Have you ever seen Inside the Actor's Studio? At the end of every show, James Lipton (the host) asks a standard set of questions to each actor guest. The questions come from a French TV show called Apostrophes, which is hosted by Bernard Pivot. I recently asked Maple the questions. Here are her answers.
1. What is your favorite word?
Sweet
2. What is your least favorite word?
Mean
3. What do you enjoy most?*
Seeing mom and dad after I get off the bus.
4. What do dislike most?
Seeing injured animals.
5. What sound do you love?
Cheering
6. What sound do you hate?
Gunshots
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Bitch
8. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Country singer
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Farmer
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Some jokes - I like a good laugh.
* I changed the wording of questions 3 and 4 slightly from "What turns you on?" And "What turns you off?"
Easter Sunday at Maple's
Today on Easter I had a chocolate hunt! Mommy helped me fined were the Easter bunny hid the clues I got like 4 or 5 things ! They were all chocolate things I got a chocolate bunny and a bag of little chocolate Bunny's and a big chocolate cake / chocolate egg. It was so awesome and I gave mom and dad a Easter surprise they each loved there stuff daddy also from the Easter bunny got a mini dark chocolate egg even though he doesn't believe in the Easter bunny! mommy got a gigantic Not hollow bunny !And well Phoenix did not get anything yet but I am going to give her two treats right after this blog post don't tell mom though but you can cause she's going to read the post before she puts it up. well yesterday I got a new bikini and it is really cool also some new socks and new pants the socks are different colors and hello kitty on them and also I got just plain white ones. and yesterday I also went to chuckee cheeses for my friends birthday party! and had a lot of fun alright that's it for now but next time I am doing a interview so I will be right back but write comments on free time or wait for the next post bye .
Maple's First Post
I asked Maple to write a post for our blog. I've been neglecting this blog in favor of my running blog, but now Maple is old enough to write some posts herself. I asked her to write about what it was like to be 7, and here's what she had to say.It is cool to be 7. I have a lot more privileges for instance I have this iPad and school is awesome to! And I remember when I was a baby I used to go in the water and get thrown and float but now I am a pro at swimming ! And it's very fun. My mom and dad cheer me on through everything. When I fractured my wrist they were right by my side . I love having sleepovers an I get a bunch! I also love play dates and right now my favorite song is tick tok. I love Girl Scouts and that reminds me that I am in 2 grade. I also get along with my classmates. We learn a lot of fun stuff there. I love Junie b. jones books even though my reading level is a little higher. It is still awesome to enjoy my self. So since its called Maple and Mommy lets go to mom her real name is Portia o'Callaghan. I am Maple O'Callaghan. So she loves to run and so does my dad. I love reading mom does to my dogs name is Phoenix. She is so cute I love having her in the family and so does Phoenix love being apart of this family. Mom is addicted to Girl Scout cookies although I guess that's not a bad thing because I am to !!! Mom is a great sport about everything I do so is my dad although it is so hard doing the patches and ironing them on she still tryes her best and does a great job !! Ok that's it for now but me or mom will be back soon enough.
Update
I'm still training for the marathon (currently in Week 13 of 18), but I decided not to pollute this blog with all that running talk. If you are really really interested in the intricate details of marathon training, check out runportiarun.
love
love
Originally uploaded by maple's mama
Maple has been struggling lately. She's a wonderful kid, but her interactions with her classmates are strange and troubling at times. Maybe I'll write about it more at some point, by maybe not - Maple is already embarrassed about it and I'm not sure the internet needs to know.
In trying to get to the source of things, her teacher (who is amazing) has been reinforcing that she is loved.
Thanks, Ms. C.
On Ice
Maple had her first ice skating lesson today. It was also the first time she ever ice skated. It was fascinating to watch her, because it was like watching her learn to walk. Back when she started walking, she was extremely cautious. She didn't start trying to walk until most of her peers were running. She was content to watch and (I believe) think about walking before she ever tried it. Once she started, she was slow and cautious. She was very respectful of her body's limitations, and she seemed to understand them. It was like she knew she couldn't walk, so she decided to go as slowly as she needed to go, so that she wouldn't ever fall down. And I don't think she ever did.
Today when we first put her skates on, she held our hands tightly as she walked, tentatively at first. But by the time her class started, she was jumping up and down on the floor, balancing well on the blades. When she finally stepped onto the ice, she dialed it way back. I could see her assessing the situation and realizing that the ice presented a new challenge, worthy of her respect. She moved tentatively on the ice during the whole lesson, typically finishing every activity (like crossing the rink) at the back of the pack, but never falling. The other kids were more reckless in varying degrees, and they all took a spill now and then. Maple didn't fall until the last few minutes of class, and when she finally did go down, she was pissed. But she got over it pretty quickly, and by the time she stepped off the ice at the end of class, she was smiling again.
I remember being the same way as a kid. In gymnastics, I always held back, doing less than my best for fear of getting hurt. I was the same way on the high school diving team. I was so convinced I would hit my head on the diving board during a reverse dive -- where you jump off the board as if you're going to do a regular dive, but flip backwards toward the board and dive in the water -- that I refused to even try it. I would jump off the board and just go feet first, straight into the water, over and over again. It was somewhat embarrassing. And I see it in myself now. I don't push myself too hard when I'm running, because my brain might blow up. This is what I tell myself anyway.
It's sort of fascinating to see yourself in your kids, and sort of scary as well. And it's so interesting how early some traits present themselves. I can't remember the specifics, but I remember when Maple started walking and I observed her cautiousness, I wasn't surprised, because I'd seen evidence of that in her before. Could we have educated her to be cautious that early? (Sean says he was that way too.) I'm not saying that it's a bad trait; it's just weird how things get passed on.
Today I finished my first week of marathon training. I'm proud and hopeful that I'll make it through the next 17 weeks. Sean is on his third day of the Master Cleanse. I'm amazed every time he does it. A great benefit of cleansing is that he gets off the caffeine ride.
