My new baby

Posted on February 8, 2010
Filed Under me and my brain, nostalgia, the written word | 1 Comment

I’d like to introduce you to my new baby–not THAT baby, not the one mentioned in my previous entry. This baby is new to me, but it’s actually older than I am. And it’s probably a little older than I thought it was when I bought it.

Here’s a 1967 ad for my new baby.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4342637910_35c1f65c04_o.jpg

And here’s a picture from the adoption agency:
ADOPTION PHOTO

It works great so far… came with a correction ribbon, the manual, and the case. I suspect that between Rainey and this new (as yet unnamed) baby, I will be spending less time doddering around on facebook and more time writing useful things for myself and other people. Maybe that will even inspire me to write more here. These are all good possible outcomes, I’m thinkin’.

A slice of January

Posted on February 3, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, family, friends, me and my brain | 1 Comment

Most people probably agree that the cold months following Christmas and New Year’s can be a little bit of a letdown. But there are always good little moments. Here are some of mine so far in 2010.

One long weekend I finished up the Santa puzzle my mom gave me for Christmas in 2008. It was a lot of fun… a really good cozy winter activity. I think it looked better put together than it did in the picture on the box.

During our holiday visit to the farm, Ezra’s sister Abby introduced us to Bananagrams. It’s so completely up my alley–a word game, sort of like Scrabble and Boggle put together, but better (well, definitely better than Scrabble anyway). So on that long weekend I mentioned we gave Bananagrams to Amy and Doug for Christmas. Of course, we played several rounds.

Bananagrams
Amy’s fabulous creation with the Bananagrams tiles… not a part of the actual game

And, of course, we had to get it for ourselves shortly after that.

I’m still going through my Christmas postcards. I promise to share more about them soon (take that as a “coming attractions” or a warning, as you wish).

Don’t Blame Me, I Voted for Mike Capuano

Posted on January 20, 2010
Filed Under me and my brain, politics, rant, the 'hood | Leave a Comment

… in the Democratic primary for the special election to replace Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. Here’s a link to Capuano’s official web site, in case you’re not familiar with him and his positions. He was the mayor of Somerville and we loved him. He’s currently our representative in the U.S. House and I still think he does a great job. He’s got a lot more spunk than Martha Coakley. I’d like to think he’d have beaten Scott Brown, but maybe the outcome of the election would have just been that much more depressing had it been him instead of Coakley. It would have been a much more spirited campaign–I’m sure of that.

On to brighter topics…

My Collections: Vintage Christmas Ornaments–The Stripes

Posted on January 11, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, me and my brain, nostalgia, photography | 1 Comment

While taking down our Christmas tree this past weekend, I decided to take pictures of my vintage ornaments before putting them away. Over the next several days (weeks?) I’ll be posting pictures and any info I feel like adding about my collection of vintage Christmas ornaments. I won’t post every single ornament, but I’ll include quite a few of them. I also hope to post more about my much bigger collection of vintage Christmas postcards, and I may get into some of my other collections and treasures as well (socks, books, music). But I’m starting off with what gave me the idea–the ornaments.

In general, I collect what I like. I’m not looking for the most valuable items or necessarily for a particular manufacturer or artist. Instead, I’m looking for what appeals to me–and in the case of vintage ornaments, they have to be genuinely old, not reproductions. I think most of my vintage ornaments are from the 1930s-1950s. Perhaps someone with a lot of knowledge in this area will come upon these posts and tell me more about what I’ve got (and also let me know if I have any misinformation).

Just because, I’ll start with the stripes. Some of these are a bit newer–50s and 60s. I’ll share some older ones in future posts. The clear–or unsilvered–ones may be from the 40s. The story goes that during WWII metals were needed for the war effort, so Christmas ornaments produced during this time were made with unsilvered glass.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4267170975_a92e789b16.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/4267167569_88d4ff1bea.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4267166529_83fdb283ff.jpg

This next one seems older. The glass is heavier and sort of frosted and it shows a different sort of wear.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4267912780_34a76bcf18.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4267906204_844bd9b18a.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4267159105_f7a3392b50.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4267156961_2cdc1e969d.jpg

This next one also seems older to me. It’s a bit smaller than many, and something about the glass and the way it’s worn makes me think it’s older.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4267903092_d0b5888273.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4267163773_bed91bf8a6.jpg

I love the colors of the one below.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4267162255_bfd4fb8a88.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4267905142_a7414ac706.jpg

Confessions!

