The Quotable Toddler, Part Four

In which we are reminded to give thanks to those who make things with love.


We were eating dinner the other night, spaghetti and meatballs, and Amy and I were talking about our days at work. Suddenly, Declan shouts out, “Mommy, these meatballs are amazing!”



A little while ago I got home early from work and so was there while Amy made dinner. She does this every night. After a long day of work in a place that is increasingly stressful for her. Every night.

She comes home and makes delicious meals. Sure, there’s the occasional frozen pizza, but most times it’s a hot, fresh homemade meal. Sometimes totally freestyle where she’s just making it up as she goes – and these tend to be my favorite. Sometimes from a recipe – though these directions are never followed precisely as she always knows how to put her distinctive, magical spin on it.

And all this she does, after work, with two kids under three who each demand attention underfoot – and in the case of Elsie, sometimes strapped-to-chest.

That day I came home early I watched this and was amazed.

It’s not just the meatballs that are amazing, but the woman who makes them and how she does it. And I suspect for Amy, these are not just dinners, but tangible ways for her to love us.

Thanks honey, for making these meals to fill us with love.

Strolling Biophilia

I’ve always loved small examples of big principles.

Thinkers smarter than me have said it before, but the important things in our lives are not always huge, glamorous, stately affairs that any observer would recognize as important. Sometimes – maybe most times – they’re little events that, to us, mean a whole lot than what’s on the surface.

Like switching day care centers from one by the mall to one in our neighborhood.

The new school is five blocks away, so for two weeks now, I’ve been walking the kids to school every morning. So far we’ve had to bundle up a bit and put a blanket around the boy and girl (which, considering our “winters,” is probably laughable to the Vermonters up there) but we’ve done it every day.

A small thing. A ten-minute walk instead of a ten-minute drive. But what a difference. I feel my life is better already. Significantly better.

Here is my POV yesterday:


So much of my life, and therefore so much of the kids’ lives, is from car to building to car to building. I try make driving peaceful by driving gently and with interesting music and conversation, but still, it’s driving. I try to keep the shades of my office open, but still, it’s office work. Boxed in, dealing with traffic, noise, conditioned air.

Now, for that time in the morning, we’re outside in the world. We hear the birds. We say hi to the big kids waiting for the bus on the corner. Today we stopped and watched the garbage crane lift pieces of furniture from the roadside and drop them crashing into the back of the truck, then lumber away in a reverberating low gear – something Declan absolutely loved. Adored.

After I drop them off, I have another quiet walk by myself, strolling through the neighborhood, noting that the Bradford pear trees are starting to bloom.

A few days ago, Amy sent me an article about biophilia, a scientific hypothesis that suggests there is an instinctive bond between humans and the other living systems that we call nature, a connection that makes us care about nature because our genes understand doing so will benefit us, collectively, in the long run. Amy has no windows in her office. Amy is suffocating.

Our biophilia is strong, and I’m so very glad I have this new chance to give in to it every day with my two youngest kids. I think Amy feels the same about being able to go for walks with Elsie every Wednesday.

Kaleigh's got a nice post below that also talks about a small example of a big principle. Thanks KK. Sometimes 'tis better to let it roll. And I'm jealous of her being able to walk around a beautiful campus every day, giving in to her biophilia.

Eff Tissues

If I could walk around campus like this and still be socially accepted, life would be so much easier.



While we were on our all day date together, I kept on wiping and wiping and wiping and....wiping, and finally I just gave in.

He appreciated it.

Me & Eva, We're Tight

Just saw this on a bike forum I read sometimes.


Funny, I was just posting about how great the Orbea Orca is. I guess Eva likes Orcas, too.

Um. I mean, the art director does. My guess is this ain't her bike... No one rides this bike. I mean, NO ONE would ride an Orbea Orca with pedals like that.

But the Photoshop guy? He HATES Orcas. Look what he did to it: took out the name, got rid of the seat tube, half the chain, part of the crank, part of the downtube, the other pedal, some spokes...

What, is he, like, more interested in the girl or something?

(And why didn't they go with the orange?)



Oh, wait.

I promised this post would be more cute kids.

Here you go:


Declan has really taken to reading to himself. It's one of the few things he'll sit and do alone for 15 minutes at a stretch. So adorable.

