Monday, December 31, 2007

TONIGHT IS FIRST NIGHT! And the weather is fabulous

I have to say, while driving back to Tacoma-land on Saturday through wind and sleet and snow ... I was beginning to wonder what tonight's weather for First Night would be like. But this morning, I'm shocked by the first blue skies I've seen in ages. You can hardly tell that this city just had a white-ish Christmas. I take this as a good sign ... a sign that First Night is back. So go out and enjoy!

Our family's plans ...

  • Hit the museums this afternoon (my eldest is OBSESSED with the glass museum and the boy loves his trains)
  • Fold some paper cranes and wish for a Happy New Year. I was going to wish for a less emotionally wrenching New Year, but I know perfectly well that s*** grows great flowers. So I'll take my ups and downs and live each day as best I can.
  • Valentine's Performing Pigs. With a pack o' munchkins all 7 & younger trailing behind us, this one's a must. Gotta throw them kids a bone.
  • Tokens Improv. We like improv in our house.
  • Deborah Page. I've been listening to her stuff on MySpace this week and I'm hooked.
  • And tons more ... I kinda wanna see Alex Duncan, the Smilin' Scandinavians, The Elephants and a few others too. And I'm excited to see the fire dancers and the roller derby gals. And the SOTA pirates. There should be much to see and do ...
See you at First Night! Will you make it to the fireworks?

Sunday, December 30, 2007

My future entrepreneur

The kids were playing restaurant this evening (got lots of kitchen/chef play doo-dads for Christmas), and my eldest daughter stood up on a chair this evening, and announced that their play restaurant had a name: Pasta Perfect ... it's a place you can go where the pasta's always perfect. Sounds yummy!

1 Night Until First Night: Will you make it to the fireworks?

It's the night before First Night, and all through the house ... I'm realizing I need to make my plan of attack TONIGHT! With so much to choose from, and several young kids in tow, and trying to plan dinner with friends around our and their First Night duties, I need to be more organized than I've ever been before and actually put together a schedule. A schedule that will likely include contingencies for sending the kids home before the fireworks ... or at least some of them. Luckily grandpa will be in town and might be able to be bribed with a Guinness or two (waiting at home in the fridge) and a pizza to head home a bit early if needed.

By the way, have I mentioned the FIREWORKS? They're being done by the same folks who did fireworks at Evel Knievel's funeral -- so you know they're gonna be good. Because you know Evil would go out with a quite a bang ...

Here's crossing my fingers that we'll make it to the end. With all of us standing. But here's the realistic side of me knowing that if my 7-year-old, 5-year-old, 2-year-old and their 7-year-old cousin don't drive us bonkers by midnight, it will be a Christmas miracle for sure. Parents out there: I see you nodding ... I see you shaking your heads ...

See you at First Night!

A poem to grandma (an excerpt)

Children can be the best of medicine. They can offer great wisdom and insight. Perhaps because they are not bogged down with with unnecessaries. And thus here is a small excerpt of what I read yesterday at my grandmother's memorial service, a poem inspired by the innocence of my little boy.

You are not gone
When I look inside my mind
I still see you there
Alive and strong
Loving and kind
Forever and ever
For so long

Saturday, December 29, 2007

2 Nights Until First Night: Photo Op!

It was suggested recently by a brilliant woman that First Night would be a great opportunity to take advantage of the most recent and most hysterical neon light funniness that is currently "Tacoma Elf Storage" (located at S. 26th & Holgate ... near Commencement Bay Coffee) for a fun self or family portrait.

You'll be downtown anyhow, so grab your camera, grab your sweetie and any other nearby friends and family members and position yourself on a sidewalk where the sign glows behind and wa-lah! Your New Year's letter photo!

What? You sent out Christmas cards? Well, you're just too organized for me. Let's just say I'LL be looking for my New Year's letter photo with family in tow ... I just hope they haven't replace the lights yet ...

See you at First Night!

Walls

Today is my grandmother Doris' memorial service. The third of my grandmothers to die in 2007, and the one I was the closest to, in a large part because I spent my first 18 years in the same house as she ... but also because she was the type of person that allowed you to get close to her. Not everyone is like this. We all have walls of some sort. Some higher, some sharper, some impenetrable. My grandmother Doris' wall had a door with no lock.

But the night is not over for me, and I have a poem to present today that I have not yet put the finishing touches on. And tonight has been filled with happy tears as we tell tales, watch videos, share memories. Today will be filled with more.

May your door have no lock.

