H is for a heavy heart, or, I is for insomnia.

I learned last night that my father was in the hospital. Odd symptoms. Of course I learned this many days after the fact, and my brother has known all along. The rational is that they don't want to "upset me." This latest round of not-knowing has left me a bit numb to the tactic. I've dealt with some measure of bad news in my life, and I suspect I'll deal with more... I don't understand their motive, though I don't feel it is malicious, any more than I understand someone keeping a kitten locked up, isolated, for days, away from its kitty pal and playful people, expecting it to emerge More affectionate, (a recent suggestion for a skittish kitten).

In the future I'll tell my kids the good and the bad news, and we will keep playing with the kitten, who is becoming more friendly.

The internet is really no help any longer for teasing out medical problems. There is way too much information and sites like WebMD have become so complicated that they don't lead to answers, only more questions and a lot of advertising for drugs. Instead I turned to my trusted, printed, c.1990, Medical Dictionary which lead me to lots of answers and more questions to ask my folks when I call later.

In the meantime, sleep only lasted until about 4:30, then I read about investing, played Scrabble on my phone (a first for me), brushed my teeth... finally just got up and put the Medical Dictionary away on the library shelves that need organizing in January 2010.

M is for Missing ... K & J!

K is coming home on Tuesday night! Wa-hooo! I haven't laughed once, not once! since he has been at camp! Boo hoo hoo. Well, maybe once... I miss his silliness, having his friends around, his singing, talking about the news with him and the cello! He broke his right middle finger at camp, not sure how that will affect his cello-ing. His hand is taped up like a sharp shooter.

Tonight N & M were singing a song, well, 2 songs, not at all similar to each other though sung at the same time ... for J! They miss him the Most they say. He is both of their [?] best friend and their favorite brother. I can write this because I know that tomorrow they will say that K is their favorite ... what a fickle family of favorites. I miss his sweetness, his spontaneous kisses, his imagination and believe it or not his whistling! I also miss reading to him.

We've saved a few weeks worth of the funny pages for them both to fight over!

I don't miss the extra laundry, which I am getting 100% caught up on -- now that I've rinsed my last tie dye ever. School starts Wednesday for J! (C & I are really happy for him. The new school will be fantastic!) I'll just drop J & N off and take K & J's bags from camp directly to the Soap Box Laundromat and let Joyce work her magic -- then I'll come home and incinerate the boys' shoes. :P

House Update: My goal was to have the house "landed" before school starts. Every room.

GARAGE: Getting more and more there. H Bike, huge fan, wire equipt., tie dye materials, clay etc. now have a place to call their own. The entire space is now overrun with school supplies & donations, and of course the tub/misc. stuff to sell. Tie dye and clay are neat and tidy and put away. Still need to move and sell or donate the tub, then I can park INSIDE the garage. Huge sofa-holding-cardboard boxes are gone. Donation stuff needs to go.

DINING ROOM: Almost useable for working in. Will have Project party to celebrate the landed room. Sewing projects are in boxes, fabric is folded and tidy, do-dads are in boxes. To mend pile needs attention and to be done, at night.

LAUNDRY ROOM: So close! The floor is visible (a flood helped). Must iron all the wadded up stuff and fabric for quilt edges. Moved it into the family room, which violates a new rule: All laundry stays in Laundry Room -- didn't want to get dye on it as I rinsed out the tie dye. Amazing amount of clothes, table cloths, towels, getting rid of lots of it actually.

MASTER BEDROOM: Perfection. Simple. Empty. Clean.

ENTRY WAY: Clean. Counter useable for the "don't forget as you go out the door" spot! L------ville is up and looks fun, complete with new architecture, touched up buildings, stars and N's new fort. :)

B is for Bapa!

This is my dad. He is funny and generous with everyone and ... I could go on. We love him.

iPhone pictures... couldn't figure out what the problem was. Then I looked at the little goo covered lens.

u is for unsystematic

Art by M on my iPhone, emailed to me.

K and his friend.

The Celestial Kingdom resembles my glittered filled desk.
Being only Terrestrial, this took a long while to clean up... there is still glitter everywhere. Shame. This was from the middle of December.

Hot glue and glitter are a good combination. Take care though, this is a Hazardous combination. Great for fast glitter application. (Thanks Hiedi for the inspiration.) Remember: glitter heats up!
This was a card for my tech-savvy Dad's most recent birthday... we made a short puppet show and sent it to him via YouTube, so he could watch it on his Apple.

H is for Happy, Happy Father's Day!

There are some great fathers about this family. Here is a shout-out to two of them! Big kisses and hugs! Bapa I wish I could give you the kisses in person. Soon? I'll figure out the printer too! Promise.



Meanwhile, C is happy (seen here as a beast of burden, with emo-style hair [S's pal's commentary]... just what every Dad wants for Father's Day: his very own riding lawn mower. Seriously. Here he is rockin' to the Flobots while happily mowin'& a growin'...

O is for Oooof, what a way to wind down a day.

GET THIS: (This helped to pull S out of her Self (Ugh.))
M KNOCKED OUT/OVER TWO OF HER FRONT SIDE TOP TEETH TONIGHT. With help from K's pal's foot and the trampoline. Just an accident. After a fast visit to Dr. Pitts they are back in place. She can't eat any thing hard for two weeks. Thumb sucking is actually good for her.
She was a perfect patient. It hurt quite a lot and she didn't create a scene. Bapa called her a "special dish" today... not the "regular #18"?

Tomorrow I hope to post my police report! (I called 911 to report a reckless driver. The 911 operator asked me to pull over too. M and I saw the guy tested and arrested...! Crazy.) It has been some day. April 1st.

M is for Monday Fashion :: the M & B edition!

Recently seen on the streets of trend-setting San Francisco: M and Bapa making a bold statement together.

The heppest seasonal accessory is the vest. Sherpa and pink satin for the 4 year old set and the dark chocolate brown for the more seasoned gentleman. Shoes? Black patten leather is a must. Tops? Leave subtlety at the door, adorn yourself with fuchsia cashmere. Small pattern shirts always work, especially when paired with stripped tights and contrasting pattern and colors. The Pièce de résistance is the NoelleO skirt -- so hot its cool. Also, plastic accessories, practical and balanced, are the rage this early Spring.

Equally important is attitude: Always port yourself with a smile and a spring in your step. This is a must for any age of fashionista/o. Of course this is easier with a beautiful brunette at your side or your very favoritest, and funniest, Beau Brummel. Simply: Surround yourself with the very best!