KooKooNoodle

I got the piano tuned the other day. Hurray! It sounds wonderful and it’s actually easier to play now that the tension on each key has been adjusted. But taking advantage of an open piano, I asked the tuner if he minded if I took some pictures over his shoulder. It was a great opportunity to take some macro shots.

I learned a great lesson while the piano tuner was here, and it was not about music. He was exactly what you think a piano tuner should be, methodical, precise, serious and maybe a little ho-hum. He reminded me of some audio engineers I knew on film sets who were very focused on the precision of sound. While he was here I mused about how certain kinds of people are attracted to certain jobs and unfairly assigned him to a “type.”

But once I brought out my camera, he came to life. Turns out, he loves taking pictures of the night sky, and he is quite knowledgeable on the subject.  He learned his piano tuning craft from his father and grandfather and works with musicians all over the city. He smiled and chatted and reminded me that we are so much more than the first impressions we give. I took his picture and sent it to him as a thank you, for more than just a lovely -sounding piano.

Posted on January 20th, 2008 by Stephanie
Filed under: Home, Life, Uncategorized | No Comments »

We’re Mr. Potato Head crazy at my house! As any self-respecting 2-year old knows, Mr. Potato Head is awesome. I had forgotten just how awesome until we went to Disneyland and found that in Toontown, you can buy a whole huge box of Potato-y accessories for the low low price of $16.95. They have magician assistant hats and Minnie ears and Mickey balloons and movie cameras. Super cool. The madness has built since then. The madness, in this case, is solely mine. Chloe doesn’t even know about these treasures yet as they are sitting in a plastic bag in the closet eagerly awaiting their release on Christmas morning.

Ever trying to control the mess of little pieces, I decided to create a Potato Sack to hold all the bits and bobs. I’m terribly pleased with how it all turned out, and I was able to make the whole thing with stuff I already had in the house! I drew the potato head freehand on some paper, traced him onto some leftover linen I had, and then embroidered him mostly using satin stitch.

Then came the tricky part - the part I had been worried about. I’ve never made a drawstring bag, let alone a lined one, so I was afraid it would look all wonky. But I found a fantastic and easy tutorial at Happythings! I’ve been reading Amy’s blog for a long long time, but I didn’t know about her wonderful tutorials. A quick Google search about making lined drawstring bags brought me right to the site I should have looked at in the first place!

The bag came together very easily in about 30 minutes, and it’s all ready to be filled with noses and ears and arms and feet and hats and Santa’s beard and pirate eye patches. Merry Christmas Mr. Potato Head.

Posted on December 21st, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Crafts, Projects, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Oh kiddo. How I love this age. Sure, we have bouts with bonelessness, fits of “NO!” and “MINE!,” but you are coming into your own and I am so blessed to be able to experience it with you. Your personality reveals itself to me daily. You are loving, affectionate, smart, smiley, observant, independent, curious, funny, and rarely at a loss for words. A truly happy kid. I can’t believe all the things you know and understand.

This month has seen the introduction of the “Chloe Story,” and I regale you with tales of going to the grocery store, the potty chair or the park. Exciting stuff! We’ve also started saying prayers at bedtime (which you love because it delays sleeping just that much longer!) Our new bathtub has been the biggest excitement of your young life, and I’ve twice taken you out of chilly water, shivering, after strong protests to coming out of the tub.

Posted on November 12th, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Toddlers | 3 Comments »

It took 28 days, but the bathroom is just about done! Only a few finishing touches left, like glass drawer pulls, shelves in the closet area, towel hooks, and some art on the walls. I love the new paint, and the whole room looks crisp and fresh. Such a huge improvement. I’m terribly pleased.

Painting was a total pain. Sure, it’s a tiny room, but we had to plane and sand the door (too many layers of paint), prep and TSP the walls, rinse them, prime every surface, paint two coats, and finish the trim. It took  forever, but we did a really thorough job, and it looks spanking new.

I bought uber-plush towels from Target, and a totally luxurious bathmat that even Shayne commented on after getting out of the shower.

The tub itself is super deep and very soaky-comfortable. Now I need some bath bombs from Lush and some extra candles from our absurdly-full candle closet (why do we need so many candles?!) Calgon, take me away!

One problem though… Having painted the outside of the door, now the whole hallway looks in need of new paint job. Oh dear, it begins again.

Posted on November 11th, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Home, Projects, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

When our friends, Chris and Amy moved a few months ago, they gave us their piano. It was the most brilliant gift ever. I’ve been playing ever since preschool, but haven’t lived in a house with a piano for 15 years. While I can barely read music anymore (I was never that good anyway), I find that I can still play every piece I ever learned. And now that I’ve been practicing for three months, I’m playing them better than ever before.

