Rock To Wind A String Around

Hey there–some blog issues going on so I may go missing again, but things should straighten out in a day or two, so if my blog is ‘gone’ please check back in.

We had a weekend crammed full of plans that morphed for one reason or another.  Rain canceled our picnic-in-the-park-while-watching-Tartuffe date, but since my only request for date night involved passionate necking, the fact that we went to a movie instead was not a tragedy!

On Sunday we were ready to do battle with Comfest and had a potluck planned for after, but Elliott vomited in my lap mere minutes before we left–(he had such a high fever), so we scuttled the plans and instead Albert went to the potluck solo (because I did make a boatload of food for the occasion) while Elliott and Astrid and I read on the couch and played rummy (that Astrid, so cunning about dropping a final three-of-a-kind!)

Many of you read the fabulous Mary, of Owlhaven fame. The mother of 10, 4 from Ethiopia, Mary (and her extended family) work to support Ethiopia in much that they do. Recently, Mary’s sister traveled to Ethiopia to be a medical volunteer. She brought a large donation from Mary’s readers to buy blankets for new babies and to support the work of Dr. Mary. She saw firsthand that the food crisis is affecting much of the population. Dr. Mary has funded a food program out of pocket to help many of her patients, but with the soaring food costs it is difficult to do as much as she has in the past. Mary’s parents will be joining their younger daughter in Ethiopia and will bring our donations to support Dr. Mary’s food program. Please visit Mary’s amazing blog, and make a donation if you are so inclined.

Before we sailed our way to Ethiopia, I did the reading, memorized the grim statistics—knew that the needs of this mighty country were vast and largely unmet. I was eager to help, to affect change, but wasn’t sure which direction to take. Our trip to Ethiopia strengthened my resolve. I fell in love with my daughter’s home and the people there, but what to do? We made a few donations here and there, started sponsorship through COEEF, and cared a whole lot, which didn’t really help anyone.

Just after we moved back to Cowtown in the winter, 2 of my dear friends (also adoptive mamas with gals from Ethiopia) called and suggested I join the board of Ethiopian Orphan Relief, the non-profit Danielle had created (in her spare time, while running her business, and taking care of her daughter, and gestating–she was pregnant with her son for most of this time). This was EXACTLY what I was looking for. EOR was formed to meet the needs of Ethiopia’s orphans. We’re not affiliated with any particular agency, have no religious affiliation, and have no paid staff. I am SO excited to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of women. We have big ideas, and big plans, and big hopes for Ethiopia’s orphans.

Our biggest hope is that other people will feel similarly compelled to do something. If you are so inclined, please, add our logo to your site, blog about Ethiopian Orphan Relief and the work we’re doing, and maybe, make a financial commitment too. As we gain momentum, we’ll be asking for additional help. I hope you’ll join us…

Tonight I went out with my son, who was dressed as Flava Flav. Yeah Boyz, big clock and all–Elliott went out the door without a trace of embarrassment. He did take off his Naruto headband, admitting that it was too much, what with the clock and the sideways baseball cap and all, but everything else stayed on for several hours.
The weekend home has been frittered away in little dribs and drops. Lots of yard maintenance yesterday–I pulled clover and wild ginger for hours while Elliott cleared the deck and scrubbed the patio furniture, and Albert mowed and trimmed, and Astrid Meklit helped us all. We also bought some groceries, shopped for carpet to replace the ruined one in the basement, and cleaned up the many piles of ephemera that seem to clutter our space. Today we had more fun. We met some fabulous people at the Blue Nile–they are all Ohio families who are adopting from Ethiopia (Hi Marnie!) or who have adopted already. Amy (of the famous Amy & Joel of brunch fame) did the planning, and it was a hit! Elliott thought he might be bored, but another family brought their 7 year old, and Zelalem, whose parents own the Blue Nile, came to hang out with us too. He showed Elliott the storeroom, which impressed him mightily.

Just one more week before Pops sweeps in to take Elliott on his summer journey. The next 10 days or so should be full to the brim between play dates, orthodontist appointments, an eye appointment to pick up his new glasses (”Hey, just like Flava Flav!”) and in between it all, Elliott wants to set up his lemonade stand for EOR at least one more time. He should be pretty successful this time. What with the extra Flava and all……

Back from our whirlwind tour of Chicago.  We drove home on the back roads which was fun, and illuminating.  America is so darn rural.   Why is it that everyone thinks (me included, usually) that Pottery Barn should set the decorating standard?  There are an awful lot of Americans who live VERY far from PB, on many levels, but they don’t seem particularly unhappy about it.

Astrid Meklit, oh she of the fussy 20-minute car rides, was pretty terrific for most of the drive.  Our prickly kid has always been a stellar traveler, and he lived up to his lofty reputation.  None of our audiobooks were listened to, but all of our snack food was consumed.

