Joy of the well chosen gift

I made out very well this birthday, when it comes to receiving gifts I would've loved to purchase for myself. I've already detailed some of these and am very much a believer in taking the time and making the effort to give a well chosen gift.

Hence, this post...

My lovely in-laws are incredibly gracious recipients of gifts. They always show genuine joy at the gift and use everything they receive; that's a sign of class. However, thinking of things they would like isn't always easy because they provide themselves with an enjoyable lifestyle. This week, though, I had the perfect gift them come to me by complete accident! My colleague Peta sent an e-mail to us saying she had an extra ticket to see Les Ballet Trockadero. The Trocks?!? I exclaimed, because I know my in-laws adore them! I got on-line straight away and found this ballet company is doing two dates in Manchester, at the fab Lowry, and there were still a few tickets left. Imagine my excitement! I got the tickets, rang my mom-in-law to tell her (so they wouldn't get tickets as well) and by her response, I knew I had struck gift gold. I'm so happy for them and that they can enjoy this 3-week early anniversary gift.

Strange thing seen this week

My eyes are drawn to the unusual but this week it took no extra effort. Whilst driving to work on Wednesday morning (at 8:15AM) I saw a man (dressed in a suit and tie, I might add) standing at the entrance to Leavesden Studios. He was holding up a huge sign with "Have A HARRY Day!" printed on it.

When I told the anecdote to Simon, he said he saw the same man with the same time but at 5:15PM the same day. Did that man stand out there all day??

Of course, Leavesden Studios is where the Harry Potter films are made, and there is filming currently going on so maybe this guy was needing a thumbs-up from Daniel Radcliffe?

Great day to be me

Yesterday a birthday package arrived and inside was a gorgeous mix of items reflecting my points of pride, being at the inauguration of President Obama and being a librarian. The items, all picked by the coolest cat of all, zil, included an "I read banned books" bracelet (which I wore to work yesterday and showed off to colleagues and students), Praise Song for the Day, The Elements of Style, Barack Obama: The Inaugural Address 2009, and Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope for Bailey (which was actualy purchased by D., zil's mom, when she was in DC at the Kennedy Centre...isn't life good when you benefit from the generousity of a friend's mom?). And as always with zil, each item had its own note of explanation, detailing something especially fine or sigificant about the gift. These insights are so dear and I keep them with the item (if practical), so each time it's used, I get a little personalised connection.

And as if that wasn't a mighty great postal day, last night I opened a package from Judy and Ron. It contained a mix of items but the loveliest was a gift from Ron, Obama: The Historic Journey. This book is beautiful, full of photos and journalistic insights and opinions. It's so interesting and thought-provoking, and the thought of Ron getting it for me was so kind, I cried.

Useful site

Getting too many catalogues? Use Catalogue Choice to tidy up your mailbox.

Pancake flip count is in!

Bailey flipped 20, yes, TWENTY, pancakes today in the school's Shrove Tuesday charity pancake flip. Great flipping, indeed!

Spreading the good word

Yesterday I got an e-mail from a friend, asking what I think is the funkiest and cheapest hotel in Paris. It's Hôtel Esméralda, no doubt. It's old, musty, creaky, full of old fashioned charm, and offers an amazing view of Notre-Dame. They only deal in cash, have no website, and all communications are best done via fax.

Add it to your "in the know" list...

Hôtel Esméralda

4, Rue St Julien Le Pauvre

75005 Paris, France

landline: +33 1 43 54 19 20

fax: +33 1 40 51 00 68

Metro: St-Michel

Shrove and/or Fat Tuesday

Tomorrow at 11:00AM Bailey is participating in the Shrove Tuesday pancake flip for charity at her school. Last year she flipped her cake 18 times, so who knows what this year will bring. Think of her tomorrow when she's got the pan in her hand, and many thanks to those who have pledged support in this event.

(And if you're not familiar with the Shrove Tuesday pancake connection, give this a read.)

Birthday evening viewing

Last night we watched Dominick Dunne: After the Party. I really can't think of a better way to end the already-enjoyable day, to watch the beloved DD say his peace on just about everything. Some of the old Hollywood footage was stunning, and his insights about his LA life were such engaging viewing, as was the dynamic between Dominick and his son Griffin. It's a highly recommended DVD.

39 and holding

To celebrate my day, we three went into London. We enjoyed a mix of charity shops (I especially enjoyed the Oxfam on Goodge Street), coffee drinking (but not for Bailey, of course), walking, and art.

