It's 18 degrees in Denver right now. That's Fahrenheit, not Celsius. My tender California hide is SO not ready for this move... That's what wool, down, and flannel are for, though. Still gotta get chains for my car. I do have an ice scraper, though, left over from New Mexico. Hope I remember how to use it.
I've gotten some good pictures of the lil' guy this week -- here he is with mama in the sweater and hat my mom made for him, and here he is with Shannon and Cassidy. Here's Laz dwarfing Ian (not for long, I know... Ian is gonna be TALL), and here's our little family.
Friday, November 01, 2002
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
As promised, here are some pix (finally) of the lil' guy... getting ready for winter in his fisherman's sweater and cap. He won't be using this car seat much longer, by the way, since his feet already hang off the end and he won't fit into it when he's all bundled up for that Denver weather. Oh, and many thanks to May Mama buddy FiberChick for the beautiful hand-knit hat!
Back to packing. *Sigh.*
Back to packing. *Sigh.*
Monday, October 21, 2002
Jus' this mornin'
I took a long look around
I've lived it up
and loved it up
and done it in this town
Life goes on
Looks like it's time
for movin' on
After seven long years, Escape from L.A. comes to Anna's life, in less than two weeks! Yep, we're outta here... that's probably not news to two-thirds of the three or so people who read this weblog regularly, but it SURE feels good writing it. Woo-hoo! We were going to leave in early December -- to move to Denver, that is, to go help out Antonio's dad -- but Antonio is getting antsy, and his dad landed in the hospital for a bit last week, so off we go. It's not like we're leaving behind great jobs or anything... just rejection (sniff!) -- I'm still sending out resumes nine months after getting laid off and just got my second response to all that self-promotion last week. Not an offer, just a "thank you for applying" blah blah blah.
What we are leaving behind: really, really good friends. That part sucks. All these years of bitching and moaning about southern California (and all the other stuff I bitch and moan about), I still managed to be sociable enough to meet some awesome people, I guess. I have a trail of good friends all across the country -- from Massachusetts to Philly to New Mexico to California. I lived in one (beautiful, peaceful, nurturing) place for my first seventeen years of life and have moved every year or two ever since, either across town (I'm on my fifth soCal address in seven years) or away to try something new. Here I go again, messing up yet another page in all these good people's address books.
This time is a bit different, though: I'm moving "as a family." A big reason I agreed to go to Denver on such short notice is that I'll be able to continue staying home with Lazarus, working as a freelancer, getting the baby stuff business up and running -- doing what I need to to stay out of the rat race for a while longer. The only thing we don't have nailed down is health insurance -- not only is self-insurance incredibly expensive, but you CAN'T GET IT if you have any medical history whatsoever. I still have COBRA from my last job (which also covers Lazarus, at $320 for both of us), but Antonio has no coverage (I had to drop him from COBRA or pay $580 a month) and has little chance of getting coverage (at less than $500 a month or so) because of his arm injury last year. Still... I feel incredibly fortunate not only to have a secure, comfortable place to go but also to be selling a good house in a hot real estate market. Since we're shacking up with Antonio's dad, our living expenses drop considerably *and* we'll have a nest egg for later... for that straw bale house we really and truly are going to build down in Magdalena. If my internal timetable stays on track, we'd better get started pretty soon so we can have it ready for our next two-year upheaval. *Sigh.*
Wish us luck.
I took a long look around
I've lived it up
and loved it up
and done it in this town
Life goes on
Looks like it's time
for movin' on
After seven long years, Escape from L.A. comes to Anna's life, in less than two weeks! Yep, we're outta here... that's probably not news to two-thirds of the three or so people who read this weblog regularly, but it SURE feels good writing it. Woo-hoo! We were going to leave in early December -- to move to Denver, that is, to go help out Antonio's dad -- but Antonio is getting antsy, and his dad landed in the hospital for a bit last week, so off we go. It's not like we're leaving behind great jobs or anything... just rejection (sniff!) -- I'm still sending out resumes nine months after getting laid off and just got my second response to all that self-promotion last week. Not an offer, just a "thank you for applying" blah blah blah.
