House of the Moon

I forgot. I have to go out to the studio and prep for a demo at the Museum of Contemporary Craft tomorrow. And I need to bring my camera so I can take a photo of my work on exhibit before the show gets taken down in a week or so.

I haven’t played in my studio since before Christmas, I have been so busy and the rain has been relentless. I still love it though, the sound of it on the roof and hitting the lawn outside doesn’t get old. I would like a nice, sunny day, however.

I told Derek today we were going to get some salmon for dinner, and he added, “get bacon, too?” I guess he takes after Dad. I like New Seasons bacon, it has no nitrites in it, but I didn’t have the time to trek over there.

You know,  this quickly turned into  a very boring domestic entry. I actually have a lot going on in my brain right now. I am supposed to go to London in February, a very, VERY short trip. It was short by my decision, so that Derek, who has not been away from me for more than about 10 hours, wouldn’t have to deal with my absence for too long. I could have stayed longer with my friend Thomas, but we are planning a trip specifically to stay with him in the nearish future, and I felt like I couldn’t do that on my own without the family, also a reason for cutting it so short. But now, it’s in upheaval in my head for several reasons. Being away from Derek, being someone who hates flying and cannot sleep on planes then dealing with jet lag, plus being on gig-time while I am there, as I would be helping out and enjoying a very special sold out gig of a very special friend’s…and not have much time to do anything else. Combine that with not having a hope of recovering with a day of sleep when I get home (re: Derek) and  the eco footprint of such a long flight for such a short time, plus United screwed up the schedule and is sending me both there AND back on different flights with different layovers in different cities than I booked with…

I’m still struggling to decide. I know what my gut says, and usually my gut is the “GO GIRL, GO!” type and this time…it’s whispering something else instead of that.

I have a little more time to think on it. Either way, I win, and either way, I lose.

Anyway. I have to get in glass/demo/informal lecture mode now, to teach some folks tomorrow about how fun working with molten glass is!

p.s. BT has a new album coming out! Makes the BT/Dolby tour seem so far away, yet the days on the bus just like yesterday all at the same time. I am very much looking forward to it.

Today I went to an Open House at my friend and massage therapist’s new office. It is SO wonderful. I wish it had been where I was going when I was seeing her regularly a couple years ago. Gorgeous, soothing rooms, wonderful waiting area and couches back in the back of the business that are also comfy. I had a cup of cider and we caught up. I really miss going. It’s a luxury item at the moment, and I do miss it. With my lampwork, and sleeping, my arm was really bothering me when I started going to see her. When I got pregnant, I kept going until the very end. But after Derek was here, no time, no time. I could treat myself now and then, and maybe now I can, now that Derek is able to hang out at home with Dada or even our babysitter up the street. As I left, she popped into the little back office room and came out with a gift certificate for me for a free $30 minute massage from her. I am going to add another $30 onto it and hopefully go right after a holiday, Thanksgiving or Xmas.

It was great to see her, and see how well her business is doing. I strongly rec. her to local women for a massage. She and her hands are fabulous.

We had a good afternoon and evening. I spent some time in the studio working on some new ideas.

Derek is saying all sort of crazy things. “What the heck was that?” “Derek’s big mouth!”

We swear he was also saying “My hot buns” today and I KNOW we have never told him he has hot buns. *boggle*

Lots of kids came to the front door and Derek helped hand out candy. He has never had a single piece, so he didn’t even know what he was giving them. Sweetheart. Next year we will go trick or treating with him. Today he wore his giraffe costume which barely fits. Halloween came just in time.

My stomach hurts. I need to nap.

So this is shorter than I wanted.

I got my first set of needles today for knitting, that are my own. I am going to try to make Derek a simple scarf for my first project. But I have to remember how to cast on, I may try tonight. My friend who taught me the beginnings of knitting helped me today to pick out my yarn and my needles and is up for a refresher one evening next week.

Too short, sorry. Must rest.

On Saturday we took Derek to the Oregon Zoo to see a play called ‘Oregon! Oregon!’ and a full set by Pink Martini. The desc. of this event was:

Hold on to your myrtle wood as Pink Martini and the Oregon National Guard 234th Army Band and Oregon 150 present “Oregon! Oregon! 2009: A sesquicentennial fable in IV acts,” which will debut August 28, 2009 at the Oregon State Fair and then tour the state – the icing on the cake of the state’s 150th birthday party.

