One Single Impression: Change

Sadly, a great source for haiku prompts, One Deep Breath, is closing. Happily, One Single Impression is beginning to fill the void. Appropriately, One Single Impression's prompt this very first week is "change."

Since Northern California seems to have leapt from winter to spring in a single bound, I'm focusing on that change in my haiku:

Buds burst with color
Sun caresses rain-soaked earth
Welcome again Spring

Photo Walk

A very wise man and former Kodak colleague, Bob LaPerle, convinced me of the value of putting cameras into kids' hands and letting them express their vision. Bob isn't the only person to believe this. Wendy Ewald wrote about the concept in I Wanna Take Me a Picture.

Now that you can get a decent digital camera for under $50 on eBay, both of my kids, aged nearly 5 and 6 1/2, have their own cameras and are making known their own visions of the world.

We've started taking "photo walks," little excursions around the neighborhood where the kids can shoot photos and Mom can too. I'm impressed by how much they shoot and how uninhibited they are (especially versus . . . um . . . me). They will stroll up to a house to catch a detail or crawl through a bush to get close to their desired object. Both kids are deeply attracted to color. Neither shies away from cropping close with the camera. I've always considered myself a decent photographer but my little ones sometimes blow me away with what and how they see.

A sample of Graham's handiwork is shown above.

Now if I can just keep up with the flow of images to the computer . . . .

Time Flies

This month has flown. I think about writing every day but sometimes the words just aren't there. Allow me to share a somewhat random collection of what this month has held . . . .

We continue to make the house more functional and more beautiful each week; there are miles to go but our efforts consistently greater progress and promise.

Graham lost his second tooth within a week of losing the first on January 5. I think we've worked out our Tooth Fairy etiquette. A new permanent tooth is showing itself.

Lauren is officially registered for Kindergarten this fall. She'll follow her brother to Ohlone and into his K/1 classroom. What a stressless transition! She knows the teacher, some of the students who will be "olders" when she arrives, and some of the classroom routine. Only immunizations and time stand between her and the big move to Kindergarten.

The cold, rainy weather is motivating me to cook. I am definitely on the hunt for new tastes. Recently, I've become a big fan of Saveur's Carribean Crispy Roast Pork. The kids beg for white bean and kale soup weekly; in a rare departure from the common meal, Mark and I enjoyed Caldo Verde with a healthy kick of spice from the chorizo. Tonight, I'm cracking open the Wagamama cookbook for a homemade ramen with chicken. Graham is running a fever so we're keeping everything simple, accessible and comforting. I'll be stretching the culinary envelope later this week with Dons Tomas' scallops with butternut squash, chilies, and onion. I also found a cool heirloom bean--Calypso Beans--at Whole Foods that I'll make into rice and beans later this week.

On the reading front, I've devoured Cara Black's Aimee Leduc mysteries. This is a well written, suspenseful series set in Paris. Simply put, I'm hooked. I've also been indulging in Ayelet Waldman's "mommy tracked" series of mysteries. They're less exotic but well written and engaging. "Serious" reading has been less appealing to me of late, for no good reason. I have been working through Liz Dalby's East Wind Melts the Ice, a kind of personal reflection on the unique Asian calendar. I must say that great, thoughtful writing shines through; Dalby's prose is first class.

Ah well, there's a full week to redeem myself for January. I'm taking pictures and putting my thoughts together slowly but surely.

Major Milestone: First Tooth Lost

Today Graham lost his first tooth. He said his tooth felt loose. It was indeed. The little beast (the tooth) was rimmed with blood. A wee bit of wiggling later, Graham announced "I've got it." Indeed, he had. His first baby tooth, lower front right, came away in his hand.

We're scrambling to figure out Tooth Fairy protocol. The situation is more complex since his younger sister helped wiggle said tooth free. Do tooth fairies acknowledge helpers? Methinks so.

In any case, this is a major milestone. We will celebrate Graham's first baby tooth out to the best of our abilities. Huzzah, little guy. This is the first step on the road to growing up.

(Photos of the perfect little tooth gap to follow.)

California . . . Stormin' (Part 2)

I now understand the power a Pacific storm can wield. We're among the lucky ones; we have power. The winds were significant this morning; hemlocks and redwoods bowing in the wind are not a comforting sight.

Rain pounded Palo Alto this morning. At 7 a.m. this morning the creek behind our house stood at 2.3 feet; no worries, eh? Not so fast. Before noon, Adobe Creek, which has an eight foot depth was up to 5.7 feet and rising. Yes, we live in a flood zone, as does most (all?) of Palo Alto. I monitored the creek via the web as it rose . . . and thankfully subsided, leaving us safe and dry.

We are prepared for emergencies. We have food, water, medication, and emergency radio and charger, hygiene essentials, and dog food safely stashed. Still, I started to worry. Could or should we sandbag? What exactly does that accomplish? We have established a family meeting place if we're separated but if driven out of our house, where would we go? The answer may be as simple as "a hotel" but it's worth thinking through exactly where.

Today, we're safe and sound. The dogs are wet, the floors a bit schmutzy, but we're safe and sound. It's still raining but the creek is back to pre-storm levels. I've managed through weather before but Pacific storms need respect and preparation.

California . . . Stormin'

We're expecting a big storm here in Northern California. By tomorrow, we should be in the throes of receiving up to six inches of rain with gale force winds up to 55 m.p.h.

What I've noticed so far today is much more wind than usual and planes flying lower. What I've noticed on the blogosphere is near panic about the coming storm. I'm wondering whether I should be worried but opting not to be right now.

I'm a child of the Midwest, growing up with ice storms, power outages, blizzards, and tornadoes. I lived in NYC during a major hurricane and walked up Third Avenue in the wind and rain. Time in the Windy City saw driving rain, snow, ice, and umbrellas masquerading as projectiles in the howling wind. Rochester, NY showed me more snow than I'd imagined possible and more than one night camped out in a hotel as our house was without power.

I don't want to take the impending Northern California weather lightly. Gale force winds and the risk of flooding are serious, period. Still, I feel a bit like I've been there, done (and survived) that. We have a good supply of food (and wine) on hand, both for us and for the dogs (okay, no wine for the hounds). We have an emergency radio. I can't do much about the walls of glass in the house. We'll snuggle in tonight and deal with tomorrow's weather as it comes.

Small Changes

This is going to be a year of progress. We're making small changes around the house that add up to greater beauty and a more positive frame of mind.

We live in an Eichler, a mid-century modern ranch-style home, in the San Francisco Bay area. Apparently one either loves or hates these houses. We display both attitudes, depending on the day. We would dearly love to just renovate this place, top to bottom, but that's not an option right now. Last year, we took the first step and installed bamboo floors throughout the house. It was a good start.

So far this year, we're making friends with paint, embracing color, and updating fixtures. It's amazing how changing out an old fashioned light switch to a smooth Lutron one can please the eye and the hand. The same holds for casting off the old bathroom light, scratched mirror and plastic (!) towel racks; welcome, brushed stainless steel accessories and energy saving lights. And color, too. The kids/common bath is now yellow, a happy color indeed. There's a new floor there too. The master bath area is now a serene celadon (if you know Eichlers, you'll smile at just how modest "master" can be) . The living room will soon be sporting a stunning red wall. There's still more to come.

It helps to have an incredibly handy husband around to make these changes happen (see photo above). I am a willing set of hands but am continually surprised and delighted with how he can solve problems and tackle new challenges without hesitation. It should be a satisfying 2008 as we improve our little piece of Palo Alto.

A New Year Tradition

We welcomed the New Year this morning with sake sipped from masu. I love the simple wooden box, the detail of the dovetail joints, and the scent the wood imparts to the sake. The masu elevates a simple drink to ritual. The spice mixture that flavored the sake overnight is a traditional Japanese blend that lends a gentle warmth to the brew. The first taste of the new year should be sweet and indeed, it was.

Turn, Turn, Turn

The new year is upon us. The turn of the year always offers a time for reflection, resolve and planning. I love the "blank slate" feeling of entering a new year.

My head is in the clouds today and I feel a bit like Janus, simultaneously looking forward and back. I am making a concerted effort to live 2008 with more intent, more presence and am trying to determine the specific ways I might accomplish that.

I've been reading blogs, literally from around the world, this morning. To my delight, everyone seems to be able to find original words and original ways to usher in the new year. My words are by no means original but I'm holding "peace" and "joy" in my heart today.

What words are you holding close as we enter a new year?

Hooks

Since when are ornaments sold without the little hooks to attach them to the tree?

Yesterday I excavated lights, trees skirt, and garland from the garage. I couldn't find ornaments in the right color; we've had several waves of tree themes over the years.

Today, I ran out and purchased a few boxes of simple silver orbs to finish the tree. No issue with the ornaments themselves. However, there were no little wire hooks in any of the boxes. I checked my old ornaments and found, to my dismay, no little wire hooks. What am I missing here?

It was a challenge to get the ornaments into a stable place on the tree. Do people no longer use little wire hooks to hang ornaments? Aaargh!

Haiku: Container

One Deep Breath's prompt this week is "Container." Container? It took me a while to connect to the prompt but this morning's rainy, windy Northern California weather showed the way.