Tomorrow is the first Steeler's playoff game. I've gotten really into football this year, and I'm so excited for this game. Let's hope it's not their last!
Today when we first put her skates on, she held our hands tightly as she walked, tentatively at first. But by the time her class started, she was jumping up and down on the floor, balancing well on the blades. When she finally stepped onto the ice, she dialed it way back. I could see her assessing the situation and realizing that the ice presented a new challenge, worthy of her respect. She moved tentatively on the ice during the whole lesson, typically finishing every activity (like crossing the rink) at the back of the pack, but never falling. The other kids were more reckless in varying degrees, and they all took a spill now and then. Maple didn't fall until the last few minutes of class, and when she finally did go down, she was pissed. But she got over it pretty quickly, and by the time she stepped off the ice at the end of class, she was smiling again.
I remember being the same way as a kid. In gymnastics, I always held back, doing less than my best for fear of getting hurt. I was the same way on the high school diving team. I was so convinced I would hit my head on the diving board during a reverse dive -- where you jump off the board as if you're going to do a regular dive, but flip backwards toward the board and dive in the water -- that I refused to even try it. I would jump off the board and just go feet first, straight into the water, over and over again. It was somewhat embarrassing. And I see it in myself now. I don't push myself too hard when I'm running, because my brain might blow up. This is what I tell myself anyway.
It's sort of fascinating to see yourself in your kids, and sort of scary as well. And it's so interesting how early some traits present themselves. I can't remember the specifics, but I remember when Maple started walking and I observed her cautiousness, I wasn't surprised, because I'd seen evidence of that in her before. Could we have educated her to be cautious that early? (Sean says he was that way too.) I'm not saying that it's a bad trait; it's just weird how things get passed on.
Today I finished my first week of marathon training. I'm proud and hopeful that I'll make it through the next 17 weeks. Sean is on his third day of the Master Cleanse. I'm amazed every time he does it. A great benefit of cleansing is that he gets off the caffeine ride.
Tomorrow is the first Steeler's playoff game. I've gotten really into football this year, and I'm so excited for this game. Let's hope it's not their last!
Two Races
It's New Year's Eve. Everyone is looking back at the past year and dreaming about the next, and I feel compelled to do the same.
In 2011, I had my first full year without MS meds since before Maple was born. I felt great most of the year, but I had a relapse in September, which I recovered from pretty quickly and without medication. I got inspired to take my casual running more seriously, and I ran two 5k races. I attempted a trail half marathon, and when that didn't pan out, I registered for a road half marathon. An ankle injury and the MS relapse kept me from doing that race. But despite those disappointments, I'm so glad I took up running again, and I'm looking forward to 2012. I'm registered for two races already.
Maple ran two races as well; one at the first 5k that I did, and another one at the inaugural BAA 10k. She learned to read and she started first grade. She is almost 4' tall now. She eats well and is firmly vegetarian. She is really compassionate and kind, but like most modern kids who are around other modern kids, she is six going on 16. She loves everything that she thinks teenagers like, including Selena Gomez, tight pants, and nail polish. Despite that, she's unlike other kids in some ways that I can't put my finger on. Her best friend's mother, Ms. G., told me something Maple said during a recent play date. Her friend was running around screaming nonsense at her sister, and Maple came up to Ms. G. and said thoughtfully, "Don't take this the wrong way, but it's really loud at your house." She was surprised that Maple considered how her comment might sound before she said it. I wasn't.
She took ballet class this fall, and is about to start ice skating classes. She's learning French with her mama. She loves to read and she still loves to sleep in our bed whenever we let her (which is most weekends). She's made some friends in first grade and has learned the importance of not only hanging out with the weird kids. She's our little buddy and we adore her.
Sean ran two races this year as well. He was my pacer for my first 5k, and, never one to do things halfway, he went on to run the Vermont 50. That's 50 miles. He got injured at mile 23 or so, but kept running until they made him stop at mile 33. I can't wait to see what he does this year - I think he's planning on two really long races. He started a new job in April and has been working at it ever since. He doesn't love it but he's really good at it. He's also really good at being Maple's dad and my husband. He's thoughtful and sweet but he doesn't take any shit, which keeps us all on our toes, in the best possible way. I don't know what life would be like without him. He makes everything simple and real.
As a family we had a great year. We bought and moved into a brand-new condo, and just a few weeks ago we grew into it a little more by getting some grown-up furniture. Pretty soon we're going to hang pictures on the walls! We love this place and we're pretty surprised to have pushed our chips in on Massachusetts. Our little town is friendly (as New England goes) and walkable and we can do our Saturday morning chores without getting in the car. I think I've mentioned that about four times on this blog so far; it's a high point. We've been staying healthy and supporting and enjoying each other every day.
We have hopes and dreams for 2012, and the best part is that we'll be together to see all of it unfold.
In 2011, I had my first full year without MS meds since before Maple was born. I felt great most of the year, but I had a relapse in September, which I recovered from pretty quickly and without medication. I got inspired to take my casual running more seriously, and I ran two 5k races. I attempted a trail half marathon, and when that didn't pan out, I registered for a road half marathon. An ankle injury and the MS relapse kept me from doing that race. But despite those disappointments, I'm so glad I took up running again, and I'm looking forward to 2012. I'm registered for two races already.
Maple ran two races as well; one at the first 5k that I did, and another one at the inaugural BAA 10k. She learned to read and she started first grade. She is almost 4' tall now. She eats well and is firmly vegetarian. She is really compassionate and kind, but like most modern kids who are around other modern kids, she is six going on 16. She loves everything that she thinks teenagers like, including Selena Gomez, tight pants, and nail polish. Despite that, she's unlike other kids in some ways that I can't put my finger on. Her best friend's mother, Ms. G., told me something Maple said during a recent play date. Her friend was running around screaming nonsense at her sister, and Maple came up to Ms. G. and said thoughtfully, "Don't take this the wrong way, but it's really loud at your house." She was surprised that Maple considered how her comment might sound before she said it. I wasn't.
