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word up


A couple of things to look out for as you watch this video:

1) The German soother which now fits Elsie’s face. You might remember when it didn’t. Exhibit A. Perhaps you’re wondering if we have any intentions of ever removing the large-German-soother-which-now-fits-admirably from her daily routine? Excellent query. To which I have no reply. I think about it from time to time, particularly when a rash emerges on her chin from too much German soother loving. But then my mind wanders giving Elsie just enough time to sleuth my German soother hiding spots. And then we both need a snack break. Basically my German resolve is very low.

2) The throat gurgle, which she uses as a water call. I think it’s fairly brilliant, or at the very least, extremely interesting. We should all try it. Get our loved ones to meet our needs through non-verbal, compelling throat commands. Elsie for one finds it yields 100% return.

3) The videos which come up afterward which you might care to watch. They include: an interview with our quirky midwife…and yes, she does have a very large flower in her hair…and no, she wasn’t on her way to a wedding; a video of Simon and me talking about onions for our enableyourhealth.com site which is eternally under construction. You can visit the construction site at enableyrhealth.com if you have loads of time to waste this Monday. Suggestions? Time you would like to donate to the cause? I have lots of supplements I could trade ya.

Toddler Feats from Rebecca on Vimeo.

zesty living


Kind of ironic that I’m posting this picture considering this one is lying (or probably standing) in her crib right now crying her eyes out. Because…I’m insisting on a nap. What can I say, she’s zesty in every respect. A strength she inherits from her mama. So I discovered on this website through Chevron. The website offers all sorts of interesting personality tests based in what’s called ‘Positive Psychology.’ The survey Simon and I have done is the VIA survey of Character Strengths. It’s a free questionnaire, but takes a good fifteen minutes because there are 240 questions. I’m warning you now. But the results are interesting. Both Simon’s and my top strength is Curiosity About The World. Aren’t we just a match made in heaven? Which doesn’t mean we have secure jobs or a clean apartment or a clean car for that matter (apologies to all those of have ridden in my car as a passenger in the last month and exited the vehicle disturbed.) But damn are we are curious. Freggin’ freakin’ curious.

What are you? Go do some self-discovery. Go, go. Be curious.

Life is sooooo good.

the peeler blog and other challenges


Okay. So there were a few low moments during the holidays. But let me just zero in on the major cause of my holiday discomfort. Not that there weren’t other down moments. I mean there were definitely other moments. I would hate to leave you with the impression that everything is peaches and roses and a sprinkling of jasmine pot-pourri at the Daveys. Like, for example, when my sister called me sobbing with: “Dr. Lee fucked up!” on the 23rd to recount how Dr. Lee had removed a stitch too early and her wound had zigzagged open—that was a down moment. My sister, who is as much drama queen as me, was spinning the tale so vivid, I could vision the innards of her hand oozing out on to Dr. Lee’s white coat while navigating my car through the confines of Sherway mall.

Yeah, so bascially that sucked.

Other things that troubled: Elsie had a fever for two days before Christmas causing us to fear the very worst—namely swine flu leading to death. That most definitely troubled.

Oh yeah, and then there was Boxing Day (the 26th for all you Americans) at which point Simon, Elsie and I decided to venture outside for a quick outing. Because I insisted on coffee (not that I have anything resembling an addiction) and none of our coffee spots were open, we ended up at Chapters. I suggested Elsie might like to play with the train in the kids section while Simon and I shared our Grande beverage (we are economical when we want to be—just putting that out there). We wandered back to the kids section and nudged Elsie toward the train set. Go, daughter. Play, play with the strange children. Daddy and I will be over here on these child-sized neon chairs enjoying the festive day and perusing the self-help rack. No sooner did we sit down did a girl, age 10 (at least), approach the train set and start ramming her train around the tracks amidst four other little aggressive boys. The girl was too old to be at the train set which disturbed the little boys. She also had a pretty large head which seemed to jar them as well. And they kept telling her to get lost. Fortunately she was blissfully unaware of her status among them, and just kept driving her train around the track. Forcing it through any blockade. Including Elsie. Elsie also blissfully unaware stood agog sucking the Thomas bridge, standing back on occasion for this force of a girl to pass.

It was uncomfortable.

Simon finally turned to be and said, “The train is really fun. Can we go now?”

At which point we pulled Elsie back in our direction and left the store. So fun that Boxing Day outing with the nice children spreading holiday cheer.

But all of this is just a lead up to the real self-afflicted bummer.

Let’s call this the peeler blog from her on in, ’cause that’s what I did over the holidays. An intensive facial peel. If you’re not familiar with peels, this might not seem like such a big deal. A little exfoliation can only be a good thing, right? Yes. Sometimes. But I didn’t do a little exfoliation. I did supreme exfoliation that takes like two weeks before life—aka your face—returns to normal. Christmas was the time to do it because I wasn’t working. But I forgot about wanting to live a usual life during the holidays and enjoy fun outings in the public. All to say the progression from seriously bad tan to flaking ogre was…trying. Not wanting to leave the house and thus house-bound for ten days including New Years…also trying. And then feeling like I had to explain when I did see people, once again…trying and actually kind of awkward. Yikes.

