We’ll be in The Big Easy for the weekend!

:-)

And also, my computer died.

:-(

This is Ross’s computer. It isn’t as shiny as mine, but it’s not dead so I am using it to type these words now. But for the two reasons above, I am going to be gone for a few days. Try to cope, beloveds!

We haven’t seen the last of the heat yet, but summer is breathing its last slow breaths and fall’s colors are just beginning to tiptoe over the edges of a few leaves here and there. Sometimes it feels as if all the year is made up of these in-betweeny times, these changeful days when we stay still and the seasons carefully switch places around us. My skin hates alterations in the air – it always gets dry and irritated – and Ross will tell you that my cold feet when the summer ebbs are a burden to bear on his warm skin — but it’s worth it to feel the movement of the earth like this, so seldom seen in any other way. I feel cradled in the arc of my planet’s orbit, like a heavy-eyed eight year old lolling against the back seat of the car while the bright blurry world streams past her window. I don’t know how we’re getting home, but homeward bound we are. And while we travel I try to imagine our universe, finite but unbounded like our minds.

Like many thinking human beings living in the world today, Ross and I have become increasingly concerned about where our food comes from and the environmental and economic costs (both hidden and obvious) of producing it, packaging it, and getting it to us. The more we learn, of course, the less it seems we can eat without feeling the oppressive guilt that accompanies being in America and having to feed ourselves.

So Ross, in particular, was excited when we noticed for the first time a little community garden very close to our house. We may not become vegetarian or give up corn or raise our own hens, but we figure that if nothing else we can try growing a few herbs and vegetables this spring, get our hands dirty, and spend a short time each week surrounded by beautiful things.

My parents-in-law left today amidst many hugs and kisses and great relief that the Northwest Airlines staff is not striking today. I know they already miss Ross, so I took him out with me on a photo-walk this evening and did my worst. Here are a few highlights. As always, Ross is a charming subject despite the fact that I can never get him to relax enough so that he looks like he doesn’t know the camera is there. I don’t know why — it’s not like I stand in between his legs and stick my lens right into his face so I can focus on his stubble, or anything.

You can’t tell, but he’s sick as a dog, too. What a trouper. I’m gonna go mollycoddle a little now.

I don’t want to get into the details, because they’re complicated and involve people whose real names I’d rather not say and don’t actually know, but today someone I respect a great deal thanked me for standing up for “logic and All That is Good.” It made me smile a big smile, even though basically all I did was:

1) say what I thought in a contentious discussion, without

2) calling anyone a stupidhead.

I guess that’s an accomplishment. ;-)

In honor of the day, I’ve decided to give you a picture of a real superhero who rather looks the part: Heather, the volunteer coordinator at the Women’s Center I volunteered at 5 years ago. She was getting her M.Ed at Harvard last I heard from her, so presumably she’s off saving some kids as we speak.

Item: I was at the Garment District yesterday and there was a denim skirt hanging on a rack that had a big “Designer” sign posted on top. It was labeled a size 6. I am a size 4, and had already put back two nice looking non-designer skirts because they were size 6’s, and too big for me. The designer skirt, however, looked small. I took it into a dressing room and attempted to try it on, but it was ridiculously tight on me — although it did zip up (rather grudgingly), it sat really high and resembled a bandage more than a piece of clothing.

Now, I am no Skinny Marie. I have a butt. I have hips. But I am basically a small person. And after I put the skirt back, I realized what this means: in the world of designer skirts, I am probably a size 10 instead of a size 4 (given how tight that skirt was, the next size up would probably not have done either). Thus, in the world of designer skirts, since size 0 does exist and is presumably striven after, there are FIVE SIZES OF PEOPLE who are thinner than me. Five. Whole. Sizes. Of people. Suddenly I was simultaneously worried about the state of the world, and greatly desirous of a large vanilla milkshake.

Item: The archeologist who has done the most work on this fascinating project has just agreed to meet with me so we can chat about khipu, and I can propose an article on them for a children’s science magazine. I am charmed by the prospect. Send me any questions that occur to you after you’ve read about khipu!

Item: We finally bit the bullet and joined Netflix, and will shortly be cancelling our cable service altogether (in theory, Verizon now offers “naked DSL” in Boston and we can get a high speed internet connection without a phone line for less than half of what we’re paying now for cable). Film suggestions always welcome; we currently have less then 25 movies in our queue, because although we are constantly coming across things we want to see, we never write them down and we have terrible memories. You can help!

Very Mostest Importantest Item: Look over, if you please, at the list of rock ‘n’ rollers on the right. You will notice, if you have been paying attention, a new addition to the hallowed ranks — one that I am tremendously pleased and proud to introduce. It’s Jenn’s Rwanda blog! As she’s currently experiencing far more interesting daily interactions than the ones between me and my skirts, it makes an absorbing read. Go and be charmed, moved, and educated. Shoo!

This is a pretty accurate representation of Rachel as she normally looks. Terrific curls, cool glasses, noncommittal expression.

Here is Rachel after I said, “Can you take off your glasses? And why don’t you look over there?” Still very intelligent, but now softer and a little more contemplative.

And finally, through no fault of her own, here is Rachel as the cover model on a Mills and Boon novel. She provided the turn of the head and the eyes, I took care of the muted tones and colors. I have nothing to say in my own defense, except that I think she looks beautiful. (And hey, I have a future as a romance book cover artist!)

She left this evening to return to one new husband, one new apartment, and one Simon-cat in D.C. — we’ll miss her!

Edited to add this one, which I almost love more than the others:

Oh, P.S. We’re going to New Orleans over Labor Day weekend. Suggestions welcome.