Om Shanti Shanti

I do this only for Batty:

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says: Then you've made a different choice, and you're not a film-maker per se (it's one of Clive's books)
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can...what do you touch first? Christmas cards I need to respond to.
3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? LOST (for me), Pingu (them)
4. Without looking, what time is it? 10pm
5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time? 10:17pm
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? traffic on the 405  (I pretend it's the ocean)
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? leaving work on the way to Trader Joe's for a milk run.
8. What are you wearing right now? old black yoga/house pants and camisole
9. What did you dream about last night? nothing
10. When did you last laugh? leaving work tonight chatting with co-worker
11. What's on the walls of the room you're in? paintings and photographs, Clive's guitar, a whole slew of bookshelves, books/DVDs and knick-knacks
12. What's the most memorable experience you've ever had? happy ones: Travels, childbirth, and watching thunderstorms with my dad
13. What's the last film you saw? Tropic Thunder (me), Barbie's Magic of the Effing Rainbow (them)
14. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first? clothing, a house, AC for Clive's car, violin lessons for Queenie
15. If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?  this one requires too much thought
16. Do you like to dance? yes, but am self-conscious
17. Imagine your first child is a girl. What would you name her? Queenie took that honor
18. Boy? Oscar or Harry, after my grandfather
19. Would you ever consider living abroad? in a heartbeat
20. What time did you get up this morning? 1 am and again at 6:40
21. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds, but I've always wanted an opera-length pearl necklace
22. What's your favorite TV show? Mad Men
23. What did you have for breakfast this morning? coffee, SpitSpot's leftover OJ and banana (I think)
24. What's your favorite cuisine? Japanese 
25. What foods do you dislike? fried dough and fried scallops, marmite
26. What is your favorite chip flavor? barbeque
27. What's your favorite song at the moment? Shake it (guilty pleasure) and new Jenny Lewis to alleviate the guilt
28. What kind of car do you drive right now? 2003 Subaru Outback
29. What was your first car? 1976 Ford Torino station wagon, silver/primer colored with a stick on clock on the dash
30. Favorite sandwich? Grilled cheese?
31. What characteristics do you despise? ignorance, meanness, selfishness and stinginess, disloyalty
32. What is your favorite article of clothing? a black cowl neck top and vintage alligator dance platforms I never wear
33. What color is your bathroom? white and beige with blue tile
34. What is your favorite brand of clothing? stuff out of my budget
35. Where would you/did you retire to? the ocean
36. Favorite time of the day? morning
37. What was your most memorable birthday? the last in Big Sur and San Francisco with a best friend was lovely
38. Where were you born? Boston, MA
39. What fabric detergent do you use? Dye and Smell-Free stuff
40. Were you named after anyone? yes - middle name after my great grandmother Anna
41. Do you wish on stars? yep
42. When did you last cry? today in frustration, yesterday because I am a sap
43. Do you like your handwriting? yes, thank you
44. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? yes, I amuse myself
45. Are you a daredevil? a cautious one!
46. Do looks matter? I live in LA.
47. How do you release anger? I yell and mutter, depending. On a good day, I find a quiet place and breathe, or take a spin class
48. What were your favorite toys as a child? Baby Alive, spin art, Fisherprice 3 men in a tub bath toy, my bike
49. What class in high school was totally useless? all useful, actually
50 Favorite movies? Babe, old RomComs with Cary Grant, The Third Man, Rushmore, too many to list
51. What are your nicknames? Jen, Jen-Jenny
52. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? yes
53. Do you think that you are strong? I'm Russian for chrissake
54. What's your favorite ice cream flavor? vanilla-based ones, or black raspberry with chocolate sprinkles
55. What are your favorite colors? greens and blues 
57. Who do you miss the most? my mom
58. If you were a crayon what color would you be? black.
59. Last person you talked to on the phone? I left a message for a friend in SF
60. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? presence.
61. Favorite drink? tea, red wine, martinis, lemonade, diet coke
62. Do you wear contacts? no
63. Favorite day of the year? a day with no arguing, out with family and friends
64. Do you prefer your endings happy or sad?  happy's nice, but anything artful will work
65. Winter or summer? I love winter in LA but need some snow. Anything over 75/80 is too hot for me.
66. What is your favorite dessert? cookies
67. What book(s) are you reading? How Fiction Works (me) and Little Princess (with Queenie)
68. What's the furthest you've been from home? LA and Italy

