Lopezian Considerations

"What do you say we go on a final "pre-baby getaway," Di? We could drive over to Lopez, hunker down in the yurt, drive home through the glorious North Cascades, stay in a cute little inn in Mazama -- all for a romantic escape before our lives change forever..." -- Shannon Barnes

And so we did...

And wonderful it was!

Considering the GRAND POOBAH BELLY

Can you even believe this?

Considering Lessons from Ants

This week's considerations are of a somewhat distinct nature...ANTS.

For those who have visited our new home, you may have heard tales of my late night obsessions with killing the ginormous, black ants who seem to invite themselves into our kitchen through our lower cabinetry and dishwasher. Now, we are not talking little, innocent ants which blithely traverse the floor en route to the cat or dog food...we are talking "mega ants" with heads and thoraxes to rival any WWF champion! These nightly intruders come thievishly into the house with not a care for the deabolt on the front door! In short, they disgust me.

For several weeks, Shannon has frustratedly observed my growing intolerance for our intruders. I have tried (well, sort of) to muster a Buddhist acceptance of the devils, but between sheer disgust at the sight of them and my own raging pregnancy horomones, I have been nearing my threshhold...then, the tipping point...

This weekend I was hosing off the deck and also washed off much of the shingling where wasps nests were beginning to appear. In doing so, I noted a few of my dark-side rivals close to the front door. I wasted no time in taking out my week of frustrations on them, doucing them with water to flood their big heads. I was in "extermination mode;" not something to be proud of, but real nonetheless. Soon, on the steps, I saw a HUGE ant with wings! I actually thought it was a termite and promptly stepped on it, feeling a satisfying crunch underfoot. Feeling triumphant and more relaxed (oddly!) that I had accomplished my mission to clean the deck, I went inside.

Well, the next morning all hell broke loose! Gigantic black ants swarmed the front porch! They were everywhere -- crawling up the front door, just begging to get inside...I freaked! I went off to work with crazed fantasies of horror films in my mind -- Shannon and I coming home to a house filled with swarms of Formicidae eating away at the house's foundation, crawling in our bed, overtaking the kitties...you get the picture. My paranoia led me to call Northern States Pest Control who said we may have a "colony" under the house or in the crawl space..."A colony?" I asked... "Yes, ants build colonies guided by their queen. If the large winged ant you killed was the queen, you have probably angered the workers quite a bit," replied the receptionist. Holy crap...who knew?

Long story short, Bill came yesterday to assess the situation, bravely crawling on his belly (and I think I hate my job sometimes...) underneath our crawl space to indeed verify we had a large colony living downunder. I'll spare you the execution details, but suffice to say, Bill took care to spray profusely, ridding 106 Lost Horse of the ants. Hurrah!

Yet, here is the clincher...all morning I have been a bit obsessed with learning more about ants...Google "ants" and amazing things appear! Since ancient times, scientists, philosophers, architects and mathematicians have studied ants, their behavior and their social interactions. There is a growing field of study called "Ant Colony Optimization" where interested parties are looking at ants' complex social behavior through the lens of mathmatical algorithms and their theoretical applications...again, who knew?

If you are interested, you can also Google "Myrmecology" which is the branch of entomology dealing with ants. Fascinating!

So, just when I thought Northern Idaho was an intellectual wasteland...look who needs to rethink her very intelligent and highly sophisticated surroundings...

Girth Considerations

Growing belly shots -- an evening of self-portraiture...

Spring into Summer Considerations

The heat is on! Or so it seems in Sandpoint, Idaho... We are due to have recordbreaking highs today in the 90's!!! And based on our weekend events -- barbeques, outdoor gatherings, garden planting, hiking in the Cabinet Mountains...I'd say, summer has arrived!

Some choice photos of a workmate bbq at our house and an evening of fun at our dear friend Pam's house...

Courtyard Marriott Considerations

Having just eaten the most gargantuan burrito I have ever seen (and eaten all of it!), I am settling in for the night at the Hilsboro, Oregon Courtyard Marriott motel. The room is nothing to write home about (or even comment on here for that matter...), but the space does offer just the right lack of compelling distractions (Shannon, Java, good TV dramas, dinner with friends) to get some reflections onto the blog. I took out Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg, again and was reading it on the plane. She reminded me that writing is a practice, and as such, must be considered daily in order to improve. She also reminded me that less is more and that I need not seek perfection but must "write to be sane." I found this intriguing and beg your forgiveness as I, thus, write here in pursuit of my own sanity...

Shannon and I spent the weekend in Seattle prior to my departure to Oregon for work. We had the pleasure of time with friends and time once again in the big city. We re-discovered some treasured spots like the Panama Hotel in the International District, where we played backgammon and dominoes with Lara and Melissa, as well as Beechers cheese shop in Pike Place Market where they stir curds of cheese in huge, smelly vats. The arboretum was in full bloom and we chanced upon the Japanese Garden on "free to visitors" day, so after 7 years of running past the bamboo gates, I finally got to see the interior. There are huge coi (coy?) fish, swimming like ancient submarine ghosts and many playful looking turtles who stretch their necks long as if to reach the sun itself. The flowers are abundant now all over the arboretum -- azalea way is filled with coppers, pinks, purples and gold. It is amazing! Sandpoint is nearly a month behind in the bloom cycle, yet with hope, we too will have such color in our landscape.