Friday, December 28, 2007

VIDEO: A bit about the King's Books cats

Watch as my new-to-Tacoma brother introduces his girlfriend to King's Books. She's a cat freak, and a book nerd, so many smiles were had. And thus my brother begins to believe me that there are bits of awesome all over Tacoma ...



The question is: Do you go to King's Books for the books, or the cats? There are lots of King's Books fans out there, but could there be an even bigger King's Books cats fan club? I'm starting to wonder ...

And if your answer to the question was "I've never been to King's Books," you should fix that. Go say hi to Harriet and Miko yourself, and Pat & John & sweet pea (yes, his name really is sweet pea), too -- though those three are humans, not cats, in case you're confused. There's actually lots of fabulous humans around there ... and lots of fabulous books. And lots of fabulous corners for humans to read books in.

P.S. King's Books is yet another place you can buy your First Night button.

P.P.S.: Find this video and others by Adam the Alien here. (link fixed)

3 Nights Until First Night: Your LINK to New Year's Eve Fun

In case you hadn't noticed, downtown parking is becoming a hot commodity. So when it comes to navigating First Night activities, check out downtown Tacoma's LINK light rail! Not only will small children consider it an attraction all on its own, but the LINK allows you to park for free at the Tacoma Dome station (across from Freighthouse Square) and ride up and down downtown (also for free) with ease. And on Dec. 31, it runs until 12:45 a.m. -- plenty of time to enjoy the countdown and fireworks and make it back to your car.

See you at First Night!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

4 Nights Until First Night: Practice Your Paper Crane Folding

On Dec. 31, as part of First Night festivities, you have the opportunity to become part of a permanent exhibit at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center! From 5 to 8 p.m., First Night participants are invited into the center at 934 Broadway, Ste. 5 (next to the Children's Museum) to participate in attempting to fold 1,000 paper cranes during First Night.

According to the announcement, "an ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane. In recent years, the crane has become a symbol of peace." That's sounds pretty cool to me ... whether a wish or a symbol of peace, or a joint wish for peace from all the First Night folks, that's a powerful thing.

Not sure how to fold a crane? Have no fear, they'll teach you. But if you want to practice and hone your skills, click here for some easy how-to instructions.

See you at First Night ... let's all fold a crane and make a wish for the New Year!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas cuteness and predictions of snow ...

Christmas was quite the day in our household. A day of cuteness. A day of cuteness that started at 2 a.m when the eldest woke up to discover that Santa Claus had indeed been to our house. In fact, he'd left new slippers by each of the kids' beds. And despite their needs-t0-be-cleaned room and the 2 a.m. hour, the eldest noticed the slippers immediately and ran downstairs to find all the stockings stuffed. She ran up and told the boy. And he went down to look. And then they came back to tell mom & dad, who feigned polite surprise while giggling inside. And then the blessed children actually refrained from waking up baby sister AND resisted tearing into their presents. Oddly enough, they willingly went back to sleep until 8 a.m at which time ...

The boy bursts into our room and declares that he dreamed about snow. Little flakes, big flakes and definitely snow. And he was convinced, totally convinced, that it should be snowing outside. He peeked out his window, then our window, and was sorely disappointed. Though the whole big pile of presents helped distract him from his unfulfilled dreams for a couple hours.

And then ... it started snowing.

Little flakes. Big flakes. A good couple hours of snow. Not really sticking snow, but it did snow. We got a White Christmas. My son's dream came true. This was a spooky Christmas ...

Check out Satellite Coffee "cuppings" on Thursdays

Had the day off so stopped by Satellite Coffee Co. this afternoon for my vanilla Americano and have some good news to share: Satellite Coffee hosts a weekly "cupping" (coffee tasting) at 7 p.m. each Thursday. It's a chance to check out different blends and see which ones you want to take home.

When I lamented the fact that I'd be in PDX while this week's cupping was taking place, the kind proprietor quickly lifted my spirits by informing me that by heading south, I'm heading right smack into the heart of Stumptown Coffee (the high quality brew that Satellite serves) land and that I could still take advantage of the twice-daily cuppings at several of the company's Portland locations). I might just do that ... but I think I'll put the Tacoma tasting times on my definite to-do list.

As to Satellite Coffee itself ... I'll simply say: Lovely. Fabulous folks & divine coffee ... need I say more? OK, a little more ...

