Vicarious Rocky

I don't think anyone hopes their kid will be of average intelligence, but I have to say that Holly has been struggling with her laurels, and it reminds me that I have no such problem because nothing ever came easy for me. Holly, ranked 2 and probably was edged out for 1 in her high school class. In other words, she has always been naturally bright. Things come easy. And when things don't, she hates it and begins to question her genius. Her intelligence has thrown her into a larger life pond, with more toothy large fish, which is not ego-boosting territory. I feel for her, and then I feel smug.

I clawed my way up to #16 rank in my high school and only managed that because I never took calculus (number 17 angrily pointed that out to me). Now I continue on in my upper-mid percentile pursuits -- my aquarium is nice and small, I ate my way up to a reasonable size, and now I glide happily along in clear warm waters. Some might swap out the word "warm" for "tepid." But screw them. I have to say, as an existentialist, I'm pleased as punch with where I've ended up. However, my ambitions for Indy may betray my true feelings because I do want something more for my kid. Perhaps that uniform purpose Sage discusses Here. But if Indy ends up running our business in Ohio with a sweet little kid and a nice wife, I'll know how it happened.

Just reflecting on messy closets and car, an undone kitchen, and a few extra pounds.

My defining and default style is binge and purge. I starve during weekdays and eat what I want on weekends. My house "can" be clean, but every time it happens it's like Spring cleaning because I let it go until my hand is forced. My closets, cracker cupboard, and medicine cabinet have all been trashed and rebuilt over 5 times. I used to work this way as well. But for some reason, probably Pat Smith, I have been able to shift my work style into something more reasonable.

My folks were not extreme in their work or household styles. They both have a moderate style for cleaning and always "kept up with it" whether it be cars, the garage, or the kitchen counter tops. The only place I can think where I learned this in such a deeply ingrained way was with food, and it's ridiculous to think it's so pervasive in all other parts of my life.

Now, the food thing is definitely all my family's fault. :) I think everyone but Mike struggled with their weight and trying to manage that between all of us, had to be tricky. When Barb brought home the rare package of Oreos, we all descended like starving lard-fed vultures and would polish that puppy off in one or two nights max. I imagine Barb would sit back and shake her head sadly and think, "I can't do THIS again for a long time or we'll all be fat asses." And so then the next package of cookies were the above-pictured nasty-ass, almond Windmill /Cardboard cookies that only she would eat once a week. Then a box of donuts would show up and the whole thing would start all over.

You know what though? It works well and is rewarding -- I get to feel gluttonous and satisfied with the binge, and I get to feel righteous with the purge. I am curious how other people live without this motivation to extremes?

I had no intentions of taking a week off from blogging, but work got crazy and family life got fun and weather got gorgeous. So, less internet.

I had THE most amazing weekend. The kind of weekend I might have fantasized about as a pregnant woman. My lovely 4-yr-old son, my adoring & kind husband, and fashionably dressed me, headed up to Severance hall Saturday Morning for "The Chillin Cello" children's concert. Followed that up by a trip to Coventry and lunch at Tommys. Indy was blissed out at Big Fun, of course and also at "Coventry Cats." Then spent some time out on the porch when we got home before taking Indy to Grammy's and heading out to a nice dinner at Downtown 140 in Hudson with some pre-dinner gift card shopping.

Sunday, we set to work on the yard. Sage bought me a new electric mower for Mother's day (yeah!) and I cut the back grass. We got the sandbox freshened up, ate some pizza at Sam's Club, planted petunias, tidied up the garage. Indy and I started having a super spy, water gun fight late afternoon and ran into some neighbor kids on bikes that wanted to know what we were doing. They vanished and came back with their own guns and we had a good water fight for an hour. Then we finished out our day drying off and getting fast food for a picnic dinner at Hardesty Park. Came home, kid took a bath, and went right to sleep.

Hillary Clinton Launches Intimidating New Fragrance Line

April 21, 2009 | The Onion

CHAPPAQUA, NY—Unveiling a bold scent described by its manufacturer as "steely, bracing, and curt, with notes of patent leather, sandalwood, and wool serge," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched her own line of soaps, eaux de toilette, and body splashes Thursday. The new fragrance, called "Authorité," was designed to evoke the olfactory equivalent of sensible shoes clicking purposefully down a marble-tiled hallway. "Our distinguished parfumeurs—and, more importantly, Madame Secretary—have created exactly the right tone, a scent that brooks no argument," spokesperson Etienne Falbaum said. "This is a controlled, competent, and, above all, patient essence that makes men sit up, take notice, and not speak until spoken to." Advertising inserts scented with Authorité will be featured in upcoming editions of Elle, The Economist, and The New York Review of Books.

