A few pictures with Noni and Poppy from our recent visit
Lucy sporting a homemade crown and bracelets
And getting all dressed up in Daddy's clothes
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
for native New Jersians or those who like to visit
Oh, you know how I love song lyrics. I wanted to link you up to this Steve Forbert song but couldn't find a place online where all can listen to it.
Not many songs about NJ out there (that aren't written by that airhead Bruce Springsteen, anyway) and maybe no others that mention Hohokus (which I don't think I have ever said without cracking up).
Strange Names
I'm from Piscataway, I'm going that-a-way,
West on the Jersey map, out towards the Water Gap,
I've seen Parsippany, northwest of Whippany,
Mahwah to Hackensack, I've made the trip and back,
Strange names, north New Jersey's got 'em,
Them strange names towns,
Hoboken's got me stressed, I'm going to motor west,
Out Succasunna way, Netcong or Rockaway,
North New Jersey's got strange names towns a lot,
Your cool local spot may or it may have not,
I've seen Paramus, well, that's next to Oradell,
Hohokus takes the cake, wait, that'd be Cheesequake!
Oh, h-ho ho,
Oh, h-ho Ho-ho-kus
Strange names, north New Jersey's got 'em,
I'm from Piscataway, I'm going that-a-way
Not many songs about NJ out there (that aren't written by that airhead Bruce Springsteen, anyway) and maybe no others that mention Hohokus (which I don't think I have ever said without cracking up).
Strange Names
I'm from Piscataway, I'm going that-a-way,
West on the Jersey map, out towards the Water Gap,
I've seen Parsippany, northwest of Whippany,
Mahwah to Hackensack, I've made the trip and back,
Strange names, north New Jersey's got 'em,
Them strange names towns,
Hoboken's got me stressed, I'm going to motor west,
Out Succasunna way, Netcong or Rockaway,
North New Jersey's got strange names towns a lot,
Your cool local spot may or it may have not,
I've seen Paramus, well, that's next to Oradell,
Hohokus takes the cake, wait, that'd be Cheesequake!
Oh, h-ho ho,
Oh, h-ho Ho-ho-kus
Strange names, north New Jersey's got 'em,
I'm from Piscataway, I'm going that-a-way
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
What NBC Refused to Show at the SuperBowl
I know, I'm behind on the times, this happened a whole month ago. And I'm sure many of you have come across it by now. I'm not much for public service-type ads, but thought this one from CatholicVote was simple and thought provoking.
This puts arguments about abortion and a good life into perspective-- who's to say what child will and will not potentially have a good life? How can you argue, as Speaker Pelosi did, that some children will be productive and cost effective, and others will not?
I wonder what CahtolicVote means-- I certainly hope it doesn't mean to vote for Catholic politicians! So many of them (current VP and house speaker included) come off as being cheerfully ignorant, like smiling bobble heads. Then again, its never the best and brightest of any people group that gets voted into office, is it?
This puts arguments about abortion and a good life into perspective-- who's to say what child will and will not potentially have a good life? How can you argue, as Speaker Pelosi did, that some children will be productive and cost effective, and others will not?
I wonder what CahtolicVote means-- I certainly hope it doesn't mean to vote for Catholic politicians! So many of them (current VP and house speaker included) come off as being cheerfully ignorant, like smiling bobble heads. Then again, its never the best and brightest of any people group that gets voted into office, is it?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Places
My home, right now, is in Kentucky. For the longest time I felt restless traveling back North, first because I missed New Jersey then because I scorned it. This was the first trip where I was comfortable being there and still glad to come home. I wonder why?
Another thought on home-- I feel at home in Tacoma, a place I'd never laid eyes on until I was 20 years old. But it is Alan's old stomping ground, the place where his parents still live and where his family has roots. Maybe it is being married, the weaving of two lives together that's caused it, but I almost feel nostalgic being in Washington-- am I deceiving myself?-- as if a little piece of me has always been there.
bell hooks wrote a book about place that I should get around to reading one of these days. Maybe she, a Kentucky lady who's lived all over, can help me sort out the deep connection I now feel to a number of scattered places.
"On the way, on the way home
I saw a rainbow beneath my feet,
flowing over the filthy street.
It’s a long, it’s a long way
back to the place where we used to sit
when you and I were just little kids.
The time we had is not gone.
The way we chose was the long one.
The time we had is not gone." - The Mother Hips
Another thought on home-- I feel at home in Tacoma, a place I'd never laid eyes on until I was 20 years old. But it is Alan's old stomping ground, the place where his parents still live and where his family has roots. Maybe it is being married, the weaving of two lives together that's caused it, but I almost feel nostalgic being in Washington-- am I deceiving myself?-- as if a little piece of me has always been there.
bell hooks wrote a book about place that I should get around to reading one of these days. Maybe she, a Kentucky lady who's lived all over, can help me sort out the deep connection I now feel to a number of scattered places.
"On the way, on the way home
I saw a rainbow beneath my feet,
flowing over the filthy street.
It’s a long, it’s a long way
back to the place where we used to sit
when you and I were just little kids.
The time we had is not gone.
The way we chose was the long one.
The time we had is not gone." - The Mother Hips
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Valentine's Day
Just a short reflection in honor of St. Valentine's Day. Being in love, living with someone, having a relationship... these are not always easy things to bear. But to all of you out there who, like me, have a person you love with you every day you have a reason to rejoice.
