Quiet Saturday

Yesterday was rather quiet: Rachel worked on her book project, I did some things in the office, then we headed out at 1:30 p.m. to visit Uncle Dan at 2. We all had a great visit -- Dan told us about the book that his book-club group is reading, "The Boys on the Boat," about the University of Washington crew team that won the Olympic gold medal in the 1936 Olympics. It looks fantastic, and as soon as I mow through the 20+ books on my reading list, I will check it out from the library.

After our visit we drove straight to a dinner party in Arlington. The parents of Rachel's friend Dani from Hebrew school, Peter and Stacy, invited us and we had a GREAT time. The wine and after-dinner frangelico were terrific, as was the conversation. One couple once worked at the St. Petersburg Times a few years after I left, and the woman, Christine, was editor in chief of the Daily Northwestern during the mid-90s! Talk about a coincidence. The other couple -- he is from Spain, she from Colombia -- are both lawyers (although she is a stay-at-home mom now) and we got into a long discussion about the South American/European legal system compared with the United States, how law schools work over there and here, how people become judges in the United States and abroad, etc. These are the kinds of things that interest me these days...

The kids (there were 7, with two boys -- Pablo and Dash, 2) tried to put on a show and Rachel did a great job of announcing there would be one, but it kind of collapsed, with Rachel going home in tears because she was positive SHE had ruined the show. I talked briefly with Dani after Hebrew school today, and it sounds as if there were just a lot of fights among the girls -- "DRAMA!" the parents kept saying -- and so it wasn't a fun time. Poor Rachel, poor kids.

Snowpocalypse, Day 10

Today was the final day this week that school was closed. It's closed Monday, too, but Drew signed Rachel up for "Lola's Lab," a creative-arts camp, so I could get a break (which really means, so I can get back to reporting the two stories I'm working on before heading in to my regular job, instead of thinking of ways to amuse Rachel).

Both of us got up late, and I made us a quick breakfast before calling someone for what turned out to be an hour-long interview -- a critical one that I was glad to get done. Rachel worked on her book project and was very upset when I pointed out that she had made a couple of spelling errors and had to re-do parts of it, but that's what homework is about. I went upstairs, took a shower and made us both lunch, and she taught me how to play "War" and "Palace," the latter of which she had figured out yesterday while watching the Marymount students. She's a good card player; I can see lots of games in our future.

At around 5 p.m. I put in the last "Lord of the Ring" movie, "Return of the King," because I had promised Rachel that we could watch it together. But five minutes in, she decided it was too scary, and so she lay her head down on my lap, curled up under a blanket and slept until 7, when we left to meet Drew for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, "The Silver Diner."

Addendum: The snow is out of the streets but still very much piled up in front yards and along the curb. Our neighbors two doors down "planted" a miniature Christmas tree atop one of the big snow piles next to their house. I think that is the way we should bid "Snowzilla 2016" (The Post's nom de saison, apparently) a very hearty farewell.

Sass

Rachel has started doing what many kids her age do, I guess: Talking back. Usually it doesn't bother me too much, but yesterday -- probably because I've been alone with her for almost five solid days -- it really started to grate on me: the "I know, I knows," the "I just TOLD you xxx," etc. Although we've always been firm with her -- there's no doubt who's the boss in our house when it comes to whether she gets to eat dessert, or an off-meal treat, or when it's time to go bed or outside, or do homework -- we speak in commands a lot of the time, not questions.

We all have sharp minds, and we all tease each other, maybe sometimes too much.

Last night, when she had finished her swim lesson, we went to Marymount College's cafeteria for dinner. She was watching two students, Taylor and Christina, play a card game called "palace." At one point, she and I were talking and she said, smiling, "Who asked you?"

"DON'T talk to your mother that way," I said sternly.

"Well, Daddy says that to me," she replied.
"Just because Daddy says it to you doesn't mean you get to say it back," I said. "And I'm going to have a talk with Daddy, because he shouldn't be saying things like that."

On our way back to the car I was silent, and then I asked her to give me her book. On the way home I talked to her about respecting Mom and Dad. "Can I have my book back?" she asked. "NO," I answered, because I wanted her to absorb what I had said instead of just tuning it out when she jumped back into her book.

When we got home I tried to explain why manners are important -- so many people don't have good manners, so if you're one of the people who does, it's a way to stand out. "But what if I don't want to stand out?" Rachel asked, very sensibly, which floored me.

I finally came out with something like, manners are important in getting friends, jobs, and in other aspects of life, but I'm sure she really got the message.

Money talk

"I think I want to get a job this summer," Rachel announced yesterday as we were taking the escalator out of the Metro station to the National Archives. "But I don't know what kind of a job I could do."

"Why do you want a job?" I asked.

"Because I need some cash," she said. "I only have $200 in my bank account, and it's far away. [It's in Drew's credit union, and the closest outlet is in Clarendon]. If I had it in Wells Fargo, it would be closer."

We then discussed various jobs she could do: "You could be a mother's helper," I said. "They help moms with babies. Like, if the mom needed you to watch the baby while she was taking a shower, or if she needed you to feed the baby while she did something else."

"Or I could be a dog-walker!" Rachel exclaimed. But then she decided that probably wouldn't be a good idea since most dogs are much bigger than she is, I pointed out, and so if a dog got excited by another dog and pulled at its leash, she might not be able to pull the dog back.

She dropped the subject and hasn't picked it up since, but I'm glad she at least believes she should be bringing in money at some point.

Snowpocalypse, Part 9

...in which Mommy gets REALLY cranky when Arlington Public Schools CANCELS SCHOOL ON FRIDAY. Keep in mind that Monday is a "teacher grade prep day," so the earliest the kids will be back will be on Tuesday. Rachel's teacher merrily keeps sending us reminders that the second the kids get back, they'll be expected to present their big book projects that, presumably, they've been working on during all this time off. Well, Rachel's teacher, you've had a week off yourself, so...any chance you could forego that teacher prep day and actually, you know, give your students some education??

(Actually, as it turns out, there is still a lot of snow on the roads because there weren't enough plows, or enough working plows, anyway, to shovel all the snow, and the schools must use all of their 10 built-in snow days, then all the early dismissal days, before cutting into the teachers' grade prep/professional development days. All I can say is this: If I ever, ever, ever hear a teacher in Arlington complain about low pay, being unappreciated, etc. I will nail them to the wall. Portland schoolteachers can only dream of these kinds of perks).

Anyway...

The day started out kind of nice when a neighbor -- the elderly guy whose driveway Drew shoveled -- came by with a loaf of crusty dinner bread as a thank-you. He said that he has lived on the street for 50-something years and he has never seen a backhoe come in and plow snow before.

Rachel's Brownie-troop leader, in a stroke of genius, organized a "painting day" so the kids could get their "painting patch." When I brought Rachel over to the Masonic Lodge where it was being held, another stroke of genius -- after I insisted she do some work on her book project -- Kelly, one of the troop leaders, was making guacamole with the sorry-ass avocados she managed to scrabble up from Safeway. (Safeway has been decimated -- Drew had to go to about three of them Wednesday night before he got us milk, which we desperately needed, and there wasn't much other food to be had, either. Can't tell if people bought up everything before the blizzard, or the delivery trucks couldn't through this week. Probably a combination of both). Then, while the girls watched "Inside Out," I raced to Office Depot to pick up some office supplies that we really need, then to REI because I am totally out of sock liners, which I need because I'm wearing heavy winter wool socks these days, and then made it back just in time for the girls to be finished. I had hoped to help them paint the banner they'll be wielding when they march in a Presidents Day parade Feb. 15, but the traffic was heavy and  I had a hard time getting around.

I got back to see Rachel crying in a chair off by herself -- turns out she was running after Kelly told her not to, and Kelly told her to sit in a chair. Rachel insisted that she was running too fast to slow down, but I told her that the other kids managed to slow down and that she could have, too. Kelly apologized for sending me home with a sad kid, and I told her that Rachel is very sensitive to criticism but that she needs to learn to live with it, especially when she does something wrong.

