THE ADVENTURES OF THE JAC ATTACK!

Confessions

2012-02-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

I'm using my sore finger as an excuse not to run this morning. It is still throbbing but mostly I wanted Jess to be able to sleep in really late this morning. He needs to catch up on some rest. He worked last Saturday and then we all woke up really early to watch the Super Bowl on Monday morning. I think this is my new favorite way to take in the big game - eating breakfast burrittos with a few die hard fans. It all felt very American, almost patriotic.

I woke up feeling really sick this morning. It must have been that single glass of wine I had last night at Happy Hour. I must be getting old if I feel a glass of wine in the morning. The Marines have started hosting Friday Happy in conjunction with a kids' movie. The kids watch a cartoon in another room under Marine supervision while the parents hang out at the bar.

We're making Huevos Rancheros this morning, because I'm homesick for New Mexico. I find myself missing New Mexico all of the time. It really is enchanting and a place where I feel most free. The Huevos Rancheros will be a whole family productions because I have to make the tortillas by hand. It is an act of love and a tribute to my roots.

I'm trying to teach JAC how to dress himself. For a week he has worn his underwear backwards. I have explained to him several times that it is much easier to put your shirt on when you're not spinning in a circle but he hasn't caught on. Sometimes I like to pretend my whole life is actually a comedy. Watching JAC dress himself demands a great laugh track.

At Night

2012-02-09T02:23:00.000-08:00

Last night our bed was full. I was squashed between a little boy, a little dog and my husband. JAC dashed from his room and vaulted feet first onto my chest before falling into the canyon between our sleeping bodies. He shivered as I slid him under the blankets, wrapping my arm across his shoulder and tucking his icy toes under my leg to be warmed up. Even after his hasty retreat to our bedroom he seemed disoriented by sleep, and I did not have the heart to return him to his bed even as he kicked me restlessly most of the night.

In the dawn hours I rolled over and watched my little family in the amber light. In the middle of the night JAC migrated to the far side of the bed and was curled into the hollow of Jess' chest. He has been familiar with this place since his babyhood. Each curve of their bodies fit like well formed puzzle pieces. JAC's head was just below Jess' chin and I felt like I was looking at the future. Their faces are so similar in form and their expressions were so identical. I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

Dirt, blood, mold - I could not decide which covered the concrete walls of the hospital corridors. White paint was splashed with brick brown stains that grew up from the floor almost touching the ceiling. We walked through the hallways that closed around you like dark tunnels and my chest tightened. It was hard to breath. It was hard to see. Sporadic single light bulbs clung to the ceiling barely fulfilling their purpose. A poster encouraging hygiene peeled off the wall curling at the edges.

This is the only Childrens hospital in Nepal. Children lie listlessly on metal wracks covered in slim pieces of decomposing foam. Parents slump near children resting their heads against the wall or talking quietly to each other. IV's pump chemotherapy into a small child while the ward down the hall houses burn victims - their flesh melted away.

Nothing is guaranteed here. There is often no running water and the stomach turning odor from the bathrooms drifts down the hall, heavy and wet. Patients are not fed. The hospital cannot provide food and families bring small provisions to cook on the hot plate in the corner. Medicine is not available. A small wall cabinet spills out half empty glass bottles of donated medication. Recovery is not guaranteed here either and parents cling loosely to hope.

This hospital fights for funding from a corrupt government. While Nepalis love small children, funding the recovery of a weak child is seen by many as a poor choice, because some believe that a sick child will only be a drain on resources in the future.

While my son sleeps nested comfortably between loving parents other parents sit in dark hospital wards without electricity. They watch their breath form in the frigid air. They hold frail hands and cling to hope.

Love is in the Air

2012-02-08T03:50:00.000-08:00

JAC is "baby bear" and I am "mama bear." Sometimes he likes me to, "hold his paw." Today rain poured down on Kathmandu and it was a cozy treat. JAC wanted to make a bear cave and we created a huge blanket tent in my living room. We ate bear snacks in our tent - fish and berries (goldfish crackers and fruit loops). We read all of our bear books and explored the cave with our head lamps.

I am nursing a very sore paw. Last night I was rushing out the door to pick Jess up for date night. In my hurry I crushed my finger in the iron gate of our compound. My finger is purple and swollen. It continues to get larger and the skin feels tight like an over stuffed sausage. Sometimes I stop and poke at it. I wonder, "what if it swelled so large that the flesh exploded?" Then, I realize that is a disgusting childish thought and remember that pregnancy proves that your skin can swell enormously and not explode.

Even with my finger in a bag of ice we had a nice date. Love is in the air. I received a perfect Valentines care package in the mail. I am now trying to set the world record for most Reeces Pieces consumed in one sitting. I am guarding the mail room because I ordered Jess an awesome Valentines present. All of our mail is addressed to Jess because he works at the embassy. I don't want him to open his package early and ruin the surprise.

I know it is not cool to like Valentines Day but I love the holiday. I'm not interested in the romance but I love the opportunity to be more thoughtful towards people I love. I have several friends who are amazingly thoughtful and they inspire me to excel at thoughtfulness. Whether it is a well planned care package or a much needed hug - what thoughtful things are happening around you today?

Yup

2012-02-01T01:02:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is coming. Is anyone else madly in love with their spouse today? We had date night last night and went to a high class joint named, Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut in the states is a dive but in Kathmandu it is a delicacy. The waiters wear nice outfits and you eat with silverware. Plus, it still has all the greasy goodness of American pan pizza.

I have been so sleepy lately. I think it is because I switched to decaf. A month ago I fell down my stairs four times in a week. The final tumble ended in a badly sprained ankle. After some analysis I realized the caffeine from my six daily cups of coffee was making me dizzy and I switched to decaf.

We have started taking Roxy on walks outside of our compound. I know this seems like really mundane news but dog walking in Kathmandu can be perilous. My gardener made us each long heavy walking sticks to fend off fierce stray dogs. We walk on each side of Roxy - virtual bodyguards - scaring off dogs eager to defend their territory. Roxy is oblivious and happy to trot along sniffing the ground.

When I visualized moving overseas I forgot to remember that "normal" would be totally reshaped. My son thinks it's normal to throw rocks at stray dogs or pee on the wall when there is no public bathroom. I think it is normal to put pass other vehicles while driving on a dirt median. Honking is normal. On the way home from church we were stuck in heavy traffic and the cab in front of me tried to pull a u-turn across four lanes of traffic. I honked my horn so hard I bruised my wrist. I showed him.

That's the news from Kathmandu. How are the states today?

Notes about Wednesday

2012-01-26T02:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was another bandh day. All traffic was forbidden by protesters angry about the rise in fuel prices. Economically the bandh is a bad thing. The bandh creates a climate of insecurity and commerce suffers. I have heard that some bandhs grow violent but we have not seen this yet. Mostly, young men stand in the street burning tires while the rest of us take to foot to reach our destinations.

Forgive me for admitting this, but I love bandh days. I am saddened that the Nepali political climate permits these disturbances but I enjoy our bandh day routines. I even wonder if this slow quiet version of Kathmandu was what first spurred the hippy migration to Kathmandu.

Yesterday the city was very quiet. No horns blared. Large trucks did not rumble by and even the dogs seemed to bark less. I have grown so used to the noise that its absence felt almost like a missing appendage. As I cooked breakfast for Jess and JAC, I sipped my coffee relishing the silence. The view of the Himalayas was perfect, devoid of vehicle pollution. The morning was serene.

Later Jess walked to work. I let JAC pick out snacks to put in his duck shaped backpack and we left our compound. My son is at his best with a mission and with his backpack on he felt important. He marched forward down our street tightly holding my hand. We walked side by side through back neighborhoods and climbed a steep trail. We each carried a small rock to throw at angry dogs. This was JAC's idea. "We need dog rock," he instructed. Later, he told me, "My duck backpack heavy." I looked at him earnestly and replied, "But you are strong." With this small encouragement JAC stumbled up the dirt trail.

We arrived at our friends house and I spent the morning drinking coffee, eating muffins and loving the conversation. Her teenage daughter played with JAC and he disappeared to her room loving the attention. Later we tripped back down the trails and JAC found a huge stick. He chased me a bit and I chased him without worry of being mowed down by an unexpected truck. We jumped over potholes and I stopped to snap a picture of JAC carrying a branch twice his size. "I take picture of mom?" JAC asked. I handed over the camera and marveled. Only a few years ago he was crawling. Now he is my hiking buddy with ideas of his own.

Falling

2012-01-20T01:08:00.000-08:00

I only knew my husband for six months from the day we met to the day we were married. My family was understandably very concerned. I can't explain how our marriage has worked out so perfectly. It was not well thought out and yet we are so completely happy. I liken it to a small planted seed growing into a sturdy tree.

I didn't fall in love with my son until he was almost seven months old. He suffered from colic. Hours of non-stop screaming, sleep deprivation and a bit of postpartum depression didn't endear me to the poor kid. At seven months JAC learned to crawl and I remember looking at him. I felt like I was seeing him for the first time. He was an intense, joyful, active little guy and I loved him.

Today I had a perfect morning with the same little guy I fell in love with. He is still intense, joyful and active but his personality has so many more layers. He is very ordered and determined. I watched him drag a bag full of basketballs out the club door like and undersized Santa with his pack. He removed each ball and put them in a perfect line. He was happy. We played baseball, investigated each vehicle on the lot and ate french fries for lunch.

Today I learned three people I love dearly are coming to Kathmandu for a visit. My excitement is brimming because I want to hug them and enjoy every minute with them. I also want to show them my Kathmandu. When we moved here I spent the first two months trying to catch my breath. The following two months I hated the traffic, complained about the pollution and constantly missed my old friends. Recently I noticed a change. I have fallen very unexpectedly for Kathmandu.

I think learning to navigate the roads helped. When my driver quit I took over behind the wheel and now I know back alleys and secret shops. I feel a sense of ownership The never slowing traffic feels ironic and I'm honking at every inconvenience like the locals. The grittiness adds personality and makes me even more thankful for the iconic snow covered peaks in the background. Kathmandu is my home.

All of the best things in my life were unexpected. I know consistency and planning are more valued skills but today I hope something wonderfully unexpected happens to you too.

Ducks and Such

2012-01-19T03:18:00.000-08:00

The word "imprinting" instantly brings to mind ducks. I think of yellow and brown spotted baby ducks waddling after their mother. When JAC was little I would grow so exasperated with my life that I would lie on my kitchen floor and stare at my ceiling. After a few minutes I would notice the house was quiet and realize JAC was lying beside me - our heads together staring at the ceiling.

I just devoured an entire bowl of popcorn. I blame my mom. Almost every day of my life my mom would eat popcorn as an afternoon snack. She popped it in a bowl in the microwave with a dab of butter. I pop mine on the stove in a tall black pot because I love sound of the kernels rocketing against the metal sides.

I had a job interview this week. Jess took me on a breakfast date and we practiced answering interview questions. I realized I have not been on any sort of interview for almost six years. There were many qualified candidates an my prospects are slim but I enjoyed the challenge of interviewing.

Today I read JAC five books before nap time. He wanted me to hold his "paw" while he fell asleep. I obliged and fell asleep holding his hand. I have missed him this week. I have been away too much. When I decide to work JAC will head off to preschool. I think he is ready. He asks every day to go to school but I'm not ready. I guess that is the pendulum of parenting - holding tightly to a paw and knowing when to let go.

Cave

2012-01-10T02:07:00.000-08:00

Every few weeks I typically find myself thinking and re-thinking three big ideas. The list changes often as I sort out my thoughts and develop conclusions. The topic list is largely influenced by the activities of my daily life.

Today fifteen different work men have been in my house all day. They converge on the house every three months and examine each knob and corner, fixing deficiencies. This level of household maintenance is quite a luxury but the intrusion into my domain sends me running to my "idea cave." This is the place I mentally go and ponder deep thoughts rather than existing in my present paradigm.

Welcome to my idea cave. Is it wrong to take pictures of ordinary people without their permission? A favorite genre of photography could be named, "pictures of the locals." I admit I find some of these pictures fascinating. Documenting the lives of ordinary people illustrates their way of life and displays the uniqueness of their culture. It also reduces these people to a carnival side show. We often act as voyeurs to their misery. Every day I want to take pictures of the man carrying a sofa on his back or the boy moving a slaughtered pig to the market on his bicycle, but I am reticent.

When we had the large earthquake mice and rats came out and ran about. Is this common after earthquakes? Would an earthquake feel different if you were standing underground in your basement?

Money in many ways is notional. For instance, when you get paid it is deposited directly into your account but no physical object is transferred. Gold bars are not moved to your bank. In the 90's Brazil minted the Real - a completely new currency when inflation grew too high under the Cruzado. If money is fictional - could we think our way into a better economy?

I've been reading Mormon Mom Blogs lately and the women seem so comfortable in motherhood. Their faith considers motherhood very important. While being a stay at home mom is not exactly looked down on by the average American it is not typically characterized as "important." For instance, people ask me "What do you plan to do when JAC goes to school?" I ask myself the same question, but no one says - "You're raising children, that is such important work."

Thanks for stopping by my cave. I am off to make cookies because that is one of the luxuries of staying at home. I love mid-afternoon baking. I would love your thoughts on any of the above subjects or if you have your own "idea cave" please tell me what you're thinking about.

Resolutions

2012-01-09T00:06:00.000-08:00

I noticed platefuls of salad at the embassy cafeteria today. It's resolution season and inevitably salad season too. While I ate my own salad I pondered my resolutions. I'm attempting to lose five pounds this month but I mainly consider this a jump start to my true resolutions.

1. I plan to run thirty minutes four times a week. I typically accomplish this mission every week but I want to be more mindful about executing it without excuses. Because, around our house happy mom often only shows up after some exercise. My Aunt posted this video and I think it portrays the benefits of exercise in such a simple way. 23 1/2 hours

2. I read an article on NPR that stated the average American ate a TON of food last year. At first I was disgusted. Later I thought I might have been among the many who indulged in a ton of food. I want to eat less but I also want to eat more fruits and vegetables. This is not a real goal because I haven't quantified it yet. I'm still thinking about the math but for the last few weeks I have cut cheese and white grains from my diet.Ton of Food

3. I want to get a job. It is time to patch some holes in my resume before JAC goes off to school next year. I'm looking for part time work. I don't know if that will be volunteer work, free lance work or a conventional position. I am looking for a job that is interesting and helps me identify which direction I want to move forward. I'm really considering starting a master's program but I'm not exactly sure what to study. I would like a job that will help me evaluate my strengths and asses the future job market.

4. I want to sew once a week. Sewing helps me be creative and brings me joy. Luckily I know several a accomplished seamstresses here in Kathmandu to help when things get tricky.

I'm not exactly pleased with my resolutions yet. I'm still amending them. Help me shape my 2012. What are your resolutions?

Kathmandu Morning.

2012-01-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

Last week I enjoyed a perfect day but I have yet to write about it. Part of the perfect day was a visit to a museum with nine flights of stairs and now my knee is REALLY sore. I'm pretty sure I'm eighty years old. I'm limping around and swallowing handfuls of Advil.

It is Saturday morning and the house is really chilly. JAC and I are wrapped up in blankets eating fruitloops and playing the quiet game. This is our Saturday morning tradition. We try to be extra quiet and let Jess sleep in for a few hours.

This week Jess really needs the extra rest. On Wednesday he returned home from work at eight only to receive a call a few hours later and return to work. There was a small problem at the embassy and Jess worked all night to fix it. Jess seems to thrive on the adrenaline and it is fun to watch him enjoy his work so much. He is in his element.

Lately JAC constantly refers to himself as "baby bear" and I'm "mama bear." When we sit on the couch together and he wants me to hold his "paw." I think it is so cute! Sometimes he pretends he's a baby elephant and wants me to hold his trunk while we walk.

I've made a New Year's resolution to run more. I am so much more cheerful with some daily exercise. I miss my D.C running trails but I've traded in for a grand Kathmandu adventure.

My awesome sister-in-law sent me makeup. I can't tell you how excited I am! It is silly but looking through the drug store aisle for new eyeshadow or lip gloss is something I really miss.

JAC has had a major growth spurt. I was toweling him off after his bath and realized his legs seemed so much longer. This was further confirmed when we went to church and he was the same size as all of the four year old boys. After church last week JAC found two brothers close to his age and they wrestled for half an hour on the gym mats. JAC found his soul mates and was so happy. This kid loves to wrestle.

We ate Mexican food after church with our friends. I think fifteen kids attended and the place was a mad house of activity. Yes, there is Mexican food in Kathmandu! Several of our friends jointly own the restaurant. They purchased the it together to acquire Nepali work visas and stay in the country as missionaries. Next week we're trying out the Pizza Hut.

