Owen and Genny...not sure what Rockette routine she is practicing...
A nice picture of Owen and Daddy
Climbing UP!
and Sliding DOWN...
Friday, October 24, 2008
October for Owen
It has been a very warm October until today. Right now it is 51 degrees, and rainy, but we have been getting a lot of playtime in at the neighborhood park when it was warm. Here are a couple pictures and videos from our adventures.
Owen and Maggie go down the slide at the same time!
Owen and Genny...not sure what Rockette routine she is practicing...
A nice picture of Owen and Daddy
Climbing UP!
and Sliding DOWN...
Owen and Genny...not sure what Rockette routine she is practicing...A nice picture of Owen and Daddy
Climbing UP!
and Sliding DOWN...
Friday, October 10, 2008
. . . and then I shook hands with Barak Obama.
I don't post to the blog much, but this story I had to tell myself.
I got an e-mail on Wednesday from the Obama Campaign in Cincinnati about the rally at Ault Park, my favorite park in Cincinnati, on Thursday. Now Jess and I tried to go to a couple rallies when we were still in New York, and they were so crowded that we couldn't even get near. My favorite story about that is when Jess and Owen tried to go to the event in Jersey City, 4 blocks from our house, and even though she "RSVP'd" and was an hour before the doors opened, the line for the 5,000 person gym was way down the street and around the block. That was at noon. The program started at 3, and Obama arrived at 5. Needless to say, Owen couldn't be out that long and they returned home.
This time on the invite they were calling for volunteers to work the event. I figured this was a good way to contribute, even if I didn't get to see the actual rally. I left my Mother's drawing class early and went to the meeting at Headquarters in Walnut Hills, 3 blocks from where Jess and I lived before we moved to Boston.
The meeting wasn't that crowded and mostly was describing the different jobs and where to meet at Ault Park. We were to park at the soccer fields and meet at the picnic area. When Jess tried to drop me off, we were stopped at the top of Observatory by a police checkpoint. I got out, told them I was a volunteer, and started the loooong walk down the hill to the park. Fortunately there were a few cars getting through, and one of them gave me a ride.
I was in the earliest group, and started collecting people around the volunteer sign, because there was no one else around. When the contact person did come over, I was told to continue collecting people and sending them on. Eventually the volunteers stopped coming, and I wandered up to the pavilion for a job.
All of the jobs were spread out by then, so I just picked a fun looking group of people and joined them. It was the ushers inside the event. (cool, I will be close) We needed to make sure the 3 different colors of tickets stayed in their areas. When we finally made it through the metal detectors we met on the lower green space between the gardens. There was a big Ohio for Obama sign at one end, a stage, and bleachers behind the podium. I stepped up early to be placed, and I was placed at the end of the field as the last person the VIPs passed before entering the VIP area. My job was to keep the VIPs in their pen on the left of the stage.
Most of this was standing and looking around. I was standing with a woman from Texas that had been with the campaign there an answered a call to come to Cincinnati for the rest of the month, where she didn't know anyone. She had just arrived the day before and was sleeping on someone's couch. Her name was Sarah. It was an hour before the gates opened, and even then, I was on the reserved end of the field, and those people didn't filter in until later. The biggest issue was water. It was hot and sunny, with no clouds in the sky. There were tents for the press, and they were filled with chairs and water, but no chairs were allowed in the event space. Some chairs were handed out, and some water was handed out, but we were told to stop because there wasn't enough for everyone. There was a little girl that passed out in front of me, and I managed to get her into the tents and re-hydrated, but as time passed, the crowd continued to get thirsty. I brought a bottle for myself, but that was gone by 3. Fortunately, one of the campaign people came down and started handing out water to the kids.
The speakers started at 2:40, including the Mayor of Cincinnati, and a couple congresspeople, but then the waiting began again. Fortunately there was music, but only about 8 songs, then it would start again. At 3:30, Gov. Ted Strickland came on stage and spoke well for about 15 minutes. He introduced a local woman who told her story about losing her job at a local Ford Plant and her husband being transferred to another plant further away with fewer hours. It was a good story, but it was apparent that someone had helped her with her speech because she mis-pronounced a word that she wouldn't have written down if she didn't know it. I can't think of the word, but it was one of those words that doesn't look like it sounds. She then introduced Senator Obama.
