My kids have definite political opinions ...

Conversation in the car last night:

The Eldest: I want Hillary to be president!

The Boy: I want Barack!

Baby Girl: Bawack-illry! (Sounded a bit like "broccoli") ... I keep saying she's a good mix of her brother and sister's influence.

When did Baby Girl start drawing something other than scribbles?

Holy cow ... I thought this was The Boy's piece at first. And he said no. It's Baby Girl's. Baby Girl just turned 3. About two weeks ago. And until now, I'll I've seen her do is scribble. Below is a picture of her, me and daddy. Whoah. Dude ... was it turning 3? Was it the two days of preschool? Was it the fact that she's finally potty-trained? Was it the babysitter?



Whoah. And apparently we're her favorite subject. She's drawing it again ...

VIDEO: It's fantabulous when you get your kids hooked on the things you loved as a munchkin

And I did it! My kids are currently watching "The Last Unicorn" over and over and over and over again. Baby girl even woke up insisting on it.



Now the funny T-town part of this, I snagged the 25th Anniversary edition DVD at the 21st & Pearl Rite Aid for like 7 bucks. (There was only one -- I love random cool impulse purchase opportunities. And this one I could NOT resist.) When I brought it to the counter, the check-out chickie was relieved. She had been tempted by it for days. I offered to put it back, but she insisted.

And now I think my kids believe in unicorns. Cool.

Of course, the below YouTube series probably only egged that on. They're watching it and singing along as I write this. (All three of them ... they're pretty good ... it's like they've watched the movie over and over and over and ...)

VIDEO: Harold and the Purple Crayon

Dude! It's Frost Park Friday -- I couldn't help myself!



I think this is along the style I might attempt again. If only I could get a 3-year-old to stick with it as a collaborator for more than 5 minutes. Hmmm .... perhaps I should practice. Train the in-house 3-year-old.

Frost Park Fridays: A true pot o' gold at the rainbow's end

Plenty of others have given you photos of the chalk ... I was drawn to this colorful menagerie.



Oh, and Mr. Tacoma Gnome ... watch out: Devil Duck was spotted to day. Wasn't sure you noticed. I know you escaped the Ana-nabster, but what out for the Devil Duck.



Now to go figure out who to vote for today, &*##$$%!!

For some chalktastic photos, go to:

Tacoma Gnome
Life of Elle
Tacoma Urbanist

Oh, and on the theme of Irish ... Elle was wearing some shirt with something about how everyone loves an Irish gal or something like that. So maybe I SHOULD vote for her ... ack.

Did I just agree with Peter Callaghan?

Sometimes I agree with the TNT's Peter Callaghan and cheer at the breakfast table; sometimes I want to scream, "Oh no you didn't! You just don't get it!" But I suppose that's what makes him a good newspaper columnist.

Today, I rallied with him as I listened to him defend the culture of Tacoma neighborhoods. Did I optimistically interpret? Perhaps. That's what I tend do. But I like to think that I agree with Peter more than half of the time vs. less.

Why do I love Tacoma? Its neighborhoods.

I love mine. I'm a bit far from Proctor, though stick the kids on their bikes or in the red wagon and it's walkable. But I love that I know my neighbors. I have a coffee shop to walk to. I can walk the kids to school ... we can walk to the park. We can watch the Freedom Fair 4th of July fireworks from mere blocks away. I CAN trek to Proctor and the farmers market in mere minutes by car or several by foot. I can get groceries on my way home. Plants on my way home. Take-out on my way home. I grew up on a farm, and while I miss some bits and pieces: I thrive on my neighborhood's convenience.

While I do wish downtown was more "revived" and mourn for my grandmother's memories and her history of once upon a time working for Woolsworth's and other downtown locations, that doesn't mean downtown is all that for me. (Though it's definitely something ... and a something I love and a place I spend money in.) But I love that each Tacoma neighborhood has a special characteristic. A special attitude. Tacoma is not too big, not too small. It's the same reason when I studied abroad in Ireland I went to the city of Cork, not Dublin. It's a city I can grasp, that I can make a difference in, not one that swallows me whole.

Looking for life after 5? Sixth Ave. has it. Some in the Proctor District, too. My PDX musician brother is doing a show on South Tacoma Way at Club Vertigo on May 11. Stadium has nightlife. St. Helens has nightlife. Then there's East Side action, the Lincoln District (where I got my wedding cake ... though the location is now closed), the Dome District action and so much more. And yes, Tacoma's downtown has much to offer, and will continue to grow ... but it's not like Tacoma dies after 5. You just need to know where to go. Seriously need to know and can't find? Just ask.

Go listen as KUOW pays a bit of attention to Tacoma. Steve and Derek Young and Peter Callaghan chat about T-Town in general. Then Roxanne Murphy, Steph Farber and others join in during the second hour. It's good stuff ... though definitely shows some KUOW naivete as to all Tacoma has to offer.

In the meanwhile, currently T-Town film-addict brother pursues the Grand Cinema's 72-hour film festival.

There's lots to do in T-town.

And thank you Tacoma. I was driving through downtown Seattle just last weekend ... and I noted that it was different. The people, the faces, the places: It was not Tacoma. And for that fact, I cheered ... and drove home.

Hey! Beautiful Angle! Have you been peekin' in my head?

Went shopping locally today. The hubby says this one particular Beautiful Angle poster was calling my name. Bought something else. But perhaps someday. Someday soon. Unless ya'all beat me to the punch.





Why? (You might ask. Or you might not.)

Perhaps because of this rather "heated" Ode to Dandelions I wrote two years ago (April 13, 2006). It was my 7th blog item ever. On MySpace. My younger brothers ... then still freshly shocked that their sister was on MySpace .. didn't (and don't) understand my annoyance with dandelions. They think they're pretty. But we grew up on a farm, and I'm the only homeowner among us. They don't have to contend with grumpy neighbors. And while I don't mind walking on moss or clover or buttercups ... and while I'm all for shrinking my lawn-size in favor of more native or food-related plantings ... I just don't enjoy walking on dandelions. And while in small numbers I find them quaint, in large I find them vile. And I could go on and on ... and two years ago, I did.

Ode to Dandelions

My children love your fluffy tufts
They blow and wish for too much stuff
But that yellow hat that turns to white
Is not beautiful to me, just nasty blight

Oh woe is me, my aching back
Four days, many hours of dandelion attack
But, oh, so satisfying -- "I win, I win"
I say to the dandelions that fill my yard waste bin

Give up hope, give up now
If I have to, I'll rent a plow
One, two, three ... four dozen, a ton
I will keep at it until I've won

Buttercups, welcome -- daisies, you too
Clover, moss keep growing, please do
But oh, you dandelions, me feet don't like
Please, oh, please, just take a hike

My brother mocks me, calls you flowers
Says relax, enjoy those hours
Give in, give in, let Mother Nature in
I say, grow in my yard -- you go to the bin

You see, I know you're a weed
Transported from abroad with infectious seed
And while I refuse to poison plants
I will not let you run more rampant than ants

Please understand, while I sing my die-die song
You have your place, but in my yard -- you don't belong
You're great in chains and summer-made crowns
But I promise, take root in my yard and you're going down

-- AML (4/13/06 -- the day before the baby girl's first birthday)

P.S. And yes, I realize they did their poster first. But I can promise you, that was back when I had major "mama-brain" and was only about to learn of their existence.