Air

According to AirNow.gov, the air pollution right now is at 270, "very unhealthy". It's an improvement from what it was last night and early this morning (>300, "hazardous" ). Fires in Canada are sending plumes of smoke our way, and because of weather patterns, our area is hit particularly hard.

I hope rain comes soon.

I hope the rain comes before the forests around here ignite because of extreme dryness, human carelessness, or out-of-our-control events (lightning). We already had a minor brush burn (luckily, it was brought under control) along the highway - probably because some jerk threw a cigarette stub out the window.

The temperature was beautiful (low 70's) this morning - perfect for a hike - but we can't enjoy the unusually cool weather because the air is just not good. 

Can't do: outdoor pool, hikes, kayaking, picnics, pick berries, play frisbee with kids.

Can do: stuff inside. Meh. 

I miss fresh air.

Airplanes, Military, and Nostalgia

On Sunday, I took my son and a couple of his friends to the WW2 airplane show. 

I fell in love with the Corsair. The pilot was clearly in love with it, too. There was such joy in his voice as he was talking us through all the maneuvers he was doing, flying loop after loop above the airfield.

The entire day, my head was full of memories and stories. WW2 - the Great Patriotic War - it had an enormous presence (a weight) for those growing up in the USSR. There was not a single family I knew that hadn't lost people to that war.

All those airplanes flying above, paratroopers jumping, with their parachutes opening up at equal intervals... It's funny how some things just trigger a memory, and then it's like a string that you keep pulling - more memories come out.

In the 80's, we lived near an airbase. There were planes in the sky all the time. I was a kid, and I wasn't particularly interested in airplanes (or weapons, or anything military-related) - but I remember that whenever we had guests, they were always a bit taken aback by all the noise from the planes. I was so used to it, I barely noticed.

One day, I was playing outside, and I noticed something funny in the sky - it took me a moment to realize these were parachutes! Soldiers were jumping out of a helicopter. It looked like white clouds being seeded in the sky at exactly equal intervals. The boys from my school got super-excited and ran off to the field where the soldiers were landing. I wasn't curious enough to join them (I may be regretting this now, all these years later... just a little bit...)

It's funny... so many year have passed - but the childhood, with all the wonder, disappointments, experiences, and adventures - some days, it feels like it's so close I could touch it. 

WW2 feels so recent - that was my grandparents' time. I heard so many stories - sad, happy, funny, heartbreaking - and they are all linked to my childhood in the USSR.

Down in the Grumps

I am in a mood.

Not a good one. 

How do you deal with bad moods?

Here is what doesn't work:

• Exercise (just makes me angrier)
• Count your blessings (just  makes me angrier)
• Take deep breaths (no change)
• Pet my cat (the evil thing runs away)
• Watch a movie (temporary relieve, but then it all comes back)

Here is what I'm going to try today:

• Chocolate
• Read a thriller for half an hour
• Go for a hike (if I can find the time)
• Play the piano (if I can find the time)
• Take deep breaths (because what the heck- it doesn't make anything worse... maybe if I do it long enough it'll make me feel better... or will make me pass out which would be somewhat of an improvement over my current state of mind)

Somewhat unrelated:  It's June 1 - International Children's Day (at least it used to be back in the USSR). Or perhaps not so unrelated because, in part, my bad mood is courtesy of one nearly-teenage child.

Shortcuts

I've been reading about life hacks on some of the blogs I regularly visit - they were fun to read but most don't seem particularly relevant to my daily life.

It got me thinking - do I have any cool shortcuts that help me be my most efficient self?

Nope. 

In fact, it seems that I am all about inefficiency. 

I take extra-long time to do everything. And that's OK! I am giving myself permission to take my time. It definitely results in doing less overall. It's not because it's better this way, it's not because I've discovered some "zen" secret to life, it's not like I find some extra meaning in being inefficient and spending extra time on mundane tasks.

This is just me, this is who I've always been (I believe "poky" is the word).

I started this post thinking I would write about a clever trick that can make your life easier... I am ending it with: I am sorry! No shortcuts here! I take the long way!

29

Yesterday was the 29th anniversary of our immigration to the Unites States.

Twenty nine years ago, we were exhausted, overwhelmed, and bewildered. Trying to find our way in a new country, trying to adjust, trying to survive.

Hot dogs - seriously? Who are these people?

Wonder Bread - ugh, what is it made of?

Random people waving at you and saying hi - omg, is there something on my face?    

Sour cream - why is it so solid and jelly-like? 

School - wow! so many people! from so many places! 

Streets of our town - why is no one walking in the streets? 

Streets of our town - cars actually stop for pedestrians! Amazing and unexpected! 

Twenty nine years in the US... My kids have been born here. I've come to love so many things (but not wonder bread, or doughnuts, or marshmallows) about living here. National and state parks! Basic life comforts (like, toilet paper in most public toilets... rest areas when you are driving....)! Career opportunities! My kids growing up as part of a local Jewish community! Quality dental and medical care (sky-high expensive, but definitely very, very good).

How would have things worked out if we were able to stay in Latvia in the 90's? Honestly, I don't wonder about that too much.

Theater

We all went to see "Red Riding Hood" at Arden Theater last weekend. It was everything I love: great storytelling without "dumbing down" for kids. Treating audience as intelligent human beings. Fantastic acting. Funny, sensitive, without taking itself too seriously. Arden is doing "The BFG" next year - I am excited (even though I am not a huge fan of Roald Dahl).

Our 14-year old is probably ready for some more grown-up plays... Will have to see what local theaters are doing.

What's your favorite way to experience stories (other than books)? Theater? Musicals? Movies? Opera?

Weekend Report: May Edition

It was a very, very busy weekend.

We spent most of Saturday in Philly. Our oldest was playing at the Kimmel Center with the Young Musician Orchestra. The concert was amazing. We also walked around the city quite a bit (in the rain... but it wasn't too bad), ate at a Greek place, had chocolate treats, fought (yes, family drama - can't live without it), and soaked it all in... So proud of our son. I keep re-watching our recording of the concert - still can't get my head around it.

After we got home, we all stayed up too late... the girls went to our neighbor's backyard for an outdoors movie night (they have a projector + screen). E., his best friend and I watched The Matrix.

Sunday, I had a quiet solitary morning (after a very filling breakfast made by husband and kids). I read, I went to the farmers market, and then I visited my parents (and brought fresh-picked strawberries). I came home with a pile of green onions (from dad), roses (from mom), and more onions for planting.

After a quick lunch, we all went to a local arboretum for a walk. The kids wanted to do their own independent thing, so we let them - and went on to explore all the blooming rhododendrons. The kids were fine but they did some things with a wagon* that will make me think 10 times before letting them be unsupervised in a park.

We had take-out dinner (Indian food), then watched Beetlejuice, then went to bed.

Somewhere along the way everyone managed to practice, we did laundry, and took care of some weeds.

*They did ask for permission to use that wagon - they were told to go ahead and borrow it as long as they bring it back (which they did). They did not break it and no one got hurt... but riding down the hill in a wagon - that's just such a bad idea. Seriously, what were they thinking?