Friday, July 22, 2022
an indoor herd
Thursday, July 21, 2022
the great outdoors
But... after I meditated yesterday, I realized that I haven't been spending time outside as much as I used to after the garden was squashed. Yet I need the outdoors and summer sunshine now more than ever. It's a bit like that Zen saying about meditation itself? "You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you’re too busy, then you should sit for an hour.”
I should be spending MORE time outside not less. Inside is chores and worrying. Outside is sunshine and wonder. I can do better and be better when I feel better.
Today I had a ramble in Ted Black Woods with L and T and biked with Big A after dinner.
Tomorrow I will spend time in the hammock.
Pic: Ted Black Woods
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
they say you're only as happy as your unhappiest child
These two synchronized sleepers are mostly ok, (though a bit lonely with At away and Big A gone so much).
At is a bit stressed about NLRB elections especially since the only other Chipotle to apply for a union is being shut down as this article details.
Nu is having a very tough time although we've surrounded him with love and support. All I can do is try harder.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
my boy anchors me
A lot happening in life and (pattern-wise) in this picture.
But all I can see is Scout's paw on my foot as I'm working.
This child anchors me day and night.
Monday, July 18, 2022
one child
one child says they love you not
one child says they love you
but not themselves
Saturday, July 16, 2022
hope as the thing that perches
I was on one of my marathon phone calls with my sister (early morning here, evening there) when this brilliant rainbow patch appeared on my leg (from a crystal mobile in the window).
Between its appearance and my Chelli's confidence in me, I'm hopeful for the upcoming week.
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
wellness and goodness
Luckily for me (and everyone who needs to be in contact with me), R made a house call, set up their magic massage table, and I spent the rest of the day transfused with flexibility, thankfulness, and calm.
I'm thankful I had the time, some extra cash, and a kind and accommodating professional to help me feel well enough to be a good person today.
Monday, July 11, 2022
very Monday
Otherwise, tons of work for me, six hours of outpatient care for Nu; both of us came home feeling depleted. Nu had a good cry, I held it together...but couldn't wait for the parenting day to be over. Then I got lost in a book. And so to bed, hoping for a kinder tomorrow.
Pic: Scout and Huck could hear Dada's voice but they don't "see" things on screens, so Nu tried to show them up close. 💗
Sunday, July 10, 2022
Sunday, summer, smores...
Nu helped me with the bigger limbs while Big A did our annual mow. After they got tired, it was just me listening to bird calls and dragging stuff out and taking it to the piles by the firepit and being plied with lemon water by Nu and visits from Big A.
We have kindling for the rest of the year. At least.
The rest of the day was a nice soak, then Impossible burgers I had prepped at breakfast, smores by the firepit, and so to bed (with a detour to finish Elif Batuman's Either/Or, which I loved).
Saturday, July 09, 2022
picnic cookies and cat cafés
While I was gone all afternoon, Big A took Nu to the cat café where Nu played with all the cats he wanted to and had a great time. Big A and I are both allergic (and I'm mildly ailurophobic) so poor Nu has to make do with visiting. I've been informed that when Nu is grownup, he will live with cats and rats and that we can take allergy meds when we want to visit. I think that's very fair.
Pic: Nu making a cat friend (and Big A's reflection).
Friday, July 08, 2022
Make some noise (rattles, anklets, and whistles! O my)
It reminded me a bit of the anklet in Silapadikaram The Story of an Anklet and I was gratified that Nu remembered the plot-point about how there were rubies inside the heroine's anklet and only pearls in the queen's.
We picked up Big A from the train station yesterday--horrifyingly for me and Nu who tend to be very diligent about masking--he hadn't worn a mask on the Amtrak, so we made him test at home. Also, WTH. I mean he seemed suitably chastened, but I thought we were on the same page about this.
And I got my Bluey car back! A couple I met on a shuttle in an airport parking lot a while ago told me about "Save A Deer" whistles, so I'm putting some on this weekend. Please stay away from me on the highway, deer!
