The End of The Week of One AM Text Messages

Mug O Crayons - sure sign of a good breakfast

So, there's a whole post about last night, but I'm not ready for that yet. 8:45 PM is pretty late to be up on New Year's Day, so I'm thinking we'll just give you the shorter story. The day-after story.

I was sort-of, um, joy-filled today. I didn't really expect that. I didn't think it would be a bad day, but I've been a little ... difficult lately. Crabby. Reclusive. Mopey. Probably some other things too, definitely some other things, but we won't dwell on all that.

Because today was just fun. Have you ever been to the Original Pancake House in Ballard? Yeah, it's that place that sort-of looks like it's in a strip mall, up the street from Showgirls. Bobby wanted to have breakfast at Showgirls, but I told him "Noooo!" He was skeptical about the OP House, until I told him that the nice food critic lady on NPR said it was good. He's easy that way.

I felt a lot better than Bobby did this morning

Now, it is true that "Cops" was on the TV for a good portion of the time we were there, even though there were a lot of perfectly good football games on, and it didn't have the unadultered 70s flair of Cindy's, it was kind-of more Kountry Kitchenish, all laminated looking wood, but this morning, that place was a well-oiled machine. Mmmm... thin, lovely Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, scrambled eggs with ham and cheddar cheese, eggs not overcooked, as they so often are in these situations. Sourdough toast, good jam, fresh squeezed grapefruit juice... I was happy.

First latte of the New Year

But you didn't think I drank the coffee there, did you? Fiore was closed, none of those kids would agree to open the day after the big night, but Bobby always has an idea for where to go for coffee, so we visited the cute girls at Fremont Coffee Company. Quite tasty.

Then we took off. Hit the road. It was such a beautiful day in Seattle. Mountains everywhere, all snow-capped. And maybe this is just the thing about being bummed lately, but it seemed sort-of funny and miraculous that they strike us all as something beautiful, that we all get pleasure from looking at them somehow.

So, we drove out to West Seattle, tooled around the neighborhoods there, drove along Alki, and then zipped out 90 towards Snoqualmie Falls.

Where we just about froze to death. It was so windy there today! But driving out there was a nice adventure and it made me really want a piece of cherry pie. New Year's resolution numero uno - lots of field trips, even if they have to be a little more local this year.

Final stop of the day on this field trip? Back to the hood for late lunch. I've always had this theory about the Dick's Deluxe. I thought that in order to truly appreciate this fine $2.20 burger, you had to grow up on them, hang out at whichever drive-in was affiliated with your high school, all that good stuff. Eh, I was wrong. Even Bobby likes em.

After burgers with Bobby, I went to see my girl Susan. There was knitting, and googling and girl talk and a little Tivo. Sometimes it just doesn't take a lot to be happy. Today felt like one of those days.

You Used To Be A Girl Scout

With a library card. And a stamp collection. Who had a problem remembering her address.

My Weekend

We close on the apartment this Friday, so we are in full on apartment moving/prepping mode. We've spent a lot of time shuttling junk to the Salvation Army and down to the garbage room... and I am sure that we have many more trips to make.

14 Years of junk is no joke!

In between junk runs we've also found time to go back to the Tasting Room - twice. And I have sat in the same seat both time! It's my spot, yo! I'm going to go every weekend 'til these babies are born, I think!

We've also done some furniture shopping and chosen a new sofa... It was very challenging, since Eugene wanted a sofa that feels like a marshmallow and I wanted one with a bit more style... Here's the scene:

Our new living room, bright, airy, picture moldings and solid oak parquet floors...

Here's Eugene's favorite:

From Mitchell Gold, down-filled and cushy as all get out. I couldn't haul my considerable self out of it... the cushions fit snugly enough so that at least it wasn't a future baby death trap. but I am not really a rolled-arm couch kind of person... and white linen slipcovers - though washable - seem like a very dangerous idea...

I will give Williams & gold credit for having the cutest mascot EVER though:


My favorite, while stylish (IMHO) and a gorgeous color and yummy fabric, was not comfortable enough for Eugene... i.e. he did not fall asleep immediately upon making butt contact with the cushions:

It's from Room and Board, and - while I love it - I could imagine how a house guest would not necessarily find it the most comfortable place to sleep. And we do try to keep future house guests in mind when we are making these choices!

The winner? A compromise:
It's like the love child of our individual favorites! I am sad to say that it is from Crate and Barrel, which sounds like we were super-lazy about looking for furniture... but we really looked at like ten places before going there.

Now we just have to furnish the rest of the place... and don't even get me started about painting the place.

In other news... you will be glad to know that Jason Dohring, AKA Logan from Veronica Mars is back on TV!

You remember Logan right? Yum!