I have a lot of good memories about this space from back in Temple of the Bean days when friends and I would head over there about 1 a.m. on a Saturday night. And I'm happy to report that it's not a disappointment to walk into Satellite. In Temple days, I ordered mint mochas with whip, today as I wandered into Satellite I was very happy I'd weaned myself to a vanilla 12 oz. Americano (hubby got his coffee-snob triple 8 oz. w/no flavor) as I could truly enjoy the coffee, and not just the filler. And I'm looking forward to checking out a cupping and supplementing my at-home bean stash with a blend born out of my other favorite NW city.

Cheers!

5 nights until First Night -- Bonus button benefits!

Sure, buy a First Night button and you'll get into all sorts of festivities Dec. 31 at the Rialto, Pantages, Theater on the Square and so much more -- but there are some added button benefits that you might not realize, such as:

  1. Free admission into the Museum of Glass 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 31 (they'll be making Cone Head party hats from 1 to 4!)
  2. Free admission into the Washington State History Museum 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 31 (second to last day to check out the 12th annual Model Train Festival)
  3. Free admission to the Children's Museum from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 31. (visitors can fold special pirate hats).
  4. Restaurant discounts! And restaurants open LATE! There's a big list of 'em! (Guess what I'm excited about.) Infinite Soups will be open until midnight, giving out free rolls to soup-ordering button-holders. Tully's is offering free tumblers for the first 100 buttonholders to come in on Dec. 31. Over the Moon Café is open until midnight. Button holders can get 2 cupcakes for the price of 1 at Hello! Cupcake on Dec. 31. Galanga Thai and TWOKOI offer up a free appetizer with entrée purchase. Extra-special reservations-needed menu at Paddy Coyne's and Pacific Grill. Stadium Bistro has a party on Dec. 31, but they're offering discounts ALL THIS WEEK to folks who get their button early. All-night happy hour at the downtown El Toro. Then there's all the crazy, crazy button-holders-only discounts and other specials at India Mahal, Broadway Quick Stop, Ravenous, the Varsity Grill, Pastrami's Eatery and more ... go here for the most up-to-date list and a map!
First Night buttons are just $7 in advance, or $8 on Dec. 31. Kids 7 and younger are free.

You can get your button online here, or in person at the following locations:
See you there! Oh ... and if you want to dress up for First Night, there's plenty of costume opps, and apparently Funkoma Vintage is TOTALLY getting into the spirit! Check 'em out!

THIS JUST IN: Junior Bizarre will be open for First Night (until midnight!) and is offering 20% off everything, plus free coffee and snacks.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

I must try mas masa ...

I joined the office folks at masa for happy hour on Friday, and I gotta say ... not bad. Before Friday, I hadn't tried out the current incarnation of the place formerly known as Ricardo's and even more formerly known as Lorenzo's. The reviews I had heard hadn't wowed me ... basically not bad but not great, and pretty spendy. So I was in for a pleasant surprise that evening ...

I hardly touched the menu on Friday as I had to hurry home and work on Christmas planning, but the happy hour maragrita on the rocks I did have was fabulous -- took me right back to the summer I spent in Mexico. The baskets of chips were huge and yummy, and the salsa (while a tad more watery than my norm) was actually quite nice. And the appetizers some of the rest of our party ordered looked fabulous, and while the ordering couple are expecting a baby ... I don't think that was the only reason for no crumb or drop left untouched. Gotta say, when they arrived at the table, I wished I'd ordered something ...

Peeking at masa's website, there's yet another factoid that will have me heading back with the hubby for a date in the hopefully near future. It's this statement that wins my heart: "Our menu features handmade molé, and rellenos as well as house smoked meats, artisan cheeses from different regions of Mexico, and handmade sauces that just can't be found in the Northwest."

You see, back when I spent that summer in Mexico, I lived with a family in San Miguel de Allende, and this picky eater fell in love with my host mother's molé. A simple meal of toast smothered in molé and cheeses I haven't tasted since: divine. Only once have I experienced anything close, and that was while dining at the table of a lovely and wonderful Mexicana.

Wondering what molé is? According to cdkitchen.com, it's an assortment of thick sauces used in Mexican cooking made out of chiles. The sauces are made with one or many chiles, flavored with cumin, coriander, cinnamon, nuts, seeds and chocolate. Their flavor is rich, smoky and very complex. ...

Did you see the key word in that description? I'll just tell you: Chocolate.

Need I say more?

