Another house, another chapter - but for the record, I do not recommend moving during the holidays. "Stressful" is an understatement. The baby and the dog have fared pretty well - meanwhile, Mom and Dad have been through the war. But hey, this is what I look at now when I'm having my morning coffee. And right now, there is no TV to distract us from the tranquility.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Please, God, keep him safe...
I am struck with the undeniable truth that I am completely and utterly in love with my kid. I have never in my life been so invested in any one person or thing. Maybe it's the jet lag (I only got back from Japan a week ago, and still can't sleep), but as I look at this picture, I am desperate to keep him safe from any harm. I am scared to write more about this because I'm scared that whatever I write will actually happen. My rational brain knows that this is all normal - what kind of a mother would I be if I didn't fear for the well-being of my kid? And I know that we cannot completely control what befalls us, let alone our children. All I can do is make a plea to the universe to keep my child safe, and to allow him to thrive in and relish this wonderful, crazy world. Seriously, though, how can you not worry?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Happy reunion
Seeing old (and new) friends was without question the highlight of my recent trip back to Japan. We met on Sunday for dim sum and parked ourselves in the restaurant for nearly the entire afternoon. We ate sporadically, talked incessantly, the kids ran around and the food kept coming. Thanks again to Ren and Hiroko for taking such good care of me. 大変お世話になりました！
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Day 1 in the Hotbox
There are times when you are painfully reminded of the basic truth that nothing is ever "free." Today was one of those times. Fortunately, I had my expectations set properly. The Japan tourism board makes a good show of trying to promote Japan as a destination - most of what they do ends up being an exercise in self-sabotage. Despite their efforts, I will still bring people to Japan. A few highlights - my favorite quote of the day, our guide described Hideyoshi Toyotomi, an iconic warrior and leader of 16th century Japan, as the "son of a pheasant" (she meant "peasant"). Next, the itinerary itself - whoever planned the tour thought that Osaka Castle was a must-see...um, no. Osaka "Castle" is a 1930's replica of a 16th century castle, inside of which is an 8-floor, labyrinthine museum of artifacts. The stairwells are crowded and smell like toilets. I have been subjected to visiting this castle more than once, and it has not changed much in 20 years. We were spared the worst, though - the rest of our tour group came from Europe early this morning. After an 11 hour flight through God knows how many time zones, somebody thought it would be a great idea to take them straight from the airport to the convention center where they would meet with 120 different hotel salespeople, land operators, restaurant salespeople and other travel-related service providers - from 1:00 in the afternoon until 6:00PM!! And the best part - the invitees (myself included) have to sit at a desk while they each take their turn pitching. The bell rings, they get up, and another one comes in. You're lucky to have a second to take a sip of water. But hey, they did let us have a 10 minute break after an hour straight.
By far, the most painful part of the day was the live performance...oh.my.God. Ninja warriors. Guys dressed as samurai with fake bald heads, performing cheese-ball sword fights. Dancers dressed as geisha and maiko, but with polyester costumes and crappy, cheap-looking wigs. It was as if these actors were being paid to make fun of their own heritage, it was bizarre. Naturally, we were asked to fill out a questionnaire evaluating the performance. Being the only American female present (you guessed it - I had to mark that I was both "female" and "from the US"), I wasn't exactly going to be straight-up honest and tell them it sucked. Besides, the Chinese travel agents (the overwhelming majority in this case) were snapping photos and cheering. It's just part of the deal of getting something for "free." For the record, I'm not complaining!
By far, the most painful part of the day was the live performance...oh.my.God. Ninja warriors. Guys dressed as samurai with fake bald heads, performing cheese-ball sword fights. Dancers dressed as geisha and maiko, but with polyester costumes and crappy, cheap-looking wigs. It was as if these actors were being paid to make fun of their own heritage, it was bizarre. Naturally, we were asked to fill out a questionnaire evaluating the performance. Being the only American female present (you guessed it - I had to mark that I was both "female" and "from the US"), I wasn't exactly going to be straight-up honest and tell them it sucked. Besides, the Chinese travel agents (the overwhelming majority in this case) were snapping photos and cheering. It's just part of the deal of getting something for "free." For the record, I'm not complaining!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Nicasio Pumpkin Patch
Went out to West Marin to check out pumpkins, tractors, farm animals and wheel barrows.
Monday, October 11, 2010
"Ca-ca!"
Jacob's word for chocolate is "ca-ca," and he has a deep appreciation for it, just like his parents.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Great day
Today, Jacob showed me that he can, without a doubt, SING!
