weekend in connecticut

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Here is my friend Frances with her partner Tony and their not-quite-two year old boy Riley at the front of their house in Sydney. I visited them last week when I went to Sydney to collect our new car. Frances is 42 and met Tony when she was 39. Tony is 36 and is a cinematographer. Riley talks more than any child I've ever met. And he loves sport. While Frances was having a shower and Tony was nursing his hangover on the Saturday morning, Riley and I found a Red Sox-Yankees game on TV. Within minutes I had him saying "Go Yankees." And "Bang, ball up in the sky." Why am I telling you about Frances and her little family? Ta-dah, proof that 38 is young, young, young. And good men are out there, you just gotta find them. Happy birthday Lily. Get your wings on and fly!

Kristen, there's a button on the screen where you write your posts called "Add Image." It's the button that looks a little like a small postcard with a pale blue sky. Press it and you can post photos on to the blog. I demand, yes demand, photos.

Thanks for Mermaid Parade photos Kathy. Mermaid Parade was one event I never got to in Brooklyn. Looks like everyone is having a good time. A lot of gorgeous women without many clothes and a lot of fat men in t-shirts. Perfect!

Now that all of our stuff has arrived from Brooklyn I'm going to have to find my running gear and start running. After two months of nothing more than a brisk walk that ain't going to be easy.

News

Here are Hannah and Sam, in their school uniforms, outside our house. The house is a bungalow, built between the wars, which has been extended to the rear. It is a very long house, three large bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, kitchen and lounge, and a large rear verandah which will be great for barbecuing in the summer. We are about as far from the center of Melbourne as Park Slope is from downtown Manhattan, and Rachel gets to work by train in about 30 minutes. The train station is at the end of our street. Compared to Brooklyn, the neighborhood is incredibly quiet - we have yet to even see any of our neighbors. All of our things arrived from Brooklyn last Friday, so the house is a bit of a mess at the moment with books and bits and pieces everywhere.

Last Tuesday morning my oldest friend, Larelle, died at the age of 44. We met when my family moved in next door to hers when she and I were both 12. She had had kidney disease since she was 15, been on dialysis for most of the last 27 years, had three failed kidney transplants, two cardiac operations that she had not been expected to survive, and, finally, her liver stopped functioning. She was also the most delightful person anyone could meet and you all would have loved her if you had met her. We investigated whether she would be able to go to New York last year, but she needed dialysis three times a week and the cost of dialysis for visitors to America was just too high. She was witty, intelligent, loving, stylish, graceful, and brave beyond any measure. Although chronically ill for most of her life, she never allowed her illness to define her, and her good humor in the face of setbacks was extraordinary. She had two degrees, edited a magazine, and won gold medals for Australia at the World Transplant Games. And she could dance. Her partner of 17 years, Steve, is an outstanding bloke. I gave a eulogy at her memorial service on Monday.

Babies, Bdays, Beer, Bitching and Boys....

My lovely and amazing friends - I have dropped off the face of the earth - so sorry- BUT I am BACK and babbling!!

I am thrilled to see Kathy's Mermaid pictures - loved it when I went last year! So Kathy...is that you with the orange hoop skirt...or are you in the silver :)!

NOW Kristen...I love that you send those absolutely beautiful belly pictures to me BUT why in the hell did you NOT put them on the BLOG??!!! That is what it is for woman??

OK Roh...where are the pictures of the house? The kids in their cute new school outfits...or...are you punishing us for not posting or 10min a week?

OK - enough rant - what the hell have I been up to? Well my lovely little Niece (and I must say the cutest baby in the world) turned one year two weekends ago. Look at her:

OK am I not correct? She is so damn cute. And look at that little wooden pony...my dad made that! Isn't it SO cute! OK, I am done with my bragging. She is so cool to hang out with (when I can see her) I am starting to realize that this state is a MUST HAVE A CAR state. I love riding my bike everywhere in the city - BUT - there is no way to get out unless my parents come and get me and that is a bit difficult at times and makes me feel like I am back in high school...or on probation...or something. (OK, that was the bitching part).

Life is going OK - I am starting to get used to it and I think actually liking some parts of it. I have actually made some friends. There is a guy in my building that randomly shows up and we chat for a few hours here and there. Nice guy, no attraction on my end, but nice guy. Oh, get this...so the other night I was having a glass of wine at the bar before going to a show at the theater and someone says..."lily"...winds up being this Girl I went to school with at Depaul U in Chicago, who lived in the same building I lived in, who ran into me in NYC at the YMCA two years ago, who's husband is a teacher in the BFA program that is affiliated with the Guthrie and she lives right across the street?! I never got to know her in school and actually always thought she was annoying BUT I was completely wrong! We have a TON in common, she is a total sweetheart and we are both new here! Pretty crazy huh? So I hung out with her at her rooftop pool sipping a ton of wine and catching up on old times and all the people we both new - was really nice!

Work is doing OK...I had a tough week or so for a bit there ...that is one reason I wasn't writing. I had to so a bit of reflection for awhile. I was butting heads with my new boss pretty bad...but I had some things to think about and some prioritizing to do...think I have it back on track now. AND get this. So my boss went ahead and has offered me an opportunity to take really expensive classes in professional development (that only managers that have been at the Guthrie for two years normally get) because she believes that I am a good investment and that if I am better at what I do - we will all be better at what we do...kinda cool huh? Made me feel really good. Means she isn't planning on firing me anytime soon, I guess. So anyway things are going pretty good. I still like it is what I am trying to say, which is more then I could say about my job at Classic Media. I put a ton of hours in but am trying to even that out. The camps are going fantastic and the kids are really talented I swear I cry at all of the final presentations. It is pretty much a logistic nightmare and i am kind of a one woman coordinating show - but I make it all work - so that I am pretty proud of.

