I think Leap Day is cool. No matter what claim any other day can make, no day is more rare — we’ll all have fewer February 29ths in our lives than any other day, and we’re currently experiencing one of them.
Archive for February, 2012
Leap Day
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012Dreaming of the beach
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012It’s cold, rainy and windy (very windy) here in Vienna. My boys are sick. (Liam’s diagnosis is two separate viral infections at the same time — one causing diarrhea that he’s had for 10 days, one causing croup. Lucky kid.) I’ve been in the house, nearly constantly, for a week. Benjamin *might* go back to school tomorrow. Maybe.
Fevers and fussiness
Monday, February 27th, 2012Every day for over 2 weeks we’ve had at least one sick kid. Not anything simple like sniffles, but energetic vomiting, explosive diarrhea, high fevers, coughing that keeps them up at night (thankfully, not all of those symptoms at the same time). There was exactly one day (last Saturday) that both boys were well at the same time. It was a nice day.
Someone still loves a Christmas tree
Sunday, February 26th, 2012If there’s one thing I learned today, it’s this: if you leave your Christmas decorations up until the end of February, your children will continue to celebrate Christmas. At least, mine will.
Wholeheartedly overfaced and reluctantly enthusiastic
Saturday, February 25th, 2012I am probably harder on myself than anyone else. (I know I’m harder on myself than anyone else is to my face.) I set a very high standard in just about everything that I do and then, if I don’t measure up in my own eyes, I’m very self critical. This perfectionism got me great results when it came to grades and test scores in high school and college, when I was competing in horseback riding or in ballroom dancing, and it’s part of what brings me back to the computer to write my blog every single day. It has some very positive, practical applications.
(Re)discovering reading
Friday, February 24th, 2012I love to read. I have for as long as I can remember. I have distinctly fond memories of the library and the book sales from as far back as elementary school. I would lose myself in books, and I’ve always been someone who returns to her favorite books again and again — I don’t feel like just because “I’ve read that” that I can’t read it again. Reading is one of my favorite things to do when I’m not doing anything — on vacation, by the pool, on a trip, late at night.
Accepting what is
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012One of the many things I’m working on in my life right now is accepting what is, instead of agonizing, worrying and stressing about why it isn’t something else or how to get it to be something else. There are certainly times to work on changing things, but before I can act towards something I want, I need to truly understand and accept where I currently AM, regardless of whether or not I like it.
Lost in Vienna
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012For most of the week that they’ve been here, Pam & Joshua have been treated, primarily, to a show of the Calle family collective stomach illness. (Fun.) Then, today, Pam decided to join us in the fun. They fly home tomorrow. I suspect they will be happier to see the jetway at the airport than they expected to be. (more…)
Riding the rails
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012Today was Pam & Joshua’s fifth day in Vienna. Their trip has, unfortunately, been interrupted frequently by various members of our family getting ill. Even though Liam is still sick (our pediatrician made a house call today to see him) and Dan & I are still not yet quite well (but we didn’t require house calls today), I decided to help poor Pam and Joshua beat cabin fever today, so Benjamin and I took them out.
Eistraum
Monday, February 20th, 2012From January until March, Vienna transforms the park around the Rathaus into a hugely elaborate ice skating rink. The paths and walkways typically occupied by people strolling around the town hall are made into winding ice paths through the trees. It’s beautiful and looks like it would be a ton of fun . . . if I knew how to skate. I’ve been a few times (mostly birthday parties in elementary and middle school) but I have neither particular skill nor talent for it.