She took ballet class this fall, and is about to start ice skating classes. She's learning French with her mama. She loves to read and she still loves to sleep in our bed whenever we let her (which is most weekends). She's made some friends in first grade and has learned the importance of not only hanging out with the weird kids. She's our little buddy and we adore her.
Sean ran two races this year as well. He was my pacer for my first 5k, and, never one to do things halfway, he went on to run the Vermont 50. That's 50 miles. He got injured at mile 23 or so, but kept running until they made him stop at mile 33. I can't wait to see what he does this year - I think he's planning on two really long races. He started a new job in April and has been working at it ever since. He doesn't love it but he's really good at it. He's also really good at being Maple's dad and my husband. He's thoughtful and sweet but he doesn't take any shit, which keeps us all on our toes, in the best possible way. I don't know what life would be like without him. He makes everything simple and real.
As a family we had a great year. We bought and moved into a brand-new condo, and just a few weeks ago we grew into it a little more by getting some grown-up furniture. Pretty soon we're going to hang pictures on the walls! We love this place and we're pretty surprised to have pushed our chips in on Massachusetts. Our little town is friendly (as New England goes) and walkable and we can do our Saturday morning chores without getting in the car. I think I've mentioned that about four times on this blog so far; it's a high point. We've been staying healthy and supporting and enjoying each other every day.
We have hopes and dreams for 2012, and the best part is that we'll be together to see all of it unfold.
On the mend
Today is a lazy Saturday. Maple is watching an animated Christmas movie, Sean is working, and I'm procrastinating. So what's new?
My ankle problem is much better and I'm starting to run longer again. Today I ran with the running club, before my first running club meeting. It was fun to run with other people and six miles went by very fast. On Thursday this week I ran at the track and did faster and more intervals than I'd thought I could, and then felt like I was on cocaine for the rest of the day. (Okay I don't even know what that feels like but I was high as a kite on endorphins.)
My MS relapse is gone but it left some vision damage behind. Fortunately it isn't too bad. I have stopped having desperate feelings about my life; I've gone back to ignoring my diagnosis altogether. It gets a little harder when I have new symptoms, but then some time goes by and I get used to the new normal. And knock on the wood, I have only had one cold this season.
Maple has become a voracious reader and reads chapter books faster than we can supply them. Fortunately she likes reading them over and over again. She also likes to dance and sing and read some more. And draw. Today she painted picture frames with her friend Julia while I was out running. She had strep throat for the first time last month, and it took us a while to catch on that it was more than just a cold. She missed a week of school! But it didn't do her any harm; she's doing pretty well at the three R's. She is almost done with this semester of ballet class, and she decided not to do it again after the holidays. She's going to try ice skating lessons instead.
I shopped for Christmas gifts for Maple last week. My usual strategy is not to buy too much because her grandparents usually buy her a lot. This year, I kept thinking "How much longer is she going to be into [some slightly babyish thing]? I should buy her one. Next year she'll be too cool for that. I'm not having any more kids, right? This is it! I must buy this! Now!" This led to the purchase of a much larger number of gifts than I intended.
Sean is back to getting one weekend day off every week, which is great because we get to spend more family time together than we did over the summer. Last night we all went to the movies and saw the new muppets movie, which was not good, but it was fun to go out with the family. Sean's still toiling at the fancy grocery store, and not really loving it. But he does a great job and people like him there. And then he comes home and gets liked a bit more. We think he's great, even if he gets no love from the great and powerful Oz.
Phoenix is aging gracefully - she still seems like a much younger dog. She just sleeps more than she used to.
We're all getting excited for Christmas. Maple has a chocolate advent calendar and I have Vince Guaraldi on repeat. I bought some delicata squash this morning and I swear I will cook it completely tonight. Maybe next weekend we'll get a tree and bake some cookies. And right now I think I'll take a nap.
My ankle problem is much better and I'm starting to run longer again. Today I ran with the running club, before my first running club meeting. It was fun to run with other people and six miles went by very fast. On Thursday this week I ran at the track and did faster and more intervals than I'd thought I could, and then felt like I was on cocaine for the rest of the day. (Okay I don't even know what that feels like but I was high as a kite on endorphins.)
My MS relapse is gone but it left some vision damage behind. Fortunately it isn't too bad. I have stopped having desperate feelings about my life; I've gone back to ignoring my diagnosis altogether. It gets a little harder when I have new symptoms, but then some time goes by and I get used to the new normal. And knock on the wood, I have only had one cold this season.
Maple has become a voracious reader and reads chapter books faster than we can supply them. Fortunately she likes reading them over and over again. She also likes to dance and sing and read some more. And draw. Today she painted picture frames with her friend Julia while I was out running. She had strep throat for the first time last month, and it took us a while to catch on that it was more than just a cold. She missed a week of school! But it didn't do her any harm; she's doing pretty well at the three R's. She is almost done with this semester of ballet class, and she decided not to do it again after the holidays. She's going to try ice skating lessons instead.
I shopped for Christmas gifts for Maple last week. My usual strategy is not to buy too much because her grandparents usually buy her a lot. This year, I kept thinking "How much longer is she going to be into [some slightly babyish thing]? I should buy her one. Next year she'll be too cool for that. I'm not having any more kids, right? This is it! I must buy this! Now!" This led to the purchase of a much larger number of gifts than I intended.
Sean is back to getting one weekend day off every week, which is great because we get to spend more family time together than we did over the summer. Last night we all went to the movies and saw the new muppets movie, which was not good, but it was fun to go out with the family. Sean's still toiling at the fancy grocery store, and not really loving it. But he does a great job and people like him there. And then he comes home and gets liked a bit more. We think he's great, even if he gets no love from the great and powerful Oz.
Phoenix is aging gracefully - she still seems like a much younger dog. She just sleeps more than she used to.
We're all getting excited for Christmas. Maple has a chocolate advent calendar and I have Vince Guaraldi on repeat. I bought some delicata squash this morning and I swear I will cook it completely tonight. Maybe next weekend we'll get a tree and bake some cookies. And right now I think I'll take a nap.
