For years I kept journals -- in composition, spiral bound, and French graph paper books. This blog is an attempt to get back to writing and documenting the world around me using photos, newspaper headlines, and other articles.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Snow!

Yesterday in preparation for the nor'easter we expected, Selim and I spent time in the backyard and in the front, raking up leaves.  We filled 4 1/2 big bags. I forgot what a work out that can be.  Turns out it was a good thing that we didn't procrastinate until after Selim's classmate's birthday party, because it was snowing as we biked/ran home.








The forecast was for a trace to 6" and I think we got between 4-5.  Some areas of the state saw way more.  Mom thought they got about 14".  Selim wanted to go out before bed and just be in the snow; he was that excited.






Since widespread power outages were a possibility, we kept our heat on last night.  That made for a poor night of sleeping for me.  I went out to the couch around 5:00am and turned on the TV to find out the USC had lost in triple overtime to Stanford. Boo.  Selim came out at 6:00 and wanted to start shoveling immediately.  I held him off until 6:30.  It was still dark when we were out on the driveway, moving snow.  Ridiculous, but he was happy.







I had hoped that I could spend more time today in my quest to rid my house of crap.  I cleaned out one corner, but instead I spend more time outside while my boy played in the snow.  Also I made banana and French breads, lasagna, and did five loads of laundry.  Chores won out over declutter.  Oh well.

I don't mind the snow, but Selim loves it.  He was so disappointed this afternoon when the sun came out and the temperature rose to about 50 and it started melting.  He asked me if it was going to snow tomorrow.  For me, I like the winter because I can get him outside playing or shoveling.  He will move snow from one side of the driveway to another.  In the fall, when it is cold and the ground is bare, it is hard to get him out in the fresh air.  So I didn't mind hanging out on the front step, with my face in the sun, as he made big snowballs and rolled them down the street.  Declutter can wait for another day.





Thursday, October 27, 2011

First snow?

World Series, game 6: and Texas has already scored in the first.  If the Rangers win tonight, they win the series.  I'm rooting for St. Louis for two reasons, the cardinal is Selim's favorite bird and one of their pitchers is from Bedford, NH.  Otherwise, I don't care much who wins; I just like watching the games.

Before Selim got off the bus today I took in my mountain of dry cleaning.  I hadn't taken in my suits and sweaters yet from London.  The dry cleaner that I frequent posts a trivia question on the write on/wipe off board behind the register.  If you guess correctly, they take 15% off your total.  Obviously, you can only guess once, when you drop off.  Today's question was football related: who won the 1st Superbowl.  I guessed correctly, the Green Bay Packers.  The guy standing behind me in line was duly impressed.  And I saved $12.00.  Go me!

I took Selim to work this afternoon for a Halloween party.  We missed the parade because of his school, but we did get to walk around saying hi and picking up candy.  He was very polite, thanking everybody and not fussing too much when somebody told him how much he has grown.  When offered candy, he would reach in and take one or two pieces.  Some people told him that he could take more, and would say, "No thanks; I'm fine."  In years past, he has said the same thing.  It is nice to know that greed hasn't taken a firm hold on him yet.  He could have had so much more candy but he was very content with what he received.  When we got back, he spread out his loot in the library room and counted out 36 items -- including candy, pink vampire teeth, play dough, and a plastic black bat ring.  He was very pleased. 

According to the weatherman, we may get our first snow tonight.  It is raining right now, but the cold front is blowing in from the west and with it, snow.  I talked with Mom tonight and there is already an inch there.  If I didn't have to get up so early, I would try to get up at midnight and see if the switch has taken place.  Just two and a half weeks ago I was swimming in the ocean and now I'm wondering about snow.  Crazy.

Cardinals are up 2-1, top of the second.  I don't think I will be able to stay awake for the end.  Early bed time is the story of my life.  I don't have the owl genes in me.  Cinderella got busted at midnight.  For me, pumpkin time comes at 10:00.

Monday, October 24, 2011

An overnight

Some disjointed thoughts on a Monday evening.  Selim is asleep in his own bed (yeah!), Nedim is dozing at the computer and I'm watching the World Series, game 5 in the bedroom.  St. Louis leads the Texas Rangers 2-0 in the second inning...

After karate on Saturday, Selim and I went to the Ashram for an overnight.  The hour and 20 minute drive is more interesting for me, now that he stays awake for more and more of the drive.  Occasionally we will pass by a house or a business and he will tell me that he has never seen it before.  He might not have, as he used to be asleep for the duration of the journey.  On Saturday, he fell asleep at the Tilton exit with only 15 minutes to go. 