Hands wrapped around mug
Hot coffee fragrances the
Windy, rainy morn

Haiku: Boulders, Rocks, Stone & Pebbles

One Deep Breath's prompt for the week is "boulders, rocks, stone & pebbles." Hmm. Here's the haiku that showed up for me:

Pocket full of stones
Treasure gathered from the earth
By tiny fingers

A Fine Read

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Judith Jones' The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food. Jones is a fine author but made her mark as editor par excellence at Knopf. She was responsible for bringing The Diary of Anne Frank into print. That alone would seem to be the accomplishment of a lifetime. However, Jones also discovered and published Julia Child, Claudia Rosen, Marcella Hazan, Madhur Jaffrey and Irene Kuo, to name a few.

The Tenth Muse treats Jones' life from privileged childhood through Paris sojourn, where she meets the man of her dreams, and back to create a life in New York and Vermont. The book provides an engaging portrait of a young woman's coming of age after World War II and moves through the joys and challenges of her professional and personal life. However, let's be clear; this isn't an exhaustive autobiography. Jones falls in love with a married man and waits for his divorce; she treats them always a couple but his children and his ex-wife are not really addressed. Two adopted children appear and then are rarely mentioned again. Authors move in and out of the narrative as situations and story lines allow. I wouldn't call this a comprehensive portrait but rather a series of linked sketches. Still, the book works and is a compelling read.

There are two important things about this book. First and most directly, The Tenth Muse provides a great window in the burgeoning food culture in the United States in the last half of the 20th century. This is the time that America literally learned to cook and Jones was very much a part of that scene. It's worth noting that the scene is very much East Coast centric, New York specifically; luminaries such as Alice Waters seem not have intersected Jones' life or at least didn't make the final edit. Nevertheless, her firsthand experiences, insights into, and shaping of the leading culinary influences of the day prove to be a fascinating read.

What I appreciate most of all about Jones' book is the joy of the amateur made good. She journeys to Paris and stays with nothing more with a desire to develop her taste and a need to work. This is the classic liberal arts student (literally) tasting success. She develops as a person and a professional but conveys a curiosity, desire and spirit that make me long for a seemingly freer age, where opportunity seems to be at arm's reach.

If food is a passion or you wonder how many of our leading culinary influences found the light of broad public acceptance, give The Tenth Muse a read. I think you'll be delighted with Judith Jones. I am still marveling at her independence, boldness, and gifts with words and food.

Black Friday

Today is the biggest shopping day of the year. I didn't. I find the idea of Buy Nothing Day increasingly appealing. And, let's face it, I don't have a clue yet as to the shape of my holiday gift giving. Today, I did not contribute to the consumer economy. In the next couple of weeks, I will contribute but hopefully in a thoughtful and rational way.

Work in Progress

Thanksgiving dinner prep is underway. The turkey is taking its bath in brine. We have completed roasting chestnuts. The maple pumpkin pot de creme are complete, wonderfully fragrant, and chilling in the refrigerator.

Tomorrow morning begins the marathon of stuffings and roasting squash prior to the bird taking center stage . . . and oven.

More to come.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Thanksgiving Menu

The die is cast. I've finally settled on the menu for our Thanksgiving dinner. I am now ready to cook!

Our turkey arrived today from the good folks at Whirlie Bird in Sonoma; organic and free range are promising. I'll also be brining the beast beginning tomorrow afternoon, using Alton Brown's recipe.

In my family, oyster stuffing (we say dressing) is a tradition. I'll jazz mine up with double the bivalves, fresh herbs, and bakery fresh (but allowed to dry out) bread.

My husband found a great variety of chestnuts this year, so we'll be adding chestnut stuffing to the list.

Tom Colicchio's potato puree sounds wonderful.

Fennel salad with olives and oranges should add color to the table, as should roasted butternut squash with thyme and either Gorgonzola or Roquefort cheese. We'll do an uncooked cranberry relish with orange, too.

Dessert will be maple pumpkin pot de creme. Light, prepared ahead but still wonderfully seasonal.

Our holiday guests, my cousins, don't eat meat or poultry. We'll fire up the grill and share alder-smoked salmon with them.

I'm off to hunt down a good Pinot Noir to accompany the meal.

Haiku: Adventure

Here's a haiku inspired by One Deep Breath's prompt of adventure.

The first image that came to mind was that of my Labradors and their exuberance at the daily walk. For we humans, it's a chore; for them, it's a daily adventure.

Tugging at the leash
Nostrils flaring, bent to ground
Walk as adventure

A Good Day Swimming

The kiddos swim. Every Saturday they're in the pool, learning how to move from point A to point B. Today marked a couple of milestones.

Lauren, at 4 1/2, informed her teacher that she wanted to swim without the float belt. And she did it. Forward crawl, floating, jumping in . . . all without the float belt. Go Lauren!

Graham, at 6, is a Minnow in the YMCA pantheon. The smallest little fish in the class. Today was a very different swim lesson. Lessons are in the lap pool, seven feet deep and about ten degrees colder than the instructional pool. The teacher does not actually get in the water but coaches the kids from the (dry, warm) side. I watched Graham navigate across 25 yards of water at a stretch, treading water to catch his breath. I hoped beyond hope he wouldn't disappear in all that blue water. At the end of class, his teacher said he was a strong swimmer. We just need to work on that breaststroke kick. Huzzah! Go Graham!

It's important to me and to the kids (although they don't really know it yet) to have a go-to physical activity. Today, the Delman kids confirmed that they are swimmers, tired but happy water sprites.

The Joy of Audio Books

If you haven't picked up on it yet, this blogger is an avid reader. I have two to three books going at any given time. I always have a book at my side. Enough said.

As much as I love to read, I also love to listen. I can't get enough of audio books. It's reading with the ears. In some ways, listening to books can be more satisfying than reading them the traditional way. Nothing beats Sherlock Holmes with the right accent. The sound of detective V.I. Warshawski's voice, from author Sara Paretsky, will forever be linked to my listening to (as well as reading) the books. Reading the great "cozy" mysteries of Elizabeth Peters is one thing; hearing the Egyptian and Arabic words properly pronounced is a gift.

Right now, I'm ripping John Krakauer's Into the Wild to my iPod. I look forward to the audio adventure.

I encourage everyone to add a new dimension to reading and listen to books. Audible.com, your library, whatever the source . . . open your ears to your "reading" and you'll never experience a book the same way.

One of those Moments . . .

Or why I love the web. Let me explain.

Tonight my son is obsessed with leeches. I cannot say why this occured or what triggered this particular interest. I do know that the boy has questions. In the old days, we would pull out an encyclopedia . . . . if there happened to be one in the house. Now we check it out on the web. There are pictures of leeches, stories of leeches, more leech information than we could ever use. Say what you will, I am grateful for and somewhat addicted to the immediacy of information we have. I wonder how information on demand will continue to change as my little guy grows up . . . .

Just Closed the Cover On . . .

. . . Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co by Jeremy Mercer.

I love books and bookstores. Jeremy Mercer has shared a fascinating portrait of life inside the famous Paris bookstore, Shakespeare & Co. It's a charming memoir about his time living there. Yes, people--many, actually--reside at Shakespeare & Co. Proprietor George Whitman (no relation to Walt, despite the portrait outside) welcomes strays into his shop for bed, food, and esprit de corps.

What amazed me as I read this book is that Mercer writes about his time at Shakespeare & Co beginning in 1999. If I didn't keep that in mind, I would have read this as a chronicle of the '60s or '70s, a much more freewheeling and experimental era.

Mercer does a great job developing his characters, most notably friends Kurt and owner George. Mercer chronicles his own challenges, fears, and ultimate triumph and paints a sweet, though eccentric, picture of life there. We see relationships forming and unraveling, scavenging for food, and bathing in public spaces. Underneath it all is the joy and power of books.

Mercer's book is a delightful read for the bookishly inclined. It'a amazing that a place like Shakespeare and Co exists, indeed thrives.

Haiku on Belonging

Another One Deep Breath prompt: Belonging

And the haiku based on it:

His rough hand and mine
Grasp their smooth, slender fingers
We are family

At His Request

My son just asked me to write out two pages of math problems . . . single and double digit addition. He completed them with great spirit and joy. The reason, I believe, he did this stems from the fact he attends a progressive school, part of the Palo Alto public school system. The only reason the Ohlone School kids have homework is if they don't finish their work during the day. That leaves evenings and parent time open for exploration . . . reading, talking, and yes, math.

The concept is that he will ultimately drive his own learning and be responsible for it. I admit to thinking "yeah, right" and "what's the downside of trying." What I see is a curious child who genuinely want to learn, to test his knowledge and increase it. He's aware of his level among his peers in math and reading. He's comfortable with it. He'll say "I'm not at that level yet." And he'll ask to practice math.

I have no idea whether Graham's curiosity and spirit will continue for four more years at Ohlone and beyond. I hope and pray it will. There's a bit of magic starting to happen now. The spark of learning and the journey to mastery are evident. I'm thrilled to be along for the ride.

Just Finished Reading . . .

I just finished reading Catherine Goldhammer's Still Life with Chickens. It is very gentle and pleasant read. We enter the story at the point of Goldhammer's divorce and purchase of chickens for her daughter. She chronicles her departure from upscale "Hearts-Are-Cold" to a smaller, ramshackle beach community where her bank account runs low but not dry as she renovates her house. A year of raising the chickens sets the story line and pacing as we witness Goldhammer re-build her life. In the end, her house has become a beautiful home, the chickens and the people have truly found their place.

