Last Friday Leila and Nyssa lost their day care teacher Sara B. She'd been with Nyssa during her time in the Ducks and had been Leila's teacher (because Katy and I demanded it!) for all of Leila's time at Childserve. More than the parental, we really appreciate her care and concern for our children. We really like Sara (and her chubby to be Justin). She's smart and funny and really meant to be a teacher. She takes her job and her kids development seriously. We like all of the teachers that Nyssa and Leila have had, they all seem energetic and seem to understand that their jobs are to be sweet and comforting and keep the kids safe. Sara just goes beyond that. She (and a couple others) make it seem like our kids are the most special ones out there. Not more special than others, but most special. I've been meaning to sit down and hash out my thanks to her. I have this constant urge to give advice, and the immediate response to turn that switch off. So as much as I want to thank Sara I want to tell her what to do. Or what to keep doing. Don't get tired, don't let people get to you. I think she is great because she thinks she is making a difference, and she does. She really gave Nyssa a nice place to grow. Nyssa would be doing everything she's doing now, however she made it easy. So we are going to miss her, and we can't wait to see what she does in the future. Thanks Sara. Good luck.
Our camera is crapping out, but on it, somewhere, is the best video to date. I'll get the beauty off sometime, but for now here are some photos: OK. Well, I have some complaints. But their large and their minor. First complaint, why do I have to get her dressed everyday? Her pj's are cuter than most of her regular clothes. Although, now that its getting summery and she's wearing little skirts and tank tops its getting pretty effing cute.
BB Leila is so sweet and funny. All of you out there that have never met her are really missing out. No blame. But she loves to sit and giggle and smile and, now, wave and play patty-cake, and kick her tiny little edible feet. She is so much fun. Until about 1am.
The Big Noodle is really a sweet snuggely nice girl. She is not perfect, and is entering into a kinda bratty phase...I always thought that the terrible two's was a 2 month thing, or maybe a 6 months thing and would start, take up, the first part of the two's...Now, I realize the Two's are a on again off again phase. You never know when it is going to start? But The Big Noodle does so many things that are kind and sweet and thoughtful.
Like Nyssa really loves her sister. She very occasionally gets a little rough, but she shares, she kisses, she hugs. And whenever Leila does something new or different Nyssa is right there to celebrate it.
That's about it for me and talking. I should probably be telling you specific stories but...
I bought a new CD Monday. Actually I bought 2, but have really only listened to one. Because I want to listen to it over and over!
Let me start over.
What happens when you are in love, and then fall in love again. Or not again, but deeper, further, farther off the cliff?
The cause is probably always easy to identify. Your baby smiles. Your 2 year old drones, "dumb, dumb dumb" on her drive to school because she likes the sound of it. Your dog kisses you more softly than you can imagine. Your wife trustingly lets you rub her belly.
You get the picture...but what happens is harder to say.
Let me start at the beginning.
3 maybe 4 years ago I was shopping late into the Christmas season, I needed a present for Katy badly, and had no ideas. I was in a borders in Tucson, AZ. waundering through their CD's and I saw a blurb from Nick Lowe on a CD.
“Discerning music lovers have long known that Watkins is not only an artist and entertainer of the very top drawer but also, bafflingly, an all too well-kept secret. Being so individual his style is hard to define -– I would file him as the missing link between Paulo Conte and Howling Wolf.”- Nick Lowe
Who knew if the CD was any good? But desperate, I decided if it was good enough for Nick Lowe it was good enough for Katy. That record was Geraint Watkins, "Dial W for Watkins." And as it turned out, it is just about the perfect record. Soulful and sweet, it carries you along with its words, its rich vocals, its wonderful music.
Watkins, apparently is a longtime session musician, longtime member of the cajun band Balham Alligators. And most of his records are out of print, including his one other solo record, Bold as Love
So I have been waiting for years for his next record. It came out in October of '08. In Brittain. I have checked and checked, but it was never released here, never on I-tunes (which I kind of hate), Until I checked again on Monday. Here's the line-up.