That is the end of my Kathmandu ramble. I hope you're having a great day wherever you are!

Fuel.

2012-01-04T01:49:00.000-08:00

The valley is out of fuel. Kerosene, diesel and petrol are all in very short supply. As further insult the government has imposed long brown - outs, leaving the citizens of Kathmandu with only a few hours of electricity a day. At night my car windows frost over and the city is pitch black. It smells like we live in a fire pit as smoke from roadside fires mingles with normal pollution. Today my housekeeper requested to take home a pile of garden rubbish to burn in her home.

I drove down the road yesterday and abruptly slammed on my breaks. My head jolted back. The cars in front of me were completely stopped. A tail of automobiles and motorcycles looped for a kilometer up the hill, parked waiting in the fuel queue at a crumbling gas station. Drivers wait up to three days for five kilos of petrol. On Saturday we watched drivers stalk a fuel truck like prey as it pulled into a station and police attempted to perform crowd control amongst costumers hungry to refill their vehicles.

As I write our generator rumbles on. Our house is not warm. I am wearing two sweatshirts but it is light. At night I heat one room of our house and we huddle together enjoying the close company. We are protected from the discomfort suffered my ordinary Nepalis. Our government has built alliances our generator will never be empty. Our heat will be available on demand.

Perfect Day #2

2011-12-31T05:36:00.000-08:00

I watched a horrible movie yesterday. The plot was terrible and the acting was worse. Nevertheless, there was one line in the movie that was completely true. "Parenthood is really really bad and then something awesome happens and it is worth it. Then, it is really bad again."

Forgive me. I know this seems like a negative outlook but so many things about parenthood are really difficult. Many days seem like an endless practice in self control but today was a great day.

Jess gave me maps for Christmas. I have an irrational love of maps. I open a map and drool at possibilities. Modern people have GPS but I crave a good map.

I had spent a week digesting my Kathmandu map and this morning I was ready to enlist my fellow adventurers. I fed them a carb-packed pancake breakfast and cleaned out our pink backpack. I replinished the supplies with a fresh package of goldfish and bottled water. Jess played navigator and we drove towards the mountains.

We made wrong turns and backed out of one lane roads. We asked locals for directions and stumbled up a steep road until we reached the gate of the national park. Two smooth faced army soldiers guarded the gate and after paying our entrance fee we embarked on an adventure.

The road was steep and pitted with large rocks. We lumbered forward and were waved down by two young men with spiked trendy haircuts asking for a lift. They had missed their bus and their cargo was too heavy to carry up the mountain. We obliged and Jess helped them load heavy boxes of beer and liquor into our trunk. They talked loudly in Nepali and broken English attempting to entertain our son JAC. They insisted on flagging down every passing motorcycle to inquire about directions. No one knew where they were going and Jess and I looked at each other sideways. We were ready to be free of our passengers. We rounded a wide curve and our passengers let out a cheer from the back seat. Their friends stood next to a disabled bus. We were heroes. We had brought the beer and five eager young men helped unload it.

We silently cheered the departure of our new friends and moved forward up the road. We parked at a monastery and JAC exuberantly launched himself out of the car. Jess and I desperately wanted JAC to love hiking. Hiking is a thread that runs through our relationship. But with JAC, most hikes end in disaster. JAC whines, cries, refuses to move forward or simply sits playing in the sand.

Today JAC rushed forward delinghting in every element of the trail. He commented on butterflies, climbed rocks and relished sliding down too steep sections on his bottom. We hiked under red, blue and yellow prayer flags and the narrow trail opened to a small clearing. A white man wearing robes sat poised in mediation. His dread locks and beard met together and to create a heart shaped brown mass around his head. He chanted rythmic sounds -"zzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, aaaaaaaaaa."

JAC asked, "What that man doing?" When Jess replied, "Praying," JAC wanted to pray too. "ZAAAAAAAAA" JAC loudly repeated.

On the hike back to the car JAC rode high on Jess' shoulders. He started singing. He was singing an army cadence we had taught him last year. He had remembered it from previous hikes and trail runs. The air was clear. The sky was blue. We were on a mountain together and we were a family - who all loved the same things. It was a perfect day.

Remittance

2011-12-28T03:18:00.000-08:00

The mountains stand as ivory sentinels over Kathmandu today. It feels obscene that something could be that big. They stretch the mind to an unknown distance. I understand why the Himalayas are a mountaineer’s prize. To conquer these behemoths is to understand a distance greater than the imagination.

Today is a clear day – an unusual treat for this season. A slow breeze has pushed the smog from the valley granting us a perfect vista. My roof serves as a vantage point to both the ordinary and the extreme. The giant icy glaciers loom on the horizon but just below my feet I can spy through my terrace bars at the neighbors below. Their average lives are a mix of century old traditions and mobile phone carrying advances.

Kathmandu is groaning from growing pains. Half finished high rises stand like erect skeletons in every direction. In the valley behind my house a foundation the size of a football field has been poured with re-bar protruding out of the smooth gray surface. It lays fallow unable to produce the promised children’s hospital due to lack of funding.

Nepali homes express defiant hope. Each three level house has the beginnings of a fourth level left unfinished. This section will be completed when the family has extra money, perhaps ten years in the future. The fourth floor supporting columns stand erect. The family is prepared to build the moment funds come in.

There is a word in Nepali that means “She is a person whose spouse works abroad.” Every corner advertises remittance transfer. You meet ordinary people on every street who have lived in Turkey, Dubai or Qatar earning money to complete a fourth floor dream. In the distance I hear the steady thud of a hammer against metal. Bricks are stacked and iced together with cement. Plaster is smoothed to perfection. Hope has come to fruition.

Traffic In Kathmandu

2011-12-27T02:07:00.000-08:00

Each building lining the main road is marked for demolition. The red-bricked chicken momo shop is marked. The towering beige wall of the Japanese embassy displays the same signage. Each shop whether falling down or long established will be torn down soon. The government is enforcing encroachment laws and I am expecting a new series of protest when the structures are reduced to rubble.

The property owners were compensated for their property over thirty years ago but the inept government is just now starting the project. In Nepal a good idea might take 30 years to implement.

In the morning I drive Jesse to work. We ease out onto the street and a shining blue and silver jingle bus flies up from behind us honking non-stop. Hurried motorcycles pass on either side weaving in and out of traffic. A man carrying a refrigerator tied to his head for support waddles down the edge of the pavement. His progress is steady but slow. Three bull calves covered in runny manure chew a clump of dingy grass. They share the same grass and the same painful fate.

A motorcycle comes to a complete stop ahead of me. His wife rides clinging behind him and his baby sits in front of him holding a rope tied to the handle bars. The motorcyclist answers his cell phone and chats happily deep in conversation in the middle of the road. I swerve to miss him. A small private bus moves without regret into my lane. This is a head on game of chicken and he flashes his lights at me.

Anger is choking my throat. This is the Nepali driving habit I hate the most. A driver flashes his lights demanding - "You stop for me." I doesn't matter that he is driving head first into your lane. I am becoming more Nepali every day and flash my light returning the obnoxious demand. I chuckle to myself. Nepal demands a strong sense of humor.

The police are motioning drivers to either side and issuing tickets for expired licenses or lack of registration. They do not issue speeding tickets. There are no enforced speed limits in Nepal. I bypass the checkpoint thankful for diplomatic immunity. A motorcycle weaves in the gap between two cars so small a person can hardly stand.

I ease into the turn lane marked by orange cones and a man changes the spark plugs on his motorcycle in the middle of the lane. A young woman walks awkwardly in the street. Her heels are pretty and she does not want to walk on the dirt shoulder. She pretends not to notice the traffic jam growing behind her and pretends to be prettier than she really is.

I honk loudly and she responds only by sticking her hand up in annoyance. I am now joined by a collection of irritated honking drivers and she finally relents moving onto the dirt shoulder.

I drop my husband off at office and wave to the guards. One eager police officer tries to stop traffic to allow my car onto the street but he is ignored. I finally wedge my car forward irritating drivers in all directions but demanding my place on the road. Slowly I am forgetting all driving courtesy and becoming a Nepali driver.

Happy Birthday JAC!

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

JAC turned three today. Oh my heart! He woke up so excited and spent the morning racing around the house screaming. "My Birthday! I get presents and I get cake and I make cookies." He was practically dancing all morning. I loved seeing him so happy.

Jess stayed home from work and helped put together a little party. A few friends came over and we decorated cookies, ate cake and opened presents. JAC opened each gift and would shout, "I love it." He was exhausted by nap time but I caught him playing with his new toys on his bed instead of sleeping. Later we took him out for pizza and he fell asleep without even eating his dinner.

I know every mother says things like this but, "He seems so different from average three year old." He seems smarter, more thoughtful, more confident and capable. I think he could be turning five today or maybe eight. He frustrates me and challenges me but mainly I'm crazy about this kid. I am so happy to spend the day celebrating JAC. He is a complicated creature and I would have it no other way.

Bandh Day

2011-12-19T03:14:00.000-08:00

Kathmandu is mute - devoid of its usual honking and jingle trucks. We are in the middle of a bandh. This has become a common political phenomenon in Nepal. Opposing parties shut down roads and demand vehicles stay home. Any issue might spark a bandh. Today's bandh was called in protest of the death of a key leader of the youth party who died while imprisoned.

I walked to them embassy today. I wanted to use the gym and visit my husband but I also wanted bandh pictures. I stepped into our intersection and young men crowded a pile of rocks holding red and white flags. Young boys joined in wavy the flags and wishing they were important. The riot police stood shoulder to shoulder, stoic and agitated. I joined the pedestrians walking down the road marveling at the quiet.

We walked in groups. Young men held hands with friends and mothers carried babies. A young man laughingly asked me, "Aren't you having a great walk?" He moved on flirting with a young girl, shouting "Wow! Beau-ti-ful!" A row of dusty brown ducks marched down the highway filled with self importance. A young father excitedly tried to teach his little boy how to ride a two-wheeler down the usually heavily trafficked road.

Nepal feels alive every day. The movement and color feel addicting and overwhelming at once. This bandh Nepal showcases the patience of the people juxtaposed against the background of political deadlock. There is no constitution. Progress seems impossible and yet the people walked resiliently to work or home displaying infinite patience with the inconvenience of these street protests.

Saturday

2011-12-18T03:39:00.000-08:00

Saturday mornings are sleepy in Kathmandu. The city wakes up slowly enjoying the day's reprieve from work. Traffic is light and my neighbors bathe each child outside in a bucket while the adults gamble in a nearby alley.

I woke up and the house was chilly. Our gas heater battled to no avail against the cold. I wrapped up in three blankets on our gold sofa and formulated a plan. Saturday was the perfect day for an adventure.

I did a map recon, analyzing routes and possibilities. Finally I settled on an uphill day hike at a nearby mountain. I packed a picnic lunch of leftover pasta salad and cookies. I dressed my son in sturdy shoes and an extra jacket. When my husband awoke we were ready to go.

I felt like Lewis and Clark on the edge of something wild and grand. We were armed only with the memory of a computer map and our enthusiasm. We made the short drive down our road and when we arrived at our intersection crowds mingled uneasily. A few blue clad police officers with batons met us at the corner gesturing for me to roll the window down. "You can not go this way. There is a strike - a bandh," they said. This was not a sleepy Saturday. This was a restless creature with its own identity.

I turned around quickly formulating an alternative plan. We would go visit the waterfalls instead. "Waterfalls, I want to go waterfalls," chanted my son from the back seat. At least we had a sole supporter of the new plan. We bypassed the main roads traveling tiny pot hole covered back alleys instead. An unknown alley would dissolve into a tiny footpath and we would slowly inch the car backwards. I navigated using gut instinct and the location of the mountains. A curved stone advertised we were close - only three kilometers from the falls. "Waterfalls!" JAC demanded from the backseat. We passed through a tiny village with houses stacked and crumbling on top of each other forming a tunnel around the road. We emerged and were met with smoke and a small crowd of young men standing back on their heels with their hands in their pockets. They blocked the road with a small fire and stared at us quizzically. Every local knew this road was impassable today and a lazy eyed police officer reinforced the idea. "You can not not pass. It is a strike," he informed us. We made a slow u-turn. Defeated, we returned home.

We chewed cookies and laughed on the way home. Our son fell asleep in his carseat with his head and arms spilling over the edge. Every winding back road was an opportunity and we wove carefully past pedestrians through the streets of Kathmandu grateful to be near the main road. We slid onto the main road and the air felt heavy and gray. Unnerved I rolled my windows up and locked the door. There was a sole car on the road and then we were alone. We drove slowly forward and every kilometer the foot traffic grew more dense. The intersections were lined with riot police and hundreds of pedestrians walked on both side of the car. We were in the middle of the strike. We unwittingly missed the road block by utilizing back roads and instead positioned ourselves in the middle of the unrest. We needed to get home.

We crested the hill and I saw our intersection engulfed in black smoke. Tires were burning. The people were too dense to pass through. Our cell phone chirped with the alert, "Kathmandu unstable, remain in a safe place." We could not make it home but were relieved to stop at friend's house for a few hours.

In Miami they have hurricane parties. In Kathmandu we have bandh parties. With the streets shut down and nowhere to go we opened a bottle of wine and sampled cheese. We walked down to the intersection with our cameras and snapped pictures of protesters. When night came the protesters walked home, happily chatting about the days events. The bandh was over. The end seemed to lack a suitable climax and we drove home expecting something more. We never did hike up a mountain but we drove through a smokey protest instead.

When?

2011-12-13T01:43:00.000-08:00

When will I get back to serious writing? I don't really know. I'm taking a serious writing break for two reasons. First, I'm taking Nepali class and it falls smack in the middle of my prime writing hours. Secondly, I've been spending my free time applying for part time jobs. I still don't have a job so maybe I'll just stick with recreational writing. Oh - I just thought of another reason I have not been writing. I am suffering from the holiday blues. Luckily my awesome friend Jenn sent me a package of Holiday joy just in time. I really wish I could UPS that girl to Nepal!

Back to my Holiday blues - Its hard to get into the mood to celebrate without your friends and family around. Once I let a little bit of Grinch in it took over and for weeks my heart has been extra small. Today I woke up and things just felt a little better. I had a really good parenting day. JAC and I really got along well all day. Last night I heard from my good friend Becca and my husband surprised me with tickets to a holiday concert tonight. I started making Christmas candy and JAC and I have been doing Christmas craft projects. Today traffic even seemed a bit better and I think Christmas might come to Kathmandu after all. Happy Holidays Friends! Maybe tomorrow I'll finally write about riding and elephant in search of a tiger.

Trees

2011-12-07T03:27:00.000-08:00

The Kapok Tree grows in the jungles of the southern Nepal. The trunk rises straight in a vertical line to the sky and branches make their appearance as a round clump towering over the forest. Black and white, wide faced monkeys chirp from the branches to the Barking Deer who graze in the underbrush below. These two creatures have a symbiotic relationship. The monkeys toss leaves to the grazing deer and sound an awkward howl to warn of nearby predators. The deer mirror the favor, standing guard while the monkeys forage on the forest floor. The tree sanctuary in anchored by massive roots that grow high and attached to the trunk creating the appearance of a giant webbed foot.

Juvenile Kapok Tree trunks are covered in sharp thorns to protect against predators. As the tree matures the thorns slowly fade into the bark first becoming warty numbs and eventually disappearing as the tree nears maturity. These thorns allow the tree to grow into largest tree in the jungle.

I first saw this try while riding on top of a two ton elephant, clutching my son in my lap. I immediately wished my son could be granted a similar protection against the perils of youth. I wished he had a thorny coat for the days his mother had no patient, the hour he might be betrayed by a best friend or the moment he needed stitches.

I returned from a short trip to India this week. I felt apprehension about leaving my son for four days. I didn't want him to miss me or wander from room to room asking for me. When I walked in the door my son was playing happily with his babysitter. In my absence he had great adventures with his father. They visited Santa together, had pirate sword fights and went to dinner with new friends. JAC seemed at ease and oddly knew dozens new vocabulary words. He hadn't missed me at all.

Later his dad confessed that JAC had asked for me but Jess gently explained I was on a short trip. They would have a "guy's weekend" at home. Slowly I realized that I wanted to protect my child but thorn covered armor would never work. A better analogy might be strength training. Each sore muscle is caused by tiny tears in the muscle. As the muscle heals it reforms stronger and more resilient and that is exactly what I want for my child. I can't protect him - every mother knows this. I can soften tiny bits of saddens as he grows stronger.

