Friday, June 05, 2009

I Need a Butt Kick Personal Assistant


There is nothing relevant about this photograph. It happens to be the only thing new on my memory card. On second thought... maybe I am moth-like, doing nothing until something blows me away or a bright light stirs me to action. One does not want to take this metaphor too far. I am not flying in to flames.

Never mind.

So.

Remember October through February when Geoff was working ridiculous hours and I lived like a single mom, but with husband laundry? It's on again. I blame real estate agents. Realtors and terrorists. I do not apologize for lumping them together. Geoff is working all nighters again. Other than getting a big bed all to myself, it pretty much vacuums much of the joy out of life. And of course his hours coincide with hectic school days and a lot of unfinished Chickens Abroad business... on that point I would just like to say that I wish we had listened and heeded all advice about keeping our trip simple. My head is not happy trying to manage all of the details and what-ifs of traveling for 3 weeks with four children in seven different countries. I know: We are so lucky, but even "good" stress takes a toll.

Was that a paragraph? Am I rambling? Is today Friday?

Did anyone else see the NBC two parter about the Obama White House? By the way I do watch television. In fact, I love television. I am ready to take my brain "all the way." Just saying. I like our President. I am not one of those blind fans that ever believed he is a flawless man that will lead us out of this wilderness. In fact I believe we are barely skirting the first ring of the "greater recession," but it was a joint effort of both parties and greed (and Realtors and terrorists... see? it all ties together) that brought us to this place. Anyway, I think Obama is a good man, a smart and capable man and he surrounds himself with some interesting and smart people. Hey, bottom line... they will do a better job than the last crew.

What really struck me is how much help people get. P E R S O N A L A S S I S T A N T S. Say it with me: Personal Assistants. Help. Extra hands. Support. A network. Back-up. Sweet. I have a problem with admitting I need help, asking for help, accepting help, yelling "Help!" I believe, and this only applies to myself, that as a stay at home mom, with no time clock or commute, that I am supposed to do all things domestic. I am supposed to do it all and do it well, and like it. Oh, and look good doing it too. Needless to say, I am not doing so hot. I think this is the result of many things, including errors in my thinking, a pinch of laziness, lousy housing circumstances, disorientation, and a lack of personal assistants. I blame Facebook too, because I think it helps save my ego to blame the Internet for my failures.

Was that a paragraph? Am I rambling? Is today Friday?

The best thing to happen this week: My mom called me and asked me if I've registered Maria for kindergarten, and then she laced the rest of the conversation with this subliminal message: "Enroll Maria." She asked me about the boys. She told me about grandma, the weather, counting beads... and regularly, subtly, she would say "Enroll Maria." It worked. I did it. Maria is enrolled, and very happy, I should add. Thanks to my mother's kind and repetitive assistance I actually accomplished a major thing that, frankly, I was blowing off big time. I don't think it's really necessary to explain why I would want to postpone enrolling my youngest and last baby in "big girl school," away from home, where everyone will confirm that she is not an actual baby. Sigh.

Mom, could you please remind me to clean the house and car, reserve two nights somewhere in Brussels, book an airport hotel, and a rental car for our return home? Also, Alex has a birthday coming soon and I need to plan a get together for that, so a push in this direction will be appreciated. Thank you. I love you. A lot.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Yo Tambien Quiero Volver

Un regalo para mi Tia Elvira. Con cariño, departe de su sobrina. Yo tambien tengo buenos recuerdos de El Valle de Tacupeto. Besos a mi Tio y Tia. Les amo muchismo.


Desde El Ojo de Agua, noviembre, 2003. El Cerro Cabezón.




Antonia y Ismael en su casa, en el pueblo.


Huele a humo y tortillas. Se oye los coros en la iglesia. En la cocina... bondad y amor, risa y comunión.




Leche. De la vaca de Kia, en El Ojo de Agua.




Un paseo en el campo. Caminando a Los Cajoncitos.


El año pasado escribí mas sobre El Valle... "Maíz, Leña, Agua y Memorias"

Sunday, May 31, 2009

*Single and Loving It*

... or Betty La Soltera


This is part two, the true story of raising hens in a suburban rental palace. When last we visited our feathered fowl there was mutiny and blood, feathers were flying and the farmer (that's me) was losing too much sleep. A story can be told many ways, and I am electing to take this tragedy and shine a humorous light on it. Nobody wants to read about me crying over my pitiful farming circumstances. If you do laugh, do so with a tender heart, with sympathy. We are not wholly unfeeling.



