August 31, 2011
WILW
Today, not too many words, just some pictures of beautiful trinkets and pretty color combos that caught my eye; as well as some thoughts on this Life fantastic.
August 29, 2011
August 24, 2011
WILW - Earthquake Edition
Something different - and late - for WILW; but I am loving, and very grateful, for the fact that all of my friends and family are safe, and that no one on the East Coast suffered any losses from the earthquake.
I was taking a nap when the earthquake rumbled in yesterday, and at first, still groggy and sleep deprived from the fever that had kept me up the night before, thought that the workers next door had hit an underground line or done something to our house's foundation.
It didn't make much sense, but neither did the fact the ceiling fan was swaying; the crystals on the awaiting-a-makeover chandelier down the hall were pinging; and I could hear objects falling from the open shelves in Owen's room.
As I ran from my room it began to sink in that this was an earthquake and I tried to remember what to do - stand under a door frame, hide in a corner, curl up in the bath tub?
By the time I made it downstairs the house was once again still and I skidded into the kitchen to see my dad and Owen sitting calmly on the deck.
Me, panting slightly: "Dad, I think we just had an earthquake!"
"I thought the deck was swaying" he calmly replied. "These flowers were shaking" added Owen, equally unfazed. I suppose being inside during an earthquake, surrounded by the sound and visual evidence of household items moving, makes the impact greater.
Checking facebook quickly confirmed the event as friends up and down the East Coast posted. I checked in with Cearra, and texted Bob; turned the TV on to find news coverage on almost every channel. My breathing returned to normal and I straightened the picture frames. Quite an experience.
And then today, this:
"5.9? That's what us Californians use to stir our coffee with."
"Really all this excitement over a 5.8 quake??? Come on East Coast, we have those for breakfast out here!!!!"
"Hey East Coast, the entire West Coast is mocking you right now."
Wow. You're mocking us?
I realize that you West Coast folks have to possess a certain bravado about quakes to live in a place where each day could bring "the big one". If you've lived there for any amount of time you've most likely been through a quake, and yes, it probably registered higher on the Richter scale than our little old 5.9'er.
But here's the thing ... we don't really do earthquakes (despite the fact that we too perch above some pretty hefty fault lines) and yeah, it was scary. We don't have "duck and cover" drills in school, as evidenced by my choice to run around upstairs in my t-shirt and by the hundreds of city dwellers who ran outside. And really, I'm pretty sure that no one - not even you Mr. California - stays completely cool when the floors start to move.
I want you to remember this too: almost 10 years ago, we were rocked by something far worse than any earthquake you've ever seen. We huddled in conference rooms and classrooms and family rooms as smoke billowed from those twin towers that were so close to so many of us. We screamed as they fell. We desperately tried to reach loved ones and friends who worked in D.C., and we cried as that plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field right up the road. We scanned the sky and wondered what would be hit next - and how close it would be.
Of course Sept. 11 was devastating for all Americans, but we were right here. And as NBC News' Pentagon corespondent Jim Miklaszewski said yesterday, the rumbling was eerily similar to the impact on that day. "I, like many other people here, thought: 'Oh my God, we've been hit again.'"
So please don't mock us. Instead, join us in celebrating that "our" earthquake didn't cause destruction and death, and be gentle with those of us who can never forget the emotions of the other day that rocked the world.
I was taking a nap when the earthquake rumbled in yesterday, and at first, still groggy and sleep deprived from the fever that had kept me up the night before, thought that the workers next door had hit an underground line or done something to our house's foundation.
It didn't make much sense, but neither did the fact the ceiling fan was swaying; the crystals on the awaiting-a-makeover chandelier down the hall were pinging; and I could hear objects falling from the open shelves in Owen's room.
As I ran from my room it began to sink in that this was an earthquake and I tried to remember what to do - stand under a door frame, hide in a corner, curl up in the bath tub?
By the time I made it downstairs the house was once again still and I skidded into the kitchen to see my dad and Owen sitting calmly on the deck.
Me, panting slightly: "Dad, I think we just had an earthquake!"
"I thought the deck was swaying" he calmly replied. "These flowers were shaking" added Owen, equally unfazed. I suppose being inside during an earthquake, surrounded by the sound and visual evidence of household items moving, makes the impact greater.
Checking facebook quickly confirmed the event as friends up and down the East Coast posted. I checked in with Cearra, and texted Bob; turned the TV on to find news coverage on almost every channel. My breathing returned to normal and I straightened the picture frames. Quite an experience.
