Hi, My name is Emily

and I'm an Etsy addict.

It started innocently enough with a Venus staff fave proclaiming the wonders of busterandboo.

Then I discovered scrabble pendants and placed another order from the delightful HomeStudio-- this time with gold accents so they looked nicer with my Indian jewelry.



Then I got glasses and my hair started driving me nuts, so I turned to the site's headband makers for help. Precocious came to the rescue!


I've been wearing these headbands everyday and I love them.

And I finally gave into my desire to own something designed by Emily Martin of The Black Apple.

Maybe the closest thing I will ever have to a self-portrait. But I bet Emily hears that all the time.

And then I bought these paper dolls because OMG, Stella has a Smiths t-shirt and a cat hat.
I want to frame them for Lucy's room.

It's so easy to scoop up all these things that I would love to be able to find locally, and Cary isn't really satisfied with my justifications: "it's handmade! I'm supporting small business women!"

Gypsies and Owls

Thanks to the NYT for alerting me to the existence of The Orwell Prize. A simple, but genius, premise, The Orwell Prize makes George Orwell's diary entries available to readers 70 years to the day that they were written.

While hardly as intense as 1984 or Animal Farm, I'm already hooked on Orwell's observation of slugs, weather, and the sloe gin making traditions of the Gypsy caravans that made their way through his area of England. It feels like it comes from a place much more remote than 70 years ago.

Perhaps this is the perfect solution to my inability to sit down and read anything for more than 45 seconds.

Best Laid Plans

Since we went to Florida in August, Cary and I couldn't really muster a full-blown summer trip. Yeah. We're wusses.

But he decided to take some time off anyway.

Here's how it has gone thus far:
1. Thursday we went to Fantasy Island. Cary and Henry regretted riding the Silver Comet. I confirmed what I already knew -- that I really hate amusement parks.

2. Yesterday Henry woke up with a mild fever, so we tabled our plans to go to the Museum of Play. He didn't have any other symptoms and I wasn't too worried until 5:30 when the fever failed to respond to Advil. A quick call to the doctor confirmed that we could alternate Tylenol and Advil. Tylenol brought the fever down, and I relaxed enough to head out to meet a friend for a drink.

3. Cary let me sleep in, bless his heart. But when I woke up Henry's fever had climbed to over 104. I gave him Tylenol, and he immediately vomited. Another not so quick call to the doctor's office gave me some good advice, but it also lead us to accept the inevitable and cancel our plans for today and tomorrow.

I've never been so grateful for the Canadian Olympic broadcast because we were at least able to enjoy Lucy executing her version of rhythmic gymnastics while watching the finals.

Maybe we will make it to the Museum of Play on Monday, which is Cary's last day of vacation.

And I almost forgot -- I've got a review of the Head Like a Kite Remix EP up at Donnybrook.

No More Camp

But strangely the children and I are not at each other's throats ... yet.

I think it is because I kept them busy today. We met a friend at the playground and they were busy for over two hours. It was sweet. And we went to the library. Now Lucy is at a neighbor's playing with their 4 year old daughter and their 7 year old son is here playing with Henry. Henry is boring the pants off the kid with his violin talk, but then I heard the kid sing an acappella version of "Our House" by CSNY, and decided they were even.

Also, Henry got the name of his teacher for next year, and it seems like we got the teacher that the Principal promised we would, so I am cautiously optimistic. I'm sure the tears will flow soon enough on that front.

Always glad to be home.

I've written before about our mishaps on previous Toronto trips here and here.

1. On the trip up I pointed out the mist from Niagara Falls that was visible from the Grand Island Bridge. Lucy misinterpreted what I said and started calling it "Mister Niagara Falls." On the way home we could see the Falls again from the Rainbow Bridge. She said, "Look, it's Mister Niagara Falls. He's so happy to meet me."

2. We were only staying over one night this time, and all in the same room. Though no one really slept well, we did sleep. And the kids were up until almost 10 p.m., which is ridiculously late for them. Couldn't have asked for better.

3. Our trip began at the zoo. I think it was the first year the kids were as interested in seeing the animals as they were in the camel and pony rides. Our only real problem came when Cary decided we should go to the Canadian section of the zoo. I swear it was like 1.5 km, uphill both ways, and when we got there we found very few animals in view.

4. We met our friend for dinner in Chinatown and both kids found something to order off the menu. Miraculous! Lucy got what they referred to as a "salted donut" for $0.95 -- I think it a deep-fired rice flour pastry with salt.

5. We spent the morning at the Toronto Islands. A good time was had by all. Unfortunately the ride home was brutal. The two hour trip took over three hours because the QEW was a parking lot the whole ride home.

I love it in Toronto and would love to head up there once a month if the traffic wasn't so insane. Plus I got a migraine each day of the trip, which is kind of a disincentive.