When I was single my view of marriage was rather utilitarian-- I thought it was a way to combat loneliness, the proper context for having and raising kids, a way to refine the inner person into someone more virtuous. While it is all these things, I never could have seen what was hiding in the cracks and crannies of marriage: solidarity, renewal, forgiveness, lightheartedness, and the chance to truly know another person in a way not possible before.
"Lovers come and then lovers go
That's what the people say
Don't they know
How it feels when you love me
Hold me and say you care
And what we have is much more than they can see
Yes what we have is much more than they can see" -George Benson
"You and me together
Through the days and nights
I dont worry cause
Everythings gonna be alright
People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you" -Alicia Keys
When I was single my view of marriage was rather utilitarian-- I thought it was a way to combat loneliness, the proper context for having and raising kids, a way to refine the inner person into someone more virtuous. While it is all these things, I never could have seen what was hiding in the cracks and crannies of marriage: solidarity, renewal, forgiveness, lightheartedness, and the chance to truly know another person in a way not possible before.
"Lovers come and then lovers go
That's what the people say
Don't they know
How it feels when you love me
Hold me and say you care
And what we have is much more than they can see
Yes what we have is much more than they can see" -George Benson
"You and me together
Through the days and nights
I dont worry cause
Everythings gonna be alright
People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you" -Alicia Keys
Monday, February 9, 2009
Since we've been back in Kentucky, we have had a string of events-- two baby girls born to dear friends, a buddy's elopement, a birth announcement, knee surgery for my mother-in-law, and updates from our loved ones across the country. And the weather is lovely, a warm and breezy 70 that makes for perfect walks. The moon is full and high, opposite the sky from shining Venus, some of the better northern constellations dancing in between.
Alan and I have had a chance to read about the virtues, spun some new thoughts on feminist philosophy, visited with our friends in town, and Lucy has worked on all her animal names today. RCIA class (catechism class) was all about marriage and we were able to glean quite a bit from our teachers. And I've started a new project for work, which is always good news.
We had such a lovely trip to New Jersey and a few very nice days to welcome us back home.
Alan and I have had a chance to read about the virtues, spun some new thoughts on feminist philosophy, visited with our friends in town, and Lucy has worked on all her animal names today. RCIA class (catechism class) was all about marriage and we were able to glean quite a bit from our teachers. And I've started a new project for work, which is always good news.
We had such a lovely trip to New Jersey and a few very nice days to welcome us back home.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Few Little Adventures
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
I get high with a little help from my friends
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.
-The Beatles
The first adventure involved our electricity going out. The ice storm in Kentucky peaked on Wednesday and we lost power that morning. Though we made it through a good part of the day at our house, our friends Amberly and Ryan took us in for a nice warm dinner. We also found friends and neighbors to help us wash dirty diapers and keep an eye on the house. And while we shivered through that first night well enough, our friends Dru and Adam let us stay with them until Saturday morning (unending thanks to all of you!).
That is when we set off for New Jersey. Our flights went well. Lucy was very happy to see her Noni and Poppy on the other end. Since our arrival we've enjoyed good food, lively conversation, and catching up with my folks. Lucy is trying her hardest to coax Gus into a friendship, but he just barks and runs away when she calls out "Pup! Pup!" We'll have a chance to see relatives this week and go up to Nyack for a little visit.
It is so nice to have a respite in between Alan's classes, and for the first time since we've moved I appreciate the onslaught of traffic, the crabby faces, the comforts of my home state. If I'm diligent I will post a few pictures of the whole affair after we return.
Buildings an' people down under the skies
I walk down the street lookin' out through my eyes
Where it's dirty for dirty, it's an eye for an eye
It's a tooth for a tooth an' a sigh for a sigh
An' ev'rything's edgy like musical chairs
An' ev'ryone's lookin', but who really cares?
I'm 's'posed t' be happy, I'm here where it's at
I'm a face in the crowd, I'm a big city cat.
-Steve Forbert
I get high with a little help from my friends
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.
-The Beatles
The first adventure involved our electricity going out. The ice storm in Kentucky peaked on Wednesday and we lost power that morning. Though we made it through a good part of the day at our house, our friends Amberly and Ryan took us in for a nice warm dinner. We also found friends and neighbors to help us wash dirty diapers and keep an eye on the house. And while we shivered through that first night well enough, our friends Dru and Adam let us stay with them until Saturday morning (unending thanks to all of you!).
That is when we set off for New Jersey. Our flights went well. Lucy was very happy to see her Noni and Poppy on the other end. Since our arrival we've enjoyed good food, lively conversation, and catching up with my folks. Lucy is trying her hardest to coax Gus into a friendship, but he just barks and runs away when she calls out "Pup! Pup!" We'll have a chance to see relatives this week and go up to Nyack for a little visit.
It is so nice to have a respite in between Alan's classes, and for the first time since we've moved I appreciate the onslaught of traffic, the crabby faces, the comforts of my home state. If I'm diligent I will post a few pictures of the whole affair after we return.
Buildings an' people down under the skies
I walk down the street lookin' out through my eyes
Where it's dirty for dirty, it's an eye for an eye
It's a tooth for a tooth an' a sigh for a sigh
An' ev'rything's edgy like musical chairs
An' ev'ryone's lookin', but who really cares?
I'm 's'posed t' be happy, I'm here where it's at
I'm a face in the crowd, I'm a big city cat.
-Steve Forbert
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