Saturday, November 05, 2022
when you are here
Friday, November 04, 2022
"look for the helpers"
And also, Mr. Roger's message for kids isn't really the best thing for grown ass adults...
But I've been so lucky with helpers lately whether it's EM shouldering more of our collaborative work than she needs to, people at work cutting me a whole lot of slack around after-hours responsibilities, all the people reaching out in support, or Nu making the best sandwich I've ever eaten (for my Boss Day today).
Things might not be great right now, but everyone in my life understands and is trying to help. I'm so grateful for that.
Tuesday, November 01, 2022
tiny, new habit
A new-ish thing I've been doing with Scout and Huck--early morning walks. It's just 20 minutes, and it's a multitasking beauty. It lets me make sure that Nu's walk to the school bus stop is a bit safer + see that Nu gets on the bus, I get to see beautifully starry skies, and of course these guys love it! There's so much excitement from the moment I pull on sweats over my pajamas and clip their leashes.
If we pass by the bus stop at the right time, Nu'll say hello to Scout and Huck and they'll get so excited about it because it's IN THE STREET and there are OTHER KIDS!! After the big, yellow school bus takes Nu, we race home. Then... 20-mins later, I'm on the road to work.
But I get to do one fun thing with the babies before the to-do list on my calendar.
Pic: Scout and Huck and their mid-morning snooze. My day didn't look like this... but this is certainly the dream.
Monday, October 31, 2022
barely a boo
At was at a conference, Nu was going to "couples-costume" it with a friend but then they decided not to. I wore one devil's horn at work (half devil, half child in a tongue-in-cheek literary ref).
It was raining this evening on our quiet street and we got NO trick or treaters.
Boo.
(Perking up now close to the witching hour watching [via YouTube] fabulously costumed students doing a funny and spooky concert in the college chapel. Looks like a totally full house over there.)
Saturday, October 29, 2022
it was going to be a good day
The roofers are finally gone/done (for now at least). So I did hours of yard work to celebrate the removal of the scaffolding that killed my plants. After living under tarps and boarded up skylights since June, it was glorious to clear up the tea garden and hang out in the sunshine with Scout and Huck.
Then Big A called to say he was sick and then it turned out he has Covid--again. (He'd had it May 2020 when he went to help out in NYC.) I kind of want to go to Milwaukee and bring him home, but he thinks he should quarantine in place.
Now I can't think about anything except how he's there all by himself with no one to help.
Monday, October 24, 2022
Happy Diwali!
May there be bright and sweet happiness through the year!
It was a long work day today, but we'd already had a pooja last night after birthday cake (with the whole fam), and another one tonight (just Nu, the pups, and me).
Also, I love this picture of my babies' hands.
In "baby" news: At took some diyas and a box of kumkum to set up his own small altar at his place. Nu had to come in to work with me Friday and today (odd four-day weekend)--I expected him to be grumpy about it, but he was quite sweet and annotated the new Taylor Swift for me in the car.
In "India" news: Lots of pictures of beautiful lamps and altars from home. One of the sweetest holiday videos this weekend was one of my parents and assorted aunts and uncles playing dumb charades at a party. It made me laugh (and also cry).
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
as I ought to
holding the scene together
whispering steps and trips
the beast of my heart
beats: and here's eye contact
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
falling asleep thoughts
Here's Huckie looking so much like Falkor in The Neverending Story (ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah aah ah).
I think I termed Scout Falkor before, but nah, it's Huck.
Got a ton of work, grading, and prep done. Discovered that Nu really likes chickpeas today. Did lots of planning for Big A's birthday. Did my laundry too, but can't count it "done" until I put it away (which will probably take 3-4 business days 😏).
I'm going to bed and it's not even 1:00 am yet! Nice!
Monday, October 17, 2022
autumnal
Long (good!) teaching day. It's like clockwork: midterm comes around and I realize I love my students. Things have been difficult at home this year, so I worried I wouldn't be able to connect... but Whoomp, There It Is! "I'm taking it back to the old school/'cos I'm an old fool." I'm glad to know my heart still works.