Goldhammer's book is worth picking up to appreciate her eye for detail and the way she moves between mundane and higher themes. You'll learn more than a bit about chickens along the way, too.

N.B. As you can tell from the giant "Search Inside" banner, I picked up the above photo from Amazon.com.

Cocktail Satisfaction

I love a good martini. Let me say upfront that I am a martini purist. The ingredients are simple--gin or vodka, a wee bit of vermouth, olive or lemon twist--shaken with ice and ushered into the glass. Period.

My dear husband just mixed a wonderful martini with a gin called Hendricks; it has stolen our hearts. The gin comes in a squat, black bottle, seemingly a throwback to ages past. What makes Hendricks special for me is its subtle cucumber finish. In a radical departure of martini purism, we will occasionally garnish a Hendricks martini with a cucumber slice to heighten that finish. Published information on Hendricks indicates there is a note of rose there too but I find that challenging to detect.

Cheers!

How Have I Missed This?

Today I volunteered in my son's kindergarten/first grade classroom. His excellent teacher was reading to the class from James and the Giant Peach by Road Dahl. How did I miss this book? I got myself to a bookstore, pronto, and picked up a copy. Now, we'll be reading at home in parallel. Road Dahl can be a bit dark but definitely appeals to the kiddos.

Television for All?

We're not big television watchers, as individuals or as a family. When the tube is on, the kids tend to steer the proverbial ship. With Graham at 6 and Lauren at 4 1/2 we're beyond the little kids programs and (thankfully) not yet into High School Musical and American Idol.

Our family viewing these days revolves around Avatar and The Secret Show, both Nickelodon shows. Avatar is the story of a young boy who will come to master the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. As he makes his mythical quest, he fights the evil Fire Nation and allies himself with a brother/sister team from the Water Tribe. The Secret Show is a secret agent show gone weird, stealing airtime from Floppy Bunnies and battling the evil Doctor Doctor. Professor Professor provides wise and friendly advice and advantages.

Every family needs their downtime. This is our primetime distraction. If you've looked at the broadcast line-up of late, you know it could be much, much worse.

Haiku on Fog

NaBloPoMo is certainly a demanding mistress. I find myself thinking "and what will I write about today?"

One always-good answer is haiku. Today, I was struck by the fog that enveloped Palo Alto, making everything a bit more damp and feeling of fall.

Without further ado, today's haiku:

Fog blankets the house
Water droplets everywhere
Walking through grey clouds

Meatball Hero

As a follow up to yesterday's post, I am pleased to report that Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, has won universal acclaim with her spaghetti and meatballs . . . at least in my household. My husband returned from a business trip and came home to the scent of meatballs sauteeing in olive oil. A mere thirty minutes later and dinner was on the table; he was saying "this is delicious" as he tucked into the pasta, sauce and meatballs. Graham particularly enjoyed the red sauce, given body by Chianti. Lauren took such pride in having made meatballs, she ate two. The ultimate test of acceptance included both kids saying "I want this in my lunch tomorrow."

As mom and chef tonight, I say "huzzah!"

Putting the Best Foot Forward

We try to cook as a family most nights and have become masters of the 30 minute meal. With a six year old and a four and a half year old, we try to make mealtime as much of a calm, welcoming, if sometimes adventurous, event as possible.

This week my son had a special request: spaghetti and meatballs. Believe it or not, we've never made spaghetti and meatballs. I think he may have found his culinary inspiration in Judi and Ron Barrett's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I'm encouraged that what we read about can find its way to the dinner table, and vice versa. I want his first experience to set the benchmark.

I found this recipe from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, and laid in the supplies today. Tomorrow will find us shaping meatballs and making the simple but delicious red sauce to grace the pasta. It's not a quick meal but I am hoping it's one to remember. Stay tuned and I'll let you know if we hit a family culinary high note!

Haiku, Loneliness Theme

Skeleton tracings
Branches shiver against sky
Above leaves' carpet

A Few Minutes' Diversion

Please check out Freerice.com. You demonstrate your vocabulary prowess by correctly defining words (multiple choice) and Freerice donates grains of rice to those in need based on your correct answers. You clear your head, exercise your mind and others eat. Sounds like a fine arrangement to me. I've made it vocabulary level 45 before beginning to make mistakes.

I learned of Free Rice via Michael Leddy's very excellent blog, Orange Crate Art. Visit to read his writing and gain his perspective on the world.

Morning Person

I love to start my day with a strong cup of coffee and pages from a good book. The bed is still warm under the duvet, the air deliciously cool. For a while, the boundaries of my world are defined by the pool of light from my bedside lamp.

With husband, children and dogs asleep, the house is exquisitely still. The heavy grey clouds of northern California mornings act like a giant comforter, keeping everyone and everything snugly tucked in dim light a bit longer.

Joy swells my heart as the family begins to wake, stumbling and stretching, seeking hugs and snuggles or a scratch behind the ears (for the dogs). There is room now for softly spoken words or a gentle backrub.

I sip the hot, milky coffee and am conscious of my breathing. In moments, the day will burst upon us all.

An Eater of Words

I have become an eater of words. They nourish and sustain me.

I've always been a bookworm, reading any chance I have. It's been that way since childhood. I have never been more than an arm's reach from a book. Magazines are part of the diet: food, home, culture, business, photography, art, and literature. Add to that nearly 350 RSS feeds of blogs. Audiobooks and podcasts emanate from my ever-present slender white square, filling drives, chores, and otherwise lost time with words.

The challenge for me is to balance the taking in with the putting out. I may consume words but I write less than I'd like. One of the compelling aspects of November is this drive to put words out, online, on paper, however. I'm taking in great material; the opportunity is to put out equally great stuff.

November (Already)

Statement of the obvious: today is November 1. Another SOO: It has been far too long since I've written here. The great news is that any day can represent a new beginning.

For some, today marks the firing of the virtual starter gun for NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month. One month. 50,000 words. One novel. For the past two years, I've been thinking about it. And that's as far as I've taken it. November 1 sneaks up and catches me unawares, finding me not having thought about plot, characters, or much beyond a core idea. Ah well, there's always 2008 for a dash-to-the-finish novel effort.

In the meantime, November 1 also heralds the launch of NaBloPoMo: National Blog Posting Month. One month. One blog post a day. Last year may have not seen profundity on a daily basis from me but my writing habit increased. Indeed, my technical sophistication did too, as I made my first moblog post in this month last year.

Here's to new beginnings, for this blog and for a more regular writing practice. Watch out world, there might be pictures too.

Awareness

Around the corner stands a small Russian Orthodox church: Protection of the Holy Virgin Church. It is a tiny building but its blue onion domes help it stand out in this neighborhood of low-slung Eichler homes.

Something else makes it stand out: at 10:00 (ish) every Sunday morning, Protection of the Holy Virgin Church's bell tolls. It's not the deep, throaty toll I remember from St. Johns when I was growing up. This bell sounds more like the bells I heard at Buddhist temples in Kyoto. When I first heard the slightly tinny, high pitched ring, I assumed a neighbor had some sort of bell or gong. This is California, after all. One day, I was passing by the church and heard the bell. I'd found the source of my Sunday morning call to be present. I just heard again a few moments ago and wanted to share.

The Dog Days of Summer

The last few weeks have been filled with tinkering. I have been reading and writing. I've been cooking, drawing and picking up the camera more, too. This is all good progress but the words and images seem to stop in the physical world, not quite making the jump to the web.

I attribute this desultory wandering among topics and activities to the dog days of summer. I've never been a big summer fan. I remember long, sunny days curled up on the patio of our Midwestern home, endlessly reading books and sipping iced tea from a dewy glass. Those were happy days, indeed, but I'm happier still when I have a purpose.

August just doesn't lend itself to purpose. The month feels betwixt and between. The hot weather slows me down. The kids have completed their summer reading programs. We're down to a final week of day camp.

The beginning of the academic year always shakes out the cobwebs. It's the kids that are in school now but the turn of the year brings new energy for me. I relish mapping out the calendar, choosing activities, making sure shoes fit and ensuring that everyone has a warm sweater for the cooler fall mornings. The coming of fall brings new energy to my personal projects as well as renews my professional perspective. Soon, very soon, it will be time to get in gear again.

Just writing this and thinking of fall quickens my heart. I think I'll kindle that spark of energy and see if I can't cheat the season a bit, muscling through the next couple of weeks so I'm very ready for my favorite season. One of my summer goals was to live more in the moment. I've made good progress at that. I'm just feeling that familiar tug of fall, of future purpose and energy, and I cannot resist.

Reading . . .

I've recently finished Peter Tremayne's Master of Souls, the latest in the Sister Fidelma series of mysteries. This book is deep in the series (number 16 to be exact) featuring Fidelma of Cashel, sister to the King of Muman (Ireland), advocate of the Brehon law courts, and a religieuse in the Celtic Church. As you can tell, this is a series about an accomplished woman in times where such women are few and far between. The series provides great and accurate insight into the Celtic past; Peter Tremayne is a pseudonym for Peter Berresford Ellis, a noted scholar of Celtic history.

