Green Thumb

"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed." - Walt Whitman

Until very recently, I would have said that I have a black thumb. I am good with kids. I am good with animals. But with plants and garden, things have never gone well. I think my black thumb is becoming a little greener though.

When we moved in May, my lovely neighbor, Doreen, gave Pickle and I some ivy plant cuttings. There 3 cuttings in the small vase, about 5-6 inches in length at the time. I planted them in a small pot and it sits on my front window sill now with my collection of glassworks. Well! Has it grown!



I find myself weaving the branches along the windowsill every week as it continues to grow. In its glory now I feel it deserves a better pot to live in. I will have to take care of that.

Another plant that I keep above my kitchen sink has also taken root and blossomed (pun intended) since my divorce - which, yes, I take as full blown symbolism. How can you not? anyways...it was a clipping from many years ago from A, and now it too needs some re-potting and addressing as it creeps closer to the kitchen sink. The dots on the leaves I think are the results of stray soap bubbles.



Granted our pumpkin plant ALMOST had a wee pumpkin until the squirrel got to it and the entire plant. But our marigolds were plentiful and gorgeous.

Looking forward to next spring where Pickle and I will plant more seeds and cultivate a bigger garden full of smiles and colors - cause looks like things are taking a turn for the better.

P.S. - if you have any advice on successfully re-potting plants pass them along. I would hate a post here in a month or so with an RIP.

QoTD

"Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."

- P.J. O'Rourke (1947 - )

I am just past the half way mark in The Poisonwood Bible and it really is pulling me in more and more. But now I am looking ahead at my next book as I do not want this momentum to end. Not to mention I have to put my new shiny library card to good use! I usually do not do library books because I am notorious for not returning them on time - but with my efforts to be better with my budget it is likely a good idea. Not to mention, with the 2 times I have moved in the last 2 years I found moving my books the most cumbersome. I purged many of them, except those that I would feel incomplete without them nearby. One day I will have those ceiling to floor built-in bookshelves and all the books my heart desires plus some to just make me look smart and witty.

Any recommendations out there on what to put on my Winter reading list? My next book will be No Reservations, by Anthony - last name fails me right now. I will come back and edit. He is a chef that travels and tries 'odd' foods and cultures. That is the November book for the book club I want to check out in town. From there I have nothing on deck. I enjoy reading everything but non-fiction and pulp mystery ala Crighton. Look forward to what you have to share!

Child's Play

"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm." - Bruce Barton

I did something very, very selfish this weekend. I spent the entire weekend with my kids. Friday night we went to A's and had dinner and a play date. A play date which involved me and my best friend re-connecting after about 3 weeks of not seeing each other while the kids ran around. Then Saturday, after gymnastics class we rented a couple of Wii games at Blockbusters and went home to spend the rainy day playing video games, board games, watching movies and doing some chores around the house. Lunch was sitting at the counter laughing over some hot dogs and cheeseburgers. Then I had insomnia Saturday night, but Sunday we all awoke and decided to take a field trip to the Boston Children's Museum. It was a grand idea and we had a fantastic time! We have not been to the museum since they re-designed it. Let me tell you, there is a climbing structure there now that New Balance sponsored and it is fabulous! The only problem with it is that no adults allowed. Here's a shot of it from the view on the ground...

It looks loose, but it is solid and going no where! The tops of the boards are covered in carpet. The whole thing is a big puzzle for the kids to go up and down. Only two ways out for safety - the bottom and at the top on the stairwell that is manned at the trap door. You can only get out if your parent/guardian is there. When mine came out there a 3rd kid got out too and I had to point out that he was not mine. Back in he went!

It was just so much fun to watch the kids explore and chase one another and me try to find them as the climbed about. I am not a climb the side of the mountain kind of gal like my friend D is, but this type of spelunking climbing thrills me! How D does what he does confounds me. I think he is part spider monkey...but that is a different story...

The rest of the museum was fun too with a lovely exhibit on China and the usual bubble play area. Sadly the Japan house was closed - we always love that too. And on the walk to and from the museum we marveled at the planes taking off from Logan that seemed to disappear in the clouds only to re-appear higher in the sky. And the Boston skyline is gorgeous from that side of the river. We had such a good time dodging rain drops too.

