$19.97

Growing up in a small town Walmart was pretty much the MOST exciting place to go. One generation later, things haven't changed much. Reuben really gets into our Walmart trips.

Here's Reuben playing among the skinned muppet rugs. He pulled them out himself and rolled around in them. Don't worry we folded them up neatly and returned them to their proper place - which took Forever.

And Reuben will put himself through contortions to get just the right ball. It took him a while to extricate himself, ball in hand, from this shelf.

Problem Solved

One of my pet peeves is getting stuck waiting somewhere without anything to draw on. This blog helped me realize all I need to do is start carrying some cash. You've got to check these out here.

Eye on the Ball

Reuben enjoying a ball game.



And Reuben has figured out how to throw a ball up and catch it. I think it's pretty impressive considering the arm to ball size ratio.

TGIF

I'm so happy it's Friday I feel like dancing! And yes when I dance I look like a looser 80s kid.

Happy National Pancake Day

Reuben and I enjoyed National Pancake Days. We celebrated by going to our local IHOP which was having a fundraiser for Children's Hospital. Next time I make pancakes at home I can't wait to try Kari's pear pancakes. Check out her recipe here.

Colorful Serenity

I found this picture by Dmitri Belyukin the other day and was impressed at its serenity and color. Serenity and color are two things I wouldn't mind a little more of in my life.

I Want To Go To There

I just learned of the existence of the Internation Cryptozology Museum in Maine. I hope to one day stand where this man is standing.

Through The Seasons

Reuben has recently discovered his tongue which he thinks is the funniest thing. He likes to show it to me so we can both have a laugh about it.

Reuben in his coat.
Our creepy neighbors - the GIANT bustards. They are so much bigger than Reuben.

Reuben after his first hair cut.
Reuben smiling as it snows. (I was not smiling)
Reuben guiding his Grandpa forward into the frigid arctic weather.

Reuben signing "more" balls.

Reuben saying "Hi Dada"
A few days later, spring weather arrived in the Carolinas. Reuben chasing the ball.

To life! Reuben drinking in a camp chair.

Reuben digging in the sun.
Reuben with another ball.

Adding Insult to Injury

It's been a busy week. I'm sick. Reuben is sick. I've got one MASSIVE work project that's been keeping me up way too late. And I'm stilllll packing.

Last night I was moving some stuff and a book fell off the shelf and hit me right in the eye. And MAN it hurt. I've never had such terrible eye pain, not even that time in Chem lab was as bad as this. I went to bed with a swollen and puffy eye and when I woke up this morning my eyelid was covered in dried blood. That was kind of creepy. Even creepier was the dream I had where I turned into a cyclops. When I looked in the mirror and saw the blood I was actually checking to make sure I was still human. I was so relieved to see I wasn't a cyclops that I didn't really mind the blood..

So thank you to my over active psyche for helping me realize it could be MUCH worse. But I'm thinking I should probably lay off the Greek epic poetry for a while.

Feeling Romantic

Aaron gave me a book for Christmas that I'm Loving. It's got me feeling all Romantic. Romantic in the I want to wander around Germany then explore the South Seas and write an epic poem sort of way. The book is called The Age of Wonder: How The Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science.

I haven't finished yet. When I do I'll try to give a complete review, but there are so many fascinating stories that I can't wait til the end to share what I read the other night.

According to the book Mary Shelley turned the manuscript to Frankenstein into the publisher just two weeks before giving birth to her daughter Clara. As the story goes, the idea started out as a competition at a dinner party with some other Romantic friends after a discussion of recent experiments trying to restore life to deceased animals and people through electrocution using the recently invented voltaic battery. The other participants created poems and essays that are interesting but none so lasting or as intensive a work as Mary's. I don't love the book Frankenstein but knowing that she wrote it while pregnant makes me want to read it again. The whole book deals with the responsibilities of creating life and the disastrous effects a new creation can have on the creators existence.

