NEW PALTZ

Next Tuesday, we're renting a car and driving upstate to a bed and breakfast in New Paltz for Thanksgiving. Now that the weather has turned, we're not so sure about renting bikes, which is a bummer because we were excited to strap Jack in the baby seat and go for some rides. Instead, we'll have to bundle ourselves up and settle for some easy hikes in the area. I've already scoped out the neighborhood online for the best bakeries - and even found one open on Thanksgiving that has pumpkin cheesecake tarts (can't wait for those!). We haven't figured out the actual turkey day meal yet - our B&B is having two seatings for dinner, but we're not likely going to join in on those. We'd feel bad if Jack wasn't on his best behavior and ruined dinner for the other participants. Adrian thinks we should go to McDonald's, but I think we can do better than that. We are planning on stopping at a Target on our way up, so I'm excited for that. It will be nice to get out of the city for awhile and check out a new town.

CATAWAMPUS

It's not every day that you learn a new word, so I thought I would share this one with you. I give all the credit to Katie who enlightened both Noah and me that this word even exists. Catawampus means "askew" or "awry" or "diagonally" - like if the painting on the wall is catawampus or maybe the pillows on your bed. And it's never a good thing if the pillows are catawampus, because how is one to get a good night's sleep with his touching hers?

P.S. I love how Blogger has underlined "catawampus" every time I've written it because they also don't believe a word like this could be real.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, JACK!

Dear Jack,

I remember the nerves, the pain, and the awe of your birth. I remember the sleepless nights, the trouble breast-feeding, the crying...oh, the crying - both yours and mine. I remember all your achievements - from that first smile to your rolling over to your feeding yourself. I remember all the poopy diapers, even the ones that took four hands to change. I remember thinking I couldn't have picked a better partner in crime for parenthood than your father. I remember how you amaze me each and every day, and how I couldn't ask for a better baby. I remember every single day of the last three hundred and sixty-five, and I wouldn't trade a single one for an extra hour of sleep because who knows what you might do in that hour - you might start walking more than five steps at a time or you might do another interpretive dance that I wouldn't want to miss. You are my sunshine, even when you're a little cloudy, though we're lucky you're not too cloudy too often. I remember everything and I cherish it all.

Love, Mama

OBAMA '08!

Up early, we decided to see how bad the lines were at our polling place. Even at 6:45 in the morning, the line was already around the block. Having to get to the gym in a little over an hour and having not changed Jack out of his pajamas, we decided not to chance it and headed back home. I stopped by after my workout and the line was estimated to take thirty minutes. I was in line for about fifteen when my election district was called to "go right on in" and I didn't need to be told twice. I cast my vote and I left eager for my sticker, but I didn't see any. Adrian left to vote as soon as I got home and he was called straight in too, so though many of our friends and family had to wait in line for hours, we were some of the lucky New Yorkers to get in quick and easy.

CS/31-32

On our Thursday lunch date, Adrian and I ran some errands in Chelsea before deciding on where to eat. Adrian keeps various restaurant names in his phone in case we're ever in a neighborhood and need a recommendation. We headed to the one Italian place listed in Chelsea, which didn't look too promising from the outside, but I trusted Adrian's research so we headed in. There was only one table occupied when we entered and we had our choice of seating. Their spaghetti and meatballs is listed on their menu as "best in Manhattan" (by the New York Press and Newsday), so I got that and Adrian got their lasagna bolognese. Before our entrees even came, the other table had departed and the staff had disappeared, so we were left with the whole restaurant to ourselves. So while the service was a tad strange, when the food came, it was quite delicious. Near the end of our meal, a young couple came in and took a table for four near the window and it was evident they were waiting for two more people. When the door opened next, a couple came in and noticing the gentleman was quite short, we realized it was Danny DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman. They joined the young couple and we still haven't figured out if the young people were two of their three kids or one of their kids and a significant other. We're also not sure if the restaurant staff knew who they were, but they sure gave that table instant attention.