My students and I composed a message today to another student who recently left our group.
Enjoy.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Photos: A memo
In the last years I have repeatedly attempted to backup our favorite photos online. I failed to complete or even start this mission many times. The last time it was actually due to technical difficulties experienced on Webshots.
A few months ago I was dreaming aloud to our Romanian flatmates (who had not yet realized they should run when I start rambling) that I would love to create a web interface in which one could organize his or her life, being able to access diary entries, photos, videos, notes, etc by category or date with the click of a button. One's whole life recorded digitally. Ah.
The next day I realized every tool I wanted was offered by Google and that even though the interface (accounts homepage) is clunky, it would be easier to use their tools than to create my own website or software.
Thus, I direct you to http://picasaweb.google.com/ajrseeley to view my growing photo archive. I've also added some albums to Facebook, for those who partake. This link has replaced former ones in our blog sidebar.
A few months ago I was dreaming aloud to our Romanian flatmates (who had not yet realized they should run when I start rambling) that I would love to create a web interface in which one could organize his or her life, being able to access diary entries, photos, videos, notes, etc by category or date with the click of a button. One's whole life recorded digitally. Ah.
The next day I realized every tool I wanted was offered by Google and that even though the interface (accounts homepage) is clunky, it would be easier to use their tools than to create my own website or software.
Thus, I direct you to http://picasaweb.google.com/ajrseeley to view my growing photo archive. I've also added some albums to Facebook, for those who partake. This link has replaced former ones in our blog sidebar.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Happy Easter
It’s been an eventful several weeks here during which we have enjoyed visitors and travels, lost our digital camera (the third we’ve been through in just over a year) and lost our strong free wi-fi connection in the house. I found myself in a position with a lot to say and show but no media through which to do so. Thus, the several posts I make today using a weak wi-fi signal we can obtain by resting the laptop on our bedroom window ledge.
It was Easter yesterday and I felt a nibble of guilt all day knowing we wouldn’t do anything Eastery – no Easter bonnets, hearing the story at church, family gathering, not even a ham. What we did do was stay in most of the day, putting all the mattresses, couch cushions and pillows in the house on the family room floor, creating a massive play area on which we made Play-doh creations, landed our radio-controlled helicopter, raced Crayola snails we decorated ourselves, did somersaults, drove Thomas the Tank Engine, had a picnic and watched recent Lost episodes. More of a name-brand orgy than a religious holiday but at least the Play-doh did come in plastic Easter eggs.
Even though we don’t go to church regularly, I do want to teach Lily the Easter story next year, mostly because it was a part of my childhood that I found meaningful.
I hope all the family gathering at my parents’ house enjoyed the company and the feast. A big kiss from us three. Mwah.
It was Easter yesterday and I felt a nibble of guilt all day knowing we wouldn’t do anything Eastery – no Easter bonnets, hearing the story at church, family gathering, not even a ham. What we did do was stay in most of the day, putting all the mattresses, couch cushions and pillows in the house on the family room floor, creating a massive play area on which we made Play-doh creations, landed our radio-controlled helicopter, raced Crayola snails we decorated ourselves, did somersaults, drove Thomas the Tank Engine, had a picnic and watched recent Lost episodes. More of a name-brand orgy than a religious holiday but at least the Play-doh did come in plastic Easter eggs.
Even though we don’t go to church regularly, I do want to teach Lily the Easter story next year, mostly because it was a part of my childhood that I found meaningful.
I hope all the family gathering at my parents’ house enjoyed the company and the feast. A big kiss from us three. Mwah.
Porté Puymorens
In Spain, the week before Easter and the Monday after are holidays, so during Semana Santa we stayed in a town in France with Oli’s parents, skiing in the Pyrenees there and in Andorra.
Lily spent her first time in daycare/nursery when we skiied in Andorra, and overall it was successful. She only spent two two-hour periods there, but it was a big deal for her parents to know she ultimately liked it. At the end of the day we made the mistake of skiing to the bottom of the mountain to return our gear, thinking we’d take the Telecabina back to the top and collect Lily without the heavy stuff. Unfortunately you couldn’t take the lift back up at this point in the day, so after being reassured that this happened all the time, the attendant called up to the nursery and had a teacher bring her down. She returned to us a bit teary eyed because she hadn’t wanted to leave.