And then today, this:
"5.9? That's what us Californians use to stir our coffee with."
"Really all this excitement over a 5.8 quake??? Come on East Coast, we have those for breakfast out here!!!!"
"Hey East Coast, the entire West Coast is mocking you right now."
Wow. You're mocking us?
I realize that you West Coast folks have to possess a certain bravado about quakes to live in a place where each day could bring "the big one". If you've lived there for any amount of time you've most likely been through a quake, and yes, it probably registered higher on the Richter scale than our little old 5.9'er.
But here's the thing ... we don't really do earthquakes (despite the fact that we too perch above some pretty hefty fault lines) and yeah, it was scary. We don't have "duck and cover" drills in school, as evidenced by my choice to run around upstairs in my t-shirt and by the hundreds of city dwellers who ran outside. And really, I'm pretty sure that no one - not even you Mr. California - stays completely cool when the floors start to move.
I want you to remember this too: almost 10 years ago, we were rocked by something far worse than any earthquake you've ever seen. We huddled in conference rooms and classrooms and family rooms as smoke billowed from those twin towers that were so close to so many of us. We screamed as they fell. We desperately tried to reach loved ones and friends who worked in D.C., and we cried as that plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field right up the road. We scanned the sky and wondered what would be hit next - and how close it would be.
Of course Sept. 11 was devastating for all Americans, but we were right here. And as NBC News' Pentagon corespondent Jim Miklaszewski said yesterday, the rumbling was eerily similar to the impact on that day. "I, like many other people here, thought: 'Oh my God, we've been hit again.'"
So please don't mock us. Instead, join us in celebrating that "our" earthquake didn't cause destruction and death, and be gentle with those of us who can never forget the emotions of the other day that rocked the world.
August 22, 2011
How Did This Happen?
I know. Believe me, I know.
It doesn't seem possible that we've already gone from this:
to this:
But it's true. Over the weekend we drove to Mary Baldwin to help Cearra settle in for her SENIOR year!
She has a great living arrangement, and a beautiful view. An airy room with a loft (Cearra will sleep/study upstairs, while Jacqueline will have her bed and desk downstairs) and a private bathroom.
We got her unloaded in record time (it figures, now we've finally gotten good at it!), took her to Wal-Mart for the supply stock-up trip, then enjoyed lunch -and a gummy worm "dirt" milkshake - in downtown Staunton.
Did you know Bob could juggle?
We love you Cee-Cee and hope you have the best year yet! Remember: M4 Forever!
It doesn't seem possible that we've already gone from this:
to this:
But it's true. Over the weekend we drove to Mary Baldwin to help Cearra settle in for her SENIOR year!
She has a great living arrangement, and a beautiful view. An airy room with a loft (Cearra will sleep/study upstairs, while Jacqueline will have her bed and desk downstairs) and a private bathroom.
We got her unloaded in record time (it figures, now we've finally gotten good at it!), took her to Wal-Mart for the supply stock-up trip, then enjoyed lunch -and a gummy worm "dirt" milkshake - in downtown Staunton.
Did you know Bob could juggle?
We love you Cee-Cee and hope you have the best year yet! Remember: M4 Forever!
August 17, 2011
WILW
What I'm loving right now ...
Pretty druzy (quartz) earrings.
An afternoon spent with friends, playing glo-golf and bumper cars.
That Owen buckles in Rocky for safety.
My latest decorating purchase.
Our own personal SpongeBob.
And I'm loving that Owen, Cearra and I are about to head up to Nana and Pop-pop's for a visit and swim! Hope you're finding plenty to love this week!
Pretty druzy (quartz) earrings.
An afternoon spent with friends, playing glo-golf and bumper cars.
That Owen buckles in Rocky for safety.
My latest decorating purchase.
Our own personal SpongeBob.
And I'm loving that Owen, Cearra and I are about to head up to Nana and Pop-pop's for a visit and swim! Hope you're finding plenty to love this week!
August 12, 2011
A Fine Tradition Continues
As a kid I had several hermit crabs. I distinctly remember flying home with a few that I'd plucked from the beach in St. Croix; and another, Tinkerbell, use to be allowed to crawl across the kitchen table after dinner, causing much laughter as she tracked through the Catalina dressing lid.