One of the many things that I am proud of with my kids is how they like to learn about new places and how different people live. It is a passion of my own, so to share that with them means a great deal. Mo adores the Great Wall of China. I have promised myself that one day I will take him there. Pickle has a thing about Paris. Likely some fairy tale image of high fashion and romance. OK, me too. We'll go there as well one day.

Oh, and Mo kicked my butt at light saber duels in "Star Wars Unleashed" on the Wii. So, very, sad.

It was an amazing weekend re-connecting with my children who are just growing up way too fast. I was sad to bring them to school today. They will be with their dad until I see them Thursday night. Mo's birthday is Saturday - he turns 8. Where did the years go? But it is weekends and moments that we shared that will slow it all down in my heart.


Here's a closing shot of them in the climb structure chasing each other. I can still hear Pickle's giggle as she dodged her brother time and again. :)

I remember great days like this with my parents. I hope they will too.

Sleep

"Not being able to sleep is terrible. You have the misery of having partied all night...without the satisfaction." - Lynn Johnston (1947 - ), For Better or For Worse

Our lazy rainy day about the house playing games, playing Wii, watching a movie, making cookies and just taking it easy is rebelling against me. I am W-I-D-E AWAKE!!! The kids even had trouble getting to sleep. One of them, as it is rarely both together, will arise about 6:30. I will beg for reprieve until 8am. I will likely get it, but as the quote says - I will be one worn out cookie tomorrow. Hoping Mo's baseball is not canceled again because of rain. It may be an afternoon at an indoor playground just to burn some energy off of them. Wish it was that easy for me. I would love to go for a good hike. I am out of shape in a bad way, but the spirit is willing. Suppose to go for a hike next Sunday with a friend, so that is good to look forward to.

OK, now I am entering into tired but cannot sleep babbling. Maybe I should do some work? I do have to start re-writing copy for our web site. Yeah, that would be good. I am sure that will be some of my best work - not! Ugh...this week will be filled with analyzing the website's performance and hits, etc. I hate numbers. I hate math. That part of my brain hurts just thinking about the thinking about it.

more babbling...

Hope you had sweet dreams...and I am not talking about the chocolate chip cookies I just ate, that I should not have eaten as I think I have eaten a dozen all together today.

none of this will end well...

Old Blue Eyes

"I picture my epitaph: "Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown." - Paul Newman (1925-2008)

"Every time I get a script it's a matter of trying to know what I could do with it. I see colors, imagery. It has to have a smell. It's like falling in love. You can't give a reason why." - Paul Newman (1925-2008)



Took a moment to check my email while the kids put their toys away this morning and saw the news about Paul Newman. How sad I am. I grew up a few towns away from where he lives in Westport, CT and we always hoped we would run into him and his wife, Joanne Woodward. My sister actually knew him a little. She worked at a spa and he was a customer. And once when she was out to lunch she saw him at the deli and he greeted her. He was a good man, a brilliant actor and a tremendous environmentalist. If you have not seen his performance in the movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof I recommend you do so. His performance is legendary and inspiring. I am a huge Tennessee Williams fan, but this one with its layers of context thrills me. Think I will have to watch it again myself.

Rest in peace, dear Paul. Your legacy is great. Your footprints will remain on this earth for generations to come. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.

Elementary School Open House

"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth" - Diogenes Laertius

The kids had Open House at the their Elementary School last night. It was good. I like the principal, and actually, I have seen a marked difference in the school since last year. I am admittedly a snob. I have grown into it I think as it pertains to the education of my children. They are not in the school system I had always dreamed of for them - one that mirrors my own experience in a country suburb. They could have been, but that's a different story. But they do well in school and mostly enjoy it. Except Friday mornings when I bring them and Pickle is not pleased and cries. Ahhh...the joys of shared custody and being a working mother.

But the school has some good programs running this year that shows me their efforts. They have a federal grant to supply fruit and veggie snacks to all of the kids at snack time. I am sure they have found that nutrition is a challenge as it is for the entire nation's youth. Heck, some days I am challenged in getting them the healthiest thing possible in their bags. But through this program ALL the kids get fruits and veggies AND the opportunity to try new things that they may not have before and try things under the peer guidance/pressure of their peers. Mo is in fact excited about trying grapefruit today. And maybe they will get celery one day as I hate it and refuse to even keep it in the fridge (yes, I am weird). And they have good community programs in place to teach respect and responsibility to community and the environment and I like the teachers. I feel better about their school year this year and look forward to getting into the PTA to be more involved. Mo wants to get involved in the school council. Yay my Mo!