Maria and I took the brothers to school and then we came home and procrastinated. She thought we were just watching Oswald and Weenie navigate their whimsical world, but really I was coming to terms with my predicament: 2 bad hens, 1 henpecked chica, a very small yard and suspicious neighbors. What to do. What to do. I am not ready to take my farming experience to the "next level" and the Bantam Sisters, Fantam and Frida, were not taking my empty KFC threats seriously. I knew what had to be done, but I did not get up and do it until the threat of seeing "Lazy Town" got me on my feet and down to business.

As I look back on those early days when we brought Buttercup (later renamed, Peanutbuttercup, then Frida) and Fantam the Bantam home, I recall that they were never easy girls. In fact their distinct personalities and appearances were noted from the onset. We loved them. We welcomed them in to the fold. We met their needs, nurturing their talents, instilling them with our unconditional admiration. We talked about college and keeping respectful Face Book pages... oh wait we're talking about the chickens. Never mind. Scratch that last part. They ate organic.


Do you remember English class and suspension of disbelief? "It might be used to refer to the willingness of the audience to overlook the limitations of a medium, so that these do not interfere with the acceptance of those premises."

We made the long drive to our favorite feed store. They know me well there, and they still like me. At the back of the shop, in their yard, they keep their own chickens, fresh hatched and hens and roosters and molters... nothing more humiliated than a molting chicken, except maybe a wet cat. We brought Pip here when we finally accepted that he was not a she. I miss Pip. I miss him, but I am comforted knowing that he went to one of the happiest places on earth, a place where chickens live long, idyllic lives, embraced and safe. Sigh. (Insert "suspension of disbelief, aka denial, here.) And later, when Amelia Amelio started crowing, I was so relieved to know that Betty's best friend would be in a good place, where he could fulfill his highest aspirations. What a comfort.


At the feed store I waited for our hens to look over their shoulders, to glance back wistfully and nod. I hoped they would hesitate just a bit before bolting from their cage, to acknowledge that they love me too, that our year together was the best of their lives and that they will never forget our devotion and caring. Maria determined to get one last hug.


"Come on chicas! Chick-chick-chick. Come here."
Let's snuggle.


"Don't be sad chicas. You'll be alright. I'll miss you."


They were too emotional. Later they'll write. It's okay. I understand.

Betty is a single hen. She has our undivided attention and the entire picnic table to chicken-coop conversion to herself. She is happy. There is peace in the gardens of Garage Mahal. She laid her first egg in the nest box and she stayed close by as we worked in the garden. She lets Maria catch and hug her. She comes running for tomato bits and cracked corn.

The grass seed I planted has already sprouted and the lawn is looking fuzzy and green. We had to move Joe's bunny hutch around towards the front of the yard, so we will not disturb the new growth. Then I decided Betty's new situation called for a move too. Once again, an area of Garage Mahal intended to be formal and dignified, has succumbed to my practical sensibilities. The fancy little courtyard with the mean and overgrown cycads has been reclaimed for our farm. We brought in Joe, and another barrel. We moved the coop. We planted pumpkin seeds! We set up a wash tub, so I can rinse stuff and collect the water in a pail to re-use in the garden. Alex bought a feijoa, pineapple guava. We love pineapple guava.


As the sun began to set, we were still lingering, still enjoying the new corner of our suburban farm. Max was ready to continue his evening ritual of reading aloud, Maria was getting tired. William took Chango inside, but came back out to see what was next...


Things we love... being farmers, reading aloud, and camping. We cannot always get them in the ways you would expect, but we make do. We adjust and improvise.

We joked that Betty should not spend her first night in this part of the garden alone. We lit candles and brought out the larger pillows, the thicker sleeping bags. We listened to Max read, then Alex. We listened to the crickets and to the sleepy rumbles coming from the nest box. We dared it to rain, and the very next day it did rain and has rained everyday since! We imagined our pumpkins growing and we told Maria that pineapple guavas have pink petals and that we can eat the soft, plump, sweet petals. Pink is her favorite.


Don't you love happy endings?
We do.


Betty too.
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