My Monday morning began with a bunch of men tromping around my basement, and a backhoe out in front of the house. What will the neighbors say? I had hoped to get some work done from home while this sewer repair proceeds around me (the culprits - old clay tile and tree roots). But I hadn’t anticipated just how LOUD it would all be. What with the backhoes and burly men with sledgehammers and things that beep and the buzzing reverb of walkie talkies. And all the information and questions for me, as the homeowner. The guys have been really pleasant though and have a much needed sense of humor about their work - which deals largely with other people’s poop. I’ve taken a few photos. Just be glad you don’t have Smell-O-Vision.
It’s high time for five good things.
Despite going without much running water at home (we’re all Little House on the Prairie style up in here) the boy and I managed to have a nice weekend. There were sleepovers, and the kite festival and dinner at E Noodle and I saw the debut of new local band Knuckle Grinder. But I won’t be disappointed when things finally return to normal. Which, alas, won’t be until later in the week. At least I don’t have to be home for phase two of project poop flow.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
We’ve had a rough start to the week, and year. Seems to have become an annual tradition. 2006? My son Felix was stillborn. 2007? My ex-husband moved out and my cat died. 2008? Projectile vomiting (with no alcohol involved). 2009? A broken picture window. 2010? An injured appendage. This time around it’s my potentially broken sewer main. Backing up into the basement. With POOP. And me being too broke to do anything about it until payday. Which, thankfully, is this Friday. Until then we’re using as little water at home as possible. I even showered at work today. I feel lucky to have that option.
Let’s roll with five good things for the first hump day of 2011:
In news of the good, the kiddo and I are feeling mostly recovered from last week’s illness. We may be pushing our luck with some after dark sledding tonight but it’s with friends and we could use some happy fun times. Even if they are to be had on some cold cold hills. Rumor has it there may be a flask of something for the grown-ups to warm up with. And I’ll be bringing hot cocoa for the lad.
It was an interesting end to the old year and an auspicious beginning to the new. Confusing and/or exciting things are happening. I will attempt to focus on the positive, and keep my fingers crossed for better times ahead. But last year I resolved not to make any New Year’s resolutions. I am sticking to that. I did achieve some of the goals I had made for myself, and made forward progress toward others. My plan is to continuing live life well, to the best of my abilities. An awesome new roommate will help with that. And our new governor was sworn in today. And now for the first “five good things” list of this new year:
The week ahead promises to be a busy one. Prepping the house for the new roommate’s arrival. And trying to make it to social functions, like l’etoile magazine’s LOL/OMG social media meetup, which will be one of the final events at the now nearly defunct 501 Club. And my friend Becky will be in town from LA (what is with all of these Angelenos I know coming to Minnesota in the middle of winter?) and I am planning to get to the Hexagon for the Skoal Kodiak / Bruteheart / Dreamland Faces show. And Saturday there is an art opening at Yeti Records. And this weekend there will be more glorious sleeping in. Unlike this morning, when the lad and I had to return to our regular pre-daylight routine.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Ok, ok, I was feeling pretty darned low yesterday but getting out of the house totally did the trick. Still not feeling 100% but some errand-running and light socializing have made me feel more human. And a much happier human at that. Hopefully I can make up for lost time and still see this year out in style. We’re missing a sledding party tonight - still not quite up to that yet - but we did manage to squeeze in a showing of Megamind at our favorite second run theater (The Riverview). And the boy and I will be enjoying our hotel stay on New Year’s Eve. Pool party? Hot tub time? HECK YEAH!
Five other good things:
Things change, especially in the restaurant industry. Though I didn’t spend much time there I was sad to hear that the 501 Club is shutting down soon. But relieved that Cake Eater Bakery won’t be closing their doors. Co-owner Sheela Namakkal is leaving town to take a position with Chicago’s Bleeding Heart Bakery, but Emily Moore Harris will be expanding Cake Eater’s menu. There will still be bakery items but also breakfast food, soups and sandwiches. So excited for that!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
It’s been quiet around here. Guess I’ve been going the “if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” route. But this really isn’t how I wanted to close out my year. Sickly, sad, disappointed and deeply discontented. Who knows though. Maybe I can rally by the end of the week. Especially since I’ll be leaving the house today for the first time since Friday. Sometimes just bathing, getting dressed and getting out can do wonders for a gal.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Over the years I’ve tried to fashion strong holiday traditions for my son. But sometimes I’m afraid too many of them are tinged by sadness, or have been marred by stress. This holiday season I’ve maybe worked too much and not been playful enough. And with our very small family so spread out, too often I feel like we don’t really belong anywhere. Except for at our house. Together. With our cats. Speaking of…it’s not all gloom and doom. Last night the lad and I spent a good chunk of time together, cuddling while looking at photos of fat cats and tiny animals. And we’re all set, Giftmas-wise. I can’t wait until the kiddo wakes up Christmas morning! He has the patience to wait, more so than I do. Watching him finally tear into everything is always so satisfying. And hey, yesterday I received some pretty amazing secret satan/santa gifts myself.
