A Life of Popsicles, Swimming and Ice Cream

Here's what my life has been reduced to.  Popsicles. Ice cream.  Swimming in the bay.  Kids karaoke.  Working in my bathing suit all day.

We're back on Fire Island and I've been honestly diligent about work while Abby is off camping the day away (today, she was on fishing trip) and Stefan is cavorting with Andrea at the bay and the baby pool.

So, here's to this Fire Island summer.  Off to Kismet tonight for dinner with friends.

Ode to a Wonder Dog

Our 13-year-old German Shepard, Genie, had to be put to sleep last night. We are all really sad. Sad that it was her time to go.  But also sad that she suffered a bit at the end and it all happened much too quickly, without my chance to say goodbye and pat her head once last time.  I would have told her that she really had been a good dog, especially with Nathaniel, Abby and Stefan.

But we realize it was her time.  And she'll be joining our cat and her life long buddy, Charlie, somewhere in a place where they can resume their love/hate relationship. 

For now, her spirit rests on Fire Island, where she used to roam the beaches in her younger days, galloping back and forth chasing sticks and letting the wind blow through her fur.

We'll miss you Genie dog!

July, July...where are you going?

It seems like July is screaming past.  Not enough days and nights left in this mini vacation of sorts on Fire Island.  Not enough days to wear bikinis. Roll in the sand with Stefan and chase him around our house in his birthday suit as well as watch him brush his teeth in the sink.  Visit the candy store with Abby and bike back and forth and back and forth to camp.  Have a glass of wine on the deck with Brad.

Don't go so fast July. I'll miss you.

A Rainy Day on Fire Island

Today is a walk in the rain day. Put on your rain slicker and Crocs and wade through puddles kind of day.  Pick blueberries in the morning kind of day.  Take a nap kind of day.

Off to make blueberry muffins with Abby. 

Pink for Fire Island

I am absolutely in love...with this house. 

It's in this month's edition of House Beautiful.

Such great crisp pinks, whites, greens, blues and yellows.

There are some great ideas here for Fire Island, don't you think?

This pink Smeg fridge is to die for.

Retro Living...Fire Island

It's really going to happen. We met this week with our contractor and discussed ideas for our beach house kitchen renovation.  One of the most exciting things is getting to pick out a retro refridgerator.

Is it going to be this cool blue?

Or this simple crisp white?

Or this aqua.  I even saw one today that was a lovely light pink.  So exciting.

A Fire Engine for Fire Island

It arrived all shiny and red. With a bell that clangs and a steering wheel that's fun to turn....

It's fun to ride in a diaper, oh so fun to ride even naked.

What could be better than a little red fire engine and a 17-month-old on a hot Fire Island day?

Ride little man, ride!

Fire Island 4th of July Fun

It was another crowded, hot 4th of July Fire Island parade. Plenty of red, white and blue.

And some tie dye too.

And some large funky, earrings to go with a refreshing slushy after the festivities.

 Even Stef got into the spirit.

And we all got free ice cream coupons and trophies. Yeah!

 Until next year....

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

My six-year-old left me tonight. Boarded a plane for Boston with my dearest friend. There was a quick kiss at the airport and then they were off.  

"Good bye mom I'm going to Boston," rings in my ears, the little song on the CD that we listen to with Stefan.

Such a big girl.  When did she get to be so grown up?

Oh Frank!

I had such warm and fuzzy feelings about Frank Lloyd Wright, having visited his family home in Oak Park where he lived with his first wife and six children in the late 1890's and early 1900's.  There was the wonderful, over sized playroom with the grand piano placed strategically in the wall which then hung by a hook over the back staircase; the choir loft with three rows to accomodate a growing brood; the raised ceiling and warm lighting.  He seemed like a real family man.

But then I became curious about Frank.  Seems he sort of "abandoned" his family to take up with a few other women, one of whom he eventually married after cavorting in Europe.

Architectural genius?  Absolutely.  Winner of the Father of the Year award?  Definitely not.

But if you get a chance to stroll through Oak Park, put it on your Chicago To Do List.

Chicago weekend

Chicago.  What a wonderful city.  I really have to admit I was quite impressed. 

Most of you know me. I like nice hotels.  It sounds like a bit of a confession and I guess it is.  I would prefer the Four Seasons to the Holiday Inn.  A nice marble tub to a plastic shower.  500-count Egyptian sheets to scratchy, nasty blankets.  Room service over a vending machine. 

Is that so wrong?

So, is it any wonder that we spent a night at The Drake?  It is one of those historic, iconic hotels that makes you feel good just to pass through the front door (where you are greeted by a monstrous bouquet and an expansive lobby).  