THEN Rachel asked me for a playdate with Sydney, and I said sure, and they both came over. The condition was that she couldn't have any more playdates UNTIL she finishes her book project -- even if that spills into Saturday morning, when I told her she could have a long playdate with Sydney. She agreed. The girls played well together and didn't fight, and when Nicole, Sydney's mom, came to pick her up at 6 we had a long talk about how awful this week has been, trying to get work done at home (we both hate working from home) with our kids around (very stressful) and how we're both unaccountably depressed because we are WAY out of whack with our routines. It was so nice to receive validation that way, because Drew's routine has largely been uninterrupted -- I've shouldered the lion's share of preparing meals, cleaning up, amusing Rachel, doing laundry and housework and trying to get my own stuff done in between -- while mine has been completely upended. And that has been more and more difficult as the days drag on.

I'm looking at this time as a gift, a reminder from God that Mom did this for years and years with Daniella and me, and I can't imagine how frustrated, angry, cranky and bored out of her mind she was sometimes. Mom, I salute you. Truly.

Snowpocalypse (I am really getting tired of writing this word), Part 8

Yesterday I got sort of a break in the form of getting to go to work! Yay! In the actual office! Yay!

Rachel and I woke up late -- she had told Drew that she and I agreed to go to the National Archives before meeting Daddy downtown because Mommy had to work a late shift at The Post. We sort of staggered around the house -- and I finished up a very quick fact-checking magazine assignment -- until I was able to take a shower (the first time in two days, also the first time in a week that I had worn makeup and dressed reasonably well) and head out. We didn't end up leaving the house until 1, and I had to meet Drew at the paper at 4, but I figured that 90 minutes at a museum was better than no time at all.

At Rachel's suggestion, we took the car to the East Falls Church Metro (thank God there was a parking space, even though the lot said "Full,") and took the train in. We got off at the Archives/Penn Station stop, and headed to the National Archives. Rachel loves looking at the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights -- plus there's lots more to the place, including a way to design your own seal and a TV replay of Eisenhower telling the nation why he sent national troops to enforce the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock -- and the museum was practically deserted. She was so polite to the security guard, asking him if she needed to put her coat and Metro card on the security belt, that he looked at me and said, "She's more well behaved and polite than most adults we get in here." I made her say "thank you!" to him, which she did.

As we mounted the stairs, she chirped, "I LOVE the National Archives! It's so grand and polished! Especially with my dear, dear Mom."

How can you not love a kid like that?

Anyway, we wandered around for about 90 minutes. The guards were especially chatty -- one told me all about working as a security guard and meeting David Rubenstein at the Covington, Burling law firm -- and then we made a stop in the gift shop. Rachel put a dollar of her own money toward a tiny glass jar containing some stars and a mini Constitution, and I chipped in the rest -- $2 and change -- and bought a long-sleeve T-shirt for myself (I really need more of them). Then I took her back on the Metro to The Post, where we met Drew and I worked until past midnight. Luckily I caught the very last train home.

Snowpocalypse, Part 7

The charm of One of the Biggest Snowstorms in D.C. History is definitely wearing off, quickly. This morning I woke at 10 with Rachel, thinking that Drew was in D.C. -- only to find him sitting in the office, in a tie and his usual work duds, because he had been all set to go in until Metro announced a crack in one of the Orange Line's rails. So, he was stuck at home. He went upstairs to change and began working, and I fed Rachel and myself breakfast before we both got into our snow duds to go outside and try to sled.

The kids had set up a "sled depot" at the top of the hill, and everyone was borrowing each others' sleds. The conditions still weren't that great, although Rachel and I did get a couple of good slides in. Then, around mid afternoon, I started thinking about our cars. They're at the top of the hill, and the street perpendicular to ours is clear, as are the other major streets that can get us to where we want to go, so, I thought, why not try to shovel out our cars and that part of the hill -- a few feet -- that can get us to the cleared part of the road? I was discussing this with a neighbor on the other side of the hill, who usually clears the street with his truck -- except that his 4X4 had given out on Friday. As we were talking, a woman out with a dog came to join us and we all traded stories of the icy Wednesday night; it took her 2 1/2 hours to get the four miles home from work. It made me very glad that I had followed Drew's advice and left my car in The Post's garage.

Rachel was very unhappy at the idea of me shoveling, because, she said, "It would waste two hours of your life," and she was right. So, instead, I fed her lunch, and then I did a previously scheduled 3 p.m. interview by phone -- and then, after snapping at poor Drew, Rachel and I hiked to the Westover library, about a 45-minute walk away. She had insisted on wearing her dress boots because her snow boots make her feet hot, and I foolishly gave in, which meant we had to spend a lot of our time walking in the street. I was so mad that I told her as long as there is snow on the ground, she MUST wear her snow boots -- she can't argue on that point. She agreed, meekly.

We finally got to the library, and while Rachel looked for books (and I said hello to Paula, a work colleague, who was off tonight and who happened to be there), I lay my head down on a table and fell asleep, briefly. I was much refreshed when I woke up and more cheerful toward Rachel, who impressed me by deciding, after seeing a poster of Newbery Award winners that she wanted to check out the book that had won in the year she was born, 2008. It's a charming book that's sort of reminiscent of the Canterbury Tales, and the author lives in Baltimore. It looked so intriguing that I may read it after Rachel's done!

Then we went to the local overpriced market, Westover Market, to buy some eggs for tonight's dinner, and hiked back home a different way -- mostly walking in the street because some idiots had not yet paved the sidewalks in front of their homes, which is illegal -- and, lo and behold, when we got home ("NSN" Rachel said, '' Neighborhood Sweet Neighborhood, and "SSS" -- Street Sweet Street), we saw that OUR STREET HAD BEEN PARTIALLY PLOWED. YAY!! I say "partially" because one of the snowplow's tires blew, and work crews brought in a backhoe to deposit it near the side as another plow took over. Drew was busy shoveling out our driveway (he had done the cars already), and refused to come inside until he had finished it all. So, I got to work making cornbread and pork cutlets, which he and Rachel loved, and he rightly felt a huge sense of accomplishment -- and got a bunch of exercise in.

So, bottom line: We can drive out of our neighborhood, the Orange Line is up and running, and tomorrow I plan to take Rachel to the National Archives and meet Drew at 4 to do the handoff for me to work a late shift from 4:30 p.m. to midnight. He strongly urged me to drive in, but I said that would be way too expensive to park so early (it's $7 from 2 p.m. to midnight), so Rachel and I announced that we will try to park at the East Falls Church station, and if that doesn't work (too much snow or no spaces available), we will drive the car back home and walk the mile to it. It's good exercise, and it gets us out of the area!

Drama queen

Since I've been working at home the last two nights, I've been able to join Drew and Rachel for a quick dinner, which Drew makes (roast beef and Yorkshire pudding on Sunday; spaghetti with meat sauce tonight). I have to admit that it's nicer to eat with them in person rather than call them from work. "It's so nice having you HOME!" Rachel exclaimed when I kissed her goodnight, and I winced, but I do love my job -- even the hours.

When I've gotten up from the dining-room table to go back into the study and finish proofing the next day's newspaper pages, Rachel gets up, too, comes around to my side, throws her arms around my waist and mock-howls, "GOODBYE!! FAREWELL! WRITE WHEN YOU FIND WORK!"" It never fails to crack Drew and me up, and I swear that one day I will record it for posterity. You really have to see it to appreciate how absurd she is, and how she really is meant to be onstage.

The things kids say...

When Rachel and I were walking back from the snow-covered bike trail this afternoon, she said that "Simone, Sydney and I came up with the perfect woman."

"Really?" I said.

"She'd have your jewelry, Nicole's clothes, and Caity's body and face," she said. (Nicole is Sydney's mom and Caity is Simone's mom).

"What about MY body?" I teased.

"I tried to argue for you," she said, "but they said that you were too...old."

Snowpocalypse, Part 592. No, really, Part 6

Aaaand, we have moved into the Mountain Resort Outside Our Front Window stage of Snowpocalypse 2016. When I staggered out of bed at noon this morning (after staying up waaay too late to watch "The Martian" with Drew, but, dammit, I really needed some relief after the stressful weekend), I saw that preteen and teenage boys had started snowboarding -- snowboarding! shirtless -- shirtless! down our street. Rachel and I tried sledding together, but it was no use -- we couldn't find a good path through the snow. After a while we gave up and tried to walk to a local hill she had pointed out to me this past summer, but halfway there (along the bike path that had been colonized by cross-country skiers) she sat down, put her head in my lap, informed that she wished she didn't have to go to extended day at school because she likes spending time with me, and then decided she wanted to head back home. Good thing, too, since I had to work again from home, again on early deadlines, which meant I had to sign on at 2:30 p.m. instead of 3:30.

