Happy Valentine's Day

I am surrounded by so much love.  And I am grateful beyond measure.  My parents - who's limitless and unconditional love is my most wonderful example.  Through their love, I have always known that I am enough - maybe there is no greater gift than that.  My siblings who support me always, who lead the way.  Who teach me about ethics, responsibility, generosity, and achievement.    My friends - my wonderful friends that are close by and far away but who love me just the way I am.  Who can make me laugh like no other or feel understood when I don't even understand it myself.  

And my guys - R&J.  "You are the sky.  Everything else is just weather." - Pema Chodron.   Forever and ever.  I love you. 

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Pool Season

As we get hit with yet another winter snow storm, I'll let my mind drift to our new swimming pool.  I never pictured myself to have a house with a pool but our new pad had one and since it's there --- let's see how it goes.   Summer is not my favorite season so maybe having a place to actually cool off will make it more enjoyable.   ...and if Joseph's love for swimming lessons is any indication, I think he will be a happy little fish!  

That said, how about some inspiration from remarkable pools I've visited.

The coolest pool I've been to - Austin's Saint Cecilia.   What a treasure!

All white at Miami's Delano - tres chic! 

ME Cancun wins for best infinity pool!  

National Geographics

My husband insists on keeping every issue of National Geographic.  "It's my collection" he argues when I unsuccessfully try to convince him to toss them.   Admittedly, he doesn't horde much else so if he wants to keep these stacks, so be it.   Fight the fights worth fighting, right.  

And then something wonderful happened.   Joslyn at Simple Lovely posted this image.   National Geographics almost posing as an art installation.   What a lovely compromise.   Image saved!

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Bossypants Review

I started reading Tina Fey's Bossypants when I was home on maternity leave.  I wanted something light and easy to pick up while nursing.   I liked it.  I think she had a lot of insightful things to say interwoven with some real laugh-out-loud lines.   ....but I also felt it was too long and sometimes the jokes seemed a bit forced.   Coincidently, I feel the same about SNL.   They do produce some funny sketches but they always seem to go too long and leave me wanting it to end instead of wanting more...
That said, I would give Bossypants a B+.  Especially good if you're kind of a distracted reader, like me.  I started it in November 2012 and finished it in January 2014.   Not because it was epic but because I would get tired of it, leave it alone for awhile, and then pick it up again.  While it was written like a novel, there was no need to read it at once.   To me, it read more like a series of short stories...  David Sedaris-esque.   (for the record, I find Sedaris much more witty).    Unlike Sedaris, however, I appreciated Tina Fey's words regarding women in the workplace and motherhood.   She had a few really worthwhile things to say.

All in all, I'd say it was good and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.  I liked the second half of the book more than the first half.   And finishing a book these days gives me a legitimate sense of accomplishment!

A few good ones:
 “Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles.” 

"....That must be what I look like to anyone with a real problem - active duty soldier, homeless person, Chilean Miner etc. A little tiny person with nothing to worry about running in circles, worried out of her mind." 

“In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way.”

“I only hope that one day I can frighten my daughter this much. Right now, she's not scared of my husband or me at all. I think it's a problem. I was a freshman home from college the first time my dad said, "You're going out at ten p.m.? I don't think so," and I just laughed and said, "It's fine." I feel like my daughter will be doing that to me by age six.

How can I give her what Don Fey gave me? The gift of anxiety. The fear of getting in trouble. The knowledge that while you are loved, you are not above the law. The Worldwide Parental Anxiety System is failing if this many of us have made sex tapes.” 

“Don’t waste your energy trying to educate or change opinions; go over, under, through, and opinions will change organically when you’re the boss. Or they won’t. Who cares? Do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.” 

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Design

With the purchase of the new house, I've got interiors on my mind.   Here are a few pics that convey what I will try to achieve in our space ---- a relaxed feeling that mixes traditional/timeless with some fun and interesting elements.   I am consistently drawn to natural materials - wood, stone, leather.  I prefer a look that's a little "undone" vs. something that looks too calculated.  

Stay tuned.  My amazingly talented childhood friend and interior designer (Hi, Mel!) is going to help me with some e-design.   In the meantime, here are a few images that make me happy.

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Baby Steps

My little boy --- last night you started to walk!!   You've taken steps before but last night you did it entirely on your own, nobody to catch you on the other side.  Just walking ---- from one toy to the next. Wow.  My baby is transitioning to toddler right before our very eyes.   You have so much to say too.  You're constantly exploring your voice and making different pitches, noises, trying to sound out different things.  I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

Perhaps walking on your own is the first major step in the direction of independence.  You won't need to rely quite so heavily on mama anymore.   My boy, may we both remember the true essence of parenting --- to leave unto this world a human being who will leave things better than the way he found them.  I will help you in the very best way I know how to become a fully functioning, self-assured adult. So, today it's baby steps and tomorrow will be something more grand.  I wish you nothing but confidence and safety on your journey.

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What I learned II

Wow.  Andrew Solomon's, "Depression. The Secret we Share" is a TED Talk not to be missed.  It has haunted me since I listened to it weeks ago.  Chances are, if you don't struggle yourself someone very close to you does and for that, I recommend that everyone takes a listen to his genius lecture.

One particular line of his that I have not been able to let go of is: "The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality."  

On this Monday morning as we mourn the loss of yet another great artist, Phillip Seymor Hoffman, I ask you to take 20 minutes and listen to this one.  

(Picasso's The Blue Room (1901) was one of his first paintings in his well known Blue Period.  Most scholars agree this period marked the beginning of a severe depression for him and much of the work done in this time portrayed images of poverty, isolation and despair)