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A fleeting, subjective impression
By: Allison Elizabeth Whitney
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| Saturday, 28-Jun-2008 15:21 |
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A beautiful morning
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Looks like it's going to be a hot morning and the sun is making its way onto my street and the gardens, but it's still a little chilly out. My mind is warm and so are my eyes. The sun is making patterns through the leaves on my wall and I can feel the cool breeze through the sheets. I can taste that cool moisture. Good morning!
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Driving from Plano (north of Dallas) to San Antonio was a nightmare. It's summer, it's hot, and gas prices blew up to $3.99. I just paid $4.25 for mine. Everyone slows down passing the gas stations looking closely, hoping for the rare station still at $3.85. I saw it at an Exxon passing San Marcos.
It took two hours to get out of Austin on 35. If you've ever been to Austin, you know there's only one way in and out, 35. Always take the upper levels, they move faster. I saw an interesting old man while driving by the stadium. He had a full beard and he was wearing thick white gloves. He didn't have a/c and was driving with his windows down. After him was a lady with this wonderful bumper sticker. And UT is getting a new campus.
It's summer and everyone is on the road in Texas.
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| Sunday, 22-Jun-2008 23:00 |
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We're gettin' hitched!
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Ian and I like to fly below the radar. Calling people and making big announcements isn't easy for us. We've decided to mail out engagement announcements to spread the news and we're having fun with the idea. We're going to use a photostrip to tell our story (ya know, the old photobooth with four photos on a strip) with a "pull here" tab up top. Now, how to say it in three photos with "We're gettin' hitched!" being the fourth...
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We came home from our Rio Frio trip today and were welcomed with a monsoon. The wind was insane but the rain was nice. After the rain, the air was left clean and crisp. I got a call from a magazine that wants to do a spread on a restaurant I worked on a year ago and they wanted me to drop in so they could take some photos. Before, I'd always let the boss man take care of magazines and spreads. I had no problem passing cred to him because I never made any moves without his authorization and he helped me so much. Now, he's trying to push me to take more of these calls and I really don't want to. I'm happy when I walk away from my project knowing I made my client happy. I really don't care to see myself laying across a table in a restaurant that I designed like I'm the shiz. Unless my team can get into the photo, I'll pass this one along to the boss man, too.
I miss my kid! It's summer and it's too quiet around this place.
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| Friday, 20-Jun-2008 04:53 |
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Rio Frio
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silly
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I sent Ian to get some water toys for our Rio Frio trip.
For him: Awesome inflatable pirate ship that can hold three people. Comes with water blaster, inflatable sword, and a secret hidden door for an easy escape!
For me: A pink inner tube.
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| Thursday, 12-Jun-2008 23:06 |
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Fifteen Again
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World Market soaps smell Mmmmm
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I have been busy finishing up work for a restaurant in town. I was on-site last week when I caught glimpse of a woman I went to high school with and I quickly turned to face the other way so she wouldn't see me. I tripped on my shoe and my team had a good laugh at me and suddenly I was embarrassed. This is a woman that I was good friends with during my elementary, middle, and part of my high school years until we had a fallout. Just the sight of her made me feel small again.
After I found out I was pregnant, I waited a while to tell my friends. When I did tell them and the word spread, I had three friends left. To this day, those three friends are my best girlfriends and I know I wouldn't have made it out of high school without them. Other girls were never mean to me. At least not to my face, but I'm sure they talked about me. The guys were mean. After I had Ali, I never went on a date. Guys I went to school with told me some of the most hurtful things I've ever heard and I had a hard time trusting any guy for years. Girls were much more subtle about their feelings. I was shunned and used as an example.
After I relaxed a bit and remembered I was a professional, I turned to walk towards her and do my business. I was hoping she wouldn't recognize me, but I should have known better. Physically, I haven't changed all that much since high school. She recognized me in an instant and her jaw dropped. She was so excited to see me she grabbed me and gave me a hug and confessed she just couldn't believe it was me. If you could have seen how she acted, you would think I came back from the dead.
To make a loooong story short, she invited me to a dinner party she was throwing to welcome summer (it was on Sunday). She insisted that I go and listed all the people that would be in attendance. It was a mix of family, friends from college, those she works with, and a close knit circle of friends from high school still living in the area. I was thrown back to my junior year in high school when I was personally invited to a party and when I showed up, no one talked to me the entire night. I made my way around the house with a cup someone shoved in my hand and no one cared to spark up a conversation with me. I wanted to tell her I couldn't go to her dinner, that I had other plans, but my mind didn't come up with something fast enough. She told me I'd better come because she would be setting a place for Ian and me. We parted and I walked away thinking of what just happened. We had a lengthy conversation and she didn't asked about Ali.
