Lasts

I took Andrew out to breakfast this morning.  Just the two of us.  He chose the restaurant, a place where we all call each other by name, though Andrew is usually so shy he can barely utter "thank you" when the host brings him paper and a cup filled with crayons.

First, Andrew drew what he wanted to eat--oatmeal.  Then, what I wanted--pancakes.  Then he drew a truck.  He's driving and Daddy is throwing sausages out the top.

On the back of the page he first drew me, kicking my leg up.  Why?  Because it's summer!  Indeed.

Then, he drew himself in another truck pushing a train (right up against my waist, it appears).  And more sausages launching out of the top.  It's all about the action.  I love watching him draw, chattering on about it all the while.

Now we are home.  In under an hour we will go to the elementary school to pick up Valerie from her last day of third grade.  So, my days with just Andrew home with just me are soon over.  Today, this morning, is the last.  Ouch.  These transitions are hard.

And then the long summer.  Summer:  it seems like a good idea.  And I am trying to be proactive in my thinking about it, planning (though the best laid plans, they say...) to avoid the crazy.  Mostly, even on the craziest days when the kids are arguing and I am losing my mind, I will try to hold on to at least one precious tiny moment.

I will hold on dearly to the lasts.

Books o' the Month: Too many to list in the title!

Let's start with Carbonel: The King of Cats, a children's book first published in 1955.  I have been reading this, a chapter a night, to my kiddos.  I would recommend it for ages 5-10 (and older).  Not scary or violent (besides a bit of a fight at the end), set in London, with adventure, magic, and...cats!  This is the first of a trilogy, and we are reading the second book now so, more to come.

I finished another Diana Gabaldon book, Lord John and the Hand of Devils.  Lord John, a minor Outlander character, solves more mysteries, and I get a little more insight into the epic story Gabaldon has created.

Ghost Cars on the Freeway is a special little book about Crowded House by Peter Green.  You have to be a member of the fan club, Frenz of the Enz, to get it.  Being a Neil Finn fan, this book was a lot of fun to read. I am still regretting the missed opportunity I had of seeing CH back in 1989.  Ah well...I saw the new lineup in '07 and '10.  Mr. Finn has been working on a new album, I hear, so hopefully there will be another chance to catch the music live in the next year or two!

This novel was quite a departure for me.  I have been reading a lot of books with female leads (besides the Lord John novels) in the past few years, but the main character of Grab onto Me Tightly as if I Knew the Way, by Bryan Charles (who happens to be a survivor of the Twin Towers terrorist attack)  is a seventeen/eighteen-year-old young man.  The novel takes place in 1992, and there are a lot of musical references I can relate to.  The style of writing is modern with several stream of consciousness passages (I may have my terms wrong--it's been many years since I was in an English Lit. class!) which was refreshing to read.  And quick!  I am so used to reading uber-long novels, that anything under three hundred pages) feels short to me now.

I am a day late...but please zip on over to Some of a Kind to see what the other ladies of Turn the Page ... Tuesday have been reading!

Come Run With Me

I'm still running.  I run for an hour twice a week, sometimes thrice.  If I'm on the trail, I can go five miles.  If I'm on the beach, four and a half.  The sand slows me down a bit.  At about ten minutes in, any laziness I had about maybe "not feeling like running today" goes away.  At about three miles...euphoria.

I do run happy.  I'm the one out there smiling at everyone I see.  I'm still trying to figure out my high sign, though.  The point (hey, baby), the peace (or victory?), the wave, the nod.  I think a thumbs up would be my style, but might look like just making fist or trying to hitch a ride.  Plus it's kinda dorky.  As am I.  Especially when I sing out loud.  I try to do it when I'm not too close to anyone.  Sometimes I can't help it.

I wish I could record my stream of consciousness while running.  Today, I began composing at least six profound blog posts, and came up with at least four phrases which seemed brilliant.  To me.  I think a lot about art, about being an artist.  About being a mother.  About my hubby.  And I think about...other things.  People, bodies, attraction, the meaning of life.  Science as my religion.  I believe in physics, chemistry, hormones, continuation of the species.  Life for life's sake.  The universe, the Big Bang, what came before...I don't have the answer to that.