Here in Hilsboro, I am doing an observation-analysis of the new Management Training program I wrote for Coldwater Creek. I am spending time in one of the Training Stores and will also visit another local store and one of our new spas. My mission at the spa will be "walk-in pregnant lady who wants back to back treatments" and see how they accommodate me. I find the role of secret shopper enjoyable as it is somehow theaterical in concept as I am supposed to be me, but not really be me...I am still debating what "attitude" my personae will take on --whether to be the hormonal "of course you are going to give me what I want" customer, or simply play it cool and see what I am offered. The goal is to measure the service standards being delivered...stay tuned.

On a completely separate note...I was listening to the BBC report on the immigrant rights marches and this brilliant chap was asking another reporter how many immigrants she saw "in LA" and when she gave him a specific number he chuckled, and then replied, "Oh, I thought there were many more people than that living in LA..." implying of course that everyone in the US was/is/has been an immigrant at some point in time...driving home the ridiculousness of "illegal" status and many of the attitudes floating around the Bush regime these days...I feel pretty far outside the loop of the effect the rallies are having on current legislation -- but is was heartening to see the many faces in Seattle walking downtown to join in protest on Monday.

Ah, that's all for now...off the call the love of my life!

Considering Simple Pleasures with Family

"If you want to know who we are...we are gentlemen of Japan..." or so goes the opening to The Mikado which we had the pleasure of seeing Friday night with Deb, Jack and Noah at our local theater, The Panida. The Royal Carl Rosa Opera from London was in town and performed a fine rendition! For those who don't know, The Mikado has been a favorite of the Gore girls since we were young, as Deb made her theatrical debut as Katisha as a mere 8th grader! We've loved the show ever since -- especially its background set for the hilarious Chevy Chase/Goldie Hawn film "Foul Play." If you haven't seen it, it is a must!

Shannon and I hosted Deb and the boys for a slumber party at the house and then SEB and I got Jack and Noah for the morning while Deb made her way early back to Spokane. Despite protestations, we got the boys into the woods with Java for a walk and explored many "amazing natural delights!" Colorful and odd-shaped lichens, shelf fungi, varieties of animal poop, pine cones of all shapes and sizes, prints from many animals...it was delightul and educational for us all. The boys even admitted later in the day that the walk "was not all that borning..."

Sunday, Jack and I spent playing at Riverfront Park in Spokane riding the rides, while Shannon went to teach and Deb and Noah flew to SF. It was a glorious day -- sun high in the sky and bright light making everything seem fresh and alive! Jack's favorite new trick is to reach around my belly as he hugs me to see if his fingers will still touch...for now, we're still in reach -- I imagine soon this may not be the case.

Monday brings us back to work, but with plans ahead for another weekend trip to Seattle and a week of work for me in Portland...if this sun keeps shining, I can't think of anything that could get our spirits down.

Seattle Visit

Gotta love "going back home!" Shannon and I had a wonderful trip recently going back to Seattle and hangin' with the gang in the Emerald City. We got to attend one famous "Fairy Princess Party" for now 4-year old Chapel and had a splendid crepe feast with the galz.

Friendly Considerations

One of the best things about leaving the city and moving to the country is that when friends come over for dinner, they usually spend the night, or the weekend, or even the whole week! We've had such amazing time with visitors of late from across the country -- Seattle to NYC!!! Build a guest room and they shall come!

Our time with guests has included skiing, eating splendid meals, wine tasting (ok, just a sip for me and the kid!), backwoods walks, bird watching (yes, we have a resident red-naped sapsucker!), a lovely Passover seder, deep intellectualizing about the politics of food production, adventures to Nelson, B.C. and many, many episodes of Six Feet Under! Life just really does not get any better than this!

Julie and Andrea left today -- but our time together was the stuff of which memories are made! Their beautiful spirits and gracious houseguestworthiness has us already wishing they were on their way back for another visit!

Considering The Growing Belly

OK, OK...we hear you! You want to see this belly and we have finally gotten around to taking some photos. The latest news from the medical realm is that all inside is great (size, weight, activity level) -- I passed my glucose test, so I am still able to eat my daily rations of bad candy, yet anemia seems to be the current battle. Try as I may to get those levels up...spinach, steak, prunes...I am still deficient. Alas, I am going to try liquid iron and see if the cells soak it up better.

I may have even grown since the time these photos were taken earlier in the week...but you can get a sense of the girth! Yikes! And still, 2.5 months to go!!