Anyone want to join us to check out the offerings sometime soon? Me thinks this place could use a little lovin'.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Another reason Tacoma rocks: Neighbors

I had coffee today with a fellow PLU alum and former T-towner, and we got to talking about what makes this little city so great. You see, it was great for her even when she bought a house on the East Side in 1999 for many of the same reasons I think it's so great in 2007 going on 2008 -- reasons that don't have anything to do with a good or bad downtown, condos, home prices, development, etc. It's all about the neighbors.

She remembers buying her first home (don't choke -- it was less than $100K), and fixing up the inside and out the best she could, and neighbors coming by and talking. Neighbors bringing food from time to time. Living there, and knowing her neighbors. And it sounds like that's one of the things she keeps in her heart about her time in T-town ... the neighbors. She recounts later living in Des Moines for awhile, and everyone pretty much drove into their garages and shut the door. This bedroom community liked its privacy,

My neighbors are a big part about why I love Tacoma, and why I likely won't move for a decade, or two, or three ... or more. While I am not "in love" with our house, per se, it'll do. And if I tried to move ... well, I'd have to gamble on what kind of neighbors I'd get. Right now, I know everyone on my block, and almost everyone across the block, over a block, and many throughout the neighborhood. As of recently, there are more than a dozen kids, with several near my kids' ages. We share advice and resources. We invite each other over for various social events. The folks across the street have brought us food many times, which was especially appreciated one day when I was very pregnant and had two kids very sick with the flu and the husband who had been carted off by the ambulance due to a nasty nasty flu about 3 years ago. Other neighbors have been there in a pinch when we need someone to watch the kids for an hour or two, or walk the eldest to school with their girls. I've raked leaves for neighbors, others have weed-wacked parts of my lawn. We share loads of TAGRO; we recently paved our alley so the kids would have a place to bike and trike all over the place; we deliver occasional pies and cookie batches off to each other; know the people's houses we're trick-or-treating at; say hello whenever we see each other; ... and so much more.

My neighbors are more than why I don't want to move out of the neighborhood, they're why I don't want to leave Tacoma. For the latter, that "neighbor" definition of course extends beyond my surrounding blocks ... but the word still applies. My friends; my neighbors.

I'm in Tacoma for the people.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

A blessed night out on the T-town ...

Thank you to the folks at Suite133 for giving myself and Elle a reason to explore downtown on a Friday night with our hubbies. SANS CHILDREN. Both of these feats are rather rarities, as children are actually fun to be around, and also by week's end we're usually so tired with chasing them and balancing life that we just want to curl up with a movie, our lovely hubbies (note to dirty minds: to each her own, not together), and sleep. These last couple weeks were really no different, between holidays, tragedies and Elle's mission of Sweet Hope chocolate making, we were all exhausted. Had the sweet folks at the Suite not been throwing their shin-dig, it's quite likely our heads would have hit the pillow by 8 in order to recover/prep for other holiday parties. I'm so glad we went.

At 5, I walked over from work, down the Spanish steps and over to Suite133 (just above Capers). There I met up with my "crew" ... and ran into many, many, many others it was a treat to see. (Though Marty, I've seen you too much this last week. Find your own parties! Kidding ...) Old classmates, good friends, new friends, acquaintances from every walk of life ... it was a great meshing of T-Town. And I got to point out that Elle is more than a blogger, she's a talented handbag-maker, graphic designer, shoe connoisseur and so much more. That was fun. Oh, and the Tacoma Gnome was making the rounds with Exit133's lovely stafferette. As a friend, of course, so no spreading rumors back to Hanne ... We look forward to hearing more about his evening! And Elle reminds him that he does need to spend SOME time in her garden this year ...

And then ... we headed over for dinner and drinks at Paddy Coyne's on Pacific Avenue in downtown T-Town. This great little Irish pub has become one of my favorite go-to places, but usually for their fabulous happy hour specials. This time? It might not have been "happy hour" per se, but we spent a happy hour or two there! I had my cheeseburger, of course. The menfolk had the fish n' chips, and the lovely Elle savored the beef stew. The boys had their beer, we girls split a bottle of Yellow Tail reserve. Wow. I'm quite acquainted with Yellow Tail wine, but I'd never tried or even seen the reserve version. Very fabulous. Definitely kicked it up a notch. Now I like Paddy's even more ... great grub, great suds, and great vino!

Ahhh ... now I can relax, meditate, and enjoy me some holidays.