All the while, I've got Pandora streaming into my eardrums.  Mostly my Snow Patrol station, lately.  Some really great songs pop up and I am just transported.  The sky and the sea are infinitely lovely.  "Beauty!" I call it out (mentally), every time--after my favorite scene from my favorite film, A Room with a View.  Step, step, step, step.  My running rhythm is slow.  A jog, really.  But I just go and go.  I am inspired.  The transcendental nature of art.

The hour is up, I am back at the car.  Moving in the direction of to do lists and responsibilities.  I try to keep the feeling going by streaming music through the stereo.  But so much is lost already.  Ideas, impressions, inspiration.

Alas.  I wish you could come running with me.  I'd have so many interesting things to say.

Books o' the Month: Northinger Abbey, Lord John and The Private Matter, A Trail of Fire

While waiting for the next two Gabaldon books on my list to arrive from the library and Amazon, I picked up my dear friend Jane Austen.  And what a true friend she is.  So witty, so entertaining.  I hadn't read Northinger Abbey since high school.  Turns out that while I didn't remember anything about the novel, Miss Austen does not disappoint, and I was as charmed as I had hoped to be by her acute portrayal of late 18th century upper class society.

Next, I plowed through Diana Gabaldon's Lord John and The Private Matter.  Lord John is a minor character in some of the Outlander novels, and his books are mysteries.  I'm not a huge mystery fan, but have been enjoying putting more pieces together in the Outlander world.

Then, A Trail of Fire arrived.  It is a set of four Outlander tales.  Two pertain to Lord John, two involve other characters.  So, more fun...more information, more layers to the world of Outlander. 

Check out what the other ladies are reading over at Some of a Kind today!


P.S.  Hubby and I watched the first episode of season one of Game of Thrones the other night and geez.  I had thought it would be...different.  A different kind of different, anyway.  Not our cup of tea.  Have you watched it?  What did you think? 

P.P.S.  I will get around to changing my blog header for spring...one of these days!

What's Your Theme Song?

(youtube link)

Do you have a theme song?

For the past few years, this one has really been speaking to me.  About me, even.

(It's also my ringtone.)

I feel I am entering an era of choices and change.  I'm on the brink of the next decade in my life.

Recurring Dream by Crowded House

Within myself 

There are a million things  

Spilling over  

Falling out into a silent stream
 

Feel the warm wind touch me  

 Hear the waters crashing 

See my windows wiping clean  

It's my recurring dream
 

Within myself  

A secret world returns  

Over and over  

Where the white flame of desire burns
 

Feel the warm wind touch me  

Hear the waters crashing 

See my windows wiping clean  

It's my recurring dream

So, dear reader, what's your them song?

Flutter Vest

Did you know that March is National Crochet Month?  I didn't until a couple of weeks ago--right in the middle of getting reacquainted with knitting.  Silly me!

So, I put down my needles and picked up my hook with a WIP.  This little Flutter Vest is for the darling one-year-old daughter of some friends.  They live "so close but so far away," so we've never even met her, but hope to soon.

I used the pattern on this page and Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Raspberry.  I like this soft washable wool blend in a nice strong color.  Maybe not the most practical garment for a toddler, but cute!

Vernal Equinox 2013

The Vernal Equinox is here!  Time for springtime resolutions.  Last year, it was running.  I met my goal of running five miles in one hour last November, so now I am working on being consistent--both on how often I go running and keeping my five miles at or under an hour.

This year, my first resolution is to fully be present for the remaining nineteen days I have to spend just Andrew and I. (Does that make sense?--He is is home T/Th with just me through May, then I'll have both kids all day all summer vacation!!).)  He will start kindergarten next year (he recently turned five!), so this is all I have left. The end of an era for me.  I hope I can survive it!

My second resolution is last year's second resolution, which I never got around to: make art.  Sounds simple enough.  Just make some art--draw and paint.  I guess I will have more time for it, come the next school year.  Better do it while I can, before I have to get a paying job again!

The artwork above--painting by Valerie and spring necklace ("For you, Mama!") by Andrew.

Happy Spring!  I'm going into it singing this song, stuck in my head...