When we got back home, we saw that our neighbor had used a snowblower to carve out the snow from his neighbor's car. And the snowboarding boys had donned their shirts and were -- seriously -- carving MOGULS into the snow to make the course on our street harder (which, my neighbor's wife pointed out, means that it will be even more difficult for the snowplows to plow us out). Sigh. (Ironically, Rachel had asked me on the way home what black diamonds were, and I had to explain the downhill ski-trail system to her -- which included the fact that Grandpa used to ski black diamonds when he was younger, but the best Mommy has been able to do is blue runs:)).

While I worked, Drew took Rachel outside and, apparently, our street was much better for sledding. They stayed out for HOURS, came back, then went to a bonfire Billy and Jenny built. "How was the party?" I asked Rachel when they got back (I was still working at that point). "It wasn't a party," Rachel said, slightly exasperated. "It was just a fire in a trash barrel and some snacks."

I had to laugh.

Oh, and she's off from school tomorrow (Tuesday) AND Wednesday. At that point, Rachel will have been out of school for an entire week. She said tonight, as I was kissing her tonight, that that must be some sort of record for Arlington schools, and I had to agree.

Snowpocalpyse, Part 5

So, today started with someone SKIING DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE! (Actually, it started with me waking up, alone, for the third night in a row, poor Drew) after a lousy night of sleep (going to bed at 2 a.m. after thoroughly cleaning and organizing my side of the study and then waking up at 8 a.m. not being able to go back to sleep and thinking, "Oh, my aching back!!"). I got up, hoping to surprise Drew by doing the shoveling, but he woke up, too. I insisted on doing the first round and he capitulated. So, I started shoveling (and, heck, I certainly need the exercise), which was actually delightful because it was gorgeous and sunny and because we had done it once before, there wasn't as much to shovel this time. (Drew gave me big props for insisting we do one round as the blizzard was starting).

Anyway, I was about halfway finished with the walkway when I noticed two kids, one with a camera and one on a pair of skis -- real skis, not cross country -- getting ready to ski down our hill! I watched first to see if he could do it, and after he did -- picking up a good bit of speed -- I urged him to do it again, ran inside and got my cellphone, and recorded it. In the meantime I chatted with his brother, the cameraman, who was actually pretty nice and talkative. Then the kid's mom, dog and dad showed up and I suddenly realized, "I need to interview these people for The Post's live feed of snow-related news around the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia)!" So, I ran to the door and asked Rachel to bring me a notebook and a pencil, which she did (living in Minnesota taught me that the only way to interview people in the cold is in pencil; the ink dries in pens and markers when it's real cold), and I got enough for a couple of short paragraphs (and a photo). Not sure if it'll make the print edition or even if it made The Post's live blog, but I'm so glad I did. When I raced back inside to file the story (it was around 11 a.m.), Drew insisted on taking over the shoveling.

When he was done, we had breakfast. I had a nice conversation with my friend Amy, from Oregon, left a message with Daniella to see how she was faring, and had just started going through my pile of mail when Jesse, The Post's head of the multiplatform desk, called -- we all had to start work earlier than usual (2:30 p.m. instead of 3:30 p.m.) because of early deadlines. So, I logged on early while Drew was dealing with a stubborn Rachel, who did a sloppy job on some work for her school book project and was upset at him for making her do it over (which I thanked him for; she needs to learn that she needs to make an effort even though she's smart). She soon cheered up and was very good about not bothering me while I worked, except to come in every once in a while to give me hugs and kisses and remind me that she loves me (which is the best kind of interruption).

Drew took care of dinner -- roast beef and Yorkshire pudding -- and I took a 10-minute break to gulp it down, then went back to finish up work for the night. As I started work, we learned that Rachel will be off school Monday AND Tuesday (that makes it almost a week off from school and this is only the first snowstorm of the winter) and Metro is only running trains underground (i.e., from the Ballston Metro station to downtown, too far for us to walk), so I will be working from home again tomorrow night. Pew is officially closed, but they urged employees "to do as much work as you can" from home. Which, Drew being Drew, means he'll work close to a full day and knock off when I have to begin. This also means that I will have to find a way to amuse Rachel without killing my body (although I do so want to go sledding and build a snowman and maybe have a snowball fight). And I'd sure like to get to that pile of mail, so...

The stuff I find...

As part of my organizing frenzy, I unearthed some things that Rachel had put together. One was a school assignment for Thanksgiving, with each letter of the holiday spelling out...things she likes? Things she's grateful for? The list went like this:

Terrific teacher
Happy memories
Apple pie
Nice friends
Knolegable
Supur supurters
Gigi (??)
Incredible family
Violans and violats (I think she means violins and violas)
Invincable strength
New gifts
Giving thanks

And, a list of things to do on a vacation she'd plan (sometimes I suggest this as an exercise to get her to think of something to put herself to sleep):
Day1. go to the Beach
Day2. go to a movie
Day3. get ice cream
Day4. play in a park
Day5. go to the zoo
Day6. play inside
Day7. Draw

Goodbye!

Snopocalypse, Part 4

We knew it was going to be bad overnight and today, and events proved us right. This morning we woke up at around 9:30, and the snow had absolutely covered our front entryway, the stairs, the yard, and it was halfway obscuring our front-yard bushes. Our enterprising daughter was reading, on her stomach, in the second-floor hallway when I got up (Drew was in the guest room because he's sick and doesn't want to get me sick, too), and announced: "The snow is more than A FOOT!" "How do you know?" I asked. "I went outside, in my jammies and boots, and measured," she explained. When I asked her if she knew exactly, she said, "I didn't want to lose the ruler." I told her that I was very impressed!

Rachel insisted on trying to help us shovel. She tried, she really did, but she just couldn't handle it and came inside looking so sad and disappointed. "I can't," she said. "I'm sorry I get you guys down." We explained that of course she didn't, and I said that shoveling is hard even for Mommy. The biggest thing she did, though, was manage to scrape enough snow from the front of the door so that we could at least open it. I took the first shift, shoveling a path from the front stairs to the sidewalk, and, man, was it hard work. The wind picked up, as had the snow, and I ended up stripping off my coat and working in a flannel shirt, a shirt under that and my sports bra underneath. I went it at it steadily for about a half hour, and then Drew insisted on taking over. (Rachel welcomed me inside by throwing a blanket on me and curling up on my lap while we read a while). Drew shoveled the sidewalk and our elderly neighbors' sidewalk, too. (One of our across-the-street neighbors had already done his own walk, and another guy had a snowblower, so that side of the street's sidewalk was absolutely clear, which was nice, but where was anyone going to walk to, anyway, and who was going to be walking through a blizzard? I thought).

By then it was noon. Rachel insisted on waiting to have breakfast until we'd both finished the shoveling, and so we ended up having bacon and cereal and scones the rest of the apple-cider mini donuts Drew had bought last week. Rachel went outside to go sledding -- thank goodness Drew scored a pair of snow pants for her via a work colleague's friend who was selling them on Craigslist for $5 -- yay!! met some kids from the neighborhood who she said were really nice, and I was hoping they'd come in for hot chocolate, but they ended up going home. Rachel then came inside and grabbed two books, some maple syrup and we improvised a snow-cone container from some pieces of paper stapled together; the idea was that she had carved out a seat for herself in the snow and would make snow cones and read. That lasted all of about 10 minutes, when the cold (it was really blowing and snowing and freezing) drove her inside.

Drew went upstairs to lie down and conked out for about two hours. I talked to my friend Amy, in Oregon, for an hour (when she called me, I answered the phone thusly: "22 inches, Amy. 22 inches!" and she replied, "That's EXACTLY what I was going to ask you!"). Poor Rachel was getting impatient, since I had promised her hot chocolate, and by the time I'd hung up with Amy and made the hot chocolate, Rachel had fallen asleep on the loveseat! That was my cue to go into the study and clean up the absolutely mess my side of the room was in. Drew joined me after a while, and he cleared off the papasan in time for Rachel to curl up in it and read while we worked to get organized, not saying much.

