say la vee

a fight to the death

2008-07-24T06:13:00.000-04:00

Middle: I had to battle Mothra last night!

bb: In a dream?

M: No! Last night. In my room!

bb: What did you use?

M: First, a hat, then a magazine and then my Flex Fill Bounce Pad. In its case.

the flickr debacle, with photos

2008-07-23T06:19:00.002-04:00

Forgive me if I'm repeating myself.
For the first time in several years I signed out of my flickr account.
When I went to sign back in I was told that I had to establish a yahoo id, which I did, and then
was sent to sign into my flickr account so that the two would be merged.
No dice.
No matter how many of my email addresses/flickr account info I provided I was locked out.
Many many emails to flickr, a phone call to yahoo support and much hand wringing later, I'm still not able to access the 5222 photos I have uploaded over the last few years.
I cannot imagine how it can be resolved - being somewhat tech illiterate and am at their mercy.

In the meantime I have opened a new flickr account and have some shots from bloghere for you.

The big board and the top of Poppy.

Susie, rocking out. (Black Hole Sun?)

Poppy. On guitar.

ONE of Poppy's many new earrings.

Poppy on DRUMS. Youngest on guitar and Susie singing.

Susie folding sheets.

Wendy looking fine.

Poppy's use for seam tape (Wendy's parting gift to each of us).

Susie demonstrating fans.

Wendy buying fabric...
here -

Underwear. NO EXCHANGE.

I'm taking a little break.
We are exhausted and need to do some planning...I am meeting with an old colleague to discuss my re-entry in the corporate world.
Imagine.

things I like right now

2008-07-22T06:15:00.000-04:00

Yogurt with fresh peaches and granola.
That so many people smell like sunblock.
That we have air conditioning.
Not wearing socks.
My Brita pitcher.
Body wash.
Scooter rides.
Burgers on the grill.
Blueberries.
The bracelet I bought at the Tibetan store.
Not answering the phone.

the aftermath

2008-07-21T10:07:00.002-04:00

Trips to and from the airport - 8
Trips into and out of town - 4
Trips to the drive through small grocer - 3
Trips to the diner - 2
One jaunt to the beach.
I've lost my land legs and my Jeep knows the way home from the airport, my face is tanned, my stomach is still full (jambalaya followed by a blueberry reduction over ice cream last night) and
it's going to take a few days for me to stop speaking in Michiganese.

There was an exciting couple of hours, last night, of Rock Band (Poppy on the drums, Susie on guitar, Jen being "the crowd") and Youngest did his very best card tricks for an appropriately appreciative audience.
I was busy twittering at about 10:30 when he sat down with Jen and read her tarot cards.
It would have made a terrific video as her humor is not unlike his.

I had only ever been at parties with Jen - we've never had an opportunity to chat before this past weekend and I must tell you that I think I have a new crush. Of course I am completely intimidated by her success. I mean: I'm funny, and Susie is adorably funny and Poppy is charmingly funny, but Jen...Jen is professionally funny. But she's not only that. She is warm and funny, and fun and funny, and gorgeous and funny, and brilliant and funny. And though those attributes could bolster my intimidation, I fell for her. I had a great time with all the "girls" but really loved getting to know her better. We had a great talk about her recent publicity tour and I am deeply impressed with her writing skills and even more so with her people skills. Her fans, and there are many of them, delight in meeting her at readings and she takes a great deal of time to actually speak to the hundreds of women who turn out to see her. I've worked in publishing and didn't know many authors who took the time to be so gracious.

Youngest's room has been transformed from dorm room to his room.
Oldest has his mattress back.
Middle will probably be feeling his tendonitis after last night's drumming.
I need to put away the coffee bar we set up, do some laundry, vacuum up some more sand and pay some attention to my men.

It could not have been more fun - as Susie said in the note she left:
I could not have had a nicer time.

BlogHere 08, the finale

2008-07-20T07:34:00.002-04:00

I'll be getting the girls sometime early this afternoon.
The house was silent last night.
Middle asked when "the gaggle" was returning and I thought about how good my boys have
been during this visit.
Oldest, who was anxious about four women descending upon us, seems to be the most enamored of these ladies. As those of you who follow me on twitter know, nothing could dissuade him from leaving the fun on our first night together.
Middle has stayed true to self and popped into the scene for mere moments, been warm and witty and then disappearing again, and Youngest gave up his room, only returning for the night last night as the temperature was hovering near 100.
K has kept the kitchen completely under control, providing meals and doing the shopping and even knowing exactly when Susie needs a coffee fix and brewing her a pot.
But with five women cackling with laughter, posing for goofy photos and getting caffeined or liquored up at all hours (to say nothing of the occasional line at the bathroom and the blow-drying [oh, the blow-drying]) they have been remarkably patient.

