29 Things About Me

(Why do we never get sick of these things..? )

1. Q. Can you cook?
   A. I can cook... Do I cook?... only if inspiration or necessity strikes.
2. Q. What was your dream growing up?
   A. At age 6 I wanted to be an archaeologist. At age 12 I wanted to be a lawyer. At age 18 I wanted to be an actor. I should have stuck with archaeology.
3. Q. What talent do you wish you had?
   A. Writing (...really writing)
4. Q. Favorite place?
   A. hmmm... Paris or DisneyWorld... I can't decide!
5. Q. Favorite vegetable?
   A. asparagus
6. Q. What was the last book you read?
   A. Just started Richard Powers' Operation Wandering Soul but I don't know if I'm going to be able to finish it... it's really upsetting.
7. Q. What zodiac sign are you?
   A. Pisces on the cusp of Aquarius with Leo rising
   Q. Any tattoo's or piercings?
   A. no
8. Q. Worst habit?
   A. procrastination
9. Q. What is your favorite sport?
   A. "favorite sport"? No such thing. "least annoying sport"? Probably soccer.
10. Q. Negative or optimistic outlook?
    A. Disappointed optimist...
11. Q. Worst thing to ever happen to you?A. My dad died suddenly; there was no time to say goodbye.
12. Q. Tell me one weird fact about you?
    A. I'm 41 years old (no, that's not the weird part!). Since I left my parents house at 18, I have had 20 addresses. In August, we will have lived here for 3 years -- my longest time at any address in all that time!
13. Q. Do you have any pets?
    A. Had a black & white (cow-colored) cat named Stinky Bumford before I got married. He was awesome.
14. Q. What time is it where you are now?A. 7:50 a.m. EST
15. Q. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
    A. pointless (except for Cirque du Soleil clowns who, on occasion, crack me up!)
16. Q. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
    A. Now that depends entirely on the crime! (Seriously though, I'm more likely to be the conscience...)
17. Q. What color eyes do you have?
    A. Hazel.
18. Q. Ever been arrested?
    A. no
19. Q. Bottle or draft?
    A. Beer. eew.
20. Q. If you won $100,000.00 today what would you do with it?
    A. omg -- downpayment on a house out of the city!
21. Q. What is your favorite drink?
    A. Hard drink -- cosmopolitan; soft drink Hansen's soda
22. Q. Where's your favorite place to hang out besides your house?
    A. I work full time and have a two year old. "Hanging out" is a distant memory.
23. Q. Do you believe in ghosts?
    A. no, but I'm open to persuasion
24. Q. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
    A. see #22
25. Q. Biggest pet Peeve?
    A. snap judgements. especially negative ones.
26. Q. Do you swear a lot?
    A. I used to; not nearly as much any more
27. Q. In one word how would you describe yourself?
    A. Perceptive
28. Q. What's your favorite color?
    A. most shades of green; pretty much any color that appears in nature. Flourescent colors scare me.
29. Q. Do you go to church?
    A. no. Was raised Catholic. Now I'm a confirmed agnostic.

Thump

We have wood floors... there was lots of "thumping" going on this weekend...

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump... Kassia realized that she could actually leave her room in the morning without someone coming to get her... Peeking at her through my eyelashes (her head just level with the bed), trying to pretend I was still asleep, failing miserably because I couldn't keep from laughing when I saw the "Huh? I didn't know Mommy actually sleeps!" look on her face.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump... "Happy Mudda's Day, Mimi!"

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump... "I don't wanna take a bath anymore..! ...oooh, bubbles!"

Funny Girl Part Deux

I.
We were at my sister's house recently, and at one point during dinner my husband asked Kassia "Kassia, is Mimi beautiful?" She gave him a look of pure disbelief, then grinned and with the most dramatic tone immaginable said "No... I am beautiful!

II.
Kassia (seeing a very tall girl): Look! a long girl!
Daddy: That's right! Do you know another word for "long"? (hoping to get "tall")
Kassia: "Woman!"

III.
We spent an afternoon at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, and Kassia was very interested in the ancient arts galleries. She especially liked a wrapped mummy... when she saw it she said "Look! That doll has an Ookie on her head!"

Waiting

There are moments that stick in your memory although at the time they are not monumental; are hardly worth remembering. But even years later they are clear and sharp to the tiniest detail.

I remember where I was, but I'm not sure why. Audition? Rehearsal? Class? Rehearsal, I think. I don't think I had a very big part. I remember sitting in the old fashioned deep window box. Peeling institutional green paint. Margins of the panes permanently clouded with ancient grime ground into the glass. I remember the smell of the place. Old books, chalk dust, stale cigarette smoke. And I remember that it was quieter than it should have been given that there were so many people in the various rooms on that floor reading scenes, rehearsing in corners, pacing the black and white linoleum tile floor, gossiping, philosophizing. Or maybe it just seemed quieter. What I remember most is the view from those windows: a study in grey and brown and black. Rooftops in the Back Bay on a rainy late fall afternoon.

It was a Sunday. It was 20 years ago, but I'm sure it was a Sunday.

I was very young and I was waiting for my life to begin. I can still remember exactly how that felt... impatient, but resigned to waiting.

After all that's happened in the years since, somehow I still feel that way.