Otherwise, we had a mixture of good and bad ski conditions. On the day we went to Andorra, the sun was shining but the snow was in patches of slush and ice, making things very tricky. Oli and I had an encounter with a red run made of ice that left us both on our bottoms covered in a shower of snow rained upon us from the scrape of our skis or snowboard as we cascaded down what felt like a vertical drop. After finishing the much easier second half of the run, we re-ascended in the lift, watching other skiers on that piste approach the edge, stop, look around, then descend and fall on their asses.
Nana Lisa and Papa Ray got in a lot of good playtime with Lily. Papa Ray shared all the photos on his camera with her and Nana Lisa took her on walks with baby doll and pram. On the day we returned to Barcelona we had a nice meal at a restaurant near our apartment. The staff were warm, the food very good, and the patrons relaxed about Lily wandering around, wrapping her baby in a cloth napkin and sticking her tongue out at herself in a mirror. The relaxed afternoon was made even more ideal when the chef turned the TV to Formula One coverage for us.
Lily spent her first time in daycare/nursery when we skiied in Andorra, and overall it was successful. She only spent two two-hour periods there, but it was a big deal for her parents to know she ultimately liked it. At the end of the day we made the mistake of skiing to the bottom of the mountain to return our gear, thinking we’d take the Telecabina back to the top and collect Lily without the heavy stuff. Unfortunately you couldn’t take the lift back up at this point in the day, so after being reassured that this happened all the time, the attendant called up to the nursery and had a teacher bring her down. She returned to us a bit teary eyed because she hadn’t wanted to leave.
Otherwise, we had a mixture of good and bad ski conditions. On the day we went to Andorra, the sun was shining but the snow was in patches of slush and ice, making things very tricky. Oli and I had an encounter with a red run made of ice that left us both on our bottoms covered in a shower of snow rained upon us from the scrape of our skis or snowboard as we cascaded down what felt like a vertical drop. After finishing the much easier second half of the run, we re-ascended in the lift, watching other skiers on that piste approach the edge, stop, look around, then descend and fall on their asses.
Nana Lisa and Papa Ray got in a lot of good playtime with Lily. Papa Ray shared all the photos on his camera with her and Nana Lisa took her on walks with baby doll and pram. On the day we returned to Barcelona we had a nice meal at a restaurant near our apartment. The staff were warm, the food very good, and the patrons relaxed about Lily wandering around, wrapping her baby in a cloth napkin and sticking her tongue out at herself in a mirror. The relaxed afternoon was made even more ideal when the chef turned the TV to Formula One coverage for us.
Los Hartrichs
Nate and Laura Hartrich visited us, leaving the boys with Nate’s parents who also gifted them the airfare for Christmas. The visit panned out in a way that can only be described as ideal. Laura, a far superior blogger to me, documented this visit rather well in the following posts on her blog Maiasaura Made:
Barcelona, We Are Here.
Barcelona, Day 2.
Barcelona, Day 3.
Barcelona, Day 4.
Barcelona, Day 5.
Day 6, no internets
Barcelona Day 6 -- Stateside Version
Last Day in Spain. Ah, Sitges.
I really enjoyed preparing for their visit, thinking up meals, washing and ironing linens, arranging activities. As we get older we’ve all gotten more into “entertaining,” throwing dinner parties instead of keggers, even going so far as to arrange game nights. There was something nice about preparing for a couple’s visit that you don’t quite get when hosting single male friends.
When we visit the Hartichs in their home I’m always impressed by tactics or routines Laura utilizes with the kids and I think what a dumbass I am for not having thought of them. I, therefore, found it comforting when Laura would comment, “You play with Lily so much! You’re so relaxed! You talk to her so much!” and make looks of inner torment. We moms are all alike, never giving ourselves credit and feeling guilty about most things.
Their visit made us thankful for having interesting friends who are also parents. Having friends and being a parent are difficult to coordinate, so it helps when the areas overlap. Whenever we visit one another, we generally have one day in which to do it and the result is a hurried discussion of our feelings toward life regularly interrupted by our children beating one another, boring one another, dirtying diapers, calling our names repeatedly, performing princess slaughtering puppet shows, and sometimes having fun. Thus, having a week together with four of us and one child put the odds in our favor to have real conversation and relaxation.
We’re looking forward to future holidays together when we can include all the wild children and to a time when we recount the stories of our adventures together.