Optic Neuritis for Dummies
I woke up this morning and the blind spot was still there. Bigger than it was last night, but the same as when I woke up yesterday. My first bout of optic neuritis started a week ago. This is kind of rare; many people's first MS symptom is going half blind.
For the first few days, I was anxious about the relapse getting worse, but it hasn't. I was tired last week, but I don't have any other symptoms now. I think things are stable.
Optic neuritis means that the optic nerve is inflamed. It's pretty common issue with MS, because with MS the immune system attacks the myelin sheath -- the coating on the outside of nerves -- because it wrongly thinks the myelin is some kind of foreign substance. The optic nerve is often compromised in MS patients.
In other words, my immune system is confused.
So what's it like to have optic neuritis? It's like the right half of my right eye isn't working. There's a hole where things disappear when they move into that part of my field of view, and then they reappear on the other side. It's not dark or fuzzy, it's just... not anything. Some people have pain when they move the affected eye, but I don't feel anything.
Having MS for almost eight years has some advantages; even though uncertainty is the hallmark of MS, I am a little better able to deal with the uncertainty after this long. It's still scary and I still panic in some moments, but overall I'm more able to stay calm, accept it, and even take positive action. As soon as this relapse started, I made some changes. My diet has gotten kind of crappy lately, so I immediately started eating more whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and almost no wheat. I focused on alkalizing foods, which are supposed to be easier for your body to digest and keep your system from getting too acidic, which sounds bad but I'm not sure why. I told people at work that I'd be working shorter hours (and I ended up taking two days off when I was particularly tired and worried). I stopped focusing on how clean the house was (which was pretty easy because Sean started cleaning more). I started doing some deep relaxation and visualization stuff.
Since I don't get more hours in the day when I'm sick, I've found that I have to make these changes to take care of myself. It's hard to stay home from work when I feel like I'm sort of up to working (despite not being able to read too well and running into people and walls on my right side). But I have a finite amount of energy -- even less of it when I'm having a relapse. So if I go to work all day, I'll be tired when I get home and I won't have the energy to make good food, which I firmly believe will help my recovery. I won't have the energy to exercise, which is essential for maintaining a positive outlook. Since I can't run right now (I hurt my ankle), I've been working out in the gym every other day for 30-45 minutes. I don't need to see very well to ride a stationary bike.
Yesterday, Maple grabbed my hand when we crossed the street, and it wasn't for her safety.
For the first few days, I was anxious about the relapse getting worse, but it hasn't. I was tired last week, but I don't have any other symptoms now. I think things are stable.
Optic neuritis means that the optic nerve is inflamed. It's pretty common issue with MS, because with MS the immune system attacks the myelin sheath -- the coating on the outside of nerves -- because it wrongly thinks the myelin is some kind of foreign substance. The optic nerve is often compromised in MS patients.
In other words, my immune system is confused.
So what's it like to have optic neuritis? It's like the right half of my right eye isn't working. There's a hole where things disappear when they move into that part of my field of view, and then they reappear on the other side. It's not dark or fuzzy, it's just... not anything. Some people have pain when they move the affected eye, but I don't feel anything.
Having MS for almost eight years has some advantages; even though uncertainty is the hallmark of MS, I am a little better able to deal with the uncertainty after this long. It's still scary and I still panic in some moments, but overall I'm more able to stay calm, accept it, and even take positive action. As soon as this relapse started, I made some changes. My diet has gotten kind of crappy lately, so I immediately started eating more whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and almost no wheat. I focused on alkalizing foods, which are supposed to be easier for your body to digest and keep your system from getting too acidic, which sounds bad but I'm not sure why. I told people at work that I'd be working shorter hours (and I ended up taking two days off when I was particularly tired and worried). I stopped focusing on how clean the house was (which was pretty easy because Sean started cleaning more). I started doing some deep relaxation and visualization stuff.
Since I don't get more hours in the day when I'm sick, I've found that I have to make these changes to take care of myself. It's hard to stay home from work when I feel like I'm sort of up to working (despite not being able to read too well and running into people and walls on my right side). But I have a finite amount of energy -- even less of it when I'm having a relapse. So if I go to work all day, I'll be tired when I get home and I won't have the energy to make good food, which I firmly believe will help my recovery. I won't have the energy to exercise, which is essential for maintaining a positive outlook. Since I can't run right now (I hurt my ankle), I've been working out in the gym every other day for 30-45 minutes. I don't need to see very well to ride a stationary bike.
Yesterday, Maple grabbed my hand when we crossed the street, and it wasn't for her safety.
Coming Home
I'm not sure why I've been avoiding this. Writing here. Things have been fine. We've had some new adventures, made and met some new goals, ate some good food, and watched Maple grow.
Today was the first time we came home to our new place after a vacation. It wasn't nearly as traumatic as it used to be. In previous years I would get more anxious the closer we got to our town, and by the time we returned to the smoke-filled dark rooms we called home, I'd be ready to pack it all in, give up the health insurance and the retirement account for some fresh air and decent light. Somewhere out west, somewhere with less snow in winter and less swelter in summer. But this time, pulling into our underground garage and riding the elevator up to the third floor, I actually looked forward to opening the big wooden door and seeing the blond bamboo floor and smelling the almost-new-house smells. It is good to be home. I was tired after the drive (although Sean actually drove), so I crawled into our huge cozy life raft of a bed and took a nap, my head surrounded by the soothing first-aid-kit smell of the wool pillows.
Our most recent adventure was a backpacking trip - Maple's first - near Killington, Vermont, on (yes) the Appalachian Trail. She carried her own pack and wore a hot pink dress while hiking six or seven miles a day. On the final day, she climbed up the gentle slopes of Killington, about five miles of slow and steady incline. Near the end, to motivate her, I mentioned that my guidebook cited a restaurant on the peak if she was willing to scramble up 0.2 miles of rock, hand over hand. She brightened at the promise of french fries or pizza or a milkshake or maybe all three, and we crept on.