On Saturday it was pouring in the morning. We decided if it was lightly raining, we would still go. But if it was raining hard, we wouldn’t. We risked it and it was clear that Portlandia loves its native band Pink Martini. The evening sky was filled with gorgeous, gold-tinged clouds, and soon enough the stars came out.

The show was fabulous. The audience was so into it, singing along to “Que Sera Sera” and other songs, more of a unified response than I have ever seen anywhere. Folks in the back, in the front, all just singing along as Oregonians. The234th Army Band had all the branches of the military stand, those in the audience who served or were serving, which was a nice touch. And local Portland Symphony conductor Carlos Kalmar did a quick stint conducting them, which was a great treat.

Derek had a really good time, watching the play. At the end of it, there was a giant, HUGE beaver. HUGE! Not something you think you would ever see in life while not on drugs. Heh. And the Pink Martini set was really magical. Derek fell asleep during a new song that China wrote, sweet and soft. It will be on their new album, which is being released on Oct. 27th. Of course, I think releasing an album on Simon LeBon’s birthday is auspicious, indeed! :p

We left right as the last song started, figuring a jump on the traffic out would be good for little Derek. On the way back up to the top of the zoo, I realized that everyone onstage could see the moonrise during the show, if they were able to give any attention to it from the stage.

I am so glad we got tickets and went. For Derek, it was quite a first concert, he had never been to one before. He probably won’t remember it, but when he is a little older, hopefully we can go see them again. For me, it was like visiting my old life, a little, one that will be in reach again soon, as Derek gets old enough to let his Mom and Dad have a night out alone soon.

And I never can complain when I get to watch Gavin Bondy play trumpet!

I can’t remember how many times we have seen them now, since the first time I went less than two weeks after I moved here, just because a friend in the midwest told me they were local to my new home, and I should check them out back in 2003. It’s been 2.5 years since we last saw them live, and it was completely worth the wait.

Today I took Derek to the Children’s Museum, to get our annual membership started, a gift from my parents to Derek for his 2nd birthday. He had a good time, and I am sure we will go back soon.

Tomorrow Derek and I are going to walk around the neighborhood and I am planning our food menu for our camping trip this weekend. The weather looks really spectacular, which is great. I want to go swimming again this year in the lake. It’s a perfect way to say goodbye to summer until it comes around again for next year’s adventures.

Sorry, sorry, haven’t posted in this journal for a bit.
We are all fine here, everything’s fine…how are you?

Last week we went to Breitenbush and soaked in hot springs and slept in tents and hiked and drank fabulous filtered water from the nearby river. It was excellent.

This morning DLJ put the final waterproof seal on our back deck…a couple weekends ago he and my Dad sanded and re-stained it. It looks great and this was one of our 3 projects for the summer to complete, and the biggest one. The other two, one is almost done, that was repainting the bathroom. That is complete, I just need to repaint the cabinet and put on the new glass knobs I made myself for it. And the last one is repainting the front door, which is not done at all, but luckily is a one day job.

Derek turned two last week, and had a fine party and fun with friends and family. It moves so fast. I am glad he still nurses with me, loves to nurse and snuggle in the mornings and late afternoons, and still sleeps in his crib. He has his whole life to grow up, and I’m very content with him taking his own time with things. I can’t believe how fast it goes and it will only go faster, so each stage is precious and well-loved.

I’m at a cafe, and need to be writing instead of blathering here, so I will end for now. All is well. I hope all is well with you, too.

Sorry, sorry, haven’t posted in this journal for a bit.
We are all fine here, everything’s fine…how are you?

Last week we went to Breitenbush and soaked in hot springs and slept in tents and hiked and drank fabulous filtered water from the nearby river. It was excellent.

This morning DLJ put the final waterproof seal on our back deck…a couple weekends ago he and my Dad sanded and re-stained it. It looks great and this was one of our 3 projects for the summer to complete, and the biggest one. The other two, one is almost done, that was repainting the bathroom. That is complete, I just need to repaint the cabinet and put on the new glass knobs I made myself for it. And the last one is repainting the front door, which is not done at all, but luckily is a one day job.

Derek turned two last week, and had a fine party and fun with friends and family. It moves so fast. I am glad he still nurses with me, loves to nurse and snuggle in the mornings and late afternoons, and still sleeps in his crib. He has his whole life to grow up, and I’m very content with him taking his own time with things. I can’t believe how fast it goes and it will only go faster, so each stage is precious and well-loved.

