The Last Day

Today is the last day of Spring Break. Tomorrow I begin counting down the days until summer vacation. This is one of the things that I love about teaching (that sounds bad). What I mean is, I love how I can compartmentalize time into 6-10 week periods and look forward to the beginning or the end of something. While I enjoy the process, it is always a bonus to reach the end, look back, and reflect fondly (not always) on what was accomplished (or not). So, here's looking forward to the next 10 weeks (and then summer vacation!).

I think this was one of the best breaks I've had yet. It was especially relaxing, for I was not traveling out of the country, nor was I prego and nesting. It was just calm, and the kids and I took one day at a time. Lizzie and I had a lot of fun reconnecting, and Mark and I discovered that it takes about two weeks to detox her from all of the influences at school. The past few days have been a dream with her. Last night, Mark and I were commenting on how she has taken another developmental leap. Words and phrases and actions are much more polished and mature. She knows words like 'unnecessary' and uses proper grammar like, "Thank you for eating breakfast with Daddy and me." You know, it's funny that when babies are little, we teach them words by showing them an object, such as a ball, and saying, "Ball." I don't recall showing Lizzie a picture of unnecessary and saying, "Unnecessary." It sort of floors me when she uses language correctly, especially when it's something like, "G-- damn it, Mark!" Just cracks me up!

Phin, too, has made some major leaps over the past couple of weeks. I am now officially Mama and Mark is officially Dada. He has accumulated two PHAT bruises on his face: one on his right eye where he fell into the corner of the coffee table at my mom's house, and one across his forehead (not sure how that happened). We are anticipating more bumps and bruises since he is exercising bipedality more frequently these days. Although crawling is still his favorite mode of transportation (or my carrying his 25lb arse around), he's gettin' around just fine on two little feet!

Amongst our notable excursions over the past two weeks were a trip to the West Side Market, which Lizzie adored, a short visit to the zoo, many walks in the neighborhood, a bit of shopping, swimming at the pool, one lazy PJ Day with fresh popped popcorn in the best popcorn machine ever known to man (you can see it here) and a few movies, and all around pure laziness. My favorite part, though, was the day that I got to spend with my husband fishing for steelhead (view story here).

Today, Sunday, blue skies and warmish weather await us.

Queen for the Day

It has been five years since Mark and I went fishing for steelhead Mark style. Things like babies and incompatible work schedules have gotten in the way. So imagine how excited we were to finally have a mutual day off in the middle of the week! Whoo Hoo!


We floated a stretch of a "tributary to Lake Erie," which I have never done before. Usually, we hike, but today, Mark was my "guide," for he rowed my arse down the river, showed me where the fish were, and made me cheesy brats on a bun stream side. We also took a short walk up to he waterfall and witnessed the flight of an American Bald Eagle. Oh, and we also caught fish!

The Queen

and her trusty guide. AKA My One True Love

Too Close for Butt Sniffing (they know what each other had for breakfast)

25 Things about Our Dog Otis (You could even replace 'Otis' with 'Mark')

1. Otis's full name is Otis the Terrible. He came from Royalabs, so we thought, "Hey, every royal family needs to have the Terrible."

2. Otis was a Christmas gift to Mark when we first started dating. Some say that I saved Mark's life, but deep down, I believe it was Otis.

3. Otis has many nicknames, including but not limited to: 1. Schmoo-ie 2. Schmotis 3. O-do 4. Shtankie 5. O 6. The Original Smoocher Poocher 7. O-tie 8. You dumb (insert expletive)!

4. Vacuum cleaners and Otis don't get along.

5. Otis cannot be bothered with parlor tricks. It just isn't his style.

6. Otis firmly believes he is a human.

7. Otis's dog's name is Phred.

8. Otis used to ride shot-gun in Mark's Jeep until I kicked him to the back seat.

9. Otis is Mark Mark is Otis.

10. Otis has been a critical element in shaping, maintaining, and saving my relationship with Mark. He has this knack for interjecting comments for Mark and/or me that neither one of us can get away with saying directly to each other.