When Cearra was younger and we went to the Jersey shore* for vacation, I loved taking her to any of the numerous boardwalk shops that kept huge wire cages of crabs and letting her pick her own new pet.
This summer when Owen and I traveled to Sunset Beach, his friend Jackson got a hermit crab and all the kids adored it, giggling as it side-stepped across the bed and holding their breaths with excitement as it rested in their hands.
Yesterday I decided the time had come to continue the fine hermit crab tradition, so Owen and I went to PetSmart after camp to pick one out. Fifty dollars later, Owen is the very proud and happy owner of ... three very spoiled and well accessorized hermit crabs.
Introducing:
JACKSON (named for his friend, who also has a new hermit crab named Owen!)
OWEN
POP (short for lollipop - can you guess how he got his name?)
Now that you've met the boys, can you please do me a favor and say a little prayer that they hang around for awhile??
*A quick note: the Jersey shore I grew up going to and loving (Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Avalon) was nothing like the recent show of the same name. My Jersey shore was - and is - a pretty, quiet place for families to vacation. I consider that show to be the end of civilization. Just saying.
When Cearra was younger and we went to the Jersey shore* for vacation, I loved taking her to any of the numerous boardwalk shops that kept huge wire cages of crabs and letting her pick her own new pet.
This summer when Owen and I traveled to Sunset Beach, his friend Jackson got a hermit crab and all the kids adored it, giggling as it side-stepped across the bed and holding their breaths with excitement as it rested in their hands.
Yesterday I decided the time had come to continue the fine hermit crab tradition, so Owen and I went to PetSmart after camp to pick one out. Fifty dollars later, Owen is the very proud and happy owner of ... three very spoiled and well accessorized hermit crabs.
Introducing:
JACKSON (named for his friend, who also has a new hermit crab named Owen!)
OWEN
POP (short for lollipop - can you guess how he got his name?)
Now that you've met the boys, can you please do me a favor and say a little prayer that they hang around for awhile??
*A quick note: the Jersey shore I grew up going to and loving (Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Avalon) was nothing like the recent show of the same name. My Jersey shore was - and is - a pretty, quiet place for families to vacation. I consider that show to be the end of civilization. Just saying.
August 10, 2011
WILW
So let's get back to WILW!
This week I'm especially loving that Bob's Aunt Chris came to visit! I've always really liked and respected Chris; she is smart and caring and funny and a wonderful mom (plus she never fails to tell me I'm a talented writer, so you know ...). We had such a great time talking and laughing. A super way to spend the day and another gentle reminder to me that it is a good thing to be open to others.
I'm also loving ...
sweet Remy cuddling with her (um, Owen's) teddy bear.
family craft day!
my African violets. I'm the only person I know capable of killing off knock-out roses, but my violets sure do blossom!
Nanny's annual tradition of painting Owen's favorite toy for his birthday. This year, it's Stonewall and Azer!
This week I'm especially loving that Bob's Aunt Chris came to visit! I've always really liked and respected Chris; she is smart and caring and funny and a wonderful mom (plus she never fails to tell me I'm a talented writer, so you know ...). We had such a great time talking and laughing. A super way to spend the day and another gentle reminder to me that it is a good thing to be open to others.
I'm also loving ...
sweet Remy cuddling with her (um, Owen's) teddy bear.
family craft day!
my African violets. I'm the only person I know capable of killing off knock-out roses, but my violets sure do blossom!
Nanny's annual tradition of painting Owen's favorite toy for his birthday. This year, it's Stonewall and Azer!
August 6, 2011
You Might Be a Redneck if ...
the Combine Demolition Derby is now considered an annual tradition in your house, for which you invite friends and family, arrive early to get "good" seats,
and watch the entrance of the combines with excitement. Yes, you might be a redneck if you actually pick your favorite combine,
and take pictures of a few others!
Or you may not be a redneck at all ... just the mom, dad, big sister or Pop-Pop of a 5-year old who is currently in love with all things tractor,
and you would do just about anything to make that 5-year old happy!
and watch the entrance of the combines with excitement. Yes, you might be a redneck if you actually pick your favorite combine,
and take pictures of a few others!
Or you may not be a redneck at all ... just the mom, dad, big sister or Pop-Pop of a 5-year old who is currently in love with all things tractor,
and you would do just about anything to make that 5-year old happy!
August 3, 2011
WILW
Well, this week I'm loving that we've been so busy enjoying summer I haven't had time to write a WILW post!
See you next week!
See you next week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)