The art part was at the National Portrait Gallery. We saw the Champions exhibit, which had beautiful portraits of athletes. The entire collection was offered in a stunning book, which I will put it on my wish list due to the price... Room 37a offered a joyous exhibit, thanks to the inclusion of my crush, Simon Armitage. I must say though the coolest thing we saw was the new portrait of Zaha Mohammad Hadid. It's a digital display of her which changes colours over time. It's hard to explain but completely engaging.

My only NPG disappointment was the temporary closure of the Portrait Restaurant. This place offers one of the finest views in London and I couldn't enjoy it on my birthday!

The weather was beautiful and it was ideal walking about weather. Although the pavements were quite full, the shops we visited weren't. We spent a bit of time in Borders on Charing Cross (where I enhanced my music collection, thanks to their £4.99-priced offerings). We were the most abundant spenders in there (and I only spent £20) and I seriously don't understand how this store stays open, especially because the basement smelt like they had some serious sewerage issues.

I splurged (my birthday is no day for austerity measures) and bought a copy of the new Conde Nast periodical, Love. It's thick and huge and I can't wait to read it.

Other cool things we saw include...

A man wearing a scary monster mask, standing opposite the Scientology rooms on Tottenham Court Road. He was holding up a huge sign saying something close to keep cults out of the UK...

The "Hero or Villain?" signage all over Borders, to get customers to consider this thought when looking at books. I really like the idea of this question...

The always-fab Peyton & Byrne shop at Heals and Habitat on Tottenham Court Road, where we bought my delicious chocolate and raspberry birthday cake.

Birthday celebrations started early

My 39th (!) birthday isn't until Saturday but I just received my first gift. I got a phone call in my office from college reception, to let me know there was something for me at reception. When I got there I found two gorgeous bouquets of flowers, both from my lovely friend Annette.

What a fab way to end my Thursday.

Tuesday's random thoughts

I'm currently working on a literature review support session and have found, yet again, the Open University to have the goods when it comes to research. Thanks for sharing, OU!

As always, I'm savouring my most recent trip and trying to cultivate my next; in other words, wanderlust has me in its grip. Articles like this don't help...

It seems the dead rat in our local Kings Lodge wasn't all it was originally reported...

In my recent (and on-going) reassessments of wants versus needs, I know I can't live without my subscription to The New Yorker...

I'm glad Twitter is free, because although it's clearly a want, I really do enjoy it so...

And I need a bit of a pleasure outlet today because this morning Bailey had a complete melt-down. She didn't like how her sleeves felt...we're talking about a shirt she's worn before (a plain t-shirt she wore as recently as our trip to DC) upset her so much she wailed and cried for 10 minutes. The episode was so unlike anything she's done before (even in her enfant terrible 2-year old period), we were both left exhausted and stunned. That was at just before 8:00AM this morning and I'm still wigged from it. No one told me parenting would be this emotionally exhausting. (When my colleagues heard the story, two commented it sounds like Bailey is "five going on fifteen". That kind of insight won't help at all!)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to you all. We started our day with giving our gifts to each other and opening the gifts we received from the Florida family. Bailey thought it was Christmas again with her bag of Valentine's Day goodies from Grammy and Papa...

We spread our Valentine's Day cheer in Bailey's class yesterday. I was a parent helper (yes, I survived!) and had prepared a little Valentine for each classmate (thanks to the Valentine's package from Judy and her great taste in kiddie Valentines) tied with a ribbon to a small bag of Maltesers. Bailey's classmates were so happy with this unexpected treat and were very appreciative. It was nice to leave my time as classroom helper on such a high note.

As for my quest to spend as little as possible but give a cool gift to my Valentine, I think I did it. I got him a copy of Car magazine, a pack M&S strong mints and a self-portrait photograph of me. What more could a husband want?

In closing, I love this poster. Some of you received the colour postcard version from our house for Valentine's Day. What a fine message to keep you on the straight and narrow, especially on the day of love.

Thursday's confession

Dear Colleagues,

You know our Watford Learning Centre staff calendar? You know, the one where we each have selected our favourite hotties (and I blogged about back in early 2008?) The one on display in the staff kitchen. Well, after the glorious start in January 2009, with my pick of Barack Obama, I am struggling to manage the rest of the year with your picks. I'm sorry because I know I should be more open to the tastes of others, especially when those others are my enjoyable colleagues, but I can't. Hence, this confession; it was me who put the huge fake moustache on the February pic of Harrison Ford. Long ago I realised Post-It notes and a black Sharpie are great for redecorating photographs (including the addition of devil horns, eye patches, and appropriate trousers) and yesterday afternoon I couldn't bear Harrison's face any longer.

I apologise for any distress this may cause you but am not apologising for laughing each time I look at it.

