All the Things

September, slow down! It's speeding past, full of new schoolish things and medical-related things and heaps of library books, plus my victory in getting Mark hooked on Friday Night Lights (everyone thinks he or she is immune, due to his or her disinterest in the subjects of football and Texas, until it's too late to turn back and they're staying up til midnight watching just one more episode), and not to mention our weekly dark double-feature nights of watching the very last few episodes of Breaking Bad along with the first two seasons of the excellent British series Black Mirror with Jason and David. The dark night of the TV soul is lightened by the fact that we also eat pie--so far, blueberry, apple, pecan, and tonight...pumpkin.

Isaac cracked his head open one night and had to get it stapled up. And yet, he claimed it only "hurts little bit."

Note blood stains on pillow. We spent three hours in this room.

Completely unrelated: he also got his wisdom teeth out. When this photo was taken, he was feeling groovy.

We took this picture because we thought the name "Illuminati" was funny. It was only later that it dawned on me that "maxillofacial" surgery includes Botox injections, and I became very creeped out by the whole place.

50+ hours of intractible hiccups, to be specific. Mark checked out fine in the end, as you can see by his diagnosis. And no, he's not hiccuping any more.

Completely unrelated cat torture. No, actually no cats were harmed in the taking of this photograph. Theo loves any attention Isaac gives him, and Isaac is gentle with his cat puppet. That cat is ENORMOUS, right?

So there you have it, most of our medical adventures this month. Meanwhile, in Madurai India, Zoë rode her bike into a manhole, but she escaped with only bruises. And I undertook a very dull elimination diet to try and figure out what my stomach doesn't enjoy digesting. I've given up in confusion after a week of no caffeine (not to mention no dairy, soy, wheat, or pretty much anything else), but we'll continue to work on it, my stomach and I. In the meantime, I will eat a slice of pumpkin pie tonight.

pride

today was the southern maine pride parade, and even though i couldn't talk anyone into going with me,* i had so much fun watching it and catching the free candy and frisbees that flew into the crowd periodically. in a funny coincidence, i joined the parade watchers after picking up a copy of tales of the city at the library (which i had to do since the checkout girl loaned me every book in the series except the first one, which she couldn't locate on her shelves).

*not because they don't enjoy a fabulous gay pride event of whatever kind, only because they were riding bikes, and building bikes, and acquiring bike parts, and whatnot.

friday the thirteenth

unlucky, or lucky? consider the following:

*zoë's bike got tuned up and rode like a dream.

*i came upon a human person sprawled on the bathroom floor in the portland public library, surrounded by bloody cotton balls and drug paraphernalia.

*my dad came to visit and we went to see twelfth night (it was my third time).

*there was a horrible-looking accident at the corner of park and state, right down by deering oaks, that involved two cars and a tree.

*zoë got a new job at a place that's closer to home, pays more, and is less of a fast food black hole than her current place of employment.



so. friday the thirteenth: lucky for zoë, unlucky for unknown strangers?

summery

it's all starting to feel kind of like rolling down a hill: a cold spring has abruptly turned into summer sunlight and temperatures (over ninety degrees today). it's hard for all of us to do basic school year-type things like homework, getting to bed at a halfway decent time, remembering to buy food for isaac to take for lunch...things like that. my living room is usually full of bikes. there are generally flipflops all over the house and a continuous shortage of ice cubes in the freezer. we've all four become addicted to big green salads with walnuts and cranberries and balsamic vinaigrette.

tomorrow is zoë's last day of high school, ever. she presented her final word on monday, and she did such a beautiful job. it was funny and authentic, and it included a visual aid (this photograph) and she even sang a line from the song brandi (i am pretty sure she was the only final word presenter who sang). her beloved charlotte returned from france just in time to say some sweet words about her (literally - she flew home the day before). her favorite teacher spoke and read a poem that made zoë cry a little, and then mark spoke through tears about her readiness to graduate, and about how inspiring she is to him. i told you it was a weep-fest! i'm almost done crying at the learning shack (i've become a little addicted to it, actually). next tuesday there is a senior assembly, and then wednesday she graduates.

and meanwhile, my baby turns fourteen the day after tomorrow.

sweet ride

i don't know if i've mentioned that boo (my baby) is going to turn thirteen in may. well, it's true. we really wanted to get him something fabulous for his birthday, so with the help of boo's wonderful grandparents, m let him pick out the most fabulous bike he could find at the great maine bike swap this weekend for an early present. here it is, a vintage fuji road bike that fits him perfectly, is in great shape, is fun to ride, and is a gorgeous shade of almost-turquoise.

white bikes

i think this is pretty cool!

randomly

i just thought you might like to see the hip, retro bathing suit bean just purchased with some leftover urban outfitters christmas credit. it is just about the cutest suit ever. and even cuter on bean than it is on this urban outfitters model, i might add.

in other random news, david sent this fascinating article about bicycles in amsterdam.