Five other good things for this Christmas Eve Eve:
My son has spent today with some lovely friends, sledding and running around outside with their kids and neighbor kids (wish we lived in their neighborhood). We’ve always had more friends than family. But tomorrow we’ll see my folks and have the annual viewing of the Pee Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special. Before that? I’ve promised to bake more holiday cookies. For Santa. Yep. They’ll be going in my belly tomorrow night.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
You would think winter would slow us down some. That the drop in temperatures would impede our forward momentum, like frogs in a refrigerator. But it’s been just the opposite lately. We’ve been all go no slow, with holiday gatherings, photo shoots, errand running and other functions. At least my giftmas shopping is done. Maybe the silence and hermitude will hit some time after the holidays, but it seems unlikely this year. As it looks like we’re finally getting a roommate who will be a good fit for us. This will mean saying goodbye to the Lady Cave, but hello to a similarly minded lovely lady friend.
Among other recent highlights? Taking my son to see the new Tron movie. My brother would have loved it! And we really ought to see it again, in the company of my Dad. As much as we enjoyed it let’s turn to the Tron guy himself, who reviewed Legacy for Wired. If our funds were less limited I’d be taking the kid to stay in the Tron Legacy room at Sweden’s Ice Hotel. But I draw the line at baffling Tron fashions in some sort of Tron musical. Eek.
Some families have been able to reschedule portrait photo sessions after the last two weekends of blizzards. At one such session yesterday I was kindly given a 35mm Minolta X-370, with two lenses and an external flash. It needs a little TLC but the manual is available online. I hope to have some fun with it in the coming year.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The kid and I managed to survive the blizzardings with a little help from friends (but not much from the neighbors - the ones who sued me earlier in the year actually shoveled snow from their driveway and dumped it into mine). A snow dragon may have helped things but we’ll be all right.
How about five fantastic things?
It has been one hell of a week! Life is change, but some things will never change. OH SO CRYPTIC. I’ll try to make future ramblings less confused. Tonight? Yet another holiday gathering, this time with my fellow Clockworkers. Expect many hilarious photos to come.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My bloodline began in the Mediterranean. Maybe it’s time to return to warmer climes. This happens year after year and I’m sick of complaining about it. I hate going into broken record mode when I know I live in a place that is so clearly inhospitable to human life. After this weekend’s blizzard dumped over two feet of snow on us the winds kicked in, making the snowdrifts pile up like crazy and impeding shoveling efforts. Adding insult to injury with dangerously sci-fi cold windchills. Yesterday I noticed my BBQ grill was almost completely buried. Today? My car. How am I supposed to get this out? The kid did suit up to go outside and “help” me shovel, but for him that mostly involved diving into snowdrifts and frolicking with the neighbor’s adorable Alaskan Huskies. A couple of friends have offered to head over here from Minneapolis to assist, but I worry about them getting stuck along the way. The City of St. Paul has all of their snowfighting equipment out now but the sheer volume of snow is making process slower than normal and they’ve only just begun on the day routes. My street is a night route. I have a feeling we’ll be staying put for a while yet. Which means missing out on yet more events. A baby shower and a holiday cookie exchange. But I have been catching up on some To Do list tasks. Like preparing my annual “12 Months of Parker” calendar for family and friends.
Thankfully I thought to stock up on supplies before it all hit. We’re doing all right with groceries. I still have some beer (alas, no wine) and brandy and schnapps. Now trying to decide if I should make potato pancakes or apple latkes or maybe both. Hmm.
Bonus: Watching video of the Metrodome collapse is pretty awesome - as in an awesome force of nature having its way with mankind’s feeble attempts to keep it at bay.
Friday, December 10, 2010
My life is far from perfect, but it sure doesn’t suck. I have an amazing son. A comfortable home. Wonderful friends and co-workers. A place of employment where I’m allowed to be myself while balancing work with the demands of single parenthood and learning and growing as a human. This is in danger of becoming too schmaltzy but it’s all true! And inspired by a post Kate made yesterday: Why My Life Doesn’t Suck. My own balancing act sounds remarkably similar to hers.
How about five good things for this Friday?
Holiday cards may not be in the cards, so to speak, this year. My plate is already too full. But if we’re going to be blizzarded in this weekend anyhow I will at least bake holiday cookies with the boy. Mother Nature is being such a bizzo to me! Last weekend I had to cancel and/or reschedule some holiday portrait sessions because of the snow. And it looks like I may have to do the same tomorrow. I am NOT HAPPY. About that, anyhow. This is kind of how I feel about it at the moment. I am, however, thrilled to be seeing friends and family tonight. Though I feel badly about my son’s aunt, who is flying in ahead of the storm. She hasn’t lived in Minnesota in over a decade and this sort of weather is one of the reasons why.