But back to last night - while they dined at a swanky restaurant and stayed in a posh club or funky downtown studio, I was very happy to launder towels, watch television and catch up on some blogs.

I'll take Wendy to the airport and bring Susie, Poppy and Jen back here.
K is still working on the dinner menu (note to attendees: lay off the shrimp and steak) and I'm looking forward to more time with the gaggle. Shopping? Sitting around gabbing?
We'll see.

the state of the reunion

2008-07-19T08:43:00.005-04:00

Today I dropped the ladies off in town where they'll be spending the night.
They have passes to the museum, lunch dates, dinner dates, drinks dates and will undoubtedly do more shopping.
I have dozens of photos but, for the first time in four years, I signed out of my flickr account and now I can't get back in. Hopefully someone at flickr will straighten it out for me sometime soon so you can see the food, the loot, the HILARITY.

The beach, yesterday, was just beautiful.
We drove a long way to get to the beach I wanted to bring them to but with this crowd there was plenty to discuss on the car ride to keep us entertained.
It was especially enjoyable to sit with my blog pals and shoot the breeze. The breeze, which occasionally pummeled us with sand and salt spray.
As I've mention, as we've teased her about mercilessly, Susie had never even SEEN the ocean.

Under those circumstances I had, we had, expected her to approach with some trepidation - and the ocean was rather rough yesterday...but she waded out just a bit and then DOVE RIGHT IN, stunning us with her bravado. I don't know why we were so surprised, she tackled it with the same gusto she employed whilst learning to suck down oysters.
We were all squealing with delight as she was smashed into shore time after time after time.
Jen took some good hits too, and they both had bloody legs to prove it.
(which I'd show you a picture of, but, you know, that whole flickr thing IS MAKING ME CRAZY)

We came home to one of K's memorable meals: pork loin, rosemary potatoes and roasted fennel and carrots and a big salad. Of course we started with a platter of perfect cheeses and sausage. My mom brought cake over and we poured some chilled ice wine and had a remarkable evening.

I can't even begin to describe how funny, joyous, snarky, warm, and interesting these women are - and having the luxury of sitting with them until the wee hours (which, for me, isn't much later than 11 pm) is a gift.
I could go on and on but the upstairs bathroom has nearly as much sand in it as Susie's bathing suit did yesterday and I want to throw a load of towels in the wash.

Thanks for your birthday wishes. I'm looking forward to showing you my presents -
RIGHT AFTER I DEAL WITH THAT FLICKR ISSUE.

here's the deal

2008-07-18T06:17:00.001-04:00

We walked our asses off in the city yesterday. It's true. We no longer have asses.
It was 94 degrees.
Poppy bought everything that caught her fancy.
Wendy fell into a dead faint over fabrics.
Susie marveled over the sights and flirted with firemen.
We had dim sum one table away from a very famous photographer.
We left Poppy in town - she met a friend for dinner and then my real life girlfriends came over for drinks to meet my blog pals.
It turns out that worlds CAN collide.

Today, we get Jen from the airport and head out to the beach.
I've mentioned that Susie has never seen the ocean, haven't I?

I'll report on the hilarity ASAP.

day one

2008-07-17T06:05:00.002-04:00

Lunch featured beer and loud laughing.

A game for later.

The thrift shop had too many bad vases.

Wendy didn't find any good fabric -

though there were some stunning evening gowns.

Susie is dyslexic. For a moment she thought these were Prada.

On to Anthropologie.
Shopping with Poppy is extra fun. She buys whatever we tell her to buy.

She bought gorgeous earrings AND the matching necklace.

She bought these too. Well, not the camera.

I loved this dress. On sale. Still $100. Still there.

We want Wendy to make this pillow for each of us.

Our collected thoughts on Anthro prices.

Dinner was extraordinary.
We started with the seafood platter. Teaching Susie how to eat oysters was especially fun.

Steak. Big steak. Great steak.

Onion rings.

Poppy had the fish.

Incredible.

Coffee all around.
A myriad of desserts.

We twittered across the living room until 11:30 and will probably be back there tonight...

I'm still full.

very nearly ready

2008-07-16T07:43:00.001-04:00

We set up the tent yesterday morning and then Youngest spent the day making it his home.