I’m at a cafe, and need to be writing instead of blathering here, so I will end for now. All is well. I hope all is well with you, too.

Sorry, sorry, haven’t posted in this journal for a bit.
We are all fine here, everything’s fine…how are you?

Last week we went to Breitenbush and soaked in hot springs and slept in tents and hiked and drank fabulous filtered water from the nearby river. It was excellent.

This morning DLJ put the final waterproof seal on our back deck…a couple weekends ago he and my Dad sanded and re-stained it. It looks great and this was one of our 3 projects for the summer to complete, and the biggest one. The other two, one is almost done, that was repainting the bathroom. That is complete, I just need to repaint the cabinet and put on the new glass knobs I made myself for it. And the last one is repainting the front door, which is not done at all, but luckily is a one day job.

Derek turned two last week, and had a fine party and fun with friends and family. It moves so fast. I am glad he still nurses with me, loves to nurse and snuggle in the mornings and late afternoons, and still sleeps in his crib. He has his whole life to grow up, and I’m very content with him taking his own time with things. I can’t believe how fast it goes and it will only go faster, so each stage is precious and well-loved.

I’m at a cafe, and need to be writing instead of blathering here, so I will end for now. All is well. I hope all is well with you, too.

Some days have loftier goals than others. Today, I just want my counters clean in the kitchen.

Hope I can get there. Derek is getting amazingly opinionated, busy, and distractable all at the same time. It’s 10:30 and we JUST finished breakfast. Crazy.

I am doing at least one of the 3 Art in the Round shows in Beaverton, OR this year. They only have 8 or 10 vendors at each one.  They have live music and it is by a fountain and a really nice evening out in a very intimate atmosphere. I was hoping to get one later in the summer, more time to prepare. Of course, they want me at the first one, the last Tuesday in June. Yipe. I have a lot to do. I am almost out of earrings. I need to make a lot of earrings and a few more elaborate necklaces. I have plenty of bracelets, those things just don’t sell much. But I definitely need to make more earrings. I am really happy and excited to do the event. I love community events and this one is in such a nice location, with good restaurants, and the Mayor is even doing a walking tour from the library to the event with anyone who wants to join him! Yay for the Beaverton Arts Commission!

And more straws. I got some colored glass today. Soon I will have amber and lavender glass straws. Woo.

Derek is growing fast. He is so close to being potty trained. He poops on the potty all the time and if I leave him bare booty naked he pees on the potty most of the time with very few accidents.

He and I had a real water fight yesterday. He was throwing the water at me, and me back at him, and we were both in hysterical laughter. It was so much fun.

I am feeling much better about the only child thing. I was having very, very small doubts, but I know this is right for all 3 of us. We all win. What I have to do is to work hard on giving him plenty of opportunities to make friends, and work to get  him to know the family he has. We don’t have tons of cousins for him, but they exist. Extra effort needs to be made that he knows them, enjoys them, and considers them siblings as best he can. That is what I have with my cousin, who is also an only, and it has worked out great. It’s very important he has at least one person he can share his childhood history with.

Well, the kiln has no cure. But it can go onward as is as long as I can put up with it. When it goes south, it will go south quick, but is totally usable until then, as long as I ignore what temperature it SAYS it is. I think I found the right temp for my glass, so I can keep working with the kiln. It is in perfect condition, save for the control board. The brains. Yuck. But at least it’s not dead. I can use it and keep on keepin’ on.

My straws are selling very well. This is good. Practical item, not like jewelry. Which is also selling pretty well, even in this economy. I can’t complain.

I got a used drill press which will allow me to do a LOT more with metals in my work. Yay.

Today is Copper River Salmon day. Once a year we splurge on the really good stuff, both since it is so good, and also to support wild caught salmon as an industry vs. farmed. We buy wild whenver we can. So dinner tonight will be yummy. When Derek wakes we will walk to the store that has it, and he can have a cookie. Then back home and run around, I guess.

Tomorrow I get stitches out of my thumb. Yay. And I need to finish a large straw order, and take photos of the straw carrying cases, and make dinner, and…and…

it’s good to be busy.

This weekend, since the kiln issue is as resolved as it is going to be, I am going to set up my new torch. Finally. I am looking forward to that!