Weather Rant

Recovery

Published on by Lisa

I’ve been recovering from some nasty virus this week. Doctor said it’s just one of those things you catch during spring that makes you feel like you’re underwater and can’t hear anything cause your ears are plugged, like your legs weigh 8726 lbs because they’re achy and heavy, like it’s middle of summer because of a low grade fever, like you’re part robot part frog because of laryngitis, like you want to suffocate yourself with your own pillow because you are miserable.

But, I’m slowly getting better.

Nick had to take a couple days off from work to take care of Isaiah so I don’t breathe on him at all.

Ugh.

So, this week hasn’t been the greatest and, from the inside of my house, it looks to be a beautiful spring. Too gosh darn bad I’m allergic to it.

Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers (unless you’re allergic to the pollen, like me.)

Isaiah certainly has.

Wrap Yourself in a July Scarf

Published on by Lisa

Last night I was listening to my iTunes collection and a Christmas song came on. It didn’t even feel odd because I was wrapped up in pants and a sweater and still slightly cool. The weather had dipped into the 50s and I could hear the BOOM from downtown from the fireworks.

Yes, that’s right. It was in the 50s and the fireworks were going off downtown.

The past 4 days I have woken up to chilly, rainy mornings which makes me think more and more of my due date. It’s as if I feel I’m 6 months along because it’s October and January is right around the corner. But, no, it’s July and this weather is just unbelievable.

I actually don’t mind it as much because the cooler weather feels nice and it’s a lovely break from the humidity beating down on the city last week.

Break out the brass band – Nick is coming home this afternoon!

(I yell) Hip! Hip!
(you yell)_______
(hint: Hooray!)

One text and postcard later, here I am, Nick’s pregnant partner eagerly eating raw vegetables and blueberries, waiting for his return. It’s so wonderful to have little reunions in life, don’t you think? These brief (although it sure didn’t feel so brief this week) separations just make us cherish our beloved ones all the more when they come home.

I seriously feel like baking something in celebration.

Ah-hem — I don’t bake.

That’s how joyous I feel.

And so, with this holiday weekend, I must bid you all a wonderful and happy 4th of July. Enjoy the empty calories of all the bbq food you will have and safe travels from place to place. I must send a grateful note to my wonderful sister, Carmen, who stayed with me nearly every night this week because I’m such a chicken to sleep in this huge echoing house by myself and am tortured by thoughts of a break-in.

I hope your summers bring you so much joy you feel like fireworks are going off inside you.

That’s kind of how our growing baby feels inside me these days.

The Bliss that is Natural Light

Published on by Lisa

As much as Nick loves natural light, I’ve never seen him wear shades before.

Little fun fact about Nick: one of his favorite things in the world is natural light. He freaking talks about how awesome natural light is at least three times a month. If you add that up over the course of the years I’ve known him, that’s a lot of time spent talking about something as simplistic as the sun’s rays.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love photography. I practically salivate over natural light when I shoot photos. The best weddings photos are the ones that are shot with as much natural light as possible.

But Nick’s not a photographer. He just goes nuts over sunlight.

He, and I’m not exaggerating, does not like curtains because of this. He would PREFER a curtainless world to let as much natural light into our house as possible. When we were looking at houses to buy last year, he’s say, “Look at those windows! Think about how much natural light we’ll get.”

And I, looking at him from the corner of my eye, say, “Sure. Yeah. I mean, looks great.”

When we’re driving, Nick is usual steering while I am off in my own world blabbering about my thoughts on the Universe, whether we’ll live to see the scientific proof of another galaxy beyond the Milky Way, and all of a sudden Nick will explode, “DID YOU SEE THAT HOUSE? THEY HAD ALL FRONT WINDOWS THAT WERE HUGE. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH NATURAL LIGHT THEY MUST GET?”

And I, again, dumbfounded that he doesn’t even get that excited over Xavier basketball or a Beanie Wells run, or a discounted oil change will reply, “Huh. Where?” I’ll strain my head, look in the rear view mirrors, “I didn’t see it. Darn.”

And just like the calm sea after a brief storm, Nick will return to his 98.6 degree body temperature. His eyes will return to their normal shade of blue-ish green, and the torrent of emotion will subside as he drives on.

So it was no surprise yesterday, out on a long walk and taking advantage of our 50 degree day, Nick says, “Guess what?”

“What?”

“It’s 5:30pm now and look how light it is. Just think – next week, it’ll be this light out at 6:30pm!”

“Yes. Daylight savings time. Incredible.” I am bemused watching him practically skip down the sidewalk like a little boy.

I remain silent, enjoying his enjoyment.

“You know,” he continues, “I don’t even know what I’d be like if daylight savings time were on the same day as my birthday. I wouldn’t know what to be more excited for.”

“Mhm,” I speculate, “I’d air on the side of celebrating existence than natural light, but that’s just me.”