At 6:30 we quit for a while. Drew warmed up pizza and Rachel chose the movie: "Inside Out," which I had already seen. I really, really wanted to pay bills, but Rachel got very sad and said that we really should have some family time together, and Drew said since she'd spent most of the day outside or hanging out with us and not bothering us while we got organized, then it was only fair that we watch the movie together. And they were both right -- I loved seeing the movie again, and Rachel clearly was delighted to have both Mommy and Daddy next to her while we ate and watched the movie. At the end of the night she said she loved us and that she'd had a good day, and then she went up to bed.

Drew and I watched the 11 o'clock news. The snow has stopped, and now the digging out will begin. I am definitely working from home tomorrow (Sunday). No word on when Metro will open, and they're talking about schools opening, maybe, on WEDNESDAY, and I said to Drew, "You have GOT to be kidding me." At this rate, we'll all be going stir crazy before we get back to our normal routines, and Rachel will be going to school until, like, July.

Snowpocalypse, Part 3

This morning I woke up early to meet a former colleague of mine from the St. Pete Times, Bill Duryea, for breakfast at a restaurant about a 10-minute drive away. Bill was a Knight-Wallace Fellow I reconnected with last week at a K-W event, and we said we wanted to catch up more, so I seized the moment and set up a meeting. We went to a lovely place that Drew and I really should go to more often -- it has great breakfast pastries and omelets. I had such a great omelet and half a chocolate croissant that I was filled up for the entire day; the only other thing I had was homemade hot chocolate at 5:30 p.m.

I stopped home briefly to find Rachel and Ivy squabbling a bit and Drew being very cranky with them; turns out they had been sniping back and forth from practically the time they'd gotten up, so I couldn't be angry. He put them downstairs to watch a movie and began working from home, while I went out and ran every errand possible: I got some earrings made into clips; dropped off Rachel's Girl Scout sash with a tailor to sew on a patch (it has to be done by machine, I discovered); went to the bank (twice), picked up some framed photos for Drew to hang this weekend; dropped of clothes at Goodwill; went to Target to look for a new napkin holder (Drew dropped ours this morning and it shattered, which is a shame because it looked very artsy and I got it in Portland and I don't know to replace it and we really need one), picked up some shampoo and other items; then went to Safeway for extra milk, bacon and other things.

The whole day I saw cleared-out shelves and long lines of people (the line at Safeway extended half the length of the store, and there was no flour or sugar to be had, and just a few varieties of chocolate chips. On the other hand, I found uncured, chemical-free bacon, which we will badly need), and there were plenty of diapers and grapefruit, plus milk. I couldn't find a cart, so a kind employee gave me a cardboard box, which I carried through the store and put in front of me while I was on the checkout line, pushing it forward with my foot. If there ever is an Apocalypse, Washingtonians certainly are prepared!

It had started snowing by then, and when I got home, one of our neighbors kindly moved his car so I could have his space at the top of our hill, pointing in the direction of 10th Street ("in the right direction" for getting out, he noted). So, I am now parked up there instead of in our driveway, right behind Drew, so we should be able to get out fairly easily when the snow gets plowed, whenever that may be.

School, of course, was canceled. So, I showered when I got back (mindful that electricity and hot water are not at all guaranteed), and took a quick nap because I was tired (although the soreness from yesterday is gone). When I woke up, I offered to make hot chocolate for Ivy and Rachel, who had been sledding. Rachel was upset because Ivy was trying to boss her around, and when I suggested we all play Monopoly or Apples to Apples, Ivy said she had never played a board game before (that house is mostly movies and video games).

I had just finished making them hot chocolate with fabulous cocoa from Trader Joe's (we have quite a bit of it, thanks to Drew!) and fresh marshmallows when Jenny, Ivy's mom, came by and insisted they go home. So, they went home, Rachel and I finished our hot chocolate and then Drew went to lie down for a nap (Rachel had joined him in the study to read). So, as of 7:47 p.m., it is STILL snowing, Rachel is at my feet reading next to the heater, and I am getting ready to eat some cheese and crackers and perhaps fruit because no one is hungry. The roast beef and Yorkshire pudding I planned to make for Shabbat dinner will wait until Sunday -- since I am working from home because METRO SHUT DOWN FROM 11 P.M. FRIDAY UNTIL  MONDAY MORNING (although I bet they won't open until later Monday, just like I bet school will be closed again), which is apparently an UNPRECEDENTED MOVE BY THE RAIL SYSTEM. They announced this on Thursday, that they were shutting down and moving all the trains into the tunnels to protect them from the elements.

Drew says he will probably work from home Monday, too. I'm glad we're both set up to do that when something extraordinary happens, like the Blizzard of the Century. I told Rachel yesterday that she is living through a historic snowstorm, one that she will remember and talk about for years. She didn't seem impressed. But can just picture her saying to someone when she's 30 or 40, "Yeah, I was 7 when the biggest snowstorm ever blew through D.C. and we were housebound for three days."

Ah, that kid...

Rachel and I were in the middle of sledding when she asked, "Can we have hot chocolate when we're done?"

"Of course!" I said. "Duh!"

"You sound really young. Like a 19-year-old," she said.

"Maybe I AM 19," I replied.

"No, you're not," she said. "19-year-olds don't have gray streaks in their hair."

Snowpocalpyse, Part 2

So, on Thursday, they closed the schools in Virginia. Drew and I had figured they'd probably do a two-hour late start; instead, everything got shut down, much to our annoyance -- the plows, after totally messing up early Wednesday evening, had been deployed to work through the night (we assumed), so why close school for the WHOLE DAMN DAY??

Drew went in to work, of course. He got a text from Nicole asking if Sydney could stay with us that day, and he said that he wanted to let Rachel and me sleep in (her request came in at 7:47 a.m.). I told her later that she could bring Sydney over at 10 and stay until 5, but by then she'd apparently found someone else because we never heard back. (Insert sigh of relief).

Instead, Rachel and I went sledding on the hill outside our house because McKinley hill, near school, is near the school construction zone. The street was the thinnest layer of snow over ice, which made it really fast (and dangerous, and I don't know what was going on with Rachel's sled, but the brakes didn't work and so I had to steer and stop with my hands and boots). We were out there for 90 minutes, and I'm so glad she insisted that I come ("go upstairs and get dressed as fast as you can," she ordered after she'd finished breakfast), because when we went out to look for snow pants for me an hour or so later, everything had melted!). Rachel read in one of the REI tents while I tried on pants (couldn't find any, alas) and that gave me the idea for a kid's book about a little girl who crawls into an REI tent and reads until everyone's gone, and then after the store closes, all the displays come alive and she ends up going on lots of outdoor adventures. Rachel thought that was a cool idea.

Then we got home, and Ivy's mom asked if she wanted to have a playdate. I had done a phone interview for a story I was working on in the car, parked at REI, and had another one scheduled for 4:30, but I ended up postponing it because events were moving so fast. So, I took Rachel to Ivy's, raced back to shower and change for an NU alumni event in the U Street (kind of seedy but trendy among young people with bars and restaurants) that turned out to be a total waste of my time because everyone was, like, 20. So, I stopped at Clarendon on the way home, got off at that stop and went to one of Drew's and my favorite restaurants in Arlington, Lyon Hall, and ordered a half-portion of a meat-centric dish: multiple sausages and bratwurst with spaetzle, lingonberry sauce and bacon-braised sausage: DIVINE, and I was by myself with a good book. Afterward I came back home to help Drew, who has swollen lymph nodes and is feeling crummy, with Ivy and Rachel. They ate pizza and Ivy ended up sleeping over.

Snowpocalypse, Part 1

Since late last week, the weather forecasters have been warning of a severe winter storm this weekend. At first, Drew pooh-poohed the forecast, saying that he wouldn't believe it until we were closer toward the timing of the supposed storm.

By Tuesday, he had changed his tune, and we began talking about what preparations to make. I worked Tuesday and Wednesday night, and on Wednesday they predicted a "light dusting," with the real blizzard to hit Friday and run through the weekend.

The "light dusting," which began around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, turned into an inch of snowfall -- not so bad, except that in Virginia and the District, NO ONE TREATED THE ROADS. Still haven't gotten an adequate explanation of why not, but apparently it had something to do with the freezing temps outside and on the road, like, the salt would've frozen to the roads -- to which a colleague of mine, Anne, said, "Haven't they heard of f-----g SAND??"