This particular book features Fidelma and her husband, Eadulf, solving the mystery of the disappearance of a group of religieuse. The abbess leading the group is murdered and warring clans need to set politics aside to enable a solution to the murder. Fidelma also finds bloodshed at the abbey she uses as a temporary residence; this murder links to those gone missing on pilgrimage.

The final reveal of the murderous culprit hearkens back to Fidelma and Eadulf's earlier adventures, making this a good read but, with prior volumes under one's belt, an even more satisfying and complex tale.

Lessons From My LIttle Ones

Hanging out with Graham and Lauren this weekend, I see two key behaviors that I could benefit from applying to my adult life. Following the little ones' lead could result in a pretty joyous time.

First, the kids create like crazy. They are constantly building, drawing, painting, collaging, making me bookmarks, asking to write poems and stories. Yes, they can be couch potatoes too, but their first and primary orientation is to make stuff and express themselves. They do this with whatever is on hand and are not bound by materials or any other constraint.

(The question that follows from the above activity is "what do you do with all that stuff once it's "made."" However, I won't trouble myself about that right now.)

Secondly, the kids are always learning. It's Graham practicing his lower case letters, Lauren doggedly trying to write her name, both of them seeing what new colors come from mixing paint. When we read, they're always asking "why" and "what does that word mean." The kids are continually taking it all in, processing it, and trying their best to use it. None of this is a chore but rather a simple joy. They reach for learning as easily as they reach for a pencil.

My resolutions: a) focus on creating more . . . more stuff, more freely, with a greater sense of play b) pay attention to what I can be learning at any time, embrace it, and use it!

Alice Waters & Chez Panisse

For summer reading, I've had the pleasure of spending a several hours with Thomas MacNamee's book
Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Utterly Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution. This is a suprisingly candid, arguably unsparing, portrait of Alice Waters and the legendary restaurant Chez Panisse.

MacNamee chronicles Waters' growing fascination and delight in all things French. He covers the early years in Berkeley when Chez Panisse operated like a dining club for Water's friends. Growing pains, profit pains, a parade of chefs and stories of key staff are currents that wind and flow through the book. MacNamee brings the Water's activities up to date, including her sustainable, organic farming and Edible Schoolyard projects.

I found two key themes recurring throughout the book. First, Alice Waters has powerful vision. In spite of a variety of challenges--personal, financial, political--Waters has stayed true to this vision and willed things to be so; it has worked to an astounding degree. Secondly, the right people seem to show up at the exact moment they're needed, serendipitously, in the life of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. Whether is was chefs, staff, funding, or inspiration, the right people walk through Water's door. This is somehow, I'm sure, a byproduct of her rock-solid vision and commitment but it is still uncanny.

MacNamee is balanced in his profile and his assessments of Waters and her circle; strengths and shortcomings, moments of triumph and failure appear in equal measure. This book is a great window to food history, life in Berkeley from the 60s on, and a terrific profile of both the lady and the food legend she has created.

Amazing Blueberries

The most amazingly delicious blueberries I've ever tasted are from Sorensen's Triple Delight Blueberries. The Fresno farm produces multiple varieties of blueberries and the larger ones this season have been extraordinary . . . sweet but not overly so, heavy with juice, and rich with fragrance. We've enjoyed them in and on everything and just out of hand. My son devours a container in a single sitting. Look for the Sorensens at the Palo Alto Farmer's Market (Hamilton Avenue) and enjoy!

Purpose

I've been thinking about this blog a great deal of late. The question I've been tossing about concerns what this space becomes. Do I focus on food, books, family, projects, inspiration, or commentary? Do I need to spin off topics into separate blogs?

The blog is more aptly named than I had first imagined. Life is a random walk, filled with bits and pieces. Sometimes those pieces are cohesive and sometimes the center does not hold. In the end, that crazy, mixed-up world nurtures a life. I can separate things out into neat piles but that doesn't quite reflect who I am and how I live.

So what for this space? First and foremost, more consistent writing. My writing teacher suggests that this effort really is a writing practice for me. Practice I must and post I shall. I'm also going to be more diligent about tags for topics; this should enable a bit less of the crazy, mixed-up posting if you or I want to find something specific. I would love to include more photos and images here and that will require more time with a camera in hand--hooray! I love a challenge. Making this space more robust promises to be satisfying.

Birdsong

I awoke to the sound of birds singing this morning. I cannot imagine a more glorious beginning to the day. Yesterday was hot here on the Penninsula and last night we kept the windows open wide. Before light, birdsong made its way into my consciousness. The air was deliciously cool. Soon, the warbling, burbling, and cheeping rose in intensity with the pink-tinged dawn. Nature's morning music proved a pleasant beginning and effective motivation to rise and embrace the day.

Earth Day 2007

Today is Earth Day. The Google logo appeared watery and blue to celebrate. Interestingly, kids seem to feel Earth Day in their little bones. My kids know more about the environment and caring for it than I certainly did at their age. The little people also motivate our family to act. We recycle more now than ever before. "You don't want to hurt the earth," says my son. My daughter currently keeps earthworms and has learned about composting. I'm now aware that I have a carbon footprint and am trying to reduce it. I've written about small steps toward greening our household. My mother in Decatur, Illinois (!) has taken to using microfiber cloths to dust furniture. She trumps my unbleached paper towel habit. This weekend, I unwrapped the microfiber cloths. This represents another steps toward my goal of "six green acts in 2007."

The bottom line is that every bit helps: a microfiber cloth, a flourescent bulb, recycling, composting. Do what you can and we all benefit. Push a little harder and we benefit all the more. I may be taking small steps but I am taking them steadily. What steps can you take to live lightly on our beautiful, watery blue sphere?

Something Green

When I listed my goals for the year back in January, I committed to doing six "green" things this year. I'm making progress on this goal and wanted to document the progress.

First up, we've installed bamboo floors. I feel great about having floors that come from a sustainable source. They are beautiful and remind me every day to be sensitive to the environment.

Second, we've converted our Eichler lighting (original to the house) over to flourescent lighting. 150 watts of brightness per bulb for 30 watts of energy. This is a good deal. Our foyer and kitchen are brighter for the effort. Scandinavian nations have legislated the use of these flourescent bulbs. I'm not a huge fan of government intervention but could go there for such a simple change and a big environmental impact.

Third, we're ramping up the recycling. Moving to California, I thought I could not recycle more. I was wrong. Paying simple attention to what can be recycled (and trying to reduce waste in the first place) can be very productive. We've even gotten the kids in on the action. "Do nothing that hurts the earth," my son proclaims. I cannot echo his sentiments enough.

The Saga Doesn't End

Huzzah, the bamboo floors are in! They are beautiful and do change the gestalt of the house. WIthout the fireplace, the common areas have a more loft-like feel. The place feels lighter and more spacious. Somehow it feels we're living more lightly in this place.

Make no mistake, it has been a long and dusty journey. The family had to decamp. Dust is still settling. A number of our posessions are still in boxes. Art is propped against walls, not yet hanging. Like childbirth, I'm told I'll forget the pain in about four weeks. I hope the same applies to my dear husband, who endured the mess with the kids while I flew off to Europe for a week long business trip.

The saga isn't over yet. One change begets another. Now we need new closet doors. Mark wants to give the study a fresh coat of paint. Spring has sprung and we should tend to bits of landscaping. I guess these are the inevitable steps to making this house truly our home.

Dust and Destruction

We're renovating. It's taken a fair amount to get my head wrapped around the concept. We live in a mid-century modern home in Palo Alto, California. Mid-century modern is a nice way to say it. The reality is that we have decent sized lot (for Palo Alto) with a ranch-style house built by Joseph Eichler. The best features of the house are the post and beam construction (read open space) and the walls of glass. Less attractive features of the house include the greenish carpet, faux tile, and cinderblock fireplace.

Right now, the last three things mentioned are gone. Beautiful blonde bamboo flooring awaits. Between the current state and the serene bamboo state stands a few more days of dust, adhesive removal, concrete and leveling compound pouring and drying, and (yes!) floor laying.

We started with "let's replace the floors." That lead to a rather ominious phone call from my husband saying "we need pour concrete." This was followed by "if we're going to take out the fireplace, we need to do it now." Men came. Dust covered every imaginable surface. Today, my dear husband had a brainstorm to move a piece of kitchen cabinetry so we could experiment with a new (and arguably better) layout. Of course, we have to do this before we lay the flooring. So now it's done.

We're living in the bedrooms, bathrooms and study. We're sleeping together as family, piled into available beds. Soon the men will come down the hall and we'll live in that big, open, loftlike space while they disrupt our bedrooms and study. The kids are watching DVDs; we can't get to the TV. The good news is that we're reading books. But dust is still everwhere.

Despite the dust and chaos, we remain optmistic. This is certainly the biggest step we've taken toward making this place--or any place for that matter--truly our own. I am confident we will endure and, indeed, prevail. I'm trying to be an optimist here, even as I feel the dust on my keyboard. Aargh!

Good Mystery Series

I cannot believe it's already the end of February. The new year is already flying by and I often feel mired in quicksand. One consolation is discovering a terrific mystery series by Dana Cameron. The series features a female protagonist, Emma Fielding, who is an East Coast professor and anthropologist with a strong sideline interest in forensics. No matter where she goes, the bodies turn up in due course. The characters, relationships and dialog are smart and engaging. Get thee to the bookstore!