I had realized earlier why the VIP area was to the side of the stage, that was the only way into the event from the outside. Sen. Obama entered and shook hands on his way to the stage. He was in a white shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up, looking casual but
professional. When he took the podium I realized I was standing in a direct line between the senator and his teleprompter, which was not clear like the indoor events, so I could not see his face. I convinced Sarah to come with me into the VIP area and we were only about 30' from the Senator for his speech.
It was a good speech. I had been feeling election fatigue and didn't even want to listen to election news when I received the email about the event. I waited all day before responding. I was glad I did. I felt better. I felt like it was going to be ok. I am not one to get caught up in crowd mentality, but I was cheering and clapping and even crying a little. It was the Obama that gives confidence. It was an inspiring speech, with very little attack, for which I was greatful.
After the speech, when the crowd surged toward the podium, I moved left, to the rope line. He needed to pass me before he could leave. He came down the stairs and started shaking hands. He went all the way around the stage before he came back to the exit ramp. I wanted a handshake. I was taking pictures and reached out my hand as he came by and got a nice grip. After an hour long speech in the heat and shaking hands for the last 10 minutes, his hands were cool and dry.
Taken right after the handshake.
I walked all the way out of the park and waited for Jess to pick me up. She wanted to volunteer too, but someone had to stay with Owen, he would not have made it all day. I was very greatful she let me go, and I have let her know it. It wasn't until I got home that I felt the sun on my face and neck. My ears are beet red, as is the back of my neck, but the heat is leaving my face, and it is a good sort of heat so far.
I got an e-mail on Wednesday from the Obama Campaign in Cincinnati about the rally at Ault Park, my favorite park in Cincinnati, on Thursday. Now Jess and I tried to go to a couple rallies when we were still in New York, and they were so crowded that we couldn't even get near. My favorite story about that is when Jess and Owen tried to go to the event in Jersey City, 4 blocks from our house, and even though she "RSVP'd" and was an hour before the doors opened, the line for the 5,000 person gym was way down the street and around the block. That was at noon. The program started at 3, and Obama arrived at 5. Needless to say, Owen couldn't be out that long and they returned home.
This time on the invite they were calling for volunteers to work the event. I figured this was a good way to contribute, even if I didn't get to see the actual rally. I left my Mother's drawing class early and went to the meeting at Headquarters in Walnut Hills, 3 blocks from where Jess and I lived before we moved to Boston.
The meeting wasn't that crowded and mostly was describing the different jobs and where to meet at Ault Park. We were to park at the soccer fields and meet at the picnic area. When Jess tried to drop me off, we were stopped at the top of Observatory by a police checkpoint. I got out, told them I was a volunteer, and started the loooong walk down the hill to the park. Fortunately there were a few cars getting through, and one of them gave me a ride.
I was in the earliest group, and started collecting people around the volunteer sign, because there was no one else around. When the contact person did come over, I was told to continue collecting people and sending them on. Eventually the volunteers stopped coming, and I wandered up to the pavilion for a job.
All of the jobs were spread out by then, so I just picked a fun looking group of people and joined them. It was the ushers inside the event. (cool, I will be close) We needed to make sure the 3 different colors of tickets stayed in their areas. When we finally made it through the metal detectors we met on the lower green space between the gardens. There was a big Ohio for Obama sign at one end, a stage, and bleachers behind the podium. I stepped up early to be placed, and I was placed at the end of the field as the last person the VIPs passed before entering the VIP area. My job was to keep the VIPs in their pen on the left of the stage.Most of this was standing and looking around. I was standing with a woman from Texas that had been with the campaign there an answered a call to come to Cincinnati for the rest of the month, where she didn't know anyone. She had just arrived the day before and was sleeping on someone's couch. Her name was Sarah. It was an hour before the gates opened, and even then, I was on the reserved end of the field, and those people didn't filter in until later. The biggest issue was water. It was hot and sunny, with no clouds in the sky. There were tents for the press, and they were filled with chairs and water, but no chairs were allowed in the event space. Some chairs were handed out, and some water was handed out, but we were told to stop because there wasn't enough for everyone. There was a little girl that passed out in front of me, and I managed to get her into the tents and re-hydrated, but as time passed, the crowd continued to get thirsty. I brought a bottle for myself, but that was gone by 3. Fortunately, one of the campaign people came down and started handing out water to the kids.
