First Day Kindergarten

First Day Kindergarten, a set on Flickr.

Crazy, but true. She's off to Kindergarten. Today was her first day. (sniff)

Word to Your Mother

Thinking of my mom today, of course. What else can I say?  Oh, I know... Hug your mom if you still have her, because it'll likely be one of the things you'll miss most when she's gone.

Mom with Declan, August 2006.

Me & my brother w/ mom, circa 1972.

Me & my Dexy Doodle, circa 2007.

Spinny Rides

Alligator Feets

I gots 'em.

Well, except for long, scary, sharp toenails they have. I do NOT have those.

And no matter what I do; pedicures, lotion, filing, scraping, buffing, scrubbing... none if it seems to help, not for the long term anyway. My heels have gotten so bad in fact that I "cut" holes in my socks, tears in my sheets, and shred the footbed of my shoes and slippers. 

What. The. Hell.

Ah, getting old(er) is awesomesauce.

Anyone have a solution or cure? 

Sign me,

Desperately Seeking Soft Feets

Hello 2011.

Thx to Natalie Dee for this awesomesauce comic.
http://www.nataliedee.com/011811/

Holy Hogmanay!

Wait. What? 

I said... Holy friggin' Hogmanay Batman! Can't you hear?

It's the last day of the year... How the hell did that happen? In a matter of hours, this fine (*cough*) 2010 shall soon fade away in a draught cider & food induced haze, sneaked ciggies in the car park (*cough*), fireworks at midnight, and the laughter of sugar-crazed children wafting up from the basement of our friends' West Seattle home. Thank the heavens too that the kids won't have to be cooped up inside with all the adults this year, as it's been sunny and clear for the past few days here in Seattle. For all I care, they can run about like mad little bunnies outside in the crisp 20-something degree air.  

Bundle up! Whee! And Happy New Year, you little maniacs!

By the way,  Hogmanay is a Scottish tradition. We used to play a fun game of the same name at my childhood friends New Years Eve bashes back in CA. But they're Irish/German so who knows where the heck they got it? We just liked the sound of it. It's funny. Especially when you're drunk. Just sayin'.

Some day, I'd love to travel back to Edinburgh and participate in the 4-day Hogmanay celebrations there. That would be awesome. I loved Edinburgh when I was there a 1,000 years ago (okay, it was actually 1989 and I was 22 years old, which is almost 1,000 years ago). I have to also say, there are very few things that get me half as riled up as a Scotsman in a kilt (*cough*), or a dozen Highland pipes blaring mournful tunes across verdant fields. It stokes a fire in me people. FIRE.

Ah, but I digress. It's New Year's Eve my friends. And that means it's time to bid this past year adieu and move forward into 2011. I'm ready. Are you? 

This has been an interesting year, to say the least. My job-search has been a series of ups and downs in the last 2 months since I began my search in earnest, but I'm actually hopeful that I'll land an awesome job sooner rather than later. I can't allow myself to believe otherwise. Why would I? That's not how I roll. Dexy is well and a typical crazy 4 and 1/2 year old. Her dad is settling in to a life in Seattle, though I suspect he's not settling in too well with the cold. HaHa. The house is holding together. My friends are awesome. I still love it here as much as ever. This city is pretty much my version of heaven on earth.

And so is with hope that I wish you a wonderful New Year ahead. May it be all you wish for, and more. May it be prosperous, fun, adventurous, filled with love and laughter, and most of all, may it hold a PEACEFUL outcome for all.

Meanwhile, I lovingly (and smirking-ly) provide the following for all those of you who don't actually know the lyrics yet want to sing it at the top of your lungs this very night without looking (too) foolish... Cheers! See y'all in 2011!

*******************************************************

Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since days of auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Not a creature was stirring, not even our little mouse... Happy Christmas Everyone!

All I want for Christmas is...

