Oh!

I don't know, it seems I have been ignoring my blog. I was working, then I was doing something you have to do when you're a commercial artist, which is to do work you won't get paid for so that you can win more work. And... success! With Husband's assistance, I will be doing the website for my new client's restaurant.

Among other exciting happenings, Jen and I have begun reading Jane Austen books. The really cool thing is that a few of my other beloveds are joining in, and that is at once unexpected and fabulous. Tonight I started in on Pride and Prejudice, and I am feeling English to the max. Frank came out into the living room where I am reading and said that we should try to go to sleep at a decent time tonight. As an answer, I read one paragraph of the book to him (in a snooty voice) and he said, "Okay, see you later." I said, "Great, I'll be reading!" It's alright. He gets it.

Jon and Kate Plus Hate, and the answer to both questions is NO.

Questions regarding Jon and Kate Plus Eight, the show I can watch for 30 seconds before I get nauseous and/or extremely irritated and have to change the channel:

1. Can Kate possibly be any more of a ball breaker?
2. Could her haircut be any stupider?

Um hum

Hi. It's me. There has been design work happening. As many of you know, when I do freelance it's often at the expense of sleep. I spend the day caring for my kids and then I work after they go to bed. And that's fine, it's just how I do.

Husband and I have been going out a lot lately. Movies, seeing friends, even going to a restaurant opening last weekend. We're picking a date to go away for a night, alone. Lately, whenever possible, I have been going to sleep a little early. It's not like me. I must be tired.

So it turns out this is Memorial Day Weekend, right? I did not know this until yesterday. I am too busy doing things to notice the date, evidently.

Happy Friday

Hey everybody. I have Pandora on and my Radiohead Radio is playing a ton of Beatles today. Right now Strawberry Fields Forever is on, and it just hit me that this song reminds me of my brother and sister. If you two are reading, it also played I Want You, so I thought of you guys and Peter Frampton (and pretty much the rest of Bee Gees Sergeant Pepper's). It has also just hit me that I have had a secret celebrity crush on Steve Martin for as far back as I can remember. Other than that, just wanna say have a great weekend.

Thoughts on the day

A little post to clear out the old braineroo. I am working on freelance, which I love. Getting things done. A lot, actually. It's a job for a friend opening a restaurant and lounge in Northern Liberties. I'm also helping with hookups for printing the staff's shirts, the business cards, and we're going to be doing the website. Really an unexpected series of jobs, but I am enjoying the work buzz. Hopefully there will also be some free food involved at some point. Woo.

Last night my husby and I went to see Star Trek. Thoroughly enjoyed it, not only for the onslaught of nerdy hotness, but also because it really was a good movie and one of those films that is way better if you see it in the theatre.

Lastly, a note on domesticity. As much as I love an urban life, it's increasingly more difficult for me to ignore the fact that I have two toddlers who love to play outside. In a yard. With green grass. And sticks, and dirt, and trees. Living near a park isn't the same as having a yard. It's a challenge to find a new place to live, and when you have kids there's more to consider. Not impossible, not even really that much harder than before. It's just like most things when you have kids. Just... different.

Dia de la Madre

So this will be my third Mother's Day as an actual mother. Tomorrow my sister, niece and bro-in-law are coming over, and we're planning some delicious grilling and maybe even some cocktail chilling. Then Sunday my brother and his girlfriend and coming over for brunch. Nice weekend. Yay.

Have a great one, everybody. And be extra nice to your Moms. That woman did a lot for you.

STM

I have bad short term memory. It's, like, worse than goldfish memory. Zero. Wasn't always this way, but it is now so I just do my best. So... I do not remember if I told everyone these things:

1. I bought Nico his first boy boy underpants. The choo-choo Thomas ones, of course. I was wrong to fear the potty training. It's really not that bad.
2. Ridiculous. I'm blanking out on what else I wanted to tell you.
3. Oh! I have unloaded and packed away my diaper bag. I really don't need it any more. I'm just packing a diaper stash and extra outfits to keep in the car (just in case of a mishap -- see item #1).
4. I should stop goofing off and get my work on.
5. That is all.

Work and chore

As is so often the case with designing, I swore off work and then someone offered me some work and then I said, "Yes!" to doing the work. I am not sure whether you could call me a sucker for graphic design, or a sucker for money. Probably a little of both.

The next half hour or so will be devoted to finishing my drink, bobby pinning my bangs back in a semi-nerdy fashion, and flipping channels. Then I'll crack down and work, and intermittently re-clothe the bed in its freshly washed linens.

Working

Tonight I'm finishing up a few logo options for a friend's restaurant. I just found out about the job on Thursday, and since my time is limited during the day (even though Frank helped with the kids and let me get a lot done this afternoon) it takes a late night here and there to really tie things down. I'm waiting for him to finish with one part he's helping with, which is some illustration... he's just so much faster at it, so I did some sketches and he's kind enough to turn it into real art, real fast.

While I sit here waiting, I'm doing a few things. One, deleting my Twitter account. I wish I had the time to keep up the way the tweet gods intended, but I just don't. Two, paring down on my other social media readings by focusing only on the people about whom I really care. Hint: it's none of you, my darlings. Three, just thinking about life in general. The job hunt is... bleak. I mean, it's... horrible. There have always been at least a few jobs I don't really like that would be suitable, but right now I can't even find anything I don't want (if that makes any sense). As if to send me a sign, the kids have really been blowing me away with their cute loveyness. I slept in this morning -- don't be jealous, I was still up before 9am -- and when I came out into the living room the kids attacked, nay, trampled me with hugs and fought for my attention. Daddy who? Ha! How can I purposely give that up? Guess for now I'm sticking with the night shift on the art tip. At least I get to stay up late, and in the morning I can look like hell and nobody will care when I take my fourth coffee break.

When my friend William was five years old, he wanted a doll to hug and hold

Leave it to Jen to buy Olivia her first baby doll. I confess, I don't think about these things. Maybe it's because I had a boy first, or I'm just not programmed with the proper software necessary for choosing the best hair bows. Needless to say, Livi is crazy about the dolly. And so is Nico. They both hold it gently, pat its back, and kiss it on the cheek. This morning when my friend Lauren dropped off her (adorable!) daughter to spend the day with us, the kids automatically included the baby in just about everything they were doing. See the toys? See Wonder Pets? Hear the music? Can I hug you? Again? So cute. Even though they're obviously not allowed to hold the real baby, it's nice to know they notice and they care.

Right now Olivia is taking a nap and I'm playing Free to Be You and Me for Miss S. She doesn't seem to mind my singing, and I'm taking that as a compliment. Maybe my clapping along is enough distraction from the fact that I'm all but tone deaf. Again, I'll take it.

* Alan Alda & Marlo Thomas, William's Doll. When Nico was an infant, we would listen to this song on the way to day care. I would cry at the end. Yes. This song makes me cry. I can't believe I just confessed to that, but it's true.