Signed,

KMS

Atypical adult-oriented Saturday

Saturday was a strange and brief glimpse into life after Bailey is at university. She (with a far more demanding social life than most adults I know) went to a party in the morning, then spent the rest of the day with a friend. That left the grown-ups with an entire day of sans child behaviour. What did we do? We started at Borders, where we browsed mags and books then moved on to the cinema to see Doubt. We returned home to lounge and read (I'm currently reading Song Yet Sung...I don't want to put it down!), then awaited the return of the master of the house.

Bailey had a blast of a day, thanks to nice friends, and was just about ready for her evening bath when she got home.

What did I make of the day? Well, a little break from our regular life is a treat, but a prolonged one seems very unreal. For now, I'm cool with Bailey remaining in residence; the house is very quiet without her.

This is so cool

I absolutely love the bus slogan generator!

Results of snow day #2

We used yesterday's snow day to actually leave the house and do some small jobs out and about (like going to Costco to load up on food for the freezer...it was quiet in there, for the first time EVER). We also went to the cinema to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua, which makes me the most amazing and patient parent in the universe.

Simon and Bailey (after Simon got home from work...no snow days when you get paid by the day...BP is so lucky to have him) made a snowman in our garden. Enjoy the pic.

Snow day #2!

I just got official word from both Bailey's school and my work that tomorrow will be another snow day. I don't want to gloat but this is sweet living! A little spontaneous slothfulness is good for me.

Anyway, check out Bailey during today's snow fun...

Our time in Baltimore, finally

We had a fantastic time in Baltimore with Eric. We were with him from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday evening and he is a top-notch host. Simon and I hadn't seen Eric since he visited us last, in the summer of 2002, and accordingly, Bailey had never met him (although he's very much part of her life, as Uncle Eric). I'll divide up my commentary on this trip in themes...

Accommodation: We stayed in Eric's gorgeous flat on Bolton Street in the Bolton Hill/MICA (where Eric teaches) neighbourhood. Just walking around his neighbourhood inspired me to take many pics, and the mix of beautiful houses, funky little gardens, and the general old neighbourhood vibe made me really enjoy my walks through there.

Sites: Eric knows the city (and lots of people know him...being out and about with him is like being with a celeb, with people happily shouting out his name and waving as we pass) and picked the perfect mix of site seeing for us. On Thursday we went to the Baltimore Museum of Art, which we all enjoyed. I especially enjoyed the Cone Collection and the Contemporary Collection. We were so fortunate to have a living thriving artist with us to explain things and keep us moving and thinking.

On Friday we went to the National Aquarium. There was something there for each of us, including a thrilling dolphin show and a 4-D IMAX film (we had hoped the fourth dimension would be stink, as one of the cinema pages had hinted, but it ended up manitesting itself through bubbles floating around the cinema, blasts of cold air, a thin rubber tube whipping around under each seat, water spraying, vibrating seats and some finger-thing poking you in the back from time to time...that one caused the most squeals from me). That day we enjoyed the Barnes and Noble in the Inner Harbor, then shopped at the Whole Foods and Bin 604, a fabulous wine shop (with considerate sraff who gave Bailey a glass of water when she said she was thirsty).

On Saturday we explored the Hampden part of Baltimore. This neighbourhood was a fine combination of funky shops, cool eateries, little "normal" American houses and a 7-11. I especially enjoyed Hometown Girl, Atomic Books and Squidfire. I think we all felt vert at home in this part of town.

Eats: We did some major food enjoyment on this part of our trip. We ate delicious food (and had surly service) at The Helmand, enjoyed fab food at Donna's and stayed for ages amongst the cool vibes and yummy eats at the Golden West Cafe. No complaints about the great food, except I'm now on a strict diet to get the extra pounds off...

Extra special: Eric hosted a little soiree on Friday night, where was again an amazing host. He had friends over for chatting, eating and drinking, and after a slightly awkward introduction (Eric's cool Baltimore friends were meeting his old friends, with a 5-year old running around) we all had a very enjoyable evening. Bailey thinks all parties have games like she enjoys, so we were prepared to play Chinese Whispers and Pass the Parcel. Although she was very prepared to start Chinese Whispers, she fell asleep before the opportunity presented itself and slept through the rest of the party.

The other gorgeous aspect of our time with Eric was his lovely relationship with Bailey. She wanted to do art with Uncle Eric and he patiently provided her every opportunity to do so. She ended up with a sweet portfolio of work to bring home, and many memories of a loving uncle leading her through work. The results of their work were on display on Friday night, and Bailey very proudly showed the guests the pieces she and Eric had done.

I've updated my Shutterfly site to include the Baltimore pics. Have a look to see how much fin we had Iclick on Stormy Images on the right of the screen).