11. Otis went on an eating strike once, so we used the cat to persuade him to eat (we dangled the cat's body over the food bowl and Otis thought something else was trying to eat his food). When that didn't work anymore, I pretended to eat his food. He bit me on the nose. (Stop laughing)

12. Otis loves to sleep in three places: our bed, Mark's truck, or in a tent.

13. More on #12: The first night that we had Otis, Mark picked him up from his basket on the floor and brought him into bed with us. He said, "Just until he gets used to us." Apparently, Otis still isn't used to us.

14. Shockingly, Otis is not motivated by food. Actually, he's not motivated by much. Mostly just girl dogs.

15. If I had to make a bet, Otis would be a registered Republican. (Can't win 'em all....)

16. Otis currently smells like skunk. This is 100x better than what he normally smells like.

17. Otis is a not a particularly favorable canoe mate. He shifts his tush too often and throws the entire boat off balance.

18. Otis has a natural built in navigation system. I would blindly follow him anywhere.

19. When he was younger, Otis would get rug burn on his nose from trying to "bury" bones behind the couch.

20. Otis is especially skilled at catching flies/bees/bugs that fly. Oh, this also reminds me that he likes to eat ladybugs.

21. Otis and Mark have almost drowned together--twice.

22. Otis always takes the path of least resistance. This is most evident while traveling.

23. Otis nearly died about a year ago when he got caught in a coyote snare. Mark found him almost lifeless and just in time.

24. Otis is cool.

25. Otis can pick up chicks better than The Fonz.

Sunshine on My Shoulders Makes Me Happy

Dang Right, It's Sunny and 65 in Cleveland Today!

Can't believe it! Officially started my spring break yesterday (I say officially since mentally I was on it a few weeks ago), and it started off with sunny blue skies and temperatures in the 50s! Been pining for warm weather, smell of earth, crocuses, throwing the kids outside, airing out sheets, and hanging laundry on the line. Finally, it is here. All for me--I'd like to think so anyway!

And then today, 60s and blue skies! Coincidentally, I received my first issue to Martha Stewart in the post (I know, I know, but her people have really good ideas; and thank you Scharf family for the lovely gift subscription). As Phin lay napping in his crib, and Lizzie visited with Grammy at her house, I dug out the gross plastic sunbathing chair (cobwebs and pine needles included), poured myself a cool glass of water, wired myself to my iPod, and baked in the afternoon sun for about 30 minutes as I read about decoupage Easter eggs and poached black trout. Result = a really good idea for Easter eggs, a dose of Au naturale vitamin D, and a pinkish glow to my wintry-grey skin.

In my heart of hearts, I know this weather will not last, that winter will rear its ugly head one last time, but I'm livin' the most of it today. For it is unknown, even by weather.com, what tomorrow will bring.

Phredo Dog-leone: 25 Things about Our Dog Phred

1. Phred's breath stinks like the dickens. If not his breath, then just Phred. Like corn chips or dirty socks.

2. Phred is a much better behaved dog than Otis. Always has been, always will be. (Always has been an area of contention for Mark and me, always will be.)

3. If Phred could eat one thing from the wild, it would be goslings (or maybe a half rotted muskrat, but we try to prevent him from eating them. Yuck.).

4. Phred can perform an incredible variety of parlor tricks. We get a big hoot out of "Bang" where he drops to the ground and plays dead. He even twitches. The runner up would be when he balances a treat on his nose, then catches it in his mouth on command.

5. Phred is a dick. Always has been, always will be.

6. Phred hates riding in the car. His stomach gets woozy. Always has, always will.

7. Phred is not a dynamic character.

8. Phred loves his Phred Bed. In fact, he will prance up and down the stairs until we release the baby gate so he can hide away in his bed.

9. Phred can play fetch for hours and not get bored (so long as he has a willing human to toss the ball/stick/rock).

10. Phred is still a dick.

11. Deep down, Phred would love to bite a human. And then shake it like a kitty.

12. Phred loves to carry stuffed animals around in his mouth. Or any other object that is near by. He doesn't chew it, like his brother Otis, he just carries it around while wagging his tail.