I told Ian about what happened and asked him to help me come up with something to get out of the dinner and he flat out told me he wouldn't do such a thing. He said he would like to meet some of my old friends from high school (duh! he didn't get that these weren't friends) and that people change and grow up. He understood that I was afraid I'd be shunned again by those few girls and subject to those long stares and judgments and it'd be like I was fifteen all over again. This time, I'd be sitting at the end of the table eating lemon and walnut cake with honey syrup instead of a bag of chips. He reminded me that I have a lot to be proud of and a lot to tell them about my life so far. Even with all I have to be proud of, I was still a little scared. I was comforted by the fact that I'd be sitting next to one hot man, ever confident, the entire night.
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We're walking around her home in Montrose and of course, I'm looking at her decor and design. Ian has left me because he has nerd radar and can find anyone willing to talk to him about world news, tech talk, or interests in the newest little gadgets (he sat with his laptop at the beach following live updates on Steve Jobs' keynote speech this week). Normally, I would have been having a conversation with a complete stranger and enjoying my time, but I knew those girls from high school she had invited were walking around, too.
I didn't have that long to drown in my nervousness. They rounded the corner after only fifteen minutes of my arrival and were delighted to see me. They gave me these great hugs as if we had once been friends and they had missed me so much. I have to admit, their warm welcome made me feel a little better. We caught up during the dinner. I was prepared to sit with Ian, but they actually wanted to sit and talk with me, about me, and see pictures of Ali. It felt like being accepted to the closed circle of friends. They really wanted to talk to me and were amazed by everything I've accomplished while raising a child. It was so much fun. It took ten years, but I guess Ian was right. Some people can change. They were completely charmed by him, everyone is, and I loved that he made me go to the dinner. These girls have never seen Ali and are looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to it.
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| Wednesday, 4-Jun-2008 16:44 |
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VIP
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I wait in bed in the mornings for Ali's call. I know his dad has to remind him to call me. I hear him in the background reminding him to "tell her about this or that". He's anxious to get outside to help his grandfather and great-grandfather build a boat. In the evening, they will take off to do some fishing. Even more classic than a boy and his dog is a boy and his fish.
I spend some of the early afternoon in the shop cleaning up some globes (seven of them; two light up) that will be placed on top of the book shelves in Ali's study off of his bedroom. Three of them will be placed in an old treasure trunk and the others can stand on their own. They're all different sizes and look wonderful. All were picked up at a Fort Bend ISD auction. I'm also making him an inspiration board out of chicken wire. He'll be coming home to a new study for a new year. I got a tip that at the next auction, they'll have some pull down maps and I was promised a first look.
In the late afternoon, I work with my team designing a sidebar for a local restaurant. We have deadlines looming near and I've cancelled lunch meetings three days in a row. I've been promised my very own VIP table if I can get done before schedule.
When I get home, Ian will remind me we're having dinner with friends in town. I'm not to excited about going because I never knew about it. He planned a dinner without telling me and at the end of the day, when more than anything I just want to relax, I have to take a shower and get dressed. I enjoyed it, though. He was great enough to call for the car service. We stayed very late, gave our compliments to the chef, and invited him to sit and chat with us for a while.
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| Tuesday, 27-May-2008 18:12 |
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Winifred Tickles Foster
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When I woke up this morning, I had three missed calls and voicemails. My clients know when my son is away and try to suck every last breath and ounce of energy out of me before he gets back. I decided to wait to check the calls and voicemails until after I ate breakfast.
I'm in San Marcos working for a wonderful gentleman. He's forty-three, divorced, has a son and daughter, and just adopted a puppy that followed me onto his property. With my help, he's decided to name her Winifred Tickles Foster. I suggested he call her Winnie.
Right now, he's working and his kids are enjoying their last week at school. I'm sitting in his house, listening to music from his mp3 player, sorting through photographs, and digging through the garage and bedroom closets. I have to get to know him before I can do any work for him. My team should be here by three.
Music still playing, I needed to take a break to call Ali. His dad has never kept him for longer than a week at a time and we've never been apart for longer than two weeks. I miss talking with him, his voice (my frogger), I miss him. I'm not the only one. Miss Ellie keeps coming by and hanging around. She knows he's not here, but she still asks to come in. Last weekend, she helped me with some frame projects. When I told her I was leaving for San Marcos for a few days, she asked when I would be back and told me she would see me then.
Now, Fiction Plane is playing Two Sisters. I just did a little research and I knew I've heard that voice before.