Nedim and I bought him a hand-held computer game device for his birthday.  I said he could bring it over to show Grampy and Jacob, but that he couldn't spend time playing with it during play time with Jacob.  Game playing isn't intuitive for me and it wasn't for Robert either.  He kept asking Selim how he knew what to do?  There aren't any instructions.  I'm not curious enough to try it out, yet.  Selim did enjoy the audiences while showing it off.








Selim and Jacob carved pumpkins together.  They had fun getting out the slimy pumpkin pulp and seeds.  Even though they kept saying how gross it was, they had huge smiles on their faces.  We roasted the seeds on Sunday and they were tasty.  Halloween in this weekend.  I think this will be the first one that we experience at home.  We won't be going back over to do Osgood road on Monday night.  It is a school night and just too much to go back over.  Since Selim now knows more kids in our neighborhood, I think he will have fun going to the houses that he knows.








Sunday morning Robert had made a treasure hunt for Selim.  He had hid the light saber and left notes that Selim read (yeah!) that sent him all over the house trying to find what had happened to his stuffed animal friends and his light saber.  Turns out a ghost had been holding them hostage and was trying to leave the building when the friends hopped on the like-a-bike and light sabered him (if that is a term).  It is so sweet that every morning we have ever spent with Mom and Robert, they have created a tableau involving Selim's friends.  He wakes up and immediately asks what the friends are doing.  He has wandered out to the living room to find the friends looking through microscopes, reading, hiding -- just doing fun things.  Lately, to encourage Selim's reading, and because Selim loves treasure maps, clues are part of the deal.




Nedim and I were talking about community last week and I told him that even though I love my job, our house and living near the ocean -- my community is the Ashram and the School.  My roots connect me to that 200 acre site and the people that live there, went to school and remain connected to one or the other institutions.  I want to get back.  I want Selim to go to school there.  I can't see how to make it work right this moment, but I hope we can down the road.

I thought while I was up there that I would be able to take pretty foliage pictures.  Most of the brilliant red leaves have fallen and now the brown oaks are at their peak.  I had thought that I would be able to pull over to the side of the road if I found a great tree, but it didn't work out that way.  Either traffic was moving too fast for me to pull over and take the photo, or the shoulder wasn't wide enough for me to get over and feel safe getting out of the car.  The foliage season at the coast has been odd.  The big maple tree in our yard has dropped most of the leaves before they turned color.  It has not been the best year for leaf peeping.








Saturday, October 22, 2011

Catching a glimpse

While Mom was cooking dinner and Selim played soccer outside with Jacob, I sat down at Robert's computer and looked through his pictures from this summer.  What a treat!  I got to catch a glimpse into Selim's summer -- from his first swimming lessons to full on leaping into the lake; Squam Lakes Science Center and the Montshire Museum; canoeing, having fun with family and his first day of school.  All days that I missed, but due to Heather and Robert's diligent photography, I got to enjoy today. 

Here are some of my favorites:







This afternoon I went to the outlet mall to find some pants for Selim.  He has become finicky in his pants requirement.  He doesn't like his pants too long nor too wide.  He doesn't want to wear his painter pant jeans anymore, as the legs are too "chubby."  He prefers "skinny" jeans.  Who knew boys were so particular about clothing?  But I'm learning that I'm not the only parent of an elementary school boy who is dealing with a strong willed, fashion minded lad.  So I capitulated and bought two more skinny-legged pants.  I'll keep the cargo style for winter, when wearing layers becomes more important than aesthetics.  School pictures are taken this week, so I bought a nice sweater and a long-sleeved polo shirt.  Either one will should look nice.

Tonight is the USC - Notre Dame football game.  They are playing in South Bend -- the first night game in 21 years.  This game always reminds me of my advisor at MHC.  She was a Notre Dame fan and during my college years, she had the bragging rights more years than I.  But in the pre-game hype, USC has won eight of the last nine.  Here's to a night of Trojan success!  I'm sure I'll be asleep before the game ends.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Happy Birthday

My Dearest Selim,

You are such a big seven years old today.  You have grown from 2 lbs 3 oz and 15" to a strapping 44 lb kid.  I'm so proud of you.  Today you were the Lucky Duck at school -- getting to be the line leader, taker of attendance and all around special guy.  You came racing off the bus wearing a red crown, so happy and full of life. 






I was looking at some photos from you first days.  It is hard to believe that you were really that tiny.  I remember all the tubes, tape, machines, blipping sounds and small hats that surrounded you those first months as if it were just a few weeks ago.  You were our miracle then and we still think of you that way today.











So, to my Turkish warrior boy, may you continue to grow in stature as well as health, wisdom, compassion, humility, strength, perserverance, grace, and good nature.  I love you with all my heart.  I am so lucky that your soul decided to come into my life.  I have been forever changed and enriched by your presence.








Much, much love,
Mom