Blogarithms

We've been internet-free at our house for the last three weeks, due to certain people doing too much online game playing and Facebooking, which led James to yank the WiFi box out of the cupboard and throw it on the floor. Peace and quiet over computer time, now there's a concept. It's been a busy time, so I'll just give you a photo month in review:

A gorgeous, extravagant family wedding at
Alexander's Crown in Sonoma Valley.


Mademoiselle Butterfly shows us her charms.


The last day of kindergarten!


Jack gets ready to rock the house Beatles style in preparation for
Cirque du Soleil's LOVE show at the Mirage...

...and then promptly cleans up his act.


The kids enjoy participating in Youth in Arts'
Italian Street Painting Festival.


Wynham gives himself a wedgie on our
Father's Day biking expedition to Angel Island.


Deb takes Mona Helen to the San Francisco MOMA
to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit...

...as Coco hams it up making a three-course
birthday dinner (I'm spoiled).


"De plane! De plane!"


"Help! I'm stuck in The Venetian and I can't get out!"

Wynham pimps his next ride on The Strip.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.


Claire gets home just in time to make a commercial for Wild Planet toys.

Claire Makes Waves

We are completely out of room under the couch, in the closet (and the garage, and the basement), and on the walls, for all of Claire's artwork -- she churns out twenty or so pieces every day -- so I've decided to do a little creative archiving, since she usually specifies that "we have to save this one, Mom". Check out Claire's online gallery, Clear Star Art.

The Chocolate Marauder

Jack enjoys dispensing tips on
how to bake a better batter!

Sutro Sunset

I'm almost never on the city side of the bridge anymore, but I just happened to be driving past the site of the old Sutro Baths the other night as the sun was setting over the Golden Gate. I've always adored this place, its history and mystery, and would have loved to have seen Sutro Baths in its heyday, before it burned down. But then again, the building would have blocked this view...

(Re:) Introducing Coco's Kitchen

Coco's Kitchen was introduced without fanfare a couple of months ago in the sidebar, but more and more people are wondering where the recipes went; well, here they are. This is our archive of tried-and-true favorites from the family pantry, please visit and let us know what you think. Hope you're hungry!

Cross Training

My brother Jonathan took this picture of Wynham up in the Santa Cruz mountains a few weeks ago, and it's a pretty good snapshot of Wynham's life philosophy: Hey guys! Let's lie down in front of a train and see what happens! It also reminds me of a poem my Grandfather continues to entertain us with every chance he gets (by coincidence, I asked him to tell it to me when I saw him in April, so that I could write it down and remember it...):

There was a man named Andy Bline

There was a man named Andy Bline
who hung three red shirts out on a line.
He bought a goat at his expense
and tied him to the backyard fence.
That goat got loose in plenty of time
and ate those three red shirts right off the line.
Andy Bline got mad and said,
“I wish to goodness that goat was dead!”
He took him down to the railroad track
and tied him fast upon his back.
In the distance came a fast express
and you can probably guess the rest…
but that goat had a scheme back in his brain –
he coughed up those three red shirts and flagged the train!

I'm sure Wynham has a plan in the back of his mind, too; I just don't know what it is yet...

Indy is Back!

Yup, call me a pushover. Today is the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and yes, somehow my teenagers convinced me that it was essential to be there at 12:01am this morning to be among the first to see the long-awaited return of Indy to the big screen.

My acquiescence might be due in part to the fact that I was already running on a sleep deficit yesterday (four hours of sleep the night before) when they began hounding me to take them to the middle-of-the-night opening. Then they pulled a trump card: "Hey, your mom used to take you to Krispy Kreme in your pajamas at midnight for hot donuts and a cold carton of milk..." Well, that didn't take two and a half hours and usually happened on weekends, but I was already caving in anyway.

Probably the real reason I agreed to take them is that I've always adored Indiana Jones and all the kitschy slapstick. The clincher is surely Harrison Ford himself -- even Chloe says he's "hot" -- in a role that no one else could ever do. Whatever shortcomings the critics may hang on this sequel, there's still enough to thrill die hard Indy aficionados.

But the best part of all is that I've been dubbed the "Coolest Mom in The Universe" for taking them to the movies when all their friends were wisely sound asleep. I'm probably entitled to that moniker until at least the end of the school day this afternoon. And then I'm going to take a nap.

I'm Gonna Wash That Fish Right Outta My Hair

Fingerling Salmon and little fingers make for a bit of a stink...
(Soap and water are a mother's best friend!)