Indeed.

I had driven to work that day because I was working a late shift, and it appeared increasingly unlikely that trying to drive home was a good idea -- there were delays of two hours getting from downtown to Arlington -- normally a 20-minute drive. So I had to make a quick decision as it got later and later: a) take the train home, like Drew suggested, and leave the car downtown overnight; b) take the car and chance getting hit and delayed for hours or c) go to the garage, retrieve the car before the $27 fee for parking it kicked in at midnight (it usually costs only $7 from 2 p.m. until midnight).

I went with Drew's suggestion, a), and barely -- and I mean barely -- made the last train outta town. Walked home in the lovely snow, which was crunchy and not at all slippery, and got home to Drew's white face; he had texted me that he was "so relieved" when I texted him that I was on the train. It was then that it hit me: It would have been selfish for me to insist on driving when he really was so worried; I can't think of my own independence when he's affected, too. And in the end, it was the right call -- it only cost $34 for the car to be there overnight. Wildly expensive normally, but worth it on an extraordinary night like that.

Rachel's plan for the cold & the Jamestwon settlement

Earlier this week, it got very, very cold. Rachel was pretty miserable walking to school, as I was walking her to school (neither of us had dressed as well as we should have), and she kept saying, "I HOPE we don't have outdoor recess!" I couldn't blame her.

Then she outlined a plan for avoiding outdoor recess: Ask to be excused to go to the bathroom, then camp out there until recess was over -- and then go to lunch. I probably should have told her not to do that, but, I couldn't help admiring her for her ingenuity.

As it turned out, they didn't have outdoor recess. Also that day, Rachel's class got a visit from someone who works at the Jamestown settlement to talk about Colonial times. His name was Sam, and he let Rachel's teacher wear a buckskin outfit. And because Rachel answered a question correctly -- she said the Indians gave the settlers corn -- she got to try on a buckskin skirt. Which immediately made her want to go to Jamestown, and she told Drew that night that she wants us to go there for Spring Break. So, we're working on it.

Rachel's take on the presidential candidates

The other day, Drew was talking about the presidential candidates and Rachel interrupted him by saying, "if Hillary Clinton becomes president," or something like that, and then she followed that with, "Boys are goin' DOWN! Girl POWER!"

It should be an interesting election in our house.

Happy MLK Day!

Today was that rare federal holiday that we all had off, and I didn't even ask for it from my bosses at The Post. I had wanted to do something MLK-themed, and we tried to get tickets for tours of the Frederick Douglass House in Anacostia, but they were all sold out. A shame; I've heard the view from the back of the house is just incredible, so perhaps we'll go there for Black History Month.

Instead, I insisted we do something cultural, so we ended up going to the Renwick Gallery's renovated interior, which has an AMAZING exhibit through May 8 called "Wonder." It's 9 pieces of art through the museum that are imaginative in their use of materials and what they're depicting, and it has been wildly popular -- an Instagram sensation, according to The Post, and I am SO GLAD we finally went and took Rachel.

It was hideously, horribly cold today -- below freezing, and my fingers are cold as I type this because our tiny heater is trying to warm our uninsulated study -- and we had to wait a half-hour outside before we could go in. To her credit, Rachel didn't whine or complain once, even thought she couldn't feel her toes and she was tearing up because she was so miserable. Thankfully we got in before getting so discouraged that we turned back, and it was so worth it. We spent about 2 hours there, and it really was worth the effort! Rachel even got a souvenir at the gift shop -- glass marbles, for $5, which Drew made her pay half for out of her allowance (that is a new rule he has instituted that I was unaware of until today, but glad he thought of it).

We stopped at Starbucks for hot chocolate, and now we're home warming up matzoh-ball soup and challah while Drew gets the rest of the groceries he couldn't find yesterday and some firewood so he can build a fire because, tonight, we really need one.

A talk about finances

Last Friday, before we met our friends for dinner, Rachel and I visited the Arlington County Animal Shelter to donate the proceeds from our tzedakah box that we keep at home and put money into every once in a while (and we've really got to get better at that). We let Rachel decide where the money should go, so she says to the animal shelter. We took a check to them, and I had her explain the concept of tzedakah, and then we stayed for a while to pet the cats and look at the guinea pigs.

On the way there, Rachel said, out of the blue, "I don't like credit cards. They're too worrisome."
"Why?" I answered.
"It's creepy knowing that you have to pay someone back at the end of the month," she replied.

Couldn't really argue with that one. She's developing a healthy respect for money -- and the potential for its abuse.

Bad dreams

Rachel has always been a good sleeper, if prone to one or two bad dreams. A few times we've had a timid knock on our bedroom door only to find her outside saying she was scared, and one of us got up and lay in bed with her until she calmed down, but that hasn't happened for a while -- until recently.

Over the past few weeks, she has come downstairs (one time, naked and trembling and clutching her favorite stuffie, a rabbit named Stitch that Sidney gave her) while we've been watching TV, whimpering about a bad dream. The first time, it was that we had been swept up in a tornado and then got stung by an asp (yes, she used that term). The second time, Drew was at the gym and I was in the study, and I had to take her in my lap on the couch because she had dreamed that Mommy and Daddy had lost their jobs. I had to spend quite a bit of time reassuring her that even if that extremely unlikely event happened, that we live in an area with lots of opportunities, so we'd probably be able to find other jobs.

After the one where she came down naked and trembling (last week, when I was trying to catch up on  "Downton Abbey" episodes) I offered to give her my green-and-back flannel shirt, which Drew gave me a long time ago, along with another one. They'd been his, so they're really big on me, but I find them comforting nonetheless. I told Rachel about the time that Grandma and Grandpa took me to Cape Cod for vacation, and my crib was near a window where you could see the flashing light from the lighthouse, which terrified me for some reason. So Mom and Dad came into the bedroom and tried to calm me down, but I couldn't stop crying. So Dad pulled off one of his big, cozy sweaters and put it in the crib, and I cuddled up next to it and was able to get myself to sleep.

And so now I've done the same thing with Rachel, and she hasn't had a nightmare since.

Cookies for sale!

Rachel's Brownie troop is selling Girl Scout cookies again, and Drew is reprising his role as "Cookie Dude" (a.k.a., the troop's cookie money manager, which is a lot harder than it sounds. I know, because I've seen him up late at night entering data and signing the troop up for tables at locations such as grocery stores and Metro stops). I'm the one who -- at least last year -- supervised all the cookie selling at the different booths since I can't do much for the troop the rest of the year because of my editing and writing schedule.

Anyway, Rachel and I went out selling cookies two weekends ago while Drew was out running some personal errands. We went up and down our block, and we got waylaid at the house across the street that has a baby, Turner, who is about 7 months old.

For all her insistence that she doesn't want a sibling and never wants to have children, Rachel totally loves babies. She was enchanted by Turner and asked if she could hold him (his parents were out, so his grandparents were babysitting). The grandmother supervised while Rachel tried to teach Turner how to kiss -- and he did pretty well! At one point, she exclaimed, "My heart melts just looking at him!" which clearly impressed the grandparents and made them laugh.

Rachel did pretty well with cookie sales that day. One of our last stops was a house nearby that had been renovated beautifully, and we got into quite the conversation with the parents and their daughter, home from post-college study in Chile. She's trying to figure out what grad school to go to, and they were really fun to talk to. That's the advantage of walking around with Rachel selling cookies -- we meet the most interesting people.

Wash Post video star

A couple of weeks ago, reporter at The Post named Colby (some of whose stories I've edited) put out a call for 7-year-olds to be in a video she was shooting about the presidential race. A bunch of parents, including me, responded, and today was the day of the shoot.

Rachel has told Simone and Sydney about it, and on Sunday morning Nicole asked Rachel what she thought of the presidential race. "Odd and complicated," Rachel replied. She also informed us that she thinks Trump looks like a squashed orangutan. Out of the mouths of babes...!

Anyway, I started my shift just as they were beginning to shoot, and they didn't let parents in the room to watch. Apparently they showed kids clips of presidential ads and asked them to respond; they hope to get the video on The Post's website before the Iowa caucuses Feb. 1.

Drew said Rachel apparently got into a lively discussion about the Islamic State with one boy, so much so that Colby had to interrupt them and say, that's interesting, but it's not really what they were there to talk about.

