orcas island

orcas, .

We took a mini-vacation up to the San Juan Islands in Washington last week before Thanksgiving. I had never been, and it was lovely. We missed whale season by about 2 months- Orcas Island is one of the best places in the world to see orca whales (killer whales). Maybe one day in the future we can go back and see the whales, when the babe is older. The ferry ride was great fun, and the cabins that we stayed at were so cozy, wood-burning-stovey, comfy-bed-snuggly nice. I highly recommend it… especially if you want to elope.

…no, we didn’t. But you should!

we took a road trip.

sad baby, originally uploaded by jess b clementine.

This is the face of a sad baby who was in the car for too long! The rest of our trip was delightful, however. Details soon!

things that make me happy, day 1

king dad discovers baby crowns

knit knit purl

attn knitting folks! go to www.ravelry.com! lots of free patterns! woo hoo!

tootsie roll

above is my dear friend’s cat, gris. she’s had a tough time lately, scratching herself to bits. (don’t we all do that from time to time?) my friend has taken drastic measures and fashioned a cone for her kitty head, to protect her from herself. poor meow.
i am tired. nico is more tired, passed out in his car seat he is. tonight i (we) had dinner with good friends (owners of above pitiful cat), got a haircut and watched like water for chocolate, which was sadder than i expected. all in all, it was a great night. and now i have bangs. and, as my friend katie would say, my body is banging!
except it’s not, i really need to work out or go to yoga class or dance class. i tried to do a cart-wheel the other day and failed pitifully. or as tom piped in, when i told someone “I did a cart-wheel yesterday,” he then said, “no you didn’t.” Thanks Darling.
…moving on, the next day i was singing tootsie roll in an attempt to get my hyper friends to actually do the toosie roll. (you know, cotton candy, sweet as gold, let me see that toosie roll!) in the 7th grade, when that song and dance were popular, a girl told me that i was too bow-legged to do it right. oh shamed i was! but still i tried. damn her and her short-skirt-wearing, dance-team-making, ghetto-hip self! i practiced, i really did.
back to present day: after i got my hyper friends to do the tootsie roll, at an art opening, mind you, it was then my turn. damn. my post-pregnancy body just ain’t what she used to be. however, i gave it shot. right knee in, left knee in, both together. (“let me see that tootsie roll”) I DID IT! just as my friends john and suniti were saying “good job! you can do-” i crumple over my hip bones that feel as though they are separating from each other. OUCH!
…
…
… no major damage to report, however. and i walked out of the building not even limping. and ask tom, “why wasn’t my cart wheel a cart wheel?”
also, which came first the butterfly or the tootsie roll?

home

tom and i are considering buying a house in jackson. i’ve heard of a “Down Payment Assistance Program”. is this for real? does anyone have experience with such things? I know that the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit has been extended… woo hoo!

i love this baby.

i just do.

(photo taken by tom.)

Reviews of Hot Little Hands’ show ‘ill-starred’

I have been working with Suniti and David, my friends and the artistic directors of Hot Little Hands, as their lighting designer and technical director for the past two years. Their most recent show, ill-starred is reviewed by local critics. Most have good things to say about the lighting, which is quite nice to these ears.

hlh-ill-starred-017, originally uploaded by neighborhood notes pdx.

Neighborhood Notes – Hot Little Hands Offers Eerie Dance Delights by Eve Connell.

 

The Oregonian by Bob Hicks.

The Oregonian by Barry Johnson.

short and sweet

my child is wild, i am a little tired and overwhelmed, and we are getting ready to leave this place we love called portland, or. i was trying to hold the wee one while writing this post and he was so wiggly, squirmy, and vocal that i finally gave up and put him down on the (quickly dust brushed-aside) floor. now he is happy. who knew? such an active little person he has become. look out, month 5!

we visited mississippi in september and made the decision while there to move back. below is a picture of my nieces and cousins hanging out in my parents’ backyard pier.

we had a great time being there with our families. so many arms to hold the baby- who could resist? we are looking forward to holidays together, quick lunches, and the sharing of our daily lives that’s hard to match when you’re thousands of miles apart. there is much to look forward to, including getting to know a mississippi that is different than the one i left five years ago. (different for me, that is) it’s hard to leave the lives we’ve made here, but i know we made the right decision. so in two weeks, we are getting on a jet plane for jackson, mississippi.

women, micro-loans and helping others

I was inspired by the following New York Times article . I hope you will be too.

How you can help. or you can go directly to kiva.