What we are leaving behind: really, really good friends. That part sucks. All these years of bitching and moaning about southern California (and all the other stuff I bitch and moan about), I still managed to be sociable enough to meet some awesome people, I guess. I have a trail of good friends all across the country -- from Massachusetts to Philly to New Mexico to California. I lived in one (beautiful, peaceful, nurturing) place for my first seventeen years of life and have moved every year or two ever since, either across town (I'm on my fifth soCal address in seven years) or away to try something new. Here I go again, messing up yet another page in all these good people's address books.
This time is a bit different, though: I'm moving "as a family." A big reason I agreed to go to Denver on such short notice is that I'll be able to continue staying home with Lazarus, working as a freelancer, getting the baby stuff business up and running -- doing what I need to to stay out of the rat race for a while longer. The only thing we don't have nailed down is health insurance -- not only is self-insurance incredibly expensive, but you CAN'T GET IT if you have any medical history whatsoever. I still have COBRA from my last job (which also covers Lazarus, at $320 for both of us), but Antonio has no coverage (I had to drop him from COBRA or pay $580 a month) and has little chance of getting coverage (at less than $500 a month or so) because of his arm injury last year. Still... I feel incredibly fortunate not only to have a secure, comfortable place to go but also to be selling a good house in a hot real estate market. Since we're shacking up with Antonio's dad, our living expenses drop considerably *and* we'll have a nest egg for later... for that straw bale house we really and truly are going to build down in Magdalena. If my internal timetable stays on track, we'd better get started pretty soon so we can have it ready for our next two-year upheaval. *Sigh.*
Wish us luck.
Friday, October 11, 2002
Some lunatic with good aim and access to a high-powered rifle is gunning people down in the Washington, DC area. I'm saying a prayer for everyone I know there and everyone I don't, and especially for the 13-year-old boy who got hit the other day but survived. A child, people. Who is this shooter, and how'd he get a gun like that? Who needs such weaponry for anything nonlethal?
I'm also making plans to somehow go see Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine, which opens in New York and LA this weekend and in other places next week. Michael Moore is a premier gadfly -- if I could have dinner with anyone from the present or past, it would be him. He rouses the rabble and rocks the boat and gets in smug people's faces to tell them the truth they won't hear, and (probably what I most admire about him, since it's a quality I sadly lack) he DOESN'T CARE if he upsets people. He's like a Robin Hood with words, stealing false dignity from the rich and giving voice to the poor. Anyway, Moore says this movie is his "2-hour journey into the dark soul of a country that is both victim and master of an enormous amount of violence, both at home and around the world. With this movie I have broadened my canvas to paint a portrait of our nation at the beginning of the 21st century, a nation that seems hell-bent on killing first and asking questions later..." I must admit that I don't particularly like the title, perhaps because of the grisly image that "Columbine" conjurs up, but maybe that was Moore's intent: we have to face this part of our culture if we're ever to conquer it... in fact, my guess is that Moore has discovered that it's not cost-effective to "conquer" violence because it supports an awfully large part of the US economy.
While I'm rooting around Moore's site, I also want to call out his peace pledge: "I pledge to never vote again for any Democratic candidate for public office who has voted in favor of George Bush's war in Iraq.... To the Democrats in Congress, we give you fair warning: You are either with us, or you are fired."
Whew -- had to get that off my chest. Hey, I gotta get back to taking pix of my little guy! He's growing so fast...
I'm also making plans to somehow go see Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine, which opens in New York and LA this weekend and in other places next week. Michael Moore is a premier gadfly -- if I could have dinner with anyone from the present or past, it would be him. He rouses the rabble and rocks the boat and gets in smug people's faces to tell them the truth they won't hear, and (probably what I most admire about him, since it's a quality I sadly lack) he DOESN'T CARE if he upsets people. He's like a Robin Hood with words, stealing false dignity from the rich and giving voice to the poor. Anyway, Moore says this movie is his "2-hour journey into the dark soul of a country that is both victim and master of an enormous amount of violence, both at home and around the world. With this movie I have broadened my canvas to paint a portrait of our nation at the beginning of the 21st century, a nation that seems hell-bent on killing first and asking questions later..." I must admit that I don't particularly like the title, perhaps because of the grisly image that "Columbine" conjurs up, but maybe that was Moore's intent: we have to face this part of our culture if we're ever to conquer it... in fact, my guess is that Moore has discovered that it's not cost-effective to "conquer" violence because it supports an awfully large part of the US economy.