After the shoot, she told Drew that Rachel was "knows a lot about a lot of things. She's spunky and she has a lot of opinions" and isn't hesitant about sharing them.

She and Drew stopped by my desk on the way out, and she pulled my hat over my head as a joke and then climbed into by lap. It was early in the night, so I got to cuddle with her a bit. Later, Liz, one of the editors, said she thought Rachel was very cute. I had to agree.

A great weekend

On Saturday, I took Rachel to get her hair cut. She was angry at me for allowing them to wash her hair, and thankfully the hairdresser had "Minions" on TV so she kind of didn't notice that I had her hair cut in a bob, which she hates but makes her look SO CUTE I can't resist. When Drew does it, he usually takes her to the Build-a-Bear store nearby, but this time she wanted me to buy a "Shopkins" package of useless little shopping-related accessories. It was $23 and I told her no way, too expensive, so we settled on $6 for tattoo "ink," which was really pens that she could use to draw tattoos on us. (She is really quite talented; she drew a silver heart on my cheek and "LISA" in beautiful silver-and-green letters on my hand.)

Then we went home in time for her have a playdate with her friend Simone while Drew and I ran errands. We picked her up and drove to the movies to see "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." We all loved it -- it blew our minds, and except for crawling into my lap and whimpering during some of the battle scenes, Rachel took it all quite well. We shared popcorn and a pretzel, and after it ended Rachel said, "This is the best movie I've ever seen in my LIFE!" It is so much fun seeing movies with your kid; why did nobody ever tell me that??

THEN she went to Sydney's for a sleepover and Drew and I raced back home to change into nice clothes for a nice dinner out at a restaurant called the Oval Room down the street from the White House. We hardly ever go into the District for dinner, so it was a nice change of pace. The food was excellent, our waitress was from Liberia, and we got into a long discussion of Liberian politics and catering. Then on our way out, we talked to the incredibly knowledgeable bartender about chocolate martinis and the secret to making great drinks (Drew had a sidecar before dinner; I had a concoction called "Lady Michelle" after Michelle Obama, of course). And then we came home and slept until 10:30 this morning.

Friday night with friends

On Friday, Drew's boss, the woman who hired him, was feted at a going-away party before she takes up a job at NPR. So, he went to that while Rachel and I met up with a colleague of mind from work, Ponch, his wife Lydia, and their kids Mateo (11) and Paolo (4). We met at the Lebanese Taverna, which they hadn't tried because they're from Rockville.

The boys busied themselves on cellphones with games while I talked to Ponch and Lydia, although Rachel did get to talk to Mateo a bit about "Star Wars." When Drew arrived just after we'd ordered, she asked to use his phone, and he said, sure. It didn't seem fair to deny her that when the other kids were on their phones with their games.

At the end of the meal, as Rachel ordered dessert, the waiter motioned to Drew and said, "It's on the house." Just part of the pattern of people giving her stuff for free -- a few weeks ago, the waiter at Citizen Burger, our favorite burger joint, gave her a free slice of cake for dessert. She immediately got up and threw her arms around him in a big hug, which she also did on the way out, causing him to lift her up in the air. He seemed surprised and delighted, as do most people seem to be when encountering Rachel's sunshiny spirit.

Econ quiz!

Yes, it amazes me to say those words -- Rachel had an ECON QUIZ the other day. (Keep in mind that Drew didn't really learn about economic concepts until college; and I took one microeconomics class that I no longer remember at NU. This is why we moved here; the schools are AWESOME.)

She actually did quite well -- 22 out of 20 (she got three out of the three multiple-choice questions right). The only one she flubbed was, "What is an example of opportunity cost?" Her reply: An example of an opportunity cost is cupcake vs. cake. Her teacher wrote, "So close! That is an economic choice. What is the opportunity cost of making that choice?"

The other questions involved the four basic needs to survive, the difference between a need and a want, if supply goes up then demand goes down and vice versa, and...well, let's just say that our kid will be WAY more economically literate at an earlier age than we were!

Some more of Rachel's hilarious remarks

On Shabbat about a week ago, we were talking about the kids' first day back at Hebrew school Jan. 10, when they got to wear pajamas and eat bagels and other breakfast food that the parents (including me) would serve them. Rachel said how cool that was and then added, "In yo FACE, Christians!" We had to crack up at that.

***

We were talking this week about all the places Sydney has been -- her mom likes to travel, so she's been to London, Portugal, and a couple of other places. "I'd like to go Europe before I'm 8." Rachel said. "Which will not happen." True dat.

***

Drew still gives Rachel a bath twice a week, and the other night she decided that she is the Duchess of Glitterville, and he is her servant, Jack Pinkie. She found him in an orphanage and brought him out for a life of servitude to her.

Ladies' Tea

The last event that Rachel and I attended before she went back to school was a Ladies' Tea put on by her friend Libby's mom, Kelly, at the Masonic Lodge where her husband is a member. I made gingerbread and talked with the other moms while Rachel played with the other kids, which included Sydney and a friend of hers whose name I can't remember.

I was deep in conversation with Jill, Kira's mom, when Rachel came over and wanted to go outside with Sydney and her friend. Nicole offered to accompany them (it was an unseasonably warm day) and I said, sure.

Then, not two minutes later, Rachel came racing in, sobbing, and buried herself in my arms. I asked her what was the matter and she was too distraught to talk. So I took her to the supply room and shut the door. Nicole and Sydney each knocked on the door but I told them to please go away. And then Rachel and I had a talk.

Turns out that Sydney had told Rachel rather rudely that she wanted to be alone with her friend, and Rachel felt rejected and left out, especially because she had been invited to play with them. I was absolutely furious at Sydney's inconsideration, but even more frustrated that Rachel seemed so upset. I told her that she has GOT to learn in life that some people won't be nice to her and she just has to deal with it. She started arguing back, and finally said, "I'm only 7!" And then something along the lines of, "You can't expect me to act like you!"

That one stopped me cold, and all I could say was, "Maybe sometimes I treat you too much like an adult?" She sniffled and said yes, and so we cuddled for a while until Sydney knocked on the door again, no doubt prompted by Nicole, and apologized for her behavior. They went off to play, and then Nicole explained that she had scolded Sydney for treating Rachel that way, and Sydney said she just wanted to be alone with her friend. And then I told Nicole that I'd told Rachel she really needs to get better at handling her emotions when other kids are mean to her, and that she certainly wasn't perfect.
"But Sydney can be unkind," Nicole replied, which shocked me to no end, a mother saying that about her kid, but she was right.

The girls patched it up in time for them to have a playdate at Sydney's, and I realized that maybe I had made too big a deal of things, but I hate to see Rachel so upset, especially when I think that she really needs to learn to handle meanness better. Hopefully what I said to her will stick.

A visit to the Aquarium

Continuing the festivities of the final weekend before the start of school, we took Rachel to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It closes at 6:30, and I was manic to get there in time to give us enough time to explore the place (like, 5 hours). Tickets are also really expensive -- $25 for kids; $36 for adults -- and I wanted to make sure we saw everything we could.

And, boy, were we not disappointed. Four floors of amazing stuff -- a rainforest up top (which is closing temporarily for renovations, and New Year's Day weekend was our last opportunity to catch it before it closed), a big tank where they feed gigantic turtles, a shark tank where they had a scuba diver talk remotely about the feeding and care of the sharks, a dolphin exhibit where they had the dolphins do tricks and explained all about their care and feeding (although it was not as exploitative, or at least didn't feel as exploitative) as Sea World. There were constant animal demonstrations going on throughout the day, so we got to see turtles on land respond to treats, and the dolphin trainers with the dolphins, and the shark guy...we stayed until the place closed and got a real good sense of things. Which is why we now want to take all our visitors there!

For dinner we went to Phillips, a cool, longtime seafood place right on the water that is very family friendly. Rachel and I dozed a bit on the way home, and after we put her to bed Drew and I watched another episode of "House of Cards." (We finished it, finally, last weekend and are eagerly awaiting Season 4). All in all, it was a great day!

Star Wars

During the winter break, Rachel and I one day watched the first two episodes (really, Episodes 4 and 5) of "Star Wars." Drew bought her a lightsaber during the New Year's Eve festivities in Falls Church we watched Episodes 4 and 5 the next day (and 6, the final one, a few days later).