Geeking Out On Bikes

I’m certain not many people read this blog, and I’m further certain almost none of those few will be interested in the following post. But I’m posting this, it’s my lunch break, so oblige me. Or skip it. Or just look at the pretty pictures. They are pretty, after all.

So I bought my first real road bike in 2003. Before that I’d been riding a clunky thing I had since high school and then, briefly, a donated women’s bike. This is when I had a 10-year-old helmet into which I literally stapled padding, in the form of old socks, to make it fit me. But I decided cycling was something I loved so I invested in an entry-level bike: a LeMond Tourmalet.


It’s a steel frame, so it’s a little heavy, but it gets the job done. I don’t like the look of it, really -– not very attractive decals and stuff, but it was pretty cheap and it fits fairly well -– maybe a bit small but certainly better than that women’s bike.

It’s been five years, and I’m getting more into the sport, so I’d love to upgrade and buy another bike. Carbon frame, better components -– lighter, faster, more responsive.

I’m not going to buy another bike -– since there are more pressing financial obligations –- but I’d like to. And to that end, I’ve done some searching, as an exercise. I have to admit, it’s been wicked fun researching bikes. As I said before, I’m a geek.


Here is my dream bike, the Orbea Orca.


Built in the Basque country in Spain, I think it’s the most beautiful and sweetest bike out there. It’s made-to-order, so you can pick a whole range of components/wheels/seat/etc. For the build I chose online, with Shimano’s Dura-Ace components, it’s about $6000 – at the lower end you can get them from about $4500. Ridiculous, right? But so great. I mean look at it!


Mike, the owner of the bike shop in Norfolk where I bought the Tourmalet, says I should get a Trek Madone.


Again, these come in a lot of variations -– the Madone is what Lance rode his last few Tour victories -– but the Madone 5.1 with this setup here comes in a little over $3000. I think this is what my brother Chris rides. Am I right, Christopher? Are you reading this my man? Certainly a very, very nice bike, with excellent stuff and some actual groundbreaking design changes that I won’t bore you with. Reviewers go crazy for it. But I don’t know. Just seems like a lot of guys I see on the roads are riding Madones, and I think I want something a little more distinct.


If I were to stick with LeMond, they make some $5000-and-up bikes, but I kinda like this Zurich.


One of the few LeMond’s whose design I really, really like. Overall, there’s something a little off about the LeMond sense of aesthetics, in my opinion. But this is nice, for $2800.


Back to Orbea, they make a bunch of other bikes, including the Onix.


Same frame geometry and similar frame materials as the Orca, with components and wheels a few steps down, gets great reviews –- and this one’s only $2000. Still gorgeous -- pretty much all their bikes are. Verrrrry tempting.


And then there’s this LeMond Buenos Aires.


A good, light carbon frame, components and wheels that are a step up from my current rig. Normally these are $2400, but Mike wants to unload his last '07 model for only $1600. That's the '07 pictured. The '08s are blue, which I actually don't like as much as this red.

But, still, we have stuff we need to do to the house.

So maybe in a couple years I’ll revisit the new bike idea. Maybe then someone will be wanting to unload an Orca cheap. Hey, a guy can dream, right?

Off to research Cannondales, Colnagos and Cervelos…

And I promise, next post will be more about cute kids.

The Hair's The Thing

Sometimes a photo -- and, more specifically, hair -- can perfectly reflect a personality.

For example, this is Elsie:


And this definitely is Declan:

Two-Seater School Bus

A beautiful day down here, and since the new school is only a few blocks away, we walked there this morning...


...and Amy will walk them home this afternoon.

Downright small-town of us, ain't it?

Kaleigh's Home!

It's spring break for Tech, so KK came back home this weekend, which means I'm feeling happy as can be. All three kids together under one roof. Perfect.

Declan was just giddy when he woke her up Sunday morning (he was asleep when she got in Saturday night) -- it was so freaking cute to see. And Elsie lit up seeing her and snuggled in for a long-awaited hug.

I LOVE MY KIDS!


The two youngest of whom, by the way, started at their new school today. Declan was a little clingy, but he rallied, and when Amy called a few minutes ago they said everyone was doing great.

It's gonna be so nice having their school just a few blocks from the house. And the fun has begun already -- to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday (yesterday) the school is doing Seuss-related special things all week. Declan didn't want to wear funny shoes today for Funny Shoes Day, but we'll certainly get him in green for Green Day tomorrow.