Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. I just needed some "me" time.

I think of you often, and I look forward to rekindling our relationship soon.

Love,

Tracy

I don't really have anything to say, but I thought that I'd post just to keep the rhythm going. (What rhythm?) wait, did I spell that right?

I am getting over a cold. Last night I thought I was going to lose my voice, but I didn't. Too bad for Mike.

Enjoy this photo of Mateo eating a football. I'm not sure where it will load. He is a good little Cal fan! Although it didn't help this weekend, they lost to OSU, BUT I can console myself with the fact that if OSU keeps their winning streak up, they will prevent USC from going to the Rose Bowl, so all is not lost.

I Am Not Afraid

To ask stupid questions. Never have been. Whether this is to my credit or discredit depends on your point of view, I guess. The upside for me is that I learn many new things this way. For example:

The expression "running full bore" does not, as I had thought for, well, forever, have anything to do with the speed at which a wild pig runs in the woods. (And yes, I did think it was spelled "full boar", in case you were wondering about my spelling skills. Which, I might add, are stellar. Crap, better make sure there are no spelling errors in this post. If there are any, it's due to typos. Promise).

Anyway. Rather than bore (boar?) you with the details, here is a link to an old article in the NY Times magazine by William Safire (Sapphire!), the columnist who writes weekly musings on language and grammar. I must, however, give credit, to my dear husband Mike - who explained it, diagrams in all, in very clear, concise terms.

What else. Tonight I cooked a yummy (in my opinion) Sunday dinner. Roast pork (six hour pork roast recipe from epicurious), sweet and sour red cabbage, and polenta. Boy do I ever love comfort food. I love cooking with the fresh fruits and vegetables of spring and summer to be sure, but my true passion is slow cooked meats, hearty grains, and winter vegetables. Stick to your ribs stuff.

Last night we went into Portland to Luke and Rae's house for their first annual pumpkin carving party. They host an Easter egg decorating party every year, which is always tons of fun. However, despite our last minute pumpkin acquisition at our old neighborhood Freddie's on the way to their house, we never even carved ours! Oh well, still a week or so left until Halloween, right? Speaking of, I need to figure out a costume for Mateo...it will be more fun when he can choose his own, I think.

A demain, mes amis.

Misty

It's been really misty in the mornings these days. I love it when the farm is shrouded in mystery, as is wont to happen when the mist hangs in the valley. Really hearkens back to the days of olde.

Hmmm not much going on here. Hosted knitting circle at my house yesterday. Note to self: do not cook anything with the word "crumb" in the description when you are feeding a group of 6 babies and toddlers. Thank goodness we have a decent vacuum cleaner.

I tried to go to storytime at the library today, but it was canceled. Argh! Is today talk like a pirate day? I think it should be.

Today I'm going to make oatmeal bread, and bake ginger cookies. I love to bake. Tomorrow is KCatherine day, I have a date with Katherine in the morning, and Catherine (and Jack!) for lunch.

Other than that, just mulling over some things in my head, and making sure Mateo does not crack his skull on anything. The general is on the move!

Thirtysomething

My 20s are officially over.

I feel good about it! It was a great decade. I think I took full advantage of being young. Not that 30 is old. 30 is the new 20! But my 20s were great. I lived in many beautiful cities. I met tons of wonderful people, who are now scattered throughout the world. I was able to do what I wanted, and had a great time. Now it's time for the next stage...and I'm excited.

All this of course would not be possible without the love, support, and guidance of my family and friends. Mom and Dad especially, thank you for bringing me into this world and for giving me the opportunity to live the wonderful life I've been able to live so far. You have set a great example for me that I hope to emulate now that I have a child of my own. If Mike and I can be even half as good parents as you are, I'll be happy.

Happy Birthday to me!

The beginning of the end

Or is that the end of the beginning?

Mateo has figured out that there's a whole world that exists above him, and he's determined to figure it out. It's so much fun watching him pull up on things, mumbling and grumbling to himself. Sometimes he gets excited and shrieks. Sometimes he crawls over to the floor vents and yells downstairs...as if he knows that there are people down there. Desjawn and Sherry think it's funny. Oh! Speaking of which (they're the women who work downstairs, btw), we now share the house with not one, but TWO more dogs: Sherry's miniature chihuahua, Axel, and Desjawn's toy pom, Brandi. Maisie could eat them both in about 2 bites. Brandi sleeps in a little basket at Desjawn's feet; yesterday she was wearing a pink t-shirt that said "princess". Axel sits in a basket on Sherry's desk, and sometimes spends time in a Mexican-print woven shoulder bag that Sherry wears. Mike thinks it's ridiculous. I kind of agree, but I also think it's kind of cute.

I'm eating roasted squash seeds right now. I'm going to make soup today from some Heart of Gold squash I bought. I picked it out because I thought Mike would like the fact that it was named after a Neil Young song. Right?

OK back to it...gotta clean the bathroom before Mateo wakes up from his nap.

Stats

Mateo weighs 19 pounds, 12 ounces.

He is 30.5 inches tall.

I am going to be 30 in 3 days.

Aaaaaaaaaaaah!