Last night, for the first time, Will was sick.
Jessica and I were hanging out in the front room. We heard Will cry out ("Ma!") and Paul walk over to check on him. (Note: it is not uncommon for Will to suddenly awake a few hours into his nightly sleep, call out my name, and then go back to sleep. We think he may be waking up from dreams? Usually, one of us checks on him and he quickly goes back to sleep.)
This time it was different. Paul had heard sounds of retching and walked in to find Will, covered in vomit, shaking with fear. For the first time, his little body had betrayed him and been sick -- he was certainly feeling poorly and very scared. I quickly picked him up (covering us both in drippy mess) to comfort him. After a minute of calming him, we both stripped down and Jessica helped to get us both clean again. Paul got to work on cleaning up the room and crib. We got both of us dressed again and I commensed holding and cuddling my baby. It wasn't long before he started throwing up again. It would last until about 3am. Fortunately, he never ran a fever and was fine today.
What was the worst sound? Hearing Will call out my name, saying "No, ma-ma, no" and "Uh-ho" before throwing up. I'd hold him over the sink, support his body and head, and Jessica used a damp, cool cloth on his neck. Still, being sick was frightening and Will fought it, trying to swallow back what was coming up and having confusion about what was happening to his body. I could tell that he was trying to say, "Mommy, I'm afraid. I don't feel good. Please help me. Please make it stop." It was heartwretching. Jessica helped me do my best, remain calm, and keep a normal mood. I didn't want to make Will feel like something was wrong (after all, being sick is not completely abnormal, and we felt confident that it would quickly pass.)
We are so relieved that he is fine today! He is not really eating (a few Pedialyte pops and a some saltines) but has been happy and energetic for most of the day. Maybe we did get a 24-hour stomache flu (aka: rotovirus) and not food poisioning?
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
The worst sound in the world.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Odd Toddler Activity?
Will's new playtime activity with the fireman's hat... carrying it like a bowl in his mouth. If anyone can explain where this new game came from, we'd love to understand...? 
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Sunday Plantation Tour
Sunday, we joined Jessica and Karim out to the Cajun Country to explore some of the plantations that dot the Mississippi outside of New Orleans. (Lesson: Creole implies the culture of the African/Carribean slaves who were brought to this country. Cajun implies the culture of the white french decended plantation owners who settled in this area. We learned that one may be pointedly correctly if these are confused.)
First we went to Laura Plantation. This plantation had been a french-speaking, family owned facility until 1985 and feels much different than your average plantation tour (a nice change). Additionally, a thunderstorm kept things interesting. It soaked Will's stroller so that Paul and I had to take turns carrying a crazy, explorative toddler through the tour (it was mostly outdoors through the slave cabins.) Will was good, but ready to be done by the end. The tour itself is touted as a great history tour, and it was. The information is based on Laura's written account of the four generations (of women!) who ran the family plantation as well as historical documents. (Lesson: Under French rule and French law, women and people of color could own land and plantations.) It also includes detail, and photographs, of the slaves on the property. This history is important to the significance of Laura, as it was here that the stories of Br'er Rabbit were penned.
Then we drove by beautiful Oak Alley Plantation. Seen in lots of movies, Oak Alley has a most impressive entrance.
Then we got lost. Directions were a little difficult to come by. First, folks had a hard time understanding Karim's french accent (unfortunately, french creole speakers were hard to find) and the directions themselves were a bit weak (they were of the "... follow the curves, turn left at the third large oak, then right at the first high water..." variety).
Finally, we took our last tour at Nottoway Plantation. Here, we got the standard slavery apology ("...we aren't saying that Mr. Randolph was a great humanitarian, but he did recognize the value of carrying for his property and therefore touch steps to keep his slaves as healthy as possible.") Paul gave the best analogy: "we pad our electric chairs!" Still, it was an interesting and impressive structure with unique history.
A very fun day! They've inspired us to check out more and get out further into the country... maybe even take in a few swamp tours!
Nottoway House
Paul, Will and I in front of Nottoway Plantation. The largest plantation home in the south.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Saturday Fun in the City
Inspired by our guests, we took on the city on Saturday.
Fueled by Paul's prowess as an egg chef (have I mentioned that he can do the one-handed flip?), we left the house around 9am for a driving tour of the city. We drove through the Garden District and stopped for a tour of Lafayette Cemetery Number 1, famous for its above ground crypts (lesson: they are not buried above ground because of the low water table; they are above ground due to the influences of France and Spain, who followed the practice).
While in the Cemetery, we spotted an impressive facade in front of one of the tombs -- and were surprised to find that it was actually *only* a facade! It was a movie set! I found some crew who were striking other parts of the set around the cemetery and chatted them up. The set is for the movie "Stay Alive" which is being filmed in New Orleans. It's a horror flick. From what I gleaned from the crew and from the local paper, it has something to do with a computer game that may or may not be controlled by a supernatural being. This was not the last time we would bump elbows with members of this film (hint for upcoming celebrity moment).
