Under the Glass Bell

It's Just That There's So Much To Do and I'm Tired of Sleeping

Two weeks ago I vowed to myself that I was going to start getting up at six o'clock. (I tend to get up at seven or after.) Of course, I promptly came down with the worst flu virus and have slept as late as I can since.

Actually, I did get up at six on Friday and it did make all of the difference. I do have to do something about my outlook and attitude because lately, it's been in the shitter. I am a perfectionist in many ways and if I start to feel that I'm behind in the game, I get discouraged and cranky. When I feel proactive and ahead of the curve, my productivity level and attitude is unbeatable. Thus, I have to keep this promise to myself. But, man, do I hate getting up early. Maybe that will be my motto for next year. 2011...The Year of Being Ahead of the Curve.

So we're at my parents. We're all having fun. The boys are like two baby seals, squealing and wrestling. They did a big dance number for us tonight. B turned on The Ting Tings. Charlie did some break dancing and vogueing. Jack ran around flapping his arms. My sis and bro-in-law nearly fell over. They'd never seen anything like it. I've never been more proud.

We leave for the Mayo Clinic tomorrow. Driving to Rochester from here. We could run into some snow, which might actually feel nice. I plan to keep my vid cam handy at Mayo to capture all the insanity. Last time? We walked in to a rendition of God Bless America being sung by a choir with piano accompaniment. God bless America indeed!

Here is a list of things I've been thinking about/fascinated with lately:

1. Mississippi River Steamboats
2. Macarons
3. Crafts for kids
4. Butternut Squash Polenta
5. Napa cabbage salad
6. Suzanne Vega

A Trick They Do With Mirrors and With Chemicals

So, it's been a long time. Life is busy. Kids, husband, work, blah, blah, blah.

Enough said. I'm back.

I read through this blog yesterday. And a post reminded me why I called this blog what I did. Under a Glass Bell is the title of a book by Anais Nin published in 1944. She is one of my two favorite authors, Hemingway being the other. But, I don't believe I've actually read Under a Glass Bell straight through. It's a collection of her short stories and the first piece of her writing that caught the critics' eyes.  But I loved the name.

Then, a friend of mine, who was notorious for being the best gift giver on the planet, gave me a set of three glass bells as a birthday gift.

"As mini glasshouses they can be used for establishing seedlings & early crops or as protection from birds and the elements." (Taken from The Company Shed website.)

They were invented by the french, of course. Beauty and function.

If one is lucky, they possess a figurative glass bell.They are protected from the cold and the harshness of life's weather, but are still able to look through and see the beauty. Don't get me wrong, the bell can still be knocked over or smashed by the real storms, the downpours, the mishegoss. But the protection makes life just a bit easier, just a bit more tolerable.

I need to remember that I'm a lucky girl looking out from a beautiful glass bell.

Baby Went to Amsterdam. Put a Little Money into Traveling

Well, holy hell.

It's been nearly a year and four months since I last posted on this here blog.

SCANDALOUS!

Uh..where have I been?

I guess I just got busy.

But, here I am! I'm back! Been thinking a lot about the blog as of late and feel strongly compelled to get back at it. Much to write about and catch up on.

The biggest news? I have a new baby! Although, he's not much of a baby anymore as he's going to be a year old in less than a month. Jacob, or Jack, as we call him in everyday life, is such a blessing. Baby C, who is now FOUR, still isn't that jazzed about Baby J. (Oh, and Baby C will not let me call him "baby" anymore.) Baby J, however, worships Char.  J is a nearly red-headed little curly-haired boy. He's so happy all the time. And has this smile that you can feel through his eyes. We love our little Jack.

So, lots of boy updates to come. The hub is awesome as usual. My rock and rock star.

Me? Well, let's see...still have my company (although cut back some), learning piano, busting my ass at the gym training two days a week (hi Nicole), taking a roller derby class that starts soon and heading off to Paris with the hub (sans kids) in early April. 

Yeah, business as usual.

So that is that. Welcome back, blog! I know you missed me!

I've Got Nothing for a Title

You know how they say, "If you can't say anything nice..."?

