yesterday while pumping my bank account into the tank of my car I noticed a woman searching the trash for cans. Why I find this worthy of sharing is because how "normal" she looked. like a few months ago she was one of us.

Saturday

it's a lovely Saturday morning. my house is a mess, Aidan has baseball @ noon, my Max is in Bar Harbour, our cubboard is bare and I cannot motivate myself to rise from this chair. 

so what to do? how about I post some images.

G and E were walking around Portsmouth arm in arm. here they are sharing their mutual hate of the Yankees. who said teaching your kids not to hate is the way to go. hate can bring us together. 

This was a strange play structure. not how it was meant to be used but they used it like one would ride a bull. rocked it in attempt to knock eachother off. 

                                                Here they are on Earth day

Kidding. they have been wanting to try go-karting so we took them many days before earth day. what a toxic way to have some fun. who said ruining the earth and all life cant' be fun?

strange

Since Aidan started wearing contacts he has been getting a lot of comments about the shape of his eyes. Mostly friends/students asking if he is part Asian*.  One of his teachers who is 1/2 Japanese said to him, "Your eyes look strange. Are you part Asian?"

What has really caught my attention is the word Strange being used by an Asian person to describe a feature she shares. 

*I am thinking it is possible that this could come from our N.A. roots. a random gene that popped up in the cornucopia of heritages that makes my boy. I am thinking that my grandmothers eyes were sort of hooded but I am not sure and too lazy to look for photo's.

update... i did a quick google search for micmac and found this woman with Aidan eyes. very odd. feeling like I did after seeing photo's of my Italian great-grandmother and her shocking resemblance to Aaron. Especially the eyes. 

why I am a complete loser? I read and enjoyed the Twilight series books and am really excited for the movie.  am I 40 or 14?

Today we met my Mom and Ethan in Portsmouth. was very fun. Karin... I should have  brought the pipes photo with me. sorry. ducks aren't ready yet.  G and Ethan were so cute... walking around with their arms around each other. 

i will at some point post photo's. been a bad blogger. 

happy earth day. Earthlings. 

what sort of exciting things are happening in boweville... we cleaned up the yard and planted some perennials. bought paint for the front door... hoping to get to it soon.  what else? not much except for a lot of much needed out door play. 

I received a really nice compliment re: my book the other day. A local woman who just opened a photography gallery told me my book was her jumping point and inspiration. 

spring it has finally arrived. happy day!

G and I took an evening walk, felt so nice to walk around town at dusk. I love Portland again. I especially love that Granny's Burritos is opening so very close to my house.

This weekend we had our first monthly family/friend get together. Was great fun. Karin hosted and we had plenty of food. we also learned that wine and beer is much appreciated. all the boys were able to play outside, even sweet little baby Z. Eva hosts next month... she has picked the theme of Southern Comfort. not sure what I am going to bring yet.

While we were in Boston Chris and Aaron decided to try out, Green Elephant the new restaurant in the neighborhood. The gave it a 4 star review. Portland is certainly a yummy place.

The big news is that my dad bought crocs. yes, crocs. my dad wears crocs. i am still in shock. I am over the shock when I heard the news of his selling the house in the cape... thrilled about the wedding of the year! shocked over the crocs. Must remember to take a photo... am thinking back to a time ago (a long time ago) when my father demanded to take a photo of my shoes. stating that they were so ugly he had to record my wearing such hideous footwear. your turn dad (and yes... those were UGLY shoes)

I am so very relieved... The Saturday Market will be under a new format this year. Artist run... not organized by me. therefore...we will have to obtain permission or pay fee's. whew.... 

Once it came time to plan the Saturday Market again I realized that I am not really up to it. Not that I don't feel the same passion for it but just didn't' know how I was going to find the time. The city and other people involved where ready to move forward but i knew the majority of the work would fall on me. While I am going to help out... I have to do no more.  I am just so happy.

for locals I will post updates here. 

also.. anyone interested in 3.00 Sea Dogs tickets for April 21 st let me know. tickets nice and cheap just how we like 'em. 

Today G and I are home with colds. Please feel very bad for us.  we did get to watch the Princess Diaries. he was a bit hesitant since it looked like a movie that ends with kissing. he enjoyed despite seeing kissing in one of the first scenes. yuck.  kissing is way to pass on cold. just an fyi.

I am too thick headed to do the work I scheduled in for this morning. planning my class and attempting to understand the more boring and technical aspects to digital photography. boring but good to know. i miss film. 

because

i know you need a reason so waste time...

http://www.myheritage.com/celebrity-face-recognition?morph=1

you do not have to sign in...just go to "my files" to choose a photo.

Karin is amazing

Karin just accepted the position of director of Public Art for the city of Boston. 

I am so excited/proud!