The speakers started at 2:40, including the Mayor of Cincinnati, and a couple congresspeople, but then the waiting began again. Fortunately there was music, but only about 8 songs, then it would start again. At 3:30, Gov. Ted Strickland came on stage and spoke well for about 15 minutes. He introduced a local woman who told her story about losing her job at a local Ford Plant and her husband being transferred to another plant further away with fewer hours. It was a good story, but it was apparent that someone had helped her with her speech because she mis-pronounced a word that she wouldn't have written down if she didn't know it. I can't think of the word, but it was one of those words that doesn't look like it sounds. She then introduced Senator Obama.I had realized earlier why the VIP area was to the side of the stage, that was the only way into the event from the outside. Sen. Obama entered and shook hands on his way to the stage. He was in a white shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up, looking casual but
professional. When he took the podium I realized I was standing in a direct line between the senator and his teleprompter, which was not clear like the indoor events, so I could not see his face. I convinced Sarah to come with me into the VIP area and we were only about 30' from the Senator for his speech.It was a good speech. I had been feeling election fatigue and didn't even want to listen to election news when I received the email about the event. I waited all day before responding. I was glad I did. I felt better. I felt like it was going to be ok. I am not one to get caught up in crowd mentality, but I was cheering and clapping and even crying a little. It was the Obama that gives confidence. It was an inspiring speech, with very little attack, for which I was greatful.
After the speech, when the crowd surged toward the podium, I moved left, to the rope line. He needed to pass me before he could leave. He came down the stairs and started shaking hands. He went all the way around the stage before he came back to the exit ramp. I wanted a handshake. I was taking pictures and reached out my hand as he came by and got a nice grip. After an hour long speech in the heat and shaking hands for the last 10 minutes, his hands were cool and dry.
Taken right after the handshake.I walked all the way out of the park and waited for Jess to pick me up. She wanted to volunteer too, but someone had to stay with Owen, he would not have made it all day. I was very greatful she let me go, and I have let her know it. It wasn't until I got home that I felt the sun on my face and neck. My ears are beet red, as is the back of my neck, but the heat is leaving my face, and it is a good sort of heat so far.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Catching-Up on the Blog
This is the teaser picture to get you to read the rest of the posting.
Hello All,
We are having a quiet and sunny Fall season so far, and enjoying life in Cincinnati. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by how happy I am living here once again. I feel gratitude to be here every day! I don't think the city changed much here since before we did all of our moving in Boston and Jersey City, but my perspective about Cincinnati definitely has shifted over the last 6 years. Even after eventually falling in love with Boston (and I did, no doubt about it) there is something so comforting about living someplace that feels like home. I'm never going to be a native Cincinnatian, saying "Please?" when I didn't hear something the first time, or having some instinctual understanding of why there is a difference between the east side of town and the west side of town....undeniable, but inexplicable to an outsider. Nor will I be swayed to change my political leanings, regardless of how ill-conceived they are within our current neighborhood and community. (FYI, Chris is volunteering for the Obama campaign right now to hear Senator Obama speak at Ault Park this afternoon. I don't know what happened, Chris was a Republican when I married him...)
So, my point is, I am happy here. We love our quiet little house, our clean and safe neighborhood, our convenient 8 minute drive to the grocery store, gym, my teaching studio, and the fact that it costs half as much to have all of those things here as it did anywhere we lived in the last 6 years! Welcome to Heaven, folks. This is it.
Owen has been rambunctiously climbing and exploring his environment in the last month. He is nearly over the novelty of climbing all the chairs and furniture just because he can. He is playing pretend games with his little kitchen, and starting to play with (instead of around) other children. Just the other day we hosted a playdate for Owen and his new friend, Tyler...who makes Owen look like a dwarf, Tyler is so tall! Both boys are 17 months old, and watching them interact was really interesting. A couple times Owen took Tyler's hand to guide him towards a particular toy that Owen wanted to show. He also hugged Tyler at least 3 times, each time causing Tyler to look over with an uneasy expression towards his mom, Jackie. (Hugs from people besides Mom and Dad? Too weird, no thanks!)
Owen at the Zoo:
At the Zoo with Tyler, his Mom Jackie, and Owen, obsessed with pushing their stroller around...
