more wearable bacon

For a change, I was prepared for Bacon Wednesday. I had planned to tell you all about a really informative article that appeared in the local rag a few years back, but then this landed in my feed reader, courtesy of Slashfood. Irresistible, I'm afraid. If you're still recovering from the bacon bra, it's probably wise to just skip this one.

reunion

So my 20th college reunion is coming up. It's one of those things I can't wait for, and find scary as all get out at the same time. I spent four years trying to fit in and, for the most part, failed miserably. Yet it was an incredible time in a beautiful place I still love (and would move back to in a heartbeat if the opportunity ever presented).

I am reminded of all the opportunities I didn't take advantage of. I could have learned to play golf for free, even earning PE credit, on a gorgeous course. But no. I was such an idiot. I could have studied a lot more. The beer would have always been there. Some of the faculty I had are no longer with us.

Though I can't imagine any of my classmates would be interested in this blog, should you happen to be a member of the Williams College class of 1988, please go check out our class' reunion website. You can request a song for the dj to play at the dinner dance, see who is coming and when they plan to arrive, and get lots of other updates. And if there's something you would like to see that isn't there, drop me a line, kim at daboo dot name.

a good day for bad news

First comes this news about the Dove "Campaign for Real Beauty" ads. It just made me sad.

Now I get word that LL Bean is discontinuing its relationship with Bank of America, thus ending the steady stream of $10 LL Bean coupons I've been getting every month. I was already sad so I don't know what to make of this news. A very quick check of a few forums leads me to believe I am likely better of without BofA in my life (though I have had no problems with them).

Then, to top it all off, I came within a couple of feet of hitting a very large deer with my van. Urban jungle, indeed.

I should probably be glad I didn't hear anything on the job today.

Two down, three to go

We have two chrysalids!

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a little rain must fall, but this is ridiculous

May Market was this weekend. It's been cold and rainy for days so when it looked like there was a break in the weather this afternoon, I loaded Eleanor into the Ergo on my back and headed over there. The break didn't last as long as expected. About five minutes after we arrived it started to rain again. We managed to get home without getting soaked but it was a challenge. We did a lot of sprinting towards tree-canopied spots in the sidewalk when downpours intensified. A brolly would have been very, very useful.

While at the May Market I spotted two Phil & Ted sport doubles. I have been searching for a used one for about a year now. While I would love the new Vibe, I would settle for any model that has, or can take, the doubles kit. If the kids in the ones I saw had been older I would have made them an offer on the spot but in both cases, the younger child was younger than Eleanor. Someday I will find one, and with any luck it will be before Oliver hits kindergarten.

Since I arrived at May Market on foot with exactly $8, and everyone seemed to take cash only, my purchases were minimal. After a bit of searching, I found the Pittsburgh Iris & Daylily Society's table. I have had daylilies for a few years, thanks to a Clumber friend (the one who is also a wonderful artist). She sent me a few when we bought our last house and I was hooked. They are the perfect plant, blooming beautifully and thriving on neglect. I moved some to the new house, planting them the weekend I went into labor with Eleanor. Though they were mostly sold out, I found one I liked and bought it. It was a little scary though, choosing one all by myself. My friend has chosen all the ones I have for me, and they all look great together. This one will stand out as it is a little bolder in color than my other ones, but I have decided that no garden decision is irreversible, and I can always move it to another spot later (like I did with the hostas I planted last spring and moved last fall).

If you think you can't grow anything, give daylilies a try. Nothing could be easier and the show is delightful.

To come: Peonies! My peonies are starting to open. I may have one ready to photograph tomorrow or the next day.

one of those posts

When I have nothing interesting to say I ramble on about whatever we've been up to. (I fear twitter is getting my best material.) This kind of post is incredibly boring. If not for blog365 I would fold up the MacBook and go to bed. 

Oliver and I headed out this morning for the library to see a puppet show. He's a big fan of Anansi and that was on the menu. During our stop at Starbuck's we ran into the mom of one his buddies. It seems she was waiting for her husband, kids, and another friend with his two kids, also heading to the puppet show. These happened to be two families that missed the insanity of the birthday party so it was nice to see them all again. As we were leaving, the kids got balloon animals and we walked back to one of the family's houses for lunch. The kids had a blast, I got to talk to adults and eat a great lunch...a good time all around.

Eleanor was waking up from a very late nap when I got home so I got Oliver down for his nap, fed the girl, and headed out with her to get a picnic table. We love the teak furniture on our back porch, but it leaves no room for kids when we have friends over. I wasn't sure about the "seating on four sides model" but CD pronounced it acceptable. With any luck, we will get to try it out tomorrow, though the friends we are planning to see did not confirm today. They rarely do. And frequently bail on plans we make, but we love them anyway. If you're reading, I got beer! 

Other random notes:

• I am still sweating the job. It really is like deja vu all over again. The last time I spent six weeks checking my email every 10 seconds. It would not be good to do that again.
  
• Eleanor's walking continues to improve rapidly. Yesterday she figured out how to stand up without pulling up on something. Oliver did this after he had been walking well for about a month. She is still taking just a few steps here and there, but is a little steadier and more confident every day.
  
• Target has some amazing (and cheap) stuff for enjoying the lovely weather (that we are not currently having -- see below).  It's all party of the Cynthia Rowley "whim" line. I could have filled my cart, and then some, in the two aisles they occupy in my store. CD won't believe it but I was very restrained. The battery operated bubble shooter is especially cool. I resisted getting the pink garden hose.
• I would like it to stop being rainy and cold. That is all.
  

get me some....fudge

I'm not sure what sounds best, the fudge, the wine, or the other stuff, but go read for yourself.

Lunch date

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it only took six months

I'm just another mommy blogger, raking in the cash.

Tissue? I hardly know you!

This is what happens when a 13 month old (tomorrow) is left alone in her room for 30 seconds and she discovers the tissue box.

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