Sardines: The Latest for Kids

I love the Gastrokid blog. Why not, I say? I have kids and I love food. Sometimes, they love food too. When they do, life is truly an adventure.

This post on sardines for kids touched me (just click the title here to go there). I loved sardines as a kid and I love them today. However, I have not shared the fishy little morsels with my offspring. The Gastrokid guys give me inspiration. The penguin angle (eat the whole fish!) just might work.

Uber-List

I can't figure out how to do umlauts on my keyboard for a properly presented "uber-list" but the intention is there. Mama Says Om, a mommy blog site I follow, presented the uber-list concept for 2007 resolutions/goals--call them what you will. I was inspired by what I read there. Without further ado, here is my "uber-list" for 2007:

1. CRAFT: Experiment with crafting . . . felt stuffed animals, maybe knitting, maybe cooking differently
2. CRAFT: When I figure out what it is that I can and want to do, do it--at least monthly
3. CRAFT: Read more about crafting and creating
4: CREATIVITY: Read six books on creativity over the next year
5. CREATIVITY: Keep a paper journal (Moleskine) to facilitate the creative journey
6. CREATIVITY: Make everyday life a bit more creative and inspiring
7. CREATIVITY: Take more photographs
8. CREATIVITY: Take a drawing class
9. CREATIVITY: Add more music to my life
10. FAMILY: Play more
11. FAMILY: Listen better
12. FAMILY: Raise my voice less
13. FAMILY: Celebrate more
14. FOOD: One new recipe per week
15. FOOD: Six great restaurants per year
16. FOOD: Six new regional cuisine explorations
17. FOOD: Cook with the kids more
18. FOOD: Read at least six food books this year
19. FOOD: Shop farmer's markets at least once a month (as available)
20. FOOD: Introduce new artisanal products to the family
21. FOOD: Build personal favorite lists . . . olive oil, oysters, cheeses
22. FRIENDS: Re-connect with old ones--one a month minimum
23. FRIENDS: Make new ones--one a month minimum
24. HEALTH: Get caught up with doctor visits
25. HEALTH: Get caught up with dentist visits
26. HEALTH: Drop weight
27. HEALTH: Find an exercise form I like and get to it
28. HOME: Maintain clean, organized common closets
29. HOME: Quarterly donations of old/unused stuff
30. HOME: Monthly progress toward at clearing clutter
31. HOME: Introduce touchstones of comfort
32. HOME: Introduce six green habits over the year
33. HOME: Grow stuff . . . herbs, vegetables, fruit
34. HOME: Improve and enjoy outdoor spaces
35. HOME: Paint as appropriate
36. HOME: Organize kids closets
37. HOME: Find a solution for incoming mail
38. HOME: Bills, documents . . . on time, all the time
39. LOVE: Surprise hubby with insightful gifts
40. LOVE: Date night on a to-be-established frequency.
41. MIND: Take a writing class
42. MIND: Chronicle books read this year
43. MIND: Ensure mix of topics in reading
44. MIND: Take a poetry class
45. MIND: Make progress reading the great books series
46. MIND: Include notes on reading and learning in journal
47. MIND: Make progress learning Latin
48. MIND: Make progress learning one other language
49. MIND: Establish calendar and attend lectures
50. MIND: Actively view art (galleries, museums)
51. PROJECTS: Identify six projects for the next year
52. PROJECTS: Record progress on projects
53. PROJECTS: Do something with scrapbooking/memory recording
54. PROJECTS: Make progress on CLSC readings
55. TRAVEL: One major vacation
56. TRAVEL: Explore the Bay Area (home)
57. TRAVEL: Add creativity/adventure to business travel
58: TRAVEL: Continue armchair travel (reading)
59. WRITING: Blog weekly
60. WRITING: Take a writing class
61. WRITING: Send at least one piece out for publication
62. WRITING: Send at least one letter per month to an author
63. WRITING: Work with the kids on storytelling and book making
64. WRITING: Start and keep a paper journal
65. WRITING: Write poetry

Okay. Sixty-five seems like a good number. I probably have about half as many items again on the professional side of my life. As the next few days and weeks go by, I assume more items will show up since I am now actively thinking about what I want to do in the next year. I will add them to the "uber-list" and also find a way to track and post progress. This exercise has been fun and gotten me pretty excited about the year ahead. If I'm successful, I will end the year with a very different set of experiences and learning.

Happy New Year!

Welcome, welcome 2007! I'm still nowhere close to 100% on the health front; the year-end flu has well and truly laid me low. However, I remain a firm optimist about the year ahead. No doubt, the new year will be filled will challenges on both the work and home fronts. However, nothing can top the embrace of my dear husband or terrific children; the exuberant Lab lick also brings joy.

I'm thinking today a great deal about resolutions for this year. I'm caught on the horns of a dilemma. Should my resolutions be bold, "stretch goals" per the popular phrase? Should my resolutions be more moderate, e.g., taking vitamins, reading and writing something every day? Perhaps resolutions are best not made exactly on January 1st. My bias right now is for the moderate resolution: tend to health, of the body, mind and spirit; be kinder to those around me; indulge more in the simple joys as my children experience them.

I clearly need to think and reflect a bit more. Meanwhile, there's laundry to fold in preparation for re-entry tomorrow and dinner to consider in a few hours. Aha, another opportunity for a new year resolution: to eat more healthfully!

The bottom line is that I will do a set of new years resolutions. Those promises will likely be more moderate than not. I'll keep them short and post them here, as well as in the paper journal I'm starting.

"The longest journey begins with a single step," said Lao-Tzu. I am not at all sure where the journey will lead in 2007. However, I can begn to mark those individual steps to greater goals. Perhaps just getting comfortable with the single step is a worthy first step into the new year.

Cheers!

Crash!

I remember much earlier in my career--and my life--that the pace of life slowed as we neared the holidays. I submit that those days are long past. It seems like the goal now is to cram as much as possible into the days before the holidays.

I admit I fell prey to the momentum as well. Yesterday, my entire team flew to LA for a workshop with our ad agency on new media. It was a terrific session and we all learned a great deal. However, I arrived home coughing and feeling a bit under the weather.

This afternoon, my cough progressed to a fever, leaving me drained and my family no-shows at a holiday party.

For the next week, I will blissfully put work behind me and focus on home, my husband and kids, and my own interests. I need to be vigiliant that down time doesn't become jammed with priorities and activities, even personal ones. I need follow the example of my children and just play sometimes.

I guess our bodies tell us what our minds refuse to acknowledge. Everybody needs a rest now and then.

May your holidays be filled with peace.

Time Flies

When did mid-December happen? My parents arrived for a ten day visit. Work got a bit crazy. Ohlone and Friends Nursery School ended for the year. THE YEAR! Cousins came to connect. Hubby and parents took off for the airport together this morning at an outrageously early hour for a business trip and home, respectively. I am left cuddling little beings who are part of a suddenly quiet household.

Time passes so quickly: Chanukah, Christmas (yes, we're interfaith) and on to New Years. My son wants to celebrate Winter Solstice, too. I think the key is to jump in, celebrate, and go with the flow at this season. Creating space and peace in the midst of all of this activity is critical. So here's to peace, now and in the year ahead.

To Done, Or A New Beginning

Today is the end of November. This is the end of NaBloPoMo. I have posted dutifully. I have, admitedly, engaged in navel-gazing. I have noticed things more deeply about my life. Importantly, for the first time in my life, I have kept (a form of a) journal for a month. Huzzah! NaBloPoMo has compelled me to write.

What happens after today? I keep writing. I want to break out that Moleskine; okay, I want to open the many Moleskines that I own, one by glorious one, and fill them with words, drawings and photographs. I also want to keep this blog going, as often as I can . . .perhaps even daily.

Words are flowing. They may not be profound but at least words are flowing. They can flow onto a screen, a page or wherever. It's not the product, it's the process. That's what we say about the kids' art projects. Why not mine too?

Succumbing . . . to a Cold

I do believe that I am catching my first cold of the season. I woke up sneezing this morning. I began to notice that weird tickle at the back of my throat. Symptoms quickly abated with a rather large cup of coffee this morning. Now that night has fallen, the stuffiness and tickle are increasingly in evidence. It's clearly time for massive vitamin C doses.

On a broader and different note, it's amazing what trying to blog daily leads you to write about. I find myself asking "what happened today," "what am I noticing," "where has my perspective changed." This writing is, by no means profound. However, it is the stuff of life. I've never had the discipline to keep a journal. With this NaBloPoMo experience, I believe I can transfer the discipline to paper. Will I write about different things? Almost certainly. This space, after all, is quite public. It invites exploration, to a degree. What goes into my pristine black Moleskine is all mine.

Admittedly, I rather like the daily blogging too. It feels rather like shouting into a canyon; you get the satisfaction of expressing yourself but never know who might hear.

Back to the Routine

On this second day after the Thanksgiving holiday, it strikes me how quickly we return to routine. Shower, pack lunches, drive to work, immerse self in work, return home, dinner, kid snuggling and reading . . . it is the stuff of life. I'm thankful to see the sun rise over San Francisco Bay. I'm less thankful for traffic. Warm hugs and kisses from my babies buoy my days. Curling up next to my husband and enjoying a book at bedtime send me happily into slumber. It is a routine. Importantly, it is a life, taken one day at a time. Do I want to do, see and experience more? Absolutely. It's a good challenge as the year turns, to experience a little bit more, be a bit more present each day. It's about taking the routine to the next level.