While I'm rooting around Moore's site, I also want to call out his peace pledge: "I pledge to never vote again for any Democratic candidate for public office who has voted in favor of George Bush's war in Iraq.... To the Democrats in Congress, we give you fair warning: You are either with us, or you are fired."
Whew -- had to get that off my chest. Hey, I gotta get back to taking pix of my little guy! He's growing so fast...
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
I had a vivid dream this morning... I was sitting in a big, dark, cool stone cathedral asking God for help, and didn't hear anything back, so I started yelling, "why won't you help me???" He replied, "If I keep 'helping' you the way you ask me to, then you'll keep not doing what you know you need to do."
We went to see baby Ian on Saturday -- here's a picture of him with his happy mama, and one of him with his proud papa. Oh beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful boy...
And, of course, I have to put up more pix of my own beautiful boy... I gave Lazarus some rice cereal today -- his second time, the first being a week ago yesterday -- and he really seemed to like it. What's this stuff? Some cereal, s'posed to be good for you.... Hey, he likes it, he really likes it!
We went to see baby Ian on Saturday -- here's a picture of him with his happy mama, and one of him with his proud papa. Oh beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful boy...
And, of course, I have to put up more pix of my own beautiful boy... I gave Lazarus some rice cereal today -- his second time, the first being a week ago yesterday -- and he really seemed to like it. What's this stuff? Some cereal, s'posed to be good for you.... Hey, he likes it, he really likes it!
Wednesday, September 25, 2002
Hey, ma, I wanna show you something... watch... see, I can blow bubbles! Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm sitting up, too, eh?
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Ian is here!!!! Ian Japhy Woods was born at 7:10 a.m. today and is now resting with mama (Keri) and pops (Steve). So he was holding out to be a Libra after all... for the record, he's also Taurus moon, Libra Mercury, Scorpio Venus, Virgo Mars, Leo Jupiter, and Gemini Saturn. (I haven't figured out the ascendant yet -- too much math for a brain functioning on five hours' sleep.)
Welcome to the world, Ian.
Welcome to the world, Ian.
Of course southern California has seasons. Fire season, flood season, earthquake season... The days are shorter now but here they're also hotter, drier, and smoggier. It'll top 100 degrees tomorrow across much of the southland, just like yesterday, just like today. September in soCal sucks. That's the weather -- back to you, Marv.
Thanks, Jeff. Tonight's top story: FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! You can see the flames leaping into the sky -- it's visible from all over the LA Basin, even from downtown LA! (cut to endless video of hills in flames and random person-on-the-street interviews and more endless video of FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!) Five thousand acres burning and no end in sight! (more video - fire makes for great news footage)
In other news, California governor Gray Davis today signed a bill mandating paid leave for employees after the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for sick relatives. This makes California the first U.S. state to enact such a measure. The six paid weeks of leave are scant compared to the months- or even year-long family leave options in places like Sweden or Denmark, but it's a (really, really small) step.
Some people aren't happy about this bill, but not because it's not enough... from the "did you really say that out loud" department, as reported in today's LA Times: "Paid family leave is one of the worst bills for employers in the 2001-02 legislative session," said [Julianne Broyles, a lobbyist for the California Chamber of Commerce]. "This bill fails miserably to address the real cost concerns of employers -- the costs of replacement workers and additional overtime to cover for absent workers, training costs and loss of productivity." Yeah, drag that new mama back to work right away -- give her one week, that's plenty. She'll give you lots of happy productivity on thirty-seven minutes of sleep, with raging post-partum hormones (I can say this; I've been there), and having to leave her brand new baby in someone else's arms. Six weeks -- bah! Buncha wussy liberal wimps.
Others have a different perspective on the issues and priorities involved -- also from the LA Times article: "We as a nation love to talk about ourselves as a family-friendly nation, but when it comes to having the policies in place to live up to that we often fall short," said Judith Lichtman, president of the National Partnership for Women and Children, a Washington-based advocacy group involved in the nationwide battle over paid family leave.
Yup. You got that right, mama.