Turns out that after a year of saying, "Mommy, I'm not ready" to see the movies, she LOVED THEM. She took her lightsaber out every time Darth Vader showed up and tried to join in the fight scenes. She liked "Return of the Jedi" so much (because of the cute ewoks, of course) that during a playdate with her friend Simone this past weekend, she had me turn on the movie so they could watch in AGAIN. They looked so cute huddled under layers of blankets because the basement is so cold).

When I told her that we would be getting together with a colleague of mine from work, his wife an his kids, and that they are around Rachel's age, she asked, "So I can talk to them about 'Star Wars'?"

So glad we can pass on that nerd tradition to our kid!

Happy New Year!

I was fortunate enough to have New Year's Eve off from work, and we made the most of it.

Drew had to work that day, and so I decided to take Rachel to Rebounderz (we pronounce it "Rebounderzzzzzzzz), a trampoline place in Manassas. I resolved to participate instead of just watching her at the playground, which I often do because it is so exhausting to try to catch her as she shimmies through the tiny openings in the various play structures. And I did -- I jumped, at times, more than she did. I even mastered running up the walls a bit. (And I paid for it for the next two days -- sore wrists, shoulders and stomach muscles, of all things.) We played the arcade games, too, and she actually did better than I did -- but graciously gave me one of her prizes, a puzzle-piece eraser. And she talked me into buying her a sugary drink that was a shade of blue not found in nature.

Meanwhile, Drew was being interviewed by Cox TV's Washington station for use around the country, for his posts on Congressional productivity! He was very excited, as am I.

And THEN we met back at home and headed for "Watch Night," a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration in Falls Church. Rachel and Drew had gone in 2014, when I'd had to work, and they said it was definitely worth it. This year, of course, it was much warmer so we could do outdoor activities, which consisted mainly of inflatable slides. And in an astonishing coincidence, I ran into Ed Stephenson, a friend of mine from high school who used to live in McLean but moved away to Massachusetts just as we arrived. He, his wife and son were visiting old friends and he said he had a feeling he'd see me at the Falls Church event. We had a nice time catching up, although Rachel got bored after a while listening to the grown-ups talk.

We ended the evening at the Presbyterian Church, which had an excellent swing band (Drew and I even danced a bit), hot cider and cookies. We didn't stay to watch the drop of a mechanical star; instead, we got home around 11, got Rachel to bed at 11:40 p.m. and Drew and I stayed up long enough to wish each other a Happy New Year, then turned in.

Sunday brunch

On Sunday, Dec. 27, we were invited to brunch at Mike and Carole Eisenbergs' house. Mike taught Drew at Columbia and I worked with him at Willamette (he taught law at both places), and we've remained friends.

Carole suggested Rachel bring something to amuse herself, but I held off because I want her to learn how to talk and be in the presence of elderly people and to at least try to listen to what they have to say. Carole ended up finding some kids' books, anyway, and Rachel went into their formal living room to read for a bit while we talked with Mike. Fortunately brunch was served pretty quickly, and there were bagels, which Rachel could actually eat.

She explored the upstairs, which included a room she called the "Blue Room" -- Mike and Carole's bedroom, beautifully outfitted in blue wallpaper and bed coverings -- and they said she could have a sleepover there anytime she wanted (except not in the blue room, since it's their bedroom!)

The Eisenbergs have grandchildren, but they're just out of college and live far away, so they're not around really little people that often. It really was a lovely visit.

Family in town!

The week of Dec. 19/20, we were graced with a visit from PopPop and Mammaw, in town to visit Mammaw's daughter, Sarah, who has moved to the D.C. area to take a job with the State Department. Dec. 19, a Saturday, was "Family Day" -- first, a visit to Uncle Dan's (a make-up for the planned visit the weekend before, when I couldn't because I was so sick), then a quick stop in at our neighbors, Ivy, Liam, Billy and Jenny, who had a holiday "open house" and we got to meet all their Foreign Service friends who had been on really cool assignments around the world -- and THEN we met PopPop, Mammaw, Sarah and her girlfriend for an early dinner. We all had a great time catching up; it was my first day not on Percoset, and it was so great to see everyone. Afterward we exchanged gifts and then went our separate ways.

When we got home, we opened everything -- and were floored! PopPop and Mammaw gave us a fabulous gift basket of wine and food that we are still enjoying (and a lovely old book on Jewish cookery that I am still plotting how to use recipes from to surprise Drew), and Rachel got a light-up globe. Her reaction when she opened it: "I get the BEST presents!" (as nice a compliment as she gave me when she opened up her "American Girl" apron from Williams-Sonoma, a Hanukkah gift I'd bought her: "Mommy! You really outdid yourself this year!"). She promptly took the globe to her bedroom, placed it on a corner of her desk and plugged it in. It is now her night light, and I have to say -- it IS a great gift, one that I like looking at, too. Thanks, PopPop and Mammaw! We love you!

The week before Christmas

...Being sick put me behind and I had a lot of catching up to do. So, starting Monday, Dec. 21, I went into cookie-baking overdrive. I baked five kinds of cookies for our friends, neighbors and my coworkers: Orange buttercreams, chewy chocolate snowcaps, chocolate-caramel rounds, lemon cream-filled star sandwiches and two-bite gingerbread whoopie pies. They turned out fabulously but were a lot of work over two days. Definitely worth it, though!

THEN, on Friday Dec. 25, I ran the kitchen for our synagogue's "Winter Mitzvah Day," in which we prepared turkey meals for 300 people at homeless shelters, plus 75 turkey sandwiches. Our usual chef was on vacation, so I volunteered to take over. "You're all we've got," the organizer said to me, and I replied, "I'm so sorry that I'm the best you can do." I was there from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Drew offered to drive most of the food to the shelters, and Rachel stayed busy making potholders for the families and reading in the synagogue's library. We had takeout that night -- I was too exhausted to cook after overseeing the turkey and helping out with other side dishes as needed. But I was thanked profusely by the synagogue folks, and hopefully no one got botulism during my watch.

That Saturday, I had planned a "Boxing Day party" at our place for Charon and her 9-year-old son Cameron, and our friends Jeff, Crystal and their toddler, Julia. Julia came down with foot-and-mouth disease a few days before and Crystal had to stay with her, so it was just Jeff. And then, at 6:30, when I was wondering where Charon and Cameron were, Charon called in a total panic -- she thought the dinner was Sunday -- and, annoyed, I said, "I work on Sunday. I ALWAYS work on Sunday!" She apologized profusely; she was getting Cameron to bed and offered to come later, but in the end wasn't able to. So it was just us four, with enough goose and Yorkshire pudding and salad for many more, and Rachel aptly summed up my feelings when she said, "We did all that cleaning for ONE PERSON?" But we all managed to have a nice time, anyway, and I had a lot of goose to eat the following week at work, for dinner. But the next time I plan a holiday party, I'm going to be a lot more sure about who's coming and who's not.

Cookie carry!

Rachel's elementary school, McKinley, puts on something called the "Cookie Carry" for teachers and school staff -- basically, people bake or buy cookies to bring in, and then the teachers get to fill up a plate with the homemade goodies. It's kind of our way of saying "thank you" for all they do.

I was scheduled to staff the event at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. That morning I woke up with incredible tooth pain that I recognized immediately as a sinus infection. So, I got through the cookie carry, drove Drew to the Ballston Metro so he could get to work on time, skipped my fitness class and went straight to the doctor, who prescribed me wonderful pain meds that I started taking immediately.

I had been scheduled that evening to attend Drew's holiday party at Pew -- and I even went through with a manicure and pedicure that day -- but then by late afternoon I was crying in pain and told him I just couldn't do it. He canceled our babysitter (my friend Jeannette's daughter, Regan, who is attending college at George Washington University) and graciously offered to come home and take care of Rachel and me. I just had enough strength to get some pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and some spring rolls and meet him and Rachel at home before eating dinner and collapsing.

So, Drew cancelled everything right and left that we had planned for that weekend, and I spent most of it in bed, trying to vain to eat, and downstairs watching endless amounts of TV. And I finally got better (between the antibiotics, Percoset and a 2nd doctor's and dentist visit). But it took a while.