Several times today, I sang the same 2 notes, like "C," and then "F" - and he mimicked what I was singing perfectly, right on key.
Saturday and Sunday was pure peace and quiet, for the first time since Jacob was born. Peter took the Kid up north to see Grammy, and the dog and I had the house to ourselves for about 30 hours! I spent the first 2 hours on the couch, writing emails, catching up and marveling the uninterrupted silence. Then I finally got motivated and took the dog for a hike, then went into SF and spent $60+ at my favorite thrift store. It was like going to the grocery store, only I was picking out dress shirts for $2.99 each - BAAM! Jacob scored some cool shirts, too. That was the big highlight, followed by church the next day - it was the day when you can bring your pet and they'll bless him/her/it. So great when the priest is in the middle of the sermon, everyone is quiet and then suddenly, a loud "RUFF!" - Fido saying, "AMEN!"
I was ready to see my boys when they came home - though the 24-hour break was sheer bliss.
Several times today, I sang the same 2 notes, like "C," and then "F" - and he mimicked what I was singing perfectly, right on key.
Saturday and Sunday was pure peace and quiet, for the first time since Jacob was born. Peter took the Kid up north to see Grammy, and the dog and I had the house to ourselves for about 30 hours! I spent the first 2 hours on the couch, writing emails, catching up and marveling the uninterrupted silence. Then I finally got motivated and took the dog for a hike, then went into SF and spent $60+ at my favorite thrift store. It was like going to the grocery store, only I was picking out dress shirts for $2.99 each - BAAM! Jacob scored some cool shirts, too. That was the big highlight, followed by church the next day - it was the day when you can bring your pet and they'll bless him/her/it. So great when the priest is in the middle of the sermon, everyone is quiet and then suddenly, a loud "RUFF!" - Fido saying, "AMEN!"
I was ready to see my boys when they came home - though the 24-hour break was sheer bliss.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
The Booth
Yesterday was a workin' day...I had to schlep most of this stuff myself into the gymnasium at Japan Town's Cultural and Community Center for SAKE DAY. My booth was located next to the food, which ensured constant traffic throughout the night. I tried to put on a yukata (light, casual-style kimono), but having never done it myself, it proved to be advanced topics. I was REALLY close, but you can't pull it off unless it's perfect. So I stood behind this table for 3+ hours in a skirt & tight-fitting shoes, smiled real pretty and chatted w/ people about the tour. The event went great, but I still need YOUR help, gentle reader! Get out there and tell all your friends about SAKE TOURS! And if they mention the promotional code "JTT2011" when they book, then they get a discount! Chat it up on FB or the discussion board of your choice and THANK YOU!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
First bouncy house
He wasn't too sure about it, but at least he didn't start to cry like he has before. He's not secure with getting his balance in these things yet. His throwing ability, however, is stellar - balls, sticks, plastic containers full of fruit - if it has the potential for exploding into a huge mess, it WILL be thrown by Jacob!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Kickback day at the park
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Happy weekend
Went to Martis Camp, a new development on the north shore of lake Tahoe. The funny thing about living in the bay area is that you find yourself enveloped in fog for much of the summer, and in order to thaw out and enjoy some beach time, you find yourself going to (of course!) snow country!
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Jacob's buddies
These are actually MY friends, and Jacob has to hang out with the other babies. Fortunately, everyone seems to like one another well enough! We stayed at the park today for about 2 hours - perfect weather, well-behaved children....another beautiful afternoon.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Hard at work
Give him a garden hose, and he's good for up to 20 minutes straight. Besides aiming the stream just right to fill up the bottles (family-size Kikkoman soy sauce container), he loves to water flowers, plants and the creeping mint between the flagstones. Other cool stuff - he is regularly saying "please" in sign language when he wants things - his version looks like he's scratching an itchy, hairy chest. Also, he does not say "yes," ever, but shakes his head "no" and says "Na...Na" on a regular basis. It's all too adorable and going by way too fast.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
CARLESS DAY
It was no easy task with temperatures in the 90's today, but I did it. I loaded Jacob into the BOB stroller and took off from 9:30am - 2:00pm. Play date, Farmer's Market, swung by a friend's house, then home. We live on top of a ridiculous hill, so coming back home was a b*tch. But during my commute, I saw a house for sale in a neighborhood that I like, and I got a bit of a tan. As I was pushing Jacob and my booty of farmer's market produce down busy streets to get home, I could not help but wonder if the people sitting in their cars did not experience a bit of guilt - like when you pass people on their exercise runs, and you think to yourself, "I should be doing that..."
