THANKS A LOT

Thursday, November 30, 2006

The day after Thanksgiving started the holiday shopping season. Of course, we had to start quite early because this year, Hanukkah's early... starts December 15. So I made my list over Thanksgiving and started my shopping.

Maybe it's my age or something. But while I was selecting gifts for some of my loved ones living far away, I had the conscious thought that for some of these gifts, I will never get thanked. I will actually never even know if the gifts arrived. I'll buy them, wrap them, take them to the post office, and stand in line... just does not seem right. So I started to question myself... why am I purchasing these gifts?

Of course, I do it because gift-giving is mostly about the giver. I feel good about myself for remembering these more-removed relations. With the families flung so far apart, we don't see each other except at weddings and funerals. Once a year, I think of them and where they're at in life and what they might enjoy. And once a year -- even for a moment when the paper gets ripped open -- they'll think of me too. That's good enough for me. Sort of.

It would be better still if the gift prompted an email or a phone call. Just to say, thanks for thinking of my kids again this year. Hope your family is well. We're doing fine.

Should I let the non-thanking bother me? I like to think that my gifts are given without strings... but the ones that never get acknowledged just hang out there. Sort of like saying I love you to someone, and having them give you that blank stare in return...

DON'T BLAME SHAMU

So yesterday, Shamu here at SeaWorld pulled a trainer underwater and held him there for a really long time. He's okay, but still, probably not what the audience bargained for.

But honestly, this is NOT natural Orca behavior:


So why should we be shocked? Millions of years of evolution can't be modified with a little training and fish treats. I did find this really fun Orca video on YouTube... in the wild, thank you very much.

AN EMERGING PERSON

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Sarah started piano lessons again last week. Her burley Russian teacher said, "She forget nearly everything. That's ok, we get it back." I believe her. She said to Sarah, "You cut nails." Hoo-ray, I like this woman.

It's interesting to watch her get back into it. She must have felt musically starved, as she's practicing like a person obsessed. She's taking guitar lessons too, on top of learning a foreign language (Hebrew). And if her grades are good enough, she's going to try riding lessons. We'll see about that one.

Sarah's becoming more shy around adults and more in need of peers. Though if her friends are absent from school, she will still choose to talk with the Lunch Ladies as opposed to be by herself. She has a fantastic sense of humor and a contagious laugh.

One of the boys in her class likes her -- one of her friends told her, so it must be true. And I think she likes one of the boys in her class -- because she makes a point of telling me how stupid he is every day.

She wrote an essay about courage, and how courage means swallowing your fears when someone is in need of help. There is a beautiful person in there... though like most girls, she doesn't think she's pretty, I make sure she knows how exceptional she is. For now, she believes me.

And yet she still needs to be tucked in at night. The problem is, I can't believe how fast the years have tripped by. She's 9. 9 more and she's grown up! Well, sort of... grown up enough to leave home. I hope I get a couple more years of tucking her in.

Sarah and her best friend Emily, being creative

FINALLY SAW THE GI DOCTOR

He thinks I passed a gallstone (see BREAKDOWNS, September 1 '06)! Zounds. I'm glad I did not know that in the ER, or I would have been a lot grumpier.

STARTING TO GET IT

"Mom?"

"Yes, Becca?"

"Can I go to Russia and visit my first mommy?"

"You mean, your birth mommy?"

"Yes, birth mommy."

"Sure, Becca, when you're older."

"Wish I was big and you were little. And I would come and get you. And the doctor would bring you to me and I would take care of you and be your new family."

"And I would be happy and love you for taking such good care of me."

"Yes, I would be your good mommy."

All of a sudden, Becca is a bundle of curiosity about her past. It's amazing to watch her ask questions and try to put everything together. She's so brave and wonderful.

BECOMING A LOCAL

It got into the 40s overnight and I have to admit it did feel nippy.

I had to wear socks today, and it took me some time to actually find some in the drawer.

I am no longer surprised to hear someone say they want to move 2 streets over to get a better view of the canyon.

I can get through an entire local newscast without scoffing.

