When I was kid my mom had the Free to Be... You and Me book and vinel record. I always loved the hope filled messges and humor. I remember when Free to Be a Family was a television special, where American children connected with their Russian pen pals. I loved the CD I found as teenager that had the same name, but was filled with music and stories of family. I had largely forgotten about it until I found the Free to Be...You and Me The 35th Anniversary Edition at my local library. I realized I wanted my daughter and future children to grow up with the messages from these bodies of work. I also realized that sadly many people may have never heard of them I was so even more bummed when I heard the title song from Free to Be... You and Me being exploited to sell Target trash. So go to your library and find the music, films, and books. (buying them is also good) Share them with the children you love. For more information please visit: http://www.freetobefoundation.org/
Not that I'm literally homicidal. But I'm even angrier than usual about stupidity and injustice, I am extremely intolerant. For example: Someone thinks that breastfeeding is immodest/sexual/private, I think they have blood on their hands and are responsible for the low breastfeeding rates that have consequently lead to deaths of mother and babies. (although I may have posted those thoughts here before.....)
The miracle could be that I feel like blogging again. But in reality it was finding a magical someone, no not my husband, but second only in rare finds: a like-minded-mama. There is this lovely bookstore with a commons area. Within the common area is a yummy food court and a small enclosed play area filled with toys and surrounded by a built-in table/shelf and chairs. Last night we went there for a date. We sat and played the communal board games, enjoying our munchies while our friendly daughter socialized. A mom and daughter came. The daughter joined ours in the play area. We exchanged a few words, but we're shy so we mostly just played our game. Then Eve told the mom coffee was bad and I started blushing and giggling uncontrollably. We tried to politely explain that we didn't care what other people drank. Then she explained that while her hubbie is agnostic, people think he's Mormon all the time. More laughter then we returned to our game. My husband read a card from Urban Myth about Nestle hurting babies in the third world. She chimed in about how she boycotts Nestle. Then we started chatting in earnest with her and before long we realized we had found a kindred spirit. We had nearly endless things in common. She'd say, "Well people think I'm crazy for _____," and then we'd say, "Oh, we do that all the time." We exchanged phone numbers and planned on a play date for next week. I went to bed last night reeling with joy. Just yesterday morning I had told a friend I needed to find an AP crunchy mama, then felicitously, blessedly, it happened that very evening. I am so grateful for the friendships we have been able to rekindle or continue. But finding this women, this family was unbelievably exciting. I was starting to wonder where the crunchy mamas were hiding.
Since I haven't posted in a long time I thought I would just share some delightful things I stumbled across on the internet.
Today I visited the Dweebist.com , a very funny blog indeed. He linked to his wife's site www.eleganceredefined.com, a fun decorating inspiration blog. She linked to, among other places, this place: www.vivaterra.com. Viva Terra is a home decor store. Normally I look a t home decor and drool or dream, but often the price doesn't seem worth it. This place has such gorgeous pieces I can see the prices being worth it. (though at those prices I'll still probably be all about the sale/clearance section)
Thanks to by brother I grew up enjoying Death Cab For Cutie and Postal Service. Recently I heard the song Fireflies. I, like anyone else who is a fan of the above bands, didn't realize it was by a band called Owl City. Despite the near plagiarism of style Owl City has in the song Fireflies, I can't help but like the song.
In case you are unfamiliar, this is what Postal Service sounds like:
This is the video for Owl City's Fireflies:
So while I was looking up about the similarities between owl city and Postal Service I found out that the lead singer of postal service's wife has her own band, She & Him . While looking up about said band I found this fun & silly video:
Yesterday My daughter and I were going through this site: www.zooborns.com/ After watch a baby beluga birth, I thought why not show her human births. It enjoyed showing her some on Youtube and discussing what we were watching. I guess that is what she gets when her mum is a doula.
I loved this one, I loved hat the big sister got to catch. I like too that you actually see the baby coming out, it's a good visual for discussion. I love how in this one, they just wait for the rest of the baby to come out with out freaking out about the wait. Fascinating. While not a birth video, I still find this beautiful one .
I hope you enjoy your mini-vacation here at my seaside retreat. Here is a cup of tea and fresh cookies; pull up a chair here by the window. We could all use a little more ocean in our lives, don't you think? This may be the closest I'll come to having my very own seaside retreat. Join me here to ponder, celebrate and sort life out. Enjoy the sand between your toes, gratis!