Thanks for that incisive commentary, Anne. Now for today's travel report, brought to you by No-Doz: Antonio just called from "somewhere about two hours west of Grand Junction," Colorado. "We stopped for a Moosehead and a shot of whiskey, and we're about to go get some sleep." Okay, hon, glad you added that last part. Lessee, looking at the map, assuming they're on I-70, I'm gonna guess they're in Green River, Utah. Which is, yes, on the Green River (which really is green in some spots), and is also just west of beautiful Arches National Park. The next town out -- 102 miles out -- is Salina, and the map has a notation, "No gasoline available between Salina and Green River." Ah, the remote, heavenly West... So I'm guessing he and his dad will show up here sometime tomorrow night. Two months to the day after Antonio left. Half a lifetime for little Lazarus. (No, no pictures today -- the heat and smog have made me CRANKY.)
That's it for today -- thanks for watching. (cue more video of FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!)
Thanks, Jeff. Tonight's top story: FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! You can see the flames leaping into the sky -- it's visible from all over the LA Basin, even from downtown LA! (cut to endless video of hills in flames and random person-on-the-street interviews and more endless video of FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!) Five thousand acres burning and no end in sight! (more video - fire makes for great news footage)
In other news, California governor Gray Davis today signed a bill mandating paid leave for employees after the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for sick relatives. This makes California the first U.S. state to enact such a measure. The six paid weeks of leave are scant compared to the months- or even year-long family leave options in places like Sweden or Denmark, but it's a (really, really small) step.
Some people aren't happy about this bill, but not because it's not enough... from the "did you really say that out loud" department, as reported in today's LA Times: "Paid family leave is one of the worst bills for employers in the 2001-02 legislative session," said [Julianne Broyles, a lobbyist for the California Chamber of Commerce]. "This bill fails miserably to address the real cost concerns of employers -- the costs of replacement workers and additional overtime to cover for absent workers, training costs and loss of productivity." Yeah, drag that new mama back to work right away -- give her one week, that's plenty. She'll give you lots of happy productivity on thirty-seven minutes of sleep, with raging post-partum hormones (I can say this; I've been there), and having to leave her brand new baby in someone else's arms. Six weeks -- bah! Buncha wussy liberal wimps.
Others have a different perspective on the issues and priorities involved -- also from the LA Times article: "We as a nation love to talk about ourselves as a family-friendly nation, but when it comes to having the policies in place to live up to that we often fall short," said Judith Lichtman, president of the National Partnership for Women and Children, a Washington-based advocacy group involved in the nationwide battle over paid family leave.
Yup. You got that right, mama.
Thanks for that incisive commentary, Anne. Now for today's travel report, brought to you by No-Doz: Antonio just called from "somewhere about two hours west of Grand Junction," Colorado. "We stopped for a Moosehead and a shot of whiskey, and we're about to go get some sleep." Okay, hon, glad you added that last part. Lessee, looking at the map, assuming they're on I-70, I'm gonna guess they're in Green River, Utah. Which is, yes, on the Green River (which really is green in some spots), and is also just west of beautiful Arches National Park. The next town out -- 102 miles out -- is Salina, and the map has a notation, "No gasoline available between Salina and Green River." Ah, the remote, heavenly West... So I'm guessing he and his dad will show up here sometime tomorrow night. Two months to the day after Antonio left. Half a lifetime for little Lazarus. (No, no pictures today -- the heat and smog have made me CRANKY.)
That's it for today -- thanks for watching. (cue more video of FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!)
Monday, September 16, 2002
You who are on the road
must have a code
that you can live by
Not much to write about today... just tired out and looking at another long night of editing because I couldn't get much done today with Laz awake just about the whole day. He gave me a half-hour nap this afternoon, and I had to choose: shower or lunch? Cleanliness may be next to Godliness, but a growling stomach will drown out calls from the divine sector every time. For me, at least.