I don’t think Nick hears me. He is lost to the world, absorbing his joy of the impending spring.

And with that story, my friends, I am sure you will remember to jump your clocks forward an hour this weekend. I don’t know if Nick will be able to sleep the night before from his excitement.

Thought for the Day: Winter Neighbor Edition

Published on by Lisa

There is special place in heaven for those who are generous with their snow blowers.
For the Lord said, “Those that hath much during a 12 inch snow storm, needs to giveth much.”

Well, that wasn’t really said, but for the three neighbors who all offered their snow blowers on separate occasions, I think there will a warm place in heaven for them.

There is officially no more room to shovel snow on our driveway. The peaks aligning the drive are to tall to put snow on anymore. The snow blower just throws it up in the air with ease.

They go to heaven.

I am happy.

Generosity is good for everyone.

February should be called Share Your Snow Blower Month. And the proceeding month, March, can be Appreciate your Snow Blower Sharing Neighbor Month.

"Just Don’t Wait Until Winter"

Published on by Lisa

One of the things that Nick and I have noticed about life in surburbia, Cleveland surburbia to be precise, is how often winter is referenced. We went for a long walk last night after dinner to breathe in the Autumn-like air, and I got to thinking of all the things I’ve noticed about our new life and the people in it. When you don’t have a job, your mind tends to wander into topics like that at night.

It’s a funny observation that so many marketing strategies in Cleveland include a foreboding, “Don’t wait until winter..” Winter has been brought up at least once a day since I moved here. Whether it’s house insulation, window replacements, or firewood, everything comes with a reminder to GIT ‘ER DONE before the snow comes. You don’t want a faulty windshield wiper during a snowstorm now do you? You can’t go without snow tires this season can you? Winter-proof your house now and replace your carpet floors!

Granted, safety is always best and it’s always good to be prepared, but for how often people ask if our winter boots are ready for the lake effect, I have to ask: Do we live in the western frontier? Do we not have Triple A, cell phones, and emergency lanes in the highway? What is UP with all the winter fear?

AND

It’s not like Nick and I just moved here from the Little Miss Sunshine state – we lived in BOSTON. A city where I bore three brutal winters and countless Nor’easters – snow that stopped trains, cold that ripped to the bone marrow of one’s existence, ice that didn’t melt until April – and still survived.

So, what is UP with Clevelanders asking us, “Are you ready for a Cleveland winter? It’s something else…”

One eyebrow lifts, unimpressed. There are bigger things to be concerned with in this city than the winter months. First, let’s deal with the Tribe or the Brownies. Now THERE’S something to worry about.

Springing Forward

Published on by Lisa

There is something tragic about Spring that I cannot put into words.

The lush green trees, the sweet clean air, and the sound of baseball meeting a bat. Spring time.

I sit here with red eyes, a scratchy throat, and compressed lungs that wheeze when outside for more than 5 minutes. I hate my allergies. Egh.

Other than the arrival of beautiful Spring while Boston is rated the third WORST CITY IN THE US for allergies, other things have been going on.

Last weekend, Nick’s parents came into town and it was a lovely break to have some family around us in our home. If you haven’t already, please ask Ron and Nick about their first lobster experience. Two words: DIS-ASTER. I don’t know if Nick is allowed back in Maine after the mess he created on the table. I wasn’t there, but I heard the stories. My reaction when he told me he ordered a lobster, “You don’t like seafood, so I don’t follow why you even tried it in the first place.” His reply, “I live on the edge! That’s how I roll.”

He’s been saying that a lot lately and it is getting old.

This past Monday, Andy Wendelon was in town and since I was trapped in the third ring of hell (work), Nick went out to dinner and showed him a fine bar of Boston. Tomorrow, my bud Jennifer Buckley will be visiting from NYC along with a potential Memorial Day visit from my oldest brother Victor who lives out in Los Angeles. They’ve got the right idea folks — if you want to see Boston, get here sooner rather than later cuz we’re outta here pretty soon.

So other than lobster feasts and family/friends visits, we have been running around like mad with school letting out, moving, house hunting, job hunting (me), and my impending trip to the Philippines. My scheduled departure date is June 23rd.

That’s a quick update from the east coast. Hopefully, I will have more to share as our final weeks in Boston begin to dwindle.

To spring! Cheers!

Spring Time

Published on by Lisa



Don’t you just adore spring?

Aside from my wheezing lungs from springtime allergens and the increased number of tourists in the city, I tell you, there is nothing like spring.

Today, the Boston Marathon cancelled all classes around the city and Nick and watched about 25,000 folks run their fannies off. We were at the finish line and stood for an hour, squished, shoulder to shoulder with screaming strangers who were ringing mini cowbells in our ears.

Pretty awesome and inspiring to watch.

More importantly, Congrats to Staci Condon! Nick and I are so pumped for you and Josh!