Thankfully Elsie didn’t care what I looked like, so we were best buddies. And like I said yesterday, I am the apple of her eye, which is simultaneously flattering and frustrating. Elsie, in one minute I am going to walk five paces to the left. I’m just warning you. Okay, it’s time now. Sure you can come. Elsie, I am going to go to the bathroom now. Would you like to come with me or stay with Daddy and eat handfuls of sugar? You want to come with me? I suspected this might be the case.

Come along.

8 holiday highlights


  1. Decadent movie watching. Don’t get any ideas. When I say decadent, I’m talking about the amount of movies and not the content (As if you would expect anything less from me, particularly first time readers who may or may not be confused by the title of this blog, which in my opinion evokes only images of one kneeling in prayer. Confusing digression over.) Sooooooo. Yes. We watched movies. Often. Movies, movies, movies. I said, “Maybe we should all go be productive?” Vacant stares. “Never mind,” I said. “And please pass the Swedish Berries.” So movies: Star Trek (which turned out to be one of my favourites—surprising because up until this Christmas I have always opted to read real life tales of oh, the Pioneers versus watching make believe adventures in the Intergalactic. But now that it’s 2010 I’m different and willing to explore the unknown. If you need to take a risk, you know who to call.) More movies: Death at a Funeral, In the Loop (both British and supremely funny); The Taking of Pelham 123 (not great unless you really enjoy John Travolta in the role of disturbed alpha male, which I do); The Brothers Bloom (and I quote “You’re constipated in your fucking soul!”). And so many more. Movies, wine, chocolate. A heavenly triad.
  2. That chocolate bark from William Sanoma. Have you had it? You should have it. I should have more. Actually we should all have a delicious treat after every meal from now on. That’s a rule.
  3. Coffee à la Simon. My husband takes his coffee seriously (and so do I because we are one) and makes a mean brew. We took our coffee habit to the next level this Christmas by springing for a vacuum sealer. Yes, internet. Now after hand grinding our beans, pouring the coarse grinds into a French Press, setting the microwave timer for 4 minutes and 3 seconds, we put the leftover beans in a plastic container and vacuum out all the air. Why? So our expensive beans will last longer. Obviously. Is that not the smartest thing we’ve ever done? Not at all coffee obsessive, weird, verging on creepy, any of those words. Thank you for acknowledging our brain power.
  4. Coffee starts here.

  5. Watching Elsie get to know her other family. We live with my parents so Ama and Ampa (aka Grandma and Grandpa) are known entities, almost as good as Mama herself. (Did I mention she’s going through a Mama phase? I pretty much rule. Thankfully Simon is not an insecure Dad or he would be taking a lot of sitting down showers. Am I the only one who takes sitting down showers and wastes a lot of water during times of depression and insecurity? I thought it was a thing. People. Did.) Anyhoo. This post-PhD-Christmas-season afforded us more time to visit with Simon’s family so Elsie got to know another fat cat named Abbey, her other Aunties, and of course, her Papa Alfred. She really digs his wall to wall green shag.
  6. The Alfreds

  7. Home made tortière (Thank you, MaryEllen). Croissants on Christmas morning (Thank you, Ma Maison). Organic turkey (Thank you, Mom and everyone else in the organic turkey chain). Chocolate. So many delicious kinds (Thank you, Chocolate Makers and Chocolate Growers of the world). Basically, a big thank you to all who provided me with digestible things that lulled me to holiday tasty heaven—said in that order. I wasted nothing.
  8. A new wallet courtesy of Simon. A decade of looking through a microscope has really refined his perception for quality. The correlation between molecular plant life and a turquoise leather wallet from Italy is clear to everyone on this end. And everyone on this end controls the key board.
  9. Nice wallet, eh?

  10. Watching my dad become a blogger. Yes, readers. My father has started a blog. Well, I started him a blog as a birthday present. He had no choice. To ignore the present I gifted would have been rude. As such, he has obliged me with interesting and ’slantwise’ bits about faith. Read his blog for inspiration and a leading toward introspection.
  11. Elsie sharing her blueberries halves (halved inside her mouth with her growing collection of front teeth) with me in front of the Christmas tree; Elsie falling in love with kitties in front of the Christmas tree, namely Himalayan ones of cousins thrice removed with very little life force (the Himalayan kitties I mean), and as such offering very little resistance for fondling and eyeball touching; Elsie singing karaoke in front of the Christmas tree. So basically Elsie doing cute things in front of various Christmas trees. How could that be anything but special?

Tomorrow I’ll tell you about the holiday low lights, starting with my intensive face peel.

p.s. Not a good idea to do a thorough face sloughing during party season. A smarter person might have assessed that herself.

p.p.s. What were your holiday highlights? Do tell. Feel free to be equally long winded. I encourage long winded-ness on my blog.

merry merry days ahead


Everybody, listen up!