Antonio's current ETA in Los Angeles: Sept. 20, 21, or 22, depending on whether he finishes his dad's house tomorrow or Wednesday, takes a day out to see Stu and Edith, and stops in Grand Junction on the way home to see Aunt Barb. And he has to get his truck worked on before hitting the road. Whatever, babe, just get your ass home before winter. Or before I tear all my hair out trying to take care of the house, cat, fish, plants, garden, work, bills, and, of course, baby. Every day has become a sort of marathon: tend to Lazarus (feed, change, play, cuddle), park Laz and rush to take care of something (meal, dishes, laundry, email, bottle washing, fish, plants...), pick up baby when he's had enough of being parked, feed/change/play/cuddle as needed, park baby again and work for the 27 minutes he's either asleep or content to stare at the fish (why I am still taking care of them after all these months), pick up baby and feed/change/play/cuddle as needed, and on it goes. Laz doesn't nap for an hour or two at a time anymore, and lately has needed more attention, so everything else gets squeezed in where possible, if possible, and stuff like showers and nail clipping and dusting just doesn't happen because it's not high enough up on the list. And when Laz falls asleep around 9 or 10 p.m., I take a deep breath and get back on the computer and work till I run out of steam. Last night, I made it to 2:00 a.m. -- good thing I'm a night person because it's the only time I have free to concentrate on anything.
But I'd still rather be doing this than anything else I could possibly think of. Why? Here's why. And around... we... go...
must have a code
that you can live by
Not much to write about today... just tired out and looking at another long night of editing because I couldn't get much done today with Laz awake just about the whole day. He gave me a half-hour nap this afternoon, and I had to choose: shower or lunch? Cleanliness may be next to Godliness, but a growling stomach will drown out calls from the divine sector every time. For me, at least.
Antonio's current ETA in Los Angeles: Sept. 20, 21, or 22, depending on whether he finishes his dad's house tomorrow or Wednesday, takes a day out to see Stu and Edith, and stops in Grand Junction on the way home to see Aunt Barb. And he has to get his truck worked on before hitting the road. Whatever, babe, just get your ass home before winter. Or before I tear all my hair out trying to take care of the house, cat, fish, plants, garden, work, bills, and, of course, baby. Every day has become a sort of marathon: tend to Lazarus (feed, change, play, cuddle), park Laz and rush to take care of something (meal, dishes, laundry, email, bottle washing, fish, plants...), pick up baby when he's had enough of being parked, feed/change/play/cuddle as needed, park baby again and work for the 27 minutes he's either asleep or content to stare at the fish (why I am still taking care of them after all these months), pick up baby and feed/change/play/cuddle as needed, and on it goes. Laz doesn't nap for an hour or two at a time anymore, and lately has needed more attention, so everything else gets squeezed in where possible, if possible, and stuff like showers and nail clipping and dusting just doesn't happen because it's not high enough up on the list. And when Laz falls asleep around 9 or 10 p.m., I take a deep breath and get back on the computer and work till I run out of steam. Last night, I made it to 2:00 a.m. -- good thing I'm a night person because it's the only time I have free to concentrate on anything.
But I'd still rather be doing this than anything else I could possibly think of. Why? Here's why. And around... we... go...
Friday, September 13, 2002
Hey, ma, know what Ian told me? He said he needs more elbow room. And I told him, there's only one way he's gonna get that...
Keri will be 40 weeks pregnant tomorrow. You rock, woman. We so totally can't wait to meet your baby -- Antonio wants him to wait till next weekend to come, but I know Steve's nerves are already a bit frayed from waiting... What, you mean THIS guy is Ian's dad???
Keri will be 40 weeks pregnant tomorrow. You rock, woman. We so totally can't wait to meet your baby -- Antonio wants him to wait till next weekend to come, but I know Steve's nerves are already a bit frayed from waiting... What, you mean THIS guy is Ian's dad???
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
Betcha by golly wow, you're the one that I've been waiting for, forever...
Yeah, I'm smitten with Lazarus... motherhood seems to be the one thing I'm doing right these days, and I'll take that while it lasts.
We went to Three Bears Park yesterday and today -- I walked through that park countless times when I lived in Philly and always gazed longingly at the kids playing on the swings and slides and clamboring over the bears... Laz really seemed to enjoy himself, both on the walk over and back (where he gazed up at the trees, fascinated by the intricate patterns of leaves and branches and sunlight) and at the park, where he intently watched the kids at play. Mom came with me today, and we posed Laz on the bears, in the swing (which he was unsure of at first, but got the hang of with me holding him), and on the bench with Grandma. All too soon he'll be a big guy toddling along with the other kids... but I love watching him learn how to focus his gaze, reach for things, blow spit bubbles -- the important things in life.