The spur to the top was amazing and very, very scary. I was clinging to the side of the mountain; every time I turned around to face the nothingness and the amazing view, I felt dizzy. Maple and Sean climbed steadily twenty feet below me and I couldn't bear to think of my little 5-year-old scrambling up the rocks with nothing behind her. Turns out she loves to scramble - I heard her cackling below me and I yelled down, "Hey Maple! Turn around!" I heard the slow shuffle of her feet as she did, and then a little sucking noise in her throat, followed by "Oh. My. God." She was on top of the world.
It turned out the resort's Peak Restaurant had blown off in a windstorm, so we took the gondola down the ski slope - a 15-minute ride in an airless chamber - and had ice cream and chips at the snack bar.
About three weeks ago, before the backpacking trip, we all ran a race. Sean and I ran a 5k race that was also a fundraiser for ALS, which my uncle Dennis suffered from before he died last fall. The 5k motivated me to get in the best shape I've been in since running cross country in college - better shape than I ever thought I'd be in again after the MS diagnosis. I'm trying to figure out which other races I'll run this year - I'd like to run something off-road, something longer than 5k.
Maple raced two weekends in a row: a 200m track race at our 5k, and the next weekend at the inaugural BAA 10k, she ran a 100m. (The BAA puts on the Boston Marathon too.) Both times she smiled and laughed all the way.
Sean got a bike about six weeks ago and started riding to work instead of commuting in the car, which he said depressed him. He works 21 miles away, and he rides there and back every day, even when he closes the store and leaves at 10:30 at night. He rides by Walden Pond and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where some of his heroes - Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott - are buried. He also runs a few days a week and is training for more races later in the fall.
Once a week we pick up our CSA produce from Land's Sake, a farm in neighboring Weston, and then we eat salad and garlic scapes and cabbage and fennel like crazy so we can have an empty fridge for next week's pick-up.
We've grown used to living in Natick. We love the hourly church bells and the subdued street life just outside and below us. There aren't really any good restaurants here, but you can walk to the ATM and the library and the farmer's market. We're learning about good running routes and trails nearby, and we know a couple of locals that we see and chat with when we're walking around town. Sean gets his beard trimmed at the barber down the street, and there's an Italian grocery on Main that makes great Sicilian pizza, heavy on the oregano.
I'm not really looking forward to going back to work tomorrow after ten days off, but as soon as I'm walking down the hall to my office, I'll feel good about it. In the most unlikely place - a place we never would have chosen to live if it weren't for the job that brought us here - we've made a home. And it is good.
Today was the first time we came home to our new place after a vacation. It wasn't nearly as traumatic as it used to be. In previous years I would get more anxious the closer we got to our town, and by the time we returned to the smoke-filled dark rooms we called home, I'd be ready to pack it all in, give up the health insurance and the retirement account for some fresh air and decent light. Somewhere out west, somewhere with less snow in winter and less swelter in summer. But this time, pulling into our underground garage and riding the elevator up to the third floor, I actually looked forward to opening the big wooden door and seeing the blond bamboo floor and smelling the almost-new-house smells. It is good to be home. I was tired after the drive (although Sean actually drove), so I crawled into our huge cozy life raft of a bed and took a nap, my head surrounded by the soothing first-aid-kit smell of the wool pillows.
Our most recent adventure was a backpacking trip - Maple's first - near Killington, Vermont, on (yes) the Appalachian Trail. She carried her own pack and wore a hot pink dress while hiking six or seven miles a day. On the final day, she climbed up the gentle slopes of Killington, about five miles of slow and steady incline. Near the end, to motivate her, I mentioned that my guidebook cited a restaurant on the peak if she was willing to scramble up 0.2 miles of rock, hand over hand. She brightened at the promise of french fries or pizza or a milkshake or maybe all three, and we crept on.
The spur to the top was amazing and very, very scary. I was clinging to the side of the mountain; every time I turned around to face the nothingness and the amazing view, I felt dizzy. Maple and Sean climbed steadily twenty feet below me and I couldn't bear to think of my little 5-year-old scrambling up the rocks with nothing behind her. Turns out she loves to scramble - I heard her cackling below me and I yelled down, "Hey Maple! Turn around!" I heard the slow shuffle of her feet as she did, and then a little sucking noise in her throat, followed by "Oh. My. God." She was on top of the world.
It turned out the resort's Peak Restaurant had blown off in a windstorm, so we took the gondola down the ski slope - a 15-minute ride in an airless chamber - and had ice cream and chips at the snack bar.
About three weeks ago, before the backpacking trip, we all ran a race. Sean and I ran a 5k race that was also a fundraiser for ALS, which my uncle Dennis suffered from before he died last fall. The 5k motivated me to get in the best shape I've been in since running cross country in college - better shape than I ever thought I'd be in again after the MS diagnosis. I'm trying to figure out which other races I'll run this year - I'd like to run something off-road, something longer than 5k.
Maple raced two weekends in a row: a 200m track race at our 5k, and the next weekend at the inaugural BAA 10k, she ran a 100m. (The BAA puts on the Boston Marathon too.) Both times she smiled and laughed all the way.
Sean got a bike about six weeks ago and started riding to work instead of commuting in the car, which he said depressed him. He works 21 miles away, and he rides there and back every day, even when he closes the store and leaves at 10:30 at night. He rides by Walden Pond and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where some of his heroes - Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott - are buried. He also runs a few days a week and is training for more races later in the fall.
Once a week we pick up our CSA produce from Land's Sake, a farm in neighboring Weston, and then we eat salad and garlic scapes and cabbage and fennel like crazy so we can have an empty fridge for next week's pick-up.
We've grown used to living in Natick. We love the hourly church bells and the subdued street life just outside and below us. There aren't really any good restaurants here, but you can walk to the ATM and the library and the farmer's market. We're learning about good running routes and trails nearby, and we know a couple of locals that we see and chat with when we're walking around town. Sean gets his beard trimmed at the barber down the street, and there's an Italian grocery on Main that makes great Sicilian pizza, heavy on the oregano.