Friday, December 14, 2007

"Godspeed" ... an excerpt

This summer, before all the recent chaos, my little family and I went on vacation to Orcas Island, my first visit to the lovely San Juan Islands, and I had a rare moment to reflect on a few things, one such thing being the impending death of my maternal grandma who died last week. Watching her struggle the last year or two or more had been hard on us all, and while staring out at the water, which heavily reminded me of my grandparents', now parents', beach house, and reflecting on my grandmothers impact on my life, I was inspired to dabble in reflections via poetry ... a road I hadn't venture down in quite awhile. And so I share a mere rough draft of a first stanza ...

Godspeeed (an excerpt)

I see you
There

Drifting

Not here; not there

Just drifting

Halfway to somewhere

Halfway to out there

Halfway to heaven

But now

Just drifting

In the middle of nowhere

Thursday, December 13, 2007

I'm not myself; I miss my grandma(s)

Trying to blog when still mentally in mourning and in other random grief from a crappy week really sucks. On Monday, I thought I was over it, at least mostly. People die, but really, what can you do about it? You're left, you go on, there's life, it's part of the life cycle, etc. etc. etc. And when the folks who die are over 80 you believe you should be more numb, but you're not.

This week, I thought I was over the hard part. Until I realized that I wasn't able to banter anymore. This was quite stunning to me. There are some folks I interact with where banter is the norm. It's expected. And sometimes it's slightly off-color, but always harmless. But this week, when the routine banter was begun, and I kinda just hung there. Stunned. Not by the content of the other person's conversation, but by my pure inability to respond. Couldn't react. Couldn't say funny things. Couldn't be flippant. Couldn't joke around. Just. Couldn't. Talk. And that in itself stunned me even further (most who know me know that talking is something I probably do a little TOO much of ... so me speechless ... that's a true oddity). And while it was quite disconcerting to find myself so speechless, it did make me realize that I'm still in mourning for my two grandmothers who died last week, and for how the other chaos ... personal and that of my many loved ones ... affected me, and still affects me. And I'm realizing that I'm not reacting to things normally, and am trying to use caution in what I say and do, because I'm not myself at the moment.

I'm more myself than last week. And more myself today than Monday, and Tuesday ... but I'm not quite up to par. So if you see me on the street and I seem a bit dazed or not quite myself, just remember: I'm not myself.

Craziness of grandmommy deaths aside, the final of my three grandmothers to die this year was the grandmother who was my second mother. She was a teacher, a writer, a communicator, a creative type who cared for her fellow humans in a way so many of her generation at least outwardly did not. We lived in the same house for the majority of my 18 years in my parents' home, and I thought she was the norm. I later discovered she was not.

This particular grandmother was a farm girl from South Dakota who survived the Depression before moving with her family to Portland. She was going to be a journalist, but became an English teacher. She was also, I believe, Oregon's first Outdoorsman to be a woman. (Had to utilize survival skills to spend a couple nights in the snows of Mt. Hood ... during which time she found out she wasn't really in menopause.) She always wrote ... poetry, stories, and even an article that was published in The Oregonian about how she and my grandfather for awhile lived in a fully furnished bus, complete with stand-up piano, while they were still students at Oregon State University. That Oregonian article, I believe, was as widely published as my grandmother ever went. But not due to lack of talent. She just spent the majority of her time with people ... helping people, listening to people, advising ... than she did with spending time marketing her writing.

Growing up with her in the same house, I had the luxury of having this talented writer and editor as my personal essay editor as a child. I have many memories of venturing into my grandparents' bedroom and sharing stories and essays and poetry. Getting real feedback and many compliments. My grandmother nurtured my love of writing for ages. And when I write, she's very alive in my mind. Offering grammar and content feedback. Always telling me she's proud of me and loves me. My son says it best: "My grandmas are not dead; when I look in my head, I still see them."

Even in her last two weeks, as my grandma fought pain and debilitating dementia, she quite deliberately looked me in the eye and told me how proud she was of me. This was a tradition long held. And my long-held response: I'm so proud of you. I'm very proud of my grandmother. She was loving and kind, open-hearted an honest. My grandparents opened their doors to different cultures, races, sexual orientations, life stories, and pretty much every demographic there was and is. Forgiveness, love, compassion ... they lived those words. I am proud of my grandparents; I miss my grandmother. She was my second mother ... and that fact paralyzes me still.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

When it's good not to be where the action is ...

It's been surreal today to read the news out of Bremerton and Aberdeen and to hear about I-5 at Centralia being 10 feet under water. It's been surreal to think how easily I could have been in the thick of it all.

