Two things from today

McCarron Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

I'm sitting in McCarron Park in Williamsburg, eating peaches and watching people of my own generation wearing and doing things unimaginable to me. Two things have occured to me as I've watched the parade of Ray-bans, exposed bra straps and impossibly short shorts go by. Thing number 1) the intonation of American enthusiasm sounds frustratingly like Australian sarcasm. So when a girl walked pass and gushed "I l-uh-ve your dress! It looks soo good!" I immediately thought she was being sarcastic and wanted to go home. Even though I know this dress does look good (brilliant 2nd hand find; long, black and white, polka dotted, backless halter style dress with a tie up bow on the lower back. I'll try to get a photograph of myself so you can see it) I immediately took her compliment, turned it into criticism and let that be the dominant opinion of myself. Even if she was being critical of me, why should I care? Who is she to me? Which brings me to Thing 2) I need to be more confident and assertive. Not only when it comes to opinions of myself, but also how I engage with others. Case in point; I went to buy an iced coffee and asked for regular milk. The man made it with soy and then as he was holding out for me said "you asked for regular, but I put soy in it. Is that alright?" It was not of course alright. I don't like the taste of soy milk, but I just meekly nodded and even tipped the guy so he knew there were no hard feelings and then walked down the street gingerly sipping on my watery, mud flavoured drink.
So these are the revelations of today. Until I become more confident I am doomed to drink terrible coffee and doubt my fabulousness.

I'd like to thank my family and God and...

I must agree, we are bad bloggers!
Our loyal followers (pause... the sound of cicadas chirping) don't even know I am living in Brooklyn! That's right, I'm living on the Bushwick/Bed-Stuy border which means I have an organic fruit store AND authentic gang violence located conveniently at my doorstep!
There is also a Chinese take-out place downstairs that serves some very interesting fish;

The apartment is pretty amazing though. See? Look at pictures - they're worth a thousand words, so maybe also make up for slacko blogging;

Messy but very functional kitchen

This is my sleeping pod with desk and bookshelf below; both also messy, but very functional

Inside the sleeping pod; sheet, quilt and pyjamas all kicked to the end of the bed because it's been getting so hot at night. Cosy!

Little shelves and some books I am reading because I'm soo intellectual

I am working for a company called Broadway.com, which is passing the time and earning me money and also possibly sparking a Dr Pepper habit since they have a fridge full of it for staff to help themselves to. Earning money is probably the highlight because it means I can do things like make plans to travel across the US. This is my proposed trip, although I'm still not sure if I'll fly or catch the train from LA to Dallas;

Can you believe I made this myself and I'm not even a graphic designer???

Other exciting things of late; I went on a road trip with my friends Cristina and Andrea;

to visit Hayley in Burlington, Vermont

Sunset over Lake Champlain

While we were there we went to the drive-in and Hayley and I ate corndogs!

I have also had some people from back home visit me. First it was Laura, whom I'm friends with from working at MTC, and her cousin Dan;

Then Sarah, who I became friends with through working at MTC, and her friend Glenda;

And then Michael B, who I also worked with at MTC (thanks MTC for providing me with jet-setting friends!);

And of course there have still been my ongoing adventures in supermarket shopping;

I broke out in a rash just seeing this in the supermarket aisle

Well at least it's cholesterol free!

The other big thing that has been taking up oodles of my time is trying to work out what you and I could do, dear sister, so that we could work together again, like in the good old days at Eurosite, except hopefully more fun and rewarding and maybe somewhere with natural light.
So far my best idea is an Alice in Wonderland themed cafe for adults that serves fancy tea in fancy teacups (I wonder if we know anyone who owns enough teacups to supply a cafe?), dainty, organic cucumber sandwiches and delicious treats (we could pull all the recipes off Pinterest - looking on the internet will be part of our job description!!!) There would also be an area for children to eat and play which is where Gus and Owen could play all day, so we'd get to see them too, all the time. Mum would be involved in the fit-out (i.e. she would contribute teapots, teacups and all her Alice ephemera, where it could be displayed beautifully) and I'm sure she would love to do something like Alice in Wonderland story readings every week. And because Mum would be involved, Dad could be our financial backer.
I think we would call it Curiouser & Curiouser.
It's just a thought.
Tell me yours.