I'm not really looking forward to going back to work tomorrow after ten days off, but as soon as I'm walking down the hall to my office, I'll feel good about it. In the most unlikely place - a place we never would have chosen to live if it weren't for the job that brought us here - we've made a home. And it is good.
The New House
So that happened. We moved, and our new place is lovely. We are slowly getting settled - right now Sean is caulking in the kitchen, and I just got home with some new stools for the counter (thanks Pat Attack!). This week we'll see the arrival of our bedroom furniture, which will mean the exodus of the last moving boxes. That won't suck.
Maple has taken to the new place and loves her new room - maybe not as much as I love it, but she seems to like sleeping in her bed and playing with her toys in her own space. She has a 15-foot arched wood ceiling and about 10'x6' of windows on the south side of the room. Despite the amazing architectural details, the most exciting things about the new house (for the kindergarten set) are the balcony and the water-dispensing refrigerator.
We've got a bunch of projects in the hopper: some sewing for me (new couch pillows to brighten up the place, and some new cloth napkins) and some manly projects for Sean. And we're having fun decorating and redecorating the place in our minds, while we wait for the day when we can actually do it.
Sean started a new job right after we moved, and I think it suits him. He no longer gets up at three in the morning, and he gets to be "master of everything and nothing" in his new role as non-manager-manager.
I'm really enjoying the smoke-free living here (no more downstairs chimney!) and the amazing light that fills this space every day. It's finally warming up around here and Phoenix is shedding her fur coat. (She also got something new when we moved in.) And a few times a week, Maple and I take baths in our super deep bathtub.
Even though I resisted settling down here, I think it's working out pretty well.
Maple has taken to the new place and loves her new room - maybe not as much as I love it, but she seems to like sleeping in her bed and playing with her toys in her own space. She has a 15-foot arched wood ceiling and about 10'x6' of windows on the south side of the room. Despite the amazing architectural details, the most exciting things about the new house (for the kindergarten set) are the balcony and the water-dispensing refrigerator.
We've got a bunch of projects in the hopper: some sewing for me (new couch pillows to brighten up the place, and some new cloth napkins) and some manly projects for Sean. And we're having fun decorating and redecorating the place in our minds, while we wait for the day when we can actually do it.
Sean started a new job right after we moved, and I think it suits him. He no longer gets up at three in the morning, and he gets to be "master of everything and nothing" in his new role as non-manager-manager.
I'm really enjoying the smoke-free living here (no more downstairs chimney!) and the amazing light that fills this space every day. It's finally warming up around here and Phoenix is shedding her fur coat. (She also got something new when we moved in.) And a few times a week, Maple and I take baths in our super deep bathtub.
Even though I resisted settling down here, I think it's working out pretty well.
That's what makes it so funny
I'm sick. I've been out of work for almost two weeks, and as much as I'd like to write in detail about my illness, I think I would bore you to tears. Let's just say that I had some colds, and then the flu, and then some complications, and now I'm slowly getting better. There, now I sound sort of normal. If I'd written about the pain or the deafness or the strange brownish greenish fluid, you'd never have come back. Hee hee.
So instead of writing in detail about my illness (can you tell I'm just dying to do it? Can you? Can you?), I will tell you a great story about Maple.
Last week Maple came home with a homework assignment from school. Homework is rare in Kindergarten - I think she's had three assignments so far. It was a few days before her teacher's birthday, and the auxiliary teacher (Mrs. B) was planning to surprise the main teacher (Mrs. V) with a bunch of written compliments from all the kids. In Maple's class, they have a birthday tradition where each kid gives the birthday kid a sincere and heartfelt compliment. I think this is a nice way to replace the cupcake thing, which they don't do anymore because they don't want to have any candy or sweets in the school. Anyway, Maple was asked to write a compliment on an index card, which was then to be put into a red envelope. We talked about what she would write for a few days, but she couldn't think of what she wanted to say.
At this point I should back up and say that Maple's teacher kind of sucks. She's a first-year teacher, and we've seen lots of evidence to indicate that she doesn't handle the class well. Maple has told us a number of times that they missed going outside for recess because one boy couldn't behave. We also heard many reports of the same boy crying at his own desk while everyone else sat at tables in groups of four. And then one girl started harassing Maple, and it got a bit out of hand. Then Maple kept getting in trouble for various small infractions of Kindergarten law, and she'd miss five or ten minutes of recess. She started telling us she hated her teacher. I've talked to a few other parents who foam at the mouth when they talk about Mrs. V. And then, just after Christmas, we got a note that she was going to be out on maternity leave starting in April. It's one thing to be a not-very-good teacher, it's another thing to leave the class before the end of the year, when the kids are trying to get used to the routine of school.
So last Thursday was the day before the homework was due. Maple hemmed and hawed and finally said she knew what she wanted to write on the compliment card: "You're the best teacher I ever had." I tried to point out to Maple that she was in Kindergarten, therefore Mrs. V was the only teacher she'd ever had, and so maybe it wasn't the best compliment to give her. Maple looked right at me and with a totally straight face said, "Yeah but that's what makes it so funny!"
I love this kid.
So instead of writing in detail about my illness (can you tell I'm just dying to do it? Can you? Can you?), I will tell you a great story about Maple.
Last week Maple came home with a homework assignment from school. Homework is rare in Kindergarten - I think she's had three assignments so far. It was a few days before her teacher's birthday, and the auxiliary teacher (Mrs. B) was planning to surprise the main teacher (Mrs. V) with a bunch of written compliments from all the kids. In Maple's class, they have a birthday tradition where each kid gives the birthday kid a sincere and heartfelt compliment. I think this is a nice way to replace the cupcake thing, which they don't do anymore because they don't want to have any candy or sweets in the school. Anyway, Maple was asked to write a compliment on an index card, which was then to be put into a red envelope. We talked about what she would write for a few days, but she couldn't think of what she wanted to say.