He's on a kind of crappy new show called Moonlight. It's a show about vampires... which I am sure is not of particular interest to you, and I haven't seen him take his shirt off... yet... but he's still sarcastic and boyish and gives that sexy look from under his eyelashes, so it's better than nothing.

Just thought you should know, I am always looking out for you!

What Happened This Saturday

What I sent back in answer to the question "What are you doing now?"

Fleece-lined riding pants and new winter riding gloves, a Christmas present to myself. A latte for the drive to the barn, of course, along with mix CD's other people made. Then the barn, in brightness, not rain. A few moments of floating trot, and then that tired that starts in your spine. A long bath with a new book, Charles Baxter, The Art of Subtext.

That was the day. There was a Maldives show that night at the Sunset. I went, and kicked back on a stool at the bar, thinking about how very much they please me every time I see them. There were a gajillion of them on stage, all rocking out in their own little postage stamp of a spot. Still, it was Christmas at Dad's the next day, so I went home directly after the last song and tucked myself into bed without even reading a chapter.

Until 1:30. I thought it was the alarm at first. But it wasn't, it was my phone. Today's confession - I love text messages after midnight. There are many caveats to this, it's true, but let's just assume that we all understand that I mean the "We are all together and wish you were here with us and know you'll forgive us if we wake you up to tell you so!" variety. Love sometimes requires outrageous acts, and frequently rewards them.

Happy New Year Regan! XOXO

What Happened Last Saturday

Coffee from much-missed Josey

Harvesting sweet compliments and big hugs from Evan

Catching up with brilliant Jenn and clever Freddy

Bloody Mary's at King's with lovely Jessica

Clearing Up For Christmas

This was actually taken a few days ago, but it illustrates how things felt here on Christmas Eve. You probably know already that it's been all rain and dark lately, wet feet walking and windowpanes rattling loose in their frames. I woke early on Christmas Eve morning, 5 AM, and things had settled and were quiet. Big change from all the punishing rain and wind that had still been going when I finally fell asleep after one.

Sleeplessness has been a theme with me lately. The side effect of this has been all the reading, Atonement, Five Skies, the Maytrees, and a lot of other little things that I nibble on. Three novels in two weeks isn't really typical for me. I'm liking it, though, and intend to keep on going. Next up - The Raw Shark Texts, to read with Kathleen and Lisa. I'm only a few chapters into it, but can tell I'm going to love it. I loved The Maytrees as well, which surprised me, to be honest. I tried to read The Living, Annie Dillard's previous novel, and just couldn't. But The Maytrees is poetic and simple, and has a generosity of spirit that I was ready for. It also has this sense, I think, of time as a character, and that is one of my favorite things in a piece of writing. One of my favorite things in life, really.

Maybe it was The Maytrees that cheered me up so much. It was one of the things that helped, that's for sure. The night before Christmas Eve, before the weather cleared, I did my own clearing up around the apartment, and now it's sort-of lovely there. Christmas at mom's was lovely too, Christmas presents, pajamas and knitting. The only thing I really wanted for Christmas was a cup of tea and some buttered popcorn in front of a movie. It's always nice when you can have exactly what you want.

Which is what I got when I woke up this morning and had a clear walk to work. Tonight I'm off to the movies again, Charlie Wilson's War. Bring on the butter!

Ah yes, just like the Blessed Virgin Mary

I like this picture because it looks like
she's listening for the disco music to start.

So it's Christmas and you might be asking yourself, in what way might I consider myself 'just like the Blessed Virgin Mary'?

Well I do have a lovely blue pashmina, and angels do seem to come out of the woodwork whenever I'm walking around, but there's really only one way that matters.

Today I measure 40 weeks - a full term pregnancy - just like Mary!

But there we diverge. I have (knock on wood) ten weeks left and two sweet babies to look forward to. She just gave birth to the messiah this morning. Oh, and it was two thousand some odd years ago.

Anyhoo, I will be trying to create my own marvels in the weeks to come - I shall part the seas of traffic in Manhattan to move to Washington Heights! I shall ride my donkey, err subway, to work each morning. I shall erect a pregnant belly of such proportion that it shall block out the sun!

In the meantime, I hope you have a lovely Christmas! I shall be asleep in the manger.

Or at the movies.

xoxo
Ali

ps. Aren't you glad I didn't say anything about virginity or immaculate conception?

I'm Really Not Into Sad Circus Stories

K: Oh... it's 10 already? I was gonna go to yoga tomorrow...
L: Not ME! I'm going to the Casino!!!

Sigh. This is a life I like. And don't think I don't know that some people deserve extra thanks for their participation in it over the last two weeks. I do. And you know who you are because you made me laugh. Some of you were here in Seattle, at Copper Gate or Peggy's house or Roti or on the phone or at the coffee shop. Or maybe you were in Oxford or Napa or New Mexico or New York or Istanbul or maybe you had a baby in Minnesota. In any case, I'm talking about you. You know I am.

