two red lines

things she does

She stands in front of the frig with the door wide open talking, talking about what to eat.  Most every time she does not decide.  One day she was in there so long she started fiddling with the adjustments and froze everything including the strawberries.  She enjoys peeling the banana more than eating it.  Most nights we find her half way across the room asleep on the floor instead of in her toddler bed.  She insists on sleeping with a blanket even when it's 90 degrees.  She has been dressing herself.  Today was a good clothes day.

I can't remember what she was upset about....as it was a no nap day and that means afternoons are a precarious balance of emotions.  She left her pigtails in for a total of 45 minutes.  She was in love with elevators till she discovered the escalator.  At the children's museum this past weekend she was playing with some trains and when leaving handed a couple boys a handful of train parts and said, here ya' go boys!  We are approaching 3 years and I just feel myself digging in my heels like I have never before.  Slow down little puck, slow down.   

silly cactus

thunder

After a few days of ferocious heat we woke to thunder and a steady downpour of rain.  Violet is glued to my side.  Each time the thunder booms her eyes get wide then she declares it's gone once the booming has let up.  I admit thunder makes me a little uneasy myself as I have mostly lived in areas where the rumbling in the sky is rare. 

In a matter of minutes the weather changed last night with a breeze picking up to blow out the musty 90 degree stifle.   During the few days of heat I was lethargic and grumpy but last night I woke from my haze and began swirling around the house.  Andrew always stands back when this happens.  I think with the upcoming school gigs I am a little anal about the house being organized and tidy.  School thoughts on my mind like buying books and locating classrooms.  Ho boy. 

We stopped in a pub over the weekend to get out of the heat and eat.  As I thought may happen I saw an old familiar face working behind the counter of the restaurant.  In my characteristic shy mode I avoided talking to this guy even though we had been friendly in the past.  Andrew made sweet jabs at my behavior.  It's fairly amazing though to know that whatever I do Andrew will understand, ever supportive.  We left the pub without a word from me and I felt a little silly.  At other times I am outgoing and friendly, a different person.  At my high school graduation I was voted "quietest person".  Interesting when people notice how quiet one can be. 

I had a ridiculous conversation with my father this weekend.  He had offered to help me with some money for school and we both skirted around the issue as money, for different reason, feels impossible for us to talk about.  And maybe that is where my shyness comes from as when I was talking to him on the phone it was mostly impossible for me to approach the subject.  As if even if I wanted certain words to come out of my mouth they still wouldn't even with my command.  It went fine though as it came out and I was able to speak. 

The old cactus that has had a ride the last few months between the move and the loss of it's two top limbs is sprouting a little bulge out of the dry ridge where it lost it's top.  The cactus amazes me, it's ability to just grow and grow and grow.  I aspire, aspire. 

Papa

Lesson this Sunday evening: boys shake and girls wipe. 

lists

Things I like about the city, a list:

1. people biking everywhere

2. my sisters live nearby

3. the recycle receptacles are bigger than the garbage receptacles

4. there are so many things to choose from to do that you end up staying home from the exhaustion of trying to make a decision

5. Andrew..."it's hip"

6. shopping and more shopping, all kinds of shopping

7. it is very near several of my good friends

8. lots of trees, amazing vegetation ( don't tell my mom and nan I said so though)

9. friendly people

10. all different types of people

Things I don't like about the city, a list:

1. traffic lanes that abruptly turn into parking spaces (with stationary cars parked in them)

hot in the city

I am bracing for several hot days fore casted.  For some reason, maybe it's the screaming kids or the snot rolling off the chins and into the water we are bobbing in, I am avoiding the local swimming pool.  We did go to a nearby park yesterday that has a wading pool and splashed around.  I think part of the whole experience that Violet so enjoys is getting her phomfuit on.  So today I am not sure what we will do to keep cool in the heat. 

Violet and I have settled into our days.  Some of the day is spent around the house learning letter sounds and cleaning then we venture out into the world and run errands, get lost, hang at the park.  Admittedly I am restless with my interim life.  I am used to having something other than moming and even when I know this is short-term I am itching to get out and exercise my brain.  Though in the past I have worked hard at enjoying time off I really prefer to have a job to go to.   I have plenty of little projects to keep me busy around here though getting to them is proving challenging between the laundry to wash and park to peruse.  Violet is anxious to get to school as well and asks about it every few days. 

Violet.  She says her name now so that people understand her.  At the car insurance office a few days ago the agent asked when her birthday is and she said, "octover".  I had no idea she knew that or could get close to the word October.  Since then we have been talking about her birthday, about turning three and having cake.  It's amazing how these subjects will come out of the blue.  We will be in the middle of something or other and she will pipe up with some subject not talked about for days.  Her memories are forming and her brain is active in new ways.  She amazes me constantly.  Today we are going to work on wiping immediately after she pees and not ten minutes later when she remembers the steps.........

Check us out, city folk. 

zippiddydooda

A little paint session outside today.

After we were done Violet gathered up her paintings and walked to the end of our little sidewalk and offered the neighbor cat her paintings.  It was one of those moments that is almost too much, just too damn cute.

setting up house

We have been adjusting to our life here the last week.  Already it seems we have been here a couple months when mere days have passed.  Andrew will stumble home today after his first week of work.  I drove by his work a few times this week as it is close to the house, Violet's nap corresponds with his lunch time and I have craved seeing Andrew about his new work.  He, and the other dudes that he shoots the shit with in front of the shop, are adorable in a greasy sort of tough way.  He looks comfortable and happy.  I like that.

My mom has been visiting the last few days.  I got some help decorating and Violet has enjoyed going through all Noni's make-up and jewelry bags.  Today we went up to my campus and had a walk around.  It is such an amazing campus.  Quiet and lush with beautiful old buildings. 

Yeah, that's a slate roof.  Very cool.

Violet babbled on about "mom's school" and attracted the stares of summer students who don't regularly see youngsters about the grounds.

Noni and her are fast friends.  And partners in crime I am afraid.

conversation last night

What are you doning mom?

       I'm shaving my legs.

Why?

      Because some women shave their legs.

Why?

      Well, because we think it looks better.

Now what you doning?

     Washing my face.

Why?

      Because it's dirty.

Why?

    Because it's hot and sweaty.

Why?

     Because it's summer.

Why?

It's her new word and it is slowly driving me absolutely insane.

bad trolls

I just wrote this beautiful long post about our coming to Portland and in a second it was gone gobbled up by the internet troll of lost goods.  So maybe later.  For now I will just say my kitchen rocks, family is great, neighborhood is awesome. 

arrival

Violet in Portland shopping for some new/used furniture, contemplating something or other with this wise old cat.