Chris, Owen and I also had a lovely day at the Zoo earlier this week. We have invested in a family pass for the year, which will allow us to go as often as we like. Owen has started identifying the sounds different animals make, and he can imitate a number of them, thanks to a talking puzzle he has. Can Moo like a cow, meow like a cat, bark like a dog, and on an unrelated note, also make recordings with our DVR recorder, and turn the radio on and off. He is a boy of many talents.
This picture is from our visit to Iowa in August, but I just had to include it on the Blog. Look at that classic Owen "twinkle in the eyes"!
We were cleaning out Owen's closet, and came upon his turtle costume from Halloween last year. Here's a picture from then...
Here's a picture from now, trying it on again. Oh what a difference a year makes!
Here's a couple pictures of Owen playing with his younger pal, Matthew.
Owen's friend, Thomas came over for a visit last week. I had fun with Thomas!
Traffic jam with Owen and Thomas
Owen and his Daddy at the park. Two peas in a pod!
When he said he wanted a bottle, I really didn't assume this was what he had in mind.
A happy Boo for You!
Hello All,
We are having a quiet and sunny Fall season so far, and enjoying life in Cincinnati. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by how happy I am living here once again. I feel gratitude to be here every day! I don't think the city changed much here since before we did all of our moving in Boston and Jersey City, but my perspective about Cincinnati definitely has shifted over the last 6 years. Even after eventually falling in love with Boston (and I did, no doubt about it) there is something so comforting about living someplace that feels like home. I'm never going to be a native Cincinnatian, saying "Please?" when I didn't hear something the first time, or having some instinctual understanding of why there is a difference between the east side of town and the west side of town....undeniable, but inexplicable to an outsider. Nor will I be swayed to change my political leanings, regardless of how ill-conceived they are within our current neighborhood and community. (FYI, Chris is volunteering for the Obama campaign right now to hear Senator Obama speak at Ault Park this afternoon. I don't know what happened, Chris was a Republican when I married him...)
So, my point is, I am happy here. We love our quiet little house, our clean and safe neighborhood, our convenient 8 minute drive to the grocery store, gym, my teaching studio, and the fact that it costs half as much to have all of those things here as it did anywhere we lived in the last 6 years! Welcome to Heaven, folks. This is it.
Owen has been rambunctiously climbing and exploring his environment in the last month. He is nearly over the novelty of climbing all the chairs and furniture just because he can. He is playing pretend games with his little kitchen, and starting to play with (instead of around) other children. Just the other day we hosted a playdate for Owen and his new friend, Tyler...who makes Owen look like a dwarf, Tyler is so tall! Both boys are 17 months old, and watching them interact was really interesting. A couple times Owen took Tyler's hand to guide him towards a particular toy that Owen wanted to show. He also hugged Tyler at least 3 times, each time causing Tyler to look over with an uneasy expression towards his mom, Jackie. (Hugs from people besides Mom and Dad? Too weird, no thanks!)
Owen at the Zoo:
At the Zoo with Tyler, his Mom Jackie, and Owen, obsessed with pushing their stroller around...
Chris, Owen and I also had a lovely day at the Zoo earlier this week. We have invested in a family pass for the year, which will allow us to go as often as we like. Owen has started identifying the sounds different animals make, and he can imitate a number of them, thanks to a talking puzzle he has. Can Moo like a cow, meow like a cat, bark like a dog, and on an unrelated note, also make recordings with our DVR recorder, and turn the radio on and off. He is a boy of many talents.
This picture is from our visit to Iowa in August, but I just had to include it on the Blog. Look at that classic Owen "twinkle in the eyes"!
We were cleaning out Owen's closet, and came upon his turtle costume from Halloween last year. Here's a picture from then...
Here's a picture from now, trying it on again. Oh what a difference a year makes!
Here's a couple pictures of Owen playing with his younger pal, Matthew.
Owen's friend, Thomas came over for a visit last week. I had fun with Thomas!
Traffic jam with Owen and Thomas
Owen and his Daddy at the park. Two peas in a pod!
When he said he wanted a bottle, I really didn't assume this was what he had in mind.
A happy Boo for You!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Owen Movie
Owen and Pierre during our recent visit to Cedar Rapids. We were all finishing lunch while Owen was entertaining himself with the dog leashes. Enjoy!
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