now if i could only figure out that whole balance thing combined with at least 48 more hours in each day …. maybe i’d do better about helping happy little creations to arrive on your doorstep too …

The next few weeks will serve a reminder for me to practice good tooth habits.

Today? Another root canal. I last had one over a decade ago, one would think I learned these lessons then.

If you don’t like or aren’t comfortable with your current dentist, find a new one. If your dentist seems more concerned with payment or your insurance than with your health, find a new one. If your dentist is insisting on yanking wisdom teeth just because they are impacted if they don’t bother you and don’t have sign of infection and you are over the age of 25, find another opinion (and probably a new dentist). We have a new dentist now that we moved. I’m actually looking forward to today’s visit. I’ve had the reasons why and the plan explained to me in a professional and intelligent manner. I’ve been allowed to question why and “what if we did this” and I wasn’t shot down for ignorance.

Update: That was PAINFREE! He ROCKS. I ♥ my new dentist greatly.

Shadow blends in with much of our furniture. If we can’t see him we can’t quite tell him No. He loves looking outside and we plan to make a more platforms so he can look out on the great outdoors, and hopefully just look, not join.

As I missed yesterday’s post it’s obvious I’m still working on that elusive phenomenon known as work-life balance. Yesterday’s writing is mostly drafted and I’ll hopefully post it next week, I had a string of technology issues that resulted in me deciding that if all of those things happened at once (which they did) it was the decisive sign that I must walk away and go knit. Shadow had other ideas. He decided that it meant I should snuggle with him for two hours. I didn’t really complain much about that. :)

updated for Dave
Last night I was adopted by a five seven month old male at my local Humane Society. They named him, but we may rename him.

I wish I could tell you in person. There is so much I could wish but there is no need to dwell on what if’s, or to wallow in sadness. Over the past twenty years that are both too long and so sudden I’ve found time and again that the tools and skills you gave me for life are innumerable, highly varied, and priceless. I miss you every day. May your memory be a blessing and one day I be an honour to you and mommy. I love you.

May my friends who have recently lost a parent know they are not alone. It isn’t easy. It isn’t fair. I have no words of wisdom but offer my shoulder and ear. This is one club I really wish you didn’t join.

Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going to fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.
~ Eddie Cantor

The Children’s Orchestra Society and LB Collection Silk Mohair to be a Scaruffle.


you can donate. I won’t stop you. i encourage you, strongly. you don’t have to tell them I sent you. Just send them what you can. $5 makes a big difference. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for COS. Yeou-Cheng and Michael mean the world to me and I was honoured that Yeou-Cheng’s little brother joined them on stage tonight to perform a beautiful trio, a Filipino love song adapted by Michael for violin, guitar… and cello.

Given the current health of the economy I feel it is even more important now to give back whenever and where ever I can. My life is blessed with with good health, a home, employment, family, and friends. It pains me that I often have all of this and many others have nothing. So how do I give back?

(1) I shop local small businesses whenever and wherever I can. I try to avoid the chain stores and have patience if shopping local means I need to (gasp!) wait.

(2) I try to shop at the local farmer’s market whenever I can. Here in NYC I’m lucky that if I plan my route right I can go every day of the week. In general I go to the Union Square market on Mondays, Wednesdays, and if the weather is good (because I’m making a special trip in) Fridays. It’s also open on Saturdays but that doesn’t help me very much. Check out the American Farmland Trust. Houses do not feed us though I do not deny decent housing is important. The many developments springing up around the country (and especially in the areas I grew up) are evil and not well planned despite what is said. I’m curious to see what the new economy does to them and our future.

(3) I give to my local libraries. This is really important to me. If I actually feel I can part with a book I often give it to them to either *use* or sell in a book sale to generate needed funding.

(4) Give to your college. If it wasn’t for alumnae grants I would not have been able to afford to go to college, must less the one I went to. Sure, it’s painful if you are still paying off your student loans, but $10 can make a difference in the long run. Do you really need that grande latte?

(5) Support charities. My list of favourites include Chai Lifeline, March of Dimes, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Heifer International.

(6) Support Public Radio and Television. Or support your favourite show or local station.

(7) BUY HANDMADE!! I cannot stress this enough. Etsy is a good place to start or go look at designer’s pages they may sell things on their own. (nb: there is no rhyme or reason to how I ordered those links!)

(8) Make something and then give it away to those that need it. WarmUpAmerica is great and I plan to make lots of baby hats because they save lives (hey, are *you* wearing a hat? adults need hats too!). If you live in NYC you can bring in your hats to the Lion Brand Yarn Studio until January 15th “and [they] will take care of shipping them . . . AND as a thank you for you good works, you will receive a 20% off coupon for your next purchase at Lion Brand Yarn Studio.”

(9) Give to a school, I’ve not yet used this organisation but I’ve heard good things about DonorsChoose.

If you need some more links to help you give back let me know and I’ll look them up for you.

שׁבּת שׁלום

Sparky (the black cat on the right) joined Cosette this week in the land of endless mice and milk. He was my mum’s cat more than mine and an outdoor kinda guy. We’ll miss him greatly and take solace that he died a peaceful natural death after a life of adventure. He taught Cosette how to break out of the bathroom and go exploring when they were kittens (around the time this photo was taken). When A had his stroke 7 years ago Sparky brought me a baby bunny (it was sweet in a Sparky-way). He missed Cosette greatly after she died and always looked for her. I’m happy they are back together having fun.