Springtime Flux

I've always gotten Spring Fever.

Every year.  It's a little embarrassing. For me this manifests as nervous energy, forgetfullness, preoccupation with pretty things, falling in love with every other person who walks down the street or sits next to me in the cafe, rushing more, napping more and eating ice cream. We're nearly through it this year, and it has passed quickly, perhaps because of how satisfying this spring has been.  I know it's boring to talk about the weather, but really it has affected this whole relocation so much and so postively that I can't stop talking about it yet.

I loved seeing flowers pop out of the snow, people poking out of their heavy overcoats, leaving a scarf or mittens home one day or the next, challenging winter as it faded away.  Spring seemed so brave and hopeful.  Last week we had a legitimately hot day, and it showed us what summer will be.  In Seattle somehow, the weather seemed more distant, unassailable, and here, it feels as though the bravery of a few hatless souls may have been responsible for the whole damn thing.  In Seattle the trees would suddenly be abloom, but here there was a nice, long, smooth budding phase that allowed us to prepare our hearts and our bodies for spring.

At work, it's a whole other type of adjustment. Now instead of the parade of snowsuits, hats, scarves and mittens, it's the process of sunhats, sandal straps, water bottles and sunscreen.  The kids are happy to just sit in the grass and stare, to swing, swing, swing to hold hands and run one way and then another.  They have each mastered something brand new on the playground in the last week; the rings, pumping on a swing, flying on their bellies on the swing, climbing to the top of a tall, tall ladder, sliding down on their bellies.  Like little spring animals learning how to walk, to run, to fly or hunt.

At home I'm trying to keep some of this energy with me as I ride my bike back.  I'm still having a hard time with so many hours of my life given away to my job and commute, but the bike is faster than the train, now, and getting faster every day.  I'm still practicing my unicycle every week or so, it's still difficult to go more than five feet or so.  Maybe I'll practice again today as I clean the house before houseguests arrive.  I finally found a yoga studio that I'm crazy about which is a few less free hours in my week, but more than worth it.  It's also local soccer season, so Z and I have attended one Revolution game, and one Boston breakers game.  We'll return to ther fort this weekend with friends this time to see another Rev's game.

This is one of the most boring posts I've ever written, but, it's what I'm thinking about.

Next time, I'll have something hilarious, thoughtful and shocking for you.

Trash in the Sky Day

The back part of my classroom is all windows.  We eat back there, and we've spent a lot of time lately, watching the pigeons, squirrels and crows who visit our side yard and playground.  Today, I looked up and saw a big piece of paper floating on the breeze about 30 feet in the air.  As the spring breeze gently set it down on the playground, I looked up and saw another that looked like the paper wrapping for a toilet paper roll tossing around up there.  "Guys?  Did you see that trash?" I asked the three year olds around me?  They didn't so some of them said that they did as they looked wildly about, and the rest admitted they didn't.  They caught the next piece of garbage as it fell, though.  Our school is nestled in the bosom (or lap depending on your perspective) of a Harvard housing project of high-rises.  I imagined that someone had irresponsibly left garbage on their balcony and it was now being distributed by the elements.  

"Whoa!  There's another one!  Happy Trash in the sky day, everybody!"

"Happy Trash in the sky day, Kendra!" somebody hollered back.

About an hour later, we went out on the playground with another class.  A teacher and a kid were looking up for a long time, when I saw a stretch of paper towels drifting past the branches of a tree.  I wandered over with a wry, knowing smile, ready to tell them about trash in the sky day... and realized they were watching a squirrel build a garbage nest!  The little one would run into the dumpsters, grab some paper material and then drag it way up the tree and try to stuff it into the tiny stick frame it had constructed! 

Another sign of spring, and reminder that there are parts of THIS urban ecosystem that I'm just not prepared for.

No more coffee

I stopped drinking coffee.

Yesterday.

I've stopped before for lots of reasons, and generally have been fine without coffee for months at a time.  Quitting coffee was on my mind when I quit smoking two and a half years ago, and I'd like to give it another go.  I know that my mornings are much more cheerful, my moods more predictable, and my skin is happier when I don't have caffeine in my body, so I'm doing it again.  

I have an oppressive headache.  I drank Yerba mate today and yesterday, which I remember really taking the pain out of withdrawal, but that is not the case this weekend.  Zak just reminded me that I could take an aspirin and make the headache go away, and I RAN to the medicine cabinet.  

I remember years ago, I went out to a party with my friend Paula.  Somebody gave me a ride home around 5 in the morning, and I was hungry, a little hungover and not ready to sleep yet, so I grabbed the National Geographic that had just arrived in the mail, and headed to Denny's.  I was still smoking then and I looked forward to a long stretch of time, drinking coffee, smoking, and reading about the world.  There was an article in the magazine about caffeine and the brain, and somewhere in the middle of it, I drank the first cup of decaf of my life.  It was not delicious, but it was too impossible to read the article AND drink coffee at the same time.