K and I went on to clean and build beds.

Everyone pitched in...Middle hauled stuff, Youngest gave up his room, Oldest donated a mattress (for some reason he has two).

I thought I'd take pictures as we might never get the WHOLE place this shiny again.

I didn't polish the wood on the stairs.

We've stocked up on cake.

K and I worked hard to make Youngest's room as inviting as possible...

The beds are from when Oldest and Middle were little - when we lived in the city. The footboards have stickers on them. Raccoons and penguins.

The front garden is at its peak.

BlogHere 08

2008-07-15T08:23:00.003-04:00

Wednesday July 16th

Keynote Addresses:

Why I Agreed To This
K will explain his need to cook for an audience, outline the four cases of wine he purchased and discuss lingerie.

I Can Kick Your Ass At Rock Band
A brief address by the youngest member of the household followed by the praising and honoring of He Who Will Sleep In A Tent For The Benefit Of The Houseguests.

Too Much Estrogen
Oldest will wave to the crowd and then disappear.

I Am The Buddha And So Can You
Middle will do a silent presentation inspiring all to join him in total mellowness.

Lunch at the Diner

Shopping : details TBA but will include Anthropologie and a thrift shop.

Cocktail Hour(s)

Dinner In Tuvalu

Guest Speakers:

Susie Sunshine - witty and adorable, SS will discuss how she gets her eyebrows looking so fantastic, the length of her neck and how she manages to curse like a sailor with the voice of a siren.

Windy City Wendy - charming and warm, Wendy will dumb down her Leonardo-like crafting skills to attempt to outline the many uses of seam binding tape for her audience. Bonus session: how to thread a needle.

Poppy Buxom - with grace and beauty, Poppy will address the gathering in front of the big board where she will describe her roots and heritage and discuss her brother Henry.

Please note:

Jen Lancaster will not arrive until Friday at which time she will be speaking, at the ocean-front enclave. Jen will address the gathered with her inimitable style and grace, bestowing upon them the true secrets for growing from blog to book, explaining why cupcakes are a gift from heaven and delight us with Tales Of Fletch.
Pearls are strongly suggested for this session.

fire, walk WITH US, BABY, WALK WITH US

2008-07-13T17:08:00.006-04:00

How to make fire:
First, get yourself to Provincetown. Wade through the swarms of tourists on Commercial Street, past countless gay couples with their new babies (the accessory of the summer!) and brave the harsh noise of the toy store. Buy Youngest some new "magic" card decks. Go across the street and have a clam roll at Johns. Listen closely when the old lady behind the counter (she's been there 48 years) tells you it's $44.95 for lunch. Have an anxiety attack. Feel your stomach drop to your feet when she hands you back a twenty and says: I said $24.95. Lose your appetite. Eat your still expensive clam roll up on the roof. Sweat. Go back down to Commercial Street and walk two blocks to Marine Supply (the wildest, bestest Army Navy store in the world). Wander through the dark and crowded aisles marveling at the fact that they have such a myriad of items for sale. Do we need linen dishcloths for $4? Come upon the camping section and spy not ONE but TWO kinds of flint sets. Buy them both. Later that evening, hear K tell you that magnesium burns at 5000 degrees and will burn through Youngest's leg in a heartbeat. Put both sets in luggage.

Middle was very excited that I had gotten flint and magnesium.
He let me relax on Saturday after my long drive home but started bugging me Sunday as soon as he was up (11-ish) to make fire.
I relented at 3-ish.

5400 hundred degrees could certainly burn through anything.
This was only intimidating for a little while.

I'm one of those people who reads the directions.
Everyone was impatient.

The tools required.
Magnesium block on the left - and you know the other thing.
(Now, listen, it WAS my original intent to have us learn to make fire WITHOUT procuring materials from an Army/Navy store. I thought it would be a fabulous skill to achieve. I think we all know how THAT went. And, after talking to my brother, I realized that experienced and PREPARED outdoorsmen have provisions. So, we just have to pretend that we would have provisions too - and not that we had survived a plane crash and had injuries and little at our disposal and our arms were broken and Middle had a big cut on his head and K would try to make fire from things in the wreckage but eventually we would all perish from lack of clean water and eating the foam cushions from the plane, OKAY? We will imagine ourselves hiking and needing a fire. Hiking with little fire kits in our bags. FINE.)
Anyway.

