Blasto got a camera for Hanukkah

and I now have about 315 different photos of my butt.

Things I've Done

Make BOLD the things YOU have done.
(Stolen from Metis)


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (or hiked up a mountain)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang/played a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Made a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Adventure Day - Numero Uno

TRAINS

Today for our first official "Adventure Day" the boy and I walked up to Central Sq. and took the "T" (which he considers a train) to South Station to look at the holiday model train (see photo) as well as to wander the train station and watch the Acela pull out. He knows South Station pretty well by now as we've taken the train to NY & CT a couple of times and we always hang out here for close to an hour first before our trips - but he hadn't seen the model train before so that was a treat. I think he was dissapointed when we didn't get on a train. Maybe next time we will take the commuter line out somewhere.

From South Station we wandered over toward Chinatown - stopping at Boston's Gay Bookstore on the way - I looked quickly at the kids books - not much of a selection & nothing I hadn't heard of already ... sissy duckling, heather has 2 mommies, tango etc. The boy did head straight for the 18 and over DVD's in the back & I had to lovingly corral him back into the non-adult section of the store - he takes after his momma I guess. From there we headed into the first restaurant that we came upon (it was cold). But I think we made a good choice - it was bustling with activity - including lots of families. It served dim sum on the trolleys & even though I wouldn't suggest going out for Dim Sum with only a 2 year old to eat with you we did manage to try 3 items - a couple of shrimp dumplings & some very yummy pork dumplings which the lil guy pretty much ate all on his own (3 big dumplings - very little sharing with momma).

After our tasty little lunch we headed back to the "T" and rode on home - he loves the part where you go over the Charles River - he likes to stand up on his seat & look out the window for boats. After a very long walk home down River St. we returned to find the power restored.

I think we'll try "Adventure Day" again - soon.

Why the Power was Out

Apparently someone drove into the power pole.

R. didn't mind so much 'cause he is always up for watching all the big trucks working on our street. I figured it gave us a good reason to begin ... "Adventure Day" - todays adventure --

TRAINS....

A bounty of Grapefruit

My dad has begun sending us an annual gift of Texas Grapefruit at the Winter Holiday time. This is great because I really like grapefruit - however Em's Grandma in Florida also sends out a holiday gift of Grapefruit. This year two big boxes arrived at our door only days apart. We are doing our best but its a lot of fruit to work our way through... I am making a valiant effort grapefruit spoon in hand and Em & the Lil Monkey have been making Juice.

First Big Snow

We were supposed to go to Ct. to have a holiday fiesta with all of Em's family, but then the travel advisory said that travel was at best not advisable and at worst impossible so we decided to stay home, buy groceries and hunker down... This first shot is us heading out to the market on Friday afternoon as the snow is just starting to come down. The lil guy is quite excited as you can see. I felt celebratory, but passed on the oysters & opted for Maine shrimp, artichokes, a turkey breast & all the trimmings and staples like eggs and milk and baking supplies.



By Saturday morning there was a good coating of snow on everything.... the ground, the cars the trees, the playground toys... - everything.


Mabel still has to go out though so we couldn't completly hide from the snow drifts - You can see that the snow is about up to her shoulders & those of you who know us know that she is a TALL dog ---



Em went out every few hours and did a little more shoveling and sweeping of our stairs and front walk and around her car so that it wouldn't be totally socked in when the storm was done.

She actually looks happy doesn't she?

Happy Birthday Auntie Rebah

(and Seyi, Jennifer Brown, Shari & Melisa, Kathy B, Kris, Metis, Kathy Hart, Val D. and all the other December Birthdays)

Birthday Tea

Yesterday we had my "Birthday Tea" at Upstairs - I love the location they are right in Harvard Square -next to the Peets Coffee looking out on "Newtowne Square". They do a tea service through the month of December & welcome kids to it. Kids are encouraged to bring a stuffy to drop off under the tree to be donated for X-mas. We didn't bring anything but the lil' guy wanted to spend some time checking out the many animals that were gathered there. He loved the zebra hand puppets and also really liked the large stuffed giraffe.

I enjoyed having a last hurrah afternoon with Em before she goes back to that residency thing in earnest. It has been a nice break and I'm glad it came when we had so much to celebrate (like a new baby Newfie & Me). Hopefully the lil monkey & I will make a habit of this afternoon tea thingy!!!! I know Auntie woof can't wait till she gets to join in with us as well. Thanks to DGina for this wonderful gift!!