We only had time for the girls to order 11 pm room service while we grabbed a drink at Coq D'Or.  But that bed was oh so nice.  And the lobby.  And the friendly concierge.  And the flowers.  Did I mention the sheets?

Packing, Repacking....

Seems like I am always packing, unpacking, repacking, packing, unpacking.  So, now I'm going to write down a list of all of my must have items, as a checklist for me to have next time I get ready to embark.  I really should do the same thing for the kids, but it's just too darn exhausting:

My IPOD: Definitely need some new tunes but it's a keeper.

My Bose headphones:  When Brad bought these for me a few years ago, I thought they were tremendously overpriced.  Worth every last darn penny. Love 'em.

Eye mask: Yep..I put it on a few minutes after take off on the long hauls.

My pashmina: Love my big purple one which I can wrap around me like a blanket.

My small Acer: I can fit it in my purse....wonderful. 

Accessories galore: I'll admit it.  I'm an accessories whore.  I have about 20 necklaces from different countries, am amassing an equal in number ring collection and oh yes, then there are my large bangles.  I  am one of those girls who believes strongly in accessorizing.

At least 2 cotton shawls:  One from Egypt and one from Mexico are my current faves.

My favorite t-shirt:  Magnolia Bakery from NYC. 

Oodles of small bottles and perfume samples: Thanks to the Jo Malone counter at Nordstrom and my endless quest for the perfect travel lotions from Duty Free, I'm all stocked up in that department, thank you very much.

One groovy dress or tunic:  Always comes in handy.

From Burqas to the beach

Thanks to all of you last week for your comments on- and off-line about the burqa column in the Washington Post.  As one of you put it, it is affecting 2,000 women in France -- but the implications are much larger than that.  To be continued...

But for the weekend, we ran away to Fire Island. This is what life there is all about. 

"Burqa Rage"

Michael Gerson has an opinion piece in today's Washington Post about the controversy swirling in Europe over the banning of head coverings.  I've never lived or worked in Afghanistan but know many women who have -- and they pretty universally see it as a symbol of oppression and subservience.

Is the burqa really a reasonable expression of religious freedom, particularly when it serves to subjugate women?

I'd love to hear from some of my friends who live in Europe and can shed further light on this.  As well as those who can fill me in on the benefits of the burqa.

Amman Fashion

I went to the souk on my last day in Amman, not so much to buy anything but to wonder past its limitless items -- shoes, socks, gold chains and rings, dresses, blankets, dried spices and herbs, plastic tubs.  And some interesting women's fashions.  I find places like Jordan a bit confusing.  

It's not all one way or the other -- extremely conservative or extremely liberal, which would make the study of women's choices and decisions about covering their heads and/or faces so much easier.

Some of these ladies, particularly in the drab, featureless "coats," looked particularly stoic.  I wonder if they felt what many women in Amman felt, who were at home and not out amongst the souk where I walked in my western dress.

As for me, I was mostly interested in those gowns with lots of jangling coins and bright colors.

If not Amman, then Bangkok

I almost didn't come to Amman. I was almost in Bangkok.

Well, it would never have happened given the violent events there these last few weeks.  A colleague and his wife came from the traumatized city; evacuated from their home in the "red zone" a few days before he left.  He's not sure what awaits him when he gets back.

These photos were taken just steps from his apartment before government forces moved in.

A much different city awaits him upon his return; and any of us going back.

Day 2, Amman

My colleague, Steve, went out today to do what I love to do -- visit a local village, eat a homecooked meal and interact with the "real" people. Unfortunately, I was stuck in a hotel conference room.

He is filming a short video about a community water project in Jordan.  Jordan has severe water constraints -- it is the 4th dryest country in the world.  What does that mean? Rivers are drying up.  Crops are dying.  People don't have drinking water.  Many have traditionally felt that it was in "Allah's hands."

But one project funded by USAID is allowing commuities to make their own decisions about rain collection points -- to feed livestock, to provide fresh drinking water and to water crops.

Last night, we sat with 2 Jordanians who work on the project -- it was inspiring.  This is exactly the type of project we should be investing in as tax payers.

Wanderlusting in Jordan

Jordan snuck up on me on the calendar.  And then I was off.  On the plane...over to London...a nice stop at Terminal 1...and then on another plane to Amman which would leave me in a sleep-induced haze as I arrived to the throngs of European tourists and WANA conference attendees. 

But there awaits the beautiful city of Amman. Its white washed facades. Its dry heat.  Its desert feel.  Its warm people and wonderful food.

My time here is short.  My free time even shorter. How will I fill it in between training at this conference?

Perhaps looking for more of this simple beauty.