Posted on January 9, 2010
Filed Under films, me and my brain | 7 Comments

So I’m just going to admit that part of me wants to see a couple of silly teen/20s-ish romance/coming of age movies. In particular, I wouldn’t mind seeing (500) Days of Summer. I can’t help it. I LIKE Zooey Deschanel. And then there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The twelve-year-old girl in me liked him in 3rd Rock From the Sun. And while we’re blaming re-runs, the other movie I’m curious about–though less so–is Youth in Revolt. I have a feeling that one is simply too contrived and too pubescent for 35-year-old me. It’s too much a vehicle for pushing Michael Cera (and, probably, Portia Doubleday) into greater flavor-of-the-decade stardom. And like Garden State, which I had hopes for but ended up really disliking, it features Jean Smart as the mother. That probably isn’t a good sign for me, either. I think that, really, I’m just anxious for the Arrested Development movie (which had better not stink). (500) Days of Summer appears to be on DVD. Netflix, methinks.

Feel free to weigh in if you’ve seen either.

Some Things I Love

Posted on October 1, 2009
Filed Under Blather, Literary, dining, me and my brain, the 'hood, the telly | 5 Comments

Kim did a post like this, and I’ve been wanting to do one myself. Mine will be sillier than hers because some of the things I love are pretty silly.

Kashi Heart to Heart Oat Flakes and Wild Blueberry Clusters


So yummy–tastes like a really good blueberry muffin.

****************

Guru: The Indian Caterer


Oh my, this is incredibly good Indian food–fresh and delicious, not run of the mill. And so cheap!!! And it’s practically around the corner from our house.

*****************

The Strand Bookstore



It’s sprawling, it’s packed with books, it’s a Manhattan classic right in Union Square. They’ve kept up with the times–they have an excellent web site on which I’ve discovered a bunch of books–and at the same time they’ve maintained a sort of old school presence in their main store. The last few times I’ve been in New York, I’ve spent hours there–sometimes over multiple visits. The last time I was at the main store, I went to collect some books I’d ordered online. Of course, I had to browse, and ended up adding a few to my pre-ordered stack. They sell new and used, remainders, review copies, and rare books. They have a great art section on the second floor, and there’s a sizable children’s section that I’ve never really properly investigated. Their prices are generally very good. Their book bags are awesome, too. If their onesies came in slightly more appealing patterns, Rainey would already have one.

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Arrested Development



Ez and I don’t watch a lot of television, but we do watch a lot of DVDs. Like many people, we missed Arrested Development when it first aired. That was our loss. We just finished watching the whole series on DVD and we love it! Funny stuff. I’m sure we’ll see the film, though I’m a LITTLE worried that it won’t live up to the series.

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Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris 2006



We tasted this wine at Dave’s Fresh Pasta and we really like it. It’s got this sort of tangy, almost effervescent quality.
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My computer has been unreliable of late–hardware problem, we think–so I’ll end this post here. I’ll have to make this a series as I think of other things I like enough to blog about them.

Now it can be told

Posted on August 10, 2009
Filed Under Blather, das kiddo, family, me and my brain, nostalgia | 4 Comments

Before our son was born (2 and a half weeks early on July 17th), we kept secret the name we’d chosen for him. Now that he’s here, I can share the scoop on his name–what it means, why we chose it, etc.

Rainer Eli Wise Ball
(Rainey)

Rainer is a German name meaning “strong counselor.” In German it’s pronounced roughly “Rye” (like the bread) - “ner,” but we pronounce it “Rain-er” (or “Ray-ner”)–which I think is the Anglicized/Americanized pronunciation.

