Happy Birthday to Matt!

I love you so much!!!

Snow Day

We got 11 inches of snow last night and today! Matt took the day off and we walked to CVS and bought Sam a sled for $25. We took him sledding on his "school" hill, but decided that our driveway - a huge hill - was much more fun. Sam was giddy, and kept lying down in the snow to eat it. A couple of times he fell over, looking much like the little brother in A Christmas Story, wrapped tightly and unable to get up on his own.

After Sam went to sleep tonight, Matt and I sneaked out and sled a few more rounds. : )

Traveling Mercies

I think about writing constantly, but Sam is requiring constant attention-to-detail lately. He's learned to climb up on the bed, couch, dining room chairs and dining room table, and he loves climbing aboard the office chair and typing away on my laptop. He grunts, and sometimes screams, when I say "NO!"

I just took a lovely afternoon nap, as it seems there is nothing else to do when the snow falls full force. It's beautiful outside. Everytime I sleep, I think I hear Sam crying. I think I may do this for the rest of my life. I asked Matt the other night if he thought it was weird that I'd be going away with Sam to college. I might get my Masters then, so Sam and I can study together, drink beer and eat pancakes at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Matt's b-day is Friday, but since he reads this I won't mention the tricks up my sleeve.

We've booked a room at the Conrad the night before our wedding anniversary, and dinner at St. Elmo's (all of it was part of Matt's bonus, so it'll cost us nothing!). Jason, Beth and the boys are coming down to play with Sam for an overnight. That will be a treat. It's only a few weeks away, but today it seems so ... very ... far away.

We're off to Chicago for a weekend in late March, Florida for 5 days in April, then California for Memorial Day weekend. Matt and I are going to try sneaking away, and drive up the coast again to Santa Barbara, the one place I told him I might enjoy settling. : )

Being excited to travel so much always makes me wonder why we still live here, but I've done so much traveling, and it's because I live here. Inexpensive. Easy flights. Plus, there's that Brooks family I love so dearly. But I do love getting out of Dodge. I feel such a connection with things I've never done, and there are all of those people I need to meet, photos I need to compose...

Speaking of Dodge, we picked up my new auto last night - she's a beauty (and not a Dodge). I haven't named her yet, but she's female, for sure. Pearly white. I love her. She's fast, too, and I love driving fast. Yes, even with a baby. I'm sorry, I, uh, love driving fast. Matt and I have this in common. I can take him.

This morning, Matt told me not to take Sam out in this blizzard. Ha. California boy. Glad we bought that 4-wheel drive last night!

Lastly, but importantly, I'm hoping to start editing books part-time for a publisher here in town. Grammar makes me glow; it's a strange phenomenon.

The 4 neighbor kids are outside playing and screaming in the snow. I swear to God, if they wake up Sam...

Babies on Board

I almost tossed my cookies when I heard about the plane crashing into the Hudson, mostly because we've had Sam on 12 planes already at his tender age, and crashes worry me now, where before I could deal with the mere fact that it could be "my time." My "time" and Sam's "time" are onboard different decades to the big White House in the sky.

Although I'm ecstatic for the 155 people onboard (a mom and baby; ok, make me bawl why don't you?) the NYC aircraft, who all made it out with minor injuries, I would like to apologize to the people onboard flight 566, from Portland to Minneapolis, where Sam coughed and sneezed, screamed and kicked for 3 hours. I always used to detest "those parents," but now we are one.

My favorite memory of the trip, however, may be of the row seated behind us. Sam looked over and smiled at all of them, and then let out the most gigantic sneeze. I couldn't help but laugh under my breath.

And now to digressions...

I just finished reading "Operating Instructions" by Anne Lamott (my second book of hers, and Matt just bought me my third) and, even if you don't have a child, it's hilarious. It's a journal of her son's first year on earth, and his name is Sam. The book is older, but still timely.

I plan to watch every moment of Obama taking his oath of office on Tuesday, and I'll cry along with most of the country. If it's above freezing outside, I actually may round up Sam and take him to the Indiana State Museum, where they'll be showing coverage all day. Sam loves CNN, I'm not kidding.

The emergency room visits in Idaho cost us $1,100! Sam got one breathing treatment and two prescriptions. I really hope that Obama corrects this tragic practice of highway robbery.

Oh...I think I'm buying a new car tomorrow. Horray!!!!

Electromagnetic Waves, the Golden Globes & Me

All of my electronics are breaking; I think it's me. I need to drink more water.

Slumdog Millionaire looks terrible, but I'll give it a chance.

I don't get Angelina Jolie, but I long to be Kate Winslet.... just not tonight on the Golden Globes, where she made a complete idiot of herself.

Played poker with my family last night and won a bunch of nickles. I love my family! Best, best, best family.

Sam makes Matt and me melt buckets. Oh, that boy.

Don't forget...

"dramatic" and "highly entertaining"!

Thoughts on Sun Valley

I loved it. There is an overwhelming calmness, and presence of Ernest Miller Hemingway there. Matt made sure I saw all of his haunts.

The house Matt's parents rented was set on an exquisite lot, with a creek running behind it and picturesque views everywhere. Matt took Sam for a spin on a sled, which made him swoon. Matt and Sam are best buddies, and Matt is the best parent I think I've ever seen. Really. He outshines me at every turn. He has such patience and kindness. Love that man.

We ice skated at the Sun Valley Inn, and drank hot toddies to warm our bones. The ski conditions were challenging, and for the first time I was actually nervous skiing, but I made it through just fine. The problem was that it was snowing hard, and white-on-white is blinding. I couldn't see an inch in front of me, couldn't tell where the path met the edge, so I screamed a couple of times, bit my lip, whitened my knuckles and hotdogged down. ; )

And yes, I had a moment with Tom Hanks. Imagine if you will, me running into him in a drugstore, at the end of an aisle. I stood frozen, but smiling, and he smiled and hesitated for a moment. I said hello, he said hello, and then I think I tucked up my ski jacket and ran away, like the cowardly lion did with his tail.

Tom was carrying a man-purse around his body, and I think maybe he was shoplifting. He was wearing cool glasses and a hat, but I knew him. He's a little chubbier, but aren't we all? ; )

We saw William Baldwin (oops, had to look up their photos) skiing, and Matt said, "What a disappointment - he's the worst one!" He was incredibly tall, very handsome, but yeah, I've never seen him in anything. He was talking loudly, too, almost hoping to be noticed, which isn't good for shoplifting.

Sam got croup while we were there, and we made two trips to emergency rooms (one in Ketchum, one in Boise). Can't wait to get those bills. The poor guy couldn't breathe, and what made matters much worse is that he couldn't nap, either. We were all quite sleep deprived and spent most of yesterday catching up.

Matt's parents had dropped us off at the Airport Best Western (that was all that was available in Boise), so we had to call a cab to get to the hospital. Matt walked to Denny's after we got back, and we sat on the bed and had a picnic. Sam loved this. Matt and I were a bit depressed. Matt got up to get Sam a glass of water, tripped on the bedspread, and all of our delicious Denny's tumbled to the floor. I laughed uncontrollably, like I used to in church.

We had a so much fun together. We may return this summer!