At this point I should back up and say that Maple's teacher kind of sucks. She's a first-year teacher, and we've seen lots of evidence to indicate that she doesn't handle the class well. Maple has told us a number of times that they missed going outside for recess because one boy couldn't behave. We also heard many reports of the same boy crying at his own desk while everyone else sat at tables in groups of four. And then one girl started harassing Maple, and it got a bit out of hand. Then Maple kept getting in trouble for various small infractions of Kindergarten law, and she'd miss five or ten minutes of recess. She started telling us she hated her teacher. I've talked to a few other parents who foam at the mouth when they talk about Mrs. V. And then, just after Christmas, we got a note that she was going to be out on maternity leave starting in April. It's one thing to be a not-very-good teacher, it's another thing to leave the class before the end of the year, when the kids are trying to get used to the routine of school.
So last Thursday was the day before the homework was due. Maple hemmed and hawed and finally said she knew what she wanted to write on the compliment card: "You're the best teacher I ever had." I tried to point out to Maple that she was in Kindergarten, therefore Mrs. V was the only teacher she'd ever had, and so maybe it wasn't the best compliment to give her. Maple looked right at me and with a totally straight face said, "Yeah but that's what makes it so funny!"
I love this kid.
We can shoot the scene without the ear
sicky poo
Originally uploaded by maple's mama
Maple and I are sick. I found out I have sleep apnea when I have a cold. It's probably not really called that, it's more like stops-breathing-when-sleeping-while-sick. That's my official diagnosis. The lack of oxygen to my brain last night is probably not helping me get over the cold, but I shouldn't complain because a) Maple says her cold is worse than mine and b) this is only my second cold of this season. Maybe I'll escape the 2010-2011 winter with only two colds. That's progress.
I'm very excited for tomorrow, the division championship or whatever the last game before the superbowl is called, and the Steelers are still in it. We bought a digital antenna last weekend because I had football fever. I never watch the regular season. Two years ago when the Steelers won the superbowl, Sean found the game for me on the radio. That was fun but this year I want to watch them win on the TV. Of course they have to get past the Jets and I am kind of concerned about that.
About a year ago I got this iPhone app that everyone was talking about: Instamatic. I never used it but today after updating my iPhone I decided to take a couple of pictures with Instamatic. It's actually really fun. Click on the picture above to see the other one.
Sean is making curry for dinner. I was going to make dinner but it was a little pathetic seeing me stagger around in the kitchen with my cold-induced dizziness. I love his curries.
It was a gorgeous day today. It's often sunny here in the winter, so there are lots of beautiful sunny days. Plus we've had lots of snow so everything is white. Yesterday I had to drive in to work in the snow, which I generally avoid, but I had to present something to the CEO which you kind of can't call in sick for. It sounds more exciting than it is. On the way home, I was coughing uncontrollably while fighting my way up a snow-covered hill in my Fit, behind a sideways truck, a big truck. I was a little concerned for my safety, but probably more focused on getting home to Maple and Sean. Maple had another snow day yesterday.
Maple was just telling me that a little plastic dog that I'd bought her for Christmas two years ago was missing an ear. She said this with great import, like I was supposed to fix it for her. I told her I didn't know where the ear was and I didn't think I could fix it. She wandered away and muttered to her other toys, "It's okay guys, we can shoot the scene without the ear."
Old School
Last year, Maple attended a very interesting school called Sudbury Valley. They just posted a video to their website that was made last year when Maple was there. Check it out and see if you can spot Maple. (You can make the video full screen.) We watched it last night and Maple was excitedly pointing out all her old friends and associates.
Apparently I always describe Sudbury Valley School as "interesting" - see this post.
Apparently I always describe Sudbury Valley School as "interesting" - see this post.
end of year update
About a month ago, I alluded to some news and then promptly fell off the face of the earth, or so I thought. Turns out the earth is round, who knew? So here is the news: we're buying a house!
We've been hesitant to commit to living in Mass; well, it's mostly been me lately who's been heel-dragging. Sean was ready to commit at least six months ago. Who knew I had such an issue with commitment? (Everyone, please lower your hands.) Since I left home, I've moved at least once every few years; first to Vermont, then Philadelphia, then New Jersey, New York, Florida, California, Washington, and now Mass. Since this is officially the snobbiest place we've ever lived, I was pretty sure we were on our way out in another few months. But it (slowly) started becoming clear that our life works here. We both have good jobs, Maple is in a good public school, we love our little townie life where we can walk to the town common, the ATM, the barber, the knitting store, a couple of restaurants. So we got our finances in some semblance of order and started wondering why we were paying someone elses mortgage and living above a chain smoker. (She's the nicest chain smoker in the world, but the smoke still stinks.) After looking around at a few condos in town, we settled on one that's less than a quarter mile from our current residence. We found great financing (the owner of the building is a bank and they are super motivated to sell the rest of the condos in the [new] building) and started thinking that it all just made sense.
For the past month or so we've been haggling over prices and fixes and dates and such. At every opportunity we considered backing out, but I think we're actually going to buy the place. It's really a great condo. There are so many things to love: underground heated parking and storage, elevators, a gym in the building, amazing south-facing windows along the whole condo, a beautiful new kitchen, hardwood and bamboo floors, an enormous walk-in closet, a custom mahogany built-in unit along one wall of the place (you can see the fireplace in this great photo Maple took), custom cement counters in the living room and bathroom, a bathroom that looks like something out of a luxury hotel. I know I'm bragging, but there are some small downsides too - it's right on the commuter rail, so we'll hear the train a lot, and it's also right across from the fire station, so there will be no shortage of noise from there too. Oh and the windows let in a ton of amazing light but you don't really want to look out of them because there's just a big parking lot there. But it's perfect for us, and we can't wait to move in. Maple is even going to have her own room that she doesn't have to share with her dad. (Right now her bedroom is upstairs and she shares it with Sean's office.)
I haven't wanted to post this news yet because technically it could still fall apart. It's like telling everyone you're pregnant during your first trimester. But I think the chances are pretty good that in 2 months we'll have a new address. And a reduced risk of lung cancer.