I get itchy if the other guy isn't driving 80 on I-5... what is it, Sunday or something?

I have not eaten a steak in a very long time, nor a hot dog.

I forget regular people don't know where Encinitas is.

I'm noticeably sadder when it's gray outside.

I find SeaWorld unexciting. (Also Shamu tried to kill a trainer today, which is not very sporting of him. I think SOMEONE needs a vacation... )

I can't believe how cheap gas is everywhere else.

I don't miss having a basement.

IF NOTHING FALLS, IS IT FALL?

Monday, November 20, 2006

It's nearly Thanksgiving. Or at least, that's what the calendar says. There is not chill in the air, no leaves to rake, no rust-colored trees lining the street. In fact, it's kind of like September. Or July. Or January.

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. Not exactly. I'm more confused than anything. The holiday just sort of snuck up on us. It doesn't feel weighty and important for some reason. The anticipation of a holiday is what makes it big. So it feels small, like just another weekend.

DONUT COMA

Becca and I went to The Walk to Save Darfur on Sunday, and beforehand we went and had a donut at VG's. VG's is an independent bakery, kind of like Krispy Kreme on steroids... Don claims he can actually feel his cholesterol rising as he eats them. Needless to say, they are gooooood.

At any rate, as I was driving to Balboa Park with Becca, I noticed that she was slumped over with her eyes open... I feared the worst and pulled over. She looked at me and shut her eyes... and that's when I realized, she was in a donut coma!

I think she went hyperglycemic for a short time... so what usually happens with a high dose of sugar (hyperactivity), actually sent her over the edge and made her drowsy. Trying to metabolize all that sugar took the rest of her brain out of commission.

Thankfully we then walked 3 miles and she drank a bunch of water, but it was crazy! I guess this is what happens when you weight 38 pounds.

MEANIE

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Becca had to come home early from school today for making a kid eat sand. She is a terror sometimes. Sigh.

HOW TO TICK OFF A PRINCESS

Tuesday, November 14, 2006


FOUND A 3RD MICHELLE!

Look! I found a 3rd Michelle Edelman... I'll post a link at the right. She's now a senior at Northwestern of all places. Convention in '07 for sure.

VIDEO TEST

Monday, November 13, 2006

This will only be up for a short time, but it's quite funny, so if you happen to see it, enjoy!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MEEEEEEEE

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Hey! I have been at my job a whole year. Actually, it has not felt like a year, because of all the moving and flying and tourists in our house. So maybe I can skip the next birthday...

WHAT I DID OVER FALL BREAK

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Sarah was off for 2 weeks... the school has a fall break at the end of October/beginning of November. She spent the first week at Rock Climbing camp. She had tons of play dates, wore her Heelies everywhere, and read all of Charlotte's Web. She got sick with a cold and got over it. Was a princess for Halloween. And then we took off for a day at Disneyland.

I'm not sure what compelled us back to Disneyland after spending part of Easter break there. You would think we'd had enough of the over-happiness. But it was really fun because there were very few visitors. The longest line we stood in was maybe 15 minutes. So we saw a lot of attractions. And it was one of those beautiful, perfect Southern California days.

True to form, Sarah chickened out of nearly everything. She and I hung out near the exits of many a ride, while Don and Becca explored the inner sanctum. Becca even experienced Space Mountain, which can frighten adults. I asked Becca how she liked the ride, and she said, "Great. Only it made my face bend." And then proceeded to demonstrate g-force:










The kids encountered lots of Disney characters... these scared Becca significantly more than the rides. She finally stopped hiding behind me and started getting interested in the princesses.

One of the nicest things about Disneyland is the attention to detail, so that you get a surprise around some of the corners, no matter how often you go. They take such a huge amount of care with their brand. A good example is the strolling balloon guy at dinner. He made Becca an inflatable replica of Pluto on a leash, and Sarah a monkey with a banana on a tree! He had to have gone to some Balloon University for those skills.

And then Becca fell asleep in her spaghetti. Which was an added bonus. Now we are back to reality...