it's been a while

I've been too busy just plain living life - too much going on and no inclination to document it. The new year has nothing to do with my posting for the first time in ages. Really. really.

Small pockets of grief have stayed with me this past fall and winter season. Grief over the plights of so many around me who are in unfortunate and dire circumstances. Frustration that I can't do more to alleviate some of that pain. Do the efforts of the individual count? Only locally, and in a small way. These are bleak times.

And having said that, I find joy in these grief-filled spaces. Love for my family. Standing in the backyard for a few minutes and listening to the ambient sounds of the 'hood. Reading library books while tucked away in my flannel sheets. Putting on quiet emotional music while cooking comfort food.

But anyway. I'm looking forward to this year. I feel that good things are going to happen, and the existing good things will be maintained. Not much to complain about, right?

fall = soup

We're all feeling under the weather, and I made some soup last night to combat that stuffy head feeling. I used:

6-ish cups of chicken broth (from scratch) that had been patiently waiting in the freezer to be used.
1 bunch of lacinto kale, roughly chopped
1 can of white kidney beans
lots of freshly ground pepper
generous amount of bacon salt

Bring broth to boil. Throw in kale and simmer until the kale is tender, around five to ten minutes, depending on how large the pieces are. Add beans. Season with bacon salt and pepper to taste. Serve in large bowls and enjoy. Don't burn your tongue. Serves 3-4 adults as a main course.

what I miss about Chicago

1. Summer concerts at Ravinia. laying on the picnic blanket at dusk, full of wine and whatever we threw together for dinner, listening to classical music, watching the fireflies swirl in the sky above.

2. Fox & Obel. my almost perfect grocery store. Almost perfect because it was nowhere near where we lived post-grad school, when we actually had money to splurge on food now and again.

3. the El. best place and time to read a book and listen to the iPod is on the commute to and from work. on creaking wooden tracks, no less.

4. Lincoln Square. we should've just rented here for the duration of our sojourn in Chicago. Lincoln Square had it all - food, movie theater, grog, shops, awesome toy store, Brown Line stations, farmers' market, all kinds of street fairs and music fun. I can't write any more. It's too sad.

5. Lake Shore Drive. it is a pretty drive, even during the evil rush hour.

6. Julius Meinl. for meeting friends and feeling rather Euro.

7. Paper Source. ok, there are outposts in SF, but there is the glorious sort of semi-annual warehouse sale where I've scored way too many cool things.

8. all those parks.

9. our house. never shall we find a comparable abode here.

10. the people I left behind. all the cool moms, kids, friends, and co-workers. At least we'll always have Facebook.

the kindergarten follow-up, two weeks later

So far, Z's kindergarten experience is a positive, exciting one. She loves it. I'm glad. And relieved. And feeling validated about our school choice. The only thing she's complained about is the lack of a two-hour nap time. This is from the child who refused to nap from day one.

1st day of kindergarten

Z started kindergarten today. She’s been outfitted with a new matching backpack and lunchbox set. With a horse theme. I said she should pick her clothes out, and this is what she chose.

Unfortunately, that outfit wasn’t much protection against the morning chill while we were waiting in the schoolyard. Z was complaining that her legs were cold. She eventually decided to lay down on the asphalt on her backpack, like a turtle that got flipped onto its shell. Fortunately it was soon time for the morning assembly. The entire school formed a large circle, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and listened to some announcements from the new principal.

Everyone walked en masse to the kindergarten pod. Z was on the subdued side of her personality but was responsive. We saw her settle into the circle of kids for circle time and waved goodbye when the parents were asked to leave.

Her verdict when we picked her up? “It was okay.” Which means success!

of course I Mad Men'ed myself too.

It's just a coincidence that D-Money bears a resemblance to Don Draper.

inexplicably happy and aimless

The weekend started with our Friday ritual Ferry Building dinner and wine with a chocolate mousse cake from Safeway (do NOT laugh because it was good. and moist, the way a proper cake should be) because it was Big Daddy D's birthday. We sat at the table and talked. More accurately, he and I sat at the table and talked, and the kidlets ran around playing some loud game of their own devising.

We slept in today - 7:30 a.m., people! - and lazed around. Around lunchtime, Zoe and I will be headed to her swimming class. Then back home for a quick lunch before we all head out to see Up at the local three-screen theater. After that, who knows? Maybe a pit stop at the playground, maybe grabbing some frozen yogurt. For once, I'm not worrying over being late, not getting relatively inconsequential tasks done. I don't even have a to-do checklist for the next two days!

We don't often get the eventless weekend anymore, and these open-ended days of rest are greatly valued by me. My lists are good for organization and a reality check, but some days it's great to shred those and see what happens with the day. Like today. And you know what, I'm happy, happier than I've been in a long while. There is something to this work/life balance thing.