The Stork Delivers A New... Blog.

Today is Tuesday, and in two more days, it will be an entire week since I've blogged. It's been a while since we've seen a dry spell like this! 

For a brief briefing, on Friday, Gabe and I invited over Luca and his mommy Helen to bake apple crisps and pies to use up the 25 pounds of apples we brought home with us. I bought the aluminum pie dishes (does it still qualify it as a dish if it's metal? Or is it an alumi-dish? Or just a pie holder? For clarity, I bought an aluminum pie holder to do the baking and then send some off to Luca's house, to Robin's house, and to our neighbors' upstairs house. One pie full of caloric goodness is enough for us, and I didn't want to stress about someone having my Pyrex should I need it last minute.) 

Anyway, during the day, I simmered my very first stew in the Crock Pot. Pork tenderloins, potatoes, fresh carrots, peppers, chicken and veg stock and some seasoning I prayed I got right... I did, and everyone enjoyed it while the pies and crisps baked away. (Crisps do not include crust, just a yummylicious concoction of oats, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and more oats.) The day into evening pie-making gathering was a success.

So one perk of my job is that I get press releases from all over the city announcing really cool stuff going on. One such announcement came from the famous NY Aquarium by Brooklyn's Coney Island. Kids under 3 were free this past weekend if they doned their Halloween costumes. It was called "Halloween at the Ascarium." How cool! I thought. A perfect Saturday outing. 

Until we arrived. Gabe, dressed up as Thomas the Train, would not get out of the car wearing his costume. We pulled him out and explained how other kids would be there and "how much fun you're going to have!!" The feisty boy would have none of it. Screaming and crying "I do not want to wear Thomas! I do not want to go!" Manny had to step in and negotiate "Gabe! Calm down... If you wear it through the doors, you can take it off once we get inside." I pulled out my camera to document his first "Halloween at the Ascarium" and he yelled, "No picture Mom! No picture!" I couldn't help but laugh hysterically. So, no pictures from the day. We did have a good time though and laughed at some people's intelligence... or lack thereof. At the octopus tank, a woman said, "Look at his huge testicals!" We didn't know whether to laugh or correct her until she says, "I mean tentacles!" 

On Sunday, we really took the whole day to rest from the busy week and prepare for this one. I did, however, have to work in Rego Park, Qns, and then came home and wrote my article and downloaded the photos all afternoon so it would be done for Monday. There is nothing worse than having to write and download on Monday morning after I've already been up early to schlep Gabe to school. I like to go in to my week with a clean slate.

So now here we are, Tuesday, and it is cold and rainy. I can feel myself entering into hibernation mode... Which means sleepy and tired mode... Which can mean fat and lazy mode. I feel like I am always cold and always hungry as the winter season rushes in... And every time my heat turns on and I hear the hot water rush into the pipes, all I can think about is the bill that is going to arrive in my mailbox documenting my energy use for the month of October and how much it is going to cost. Is this depressing or what? Am I the only one who thinks this way? 

The thought of leaving NY in the winter just feels right. I can see what the more mature age groups are thinking... Think South! (Or at least of the fire place in our parents' houses.) In 3-weeks it is going to be time for Christmas decorations and Santa's wish list. And Thanksgiving in Florida! Press on... Must... press... on! 

So to get back on the subject of this evening's festivities, Manny is working at a Gospel show in lower Manhattan and Gabe had a total freak out. He loves coming home from school and seeing Dad and getting in their evening wrestle match. But tonight, Daddy had to leave and Gabe was just devastated. Devastated! He picked up his shoes out of the shoe box in the living room and told us to put them on, "Because I have to go to work, too!" To calm him down, I brought out the coloring supplies and we made Daddy a picture for when he got home. He thought it was hilarious that we gave Daddy a television camera in his hand, I was holding Anna, and he was holding a train. I definitely see a future for us in the art business of stick figures.

So I hope this update enough for everyone... the last few paragraphs I have been mastering the baby on one shoulder type and it isn't much fun! Have a great (insert time slot)!