Rock To Wind A String Around

Father’s Day, while heartbreakingly difficult in many ways, was also surprisingly lovely.  The day started with brunch.  I whipped up Karina’s fabulous eggs diablo over polenta, served it with a minted trio of fresh berries, and at the last minute, added a sample of some freshly made gluten free granola (Bob’s Red Mill offers gf safe oats) from the NY Times’ Mark Bittman.   This was the wind-down from the weekend spent in the kitchen (more on that later–I’ve got dishes to dish about).  I couldn’t seem to stop cooking, so I went with it, and nobody seemed to mind.

Add a trip to the movies, a fencing camp meeting, dinner and an episode of True Blood, and really, there isn’t room for much more, but we squeezed in a few gifts anyway.  A lovely new grill, an even lovelier new ice cream maker, and loveliest of all:   new pictures of the charm tots.

Behold!

and, well…

Every single one of youse will refrain from telling me how grown up the boy looks.  Really…

Glad I didn’t plan to blog everyday when I made my resolutions.  Seriously, between my stupid arm and January ennui, I can’t seem to find much to blog about these days.  There are some potentially big changes on the wind, but for now, we trudge on.  I’m feeling Albert’s absence more acutely than I normally do.  It happens every time he’s been home for an extended period.  Rather than being pleased with our lovely 2 weeks together, I linger over how much we miss by being apart each week.  A small part of my brain is pleased that after 17 years of lurve we like each other so much, but it was small comfort when he left at 6am.

A few updates:

Elliott’s birthday and the party 2 days later were both terrific.  We managed to enthrall 10 rowdy kids with extended rounds of ‘pass the present’  ‘freeze dance’ and ‘jump the river’ (which was the favorite by far). They didn’t really care about prizes, pizza, or birthday cake if we could just fit in “one more jumping game, please!”

Fencing continues to chip away at our available hours–Elliott practices 2x a week (for 2 ish hours each time) and we throw in a private lesson every 2 weeks.  Fencing both delights and motivates.  Much schoolwork is completed before I am willing to drive to fencing–I hope the trend continues.

The small girl is firm in her resolve not to remove her seatbelt, although more than 2 months after this all started, there are occasional lapses.  A driving trip to Florida is scheduled for February.  I’d be lying if I said this causes no anxiety.

The small girl has many crushes these days.  She loves Sergey (Elliott’s fencing coach) best, but she also adores my physical therapist.  Today, she demonstrated all sorts of physical skills (either mimicking me, or improving upon my task by jumping or doing pushups–she loves those) all the while yelling, “Look at me Eric, I am exercising too–I’m building my core.” Because you know, between pt for me, and fencing workouts, there is a great deal of chat about core building around these parts.

Tomorrow kicks off the start of the Enkutatash planning season.  The meeting is here over dinner.  There is always plenty to do, but it’s so much fun with the tribe.  It is the bright spot this week.

Still thinking about project 365, but I’d keep it here, rather than start a second blog. Hmmm…

I’ve been planning all sorts of of post holiday updates but I’ve been side-lined by a blood donation.  What?   A blood donation, you say?  I know, it sounds crazy but something went horribly awry and I am now deeply bruised and swollen from my elbow into my hand (for those of you lucky enough to glimpse it on Monday, it looks a million times uglier now).  It isn’t all that painful, but it is inconvenient.  Typing and small muscle work in my hands is verboten, so is aerobic activity unless my arm remains stationed above my head for the duration.  I’m icing 4 times a day, and while all of that sitting seems like a fun idea, we’re throwing a party for the 100 or so people we see regularly on Friday nights this evening, so really, I’d like to use my arm NOW.  I was also looking forward to better work outs.  After 4 weeks of physical therapy, I was cleared for additional workouts on the day that I gave blood–but no longer.  Oy!

Whine, whine, whine…it will be fine, I will be fine, and more importantly, my husband (who has been home for 2 weeks!) looks fine

Off to ice, and to supervise the crafting of scrumptious treats for tonight’s shindig.  I’ll see you next year!

When a dad spends an evening alone with the tots, and decides to bathe the girl with stinky toes, he will decide to wash her hair.  After, he will remember that his wife moisturizes all parts of the girl–skin and hair, so he will dutifully comb plenty of leave-in conditioner through her tresses.  Then the dad will look at the clock, spy the late hour, and choose to put the girl to bed with wet, unfettered locks.

