first pesto of the season.  Organic basil from...California.  I had some thoughts of planting an herb garden this year, but it hasn't happened.  Our CSA starts this week and Farmer John will be at the farmer's market on Saturdays, too.  So, by my next batch of pesto, the basil should be local.  Today's pesto is a bit heavy-handed in the pine nut department.  It has a creamier texture than usual.  Not bad...just different.  I'm cooking up a bag of my favorite gluten-free pasta for dinner to toss with this green goodness.  And, oooh, I can't wait for our next order of pastured eggs from the farm (tomorrow afternoon).  I absolutely love eggs scrambled with pesto.

I hope you eat something yummy and good-for-your-soul today.  And if not today, maybe tomorrow...

Peace and love.

Partyin' with the family

It is a special time when there is a baby in the family...  Thank you to everyone, near and far, who have helped us celebrate Gem's turning 11.  Good night!

Grace does happen

my three boys.

These birthday celebrations we have with our kids that span several days, often in a row, they do a number on me.  

There are, without fail, so many details to hold...and that type of sustained attention to a particular brand of organization...I can do it, but it requires a lot of energy.

Then there is the emotional stuff, especially for Gem and his birthdays, to hold, soothe and be with...this type of attention is not hard for me...unless my energy stores are being rapidly depleted for other reasons.

Over the years, I have learned to surrender a lot...the less important details, the weird-when-you-really-think-about-it expectations, the desire for grace.  

At some point today, I switched to "just plow through" mode.  I stopped caring about what I was wearing, how my hair looked, speaking carefully and/or thoughtfully...I just needed to get through the day.  

My guiding principle once the seventeen kids (I think this was the first party we've had where *everyone* came) were under our proverbial roof?  Whichever child was in front of me, getting down to their level physically, looking them in the eyes, feeling what they were saying to me, and making sure, to the best of my ability, that they were satisfied.

As breathless...and mindless, as I felt for the duration of three-plus hours, I sensed, with surprise (I was too tired to muster the joy that I could feel somewhere, vaguely, far away), that things went well.  Overall, I think everyone experienced more good than bad.  And, again, overall, Gem had had the party that he wanted and envisioned.

I was, at times painfully, aware that I was not taking pictures.  But, I took a few (five, to be exact), and when I looked at this one, I felt grateful.  There's a smile on Gem's face (today was not an easy day for him), Cap's right in there doing whatever we need (as usual), and Sag is holding Gem...providing him with tactile love and support, with him, in so many of his life moments.

And I learned, once again, that grace does happen.  There is no giving up on it, just like there is no forcing it.  Live...and it comes to you.

Fun list

The Onion has a division called The AV Club which features "serious" pieces and commentary on various branches of the arts.  They posted a list of most re-read books today that I found interesting.  (Watership Down is one of my favorite books and I am a Stephen King fan.)

The list got me inspired about reading, in general, and I am brewing an idea for a Summer Reading blog for me and the kids...

Carcassonne

Our "main" gift to Gem this year was the game Carcassonne.  I have yet to play it, but, as you can see, they dove right in.  There is also an Ugly doll coming and a trip to the bookstore for some books.  Carcassonne was not on his wish list...and it showed when he unwrapped it.  The perils of living with a mother who is happy to look at wish lists for guidance, but often goes "off list" to unearth what she thinks of as the perfect little something...

Turning it up to eleven

It's been a bit like Christmas morning here...Sag has been up since 4am unable to tame his excitement.

Gem is 11.  Very interesting how 10 is such a milestone year, but 11 feels...exponentially "more".  My 11 year old woke me with the gentlest of kisses.  Any kiss is a rarity from him.  My day was made sometime before 7am as I rose into consciousness through pure love.

A lucky being am I.

Happy birthday to my Gemini...may life continue to unfold for you as you unfold to it...with calm curiosity, unerring certitude in truth and justice, a gentle touch, a generous dose of tolerance and the laughter that streams out of you like an effervescent melody...the sweetest snippet of song I have ever known.

Milestone

I made my gfcf boy alphabet soup today.  For the first time!  I was so excited to find this at Nature's Pavilion the other day, I had to give it a go.  (This milestone is all about me and my childhood pleasures, the boy has shown little interest :-)

Photo is blurry...haven't figured out how to bypass the steam of hot food when photographing.

And, yes, it's hot here today, forecast predicting 100ºF.  But, soup is good food, always.  Especially when it's loaded with ginger and garlic as this one is.

Fried spaghetti and deep thinking

Eleven years ago today I was in the throes of my final full day of a week long labor birthing Gem.  It was a hot and muggy day.  One of my strongest food memories is from that day.  I made myself a big plate of spaghetti sautéed with egg and soy sauce.  I remember how good it tasted, how it smelled, how it nourished me as I envisioned my marathon coming to an end.

(Gem did not appear until past 1am the next morning...I still had awhile to go, despite heading to the birth center shortly after finishing said plate of pasta.)

For me, Gem's birth and birth day are incredibly, overwhelmingly positive reminders of the good in life.  By now, most of you know the story, that we unexpectedly and forcibly waited five long years to become pregnant.  Pockets of that time were very stressful (the not knowing and waiting while not knowing were the worst...we had begun researching adoption deciding Western medical 'infertility' treatment was not for us).  In their own ways, both of my pregnancies seemed miraculous to me, not par for the course, at all.

