Wednesday, October 31, 2007

A Bat and a Bride


bat wings
Originally uploaded by radioflyer007

This was the first year that 'Shroom and Lolli really got into dressing up for Halloween. Although we've slapped on a costume for the fun of it in the past, the kids really didn't know what it was all about. Thanks to public school education, the ramp up to Halloween starts about mid-September (and by the time the first week of October rolls around, 'Shroom is more eager for Halloween than his own birthday!).

With a kindergarten parade and a little show for the parents, I felt obligated to dress 'Shroom up. He wanted to be a bat. A nice bat - not a scary one. Lolli had to be a princess. A pink one.

Well, our little bat and princess (who also doubled as a bride at her preschool parade) are now tucked away in bed. What is the big deal about Halloween? I still don't get it. And the candy? 'Shroom and Lolli have yet to taste any of it.

And I hope it stays that way.

[bat costume lovingly made by Boston Grandma]

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

We're Okay

Hi there,

Thanks to the many of you who have inquired about how we're doing. Right now, we're not directly affected by the fires in the surrounding counties but we're definitely keeping watch as the only direction we're "safe" is the west (which is the great vast Pacific Ocean).

We're smelling the smoke and even seeing some ash fall so we're keeping the windows open only if needed (I guess breathing stale air is better than badly polluted air). The sky above the beach is smokey and dark and it's beginning to blow a bit more inland where we are.

We have friends and family in the evacuated areas so we're thinking of them and praying the best for them and their homes. Let's hope this all ends sooner than what they're predicting (the fires have been burning since early Sunday morning).

Thanks again for your thoughts of us. We're missing the clean crisp autumn air of New England but we're doing okay here.

- West By East

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Baseball Widow

Well, the "love 'em or hate 'em" Red Sox are the newly crowned 2007 American League champs and will be hosting the World Series later this week.
Yipee skippy.

I don't know if I'm happy or sad. Sounds weird coming from a tried and true Bostonian but truth be told, I'm sick of the post-season games. I'm sick of having to eat dinner to the blare of the TV. I'm sick of knowing that whenever there is a Sox game on, I (and the kids) may as well be nonexistent to Air Boss. So maybe I'm not one of those crazy people called Red Sox fans. Don't get me wrong - I will be cheering for the Sox during the World Series and I'll even get excited about it but does life really need to be put on hold for these overpaid (and even over-glorified) athletes?

Well, I guess I'll be a supportive wife (widow that I am these days).

Go Sox. Yay.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Top 10 reasons why LA isn't quite home yet


first color of season
Originally uploaded by
radioflyer007

10. People from LA are "they" and "them"


9. People from Boston are "we" and "us"


8. There is school on Columbus Day


7. Baseball and football games aren't watched unless the Sox or Pats are playing


6. I purposely drive down one street in Torrance to see the few trees on the block change their colors


5. I get offended when a random comment on my blog states that all bad drivers in LA are transplants from the Northeast (NE bad driving is very different from LA bad driving - obviously this bloke knows nothing)


4. No Dunkin Donuts


3. I didn't even recognize my own car in the parking lot (CA license plate number still not etched in my memory); thank goodness for the Boston Red Sox plate frame


2. I'm still looking for those deep and meaningful friendships

and the #1 reason why LA still isn't home for me . . .

1. how can it be home if I can't even afford one?!

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Learning to ride a bike

With the recent acquisition of two bicycles, the kids have been learning how to ride a bike. 'Shroom has witnessed Lolli fall a couple of times (both times ending in tears with the latest incident drawing blood and leaving a little skin on the driveway).

"See, that's why I don't want to ride a bike," 'Shroom explains to me when I try to coax him on his bike.

"It's okay to fall," I try to reason. "You just get back on."

Mind you, they're not learning how to ride a two-wheeler bike. They're learning how to pedal forward and steer clear of inanimate stationary objects (like bushes and light poles). Lolli can do it provided the riding surface is flat and the wind is at her back pushing her along. 'Shroom can do it provided I'm pushing the bike and steering for him (talk about a free ride).

Well, I guess I can't blame them for taking awhile. Although I do ride a bike (yes, I've graduated from the training wheels!), my sisters and I all have had bad bicycle accidents (older sister smacked into a telephone pole after losing control going down a steep hill (bloody chin); younger sister did a face plant on a rock and chipped her front tooth; I got my finger stuck in the spokes of my wheel while it was moving and broke it). Yes, we all sound rather clumsy but they were legit accidents. Really.

Anyway, Lolli has been crying off and on today because of her scraped knee. Hopefully she'll heal quickly and not let it impede her bicycle learning.

Wow - as a young kid, there's so much to learn! At least once they learn to ride, they won't forget, right?