Nora Ephron

I didn't really know who Nora Ephron was until she died (though I'd seen most of her movies), and I've been catching up since then. Today, I read Lena Dunham's 2012 essay, Seeing Nora Everywhere, in the New Yorker. Wow.

I loved her propensity for asking a question when she already knew the correct answer but wanted to let you make a tiny fool of yourself. The best example of this was when we were discussing a popular book and she earnestly asked, “Did you think that was a good book?” I said, “Well, yes,” before Nora came back, sharply, with “It wasn’t.” I later told this story onstage with her, and she laughed as though she knew it was one of her most awesome tricks.

This is why feminism matters

I love the blog Girl's Gone Child. (I started reading way before Clara was born.) I've embraced the free form/stream of consciousness style of writing because many of the topics are so emotional – I'm not sure there's a better way to write them. From a recent post:

Fable, without even realizing she had done so, had accepted that there would be times when what she wore and did and represented would cause some to want to touch, take and dismantle... but instead of wearing a higher-cut top or a quieter color trading in the light-up lunch box for something that would perhaps garner less attention, keep the boys from hitting, help her stay anonymous in the crowd, she stood up. She stood up to them and she stood up to me and she said the word that I struggled so hard to say as a child, a teenager, a young woman, and even now.

She said no. 

"This is my lunch box. I love this lunch box. I chose this lunch box. They're the ones who need to STOP. Not me." 

I wanted to wake her up and tell her how right she was. I wanted to thank her for showing ME what it means to be a sister, and a feminist and an individual who knows how to say NO to those who are challenging her RIGHT to say YES. 

"THIS is why feminism matters..." 

Because saying NO to others is not enough sometimes. We need comrades and partners, sisters and brothers, friends and family to help us raise the volume, build our muscles, dance our dance... 

The American Dream

Look at this perfect comment from Apartment Therapy about home ownership and sharing a house. It's almost as if I wrote it, with gems like this:

"We made a point to buy a sturdy home in a great location (near a downtown, near a hospital, near schools, near grocery stores, decent yard). It's now our "manor" and we've adopted the aristocratic thinking of stewardship. This house isn't a possession anymore, it's a responsibility and privilege and something we're entrusted to care for." 

And this:

"We realized that a lot of the values we grew up with were built by a individualistic society and a consumer/service economy. Or that one could just buy and toss at a whim. Now we'd like to transition, through home ownership, to a more thoughtful and communal dream."

Multigenerational Living

I'm here to tell you Michael and I bought a house with my parents, and I may or may not collect some thoughts about the experience. On this blog. You never know.

For starters, I love these tips from The New York Times, especially:

"Figure out what is family time, personal time and big extended family time. For instance, we like to all have dinner together a few nights a week but my daughter, husband and I still want a few nights just to ourselves."

Fred Stoller

There's this stand-up comedian whose career I've been inadvertently following.

I first saw him while watching a VHS tape of a stand-up show in a friend's basement, and I loved him. That was a good 20 years ago, and I still remember a joke about using keys as a self-defence weapon, and how that doesn't work with modern hotel keys that look like credit cards.

Maybe you had to see it.

He would pop up as a guest star in random sitcoms, and every time I saw him (because, yes, I love sitcoms) I was happy to see that he was still around. But I never noted his name. Never looked him up on IMDB, once that became a thing that we did.

And then last week I was listening to my favourite CBC Radio show, Wiretap, and I heard his unmistakable voice, and I found out that his name is Fred Stoller. This, in itself, was a treat, but the story he shares is just so beautiful. I think you should check it out.

100% perfect

Haruki Murakami: On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning:

"Yesterday on the street I passed the 100% perfect girl," I tell someone.

"Yeah?" he says. "Good-looking?"

"Not really."

I still haven't finished reading Murakami's latest novel, but he's a favorite author, and this is a favorite short story.

18 months

 
 
The couch is no more and the baby won't sit still anyway. 

Again with Miranda July

A Huffington Post interview with Miranda July:

I remember staring at some pointilist painting in an Impressionist exhibition when I was younger and thinking that I was being really moved by it. I felt like I was in the painting. But gradually I realized what was happening was the sound of the air conditioning and the perfume of the woman next to me were combining with the image to create this immersive experience. I remember thinking that was interesting. The whole thing is the art; the painting would be nothing without the cooling system.

