avocado82008-05-13T03:28:15Zregaling the web with tales of whoatag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1Movable TypeCopyright (c) 2008, LoriThe Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit2008-05-13T03:28:15Z2008-05-13T03:20:48Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23472008-05-13T03:20:48Z One summer Sunday when I was about 8 years old, our friends Anne and Peggy and their two kids, Lee and John, came over to our house. I'm not sure what the adults were doing—sitting in the house or the yard talking or cooking, probably—but the four of us kids were playing outside. We had a GMC pickup truck with a cap on the back at the time, and my father had tricked it out with carpet remnants and...Lorilori@avocado8.comparenthood
One summer Sunday when I was about 8 years old, our friends Anne and Peggy and their two kids, Lee and John, came over to our house. I'm not sure what the adults were doing—sitting in the house or the yard talking or cooking, probably—but the four of us kids were playing outside. We had a GMC pickup truck with a cap on the back at the time, and my father had tricked it out with carpet remnants and...
Gas Prices Are Up, and I Can't Say I'm Sad2008-05-12T21:47:21Z2008-05-12T21:05:09Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23462008-05-12T21:05:09Z I might be the only person in the U.S. who's happy that gas prices are nearing $4 a gallon. Yes, I wince when I have to fill up my own gas tank, and I have sympathy for those who drive for a living, but I still can't help smiling whenever the news reports that people are walking, using public transit, and bicycling more, or that sales of small cars are up among those who must drive....Lorilori@avocado8.compublic policy
I might be the only person in the U.S. who's happy that gas prices are nearing $4 a gallon. Yes, I wince when I have to fill up my own gas tank, and I have sympathy for those who drive for a living, but I still can't help smiling whenever the news reports that people are walking, using public transit, and bicycling more, or that sales of small cars are up among those who must drive....
A Day in Which We All Needed a Nap2008-05-12T04:43:29Z2008-05-12T04:29:57Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23452008-05-12T04:29:57Z Short summary of today: golf lessons for Cousin H and the Beaner (the latter's first, and he loved it), a shopping walk for me (woo, three pairs of workout pants from Gap Body!) that ended in a migraine (OW!), a lunch of leftovers from Graciela's (yum!), a nap for Al (so he'd be awake enough to drive home) and for me (so the icepicks in my left eyebrow would relent a bit), a tantrum by the Beaner when we...Lorilori@avocado8.comparenthood
Short summary of today: golf lessons for Cousin H and the Beaner (the latter's first, and he loved it), a shopping walk for me (woo, three pairs of workout pants from Gap Body!) that ended in a migraine (OW!), a lunch of leftovers from Graciela's (yum!), a nap for Al (so he'd be awake enough to drive home) and for me (so the icepicks in my left eyebrow would relent a bit), a tantrum by the Beaner when we...
In NYC2008-05-12T04:29:31Z2008-05-11T02:26:16Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23442008-05-11T02:26:16Z I'm writing this longhand (because blogging from my iPhone when the post is longer than a Twitter entry is tedious) and will post it when I get home tomorrow night. We're in NYC visiting Al's brother's family for the weekend; Cousin H's school fair was this afternoon, and we drove up to join in the fun. The roasted corn was tasty, the fishing in the Little Mermaid blow-up pool was fruitful, the cupcake decorating was a sparkly, sugary hit,...Lorilori@avocado8.comparenthood
I'm writing this longhand (because blogging from my iPhone when the post is longer than a Twitter entry is tedious) and will post it when I get home tomorrow night. We're in NYC visiting Al's brother's family for the weekend; Cousin H's school fair was this afternoon, and we drove up to join in the fun. The roasted corn was tasty, the fishing in the Little Mermaid blow-up pool was fruitful, the cupcake decorating was a sparkly, sugary hit,...
A Peanut Butter Birthday2008-05-10T02:10:54Z2008-05-09T19:31:15Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23432008-05-09T19:31:15ZLorilori@avocado8.comparenthoodGive and Take2008-05-09T04:11:37Z2008-05-09T03:50:50Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23422008-05-09T03:50:50Z We had a rough lunchtime today. Well, lunchtime itself wasn't rough—we played at the playground, sat down to eat together, shared some yogurt, read a book twice. It was when I got up to go back to work that things got bad....Lorilori@avocado8.comparenthood
We had a rough lunchtime today. Well, lunchtime itself wasn't rough—we played at the playground, sat down to eat together, shared some yogurt, read a book twice. It was when I got up to go back to work that things got bad....
Interruptions2008-05-08T01:02:08Z2008-05-08T00:50:06Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23412008-05-08T00:50:06Z A sure sign that we're actually paying more attention to the Beaner now: I'm getting irritated when someone interrupts my lunchtime conversations with the Beaner, and Al's getting irritated when I try to talk to him while he's having playtime with the Beaner. Ah yes, I remember this!...Lorilori@avocado8.comparenthood
A sure sign that we're actually paying more attention to the Beaner now: I'm getting irritated when someone interrupts my lunchtime conversations with the Beaner, and Al's getting irritated when I try to talk to him while he's having playtime with the Beaner. Ah yes, I remember this!...