I just lurves me some pork. Ham in particular. My pretend husband, Mr. Tony Bourdain has it right, piggies are one of the most perfect foods. And what's not to like? Ham, bacon, sausage, prosciutto, roast pork loin, ham hocks (for homemade split pea soup), pork rinds, pulled pork, pork bellies, pâté de campagne, Rillettes, pork chops and applesauce...  

* d r o o l *

So hey, dear Santa! Can I have a lovely glazed ham for Christmas dinner please? I promise I'll be good. No really, I will. Oh, while you're at it, I'd also love some cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, sweet corn casserole, some yummy greens (braised spinach with bacon perhaps, or fresh green beans?), pecan pie... you get the idea. I'll leave the Trophy cupcakes and milk by the fire place. Thanks in advance. Love forever and ever, Me.

P.S. Not to be a bother, but a little help w/ the gift wrapping would be most excellent as well. Thanks a million!

Visions of Sugar Plums. Or Some Such Nonsense.

Today would have been my dad's 86th birthday. I'm really missing him, and my mom as well, especially since she was the Queen of making the holidays totally AWESOME (and I'm so not). Yeah, yeah. I'm feeling the usual sense of loss and grief that comes with missing my family this time of year. No surprises there right? But to be honest, it's never been a particularly joyful time for me, even when they were alive. I've always had these little-girl-like sugar plum visions for a Norman Rockwell-esque holiday, but most of the time it was more like The Simpsons. That said, I still manage to have many fond memories of a zillion wondrous and magical Christmas mornings (thanks Mom, I know that was ALL your doing).

Before I get too morose, let's just say it's that super special time of year when I get all wistful for my Christmas Past. Wait. How did I get on the subject of Christmas anyway? Oy. Anyhoo, I went poking around in my office closet earlier today and I found some old, and not so terrible, pictures where we actually look like a (kinda) happy family.

My dad and I may not always have seen eye to eye, but he was still my hero and I was cuckoo crazy about him. I hope somehow he knows that now. Happy birthday dad. I miss you.

Mom, Dad and Me (vacation in FL circa 1983/84)

Xmas in CA (Dad, Brother Bri, Mom and Me circa 1994)

Dad and Me - Sept 1972

Dad and Grandpa 1925

 

Happy Christmas

Best. Christmas. Song. Ever. 
(for this old punk anyway)


"So happy christmas 
I love you baby 
I can see a better time 
Where all our dreams come true..."

Holiday Greetings Post(al)

Whoa! It's holiday time again. And it's going to get away from me if I don't get my arse in gear. Our second in Seattle. The fifth for Dexy. And this year, her daddy is here with us, so I actually get to include his name on the cards & gifts for OUR family/friends. How is it possible that my greatest wish has finally come true? Lucky me, lucky Dexy!

For most of my adult life, I've faithfully sent out holiday cards each year by the dozens, if not hundreds. I enjoy receiving them too of course, but mostly I just really like the idea of letting the people I love most know that I'm thinking of them, even if it's only once a year. 

Since becoming a mom, I've done photo cards on-line at Shutterfly.com because it's a great way to let everyone see how much my daughter has grown (from pudgy baby, to toddler and now preschooler) ...and this year will be no exception because as usual, they have the best selection of photo cards, calendars, etc. to choose from. IMMHO.

Anyhoo, the biggest dilemma I always have, other than picking the perfect photo/s, is which card style to order. 5x7, 4x8, flat or folded, pix of Dexy only, or all of us together, matte or glossy, etc.? Making things even more complicated is finding a card that is cool (since I'm not a very traditional kinda gal) and also one that is holiday neutral (since I'm Jew-ish but most of the folks I send cards to aren't).

Here is the card I sent Dexy's first year:

I'm really excited by all the available choices Shutterfly has this year! I've got it narrowed it down to these three styles; Mod Ornaments, Love and Laughter or Fa LaLa Christmas. 

Which card do YOU like?

I need to make my decision toute de suite if I'm going to get them to the post in time. 

Help!

