From one career to another

Last weekend, colleagues gathered at a local restaurant to celebrate Sarah's time at the paper. She joined three in her bureau taking a buyout, walking off from a floundering craft into the rainy horizon.



Here are the three candidates now, gathered round Tom, the bureau chief. That's Wanda on the left, an editor for both Brent and Sarah in her career, though we were not highlights of it. And that's Kate on the right, a reporter/writer/mother/shaman.



These are real-life journalists. Newspaper people. Part, until last week, of the "mainstream media" that Sarah Palin vilifies. They don't bite. They don't say "Gotcha!" all the time. They have families and eat and drink and care about the world they live in. The woman talking to Sarah -- Ann -- also recently left the paper to teach. She works with developmentally disabled kids at a local high school. She loves it. She suggested Sarah look into education as her next career.



Claire made her rounds. At one point, she waltzed up to the bar in the background and yelled "Can I have some apple juice?!?!" four times until a bartender noticed. She got what she wanted --juice, on the rocks, with two slender straws. Uncle Andy made sure she drank it.



Bob, a retired photographer, graciously attended and took to Claire, interviewing her as if he'd been a reporter himself and as if she were the star we think she is.



Claire also got to know Kate's daughter, Lilly, who tolerated Claire stalking her every move.





Sarah woke up the day after this event, a Monday, and said, "I feel nervous." She was "unemployed" and facing the next chapter of her life. She was now a stay-at-home mom.

Is there such a term as "overemployed?"

Sarah has threatened to take over this blog, or another one named more appropriately, to reflect the more compelling and constructive tale of how she raises our two girls. "Hardhats and sippy cups" may still apply, however. It may be even more apt now.

Happy Beach Birthday

UPDATED WITH NEW PICS.




Friday morning, Claire woke, stretched and promptly asked, "Daddy, am I still two?"

She was. But for only one day more. For that, we packed and headed to the beach to celebrate Claire's third birthday with Sonya, Matt, Ella and Mauren.

Destination: Oceanside. Specifically, Moondance, a new favorite beachhouse. The mobile girls found plenty of room in the two-story house to run, to jump and to swim in its big jetted tub. Good thing, too, because the wind and rain kept us indoors much of the time. Paige enjoyed watching it all unfold in front of her.






In fact, the weather was wet enough that it wasn't conducive to taking many photos. So, we didn't. We only made it down to the surf as a group one time.



Saturday night, Mom made cupcakes at Claire's request, Matt made a big salmon and risotto dinner and we broke out the candles to sing happy birthday.



The parents managed some adult time late at night after the kids went to bed, sitting around on leather couches talking about the election, Saturday Night Live, music and budgets.

At one point, Claire yelled from her bedroom for dad to come in to help her go to sleep. After dad curled into bed with her, Claire asked "if he'd sleep all the night in my bed."

At first I balked at answering. Then I leveled with her: "Mom and I would like to have some adult time with Matt & Sonya," I explained. Claire thought for a moment, then said: "I want someone to sleep with me, and you and mommma want to talk with Matt & Sonya. How can we investigate this?"

I was stunned and puzzled. Later, we realized that mom had interceded in a scuffle between Ella and Claire by asking, "Claire and Ella both want to play with the same toy. How can we solve this problem?" Now, Claire was applying that problem-solving approach to a conflict that she perceived between how she and dad each wanted dad to spend his time. Happy third birthday.

Sunday evening, we unwrapped more presents when we got home. Claire made out with a doctor's kit, a hugable globe, a new sweater, a play board, a rope ladder (yet to be hung in the basement),








books,



a hooded bathrobe,





and a harmonica.

Claire takes over packing

Halloween.08

Mom and dad had the day off, so it felt like a holiday. By midday, we got down to work carving the pumpkin. Claire helped design the face while dad carved.





Claire dressed as a spider, with plenty of creepy crawlys up her sleeves.





Of course, it is election season.....



.... and Claire thought it good to bring back the last President to do so much good for the GOP.

Later, we dressed Paige up as a pumpkin and headed for the harvest festival downtown.





Luca got his face painted and watched as Claire got her webbing on.







A conservative in the crowd could not help but don dad's Nixon mask, to the alarm of liberals and young children standing behind him. Don't worry. His operatives aren't breaking into your home as you trick or treat.



Costume of the day went to this little Sumo wrestler, who truly fit the part:



We thought our little pumpkin was pretty cute, too.






Back home, we were reminded there's nothing like candy to sap little girls of energy. Claire, not wanting to miss any trick-or-treaters, snagged a few zzzzzzzs while eating dinner.