A discussion about writing

On Rachel's report card, I was very dismayed to read that: a) All she wants to do is read, to the detriment of her other work, and b) She apparently hates writing. So, I've started a mother/daughter journal for us to write in when I'm not home -- I ask her a question, she answers, then she asks me a question. My answers tend to be long and discursive, my way of encouraging her to write, and her answers tend to be along the lines of, "Draw what your dream house would look like, Mommy." (Although when I asked her what her favorite place was and why, she answered, "Your lap, because it's close to you," which warmed my heart.)

So, one day we got to talking about the journal, and how Rachel should take it seriously because everyone needs to know how to to write, and she got very upset and said, "When I grow up I'm going to be a veterinarian, so I won't need to tell stories," or something like that. And so I said, "If someone brings their sick pet in to you, and they're crying and scared, you may need to to tell them a story to calm them down. And if you can't do that, you won't get clients."

I'm not sure she was convinced, but I was pretty proud of myself for thinking of that on the spur of the moment.

Field trip!

I got to chaperone a field trip Rachel's class took to -- of all places -- the Apple Store. The kids all got T-shirts and learned to make movies on their iPads (all the kids in class have their own iPads to do their homework and use educational games -- but thank goodness they can't take them home!). Gotta admire Apple's rampant consumerist push by getting the kids to come to the store and see all the cool things they can do on their machines...

Rachel loved having me there, but she was quite sanguine when I got into a conversation with some of the other mom chaperones as the kids got back on the bus to go home. I didn't even get a chance to wave good-bye before they pulled out.

Then I went into Williams-Sonoma next door to get her an "American Girl" apron for Hanukkah (it is several sizes too big, but she'll grow into it) and headed in to work early, where The Post had a huge celebration for its last day in the old building -- the one where the Watergate stories and other legendary journalism were produced. It was quite the going-away party, and we all got to draw on the walls (the building is going to be gutted, and Fannie Mae will move in after it's rebuilt).

Report card, first semester

Rachel had an excellent report card -- she is progressing well in all her subjects.

From Ms. Burke, her main teacher: "Rachel is off to a great start in second grade! She is a very capable student with a lot to contribute. she frequently participates in class discussions and completes her work in a neat and timely manner. She is a very honest student and I so appreciate the integrity she exhibits at such a young age. Rachel has demonstrated improvement in how she handles frustrating situations with peers, but this will continue to be a goal for her next quarter. Rachel has a strong understanding of the science and social studies concepts we have studied thus far. She is a voracious reader and takes advantage of every opportunity to read. While I love that reading is a passion of hers, for the next quarter I would like for Rachel to work on not rushing through other assignments so that she can read. She will also continue to be challenged in her reading and will work to develop close reading strategies. While she seems to enjoy the subject, Rachel is a bit of an apprehensive writer in class. She occasionally exhibits a bit of difficulty when brainstorming topics to write about, or when thinking of other details to include. For the next quarter, I would like for Rachel to push herself a bit in this area an I will continue to support her as well. She is making good progress in math and is fluent with all of her math facts. Rachel is doing great with her iPad and is diligent about following all of the iPad rules. It is a pleasure having her in class and I look forward to a great rest of the year together!"

From Ms. Burne, her Spanish teacher: "Rachel is very neat and organized with every assignment given in class. She likes to participate and learn new vocabulary. She is working o patience working with peers during partner activities."

From Mrs. Mautawalli, her art teacher: "Rachel is doing very well in art class. She is a bit of a perfectionist, but I do see that she enjoys art. I am glad that Rachel is able to express herself through her artwork."

From Mr. Locke, her music teacher: "Rachel is a joy to have in music class! She always comes to class ready to learn and participate fully in the lesson and activities. I appreciate her creative ideas, and her willingness to help out during class. Keep up the great work!"

Happy Hanukkah...

Hanukkah came "early" this year, and we celebrated a couple of ways: on the Friday before the first night, Rachel and I attended a brisket-and-latkes dinner at the synagogue, and then her chorus performed. At the dinner, she impressed a former president of Temple Rodef Shalom, Hannah Moore, by her inquisitive questions, one of which was, "How old are you?" (I had to tell her that that's not a very polite question to ask adults). I was also very impressed that Rachel made a point of getting me some dessert and a drink -- she always thinks of Drew and me when we go to these things.

On Sunday before Hebrew school, I volunteered to help heat up and serve latkes to the late classes (11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and ended up directing everyone because no one seemed very organized (a pattern with synagogue events, I am finding out). I got to peek in on Rachel making a beautiful painted wooden menorah, which we decided to use for OUR eight nights of Hanukkah. It now resides in our bookcase of religious books, next to the rest of our menorahs.

Afterward, Rachel's chorus performed in a local park. I ended up, in a spur-of-the-moment decision, inviting her friend Dani, her parents, and Dani's younger sister, Jordan (she's around 5 or so) to our first-night-of-Hanukkah dinner. Luckily we had enough food -- I had planned on duck and latkes. (I watched Rachel perform in the park; it was cold, so I bought both of us some hot chocolate.) Dani and her family came by around 6:30 and we had a riotous time; Dani's parents, Peter and Stacy, bought dessert (store-bought cookies and apologies for not brining anything homemade because they hadn't had time), the duck was perfect and I finished the latkes in time to be able to join the others just as they were finishing up. Peter, a gourmand (his brother runs a fancy restaurant in California with some famous chef), said the latkes were the best he'd ever tasted. So, it was a great success and we have been invited to their house for a large dinner party at the end of January.

Nutcracker!

Rachel's Brownie troop, once again, went to see "The Nutcracker" at a local ballet school. She and I got dressed up the first Saturday in November and did much the same thing as last year -- there was a discussion about the ballet beforehand, and then the girls ate lunch in the cafeteria of the school where it was being performed (Rachel was disappointed that we brought lunch instead of going in with everyone else on pizza, but I had brought Trader Joe's gingersnaps so we got to trade food with folks). I even broke down and bought her a nutcracker -- a Christmas ornament, actually, but I figured she could cut off the loop of thread if she wants. It's now on her dresser.

I was impatient for the performance to end because Drew and I were due at a holiday party put on by my colleagues at The Post, to which we were going with Paula, a friend of mine, and her husband (their daughter, Katrina, was babysitting Rachel). We got home just in time to meet them and head to the party.

We had a great time talking to folks -- one of my colleagues told Drew that "Lisa is a delight to work with," to which Drew replied, "She's even more of a delight to live with." We stayed until dinnertime, then went home. Since none of us were really hungry, we all ended up playing a game of "Apples to Apples" -- we're all at our sarcastic best when we play -- and then Drew and I watched "House of Cards" when Rachel went to sleep. All in all, a busy but great Saturday!

Quotes from Rachel in New York

Some of the things Rachel said during our New York trip:

--The morning we woke up in Grandma and Grandpa's guest bedroom, she turned to me (after she climbed into the bed and snuggles with us): "I love going to Hebrew school because I get to be around people who understand me." I was astonished at that and tried to ask her for more details, but she clammed up.

--"When I grow up, I want to live in San Francisco, New York, or Washington, D.C.," Rachel announced while we were driving into the city to see "Wicked." "Why?" I asked her. "I like the busy-ness, she explained."

--We got to Broadway a little early, so we were able to get Rachel a pretzel and walk to Times Square, which Drew really wanted to show her. "I'm holding a pretzel and I'm walking in Times Square!" Rachel gushed. "I feel like a real New Yorker!"

Happy Thanksgiving, Part 2

...so, after the sleepover, Rachel and Drew and I all got into our fancy theater clothing and met Mom and Dad in the city to see the Broadway show "Wicked." (Rachel, after we'd told her weeks before that we would be seeing it, exclaimed, "YAY! I've always wanted to see that!"). We all loved the show -- it was a truly amazing production -- and we had a lovely dinner afterward at a restaurant that Mom and Dad introduced us to. I love the fact that Rachel will always, at least in part, associate New York with trips to Broadway and restaurants with her glamorous grandparents.

After we said our goodbyes, we drove to our hotel in New Jersey, a new one that Drew discovered that turned out to be quite lovely. We had an okay breakfast the next day, then raced back in time (well, a half-hour late, actually) to get me to my weekend shift. I got to sleep on the way back, so I wasn't too tired.

What a lovely Thanksgiving! Thanks, all!