On May 3, 1997–early on in our relationship, Ez and I found ourselves wandering in the rain en route (the wrong route, as we later discovered) to a Kentucky Derby party. We never did make it to the party, but basically spent the day grinning and holding hands like school kids. We were struck by the idea of the rainy planet—that we live on and are a part of this sort of mystical, magical place where things are alive and breathing and changing… where things are charged and growing. The rainy planet is the mood and the place where we came together and where we live, still. That’s where the name Rainy Planet Press came from.

When we were searching for names for our son, we were looking for something that would feel right and have real meaning for us. Once we fit Rainer into the context of the rainy planet—we’re pretty sure it hit us sometime in May—we knew that would be his name.

Eli is Ezra’s late great grandfather’s name, and it’s Ezra’s middle name.

Wise Ball came about somewhat randomly, somewhat by default. Ez and I had been trying for a long time to figure out what to do about our kid’s last name. In the end, the woman at the hospital called about the birth certificate–Ez and I had been sleeping. I turned to Ez and mumbled something, he mumbled back, and we ended up with Wise Ball–no hyphen. Maybe someday Rainer will sign his name Rainer Eli W. Ball or Rainer E. W. Ball. However he decides to do it will be okay with me.

Some famous (some more than others) people named Rainer:

Rainer Maria Rilke (poet)
Rainer Gross (contemporary painter)
Rainer Werner Fassbinder (director)
Rainer Hosch (professional photographer)
Rainer Schluetter (ATP tennis player)
Rainer Ptacek (blues musician)

So, without further ado… the mister:
Rainer

Pregnant Lady spills the beans

Posted on June 19, 2009
Filed Under Blather, Pennsylvania, das kiddo, dining, family, friends, me and my brain, the 'hood, the written word | 8 Comments

Now that I’m pretty far along, I’ve been pondering my overall thoughts on this whole pregnancy business. I don’t have anything too deep to impart just at the moment, but here are some practical reflections:

Only time will tell if it will actually achieve its intended purpose–to reduce stretch marks–but I have loved using Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter.
http://www.burtsbees.com/wcsstore/Bee2C/images/products/762_l.jpg

It just feels nice to smooth it onto the ever-expanding baby bump. I haven’t tried any of the other belly butters for pregnant women, so I can’t offer a comparison, but I’ll go ahead and recommend Mama Bee anyhow.

There are a lot of books and magazines out there, and I’ve done my darnedest to ignore most of them. Some are targeted at a different sort of mother, I think. Some just seem like a series of ads with nothing more than absolute fluff (if that) in between. And some have agendas that don’t fit in with what I have in mind for myself and my family. All that said, I have come across a few books and even a magazine or two that aren’t too bad–a few are even helpful! One of the first books we bought when we found out we were pregnant was the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. It’s a good reference guide with straightforward explanations of what’s happening to your body and to your baby throughout pregnancy. Another good book (well, I haven’t had a chance to test out the book’s recommendations yet, but it seems good) is The Happiest Baby on the Block. Yeah, it’s kind of the flavor of the moment, and there’s a good bit of rah-rah in the book, but the basic advice it provides on how to calm a crying baby is specific, seems sound, and comes recommended to me from friends and medical pros. As for magazines, the only ones I’ve been able to stomach have come to me free from my Ob/Gyn office. Fit Pregnancy seems to be at the center of the franchise, and they also publish some special magazines for mom and newborn and that kind of thing. It’s still a magazine with ads and some goofy celeb articles, so it’s not perfect, but it seems aimed more at an intelligent, perhaps more modern and urban audience than some of the other mags. I’ve found decent product reviews, recommended exercises, recipes, etc. in a couple of recent issues.

