L'aventure américaine

Our second cocktail party with the Dickens and Jochims was a success. A much-needed, laughter-filled, trivia and cocktail party. Did you know that “jingle bells” was the first song broadcasted from space?

We didn’t go go Iowa as anticipated due to multiple fevers in our house. (Marian had approximately 200; I had two; Milo and randal are powerhouses.) But, we have had a good, albeit low key week and a wonderful thanksgiving. And Marian is fever free and has the energy to prove it for the first time since Monday.  Also- in case you were wondering about the snowman. It finally melted today, never having fallen over. A winter miracle. 

What a surprise on Saturday morning! But, we made the most of it with our cheerful little snowman and some snowball fights.  Snow: an example of our environment being totally transformed overnight. What a beautiful gift. 

Yesterday, lice descended on the house. It threw our plans in disarray. When I told my gentle reader that I wasn’t feeling particularly grateful, she noted, “at least it wasn’t bedbugs.” And I’m grateful for her and that perspective. Because even despite the lice, the kids cooperated, randal was an equal partner, and I have a great washing machine.  Here’s to gratitude in unexpected places. 

It was a full and busy day. I also got my flu shot. Is that why I’m so tired?  Anyway- I’m grateful for my bed and no plans tonight.

We didn’t imagine when we chose our house in Bloomington that we would be moving onto a street with people who would become some of our closest friends. Last week, I went running with my good friend, Laura. I twice celebrated Rosanna and Jorge who became American citizens last Wednesday. Aria gave Milo Spanish lessons. Samantha and Matthew passed down pants for the kids.  And these are all gifts from our neighbors- just in one week! I am so grateful to share our Bloomington lives with these wonderful people.  (The picture above is from two nights ago. Jorge texted us to tell us his telescope was set up to look at Jupiter and its moons at its closest in 59 years. We all piled out in our pajamas. Milo brought a space book out to tell us about the planets. It was wonderful.)

Randal and I said that there were about five minutes of stress-free relaxation during the day of Christmas decorating.  But, it’s worth it. 

A cold and gray day to get a Christmas tree, but we went a friendly Xmas tree farm where the trees were free (if irregular) and the host served us hot chocolate when we were done.  It’s beginning to look like Christmas!

I’m not sure how it’s Sunday night. Quarantine life can be fun, but it goes by in a blur.  Milo’s rapid test was negative, but it’s not official until the PCR is negative, so we’re still home. Yesterday we went on a lovely hike and today randal let me escape for a bit. (Randal has worked all weekend.) This week will be the hardest of the semester, but I’m getting so close I can almost taste it. It tastes like wine and chocolate. 

As I was making Milo’s lunch this morning, I got the dreaded contact tracer call. Milo was exposed to covid on the bus. One day before he was to get his second covid dose.  So, we’re home together until he gets a negative test….  But, we went on a good run/wild Kratt adventure today and it was a good excuse to get next to nothing done.  Happy quarantine weekend!

 It's our eight-year anniversary today.  We made Milo's lunch and the kids breakfasts in the kitchen together, gracefully moving around each other in that small room while we heard demands shouted out: "I want apple slices!"  "I want sparkle toast!"  As we bumped into each other, I said, "sorry," and then, "oh!" And we simultaneously wished each other a happy anniversary.  And I just felt so damn grateful for these little moments where we coexist and help each other. But, we have made it through some big moments this year too.  Since the celebration of our 7th anniversary: Covid has continued and the delta variant has become a frequent conversation topic.   We have had two visits to the ER (one for Randal, one for me) and one ambulance call (Milo). We have each been on steroids to deal with out of control allergic reactions. We have gotten and lost a dear pet. We have a very small amount left before we reach our out-of-pocket maximum (we ...

 I don't have a picture for today's gratitude moment because they're all at my parents' house in albums, printed from an ancient technology called film. Today I'm grateful for my aunt Juanita.  She sent such a wonderful (also gratitude-filled) email that I kept at the top of my inbox all day because it was such a nice walk down memory lane and such a warm, loving email that I needed amidst the work tasks. Once, she was buying shampoo in Target and the brand had something to do with horses.  Juanita whinnied down the aisle and I will never forget how hilarious I found that.  I still smile when I see that brand. I am so grateful for my family - near and far.