During a break in my ongoing battle against the damn moths that inhabit my cupboards and turn my grains (and nuts!) into disgusting breeding grounds of ooginess that destroy my best attempts to create a meal without needing a last minute run to the store, Clive and I took the girls to LACMA's new Broad museum and met up with some friends.

I love LACMA. Despite it's odd configuration. I love the windy paths and grounds, the museum store, the Japanese wing, the light at the top of the Broad's third floor, the orange lanyards for the NexGen kids campaign, and how kid-friendly it is (children are free and can take one adult for free). They also have a yummy cafeteria. I love walking over to the tar pits afterward and the easy parking on Sundays. It amazes me how empty the place is when we go. Maybe it's overflowing with single people at night, I don't know. But whenever I'm there I imagine what the crowd would be if we were in NYC and I'm baffled.

We had let our membership expire due to cost cutting measures but this weekend they were having a 50% off deal, so we rejoined, in hopes it will make Clive and I have more dates ( I never get to focus appropriately with the kids).

We thought the kids would love the new Broad museum, especially the Koons "balloon" sculptures and the pool toys, shiny egg, erector set bridge (by other artists). I was wrong. Spit spot was petrified of them. She liked the Twombly paintings and loved the Hirst installations (a sheep in fromaldahyde, a glass vitrine of animal skeletons, butterfly paintings), but the balloon and Michael Jackson sculptures just freaked her out (Queenie was concerned whether he was a boy or girl). Queenie also loved the Hirst room -- the "stained glass' butterfly paintings and the Spin Art circle painting. The Twombly's too. The giant Barbara Kruger elevator made a big impression on them both.

They didn't ask any questions about the big Cindy Sherman installation, and for that I was thankful. I walk the line on that sort of overt political sexuality as appropriate viewing for my girls. On the one hand, I would like them to be comfortable with the human body and  knowledgeable of how their role in society has been played out, the expectations of them, and their power to subvert them, to address them, to choose. I figure if they get used to that conversation, and those images now, then they will be stronger people as adults, stronger intellectually. On the other hand, I don't really want to have to explain a photo that includes a giant fake vagina open to the viewing public lying on top of where a real one would be on a woman dressed up in a disfiguring costume. Luckily, they were more intrigued by the giant table and chairs sculpture in the other room and I was spared.

Soon enough, they got distracted and whiny, needing bathroom breaks and  endless snacks. We ended with a chase game around the giant Serra installation and headed out for a walk.

As we were leaving we found a pigeon trapped in the big tar pit/lake in front of the La Brea Tar Pits. The kids and dads watched it struggle for a bit while the other mom and I went inside to see if someone could save it. Apparently, they used to have a boat for such rescues, but it got stuck and was retired. Now they can only save things that they can reach with a stick. The pigeon was too far in for that, and by the time we left for the cars, it could no longer be seen. Tar pit education in real time, but not a lot of fun, circle of life, or no.

I don't mean to end this on a sad note. The day was lovely. Spitspot fell asleep in the car on the way home while losing a "quiet contest," and we stopped at the pet store for some hamster supplies, and the grocery store so that I can make a decent New Year's dinner tomorrow night. Our lovely neighbor came for dinner and played with the kids and by the end of the night the kids tumbled into bed happy.

I hope when the girls are grown they have a love for museums and walks and family outings, and remember how we spent time with them, and feel lucky and loved.