They also had a book fair last night. I love those. I could have spent hundreds of dollars on books for them. They each got a couple and a character pen and pencil. Pickle had quick picks - Scooby Doo and a book called Pinkalicious. Mo wanted all things Pokemon, but in the end he got one Pokemon and one chapter book, The Age of Dinosaurs (I think that is what it is called). I love reading with them and seeing them learn and grow. It is my greatest treasure in life. And it makes me feel more secure knowing that their school is making the efforts too.

It will do for now. I still have hopes that come the higher grades I will be in a suburb again where they take a bus and they teach Italian as a foreign language and offer lacrosse and all the other fancy sports. See, snob. But a goodhearted public education snob. I can learn to live with it.

The Red Tent

If men could menstruate ... clearly, menstruation would become an enviable, boast-worthy, masculine event: Men would brag about how long and how much.... Sanitary supplies would be federally funded and free. Of course, some men would still pay for the prestige of such commercial brands as Paul Newman Tampons, Muhammed Ali’s Rope-a-Dope Pads, John Wayne Maxi Pads, and Joe Namath Jock Shields—”For Those Light Bachelor Days."" - Gloria Steinem


A few years ago I had the pleasure of reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. I loved this book for a few reasons.

1. It took one bit from the Book of Genesis, and expanded upon it with a full story around the woman, not the men. Let's face it - the Bible, new and old, is a patriarchal text. I am not assigning blame or opinion to that, it's a fact. This bit has caused much conversation amongst those of the Christian faith as well as Jewish. Anita Diamant took it and made it a story of the woman, Dinah and the life of a woman in these times.

2. The attention to detail in capturing Dinah and all of the facets of her that make her a brilliant heroine. You could relate so easily to so much of her. It was so very well written and brought an ancient time to life for me.

3. The book celebrates being a woman and the often joked, disgraced or shunned elements of being a woman, our menstrual cycles. The title refers to the tent where women would go and spend their week of their cycle. In there they bonded and supported one another. It was a pat of village life and a revered ritual by all resident, male & female.

I will be honest (for those of you who want to keep track get out your calendars), I am presently having my period. I like to refer to it as mother nature visiting. It disrupts life for a bit. I am achey, fatigued, overly emotional (moreso than usual) I could eat everything and anything that is not nailed down especially if it has salt or chocolate, my skin tends to break out and for some reason my hair just does not curl as well. I will not even get into the ick factors. I am a poster child for Midol. I grew up dreading this time of month. I think all women were/are. There is no positive message out there for us about how wonderful this truly is in our existence as the 'weaker sex'. There is plenty of marketing at us about the best products to use to control those embarrassing vacation moments, the aches and pains, mood swings and what have you. And most of that marketing is done in pastels. But no one is sitting beside us, holding our hands and relating our oneness as women in this time that, for so many women in history, was a ritual. A ritual that brought them together to connect and celebrate what we have the power to bring to this world - life. Not only the actual process of growing life within our wombs but also the role we take on as nurturers, caregivers and teachers.

It is so easy to forget what a gift this is. The time of month that we should give ourselves that extra care and loving attention, recognizing our place in the universe and the influence that we have over our own lives and those lives around us. A time to celebrate - for me celebrating is best done in a hot tub at this time - being a woman. Yeah, it sucks for all the reasons named above. I will also 'joke' that men could not handle it. But as I read this book and have had similar discussions with my friend S, my perspective has changed. This is a part of who I am and who my friends are and makes us so wonderfully whole and unique in our woman-ness. With this in mind, I see this gift, recognize it and welcome it. (with my hot bath not far behind)

I will make a point to teach my daughter that it is a gift and a vital part of our lives. I will sit with her when she is in discomfort and help her navigate through with laughter, tears and an open heart. My son will learn the proper respect for women and the influence and responsibilities he has.This is a good monthly reminder for me too of my own responsibilities to them.I will cut through the clutter that the world brings to us through media and marketing and help them revel in the cycles of our lives and hold appreciation and respect for it and each other.

OK, that was a little deeper than I thought it would be. :)

Womanly stuff aside, this is an excellent story so very well told. I highly recommend it to anyone - male or female. It was a best seller for a reason.