We saw more family on Sunday, and aunt Nancy gave Laz a fuzzy rabbit that Laz just loves... Look what the bunny does when I pull his ear, ma -- aaahhh, attack of the killer rabbit!!! -- heh heh, just kidding!
Yeah, I'm smitten with Lazarus... motherhood seems to be the one thing I'm doing right these days, and I'll take that while it lasts.
We went to Three Bears Park yesterday and today -- I walked through that park countless times when I lived in Philly and always gazed longingly at the kids playing on the swings and slides and clamboring over the bears... Laz really seemed to enjoy himself, both on the walk over and back (where he gazed up at the trees, fascinated by the intricate patterns of leaves and branches and sunlight) and at the park, where he intently watched the kids at play. Mom came with me today, and we posed Laz on the bears, in the swing (which he was unsure of at first, but got the hang of with me holding him), and on the bench with Grandma. All too soon he'll be a big guy toddling along with the other kids... but I love watching him learn how to focus his gaze, reach for things, blow spit bubbles -- the important things in life.
We saw more family on Sunday, and aunt Nancy gave Laz a fuzzy rabbit that Laz just loves... Look what the bunny does when I pull his ear, ma -- aaahhh, attack of the killer rabbit!!! -- heh heh, just kidding!
Thursday, September 05, 2002
Hey pretty baby don't you know it ain't my fault, I love to hear the steel belts hummin' on the asphalt...
Laz and I are back from our big road trip, and once again the little guy gets big points for being an awesome traveler. He's a road-tripper just like his mama! We drove from Philly to western Massachusetts on Tuesday and came back today, taking the scenic route up through New York state (we Angelenos are tough drivers, but I won't take on the New York City area...). Maria and her family just loved da baby, and I got this nice photo of him with mama in front of Maria's meadow. Maria's kids are awesome... I have so much to look forward to!
I told Maria that I realized the other day that we've known each other for half our lives -- her reply: "Man we're old." Nah, just wiser. Heh.
Laz is still a ways from sitting up on his own, but when I prop him up, he doesn't just smush over anymore, either. What, another photo?!?
Laz and I are back from our big road trip, and once again the little guy gets big points for being an awesome traveler. He's a road-tripper just like his mama! We drove from Philly to western Massachusetts on Tuesday and came back today, taking the scenic route up through New York state (we Angelenos are tough drivers, but I won't take on the New York City area...). Maria and her family just loved da baby, and I got this nice photo of him with mama in front of Maria's meadow. Maria's kids are awesome... I have so much to look forward to!
I told Maria that I realized the other day that we've known each other for half our lives -- her reply: "Man we're old." Nah, just wiser. Heh.
Laz is still a ways from sitting up on his own, but when I prop him up, he doesn't just smush over anymore, either. What, another photo?!?
Sunday, September 01, 2002
I was thinking last night about how overwhelming it is to contemplate a whole life in the making. Lazarus is just over three months old now, and he gets more amazing and precious to me every day... but even as I revel in each new sound, smile, and movement he makes, part of me wishes this babyhood would never end.
Maybe that's just because I don't know what's ahead, and people keep telling me, oh, enjoy him now, because when he's a toddler/eight-year-old/teenager/whatever, you'll have your hands full. Why do people have to wag their fingers and tell us there's bad stuff up ahead? I'm trying to tune those people out and listen to those who say things like, I loved my boys as teenagers because...
The biggest thing on my mind is figuring out how to keep Lazarus sweet and innocent enough to be happy and kind, but savvy enough to be able to defend himself and not get taken advantage of. He is so, so sweet and good-natured, and I want desperately to spare him the pain that I and my brother went through trying to fit in and, over time, learning to feel okay about ourselves even though we so completely didn't fit in... Is it enough for Lazarus that I love him with all my heart???? I hope so, because I feel a bit out of my league on everything else.