13. Phred is motivated by food. As if.

14. Phred has a black patch of fur (like a beauty mark) on his left shoulder. We tried to claim him as defective with the breeder, but because he is a dick, she wouldn't take him back.

15. Still a dick. We just checked.

16. Phred's alter ego is a goat.

17. Phred makes disgusting slurping noises when he sleeps.

18. We love to snuggle with Phred (when he doesn't stink). He's soft and mushy and warm and fuzzy.

19. Phred has the softest ears in the world. I especially like them when they are cold.

20. Once, when Phred was about two years old, I entered him in an agility contest. During the second run of the course, Phred jumped ON TOP of the tunnel, not THROUGH the tunnel. The entire audience laughed. It was embarassing.

21. 20 should have been, "Phred is a dick," but the agility story is a case in point.

22. Phred looks all nice and friendly on the outside, but he has a super vicious mean streak. I am glad he is part of my pack.

23. Phred's theme song is Low Rider.

24. Phred wanted to name Luca, the cat, "Lunch."

25. Phred was named after Fredo Corleone from the Godfather. Both dicks.

Ode to My Camera

My camera is on the fritz. It has been since, oh, Thanksgiving, maybe earlier. But it took me a while to admit that something was wrong because admitting this would mean a) I wouldn't be able to take pictures or B) I would have to get it fixed or by a new one--oy. Basically, when I would take a bunch of pictures and then flip through them, I noticed that one, three, or all 578 of them were out of focus. I thought it was my eyes at first. I mean, I thought my eyes were going bad, focusing issues, astigmatism, or some other weird vision thing. But turns out my eyes are just fine (for now), but my camera, not so much. It also does this funny thing when I shoot in manual mode--I'll get a series of shots that are completely black. Which, from old fashioned photography, I know this means that there is something wrong with the reflective device inside the lens. But in the digi world, I was not privy to this information until I talked to victims of this common digital disease. Holy dollar signs Batman, the processor is going bad! After a smidge of research, it will cost me just as much to have the processor replaced as it would to buy a new camera. Duh. Isn't it obvious?

Anyway, as I wait for some sort of financial shift at Chateau Kasubick, I'll take my chances with the ol' Canon Rebel of yore. The one, that seven years ago, was the Rock Star of digital cameras. The one that brought me to the Dark Side. The one that I take more places than my kids (okay, not really, but wouldn't that be funny?). The one that needs to be replaced very soon or else I'll miss a critical moment in my photohistory of my kids (imagine Phin, the second child, looking back and saying, "Mommy, why are all the pictures of me out of focus?" Tragedy.). So here's to you, my camera, my camrea. Until you really kick the bucket.

I'll Race You for the Steak (said Otis)

Was there food near by? What else would grab Phin's and Otis' attention so acutely?

Soon it will be summer

and I will be hanging my laundry on the line out in the backyard to dry.

I'll Save Your Heart

Self portrait taken June 2008, Penns Creek Backpacking Trip

...Lizzie exclaimed while we were getting ready for bed tonight. I was lamenting over her scaly skin, which has been plagued by a serious case of eczema, and said to DH, "This is just breaking my heart, Mark, to see her skin like this and to see her all itchy." During the summer, Lizzie has the most beautiful skin. It's usually nut-brown from the sun and no trace of eczema anywhere. But as we head into the winter months, Lizzie loses her sun kissed glow and out comes the viciously itchy rash all over her young waterproof and breathable shell. Mark and I go back and forth about what we think causes it--soy, dairy, wheat--but most notably, we always come back to the fact that there is little sun in these parts of the world from November to March, and so she lacks a sufficient amount of vitamin D to ward off skin irritation and inflammation in the winter. Thinking of tossing her in a tanning booth during these dark days.... (I digress)

So then Lizzie wrapped her little hands around my face and said, "I'll save your heart, Mommy." I nearly died right there. All the sudden the eczema was gone and the lotion in my hands evaporated. I grabbed my little girl as tight as I could and snuggled her close while I breathed in the fresh wetness of her hair. I laughed to clear my throat and to ward off any potential tears from escaping my eyes.

