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Stories & SNippets : 2009
…and observations, journals, & musings on music, film, books, art, and pretty things. and life in general.
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
March 09 : a Monday
I walked into the dining room and found her with her eyes closed and hands folded, communing privately: “Dear God, thank you…Eemie* and Anyung* and…Potatohead.
She is big into Potatohead and robots. Cold robots. Today: lots of painting, collaging, and coloring.
Listening to “I Went to the Animal Fair” on vinyl, Baby Beluga on CD, and Chinese on the telly with a 20-month old.
March 24, a Tuesday
10.10am - Just down for nap. On our bed. Thus far: she wants to listen to Donovan. She wants to read Dr. Seuss’s “Oh Say Can You Say.” We ate strippers, toast, and peanut butter, Joe’s O’s and rice milk for breakfast. “Tickle me Dodi,” she says. I acquiesce.
9.41pm - On the animal couch, flossing, watching House, waiting for a giant render to finish. Today we’ve been listening to Donovan and Queen.
She gets so excited about the three of us playing together. Hopping, chasing, hiding, riding, tickling…
Jamey at the office: has production high, schedule is full, parents are loving it and having him. Very cool.
Our 20-month old is loving to listen to Donovan and Queen, and loving to read Dr Seuss’s “Oh Say Can You Say.” Minus the afore-mentioned figure, we have been watching House.
April 2009
May 2009
Listening: Hot Chip - Over and Over, Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes, MGMT - Kids, Okkervil River - Unless It’s Kicks.
May 1
May is one of my favorite months beginning with the letter M. Two great men have birthdays in May. Lee Long and Jeffrey Townsend. Also, May was the favorite month of Genghis Khan.
It has been said the best part of relationships and dining is the anticipation.
May (along with November) is the great anticipation month. Full-on summer is around the corner. Pull out the bicycles, tricycles, dust off the barbecue grills (note: need to get one), and load up on Claritin.
And, of course, it means Christmas is around the corner.
May 25, Monday, 4.26pm
A gorgeous, stunning day. Joined our friends, the N———-, at a ranch on the river for sliding, wagon rides, and jetskiing - a first for our 22-month old. Lovely time. She shared her (rare) fishie crackers, ran around posing sans clothing, and just had a splendid time in the breezy warmth.
June 2009
June 13, Shabbat, 11.44am-ish, a small college town
A giant church, a locale that feels both massively familiar and intimately distant. Also, a locale in which our daughter just rolled a super ball to the front of the church. All the way from the back. Twice.
She wakes up in the 6am range these days. Including today. Took her on a long walk around the small town, examining leaves and munching Honey Nut Cheerios from her Uncle Josh’s cupboard. His kitchen is looking very nice. Brand new appliances, floor, and countertops.
Church is packed, and she is slumped asleep on her Grandpa’s lap, sitting upright while previously drawing with Sharpies.
Jeremy is writing a song based on a summary/interpretation of The Metamorphosis. I will probably never listen to it, unless it is really good, so I will listen to it.
July 2009
July 5, a Sunday, 10.28pm
Watching Seinfeld with Lanessa. Day started off…terrible. An almost 2-year old going 11 rounds with me like Rocky Marciano. Angry ANGRY. About what? Hard to say. About waking up too early? What a pill.
“Yesterday, the stars were popping!”
Baled hay with my father-in-law and his brother. What a pair.
Leanna left. Sniff. A very good visit. Miss her.
Watching Seinfeld, snuggled up with my sis Lanessa, post-holiday.
July 7, a Tuesday
Sarah Palin resigned as Alaska governor. Huh? We scratch our heads. Celebrated Jamey’s 24th at Thai Lotus last night. Lanessa’s over for the week. Rolling on OC project.
At 4am this morning: “Daddy, daddy, I need you!” Despite the hour: my heart. May she always have some level of need in her heart for me.
July 8, a Wednesday, 12.59am
Post-zoo concert. At this point, I just want to go snuggle with my wife.
July 21, a Tuesday, 7.50am regarding authoritarianism of non-human subjects
At the hospital, waiting for another child to join this world. Not our child. There in support of K——-, the newborn daughter of Becca’s wife’s cousin cousin’s wife, which makes this new arrival my…okay, not going to process the genealogical connective thread on that one. My wife’s cousin is her first cousin, so his child would be…her first cousin, once removed? So, my first-cousin-in-law once removed. It’s easier to just think in terms of nephews and nieces.
Being at the hospital for birth: brings back a few memories. What a ritual. A messy, beautiful ritual. I suppose it’s easy to say “beautiful” when you’re an observer or cheerleader.
That day two years ago…great bonding experience for the two of us. Me and Becca. Immensely meaningful and significant. Duh? But it’s true.
And now we have this two-year old bundle of personality that is soaked into our lives always, bringing new perspectives and humor into every day:
“I need you to listen and to…obey.”
she turns around to me and explains:
”…I am talking to the wipes.”
July 22, a Wednesday
“When Mama comes home, I can have a cereal bar.”