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Wednesday, July 06, 2022
starting over
And I'll be overcome with hope for Nu, all of us, the world...
And I begin to dream again.
Tuesday, July 05, 2022
"a more perfect union"
Today At watched as the local Teamsters served management at his workplace papers indicating that At and his fellow workers had signed union cards; the National Labor Review Board will now conduct an election. He sent us a picture and said management was "pissed."
It has been exciting to see the slow build to At's organizing--first it was just conversations with a fellow nerd, then more scripted check-ins with other colleagues, vetting different unions, trying to get a super majority of his colleagues on board--even roping me in to talk to an older south-asian colleague in our shared mother tongue.
When he first said he wanted to unionize his fast food place, I have to admit I thought it was a bit of a pipe dream and definitely did not think he and the other young people would make this much progress in under a year. Shows how much I don't know. Fingers crossed for their NLRB election.
Pic: At made this button a while ago; now that things are public, he can finally wear it.
Monday, July 04, 2022
reaching the threshold
Sunday, July 03, 2022
what could be
We managed to fit a lot into the 24 hours we were in YS, though. Peaches yesterday for reunion drinks, Glen Garden for flowers for Big A's mom with whom we were staying, Toy Company and Dark Star to keep Nu occupied, planned hangouts like the one pictured, and of course all the random running into old friends and neighbors.
It's difficult not to feel a bit of nostalgia for the YS years and wonder...Will we ever move back there again? What might our lives have been like if we'd stayed?
Saturday, July 02, 2022
mellow
Since we lived in YS (2008-2012), some are my friends too. But as the outsider, I was surprised by how much people remembered from 30 years ago. Everyone remembers Big A's infamous exploits (he'd have gotten juvie for his Ex-Lax cookies for sure these days!). But people were also saying to each other how kind people had been, how someone was the big sibling they didn't have at home, how they'd been made welcome although they were new in town.
It was definitely a taste of the old YS--all the once high-schoolers in this picture from progressive, hippie, biracial, LGBTQ families or living near families who were--growing up in an environment like that must have been so formative for them. What it must have been like to take all of that for granted... 30 years ago. The person who went into the army right after high school said how he was asked if "gays should be in the military" and that he'd responded "gay people have always been in the military, maybe you didn't know it." These people must have pushed change in the world outside of their bubble.
Also: we've been having a bit of a tough time at home because of some teen behaviors/choices/consequences--this was a good reminder that high school isn't forever, and hopefully, we will just remember the mellow highlights in a few years.
Friday, July 01, 2022
Scout = Love
Surely no one deserves this much adoration... but it feels like Scout is giving me credit for being such a grown up today: getting Nu to multiple doc appts., taking multiple meetings, being supportive to Big A as he moves into his new office in WI, and rescuing all the plants in my office.
Or maybe Scout's commiserating because I almost got my Bluey back. Bluey got busted when I hit that poor deer back in February, and has been in the bodyshop for a month (parts shortage, delay, etc.). They called to say Bluey was ready, but when Nu and I drove off down the street, all sorts of warning lights began to flicker--so we went back for a recheck.
In any case, I needed an extra dose of love today, and Scout was right there for me.
Thursday, June 30, 2022
normal...
We'd had a gnarly start to the day where I suspected I'd have to take Nu to the E.R.; so I was particularly glad with how fun and normal the rest of the day actually turned out--first a long visit from JG and then winding down with the new season of Umbrella Academy after dinner.
Plus I updated details of vacation week as #LaterPosts!
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
All four present
I started the day with all my monkeys in a row at breakfast.
A sunny moment in a day filled with other less fun duties.
my beautiful baby
It has been a year. Some days it feels like yesterday, some days it feels like a distant dream of love. There have been tears every day...
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Friends and old neighbors shutting it down in honor of John Crawford. _
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At had us pose for this pic up at Aunt R's place on Lake Huron so he could put it up in his dorm. "Don't tur...
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I have the feeling that I’m going to succumb to the season and put out a list of resolutions soon. Just wanted to establish this heads up th...