Holly had a clever blog idea for me. I was to craft thoughtful prose about the Susan Boyle phenomenon and she suggested it be titled "Doh-Ray-Meme." Isn't she smart? I have a smart friend.

I, however, decided to just post this picture of next week's weather. It is foreshadowing the large plate of work I should be able to easily devour out of sheer boredom and drudgery.

Easter #1 was lovely. Lamb, Ham, and Little Cakes. Happy kids hunting for eggs. And special guests -- the Winthers -- from down the street. Sunday we get to crash Aunt Nikki's Orthodox Easter, which means more candy and amazing food (oh and something about Jesus). Here's some Easter #1 Pics:

When we were in the Dells, we heard a lot about this Lake Delton Dam Breech that emptied the man made lake and took out three fancy houses. This video is a bit long, but the start shows two of the three houses tumbling into the water. There was still a lot of muddy, water free lakefront when we were there. Kind of spooky looking with boats and docks sitting there waiting for a big drink.

Indy is starting to think about what he wants to be when he grows up. Sage and I were having a discussion on what our aspirations were for him and we are both at a loss. We also were talking to Jamie about his career and we've talked with Holly, family members, and through it all I now believe this: Finding a fulfilling career / lifestyle that suits any given individual seems to come down to isolating and evaluating 4 variables:

Skills -- What are you good at? Are you creative, systematic, intelligent, intuitive, plucky, thick skinned, etc.
Desires -- What do you LIKE to do everyday in a work and non work setting.
Fears -- Hate to admit it but they're a huge motivation, so therefore a consideration. No one wants to face their greatest fears daily at work or while trying to achieve a dream job. (i.e.: sales is bad for people who fear isolation and are concerned that others won't like them).
Values -- Why are you bothering to work at all? Do you like the Money, Time at Leisure it affords, Power, Respect, Altruism.

So, yesterday Indy said he was going to be a Policeman and then changed his mind and said he wanted to be an office worker. This is clearly a dude who has in no way considered my 4 variables. Actually, that's not true because he told me the reason he wanted to work at an office was so that he could bring his toys to work for his desk, have a computer all his own, and buy an "office dog." There are a few desires and values in there. :)

What a wonderful vacation. I unplugged and was in a subdued, fresh-air haze all week.

The Wisconsin Dells is a fabulous place to soak in -- a melting pot of vacation town icons from several generations. There is the original Wisconsin Duck Boats from the 50s/60s, which are old army land/water vehicles that take small groups on 30 minute tours of Wisconsin River Rock formations (all 3 of them). That attraction matches all the drive up motels with little fenced-in pools in the front lot and metal swing sets dangerously close to the 4-lane main drag. The downtown shops clearly had their heyday during this time, but are adapting as old souvenir shops become laser tag places.

Then there are the next eras' mini golf and Go Kart outdoor complexes with ice cream stands and Fake steam boat or other kinds of cute buildings where you buy your tickets and hot dogs. Those match up well with the local pizza buffets and pancake houses. Finally, enter the 90s and behold the 5 or more indoor waterparks, indoor and outdoor theme parks with roller coasters, Starbucks, Houlihans, and our Hilton Garden Inn.

Now imagine it all smashed together in a two mile stretch of road shaped like an "L," throw in a Recession, put yourself there 2 month's before the season starts, and know that beautiful nature is a 10 minute drive away. That was my vacation. Sightly Haunted, but otherwise Charming, Fascinating, Joyful and Refreshing.

Finally have a moment in my busy, lovely life to blog. We celebrated my brothers birthday Saturday, colored Easter eggs and made cookies Sunday. Then I pounded out a good amount of work this week thus far Monday and Tuesday. Now, as I sit here, my new counters are being installed. It's April Fool's day so I fully expect the color is wrong or they will stop half way through and tell me it's not going to work for some reason.

We're 3 days away from our spring break trip to See Jamie and hang in the Wisconsin Dells! An Old Trail Mom asked me what we were doing for Spring Break and after I told her she said, "That's interesting. I didn't know that was up there." Sage and I laughed afterwards as if the implication was that one wouldn't know Wisconsin was there. I think every kid in Indy's class that is traveling is going to Florida next week, so it's possible the Old Trail folks only know about 3 or 4 states -- like California, Florida, Ohio, and maybe New York or a Carolina? :)

Here are some Weekend pictures: