Humpity Dumpity

I like to riff off of others' blog posts – particularly those of friends and family. The other day my niece Taz posted pics on her private blog of her recent learning-to-roller-stake bruises. Purple patellae! I soon thereafter acquired some spectacular bruises of my own, and I considered posting pics so I could have a multi-media bruise post too. My bruises are purple blossoms clustered around my bottom cleft, and as cute as my cleft is, it seems malapropos for my readership. So no pictures.

   I did not get the bruises while learning to roller skate; I am not learning to roller skate. If I were I would have way more bruises. I bruised up after slipping on – indeed, OFF – a bridge, an arced bridge without railing, peppered with peacock poop, leading to an island in a lake, an island with a wannabe Japanese garden on a prospective farm property. BOOM. There's a scene in One Morning in Maine in which Sal slips on a rock and a loon laughs at her. There's a scene in The Man From Snowy River in which Jessica says “everything seemed so clear to me.” In the moments of my falling, and just after my fall, I experienced the essence of both of these scenes. 

   Taz, by the way, was walking right behind me on the bridge and also fell, right behind / on top of me. But she is a falling pro. So I bet she didn't get any extra, bridge bruises.

Garderobe

As ward is the the twin of guard, and warranty the same as guarantee, today I feature wardrobe and garderobe.

Sylvan needed bigger clothes. Last Friday, Jen took me shopping at a consignment sale that LMNO Pea puts on in February. Bjorn and I went last year and selected a variety of goods; ... car seat ... toylet ... diapering paraphernalia ... a few baby clothes (up to size 12 mo). I didn't know then that my baby would be Sylvan! Shopping for HIM this year was so different!

A few things I know about Sylvan that influenced the shopping: 1. he is bigger than the average; 2. he has a favored color: ORANGE!?; 3. he does not like having things put on over his head. 

   In accordance, I bought 1. big; 2. some orange shirts (I think I wouldn't've have selected any orange without knowing Sylvan favors it); and 3. many button-y shirts (all plaid. I like plaid).

It was nice to have Jen helping me. I don't enjoy shopping. It stresses my senses and sensibilities. There were so many other parents at this event, and lots of tots (mine was at home with his papa); it was crowded and cryful. Some women get let-down when they hear babies cry, and my breasts were stressed. It was chemically polluted, too: all the clothes were washed in a strongly fragrant detergent. There was a "Scentsy" vendor on the sidelines, to boot. I would feel sick when I got home.

   First I found the right rows of clothes. Then I whipped out my rusty shopping calculus and snagged items that satisfied it; the cutest, the cheapest, the most versatile in terms of color (mix'n'match), the most versatile in terms of activity and weather, the easiest to care for (wash'n'wear). After much but not protracted calculus, Jen and I lugged the lot ‒ the loot ‒ to a corner and sorted it. Then I culled; picking the items I liked best in each garment category (pants, short pants, knit tops, &c), keeping the calculus in mind. She returned the remainders to the racks.

Good job me, right? Of course right.

I made a frivolous-ish selection: a dress-up set with an argyle sweater atop blue seersucker trousers! Seersucker reminds me of my dad. I picked out this dapper ensemble for connection to his Grandpa.

   Anyway, excepting shoes, socks, and hats, I garnered in one morning a year-round wardrobe for my little one for $107 (thank you Bjorn and Gramma). He may have the nicest wardrobe of anyone in the house!

in like a LION

I set some big goals for this year (2016). They include

• learn to play Smash Up

• design (at least) one homeschool module, and proffer the module(s) to Ivar and Taz

• walk downtown, go shopping at the Farmers' Market, buy the regular goods, and tote them back home (at least once)

• walk in Priest Point Park

• pick something yummy at a U-Pick farm (I'm thinkin' blueberries but I'm not picky)

• get a will made (for Sylvan's sake)

• set up my music – hardware and software – in a way that works really well for me

• read each Bookerlund group book

~

You may note, some of the things are things to do for-the-first-time (like Smash Up and visiting PPP). Some are for-the-first-time-since... (like the U-Pick and walking to the Market). Some are chores (like the will). Some are for Ye Goode Olde Funne (learning modules).

   For each goal I harbor a notion or two about how to meet it by October (building in a couple of months' buffer for lag). To my astonishment, I have met one already and have nearly met another, both far before target (I thought it would take me until well into the summer to be able to walk as far as the Market and back).

How about I check in in a month and let you know how it's goin'?