Well by that standard I shouldn't be posting tonight. But the effing NaBloMe is requiring it.

So, I'll ignore the urge to whine about how I've got a rotten cold and this is the hardest pregnancy ever and blah, blah, blah.

Instead, I'll post a YouTube classic that makes everyone smile.

The Laughing Quadruplets

Didn't find that funny?

You're one cold-hearted SOB. 

Do You Like the Things That Life is Showing You?

I'm sitting here watching the election results. I'm tearing up a bit because I am so goddamn proud of my country. I feel a sense of relief for my family's future. It feels like we just got ourselves back on track.

Ground Control to Major Tom

Took a nice, long nap this afternoon and it was heaven. (Was off work today.)

Lots of things are running around my head tonight, but I'm not at liberty to put any of it down yet. Give me a few days.

Will be happy to vote tomorrow and hope that the results turn out well.

What Will I Think of Next? Where Can I Hide?

How can one remain nauseous so many days in a row? I don't get it. I am so sick of feeling like I'm going to puke/puking. Seriously, what is up with this kid????

Today was another gorgeous day. We gained an hour of sleep, which was nice. C still woke up at 7. So he slept through the extra hour.

We made it to they gym by 9:30 this morning. They have a little kids' center where C stays when we work out. I really did not feel like working out, but feel like I have to try to do something to make this morning sickness better. I definitely had more energy for the rest of the day, but still feel shitty at the moment.

I'm in need of some good reading. I haven't been in the mood to read at all, lately. But, I've got House of Incest and The Collected Stories of Collette sitting on my nightstand. Maybe I'll dig in to one of them for a bit before I hit the hay.

Bon nuit.

When are You Gonna Come Down? When are You Going to Land?

Hello.

Nablopomo.

Go!

All is well in the outskirts of Chicago. We moved in June. We now live in Oak Park. Love our house and the hood and all about it. It's been good for us.

The boy is almost 3. Another baby is on the way. He or she is set to make her appearance on April 20th, 2009. (C-section has already been scheduled.) Morning sickness is terrible this go round. I'm 15 weeks and it still hasn't let up. That's been rough.

The hub is wonderful as always.

Fall can be so comfy. I just took some time this evening and got all woozy over it. Root vegetables and soups and gratins and orange-colored knee-length sweaters. Been listening to lots of Shawn Colvin and the latest Juliana Hatfield. Tomorrow I think it's time to break out some Joni Mitchell. Although I'm going to have to fight B to keep the new goddamn Bob Dylan out of the stereo. Christ, I hate him. (Dylan, not the hub.)

Let's see how far I can take it this month. Bon nuit.

Hold on Tight. The Night has Come.

It sucks being up working at 1:30 in the morning.

No One Can Convince Me We Aren't Gluttons for our Doom

Yeah, that's the kind of mood I'm in with this MFing snow here in Chicago. We were well on our way to what felt like a late spring. And then it snowed today and we have at least four inches of snow on the ground. That's just downright mean. Mother Nature is being a total c**t. I really, really hate winter.

(As an aside, I know a lot of women who have a problem with that word. I, personally, do not. I tend to keep it in my back pocket as it's much more meaningful when only used occasionally.)

Driving down to visit mom and dad tomorrow. They want Baby C there for Easter, which is fine by us. I want to be careful however. Jewish boys don't hunt Easter Eggs and all.

Last week I went out and cut my hair. I mean, CUT my hair. As I drove to the salon, my style was a bob mid-way between earlobe and shoulder. On the way home, only the front part dipped below my earlobe. Everything else is above and flippy and funky and fun. I forgot how much I love short hair. I thought Baby C would flip when he saw it. However, I walked in and he totally ignored it. I never know what to expect from that kid.

My Tivo went mad tonight. B and I got a sitter and went out to Katsu for dinner. We came home and there were seven Dora's recorded, five Diegos, a dozen Teletubbies, but no SOUP. And no In Treatment. WTF, Tivo?

Baby C is talking up a storm. Wow, that is a lot of fun. Also, it's amazing how early they start giving you shit. He's 26 months and I'm already getting lip. "No like!" Love it!