This will be the wife’s wake-up call:

Wanna guess how long it took to tame it?

Did an FB status update a few minutes ago and realized I’ve spent more than 60 nights in a Marriott this year–isn’t that crazy?  No wonder I was so able to tell the Marriott platinum prestige line that last night’s hotel stay was the worst ever.  I know people, I really do know…

Tonight is the last for a month or so–the tots and I are homeward bound tomorrow, Albert will follow on Thursday. 

So, on this day four years ago, Albert and I renewed our vows.  We knew we’d be in Florida for Thanksgiving, so we made plans to drive back via Tallahassee, and we arranged to renew our vows during the daily noon service.  The noontime congregation seemed as delighted as we were by our surprise renewal–you can see it in the pictures taken by the photographer Albert hired (as a surprise for me).  The celebrant who married us in ‘95 was retired, but filling in for the vacationing staff, so he was there for our renewal too.  It felt so right to stand before Father Harry, the congregation, and my husband  to say once more,  “I choose you.”  Three little words, but so much more implied the second time around.  After 10 years, you know exactly what you’re choosing when you stand hand-in-hand on the dais.   4 years later, I still say, “I choose you, I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth.”  And  I know now that the ends of the earth have a Marriott attached.

Here, there, and everywhere–as long as we’re together…

T errific weather here in the Oldest City–the Turkey Day engorgement was followed by a rousing neighborhood game of Capture the Flag, tricycle riding, or trampoline gaiety.  We’ll waddle a bit less tomorrow

H appy.  This was our happiest T day yet.  The 6 cousins get along splendidly, everyone played nicely, and the day was a joy from start to finish.

A lbert ran a half-marathon this morning with his baby brother.  They both ran well.  Albert ran weller (his best half marathon time yet–bring on the pie!)

N oise–along with the happiness of 6 cousins and 7 grownups, there is noise, lots of noise…

K ids–in a relatively childless neighborhood, my bil and sil live in a row of three houses teeming with children, mostly boys Elliott’s age.  Since Elliott spends so much time in the Oldest City when he stays with Pops, he knows these kids well, and is happy to see them.

S ailing–we go tomorrow, out on the boat of Pops.  We’ll be sure to search for both the owl and the pussycat.

G ames–we all love them, so once the kids are settled for the night, we usually play a card game I learned in college.  Tonight we shared Bananagrams andQuiddler instead. The Scrabble lovers in the family adored the new diversions.

I nertia has not reared its ugly head.  Despite my fears, I’ve managed to work out most days.

V ery relaxing–happy children and delicious food =Rancho Relaxo

I nteresting trip to the Lightner Museum earlier this week.  Despite not visiting for 15 years, the stuffed lion and Regina music boxes seemed like old friends.

N ew dress code for the feast–totally casual.  With the Capture the Flag game planned for after the meal, everyone dressed for sport.  Nobody cared, and really gravy stains on tshirts, not a big deal; gravy stains on tafetta dresses?  much bigger issue

G ratitude–filled with it after such a terrific day

D essert–in charge of dessert today, I chose to make a gorgeous gluten free pumpkin cheesecake with praline topping.  Sounds good in theory, except that I forgot to add the pumpkin to the pumpkin cheesecake.  I whipped up a pumpkin custard at the last minute and served it as a topping for the pumpkinless cheesecake–a new and better dessert was born, I am crowned queen of all desserts both floury and gluten free!

A strid (who keeps the seatbelt buckled, thank you very much) has been a champ despite missing several naps and hanging out in the cousins’ house with all of their stuff and littleof hers.  Today, when Albert’s 97 year old grandmother came over for dinner, AM said, “hi grandma–I’ve always wanted to meet a grown up who is little.  nice to meet you.”  Grandma, who was 4′10″ in her youth is a good bit smaller at 97.  She thought it  funny. We thought it pretty funny too–that Astrid Meklit, she’s such a charmer!

Y ear.  We switch off on alternate years.  Next year we’re in charge, I hope we can be such fabulous hosts;  this is a Thanksgiving for the record books.