Ez and I have taken two classes so far at Harvard Vanguard in Cambridge–Prepared Childbirth and Caring for Your Newborn–and I’m so glad we took both of them. Sure, some of what was discussed we already knew, but there’s plenty we didn’t, and it’s good to have it all confirmed and put together coherently. It’s also good to see other expectant couples and hear how they’re doing. Our instructors were both very good–very knowledgeable, approachable, and down-to-earth. I know that Isis Maternity does loads of classes, and they’re probably very good, but I just wanted to go with the Harvard Vanguard classes. I’m not sure, but I think they might be a little cheaper (may depend on your insurance). Even if they’re not, I just wanted to stick with something that feels a little less retail and a little more health-oriented for now. As with the Mama Bee, I can’t compare the classes to anything else, really, but I feel that I can whole-heartedly recommend them.

There are a lot of deals out there.  The major baby clothing folks have frequent sales.  Of the basic standby brands, Carters and Oshkosh seem pretty good–they might even be corporately connected at this point.  They have a lot of outlet stores and they’re always sending out coupons and having promotions.  Gymboree is all right, though I think their stuff is maybe a little better for slightly older children rather than newborns.  They have a lot of sales, too. 

http://www.teacollection.com/live/images/products/small/R93267L_Cilantro.jpg
Our kiddo has this little gem from Tea Collection waiting for him.

When it comes to slightly more posh stuff, I’m a fan of the Tea Collection (well, some of it), BabySoy, and Janie and Jack.  Janie and Jack can be a little on the uber-preppy side, but the stuff is very well made and some of it is so cute!  It’s pricey, but sometimes they have good sales, and sometimes it’s just worth it to splurge.
 
http://s7d3.scene7.com/is/image/JanieAndJack/100008662?$PRODLIST$
Bubnick’s hoodie from Janie and Jack. You can’t see from this little picture, but it has a submarine on it.

BabySoy stuff is simple, well made, and really soft.  Of those three more pricey clothing options, Tea Collection has the best sales.  Their range is nice when I’m sick of the blue for boys, pink for girls business.

And then there are the consignment shops. I mean, kids grow fast! Super big props to my pal Lisa for taking me on a tour of some of her favorite kid consignment stores in our area. My fave of them all is Growing Up in Belmont (they’re on facebook but don’t have a web site yet). Their prices are just as good as other consignment shops, and they get in the best merch. There are good kid consignment shops everywhere, it seems. I’ve been to good ones in State College and the DC/Northern VA area, too.

Lots of people have asked me how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been craving. At first, I felt pretty good. At the VERY beginning, I was a bit light-headed and warm. In the first trimester, I was pretty tired at times, and maybe a little moody, but I really never had “morning sickness.” I was lucky. My second trimester was pretty easy, as it is for most people, though I think I had less energy than some people have. I found out around the end of my 2nd trimester that I am anemic (possibly pregnancy-related), and that may be why I felt so blah. I’m on iron supplements now, and I think they’re helping. Sometime during my 2nd trimester, the heartburn started. Now it’s pretty bad, especially at night. That’s the big thing that kept me up a couple of days ago. No amount of antacids, repositioning, or drinking water seemed to help. But some days it’s better than others, and it’s very normal at this stage in pregnancy. Like many pregnant women, I’m experiencing a little swelling. I especially notice it in my ankles, but again–it’s not that bad. I’ve encountered pregnant women who have it a lot worse than I do. As of today, I physically just feel big. I get winded pretty easily. Again, that’s all typical. That’s me, Typical Terri the Pregnancy Fairy. Anyhoo…

Cravings… I don’t know that I’ve had specific cravings, but looking back on what I’ve been eating over the last 8 months, I’ve consumed a good bit of:

Those are the items that seem remarkable. I still eat a lot of tomatoes, and my veggie intake seems about the same as ever. If I am getting more protein, I think it’s from the dairy products and nuts. I haven’t been eating substantially more soy products or anything like that. And I tried pickles at one point, because you know–they say pregnant women crave pickles. Well, I actually found them a bit repulsive, and usually I like dill pickles. Go figure.

