Friday, February 7th 2020
I love when my kids journal during a trip. At the risk of jinxing it, this one was spontaneous and unprompted (by me).
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One day -even this day- I may pay dearly for posting this. But in the meantime, le swoon!
Proud Mama may end up a Dead Mama, but I’ll still be proud of my babies.
📝💕
February 7th 2020
My son just charitably showed me this video right before we board the plane.
Why You Shouldn’t Fly on Spirit Airlines [2:17]:
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Thanks, Son!
(And since you’re wondering; No. We’re flying JetBlue today.)
✈️ 🚀 🌋🛸🛩
February 2020
Greetings Beloved Animal Care Giver!
THANK YOU for volunteering to take care of our five magnificent beasts.
First up, Les Chats.
1. FLASH: The Slow One
Here’s a big, dumb, shy, black & white fellow; ITCHY HEAD. He LIVES to have the top of his head scratched.
2. PETER PARKER: The Coy One
His tail curves up, but he likes his butt smacked; gently but firmly, with the three center fingers, right on his sacrum. (You might need to hold the tail down with your other hand).
3. KITTEN: The One With Attitude
His name is “Darth Snowflake,” but he only knows “Kitten,” and kiss noises 💋 💋 💋. I can’t explain the spell he casts on us. Likes to be stroked from head to tail, and also the side of his neck rubbed gently with the side of your finger.
In addition to love they also need food.
FOOD!
Please open three cans of cat food meat and place in their blue food bin. Then pour one container of kibble in the bin also. This is enough for one day.
WATER FOR CATS:
Please rinse and refill their bowl of water (next to the dishwasher). Thank you!
Now for the Buns!
4. FLUFF and NUTTER. The buns are finicky and hard to interact with very much by themselves. I do not recommend picking them up, but you may pet them, and/or offer them a treat (yogurt drop) from the jam jar.
BUN WATER:
Please rinse and refill their water mug. (Very important!)
BUN FOOD:
A) One big (messy) handful of hay goes on the right side of their bottom floor bin.
B) Onto the hay please pour one scoop of bunny kibble.
C) Grab a couple generous handfuls of fresh veggies from the container in the fridge and place it on their “balcony.”
That is it. Thank you SO SO much!!
We thank you, and if our pets were capable of any gratitude whatsoever, I’m sure they’d thank you too.
We hope you have enjoyed this installment of, “CircusKitchen Animal Care.”
🐰🐯🦁🐇🐆
February 1st 2020
Dad and El Paso on the Skyline Ranch
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Today is the day my parents evacuate my childhood home, in “Oakland,” California.
Except it was never “Oakland.” To me it’s “Secret Magic Unicorn Oakland.”
It’s not the Oakland you think about, or even one that most people know about.
It was an old ranch my parents found on the tippy top of paradise and bought for a song when I was six weeks old.
But now it is a sprawling equestrian estate, with the same, steady 20 mile view of gorgeous and protected Regional Park mountains.
I doubt there is a term for “Upper Middle Class Climate Refugees,” but the Fire Insurance alone has gone up around $25,000 per year, on top of all the other kinds of insurance and expenses. And when you are are of retirement age with limited income… turns out that is a deal breaker.
So after a month of packing up 50 years worth of homesteading under the incomparable direction of my indomitable stepmom Anita, plus a little transition period, they are off to Ann Arbor Michigan.
I am numb.
And eternally grateful my son and I crafted a spontaneous surprise visit out there this past November. I did not suspect that would be my last time to set foot on the tippy top of Earth’s paradise. Or to see my Dad gazing over this domain for the last time.
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Update: I was mistaken, and they are not moving out for two more weeks. Still packing like the dickens and getting out of dodge asap though.
Friday, January 31st 2020
Although I spend most of this day with our Mom, it is my sister and our kids whose pictures I capture (even if by video chat). Here is my sister going somewhere with her little kids:
Amanda actually has the most amazing smile and the only reason it’s not showing here is because we’re discussing something serious.
