Stockholm Syndrome

I just finished this and feel like I've been held captive by it. Like only a fraction of me has been present here at home, and the rest of me has been gallivanting about Sweden, in constant peril and with increasing admiration for my captors. Or captor - singular - as in Stieg Larsson who has posthumously held me and countless others hostage in his novels.

As much as I enjoyed the 1st one, I've been completely engrossed in the last 2 books in this series. What a great ride. Violent and intense, morally sound yet ethically crooked. It's rare that a story can have such clearly defined "good guys" and "bad guys", and such blatantly idealistic good guys at that, but lack the predictability, shallowness and general cheese factor that these archetypes usually ooze.

Now I have that telltale listlessness that takes hold after a good read. What do I do with myself in the wake of Lisbeth Salander? I don't know, but I'm oddly compelled pick up the fine art of hacking and to sleep with a nail gun under my pillow. You know, just in case.

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Making Time for Making

I've been pretty much living in my wrap cardigans. Carrying the baby snuggled up, shading him from the sun, and of course concealing my ever-bared bosoms behind the drape. I don't really know how I lived without them when B was a newborn. So when I started to feel a little antsy about my idle hands, I figured another quick cardigan might just serve any number of purposes. I was so right. First of all, it was delicious to spend a few purely selfish minutes running fabric through my fingers. Secondly the result is my favorite cardigan yet. It's simple, flattering and sort of frill-free. I love the color, the super long sleeves and the weight and flounce of the jersey. I'm very happy with it, and very very happy I took the time to make it.

Reunited and it Feels so Good

I just committed to attending my 10 year high school reunion. Good Grief. What a curious tradition. There's so little left of the girl I was 10 years ago (and good riddance) that I'll be a virtual stranger to my classmates. But I'm sure it's the same with them. So why is a decade old shared history enough to warrant a big festive hooplah? I haven't a clue, but it is, and it's fascinating. I'm just hoping us music department geeks show up en masse.

Really?!?

Did I really ever look like that? Was that really a scant 3 weeks ago? Seems like another lifetime. That person and that belly are almost strangers to me now. It looks like a prosthetic!

Weird.

Pinback - Fortress

I've had this song stuck in my head since seeing these guys live across the street last week. Easily one of the best live music experiences of my life. Incidentally, I also had the best vodka-cranberry experience of my life that night. You know, absence makes the heart grow thirstier and all. Anyway, I heart the song - which has become my unofficial summer anthem, and I heart the video - which makes me want to make things. So, I thought I'd share.

Jonesie on a Sunday

A Room with a View

This is where we spent the day. The Sandcastle at Birch Bay, Wa. We played and swam, threw rocks and had ice cream cones, making it a classic Summer vacation - except that it was only for the day, that it was only 20 miles away from home, and that it was totally unplanned until late this morning. Spontaneous trips are always my faves - today was no exception. Perfect.

Summer is Here

The mercury has risen here in the Northwest, after a long, gloomy Spring. I, for one, did not lament the rain and now am faced with surviving the heat. Pardon the melodrama, it's really been lovely, but with 2 kids now my M.O. of high tailin' it to the nearest swimmin' hole is kind of out. And it isn't even that hot, I'm just a big Seattle-raised whiner.
I did my best today to enjoy the fact that Summer has finally arrived so I threw together this little impromptu water play table. Nothing fancy, just a storage bin, some bath toys and a few kitchen items, but we're talking hours of entertainment. I even got in a little gardening while the baby napped in the shade. Pretty great way to spend a sunny late morning. We just might survive the heat after all.

In other news, last night I came into the living room to find my husband rocking a wide awake, but calm, little Jonesie singing "Hello?... Is it me you're looking at?" Ha! Cracked me up. I may have to start calling him Zionel.

A Night Out

There are husbands, and then there are husbands.

The kind of husband who takes on a fussy, gassy, 12 day old newborn and his mama's boy brother so his wife can have a minute alone to see the core duo of one of her all time favorite bands is just ridiculous. The kind of husband that plans such an outing to surprise his wife (who wasn't even remotely aware that said duo was in town) just doesn't exist. Except that he does. And he's mine.

Also, this is that rare moment when living across the street from a live music bar proves advantageous. 99% of the time we curse the sloppy drunks and sloppier musicians.

Right now I'm just trying to wrap my head around wearing a non-maternity outfit that doesn't have to coordinate with my Moby Wrap, and hoping that the unwashed state of my hair comes off as emo irreverence. Mostly, as much as I crave time by myself, I'm wishing ZB could be my date tonight. Because he's the best. Even if he refuses to be pictured on his wife's blog.

Life is Beautiful

Life is beautiful. Zion's at work, Beckett is off riding commuter trains with his grandparents, and I'm here with my little one, reveling in his every sigh, and enjoying these pictures from the last few days. Of course I'm also desperately missing B, the laundry has taken on a life of its own and I'm a little too happy to have found Speed on tv, but let's just keep this high brow, shall we?