I can’t tell you what pleasure I’ve gotten from this piano. I usually don’t enjoy playing for other people, as I tend to overthink things, but the peace I get from playing while alone is really wonderful. It’s an escape like reading, but much more personal and I can feel my brain and body working together. I like to practice every day, and have even downloaded some new sheet music. My new endeavor will be Clair de Lune, by Debussy. I’m so excited to learn some new music!

Posted on November 4th, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Projects | 4 Comments »

Chloe has come up with some good ones lately:

“Mommy, my nipples are gone!!!”
“I break it good, Mama. Eggs!” (After breaking 5 eggs on the kitchen table and chairs)
“I wanna get outta here to see Cinderella”
“Daddy says, ‘I have spoken!’”
“Don’t blow me.” (oh dear. we were blowing her hair back)
“I want belly button on my pizza”

Posted on November 3rd, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Kids, Toddlers | No Comments »

California is burning. While I live in the Los Angeles area, I am in a fire-free zone, thank goodness. I think my neighborhood is too covered by concrete and urban sprawl to be affected much by the spreading fires (let’s hope!). And while I cannot see big plumes of smoke, I am experiencing fire signs all around my house. The sky is blue to the north and west and alarmingly brown to the south and east. The air is thick - literally thick and the light looks like sunset all day long. Last night the moon was the color of a burnt sienna crayon, and this morning, my car was covered by a light dusting of ash. I cannot imagine what it is like closer to the hot zones. The weather report says that the winds are diminishing, and I hope that means the fires will soon be under control.

Posted on October 24th, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Tags | 2 Comments »

As is the way with all remodeling jobs, ours has hit a snag. The inspector never showed up, the contractor’s son/assistant is sick, so won’t be helping today, the booklet on the installation of the tub has gone missing, and it looks like the shower won’t be finished by the weekend.

Grumblecakes.

This means I’ll be appearing at random doorsteps with my shampoo, towel and rubber ducky begging for a shower.

In the meantime, Chloe and I are going stir crazy, having been trapped in the house for 8 days. My kingdom for a Grande Mocha Frappaccino, a staff meeting and a big project that doesn’t involve cleaning something!

Posted on October 19th, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Home, Projects, Tags | No Comments »

BANG BANG BANG BANG crumble crumble

Goodbye Standing Shower…

As I sit here in the living room on the couch, a strange man is clobbering the hell out of my bathroom. Probably taking some deep seated joy in utter destruction, he whacks the heck out of the tile, the standing shower. and a wall.

CRASH CRASH, BANG BANG, CRASH, CRASH

Begone standing shower! Welcome welcome much needed bathtub!

Yes, we’ve been living without a bathtub these last three years, and Chloe has totally outgrown the kitchen sink we bathe her in. So the time has finally come to remodel the bathroom. Of course, there is that pesky little problem that we only have the one bathroom, so I took a very long shower this morning not knowing when my next one will come…

CRASH!!!

My mind puts the banging on mute for a moment as I daydream about long soaks in the tub, bath bombs from Lush, candles, bubbles and the bliss of escape.

BANG BANG RAT TAT TAT TAT TAT

Uh Oh. Apparently, the concrete is too thick for traditional demo methods, and they’ve had to bring in a jackhammer. The sound is deafening and making the pots and pans on the other side of the wall wiggle on their hooks. Meanwhile, I’m kidding myself into thinking that Chloe might take a nap. Ha!

Posted on October 16th, 2007 by Stephanie
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I’ve been happily isolated (for the most part) in my simple life at home with Chloe for these two years but with the move of our friends and their daughter a couple of weeks ago, it became apparent that it is time to leap into the world again. Chloe needs some playmates and I need non-toddler conversation during the day.  With no stay-at-home moms in my circle, I’m setting out to make some friends.

First stop - stroller class.  I tried out a stroller exercise class in hopes of getting into shape and making some friends. The class was great, but the discussions at the playground afterwards felt more like a competition over who is the ubermom. There was much discussion over studies about how 20 minutes of television will permanently damage a child’s brain and how not owning a TV makes you a superior person.  One mom had severe stomach troubles over stress that her son only speaks 2 languages.  Um, ok.
These are not my people.  But they’re out there somewhere, so I’m going to keep looking.  Next stop - MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers)…

Posted on October 9th, 2007 by Stephanie
Filed under: Friends, Life, Toddlers, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »