who can resist

a chunka-monka??

your desk is a mess and so's your life

One of the twins' frazzled elementary school teachers said this once to one of their friends. Clearly an off day. For both of them. But it's made for a good joke these many years and it's how I feel today. Except I've got a kitchen and laundry to go along with my desk...and obviously blogging about it is the first step to getting things done...

Some recent items of note:

The other day, Peeps walked around nursing her baby doll. And here I thought the only thing I needed to worry about her picking up was bad language.

Lucy slept six hours straight the night before last. Then, last night, she was up every two.

And I found myself a fantastic summer skirt, which I am wearing right now; it's brightening my mood considerably.

peter wild, poet

I learned by chance the other day that my favorite UA professor died in February. And because I feel that the Daily Wildcat article didn't do him justice, I'm posting my own tribute.

Certainly not what you'd call a people person, Peter Wild was a quirky fellow. He rode his bike to campus, smoked in the breezeway during breaks, and worked prolifically in his office during most of his free time. He published over 2,000 poems and, in later years, turned his focus to writing non-fiction accounts of the historic Southwest. He once told the class that after the Mary Tyler Moore show went off the air, he threw out his television and hadn't watched it since. I absolutely adored his utter obliviousness to pop culture (and to so many other things). So much so, that I took three semesters of class from him, jotting down his (again, oblivious) witticisms.

Enjoy.

“That’s the problem with today: nothing is forbidden. How can you have any fun?”

“And the three-legged dog chased the beer truck out of town.”

[Wild’s free suggestion for a great ending to any story]

“I’ve learned never to argue with a Bob Dylan fan.”

“A poem a day keeps the psychiatrist away.”

[on someone raising their hand to respond to his question]

“The human mind is indeed a marvelous organ!”

“To me, a refrigerator is happiness. Sausage! Kosher pickles!”

“Politicians of today couldn’t hold a candle to me. But there’s no need to worry about that.”

[Wild, reflecting on the corruption of politics]

“What just happened?”

“It’s disjointed. And that’s popular today because our standards are so low.”

[Wild, telling a student what was wrong with his poem]

“I went through a period as a kid where the hymn ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ went through my head 27 hours a day. I thought I was going crazy. Maybe I was.”

[after reading one of my poems aloud]

“Applause bursts out spontaneously! Savor the glory. Savor the glory.”

“You Americans abandon the past so readily.”

“Learn from your students. Once in a while, you do.”

“I once knew a young lady who led a brownie troop. What’s so funny?”

“I don’t know how I survived that nonsense. I can’t believe I got through it. I still have nightmares. I’m not anti-military, you understand. I’m just a coward.”

[Wild on the army]

[on being asked what he considered the biggest satisfaction of teaching]

“I have all sorts of answers running through my head—-none of them appropriate.”

pat's run: year five

This was our 5th annual Pat's Run, although I wasn't feeling quite up to running (or walking) the 4.2 miles. So Dave pushed Peeps in the stroller while I cheered everyone on from the stadium.

Brent flew in for the occasion.
Check out his stache (and his girlfriend), both of which suit him quite well, I think!

I saw Sione from the Biggest Loser walking up the stairs. So, like a dork I asked him for a picture. Talk about postpartum-body inspiration!

The fam shot--slightly washed out by the lighting

Our fam (plus Morgan)

Linny also flew in to meet Lucy.
We're having an excellent weekend visiting with her!

a dream

From the ages of 13-15, my friend and I faithfully conducted photo shoots of each other to enter into the Seventeen Magazine model search contest. Later, I decided very certainly upon becoming an actress, then an opera singer, and now a writer. That's why seeing something like this makes me feel good about lofty ambitions, life, and the world in general. Enjoy!

wariness to the wind!

I dressed her up anyway (without incident, I might add).

e-(aster) parade

My mom, who grew up on a Montana ranch, said she and her brothers used to get a baby chick every Easter. This year we're carrying on the tradition! Sort of. Ralph bought about a dozen chicks to raise and went out of town for the weekend. Therefore, we get to babysit them! Penelope obviously loves this arrangement. I love it too, as long as it's Dave who cleans out their box. I'm terrified of touching them.

We sadly missed out on the Arnett Easter bonnet parade. But here is our somewhat lame cyber contribution. Turns out it's nearly impossible to get a decent shot of a two year old holding a three week old...but here's our best effort.

Peeps before church in her Easter dress. Lucy has one too, but since she's lately taken to projectile vomiting, I was a little wary to put her in silk...

portrait

Sarah came over to take some newborn shots of Lucy.
They turned out awesome! Here's one of my favorites...
(S.V. peeps: you won't find a better photographer in town!)

goodbye, "gramma pemmy"

When it got a little too quiet around here, I found Peeps playing with her new potty. She actually used it for the first time yesterday! (Visitors fyi: if you use the bathroom, you'll find the toilet paper stuffed in a grocery bag hanging from the sink. Waste not, want not!).

This is me--pretty much every morning

We were very sorry to see my mom go home yesterday.
We miss you, Grandma!