And as for Seanhog day? The Seanhog unfortunately predicted another few months of winter. Fortunately our den just got really badass.
Ahhhh
So now that Vegan MoFo is over, I've taken a few days off and am feeling refreshed and ready to write something again. This time though, not about food. Just a quick life update.
Maple continues to amaze us with her art. Yesterday she dressed up her doll Ida and then drew her portrait. It is a really good likeness - or was, when Ida was dressed up.
There's a line from a movie that we've often quoted around here since Maple started demonstrating her penchant for art, something like "I just know when to take the pictures away." The character in the movie was a kindergarten teacher who maintained that all kids make great art if you take the pictures away before they draw too much. We sometimes take pictures away from Maple - which occasionally pisses her off, because she wants to cover every bit of white with color - but when we are freaking out over how amazing it is, she usually assents to this. Anyway, we didn't take this portrait of Ida away in time!
I love this time of year. I love the silhouettes of the leafless tree limbs against the dull pastels of the morning skies. I love the fact that we can listen to Christmas music whenever we want without feeling guilty. And I love thinking about little gifts for the people I love. And this year we have some interesting things to think about; Sean is waiting for his own Groundhog's Day - let's call it Seanhog's Day, which will mean either another long year of winter for him, or an early spring. And we're working on another big change around here, but I can't tell you about it yet. More details on all that in a couple of weeks.
Today is the day that all the Natick kids decorate the Christmas Tree on the Common. Maple is a bit sick but we're not going to miss this tradition. We'll bundle up and dash outside for a half an hour or so to make an ornament and hang it on the tree. Sean is doing a rare Sunday shift at work, and I'm going to set my iPhone to a Pandora holiday station and listen to Christmas Music until I vomit.
Maple continues to amaze us with her art. Yesterday she dressed up her doll Ida and then drew her portrait. It is a really good likeness - or was, when Ida was dressed up.
There's a line from a movie that we've often quoted around here since Maple started demonstrating her penchant for art, something like "I just know when to take the pictures away." The character in the movie was a kindergarten teacher who maintained that all kids make great art if you take the pictures away before they draw too much. We sometimes take pictures away from Maple - which occasionally pisses her off, because she wants to cover every bit of white with color - but when we are freaking out over how amazing it is, she usually assents to this. Anyway, we didn't take this portrait of Ida away in time!
I love this time of year. I love the silhouettes of the leafless tree limbs against the dull pastels of the morning skies. I love the fact that we can listen to Christmas music whenever we want without feeling guilty. And I love thinking about little gifts for the people I love. And this year we have some interesting things to think about; Sean is waiting for his own Groundhog's Day - let's call it Seanhog's Day, which will mean either another long year of winter for him, or an early spring. And we're working on another big change around here, but I can't tell you about it yet. More details on all that in a couple of weeks.
Today is the day that all the Natick kids decorate the Christmas Tree on the Common. Maple is a bit sick but we're not going to miss this tradition. We'll bundle up and dash outside for a half an hour or so to make an ornament and hang it on the tree. Sean is doing a rare Sunday shift at work, and I'm going to set my iPhone to a Pandora holiday station and listen to Christmas Music until I vomit.
Day 30: Bowl of Yum and Goodbye
Day 30: Bowl of Yum
Originally uploaded by maple's mama
Farewell Vegan MoFo. It's been fun. I think this month of food blogging and eating is responsible for my fall weight gain. All I did this month was eat or cook or read about food. So now I can join the proud ranks and order Isa's new book. She could not have planned better timing on that.
Tonight dinner was one of Sean's awesome curries. It was so good that I got upset when I found out there weren't enough leftovers for two, but luckily for him he split it in two containers anyway, otherwise I would have subjected him to my treatment of animal cookies.
In this curry we have corn, peas, brown rice, sauteed tofu and field roast, with Sean's own curry sauce which is "just" a coconut based sauce with Thai curry paste but it has a bunch of other ingredients like sauteed garlic and nootch and shoyu and lord only knows what else. It hits every comfort food note there is.
Peace out!
Day 29: Garden of Eden
Well, as usual I fell off the vegan wagon, but this time it was the Vegan MoFo wagon! Nary a bump or a bruise have I, since I will meet the 20 post quota anyway - I believe this is my 24th post. So suck it, all you underachievers.
Egad! Well, I never promised to be nice. On the contrary, I've spent too long being too nice at the expense of the stuff that matters, so I hereby declare that the nice mama is, well, if not dead, then sleeping heavily after an immense Thanksgiving meal.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, Sean made the All American Pot Pie from Veganomicon for the fourth straight year, and it rocked. He has a little secret about how he makes it - I won't give it away, but maybe he will post a comment about it. We spent the feast day with 10 other vegans - or at least people willing to eat vegan food, and there was some truly amazing cooking talent represented. Stupid me, I took no pictures, but I enjoyed myself immensely and I finally know what it's like to gorge one's self at Thanksgiving.
There were traditional things like mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, and utterly nontraditional things which I can't even name but which were decadent and cheer-inducing. Isn't that wonderfully cagey of me? Well anyway, it was good. I've gained at least five pounds, five vegan pounds! Yum. I even made a pie - the Smlove pie from V-Con, and I was too lazy to make the pecans but it was still great.
Tonight's Monday night feast is this peanutty broccoli pasta dish that I found on the back of the pasta box - Eden Kamut Spirals. Aha, here it is. It pretty much rocked.
And now, to bed.
Day 24: Beans and Greens, Southern Style
It was a nice lazy day. Sean worked long hours today and Maple and I hung out at home. For dinner we made smoky collard greens (from Veganomicon) and heated up a can of Amy's baked beans - and then added a splash of apple cider vinegar. This tasted great and was super easy. Maple didn't love it but she ate it all because I told her we'd be making cookies after dinner if she ate all her food. She picked the gigantoid pb oatmeal cookies from VWAV.
"[Food] Coma!"
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