A New Schedule, A New Tack2008-05-06T22:04:18Z2008-05-06T21:57:25Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23402008-05-06T21:57:25Z I mentioned a few days ago that we were trying to rearrange our daily schedule, and that I intended to get input from the Beaner about it. In the end there was really only one option that worked, so he was not consulted. He was informed, however, and though it wouldn't be his choice—his choice would be for Mommy to do everything... except when he wants Daddy to do it—he's adapted pretty well. Al's now in charge of the...Lorilori@avocado8.comparenthood
I mentioned a few days ago that we were trying to rearrange our daily schedule, and that I intended to get input from the Beaner about it. In the end there was really only one option that worked, so he was not consulted. He was informed, however, and though it wouldn't be his choice—his choice would be for Mommy to do everything... except when he wants Daddy to do it—he's adapted pretty well. Al's now in charge of the...
The Sunflowers Never Had a Chance2008-05-05T15:11:12Z2008-05-05T14:52:55Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23392008-05-05T14:52:55Z I'm now kicking myself for not photographing the sunflower seedlings that sprouted in the compost bin (where I'd planted them about 10 days ago) this weekend. I went out to survey my kingdom this morning and found every seedling save one (that apparently just came up last night, in a divot) looked like it had beheaded by a weed whacker. Some stems where broken cleanly in two places, and it looked like something had been digging a bit in...Lorilori@avocado8.comgardening
I'm now kicking myself for not photographing the sunflower seedlings that sprouted in the compost bin (where I'd planted them about 10 days ago) this weekend. I went out to survey my kingdom this morning and found every seedling save one (that apparently just came up last night, in a divot) looked like it had beheaded by a weed whacker. Some stems where broken cleanly in two places, and it looked like something had been digging a bit in...
Fly Away2008-05-05T04:00:17Z2008-05-05T03:59:17Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23382008-05-05T03:59:17Z Despite my reluctance to discuss the details of the current parenting nightmare, I've apparently been clear enough here that the Beaner's been on a Bad Behavior tear lately that it prompted my sister to call and offer her sympathies today. And with that opening I proceeded to write four paragraphs on the Beaner's behavior... only to decide against publishing them. It's too complicated, with too many threads leading into dangerous places, to talk about in detail publicly. Instead I...Lorilori@avocado8.comparenthood
Despite my reluctance to discuss the details of the current parenting nightmare, I've apparently been clear enough here that the Beaner's been on a Bad Behavior tear lately that it prompted my sister to call and offer her sympathies today. And with that opening I proceeded to write four paragraphs on the Beaner's behavior... only to decide against publishing them. It's too complicated, with too many threads leading into dangerous places, to talk about in detail publicly. Instead I...
It's Amazing What a Bottle of Wine, a Polaroid Camera, and Some Good Conversation Can Do2008-05-04T02:50:20Z2008-05-04T02:49:12Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23372008-05-04T02:49:12Z I started the day sleep-deprived (on account of staying up late to see the west-coast Sharks beat the Dallas Stars in overtime—woot!) and a bit depressed, and there was a moment where I almost burst into tears for no particular reason except that I was sad and not liking the feeling. BUT! things improved as the day went on, mostly due to three important factors: (1) Al recognized the malaise and most generously offered to stop the car along...Lorilori@avocado8.comme, me, me
I started the day sleep-deprived (on account of staying up late to see the west-coast Sharks beat the Dallas Stars in overtime—woot!) and a bit depressed, and there was a moment where I almost burst into tears for no particular reason except that I was sad and not liking the feeling. BUT! things improved as the day went on, mostly due to three important factors: (1) Al recognized the malaise and most generously offered to stop the car along...
Management Style2008-05-02T22:04:30Z2008-05-02T22:03:44Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23362008-05-02T22:03:44ZLorilori@avocado8.comparenthoodThe Garden2008-05-05T15:51:25Z2008-05-01T23:09:35Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23352008-05-01T23:09:35Z I'll start May's NaBloPoMo effort with an update on my garden, if for no other reason than to remember it later. (Wait, that's pretty much 90% of the reason I write *anything* here.) After planting the tomato and pepper seeds back in March, I discovered, via an incredibly helpful post at You Grow Girl, the difference betweeen determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. It turns out I've been growing the wrong kinds of tomatoes for years. Determinates = smaller, usually bushier...Lorilori@avocado8.comgardening
I'll start May's NaBloPoMo effort with an update on my garden, if for no other reason than to remember it later. (Wait, that's pretty much 90% of the reason I write *anything* here.) After planting the tomato and pepper seeds back in March, I discovered, via an incredibly helpful post at You Grow Girl, the difference betweeen determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. It turns out I've been growing the wrong kinds of tomatoes for years. Determinates = smaller, usually bushier...
Untitled2008-04-30T16:04:56Z2008-04-30T15:38:12Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23342008-04-30T15:38:12Z I have so many things to say, but for one reason or another—discretion, a desire for privacy, laziness, technological hurdles, lack of time, guilt that I should be doing work/playing with my kid/tending my garden instead of blogging—I'm not saying them here. I've been Twittering some of my observations because sometimes it's easier to blurt out a thought in 140 characters or fewer than it is to expound on it (with photographs!) here, but other observations are just stuck...Lorilori@avocado8.comme, me, me
I have so many things to say, but for one reason or another—discretion, a desire for privacy, laziness, technological hurdles, lack of time, guilt that I should be doing work/playing with my kid/tending my garden instead of blogging—I'm not saying them here. I've been Twittering some of my observations because sometimes it's easier to blurt out a thought in 140 characters or fewer than it is to expound on it (with photographs!) here, but other observations are just stuck...
I Voted2008-04-22T18:20:48Z2008-04-22T17:54:55Ztag:www.avocado8.com,2008:/blog//1.23332008-04-22T17:54:55Z I did it. I voted....Lorilori@avocado8.compolitics
I did it. I voted....