-a 2-year old, announcing in her most casually-royal of voices high from the throne of her high chair
July 28, a Tuesday, 1.19am.
Lanessa, asleep in my office. Becca, perspiring and a wee cranky as she perspires in the twilight of a 100-degree day. She made pizza tonight. Scrumptious.
Watched more Boston Legal with Becca and Lanessa. And almost finished the OC edit. Will be very glad to be done.
Listening to Sigur Rod and David Gray with Lanessa.
Jonny bought a car. 2002 green Camry. V6 for $5500.
August 2009
August 1, a Shabbat, 12.19pm
Arrived at a Tri Cities Marriott in the 1.30am range. Becca drove from Cascade Locks on, which was nice. Jonny and Jeremy are addicted to a typing game online. Our girl is down for a snooze. We were driving into Richland, trying to navigate here well after midnight, and we hear this alert, cheerful voice behind us in the backseat:
“Good job, guys!”
September 2009
September 14, a Monday,
We just got done galloping. She is now in a bed - yes, our bed - angelic. “Galloping” is when I hold her and run real fast. Only it’s not running. It’s totally different, it’s galloping, and also we frequently listen to The Man From Snowy River score while we’re cantering (or galloping) at incredible speeds down the hallway. Or around the living room. She calls me “Dodi.”
“I want to hold your hand, Dodi! We will be brave together!” is what she says in her raspy little twenty-six month voice.
I will hold your hand forever when you want, I remind her truthfully.
Also, I need to fix our screen door and do laundry. And load the dishwasher.
September 29
September 29, a Tuesday, 6.14pm
Outside Vancouver Mall, where Becca is buying certain articles of clothing at a certain clothing store geared toward women; a store beginning with a woman’s name.
My favorite line today: “I want to dance, and do ‘do a deer a female deer’ and then dance some more.” (from our 26-month old)
Other phrases of hers currently: “Would you mind…?” followed by a request such as “…looking at a magazine with me?” or “Would you mind…dancing with me?”
She is also into octopus galloping, snuggle galloping, and swing galloping. If it’s not clear, these are new inventions we’ve brought to the world in the sport known as “galloping.”
Her raspy little voice and “r’s” coming from the back of her throat continue to enchant.
11pm
No television tonight. Curry for din-din. Dancing to Queen and Jack Johnson. Humane Society project: done. Today: lots of cleaning, art, dancing, LOT of dancing and galloping, picking up Becca, Vancouver Mall.
October 2009
October 13, a Monday, 9.44pm
I love our little girl, despite her many - and I mean MANY - emphatic “No Daddy, you do not _____!” (Do any number of things, such as get her out of the car seat). I told her “Noah” while she rubbed my face. A laugh the size of a whale.
A full gale out there. Autumn is here, blowing rough. Jeremy is laid out. Jonny has bronchitis. I wish him to not have bronchitis.
October 25, Sunday
Hawaiian Air. A LONG flight. A daughter who is unafraid of raising her opinion, loudly, in a public forum.
“Public” meaning a commercial airliner.
She has done well, mostly. Just trying to find effective ways to deal with some of her…disinclination to obey. I wonder if there are any other parents working on some of these things with two-year olds? I’m guessing not.
November 2009
November 1, 8.41pm
It is windy and cold. I have so much to do still. Starting with the garage.
November 16, 1.12pm : a living prayer
“Dear God,
Thank you for Mama, and Kelly…and you (points at me)…
and thank you for umm, my cousin, and (opens eyes peers around)…the painting, and the blocks, and the messy room. Umm…amen.
-a 28-month old girl looking for people and objects to ask blessings upon. I’m glad to be included.
November 22, 5.22pm
Loves - LOVES - watching and listening to her uncle sing. Current favorite: a cover of “I’ve Just Seen a Face” on guitar. “I like it when he goes ‘la la la!”
He wasn’t around earlier, so she trudged her 28-month body across the living room, sighed, and said “I’m going to go sit on my animal couch…Daddy would you mind handing me my iTouch?”
Playlist x7
Drive On, Driver - The Magnetic Fields
Starlings - Elbow
Ada - The National
All Fired Up - Interpol
This Job Is Killing Me - the Walkmen
Canvey Island (live) - British Sea Power
Five Easy Pieces - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Nov 30 / Dec 1, 12.55am
I just rabbit-rabbited Becca. What a good feeling. Her irritation is evident.
December 2009
December 10, a Thursday, 11.27pm
First time hearing a heartbeat!
Very, very cold. Supposed to be snow and ice coming in. Stocked up on wood, at the expense of my hands, which are cracked open and bleeding.
PAA lost tonight to De LaSalle. Jeremy had 20+.
December 11 : the dialogues that warm my heart forever into the coldest ice ages
I walk to the CD player.
Are you putting on music? she inquires in her 29-month old raspy voice.
-Why yes, I am.
What are you putting on?
-Neon Indian.
Oh. I don’t think I know them,
she announces nonchalantly, and saunters off.
December 14, a sports day?
