He won some, but lost more, and didn't place. I'm always awed at the way this kid handles a loss. Way to go RS.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Good Sport
First chess tournament.
He won some, but lost more, and didn't place. I'm always awed at the way this kid handles a loss. Way to go RS.
He won some, but lost more, and didn't place. I'm always awed at the way this kid handles a loss. Way to go RS.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Saturday, March 25, 2017
The Present
I just may have done this, by myself, on a recent Wednesday afternoon.
Couldn't pass up Cate Blanchett in a Chekov play . . .
Couldn't pass up Cate Blanchett in a Chekov play . . .
Friday, March 10, 2017
Commonwealth
Just finished this one. So good.
It is my second favorite by this amazing writer. Because who can't list Bel Canto as their favorite Ann Patchett novel?
Thanks to my mom for the autographed copy. I love going to Patchett's bookstore when I'm in Nashville visiting my mom and O. It's tradition now. Kudos to Ms. Patchett for keeping the independent bookstore alive.
Dare we forget, Ann Patchett is the queen of awesome first lines. Her book openers are legendary--concise, yet delivering us perfectly and elegantly into the story with carefully chosen words and information. If you ask me, her chapter and paragraph openers are just as powerful. She's taught me a lot.
Here's the opener to Commonwealth:
Here's the opener to Bel Canto, one of my all-time favorite novels:
Boom! See what I mean?
It is my second favorite by this amazing writer. Because who can't list Bel Canto as their favorite Ann Patchett novel?
Thanks to my mom for the autographed copy. I love going to Patchett's bookstore when I'm in Nashville visiting my mom and O. It's tradition now. Kudos to Ms. Patchett for keeping the independent bookstore alive.
Dare we forget, Ann Patchett is the queen of awesome first lines. Her book openers are legendary--concise, yet delivering us perfectly and elegantly into the story with carefully chosen words and information. If you ask me, her chapter and paragraph openers are just as powerful. She's taught me a lot.
Here's the opener to Commonwealth:
The christening party took a turn when Albert Cousins arrived with the gin.
Here's the opener to Bel Canto, one of my all-time favorite novels:
When the lights went off the accompanist kissed her.
Boom! See what I mean?
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Permanent Residency
My very favorite indication of residency--library cards!
Kids are now booked up and proud card holders.
Kids are now booked up and proud card holders.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
The Post-Vacay Weekend
I love the first full weekend after a vacation.
It's awesome to go away, and it's awesome to return home again. The first weekend back is a cozy, crazy act of snuggling in, catching up, running errands, and local outings--smothered in a sauce of loving-where-you-live. Between the four of us, we had friends over for dinner, played in a soccer tournament, attended a girls leadership conference, went to a birthday party, and celebrated a postponed Valentine's Day.
DS took this selfie while doing the weekend honey-do list on Upper West Side, and it made me smile. Getting the goodies to make dinner for friends on Saturday.
Throughout March, AS and I are attending a girl's leadership workshop every Saturday afternoon, and we attended our first session this weekend. It's a mom-daughter program developed to help girls learn confidence-building skills and leadership skills--especially in dealing with friends. The program also touches on coping with stress. It gives moms and daughters a language to talk about all of it, so when a situation pops up we've have familiar and common reference points. We're already talkin' "trash can behavior," "the double sorry," and "I may be wrong, but I am strong!"
It's an inspiring, well-organized program, so please check it out! https://girlsleadership.org/
AS and I are making the most of it with fancy mom-daughter lunches beforehand.
Friday night was unexpected, bizarre and a totally fun Valentine's celebration. I so appreciate Valentine's Day celebrated on any other day besides Valentine's Day.
I'm sure they do this kind of thing in many other cities, but the whole night felt like an "only in NYC" kind of night.
Dinner and a show at The Lodge at Gallow Green is an adventure in immersive theater. The show was "Sleep No More," a take on Macbeth. I can't give any more away, other than to say the evening went a little like this:
It's awesome to go away, and it's awesome to return home again. The first weekend back is a cozy, crazy act of snuggling in, catching up, running errands, and local outings--smothered in a sauce of loving-where-you-live. Between the four of us, we had friends over for dinner, played in a soccer tournament, attended a girls leadership conference, went to a birthday party, and celebrated a postponed Valentine's Day.
DS took this selfie while doing the weekend honey-do list on Upper West Side, and it made me smile. Getting the goodies to make dinner for friends on Saturday.