Back in the Swing of Things

2011-11-30T01:28:00.001-08:00

I haven't written a blog post in over a week and I have so many interesting things to write about. Every once in a while I fall into a writing slump and the only way to get out of it is to start writing. I need to write about tiger sitings, a trip to the zoo, the Marine Corps Ball and the Holidays away from home. But, I think it is time to write a "Why I Love My Husband Post." I try to do this every few months because I feel there is an unfortunate shortage of people unabashedly loving their spouses. Jess takes great pleasure in finding these posts hidden between stories of our kid and antidotes about my daily adventures. So, here it goes - Why I love my husband in December:

1. He lets me drive. Over Thanksgiving we took a long road trip to southern Nepal. The road wound through the country treacherously and brightly decorated trucks passed without hesitation on blind curves. We had several near death moments but Jess maintained unwavering confidence in my abilities. His confidence in me empowers me to be stronger and more capable.

2. He supports my adventures. I'm heading to India for four days. JAC will spend the weekend with his dad and they already have plans to visit Santa. I can't wait to see a bit of India. Even after working a long week Jess was willing to chip in so I could experience India.

3. He embraces Joy. We purchased our Christmas tree yesterday. I can't wait to take a few pictures after we decorate it. I think you'll like it. We will turn on Christmas music, wear our pajamas and drink cocoa. Its our family tradition and Jess and I are both really excited. Its a small event but we both find so much happiness in it.

4. Our morning routine. I sleep in until seven every weekday morning while Jess hangs out with JAC. I wake up to fresh coffee and JAC has been fed breakfast. On the weekend I take over but five days a week I stay warm under the covers.

Now it is your turn. Why do you love your significant other today?

Offering

2011-11-15T03:48:00.000-08:00

The water buffalo stood tied with a golden rope to a golden statue. Two horns curled in the shape of a "C" at the top of its head and its black coat speckled in brown dirt glistened in the sun. His front hooves were tied together but the animal did not struggle. It breathed easily, eyes blinking sleepily in the sun.

I snapped a quick photo marveling that the animal's owner would choose to tie it to a statue. The guard standing nearby laughed at me and I moved on to admire a larger temple. This small shrine seemed insignificant in the shadow of the three story pagoda style temple nearby.

I held my small son's hand and walked over a hundred steps to the top. He enthusiastically pulled me forward up the narrow steps and we stood together at the summit. We admired the view. Everything seemed to be versions of brown. Buildings were build in red brown brick and topped with deep brown roofs. The square was paved in gray brown stones and the tourists in white t-shirts reminded me of aphids on a green leaf.

I looked for the peaceful bull tied to a temple and saw only a small crowd of young men near the temple. From our height the men seemed to be one entity moving together - all with the same dark hair. As we descended a drum beat near the grouping of men followed by chanting and singing.

Curious I passed my child's small hand to my husband waiting at the bottom and walked over for a closer look. I pushed through the crowd until I was shoulder to shoulder and part of the moving group. Standing on my toes I found the water buffalo in two pieces. Its head was removed without the animal making a sound. The body was still twitching and the hooves fluttering in some false effort to run.

Sickened I looked at me feet now realizing they were planted in a puddle of sticky red blood. I stood too crowed in to move and watched as they butchered slices of buffalo presenting it to the golden statue of the deity. As men sang the priest scooped blood from the animal's body and from the ground tossing in on the temple. Blood covered his hands, arms and chest. Speckles clung to his sparse black beard. The once brown temple was now an all crimson spot on the landscape. I pulled away, unwilling to watch but still morbidly fascinated.

As I lay awake at night I hear cows mooing in my neighborhood. They wander listlessly eating from piles of trash. Cows are sacred to most Nepalis. They will not eat beef and many will not eat water buffalo because they consider it nearly a cow. The cattle in my neighborhood have been abandoned. Bull calves offer little value to an owner unwilling to slaughter them and cows who do not give milk are equally worthless. They are left to fend for themselves in a bustling city without grass. Owners do not want to feed a useless animal and cost for disposing of dead livestock is a further deterrent to caring for them.

This is Nepal. It is a country of stark contrast. Here in Nepal the sacred are allowed to eat trash and the nearly sacred are beheaded in front of singing young men.

Normal

2011-11-13T05:52:00.000-08:00

I am flopped on my belly, hiding in the bedroom listening to my favorite radio show on the computer. It starts and stops, broken up by poor internet service. I listened to show every Saturday morning in my sunny little kitchen. Now I listen staring out into the darkness, annoyed by the never ending dog barking.

Two months ago we moved to Kathmandu, Nepal. For two months it has been some extended vacation. We have visited every historic site. We have eaten weird food and met new friends and somewhere in the middle we are treading water attempting to find our new normal.

For three weeks my son has been horrible. He hits and punches. He screams at me and no punishment motivates him to comply. His defiance is finally stronger than my will power and today my throat was in a constant knot. I swallowed a glass of cheap red wine attempting to overcome the drowning feeling in my throat. Today I do not want to be a mother. Many days pass without gratification. I wake only to meet the endless demands of a small annoying child.

Last week my son asked me every day to "go home." I explained over and over that we no live here in Kathmandu - together. Finally he broke down crying, "I want my small house." My whole body hurt in sympathy.

On Wed. I made the best beef soup. It was heavy with vegetables, thick with broth and aromatic from half a cup of red wine. JAC ate with out protest. He and I ate soup leftovers on the couch together for two nights while his dad worked late. For the first time in many nights I felt normal and I have grasped for that feeling every day since.

Somewhere, perhaps in a few weeks JAC will stop asking for home and I won't spend Sunday nights hiding in my bedroom. We will no longer be tourists but residents in our new home town. I am not sure how we will get there. Now it feels like we are wading through some cloudy swamp of reality and emotion. Our normal is a nomad's state of movement and we take solace in the small familiar pieces of our past as we grow accustomed to our current surroundings.

Language

2011-11-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

Mero naam Toni ho! It took me an hour to master this sentence. It means, "My name is Toni" in Nepali. I think it was an hour well spent because when I practiced the sentence with our staff they seemed absolutely thrilled.

I'm taking Nepali courses three days a week. I will not be the star pupil. I'm missing that gene that allows people to learn languages with ease. By older brother has this gene and I'm beginning to realize my parents gave all the good genes to my siblings. Every other member of the class is nearing sixty and the teacher patiently waits, slightly annoyed while we laugh at our ineptitude. All of us agree. We will not master Nepali in this short time but we wanted to try. Nepalis are a people who value inclusion. They appreciate our efforts to belong.

Today we have a crystal clear view of the snow capped Himalayas. Before moving here I looked forward to seeing the mountains daily but quickly learned smog or cloud cover frequently obstruct your view. Instead Jess and I keep watch and when we see the Himalayas we race to the roof for a better look.

JAC and I spent the morning listening to Indie Rock videos on YouTube. I read last week the Indie scene is now the music of the middle aged. It seems fitting that as I near middle age I am just discovering the genre.

My son never stops moving. In one hour today he demonstrated a long list of prepositions. He was on top of the bed. He was in the bed. He was under the bed. He jumped on the bed. He followed this by running around in circles and shooting his stick gun. The wooden stick stained with dirt is constantly in his hands as he makes shooting noises chasing any onlookers.

When the Didi (house cleaner/ kid watcher extraordinaire) arrived I gladly handed off and enjoyed a nice long lukewarm shower. It is growing colder here and though our solar panels are working at capacity I will not enjoy a hot shower until summer.

Writers Block

2011-11-07T03:55:00.000-08:00

I have a serious case of writers block. I'm not sure what to do about it but in the mean time here are a few pictures from our Friday Adventure. We went to an old Palace complex called Patan. On an ordinary day this would be very interesting but I have a case of temple saturation. I've seen enough temples to last me a life time. Maybe next week we'll forget the historical sites and just visit the zoo.

There is one thing about Nepal's historical sites that always strikes me as funny. You will be visiting an very old place and see motorcycles parked in the middle of the site. Or perhaps adjacent to a temple will be loud advertisements for a school or bar. This is typical Kathmandu. It is some complex pairing of present and past.

Amusing

2011-11-03T03:44:00.000-07:00

The atmosphere has seemed almost human in its restlessness - like a man struggling with the answer to a perplexing question. These are the days when I pace, waiting to see what will happen, wishing to exert pressure and cause change.

My normally intuitive son paced himself to sleep. My nervous energy surrounded him like a heavy weight. His never ending motion collapsed face first on the blankets. His toes twitched refusing to admit defeat.

Still, I paced until I couldn't breath. I grabbed my guidebook and escaped to the car and the freedom it promised. I didn't care where we went but I needed to satiate my deep craving for motion.

Ramesh must have felt the air. He was waiting, eager to leave the confines of our compound. He drove me to place that did not belong in Nepal. It was a setting that felt like a scab on the landscape. The greyness of the gates matched the thin gray clouds hovering over Nepal. Yellow and red paint peeled off of every concrete surface. Ramesh instructed me to wait by the car.

He returned with two tickets to Fun Land. Without me by his side he was able to secure tickets without the added tax charged to white faced foreigners. We walked under a crumbling sign. First was and outdoor bingo pavillion stationed adjacent to two caged Emus. The Emus shared an overgrown yard with a few inhabited shacks. A series of game booths followed with invented games. On featured six cylindrical clay jars each perched on an empty soda bottle. You could shoot the jars with a plastic toy gun. Ponies stood nearby, saddled in a dirt lot, looking annoyed at the hovering flies, waiting for riders.

We walked down the path and a gray pond hosted three rubber inflatable boats each piled deep with laughing coeds skipping class. A giant Ferris Wheel towered overhead attached to a rotary engine. This grandparent of a ride was compelled to fierce speeds, groaning while circling squealing couples around. A merry go ride limped through its paces. Child sized rides mixed next to larger rides and intermingled between were the components of rides past their prime. A pile of rusted mettle once spun cheering patrons. A dirt covered wooden duck lay on its side, its one eye staring vacantly back at me.

The largest ride filled with passengers. Couples sat hand in hand on the deck of a ship attached to a pinnacle. The ship rocked back and forth, gaining momentum. It peaked in each direction and I imagined someone tumbling out. At the height of its speed, the passengers stood up embracing the thrill. I queried Ramesh about seat belts, but there were no seat belts. This was Funland in Nepal. This creepy amusement park, governed by no rules housed the kinetic energy I was seeking. It was a spectacle to my American eye but only a reason to skip school for the average Nepali.

Stories Told

2011-11-01T04:10:00.000-07:00

Nepal is a land filled with stories. They swirl around like the wind and permeate the souls of the people. Over the weekend we visited two temples. The first, a towering white-washed mount topped with a golden eye is Buddhist. It is called the Boudhanath and legend says the gods demanded a suitable sacrifice to end a long drought. When the drought failed to end after several sacrifices the king decided he himself was the only worthy sacrifice. He instructed his son to go to the site at dark and sacrifice the shrouded figure, decapitating it with one single stroke. When the son removed the shroud he learned he had killed his own father. To atone for the sin he built the Boudhanath.

The second temple was Hindu and place near the top of the mountain. We wound through villages on a narrow road and arrived at the Chungunaryan. The oldest stone carvings in Nepal are featured here and date back to 746 A.D. The story is told that a farmer had a cow that would give no milk. When he followed the cow he learned a small boy living in a tree would come out of the woods each morning and drink the cow’s milk. The farmer thought the boy was an evil spirit and cut the tree down. Unfortunately the tree housed a trapped deity who was killed. The temple was built in atonement.

Every festival in Nepal boasts a similarly entertaining story and when I told my staff yesterday that it was an American holiday they immediately asked what the story was. Truthfully, I don’t know the story of Halloween and I’m not sure it would matter to me. I tried to explain this to my driver but he seemed ultimately confused by my lack of background information.

Nevertheless, when I explained that we would be building a pirate ship in the back of our car for "trunk or treat" the driver and gardener embraced the idea enthusiastically. Each person contributed design ideas. I spent hours trying to explain what a pirate was and even pulled up pictures on the internet. In the end we all agreed, “A pirate was a scary man on a ship.” We were all very proud of our finished product but when I walked out in my pirate costume with JAC dressed as a miniature pirate they seemed thrilled.

In two years we will leave and I wonder what will be said about the crazy American dressed like a pirate. Almost daily I find something strange about Nepali customs, but a girl dressed in an eye patch for a holiday without a story must seem so odd to them too.

On a Sunday Morning

2011-10-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

The house is chilly and our generator is purring. I will be honest. I love my generator and I'm not sure I would survive here without it. Our massive house is constructed from brick and mortar. The walls are covered in white plaster and there is not a stitch of insulation. Fall is slowly bringing cooler temperatures and we are already sleeping with extra blankets.

I made eggs this morning for breakfast. I was craving something warm. Yesterday I went on a nine mile trail run, up a mountain and to a monastery. We had fun but I was not in good enough shape for such an ambitious run. I spent the rest of the day dizzy and this morning I am really sore.

I am practically a vegetarian here. All of meat is shipped in from Australia and tastes of freezer burn. I just can't find it appetizing. As a result I'm constantly a bit dizzy from a mild case of anemia. Hopefully the eggs will help a bit.

We have been on two great family adventures this weekend and I need to write about them. Yesterday I took Roxy to the American Club for a long walk. I tried to walk to walk her in our neighborhood but after a close call with a feral street dog I started keeping her home. The American Club has a short walking trail and as we walked I realized we were being followed. A mongoose followed us, very interested in Roxy. This creature is very social and loves small dogs. It kept trying to engage Roxy in play but she was terrified. The mongoose walked right beside us for almost a mile. You can never tell what an animal is thinking but this mongoose seemed almost palpably lonely and seeking a companion. This is just an ordinary walk in a wild place on an ordinary Saturday with a lonely mongoose.

Shopping for Illegal Fireworks in Kathmandu

2011-10-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

We parked in a lot where a small child dug in the sand with a scrap of metal while supervising a toddler sized sibling. Ramesh locked the car twice and we moved purposely towards our mission.

When I stepped in the car this morning I told Ramesh, “Today I’ll find some trouble.” He looked at me dubiously and prodded for further explanation. Ramesh is slight and thoughtful. When we walk through the streets together there is a constant chatter surrounding us. I asked Ramesh what onlookers say. He smiled proudly and replied, “They think I am your personal body guard and you are very important.” I had to laugh. I tower over Ramesh by two inches and certainly outweigh him by several pounds. Still, I have to admit he walks with a certain undeniable swagger.

Today we are looking for fireworks used to traditionally celebrate Tihar. Ramesh leads me over a foot bridge and through a maze of vendors who sell every possible object on blue slices of tarps lining the road. One vendor sells socks, another plastic sandals, and another fake bullet proof vests. Our route winds behind buildings and an old hospital. We walk through alleys and every step becomes more congested with people.

I follow Ramesh to a market hidden in between buildings and we walk into a crush of Tihar shoppers. I try to follow closely behind Ramesh because this markets seems infinitely more foreign than my own neighborhood. It is a labyrinth of closet sized shops lining avenues no wider than two men standing shoulder to shoulder. I cannot move. The swarm of people hums around me but I am stuck in place by the crowd. I instantly realize why people die in acts of mass hysteria. Ramesh is moving quickly away and I put my forearm out to shove past people. I learn this is not walking but some determined fight past the masses.

While we push, Ramesh asks shop owners about fireworks. They glance at us reluctantly. Some refuse to speak only giving us a nod, “no.” Finally we receive some information. The police have made fireworks illegal this year. It is a money making scheme. They seize fireworks claiming to promote public safety and resell them instead. The shops on this road have been raided only a few minutes earlier.

We won’t be deterred. Finally we find a young man with slick hair who claims to have only one box left. Ramesh haggles but with me standing near his shoulder the man will not bargain. We pay too much and the man slides them under a table rapped in a black plastic back. We place them deep in our pockets and rush to the car.

We have been successful and we feel like the kings of Kathmandu as we drive out of the lot. A dollar sized box with twelve candy shaped fireworks is our prized booty. And we have the unmistakably free feeling shared by all who seek a little trouble.

Tihar - Dog Festival

2011-10-25T01:44:00.000-07:00

Today marks the beginning of Tihar, the Nepali festival of lights. The festival lasts several days and each day is dedicated to an animal or object. We celebrated the dog festival this morning. Hari, our gardener made the traditional garland of marigolds placed it around Roxy's neck and put a mark of bright color on her forehead. The mark symbolizes the pooja which is a blessing for the animal.

Nepal has a near endless supply of street dogs. I marvel as they slump sleepily in the middle of the street for a late afternoon nap. Typically these dogs are considered a nuisance but today is their special day. As we drove through Kathmandu every dog trotted along wearing a garland. While their posture usually typifies the saying, "hang dog" today the dogs of Kathmandu seemed to trot along with more pep in their step. My driver told me, "Today is the day of dogs. Today we will get them good food. Tomorrow we will throw rocks at them again."