The lady always manages to say something special. I'm looking forward to her new art exhibition We Think Alone.

12 months!

11 months

10 years of emailing Christmas greetings

2002:



2003:



2004:



2005:



2006:



2007:



2008:



2009:



2010:



2011:



2012:

10 months

Christmas decorations

We're heading to Saskatoon for Christmas, but we still pulled out our decorations (the little tree is out of reach on our counter). And yes, we listened to Christmas music in November.







You guys, I'm really into Christmas. Thankfully, the babies like Christmas music and Christmas lights, and the roommates are into Christmas decor. Michael has even listened to the Chieftains Christmas album, the Bells of Dublin, without complaint. It's a Christmas miracle!

9 months (teething edition)

We only snapped one photo this time around. Here's a happier photo for the grandparents out there:

Whole 30 finale

Michael and I finished the Whole 30 diet on Tuesday, but we're reintroducing the missing foods S-L-O-W-L-Y. So far, I've had a variety of dairy products (we started with strawberry ice cream), a glass of wine and some coconut flour and honey in these Paleo Pumpkin Bars (my roomie added dark chocolate to the recipe - delicious!). Thankfully, my stomach seems happy with these foods. Next week we'll try some grains and see what happens. As far as wheat goes, I'll start with a pastry from Fol Epi, because pastry flour has less gluten than regular flour, or a pizza from Prima Strada, because their imported Italian flour is also light on the gluten. Eventually, tentatively, I'm going to start making sourdough bread, because fermented foods are good for your tummy. I'm especially excited to try Chad Robertson's Tartine Country Bread. I have a few favorite bakeries, and Tartine is one of them. If I actually stick to this plan, I'll let myself invest in the Tartine Bread cookbook.

Yes, you can see that I've got plenty of schemes regarding how and when I'll be eating wheat again, but don't be deceived. I'm pretty sure our diets will never be the same because there is no doubt that we feel better eating this way. Our digestion has improved and we both lost over 10 pounds. Even though that wasn't the point of the exercise, it's a telling outcome.

Sticking to the diet became a little easier as time went on. We planned ahead so the cooking didn't seem as onerous, and we found we had to eat less as our cravings adjusted -- thank goodness because our grocery lists have been pricey. One of the resources that helped us through the whole experience was the cookbook Well Fed. We feasted on shepherd's pie (with yams instead of potatoes), meat balls (think pork, pineapple and coconut flakes) and paleo pad thai (spaghetti squash instead of rice noodles - you get the picture). We also ate a million eggs for breakfasts and snacks. Sadly, after the first couple of weeks, I discovered that I have a sensitivity to nuts, though I have to conduct some experiments to find out if some are worse than others. I do like my almond butter, after all.

Phew. Well, I think I've captured the broad points without getting into too many personal details. Let me know if you want to know anything else...

8 months

Half way there

You guys, I haven't cheated. Er, I accidentally ate a small potato in some chicken soup from Alderlea Farm, but other than that, I've stayed true to the Whole 30 diet for the last 15 days. You want to know how? Michael. I would have quit 10 times over if it wasn't for 1) Michael organizing our meals and 2) Michael convincing me to keep going even though I wanted to eat ice cream to comfort myself during some tough days with Lady Clara. That second bit has been the biggest challenge, by far. That, and a poorly timed break from coffee (to see if it helps with Clara's sleep).

Physically, I'm still feeling good. I'm totally satisfied by our meals, and I can fit into a lot of my pre-Clara clothes (well, the some of the tops will have to wait until I'm done nursing). I'm not really worried about the next 15 days, but I'll have to deal with Thanksgiving and some out-of-town visitors; I'll let you know how it goes.

Whole 30

So! I'm on my fifth day without grains, dairy, sugar, legumes (including peanuts) and alcohol. Michael and I are doing the Whole 30 diet, which means it'll be 25 days before we eat those foods again. And even though I'd love a piece of toast with peanut butter or a banana muffin with a slice of cheese, and even though Michael would love a bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream or a cup of creamy coffee, we're feeling really good. I'm doing this thing because I have a sneaking suspicion that gluten is a problem for me. Truth be told, I'm sort of sad that I'm feeling so good, because I don't want it to be a problem. I want to continue frequenting my favorite bakery, you guys! But if I can improve my physical and emotional health by eating differently, I'm going to do it! For 30 days. And then we'll see.

7 months

6 months