Now we are back–the laundry is piled high, the yard is waiting,  the car is a disaster;  there is much to attend.  But we are home, and despite the mess,  we are glad of it…

We’re hanging on the edge of our seats waiting for Astrid to finish her nap so we can go to ………………Navy Pier! The Chicago Children’s Museum is free every Thursday night from 5-8, so we’ll zip over there on the free trolley as soon as the girl rises. We’ve really lucked out this week. Terrific Aunt Brandy had a library pass for the Museum of Science and Industry, so it was free, Lincoln Park Zoo was our Tuesday outing, and it’s always free, and then The Children’s Museum tonight. Of course, that leaves yesterday unaccounted for. This week (and this week only) a few of the larger attractions are free. Wishing to nurture Astrid’s deep and abiding love for ‘pishies!’ I thought we’d visit the Shedd Aquarium. Free days are so rare for the aquarium, that at least 20% of Chicago’s summer camps and daycare centers were there, along with a passel of tourists. It was horrible–hot and LOUD and impossible to actually see fish. We managed to get to three different displays before we gave up and walked to the Adler Planetarium. Considerably less crowded, it should have been delightful, but by the time we got there, I seemed to be suffering from food poisoning (hey, how dramatic is that?). I lurched from bench to bench while Elliott looked around. Finally, we moved to the cafe’ so the tots could dine. Poor Elliott was in charge of everything from food procurement to wrestling Astrid Meklit into a highchair. After cutting Astrid’s lunch into a million tiny pieces, I abandoned my children and fled to the nearest bathroom—-2 floors away. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a little germ-phobic. I avoid public restrooms, public drinking fountains, door handles, etc. With this in mind, I can’t begin to tell you how great it was to stick my head in a public toilet–it was enough to keep me there a little longer just thinking of the cholera I would likely contract. I got back to the cafe’ as quickly as possible, gathered my children (who were still alive! and not kidnapped!) and hopped on the first free trolley I could find. I thought I was feeling better (and I was, incrementally) until I just wasn’t anymore, and the trolley was still ‘a far piece’ from the hotel. This time, I kept track of my children until we reached the lobby, and then I abandoned them once more. Amazing Elliott was amazing enough to stop in the club lounge for a 7-up and a glass of ice for me. Then he came down to our floor, brought Astrid in, got her out of the stroller, and made her a bottle for naptime. He offered to change her too, but I rallied long enough to change her and get her ready for nap before collapsing in a heap.  By dinnertime, I was well enough to walk my fab family to Ed Debevic’s, but I’m still not 100%, even with sleek new eyebrows.  Because yes, even though I am dying (of both food poisoning and cholera) I still managed to visit the Benefit Brow Bar.  Please remember to compliment my arched beauties when you attend my funeral.

I was hoping to include some gorgeous shots of the city, especially for Wendy, but instead I’m resting for tonight.  I’ll take some more pictures of Chicago and all its greatness and post them in a few days.  Be well everyone.  Avoid the eggs at the Renaissance!

We decided to trek to Chicago for the week. Nothing like staying at the beautiful Renaissance Chicago at the corner of Wacker and State to remind us that we loved it here. Of course when we lived in Chicago, we lived nowhere near the river or the excitement of the loop, and we were too desperately poor to enjoy much of what makes Chicago ultra-delightful, but still, with the soft-focus look at what we once had, we miss what Chicago offered.

We’ve spent the last two days with our closest, bestest and brightest, Brandy & Erik. Friends of ours since we were all at FSU, they’ve loved Elliott for almost as long as we have. Elliott and Aunt BeeBee are particularly simpatico, and he was a bit anxious that they wouldn’t have much time together now that baby Jacob is on the scene, but he needn’t have worried. Baby Jacob is little enough, at just under 4 months, to sleep through much of life. When he isn’t sleeping, he’s a very tolerant baby who doesn’t seem to mind sharing his mother. Brandy obviously worried about fitting in enough Elliott time too, and planned an outing for just the two of them tomorrow night. In the meantime, Elliott spends every spare minute at Brandy’s elbow, gabbing about every crazy idea that comes to mind, and she leans in and listens closer, because that’s just what an Aunt Brandy does.

Elliott seems to enjoy sharing his Chicago experiences with Astrid Meklit. Today he got her worked up into hiccups of excitement over riding the Bus! the lake, stinky trash, various exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry, the park, and walking to the store for groceries. Tonight, on the way back to the hotel from Brandy & Erik’s, he kept whispering, “Field Museum, the Zoo!, and Navy Pier” to the almost comatose baby. Vacations really tweak naptimes and bedtimes for the small girl, who, nonetheless, remains cheerful and fun to be with, despite her exhaustion. Next week will be another story; she will be the very portrait of extreme grumpiness. But for now, we repeat, “Field Museum, the Zoo, the Benefit Brow Bar, Navy Pier,” so that she can be excited, even in her dreams.

So, the thunder is pretty rumbly and loud right now.  Every time we hear a “BOOM”  Astrid Meklit says, ’sorry.’  No problems with self-esteem today–Astrid M controls the weather!