After the Cemetery, we continued on to the Quarter. We parked by the river and walked along the riverside park into the Quarter. We toured on foot, taking in the historic buildings, Jackson Square, Ursuline Academy, French Market, and other neat parts of the city. We saw a wedding party, horse drawn carriages, walking tours, and Bourbon Street. Karim gave me a lesson in how to correctly pronounce the street names in French (I had a particularly hard time with "Rue" -- although Karim did lift my spirits by telling me that the few phrases I do know in French I deliver with a very good accent.) Lunch was sandwiches in a small cafe near the Market.
Having had lunch, we headed back to Uptown and dropped Paul off at Audubon Park for juggling club. We were all tired and needed to decided to join Will in naptime. So the three of us went back to the house for a rest. (Typical me... I used the time to cook, clean, and read.)
Paul made it home about an hour before the babysitter. We all cleaned up and once Will was in the hands of a trusted adult (not us) we took of for the evening. At first, we tried to go to Jacque Imo's (awesome local joint) but found the 2-hour wait too much. It was here that we had our *celebrity sighting* for the night. When I looked up to find Paul in the small crowd in front of the restaurant, I saw that he was standing elbow to elbow with Frankie Muniz, best known for his role as "Malcolm" in our favorite sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle. After a few moments of watching Paul not notice, I finally pointed it out ("Paul, it's Malcolm!") Unfortunately, I wasn't subtle enough and little Frankie scurried away. (What did this young, wealthy actor look like in person? An awkward, shy, clearisol-dependent teenager.) Apparently, young Mr. Muniz is one of the actors in "Stay Alive" (the set for which we played around earlier in the day.)
Not willing to wait all night for Jacque-Imo's, we went to our next favorite local haunt, The Olde College Inn. We had a great dinner and shared the bounty so that we all tried a little bit of everything.
After dinner, we went back into the Quarter and enjoyed an amazing set of music at Jazz Perservation Hall: the birthplace of American Jazz. Doors open at 8, music starts at 8:15 and runs in 35 minute sets, $8 cover. Standing room only; no drinks; no smoking; no flash. The building reflects its 250+ year history (it was built in 1750) and the white hairs that cross the brows of the six performers says that they having been playing these tunes for a long, long time. They play by request ($2 for "traditional", $5 for "others", $10 for "Saints"). Piano, Drums, Bass, Clarinet, Banjo, and Slide pump out Dixieland Jazz. When my beloved PapPap DiMarzio isn't watching over one of us from his special place in Heaven, I know that this is where he hangs out. We can't wait to go back.
Lafayette Cemetery Number 1
Paul, Will, Jessica and Karim among the above ground crypts in Lafayette Cemetery Number 1.
On location!
Set piece from the movie "Stay Alive" currently filming in New Orleans. We didn't realize that this was part of a set until we had walked behind it... it looked very real and quite impressive from the front! The crew was striking the set from the location and were very friendly: they described the movie as a very scary horror story about a game in which no one wins. (In one of their words, "It's not a game I'd like to play, I'll tell you that!") We saw one of the actors in the movie, Frankie Muniz, (best known as "Malcolm" from the show, "Malcolm in the Middle" later that night at dinner.)
Jackson Square Activity
Horses waiting for a tour outside Jackson Square. Cafe du Monde is the background to the right.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Visit!
Our friends, Jessica and Karim are in town. Jessica and I were Graduate Instructors for the same women's health class and in the same MSW/MPH dual degree program at Michigan; Karim, a French National, has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan. They currently live in San Diego: Jessica works for a child health and safety organization and Karim does research in underwater accoustics.
So -- we've had a great time! They arrived Friday afternoon and we enjoyed a relaxing evening with a walk around the neighborhood and home-cooked dinner: my family Ziti, collard greens with garlic (recipe compliments of Karim and Jessica), and green salad. While we put dinner together, I made triple c's (chocolate chip cookies -- so much easier with my beloved mixer), which we enjoyed with strawberries for dessert.
Grease and Desist
Link on the link below to hear my dear friend and fellow bird ("we're not chicks"), Lee Etzold, on the National Public Radio show, All Things Considered.
Lee, a (fantastic) professional performer, is part of an all-girl cast of the musical, Grease. Lee plays Danny Zuko (the male lead, played by John Travolta in the movie). All was going fine, then a few hours before their first scheduled performance, Samuel French (the licensing company) sent a letter to the director silencing the show. It felt that not casting the men and women by men and women was unacceptable and shut down the production.
So what next? Will they be asking for actors to disclose their sexuality so that only straights can be cast? I can just see the conditions: "straight females only for Sandy and the girls; with the exception of Rizzo, who can be gay." Give me a break!
