David - Did you watch the Bears game last weekend? (Bears played the Packers - David's team. Packers won.)
Oliver - Yes.
David - What did you think?
Oliver - I don't want to get into an argument.
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In the car: Oliver - Daaaad you know what?
Dad (Marc) - What?
Oliver - I know how to drive. But I don't know how to drive safely yet.
**********************************
In the car driving to dinner: Oliver - Can I have a snack as an appetizer?
*********************************
Welcome back! The accidental grandmother has returned with a wide array of stories, anecdotes, poems, essays, and all things creative.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Back in the swing of things...
...or not. Last Wednesday I took Ezri to Wiggleworms again. I hadn't done it in a few weeks and the room was changed. I panicked for a moment, thinking it was the wrong day or I had forgotten to register but then I figured out they had changed rooms. So silly! There were all new kids there except for one. I guess the others have graduated to the 1 year old group. I believe next time Ezri will also attend the next age level class. She is so animated now: sits, crawls, claps, grabs things. Pretty soon she'll start singing too. And speaking of singing - Oliver is a good singer. He's also taking piano lessons and singing while playing. I hope Adelaida gets the opportunity to take music classes - at least, for a while. Music is so useful for other things, the experts say. On a related topic - Saturday evening we went to the Symphony Ball concert: the opening of the season for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. They played a Ravel piece with a guest pianist and David whispered to me: "one day Oliver will be sitting on stage playing." And I said - "and we'll be in the front row proudly watching him."
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
It's been a long time
Wow! I've been away for a long time. So much happened...so much to do...I am exhausted. Not so much physically but intellectually and emotionally.
Mom came in mid-August and two days later everyone went to Delavan Lake (Wisconsin) for a week. The house we rented was in the midst of other houses, no privacy. The water stank of sulphur. The floors creaked horribly. It was not the best house we've rented but we had fun going to the beach in Lake Geneva and Fontana. I loved going in the water. And Oliver and Adelaide enjoyed themselves tremendously. At the house we worked on puzzles. Mom sat in the porch most of the time or at the beach, not one for walking. I felt bad for her because her room had a couch, not a bed. She slept in a narrow sofa but did her best.
A week later we went to South Haven for two days and then onto Madison with mom for two days. The following week Toronto! Mom stayed with her cousins and David and I went to TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). I never had to stand in lines for so long and so often. My back was killing me. You have to stand in line for everything at TIFF. I didn't enjoy it as much as I had in earlier years. Plus the red carpet crowd waiting got on my nerves and I exploded one afternoon, cursing people. I think Ewa will never speak to me again but it wasn't directed at her but at the stupid women who wouldn't let me talk to her.
Mom left last week and I had to go back to Madison to watch the kiddies because the nanny went on vacation. David came friday and we left sunday. It was exhausting but I love the kids. Adelaide celebrated her second birthday on sunday. And she started talking in complete sentences that are intelligible. She's the sweetest, prettiest girl ever.
I am finally at home for a while and trying to regain my footing, get back to my life and my routines. This morning tennis. What a whirlwind of a month and a half! Now I need to get my classes going. So far Loyola's Creative Nonfiction is a go. Please please let the others run too.
Mom came in mid-August and two days later everyone went to Delavan Lake (Wisconsin) for a week. The house we rented was in the midst of other houses, no privacy. The water stank of sulphur. The floors creaked horribly. It was not the best house we've rented but we had fun going to the beach in Lake Geneva and Fontana. I loved going in the water. And Oliver and Adelaide enjoyed themselves tremendously. At the house we worked on puzzles. Mom sat in the porch most of the time or at the beach, not one for walking. I felt bad for her because her room had a couch, not a bed. She slept in a narrow sofa but did her best.
A week later we went to South Haven for two days and then onto Madison with mom for two days. The following week Toronto! Mom stayed with her cousins and David and I went to TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). I never had to stand in lines for so long and so often. My back was killing me. You have to stand in line for everything at TIFF. I didn't enjoy it as much as I had in earlier years. Plus the red carpet crowd waiting got on my nerves and I exploded one afternoon, cursing people. I think Ewa will never speak to me again but it wasn't directed at her but at the stupid women who wouldn't let me talk to her.
Mom left last week and I had to go back to Madison to watch the kiddies because the nanny went on vacation. David came friday and we left sunday. It was exhausting but I love the kids. Adelaide celebrated her second birthday on sunday. And she started talking in complete sentences that are intelligible. She's the sweetest, prettiest girl ever.
