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.
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
I made tacos last night and it was the first time I've even had home tacos in those hard, store-bought shells since I was a tiny, no-taste kid. And you know what? Everyone was thrilled.
Considering how awful my week has been, that's a damn big deal.
So, thank you 365-days-of-Crockpoting-blog-lady. You made my month.