We are instructed to "shave" slivers of magnesium off the block with a pocket knife.
This is no walk in the park. This is not like peeling a banana. This is hard work.
I need fresh water just SHAVING THE MAGNESIUM.
One is to make a small pile of these shavings.

How much magnesium?
Hard to say. And you will only find out when you do not have enough and have to start the process over again, damn it.

Then, you must strike down on the flint side of the small rectangle with your knife to make a spark. This takes some figuring - the angle, the force, the trajectory.
And everyone must be gathered in closely to block the wind, to film the action, to watch expectantly. And you must sit in the sun, in the heat, struggling with this until you feel like your children are on you like ants on a hill.
Really.
It says this in the instructions.

The spark ignites the magnesium, you see, and though you expect a FREAKING INFERNO from the warnings earlier issued by K, it is teeny tiny hotnesses in the magnesium, which, sure, if you touched them, would burn you. But they don't necessarily burn THE LEAVES YOU HAVE GATHERED.

It all becomes an exercise in keeping the burning spot burning. If you follow.

K resorted to using a file for his magnesium, whilst I opened the SECOND PACK OF "PROVISIONS."

This kit has a magnesium block and a flint match/striker thing, BUT it also includes "tinder." This tinder is in the form of white blobby things which are soaked in something. Paraffin? Gasoline? Who knows!

They look like wax earplugs. Sort of.
Anyway, you smoosh them and stretch them until the fibers of them show and use them near your spark.

You make a spark - you get the spark to touch the tinder...

AND YOU HAVE FIRE.
For 5 to 7 minutes.
Move quickly.
Don't drop the camera or wipe your now flammable fingers (you've handled the "tinder" quite a bit) onto your glasses or the camera lens...

Everyone SHIFT POSITION. Say something to irritate the 14 year old who then stomps off.

Start rearranging the sticks!

Success.

(I had a nice little film here, of our fire, but it kept crashing my site. Click through to flickr on one of the photos and watch it if you like.)

Yes, it felt like cheating. But what with the injuries from the plane crash and the lack of proper medical facilities here on the island, we were happy to cheat.
It only took three weeks and a trip to Ptown.

BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS, DO I.
I'M OFF TO FETCH A MATTRESS AND CLEAN THE BATHROOMS.

answers and pictures

2008-07-13T07:17:00.000-04:00

Really, RW - 2000 posts. I'm glad you found me too...

Hi, Amy A...those are fabulous photos of the fire in your town - a sad thing, but I'm glad everyone is safe.

I actually DID bring a nail clipper to the Cape, Dani - I just KNEW we'd need it.

Did I mention, Joke, that those Adirondack chairs were fake wood/plastic?

You know what, Fannie Mae? I left an extra roll of TP at the house when we left.

Oh, Jordi, my SIL's salad was so SO good. AND it had blue cheese in it.

Ms. Bottle Barbies & Boys thought there wasn't any screaming at my house on the Cape.
Wrong! But it was VACATION screaming!

I'm hugging you right back, Mary...

I think they sell those Dinner-Making Babies at Target, KathyR.

He's fun to watch on the beach too. And though he smells delicious, Alice, I was very happy when his mommy put him in his crib at night...

Youngest and I waited on line, in the car, for 20 minutes, to get into Nauset beach.
WAITING to get INTO a beach makes it all the more exciting.

That's REALLY where we were Melissa - and it IS very beautiful.

Tides and times become part of one's life in Wellfleet, kmkat, which is why we had to wait to get into the beach - everyone wants to go at low tide - or high, and the parking lot is small.

Youngest wanted to skimboard at dead low.

I AM lucky, Tina. Oh, so lucky.
I DID roll up SOME rag rugs, mightIadd.
That is not the Great Island near West Yarmouth, teom, I guess there are two!

I DID manage to relax from time to time.
I DIDN'T mean for you all to worry about me.

On our last night, before he attempted to sleep (he has been having trouble sleeping) Youngest counted all the ships in the house -

there are 365 of them.
It took him quite a while to find them all and he was laughing very hard by the time he was finished.

I was, in fact, reading A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. It's pretty staggering that I was reading anything at all. I finished it and had a good cry after I went boogie boarding with Youngest.

And THAT is pretty amazing too - I engaged in an outdoor activity. Outdoors. In the ocean. It left me breathless. It was wonderful, Jess.

I'm happy to be home though - I missed my other boys and have lots to do to welcome my friends ON WEDNESDAY.