Friday Adventure

2011-10-20T02:43:00.000-07:00

I felt caged in my own house, behind my gigantic security walls. Outside the never ending din of car horns and traffic penetrated the walls. There is no quiet place in Kathmandu. The city that is historically remembered as a slow laid back hippy haven in now a busy metropolis.

Our driver must have sensed my restlessness. This morning I locked JAC into his carseat, packed a day bag and told the driver, "Take me someplace interesting - your choice." We filled the gas tank, slowly weaved through traffic and an hour later we were in quiet bliss. The driver wanted me to see the rice harvest and he said he took me to the most peaceful place he knew.

We bumped down a rotted old dirt road and the city dissolved behind us taking the noise with it. Quiet fields of deep green and bright yellow replaced it. We parked the car and started walking. We walked into the countryside and on a road that quickly became a narrow trail. On each side of us the fields were spotted with families harvesting rice. Some members cut the rice garnering short sickles in a sweeping motion. Others gathered the rice in tight bundles while a small grouping beat the long green shafts. Small yellow pods of rice were collected in large piles to be dried and then ground. The remaining roughage was fed to the goats and cows.

As we marched along taking it in we met clusters of women carrying heavy loads of rice home. They would laugh and gently tease our driver from walking with a white baby. Every person wanted to touch my fair child. Every person seemed content with the work of the day.

The workers are from the Newari people. They have been harvesting rice in Nepal for generations and have almost a proprietary feeling about the task. They preform the work with pride. While people rush through life in Kathmandu only a few kilometers away these proud people quietly accomplish their work.

On a Walk

2011-10-20T01:46:00.000-07:00

Today JAC and I took Roxy on a walk. We only walked 3 kilometers but there was plenty to see. Truthfully walking the dog here is a largely unpleasant experience. We are constantly followed by stray dogs who are occasionally aggressive. I must be always mindful of both JAC and the dog because traffic speeds by. I am beginning to believe drivers purposefully swerve to scare the goofy white woman walking a dog. I have also realized that in Nepal it is a priority to protect your vehicle not pedestrians. Vehicle laws here are particular. If you hit a human it is almost better to mortally wound them. There is a flat fee for killing a person. If a person is wounded the driver is responsible for hospital fees for life plus lost wages. Also there is a 100% conviction rate for hitting cows. If you run over a chicken you must pay for the bird plus any possible offspring the bird will no longer be producing.

One of the interesting things about Nepal is how people practice faith. Most people are some version of Hindu and Buddhist. Every neighborhood has its own shrine to a deity and often several deities with share a shrine.

Most Nepalis I know are very pious and stop by the neighborhood shrine daily to say a quick prayer. Religion is largely a family event with older family members playing a key role.

This is one of my favorite shrines. It is called the People's Tree. I have seen several similar shrines in Kathmandu. They are actually built into the tree and the tree grows around it. This is the tree where I meet my Sat. morning running group. I sit across the street while I wait and observe the many visitors to the tree. Older siblings bring younger siblings. Young men jump off of their motorcycles and make a quick visit to the tree. It truly seems to be part of the community.

The View from Here

2011-10-19T01:35:00.000-07:00

We enjoy living in Kathmandu for many reasons. Here are a few. The dollar goes a long ways. The exchange rate is 78 rupees to one dollar. We can typically eat a nice dinner out for no more than 700 rupees.

The weather is lovely 10 months a year. JAC and I spent the morning at the pool. The pool will not close until December and reopens in March. JAC loves the water and I'm slowly teaching him how to swim.

Nepalis are a warm and industrious people. My driver today asked for more work because he said, "Without work I am nothing." Jess attests that his staff has an equal work ethic.

The culture is very novel to us. Nepal is not like a trip to Europe. Things are very very different. A simple trip to the store provides many opportunities to see new and interesting things. There are many temples, and unique shops. The populace also does much of its daily living out side on their steps or in the streets. It is easy to watch and learn new things about the average Nepali life.

The U.S government works hard to make our lives comfortable here. We get to experience the best of Nepal without many of the inconveniences. Our water and fuel are delivered. The generator provides constant electricity and there are gym facilities available.

Jess really enjoys his job. He says every day presents new challenges and this is the opportunity he has been waiting for. I am so proud of him. Anyone I meet at the Embassy who knows Jess cannot stop praising his work.

The expat community is fun and laid back. We get together to run, play softball or go to a whiskey tasting. There is not much to do in Kathmandu valley so everyone makes the best of it and hosts gatherings. Tomorrow night Jess and I are attending a private Jazz concert. Its almost the perfect date night.

The Help

2011-10-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my last post that I hired some help around the house. Actually I hired a lot of help. First I have a didi. This is a Nepali word that means "big sister." My didi is named Kalyani. She is a grandmother, very quiet and gentle. She cleans my house in a whirlwind - top to bottom. She complains when I do my own dinner dishes and most importantly she watches JAC while I exercise for an hour. Kalyani rocks my world.

Secondly I have a gardener/guard named Hari. I'm truthfully not sure why we have a gardener. Its complicated. He worked for a friend and the friend unexpectedly needed to move to Pakistan. I can never say no, and truthfully our yard needs some serious manual labor. Every exsisting piece of shrubbery is competing to take over the place. He also looks after the dog if we go out of town.

Finally, I have a driver named Ramesh who also rocks. He is very young and drives a motorcycle when he in not driving my car. He is married and has a new baby without a name. The baby was born two months ago and Ramesh is still thinking of his name. He says all Nepalis are named the same names and is looking for a unique name. I keep trying to convince Ramesh to name his baby after me but he says the baby should have a name starting with E or S. For now, he just calls the baby - "baby."

I might also describe why we need a driver. Traffic in Kathmandu is insane. Sometimes I drive because I think it is fun - like riding a roller coaster or jumping out of an airplane. Kathmandu has no traffic lights, no street signs and no center lane markers. The city has almost 100,000 residents and I think they are all on the roads constantly. This number does not also include the many cows who walk in the road. Also, Ramesh is a wonderful tour guide. Yesterday he explained to me that while he would not vote because the candidates were unsatisfactory he would go to the voting site and register his name as "No Vote." He explained that if he failed to do this someone else would vote under his name. This are insights you can only receive from a local.

I hope everyone is experiencing a corruption free Tues.

A Successful Day

2011-10-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

This morning when we awoke we found JAC sleeping on the chair near our bed. He must have sneaked in during the middle of the night and curled up on the chair. I guess he just wanted to be near us.

I drove the car twice today and survived. This is an accomplishment. I've noticed even our driver prays before venturing out on the roads and he is Nepali. In Nepal they have over 300 deities. The driver told me that Nepalis rarely have the favor of their gods because the gods our frequently jealous of the other 300 deities.

I went to a foreign hospital for an ailment we won't discuss. I found a great coffee shop that will put booze in your espresso and I caught a pigeon. I found the pigeon roosting on my curtain rods and chased it with a towel. I through a towel, hitting and stunning the bird. While the bird recovered I wrapped it in the towel and took it outside. This is all and ordinary day in Nepal. The end.

Too Late

2011-10-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

I've spent the evening in some kind of self induced misery - injecting myself with mushy love songs. Now as I near my overdue bedtime I can't help but miss the good old fashioned mixed tape.

My younger brother is getting married next weekend and though we live worlds apart we've been swapping music all night over skype. I cannot imagine how it is possible for the wedding to be in less than a week and it swallows my soul to miss it, inducing physical pain. In one event the wedding brings us closer together and farther apart. It creates more common ground and also creates a whole new family I am not wholly a piece of.

There are so many well crafted love songs. I'm not a music person and I typically stumble across a great song months after others have learned of it. Every great love song chokes me up and I immediately think the same thing "Would I play that at Jess' funeral."

Jess is in perfect physical condition and his death is likely far off but I love him so much. When I hear the strength of this emotion in the words of a song I can't help but wonder how I will survive some day without him. There is only one Jesse and knows where to find my glasses when I loose them. He knows why I want to punch the yoga teacher in the face. He knows why I love driving in the insane Nepali traffic and without him the love songs mean nothing to me.

My mom once told me that she and my dad pray every night that they will die on the same day. It is almost a line from a movie. My brother and his new wife will find their own prayers. Rather than wait for a funeral I'd rather play a few of these great songs for my Jesse.

The Luckiest - Ben Folds Five
Heavenly Day - Patti Griffin
La Valse de Ameli
Seems I'm Never Tired of Lovin You - Nina Simone
Ashokan Farewell
Home - Magnetic Zeros
Staraflu -Sigur Ros

What love song would go on your mixed tape tonight?

Quick Update

2011-10-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

I have some deeper things to write about but I'll just write a quick update about our mundane life. Hopefully I'll finish off my serious post later today.

Last week we went on our first trek and it was fantastic. I keep meaning to write more about it but it seems like a big task. I will say the whole family wished we could trek a few more days because we loved it so much.

In even more exciting news - JAC is finally potty trained! I'm scared to write it out of fear of jinxing everything. JAC is out of diapers and hasn't had an accident in weeks. He even did a great job on the trek. I have to say there are some advantages of potty-training in Nepal. For instance, no one looks the other way if your kid pees on a wall on a public street.

I hired a wonderful lady to help in the house. She cleans in a whirl-wind and loves JAC. I was even able to leave JAC home for a few hours yesterday while I worked out, met Jess for lunch and did some quick grocery shopping.

This morning I'm enjoying Starbuck's coffee. Our friend is moving to Pakistan and cleared out her cabinets. She also gave us lots of cleaning products which are nearly gold here.

Our vehicle is still out of order so JAC and I have been afoot. We took Roxy on a long walk yesterday through a more quiet neighborhood. JAC is getting great at throwing rocks at the numerous stray dogs who follow us and seem threatening. This is a skill I never expected to teach my 2.5 year old.

JAC and I both have a cold. It seems to be going around the embassy and we both caught it. JAC really seems to be feeling unwell and if he gets worse I'll take him by the Med. Unit.

That's about all my news of my boring life. What mundane boring things are happening in your life today?

Pictures from Nepal

2011-09-29T22:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday. Here are a few pictures from the streets of Nepal. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

American Food

2011-09-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

My cooking has been terrible since our arrival. I blame it on lack of inspiration and a very dark kitchen. Our kitchen has black marble counter tops and a creative addition of black marble cabinetry. The pricey marble is paired with cheap cracked terracotta tile and the finishing touches include bars on the windows.

I step into the kitchen turn on 18 light switches struggling to find the right one and open our fridge. The fridge is hollow, barren of food. It hosts eggs, milk, butter and a few lazy carrots. I sigh deeply and turn to our pantry. Two weeks ago I spent a small fortune on food but food in Nepal is rarely perishable. Many Nepali's do not have refrigerators and cook most meals each day with no leftovers. Even the milk is shelf stable. Lined in my pantry are square shoe boxed sized cartons of milks. Their expiration dates are listed for a year in the future.

Dairy products are almost non-existent in Nepal. As a country with a deep appreciation for cows, the demand for dairy products is low. If you have a craving for mac n cheese, or ice cream you head to the American club which hosts a small enclave of American products in the commissary. Last week I spent 16 dollars on a block of cheddar cheese.

Every time I go to the grocery store I consider the American obesity crisis. There are no fat Nepalis. Rarely I see an older man with a small paunch belly but the average Nepali is fit. The average Nepali eats the same meal almost every day - a spicy lentil soup over rice.

Outside of the lack of dairy products the most striking difference when shopping in Nepal is simply a lack of choices. The store feels like a convenience stop compared to the juggernaut groceries in the states. There might be one type of canned tomatoes or only one variety of children 's cereal. Shopping is quickly accomplished without debate.

I once read an article that made a convincing argument for the value of snap judgments. It stated that when people weighed more options they frequently made poorer choices and felt less satisfied with their choice. Perhaps prosperity has offered one too many food choices and left the average American unsatisfied. The never ending evaluation of options results in a daily dose of fat inducing decisions. Or perhaps I'm being too critical because I get to evaluate the problem from afar.

Thamel

2011-09-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

The call of Kathmandu is mythical and unexplainable. It is heralded in songs by 70’s rock bands and the hippies of the 60’s longed for the freedom promised in Kathmandu. I too have fallen victim to the pull of this strange city. Every day I attempt to identify the origins of this attraction and wandering the streets of the historic Thamel district the question lingered in my mind. What makes Kathmandu irresistible?

Buildings stack together, tightly – awkwardly built. The upper stories appear to lean in over the street and brightly colored signs fill every inch of visual space. My chest grows slightly tighter as we step through dirty streets avoiding tourists and beggars alike. This neighborhood always draws my memory to a road trip game my husband and I play. We try to hold our breath for the duration of any tunnel we pass through. It is our contest and this neighborhood makes me want to take a deep gulp of air holding my breath, my cheeks puffed out, hoping to see the narrow gap of light at the end of the street.

Trekkers frequent this district and they come in two varieties. The first wear North Face water resistant gear. Their pants zip at the knee and their backpacks are either pristine with newness or covered in patches advertising world-wide adventures. They need to conquer a mountain. They want to gobble it up and place a flag of ownership in the soil. We join this group picking through Shona’s Trekking Store.

The store is barely bigger than a walk in closet and too small to fit an automobile. The concrete floors are stained black from urban grit trekked in on dirty boots. The walls, ceiling and even the front door are crammed with items available for purchase. My friend picks out her own set a knee zip pants and she slips to the back corner of the shop to try them on while the Australian owner jokingly offers to stand guard against male pedestrians.

Our car is heavy with Trekking gear. In a few days we will look like the first kind of trekker with our sights locked on a mountain. The second kind of trekker is something very distant from us. These trekkers are falling apart. I see them wandering the streets and they are sustained on dreams. They wear severely frayed clothes, and broken down shoes. Every inch of their bodies and gear seem speckled in trail dirt. They are living off of pennies, eating rice and their vacant eyes seem constantly hungry. They have come to be part of the mountain. They want the mountain to swallow them whole and all of the hardship is only a small price to be part of this bigger thing.

Looking through this tunnel street I feel a puzzled. Thamel is a deep labyrinth and the visitors here have their eyes set on a narrow vision. They desire to either consume or be consumed. Standing there on the curb I realize I am on the brink of one or the other and neither seems completely attainable but both seem endlessly appealing. I can’t help but feel their draw is not entirely noble but instead embody some equal quality of self absorption. Perhaps Kathmandu is simply a guilty pleasure, delicious to the senses and healing to a searching soul.

New Project

2011-09-26T02:08:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new project and I've decided to change the blog up a bit. I want to try something more challenging. When I grow more comfortable with my goal I'll tell you more. For now the changes will be subtle. Here are some great pictures of JAC playing in the rain. The forecast calls for 100% chance of rain for the next 10 days. I guess this is why it is called the rainy season. I hope everyone is having a great Monday.

Saturday at the Monkey Temple

2011-09-24T03:45:00.000-07:00

I ran five miles today. It was on a treadmill which is a poor substitute for but I'll take it because running on a treadmill is better than not running at all. While I ran Jess took JAC along to help the Fire Marshall inspect the embassy. They triggered sprinklers, sounded alarms and test extinguishers. In the minds eye of a small boy these events are small marvels. I found him glued to his father, happy to be one of the guys and completely uninterested in spending one minute with me.

After lunch we went on our first big Kathmandu adventure. Ever since I read about the "Monkey Temple" in my Nepal guide book I knew I had to visit. It is perched precariously on the edge of the mountain and its golden spires glimmer over the Kathmandu valley. The temple, named Swayambhu is over 2,500 years old. Kathmandu valley was once a giant lake and the Buddhist landmark was built to symbolize the brilliant lightning storms that occurred over the lake.Now the temple serves as both a place of worship and popular tourist destination. Monkeys live at the temple site and while they may appear cute they are quite aggressive and know to carry a particularly virulent form of rabies.

JAC proved to be a popular tourist attraction himself. Several temple visitors picked him up and took pictures with him. He took it in easy stride and excitedly explored every angle of the site.

The highlight of or trip might have been watching the Buddhist prayer session. The monks took particular interest in JAC as we walked up the temple steps in the rain, holding his hands and ensuring his raincoat hood was securely fastened. When we later saw the monks praying in the temple they asked us to sit down and brought us tea a gesture that was not offered to other tourists. We sat quietly listening to the chanting, horn playing and drums beating. JAC grew completely enthralled and refused to leave.

It was a fascinating afternoon and made Kathmandu seem even more mysterious. The city is steeped in deep rich history and we can't wait to explore more soon.