Re-entry

After a relaxing holiday weekend, today marked re-entry. I returned to unanswered emails, phone calls, and unpacked lunch boxes. I woke up grimacing but by noon had pretty much embraced the day. The Thanksgiving weekend didn't prove as productive as I had hoped. However, it did offfer a chance to unwind with my wee ones and catch up on a few (fewer than i would have liked) chores around the house.

Four weeks and I get another chance. I'll never trade kid-time for chore-time. I just need to be a little more productive and motivated in those non-kid times. Sometimes being responsible has little to recommend it . . . at the time.

A Quiet Day

Today is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We've spent the day picking up, following up on open tasks, generally puttering about. Mark is displaying his characteristic enthusiasm, going so far as to climb up on the roof to clean the skylights. Admittedly, it made a difference; thank you, Dear!

Days like today feel strange. It feels slothful to read, to curl up under the comforter and daydream. Yet, with our crazy lives, days like today are needed and justified.

Ah well, off to find some dinner of the non-turkey variety.

The Day After

Yesterday we enjoyed a tasty, happy feast with my cousins. As a result of getting home past our collective bedtimes, the whole family slept in this morning. Much kd snuggling ensued this morning, to my delight. Today proved to be a quiet day, getting my car serviced, accompanying Graham on a playdate, enjoying left over turkey and stuffing. Lauren is a bit under the weather but will survive. We avoided the shopping hordes today. Everywhere parking lots were jam packed. We'll gear up for the coming holidays, no doubt, but at our own choosing. It felt good not to consume madly this day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! It's really impossible to say that enough, isn't it?

The turkey is on the rotisserie. The oyster stuffing is in the oven. Mark is frolicking (an understatement) with freshly bathed kids. In a couple of hours, we'll be off to my cousins, Brian and Liz, to celebrate the holiday with their two kids and many more holiday treats.

At this very moment, parallel celebrations are taking place. My parents and Liz's parents are gathering in Decatur, Illinois to celebrate the holiday as they've done for decades. We carry on the tradition on the Left Coast but with a strong bias for Northern California cuisine. Mark's family is gathering in New Jersey for the holiday. Many, many Greenbergs and even more opinions make the holiday there.

Thankful? More than I could ever express. My kids, great husband, curiousity and comfort level in life--indeed, I am blessed. There is so very much for which to be thankful.

Best wishes for a fantastic holiday!

A Little One on One Time

I am a mom and a full time marketing professional. It's often tough to balance the two. However, today I had hours of delicious one on one time with my five year old son, Graham. At one level, we did functional stuff. We visited Whole Foods to pick up elements of the Thanksgiving feast. Next came a trip to a fabric store to pick up supplies to make our own stuffed animals this weekend. (Wherever that notion came from is beyond my comprehension, but I plowed ahead anyway.) We shared a sushi lunch. While his sister was off to a playdate, we visited the bookstore. The car talk was awesome. Holding hands proved magical. I can still feel the warm hugs.

I love spending time with both my children. Given that they're 18 months apart, I quickly default to the role of referee. It's a pleasure to sit down with each of them, look into their eyes and connect.

Don't feel left out, my dear Lauren. It's a long weekend. Trust me, Mommy has a master plan!

What Do You Mean, You Sold My Turkey?!

I admit I'm a huge fan of Whole Foods. I love that you can pretty much taste anything in the store, which is great for my kids. No question that Whole Foods products are largely organic and healthful. Their sense of community and customer service is outstanding.

Today, the fine folks at Whole Foods called to say they were out of the variety of turkey that I ordered for Thanksgiving. I ordered a Diestel American Heritage Bronze turkey. Apparently, the turkeys (literally) flew and my name was lower on the list of lucky ones this year. Lesson learned; a week's notice is not enough to ensure your bird of choice.

Thomas, the Holiday Table representative, called and talked me calmly through the results of the turkey tastings Whole Foods held for customers and team. He recommended a fresh Diestel Natural bird, noted its juiciness, confirmed its availability in my preferred weight, and confirmed the order. Thanksgiving disaster averted.

Thank you, Whole Foods, for being proactive, well informed, and devoted to making your customers happy. I would have love the American Heritage Bronze. I'll still have a great fresh turkey. Next year, I'll shop earlier.

A Random Kind of Day

Today is Monday of a holiday week. I am focused on . . . the holiday, of course. We're off to my cousin's Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving as our parents have done for decades. However, I'll lay odds that we'll have better food. I'll provide the oyster dressing (what my family calls stuffing), kicked up a bit with double the quantity of oysters, ciabatta bread, and fresh herbs. We're also bringing the bird; Mark will put the rotisserie to good use bringing our American Heritage Bronze turkey to its best possible state. What won't be different between the generations is the love and connection we share at this special time of year.

On more mundane notes, there is business work to be done and I'm doing it. The car gets serviced over the holiday. Graham's classmates are requesting a playdate. We have some major closet cleaning ahead of us.

At any given time, it feels there are about a billion choices, options, and pieces of stimulus. I'm hoping a bit of focus, exhaustive lists, and good planning will see us though.

Simple Pleasures: A Math Book

We had our first parent-teacher consultation this past week. Adrienne, Graham's Kindergarten teacher, is a seasoned pro. She asked us to come prepared to come with three examples of where Graham shines and our wish for him for the year. Unbeknownst to us, she asked him to supply answers to the same questions. Much to our surprise we were directionally in sync.

On the wish, we were in different orbits. We wished Graham would develop a love of learning this year. He wished for his own math book. Today, I drove off to Lakeshore Learning and got him his very own math book, in addition to several other items. He settled down at the kitchen table and began to practice his numbers immediately. The little guys said "thank you so much, Mama. I LOVE this math book. I enjoy doing math." When it comes to encouraging that love of learning, his wish is my command.

The Punch List

When I took the kids to swimming lessons this morning, Mark drove off for a morning of work at Lauren's pre-school, the Friends Nursery School in Palo Alto. This is a parent participation school. Given that we're two working parents, we're doing our best to meet those work commitments early and proactively. Lauren is thriving at Friends.

He came home with a great idea: the punch list. It seems that good folks at Friends write down everything need by room. They tape those lists up and, when parents come to work, they place their initials by the task and get after it. We walked our home this afternoon making the Delman punch list. We noted the things we wanted to do, regardless of the time horizon. The list will be a living one. Mark is off right now checking out alternatives to our various (and somewhat despised) blinds.

The magic here is that we have all of our visible projects in a common place, not in our heads, and ready for action.

Simple Pleasures: Thai Food

By Friday, we are, as a family, toast. The long week ended, kids and parents alike deflate on Fridays, the end to a (usually) long week. In such a spent state, cooking (normally a family passion) falls by the wayside. We are left staring at take-out menus with longing. We're fortunate to have the excellent Ming's for Chinese a mere five minutes away. We've been known to slum it with pizza. Tonight, Mark had the foresight to grab Thai on his way home.

Deep fried squid, peppery duck, pad thai, spicy spring rolls and vegetable-studded fried rice graced our table and woke up our tastebuds tonight.

Thank heaven for simple pleasures, like Thai carry-out.

First Parent-Teacher Conference

Talk about an anxiety ridden event. Today was my first parent teacher conference. In true new-California-involved-parent style, I and my husband both attended. Professionals that we are, we arrived with duplicate copies of our son's "shining" moments and wishes for his first year in school.

What a great way to start the day. Graham's Ohlone kindergarten teacher, Adrienne Brimer, is first class. She addressed literacy and math competency, all within the context of a larger vision of learning. We learned the value of play. We understood how core skills were key but not something to obsess over. Mixed classes (e.g., k/1 and teacher continuity) allow for individual growth over a larger span of time.

We spoke about what (we thought) turned our son on (when he "shined"). Unbeknowst to us, he answered the same set of questions. Bottom line: his needs are simpler and more directly met than ours. Okay, got it! We can fully meet the needs of the little guy.

This dialog is so very special. This is the first objective input on our son's learning progress. I am thankful that the input was focused on skill building, on progress, on real learning, rather than on some abstract concept of assessment or what is appropriate.

Here's to a good night's sleep for an anxious Mom.

Fading Fast

Stellar post from Minneapolis last night, eh? At least that was my first moblog post; the joys of technology never end.

I wish I could say the same for airplanes. We sat at the gate for an hour last night while the Northwest folks investigated the fluid leaking from the plane. This was not a confidence inspiring issue for me, an avowed nervous flyer. Having gotten up at 4:30 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday morning and read for a solid hour past my bedtime on the tarmac, I managed a relatively decent sleep once we took off. Although not a first, I can count the number of times I've actually slept on a plane on one hand. Despite my best efforts to load up my video iPod, I didn't even turn the little beauty on. I shouldn't complain. I arrived home safe and sound, albeit past 1 a.m.

I ended up at an outdoor photo shoot this morning for an upcoming series of ads. The sky over Berkeley was amazing; the sky was a perfect pitch of blue, streaked with thin white clouds that faded into pointellistic daubs. Despite my lack of sleep (or perhaps because of it), I was struck by the singular beauty of the sky. The good news is that I actually had a camera with me. Photos to come.

The travel is catching up with me fast tonight. I wanted to make sure I got a post up. NaBloPoMo is a demanding taskmaster.