This has me thinking a lot of things but mainly - Drat! I should have harnessed my pregnancy angst to write a novel that would get me some money, launch a new genre (sci fi) and become a world renowned classic. Such a missed opportunity!

I'd write more about it but I'm really tired. So check it out for yourself.

Nomads

If you are feeling a little confused about where we are living, don't worry, you are not alone. I feel like most of my phone conversations with friends and family members start out with a hi, how are you and the next question is - now, where are you again?

I did the math the other day, when turning in the move out notice to our current landlord. From the day of our marriage, Aaron and I have moved a little more often than every nine months.

I feel lucky when ever I know we get to stay in a place for a WHOLE year. Mainly because I get so sick of packing boxes. I feel like I'm always packing or unpacking. After about ten boxes I always dig out Thoreau and start subjecting Aaron to lectures on how a man's possessions often own him and he becomes a servant to them and we should throw everything away. Aaron, a dedicated pack rat, usually calmly continues packing our heaps of books into liquor boxes (they are the PERFECT size).

But right now Aaron isn't around to pack. It's just me and Reuben packing away. Since Reuben is too young to enjoy my tirade, I'm faced with some serious temptation. All that stands between me and the dumpster/his house is my love for Aaron and my knowledge of his love of his "stuff," crazy heavy law dictionaries and all. So I keep packing away.

Reuben is definitely growing up accustomed to boxes all over the place. Today he wasn't feeling great so he took the initiative to pack a big box full of blankets, then crawled in and snuggled up with a ball, a book and a few cracker for almost a half hour. I made him take his nap in his real bed, but as soon as he woke up he immediately crawled back into his "nest" to draw on the cardboard.

My Precious

Lately my wedding ring has started slipping off my finger. The first time it happened I was on a bike ride. Luckily I was wearing gloves so it didn't escape. But I'm starting to worry that it's decided to find a new master. To prevent its escape I've taken to wearing it around my neck til I can get it resized, just like Frodo. Unfortunately this makes me feel way too cool which I know makes me exactly that lame, but oh well, I'm enjoying myself.

The Last Unicorn

Growing up the movie The Last Unicorn got a LOT of play around the house. I ADORED it and so did my siblings. To this day, I'm pretty sure we can all sing each of the songs.

Sometime in college I dug up a copy and watched it again and man it is weird but still oh, so delightful. How can you not love an annoying and pointless beatnik butterfly, a beautiful unicorn forced into a human shape she hates (terrible body issues), a flesh eating harpie, a similarly terrifying matronly woman-tree, a yiddish speaking Magician named Schmendrik, a red bull of fire, a bitter middle aged woman servant, an insanely evil king, his handsome hero son and an alcholic skeleton - all characters perfect for the under ten set.

(I'm pretty sure TLU was made by the same people who did the animated Hobbit and Return of The King - which I can ALSO sing all the songs to. When there's a whip -snap- there's a way! We don't want to go to war today but the Lord of the Nazguls says nay! nay! nay! We're going to march all day all day allll day, and morrrrre. Left right, left right - that's from memory. You can watch the real song on youtube of course here)

So it was with great delight that I found out that Frank Stockton, a really wonderful illustrator is putting together a graphic novel of The Last Unicorn. You can check out his work process on the project and more of his work here.

Still Crooked

I think Aoife O'Donovan might have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. She's the lead singer of the band Crooked Still. I've enjoyed all three of their albums including their new one, Still Crooked. Their version of Orphan Girl is beautiful. New Railroad, Ain't No Grave, Captain, Captain, and Undone In Sorrow all get put on repeat around my place.

Here are some lyrics from New Railroad that I find particularly entertaining:

single girl single girl go spend your days in town
single girl single girl go spend your days in town
just wait til you get married you'll work till the sun goes down
i've been all around this world

You can give them a listen here.

PS To Celeste and Joel: Believe it or not, the cello has a big place in almost all their songs. It even gets some solid solos.