Just had to pick up a little something...

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Left Austin on friday morning and a mere 7 hours later we were in Marfa for El Cosmico - a lovely weekend in the dry desert sun and dirt filled with friends, barbeque, and live music. The weather was glorious and the kids were in rare form - happy and enjoying the wide open spaces.

The kids were dying to go shopping at Prada so we just had to stop by and hit the summer sale. No really, for those that don't know - the Prada Marfa installation is "art". The sealed shop sits on the side of the desert highway and collects bugs and dust and amuses/confuses passers-by. Over the years it will continue to decay and sift back into the desert floor. Just 35 miles from the art community of Marfa (made famous by Donald Judd settling there in the 1970's), the Prada cube has been there for 2 years or so now. The story I love is that vandals actually broke in
and stole a shoe or two - they only display 1 shoe of each pair for just that reason, to deter thieves. I guess someone out in west Texas is walking around in an extremely well-shod left foot.

Meanwhile back at El Cosmico, others were camping in vintage trailers and tents but we were lucky enough to have the use of a lovely house in town. I couldn't really imagine camping with 2 year old, over-stimulated twins who were pumped up on crazy meal schedules, music until the wee hours and dogs everywhere! We settled in quite nicely to our minimalist abode and drank in the atmosphere of the West Texas light.

Don't tell me how sorry you are...

that my daughter was born blind. Tell me that you're amazed at how well she is doing and how silly she is when she giggles. Tell me what a good mimic she is when she 'burps' on command. Tell me how smart she is when I say "Zelda, let's count in French" and she says "Un, deux, trois". Tell me how proud you are of her fearlessness and determination and independence. Tell me that she is a good dancer. Tell me that you can see she is a wonderfully, loving child when she gives you a hug and a 'bisou'. Tell me that you are thrilled that she is doing so well. But don't tell me you're sorry. You had nothing to do with it. And I don't need your sympathy 'cuz Zelda is a 2 year old superstar.

Please honor our toxo babies...

Zelda and Creed will be turning 2 years old this week. They are thriving! But for the rest of their lives, they will have to deal with being born with congenital toxoplasmosis...and so does Fin. He's their friend that they met in Chicago through the Toxoplasmosis study. He was born with the evil parasite, too. His mother also unknowingly contracted the infection while pregnant. It really, really sucks! As parents, we want only the best for our kids, and if that means learning to live in Holland (see a few posts back) - by god, we'll do it!

Please honor our babies and go to Fin's website. His dad will be running the Chicago Marathon with 2 others to raise money for the Toxoplasmosis Study Group to help all of the babies born with this ridiculously strident infection.

Happy Birthday Toxotwins! And love to Fin and his parents! Please donate - pay it forward...www.thefinster.com

They're tryin' to make me go to rehab...

but I said 'No, no, no'...
This is currently Creed's new favorite song. He smiles, spins, moves his arms up and down and says "Noooo, noooo, noooo." Last week it was "Jump, Shake your booty" by Bob Schneider. This week it's Amy Winehouse. Itsy, bitsy spider - we are movin' on!

Of course, in a more serious mood, here's Creed challenging Nana to a game of dominoes:

Reasons why I am glad that August is over...

After the birth of the twins and living through their time in the NICU, their illness and surgeries, I swore that I would never wish for the passing of time. Each day needs to be cherished and treasured. But some days/weeks just plain suck - it's just that simple. Not to say that September will be any easier, here are reasons why I am glad that August is over:

- Business sucks and no one is spending any money this summer in my shops or anywhere else on the street.

- I am tired of seeing co-eds in flipflops with ironed hair and cell phones glued to their ears not understanding the concept of style or elegance. Please bring on fall and the holiday season!

- Zelda has had a snotty nose for the past 3 weeks. I'm tired of boogers.

- I have had absolutely no luck in finding a 2 day a week morning daycare in which to enroll the twins into a 'socializing' situation.

- The city as well as the attorney we have hired have still not resolved the stalled building permits issue concerning our house remodel.

- My dad had a massive heart attack but today he was discharged from the hospital.

So with that last reason, September is already better than August. So long summer...