When I registered at Williams Sonoma for our wedding, the point was to register for stuff that I would use daily, and also be able to replace /complete on my own if needed (we had a small wedding, so there was no hoping for big gifts). One of my favorite things we ended up with were their Duralux Picardie tumblers. We bought the 12 oz size, and have only managed to break one in over 10 years.

Right before Queenie was born, and I was nesting, I became convinced -- convinced! -- that she would not/ could not be born without my buying a complete set of the Picardie juice glasses. Bought them from Williams Sonoma. Love them.

For months now, I've been meaning to buy the 8.5 oz set (see above). The girls have moved past sippy cups, I'm trying to weed out plastic, the juice glasses are kind of small for water or milk for the older one, and the 12 oz are ungainly. But we've been tight on budget, and so I've resisted. I've also been unable to find a local W-S. But today, I could resist no more, and thought I'd look them up online, or send Clive to the nearest store in BH (I cannot actually step foot into a W-S store, that would be trouble, especially given my current knife problem).

They are gone. And have been for just over 2 months (a couple years from W-S, though).

Oh, W-S still sells tempered glass tumblers, but they are Spanish, not French. They are even-sided, not odd, like my beloved Picardies. And they do not match. But it is worse than this.

The Duralex company is in liquidation. Meaning, I cannot even get them from the UK site that imports their brand.

And, some bastard on eBay is selling 6 of them for over $40 with over $10 shipping. Robbery! These are EVERY DAY cafe glasses.

There is also a nice person selling them for a reasonable price which of course I am watching and if you are reading this you will not, I repeat, NOT, bid on these because you are kind and understand my duress.

In any case, I am now sad, and obsessed, all at the same time.

I am also not alone in my sadness, as I found pages of posts about this on Chowhound, as well.

Sigh. Wish me luck !

edited to add: Seems they may have them still at World Market. They are listed online, at least. I will be near one tomorrow, and so will check the shelves. Stay tuned! $2 each!

edited 6_08 to add: Do I have actual readers or are there more crazy people like me? Last night I put 3 sets of these glasses in my cart online. Today, after checking the local store (none). I went back online to order 2 sets (the third I put in by accident).....only to find that they will only let me order one! I am currently blaming  vox for  this. I  KNEW I shouldn't have tagged  it. Sigh. And on top of it they charged me for *gift wrapping.*  Damn.

Here are the places I went today. I think I deserve a medal:

1. Queenie's school for drop off, and work ( I work there for Before and After Care) - with Spit Spot
2. Spit Spot's pre-K for drop off (crying all the way about said drop off)
3. Manicure/pedicure (I know, this should be fun but it was more a "to do" than relaxation)
4. Doctor's office in Santa Monica
5. Pharmacy for prescriptions
6. George's vacuum repair - lugging vacuum
7,8,9. The Mall -- The GAP, Nordstrom Children's shoe department, Make up counter (now I remember why  I send Clive to these places for the kids. Too many opportunities to spend. Too many pretty pretty clothes at Nordstrom). Clive thinks this should count as one place, but as I made purchases in each and had to run down escalators, I think this counts for 3. I do not include Brooks shoes, which I ran into, but just to check inventory. So there.
10. Home - unload bags, grab a drink
11. Back to Nordstrom to return lipstick I bought 20 minutes earlier so I would not be stuck with yet another color, pretty as it may be, that I will not wear, as evidenced by the other 2 similar colors I do not wear at home. I get lost in the parking structure, which almost makes me want to add it as its own destination.
12. Pre-K to pick up Spit Spot
13. The new job, across the street, to do some quick pre-employment paperwork
14. Queenie's school for pick up
15. Queenie's ballet, cross town, for make up class
16. Gas station
17. Home!

Tomorrow looks similar. Eeep!

