Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

As I write this entry, I am listening to the thud/slap, thud/slap of the doctor slowly but surely crawling toward me. Just 3 weeks ago, she couldn't go from sitting up to crawling position without face-planting, and now she's mobile- not just in reverse, as was true for a while, but forward and toward specific objects. Her targets are usually either something she shouldn't have (the rug pad, the cat's tail) or her sister, who is happy to encourage her until the doctor grabs for whatever the princess is playing with, at which point things turn ugly.

To make things more pressing, she has also started to pull herself up- not on the couch yet, but lower things, which means that even more mobility is coming SOON.

Things are changing for the princess, too- today we went to pick out her glasses. I haven't really processed it yet, that she'll need them for at least several years, and possibly forever. I hope she stays as excited about them as she was while picking them out! I suspect that the novelty will soon wear off, but I hope that the doctor is right and that soon she'll realize how much clearer the world is with them on and actually prefer to wear them for that reason. She sure looks cute in them.

This is the town and these are the people...

I love Harry Nilsson's "The Point"- if you don't know it, buy it, just re-issued on CD. I am often reminded of some of the more enduring tidbits from the album. (YES, that's right, ALBUM.)

Today I have been ruminating on the Man in the Pointed Forest who tells Oblio that "A point in every direction is the same as no point at all." It is one of those every direction days.

Focusing on just one thing is a pleasure for me, just sitting and thinking about one topic now seems like a luxury as I often start thinking about one topic- i.e. my new business- and end up with another running in-"hey, don't forget the preschool application" or "today is my sister-in-law's birthday." Even as I am blogging, I am thinking "As soon as I am done, I need to pay the Visa bill, and then go fold the laundry and I forgot to follow up with that babysitter."

A friend of mind once said that she likes to meditate as she takes that time to just sit still with her mind and "Let the shit run through." Not a pretty image, but descriptive. I, on the other hand, prefer to use what little meditation time I find to just focus on one item, topic or moment. More of a micro than a macro approach, and it is my hope that I figure out some way to find more time to be still and focus. On. One. Thing.

"Come to Sirpilla and you will see..."

While I readily admit that I have guilt whenever I feel like I am using the TV to "babysit" the princess- and even the doctor!- the truth is that I used to watch a lot of TV and in truth, I love being 70's and 80's TV "literate." I can still sing the themes for such classics as "Love, Sidney" and "The Greatest American Hero." I have fond memories of my brother trying to be MacGyver, or even further back, the medics on "Emergency!" At times I still have a moment of silence in memory of the cancelling of "It's Your Move." My greatest celebrity meeting was with Mr. T. (Tony C.'s recent blog entry (http://www.tony-c.blogspot.com/) reminded me of how many TV related memories I really have, and how many are shared by those in my generation. Whether it is sad that we are bound by TV memories or not, it is a fact.)

And it wasn't just the shows- it was the commercials, too. I still find myself singing the jingle for the "Snoopy Brusha Brusha Toothbrush." (I never got one. Perhaps having to hear the jingle all the time without me even owning it was prophylactic for my parents.) The tune from a local RV dealership circa 1983 is also an ongoing favorite, so much so that my husband now knows it, too, even though he's never seen the commercial. (The title of this entry is the opening line. If we could add .wav files, there's a chance I would include my version.)

Perhaps my fondest "what could have been" TV memory is: I could have been a kool-aid kid.

Yes, it's true. (Or at least it's true according to family folklore.) I was invited to be one by my cousin who was the ad director for the campaign (good ol' nepotism!) BUT...and here's the catch...I had to be in New York 4 weekends in a row to shoot them. Cleveland is not THAT far from New York, but it was too far for my mom to justify flying back and forth just to have me yell, "Hey, Kool-Aid!" over and over again.

Bummer, 'cause then I would not only share the TV memories but would actually have PARTICIPATED!

Maybe they'll do a remake, and have a casting call for moms who have to call for the big red (or orange or whatever) pitcher to come crashing through the wall to quench my family's thirst...as they sit in front of the TV....

NEW YEAR!

In honor of the New Year, I would like to submit a list of many of the wonderful things about living in the Rose City.

I should mention that the inspiration for this entry stems from two sources. First, having spent 1 week in the grey and wintry world of Cleveland, I realize that I could NEVER do that year after year again (without losing my sanity... CF "Silent Snow, Secret Snow" by Conrad Aiken). Second, a friend whose Aunt recently relocated to Stumptown (the city, not the coffee shop, although the second would be an interesting choice, too) sent a list to family and friends describing some of the things that make our city unique. And as I read the list, I realized that many of those things are what I love about this city!

Hers first:
On the sophisticated, wonderfully reliable bus system, there are NO bus cards on the bus interiors. Rather local art work and poetry etc. replace the advertising -- many drawn or written by local citizens.

The parking garage at Hospitals and adjoining Physicians Plazas are not only FREE but they have a bridge from garage to doctors offices or hospital.

Many stores keep a fresh bowl of water our so patrons' pets may have a drink.

On most roads here, there are designated bicycle lanes. If it starts raining after departing on your bike, the rider may catch a bus and put his bike on bike racks on the bus.

And mine:
The ground is green, year- round. And there is always something in bloom. (In fact, right now I have a pretty- if confused- Iris blooming in my front yard!)

People are gleeful any time it is sunny! And on any sunny day, people wear shorts, even if it is very cold.

People sit outside at coffee shops regardless of weather. That's why lattes come with lids.

Most people I meet live here simply because they WANT to, not because they grew up here and ended up back here by default.

Micro-roasted coffee. (CF Stumptown reference, above.)

Microbrewed beer.

I KNOW how close the ocean is, even if I don't get to see it very often!

As written in "Fugitives and Refugees : A Walk in Portland, Oregon" by Chuck Palahniuk, everyone here really does have 3 lives!

My husband can bike to work, I can walk to the Post Office, Library, and in season, a farmer's market. I mean, I can walk there now, but there wouldn't be anyone there.

It smells good here.

I can get to the airport, any time of the day, in less than 20 minutes.

As I dwell on this longer, I will certainly amend this list, and I encourage my readership to respond!