Everybody, listen up. Elsie would like you to pay attention to what I have to say. (Thank you, Elsie Pants. You are so good at getting everybody’s attention—you have a knack for turning heads. Now, what did I want all that attention for again? Oh right.)

Everybody, please share in our moment.

The Girl kisses The Doctor. Yeah.

Thank you for sharing in our celebratory moment. Me, The Girl, and Simon, The Doctor are very relieved to have something to kiss about. Thank you, PhD for finding your end. This will be a blessed Christmas in the Davey Alfred household as we revel in some moments of calm and lots of play. Posting will be light (Okay, it has already been feathery. Apologies!), but I shall return in the new year with fresh vigor and fresh ideas.

Thank you, my readers for returning again and again.

May you have a blessed holiday season.

Rebecca

blog block


I’m at a blog stand still. Writer’s block. I have nothing to say. This is when I should go to my writing books to be reminded of those adorable exercises where you write about your childhood lunches or dress up as a pirate before sitting down to write, disturbing everything that is regular and thus jolting you into a creative flow. I’m gonna go do that now.

the doctor weighs in


This is the conversation we had before Simon became a doctor. Go figure.

SIMON. If you died, I would become that.

THE GIRL. What?

SIMON. Him.

THE GIRL. Who?

SIMON. That lying down cyclist.

We stare as the lying down cyclist passes at a clip.

THE GIRL. You would submit Elsie to that?

SIMON. She would be dead too.

THE GIRL. Morbid…

SIMON. Oh, and I would make it myself.

THE GIRL. …but extremely capable.

a decembery fantabulous


FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 6-12, 2009

WHAT I’M READING: My mother’s thesis. I’m all over Margaret Avison. Damn, can she string words together! (Yes, we are in the throws of PhD madness over at the Davey household; Simon expects to narrowly beat my mother to the finish.)

God. God.
Throwingness of PhDing over.
Under. God.
Over Too.
To.
Him.

(My tribute to Avison.) I will save my tribute to cell expansion for another time.

WHAT ELSIE’S READING: A children’s book so boring and so badly written, I can’t even remember the title. Something about what Wooly shouldn’t eat—a terrible and negative premise for a book! The ‘touchy feely’ pictures throughout are equally lame. Elsie and I want to grope interesting textures, thank you very much. Is that too much to ask? Just because it’s glossy, doesn’t make it appealing and touchable. As my acting teacher always said, ‘Can’t you just be interesting?’ Exactly, Wooly. Can’t you? I know it hurts, but it needed to be said.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: Our first family Wiggles DVD. Elsie is discovering her Wiggles groove while Simon and I mutually crush on Kylie Minogue who stars in the first song. Somehow she makes hugging monkeys a very sexy thing.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand. I really like this album and so might you. Have a listen here. As if this site isn’t replete with useful bits to take away!

WHAT I’M WEARING: I’m all about the American Apparel basics right now. Long slim-fitting basic shirts. I am channeling Jennifer Garner. You know when she’s picking up the kids from school and acting all regular. Her jaunting around Brentwood clothes. Have mercy! I spent two days in Metro and subsequently read every magazine on the shelf. Thrice.

WHAT I’M EATING: Let’s talk about what I’m preparing to eat. Tonight I am making chicken in a slow cooker…with basil, white wine, carrots and onions. And more sea salt than my father would care to know. With a side of Bunny Grahams.

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: Dreaming of our life post-thesis. All the things we will do without that measure of ‘what-I-should-be-doing-guilt’ hanging over our heads.

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: Sadly, cat shit. I’ll have you know my cat’s shit is the most rancid shit on planet earth. Not even hundred scented candles could snuff out Frannie’s stench. Do I love her any less? That’s the question, isn’t it?

Alright then. Have a great Tuesday.


***************

“i’m feeling a little wild…”


Don’t mind me Mama. I’m a little giddy from all that carrot juice you insisted I ingest. Now would you mind moving? I have some business with your tooth brush and all your expensive makeup brushes. You’re really good at sharing, by the way.

Love love, Elsie.

p.s. Are these breakable?

seriously loco

fancy pants humanity


A blah Thursday needs fancy bits. Here are my fancy bits:

Two very attractive female cops on the beat stopping to get their lunch.
I wonder what they go for in take-out?
Their white plastic take-out bags dangle and I’m curious.
Did they remember the napkins?

The runner in the turquoise spandex.
Her turquoise bum flesh bobbing.
Kind of luscious.
But also strange.

The slender man with the hip shoes eating the large pastry. He is seated beside me; body odor acute.
He doesn’t seem to smell what I smell. Or does he?
Every time he turns a page of the paper, the funk wafts.
The man needs a woman.
Or a very attentive male.

Fancy pants humanity: my examination.

Who struck your fancy this Thursday?