Sunday Light Considerations

Daylight savings...that which I loathe in Fall comes today to open arms bringing early morning light into the bedroom, stirring me fully awake at 6:04am, ready to take on a new day. Light seems needed of late as both horomones and work stress have me rather moody and disquieted. I am back to perseverations on the value of one's work and how we make a difference in this lifetime -- considering how to explain to this little one growing inside that s/he must find the path to contentment and satisfaction on his/her own...not alone...but ultimately of his/her own actions and choosing. Moments stuck in the quagmire of my own mind pain both Shannon and me, though she handles it like a champ. I want to chalk it all up to pregnancy but know this is a crutch too easily afforded. The light does bring a certain amount of shift and perspective -- and at the hardest moments -- simple brightness to see my own shadow on the ground so I can marvel(and laugh) at the shape I am becoming -- big-bellied and all.

Lighter considerations...

Chanced upon 2 treasures this week!

Treasure #1: A co-worker sold me her fabulous Nikon Venturer binoculars for a mere $25 so I can begin in earnest to be a bird watcher. I have recently identified in the handy Peterson's Field Guide:
The Western Chickadee
Grouse -- either Blue or Spruce (still too novice to tell)
Bald eaglers (don't need a book for this one!)
The Belted Kingfisher

My love for hiking with Java poses some challenge to any birdwatching expertise I hope to achieve, as his presence is usually unwelcomed by the winged ones...even if he only has three legs. But as Spring comes closer, the birds are more plentiful around the house and down by the preserve -- so I am hoping to at least meet our locals.

Treasure #2 was finding out that the old guitar I have been carting around the country for years (which had been stored in my parents' garage for decades -- I believe it was Deb's first musical instrument?) can not only be re-strung, but is worth being re-strung according to the local music store owner, as it is a really fine instrument and perfect as a learning tool! I have decided that since Shannon is such a virtuoso on the piano, I need to at least attempt a bit of musical aptitude so that we can play as a family! So starting in April, I am going to be taking guitar lessons from a friend who guides hunters in the Fall/Winter and teaches guitar and does construction in the Spring/Summer. I am eager to learn and hope the sounds settle into the womb nicely for the kid's easy listening.

Recent enjoyments:
A fabulous weekend in Seattle with friends -- celebrating birthdays, taking long walks in the park, downtime just talking and being.

The World's Fastest Indian -- a film with Anthony Hopkins about achieving a life-long goal and all that it takes to do so.

Sight Hound -- a novel by Pam Houston about love and friendship and a three-legged dog.

Buddy Barnes' 65th birthday celebration -- low key family occaision but filled with love.

Now, off again to walk in the light...

Irresistable Considerations

How cute are they?

March Snow Fall Considerations

Lots to consider as Spring-anticipated dives deeply under a foot of fresh, clean powder. Back to the winter wonderland which makes this landscape so divine! Shannon, Java and I were able to get a lovely pre-work walk in this morning. The trees heavy with snow and everything so quiet! A scrumptious way to begin the day! Shannon even caught a few snapshots of the growing belly which friends have been asking about. I am feeling movement each day -- small flutterings right around the belly button. The kid seems most active around 4pm, so I sit at my desk each day in anticipation of these few moments. Feeling movement inside helps quell anxieties that creep in every so often...next week we go in for the 23-week ultrasound and get to see kid up close and personal once again. We are terrifically excited for this!

Pregnant Considerations

Today marks 5 months -- the pregnancy is going well! We know the kid is healthy and are awaiting those first few kicks from the inside to remind us of his/her presence. My belly swells larger week upon week and I have officially graduated to maternity wear (thank you to Jen Cohen for the box of fabulous clothes which arrived unbeckoned one day...)

My spirits are high, though I have been working much too much! Shannon has had a rough week as I have been in Columbus for the past 8 days working...it seems harder to be away these days. I am eager to return to Sandpoint -- ready to settle into new home routines and days growing longer.

Here is the new house! We are loving its feel as we settle in; day by day, we learn of its particularities.

The art is slowly making its way to the walls. Java is enjoying his new morning walk stomping grounds. We have heard rumor of a local bear, so we are strategizing new options for the garbage cans. Peep and Sam are adjusting well.

Please come and visit soon! The guest room is ready.

Considering the Creation of Home

Here is the new house! We are loving its feel as we settle in; day by day, we learn of its particularities.

The art is slowly making its way to the walls. Java is enjoying his new morning walk stomping grounds. We have heard rumor of a local bear, so we are strategizing new options for the garbage cans. Peep and Sam are adjusting well.

Please come and visit soon! The guest room is ready.

Considering Stardome

OK, so it was two scenes in an hour-length film...but what a funny thing to see my face on screen! Last night, our local film house (www.panida.org) presented Sandpoint Punchline, an all-volunteer, filmed completely in Sandpoint, sketch-comedy film. The film showed to a packed house -- and there was lots of laughter to be heard (whether they were laughing at us or with us still remains to be seen...)

If you have the opportunity to come and visit over the weekend of Feb. 3/4, you can come to the official Grand Opening of the film -- it's sure to be a hit for years to come!

Some Visual Considerations of Oaxaca

Here are some fun photos from the trip -- "El Machismo" at its finest, The Cross, Baskets at the market in Ocotlan, New Year's festivities, A Oaxacan quessadilla, The gals in Mitla, an art-shot of a cool window and the church at Mitla that is built on top of ancient Zapotec ruins.