Yikes.

a heartbreaking work of staggering genius

2008-07-11T07:19:00.004-04:00

One of the marks of a great rental house is good mattresses.
Mattresses in rental homes are often lumpy or too hard - cheap, I guess. I can't say I blame the landlords of the summer rental market - I know I'd probably try to spend less if I was furnishing a place I wasn't going to be living in.
But this house has great beds, and lots of them.
Originally I was in a room with a teeny window and two large ones. It had an old white dresser, two wooden chairs (some of these things are antiques and some whitewashed and new looking) and a double bed. It was firm but not too firm and was, disappointingly, covered in plastic. (This is also usually the case in rental houses - the dreaded plastic sheet. Many times I remove them and replace them when we leave but this time I didn't have the energy.)
K's mom chose the master bedroom with a 12 foot ceiling and exposed original antique beams. It too had a double bed but also had a single bed under the eaves. After spending the first night there she decided that the room wasn't comfortable. And, while it's true that the heavy hand hewn beams running over the bed are a little disconcerting, I was more than happy to trade rooms with her. I appreciate the ensuite and the bed is up against a big double window
which is nice when there's a breeze. The mattress in my new room is fabulous and didn't have a plastic cover.
The downside is that I now realize how badly our mattress at home needs to be replaced.

I like to see pretty things in a rental house - dishes of shells, little nightlights, some wicker chairs, nice artwork.
This house has plenty of lovely items. Everywhere I look there is an interesting painting (mostly nautical) or a mirror. Colored glass bottles line windowsills and transom lights and there is beautiful old hardware on the doors.

Finally, it's always nice to find magazines and books in these houses.
Not so many that they get musty from the dampness of being near the water, but enough to skim through over the week we stay.
Though you may not believe it, I actually started a book on Monday and am about to finish it.
It has just enough pathos to keep my mind occupied, is just funny enough to make me smile and written in the way I think I think.
It's been the perfect bedtime companion.

Today we head back to Nauset Light beach which we visited a couple of days ago.
Our trip there earlier this week ended up being one of those beach days which cannot be duplicated.
It was windy, but warm, the water was frigid (58F) but somehow tolerable, we had good snacks and Youngest and his little cousins had a marvelous time - which means that the grown-ups enjoyed themselves too.
It is my experience that we really only have one of those days per trip: a historic beach trip wherein everything falls into
place and cannot be better, but Nauset is Youngest's most favorite beach and so we will try it again.

Yesterday, I took him to Provincetown.
We had clam rolls and walked and browsed. He was a nice date for the day.
We had steamed lobsters last night and I had a good long phone conversation with K before I turned in.
He had had a good day at home too and he reminded me for the hundredth time that he wants Youngest and I to enjoy our time here - that I should stop worrying so much and just have fun.
I had written a post for today about how hard it is for me to let go and relax - to not worry or feel anxious, about how I feel a little like I have post-traumatic stress disorder. That post was a heartbreaking work of shattering genius.

But today is another day, our last day, and we are going to have some fun, so I killed it.

I'm going on a photo excursion today too, I'm going to take pictures of every beautiful thing I can find and I will post them on Sunday.

(I will also try to answer all emails and questions on Sunday...NO INTERNET at my house.)

Great Island

2008-07-10T07:49:00.002-04:00

It seems like a long walk out to the beach at Great Island, but if you pace yourself and enjoy looking at the marsh grass and the barn swallows, it's not too bad.
After walking along the grass for a distance you cross through the cut-out in the dunes and come over the hill and then onto a hill with a view that is out of this world.
Long, flat, blue for as far as you can see...with sand bars and warm warm water - perfect for skim boarding.
The silence and sea and sky are surreal.
But you may not be able to dig your umbrella into the sand - so don't forget your sunblock.

The sand bar is only there for a few hours.
Then you'll have to pack your things and wade across to the beach.
If you wait too long you're wet up to your waist - and then the walk will seem a little longer.

Have a tall, cool gin and tonic when you get home.
The baby will cook you some dinner....

Wednesday in Wellfleet

2008-07-09T06:17:00.000-04:00

We have made our schedules...
I walk to town for coffee and some sweets early in the morning,we have breakfast outside and sit around talking.
Youngest, very much the resident teenager, sleeps late.
Town for a walk? A drive around?
Back for lunch and relaxing.
A trip to the beach? A drive? Defrost something for dinner.
There are two big Adirondack chairs to lounge in and watch the yard, listen to the birds, talk some more.
I bought a dice game (Farkle) and have enjoyed playing it with Youngest, under the trees.
The house is very quiet - although we do have a toddler among us to fill it with baby noise.
The weather is steamy.
Dinner is a group effort and K's sister makes incredible salad. (I always love other people's salads.)
I enjoy cleaning up when someone else does the cooking.
A walk for ice cream? Some television (Olympic trials, Antiques Roadshow), more talk and early bedtime after a stop by the Flying Fish to get my mail...everyone wants to be my Facebook friend this week.