Barcelona, We Are Here.
Barcelona, Day 2.
Barcelona, Day 3.
Barcelona, Day 4.
Barcelona, Day 5.
Day 6, no internets
Barcelona Day 6 -- Stateside Version
Last Day in Spain. Ah, Sitges.
I really enjoyed preparing for their visit, thinking up meals, washing and ironing linens, arranging activities. As we get older we’ve all gotten more into “entertaining,” throwing dinner parties instead of keggers, even going so far as to arrange game nights. There was something nice about preparing for a couple’s visit that you don’t quite get when hosting single male friends.
When we visit the Hartichs in their home I’m always impressed by tactics or routines Laura utilizes with the kids and I think what a dumbass I am for not having thought of them. I, therefore, found it comforting when Laura would comment, “You play with Lily so much! You’re so relaxed! You talk to her so much!” and make looks of inner torment. We moms are all alike, never giving ourselves credit and feeling guilty about most things.
Their visit made us thankful for having interesting friends who are also parents. Having friends and being a parent are difficult to coordinate, so it helps when the areas overlap. Whenever we visit one another, we generally have one day in which to do it and the result is a hurried discussion of our feelings toward life regularly interrupted by our children beating one another, boring one another, dirtying diapers, calling our names repeatedly, performing princess slaughtering puppet shows, and sometimes having fun. Thus, having a week together with four of us and one child put the odds in our favor to have real conversation and relaxation.
We’re looking forward to future holidays together when we can include all the wild children and to a time when we recount the stories of our adventures together.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Shear Madness
Wish I could take credit for that lovely pun of a post title, but I stole it from the title of an interactive whodunit play that takes place in a salon. I know, my credibility diminishes with each sentence…
Credible or not, I share the following photos of Oli shaving his head with our new clippers this weekend:
Credible or not, I share the following photos of Oli shaving his head with our new clippers this weekend:
Monday, February 18, 2008
Happy birthday, kid
Was in England for a while, originally for Lily's big second birthday, and later, we stayed on for fun. We kind of missed blogging about Lily's birthday (Feb 2 - Same as Jay and my dead family cat Asha) due to these travels and the camera battery dying before we could upload photo evidence of its celebration, but now, we make up for it.
Photos include Lily sliding down the stairs on a crib/cot mattress with cousins Hannah and Dylan, the party itself, the cat cake Yaya Lisa (as Lily now calls her) made, and general good times. Oli says a video is coming.
Watching some old videos last month (remember all those head-bashing falls that used to entertain you sick people???), it struck me that Lily is really no longer a baby and will never be a baby again. We made it through all those things that made us crazy (but not quite as crazy as a two-year-old makes us) and all of the sudden, she's a kid bossing us around ('Mommy, play!' - 'Daddy, make a tower!' - 'Melk, melk, melk!'). Actually, what we really made it through was figuring out what kinds of parents we are and would like to be, what is worth freaking out about and what isn't, how to accept advice and also to trust that we know Lily well enough to ignore advice at other times, and overall, that we're good parents, so there!
You better thank us for all this later, Lily. Happy birthday.
Photos include Lily sliding down the stairs on a crib/cot mattress with cousins Hannah and Dylan, the party itself, the cat cake Yaya Lisa (as Lily now calls her) made, and general good times. Oli says a video is coming.
Watching some old videos last month (remember all those head-bashing falls that used to entertain you sick people???), it struck me that Lily is really no longer a baby and will never be a baby again. We made it through all those things that made us crazy (but not quite as crazy as a two-year-old makes us) and all of the sudden, she's a kid bossing us around ('Mommy, play!' - 'Daddy, make a tower!' - 'Melk, melk, melk!'). Actually, what we really made it through was figuring out what kinds of parents we are and would like to be, what is worth freaking out about and what isn't, how to accept advice and also to trust that we know Lily well enough to ignore advice at other times, and overall, that we're good parents, so there!
You better thank us for all this later, Lily. Happy birthday.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Lily's new room
Kevin Rooney has left us for Madrid for a few days to stay with his friend Natalia and her family in a town outside the city, and then will be off to India for a few months on the last leg of his year-long travels.