Gulp: Worst bloggers anywhere, ever

A shoe-in for this award I thinks ...

So a short err 4 months has rushed by.  Somehow this is my first attempt infront of our clunky old desktop where there are no awake children, the internet is working, and the job I came to do (check family assistance claim) took waaaayyy less time than I thought.  So with no content in mind, ignoring all my drafts Ive been busy concocting from my iphone (gee that burns my thumb-pad) I am writing. Just to say hi.  And to say we are all so excited to see you in six short months.  But mostly to update some pictures.  So without further padding on the chance that Owen is going to wake up vomiting again shortly (we have just washed 2 changes of bedding, beanbag, pillow and various stuffed animals) ..... here are our family in a few pics.

And do check out our (well, mine so far) Pinterest which has been sustaining my short attention span in bed nursing Gus most nights. If you can get past the awful spelling and the overload of wedding "inspiration" you may find some love.  Or not.  

And Andy wants to know if you'll be at Coney Island to see Kobiachi (?sp) in the hot-dog-eating contest?  I think it was the second reason he would consider getting on a plane for 2 days with 2 children < three years.

Owen being Elton-esque.  He still loves putting on a good concert. He is really into Justine Clarke and often comments on her good singing and guitar playing ability.  Dinosaur Roar is on repeat.

 

 

Mama is so clever: she made a fancy new dressing gown from that material bought 2-years ago but was forbidden to cut.  And I made dragon slippers for both Owen and Gus.  Both chuffed.

 

 

Shit. Busted hanging out on the dog's bed, removing the oh-so-gorgeous (but very effective) bubblewrap window insulation

This is a self-portrait from Owen.  He is thoroughly "in to" borrowing cameras and pointing and shooting.  Which I find hilarious seeing he is THE most reluctant subject.  Well 2nd most reluctant subject!  I will update a whole series of these as they are quite telling!

Asleep, together, in the big bed.  It still sometimes happens.  This (I think) was a few weeks ago when Andy was out and they both miraculously fell asleep before 7.30.  About ten minutes later one thumped the other and there were tears all around.  But the peace and beauty is lovely while it lasts!

This is a highlight of Owen's creativity.  Window crayons remain winners. These (with the exception of Andy's dodgy batman) are under-sea creatures.  See if you can spot the whale, fish, moray eel, manta ray?

Gummy Gus playing peek-a-boo with red material at the table.  That gum has continued to swell, split and recede for the past 2 weeks.  He will have top teeth any day, any day.

Hilarious classic Gus face.  This usually means there is a bad smell (often in his own nappy). Or that something tastes bad.  Or I have done something that meets disapproval. 

 

 

Forgive me my slackness.  I won't promise to do better, though perhaps now with a deadline??? I work well under pressure.

Also must discuss - lonely chicken version 2 for gifts this year?  I'm thinking yes.  Will workshop with you soon xxxxxxx

Love you to pieces

Happy IWD10

Happy iwd10

So 8th march flew past with not so much as a hiccough (or is it hiccup?) here. But it's still going where you are. So Happy International Women's Day. 

What should probably be more of a big deal than say mothers/fathers day, nurses/secretary/teachers day or even days of holiday in honor of a horse race, didn't rate a mention on my facebook wall, or blogroll bar Catherine . 

On of the kinder assistants was telling me in Russia it's a huge deal. The first public holiday of spring. Flowers are given to all women/girls. She had 8 bunches from her various males, her husband took the day off & vacuumed the house & took her out to dinner. How nice. 

I know we have it pretty good compared to some (?most) - access to education, healthcare, participation in workforce, participation in democratic processes.  But I couldn't help but, at the end of a particularly ordinary day ponder some of the inequities. 

"what are you doing with your day off?" ( having dropped Owen at kinder, involving getting 3 people fed cleaned clothed & a load of washing) 
Umm agh well the answer would be going home to look after my 7 mo old baby, hopefully fit in a vacuum & mop of floors, several loads of washing, get dinner prepared, sort through 9 boxes of clutter, feed  myself & Gus 4 times (roast beetroot, roast kumara, wholewheat bread, avocado & watermelon - def not beige!) 
On top of the looking after other needs of a small baby (gazing, playing, chasing) which, until I had another, was considered by most to be a full-time occupation. Some "day off". 
Or on the heady occasion of leaving the house without o & g "is Andy going to babysit?" Ah,  No its called parenting. 