I am finally at home for a while and trying to regain my footing, get back to my life and my routines. This morning tennis. What a whirlwind of a month and a half! Now I need to get my classes going. So far Loyola's Creative Nonfiction is a go. Please please let the others run too.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Ollieisms III
David: I have to close Poster Plus.
Oliver: Why?
David: Because the landlord is not a nice man and wants too much money.
Oliver: Is Scott Walker the landlord?
Note: Scott Walker is the governor of Wisconsin.
Oliver: Why?
David: Because the landlord is not a nice man and wants too much money.
Oliver: Is Scott Walker the landlord?
Note: Scott Walker is the governor of Wisconsin.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Ollieisms II
* You bring me presents because you love me so much.
* - What's your favorite thing at the State Fair Oliver? The cream puffs, the rides, the animals?
- The next thing.
* You should always make pasta when you know I am coming to your house.
* I'm going to eat the big corn because I am hungrier than you are. Your stomach didn't make noise like mine.
* Da Bears are the best.
* - What's your favorite thing at the State Fair Oliver? The cream puffs, the rides, the animals?
- The next thing.
* You should always make pasta when you know I am coming to your house.
* I'm going to eat the big corn because I am hungrier than you are. Your stomach didn't make noise like mine.
* Da Bears are the best.
GRANDKIDS' FILLED DAYS
These past few days have been filled with grandchildren: last weekend in Madison for the Fourth of July, this weekend in Chicago for the 8th of July.
On Monday in Madison we decorated Oliver's bike with patriotic colors: flags, ribbons, stickers and paraded down to Wingra Park for the festivities. There were water balloon tosses, a fire truck, chips and salsa, ice cream, and general merriment. We even ran into two families who know from Chicago! Small world. There was a "wife-carrying contest" that evening but we opted for a cookout. Burgers and brats for the meat eaters, soysages and corn for the vegetarians. The weather cooperated fully: sunny, warm, happy weather.
On Tuesday we took Oliver to camp, waved goodbye from the window and came to Chicago.
This Friday in Chicago we celebrated David's birthday at Millenium Park along with friends and family. Oliver and Adelaide and their parents came Friday afternoon and left today - Sunday. The party was a huge success. Classical music, Spanish guitars, a delicious black forest cake from Dinkel's, a warm and calm evening under the stars. On Saturday we went to the Adams Playground Water Park and ran around getting wet for a long time. I hadn't been there for over a year. It was refreshing. Ezri and her parents were there too for David to bask in the joy of his grandchildren.
I have enjoyed the grandchildren tremendously these past two weekends. Exhausted but happy, I go back to my work. (Look for more Olleisms coming up)
On Monday in Madison we decorated Oliver's bike with patriotic colors: flags, ribbons, stickers and paraded down to Wingra Park for the festivities. There were water balloon tosses, a fire truck, chips and salsa, ice cream, and general merriment. We even ran into two families who know from Chicago! Small world. There was a "wife-carrying contest" that evening but we opted for a cookout. Burgers and brats for the meat eaters, soysages and corn for the vegetarians. The weather cooperated fully: sunny, warm, happy weather.
On Tuesday we took Oliver to camp, waved goodbye from the window and came to Chicago.
This Friday in Chicago we celebrated David's birthday at Millenium Park along with friends and family. Oliver and Adelaide and their parents came Friday afternoon and left today - Sunday. The party was a huge success. Classical music, Spanish guitars, a delicious black forest cake from Dinkel's, a warm and calm evening under the stars. On Saturday we went to the Adams Playground Water Park and ran around getting wet for a long time. I hadn't been there for over a year. It was refreshing. Ezri and her parents were there too for David to bask in the joy of his grandchildren.
I have enjoyed the grandchildren tremendously these past two weekends. Exhausted but happy, I go back to my work. (Look for more Olleisms coming up)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Siesta time
After a morning of Wiggleworms and lunch, we return home to sleep. I hear the music of the swing in the living-room where Ezri sleeps: For Elise, Twinkle twinkle little star, Itsy bitsy spider. This afternoon waiting for my souvlaki sandwich outside The Athenian Room a tv crew taped me eating kalamata chicken. The host asked me when would Ezri be ready to eat chicken and then I had to talk about the food. I told him I've been coming to The Athenian Room since it opened - 1972. I remember the Gardiakos family: Basili, Sotiri, and the sister Basiliki. Basili sold the place after six months to sail around the world. I told the tv host Ezri would be ready in about 6 months. She was smiling broadly, her big blue eyes shining. I got my food and we walked home: to eat, to sleep, to write. These sun-filled days lighten my heart, bring me joy and peace.
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