I used to work for both the Aberdeen and Bremerton daily newspapers, and I can pretty much guarantee that business is not usual at either publication, or location. I've seen the photos of sink holes and washed out roads out of Bremerton, and I've heard from friends in Aberdeen about apartment windows being blown out in the middle of the night, about all major roads closed, about power out, and about the newspaper's operations having to move to the radio station and then the Satsop business park. And about some of the not-so-ethical folks in town taking advantage of power outages at local stores.

I remember wetness in both places, but never to this degree. A little more than a year ago, I was temporarily stuck in Bremerton when Highway 16 closed during the November storms. And between 1998-2000 I remember having to wade into work at the Aberdeen paper. I remember semis driving by and putting waves over my car. I remember everything being very wet. But not this wet.

In Tacoma, there may have been some powerful bursts last night. There may have been a lot of rain. But today I looked out my window again and was amazed at the calm. Recent flash floods have wreaked more havoc, and not near the havoc other areas are going through this week.

It seemed like the rest of the region might just be playing a big trick on us ... if I didn't see the pictures. If I didn't get the e-mails.

It's surreal to think that I could have been there. And despite the part of me that is sad to miss the thrill of covering a possibly once-in-a-lifetime event, I gotta say, I'm glad to be far, far away from all the sinkholes I've been seeing pictures of. So I'll just thank my lucky stars and hope for those who are experiencing the "adventure," that they return to normal soon. Very soon.

Monday, December 03, 2007

Eerily dry out there today ...

It was a little bizarre today to hear about cut off roads and flooding in many areas surrounding Tacoma, but having life IN Tacoma be so calm. I-5 closed. Seattle reporting record flooding. I heard about seals in someone's backyard in Bremerton. Hoquiam and Aberdeen cut off. Down in Oregon, my niece is stuck at an aunt's house because a bridge is closed. Olympia had cars stuck underwater. Everywhere I hear water, water, water. I read water, water, water all day. And yet outside my window downtown ... mostly dry. It's picking up a bit ... and I wonder, will Tacoma remain a little oasis in the storm?

Too cool ...

I learned today that a coworker is retiring ... to become a stay-at-home mom. After 33 years on the job, she gets to stay home with her 8-year-old daughter, just in time to take advantage of the few years kids actually want you to stay home with them. I will miss this coworker dearly ... but am quite excited for her to be beginning life's next adventure, even if it's stereotypically backward.

Here's to living life as it happens.

Speechless

I'm a bit stunned right now. I started 2007 with three grandmothers: maternal, paternal and step. And it appears I'll wrap up the year with none.

In July, my paternal grandmother died somewhat suddenly. And Saturday my paternal stepgrandmother died quite suddenly. At the same time, we await news on my maternal grandmother, who has not been doing well for quite some time, and who is basically a second mother to me. I spent my first 18 years with her either next door or down the hall. It's been very strange to see her sick for so long. And it will be stranger to have her not around.

It's been a strange year. A strange six months. And I'm oddly speechless about it all right now. But the following poem comes to mind. It's one I remember studying in freshman English back in high school. I remember discussing the meaning, about life and death ... and living. It was also a time I can remember all three of my grandmothers being very alive, and a time when I got to interact with them under the mindset of still-childlike wonder. Before I got too busy. Before I got wrapped up in growing up.

Each of my grandmothers lived zestfully in their own way ... it's going to be weird going into 2008 without their presence.


Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
By Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words have forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

A few new things ...

The new year approaches, and I've begun contemplating what my 2008 blog should look like, sound like, etc. After last week's South Sound Technology Conference, and long chats with Elle, TacomaMama, Beast Mom and others, I have been re-evaluating what I want this blog to be. I still want to blog about great things in Tacoma, but what about all the other stuff? Why should I have to have two, three, four, five blogs when I can have one with several topics? I've discovered that's kinda what key words are for ... they help categorize things. And so, as I spend the next month or to evaluating what I want this blog to become, there will be a few new things here and there. I'm learning how to make headers. I actually bought a domain name, www.tacomachickadee.com, I added a "silly photos" section, and I've expanded my topic a bit to include Tacoma, novelling ... and silliness. Who knows what will come next ...

Saturday, December 01, 2007

And that's the tooth ...

Today, the eldest came up to me while we were at a birthday party and complained that her loose tooth was bothering her. She'd bitten it again, and it was hurting. (If you recall, at the end of a loose tooth's career, the bottom of it is sharp and jagged ... and can hurt.) So I said, "Well, then pull it out." And she did. She was very excited to be able to show off the bloody tooth to all her pals. I was very excited that she listened to me. :)