(Not sure if that is the correct title)

seriously folks

Max's school has installed a security systems. Now, as you enter the building there are big signs that state "This property is being monitored by Siemens"

 seriously... I am 40 years old and I burst out laughing. did they really not think of this when they posted  the signs?

did you hear Obama's speech today? if not.... http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hiswords

a thought

my mom and I were talking today about happiness and misery. How happiness is often not recognized except in retrospect and misery/unhappiness is apparent instantaneously. 

I do know that certain aspects of happiness I catch immediately. for example... tonight at the Y I was in the weight room and I saw Max on the treadmill and had a rush to joy seeing my baby moving so fluidly along ( yes... I realize that the "treadmill" holds a whole other meaning all together... "go baby go... just do not stray very far").  or the other day at fast little Aidan's track meet... G, Aaron and I were playing the line game and I saw how far Aaron's drawings have progressed and the ease in which he does so.  those were immediate moments of joy. The big picture of an idyllic time is often lost in the day to day. Unhappiness, boredom, apathy I am all over that.  

anyway.. that is my thought of the day. 

Finally

I was able to get a current photo of Aidan.  Doesn't he look GREAT without glasses!

 think of hot humid nights... stifling days....mosquitoes... smelly streets... sunburns...stickiness... black flies....people in skimpy clothing (who should not dare to wear them)...weekend turnpike traffic...throngs of tourist looking for lobster... sand in your toes... sand in your bathing suit...

better?

good morning! it is snowing here... so very excited about that. I just LOVE snow. I am not sick of it all. I hope it snows enough that I have to shovel my car out. that would sure be a treat!

I do not believe I have announced the 2 new additions to our family; Bobo and Trigger. Gerbils that Aidan's class bred for science (they were studying genetics, not sex ed) and were then raised by the kids. He had proven to be the devoted father we always thought he would be. He has worked and saved his money to buy them all two little gerbils would want. seriously they live in a 3 story luxury suite that is constantly being renovated by Aidan and his brothers and friends. 

I will post photo's soon. promise. Speaking of Aidan, did I mention that he has contacts now? and Max's braces are off? G lost his front teeth? 

in other news... My friend who I have been working on stock photography with/for is truly brilliant.  though we are not done with the entire editing process 2 agencies have already expressed an interest. the whole process takes a while but knowing all this work will ultimately be profitable feels great. 

hmm... what else. the parent company of the restaurant next to the bookstore went bankrupt. poor people. they were really doing a good job. I believe one of the employees is going to take it over. 

okay... i will try to be more diligent in keeping up this blog. here's my issue... I am been so busy. i know, i know.... you are too. here i go...

Yesterday was Max's 15th birthday. He shadowed at a local high school (he is now more confused about which is the best fit), had a mellow afternoon then had a friend over for strawberry pancakes, fruit & watched The Darjeeling Limited. simple, nice, sweet.

oh... Aidan is now wearing contacts. happy day. that's new.

a boring entry. sorry but I must run. will try to be more entertaining later.

since we are on the subject of Boring... it's snowing again. i am bored with it. wouldn't you think that the snow would be bored with us?

i've been told that my blog is boring. 

Dad and Judy are back from Prague. I found it funny that they were able to walk around without coats while we're here freezing. When I think Prague, I think cold. hmm....could other things I assume be wrong? must think on this some more.

I have unusual company in my wanderlust club. I am usually living vicariously through Karin.

so excited for Project Runway tonight? Rami or Chris... i wonder

sort'a scary

I didn't realize how dangerous these are. I am not sure I even know how I to recycle one. havent' had to yet.

What to do when compact fluorescents crack
Boston Globe


Compact fluorescent lamps contain small amounts of toxic mercury that can vaporize when the bulbs break, creating a potential health risk for infants, young children, and pregnant women. If a lamp does break, follow these cleanup procedures:


-Keep people and pets away. Open windows, and leave the area for 15 minutes before beginning the cleanup.
-Do not use a vacuum cleaner, even on a carpet. This will spread the mercury vapor and dust and potentially contaminate the vacuum.
-Wear rubber gloves.
-Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure closed container, preferably a glass jar with a metal screw top lid and seal like a canning jar.
-Next, scoop up the smaller pieces and dust using two stiff pieces of paper such as index cards or playing cards.
-Pick up fine particles with duct tape, packing tape, or masking tape, and then use a wet wipe or damp paper towel.
-Put all waste into the glass container, including all material used in the cleanup. Remove the container from your home and call your local solid waste district or municipality for disposal instructions.
-Continue ventilating the room for several hours.
-Wash your hands and face.
-As a precaution, consider discarding throw rugs or the area of carpet where the breakage occurred, particularly if the rug is in an area frequented by infants, small children or pregnant women. Otherwise, open windows during the next several times you vacuum the carpet to provide good ventilation.

SOURCES: Maine Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management; Mercury Policy Project