Shelter

I confess.  I have a porn problem. 

I love looking at beautiful creatures, working their way to an impossibly fantastic fruition.  I can’t turn away.   I huddle in my bed, flipping through magazines, filled with desire.

No, it’s not Pornhub, Tube8 or Fleshbot.

My porn of choice is This Old House Magazine, Pinterest,  Apartment Therapy, and Young House Love. 

i carry your heart

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

                                      ee cummings
                                      (For Bunny and Sarah)

Volt Across America

Maj. C, has made a video (Part 1) of our trip across the USA with a baby and an electric car.  Much to my horror I am in it. . . But the Bunny looks awfully cute.

Postscript:  Jason's video  and an accompanying essay was featured on gm-volt.com!
An earlier entry on this trip: Travels with Bunny

A Late Walk

When I go up through the mowing field,
The headless aftermath,
Smooth-laid like thatch with the heavy dew,
Half closes the garden path.

And when I come to the garden ground,
The whir of sober birds
Up from the tangle of withered weeds
Is sadder than any words

A tree beside the wall stands bare,
But a leaf that lingered brown,
Disturbed, I doubt not, by my thought,
Comes softly rattling down.

I end not far from my going forth
By picking the faded blue
Of the last remaining aster flower
To carry again to you. 

Robert Frost

Cleanliness/godliness

Every night I tidy up Bunny’s toys.  Nothing drastic, but big Legos go in the basket, the other toys in the green bin, and the wood blocks in the basket.  Books go in another box. “I’m not obsessive compulsive!” I protested to Maj C, as I sorted the number toys in order by number and color.  For a few hours, I feel like I have a modicum of control over my chaotic life.  Until, of course, everything is dumped on the floor by Bunny, aka the Whirling Dervish of Cape Cod.

The fact is, Maj. C is as a neat freak too.   The boy is all about working systems.  Nothing irks him more than Not Finding Something.  I’m the same way—so you can imagine that the junk drawer was a thorn in our side.  Here are the contents of our junk drawer on my counter.  Ear buds, pens, safety pins, string, meds, inhalers, outlet covers,  cough drops, etc. Not good.

Pumpkin

Bourne Farm Pumpkin Day 2012

Tuning out

While Maj C and I love watching the Daily Show and Colbert Report together, we both agree that our quality of life is better without TV. 

We do own a TV, but no cable (aside from our Internet and terrestrial channels).  I joke that out TV is really installation art: “Black Plastic on Wall: Timesuck.”  Every so often we watch a movie on Apple TV or Netflix streaming but that’s about it.   The last time I turned it on to actually watch TV was during the Olympics when a sports fanatic visited our home.  I couldn’t figure out to how to get NBC, and so our poor guest had to watch TV on our laptop.

Weekend drills

9 Sept 2012, a photo by Snowlet on Flickr.

Bunny at 11m+

30 Aug 2012, a photo by Snowlet on Flickr.

Ahrgg!

So, there has been a hiatus.  Here is the reality in which I am trying to function

• Bunny has started to crawl, which means nothing gets done.  In addition, she has an abiding fascination with electrical outlets and anything else that is likely to maim her
• Maj. C's stuff arrived from CA (yeah!) which as meant endless laundry (boo!) and unpacking (boo boo!) and re-packing (for his pied a terre up north) whilst keeping baby safe.  Although he downsized, 12 years of stuff is still a lot of stuff, especially for a clutterphobe like me/us.
• Work, which actually keeps me kind of sane
• Mangled ankle (the saga continues) 
• Birthday party planning (nothing elaborate, but still stressful)
• Enough yard work to keep from looking like "that house"
• Etc.

Wonderlust

I have to recommend my sister-law's blog Wonderlust. . . Last week she moved to Kazakhstan to teach and write curriculum.  I'm really looking forward to reading about her experiences.  And I'm looking forward to visiting her.  I'll miss her lots, but we'll see her at Christmas!

40th Running of the Falmouth Road Race

Before: George (an Army friend of Maj C), Maj C, Ryan (fiance of Maj. C's niece), and Sarah (Maj. C's niece)

After

Bunny with Maj C's medal

Alas, I did not run, as my ankle requires surgery.  That, as the kids say, blows.

Images Day 4 (19 July 2012): Fallon NV to Tetonia, ID

Salt Flats, Utah (The Volt performed well under the blistering heat)

Road Trip 2012: Images from Day 3 (18 July 2012)

Mono Lake

Objects of desire

I’m taking a break on our Road Trip series to write about what’s really helpful to have as a working parent. . . I was inspired by Jessie's entry on Mama must-haves.  I liked the article as it’s a gentle reminder that it’s important to take care of oneself in this whole baby thing.

Here’s my list for the working executrix mom.

Road Trip 2012: Day 2 (17 July 2012)

The Recap: Maj. C, Bunny (10m) and I drive across America (Silicon Valley to Cape Cod)

Route: Today we visited Yosemite National Park, from Groveland, CA to the Valley and back again.

Accommodations: Yosemite Pines Campground, about 45 minutes away from the park.

Activity of the day: We went on an easy 10 mile hike around the Valley floor.  I know the word “epic” is bandied around too often, but it was indeed epic.  I’m a mountain girl and both of us are experienced hikers, but with the Bunny on my back, I wasn’t thrilled about long hikes through rocks—so we walked in the meadows, the river, and the woods. Beautiful.

Road Trip 2012: Day 1 (16 July 2012)

The plan: Maj. C, Bunny (10m) and I drive across America (Silicon Valley to Cape Cod) in an the Volt, an electric car (with extended gas miles)

Route: Today was a short driving day: Mountain View, CA to Yosemite National Park (163m)

Accommodations: Yosemite Pines Campground, about 45 minutes away from the park.

Suspension of service

We were away on vacation from the 16-28 of July. . . I'll be posting about our road trip adventures, in arrears, starting tomorrow.  Regularly scheduled service should resume soon.

In the mean time, Bunny made her debut on cousin Sarah's Blog!

Packing a Bunny

I'm a bit of a procrastinator.  And I hate packing.
Thus, I've developed a skill so I can put everything I need for a two week business trip into a carry on bag in 10 minutes. Choosing the right fabrics help, and a well placed pretty scarf can make or break a suit (as well as cover up a stain).  A skillfully tied scarf can even become a a nice top: I once went to Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, wearing nothing but a skirt, strappy sandals, and my favorite Hermes scarf. Wrap dresses are another go-to staple-- throw on a jacket, and you are all set.  Good quality jersey is compact, hangs correctly, and never wrinkles.  

Furthermore, I know how to pack light.  When your favorite hobby involves carrying all your food, shelter, and water for miles at a time (often up and down mountain ranges), you learn how to pare down.  I used to saw off the handle of my toothbrush.  Your packing skills are further honed, as every night you pack and repack your bag


I can't believe that on Friday I'm leaving for a 2 week trip driving across America with Bunny.

Capitalism, Red in Tooth and Claw

The Yard Sale was a success!  We made a comfortable profit (and I felt smug as I was within 3% of my financial projections), and Maj C and I decided donate 50% of our proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project. Not a huge sum of money, but a good thing to do with a bit of extra cash.

Good

• I spent time with my friends: it was lovely to spend time with the Ms LiteraryFirefly, her daughter, Ms W, and Ms J-- I can't imagine a better team of women to do such a labor intensive project
• No more clutter in my house or garage
• Many items are being used in their new homes-- I love that I did not have to throw away usable items
• I learned I could donate all our old books to the library book sale starting 1 August.

But then there was the Bad