Today was my youngest son’s first day of preschool/school. It was bittersweet for me as I have had several firsts with my kids but I’m pretty sure this is that last of that particular first and it got me a little nostalgic and teary eyed to think about it. He’s a firecracker and I hope…
The New Kid
Starting at a new school brings it, I think. Rips my carefully constructed armor right off of me. My son, on school # 3 in as many years, seems fine. But I’m not. It’s so hard. I’m filled with anxiety that I struggle to hide. Which I do. So he can be happy, carefree. Himself….
Modern Travel Miracles
One upon a time, as a teenager, I went to Israel. I had my MCI card with the Friends and Family Calling Plan. I had cash to convert and some travelers checks I’d have to sign in a bank. And I had an Asimon (phone token) on a necklace around my neck. My memories of…
Teacher Gifts for Terrible Teachers
I’m tackling a delicate subject here. In the struggling economy and crumbling educational system of CA (and I suspect elsewhere) a lot of fuss is made to honor your children’s teachers. This past year we’ve been asked to donate classroom materials to make her life easier, cater her lunch for a week (parents taking turns),…
Slow Down Merry Go Round
Stop me if I seem to have written this post before… It happens at the end of every school year. The cramming of projects, fieldtrips, concerts, plays, festivals, fairs, games, birthday parties, and celebrations of indeterminate source. It’s barely begun and I’m already over it. My calender looks less like a schedule and more like…
Great Books: Jake Ransom and literary hoarding
My daughter has been waiting for almost a year for this book to come out. She’s read every single book in the series and had this on advance order with Amazon. She tore through this in a little over a day. Sort of like devouring a meal. In one big bite. I’m happy for her,…
Community Garden Plot: Planted!
Our community has a novel use for an unused patch of land. It’s under the power towers (with a constant buzzing) and nobody wanted to put a park there, not even the dog owners. So it became the community garden. We’re on our third year of “farming” our plot and we’ve branched out. We share…
Lemonade Stand Lessons
1. Your children will spend more on lemonade stand supplies, than they will earn. Deal with it. 2. Your kitchen will be sticky for three weeks, due to spilled lemonade. Be prepared. 3. Someone will drink a bug. Hopefully not you. 4. You will need to go to the supermarket and buy a giant bag…
The Cat Came Back: Our New Baby
It’s been a couple of years since we lost our beloved 17 year old black American Shorthair cat, “Stinky” Mezinke. I swore I’d never get another pet. Stinky was about perfect. The most perfect cat I’d ever had since my childhood cat “Baby”. Stinky sat at my side, purring and providing company, through two pregnancies…
Pink Lining Diaper/Nappy Bags: Spotted in the USA!
After over a decade of diaper bag toting, it’s hard to do/find anything truly new and exciting. But one company, freshly arrived from the UK, has brought the whimsy back for me. Maybe it’s because they don’t call them diaper bags. These are Pink Lining Nappy bags. No, not that kind of Nappy, though I…