Rental House Essentials, a list:

toilet paper - this house has a cabinet FULL of light bulbs, a perfectly equipped tool box, dozens of clean dish towels, handsome furnishings, and NO toilet paper.

nail clippers - how is it that Youngest and I always seem to have too-long nails when we go on vacation?

cling film - we are wealthy in plastic containers, plastic cups, cutlery, pots and pans, and dish soap. Would it kill a landlord or previous guest to have left a roll in a drawer?

clothes line - or at least some clothes pins.

A note to our landlord:

Your home is immaculate and lovely, I'm sure you had good reasons for purchasing all those plug-in supposed-to-be-silent insect and rodent repellers but placing one or more in every room or alcove in the house has me casting sideways glances at every shadow as I suspect there are mice or giant spiders ready to spring out at me. An entire cupboard of insect spray
has done little to allay my fear.
Also, rag rugs are charming but I trip over them all day and night and they make my neck itch.
I promise to replace them all upon departure.

All best,

bb

(PS: I'd love to return...perhaps it is time to "compromise with your family" and get that wifi?)

new favorite

2008-07-08T07:17:00.000-04:00

Khula Happy Singers St. Lucia from Jan van der Meer on Vimeo.

around the corner

2008-07-07T07:17:00.002-04:00

In our old old house...

with the creaky floors -

and lots of blue,

and white,

I sit and stare.

There's plenty to do -

or nothing at all.

And that

is just

the way

I like it.

Youngest and I are at the Flying Fish.

He's just finished his Lime Rickey.

Which means he's ready to go.

We are just around the corner from my favorite church.
I can hear the bells all night...

the swap

2008-07-06T08:20:00.000-04:00

Several years ago, at a family gathering, my cousin E told us all about a gift swap that soon became a July tradition. Usually played during the Christmas holidays, this swap fit nicely with our July get-together for my uncle's birthday.
The rules of the swap are that each member must spend ten dollars on a gift and wrap it. These gifts are put in a central location and then the players draw numbers to see the order in which gifts will be chosen. The person who draws #1 chooses a gift first and opens it and then number 2 does the same - but if number 2 likes the gift that #1 chose he may trade it - without the other player's consent. The person who chooses #3 goes next, and so on until each person has chosen a gift. The catch is that the person who chose the first gift may not switch his gift for a different one until everyone has chosen and opened their gift.
I know it's complicated - try googling "Yankee swap" and you may read a better description of the rules.
Each year, at our July family gathering, we do this gift swap.
A few years ago, my brother purchased a handmade brick from a historic village he and his family were visiting.
He carried it a great distance to bring it home and to the annual gift swap and it was chosen, wrapped as a gift, by K. K and I were excited with this gift and K did not trade it for a different choice as the game proceeded.
But, at some point, my uncle, who likes to stir things up just a little, traded his gift for this brick, and so it became his.
Feeling disappointed, and being sore losers, K and I hounded him for taking K's brick.
It was the brunt of jokes for a few months and then Christmas rolled around.
Somehow or other, my uncle managed to give the brick to K as a Christmas gift.
There was another round of joking and chastising my uncle - though we thanked him for returning the brick to people who could appreciate its beauty.
A year passed - K and I were unable to attend last year's family party in July and we planned what we would do the following year (this year) for the swap....
While in Wellfleet (AHA, you say, this story FINALLY ties in...) I purchased a retro-looking baseball "crying towel" for use when one's favorite team loses.
I knew, when I bought the towel, that my uncle is a great baseball fan and that it would be a perfect gift for him.
But, in the back of my mind, I was also plotting how to give him back the brick.
I could bake it into a bread...I might put it into the center of a Jello mold...I could simply wrap it as a present.
I had many ideas.
A year passed and the brick grew dusty in my living room (as things do).
One day, the week before the party, I was shopping at a favorite store when I came upon the perfect disguise for the brick.
I found a pillow with the logo of the baseball team my uncle hates the most - the arch rivals of his favorite team.
I bought this pillow, took it home and opened one of the seams.
I stuffed the brick INSIDE the pillow, re-fluffed the stuffing, and sewed it shut again.
It appeared, to the uninitiated, to be untouched.
I wrapped the pillow and the aforementioned "crying towel" and we went to the party.
We had a wonderful time.
We ate a lot and laughed a lot and finally, with the entire family in a fever pitch of anticipation, we started the gift swap. Just as we began, my uncle told us all about the brick - about how K had gotten it and how he had wanted it - and how big it was of him to give it back to K for Christmas.
K chose #1.
My uncle chose #12 - the last number.
No one chose the pillow. Eleven people chose other gifts!
My brother, whose little boy is also a big baseball fan, was one of the last people to choose a gift and he chose the towel.
After a long time of choosing and opening these mystery gifts there was only one left - the pillow.
My uncle chose it and opened it and moaned that it was a terrible gift! The team he hates more than any other! And, he started to wonder, something was strange about the pillow. Was there something INSIDE IT?
We were dying with laughter.
IT FEELS LIKE A...A...BRICK! He was howling with laughter too by then.
IT IS A BRICK, we all screamed.
THAT BRICK? he shouted...
YES, we all yelled.
Suddenly my brother's little boy said he wanted that pillow - it was his favorite team!
And my brother chimed in that he had carried that brick a long long way a few years back.
My uncle pretended to ponder the situation, but he didn't take long to switch the pillow/brick for the crying towel.
My face hurt from smiling so hard.
My plan had worked perfectly.
The towel ended up with my uncle - who had to suffer through receiving the pillow first, my brother got his brick and my nephew got the pillow.
K ended up with ten dollars worth of lottery tickets.
My gift was six blue robin's eggs - too lovely to trade.

