Shake Your Love

Yeah, hit my limit with the 80's videos with Debbie Gibson. That's a little too sweet for me. Even when I was 9 it was too much.

Apres moi, la deluge?

Forgive the hackneyed French, but I can't get "deluge" out of my mind. The forecast is a week of rain, and there's already water in the basement. Not a lot, but it's only the 2nd day. I'm starting to get nervous. I joked earlier about building an ark.

Did I mention that I'm setting up a darkroom in the basement? Of course I am. And it's pouring outside.

Drainage is moving up on the list of priorities here at the house.

Feel the Hair!

I am intermittently grading papers and checking email this morning. Mostly I'm distracted by VH1 Classic 80's Videos. I actually balked at watching it for a moment, and I don't know what I'm thinking. I did just definitely mute The Scorpions "No One Like You", but I had fun examining the shift in Belinda Carlisle's image from the "Vacation" video with the Go-Gos, to her solo effort "Mad About You" which is notable not only for its youthful exuberance, but also for its unnatural sparkly lighting at the beach. Overzealous use of reflectors.

I also think Rob Harper could rock a John Cougar Mellencamp costume at this year's Hasbro Halloween Party. You can blame that notion on the "Hurts So Good" video. Zombie bikers, anyone?

All the fun with the 80's videos stems from my mother having been in her late 20's when I was in pre-school, back when MTV showed videos. They are a brilliant artform, and I am thrilled to see artists like Lady Gaga breathing some life back into them. And for that matter, these live performances lately. Pink has become an acrobat. I've seen her do that spinning half naked dunked in the water while singing show three times now, and it amazes me every time.

Music feels fun and theatrical and visual again.

I give up

I'm going to get her. She's getting agitated. The terrible two's are starting. At 15 months :)

Toddler Mystery #1

How does a child go from unconscious in the car to completely awake in the course of a diaper change? I've been trying to get Annika to fall back to sleep for going on an hour. I think she's winding down, but I still hear chattering from upstairs. Do I pick her up, or do I keep her in bed? Is she somehow just not tired? Impossible. She will fall asleep . . . .

a place of becoming

a place of becoming, originally uploaded by girl seeking grace.

Emily posted this photo tonight. Annika loves all things birds, so I thought I'd post it. Not only do I love Emily's eye and want to share her work, but I also love knowing that Annika will make her birdy sound ("Caw!") when she sees it. :)

Sharing Carrots

2010-02-07 June and Annika, originally uploaded by jessica_beagan.

I left the house with only yogurt for Annika, so when Erin busted out the carrots for June and Annika's eyes lit up (like I've NEVER seen them do for carrots, I might add), they were kind enough to share. Annika also tried miso soup today (which was a hit), and seaweed salad (which was not). Neither was edamame a hit. No sushi for the babies quite yet, but it's nice to be able to go out for it with them. Both girls were terrific. However, we did leave a mess of carrots, Cheerios, and seaweed salad on the floor around those high chairs, which Aaron cleaned up.

Babies & Sushi

IMG_5284, originally uploaded by Erin Burke.

Does it get any better? It was a good day with the Burke-Wildmans at Ran Zan, though the girls look a little too serious. :) June shared her carrots with Annika, while the grown-ups ate copious raw fish. After lunch we had ice cream cones from Three Sisters. It was cold but we bundled up and walked. It was good to be out in the sunshine with good friends. Nick and Erin took turns carrying June, while they graciously lent us their stroller for Annika (hers is in Grammy's car). The babies fell asleep on the walk home, and Annika napped for almost 3 hours altogether.

A good day. :)