Yet this stuff often falls to Womens work (though I know I have it better even on this superficial level- A can cook & does so maybe 2x/week, and "helps" with the tidying up/dishes (his words, not mine, usually preceding an argument). 



So anyway, enough venting. Just wanted to say to one of the awesome women in my life- have a happy day (or night) And congratulations on following your talents & dreams & not settling for mediocrity. 

Love me x

It's all beige (alternative title: I should've known it could never work)

Well little sis, I don't think shocking neglect is what I would dub it ... though I was reticent to update again before you, initially, particularly as there is not much going on here, and well compared to you, my life looks rather beige (as has been kindly pointed out by some kind people). And then you go to Lego land and impress with your amazing photos, and potential fella at Rockefellar Centre (which you should totally stalk with your new red hair and fringe).

But seeing in your earlier post you updated on what meals you've been cooking, I guess the gloves are off.  I am cooking at least 2 meals each sitting, twice a day, plus breakfast, afternoon tea, elevensies, afternoon tea, and bridging snack/appetizers before dinner ... and yes, one of those meals is baby moosh.

This free photo collage customized with Smilebox

The kid LOVES it - insane.  So far his absolute favorites are pieces of cucumber, lamb cutlets, pureed pear, and whole plums.  He grabs the spoons, bowls and attempts to feed himself, and has a love too of flinging everything over the edge of his new ikea highchair. Obie frigging loves it.  He also tries to snatch food from others (including fistful of tinned spaghetti from Owen this week, and pizza from my plate. Proves it's not all organic home-cooked food around here! And he's not fussy. Huzzah!)

So what else?

• There's been a fair bit of falling out of bed on Gus's part (oops - even with our industrial sized bed-rails.  Owen used to wail on waking where I think Gus wakes, mucks around quietly so no-one is the wiser, then thinks he should find us again). and accidentally whacking his head on doorjambs as I walk through the house with him permanently attached to the hip.  No serious damage yet (I hope).
• We had a Thomas bonanza at Puffing Billy last week with mum, dad, brother, nephew Dircks (Gratuitous Cross-Post for pictures)
• We've been entertaining insurance people and tradies cashing in on the repairing of flood damage (which was remarkably minor considering, though Andy is pissed off someone has told him officially that gutters do need cleaning - I guess once every 5 years is not so bad, right?).  Apparently we will need to manage without a laundry for a few days *minor breakdown and breathing into paperbag*
• We had a kinder welcome picnic and were embroiled in a child-missing affair (I think I told you about that, right?)
• An Ikea trek last week to get Gus's highchair, where O discovered meatballs with little Swedish flags in the top and fruit salad in a cup - he was in heaven.
• There's been a zoo visit for our brother's birthday (stop me if I'm repeating myself)
• There has been a remodeling of "The Wall" - they now have the old record shop all cafe-i-fied. Will have to pop down there again with camera in hand in the name of research!
• Ah Damien and Lisa have announced baby due in September so much excitement among the clan. Owen wants to know if its a sister or brother & has been getting pregnant and birthing babies in bed/bath/everywhere actually.  He told me my big tummy is just boobs so there is no baby inside - nice. Do you think it's time for pilates?
• Owen is keener than ever to come visit now he knows that the city is made of Lego (that's right isn't it?!)  We had a discussion about winter here (no, it will not snow) and summer there and he is kind-of up for it, though at the current time our bank balance is not.  So we are instigating Money March whereby Andy will finally be paid his salary by the month's end (only like ah 15 months later?) and I am working out our family budget in real life where we are not running at a loss before eating.  I'll let you know how we go.
• And finally I may have gorged this week on a whole pillow-sized block of Cadbury chocolate and the newest TN6 from Jasper.  Did you know they have a Fforde Fiesta in Swindon?  Just saying .... So now a painstaking 8 months before Dragonslayer 2 released in UK and then a WHOLE YEAR before Shades of Grey sequel and then ANOTHER 365 days until Nursery Crime # 3 ... and no TN on the horizon, at all.  I need a new author of awesomeness.  I feel a bit cross with myself for not doling it out in rations, and a bit sick too.....