Big A is back in MKE; Nu hung out at a friend's until I got home; roofers didn't show again; I got to see At on a live podcast last night; Nu and I got most things checked off our list today. There are some yays in there.
Pic: Scout calling Nu to come in for dinner.
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Happy 15th birthday, Nu 💗
We celebrated Nu's 15th today--donuts at school, Sansu sushi takeout, a pistachio-raspberry cake made by Big A, brownies made by LB, phone calls from grandparents, and enough presents and gift cards to keep Nu in emo swag for a while.
What a difficult year it has been for this kid in so many ways... I hope this next year is better.
(I remember picking the date and showing up at the NYU hospital to be induced. I remember it like it was yesterday, but somehow it has been 15 years.)
(And also--speaking of parenting--the love and pain in this voicemail from President Biden to his son is everywhere today... and it breaks me every time.)
Monday, October 03, 2022
happiness in ten minutes or less
I was just about to drop At back to his place in Lansing after dinner when Big A showed up from Milwaukee.
It had been so long since all of us have been together... So after hugs and hellos, I grouped these five around my reading chair so I could take a picture.
(Huck loves being picked up, Scout hates it.)
We got ten minutes together, and I have a picture that makes me happy every time I look at it.
Saturday, October 01, 2022
celebration worthy
Friday, September 30, 2022
all set to start
Navaratri celebrations tonight!
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Quiet
It was otherwise a quiet and fulfilling Sunday: UU meditation, a hang with JL at the Lebanese coffee shop, a chat with my sis and mom, a WhatsApp celebration with the cousins, weekend chores, a soak, groceries, dinner with all four kids, teaching prep, Navaratri invitations and menu-planning, a heart-warming chat with At while I dropped him back at his place, more teaching prep, and so to bed.
Thursday, September 22, 2022
drop
I don't know if it's silly to pine for one's partner at this stage in my life, but it also feels basic--you know? One should get to end every day with the person you picked for life.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
*three thoughts *on the third day *of the work week
*Lots going on in the world outside and students were on fire today, discussing--the Hijab protests in Iran, the Venezuelans trafficked to Martha's Vineyard, the floods in Pakistan and Puerto Rico...
*I felt buoyed today by an internet friend becoming a more IRL friend, work friends finding non work ways to connect, and my sister's glee that her birthday is "just four months away."
*When I need to laugh, I come back to this picture of "Kangaroo Huck" with her feet rudely positioned on Scout's butt, her "dress" askew, looking at me for pets.
Sunday, September 18, 2022
how do you know
a streak of white tail a trail
Friday, September 16, 2022
five Friday yays
Got a shoutout from the wonderful Melissa at Stirrup Queens... that always makes my week!
Finished up work for the week--even got in a couple of things ahead of deadline (to make up for the things past due).
Nu and I got home around the same time. We're watching Riverdale together per Nu's request. It's so over the top, we keep laughing--so I guess that's the good part.
A quick dinner prep and then off to the train station. Nu DJ-ed through the train delay and then finally we got Big A home. We'll have him for about 36 hours.
Pic: Big A and Huck who are bestest pals reunited.Thursday, September 15, 2022
what was I thinking?
Anyway... So I had very good reasons to pick Wildfire... And yes, the language and descriptions were just as flawless and the murder mystery just as intriguing. But of course the historical moment is a key player too--the conquest of Everest by Tenzing and Hillary and... the coronation of QEII.
I guess subliminal colonialism is a thing.
Pic: Reading my Mary Stewart compendium with Scout and Huck.
cheers to 25 years
It's At's birthday and she turns 25! TWENTY FIVE! I can't believe my baby is that old (nearly 30, my mom said rounding up in her...
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Friends and old neighbors shutting it down in honor of John Crawford. _
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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...
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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...