Posting!

I am posting from Minneapolis' Airport. It's been a long day. I have nothing to say, really. Nevertheless, NaBloPoMo requires a post. Commitment met. Goodnight!

On the Road

I write this from chilly, but sunny, Minneapolis, MN. Okay, it's not sunny now, it's dark; you get the idea.

Before my team convenes to review our plans for tomorrow's meetings, I'm taking a moment to re-group, getting re-organized and re-focused after our flight. There's something about being crammed into that sleek metal tube hurtling through space that begs for recovery.

My good deed for today was sending my son's Kindergarten class a postcard from Minneapolis. His class is receiving mail from all over the world. I realize Minneapolis may not be the most exotic destination but it is where I am. I do love the little guy. Hopefully, the kids will enjoy the moose photo, distance report from Palo Alto to Minneapolis, and a brief weather report.

Back to trying to shake off that time out of mind feeling.

Wrapping Up the Weekend

This is a quick post. The household is tucked under their respective covers, save for me. I'm traveling tomorrow and doing one final check--and post. Today was focused, getting the house cleaned up, packing, getting a meal or two ahead of the family and snuggling with the kids. All in all a good day.

I'm looking forward to a few hours of solitude tomorrow. The window seat becomes my nest, to work, read, and think. As much as I miss my family when I travel, I appreciate a bit of time away.

I recently worked with a fellow who made every trip an adventure. He might choose an eleclectic or historic hotel. He wanders new neighborhoods and photographs everything. He inserts himself into the path of life and lives more richly for it. This is a good lesson for me. Carpe diem!

A Routine Saturday

Today has been another routine Saturday . . . and I love it. I woke up this morning with plenty of time to read and enjoy a cup of coffee prior to the little ones waking up. I took a quick shower while Mark walked the dogs and we bundled the kids off to swimming lessons. Another forty minutes or so to read. We returned home for breakfast.

Uncharacteristically, I needed to do a bit of work this morning. Mark did various chores around the house. I joined in the usual clean up and laundry. Graham was feeling particularly snuggly this afternoon. Curling up with him was an absolute pleasure. Graham and Mark are now off in the kitchen. Lauren is splashing about in the bath. I'm enjoying a glass of wine before we settle down to dinner and a quiet evening.

Life is truly sweet.

New iPod Toys

I confess, I'm an iPod addict. Interestingly, it wasn't music that put me over the top; it was podcasts. I love being able to listen to great conversations and points of view at whim. Favorites, you ask? KQED's Forum consistently provides great insights; it seems Michael Krasny can't have an uninspired conversation. Writers on Writing, Barbara deMarco-Barrett's conversations with authors, agents, and all being literary, is a winner. I love The Accidental Creative, great insights on creativity and how to cultivate it. For photographers, the Lenswork podcast with Brooks Jensen is a regular motivation to pick up the camera and get at it.

Although I haven't downloaded audio books (and I don't know why as I am an avid audio book listener), I have downloaded entire courses from The Teaching Company.

I recently got an iPod video and am actively seeking content. I'm not a huge movie fan but who knows what can happen? I look forward to podcast-y stuff in video format: TED talks, MAKE magazine how to segments, and things from public broadcasting. The how-to wiki also explains how to view You Tube content on your iPod. Getting the video aspect of my life up and running is definitely a project for this weekend.

Today, MacWorld arrived. Among the headlines were fifty new gadgets for the iPod user. Undoubtedly, I'll find holiday possibilities among them. Oh, joy!

There is something magical about having that sleek device(s) at hand to learn, explore, or orchestrate life's score. I'm hooked. And happy!

The Challenge of Choice

I must confess that posting every day to my blog, in the spirit of NaBloPoMo, can be a bit of a challenge. It's not the actual posting, it's having the topic. Tonight, I'm soldiering on.

I'm thinking about choice. I travel to Minneapolis on Monday for a meeting with the good, smart folks at Target. I respect their approach to business. I'm looking forward to the dialog.

Between the Target boys and me is a four hour plane trip and a quiet evening in the hotel. That means one thing to this business traveler: time to read! Without question, every business trip is a chance to curl up with my laptop and catch up--on email, on presentations and memos, etc. Every business trip is a chance to also spend hours curled up with a great book(s). I typically travel with two or three books . . . just in case, I tell myself.

Here I am, a full four days before I fly, thinking not about my presentation--it's done--but what I'm going to read on the plane. Will I start Ayelet Waldman's mommy as sleuth series? Do I want something more literary, like essays from Rebecca Solnit? I am an avowed foodie, so perhaps I should finish Anthony Bourdain's latest book or Mark Kurlansky's The Big Oyster? I look longingly at Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell, but it's so very, very big and heavy. The agony of a nightstand full of possibility! The heart-rending challenge of choosing a few, select friends to accompany me on my trip.

Am I book-crazy? Absolutely! Yes, I'll sync the iPod with music and podcasts. If I can figure out how to separate video from music & podcasts, I'd love to bring my iPod Video as well. However, after all is said and done, I need to travel with my books. That means a few, not one.

Stay tuned. I'll share what I finally choose to accompany me on the hop over to Minneapolis.

P.S. Great steak in that town. If my colleagues are wise, we'll dine well and I'll post about that as well!

Friends Nursery School

I feel very fortunate to have my daughter attend The Friends Nursery School in Palo Alto (clink link for more). Her space in the program was not the result of our good planning but rather a community email announcing (rare) spaces in the class. I may not always be on top of things but I'm no fool . . . I jumped at the opportunity.

Friends is a parent-particpation preschool. This is not necessarily an easy thing to manage with two professional parents. However, we are proactively handling workdays and fundraising commitments. It's all about being on top of the calendar.

Tonight is a parent education night. I am soon off to attend a session led by a Stanford prof on childhood friendships, what they mean, how they change, how a parent can nurture them. This seems like more than a fair trade. We supply tuition dollars and time to support the program. Friends Nursery School helps us become better, more effective parents and provides a wonderful growth experience for our kids. This seems like a bargain to me.

Thanks, Friends!

All Consuming

I had a moment of self discovery today. Driving to work, I realized I am a consumer of words, in a phase of consumption. I listen to NPR or to podcasts during my hour or so commute to and from the office. My big aha today is that I spend my most satifying time listening to commentary on writing, creativity, books, art, photography, craft and the like. If that's how I spend my "mind" time, surely that's an indication that I should devoting more attention to the subject(s).

Elephants. oh my!

Click the "elephants" link and go to Pete's Pond in Botswana. You can watch an African watering hole 24/7. I know I've posted on this before (a mere two days ago). However, this morning I awakened to a new sight: elephants. This morning (6:30 a.m. SF time) I saw an entire herd of elephants at Pete's Pond. I grabbed my son out of bed. We spent an entranced half hour watching these beasts: drinking, playing, snuggling, fighting, eating. It's one thing to watch something like this on PBS. It's another thing altogether to see wildlife real time and engaged in real experience. Watch Pete's Pond. Amazing creatures are sure to appear.

White Chocolate

My little guy, age 5, has a thing for cooking shows. He watches them and seems to "get" them. As he's gotten a bit older, we've been able to discuss what's happening. This is fun for both of us. Today, we watched Nigella Feasts together. I'm a longtime fan of Nigella Lawson and Graham is a new one. In any case, today's these was chocolate. Nigella chose to use white as well as dark chocolate, puzzling Graham to no end. I realized he's never tasted white chocolate. I remedied the situation and picked up some delicious white chocolate at Whole Foods. I explained that this is what Nigella was using on the show. Both kids cautiously tasted the white disks. However, it was my daughter that responded first and most enthusiastically: "This is DIVINE!" she said. Indeed, Lauren Olivia!

Webcam in Botswana

This is one of my favorite sites (click on the header to go there). It's a National Geographic webcam positioned at a lake in Botswana. This is the read deal, folks. Listen to the sounds of the African bush. Stare with rapt attention and your children on your knees, looking for that magnificent animal (or aminal, as my daughter says) that typifies the bush experience. I know webcams aren't new. However, this one is fascinating. Take a look, visit often, enjoy and explore.

Week's End

By Friday, I am tired. TIRED. A full week of commuting, pretty intense work, pretty intense kids (2), and a great husband. If I can manage to do laundry, pay bills, contribute to dinner, and the like, it's a lucky strike extra.

I could leave this post at "I'm tired." However, I can't. The reason is simple: I've been blessed with a pretty terrific life. So to wrap up the week, here's what I'm grateful for (not exhaustive, but representative):

A warm, strong hug from my dear husband, my best friend
Snuggles and reading with my two beloved kids
A challenging job to engage my heart and mind
A ready supply of books to offer me both distraction and challenge
A home in what I consider to be paradise: Palo Alto, CA

I could go on . . . and I will. Posting what I'm grateful for will be a significant part of this month's posts.

The very act of writing down what I'm grateful for makes my spirit a bit lighter. More to come.

Halloween Pumpkins

I live with a master pumpkin carver. At least, it seems that I do. Trick or treat time brought families, known and unknown to us, in search of sweets. More often than not, kids and adults would stop to say "Wow! Great/cool/scary pumpkins!" I would explain that Mark created the magic.

Over the past two Halloweens, Mark has become a bit obsessed with pumpkin carving. This year, he purchased two fine Japanese saws to help in the effort. What can I say--they worked!