Grease is a story that celebrates obnoxious gender roles (men drive fast and wear black leather, women worry, cry, and fuss in their skirts and pumps) and serves it all up on white bread. It's where we girls learn of our life options: changing for the guy ('cause we're never good enough as is), or beauty school. What better vehicle for exploring gender and American pop culture than this iconoclastic show?! After all, gender IS performance (complete with costumes and acting) and the American Theatre is a wonderful place to examine how gender plays out. I love the idea of the show and I think it ridiculous not to support it. Does Samuel French really think that we will forever be okay with and never question the 13-year old's fantasy of bubble-gum stereotypes? It is time to move on!
SO -- Listen and hear Lee! (As well as a great article!)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4667355
Contact information for Samuel French, should you want to write them to express your disappointment at what yutz-balls they are:
Samuel French, Inc.
7623 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90046-2795
Phone (323) 876-0570
Fax (323) 876-6822
Office hours are Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Pacific Time.
Schwarzenegger makes it easy
The perfect example of conservative politics. Create the problem, then make a big showy display to show your resolve to "fix" it:
Governor digs fixing potholes: San Jose crew destroys part of road for staged event
(brought to my attention through boingboing)
Thursday, May 26, 2005
What's in the box?
Hiding in boxes, playing "Peek-a-Boo" and other games in packing material at Granna and PapPap's!
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Chillin' Out
Will is transfixed by Baby Einstein Numbers Nursery after a tiring swim in the pool!
Will and I came to Mobile for a few days to let Paul get caught up on work hours undisturbed, to return some borrowed items from my Mom, and to have free unlimited babysitting while I try to get back into the swing of things.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
La Cucaracha
What: HUGE, gigantic, mammoth, BIG, large, wide, and SCARY roach. (Now deceased.)
Where: On our piano (he escaped) then, later, on the floor in the study.
Our fears: Perhaps from the trash from the construction site next door? Got in under a door perhaps? Paul, who knows the house and it's access points better than anyone, thinks the most likely mode of entry is our luggage. To say that I am freaking out about unpacking is an understatement. My fears of others kept me up last night.
Current plan: Ask neighbors, find out common patterns. Learn techniques for removal and prevention.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Trip Log: MONDAY
Home again, Home again!
CLOSE CALL: It almost didn't happen. After my night of illness (how many people can say that they were spectacularly ill in their husband's boss's only bathtub?) we weren't sure if I could make the trip. At 3:55am, we decided to give it a try. We left at 4:41am.
DEPARTURE: 7am flight through Memphis.
HOME: By 11:30am.
FIRST THINGS: Feeding Will lunch, letting Paul check in with work. Then... naptime for me. I slept from 1 until 5:30 (Will joined me at 4pm and slept until we woke him for dinner at 7.) We are all beat and slowly getting back to normal life again.
HAPPY TO BE HOME FOR: the sounds and smells of home, warm 'gato' on my feet, Margarita, easy internet access, ceiling fans on high ceilings, TiVo.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Trip Log: SUNDAY
Sunday.
BRUNCH: aka "St. Lucia Send Off" was at Eileen's at the Chimney's in Historic Fredricksburg.
FUN BRUNCH MOMENTS: Meeting Janice's TRIPLETS and watching Paul juggle for all the kids.
PACKING: Got packed up in an organized fashion (only one bag needed for the overnight at Paul's boss's house) and managed to fit everything!
ROAD TRIP: To Randy and Katherine's, about an hour.
VISITS: Randy and Katherine generously hosted several of our friends who came from around the area to see us (really to see Will.) They included: Dave and new bride Shelley (Dave was Paul's hockey buddy in AA and now works for NOAA in DC); Paul (my good friend from high school); and Robin and Dave (Robin and I were in the same MPH/MSW program at Michigan and now Robin and Dave are consultants for the World Bank.) It was GREAT to see everyone and made us miss all the great people who live in that area.
WILL AND MURRAY: Will's new word for dogs is "Murray" based on Randy and Katherine's little pomperanian, Murray. Murray is maybe four pounds and is totally adorable. Will has been saying "Murray!" non-stop since the visit!
MORE VISITS: After the great visit with Randy and Katherine, we took off to Paul's boss's house. We stayed with them in December and adore their son, Bobby, who is just over 2 years old. Amy (Paul's wife) made a great dinner and we stayed in and watched the kids play a bit.
UNFORTUNATE EVENING: I was pretty out of it and feel asleep while putting Will to bed. This sleep was interrupted by a run to the bathroom... the food poisoning that hit Paul on Friday hit me. Paul was nice enough to clean up after me and to let me sleep on the cool tile of the bathroom floor for a little while. Thank goodness Will hasn't followed our lead in this regard!
Games with Murray!
Will plays "behind the door" with Katherine and Murray. In this game, Will squeezes himself between the back door and the glass window and knocks on the glass door as if he is asking to be let in. Murray played along, barking happily that someone was at the door to play with him!
Group Photo
Will with Randy, Katherine, and Murray! At their beautiful home in Fairfax, Sunday afternoon! Katherine works for Nextel and had lots of test phones, so Will instantly became her friend! He LOVES telephones!