The Same

2011-09-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

Many things about our lives in Nepal are very different but in many ways things are exactly the same. I made chili last night. I had to use Water Buffalo meat because cows are sacred but the chili tasted about the same. Jess still goes to work and I still stay home cooking, cleaning, working out and enjoying JAC.

The raining season is still hanging on here. Even the locals explain that the rains have stayed longer than usual this year. Yesterday JAC and I had some rainy day fun. We made a fort and chased each other through its tunnels for hours. We later destroyed it by jumping on it and then constructed a jump pit - leaping off the couch onto pillows. We finished the morning by turning his favorite blanket into a pirate hat, cape and leg cast. It was a pretty good way to spend a rainy day.

Don't Drink the Water

2011-09-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

My hands smell like bleach. They always smell faintly of bleach and hopefully I'll eventually grow immune to the smell. The water is not healthy here and every bit of produce must first be soaked in bleach water to prevent bacterial infections. Every meal time I scrub carrots, potatoes, apples or green beans. My hand emerged in the water grow saturated with the smell of bleach.

Other things smell funny here too. My mom told me to "enjoy the mountain air." I had to chuckle. The city smells constantly of burning trash. The acrid odor wakes me up in the morning and I can almost taste ash in my mouth. Some mornings the smell permeates the house so completely that for a small second I wonder if the kitchen is on fire. Trash that is not burned is discarded in road-side, makeshift dumps. Cows, goats and people crawl around mountains of refuse searching for food.

Our water is delivered every week by a big, white truck. A large tank is filled and I sign paperwork acknowledging receipt of thousands of gallons. It is a clear reminder of usage and waste. I feel guilty and try to conserve every drop. This sentiment becomes most acute while I watch my neighbors walking to an outhouse or bathing in an outside bucket.

Our drinking water is distilled and we have household rules for our protection. No member of the family can put non drinking water in a drinking glass. We are trying to prevent sickness but already I have had a short gap in memory and suffered the consequence. I rinsed my tooth brush in water from the sink and spent the entire night sick.

Clean drinking water is a clear concept for adults but helping a child understand is much more difficult. Every day I remind him to close his mouth tightly in the shower. I turned my back and he was attempting to swim like a whale in the tub while taking huge gulps of dirty bath water. In a few hours he was sick but recovered quickly.

In two short weeks I have become more aware of my own impact on our natural resources. We've stopped using disposable diapers completely and I doubt I'll return to it again. I reuse dish water, turn out the lights and every fresh glass of water tastes more fulfilling. I cannot yet discern if this change will hold true when we return home to the states but today you could almost call me an environmentalist.

A Jet Plane Miracle

2011-09-20T23:33:00.000-07:00

While preparing for our trip to Nepal I primarily worried about one thing - the 20 hour plane ride. Actually it was more than worry. The idea of spending two days on a plane with JAC just about made me puke. I couldn't think of any possible scenario where the plane ride went well so I prayed and prepared for the worst. We brought bags of toys, games, snacks and a portable DVD player. I mentally practiced patiently walking my two year old around a cramped plane for hours while other passengers slept. I steeled myself for hourly arguments about wearing the seat belt.

After all of that preparation only one thing mattered - prayer. Thank you everyone who prayed because we experienced a "jet plane miracle." JAC was a perfect angel. Before our flight we ran up and down the Dulles airport concourse. We thought he was exhausted but instead he was thrilled by the air plane television. Every seat had its own television and JAC was absolutely enthralled. The headphones were too big so I used his elastic eye mask to secure them to his head. JAC watched hours and hours of Finding Nemo and The Fox and the Hound. I think he watched Finding Nemo four times. Finally I was too exhausted to function. I turned off his t.v, gave him a blanket, put on his eye mask and held him down until he went to sleep four minutes later. He slept soundly for the last three hours of the flight.

When we landed in Doha it was dark and we had a long six hour layover. Luckily Doha had a wonderful kids' play area. It was JAC's dream. We played at the park for three hours straight, taking intermittent breaks to walk through the duty free store. When we grew bored of that we set up the DVD player and watch Curious George. When we finally boarded our plane to Kathmandu JAC was thoroughly exhausted. He slept for almost the entire flight. When he awoke the airline surprised him with a Sponge Bob coloring book and the whole family enjoyed an outstanding view of the snow capped Himalayas. It was a spectacle to behold. The Himalayas are larger than what you can imagine.

Our furry family member - Roxy - made the trip without event too. They even walked and fed her in Doha. She is suffering from a sore paw after colliding with our steel door. The vet here makes house calls and hopefully she'll soon feel better.

The Blessing

2011-09-20T02:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning we woke up extra early. I spent ten minutes trying to remember which adapter to plug my hair straightener in to and finally my hair looked perfect. This was important because we had an outing planned. It was also important because my vanity can't afford too many bad hair days.

Jess' staff invited him to watch the Blessing of the Tools. Every year they do a ceremony celebrating the god of craftsmanship and asking a blessing on the tools in order to insure productive accident free work. The ceremony is followed by feasting and wine. Luckily we got out of downing extra strong Nepali wine at 9 in the morning. Our ride showed up and took us to church, but just in case I made sure we had eaten a huge breakfast. I didn't want to show up to church slurring our words.

Here are a few pictures. One of Jess' foremen is also a Brahman and presided over the ceremony. Some guide books suggest that the caste system doesn't matter in Nepal but most Nepalis seem well aware of each others caste.

Welcome to Kathmandu

2011-09-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

Last night Jess' assistant hosted our welcoming party. We sat around the room in two semi circles. The Nepali staff on one side politely using broken English and the Americans apologizing for not understanding a word of Nepali. Food and family bridged any awkward gaps. I was slowly growing more comfortable as I joked with other women about the perils of drinking the tap water in Kathmandu. I was also overwhelmingly thankful to have a break from JAC who was having a blast playing with the older children upstairs.

I was mid bite when a loud high pitched ringing filled the room. At first I was annoyed because the security alarm was going off but then I heard the low rumble and we knew it wasn't the security system. It was the earthquake alarm and the rumble was instantly by the whole house shaking.

I made a desperate mad dash up the stairs dodging older children running down the stairs. I swooped JAC up and soon we were standing huddled in the outside court yard with the other party guests.

The earthquake was short. While is registered a powerful 6.8 the epicenter was miles away in India. I felt grateful to be safe. When we finally returned home we all slept crammed together in one bed. The dog, the kid, and the husband slept soundly while I stayed awake and marveled at our luck. A month ago we had an earthquake in D.C. and this was the first earthquake Kathmandu has experienced in a long time. I queried Jess' Nepali staff who seemed truly terrified and many of then attested they had never experienced a quake before.

The Connely clan seems destined to experience world wide travel in its most daring form. Nevertheless I hope to sleep soundly tonight without event.

Kathmandu

2011-09-18T02:22:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in my friends' living room borrowing Internet and listening to the rain come down. The rainy season has been long this year, dragging out and bringing daily afternoon showers. The showers create a swamp and heavy clouds hang over the mountain.

Every morning I wake up at dawn and sit on my rooftop to watch the sun rise over the mountains. It is the best time of the day. The city is semi-quiet, because Kathmandu is never quiet. It is a constant cacophony of honking and dog barking. Honking is another language here. Drivers honk as they rush around blind curves, they honk to encourage slow pedestrians or scare off wandering dogs and they honk to demand position on the road.

At dawn the city is slowly waking up. I secretly spy on my neighbors as they drinking morning tea, or do early morning housework. Kathmandu is a city of contrasts. The mountains serve as a background to a gritty city scape complete with open sewers. Beautiful houses with detailed architecture stand shoulder to shoulder with crumbling hobbles.

Our little family has settled in to our overly large house. Three stories of marble floors echo and the space seems empty and a bit lonely. We are not used to so much room and we spend most of our family time happily squashed together in the living room or on the room taking in our new city.

Kathmandu is still a grand adventure. I've been grocery shopping on my own and to the meat market. I smugly smiled at my competence in a foreign country but noticed my hands shook slightly at the checkout. We are loving it here. We ate pizza today at a local restaurant and I thought how it was nice that even pizza was an adventure here. The ordinary is exciting and that is perfect.

Gulp...

2011-09-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

Our flight has been confirmed. We leave tomorrow and I have spent the morning with my mind moving in a million directions and my body rendered inactive by indecision. I need to repack the suitcase but which clothes should I reserve for the flight. I'm always too cold on a plane but jeans seam uncomfortable and yoga pants too casual for such a big event.

We need to sell our last vehicle and pick up our rental car but I have no idea when Jess will return from his morning meetings. I have grown to hate those meetings and selfishly vie for every inch of Jess' attention. JAC tells me he's hungry every minute of the day and I am reluctant to stuff more food in his direction because I suspect his is just bored - sick of the hotel. I understand. I have gained pound after pound this last week and I ignore my pants growing tighter. I will deal with that in Kathmandu and find solace in warm fattening American food today.

I need to purchase plane entertainment and I wish my imagination ran deeper. Instead I plan to stuff the portable DVD player full of annoying cartoons and pray JAC will sleep. We are all exhausted, unable to sleep in this stuffy hotel. The dog walks restless circles at the foot of the bed. Jess flops back and forth fighting secret anxiety. JAC finally surrenders at midnight sleeping horizontally across the bed like the sunset in a stale landscape painting. Every night I take a Benedryl attempting to sleep but instead secluding myself in the bathroom with the door closed. I read disturbing memoirs until I fell dizzy with sleep and consider sleeping on the bathroom floor desperate for isolation.

I am finally wishing for our flight because it signifies the end of our restless in-between and the beginning of our new life. I look at a catalog of western boots and wish for a pair. We are moving to a wild region of the world and there is a deep category of my mind that is hungry for the challenge. I have a human desire to conquer a world that is not conquerable and make it my own.

Slow

2011-09-04T01:28:00.000-07:00

I love living on the east coast. Most days I don't even mind the traffic but I certainly avoid one road at all costs. I hate Interstate 95. I-95 parallels the coastline and hypothetically is the fastest route between the major east coast cities. If you look at the map a simple trip from D.C to Philadelphia should be a quick three hours but this is rarely the case.

Two weekends ago we made the trip to Philadelphia for Jess' family reunion. We crawled along for hours inching forward at only 20 mph. We were sure there was a major accident. We passed through Maryland and Delaware in bumper to bumper traffic. There was no explanation for the delay. It was simply traffic volume. Thousands of east coast citizens transiting north on their way home or off to a beach vacation. The trip took almost seven hours. Luckily the drive home at 2:30 in the morning was much faster and the next time I write about traffic congestion it will be about the chaos of the streets of Kathmandu.

Out with the Old in with the In-Between

2011-09-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

We are living some hybrid form of life. We have moved out of our house and are stationed at a hotel while we wait on our flight. Jess spends most days absorbed in meetings discussing funding and construction projects while JAC and I tie up loose ends. In less than a week we will board a play to a distant land and if you are the praying type I covet your prayers. I am not afraid of the unknown of a new land. I fear the known frustration of traveling 48 hours with a dog, kid and husband who all find it impossible to stay still.

JAC has taken the move harder than I anticipated. Jess took him to the park while the movers packed up and when he returned the house was empty. JAC looked around and immediately cried, "Where's my t.v!" Now he begs me daily, "I want to go home!"

Our hotel is very nice and just up the hill from the Iwo Jima Memorial. It is the perfect location for long walks in the city I love so much. It also has free transportation to the metro which will come in handy because we are selling both of our vehicles this week. It feels remarkable that you can dispose of one life almost completely and trade in for something new.

In preparation for our move the whole family is sporting new haircuts. The dog is groomed. Both of my guys are handsomely sheared and I cut four inches off of my hair. I really love it. I haven't cut my hair this short since junior high. A new life sometimes requires a new look.

Update on Nothing

2011-08-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here disgustingly sweaty after an ultimately satisfying run. It seems like running holds the link between my sanity and something else. Our air conditioner is broken again and the house feels balmy. Jess and I have taken turns bouncing each other around on an air mattress in our basement while we toss in our sleep. The basement is the only room in the house even remotely cool. Without the basement I can only think of one other way to enjoy our living space. I'm making ice cream. I don't think we can live without it.

We sold our kayaks to the perfect family and for a good price. The price was less important. I just needed to know they were going to someone who would experience the wonder of the water. The family had two kids ages nine and ten. The kids each tested the kayaks and the parents excitedly promised the kayaks would be wet that very day.

I have to get a root canal on Friday. I can't believe. I'm too young to have a root canal. I'm too young to have a toddler. I'm too young to be married but I'm definitely not too young to move to Kathmandu. We're on our way soon and I can't wait to see our packers. Actually I can't wait to stay in a nice hotel for a week while we wait for our flight. I'm going to the pool every day. I'm not cooking. I'm not cleaning.

Finally, we had an earthquake. I'm sure you heard about it on the news. It was absolutely marvelous. I was standing in my front yard and heard a deep low rumble. The fence started moving and the earth rolled. I ran for the basement and hauled JAC outside. He was terrified but in a few short hours JAC and his dad slept contentedly curled together through an aftershock.

The Bible says, "The very earth groans in protest..." I heard the earth groan. The earth expelled some subtle power and a suiting reminder that even so close to the World's most powerful capital, God is still in control.

Jenn

2011-08-21T02:17:00.000-07:00

I made another apron and I think it turned out extra cute. It was a gift for my good friend Jenn. She has encouraged me and inspired me to be a better person. It was so much fun to make something special just for her. Her kitchen is yellow and gray. I hope this apron fits right in. I have a few more aprons to complete before we move so I better start sewing. The Connelly's will be on a flight to Nepal in a few short weeks.

Does...

2011-08-20T02:31:00.000-07:00

Does your kid ever:

1. look at you when you are giving him a lecture and then proceed to make exaggerated snoring sounds because you are so boring.

2. Look at you when you ask him why he rubbed poo all over the wall and say, "I paint!"

3. Randomly lean over and lick you for no apparent reason at all.

4. Chase the dog around the yard with a deep sea fishing pool while you stand on the roof of your car hoping to get cell phone reception

5. Sing really loudly and off key in church while using a group of pencils as a microphone

6. Break down in screaming tears when you forget to buckle his carseat - apparently he is very safety conscious - apparently I am mother of the year

7. Tell every visitor to our house about mom catching the oven on fire

8. Know exactly how to spell one word - P-A-R-K! and often shouts it loudly while in his bed refusing to sleep.

Nope...those things are all JAC. He's an original sort of boy and I love him so much.

A Cut

2011-08-19T02:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a cute picture of both my guys getting haircuts. I think they are a cut above the rest or perhaps even cut from the same cloth. The world is such a better place when you have a great posse to keep you company. Who is in your posse today?

Measuring Time.

2011-08-18T02:42:00.000-07:00

Living with a child is a constant reminder of your own ever increasing age. I can't believe how big he is getting. I just finished mopping up both bathrooms. Left momentarily unattended JAC flooded our upstairs bathroom. The water seeped through the floor and in turn flooded the basement bathroom as well. This added more sopping wet towels to my never ending mountain of laundry.

Last night I completed the chore I have been avoiding for almost four years. I cleaned out under my bed. Let me stop hear for a public service announcement. Do not store stuff under your bed. It is a horrible idea. Your husband will walk in and find you covered in dust, hair, and clumps of dust bunnies while you attempt to retrieve lost items using your kitchen broom. It was disgusting and really embarrassing.

While there were some really disturbing items under the bed most of the junk was my ever growing collection of books. Books seem to mate and multiply in my house. As I cleaned and sorted each book I couldn't help but grow a bit sentimental. My life's course over the last four years could be charted through book titles.

Our books will not be making the trip to Kathmandu. I have placed them in platoons of like titles as they await new homes. There is the colossal stack of parenting books which span the gambit of acceptable parenting the behavior. I own Positive Discipline, Dare to Discipline, Train Up Your Child, and a great Dog Training book I used to train JAC. This just names a few.

I have a group of travel type writing from Michener to Theroux. I like to read those books late at night when Jess was off working in worlds far away. Speaking of worlds far away, I have a small collection of books about Afghanistan. Can I entice anyone to read Ghost Wars, or The Sewing Circles of Herat?

I have a pile of bible studies and books on theology. I have controversial books like Blue Like Jazz and lesser known titles like Experiencing God. Of course the largest pile contains my collections of novels. There are some really great novels. These are the books that transported me on bad days. How could you read A River Runs Through Through It and not wish to live in Missoula? Of course there are some terrible novels that made me wish for my money back. Water For Elephants made me want to gag!

