Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Monday, September 24, 2018

for posterity's sake


Mo's answers from end of 4th grade

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Thursday, August 9, 2018

hot dog

Working from home has its perks. 

Except for when it's hot and you have no air conditioning.  It has been uncomfortably warm for almost 3 weeks now. When it's hot consecutive days like this, the house never gets an opportunity to cool down.  

Today I wrote a press release about a mushroom knife while a fan blew hot air at me.  

I'll be honest, it was probably not the best work I have ever produced.

But then, at least I'm not wearing a fur coat.  

Poor puppy has been laying on the floor next to me all day -- switching sides every so often (presumably when the floor gets too warm underneath him.)

On the right side of me...



And, later on the left...



The only place he is really happy when it's this hot is here:


But, unfortunately it's a less conducive place to write and work.

As Songer said: It's hard being big and hairy.

Friday, July 13, 2018

the state of things

Summer can be hard when you work from home and kids have to stay busy (and quiet) while mom writes and conducts phone calls.  This is especially difficult for my non-homebody KT who itches to get out and "do something."  The days she is not in a camp/clinic during the day is seemingly torture for her.  She is always sure to let me know about her agonizing state -- repeatedly.

But, she sure is cute.



Mo on the other hand is fairly content playing with slime and watching YouTube slime videos in between doing her mom-mandated-stop-your-brain-from-going-to-mush curriculum.

Part of this "curriculum" is doing music daily.  For KT, I never had to employ any type of requirement so I was a little worried about doing so for Mo this summer.  To my relief she has taken to it beautifully -- and, has progressed immensely as a result.  I can't tell you how much I love hearing  both of them play and sing...


Dog, and dog-cat have been well, lazy as usual, mostly in part because it has been hot!

If not sleeping, this guy just looks at me with sad eyes throughout the day. 


Dog-cat sleeps in his perch in Mo's room through most of the morning, and then sneaks onto dog's bed in the afternoon for some rays.


Have to say though, would way rather be with these characters than in an office any day.

Friday, May 4, 2018

the calm before the storm


This weekend is going to be a bear.

8 a.m. soccer match for Mo
10 a.m. Relay for Life event for Mo's teacher
1 p.m. soccer match for Mo (in Goleta)
3:30 p.m. soccer match for KT
6:30 p.m. soccer match for KT
8 p.m. Cyrus de Mayo party

And, that's just Saturday.  There are more games on tap for Sunday!

Maybe someday I'll look back, my life a little slower and think -- wow, we were busy then.  But, for now, I'm going to grab a gulp of air and head into the weekend!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

dreaming of bread

Simply put, we need to find time to make bread at home soon.

Katie and I took a cooking class when we were in Paris last October.  We made amazingly delicious bread.

No, seriously ... really. good. bread.




We walked back to our apartment and bought two rotisserie cornish hens, an Orangina for KT, red wine for me and ... well, this might have been the best meal we had that trip.

Friday, April 13, 2018

she just looks grown up


I know it's such a motherly thing to say, but Katie is getting so grown up.


No, she doesn't wear makeup.  Her, D and Lia were just messing around at a mom's makeup event.

Love their "gentle" technique of palming each other's head when applying makeup.


We watched The Bourne Identity with her recently, and I feel like we have more and more "adult" conversations with Katie.  Often I feel like I'm talking with a friend rather than a kid.

Then something like this happens:

Song:  Fitz's tongue just went into my mouth.  He Frenched me!
Katie:  That's not how French people kiss.

... and then, I remember she's still a little girl.


Friday, March 2, 2018

because she's boss like that


I still contend she's the one we are going to have to look out for. 

One word:  Trouble. 

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Twenty-two years ago today...


Songer and I went on our first date.  We were in college and we ate at Tony Romas, and watched the movie Waterworld.  Five years later we got engaged in Paris at the restaurant pictured above. 

Now, every year we eat ribs on March 1st.  Tonight we were eating ribs ...

Me:  Hey Katie, 22 years ago today your dad and I kissed for the first time.
KT: You kissed on the first date!?  Ewwww....

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Vintage Rugs and Yellow Labs


I keep thinking I'm going to "catch up" with my blogging.  I haven't chronicled my adventures in Paris with Katie, the holidays, Mo on a rip-stick, Katie playing the bass, and now clarinet, Mo joining a club soccer team ... none of it.  It's just so daunting when I think about it.

So, I'm just going to post when I can and it will probably be more simple things -- you, know how I wish things were.

Today my new kitchen rug arrived.  I had to lock the dog and cat up in another room while I was trying to get the rug situated on top of the rug pad because they kept laying on it.

I like it.  Fitz seems to like it.  I hope everyone else does too, although, it's from Turkey so more than likely I will not be returning it even if they have objections...