Ragweed can suck it

I think we are suffering from allergies. Here is the evidence:

1. Henry was a pleasure to be around until last Friday when he suddenly became whiny, impatient, and easily moved to tears. Fun! Benadryl was dispensed.

2. I have that dizzy, nauseous feeling which I can't shake. Beer was dispensed. (Alcohol dries you out, right?)

3. Lucy coughed all through the night and woke up sounding croupy, but it went away quickly. Zyrtec was dispensed.

All of us have been taking our allergies meds right along, so I can only guess that some new plant is in bloom and that plus all the rain is making us feel like crap.

My Takka Takka review finally surfaced on Venus.

Ask and ye shall receive...

For Anne. The children join me with their sympathy glasses.

Garden Picture Collage

 

Four eyes update

The glasses were much easier on my eyes the next day, so I think everything is fine. I still feel uncomfortable with them on my face all day long, but I'm pretty sure I can get used to that. Now, to look for vintage frames on eBay to make some thrifty RX sunglasses...

The last place I saw it was in my hand as I was shoving into the mailbox

One Watch. I found Cary's watch!!! I realized I didn't actually remember seeing it outside of Target, so after checking the RX desk about a week ago with no luck I decided to ask at Customer Service. Bingo! There was the watch. He can fix his own damn battery.

Two visits. I went to my in-laws twice today. First to pick up Cary's grandfathers masonic memorabilia and second to pick up empty boxes that my father-in-law was too exhausted to collapse. They are currently in the back of my van. Anybody need some empty liquor boxes or a hideous floral display? The worst part is that garbage day was today on our street. (I'm not sure why he gave me the floral display -- I think because his garbage cans were full. If I were a better blogger I'd take a picture, but alas, just imagine metallic, silk, and plastic jutting at odd angles from a jar).

Three Reviews. I reviewed Nisennenmondai and Arms (a Harlem Shakes side project -- who knew 3/5 of the Harlem Shakes went to Yale?) for Donnybrook. I don't know where my Takka Takka review for Venus is -- I turned it in last month, but it's on P4k today and I liked the CD way less than Joshua Klein did.

Four Eyes. I got my glasses today. I really dislike them. For the first eight hours that I wore them I thought my head was going to explode. The Optician's office told me that RXs which are mostly for astigmatism (like mine) rather than magnifying stuff don't fix things immediately, so I'm not passing judgment yet. It's just that I was really looking forward to being able to see again.

The mind-body problem: my version

1. I have the worst migraine in recent memory today. I am convinced if I could just relax it would be better.

2. I want to go to a memorial service on Tuesday but it is in the city of Buffalo and I have a longstanding fear of driving, particularly on highways. Maybe this will get me over it. Hopefully a kind soul will offer me a ride, or I'll do what I usually do -- get my mommy to drive me.

Also, I review CSS's disappointing second record for Venus here.

Two parties and two more reviews

I think this may be a WWW first, Cary and I are going to paint the town red. First we are headed out to an engagement party at the Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse followed by a second party -- what has been described to me as a "Disco Boat Cruise." I hope we have a great time and I'm sure nothing will go wrong...

Also, I reviewed the wacky new CD by Daedelus, Love to make music to and Pas/Cal's wonderful I was raised on Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura, both for Donnybrook.

Signs of the end times

1. Social Media Measurement -- Andiamosystems, I'm watching you watch me.
2. Yellow Hummers
3. The blow up machine gun decorated with an American flag design that my brother-in-law spotted a little boy carrying around a carnival in rural Virginia. I'm thinking it looked a little like this or this.

Yesterday was a suckfest

1. I hate my gym. It's official. They badgered me until I renewed, and then when there was a problem with my last payment no one told me (because we canceled the credit card, and I forgot we were on autopay). When I figured it out after a series of phone calls they said I had to pay the $27 in person. When I did that they tried to charge me a late fee and a fee for paying at the desk (which I had to do). I am less pissed about the fees than I am about how hard it was to find out what was going on, fix it, and then fix it again when they screwed up. If they had told me about the billing issue I would have paid them that day.

2. I went to Target to get a new battery for Cary's watch. They will no longer open watch backs, so they couldn't change the battery. They could sell me a battery, but without the back being open I had no idea which one to buy.

3. Then I went to Wegmans where my half gallon of milk leaked all over the sushi I was buying for lunch (to try and cheer up) and my beer.

4. When I went to pick up Henry from camp he was upset. By the time I got the reason out of him he was in tears because the camp teacher won't let him pick up rocks when they go on walks anymore. I do consider it some type of positive sign that he a) didn't do anything wrong really and b) was able to tell me about it. Still, I hate seeing him cry.

