Citizen Beta

Elitist Insomnia:

I was awake for hours the other night trying to remember the name of King Lear’s  third daughter.  “Goneril, Regan and ….Goneril, Regan and …???”

..between a frumpy sweater and skinny jeans…

I need a couple new shirts or sweaters for this winter and just like every time I think about getting new clothes I have trouble finding a store that has affordable, quality, stylish, age appropriate clothes for me. I am willing to spend a bit more to get some good stuff that will last but everything seems either way too young (skinny jeans) or way to old (frumpy sweater). Ack. I went to urban outfitters today to look for something and I guess I have aged and widened considerably since the last time I shopped there (Seattle circa 2000) because even though there was lots of cute stuff there was no way in hell I was paying $98.00 for a shapeless sweater with horizontal (egads!) stripes. It just wasn’t as cool as I remembered it. Where is a thirty-something, slightly zaftig mother of two, who wants to look her age but not like she has given up entirely to shop? Where oh where? And don’t say Chico’s.

…between a baby and a kid…

A is going to be 21 months old next week; closer to two than one and in the next few months I think we are all in for some big changes. Like her older sister she is a late-ish talker. She has lots of words but no sentences and her speech isn’t all to clear yet. She still nurses a lot and I would like to cut back on that just a tad. I would like, also, to start working on getting her into her own room with L at night. But, all this is probably going to involve a tear or two and I just don’t have the energy to deal with it right now.

The chickens, too, are growing up. Our rooster is quite, well, cocky these days, “mounting” the hens, practicing the disturbing act of chicken sex. He crows all day, his comb bright red. The girls are not quite ready to lay eggs yet but I am watching for signs (not sure even what those signs are). The are not novel anymore, just a natural part of our backyard, but they are still fascinating.

…between summer and winter…

Ah, fall in the American southwest. It is 40 degrees when you wake up but over 75 by the afternoon. Fickle fickle. I stay in (frumpy) sweaters all day. I love long sleeves, long pants, high stripy socks. I can’t wait to get my scarves out. But, I like being warm. Today A and I sat out in the glider, long-sleeved, she bare-footed, and got nice and toasty in the sun. It felt hot, but it was breezy and the sun was bright but lacking the intensity it has in the summer. The air feels thinner and the leaves on our big mulberry are lightening up, while still vibrant green. Evidence of summer remains: the tomatoes still reddening in the garden, pumpkins still growing on the vine. The peppers that are finally growing and L’s petunia’s making a spectacular last burst of color and petals. We have packets of seeds (winter greens) and bags of soil, ready to plant the winter garden and a teeny tiny spinach plant already started. The girls’ drawers are full of short-sleeve t-shirts and cardigans, long pants to extend the life of summer dresses. The hats that are now in the dress up box will be necessities sooner than we think. It is hard on days like these to imagine blustery winter days or summer scorchers.

…between good books and bad…

Well, that is the way it goes.

I am reading: Rethinking Jewish Latin America

Earth in the Balance

I have read:  Vanilla Bright Like Eminem

20th Century Ghosts

I have reviewed: Hurry Down Sunshine

What Happened to Anna K.

So, what is your autumn like (and where did you get that really nice sweater?)