Throughout March, AS and I are attending a girl's leadership workshop every Saturday afternoon, and we attended our first session this weekend. It's a mom-daughter program developed to help girls learn confidence-building skills and leadership skills--especially in dealing with friends. The program also touches on coping with stress. It gives moms and daughters a language to talk about all of it, so when a situation pops up we've have familiar and common reference points. We're already talkin' "trash can behavior," "the double sorry," and "I may be wrong, but I am strong!"
It's an inspiring, well-organized program, so please check it out! https://girlsleadership.org/
AS and I are making the most of it with fancy mom-daughter lunches beforehand.
Friday night was unexpected, bizarre and a totally fun Valentine's celebration. I so appreciate Valentine's Day celebrated on any other day besides Valentine's Day.
I'm sure they do this kind of thing in many other cities, but the whole night felt like an "only in NYC" kind of night.
Dinner and a show at The Lodge at Gallow Green is an adventure in immersive theater. The show was "Sleep No More," a take on Macbeth. I can't give any more away, other than to say the evening went a little like this:
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
From The Alps to The Rockies, A Journey of Going Up While Coming Down
Learning to ski in your mid-40's is something close to torture.
It's totally unnatural to slide down a mountain, and for three years now, my middle-aged brain has waged a valiant battle against the entire notion. But my head is losing the battle. It's letting go, and by golly, I'm sliding down the damn mountain. It's terrifyingly electrifying.
I cried at the top of the mountain this past week in Colorado. Not because I was disabled by fear (as usual), but because I was so proud of myself and so filled with joy to ski with my kids and my husband. I spent days skiing with my family. I spent days not being stuck on the bunny slope or at the restaurant with a glass of wine waiting for everyone else to finish a gorgeous day of activity. I laughed with my son as we played chase on the slopes, and had cute conversations with my daughter on long chair lift rides to the top. I had dates with my husband--on skies. None of this was ever assumed; it was never clear I'd break through my fear. I've spent years trying, frustrated with myself while frustrating those around me.
This trip was different. Something clicked. A loosening occurred. I've got a long way to go, but I'm so proud of the terrain I've covered. I'm still stunned I can check this box. Indeed, through the process of learning how to come down, I've been lifted up.
It goes without saying that I'm even prouder of my two beautiful children, who love to ski and impressed the hell out me this trip. They totally took down black diamonds for the first time, like the stars that they are.
This was also the first time we've had the opportunity to ski with friends, and we happily skipped the formal lessons and skied as a group. But this wasn't just any set of friends--we're god parents to each others' children and some of us go as far back as middle school. This was a major reunion, for while we've seen each other in various smaller combinations, this occasion marked the first time all six adults have been together in thirteen years.
No, seriously. I guess they're experts, cuz they did this one!
Photo bomb!
The grown-up buds:
We capped things off on our ski adventure with a trip to the local hot springs, then a couple of days in Boulder at the home of our dear ski buds, including a Denver Nuggets vs. Brooklyn Nets game.
A huge thanks to DB and AF for all their planning and hosting--we had an amazing time!
And a really, really huge thank you to DB and AF for the cowboy boots. What a hit! Yee haw!!!
It's totally unnatural to slide down a mountain, and for three years now, my middle-aged brain has waged a valiant battle against the entire notion. But my head is losing the battle. It's letting go, and by golly, I'm sliding down the damn mountain. It's terrifyingly electrifying.
I cried at the top of the mountain this past week in Colorado. Not because I was disabled by fear (as usual), but because I was so proud of myself and so filled with joy to ski with my kids and my husband. I spent days skiing with my family. I spent days not being stuck on the bunny slope or at the restaurant with a glass of wine waiting for everyone else to finish a gorgeous day of activity. I laughed with my son as we played chase on the slopes, and had cute conversations with my daughter on long chair lift rides to the top. I had dates with my husband--on skies. None of this was ever assumed; it was never clear I'd break through my fear. I've spent years trying, frustrated with myself while frustrating those around me.
This trip was different. Something clicked. A loosening occurred. I've got a long way to go, but I'm so proud of the terrain I've covered. I'm still stunned I can check this box. Indeed, through the process of learning how to come down, I've been lifted up.
It goes without saying that I'm even prouder of my two beautiful children, who love to ski and impressed the hell out me this trip. They totally took down black diamonds for the first time, like the stars that they are.