Saturday, August 31, 2002
Laz and Mama had a big day today -- lots of family to see. We picked up Laz's great-grandma Sally and drove out to (great) Aunt Carol's, where we also saw Larry and cousins Bonnie and Sherry, and Ryan and Nicholas. Nicholas seemed a bit shy at first, but once he realized Laz was a little guy just like him, he couldn't wait to show off his trains. Laz wasn't sure what to make of them but was definitely interested. Ryan really took a shine to Laz (posing here in front of a picture my grandfather painted). Of course, with all the activity (and food), Laz and Grandpa just had to take a nap...
Friday, August 30, 2002
Another day older and deeper in debt...
We're here in Philly, adjusting to both the time change and the weather: cool and cloudy. Haven't seen any of that since... oh my, since May 20, actually, the day Lazarus was born. It rained that morning and was unseasonably cool all day, and all day and into the night, I couldn't get this line out of my head:
I was born one day when the sun wouldn't shine/I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine/I loaded 16 tons of number-nine coal/and the foreman said, Well bless my soul...
That's from a lullaby my dear dad used to sing to us kids to help us sleep snug and happy all night... Yeah, I'm serious. That and stuff about poor starving waifs fainting on rich men's doorsteps, their cries muffled in the falling snow - and my second favorite ("16 Tons" beats all), "Daddy, don't go to the mines today..."
Anyhoo, Laz is an absolute champion traveler. He did save up his poops for three days and gave me one shot in the airport, another on the plane an hour or so after takeoff, but the terminal's nursery section and the plane's pull-down changing table in the restroom helped me take care of that. Other than poop, he slept, looked around, cooed, fussed just a bit when he got hungry, ate, chomped on the pacifier, and slept some more. When we landed, I managed to talk him through the scary THUMP of the plane hitting the tarmac and the cacophony of the jet engines reversing - his eyes got wide, but he gazed at me and I held his tiny hand and talked, and he was okay. And then, the big moment: meeting Grandma and Grandpa! The Philly airport has a bunch of rocking chairs right at the terminal's exit, and of course Mom was in the very first chair, rocking like mad waiting for da baby! Laz recognized her and gave her a big smile, and then while Dad and I picked up my bag, he regaled her with stories of his first big trip. He's such a little talker now... time to get out the video camera...
I'll get some new photos up tomorrow... we're going to see my grandmother and aunt so I expect to take lots of pictures...
We're here in Philly, adjusting to both the time change and the weather: cool and cloudy. Haven't seen any of that since... oh my, since May 20, actually, the day Lazarus was born. It rained that morning and was unseasonably cool all day, and all day and into the night, I couldn't get this line out of my head:
I was born one day when the sun wouldn't shine/I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine/I loaded 16 tons of number-nine coal/and the foreman said, Well bless my soul...
That's from a lullaby my dear dad used to sing to us kids to help us sleep snug and happy all night... Yeah, I'm serious. That and stuff about poor starving waifs fainting on rich men's doorsteps, their cries muffled in the falling snow - and my second favorite ("16 Tons" beats all), "Daddy, don't go to the mines today..."
Anyhoo, Laz is an absolute champion traveler. He did save up his poops for three days and gave me one shot in the airport, another on the plane an hour or so after takeoff, but the terminal's nursery section and the plane's pull-down changing table in the restroom helped me take care of that. Other than poop, he slept, looked around, cooed, fussed just a bit when he got hungry, ate, chomped on the pacifier, and slept some more. When we landed, I managed to talk him through the scary THUMP of the plane hitting the tarmac and the cacophony of the jet engines reversing - his eyes got wide, but he gazed at me and I held his tiny hand and talked, and he was okay. And then, the big moment: meeting Grandma and Grandpa! The Philly airport has a bunch of rocking chairs right at the terminal's exit, and of course Mom was in the very first chair, rocking like mad waiting for da baby! Laz recognized her and gave her a big smile, and then while Dad and I picked up my bag, he regaled her with stories of his first big trip. He's such a little talker now... time to get out the video camera...
I'll get some new photos up tomorrow... we're going to see my grandmother and aunt so I expect to take lots of pictures...
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Leavin' on a jet plane - I don't know when I'll be back again...
Thirteen hours till takeoff!!!!!! I'm so excited - kind of terrified of the traveling part (I hate airports, hate being cramped in an airplane, and hope Laz doesn't have trouble popping his little ears) but so ready to be outta here and back in Philly. Mom went on a shopping spree for baby stuff - Dad practically had to drag her out of the store - so Laz will have a comfy little home away from home for the next two and a half weeks.