5. I was going to try and get dinner ready and listen to my iPod. I couldn't find the iPod anywhere. I also couldn't find one of my super cute shopping bags. Then I realized that I couldn't find Cary's watch. Half an hour later I'd found the iPod (in a cabinet where I put it to keep Lucy from taking it) and the shopping bag (under my purse). But no watch. I still haven't found the freakin' watch. Cary loves this watch, and has had it since grad school. I'm really angry at myself for losing it and that pretty much did me in for the rest of the day.

It's like trying to clean the ocean. What, do you think you can drain it? *

Lately I've been obsessing about being cleaner, greener, and safer.

It started with Maura's post about the dangers of plastic and sunscreen. Then the Buffalo News picked up an article. Mrs. Q showed me this database and then told me not to look at it. She's right; it is overwhelming.

Take the databases' report on Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunscreen. It ranks the overall safety as 2 out of 10 -- sounds pretty good right? But upon closer inspection it contains triethanolamine, which gets a 7 out of 10 and might cause cancer and immunotoxicity, among other things.

What does that mean? I don't know, you don't know, but the next thing we know fish are being born with six eyes.

Then this morning I heard a re-broadcast of WBFO's Meet the Author with Donna Jackson Nakazawa, talking about how environmental toxicity may explain the rise in autoimmune disorders. I really wanted to listen to the whole thing but it was making my throat close up.

I felt compelled to buy organic cold cuts this week. I keep thinking about all of the hot dogs Lucy eats, and rather than being motivated to sort through the facts I just feel panicked.

Buying this adorable set of shopping bags and switching to Sigg water bottles is cold comfort when it's hard to separate facts from marketing.

*Lyrics courtesy of Jenny Lewis.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

While it may seem logical, given the title, that I'm going to post about all the people I saw over the weekend at Old Home Days -- which was the best year yet by far -- no, I'm going to wonder aloud why I can't throw anything away.

1. Aside from my Pappagallo purse, I've held onto things which no sentimental value, such as a tube of Peppermint foot lotion that I purchased at the Jamaica Plain CVS in 1996. I've moved this particular item three times since owning it. After I publish this post the lotion is going in the trash.

2. I have a pair of brown M+M earrings that have a lowercase "e" on them, purchased for me by my mom at Love of Pete in 1981 or 1982. Why? I have unsharpened pencils that are just as old which I kept because they were decorated with alligators or lollipops or something.

3. I have trouble growing plants from seed because I just can't bring myself to thin them enough. I dig out the seedlings that I should be throwing away and plant them in little pots, and then water them until they get too big for the pot before I give up trying to find homes for them.

4. I hang onto computer files and e-mail, and I still have every promo CD that I've ever received, and in many cases I kept the mailing envelope and the one sheet as well.

5. I discovered over the weekend that I have two old cell phones and three working cameras that are not in use.

Any ideas how to break this habit?

Back On Notice!

Bring out the Notice Board Ladies and Gentleman...

See the results of my last foray into Colbert Culture. Funny -- putting Lucy's tantrums on notice did nothing to stop them from coming.

The problem with freedom

So here's the deal with camp:

1. Henry loves it. So far so good. He's even been exceptionally pleasant on the day that he stayed home with me and Lucy went.

2. Lucy does not know her own limits. When I have picked her up each day she has been red-faced and glistening with sweat -- and today they didn't even play outside. Then when I get her home she is a whiny little monster.

3. Lucy's pickiness means that she doesn't eat much while she is there. I'm trying adopt a laissez-faire attitude by telling myself that maybe this will broaden her horizons. Not bloody likely.

Also the center is nut-free, which is great except the mainstays of Lucy's diet are: Nutella, Peanut butter and Honey sandwiches, and a mix of cashews and almonds in a bowl, so it's not like I can offer to send in her favorite snack.

4. The two days this week when I had the house to myself were ultimately exhausting because I was busy without interruption. That's right. No kids, no reason to take a breath. And much like my own daughter I'm pretty cranky around 4 p.m. But I can't just sleep the whole time they are gone, can I?

Hopefully Lucy and I will adjust. But next week we're going to have the ceiling ripped out of our kitchen, and I'm sure none of us will cope well with that.

A few good things

1. My kids were so excited to go to camp today that they wouldn't even let me finish breakfast before I dropped them off. Let's hope I find them in equally good spirits when I pick them up in about an hour.

2. I had a nice, quiet lunch with my Mom at Samurai, where french fries are not on the menu.

3. I reviewed, and enjoyed, the new Cute Lepers CD for Venus.

I can't make the peace

so I'm buying myself some.

It's only the second full day of summer vacation, yet my children are already screeching at each other every time I stop entertaining them.

But tomorrow they start a few days a week at summer day camp. It will be the first time that I have ever had them both occupied elsewhere for more than 2 hours and 15 minutes at a time.

It's going to be a sweet summer.

Plus, Henry had his first violin lesson today. Cary and I have no idea if he will want to stick with it or not, but I am really excited for him and fully prepared to plug my ears for the next year or so.