This was also the first time we've had the opportunity to ski with friends, and we happily skipped the formal lessons and skied as a group. But this wasn't just any set of friends--we're god parents to each others' children and some of us go as far back as middle school. This was a major reunion, for while we've seen each other in various smaller combinations, this occasion marked the first time all six adults have been together in thirteen years.
No, seriously. I guess they're experts, cuz they did this one!
Photo bomb!
The grown-up buds:
We capped things off on our ski adventure with a trip to the local hot springs, then a couple of days in Boulder at the home of our dear ski buds, including a Denver Nuggets vs. Brooklyn Nets game.
A huge thanks to DB and AF for all their planning and hosting--we had an amazing time!
And a really, really huge thank you to DB and AF for the cowboy boots. What a hit! Yee haw!!!
Friday, February 17, 2017
Catch Up
Many people asked if I was planning to keep up my blog once I moved back to the U.S., and I wholeheartedly said, "Yes. Of course!" The presumption behind the question being that once I returned to what I know, there wouldn't be as much to write about--a nod to the age-old 'fish out of water' tale, which is always rife with good material.
The thing is though, I still feel like a fish out of water. NYC is new. I hired a babysitter (one week ago), so that I can really focus on my novel, and in this respect my time is new. I'm toying with a business idea and doing lots of research (just in case this writing thing doesn't pan out). My children are in an American school for the first time, facing new pressures (like the godforsaken standardized tests coming up next month). DS and I just finished a training course so we could volunteer easily in NYC neighborhoods. We just bought an apartment. In.New.York.City.
Oh, and speaking of fish, we adopted two: Winnie and Mrs. Pom Pom. :-)
Above all, the election and it's aftermath have left me emotional and exhausted. I confess to losing hours and hours in front of my news feed. I have a genuine concern for the country my children will inherit, and feel a mounting desire to act in a committed manner, in ways that really effect change. That said, I mourn the inevitable distance that will occur with friends and family who disagree with my views, or think I've become "too" political. I'm at a crossroads.
The point is, I still have plenty to write about. And I imagine I'll pick up speed again soon. Just taking some time to regroup.
In the meantime, to catch up a bit . . . .
We enjoyed a much-needed family reunion in Nashville over the holidays, the stars of which were these four love bugs:
A big hug to our hosts, grandparents with most-ess!
Back in NYC, my little girl received the best Christmas present ever when her Amsterdam bestie came for a visit:
We also took time to squeeze in quintessential Big Apple holiday outings.
Afternoon at The Rockettes with dinner at Tavern on the Green in Central Park:
Urban tree hunting:
Santa at Macy's:
Skating at Bryant Park and Central Park:
And going waaaay back to Thanksgiving, we were overjoyed to spend the week with this lovely family, who we are lucky enough to see AGAIN tomorrow morning in Colorado!
The thing is though, I still feel like a fish out of water. NYC is new. I hired a babysitter (one week ago), so that I can really focus on my novel, and in this respect my time is new. I'm toying with a business idea and doing lots of research (just in case this writing thing doesn't pan out). My children are in an American school for the first time, facing new pressures (like the godforsaken standardized tests coming up next month). DS and I just finished a training course so we could volunteer easily in NYC neighborhoods. We just bought an apartment. In.New.York.City.
Oh, and speaking of fish, we adopted two: Winnie and Mrs. Pom Pom. :-)
Above all, the election and it's aftermath have left me emotional and exhausted. I confess to losing hours and hours in front of my news feed. I have a genuine concern for the country my children will inherit, and feel a mounting desire to act in a committed manner, in ways that really effect change. That said, I mourn the inevitable distance that will occur with friends and family who disagree with my views, or think I've become "too" political. I'm at a crossroads.
The point is, I still have plenty to write about. And I imagine I'll pick up speed again soon. Just taking some time to regroup.
In the meantime, to catch up a bit . . . .
We enjoyed a much-needed family reunion in Nashville over the holidays, the stars of which were these four love bugs:
A big hug to our hosts, grandparents with most-ess!
Back in NYC, my little girl received the best Christmas present ever when her Amsterdam bestie came for a visit:
Afternoon at The Rockettes with dinner at Tavern on the Green in Central Park:
Urban tree hunting:
Santa at Macy's:
Skating at Bryant Park and Central Park:
And going waaaay back to Thanksgiving, we were overjoyed to spend the week with this lovely family, who we are lucky enough to see AGAIN tomorrow morning in Colorado!
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