Taking a walk around Fresh Pond

Monday was a particularly beautiful day - perhaps made more so by the knowledge that we were on the verge of getting the first big storm of the season so we should really enjoy a day that was "unseasonably warm".* (* folks in SF can wonder at the fact that I now consider temps in the mid to high fifties to be warm and even summer-like when those same temps in SF are what we consider a Very Cold Day - so much that one should probably call in sick to work & just stay in all day).

Our friends all get up much earlier than we do (being that they aren't trying to live in a different time zone the way I do) and they all headed out for a hike to the Fells (as seen in some earlier posts on this blog). Not to be outdone Em insisted we get outside too... so we headed for a mid-day hike/walk around Fresh Pond.


The lil monkey wore his special black and red water-puddle stomping boots and put them to good use in both water and MUD puddles that we found along the way. He also got to say hi to about 10,000 dogs since this is a quite popular off-leash park for Cambridge pooches.

and Finally were smiling because this has been the month of Em's elective - which means that she's been working on a research project which she's been able to do primarily from home & she & the little guy have gotten to spend the most time together since the month that he was born.

Ice Storm

This was the view from the car as we drove up the Mass. Turnpike toward the Shire (The Berkeshire "Mountains") - over the past weekend. On Thur Mass. and much of New England was hit with an Ice Storm - something that sucks if you are living in it, but awesome and amazingly beautiful if you are just driving through it. Emily and I thought it looked like the winter land of Narnia - as the ice covered trees were all sparkling in the mid-day sunshine.
It went on & on like this for miles in Western MA - then returned to normal when we were about half an hour from our destination. Odd that one area could be virtually devestated while just a few miles away there was only a heavy rainfall.

We had a great weekend with Em's folks - lots of fun for the lil' Monkey & an easy time for us.

The art annex...

We took things that had been on our back porch over the summer & pulled them into the basement - rugs, a chair, his tricycle and most importantly his easel. Then we strung some twinkle lights and now we've got a mini play area set up in the basement. He LOVES painting - so much that we have already made multiple trips to the neighborhood art supply store for paints and he CRIES when we tell him its time to pack up and come back upstairs. Everybody's chanukah presents are wrapped in monito originals too - we're all about the recycling.

In the Annex ...

A shot of Emily as she supervises the goings on in the basement.

His President

When we see posters, pictures, buttons etc of Obama you can ask him who that is & he excitedly exclaims Obama! Obama! - and if you ask who that is he will tell you that Obama is "My President" - not our president mind you - but his very own personal president.

I don't know if 2 year olds are generally politically minded, but here in Cambridge they apparently are. Our whole playgroup will yell out Obama Obama as they see bumper stickers and house signs. I am taking this all as a good omen. I will let this man be my sons' personal president & I will expect him to take that charge seriously. Hope, Change, Education, Peace, Our Enviornment, Our Economy, Our Rights.... I hope they are in good hands - for my son's sake & for all our sakes.

First Snow

Today we had our first snow of the season. It was pretty minimal but it sure was exciting for this lil guy.
After running around in it for awhile we went & met Mama at the Crafts Bizare Bazar then had lunch with her & a bunch of her worker bees. All in all a very nice day - But Cold

 

My Birthday

This year for Dec 01 (the best day to be born - ever) Boston/Cambridge hosted a one day warm streak. The week before was near freezing but on my birthday it his high 50's low 60's and the next day the temp dropped 20 degrees again.

So we had to get out. Em, R. and I took Mabel for a walk over to Dana Park - a few blocks from our house -

It was so warm we couldn't keep the kid in his jacket



Then again - I don't think I had mine on either. Em asked what I wanted to do with my day & I told her that all I really wanted was my surprise party - to which she said (as she had all week) - "Surprise -No Party!!" But I knew not to be daunted. The boy is not much of a napper so we stayed out to enjoy as much of the day as we could. Around sunset (4:30 in these parts) I tried calling & texting our 2-year old crew to see what everyone was up to and to find someone to come to the park & play - no one was up for it & even Dan didn't want to meet us for hot chocolate at the cafe across from Farah's school - so Em, the boy & I tromped around Central Square on our own.

I really enjoyed the sparkly lights that our out now...



and we also had an amazing sunset and sliver of a moon (as depicted over the 7-11 sorry)
From Central we walked "2-year-old-toddler-stop every five seconds-slowly over to Alex's house - where Surprise, Surprise there was a party waiting for me. Yeah!!! The kids were all in good moods, DGina brought the new baby, We had Carrot Cake and Chinese Take Out - thanks everyone!!! Things don't really get much better than that.

On my Birthday

I don't look too bad for 45 - no?