With his depature, a room opened up and Lily moved into her big-girl bed. You will note that it is on the floor, which works out quite well. Why buy a bed frame just so you will then have to buy a guard rail? With the move to the new room, sleep patterns have greatly improved. There was only one major wake-up the first night and after being reassured that mom and dad loved her and being told how Bozwell Bear used to sleep in mom's bed when she was a kid, she gave a look that said, 'Ah, so you haven't put me in here because you hate me,' and fell deep asleep until 9am (!!!). No trouble napping yesterday, no trouble going to bed last night and we all got to sleep through the night for the first time in a loooong time.
Other features of the room: Thomas the Tank Engine and friends posters; a tent that doubles as a home for babies, baby beds, and a small kitchen set; a small guitar left by K Roon, and a cool chair given to Lily by friends Antony and Marta. In the tent photos, Lily is throwing a minor tantrum because she wants to hold the camera. I love the feet kicking in the last one.
With his depature, a room opened up and Lily moved into her big-girl bed. You will note that it is on the floor, which works out quite well. Why buy a bed frame just so you will then have to buy a guard rail? With the move to the new room, sleep patterns have greatly improved. There was only one major wake-up the first night and after being reassured that mom and dad loved her and being told how Bozwell Bear used to sleep in mom's bed when she was a kid, she gave a look that said, 'Ah, so you haven't put me in here because you hate me,' and fell deep asleep until 9am (!!!). No trouble napping yesterday, no trouble going to bed last night and we all got to sleep through the night for the first time in a loooong time.
Other features of the room: Thomas the Tank Engine and friends posters; a tent that doubles as a home for babies, baby beds, and a small kitchen set; a small guitar left by K Roon, and a cool chair given to Lily by friends Antony and Marta. In the tent photos, Lily is throwing a minor tantrum because she wants to hold the camera. I love the feet kicking in the last one.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Floating
Back from England. Getting back into the groove here in Barcelona. Feeling a bit out of touch with reality....
---
Lily has entered the infamous terrible twos. Tantrums. Not sleeping well. Having tantrums while not sleeping well. We assume some of this has to do with the amount of travel we've done and that our home probably doesn't feel like our home....it sure doesn't for me yet. Perhaps when we have more of a life here, it will be easier for her to be settled.
---
On the other hand, she's a lot of fun now in her big kidness. She talks quite a bit and comes up with funny things she likes to say to be silly. For example, she said 'Superman' the other day and I was surprised because I didn't know she knew him. So I repeated 'Superman?!' She replied, 'Superfly!' giggling like a maniac, and after I giggled and repeated her funny word, she proceeded to shout out 'Superfly' from time to time throughout the day just so we could both have a laugh.
---
Have learned that old lady living in flat that butts up to ours is C-R-A-Z-Y....threatening to call the police because Lily cries in the night....banging on our walls when Lily cries......We don't ever really hear other people, so we didn't really know she could hear Lily, and it's not like Lily has never cried before now. Working on trying to be diplomatic......but really just want to say 'que te cagues...,' buy some damn earplugs like a normal human being. Now every time Lily cries I'm even more stressed because I know psycho is listening and waiting.
---
Need to get a non-parent life here. Thinking about taking a business Spanish course but not sure if it's worth the expense. Perhaps should just apply to some jobs and if my work Spanish isn't good enough, take a course at that point. All of this looking up information and going to talk to people requires time, though......
---
Lily has entered the infamous terrible twos. Tantrums. Not sleeping well. Having tantrums while not sleeping well. We assume some of this has to do with the amount of travel we've done and that our home probably doesn't feel like our home....it sure doesn't for me yet. Perhaps when we have more of a life here, it will be easier for her to be settled.
---
On the other hand, she's a lot of fun now in her big kidness. She talks quite a bit and comes up with funny things she likes to say to be silly. For example, she said 'Superman' the other day and I was surprised because I didn't know she knew him. So I repeated 'Superman?!' She replied, 'Superfly!' giggling like a maniac, and after I giggled and repeated her funny word, she proceeded to shout out 'Superfly' from time to time throughout the day just so we could both have a laugh.
---
Have learned that old lady living in flat that butts up to ours is C-R-A-Z-Y....threatening to call the police because Lily cries in the night....banging on our walls when Lily cries......We don't ever really hear other people, so we didn't really know she could hear Lily, and it's not like Lily has never cried before now. Working on trying to be diplomatic......but really just want to say 'que te cagues...,' buy some damn earplugs like a normal human being. Now every time Lily cries I'm even more stressed because I know psycho is listening and waiting.
