Frith O’Steen

So yesterday I got to take a break from the mommy job for a bit, and while Sean and Decker went for a walk/stroll (Sean walked, Decker was strolled (strollered?)) I grabbed my latest book that I’d been sucked into, and headed out to sunny Walnut Creek for a dose of quiet and uninterrupted time. So psyched, it’s just gonna be myself and I, I’m not responsible for anyone and can just go do my thing. And then I turn to KFOG, who is having their ‘Acoustic Sunrise’, and what do I hear? John Lennon singing “Beautiful Boy”. Now, I always thought it was a nice song and all, but nothing to get all jazzed up about. A pleasant ditty. I literally start welling up and driving down the highway with tears in my eyes through the entire song! I felt so ridiculous, but now that I actually have a son myself, the song actually felt  relevant. And then I felt so dang cheesy. But…I guess it comes with the title of mom(my).

It’s just weird, because as much as the Hallmark industry would like to claim otherwise, you really CAN’T put into words exactly what it feels like to love your kid. It’s a fierce, overwhelming, gleeful kind of attachment that you can’t sum up with a mug or book of poems or such. But sometimes you hear a line in a song, or see an image in a movie, or read a part in a book, and something clicks and it reminds you of what your own experience feels like to you.

So, I finally got around to making an appointment with the fabulous Lynne to style my hair, and as always I walked out feeling ever so spiffy! Unlike my son’s coiffure maintenance, mommy trims cost slightly more, so I really try to make it worth my while by going several months in between. (I figure Sean’s ‘do costs about 11 bucks/month, so we actually come out about even!). The last time I went to the salon was right before Rebecca’s wedding (July 31, 2004). So it was high time.

Best part of all? Sean tells me that I really do look like my alter ego ’super photo’ on the front page of our web site! I don’t think I’ll go around sporting a red leotard anytime soon though…

My folks called me briefly from Salzburg today…so jealous I am! On the other hand, while they were traipsing around Austria, I was pushing a stroller through Walnut Creek - whose day was more exciting, huh? Huh?

The new season of Sesame Street started today. Parents, start your vcr engines!

I spent about 6 hours cleaning my house thoroughly yesterday, while Sean and Decker went over and hung out in Moraga with his folks. It was oddly satisfying, although I had to keep pushing to the back of my mind the nagging thought that it all will have to be done again and again and again. But for a few glorious hours, my kitchen floor was nice and shiny!

Sadly, this was the highlight of my weekend. To compare and contrast, my sisters are both in NY right now, and my mom and dad are traveling through Switzerland as I write this. Ah, the glamour that is my existance. I did, however, have an absolutely scrumptious dinner the other night, courtesy of Chef Sean. Thank heavens one of us can cook (and likes to). And hooray for the inventor of the Weber Grill!

Spring is here officially (I think/hope/pray fervently for I have a 19 month old son who is happy when playing outside and can be occupied thusly for a long period of time hooray), but I still keep up with my pop culture research (ie: reading EW, watching tv and netflix, oh yes lots of quality stuff). Here are my latest quick reviews:

“Lost” - soooooooooooooo addicting! Soooooooooo good! The writers have thrown about 80 different plot twists into one single season, and I can’t wait to see where they go next. Unfortunately, it will probably be in the direction of X-Files, but what ya gonna do? I’ve never watched soap operas, but I do watch serials like this and find them so guilitly wonderful.

“Alfie” - ok, first of all Jude Law is very nice to look at. And he is a good actor. And the movie plot kept me going, because I kept thinking that he would find redemption (unlike the first movie in ‘66). But no…open ending and no resolution and just SAD. What? What a waste of 2 hours! Now, “Before Sunrise” was open ended, but it gave you hope at the end. This just sucked.

Hitchhiker’s Guide comes out in theatres so so so soon! Yay!