On May 5th I officially leave behind the SAHM life I've been living for the last 4 years, and take on the role of Working Mom. Sure, I've been working the last 4 months at Queenie's school, but it's about as part-time as you can get, and you know, I'm still with the kids, so really it's more like just hanging out and getting paid (which I was already doing before the school started paying me).

I have a lot of mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I've got to leave my kids. On the other hand, HOLY SWEET MOSES, I get to leave my kids. I get to leave the meltdowns, the whining, the bickering, and the hangings-on. I get to go to the bathroom, or even Starbucks, by myself. So that could be exciting. And really, I'll be working for a fine organization that does a lot of good in the world, and I am being given an opportunity to bring about change, and create programs that I enjoy. So, until the great money fairy falls from the sky and whisks me away to a lovely house in West LA, I've got a good position working with friends, and am able to help dig my family out of the financial hole we've dug for ourselves. Not bad, right?

So, there it is. Thought I should mention it.

Spit Spot is thrilled (at least in theory) with going to preschool. It's on site where I work, so she's already familiar with the space and many of the kids who go there. We've gone shopping for her emergency kit and class supplies and she keeps practicing using her new pillow on a nap mat in the living room.

Queenie, however, is a bit freaked out. She's mentioning it to people at school which is huge as she never mentions anything troubling her to her teachers. She's private like that. So how do I resolve that problem? By providing her with a security blanket, something to help her feel safe, strong.

That's right, we've broken down and agreed to the hamster. Help us, dear G-d.

More on that later. We're just all kind of sad that we can't name it Waffles, as that is already taken by a schoolmate's dwarf hamster. But damn, it's a good one.

I don't have time to really post now, but wanted to get a pic up of the macaroons. I decided to add a bit of matcha powder (thank you Auntie Mae!) to the batch and they were such a nice delicate flavor, and nice and green for Spring. My friend BD still prefers the plain coconut ones, but I am fond of all.

IMG_3454

After 2 weeks of a very limited diet, I just ate a chocolate filled croissant*. I did this because pouring a bit of chocolate sauce onto animal crackers just wasn't cutting it. Is that so wrong?

Meanwhile, in other chocolate news, Queenie realized tonight that a spoonful of chocolate sauce (yes, the kind she puts on her ice cream when mama is very, very nice!) into a glass of milk equals....chocolate milk! OMG! Mom! MOM!

Actually, she did not call out to me at all. She was so enraptured by her discovery that she was actually very, very quiet. I caught her looking up at the bottom of the glass, enamored by her concoction. It will be interesting to see if she asks for it again, or announces her discovery. Stay tuned.

*I feel a bit ill, thanks for asking.

In the car this morning on the way to the gym...

Queenie (laughing riotously):

Spit Spot thinks she has a weenie! You don't have a weenie, you have a vagina!
Say "Vah-gi-nah."
Say "Vah-gi-nah." Vagina, vagina, vagina!

Spit Spot: Vaginas!

Queenie:

No! No! Not Vah-gi-NAHS, Vah-gine-AH!
Say it. Vah-gine-Ah! Vagina! Vagina! Vagina!

Spit Spot (whispers, smiling): vah-gine-ah.

Queenie: Yes! Vah-gine-ah! (more laughing)

Spit Spot: (pointing at something at Queenie's feet)  Backpack.

Queenie:

Yes, that is your backpack, and when you go to school you will bring it with your stuff and lunch in it.

Spit Spot:

Mama! I have a backpack and when I go to school I will bring it for me!
*****************************************************************************************

There you have it. Vaginas and Backpacks. Discuss amongst yourselves.

PS

I think I left out about 20 additional yellings of Vagina.

2 articles from the UK today about how cel phone use may be worse than smoking and food additives could be as damaging as lead to kids.

Fun!

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/food-additives-could-be-as-damaging-as-lead-in-petro
l-804890.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/mobile-phones-more-dangerous-than-smoking-802602.html

You can print out a list of dangerous additives here:

http://www.actiononadditives.com/Take_action/#a