Easy to Say "Bon temps Rouler" --Easily my new favorite song. Champion -- Smooth and sweet (see below). Unto You -- a haunting warning, ancient, like a response to Vincent Price Fools Like Me -- a late age Nick Lowe type song...wonderful and reflective Chagrin -- Storm weather and windy seas... guitar, violin and accordion. He makes you sway My Love -- This song sounds very much like a song I know and I can't place it. Moody Blues? comes to mind but without the flights of fancy. Vocal Harmonies, easy pop, twang guitar...It will drive me crazy until I figure it out. Bourgeoise -- As frenchy as the title. History -- Drum Machine, Swaying Organ, overdubbed vocals...Part strangers in the night...part Barry White. a masterful song. Jenni -- Lost love with a low gravel. With Geraints organ taking center stage. Heart of the City -- an odd re-mixing that grows on me. Catch On -- Another Nick Lowe type song. Adult love. Adult because you've recognized your mistakes, not overcome them. They are what engulf you and only by singing can you be set free. At Last -- A dance number waiting for a Fred Astaire. My heart was wrapped in clover the night I looked at you.
Unfortuenetly, because i-tunes sucks, I have no idea who plays on the songs, nor even who wrote them. I know "Heart of the City" is a Nick Lowe standard, but Geraints version is very different.
Lets not focus on the negatives. Here is a sample of what he can do: champion
I was ready to write a pithy little review of the record when I found this video and my stomach dropped out from in me. There is always the fear when buy a new record that it will pale in comparison to what you know. This record is both similar and distinct from "Dial W." It is both similar and distinct from things you've heard before. Here is his Myspace page if you want to listen to more songs, and see more video...http://www.myspace.com/geraintwatkins
But really go buy the damm records...even if that is something you never do...because both "Dial W" and "In a Bad Mood" reward me everytime I listen to them. Do i have to wait 4 more years for something else new? I can't do it.
This is not to say that the refrigerator is empty. This is not to say it has been defrosted and wiped clean. This is not to say you should think about eating the spinach siting in that yellow bag. I saved it for you. It is too juicy, too wet.
Strange things have been happening around here now. We are getting healthy! We are having Nana over for the weekend! but lets look at some crafty pictures and we'll talk as we go...
For "sports" day this year Nyssa and I took a late night trip to the mall to try and find some Cubs Schwagg. It was hard to find any...so we settled for a cute Mexico soccer shirt and an overlarge Cubs hat, which is really funny, but not pictured.
Leila is outfitted in hand me down onsey and pink Cub hat. We start young and we plan hard!
Here we see Beans resting under the beaver pelt I trapped for her in February. It is 80 degree's, but we like to keep her warm. The hat is made from 100% strawberry skin, with reupohlstered root creating the leaf top. At this point, this is the Leile that you get. she sits, she stares. She may smile coyly. And we love her.
What just gets my gaul is how these two hardly ever intereact. You dress them alike. You sit them next to eachother. And this is what I get? silent, sullen, slince! disapointing.
The heavy breathing here, is mine...I'm so proud.
Don't feel bad for her here, apparently she banged her head durring the spin cycle. But her ears have never been so clean.
We had a big sick weekend around here. And contrary to what I yelled at someone, I don't have the flu...so maybe the stupid flu shot did work. Sorry. But not really. But the short of it is I am sitting home with a sleeping sick baby. Who also has not kissed any pigs. So we should be OK. But the big part of the weekend was not sickness. It was this...
She can wave. And she loves to do it. Here is a one of her with her big sister. A big sister that really loves to play with her.
I don't have the photo archive to really do this right...and after her comment on my post below, she deserves to have it done right....but here are a bunch of photo's and video's starring my lovely and talented sister, Laura Ciccantell, who did go to great lengths to visit Katy and Nyssa and Leila and I with her daughter, Katie, about a month ago. I would note, in response to her comment, that she was not mentioned in the prior presentation, because it was things I'd done, not things done to me. Here are pictures and video's of her visit. The drive was long, but I mean could you not drop my child?
This has nothing to do with Laura, but look at how cute Nyssa is.
Here is a cute one of Laura and Nyssa reading.
Our Camera is breaking so we don't have a ton of photos of their visit. In fact we apparently didn't take a single photo of Katie with her cousins. Which is ridiculous. But we really loved that they came to visit. We had lots of fun, painted great pottery and Nyssa really loved her cousin and aunty.
Other visiters are always welcome. Just so long as you are nosey and pushy. and are willing to make out with our dogs.
we really appreciate her care and concern for our children. We really like Sara (and her chubby to be Justin). She's smart and funny and really meant to be a teacher. She takes her job and her kids development seriously. We like all of the teachers that Nyssa and Leila have had, they all seem energetic and seem to understand that their jobs are to be sweet and comforting and keep the kids safe. Sara just goes beyond that. She (and a couple others) make it seem like our kids are the most special ones out there. Not more special than others, but most special.