We had a wonderful time at that party...and now someone else has a year to think of what to do with that brick.

Youngest and I are comfy and cozy in a beautiful old Wellfleet house.
I'm busy taking photos to show you.

off like a dirty shirt

2008-07-05T00:02:00.000-04:00

Do people really say that?
Well, I do - and I am...Youngest and I leave this morning for the Cape.
The house we are staying in doesn't have internet and I haven't decided what to do about posting.

Everything is packed.

I need to stop thinking so much and just drive.

I'll talk to you later.

new favorite

2008-07-04T06:50:00.001-04:00

They creep me out a little.

BlogHere 08

2008-07-03T07:45:00.004-04:00

With only 13 days, and a week in Cape Cod, between now and then, much needs to be taken care of before BlogHere 08.
The least of it all is that two beds must be constructed for Youngest's room, a mattress retrieved and my entire house cleaned until it sparkles. K will handle the first half of that sentence.
My BlogFriends have been very remiss and have not responded to my enticing emails.
Do they want to go to the ocean on Friday?
The city on Thursday?

And, for my part, I haven't done much meal planning. K has offered up several delicious suggestions for meals - but will the participants be hungry for what we have to offer?
(This is rhetorical. These women will eat what is put in front of them and LOVE IT.)

I do know some things:
Thursday, the 17th, will include cocktails with my Real Life Girlfriends (RLG's, make that around 7ish.)
Friday, the 18th, will include dinner with my mom.
Friday, the 18th includes another VERY SPECIAL FEATURE. Shall I tell you what it is?
On Friday the 18th we need to make a trip to the airport to pick up Jen.
Yes. We will indeed be enjoying the company of Ms. Jen Lancaster, who, in a dramatic move to avoid working on her 4th bestseller, will be joining us for the weekend. I KID, SHE NEEDS A WEEKEND OFF.
Can you feel my excitement?
I am ALL ATWITTER.
Jen has requested a trip to the beach and so I'm thinking that we will retrieve her, settle her things and relax at the ocean on Friday. (The beach on a Saturday is not ideal.)
THANK GOD SOMEONE HAS A PLAN.
The very thought of sitting, in our Dick's Chairs, on the beach with Susie, Poppy, Wendy and Jen has me stoked. (That's a surfing term.)

And how to document all of this?
Susie has requested live video coverage and is negotiating for "slimming filters."
I know I will take hundreds of photos, but can I possibly get all of the 4000 hysterical antics likely to ensue typed and published?

I have other questions too:
Will I be able to stay up late? (I thought of this as I trudged up to bed at 10 last night.)
Can I make our very first activity "A Fun Trip To The Liquor Store Wherein Each Guest Chooses And Purchases Her Own Poison?"
Will K be here to cook or will FOUR CRAZY WOMEN sit at my table while I throw dinners together?

I've got 13 days and a trip to the Cape to figure it all out.

