Twitter

Yes, I signed up for a Twitter account thinking it would be fun to use to share random thoughts with people. Well, I just don't have enough time to post my random thoughts with people. They are too fleeting for me to make it to my computer (haven't set up the text-Tweet) and tweet in time. So, I'm really bad at Tweeting.

As linked from the Food Section blog, Ruth Reichl Tweets ""Judging by twitter, brown butter may be the sexiest pair in the English language. Noticed how often they show up together?"   (And, yes, I agree... it's right up there with "bacon"). I scrolled through the rest of her tweets and noticed personal responses to other recognizable figures, such as Rick Bayless. I feel like a voyer, peering into someone's life, that I'm not meant to see. I noticed that she is following other notables like Susan Orlean, and Mark Bittman. People who once were guarded by distance and, sometime, an entourage of body guards, are no longer inaccessible. You can even follow our tech-saavy president on Twitter and see what he's up to.

I realize that Twitter is rapidly changing the way we communicate with each other. But it also has the potential to change our relationships with people we know and thos we don't; and the way we see the world. Maybe this is really it.

And she grows...

We've been quite busy over the past few months. In fact, so busy I cannot manage to find time to post the photos. I'm really going to have to follow Colleen's lead and get them posted once a month.

We went to Grandma & Grandpa Emigh's house in Fresno for Harper's first Christmas and had a fabulous time. You all know how I'm really bad with cold weather, so I won't bore you too much with the details. We had layers of clothes for Harper, and luckily, Grandma and Grandpa keep the heater going, and we didn't leave the house... except once for a walk. Harper reminded me of Randy from A Christmas Story.

Harper had a great first Christmas. As I've heard with other kids, she wasn't that intersted in the unwrapping part - she just wanted to eat the paper. But once we got everything opened up, she had a great time playing with her new toys.

January took us to San Francisco for Katie's 24th birthday. Harper was great on the plane, and had a fabulous time checking out the city. We rode the trolley cars, walked through Ghirardelli Square, and ate fabulous food. Harper spent the afternoon with Aunt Katie and Auntie Kim, while mom and dad went to the Fancy Food Show. She had a fabulous time and tried eclair for the first time (thanks Kim!).

In other news, Harper is walking. Yes, walking. She's been walking for a while with our help, but the day after her 9 month birthday, she saw something across the room she could not live without. She so walks. It's fun to watch her, because she walks with her arms up like she's holding on to us. And she's so proud of herself.

This spring will be quite busy. We've got a camping trip planned to the desert. I really don't like the idea of my precious child getting dirty, but I better get over that quick. Aunt Nan the Great is coming to visit, and we're headed to Disneyland for Grandma SuSu's 60th Birthday. And of course, there will be a First Birthday Bash complete with BBQ and cupcakes. Stay tuned...

View pictures

Late, late, late

I have been (quite) remiss in posting photos of Harper lately. Every time I think I have time to sit down and work on something, my time runs screaming from the room. So I've been working on doing things in piecemeal. I've finally gotten around to the last step, which is posting everything online!

We have been quite bust the past few months. We celebrated Grandpa Steven's 60th birthday in Yosemite and you couldn't have asked for better weather. It was beautiful! I only wish we had more time to hike and explore the valley.

On our way to and from Yosemite, we stopped in Fresno for a visit with Grandma and Grandpa Emigh. It was such a nice, relaxing time, and Harper loved it. She especially loved meeting Simon, the lovable Chow-Retriever mix, who could have cared less about her presence.

Thanksgiving was low-key and also relaxing. While she didn't partake in our feast, Harper had a feast of her own. Next year, though, she'll be able to be a glutton with the rest of us.

She's doing lots of tricks these days... the best one is eating. As many of you know, feeding a baby can be quite an adventure. She likes sweet potatoes the best, and a few other veggies, but pears are her least favorite, much to her mother's chagrin (they're my favorite). She is also squealing like a banshee which is fun (most of the time). She's sitting all on her own, but still not crawling. It is the general consensus that she may skip this crawling business and go straight to walking. Her legs are pretty strong, but she still has lots to grow before she walks.

Happy holidays!

Fiction 101

For the past few years, Aaron has been submitting stories to the City Beat for their Fiction 101 contest. The stories can be of any genre, but should be no longer than 101 words. This year, Aaron submitted 4 wonderful stories, but the readers at the City Beat have their heads somewhere else, and his stories were not chosen. So instead, we're sharing them here. Enjoy!!

ODELAY!

Strange coincidence: Coyotes dig Beck! Sitting on my patio, waiting for burgers to grill, I was bobbing my head and tapping my foot to “Hotwax” on the boom box; mid air-drum I noticed an army of scrutinizing eyes coming from the adjacent canyon. My peepers bulged uncomfortably and leaping from my chair with supernatural ability, I grabbed the grill brush and brandished it menacingly. Unfortunately, I knocked over the stereo, thereby ending the illustrious cacophony. Momentarily I gawked at the wreckage, lamenting, but then quickly resumed attack stance; the beasts were moving away disenchanted.

"Wait, you assholes owe me $200!"


KARMIC ENTRAPMENT

He sits contemplating the bug he squashed Monday. Normally the man with a crooked nose wouldn’t remember such a thing, but that’s about when his luck turned south. He’s sure it’s something to do with the insect’s pulverized carcass looking uncannily like John Lennon.

He looks up from his beer and stares out the window. Past gold letters spelling out "The Last Goodbye", sits his car modestly full of belongings.

"So I said 'I work hard so you got everything you want.' Before the door slammed she said 'all you need is love.'"

The bartender sighs and returns to his crossword.


BROTHERHOOD LIES NOT IN BLOOD BUT IN ITS LOSS (A RUSSIAN FABLE)

The cold had long ago usurped the marrow in my bones, leaving me hollow and beaten. My glare followed the horizon, set along its course by limitless drifts of ice—a canvas emblazed white. Even the trees that dare rise up against the tyrannical snow, eventually succumb against its relentless assault.

When wolves appeared as if suddenly distilled from the landscape itself, I knew my body, weakened by a sniper’s skilled shot, would not much longer suffer against relentless chill. Adjusting my ushanka, and checking my AK-47 clip—now empty—I prepared myself to let them come to lick my bones.


A COZY SILENCE

“Maude?”

“Yes, Frank?”

“Do you love me?”

“Yes, Frank.”

Pause.

“How much?”

“For heavens sake, what’re you getting at?” Maude put down her knitting and stared over the top of her glasses.

“I’ve something to tell you.”

Silence.

“I won the lottery.”

“Oh…that’s nice dear,” Maude said, resuming her toaster cozy. “Enough for your weekly tobacco allowance, I hope.”

“Uh, yes…”

“Enough for a new sweater for your lovely wife?”

“I won $210 million.”

Needles hitting the floor boomed thunderously.

“When?” she said instinctively, her ears ringing.

“1964.”

Tomorrow’s headline flashed through Maude’s head: MAN DIES IN TRAGIC KNITTING ACCIDENT