And a final note: I might have the best friends and family in the whole world. Whenever I get a bit nervous or stressed about some aspect of pregnancy, childbirth, or motherhood, I am able to handle it okay, and I think a lot of that is because I know I have support from friends (both those with children of their own and those without), family (via phone, web, and in person), and of course my wonderful husband. Besides the obvious biological stuff, I would not be doing this without him. We’ve always said that when we are together everything is better. We’re planting this kid in a well-tended garden.

Bauhaus-Dark Entries

Posted on May 29, 2009
Filed Under Song of the Day, me and my brain, music, nostalgia | Leave a Comment

Song of the Day… again…

Overanalyzing Pretty in Pink–beware!

Posted on May 29, 2009
Filed Under Blather, art, films, me and my brain, nostalgia, the telly | 3 Comments

Most people have a favorite teen movie from their youth. Mine would have to be Pretty in Pink. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it. I saw it with a bunch of school friends (all girls–many of us were teary-eyed as we exited the theater) when it was first released in 1986. I’ve owned the video (VHS) for at least 16 years. It’s been a little while since I last watched it, but it was on AMC the other day–slightly and amusingly butchered–and watching it again I was reminded of some of the enduring reasons that I like it, even now. I also noticed–in some cases for the first time–some of the ways in which it doesn’t work. When you’ve seen a movie countless times, it’s hard not to pick up on editing gaffes, plot inconsistencies, and the quality of the acting–both when it’s bad and when it’s, maybe surprisingly, pretty decent.

The set designer must have had a lot of fun doing this movie. Even now, even with the overabundance of pink, I still like Andie’s bedroom. This time around, I noticed that she has at least one–maybe two–Mondrian prints on her walls. I can’t say whether that influenced me as a teenager, even subconsciously, to check out Mondrian myself, but it’s entirely possible. Iona’s Chinatown apartment is fun, too–though the kooky retro 50s/early 60s black and white stuff isn’t really my taste.

Andy's bedroom
Andie in her bedroom with her dog, Ace. Sadly, this is one of the best pictures I could find of her room–doesn’t show much, but you can see one of the Mondrian prints on the wall in the background.

Iona's apartment
Iona (Annie Potts) and Andie (Molly Ringwald) in the kooky 50s/60s room in Iona’s apartment. Andie is wearing a pretty nice Chinese jacket.

Trax, the record store where Andie and Iona work, makes me all nostalgic! I mean, did we all know someone who had that Smiths poster, or is it just me?
Iona at Trax
Iona at Trax

Of course Andie’s outfits are fun. That’s a little part of the point, right? She makes a lot of her own clothes… the film is even called Pretty in Pink. Some of it probably looks a bit goofy to someone watching the movie for the first time today, but I still like some of the pieces and combinations. Some of the colors are great. I like the vintage blue cardigan she wears at the record shop, and I especially love that lace top (can’t find a good picture of it, of course).

I’ve always liked John Cryer in this movie, and this time around I spotted some specific places–besides the classic Otis Redding scene, of course–where his acting really is pretty good. When he realizes Andie is going on a date with Blane (the major appliance), the hurt look on his face is perfect. Most of his acting in that part of the film really works, keeping in mind that he’s supposed to be in high school…

Andy and Duckie
Andie and Duckie at the record store, when Duckie realizes that Andie is going on a date with Blane

James Spader is just great as Blane’s ridiculously snotty friend Steff. His affected voice, the way he saunters around like he owns the place, his thick sleepy eyelids… he totally nails it. The bit at the end where Blane tells him off is classic. “You couldn’t buy her, though, that’s what’s killing you, isn’t it? Steff? That’s it, Steff. She thinks you’re shit. And deep down, you know she’s right.” Melodramatic? Yeah, perhaps. But for a John Hughes movie, that’s a pretty good zinger. James Spader as Steff
James Spader as Steff