Tuesday's projects sponsored by buttermilk and Krups

2008-07-02T13:14:00.000-04:00

He's still busy, my K, but I'm going to have to start loaning him out if he doesn't go back to work soon. Here's hoping he gets called onto a project before he runs out of things to do.
Yesterday he had two projects.
The first was dealing with our Krupps panini press.
If you are ever shopping for a panini press DO NOT BUY A KRUPPS.
Our press has a fuse in it that burns out if the press gets too hot, a feature which implies safety.
Except that making paninis tends to be a hot process and, after a year of monthly use, our press burned itself out. Calls to Krupps were useless and K took the thing apart while I researched the problem. It seems that all of the Krupps models burn out after a year and the repair costs almost as much as a new one. We don't like throwing out small appliances that have been designed to be useless after a year. Dozens of angry consumers have written about this machine on line.
So K replaced the fuse a couple of months ago - and guess what? It blew out again.
We wanted paninis last night so -

he did it all again. The fuse is $1.84. It's maddening.

His other project was more interesting...

He wants to grow moss on our newly completed patio and side walk.

He got recipe from the internet.

He mixed moss -

and buttermilk in our blender.

And then he poured it into the dirt between the stones.

I'll tell you what: it doesn't smell too good on the side of my house right now.
Though I don't have high hopes for this project I'll keep you posted on the progress.
With frequent misting, new moss is supposed to grow in about two weeks.

If the dog doesn't lick up the buttermilk, that is.

and all the while I can only imagine he is very warm in those pants

2008-07-01T18:54:00.001-04:00

we are nothing if not productive

2008-07-01T08:12:00.004-04:00

The horror.

My nerves.

Dear lord.

Not for the faint of heart.
My laptop clasp has been wonky for a while. To open my iBook I was shifting the top a little to the right each time...and that's how the hinge that holds the screen broke.
Following very precise instructions on K's computer (which included this one: breathe deeply, this next part can be very difficult), I read while he disassembled.
It was a true test of his patience. Dozens of minute screws.
Nearly everything must be removed from inside the case to get to the hinge - which he did, slowly and carefully.
The $50 part is on it's way and then he will repeat the process to replace it for me.
We'll chalk it up to yet another summer project.

THEN we drove to L's house.
L mentioned that he had the EXACT roof rack I had been pricing ($400) for the top of my car sitting unusable in his garage.

He and K installed it with ease.
I am tickled.

Then we drove to K's mom's house where K installed her air conditioner. Just a window unit, mind you, not central air - though I have no doubt that he could have installed central air...

Feeling chuffed (correct usage?) we returned home.

Blah blah blah, dinner time. Baked a bread.

Marinated a steak.

Sauteed some broccoli.

Pondered the "restaurant opening" on the box of salt. Never found the "home use" opening.

Made a blueberry slump.

Played some Rock Band - did so poorly singing and playing Boston that all three of us FAILED. Thank heavens it was only Boston.

I have been nervous and shaky for days. Several times I contemplated posting a terrible diatribe on freelance living and all its injustices. I was feeling very sorry for myself. I've been eating all kinds of strange things. Then, last night, I dreamed that I went to a doctor about that place on the back of my neck where I hold all my tension and he pressed it and I cried and cried.
I woke up to DAY ONE.
Feeling much better.
I'm so glad I didn't write that post.

It's Tuesday. I need to start packing.

Best line of the day?

K: have you seen your mother's new rack?
Middle: (blink blink) excuse me?
K: it's on the roof of her car.

K just made my coffee.

where there's smoke...

2008-06-30T08:09:00.002-04:00

there is NOT NECESSARILY FIRE.

K was put on hold for the weekend, for a project, and then released. Not fun.

He and I drove around looking for flint and were unsuccessful.

We did find the magnifying glass.

And various materials were tried.

B is in Alaska so we can't ask him for help.

I'm thinking it all has to do with transferring the EMBER (which we have made) to dry TINDER in very small amounts with cupped hands and lots of blowing.

We had good EMBER for many long minutes - but it never translated into fire.

And so, what did the boys do instead of being successful at making fire?

They built a 35mm lens adapter from pieces of white board, some screws and a lunch
box. It is far too complicated for me to explain but it kept them busy for hours and they are very pleased.

I'm seeing brother L today - who just happens to have the VERY SAME roof basket I had wanted to buy for my truck. It doesn't fit on his new car and he is going to LOAN it to me.

Now back to my regular fretting...