I'm one of those people for whom the pain and physical symptoms of withdrawal are comforting signals that I'm doing a good thing.  (This was true when I quit smoking too.)  It's still distracting as hell.

UNICYCLE

Ok, so I bought a unicycle.
I went to EMS months ago for some yoga pants and saw it, and thought "Man, that would be cool."
Then, I needed some cold weather biking gloves and I saw it WITH its 30% off sign.
Wow. "How much could that be?!" I thought. I came home and asked Z "How much would be the right price for a unicycle?" He said "$200" (He's very kind and likes to let me splurge on yarn.) It was less than $100, so I got it. I live in a neighborhood with two big "walking around the pond" events per year, so I figure if nothing else, I've got those opportunities to unicycle. Also, of course, cross-lateral balance can be very helpful to our coordination and our brains as we age, and ... you know I'm aging as much as anyone.

The morning I went to buy it, I read everything I could about learing to unicycle. Everybody has differing opinions about surfaces (grass or concrete?) and support (pair of chairs? fence or wall? two friends? nothing?). One person said "Remember to flail your arms. This is very important, and will help." You wouldn't think I'd need help flailing about in such a situaltion, but I did... it took me 15 minutes of trying to balance!

I bought it during the two hour break I have on Wednesdays, then had some time practicing on the playground. (I bought a roller-blading pad set, so my knees and wrists are protected when I fall, which I do. Although I've landed on my feet every time.) Yesterday I could mount (while holding on to a thing), fall off, and then occasionally pedal a half rotation or so. I also learned not to unicycle in cordoroys for chafing reasons.

Today I balanced a little bit at home (to show off for Z, and before my downstairs neighbor/landlady came home from work) . Then I headed out to the tennis court near my house. I remembered teaching small children to ride bikes (I've probably taught 50 kids how to ride and take off their training wheels.) and how they fall off when they expect to instead of continuing to pedal. I decided to treat myself like a kindergartner during practice, and asked myself to pedal farther than I thought I could, and sang a little circus song (the tromboney one "da da dadda dah dah Da dah dah DA dah") to myself. It worked! I pedaled a few rotations, and even got it to go in a quarter circle (more or less on purpose!) It was awesome.

I've got a kickass bruise on my thigh from falling off, and am anticipating some SERIOUS shin injuries when I start hopping on it without support. It's exhilerating to try something so completely new, and to do it alone. Just wait till I can juggle on it!

Anyhow, if you have parade coming up that needs someone to fall down every yard or so CALL ME!

The hits keep on comin'

More Spring signs

Disclaimer: While I understand that it could snow in Boston on any day in March or April, I'm celebrating moments of spring-like weather and attitudes as they occur. This may irritate bores, literalists or fuddy-duddies. For instance when Z wore shorts the other day and smiled at a passerbye, she offered (in a grouchy voice) "Don't put away your boots yet!"

Today it reached 50 degrees and I spent a couple of hours walking around in it. I underdressed (Seattle tradition) to get as much sunlight on my skin as possible. It was fantastic to smile at my neighbors as they did errands, strolled around the pond, and generally blossomed. Here are some signs of spring to add to my list....

Pictured:
The hat shop is totally ready to move forward.

Honey Bees! (You may have to look really closely... the Iphone has no zoom.) These bees were buzzing around so merrily in and out of this tree that it made me think of Winnie the Pooh. In that hole, I could see the honeycomb and the entrance to the hive.)

Not pictured: frisky ducks and Canada geese, children drunk with sunshine. My three new springy t-shirts from Boomerang's.

Signs of spring

It's still winter here in Massachusetts, I know. Please don't think I'm fooled by a little sun and weather warm enough for me to leave my gloves and mittens at home, because I'm not.
On the other hand, it's really gorgeous, and my body does not understand that there are still weeks of wintry weather and more snow ahead. My body wants to eat ice cream and fire up the grill and go to the beach and climb trees and things like that... even though I know better.

So here is a list (with some illustrative photos) of signs of spring:
1. The outdoor busking has begun again at Harvard Square (note bagpiper setting down a cup of coffee)
2. Crocuses are blooming, along with snow drops AND there are chirpy little robins bopping around as though they would also like to eat ice cream, and cook out.
3. My cat is lying around in puddles of sunshine on the floor.
4. (Not pictured) I was almost hit by a baseball that was thrown by a child in a Red Sox jersey and just missed the mitt of a young man in a Red Sox jersey.

I'll keep an eye out and post more signs as they show themselves. What are the signs of spring where you live?