So, for now - bye!!!
Thirteen hours till takeoff!!!!!! I'm so excited - kind of terrified of the traveling part (I hate airports, hate being cramped in an airplane, and hope Laz doesn't have trouble popping his little ears) but so ready to be outta here and back in Philly. Mom went on a shopping spree for baby stuff - Dad practically had to drag her out of the store - so Laz will have a comfy little home away from home for the next two and a half weeks.
So, for now - bye!!!
Saturday, August 24, 2002
Three days to go, and then Lazarus and I are off to Philly! Can't wait to see Mom and Dad - and they're dying to see da babe, too! Last time Dad saw Laz, he looked something like this: sleepy... He didn't open his eyes much back then (Laz didn't, that is), but he was already working on his great facial expressions, including my old favorite, the kissy face! Of course, Mom saw Laz just two weeks ago, but it's never enough, right, ma?
Antonio hasn't seen Lazarus in a month, and I'm afraid he's missed an awful lot. Not just the physical growing but also the giggles, increased eye contact, "conversations," and, of course, cuddling. Okay, so Laz still sleeps a lot... Antonio is up in the mountains above Denver this weekend fishing with a cousin, and expects to finish packing up his dad's house next week. I've asked him to be back home by the time I return from Philly... I guess in some ways this separation has been a growing time for both of us, but it has been very hard on me to be taking care of *everything* while he's gone, from Laz to finances and working to the house and garden and fish... don't do this again, okay, hon'? You're missing too much of the fun... :-/
Antonio hasn't seen Lazarus in a month, and I'm afraid he's missed an awful lot. Not just the physical growing but also the giggles, increased eye contact, "conversations," and, of course, cuddling. Okay, so Laz still sleeps a lot... Antonio is up in the mountains above Denver this weekend fishing with a cousin, and expects to finish packing up his dad's house next week. I've asked him to be back home by the time I return from Philly... I guess in some ways this separation has been a growing time for both of us, but it has been very hard on me to be taking care of *everything* while he's gone, from Laz to finances and working to the house and garden and fish... don't do this again, okay, hon'? You're missing too much of the fun... :-/
Thursday, August 22, 2002
okay, this is supposed to be a soapbox and I'm taking muppets quizzes and mooning over my baby. and I got my dsl back and have to make up for lost time! so I'm surfing... check this out before your next mall/Target/BabiesRUs expedition:
Behind the Label
wonder where those $12 pants come from (guilty)? or the adorable $4.99 baby onesies with booties (guilty)? wanna know where to get stuff made by fairly compensated adults, not slave-wage kids? look behind the label to get the real story... I've mouthed off about this before but am still buying cheap stuff that's cheap not cuz it's used or trash but because someone didn't get paid what they should have to make it. and that someone isn't the store selling the stuff, or the distributor/importer bringing the stuff over from whatever place they've managed to find yet another exploitable cheap labor source. I'm starting to get more stuff in thrift stores and feel a bit better about buying "recycled" goods, but still...
and while I'm up on that soapbox, here's a great quote I just found:
Profit is unpaid labor. Profit denies that resources are limited. Profit denies its connection to the disposal of waste. Profit relies on blindness to connections, consequences, and responsibility.
Can I get an amen. Okay, off to bed.
Behind the Label
wonder where those $12 pants come from (guilty)? or the adorable $4.99 baby onesies with booties (guilty)? wanna know where to get stuff made by fairly compensated adults, not slave-wage kids? look behind the label to get the real story... I've mouthed off about this before but am still buying cheap stuff that's cheap not cuz it's used or trash but because someone didn't get paid what they should have to make it. and that someone isn't the store selling the stuff, or the distributor/importer bringing the stuff over from whatever place they've managed to find yet another exploitable cheap labor source. I'm starting to get more stuff in thrift stores and feel a bit better about buying "recycled" goods, but still...
and while I'm up on that soapbox, here's a great quote I just found:
Profit is unpaid labor. Profit denies that resources are limited. Profit denies its connection to the disposal of waste. Profit relies on blindness to connections, consequences, and responsibility.
Can I get an amen. Okay, off to bed.
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