my dad is cool

my dad had surgery on his finger recently, (don't laugh, fingers are legitimate body parts too) up at OHSU, so he is staying with us for a week, until his post-op, while he recuperates. I tell you, it's not exactly like a weekend at the spa here, we are BUSY, and loud and rascally, I wasn't sure he would be able to handle it. He used to be pretty fun, but lately he has been kind of quiet and grumpy (lately=the last decade or so). Usually when my folks come, my dad is on good behavior for a few days, and then threatens to leave about every 3 minutes until their actual departure.
This time something is different, it may be the meds that they gave him for pain (possible), or that he is excited to spend some quality time with us (without my mom--likely). I have been trying to include him in everything we do, since a major reason of less than ideal behavior is usually due to boredom.
Today he loaded up with me to go pick up Layla from school, and waited patiently in the car while I went inside. When we got back on the road, I spied a blue Volkswagen beetle (circa late 60s) so I gave him a "slug" (duh). It just so happened that the light turned red and we ended up right next to the bug. Dad motions for the (rather young and lovely, not that I noticed) guy to roll down his window. Here we go. "Hey dude! your car just got me punched!" says Dad. Young and Lovely just laughs (silly old man), luckily now our light turns green, so I start to pull away. Dad is still yelling at this kid across 4 lanes of traffic, something about how his lights weren't even on. (DAD! do you even know the rules to slug bug? There is only 1, and it doesn't have anything to do with lights)
He then turns to me and demands french fries. I whip around and find a drive through. We pull up to the speaker box, he leans over me and says "WE WANT FIVE DOLLARS WORTH OF NOTHING BUT FRENCH FRIES!!" (I don't know if you remember this about Dad, but he thinks that the speaker is more like a tin can telephone and he has to somehow project his order loud enough for them to hear it through the wires)
The drive through guy repeats his order, (which I thoroughly enjoy, since of course they don't sell fries by the pound, and also since it is THE BEST order ever!) and tells us to pull forward. We get the fries and pull back out onto the road. AC/DC comes on, so I crank it up and we start howling to Back in Black and drumming on the dash. Random people on the sidewalk give us weird looks, and we just smile and wave.
I am having a great time until the song is over and Layla insists that I "change it back to Coffee House". Geez, back to real life.

you won't believe this,

but not only did we survive, I fell in love. Again.

with bright, vivid colors, free, public art, living tradition, and simplicity. With fresh, delicious food, not being in charge, beauty in the details, and things too good to be true. With the possibility of the future, and once again, like every morning for the last 15 years, the love of my life.

it is so ridiculously amazing here, I am almost jealous of MYSELF!!

I decided to try blogging a little about the trip while I am still here this time, for a better chance of the story ever being told.
Warning, you will most likely hate me after you read this, so proceed with caution, and you may want to pour yourself a drink. (I know I am!)
OH! It's happy hour, I will have to update you later!

SALUD!

I don't have even one free minute, but I wanted to tell you that I am leaving for Mexico in the morning. My in-laws have told us that we probably won't make it out alive, (they tell us this every time) but it happens to be a risk I am willing to take.
In final preparation for take off, I need to paint my toenails (this is always a last minute item, as you may recall), find and conquer the beard hair, shave both legs (past the knee), pack (including new bathing suit with WAAAAAY too much cleavage-thanks mom), and try to get a little sleep before our 4:30 am departure (from home).
Also, my birthday is coming up in 3 days, and I couldn't be more excited. I will enjoy a birthday brunch at Lindo Mar (my very favorite brunch EVER, expect pictures), a cooking class at one of PV's top restaurants, and apparently Alan and Robert are in cahoots on some birthday beach adventure that promises to be amazing. I asked for a piece of jewelery a day for my birthday present, so I am excited to get started on picking out my new treasures, and I am currently down 27 pounds, so I look pretty cute in my beach wear. All in all, not a bad birthday I say.
If we do happen to survive our trip and make it home, there will be stories told and pictures shared. Stay tuned!

adventures in kindergarten

yesterday I was helping out in Maggie's kindergarten class, and they were learning about the letter "P". Each child has a laminated alphabet book that they have been working in since the beginning of the year, and each day they add a new letter or two to the pages. The kids were adding Ps and Rs to the book, along with a picture for each. I was circulating with stickers to encourage their work, so I would stop at each child, check their letters, and ask about their drawings. There were pandas, pencils, parrots and puppies, very strong work. Finally I made my way back to my little sweetie, her Ps were top shelf, I couldn't help but feel a little proud. Then I wanted to compliment her picture but I couldn't quite tell what it was. Trying to be delicate and supportive I said "Mags, I LOVE your drawing, what is happening in it?" She looked up at me, smiled sweetly and said "it's me POOPING!" and started cracking up. "Um, I'm not quite sure that is appropriate hun, for your alphabet book, could you please draw another "P" thing so we can write it on the line under the picture?" Without missing a beat, she picked up her pencil and drew herself some "paper". Indeed.

cutie

this is a quicky. (some days call for those)
This morning the girls watched a movie called Ponyo. It is about a little girl that turns into a goldfish (or the other way around, can't quite remember). Anyway there is a song at the end and it goes "Ponyo, ponyo, ponyo, magic set's you free;
oh she's a little girl with a round tummy". Maggie was skipping around all morning singing it to herself. About the 47th time through she started giggling and said, "hey! she's just like me! I have a round tummy!" and she gave her cute belly a little rub.
Man, I love that girl, she gives me hope that I am doing something right.

It's me!

you might not recognise me though, since I have lost 21 pounds!! (don't worry, I won't steal your man...on purpose) I like to think it is because I have been so good at cutting back on portions, and making good food choices, and literally running and sweating my ass off in hot yoga, but maybe it's because I do not have a free moment in a day to just sit down. Either way, I'll take it for now, and later when I pass out from exhaustion, maybe work something else out. (if it ain't broke..)
I have also been completely dominating the field in homeschooling lately, and, um, I guess that's all.
I had an epiphany recently, life is like juggling. You can, at any one time, keep a couple, or maybe if you are really good, a few balls in the air. If you do nothing else, you can hone your skills and eventually people can throw extra balls at you, that you can manage with ease and make everyone wonder how you do it. I however, never even learned to juggle, so I am pretty much screwed. I am trying here, really I am, but my manual dexterity is questionable, and that, combined with my lack of grace, and my propensity for distraction, makes the whole thing kind of almost impossible. My balls (haha-balls!) are currently: 1) getting myself healthier and 2) home school. I am ROCKING these. I Guess I can juggle after all. (when there aren't actual balls involved, apparently I can figure it out.)(haha-balls) I can do these 2 things. Never mind that my house is a mess, my car is out of gas, and I can't remember what my husband looks like. (lucky for me, Alan has had decades of practice cleaning up after me-literally and figuratively) so he doesn't even notice a difference except that I have a few less chins now. And he likes it. Everybody's a winner.
In other news, I am going to Mexico for my birthday. We are leaving in a month, I think I will start packing. My mom is coming to stay with the girls, and will probably juggle my stuff, add 12 more things, and set them all on fire whilst riding a unicycle. Moms are magical, how do they do that? Shit! Am I supposed to do be able to pull that off some day?! I need a nap.