---
Need to get a non-parent life here. Thinking about taking a business Spanish course but not sure if it's worth the expense. Perhaps should just apply to some jobs and if my work Spanish isn't good enough, take a course at that point. All of this looking up information and going to talk to people requires time, though......
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
I'm in England
And so is Lily.
Very quickly before Lily wakes up from her nap:
We were here for a long weekend to celebrate Lil's birthday with English family and friends. It was fun and at the end we were exhausted after three weeks in the US for Christmas, two whirlwind weeks back in BCN, and a weekend here. So Lily and I decided to stay on for another week and a half while I'm still unemployed and recover!
While Ray and Lisa have been at work, we've plodded through the English countryside in Lily's new Wellingtons and rain coat (thanks Nana Lisa!), gotten over our fear of crossing the road in this country, hiked over to the next town to buy thank-you notes and hot chocolate and all-over revived ourselves!
Now we're ready for lots of visiting:
* Friend Mal and baby Aldous at the London Zoo tomorrow
* Me sans Lily to see Megan and Marty and some DJ on Friday
* The McAndrews and little Delia on Tuesday
* As well as a visit here at home from cousin Hannah over the weekend while her parents continue to get used to new bundle Baby Sam
Lily's just woken up, so more later!
Very quickly before Lily wakes up from her nap:
We were here for a long weekend to celebrate Lil's birthday with English family and friends. It was fun and at the end we were exhausted after three weeks in the US for Christmas, two whirlwind weeks back in BCN, and a weekend here. So Lily and I decided to stay on for another week and a half while I'm still unemployed and recover!
While Ray and Lisa have been at work, we've plodded through the English countryside in Lily's new Wellingtons and rain coat (thanks Nana Lisa!), gotten over our fear of crossing the road in this country, hiked over to the next town to buy thank-you notes and hot chocolate and all-over revived ourselves!
Now we're ready for lots of visiting:
* Friend Mal and baby Aldous at the London Zoo tomorrow
* Me sans Lily to see Megan and Marty and some DJ on Friday
* The McAndrews and little Delia on Tuesday
* As well as a visit here at home from cousin Hannah over the weekend while her parents continue to get used to new bundle Baby Sam
Lily's just woken up, so more later!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Amendment
I just found these photos on Oli's computer in a temporary folder where I had put them, meaning to blog them.
Oli's parents came to visit us in November and we took the scenic cable car from Barceloneta beach to Mont Juic.
PS - There was a fire in the city on this day and we got an aerial view of it before walking past it later in the day.
Oli's parents came to visit us in November and we took the scenic cable car from Barceloneta beach to Mont Juic.
PS - There was a fire in the city on this day and we got an aerial view of it before walking past it later in the day.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Predictions
Some of our blurry New Year's photos, taken just as the camera battery was dying, offer a glimpse of years to come:
Kevin wins the 2020 elections to become the first president with hair cancer:
Canoodling with dubious environmental and bank lobbyists causes whispers on Capitol Hill.
I can't think of any amusing predictions about this photo, but I welcome yours.
Kevin wins the 2020 elections to become the first president with hair cancer:
Canoodling with dubious environmental and bank lobbyists causes whispers on Capitol Hill.
I can't think of any amusing predictions about this photo, but I welcome yours.
I just wish you'd asked first
I feel Colin’s recent post. The cold tummy feeling is also creeping up in me as we part ways with our Chicago friends again. As I wrote in some of my Christmas cards this year, in the last few years, late November has brought a certain building excitement as I know the time to reunite will soon be upon us. I think that we have moved on to a new stage in our friendships in which we can take comfort in the knowledge that despite distance and diverging interests, our good old friends are out there thinking about us as much as we think about them at happy and sad times, that we can and will all come together from time to time to discuss life’s joys and challenges and to dance, dance as if we were…dancers.
Check out the nice New Year’s photos on Colin’s blog.
Cold tummy feelings aside, I just know they’re going to find a cure for hair cancer in 2008.
Happy New Year. Let’s take it on with moxie.
Check out the nice New Year’s photos on Colin’s blog.
Cold tummy feelings aside, I just know they’re going to find a cure for hair cancer in 2008.
Happy New Year. Let’s take it on with moxie.
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