Mark tussled her hair, " You already did, honey,you already did."

(At this point, I am sending out an official APB for information on getting rid of eczema. We welcome any suggestions of the natural persuasion (no steroid creams, please, we're trying to get rid, not suppress)).

Bad Guys

Lizzie: Mommy, what will you do to get the bad guys?
Mommy: I'll kick 'em.
Lizzie: And Daddy will shoot 'em.
Mommy: What will you do?
Lizzie: I'll spit on them.
Mommy: And what will Phin do?
Lizzie: I'll squeeze him so he'll barf on them.
Mommy: So, just to be safe, Phin will barf on them, you will spit on them, I'll kick them, and Daddy will shoot them.

I feel sorry for the bad guys.

Growing Up

It was just one of those moments. She looked so big and grown up, yet such a kid with her pigtails. This may sound like I don't pay much attention to my kids, but I didn't know that she could button her own pants. I just assumed she relied on the elastic waste band. I guess this is what happens when you blink or look away even for just a small moment. Or, what happens when you pay attention to the moment.

Just a Quicky

... so suggestive....

Anyway, back home in Cleveland. Loved visiting Columbus more than I thought I would. Still need to share transformative yoga experience from V Power Yoga, but perhaps another night (it was rockin'!). Right now, I am looking forward to snuggling into my husband's arms and falling sound asleep. For later: A comparative analysis of Cleveland Yoga and V Power Yoga.

Have mat, will Yoga

I am currently in Columbus for a technology conference--both as a presenter and as an attendee. In the last few days, I've enjoyed getting to know this gem of a city (humbly admitting that I wasn't all that excited to travel to Columbus, OH. I guess I am becoming a travel snob as I see more of the world). Surprisingly, it has treasures all over the place. Tonight, however, I will be stretching, sweating, and detoxing at V Power Yoga. All I know is what I read on the web site, and if the workout is athletically pleasing as it is aesthetically pleasing, I will be a happy yogi. I have one expectation (I know, I know, I shouldn't with yoga)--that the studio is actually open. Will post more later....

Snow Day

It was warm enough outside for all of us to play in the Winter Wonderland of Cleveland Heights. Yippee! Who doesn't love a snow day?!

Friday Nights (not really)

are typically lame around these parts. In fact, I am surprised that I am still awake. But I am enjoying the peace and quiet as Mark is out walking the dogs and the children are sound asleep. I pulled out some work to do from my backpack, but I can't bring myself to actually doing anything with it. That would be the ultimate in Friday Night Taboo.

So I just stretched like a cat warming up to his already warm spot and felt the tightness and the healing of my core from last night's yoga class. I am thankful that Mark was home on time and that I was able to go. I am even more appreciative that Parker taught the class. She began the evening not with Child's Pose as she typically does, but by saying, "Would you like to try something different tonight?"

Everyone moaned.

Parker is notorious for workouts that reveal brutal honesty about yourself. You can't help but be 100% aware in her class. Lots of things come up that have made me want to run away and hide, but she doesn't let you. Thank golly.

Then, after the noise lost its spark, she said, "Let's begin in shavasana."

Me, out loud, "Right on."

So we began lying flat on our backs, arms and legs loosely hanging by our sides, eyes closed, breath growing deeper with each inhale, exhale. completely. Letting go, balancing, centering, letting go.

Parker worked us from the ground up. We flowed into some yin poses, then up to all fours for a downward facing dog, a few chair poses, some twists, balancing half moon and a mangled tree (for me anyway... a little off balance), bird of paradise with a flying crow... I can't remember the sequence enough to write it (although I bet if I tried right now, I could physically work it out almost the way she instructed), but I do know that it was harmonizing, grounding, forgiving, restorative. And evidently and clearly Yoga Parker Style because my abs hurt like no one's business.