All of these books need a new home. Stop by the Connelly house and I'll give you a stack. Perhaps some day when you're covered in dust bunnies evaluating your life you will smile and think of a great book that thrilled or inspired you.

Siblings

2011-08-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

Most siblings love each other and some siblings love each other a lot but I think all siblings like to torture each other just a little bit. JAC doesn't have a sibling. He has a dog but their relationship often resembles the one I have with my brother.

This week JAC and I went and received our last three vaccines. JAC was tough and there was only a limited amount of drama. He wiped away his tears and immediately asked for his candy. Thanks to potty training that kid practically lives off of candy.

Today we needed to take the dog to the vet. JAC was dawdling and I finally yelled, "Come On! We have to take the dog to the dog doctor." JAC continued to hesitate but when I said, "Roxy needs shots," JAC was practically gleeful. He chased Roxy around cornering her and shouting, "We give you shots!"

Like most dogs Roxy hates her bath. She whimpers and makes a great fuss. JAC is fascinated by the process and will pull a chair over to help. He dumps water on her head, and she looks at him with long woeful eyes.

After her bath Roxy races around the house rubbing her head in the carpet trying to dry it. Later I looked over and JAC was running around with his head on the ground and butt in the air. When I gave him a sideways look he looked straight at me and said, "I'm Roxy!"

All Good Things

2011-08-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

"All good things must come to an end." Don't you wish the saying was, "All bad things come to an end?" My family came for a visit this weekend. Now they are gone and the house is a bit more lonely. There is nothing quite like the hole in your heart after your mom steps on a plane for a very long trip.

We had a great time together. I ate too much. I'll never understand how the presence of people sharing my DNA inspires me to stuff my face. We also celebrated my sister Lady graduating from University. I am so of her. She overcame so many obstacles that would have caused a weaker person to quit.

I took my family to our favorite kayaking spot. We kayaked through the rain and watched Bald Eagles. Sadly, this will be our last kayaking adventure. We are selling the kayaks because they are too big to ship to Kathmandu. The kayaks might be my favorite worldly possession and it feels gut wrenching to let them go. I try to remind myself that it is just, "A Thing." Nevertheless, I hope someone wonderful gets to enjoy them. I hope some other little boy sits in our kayaks pointing at turtles and snakes - begging to use the paddle.

Today has been a hard day for a billion reasons but anytime you leave a place you love there are hard days. I hope your day has been great and if you're in the market for a kayak let me know.

Surprise!

2011-08-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Jess taught JAC how to tell me "Happy Birthday!" Now JAC tells me almost every day. Jess also taught JAC to say "Surprise!" Lately I've been trying to teach JAC that not all surprises are good. For instance, JAC jumping out from under a mountain of pillows and yelling, "Surprise!" is cute. This is a good surprise. Walking into JAC's room post nap and discovering the guts of his toy dog strewn all over the room is a bad surprise. It doesn't matter how enthusiastically he yells, "Surprise." Anything involving poo is also considered a bad surprise.

Today I put out a fire in my house. To understand this story you must understand I have an ancient oven. I believe it might have been crafted by slave labor during the time of Moses. This oven must be lit every use and when the gas is ignited the oven sounds a gigantic, "Whesh!"

The top of the oven bakes. The bottom of the oven broils. It has two doors and two compartments. Last night I broiled some garlic toast, started talking to my neighbor and burnt the toast to a crisp. In a hurry, I simply turned the broiler off and slammed the oven door. I forgot to take the toast out but today a few minutes after throwing in some tater tots to bake I remembered my toast. The kitchen filled with black smoke was a good hint. I opened the broiler door and the toast had flames jumping off of it. I of course put the fire out and dumped the charred toast on the back porch.

Flaming toast is a bad surprise. Now JAC has spent most of the day walking around repeating, "Mom made fire - fire bad!" There is nothing quite like a two year old reminding you of your cooking mishaps. I hope your day has been equally surprising.

Perfect Timing

2011-08-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

I just sat down with a hot bowl of soup and some warm garlic toast. I am mentally begging my son to nap. I want an hour of quiet while I try to prevent the chaos of our house from migrating to my brain. We have less than 30 days until our move and every element of our life seems to be in movement. Our "To - Do" list has 35 items left and every time I turn around a new item has been added.

The moving company came last night and conducted our pre-move survey. They estimated the total weight of our belongings and provided instructions for moving day. We are still culling down our belongings in preparation for our relocation. I am growing addicted to Craig's List and finding new things to sell every day. There is a part of me that wants to sell it all. There is something so appealing about walking away, nothing in hand and just stepping off into the unknown unhindered.

JAC and I finally had a half-good run today. All year I have been plagued by horrible fatigue. I called my dad - he's a college track coach - and discussed the problem. We both came to the same conclusion. JAC is finally getting too heavy. He weighs almost 40 pounds and pushing that much weight five miles, over rolling hills leaves me totally exhausted. We will be selling our running stroller before we leave. It is not a practical choice for Nepal and it suddenly seems like perfect timing.

Over the weekend our cable box completely quit working. I called and canceled our service yesterday. We won't have cable in our new home so it is a good time to adjust. Like so many things lately, it seems like perfect timing.

Icecream

2011-08-05T02:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the best birthday present is the one you buy yourself. I used my birthday money and purchased an ice cream maker. This is no ordinary ice cream maker. The machine requires no ice.

We knew we wanted to take an ice cream maker to Nepal but the more I thought about it the more I questioned our abilities to find large quantites of ice in Nepal. I did some research and found an machine that requires no ice at all but it does require a little extra preparation. The mixing bowl that the ice cream is churned in must first be placed in the freezer for six hours. It is also recommended that the mixture be chilled in the refrigerator.

I made our first batch of ice cream over the weekend and it was awesome! It tasted even better the next day. I love our new gadget but I think the biggest fan might be JAC. That boy loves ice cream and of course he is enthralled with all machines.

A Very Hot Ball Game

2011-08-04T02:22:00.000-07:00

Friday night we went to a very HOT baseball game. Temperatures neared 100 degrees and the air was stagnate in the concrete stadium. I just looked through the pictures and everyone seems wet with sweat. Our good friends joined us and we had a great time. I'm not sure if anyone was able to watch the game. We spent a good bit of time wrestling with our kids and made our retreat to the car at the bottom of the seventh. I know it might be easier to just stay home but that is not our style. If there is an experience to be had we're off to give it a try - even a very hot, baseball game. Let's Go Nats!

Notes on Church

2011-08-03T02:08:00.000-07:00

Church has been extra fun lately. Two of my good friends each have little girls around a year old and I have had the pleasure of their company on our pew. A few years ago I would have cringed at the idea of hanging out with babies but God has a way of changing our hearts. Both these little girls are delightful and I am glad their mothers are willing to let them spend time with me.

I'm always looking for ways to entertain the occupants of our pew. Yesterday in a pinch I dug through the baby bag and found some dental floss. The dentist gave it to me on my last visit and I snapped off two lengths of floss. I used our the Fruit Loops from our snack and created necklaces. JAC loved the project and quietly sat on the pew helping his dad string lengths of sugared cereal.

I'm sure the dentist would be chagrined to know that I use the floss to create sugar laden necklaces for small children but it worked in a pinch. We did the project today on our kitchen floor and it was a good opportunity to practice colors, patterns and fine motor skills.

Have you come up with a creative solution to a nagging problem lately? Are you an Awesome Auntie or Wonder Mom who has great secrets to quiet child entertainment?

Curiosity Killed the Mom

2011-08-02T01:31:00.000-07:00

I wanted a curious child. I enjoy spending time with curious people and consider it repugnant to spend a day with a person who lacks an inquisitive mind. To foster JAC's curiosity I have spent hours explaining things to JAC, pointing out things of interest and asking him questions. My parenting may have backfired once again. I might have reached my limits of curiosity.

JAC has started asking the same three questions dozens of times each day. While at first it was cute, now it is driving me bonkers!

JAC wants to know the origin of every sound. Any noise merits him asking, "Sound mom - what's that sound?" This is especially irritating on a hot run. While pushing a 40 pound stroller I pause mid pant to explain car sounds, truck sounds, bug sounds, and construction sounds.

JAC constantly asks, "What choo doing?" He also asks, "What's he doing" or "What dad doing." A few days ago I had to give a detailed explanation about the men cleaning out our sewer. Today he queried me about the activities of our local food truck vendors.

JAC frequently locates me and says, "Come see mom!" His request is so heartfelt and brimming with enthusiasm I can hardly resist. JAC drags me to the window to view every bird, bus or bug he sees. By mid morning I feel inclined to shout, "Please just let me drink my coffee in peace!"

Economics

2011-08-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we hit a wall in potty training. Every attempt to get JAC to sit on the potty was an instant battle. Things were going so badly that I was having nightmares about potty training. We were offering JAC lots of encouragement and Skittles as a reward. For weeks JAC received Skittles and for weeks he remained unmotivated.

Finally, one night I went to a friends house and consoled myself with a huge bag of Reece's Pieces. I talked things over with my friend and returned home with the remnants of my half eaten bag of candy. The following day JAC used his potty after a colossal protest. Exhausted and grabbed two Reece's Pieces out of the bag to reward him. JAC threw the candy in his mouth and it worked like magic. He started using his potty on command.

All I can guess is that after months of Skittles he was sick of them. I changed up our routine a tiny bit and a near miracle happened. That my friends, is a real life example of The Law of Diminishing Returns. Or possibly an example that everyone has a price.

Summer

2011-07-27T01:05:00.000-07:00

Our neighbor gave us a bag of fresh green beans from the garden and last night I cooked them. Before steaming them with butter I snapped the beans and this mundane chore instantly brought me back to my childhood. I remember hot sweaty evenings sitting on the front porch with the grown women, snapping beans from the garden. I would try to listen to the adult conversations which seemed ultimately more interesting than my child sized interests. We also spent long hours shucking corn and I remember feeling wary because the removal of each husk could mean the discovery of a embedded bug larva.

These front porch memories seem to epitomize the summers of my childhood. We enjoyed slow hot days, marveled at the creation of "sun tea," and watched my mom work long hours in the garden. Last night I taught JAC how to snap beans and I couldn't help but smile. I was handing him the heritage of summer.

These simple summer memories bring me so much pleasure. I wonder, what memories symbolize summer for you? In this heatwave filled summer, what is your summer heritage?

Unscheuled

2011-07-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

This week I completely cleared my schedule for potty training "Boot Camp." I realized I didn't want to ship 1,000 pounds of diapers to Nepal, so JAC needed to be potty trained. I'm devoting my full attention to the cause. I have been dreading this week because we get out of the house often. We have friends to see and new places to explore. I hated the idea of being housebound.

Surprisingly we have had a wonderful two days and a good bit of potty training success. Here's a list of some of our fun housebound activities.

1. Made homemade play dough and played for hours. I tried to convince JAC to eat a bite but he would not be fooled.
2. Filled every window ledge with bird food and enthusiastically watched all sorts of birds.
3. Chased bubbles in the yard and beat them with our baseball bat.
4. Hit baseballs for the dog to chase.
5. Went on short nature walks around the block collecting favorite items in a basket.
6. Raced toy trains across the hardwood floors
7. Jumped off of every piece of furniture.

I'm about to check out my toddler activity book for more ideas. Do you have any great suggestions? I think tomorrow we'll plant seeds in the flower beds. We will likely not live here when they blossom but JAC loves a good excuse to dig.

Better

2011-07-24T04:39:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our open house we spent two days cleaning. The closets are organized, the bathtub has fresh chalk, the floors are polished and the house is saturated in Pinesol. The house looks perfect and as we flopped on the couch last night, exhausted Jess and I shared the same thought. We are ready to move. It is time.

Yesterday in the middle of scrubbing I looked at the basement stairway walls and thought it need a bit of touch-up paint. I dug through old cans of paint and found the perfect matching beige color. I went to work and in a few minutes I knew I had made a terrible mistake. The paint was half a color too dark. I madly tried to paint the whole wall before Jess learned of my mistake. I wasn't fast enough and I had to hang doggedly admit my mistake. Jess was frustrated - I could tell, but he never said a negative word. He simply took over the painting and he completed the job with excellence. As I watch I marveled knowing if the shoe was on the other foot my reaction would have been much different. I spent the rest of the day trying to be nicer than Jess.

This morning I whipped up a quick breakfast while the boys slept in. I was about to throw half dirty dishes into the washer but when I opened it and changed my mind. Last night Jess had loaded the washer and each dish was perfectly rinsed, lined in even rows. I couldn't mess things up. I removed my dishes, scrubbed them twice and placed them neatly in. I couldn't help but think, "Jess really makes me a better person." It is remarkable how many simple moments we hold daily - an opportunity to inspire others to be their best version of themselves.

Dog House

2011-07-21T01:50:00.000-07:00

I am half vaccinated for typhoid and a third vaccinated for rabies. In a few weeks my vaccinations will be complete. I will be protected from tetanus and Chinese Encephalitis. As the kind nurse discussed vaccinations for JAC and myself she let me read a list of warnings of recommendations. The consistent theme was, "If you plan to spend lots of time outside in Nepal you will need this vaccine." I didn't hesitate. I knew we needed them all. We're an outdoorsy bunch.

Upon query I learned that we will need boosters of each vaccine for every new post. I find it interesting that JAC will grow up with an ordered reality. He will know that we are moving again and there will be a day the movers come. There will be a day the dog is shipped in her box and there will be a day we receive shots.

With vaccinations largely behind us, we confront our next challenge. We are trying to crate train our dog. She will spend a long three days in her crate as she travels to Kathmandu and currently she is terrified it. We have attempted to entice her with treats, bits of steak and a new toy but she remains unconvinced. Today JAC tried to help too. First he crate trained his toy dog and next he gave the crate a try himself. I'm not sure if it changed Roxy's mind. I'm pretty sure she thinks JAC will be riding to Kathmandu in the box and there's a part of me that loves this idea!

Bliss with a Bit of Nostalgia

2011-07-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Every summer Jess talks about Rita's Water Ice with great nostalgia. Rita's is a popular frozen treat stand in the Northeast. Jess grew up enjoying Rita's every summer but to our knowledge there was no Rita's in our area. Last night I received and email from a friend describing a new treat stand in her neighborhood called Rita's. I stopped everything and loaded up our gang that very moment. It was only a few minutes before dinner but it didn't matter. We drove straight to Rita's and enjoyed frozen custard and water ice and Jess was so happy!

For my Chicas - Regaining Your Pre-Pregnancy Abs

2011-07-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

Lately I have had a few friends ask my how to regain their pre-pregnancy abs. Motherhood is an honored position. It comes with the undying love of a small child but also stretch marks and paunchy ab muscles. So, give yourself a break and know you're part of the club. Instead of searching for perfect look for improvement. Here are my quick tips of gaining improved abs.

1. Order a post pregnancy belly wrap. Most women have separated ab muscles after having a baby. Using a wrap will help hold your muscles in place while you practice correct posture and strengthen these muscles.

2. Do 30-45 minutes of knee lifting cardio 4-5 times a week. The pot-belly that we hate is partially caused by weak lower ab muscles. Lifting your knees will drastically strengthen these muscles. This needs to be high intensity exercise ( you need to sweat). Good exercises include running, stair stepper, running your apartment stairs, or high intensity kick boxing.

3. Do Daily Ab Exercises: The core muscles are rare because they can be exercised every day without much rest. Buy a set of ankle weights to add resistance. Here are three quick exercises that I find helpful. I often do them while I watch my son eat breakfast.

a. Flutter kicks: lie on your back with your legs straight out. Elevate your feet 2-5 inches off of the ground and do small slow kicks. Your legs must remain straight. Try for intervals of 45 seconds kicking and 15 resting. Repeat 10 times.

b. Hello Dollies: This is the same as flutter kicks but instead of kicking when your legs are extended slowly do the splits making a "V" with your legs and then returning them to a straight position. Try 12 -15 intervals.

c. Overhead kicks. Lie on your back with your legs straight out. Try to roll up onto your shoulders and kick the sky above your head. Try 12 intervals at a time.

***This is just my take. If you have other great ideas I would love to hear them!

Consumed

2011-07-15T01:50:00.000-07:00

I'm being consumed by consumables. The wheels are slowly turning as our moving date grows closer. It seems unreal that is less than two months we'll be living in Nepal! We are so excited! Our employer is paying to ship 2,500 pounds of consumable goods to Nepal. This means that we can purchase a bunch of household goods that might be hard to find in Nepal and they will pay for the shipping. These goods typically include cleaning products, paper products and non perishable food items. I went shopping today for the first half of our list. I filled my cart with olive oil, Pinesol, Gold Fish Crackers, toilet paper and Pepto Bismol.