Things I Do Well

... that would be a list that does not include registering for a baby shower. Good thing I have other talents. Like eating. That's valuable, right? Allison and I fed the twins well this weekend, with Tasting Room for brunch, Momofuku for lunch, and a really nice dinner at the communal table at Back Forty.

Happy mom, happy Baby A, happy Baby B!

NYC was so cold Saturday, we were all boots and hats and hoods, stopping for hot beverages at every opportunity, hot cider from the stand at Union Square, gulps of chocolate from the truck outside the galleries in Chelsea, and a latte from the newly renamed 9th Street Espresso. I was assured that the baristas were going to be just as crabby as ever, and maybe they are, but never to me. The best barista though, the guy at Tasting Room espresso who recognized me from... whenever I was in town last - July? That's another thing I'm excellent at, getting coffee. Too bad that doesn't do Ali much good these days. It did get her out of the cold a few times this weekend though. I had a great time, Ali, so glad you asked me to come.

XOXO
H

Watch out for flying needles!

I saw this and thought of you... en garde!

I miss you already! And the twins do too! As soon as you left they started whinging and kicking up a storm. I had to quiet them with ice cream.

Thank you for tolerating the Babies R' Us. It was torture for all of us, I think. A person has only to look at the photo in the last post to know how horribly coated in pastel the place is. And if they couldn't tell from my outfit in the photo... I am not a pastels person.

Speaking of that photo... wow I am big! 175 lbs and measuring 35+ weeks big. One can only imagine how much bigger I can get. I guess we'll see. I was impressed that you could still stretch your arms alllllll the way around me!

Thank you also for the fun brunch on Sunday and the walk around NoLita and SoHo. It was great to just sort of natter about and enjoy being without responsibilities or any particular objective. It was really fun for me. Despite the narsty smell in that bookstore bathroom.

Egh.

And thank you for the adorable baby socks! When Euge got home, he was so tickled by them! I can't wait to see how cute the new yarn turns out to be.

Basically, thankyouthankyouthankyou!

It meant the world to me that you came. It was like the best pre-Christmas present ever.

Even better than the diaper bag.

This Photo is No Joke

She really does look like that. I can hardly believe it myself, and I've seen it. It's a strange thing to see someone who is so very familiar (in the fullest sense of the word) to you change so dramatically. But that's a bigger topic, for a different day. For now I'm just hear to say I landed safely, and that I'm so glad to have seen Ali, and never in my life have I been so excited about being kicked.

XOXO
H

Coffee Break

Just a little break in the blogging for my trip to NYC to see Ali and the twins. I had coffee today at the coffee shop pictured above. Can't tell you how much I needed it - so cold here! It was a beautiful day though, clear and lively, and I'm so glad I'm getting to see pregnant Ali.

We Interrupt This Blog to Bring You....

SURPRISE!!!

Dear Barb,

Hey, are you there?? I hope I haven't missed you. I've been debating how exactly we were going to surprise you, the Pamfas and me. I had visions of a lovely box arriving on your doorstep, surprise!! Virtual baby shower!!! But then... well, I went to pick up the contents of said box and realized that, um, we were gonna need to make sure you had someone around to pick it up for you.

We are so excited for you. I think you know this already. I'm especially excited that this little man gets to have you as a mom. I know you'll be great. We wanted to do something to celebrate with you, so each of the Pamfas picked a favorite book especially for your baby boy. Once you get home and are ready to receive it, just let me know and they'll make their way, all wrapped and pretty, to you, your rocking chair and your brand new baby son.

XOXO
H

P.S. Ali, please tell the twins I'll be there tomorrow night late-ish, so they should kick you awake until I get there. 'kay? I can't wait!

Walk Photo of the Day

It's in my nature to look for daylight for my blog photos. True, there are the food photos, which are nearly always blurry, taken by fiddling with the settings so that I can get more light in what is usually a dark restaurant or cozy dinner table at someone's home. But there is something very different about indoor darkness.

The truth is, it's pretty dark around here right now. Yesterday I realized that it didn't make sense to hold up the blog posting while I wait for it to get light again. Might as well take those pictures in the dark that I'm mired in right now and just see how they turn out. I'm trying to approach the writing the same way too, just play a little, go for the shiny objects, make it simple, a few shapes, moved around like those tangram toys that were never really all that fun when you were a kid. I can appreciate the simplicity of something like a tangram a lot more now.

So, there you go. That's why the photo above is the walk photo of the day. It's the walk home, since the walk to work is still light, though just barely. This was the week when I started to catch the sunrise as I walked out my door. Before now, there hasn't been a trace of pink in the sky when I started. I was taking it easy on myself this week, so I was even starting a little later than usual. The internet tells me that sunrise is actually happening at 7:47am and will head progressively closer to 7:57am, a minute later eevery few days until January 7th, when it'll all turn again. Until then, let's try to enjoy the dark together, at least a little, okay?