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| Wednesday, 21-May-2008 06:01 |
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That's my daughter in the water
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On Friday night, my son left with his father for Nova Scotia. He'll be visiting his grandparents for a month and I miss him already. Before he left, we found out he will be playing travel ball next year and he was so excited. He carried his bag to the car and talked about wild adventures, sailing, fishing, and hiking with his pap-pap. I thought of a sraped knee, bloody t-shirt, hooked finger tip, and maybe a rash. I wish I could be around to smell the summer sun in his hair and see it in his skin.
On Saturday, I came over to San Antonio with Ian to visit his parents. I heard the song "Daughter" by Loudon Wainwright on the way and remembered how sweet it is. 
Shortly after we arrived, I misplaced my car keys. His grandmother was there and when I asked her if she'd seen my keys, she said no and quickly said a prayer to Saint Anthony, Patron saint of lost things. Not five minutes passed when I decided to give my purse a second search and found my keys under my wallet. She held my hand and reminded me to always pray to Saint Anthony when I've misplaced something. She's the sweetest woman and I like to hear her call Ian Christian. She gave me the warmest hug and kiss when we told her our plans for getting married.
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| Thursday, 8-May-2008 04:01 |
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Baudelaire Does It Every Time
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| Wednesday, 7-May-2008 17:22 |
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Rogue Squadron
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This morning, running late, we jump into the car, me with no pants, the kid still in pjs, and some toaster pastries and milk. I notice he’s brought the pants with the Rogue Squadron iron-on patch (thanks to his dad!). I remember the note home I received two weeks ago asking that he never wear those pants to school again. For today, the school can suck a fat one. I’m going to have to call Father Thomas, apologize, beg for forgiveness, and ask that they not issue my child detention. I won’t be surprised if in my note, Father slips in a reminder for family wellness classes on Wednesday nights.
I get home and remain pantless. I’m sure everyone lives like this. Pantless at home. It’s almost summer and the sticky humidity will soon become unbearable. The first thing you want to do when you walk into your home is take off your pants. You know you’re an honored guest if you walk into my home and everyone’s wearing pants.
Let me answer your questions.
1. How does the kid change his clothes while safely buckled in?
We were parked in the school parking lot. He already had his shirt on, just needed the pants.
2. Why does school care about Star Wars patches?
Ali attends a private school with a very strict dress code. He has to wear boring white button-ups with navy pants and black shoes everyday. On Wednesday, they have prayer in the church and they have to come to school with a blazer and tie. On Fridays, he can relax in a white polo. But he must always wear plain navy pants. They didn't care for the patch on his back pocket.
3. If you apologize, will it be sincere?
Yes, it would be sincere. I really was sorry that my kid walked into school with his shirt untucked, unruly hair that needs a trim, his tie in his pocket (I roll his ties, but he stuffs them in his pocket and they become wrinkled), and wearing pants that we knew he wasn't supposed to wear to school. All these little details are like little failures on my part.
4. What is a "fat one?"
Umm... Consult with the Urban Dictionary and take your pick.
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| Tuesday, 6-May-2008 22:36 |
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To All of Our Tomorrows
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First Speeding Ticket
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My parents have had some ranch land outside of Katy for years. The house they are building on the ranch is almost complete and will be big enough to hold our entire family plus significant others plus children. My mom and dad know that the rolling hills of green and Texas wildflowers will keep us around for good. Oak trees line the entrance. The trees are so thick that when you're driving down the pebbled path, your satellite radio will go out and search for a signal. The cricket chirps are so loud at night. Count the number of chirps in fourteen seconds, add forty, and you'll have the temperature. It usually seems about right.
This morning, I went shopping with my mom and my aunt Grace. We need a table. Immediate family only would require a table for eight. Add husbands and wives, fourteen. Room for kids? We are looking for something for around 20+. The dining room is more like a dining hall. If there's one thing we enjoy doing as a family, it's dinner. We're a pretty loud group and we've got lots to talk about. Friends I have brought to our table are often amazed and tell me it's like something you see in feel good holiday movies and I agree: talk of new loves and lost ones, the vegetarian menu for one, too much wine, lots of laughter, whispers and giggles, stories and a few tall tales. The difference is those huge dinners as seen on TV only take place once a year. We try to do this every week. My younger sisters and brother still moan and try to come up with an excuse when mom calls days ahead with the invite and enticing menu. When we do all get together, you can tell they secretly love it.
We saw many different tables, none of which we thought was right for the house, and I had fun picturing where everyone would sit. I thought of Ali sitting with a brother or sister and cousins. I want to give him what I had growing up. I just hope it'll be the same for him though he will be much older than his future siblings and new family.
Toasts to new members of the family, birthday boys and girls, graduates, new jobs, achievements, our friends, hopes and dreams, health, love, and happiness. And to all of our tomorrows.
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Hahaha! Great sticker. 
