GOP Tampons

Posted on 2012/09/25 by circuskitchen

In the absence of time to blog the stuff from my own actual life I want to, I can at least share this must-see GEM from this past weekend’s Saturday Night Live!

GOB TAMPONS: [1:08]
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NEWSFLASH!  SNL is doing some PRIMETIME Election Specials this Fall.  Don’t miss this Thursday, September 27th @8pm on NBC!  I can hardly wait.

In the meantime, here’s a bonus video to tide us over:

THE UNDECIDED VOTER: [1:51]
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God Bless SNL.  They are such a breath of fresh air in this oppressive election season.  A Zephyr in a Desert!

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Welcome Sherman

Posted on 2012/09/20 by circuskitchen

We are proud to announce the arrival of a new, beautiful, healthy baby stuffed animal; Sherman the (No Longer Sad) Dog. My sister weathered the birth beautifully.  Being a mid-wife, she is really good at this. Here for all immortality, is the magical event captured in images.  CONGRATULATIONS BABY MOMMA, YOU DID IT!

Silly Auntie!

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First SchoolBus Ride!

Posted on 2012/09/10 by circuskitchen

Ubiquitously, I continue to have a surfeit of Priceless Material and a dearth of Time.  So much of what I actually capture in this blog is Luck of the Draw.  (Nearly countless milestones in just the past two weeks!)  Yet today I stop EVERYTHING -as any mother would- to share THIS:

Our FirstBorn Child’s First Ride on the School Bus!

“ACTION HERO” – Holding Hands to the Bus Stop

Juice was all I could get in him for breakfast.

Flamly in Tow

Welcome to the New Normal MorningTime (7am pick up)!

The “Purple Dragon” Bus Arrives!

The yellow “Bus Tag” on his backpack includes our emergency contact info.

All Aboard!

A moment “Little Kids” can only dream of.

Purple Dragon’s Newest Passenger

Somehow our “Big” Boy doesn’t look so Big!

Our Fearless Trooper

Be still my heart!

“Mr. John,” A Patient Bus Driver

No doubt wondering how many more pictures before he can take off.

Bye Mom!

And then he was GONE.

Such a Big Moment.  So joyful.  So devastating!

Don’t Cry Mom!

Thank HEAVEN for Little Girls… who are Not Yet Old Enough to Ride the SchoolBus.

(Don’t even think about it, ClaraJane!)

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Mom I Was Thinking

Posted on 2012/09/05 by circuskitchen

GAVIN (at the dinner table, eyeing his sister): Mom?  I was thinking.  We should have only ONE kid in this flamly.  And it should be ME.

(Paul and I look at each other.)

GAVIN (continues):  Eeny miny MOE!
Catch a tiger by the TOE!
My-mother-told-me-to-pick-the-best-choice-and-it… is…ME!

(Paul and I grip each other doubled over trying to suppress our laughter.)

G:  IT’S NOT A FUNNY!!!

(More of the same from us.)

G: DO. NOT. LAAAAUGH!!!!!

(Fat chance Buddy!)

*******************************

UPDATE FTR:  When his sister crawled over on top of him to maul him with good morning hugs and kisses the next morning, he laughed and said, “I changed my mind!  We should keep two kids in this flamly!”

That’s nice, Buddy.   (o:

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CJ’s Ma-Ma-Ma

Posted on 2012/08/27 by circuskitchen

Finally, this morning, after 13 months and 100,000 “Da da da da da’s” ClaraJane woke up saying, “Lololololol” sprinkled with a few “Ma ma ma ma ma’s.”   I was like, “THAT’S RIGHT!  THAT’S ME!!  Yep, I’m your Mamamamama.  How ya doin?  Nice to meet you!!!”

So, in honor of this new breakthrough in our relationship, (also as an antidote to the Hell-On-Earth existence entailed in MOVING), and as a tribute to what my mom describes as “indeed the world’s most charming and engaging baby, not to mention having the bluest eyes, cutest curls, sweetest smile, and loving personality,” here are a smattering of recent pix (all from our recent trip to VT actually):

Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma & Me

So Many Shoes, So Little Time

Mom & Chocolate Cake; A Winning Combination (Also: Is there anything cuter than baby thighs?)

Drinks with the Girls

Asleep and Just Don’t Know It Yet

I know I just posted a bunch of pix of her, like, yesterday.

But some things bear repeating.

And some things bear repeating!

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What Parenthood Sometimes Looks Like

Posted on 2012/08/26 by circuskitchen

So, it’s pretty much a given that your kids have more energy than you. It’s amazing that  parents even survive. Such a humbling experience. You learn to embrace the mediocre, accept total failure, and celebrate Victory in “Good Enough.”  Especially if you happen to discover at any moment that your kids are FINE; give yourself a high-five,  say a *silent* “Woo-Hoo!” then slowly back away.

Here are some examples:

My son engrossed in TV on my unconscious husband

My daughter contentedly playing in the UnGodly mess of my office floor… ON THE PAPER CUTTER.  

Really, the only problem with this program, as bad as it is, is how distractingly cute she is that I have to blog about it!

Then there are the things they SAY.  Here is a recent sampling from Gavin:

1)  After finding out that Paul & I each have more than one mom; “I’m MAD!  Because I only got ONE mom!”

2)  After I told him I still need to get dressed; “Not ME!  I’M dressed already.  YOU should have slept in your CLOTHES!”

And,

3) After fixing his fishing pole; “THANKS MOM! You’re the BEST MOM EVER!  You’re NOT STUPID anymore!  You’re not stupid, or bad OR dumb!”

Thanks Honey.

(o:

PS:  And here, as a follow up, is a shot of my “Office in Purgatory,” for all of you doubters.

Somebody Help Me Please!

In spite of this it’s good indeed to know at least, I’m not stupid “anymore!”

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Moving Life in Purgatory

Posted on 2012/08/25 by circuskitchen

So, we are MOVING.

Just across town.

‘Course, that still means just as much packing & prepping, shedding & compressing one’s material life as any other move.  Coincidentally, MOM is ALSO moving.  Back to Cambridge happily.  Yet that means also packing & prepping, shedding & compressing HER existence for transport as well.

Per usual I have so much to blog about and so little time.  Such wonderful gems from flamly visit to Hull this past weekend, and Vermont this past week (including to pack aforementioned Mom).  Yet I am too busy packing & prepping, shedding & compressing our lives, and being worker bee, queen bee and Paperwork Ninja for CONDO purchase (!!!) and kids’ schooling (!!!). My poor clients never get contracts from me when I promise.  And although the shows continue successfully unabated, please don’t look too closely at my costuming or props!

Alors (“anyway”)… in lieu of my own material, here is some fresh borrowed from Mom. Indeed, pretty much sums it up:

From: Mary Margaret                   To:  Jenny                10:47 AM (1 hour ago)      

This is my life in purgatory, encapsulated in one incident:

The purchaser of my washer/dryer was all set to send me a $50 money order on deposit and $50 cash on pickup Thursday Aug 30 so I could hold the machines for her and stop responding to other interested parties.

Then her boyfriend convinced her she was “too trusting” so they wanted a picture.  I hadn’t put a photo on CL because my camera batt was dead.  I had finally obtained a new camera battery by mail and was using the camera while you were here.  Her request for a picture was reasonable.  So yesterday I went into my purse for my camera and it wasn’t there.  Found it at last in a pocket of the snack bag I’d taken to Montshire.  Took the picture.  Then couldn’t find the cable that links camera to computer.  Remembered coiling it and putting it in a “safe place.”  Couldn’t find the safe place.  Through other means and an hour of time I convinced the buyer I am not a scam artist and she agreed to send the money.  Yesterday evening I found the camera/computer cord.  Now I can’t find the camera.

Packing Up This Essential

And This One

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Ready to Roll

Posted on 2012/08/10 by circuskitchen

Friday, August 10th 2012

 

Friday morning my DH (Dear Husband) -with the help of our two kids- put this GIANT rack on the front of my bike, so I could take both the KIDS and their STUFF and MY stuff to their designated places for the day all by BIKE.  Once we were loaded up and starting to ride, he calls out, “Your front tire could use some inflation!”

“Oh GREAT!” I said, wobbling my way down the street.

I’ve heard you should do something every day that scares you.  I don’t know about *every* day, but on this day I certainly scared the crap out of myself at least a little.  Fortunately most cars and other traffic participants mostly stopped to gawk as we pedaled our way by, my son shouting, “How are you FEELING Mamma?”  To top it off we were also waggling a huge home-grown sunflower in front.  By the time we got to the boy’s  school my hands were a cramped from all my white knuckling on the handlebars, but no harm no foul.  The ride to my daughter’s daycare was aided by her singing while munching on a muffin, and we arrived without incident.  After that I got a lot of comments from the guys at the bike shop, who kindly helped inflate my tires.  Then I bought a really loud bell, just in case there might be anyone in future who doesn’t actually SEE us coming.

Here they are ready and loaded after swim that evening.   (YES! Kids + regular stuff + SWIM stuff all on one bike. )

Ready to Roll, Mamma

 

We actually trash picked the rack, from some Dutch neighbors (go figure).  Gavin’s “come-along” attachment was kindly donated by our relatives (thanks Boharts!).  My BIKE is the same one I bought used for $200 during my junior year of college (was that really *20* years ago?).  ClaraJane’s seat we bought for Gavin about 3 years ago.   Top this yard sale off with a shiny new $15 bell and you’ve got yourself a bonafide Bicycle Train!

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A Smell That Bugs Won’t Understand

Posted on 2012/08/04 by circuskitchen

What do water, milk, lemon juice, anchovy paste and wasabi have in common?
They are all the ingredients to Gavin’s latest invention: ANTI-BUG SMELL!

This blog post could also be titled, “You Know Your House is A Total F*ing Mess When…”

In fact, about that, since this is my blog, I will take this opportunity to digress about how it feels to have a messy house. First of all, (although I always use the term sparingly), I am actually proud of myself for prioritizing my efforts lately. Working on a new condo purchase, recertifying the kids’ daycare (a relentless task actually), doing my JOB and the accompanying gigs to support the family AND being MOM have all ranked over the strength it takes me to manage the household. (My apologies to my husband, for whom “wife” has hardly blipped on the radar lately either.) My sister even came over last night and got to enjoy my company while I stayed SEATED, like, the WHOLE TIME (which was heretofore unprecedented). So I am proud of myself for cultivating enough maturity to “let it go” and accept what is GOOD ENOUGH, even if not perfect.

But I just need to complain that it HURTS. Having a dirty, messy, disorganized, out of control home HURTS in the way it hurts when you feel really icky and stinky after some really grungy project and haven’t washed your hair in ages and REALLY REALLY need a shower. It is unsanitary, inefficient, untenable and somewhat unsafe. In a word: a sacrifice. All I want is a little empathy people. Of course the good loving folks in my life offer platitudes like, “Don’t worry about it.  It’s FINE.  Don’t clean on MY account. Doesn’t bother ME!” Well, I just want to say, it is NOT fine.  It bothers ME!  But, also, I accept it. For NOW.  Flies and all.

SO, imagine my delight this morning when my son divines to “make a smell that bugs won’t understand… so they will smell it and FLY out of the house!  … And then you won’t have to kill them.  Right Mamma?”  Right, Baby.

Here he is, The Inventor, with his Invention:

A Smell That Bugs Won’t Understand

And speaking of Invention, as in, “Necessity Being the Mother Of”… my husband, the Chef, also trouble shot a gap this morning.  Specifically a V8 Gap. That is, sometimes you wanna find a some V8 around the house to aid in mixing up a little “Hair of the Dog.” (Such as a Bloody Mary of course.)  After stumbling around the kitchen for a bit (and making us pancakes and tea), he sits down at the breakfast table with a suspicious looking cocktail. “Salsa?” I ask.  He nods.  “And hot sauce,” he adds.  “And ketchup.”

Hey, desperate people do desperate things. I’m not gonna judge.  Here we are with our respective beverages at breakfast. Apparently my mug says it best:

It IS all good

Gavin is actually drinking his first “Party in my Mouth Juice,” on account of it being Saturday and my “whatever” attitude right now.  In a tepid effort to clean out the fridge, I gave him the rest of the Margarita Mix (non-alcoholic of course). What did he have to say about it?  “It really DOES taste like a party in my mouth! [Burp-Burp-BUUURP.] Aaahhh. It’s a GREAT day! (then singing) Every little thing, is gonna be alright… It’s a great day! Right Daddy?”

Right, Baby. (o=

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Vermont Memoratopia

Posted on 2012/07/29 by circuskitchen

Over the weekend, we (“O’s) drove up to visit my mom in Vermont for the weekend, to help and purge decades worth of old photographs.  As I helped my mom’s whole life flash before her eyes, what had for years seemed a daunting and insurmountable accumulation of memories, was by Sunday afternoon a mountain of boxes reduced to one modest shelf and one small heirloom suitcase (Hi Grandma & Grandpa Neely).    My family was angelic through the whole process, and we were done early enough to celebrate with an early dinner at the summertime burgers & ice cream stand (Hi Onion Flats), followed by fun in the yard, or what my mom deemed “epic baby pool splashing.”

Baby Sister’s First Pony Ride (Thanks Big Brother)

After purging mountains of *photos,* we were disinclined to take more *photos,* yet some material is too good to pass up.

No GPS

Even if you don’t snap the shutter the *exact* moment his ass hits the pool.

Accidentally Dunked in Bubble Wow’s Pool

What does Baby Sister do in response?

Bucked off the Pony

Maybe it seems cruel to laugh at a baby face-planting off a plastic pony, and perhaps my kids were not being particularly coordinated, but… c’est la vie.

Then came Gavin’s Big Idea.  Here, click.  Enjoy.  [1 min, 12 secs]

Vive la childhood!

Then alas, what to do after Epic Baby Pool Splashing?

Curious George

Paul even used the word “wonderful”to describe the weekend.  My mom creates magical touches everywhere in her home to delight a toddler and preschooler.   Her adult *daughter* may go crazy at other aspects of her home, but who cares?   Paul and I agreed, if Gavin is happy, we’re all happy. It is so awesome to see how much Gavin looks forward to seeing his Bubble Wow and how happy, relaxed and free he is in her environment.  At one point he carried a huge rock for his daddy all the way back from the river by himself, talking excitedly the whole way.  (Happily the White River bank seems to have revitalized impressively since  Hurricane Irene.)

After we got home the next day Gavin created this taped-together montage:

“Bubble Wow’s House & Pool,  Next to Our House, and Another Pool”

Here is a shot with the Artist HimSelf:

The Artist

[Honorable Mention of the visit:  Gavin’s delight with his own “Poop of the Century” Story,  & all of us wearing BWow-Styled Orange clothes, which my mom will have to sketch if she so pleases.  (o=]

THANKS FOR ANOTHER *MEMORABLE* VISIT  MOM!

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