With the stroller, I am pretty limited on how far I can go from our house. There is no cutesy downtown area for miles. Right below us is the mall, and though they do have Sees Candies and Peets coffee, it's not all that pleasant to walk around. Down the street is a strip mall with Walgreen's and Safeway. Blech. I have not tried grocery shopping yet with the stroller. I am afraid that it will be arduous and therefore very discouraging. So I plan to wait until I acquire a bike, and then we'll tackle grocery shopping. But then I still have that damn hill when I come home...
*Big Sidebar* When I'm driving to the city, I constantly fantasize about a railroad track running straight down the middle of Highway 101, with pedestrian overpasses linking to the platforms. I think about how AMAZING it would be to walk down the hill from our house, past the mall, crossing Freitas Parkway to a walkway that goes into "Terra Linda Station." I even know which stops would be local and which would be express. Terra Linda would naturally be a big express hub. Next express stop is Central San Rafael, then Larkspur, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Sausalito, then under the bay and pop out to the first San Francisco stop, which I guess would have to be the Embarcadero. It may never happen in Marin, but I can dream.
My birthday is coming up - maybe my big present to myself will be a bike. Which means that Jacob's 18-month birthday present will have to be the iBert. And a toddler-sized helmet. Screw the hill, it will be good for both of us.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Time for a rant
The BP oil spill has been looming in my mind - like the horrible 20-page paper in college that you put off until the last minute to write - and still haunts you in your dreams. I say that because my conscience is nagging at me to do something - anything - about the suffering that my kind is inflicting. Oil-slicked birds, dolphins and whales dying, sea turtles being burned alive! I hear these things, and I feel like the world would be a lot better off if we had never evolved beyond the Australopithecine stage. I might not feel this way if I still lived in Japan - except, wait, yes I would - because in THAT country, dolphins living in captivity in Okinawa are throwing themselves out of their tanks in an effort to end their suffering!!!!! The reports are horrifying and heart-wrenching, I am sitting here in tears and I just cannot take any more.
So I am making a promise - at LEAST one day a week, I will not drive my car. At all. Which sounds ridiculous. I should be able to do better than that, right?? Agreed - how about a series of steps to choke off petroleum use:
1. One day a week, no car.
2. Save enough in gas to get a new bike.
3. Get the iBert baby seat for said bike - see if I can't increase to more days w/o the car.
4. Replace our old 2nd car with the Nissan Leaf as soon as possible.
5. Switch from PG&E to Marin Clean Energy.
6. Buy more of our food from the farmers markets.
7. Re-use petroleum-based products (plastic bottles, bags) with a vengeance.
It pisses me off that so many would-be pedestrians are forced to compromise because of car-centric infrastructure - you don't have a chance in hell of riding a bike and/or using public transit somewhere like Houston, for example. Or Jacksonville, Florida. I can remember getting so incredibly pissed off walking along busy roads - no sidewalk, nothing - and cars whizzing by at 50 mph. You can bet your ass that this design was intentional. It's insidious, it's killing our environment, which in turn eventually kills us. Why should it be so? Can we not save ourselves, or will history go on repeating itself until we've gone extinct? What's the verdict, People?
What I want to see is people giving a shit. I want to see Critical Mass slowing traffic to a crawl on a major highway in Houston, Texas. I want to see the feedlots where cows and pigs spend the majority of their lives mired in their own shit, force fed antibiotics and god knows what, cited for cruelty and shut down for good. Next time you go to a supermarket for a steak or pork chops, think about what the real cost was. Action. Making a difference. For those of you who are wondering about the apparent disconnect between petroleum use and meat-eating in America, I urge you to read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan.
If only it were so simple as to promise to eat tofu and home-grown veggies for a year straight in order to prevent an environmental disaster. Like a magic spell. I swear I would do it in a heartbeat.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Home projects
Out with the old (brass), in with the new!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Watermelon
Big Boy likes his fresh fruit. He doesn't eat the flesh, though (mom did a good job on this piece) - he likes to just suck on it. I think I might need to post a video.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Monday, July 05, 2010
Get the toy for the kid!
Marin County Fair happens every 4th of July weekend. Today is the last day, and since the markets are closed today, we were able to take a family trip to the fair. Super fun. Peter really wanted to test his strength on this iconic fairground attraction - his excuse is that he wanted to get Jacob a toy. And he did!
Friday, July 02, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Friday, June 04, 2010
It's like they were posing!