Hey, we need to get you some socks, I informed her.
Okay, she said, in 2-year old monotone. First we will get me some socks. Then we will go play basketball.
Okay. I said. That is a solid plan.
Also, she’s very excited about learning the Presidents. “Will you help me learn them?” Has 12-15 of them down.
Dancing to Horse Music (Man from Snowy River) until she’s almost asleep, then I lay her down to snuggle with Becca on our legendary animal couch.
December 22
Listening to Mogwai’s Yes! I Am a Long Way From Home.
December 28
Listening to My Brightest Diamond’s Inside a Boy.
My Favored movies of 2009
Treasured ones
(500) Days of Summer
The Brothers Bloom
District 9
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Julie & Julia
The Lovely Bones
Star Trek
Up
Up In the Air
Honorable mention
Pandorum
All ages-ish
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Up
Guilty pleasures
Law Abiding Citizen
Holiday
coming soon
Want to see
35 Shots of Rum (Japanese father-daughter drama)
A Serious Man
An Education
Adventureland
Everybody’s Fine (De Niro road trip Christmas)
The Hurt Locker
I Am Love (Luca Guadagnino)
The Messenger
Precious
Where the Wild Things Are
Whip It (Drew Barrymore debut about roller derby)
Disappointing / underwhelming
Sherlock Holmes (the Guy Ritchie one)
Watchmen
——
Back to Film Index by Year
ESSENTIAL MUSIC OF 2009
My favourite 11 albums
(Compilation) - Dark Was The Night: A Red Hot Compilation
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Dan Deacon - Bromst
Girls - Album
Moby - Wait for Me
Muse - the Resistance
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Raveonettes - In and Out of Control
Sharon Van Etten - Because I Was In Love
Honorable mention
a-ha - Foot of the Mountain
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For the Young
Chevelle - Sci-Fi Crimes
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Beach House - Devotion
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Florence And The Machine - Lungs
F*ck Buttons - Tarot Sport
Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
Grand Archives - Keep in Mind Frankenstein
Alicia Keys - The Element Of Freedom
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers
Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Royksopp - Junior
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Up from Below
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
M. Ward - Hold Time
The xx - xx
Woods - Songs of Shame
Underwhelming or disappointing
Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
44 Songs from 2009 you gotta hear
Big Bird in a Small Cage - Patrick Watson
Birds Encouraged Him - Jason Lytle
Brand New Sun - Jason Lytle
The Embassy - Mos Def
Live Alone - Franz Ferdinand
Resistance - Muse
Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective
Yours Truly, the Commuter - Jason Lytle
Ulysses - Franz Ferdinand
2009 Playlists by month
January
Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)" (E / explicit!) - the Raveonettes
February
Big Bird in a Small Cage - Patrick Watson
Katherine Kiss Me - Franz Ferdinand
March
Dreams - Brandi Carlile
The Ghost of My Old Dog - Jason Lytle
April
Birds Encouraged Him - Jason Lytle
Live Alone - Franz Ferdinand
May
June
Don’t Hide Away - Bishop Allen
July
Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective
The Embassy - Mos Def
Ulysses - Franz Ferdinand
August
Bang! - the Raveonettes
Yours Truly, the Commuter - Jason Lytle
September
Brand New Sun - Jason Lytle
Resistance - Muse
Fürget It - Jason Lytle
October
Oh, I Buried You Today - the Raveonettes
Twilight Omens - Franz Ferdinand
Lucid Dreams - Franz Ferdinand
November
Suicide - The Raveonettes (E / explicit)
December
Playlist - Night Driving
Blood Bank / Bon Iver
Isolate / Moby
Some Things Last a Long Time / Beach House
Sleep Alone / Bat for Lashes
Le Chat Du Cafe Des Artistes / Charlotte Gainsbourg
Sleepless / the Decemberists
Dead Sound / the Raveonettes
True to Life / Röyksopp
Mistake / Moby
Much More Than That / Sharon Van Etten
Panic Switch / Silversun Pickups
Nightingale / December Song / Sunset Rubdown
Flora / Vive Voce
Basic Space / the xx
Flight of the Feathered Serpent / F**k Buttons
Olympians / F**k Buttons
Tornado / Sharon Van Etten
Scream Pilots / Moby
Summer Top Down Driving
Be a Bee / Air
Out of the Blue / Julian Casablancas
Life in Marvelous Times / Mos Def
Baltihorse / Dan Deacon
Summertime Clothes / Animal Collective
Good ‘Ole Boredom / Built to Spill
Ulysses / Franz Ferdinand
Uprising / Muse
Bad Romance / Lady Gaga
Bang! / the Raveonettes
Losin Your Head / Monsters of Folk
Kiss with a Fist / Florence and the Machine
No Line on the Horizon / U2
Hatin on the Club / Rihanna f. The Dream
Ease Off the Liquor / Timbaland
If We Ever Meet Again (feat. Katy Perry) / Timbaland
Malibu Run / Husky and the Sandmen
Omen / the Prodigy