Our story came full circle when we ended in shavasana, which is the most challenging --and most rewarding--yoga pose of all. Next time you need a challenge, just lay there on your back with your eyes shut and relax. Can you stay present without "listing" everything you need to do? Can you resist dreamy unconsciousness? Can you acknowledge the fragments of thoughts that are interfering with the quiet, yet consciously let them go all at the same time?

I floated out of the studio drenched in sweat, glowing with renewed energy, and, of course, starving! Thank you, Parker, for teaching me yoga yesterday and for reminding me that I am teachable.

Correction

I realized that I messed up the recipe for smoothies . It's supposed to be kale, not kelp. Duh.

Going, Going... Green

Thanks to my friend Laura's green recommendation, Phin's bottom is finally on it's way to reducing it's biohazard footprint here on good ol' Mother Earth. How can an 8 month old go green, you ask? Well, we, the Kasubick's, have opted to use gDiapers. gDiapers were developed by an Australian family who was concerned about their childern's future on Earth. It is a flushable, compostable, or tossable biodegradable diaper. No plastic, no guilt, and virtually no mess... well, most of the time. AND the starter kit comes with a swizzle stick so that you can stir the contents of your bowl to break down the matter before you flush. Totally rad!

So, as I was trying to sell this new, environmentally friendly concept to my DH, we realized that we have really super old plumbing in our almost century old home. That means no flushing for us! Instead, we set up two trash bins in Phin's room--one for uber soiled refills, and another just for the wet ones that we will add to the garden compost. This is the cool thing--it will take about 50-150 days for these to break down as opposed to 500 years for a regular plastic diaper to decompose. Again, totally rad!

Needless to say, Phin's tushy is glad, groovy, guilt-free, gorgeous (hee, hee... I think so), and most importantly, GREEN.

Smoothie Recipe for Lex

My whole family loves smoothies. They are an easy, light meal/snack that packs a big nutritional punch. I started drinking them for three simple reasons:

1. I needed something to take in the car with me to work that wouldn't crumb everywhere;
2. I needed to get rid of rotten fruit in my refrigerator and I felt guilty pitching it (although, now I compost, but it has to be really, really, super disgustingly rotten to make way to the compost bucket);
3. My friend Judy Fitch had a Smoothie Card Deck. We were training for a marathon and needed a lot of protein.

After a few non-commital relationships with fruit in a blender, I finally settled on this recipe:

**1 banana (1 per person, adjust accordingly)
**A cup or so of frozen fruit (you can freeze anything; Whole Foods has affordable frozen fruit. I buy the 365 brand. When in season, I pick a bunch of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries and freeze them. You can freeze bananas as well. Frozen peaches are yummy, too. Oh, and cherries!)
**8 oz or so of apple juice, pear juice pineapple juice, banana/orange juice, typically not from concentrate and with minimal/no added sugar

Zip it in the blender, pour, and enjoy.

Depending on what flavor you are trying to achieve, you can mix fruit families or keep them pure. I like a pure peach smoothie with apple juice or a berry blend, for example, but the banana is key as it provides the suspension.

Also, I tried using ice cubes once, but that just watered it down. Then, once while visiting my friend Laura, she inspired me to use frozen fruit as an alternative.

If you are really looking for a powerful antioxidant/immune booster, try this recipe that my friend Jen told me about:

1 banana
A handful of kelp (depending on what kind you buy, this will change the flavor slightly)
Pineapple juice

I used to add protein powder, but I get that from other places now. You can add peanut/almond butter, soy milk, or yogurt, but I prefer to keep this dairy/soy/nut free. Again, I get those essentials in other parts of my diet.

BW Part III

This one happened by accident. I didn't mean for it to be B/W, and if you look closely, it really isn't. I love the texture in this photo (certainly no more than I love the subject....). For this photo, I tried a graphic technique that desaturates the color so that the end result is an overprocessed, gritty image. I also applied a high pass filter, used hard light, and added some monochromatic noise. One word comes to mind for the final product: grundge. I lived it once and I am willing to live it again.