A great day
Having spent the last couple of entries grousing, I wanted to be sure to post an account of a really nice day.
For the occasion, I looked up how to hide text beneath the fold (this better work, as I plan to be prolix):
So...
I've been feeling better all week, partly because of liberal use of caffeine, partly, I think, because of new allergy meds. Got a lot done at work, saw the ENT (results ambiguous), and dealt with various personal paperwork that I had put off way too long. And yesterday, I came across a remarkable post at my favorite political blog, Obsidian Wings, http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/
ObWi is a group blog, one contributor to which is an ethics professor with IMO a terrific writing style and impeccable research skills. I'm a big fan. Which is why I was very enthusiastic when she wrote that she was heading into DC for the anti-surge march and would anyone like to meet for brunch. Choosing (correctly, it turned out)to read this as an invitation to anyone, not just to her friends there, I pushed my way into the group.
Well, this morning, I woke up in the middle of the night, and found a note from N. saying she'd had insomnia, had just gone to bed at last, and would have to bow out of either coming along or watching either kid. Which basically meant I couldn't go -- I do NOT try hectic social situations alone w/ both kids in tow. Rats, said I, another chance to socialize and do civic duty scotched by family obligations. Went back to sleep rather sad. But after rewaking, I chanced waking her to confirm that she just couldn't help. Bless her heart, she thought about it for a minute and said, heck, I'll come. And throughout the trip, she was cheerful, helpful, and fun to be with. I have grown unused to this version of N. as she has been steadily sick basically since JJ was born. I hope to have a chance to grow used to it again.
Well, we got out half an hour late because I was not ready, impulsively decided to drive the whole way to give us a better chance of not being too late, ran into an aggressive pre-march contingent blocking off major streets, and ended up an hour late. Ran into the restaurant expecting to confirm that the party had left...and found them still there, just starting their entrees. Apparently they had run late too, and the restaurant moreso. Yay!
More yay followed, as Hilzoy turned out just as nifty a person as her postings suggested. Also met an in-house lawyer named Linda (who, alas, confirmed my impression that large firms do NOT need generalists), and a nice fellow called Yarrow, plus a couple of other folks I didn't get to talk to much. A congenial crowd, and they seemed to like us ok. Hilzoy made a general "if you're ever in Baltimore..." remark -- I replied that I am never FAR from Baltimore and would surely take her up on that. Shall, too, hope it wasn't mere politeness on her part.
The march itself was uneventful. Small for a major march, my guess was close to 100,000 people. But hey, as Yarrow said, "fight the repeal of the 20% troop cut" is not a major rallying cry. If Moveondotorg could gather 100K in 3 weeks on that pretext, they're doing well. Also, the weather was gorgeous.
And we all went home tired but unbowed.
The kids were terrific all through -- quiet, tolerably well behaved, no whining. And during the rest of the day, I had time and energy to play with them a lot more that usual, which was lots of fun for all. JJ giggled very satisfactorily at ticklings and bouncings (as did Grace), and they both impressed me:
JJ stood unsupported for about 20 seconds after I let go of him. He also came when I called to him and gestured.
Grace figured out how to frog-jump up stairs, and seems at last to be penetrating the mysteries of her first (four-piece) jigsaw puzzle. She shows a great interest in letters, especially those of her name, and "helped" me write them -- and then let me "help" her to write some.
She also noticed just before I did that JJ was mouthing a dreidel rather too small for safety, plucked it out of his mouth, and before he could even start properly wailing, found & plopped in one of his pacifiers. I was amazed, and praised her to the skies for perfect babyhandling. She glowed, and repeated my praise happily an hour later. She also helped mop up a spill later -- and did it right. All in all, a red-letter day for Grace.
It is now LATE, so I'm going to end this or forfeit any chance of a good day tomorrow. But gosh, this was nice!
For the occasion, I looked up how to hide text beneath the fold (this better work, as I plan to be prolix):
So...
I've been feeling better all week, partly because of liberal use of caffeine, partly, I think, because of new allergy meds. Got a lot done at work, saw the ENT (results ambiguous), and dealt with various personal paperwork that I had put off way too long. And yesterday, I came across a remarkable post at my favorite political blog, Obsidian Wings, http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/
ObWi is a group blog, one contributor to which is an ethics professor with IMO a terrific writing style and impeccable research skills. I'm a big fan. Which is why I was very enthusiastic when she wrote that she was heading into DC for the anti-surge march and would anyone like to meet for brunch. Choosing (correctly, it turned out)to read this as an invitation to anyone, not just to her friends there, I pushed my way into the group.
Well, this morning, I woke up in the middle of the night, and found a note from N. saying she'd had insomnia, had just gone to bed at last, and would have to bow out of either coming along or watching either kid. Which basically meant I couldn't go -- I do NOT try hectic social situations alone w/ both kids in tow. Rats, said I, another chance to socialize and do civic duty scotched by family obligations. Went back to sleep rather sad. But after rewaking, I chanced waking her to confirm that she just couldn't help. Bless her heart, she thought about it for a minute and said, heck, I'll come. And throughout the trip, she was cheerful, helpful, and fun to be with. I have grown unused to this version of N. as she has been steadily sick basically since JJ was born. I hope to have a chance to grow used to it again.
Well, we got out half an hour late because I was not ready, impulsively decided to drive the whole way to give us a better chance of not being too late, ran into an aggressive pre-march contingent blocking off major streets, and ended up an hour late. Ran into the restaurant expecting to confirm that the party had left...and found them still there, just starting their entrees. Apparently they had run late too, and the restaurant moreso. Yay!
More yay followed, as Hilzoy turned out just as nifty a person as her postings suggested. Also met an in-house lawyer named Linda (who, alas, confirmed my impression that large firms do NOT need generalists), and a nice fellow called Yarrow, plus a couple of other folks I didn't get to talk to much. A congenial crowd, and they seemed to like us ok. Hilzoy made a general "if you're ever in Baltimore..." remark -- I replied that I am never FAR from Baltimore and would surely take her up on that. Shall, too, hope it wasn't mere politeness on her part.
The march itself was uneventful. Small for a major march, my guess was close to 100,000 people. But hey, as Yarrow said, "fight the repeal of the 20% troop cut" is not a major rallying cry. If Moveondotorg could gather 100K in 3 weeks on that pretext, they're doing well. Also, the weather was gorgeous.
And we all went home tired but unbowed.
The kids were terrific all through -- quiet, tolerably well behaved, no whining. And during the rest of the day, I had time and energy to play with them a lot more that usual, which was lots of fun for all. JJ giggled very satisfactorily at ticklings and bouncings (as did Grace), and they both impressed me:
JJ stood unsupported for about 20 seconds after I let go of him. He also came when I called to him and gestured.
Grace figured out how to frog-jump up stairs, and seems at last to be penetrating the mysteries of her first (four-piece) jigsaw puzzle. She shows a great interest in letters, especially those of her name, and "helped" me write them -- and then let me "help" her to write some.
She also noticed just before I did that JJ was mouthing a dreidel rather too small for safety, plucked it out of his mouth, and before he could even start properly wailing, found & plopped in one of his pacifiers. I was amazed, and praised her to the skies for perfect babyhandling. She glowed, and repeated my praise happily an hour later. She also helped mop up a spill later -- and did it right. All in all, a red-letter day for Grace.
It is now LATE, so I'm going to end this or forfeit any chance of a good day tomorrow. But gosh, this was nice!