I got about 8 pictures of Jacob and Teddy playing together like this. One thing is for sure - Jacob will not grow up with a fear of big dogs. :)
Today was the first day that he shook his head "no," although I'm not sure he knows what it means. He was on the changing table getting his diaper changed - how appropriate - considering that he engages in poo olympics every time he has to get changed. This time, he just calmly shook his head no. I gave him a diaper to play with, and that bought me some time. We got through it just fine, then went for a hike with Aunt Sophie and Uncle Lou next door. The morning has been as smooth as it gets.
Today was the first day that he shook his head "no," although I'm not sure he knows what it means. He was on the changing table getting his diaper changed - how appropriate - considering that he engages in poo olympics every time he has to get changed. This time, he just calmly shook his head no. I gave him a diaper to play with, and that bought me some time. We got through it just fine, then went for a hike with Aunt Sophie and Uncle Lou next door. The morning has been as smooth as it gets.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Jacob's favorite toy
Jacob loves holding Teddy's leash - wherever, whenever. This park is one of very few safe places where I can let him do it unassisted. We usually have the whole space to ourselves in the afternoons. His favorite thing to say is "all done," and he says it in all sorts of situations. He'll say it when he wakes up, and when he doesn't want to eat something. Or do something. It's his universal phrase of objection. When he says it, it sounds like "Ah-danna," like he's saying "husband" in Japanese which is a little strange. But entertaining!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Power Nap
Today, he blew a kiss for the first time! He was watching his dad leave the nursery at bedtime, and when we asked him to blow a kiss, he did! He also has more teeth - it's tough to get him to sit still & open his mouth long enough to count them. He is sniffling and drooling like a fiend, but fortunately not complaining too much.
It was a busy day - he needed this nap. Church at 8:30AM (nursery for him), then playing fetch w/ dogs in Nob Hill park; quick nap in the car, then story time with singer/guitarist/storyteller Christopher Smith at Book Passage. Lunch at the cafe, then home, then back to another park for kite-flying and bubble-blowing with other babies & moms.
It was a busy day - he needed this nap. Church at 8:30AM (nursery for him), then playing fetch w/ dogs in Nob Hill park; quick nap in the car, then story time with singer/guitarist/storyteller Christopher Smith at Book Passage. Lunch at the cafe, then home, then back to another park for kite-flying and bubble-blowing with other babies & moms.
Weaning, weaning, weaning - I nursed once today and once 2 days ago. One side is no longer producing milk, and the other side has dwindled. But I remember my friend in Osaka nursing her daughter long after she quit producing milk - it's still comforting and soothing. J. is definitely not ready to give it up entirely, and I feel like it's selfish and unnecessary to make him do without. Nearly every day at 5:00PM, he asks for "num-nums" with a distinct cry, and he'll grab my shirt and put his head into the crook of my arm. I would have to be pretty heartless to turn him down!
Friday, May 21, 2010
15 months
So there are 2 amazingly cute behaviors that I want to report. The first: Jacob imitates me checking my watch. He sees me lifting my wrist to check the time, lifts his own wrist and smiles at me. The second: he actually applauds when I sing. Not all the time, but like tonight, we were finishing up "Good Night Moon" - he was still a little wound up (I'm not nursing anymore - still) and so I started singing a night-night song that I made up. After I was finished, he gazed up into my face and clapped his hands. Who says that parenthood is a thankless job?!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Bay to Breakers - I won! ;)
Yes, I "won" in the sense that I motivated myself to train, run and finish the race! So much fun to be a part of it - the flying tortillas, the salmon on Hayes St. hill, and this year I saw my old samba group performing along the route. Lots of families out too (though I don't know how they put up with the smell of pot along the way).
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Weaning
So today I didn't nurse - at all. I feel sad, but liberated and relieved that it's going so smoothly. I feel like it's time for him - he doesn't seem to need it as much. More on this subject later.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!
Had a fabulous day - got dropped off for a blissful yoga class, then walked to the farmers market, then home. I ate all the fresh strawberries I wanted on the way and they were SOOOOO good - I'm never buying strawberries at the supermarket.ever.again. Met up with hubby & the Kid, went to Fairfax for lunch at Iron Springs, then went on a short hike with the pooch. Came home & cooked up the salmon that I bought @ farmers mkt and made Peter do all the dirty work. Not one dirty diaper. Sheer bliss. :) 
SNC00393.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
SNC00393.jpg
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Friday, May 07, 2010
Monday, May 03, 2010
Burrito... on the brink of disaster
We've reached another great plateau - we can order kid food at restaurants that he can actually eat. So great. Someday soon, we won't have to puree veggies and schlep them in tiny containers anymore. This is a black bean & cheese baby burrito, about to take a tumble over the top of my hand. I'm trying to figure out how to save it so he can keep eating.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
It's good to be home!