This was supposed to have been posted on Ash Wednesday, but my phone didn't upload it.  This is why the first and second post seem backwards! A friend texted me today and asked if I was doing anything for Lent. She’s a lapsed Catholic and I’m not religious at all, but it seemed like a good time to focus on some goodness.  So, we decided to share 40 days of gratitude. Which I will also share here.  And to start, I am grateful for this snow and the cold that is keeping it here.  The joy of sledding is infectious. It’s beautiful and active and fun and laughter-filled. And I’m so grateful for this week of a real, beautiful winter. What a gift and how lucky am I to share it with some of my nearest and dearest. 

I listened to a podcast about the outrage that pings back and forth between political parties right now and it made me tired.  It also made me think of how little outrage accomplishes. It’s so hard to know the best way to make the world a better place! So, we continue in our little corner trying to spread love. I wrote postcards for a month and have moved to Christmas cards now. And today, we pulled down the Biden signposts down from our little corner of property in Greene county (randal and I bought 8 acres this year). (The Biden sign itself came down after the election.) In its place, we planted a Christmas tree - white pine transplanted from mom and dad’s crop. The kids and I picked up litter along the road and then we decorated our new tree.  I don’t think that the neighbors have forgotten that we’re Biden supporters; there weren’t a lot of friendly looks (zero to be precise). But, the tree looks beautiful and festive and after we put up lights, hopefully they’ll be happy ...

 I was at Mom and Dad's when Joe Biden was declared President-Elect.  After a week of universal fatigue and restless sleep, it was such a relief to get the news. But, I haven't felt much better since then and I have been trying to pinpoint why. I think it's for many reasons...  One, the good news was tempered with coverage of Donald Trump on his golf course, refusing to concede the election.  Instead of focusing on a Biden celebration, the conversation was focused on the negative.  What do you do with a President who is making false claims and refuses to follow the civil, good precedent of his predecessors?  I continue to get depressed when I see Republicans backing up his claims and giving them credence.  Is winning more important than dignity?  Is retaining power more important than integrity?  It seems that it is. It's also because 71 million Americans still support Trump.  When I ask people (in a calmer frame of mind) why they suppor...

I get very homesick for Klamath Falls at Halloween.  Our street when we lived there was THE destination for trick-or-treaters and we always hosted a party for our friends while handing out treats to the 600-1000 kids who traipsed through our neighborhood.   COVID-19 would have changed all that, so it was easier to miss the holiday this year and we hunkered down for an intimate Halloween in Bloomington.  Mom brought dinner and we traipsed down two streets in our neighborhood who had tables out for a socially-distanced trick-or-treat.  Like my childhood Halloweens, we all piled into the car and visited some dear friends. The main purpose was to showcase the kids' incredible Halloween costumes.  Randal, Milo and I spent several hours working on Dogman and Marian's little stuffed Toto.  (Okay, Toto only took one hour and I worked on it by myself, hence the disparity in quality is quite evident.) While the adults' costumes paled in comparison to the kids, R...

I have had to turn down the news this week.  I am doing a 7-day meditation challenge.  I am focusing on Halloween.  I feel like I am taking a deep breath before next Tuesday. So, here are some highlights from our Halloween prep this week.  Stay tuned for some pretty great costumes on Saturday. The creativity expert of the family gathers his troops. He does not like drawing, but he drew this fabulous face!   Marian was an art director for her pumpkin.  She directed us (as she does multiple times a day) to "draw kitty." And here are our beauties!  I am inordinately proud of my donkey, which I did ALL BY MYSELF.  (Okay, I can't always avoid politics.) Milo is very proud of his pumpkin too.  We are obviously a family of jack-o-lantern artists. And we got this amazing package from Cory that was chocked full of Halloween goodies, including these great socks for the whole family.  Please ignore how I am holding Marian for the picture (it's...