In other unimportant news, we had a lovely run today. The weather is perfect. I'm about to go outside to read my book in the sun. After our run we were playing near the river. The river was very high from recent rains and JAC took his shoe off and threw it down the river. I was instantly furious because we are always short a pair of shoes. Well, some local maitenance workers saved the day. They were removing debris with shovels and when they saw our distress they took mercy on us. They used a shovel to retrieve the shoe and I was very happy.

How is your weather today? What products from the U.S would your rather not live without?

Clean Up

2011-07-14T02:57:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago JAC and I had a huge show down about cleaning up a bowl of dry cereal. I insisted he pick up his mess and he simply refused. Finally I taught him how to vacuum up his mess and I felt triumphant. This was a creative solution. I was Wonder Mom!

Well, JAC has fallen in love with the vacuum. He'll now purposely dump a whole bowl of cereal on the floor and come running, begging to use the vacuum. At least those little arms can reach way under the couch to vacuum the pieces I always miss!

Cooked

2011-07-13T02:53:00.000-07:00

I had the first in a series of dental appointments today. As I looked to line up babysitters for JAC I marveled at how long the list of candidates was. I can remember points in my life when I struggled to name off a single girl friend. Here in D.C I have been surrounded by great women.

It is too hot to cook and I am making chicken salad for dinner. My husband is giving me the best gift of all. It is the gift of silence. I love that man. He is so willing to help and so easily understands my need for a quiet house. He and JAC are doing yard work. When I went to snap a quick photo JAC demanded that I go back inside. He is bonding with his dad and I am not invited. A few moments ago they burst into the kitchen and JAC was carrying a weather worn flower. Every time they do yard work they bring me a flower snipped from the yard.

Today I was rushing around like a headless chicken. I threw a load of wash in the drier and wondered what the loud thud was about. I washed a pair of JAC's shoes. They were Crocs and are now two sizes too small. I had to laugh a bit.

The mystery of the lost wallet has a new chapter. Today my license and all of my cards were returned in the mail. They arrived in an unmarked envelope without a return address. My 40$ and wallet were missing but all of the cards were returned and I'm just thankful not to have to sit at the DMV with JAC again.

Hot and Getting Hotter

2011-07-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

Today the radio announced that D.C was rated one of the hottest cities in the South sharing the title with border towns like Laredo, TX. I think this might be a bit exaggerated. After living several years in TX, DC often feels like a cool paradise. Today the city is living up to its title. It is HOT with an extra dose of swampy.

I once read a great book on contentment. While I loved 98% of the book there was a section I completely disagreed with. The book suggested not dreaming of being some place different but instead fully embracing the present reality. Personally, dreaming of a cool mountain destination has made several rough days a bit more enjoyable. I consider it a mental vacation of sorts. I've spent all week thinking about backpacking through the Rockies collecting summits, sleeping in a tent and forgoing daily showers. It sounds perfect. It also sounds perfectly quiet. I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to the chaotic din of child generated noise.

Since I won't be visiting Colorado any time soon I'll eat a cool fudge-cicle instead. They're a perfect low calorie chocolaty solution to a hot day. Or maybe I'll think about Kathmandu. It's only 80 degrees there today. Are you taking a mental vacation today? What is your destination.

Summer

2011-07-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

I love summer. I love the sweltering heat. I love long evenings playing outside in the twilight. I love the delight of a little boy enjoying the spray park and I love the drive - in movie. I love piles of library books and no appointments. Summer is about freedom and it was great to have a free weekend to ourselves. Here are some pictures from the highlight reel.

Loser

2011-07-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling like a loser. I keep losing things. I lost my camera, phone and wallet. I lost the wallet while picking blueberries. The farm was supposed to call my cell if they found it and then I promptly lost my cell. My camera was luckily found and if I have to look on the bright side - my car is really clean. JAC and I removed the debris and vacuumed the car hoping to find the phone.

I'm not typically prone to losing things and it makes this all the more irritating. Perhaps I have some level of repressed angst about moving to a far off land. I'm a big believer in repression. People talk too much. They should just shove those emotions deep down and occasionally lose a wallet while failing to sort through their cluttered mind.

Now I am off to tackle mountains of laundry. Perhaps I'll discover my cell phone in between my old jeans and some dirty socks.

Typical

2011-07-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

I am hiding from my family in our basement. I can hear my son racing around the house as my husband attempts to corner and question him about dinner. "Is he hungry? Would he like applesauce or turkey?" This is our typical post trip routine. The saturation of travel togetherness seeps in until I feel itchy - almost sick. My husband is more understanding and much more accommodating than I could ever be and I relish the solitude offered by our basement.

Today we drove six hours through wooded countryside returning from a weekend trip. As we arrived in D.C our son sleeping in the back I felt the moment almost iconic. Our capitol a combination of skyscrapers and monuments juxtaposed against the natural glory of the Potomac River seemed alive with patriotism. Red, white and blue clad citizens were gathering on grassy medians awaiting fireworks. JAC awoke moments before our block and excitedly exclaimed, "My Streeeeeet!"

We spent the weekend knee deep in a stream catching crawdads, covered in dust from a tractor pull. We fell asleep listening to backyard fireworks and the rumble of motorcycles cruising past our open windows. This was the fourth of July weekend on a small town street.

The Gettysburg Battlefield marked the mid point of our return trip. As we cruised by this hallowed ground the radio debated the growing divide in our country. Immigrant families, AARP members and angry youth all debating taxes and anxiously protesting. Commentators offered dire examples of differences too vast to be overcome and a country unwilling to compromise. I couldn't help but think that not so many years ago differences were marked in battlefield positions. The argument was more personal than taxes but instead the heartbreak of death. Our country survived this chasm of dispute seemingly impossible to forgive by making deliberate choices to build something greater than the loss.

Today is our birthday. It is shared by all Americans and is a day of unity. Whether it is marked in our capitol with fireworks, or by iconic road trips, or small town tractor pulls, we all stand on common ground today. Our differences might be huge but we have survived battlefields of disagreements with determined forgiveness. As we share in patriotic celebration, whatever street you are from, whatever your typical routine might be - today we can all embrace a history built in blood shed for a cause but also the daily decisions to forgive.

The Art of Manliness

2011-06-29T01:24:00.000-07:00

I baked chocolate chip cookies yesterday. I came home from Texas in a horrible mood and I needed to apologize to my husband for being a virtual grizzly bear. The cookies worked and I think I have been forgiven.

Every day I am so thankful that I am not a single parent. Single parent must be one of the hardest jobs on earth. Jess adds so much fun to JAC's life. I can watch from a distance as he teaches JAC the art of being a man. It is a job I could never do quite as well.

JAC has become a budding architect and wants to spend hours building with his blocks. After the completion of two rickety block structures I'm sick of the activity. Jess will spend hours building. Together he and JAC will incorporate other toys into the fun creating a landing pad for a toy helicopter or a house for the trains. Jess does it naturally without effort and JAC thrives under his dad's instruction.

I let father's day pass without posting a word about Jess. Jess is the best father I know and he completes his duties with excellence.

Basking in the Ordinary

2011-06-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

I am drinking my afternoon coffee. My hair is in hot rollers and I'm basking in the ordinary. I am savoring my normal routine in my own little house. It is excellent.

I have a standard rule. I don't buy toys. Toys are expensive, kids quickly lose interest and your home soon looks like a cluttered daycare. Instead we spend many hours outside at the park or inside refashioning my kitchen utensils. I know I sound like a big jerk and we do have a few toys that were gifts from grandparents or hand me downs.

Today JAC woke up and started a continual banter about baseball. My heart softened. I put him right in the car, drove to Target and picked out a baseball bat. I think it might have been one of the best days in JAC's short life. He was thrilled.

We took our bat and ball to the park and played for hours. We took turns running imaginary bases, pitching and hitting. Eventually when that grew old the bat was turned into a gun, used as a shovel and then ridden all the way home like a horse.

I guess some rules were made to be broken. Are you a rule breaker by nature? What rule have you broken lately?

Travel Plans

2011-06-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

I'm busy packing for an early morning flight home. I can't wait to be back in my own territory. I have packed our suitcase. It is bulging from shopping trips and new hand-me-downs from my mom. As much time and effort as I put into packing our suitcase, I find packing the baby bag is the most important part of the trip. Here is my no-fail flying with a toddler plan.

The baby bag can be broken down into six categories, snacks, incentives, entertainment, clothes, diapering and misc. Here is a little bit more about each category.

Snacks: Packing for a flight is about packing for a contingency. You never know when you might be stuck on the tarmac or in the terminal. I bring enough snacks to make it through most of a day. I skip the sugary snacks because they make JAC hyper and render my incentives useless. I stick to gold fish crackers or sugar-free fruit snacks.

Incentives: I always carry some motivation for when things are spirally out of control. It is usually Tic-tacs and a small bag of Skittles. If JAC becomes very upset often I can bend down, look him in the eye, reassure him and offer two Skittles. This incentive will brighten his mood and help us move forward.

Entertainment: I have tried many combinations but finally I have decided less is more. I bring two toys, two books, a package of cool stickers and some colors. I always travel with a notebook and pack a surprise. This trip the surprise was a Slinky from the dollar store. If I pack more toys they seem to lose their value and end up rocketed over the seat. Instead I try to invent funny games. We look for pictures of dogs in the Skymall catalog. We turn the vomit bag into a puppet. We pretend to fish with the loose end of the seat belt.

Clothes: I always bring JAC a change of clothes and a light jacket. I also bring a fresh shirt for myself. I don't know why but every time we fly I manage to get disgusting.Compose

Diapering: I bring enough diapers and wipes for two days. I pack most of them at the bottom of the bag and place two at the top of the bag. I want to reach them in a hurry. In the front pocket I pack four zip-lock bags for dirty diapers before placing them in the trash.

Misc.: I always carry a few random items that are not kid-specific but come in handy. I always have my phone charger. I also carry chap-stick and hand sanitizer because JAC thinks both of these items are fun in a pinch. I also always pack his favorite blanket just in case we need to spend the night in an airport.

What are your great travel tips? Do you have any favorite in-flight games? We like to write thank you notes to our flight attendants and cover them with tractor stickers.

Learned or Taught

2011-06-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I have just a few remaining days here in Texas. Today I purchased a few things for our flight home. I perfected a system for flying with a toddler. It's involved but it works. I have been reading a collection of travel writing in my free time. Travel writing might be my favorite genre of writing and I believe when you travel no matter how germane the destination you will always create a story.

I always feel like living with a toddler is a akin to a science project but lately this has seemed much more pronounced. He is learning so much. This week week JAC desperately wanted to run with me instead or riding in his stroller. I let him out and he joyfully sprinted over half of a mile. Mid-sprint he took a hard fall on the cement blooding his knees. He was stunned and whimpered. I bent down and told him, "We're almost there. We can do this because we're Team Connelly." He shouted, "Team Connelly!" He ran the rest of the way holding my hand and using the other hand to hike up his shorts because they were bloody. I was so proud. It made me think, JAC loves to run because I love to run. Sometimes the best taught lesson is just a little enthusiasm.

Later we went to the park. I told JAC to put on his shoes and he put them on the wrong feet. I didn't change them because I didn't want JAC to doubt his own independence. After a few minutes of playing at the hot park he showed me his feet. They were covered in horrible blisters. I learned shoes must go on the right feet.

His feet hurt and he wanted to go home but when he saw the ducks at the pond he found a second wind. He ran towards them trying to pet them. As he ran he shouted, "Feet hurt, ouch, duck, quack, quack." We never were close enough to touch a duck. They headed for the deep water. JAC was horribly disappointed but recovered when he saw a huge mound of dirt. He energetically grabbed huge handfuls of the dirt before I could stop him. The dirt was a giant ant mound and JAC cried and cried as I furiously tried to dust the ants off of him. JAC learned that ducks do not like to be chased and some dirt is not for digging. I learned to expect the unexpected.

It was a rough day but we rallied and the following day went to the zoo with my sister. We fed crackers to the giraffes. The have dark, tongues almost a foot long. It was a blast to feed them and fun to learn how slimy a wet giraffe tongue could feel.

Today JAC was hanging out in the back yard with the cat. The cat was dosing and he gently pet her. Soon he covered her up in his blankets. Little boys who nap like to have blankets and he thought a napping cat would too.

Boom

2011-06-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite like a West Texas thunderstorm. I have seen thunderstorms in many locations but in West Texas they are bigger, louder and wilder. JAC experienced his first Texas thunderstorm last night. All day the air had seemed heavy and I knew a big storm was brewing. Around midnight a loud crack of thunder shook the whole house and my little boy sat straight up in bed. "Mommy!" he petitioned. Terrified he jumped into my bed wrapping his arms around my waist and twisting his legs between my legs. I hugged him tightly and we watched the terrific spectacle together.

Lightning flashed every few seconds, hail fell and torrents of rain flooded the yard. In our upstairs room surrounded by windows we felt like we were part of the great electrical show. I held JAC and explained that the loud "Boom" was thunder and it was the work of our Almighty God. After every flash of light we would wait for the next BOOM.

Eventually the storm moved on and the thunder seemed less loud. JAC looked up at me and did his baby sign language for "More." I asked him, "More what, honey?" He replied, "More BOOMS, mom." This is one of my favorite things about JAC. While he might be initially fearful his courage grows quickly and he is ready to embrace the unknown. I love the Wild West Texas Storms and I'm glad JAC witnessed their power.

JAC wanted to watch the storms and we stood by the window together in the pitch black. A few minutes later JAC asked to check on his Aunt La. JAC loves La - my sister Laura - with all of his heart and wanted to ensure her safety. We sneaked downstairs and he was delighted to find La still awake enjoying the storm too. JAC is such thoughtful, brave thunder loving kid.

Shopping

2011-06-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when you're shopping for funeral attire and feeling a bit glum its nice to have an exuberant two year old to cheer you up. Its especially entertaining to watch the dress shirt bin become a child's playground and by the end of the trip you're not really feeling sad at all.

When In Texas

2011-06-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

We are in Texas for the next two weeks and I miss my husband. We took the scenic route to Texas, first stopping in beautiful New Mexico for a family funeral. New Mexico was cool and dry. Texas is sweltering but I like it. It feels uncomplicated. It is just plain hot - nothing more and nothing less.

JAC is loving Texas, rejecting all naps and instead dragging my mom's cat around by its back legs while it hangs limply in his arms. About twelve times a day he stops and says, "Mom the air is hot!" I just smile and reply, "Welcome to Texas."

Helping Noni Water Plants

Dragging the Cat Around while the Dog Chews its Ear

Noni's Readily Provide Cake and Whipped Cream

We have been swimming, running and closely watching Prairie Dogs. This is a bittersweet trip because we stand on the threshold of a entirely new life. We will be an odd form of nomad moving every two years. It is hard to know what this really means so today I will enjoy the simplicity of the Texas heat.

The Coolest

2011-06-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

Just in case you ever wonder - The Connelly's are the coolest family ever! We had a very cool Saturday. It started with homemade blueberry pancakes. Next we loaded up the truck and drove to the Potomac for an early morning kayak adventure. Last year JAC always rode in my kayak but this year he prefers Jess' company and I understand why. It is a pleasure to watch them together as they take little side trips to explore turtles or view large birds. We also saw two bald eagles. They are massive and majestic.

After kayaking we ate granola bars for lunch and played at the park. Finally, we drove home to put JAC down for his nap. While JAC napped we took turns going for a run and prepared a homemade rhubarb pie together. Later in the evening we met new friends at a local park for live music and a picnic. JAC ran wildly about and danced up front. He was rocking out. We let him stay out extra late and he made the most of it. We even played a ruckus game of tackle football. This is why we're the coolest. Our family never lets a weekend pass without a cool adventure.

Chasing Tail

2011-06-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

In the next room is a very loud rowdy boy refusing to take his nap. We have had a very eventful morning and the excitement hasn't quite worn off. We have early evening plans and a boy without a nap does not make a good dinner date. So, today JAC is re-learning the lesson that we all know so well. Many times in life you just have to do things you don't want to do. It is inevitable.

Yesterday the weather was perfect. The temperatures peaked in the mid-seventies and a breeze blew gently through the neighborhood. Something about the weather seemed so free that it reminded me of the mountains and we stayed outside all day. We went to two different parks and we stopped along to way to investigate anthills and pick flowers.

In a few years JAC will be going to school and I hate the idea of such a free creature being trapped behind a desk. I suspect the teachers will say he is too lively, too loud, too active but I know he is just right. He is filled with wonder and excitement. He is a keen observer of the world with a soft heart and abundance of spirit.