This post is sponsored by Shutterfly. Click here for more information on how to win 50 FREE holiday cards at Shutterfly. Please be sure to reference Clever Girls 1000 (see original post on Greeblemonkey). Thanks!

Attention [insert store of choice here] Shoppers!

This is something I've chosen to do for the last 3 years... to NOT get sucked into the mass shopping hysteria of Black Friday (or Cyber Monday for that matter).

Instead, I'm going to spend time w/ my daughter and her dad. Put a log on the fire. Eat some leftover turkey and pumpkin pie. Watch a movie, or three, on the telly. Snuggle. Laugh. Enjoy the view from my window. And if we're not still experiencing the brrrrrr-ly sub-zero temps here in Seattle by then, maybe we'll even take a walk around the neighborhood to see if anyone has gotten their Xmas lights up yet. I just <3 Xmas lights!

How about you? How will you "celebrate" the beginning of the holiday shopping season?

'Nuff Said.

Spooky Sprites!

Halloween 2010 -- This year we had a potluck bash at our house, starting early enough for everyone to enjoy their food and drink before heading out w/ the little ones for loot collection, errrr, I mean Trick or Treating. Since it was a school night too, and most of my friends have kids in grade school, it was important to be home and tucked in by 8pm. A good time was had by all. And gosh, the kids sure looked cute!

Undead Undead Undead

'Nuff Said. Happy Halloween y'all!

Chas Music Picks - For Friday Oct 29th

Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead

From Wiki: Together for only six weeks, Bauhaus entered the studio for the first time at Beck Studios in Wellingborough to record a demo. The band recorded five songs; one of the tracks from the session, "Bela Lugosi's Dead", running more than nine minutes, was released as the group's debut single in August 1979 on Small Wonder Records as Bauhaus (the 1919 abandoned).

Warts and Veins

Sharp-Shinned Hawk vs. Northern Flicker

Two Weeks

It's been almost two weeks since Dexy's daddy moved up to Seattle from Las Vegas. We're settling in nicely. At least I think we are. Mostly, I feel like Dexy and I have exhaled for the first time in months, if not years. And I'm definitely noticing a change in her with regard to having Daddy/Man Energy in the house, which IMO, is excellent. She needed this. And so did I.

Also cool... for the first time in over a year, Dexy is back in her own bed, in her own room, all night long, without anymore of the crying/screaming/hysteria. It took about a week of sleepless nights & sheer misery for ALL of us to get to this place, but her dad and I are committed and we're sticking to our guns, and we ain't giving in, no matter what.

We eat our meals together as a family, usually at the dinner table (whoa!). We take walks, attend kid birthday parties, shop, share preschool pick ups and drop offs, take turns reading the bedtime stories & getting her dressed/undressed/bathed. Stuff I've been doing solo for four + years (except when her dad was here for his monthly visit), and I'm just so stinkin' glad I don't have to do it alone anymore.

To have someone to share this stuff with, not to mention watch and experience all the milestones, growth, and the language/writing/thinking development, etc. that marks Dexy's latest journey from preschooler to Kindergartner (which will be next fall - GASP!), just rocks. 

Added bonus? If I need to run out the door to grab eggs at the Farmer's Market, or want to chit-chat with a neighbor, or go out for dinner/drinks with my gal pals, or take a walk, etc. I can! The freedom in that, in ALL of it, is tremendous.

I'm grateful. I'm blessed. And for the first time, in a long time, I'm happy.

Yay me!

National Ransom

I just <3 me some E.C. But it kind of sucks when your favorite musician in the whole wide world (not to mention your daughter's namesake) is such a bloody prolific songwriter. Because frankly, I can't keep up with all the music my husband, errrr I mean Rock G-d, creates. But I try. I really do. And this one looks AWESOME (you can hear a clip on Shawn Stewart's blog). Duh. Of course it does.

On the flip side, there's some good news. It doesn't drop until Nov 2nd, so I still have some time to save my duckets. Squeeeee!

National Ransom

Elvis Costello / Produced by T Bone Burnett

I Heart Autumn