For Gem, it's different.  Ever since he could articulate his thoughts and feelings...the deep ones, fluently...we have understood how hard it is for him to turn a new age.  The four year old fretting as his birthday approached, about not wanting to grow up?  That was Gem.  That is, still, Gem.

Yesterday, on Vinny's table, he told us: "I'm depressed about getting older."

It's not all doom and gloom at birthday time.  He enjoys planning his parties, and, like any kid (or grown up like me, for that matter!), he loves receiving gifts.

But, the strong, unsettling undercurrent is there...an awareness of that peculiar paradox we all live with: once something is born, it is on its path towards death.

We will have some welcome distractions today, namely the heat (it is supposed to get very close to 100ºF) and the last baseball game of the regular season.  A very proud uncle will be joining us for that, extra fun :-)

Otherwise, it will be a day pregnant with celebration preparatory errands and angst soothing.

Peace and love.

Gaga in the morning

• Bossypants was laugh out loud funny.  I recommend.

• air conditioners are on.  scorchers here the next few days.

• cleaning today.  yuck.

• common meal here tonight.

• lots of little things buzzing 'round my head re: Gem's birthday and the accompanying celebrations.

• a little jealous...next door neighbor is out on his front porch at the glass-top table with laptop and bevvies.

• but, you know what?  I am blasting Gaga while I type and that's none too shabby.  (drowning out the sounds of my cubs who are rough housing in the adjoining room, truth be told.)

Early waking

I think to myself that I want to be waking earlier.  It happened this morning.  I thought it was 8:30 and panicked a little bit because I'm meeting Donna for breakfast.  A quick glance to Cap's alarm clock and I was relieved, but also surprised: 6:30.

Realized as I came more awake, that the head of cauliflower I roasted yesterday and then proceeded to eat over the course of a few hours has led to my GI system being...not restful.  Poor guts.

The good of waking early is getting things done.  I am a morning person that way.  I made the ensaladilla rusa for common meal tomorrow night.  Yum.

Off to breakfast.

What works

...just going with it...with some focus...

• latte with soy milk from Whole Paycheck...boy do I miss Spanish coffee...

• picked up Bossypants for me and a slew of books for the boys at the library...gearing up for a No Spend month in July.

• mango kombucha...lots of it.

• picked up two more air conditioners at Home Depot...got tired of waiting for help and lugged them into the cart and then the car myself...motivated to get one into the kitchen as the week begins to heat up...will be cooking much this week (common meal Wed, Gem's birthday celebrations Fri-Sun).

• annual trip to Nature's Pavilion, a health food store that is too far to be a regular stop...they carry Gem's favorite Spice Cake mix (made by Namaste) and he requested it for his birthday as he usually does.

• Game of Thrones and The Killing on tv.

• after lunch, some "home school" time, then dinner and snuggling down for last night's premiere of Next Food Network Star.

Peace and love, yo.

Making a splash

poolside, seventy degrees and cloudy.

Taking the plunge, making a splash, diving in...after five years, I decided to give the town pools a try...and made a commitment in the process.  We have pool badges for the Summer!  Of course, the boys wanted to go with their friends, despite the cool day.  They seemed not to feel the bite of the unheated water and had a blast.

Another first, I went to Costco this morning with Tiina to check it out.  I'm still on the fence, but am considering making yet another commitment/investment.

What's a good, silly word for exhausted?  I am frikkin' beat...it's laughable how tired I am...

Good night.

Barcelona :: chapter 6

The randomish, things-that-caught-my-eye shots...

 Aerobus shot as I got my first glimpses of the city.

 Barbra journaling in the flat.

 an iconic visual for me on this trip...more soon on that.

 in Frederic Mares...thought of Gem.

 former art history major tourist lost in her thoughts.

 Indiana Jonesish...thought of the kids.

 the art on the underside of the terrace.

 I found these captivating...and, yes, reminiscent of Darth.

 a view from the front row of the upper deck of the bus.

 a capture from a moving bus...thought of Sag, natch.

 also from the bus...Miyazaki-esque.

 another from the bus...the pink flowers grabbed me.

 this was a surprise...at the time, the window looked nearly black.

 sometimes I am compelled to take a shot of strangers without asking...

 Columbus pointing in the wrong direction.

 Gaga.

 Barbra noticed this.

 beeswax candles.

 the Mediterranean.

 Barbra.

 the site of our first Spanish hot chocolate.

 tomatoes at the market: do not touch.

 the restaurant/bar downstairs.

 Casa Calvet...prix fixe with wine.

 Parc Güell.

 my travel angel.

 Julia tile...Parc Güell.

 mixed media.

 amazing, ancient book and print shop.

 Plaça de Sant Felip Neri...my favorite place.

 inside.

 he was blasting opera.

 phantom.

 noir.

 attentive.

 craggy bloom.

 time.

 symmetry.

 after the serenade.

 'round midnight on the rooftop.

 afternoon coffee with roses.

 Mitsi and Santa Rita.

 orange trees, Frederic Mares.

 the best iced tea I've ever had.

 (my sadly blurry shot of) my Barcelona souvenir (there's a story).

 light, line, space, time...my favorite shot.

 this dog was often sleeping...here he walks away.

 view from the shower (for reals), made me happy every day.

 Jordi, after dinner, our last night in Barcelona.

 she made everything so sweet n' easy...breakfast at the airport before we parted ways.

the beautiful sea.