JAC is suffering from allergies and is a snotty mess. Yesterday as we walked to the park he tightly grabbed my legs and rubbed his face into my rear end. For a moment I was thrilled to be on the receiving end of a rare hug but I quickly realized it wasn't a hug. JAC was wiping his nose on my back side rubbing snot all over my pants. Apparently my butt was a prime Kleenex opportunity!

We took Roxy to the park. The park was empty and I let her off the leash to run. When she wandered too far I called her back. She came racing up and JAC was thrilled by her return. He pet her softly and then grabbed her nub of a tail. He said, "Roxy tail?" I replied, "Yes Roxy has a small tail." I could tell he was thinking this over and in a moment he charged my back side and start pawing around looking for something. He looked up curiously and asked, "Mom's tail?" I explained that we were not dogs and didn't have tails but this did not seem adequate. A few moments later he was spinning in circles in the sandbox try to clutch his own rear end. When I asked him what he was doing he paused and said, "Find JAC tail." I couldn't help but laugh. It was a perfect lazy Friday with my funny little boy.

Summer Blast Off!

2011-06-03T02:58:00.000-07:00

For the third year in a row we attended the Summer Blast Off at Wolftrap Park. This is one of our favorite D.C events. It features a concert by the Marine Corps Band followed by the most impressive fireworks display I have ever seen.

We arrived extra early and joined the masses and raced to claim our perfect lawn seats by staking down our blanket. I brought homemade popcorn and fresh cookies. We purchased two frozen Mojitos and while we listened to music JAC flirted with the high school girls sitting in front of us. He eventually conned them out of some Twizzlers. A few minutes later we looked over and he was sitting in their laps.

After the concert we watched the fireworks. They fire them off so close that the ground shakes and the air fills with the smell of gun powder. It is a fantastic display. We returned home near mid-night. We were all very exhausted but also very happy.

The View From Here: A Story Told in Pictures

2011-06-02T02:29:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day we went running at one of our favorite spots. It is a four mile loop around a lake.

It was a really hot and sweaty run, but a lot of fun. Here we are post-run extra gross and sweaty.

JAC played at the park after the run. It was so hot that it he really didn't want to play long.

This is my nasty sprained ankle. I sprained it on the aforementioned run. After cursing a bit I laced up my shoes tighter and kept running. The next day my ankle looked like this and Jess demanded we go to the hospital for x-rays.

I refused to go because hospitals are for sissies. We compromised and I promised to spend the day with my ankle elevated on ice. This is a picture of Roxy flopped on my lap while I ice my ankle and read Backpacker Magazine.

The moral of the story is that it is nice to have a cute husband to run with. Marriage is a series of weird compromises and weirder conversations. (For instance, yesterday Jess and I discussed how many times I have likely broken my ankle in our marriage. Jess said four, and I insisted no, they were all bad sprains.) Nevertheless its nice to have someone around who insists you put your feet up and chill out every once in a while.

Also, reading Backpacker Magazine makes you feel cooler than you really are. You should try it sometime.

Let's Go Nats!

2011-06-01T02:40:00.000-07:00

We have friends who have season tickets to the Washington Nationals. When they don't use their tickets they give them to us and through their generosity over the years they have officially turned us into baseball fans. We were thrilled when they called on Friday to offer us tickets to the a Saturday afternoon game. I can think of few more patriotic things to do on a Memorial Day weekend than take in a baseball game.

The whole family dressed in red to show our support for the home team. The tickets are in the suites and when an afternoon shower sent many fans running for cover we continued watching in comfort. We ate our fill of game day junk food, cheered loudly, and I kept stats. Despite our most enthusiastic efforts the Nationals lost to the Padres. We were a bit disappointed but we had so much fun that we hardly noticed the loss.

After the game we took a detour as we walked back to our car to see the boats on the river. To our surprise the city just completed construction of a beautiful river-side park. The park had a fountain and a bunch of little kids were stripped down to their underwear running through the water. We took off JAC's clothes and let him join in the fun. He raced through the fountain for over an hour. It was a blast to watch his enthusiasm. The fountain emptied into a waterfall filling a pool below. JAC did some swimming in the pool too. Eventually we had to pluck out our wet seal child kicking and screaming. It was a wonderful afternoon - absolutely memorable and I can't wait until we can go again.

First Kayaking Trip of the Season!

2011-05-31T02:59:00.000-07:00

It's kayaking season! I feel like this statement should be followed by a dance. I've been waiting all winter and on Saturday we loaded up the truck and headed for the river. The whole family was excited.


JAC ready to head for the Potomac River

Usually we kayak in the late evening after work but morning kayaking offered many great wild life viewing opportunities. We saw three river snakes, fish, Blue Herons, ducks and a pair of nesting Bald Eagles. JAC sat happily in the bottom of Jess' kayak eating handfuls of goldfish crackers and helping paddle. He also left a trail of crackers in the water for the fish to eat.

An Intrepid Paddler - Life Vest on, Ready to Row

Loving the Water on a Perfect Paddling Morning

JAC Gobbled Down Handfuls of Fish Crackers

The View from My Kayak


The Perfect Paddling Pair

We enjoyed a lovely morning out on the water. When we returned to shore we at a quick picnic lunch and loaded up. We were in a hurry because we had great tickets to an afternoon Nationals Baseball Game and didn't want to miss a minute of it. We were taking Memorial Day Weekend by storm.

Friday Adventure

2011-05-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the Friday Adventure is about helping JAC grow more cultured and we visit museums or live concerts. This Friday the Adventure was about JAC experiencing a piece of real Americana culture. I took JAC took the Rolling Thunder Bike Rally and Opening Parade.

JAC loves motorcycles and I think motorcycles hold a special place in the hearts of most Americans. While I doubt I'll ever own a motorcycle (I want a scooter) I like the fact that they stand for freedom. The motorcycle is the modern day horse and offers quick mobility on the open road and a bit of exhilleratining adventure.

Each Memorial Day thousands of motorcycles converge on D.C. in a spectacle known as the Rolling Thunder. While we sit in church on Sunday morning we can hear them rumble by in route to the motorcycle parade on the National Mall. Many bikers come to town early and the weekend has many motorcycle events. Friday is the first day and JAC loved the motorcycle rally. He raced from place to place checking out the bikes and convincing leather clad, burly men to let him sit on their bikes. It was great fun and a perfect start to our weekend.

My Latest Creation

2011-05-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

I'm just about to finish sewing my latest apron. This apron is a gift for the older lady who leads my Mom's Bible Study group. She is the grandmother of five and very feminine yet strong. It took me a long time to pick this fabric. I wanted something in the vibrant colors she often wears but I also didn't want it to seem garish.

Today as I sewed down ruffles I couldn't help but think about my Tutu. Tutu of course, was my great-grandmother. She too was very feminine yet full of strong opinions. Last week when we were cleaning out our junk room I happened across a small jewelry box where I had saved a few pieces of Tutu's jewelry. Today I wore a slender gold Tutu bracelet and it caught bits of light reflecting them as I sewed.

I am enjoying creating new aprons. I love pairing fabric combinations and planning a fitting gift for a friend. I also love that none of these projects require patterns. The more I sew the more I despise patterns. I hate the rules and the precision. I love the challenge of mentally deconstructing garments and attempting to re-construct them from my imagination. I think this could speak to a major theme of my life. I hate directions but would rather dig in and figure my way out.

I hope everyone is having a calm Tuesday evening. I have had a wonderfully quiet day. How was your day?

Saturday Adventure

2011-05-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'm busy with a new sewing project and I'm on a deadline. I plan on neglecting the blog for the week but I wanted to share some cool pictures from our Saturday Adventure. If you look closely JAC is sporting a sharp new haircut. The haircut was our Friday Adventure because JAC is always unpredictable in the barber's chair.

On Saturday our good friends joined us for the Joint Services Open House and Airshow. JAC and I went last year but I think this year was twice as good. Jess and our friend Kevin were so enthusiastic that it was a bit contagious. We saw all sorts of aircraft, stunt pilots, and paratroopers. Here are some pics to document or trip.

Thoughts on a Thursday

2011-05-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I plan a blog post for weeks. I think about while I run and mentally compose every word. Sometimes I just start writing and see what ideas shake out. Tonight I am listening to my husband read Bible stories to my son and just letting the ideas shake out.

Jess came home exhausted today and crashed into a long nap. While he slept JAC and I surprised him by mowing the lawn. The grass was very long, wet and heavy. The Spring on the east coast produces an irritating lawn mowing cycle. The excessive rain causes the grass to grow rapidly. You can't mow the grass in the rain but the one sunny day of the week always happens to be the day you have booked every hour with pre-scheduled events. It is a no win situation.

I have a small blister on my hand below my wedding wring. Jess and I compared hands last night and both had an identical callus in the same spot. I really like it. I like the idea the every day as we work with our hands our rings rub against our flesh created the same lingering mark.

I meant to tell you more about JAC feeding our dog Roxy. He started the chore on his own and does it dutifully. Roxy is warming up to the idea but JAC is so proud of himself. Strangely the task has also inspired him to be nicer to the dog.

I heard some women argue that children are just small adults with the same set of needs but the inability to express them. I have often thought that all humans long for meaningful work. Perhaps JAC feeds the dog because it is novel or perhaps he has some intrinsic desire to be useful.

If we all have an identical set of needs in ideal world we would work to fulfill our friends and family and no one would be left feeling empty. This is not a Utopian world but every day someone makes my life a little better. Today someone complemented my parenting and that is just what I needed to hear. Have you made someone happier today? Has someone made your bucket of need feel a little less empty today?

Time, Food and Coffee

2011-05-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

We have been going non stop today and it is so nice to sit down with an afternoon cup of coffee and write while JAC watches Curious George. JAC has been a real trooper today as we dashed from one errand to the next. I'm rewarding him by letting him watch movies instead of taking a nap. I felt bad for him. I ran in and dropped our perishable groceries in the fridge before heading to our lunch date and JAC begged, "Inside Please." Later I forgot my umbrella and we both trekked through the rain towards our lunch location. He didn't complain and there are few things cuter than a small boy in a green frog rain coat.

My friend sent me thisStrawberry Rhubarb Cake recipe and it reminded me that it is rhubarb season! I have to make a pie. I love pie and I think the seasons could be renamed for pie. The spring could be Rhubarb pie, the summer blueberry or lemon, the fall pumpkin or apple and the winter could be named Frito pie of course.

While we're talking about food I thought I would share this recipe for Navajo Fried Bread I found. Indian tacos are popular in New Mexico and occasionally I miss them. They are made with fried bread and are absolutely delicious. Here in D.C the only place to get them is at the cafeteria in the National Museum of the American Indian. I think the museum is BORING but the cafeteria is worth the stop.

Time seems to pass both quickly and slowly when in the company of a two year old. It weighs more heavily on my mind today because we recently started timing most things with a kitchen timer. It is a trick that saves my sanity. For instance, we used to fight JAC during dinner and attempt to coax him to eat. Now we put food on his plate, set the timer for 15 minutes and eat dinner. JAC doesn't have to eat but he does have to sit for all of "family time." When the timer goes off he is free to be excused. Today I was so busy that I took a two minute shower. That was all of the time I had. The timer apparently works great for moms too.

Do you have any tricks that are saving your sanity? Are you a "pie person?" I'm not sure we can still be friends if you aren't. Do you have a great recipe that I need to try? I would love to hear how your hump day is going.

Stuff

2011-05-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I felt really sleepy. As I lay down for a nap, closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep I was haunted. I had this horrible nagging feeling like my skin was itching. I knew that itch. It was a familiar itch. It was the anxiety caused by clutter and I just couldn't stand it.

Ever since I learned we were moving I can't help but feel like we have too much stuff. The fact that the cost of the move is calculated by weight only further motivates me to purge every non essential item in our house. Most of those items exist in our junk room. Some people have junk drawers. We had a junk room and actually a junk drawer too. Most days I just shut the door to our junk room and forget it but I couldn't stand it one moment longer.

I started tossing stuff out with reckless abandon. When Jess came home I enlisted his help too. It was an all out family cleaning fest and I think JAC realized his role in the process. When I forgot dinner time JAC didn't hesitate. He opened the fridge picked out his favorite foods, put them on his tray and climbed into his high chair. I found him feeding himself dinner when I ran past looking for more packing tape.

When we finished tonight we gave over 18 large trash bags full of stuff to charity. I felt so motivated that I even took pictures of our furniture and advertised it on Craig's List. I already have a buyer and I am feeling lighter. The raw itch of clutter feels less desperate. Later this week I'll conquer our book cases. Does anyone want to take over 200 titles on "nerdology" off my hands?

Oh - and JAC found Jess' old hockey gear amidst the chaos. It was pretty cute!

The Pocket Walk

2011-05-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

JAC grows more interesting and full of personality every day. He is a person of action. This week he has become very interested in cooking. If he sees me cooking he doesn't wait to be invited. He drags his chair over to the counter and begs to help. Today JAC intently stirred the pancake batter and dumped in measured ingredients. I find it remarkable how much he loves to help. I am always at my happiest when I am useful or needed and every day I find a new reason to believe JAC is a small version of me. I've never been one to fight a fight upfront but instead prefer secret subversion. JAC shares my passive aggressive leanings.

Dawdling toddlers drive me crazy and I find myself frequently shouting, "Move with a purpose!" My patience wears thin quickly. To speed things up I have JAC hold my hand while we walk. Lately he has been less enthusiast hand holding. I try to force the subject and he looks at me and says, "Pocket Walk!" He shoves both hand deep into his pockets and hangs his head staring at the dirt. He moves at a snail's pace and his pants sag a bit. He reminds me of a sullen teenager and the dawdling soon transitions to a near crawl. This inefficient walk is cute to onlookers but infuriating to me. Most importantly, it effectively ends all hand holding in a completely passive aggressive way. I have been beaten at my own game! Is anyone else feeling a bit passive aggressive today? I think I might go work on my plans to start a coup in a small country.

Friday Adventure

2011-05-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

I just flipped through pictures from this week and I couldn't help but smile because I have had an unusually great week. Winter seems to have finally ended and JAC and I have experienced a week full of adventure.

Today, after a three week hiatus Becca and I resumed our Friday Adventure! I was so happy to see her! She feels like my better half and three weeks apart was just too long. Becca just found out that she's moving to Portland and while I know that it is a great move for her family my heart can hardly stand the thought of missing her.

Usually JAC and I visit the Maryland side of Great Falls. As we stand on the overlook we wave at the people admiring the water from across the river in Virginia. I didn't want to leave the D.C area without trying out both sides and today Becca joined us to check it out.

I love the Maryland side of the falls but I think the Virginia side might be my new favorite. It felt tranquil and peaceful like a nice park but also featured amazing views of the rushing water. We did a little hiking, lots of laughing and finished off with a lovely picnic.

JAC seemed to have a great time too. He looked for bugs, climbed on rocks, enjoyed the visitor center and made fun of us a lot. I am beginning to realize JAC has a very goofy sense of humor - often mimicking our laughs and movements. If you catch him in the act he'll look at you, grin, raise his eyebrows and giggle. It cracks me up. He is a cool little guy and we have had a great week.

Staycation

2011-05-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

Gas prices are high and only expected to rise. Today I saw a gas station advertising unleaded for five dollars a gallon. I let out a groan and for a quick minute wondered if I was living in Europe.

As Memorial Day approaches the word "staycation" is being muttered once again. I like to think of my life as a daily staycation and consider myself a staycation expert. This morning I woke up and knew one thing. Today was a zoo day. The weather could not be more perfect and I was in the mood for some impromptu wild animal viewing. (Outside of my daily interactions with a small wild animal of my own.)

D.C has one of the prettiest zoos I have ever visited. It feels a bit like a park and early in the morning joggers will run through the zoo walkways. JAC loved the zoo but I knew he would. He loves all animals from squirrels to tigers.

Are you a staycation expert? If I took a giant road trip and came to your town what staycation attractions would be a must see?

The Perks

2011-05-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

I do a lot of whining and complaining on this blog. I hope the candor and sarcasm brings a little humor to your day. Despite all my bemoaning about this job it has some major perks.

For instance, I spent the afternoon creating sidewalk chalk art while my son slept. It was too pretty to be indoors and my chores were finished for the day.

Another perk has to be spending hours at the park with a goofy little boy who buries himself in sand while I work on my ankle tan.

Of course one of my favorite perks is my personal cooking assistant. Tonight JAC watched as I assembled our meatloaf. Intrigued, he dragged a chair over to the counter and begged to help stir. It was a little gross but still lots of fun.

But, one of the best perks of all must be listening to my husband read Bible stories to JAC and say bedtime prayers together. I hope your day was filled with equally great perks.