Grand-daughter on Board! November 22, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in God Bless the Child, On the Homefront, Shaking the Family Tree.2 comments
I had a chance to go to the ob/gyn with my daughter last week and see the ultra-sound of my first grand-daughter. Technology is truly wonderful! It was very exciting to see the pictures, hear the doctor’s explanations, and see her move around so happily. The pictures were pretty sharp, too. Sharp enough to count the little toes as she rocked herself back and forth.
She is growing according to plan, and is doing fine in every respect.
Pups on the Run October 20, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront, The Pooper-Scooper Twins.4 comments
The night before my birthday the puppies decided to run away from home.
It’s not the first time they have scampered off – humming “Born Free” as they run – but they had gotten so much better. And there lies the root of the problem! We have been training them to run and jump into the car without their leashes when the car is parked right in front of the house. And usually they do.
Sometimes, though, they don’t…
In Transit October 14, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront.2 comments
Living as we are – out of boxes and suitcases until…? – I feel like I do when I am on board a plane.
Before any flight, I am as busy and as hectic as the next person. There are things to pack (“Has that blouse been washed yet?”) and arrangements to make (“What time should the taxi be here?”) and then that final countdown (“Money? Check! Passport? Check! Tickets?!?!”) before actually boarding the plane.
The More Things Change… October 6, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront.4 comments
…the more they stay the same.
It looks as though the news of my imminent move was slightly premature.
In other words, last minute complications threw a monkey wrench into the works at (almost) literally five minutes to midnight.
After an short-but-intense period of disorientation, we’re picking ourselves back up, brushing ourselves off, and – after a personal health day or two – getting back to the drawing board.
Domestic Update September 2, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront.4 comments
The new lease has been signed, and now we are getting things organized/coordinated for the move.
The upheaval next door hasn’t been solved. There was an incidence of domestic violence at the end of last week that added to the confusion, though it also helped clear up some of the details. ChessMan came back from an evening walk with the pups to find the neighbor outside, shaking in her proverbial boots and crying. Seems she and her young boyfriend had had a slap-up, and she had fled onto the street through the bedroom window. ChessMan brought both of them – he quickly appeared outside once ChessMan began talking with her – into our house while I called the ambulance. We were afraid her hand was broken. Fortunately, her thumb was only dislocated.
While they were here we were told:
Peyton Place in my Neighborhood August 13, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront.6 comments
For the 2nd time in exactly two weeks the police have come because of our new neighbors. In this case, it seems the man is moving out and the women is preventing him from getting his things.
The tale began to unravel when – on a pizza run – ChessMan needed to stop off at the bank to get some cash. On his way he happened to see our new neighbor (female) snuggled up at our local fast food emporium with the guy who I thought was her older son.
How naive I am.
I’m Being Moved! August 9, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront.3 comments
Ok. It’s official. We are moving.
We invited our landlords over last Thursday to tell them about our decision. They are sorry to see us go, but also understand and respect our decision. They’ve also already talked with the new neighbors about some of the issues we brought up (see: earlier entry).
I will be very sorry to leave this house/this neighborhood/this village. I will especially miss my experience working outside in the garden, as well as the opportunity to use the balcony as basically an additional room to live and work outside during the summer months. We have already seen some interesting properties, but still haven’t found that one new space that made us both spontaneously shout. “That’s it!”
“The Red Wheelbarrow” August 3, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in Connecting with the Past.add a comment
When I was in junior high school I had two favorite teachers. One of them was my English teacher. Looking back, it still difficult to see it as just just your normal schoolgirl crush, and as one of the fortunate side-effects this teacher also further fanned the flames of my love of literature. (Actually, both of them did, though the other one taught biology.)
I remember very well how parents veto’d his idea of our reading things like Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse 5“, Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” or Tom Wolfe’s* “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” in class, deeming their content much too advanced and controversial for our impressionable 9th grade intellects. Although we ended up reading John Knowles‘ “A Separate Peace” in class, he established an after-school reading club for those of us who (with parental permission) felt ready and willing to tackle something a bit headier.
What’s Brewing in Paradise? August 2, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront.4 comments
Anyone who has read my most recent posts (or follows me on Facebook or Twitter) knows just how much joy I get out of our garden and balcony. I consider both an extension of my home, and really appreciate the opportunity the balcony provides in good weather as an outdoor workspace. Needless to say, ChessMan and I also enjoy many a cool evening out there with our trusty table grill, and whether we are touching bases about day-to-day details, philosophizing about life in general, or each occupied with our own pursuits (with him it’s usually a difficult sudoku) it’s an aspect of our life that we both appreciate highly.
Until recently, that is.
Workspace July 27, 2009
Posted by caratime2 in On the Homefront.2 comments
I want you to know – I take this “summer mini-office” thing seriously.
Each and every day – weather permitting – my first mission is to set up my office space on our upstairs balcony. In this house we are blessed with an unusually large balcony, which literally sits atop our living room. Whereas our terrace is just a narrow strip of bricks between the house and the 1st level of the garden, the balcony has the actual dimensions of a large room. It’s partly covered with a translucent roof (plus sidings) and partly open to the elements.