On that note, dear sis, apologies for being the crappest sister this past 2 weeks ... feel like I'm swimming through mud at the moment. Will do better. Promise.

x L

When I grow up I want to live in Legoland

Yes, sure, it's probably your turn to post now my dear sister, but I just couldn't contain myself!

Back this evening from a weekend in the city with my friend Keren. She is a photojournalist who has been living in Israel and is travelling through the States on her way back to Melbourne.

Prior to meeting up with her I was having anxious fits because I haven't seen her in a while and in that time I was scared she had, like so many of my friends, turned into a real, proper, has her life together grown-up.
I don't get the sense that I am a real grown-up.
And that's not just from exclusively sharing classes with people born in the 90's. Actively pursuing my writing now, in the dusk of my twenties, seems a little bit juvenile when I compare myself to my numerous artist/muso friends back home who are now, and seemingly quite happily, office workers and teachers. They're getting on with their lives and buying houses and getting married and I still feel like those things are so far off, if they are on my horizon at all.

Back to New York and now, I met Keren and I can't even think what it is that had me worried because she is still as much fun as ever. She actually told me she was so glad that I hadn't abandoned my creativity and that I was still pursuing my writing.
And it turns out that she feels no more grown-up than I do! She was lamenting the fact that she's heading home to Melbourne to see her baby sister get married and that for the foreseeable future she will be living with her parents while she works out what she's doing next.

So in the spirit of childlike wonder and in the wonderous shadow of consumerism, we hit the streets of Manhattan and included in our stops the Disney Store, the giant M&M store and the Lego store at Rockefeller Centre.
We also visited the NBC store at Rockefeller Centre because when I was in there the week before, a very handsome young employee there told me I had pretty eyes. And I wanted to go back and check that I wasn't just imagining that he looked like James Franco with glasses. Which looks like this by the by;

He was not there, but I may just keep going back to the NBC store until he is there again. So perhaps expect NBC themed gifts. Central Perk t-shirt for Andy?

The other great thing about hanging out in New York with Keren is that because she's a photographer, she stops and takes amazing photographs with her super-whizz-bang camera.
Now I don't have a super-whizz-bang camera to take photos with, but even with my little point and shoot Canon, the things that Keren sees to photograph with her photographers eye, are really quite speccy!
So anyway, these are some pictures of Lego shapes and colours that I took;

 

Worth a thousand words?

So these pictures will perhaps make up for my shocking neglect updating this blog?

Since we last blogged, I made muffins...

Superfood Muffins - see recipe below

Started classes...

Self portrait - first day of school

Saw squirrels on campus...

Made bolognese...

Made lamingtons.... And forgot to take photos.

Drank beer while watching the superbowl...

Made bread...

Whole wheat sourdough - recipe from EcoMILF

Thought about dying my hair red...

Thoughts? Feelings?

Got bogged down in work and made a mess...

How did this happen? I arrived here less than 2 months ago with NOTHING!

Made homemade pizza...

But still craving a really average Capricciosa...

Got homesick...

Found something to take the edge of homesickness...

Coopers Pale Ale - found in a New Zealand restaurant near South Street Seaport, NYC

Super Food Muffins

Blueberries, yoghurt and oats are all commonly listed as Super foods and in a bid to convince myself that eating treats could lead to better health, I decided to make muffins that combined these 3 ingredients. Sometimes I throw in a bit of LSA mix or put walnuts, which are supposed to lower bad cholesterol, on top. Adapted from a million different yoghurt/berry muffin recipes nabbed from the internet and tried and tested until this very easy recipe was settled on.

1 cup oatbran	1 cup yoghurt
1 cup blueberries	2 tbsp oil
1 cup flour	1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarb soda	pinch salt
½ cup brown sugar	1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs

1.       1. Coat berries in dry ingredients. 

2.       2. Mix together wet ingredients. 

3.     3.   In muffin tins 180 degrees 12 – 16 minutes.