- I recently had an epiphany: While I really enjoy being active – walking, even on a treadmill – I really dislike exercising. I’m fine if the exercise is inherent in the activity, but I don’t like to purposefully encourage sweating and ragged breathing. Eh. Know thyself, right?
- Carla is starting to lose the last remaining baby vernacular. She can now say “computer” correctly, rather than calling it a “com-POO-tuh” like a tiny Austrian. I am holding on very tightly to “lellow” instead of “yellow” and “collection” instead of “reflection.”
- My in-laws donated a Crate and Barrel outdoor loveseat to us. It’s teak and sturdy and fits neatly on our back porch. But there’s no cushion and I cannot for the life of me find a cushion for it. The sizing is weird – leave it to Crate and Barrel to have custom sizes, right? – so none of the standard bench or loveseat cushions at Home Depot or Target or Bed Bath & Beyond will fit. Then I looked at Crate and Barrel for a replacement – they were having a sale – and the appropriate cushion would cost $500. On sale. I know we all have different categories of things we are willing to spend serious money on, and it turns out that an outdoor loveseat cushion is not one of mine.
- I have made a career change, and I am LOVING it. I feel like I should acknowledge it here, but I don’t want to go into detail right now. So. That’s all.
- My niece’s first birthday is next month, and I have no idea what to get her. Her parents always get Carla fun educational toys, so I suspect they might enjoy getting one of those… but they also live in a tiny apartment and I don’t want to send them anything that requires too much space. Clothes are out: not only does my niece get ALL of Carla’s hand-me-downs, but she also has the same grandmother that Carla does, which means she gets her own beautiful collection of clothing.
- I just finished the third (and so far final) Cormoran Strike book by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). I found all of them thoroughly enjoyable, but now I’m looking for the Next Great Mystery Series to start. I like Sue Grafton and Tana French and Kate Atkinson and Sophie Hannah. But I haven’t really found any other series that have the kind of writing and characters and types of crimes that I like.
- So in the meantime, I have finally begun A Little Life, because I’ve heard it’s a life-changing work of fiction. But I’m very apprehensive about it, because I’ve heard that it’s devastating.
- We have lived in this house for nearly five years, and we are FINALLY getting to finish the office. We’ve re-organized the furniture and gotten rid of a bunch of junk and now just need to clean out the closet (old computers and cellphones dating back to COLLEGE and assorted other tangentially-office-related detritus) and put up artwork. We’re keeping an eye out for coupons at Michael’s, so we can finally frame my husband’s degrees, and we’ll hang those as well (my mom framed my college degree; I don’t think I ever got a physical diploma from my grad school, seeing as I absconded to Europe instead of attending my graduation ceremony).
- Speaking of junk: we had inherited three mattresses and two bedframes from my in-laws that we finally got rid of. Alongside a massive, defunct television set, a DVD player, and some other piece of stereo equipment that is no longer compatible with modern TVs. I felt TERRIBLE sending these things off to the junk guy, but our local Goodwill had no interest and I am not holding a garage sale.
- Carla and I planted a bunch of seeds last week. We used one of those big seed starter kits and I let her pick out a bunch of vegetable seeds. We had fun poking holes in the seed starter stuff and dropping in a seed at a time. (I was stunned when I asked her what she wanted to plant next and she said “cilantro” because I don’t recall teaching her what cilantro is.) Most of the veggies are already sprouting (which seems a little creepy to me – it’s been A WEEK) and Carla is So Excited. The first sprouts that appeared were the green beans we planted, and so she is CONVINCED that we are growing a beanstalk to rival Jack’s. I keep trying to manage her expectations but…
- This seems worth remarking on: I had been saving, on my DVR, the final episode of House since it aired in 2012. I never watched it, because I don’t like things ending. (We still have the Parks & Rec finale, unwatched, on the DVR as well.) But we were running out of space on the DVR (wonder why?) so I finally deleted it. If I haven’t watched it in four years, it is unlikely I ever will.
I thought you were going to say “so I finally WATCHED it.” I was legit startled. DELETED it!
If you like Grafton how about Janet Evanovich! Main character is a female bounty hunter who gets into a whole lot of trouble tracking down the “skips.” There’s some “romance,” & humor as well! The first book is One for the Money (the movie was not like the book & a waste) & #23 or #24 is set to come out in July or November!
The garden may just be the solution to Carla’s eating? When you finally pick the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor have her help you
cook w/ them! Perhaps, she’ll be more interested that way?
My mom got tired of forking over the cash for replacement cushions for her outdoor furniture and just started buying outdoor throw pillows (generally on sale from Pier One). They look nice and are comfy to stick behind your back for support. May depend on the shape/depth of your furniture though.
A Little Life nearly killed me dead. But worth it. Also, I want to hear about this career change!!
1) I give books as presents to children. Make it a book you loved as a kid or one you loved to read to your kid and you’re all set. If I’m forced to buy toys, I really like the Waldorf/Montessori toys from the Etsy seller House Mountain Natural. I got the ladybug/bowls for my one-year old niece’s birthday and she ignored all the plastic toys (and books *sigh*) to play with them.
2) I like all those books you like and I like the Harper Connelly and Aurora Teagarden series by Charlaine Harris.
Another gift suggestion for the one year old, especially since they don’t have much space – the Djeco magnets on Amazon (and I suppose elsewhere as well) are really great! The Melissa and Doug ones are great too, but since my one year old still puts things in her mouth and those wouldn’t fare as well when chewed on, I went on the hunt for other safe magnets for her. She LOVES these. They say 2+, but many reviews corroborate my breaking of that rule. ;P
I also cannot believe you deleted the last episode! I think I gasped audibly when I read that!
Also ditto on your first point regarding exercise.
I was going to suggest books as a gift too! You could always put a folded quilt on the outdoor loveseat…
Try Denise Mina for your mystery needs.
I am also curious about your career change! And curious as to why I haven’t continued reading you all this time…. I think I thought you stopped blogging, for some reason. (Google Reader’s demise ruined everything for me.) I’m glad you’re still here!