Here is me going somewhere with mine:
ClaraJane is reading “Frozen II” on the way to see “Frozen II.” (o:
As you can see, her youngest children are younger than mine, which is why you see her face buried amid a swirl of cherubic faces, sticky fingers and active artwork in progress on-the-go.
My kids faces are buried in books.
It’s all so good. We are all healthy and alive and making messes and doing stuff, briefly flying around on a piece of rock whirling through the universe. What immeasurable blessings!
Wednesday, January 29th 2020
AT RISE: The Oberhauser Four are getting ready to head out the door. Mom has been struggling with getting dressed.
Mom: I don’t have any normal clothes! [Struggles some more, changes clothes. Finally stops.]
Mom: Do I look okay?
Gavin: Yeah you look great!
Mom: Aw, thanks Honey.
Gavin: No one will know you’re a clown. [Pause.] Unless they talk to you!
Mom: !
Gavin: Or smell you.
Mom: Great. Thanks Boy.
Gavin: You’re welcome!
Mom: Let’s go.
SCENE.
Monday, January 27th 2019
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AT RISE: The kids are home after school and mom is showing them this photo.
Mom: You guys, check this out. Look what I had next to me today!
ClaraJane: [Covers her mouth and squeals at the cuteness.]
Mom: And I didn’t even realize all three of them were right there ’til I looked up!
ClaraJane: And they’re in Fat Order too!
All: [Laughing.]
ClaraJane: Like a triple layer cake.
Gavin: Or a snowman!
Mom: [Beams with pride at the unrivaled imagination of her children.]
SCENE.
Sunday, January 26th 2020
AT RISE: The Oberhauser Four are gathered around another beautiful supper by DaddyLove.
ClaraJane: [Munching away.] Thank you Daddy for this wonderful food.
DLove: You’re welcome.
Mom: Thanks for saying so, Honey.
ClaraJane: PFFFFTTT. [Big, long fart.]
Mom: We believed you the first time Honey.
ClaraJane: Well I just had to make sure! Bwahahahaha!!!
SCENE.
Friday, January 17th – Friday, January 24th
So here I am at a medical clown conference in Dallas, Texas, away from my precious flamly for eight days this week, and it is my daughter –with Daddy’s help– who is heart-beating the drum of longing the loudest. Here are some of the gifts I am receiving:
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Baby writes in cursive
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On Sunday they played in snow.
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For MLK Day the kids went to a math festival. Here is a Rubix Cube she won!
It has eight sides. She’s pretending it’s an apple.
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I also got this cute video call:
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And someone adorable had a bath:
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Also, ClaraJane Climbing!
Even got to chat with this guy:
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THURSDAY 1/23:
Because I’m not there to take her to the bus, she’s been going in to school early to help Daddy get the school kitchen ready:
I love her little hair net.
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And the gifts keep coming:
What can I say? The child loves her carrots.
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I suppose CJ is not the only one who’s been missing me:
My cat is not pleased.
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OK so enough’s enough. After an indescribable week, my son got in trouble at school, my daughter’s performance in class has completely shit the bed, and my mom is having emergency surgery!
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I don’t even know how Dear Hubsand is holding it together
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I am taxiing to the runway on the flight home, with no regrets, connected with my brother and my sister (& Auntie!), full of inspiration and possibility, firm in the understanding that above all else what matters is FAMILY.
Here is Mom in Her Glory just before emergency surgery:
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BASTA with this trip.
HOME already!!
Here comes Sugar.
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Sunday, January 19t 2020
In case my family thinks I was just horsing around at the Medical Clown Convention, it’s important that they know it’s not all just fun and games. Take this breakout workshop from the wee hours of Saturday night for example:
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Disclosure: In reality we completely stage combat or any simulated violence in the hospital. Consider this but side research. (o;
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