Even Andrew McCarthy, who turned out to be rather less of an actor than he might have been, has a couple pretty good moments here and there. Possibly the best scene in a lot of ways is the one where Andie confronts Blane in the hallway at school. McCarthy’s character is doing a lot here–he’s squirming, for sure. He ends up doing the wimpy thing–but he’s crying. It’s not easy for him. (I’ve watched this scene many times, of course, and I think it’s really pivotal for how the film was supposed to end–but I’ll get to that in a second.) Duckie watches this whole scene unfold, and sees the aftermath of their exchange, where Steff tells Blane that Andie “was, is, and will always be nada.” I think Cryer again does a pretty good job here, and of course there’s some good John Hughes movie triumph involved when Duckie tackles Steff and they scuffle in the hall, with Duckie tearing down the prom banner after a few teachers come out of their classrooms to break it up. Steff’s reaction to the whole thing is great, too. It’s largely physical–refluffing his fluffy hair, spitting on the floor, dripping smooth disdain.

The filmmakers have been pretty open about the fact that they changed the movie’s ending after test audiences were disappointed that Andie and Blane did not end up together. In the original, Andie and Duckie end up together. I can see why test audiences felt the way they did. You want the film’s message to be that love conquers all–that class differences are superficial and don’t matter, and you want the characters to be strong enough to get past them. Andie and Blane’s romance gets built up, and even though the viewer sees just how much Duckie likes Andie, there’s not enough (at least, not that made it into the final cut) to show that Andie could see Duckie as much more than a friend, though there is one very purposeful shot at the prom where they take each other’s hands. That got left in, and I can’t help thinking that the filmmakers hoped it would serve a different purpose in the final cut than it did in the test version. To me, it looks like it’s supposed to show that they’re growing closer–maybe romantically. Perhaps the filmmakers decided to leave it in to signify that Duckie and Andie had reconciled and to show their unity as they confront Blane together.

Andie and Blane
Andie and Blane, selling BMW.

The ending that did make it into the film is almost too John Hughes-y. It’s too easy, too quickly thrown together. Of course, when I saw it in 1986 (I was 12, I think), I thought it was perfect. Heck, it made me want a BMW. But watching it now–not so much. There’s this whole thing between Andie and Blane earlier in the film where she tells Blane that she can’t believe in anyone who doesn’t believe in her. At the prom he tells her that he always believed in her but she just didn’t believe in him. Well, duh Blane… you wimped out on her! You started out all brave, taking her to your friend’s party and saying you were above it all, but then you caved! You didn’t return her calls! You backed out on the prom! Something there just doesn’t compute. And pairing Duckie up with some random girl at the prom is just silly. It reduces his role in the film.

I could probably go on, if anyone else is freakish enough to want to continue the discussion…

EDIT: Ah! But YouTube saves the day. Pretty vintage blue beaded sweater is at the beginning of this clip. And oh look–she’s wearing the lacy top thing under it. Around 2:20 she closes a door and we see the aforementioned Smiths poster, and then the scene shifts to her bedroom–Mondrian prints, pretty kimono on the wall, etc. Unfortunately, John Cryer’s good expression when he finds out that Andie is going out with Blane is split over two clips. Most of it is at the beginning of this one. It’s better when you see his initial reaction, though. Molly Ringwald is really kinda so-so compared to Cryer in that scene. Sorry, Molly.

The confrontation scene mentioned above starts around 4:45 here. Great stuff from Spader and Cryer… at least, great for a John Hughes movie.

For now I’ll save the rest for when I’m asked to provide commentary for a special edition of the DVD. (Hyuck hyuck.)

keep looking »

Song of the Day

The Essex Green-Sorry River 

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The Knitting Turnip

On My Needles

Rhapsody in Tweed cabled pullover for Ezra! using Tahki Donegal Tweed in Forest, from Fall 2004 Interweave Knits. I've just picked this one up again, so it's moving up in the queue!

Sweater with Cable Patterns pullover using Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in Mauve, from Rebecca Magazine Number 28

Heather Pullover using Classic Elite Wings in Larkspur, from Rowan’s A Season’s Tale... This needs the knit doctor. I'm going to have to frog back a little bit and redo the shoulder area. Long story.

Hush Pullover using Jo Sharp DK wool in Wine, from Rowan’s Calmer Collection

More scoop on my knitting endeavors can be found at my home on Ravelry (clicky here).

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