Things I Like to Take Pictures Of (part three)

The driftwood structures people build on the beach.
They make me think of being in love. I don't know why.
But I still like the thought, even when it is painfully cold outside.

Still Doesn't Explain What's Up With MY Hair!

Mo at the studio

I went back to my writing space yesterday. I might as well admit it, I've only been there a handful of times since starting my job. The writing has picked up a bit since the Tomales Bay week, but if you've been reading here regularly for a while, you've probably noticed that the blog has been a little bare. When the blog is bare, it often means there isn't much writing happening at all.

There are some benefits to not writing now, it turns out. Since I haven't spent much time at the studio recently, the smell, the sound the plywood floors make, the view out the window, all of those things brought summer back to me and that made being there surprisingly delicious. And seeing how little I'm writing now has made me realize that the time off was more productive than I realized. I was so busy being afraid that I wasn't being productive enough that I didn't see how truly unproductive I can be.

Still. I'm doing things a little differently these days, because I don't think I want to be as unproductive as all that. So, I've been home almost every night this week, and last night I was asleep before ten - that's almost unheard of for me, right? I'm making room for things, reorganizing, turning string into things. I'm liking the string things, the string things are good. We'll just see about the writing.

Fabulous Jacket... Part Deux*

Mmmmm... babies like chocolate....
I am growing the double chins for their love of chocolate!

So, my replacement jacket from Isabella Oliver came today and I heart it! The silhouette is similar to the butterfly sweater - which I loved so much... Perhaps too much, since it unraveled under the strain of my love and had to be sent back...

This jacket is woven, not knit, so I worry less about it's frailty. Now I just have to successfully integrate it into my wardrobe... which led to the purchase of a pair of twill Seven for All Mankind maternity pants... which seemed very indulgent until I realized that a) they were on sale and I got them for $75 and b) I have twelve more weeks of pregnancy and the only pants that fit me are yoga pants.

Pants, I have discovered, are not a good thing to go cheap on...

And yoga pants just simply will not do for the shopping expeditions that are planned around your visit!

Also, I have been told that my body will not simply snap back to it's pre-pregnancy glory like magic.... Can you believe that nonsense??? So - theoretically - I may need these pants for my maternity leave as well. Very practical of me, I think.

And, of course, I think that the Isabella Oliver jacket is just the thing for the breast feeding mommy on the go, don't you?

I'm so glad that we have me all prepared for the babies arrival, aren't you? Now I can't wait for your arrival so that, um, I can actually get something together for them!

* In case you are wondering what is up with my hair... the bangs have grown out a bit and it is quite windy here, so they have had to be restrained. Also, I have discovered that I get pulled together quicker in the morning if I put my hair in hot rollers rather than blowing it straight.

Plus the big hair makes the ginormous belly look smaller, don't you think?

The Week of Evil Twins

First, I have to apologize to your twins, Ali, and please let them know that this post in no way refers to them. Really. But I gotta tell you about some stuff that's been going on here lately.

I think it started on Thursday, the day that Andy and Bobby both wore Penguin shirts. See? It was like they were evil twins. A being the evil twin of B. That was the same day that I got off the elevator at work and found Sara's cube empty, under construction, and the floor dark. Then I went to open the door to my office and found it... empty!

Of course, the problem was that I was on the 7th floor, which is the evil twin of the 9th floor, where my office was waiting for me, with my nice Matisse poster and photos on my bulletin board, and happy brown cup. Sara was there too, at her desk, which was not at all under construction.

There were other evil things happening, mostly in my head. The blood vessels in my head were the evil twins of themselves, doing whatever evil thing they do that makes the migraines. That happened on and off all weekend, with me trying to do things in between pain waves, things like Write-O-Rama at Hugo House, which was great, and Kathy's wedding, also great, and other things like turning my apartment into a baby sock factory. There was also sleeping and whining, and other people feeding me, which was the nicest part of the suffering. Even though the appetite is never so good with the headaches.

And it snowed! Here it is.

But now the snow has turned back into rain, which is the evil twin of snow. It's pretty evil, right now, I have to say. I don't mind the drizzle, I don't mind the gloom. But we have now reached, as you may have seen on the news, flood stage, and that is not conducive to the walking to work. Which is what I, being a newly minted walk addict, am craving. Because driving to work is walking's evil twin.

My New YouTube Crush

Oh, kiss the sweet baby! It's somethin' for the ladies!

I really didn't plan on continuing with a theme, but then I saw this video and it just made me squee and go all mushy inside.

I will be buying Eugene one of these wraps for Christmas, methinks.

Or is that too perverse and self serving?

A Tiny Ketchup For You

Just because. I like you so much.