In some ways, pumpkins are an art form and one given to impermanence. As the fall rains began to fall last night, we gathed the pumpkins together under the eaves. Perhaps we can preserve them a few days longer for all of us to enjoy.

You may be asking, why a Halloween posting on November 2? It seems to be bad karma to light the pumpkins before the magical night.

November, the Writing Month

Okay, I'm trying to balance desire and reality here. I learned of NaNoWriMo in the past several weeks. NaNoWriMo is also known as National Novel Writing Month or "write a 50,000 word novel in a month." Part of me is actually up for the challenge. Another part . . . is seriously not. That second part is paralyzed with fear, actually. I seem to have no "big idea," let alone an outline.

There's another option: posting something every day for a National Blog Posting Month--NaBloPoMo. Daily posting, still an accomplishment for erratic me, seems achievable. As for the novel, well . . . we'll see.

Here's to NaBloPoMo. To day one. To new beginnings. I'm posting. Today, words. Tomorrow, photos. Everything is a journey.

Wishing you all the best on your own journey!

Time to Fall in Love Again

Ah, Fall. Here in Northern California, the air is crisper. The leaves will drop soon. There's a delicious chill in the mornings and evenings. Honestly, I can't wait for rain. I think I may be happiest with a blanket of grey clouds across the horizon. It's a kind of cushion for the soul that bright sun discourages. It's time for books, sweaters, blankets, and hearty food.

Farmer's markets are reflecting the shift in seasons; we're seeing more hearty greens, squashes and root vegetables and the end of the tomato season. Another month or so and Dungeness crabs will be at their peak.

I need to fall in love again . . . with the kitchen. Like every other foodie, I have the master plan for kitchen renovation at hand should Fortune smile this way. Still, I can't help feeling it's not about the equipment. I need to crack open those cookbooks gathering dust at the hand of the summer grill season. I look forward to immersing myself (figuratively and a somewhat literally) in soups, stews, and hearty, slow food. These books literally let me explore the world. Even more importantly, they let me express my spirit. I also want to involve my kids more in the kitchen this season, encouraging them to create, taste, and savor.

As the sun sinks ever earlier and the year turns, our hearth needs to grow brighter. It's a right and good balance.

As I Sit . . .

As I sit reading and writing, the giggles and squeaks of my two children waft to me from the family room.

Okay, we live in Northern California . . . it's the family space or zone. Room would be an overstatement.

Nevertheless, the sheer joy in those voices, individually, together as in melody and harmony, lift my spirit. Laughter is magical. They are magical. They make life sweet as honey. I love them beyond measure.

A Good Day

Today was a good day. Strong, hot coffee in the morning. Quiet time to read a book. Watching the kids at swimming lessons. Grocery shopping with the little ones. My daughter declaring "I could eat cheese morning, noon, and night!" Sharing sushi with my little guy. A playdate with very cool Moms (and kids) from Graham's room at Ohlone. Now, a glass of wine and time to reflect. Hubby returns from a week of travel late tonight. Tomorrow promises to be just as sweet. Life is good.

Happy Labor Day . . . and Welcome Fall

It's Labor Day. I am laboring. Six gigantic bags of outgrown kids clothes and shoes bundled up for Goodwill. It really is energizing to clean and, importantly, share. Hubby is doing various chores around the house. Kids are careening about but harmlessly enough. Three day weekends are grand.

Organization is this weekend's theme. Old clothing gets donated. The Master Calendar with all of the kids activities, school and otherwise, is updated. Healthy take-along lunch and snack foods have been identified and the proper gear purchased. Now if we can just get to filing the mountains of paper around here . . . .

Labor Day marks the coming of my favorite season--Fall. Palo Alto is glorious this time of year--warm days and cool, crisp nights. The leaves are starting to turn (somewhat) and will drop from trees, giving me as much of a signal as I need that fall is here.

I've lived by the academic calendar as far back as I can remember, becoming more energized with the cooler weather and the start of school. With both kids now sharing the routine, I feel the cycle of seasons even more deeply. Graham is into Week 2 of Kindergarten and loving it. Lauren has started pre-school at The Friends School and is adjusting well. She hasn't shed a tear. My babies are secure little beings and this will be a big year for both of them.

My personal challenge is to jumpstart my own learning: physically, emotionally and intellectually. I must--simply must--find a way to embrace physical fitness. I'm not getting any younger and I need to be in shape. This is a BIG challenge and this new phase of the year is a good time to face that head-on. I need to attend to emotional growth--for myself and my family. I am more often kind and generous with those around me than those closest to me. That balance needs to be redressed. I also need to keep learning. This is less an issue than a joy for me. I need to map out the classes, communities, and individual endeavors that will keep me learning and being creative this year.

At the start of a new season, it's all good. I'm ready for my favorite season and trying my best to live life to its fullest.

One Giant Step

Graham starts kindergarten tomorrow. A giant step indeed. Am I sad? Absolutely not. My little boy is about to embark on a journey of learning that will hopefully carry through his entire life. He's off to the Ohlone School, a Palo Alto school that focuses on progressive, whole child education. Admission is by lottery. We are truly fortunate.

My wish is that he learns how to learn and that he develops a profound curiosity for the world around him. He has a wonderful teacher, kind and engaging classmates. The school features mixed classes (Kindergarten/1st Grade), no grades but extensive teacher evaluations, self-directed learning (accelerating over the years), and minimal homework. This special place even has its own farm.

One giant step, indeed. Here's to you, Graham, and here's to learning. May the life of the mind find you young and stay with you. I'll be here to help any way I can.

Animal Style

We moved as a pack to In 'N Out Burger after doing store checks (marketing pays the mortgage, after all). I've been a fan of In 'n Out Burger since we moved to the Golden State but had no idea that a secret menu existed.

My colleagues took good care of me, introducing me to "Animal Style" burgers. I was intrigued, delighted, and included. The burger really is better with mustard, griddled onions and special sauce.

I've been all over the web searching for more. Yes, In 'N Out Burger has a more extensive menu. It's pretty staightforward--more meat, more cheese--after "Animal Style."

Nevertheless, it's fun to be an insider. Maybe I'll try the extra crispy fries next time . . . .

Happy 4th of July

Happy Independence Day! Today marks a day of freedom, of resolve, and of vision for the nation. That's a reason to celebrate, certainly. On a much smaller scale, today marked the first Delman family bike ride, when all four us mounted bicycles and rode to Palo Verde, our neighborhood school, for chasing, climbing, and general mirth, and rode home again. It's been a quiet day. We're firing up the grills (yes, plural) for tonight's and tomorrow's meal . . . prime rib and bistro-style duck, respectively. The right to grill, to harness fire, is part of the American character.

Cookies

I don't really understand why, but I cannot stop thinking of one of my favorite (store-bought) cookies today: Leibniz Cookies. These cookies are a crisp, buttery shortbread topped with a slab of delicious dark, bittersweet chocolate. They are not overly sweet and are immensely satisfying. I also love the fact that the cookies bear the name of the great philosopher and founder of Calculus.

Banished

I love my children. I love the people they are right now. Yes, they fight. They also play delightfully together. It's all good. It seems like daily the kids say something that causes me to stop in my tracks. Lauren, age 3, announced that she was going to "banish Graham to the highest tower." It was well timed and perfectly delivered. Okay then, Ms. Lauren.

Monthly?

Oh my. It's almost as if I've forgotten I have a blog. I look at the recent posts and see they're MONTHLY. Not good blog commitment. Geesh.

Taking the writing class meant I was writing on paper, not the web. I also hit a rather intense patch of business travel. And, hey, life gets busy with a husband, two careers, two kids, two dogs, etc.

I realize I've been in the mode of taking in, versus reflecting out. I've been reading books and magazines voraciously, listening to audio books, reading blogs by the dozen. All those words and images going in, filling me up, seemingly endlessly. Now it seems time to reverse that trend.

I have been thinking about what this blog should be. I don't have a single theme but neither does my life. I do want to be posting images online. Of course, that requires picking up the camera--a good thing. It also challenges me to draw, something I've been reading about and want to put into action.

I struggle with getting these pages to do what I want, to look the way I want. I'd like to be posting more reviews of what I'm reading, have read, and have queued up. Getting the Amazon links is still a bit of a procedure. I struggle with how to get in-line links (and haven't won that battle yet). I sometimes look lustily at blogs from Typepad--they're more visual and seem to show links effortlessly.

Ah well, here's to re-engaging. Let's see where this road leads.

Sweet Sorrow

I just finished my last class in a series on food writing at Stanford University; it is a bittersweet day indeed. The title of the course is "Soup to Nuts," the professor is Jeanette Ferrary. For the last five weeks, I have thought hard, done research, and written essays. It has been terrific, a bit like stretching heretofore undiscovered muscles. Alas, all good things must end and today marked the end of the class. We celebrated with food and shared words (what else, for a class of food writers). I appreciate the feedback and inspiration from my colleagues. I have the utmost respect for the experience and insight of our instructor, Jeanette. Want a great read? Check out Jeanette Ferrary's Out of the Kitchen: Adventures of a Food Writer (her memoir) and M.F.K. Fisher and Me (her perspective on a special relationship with the legendary M.F.K. Fisher). For me, I expect more time at the keyboard. Trust me, that's a good thing.