It's Always Something

--- UPDATE  3/26/09 --- Brooklynn's experiment "Best Light for Flowers" won 2nd place in the first grade science fair division (out of 12) .  1st place was awarded to the experiment "Sink or Float".  Although Brooklynn does not get to exhibit her project at the county science fair as she had hoped, we are still very, very proud of her. =] Brooklynn's favorite subject in school thus far is... science. The Science Fair is Monday, March 23rd.  Although the Science Fair does not require mandatory participation from students until the third grade, to my delight Brookie was one of two first graders who entered anyways.   Since we have been having trouble with our Meyer lemon tree, Oscar, this harvest Brookie decided to figure out what made flowers or plants grow best- sunlight, indoor lamps, or no light at all.   After a few weeks of observations, we discovered that the plant in the dark grew... BEST!  After calming ourselves from the burst of laughter upon the di...

Soccer season is back.  It is Brooklynn's last year in the non-competitive league.  Next year, she moves up to a more challenging league where scores and stats start to count.  God help us.  This season, Brooklynn gets the special treat of having daddy co-coach to help her prepare for next year's competitive league. This year you can already see some dramatic improvements in Brooklynn.  The horse-gallop she used to call "running" has disappeared and seems to have been replaced with a proper sprint.  Her ball control and dribbling has dramatically improved along with her aggressiveness.  Hallelujah!  In today's game, Brooklynn scored the first goal of the season giving her that familiar feeling of confidence and reassurance. Let's hope she continues to improve, keep her head in the game, score more goals, and learn to kick with her left foot.  All while having fun, of coarse. Good game, Brookie!  

When thinking of replacing your carpeted floors with wood floors, consider CORK!  Noice Reduction: Super capabilities for vibration, noise and water absorption, cork is a great bet for high-traffic areas. Easy to install:   Cork Plank  - a narrow board at 4 3/8 inches wide – is super user-friendly. Even dad can do it (but please don't blame us if that doesn't work out...). Air Purifying:  Cork absorbs CO2, reversing the effect of VOC emissions for healthier living. In fact, according to an Amorim rep, cork is completely anti-allergenic. Renewable:  Cork remains the only tree whose bark can regenerate itself after each harvest - leaving the tree unharmed. Easy to Clean:  Just mop with water. Why is cork a more carbon neutral idea over wood? Cork is harvested on a sustainable basis and the stripping of the bark does not harm the tree in any way. Cork bark grows back completely, taking on a smoother texture after each harvest. A cork oak tree can be safely harvested up to 20 times...

Today is Jordan's 14th birthday.  Brooklynn has been counting down the days to her big brother's special day for over a week.  To celebrate, we made him some birthday wishes for his care package. Happy birthday, Jordan! We love you.

With the help of a friend, I was able to begin transforming my tiny walk-in closet into a home office.   So far it looks great! Thank you!

It matters not Who you love Where you love Why you love When you love Or how you love It matters only that you love.          - John Lennon

The Bad Plus, that is! I had the fortunate opportunity of sitting first row (again) at a Bad Plus performance.  This time at a local winery. Although the band trails Medeski, Martin, & Wood (IMO), this trio holds a special place in my heart since they captivated me at Yoshi's SF last year.   This performance included vocals by Wendy Lewis. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed when I saw Ms. Lewis take the stage. Her appearance was nothing what I had expected- older, modest, under-dressed woman with a hat. But when she began to sing, I found myself becoming lost in the group's renditions of popular songs by Nirvana, David Bowie, and more.  It is a shame that we were the youngest ones in the under-sold audience.  The group deserves to play to at least 200 people each night.  I, for one, can't wait to see them again for the release of another album. Thank you! 

I'm taking my time.  Time to think about the past, the present, and the future.   Time to think about Brooklynn.  About me.  Time to volunteer at her school.  Time to listen rather than rush.  Time to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Time to enjoy these years. Because time is running out.  Time to breathe. Time to sleep in. Time to walk away. Time to run. Time to recycle the old and start buying the old, too.  Time to plan that cafe. Time to just do it. Time to take my time and enjoy being loved. Time to feel music and depict words. Time to feel free. To just be.