We missed all the bad weather while we were in FL. Now it's nothing but sunshine. This hike is just a few minutes' drive from where we live. Maybe it's all the rain we've gotten, but the wildflowers are insane this year.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Jenny Hale & fellow musicians senior skip day 1990
went to my high school reunion tonight. so weird and so much fun.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Another stellar weekend
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
clapping : )
I was starting to wonder if Jacob would ever start clapping - tonight he clapped for the first time! A truly exciting development milestone. For those of you not familiar with Music Together, we're singing a song from the most recent series of music classes.
clapping : )
Originally uploaded by js_hale
clapping : )
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
After
It's bittersweet - more bitter than sweet. My baby looks like a little boy and what's more, his part is on the other side of his head now. Peter (hubby) convinced me that this was a good idea and although it's too late now, I have misgivings. I know it's just hair, it'll grow back, etc. but I wanted that shaggy-haired, British rocker 'do for just a little longer...like, maybe forever. Boo. 
After
Originally uploaded by js_hale
After
Originally uploaded by js_hale
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Sunny playtime
I've been thinking recently about dedicating some of my time to seeking out destinations that are accessible by public transit. For where we live currently, that is a challenge. Yesterday I drove do SF with the intention to do some shopping in Japantown - I ended up going to Noe Valley and just soaking up the atmosphere - and gorgeous sunshine. As we were enjoying ourselves yesterday on 24th Street, Jacob watched the people, strollers and buses go by, totally content. And I got a hankering to get out and do this more often.
By "this," what do I mean? I guess it's just to get out and connect with the urban environment. While I really LOVE where we live, I also really miss the freedom of public transportation. I find myself daydreaming about having a train system that shoots straight down the middle of Highway 101 - with 2 sets of tracks (local and express!). I imagine pedestrian bridges (or tunnels?) that allow people to safely pass over/under the freeway to get to the platforms. I'm afraid that it won't ever happen in Marin, which is really unfortunate. I would settle for more bike paths in the meantime. I wonder if anyone has done a study to see if building bike paths increases neighborhoods' property values? As Jacob is becoming more aware of his environment, I want for him to experience the world in other ways besides what I can access in my SUV. I want for us to walk, to get on our bikes and on trains more often than we get in our car. Wherever we end up next, I would like for this lifestyle choice to be a little easier than it is now.
By "this," what do I mean? I guess it's just to get out and connect with the urban environment. While I really LOVE where we live, I also really miss the freedom of public transportation. I find myself daydreaming about having a train system that shoots straight down the middle of Highway 101 - with 2 sets of tracks (local and express!). I imagine pedestrian bridges (or tunnels?) that allow people to safely pass over/under the freeway to get to the platforms. I'm afraid that it won't ever happen in Marin, which is really unfortunate. I would settle for more bike paths in the meantime. I wonder if anyone has done a study to see if building bike paths increases neighborhoods' property values? As Jacob is becoming more aware of his environment, I want for him to experience the world in other ways besides what I can access in my SUV. I want for us to walk, to get on our bikes and on trains more often than we get in our car. Wherever we end up next, I would like for this lifestyle choice to be a little easier than it is now.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
jacob's 1st taste of Little Star pizza!
Went to the Divisadero Art Walk (1 of my old neighborhoods) last Thursday and ate Little Star pizza - hands down the best pizza in SF. We strolled down Divis after dinner and took in the sidewalk displays of jewelry, photographs, and local characters. We saw my old place - 1360 Fulton Street, next to Cafe Abir. It was such an awesome house, but next door lived this crusty old dude who nearly drove me insane. He would squat under my window most nights, chain-smoking and coughing - he would wake me up from a dead sleep and I would throw up the window, curse at him, contemplate hurling random objects at him, give up and go back to bed. See? If I go far enough down Memory Lane, I can easily remember why I moved out of the city!
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
New shoes!
Went to Nordstrom today to cash in holiday + birthday credit and got Jacob a new pair of shoes. He is a size 5.5 - for now. There was retail success all around - hubby got a burgundy button-down shirt - which is a huge departure from the usual blue (yet again I talked him out of the blue-shirt-w/-blue jeans combo!) and I found a pair of khakis at J Crew that fit perfectly. One year later and the baby weight is officially GONE!
Monday, February 22, 2010
What color are his eyes??
It's probably wishful thinking, but to me, Jacob's eyes look green at certain times...he's back in his rear-facing car seat. He really liked the front-facing one (and HATES this one) but thanks to information passed on by a good friend, we decided that it's safer this way while he's still young. Considering how dangerous 101 is, we're erring on the side of caution.
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