My bday is coming up? Remember my bday a couple of years ago..ROH? My wings??? Not wearing wings this year but my Mom is planning a totally cool trip up to lake Superior in Duluth to see the tall ships that are here from Boston. It is going to be so cool. Then we are having a fancy dinner on a dinner boat. A little hiking up further north...should be a good bday...38...shit...when did that happen...is that old?...it is isn't it?

OHHHH you would be so proud -- I ran a total of 22 miles last week!!! I training week 14 down and counting (next week is 13). I ran 10 miles on Sat. --- still having doubts about the marathon in November but I think I can do it. Oh, did I ever tell you all the story of how I almost lost my guaranteed entry into the ING marathon? WELL...I missed the entry date at the end of May (thought it was at the end of June)...WELL...when I realized that I screwed up I wrote a long letter telling them about how proud I had been that I qualified and that i had just gotten back from South America volunteering - that I relocated and was working in Education and that I would never have a chance to qualify again...and...they...said...OK...you can still be in it! Can you believe it? I called twice and emailed twice so that must have been persistent enough. I really didn't think they would still let me in...I was a month late for crying out loud! But then right after they sent me the email saying that they had excepted me in...I said to myself...oh, my god...what the hell have I done? Now I really have to do it! YIKES...I am totally freaked out! Wish I had all of you to run with. I have run a couple of times with a group and they are fine...but nothing like out group. I did have a nice time with a girl that is also new to MN but was born her - so that was cool.

OK - so I have covered...Babies, bdays...bitching... and a boy...I guess...but let see...beer...OH, I am drinking one as I write this does that count?

I miss you all so much - how are you? What happened to the 10 minute rule? Lets not let this die! Our friendships have traveled over way to many terrains not to continue our conversations. Now this is a new way for us to communicate --- a new way for us to be clever -- deep -- striking --- and so on. Rooster and his chicks will make history -- at least our histories! I love talking about how we met - how we ran and how we still keep in touch...it is an important part of my life...the three of you!

OK - I was getting sappy - NO that was not the damn beer Roh - I only had ONE. I will try to take some more pictures and post them so you can remember what the hell I look like.

signing off -- SEELILRUN!

Mermaid Parade '08 Photos

Not mute, just lame!

Half-pint here.... I have been carefully listening to all of the "clucking" but, I know, you haven't heard a "peep" out of me for a while!  

Earlier in the summer, we spent 10 fun filled hours in Coney Island the day of the Mermaid Parade.  The costumes were really great this year!  I'll post photos.  We went with a my friend Robert who upon arrival explained to the kids that he would take them on any ride that they wanted to go on and that he would pay!  Needless to say, the kids were ecstatic!  This is the same guy that bought them a pair of "the world's largest underwear" and a "woopie cushion".

We have been upstate a few times to friends summer rentals which is always a real treat.   I am designing a pond house for a client of mine that just put in a one acre pond, so I took the whole family up and we stayed in her carriage house, ate great food & swam in a heated pool.  We felt very pampered!

We have also taken a few trips to the beach.  We found a great one for kids in Westport, Connecticut.  It is only a little over 1 hour away, easy to get to, very clean water, no waves &, thus, as relaxing as a beach can be.

Here in Brooklyn, I have been enjoying the long summer days with the kids.  We've been meeting Albert after work at the Redhook pool.  It is a great pool...the lap pool area is especially nice.  It is isolated from the crowds because there is a section between it and the open swim area that is empty because they never have enough lifeguards. Speaking of swimming....BC just completed another Triathalon last Saturday.  She swam a mile in the Hudson, biked 25 miles and ended with a 10K in Central Park. The stinging nettles were particularly bad because there hasn't been much rain lately and she got stung 3 times.

I haven't had a lot of work, so I have been enjoying hanging with the kids & working on the house a bit.   Until.....  Grace was sick for 3 days with a temperature of 102, we skipped one day , then Louis had it for 3 days.  The next day I passed on family bowling to go to Djonibas!  Whew, I sure needed it!

A week from Friday we leave for Va for the month of August to give the kids a good dose of nature & the my family a good dose of the kids.

I have finally finished my website check it out at katherinehammond.com.

Ok, enough "peeps" for one night .....this little chick needs to roost.

Still no internet

Still not wired up so back in internet cafe. Also a dear friend is gravely ill and I have been spending most of my time at the hospital with her. Will post later this week. What's news in Minneapolis and Brooklyn?

New House

Have moved into new house. Everything went well, kids love school, we have lease furniture for a month until our boat arrives, but no internet connection yet. I will try and post photos of house and of kids in school uniforms when internet is up - probably at the end of this week.

Office location

See the little red arrow on the right hand side of the picture...that is where my little office cubicle is.



Ok...pictures of the new house are an order!!

Not Running Yet

Of course any new running group will suffer in comparison to running with the Rooster and His Chicks. Still, it sounds promising, especially when someone gives you a life history on the first run! Is he good looking? Did he tell you what his income is? Bummer about Lime Disease, but hope you will be better soon. Can you add an arrow to the photo of the Guthrie to show exactly where your office is?

We move into our new house on Monday. Hooray! I have become a little tired of hotels and am looking forward to being surrounded by my own stuff and having access to a computer and the internet and not having to come down to this internet cafe any more. Also looking forward to the children starting school on Monday. When Sam goes to bed at night there is a strange echoing sound in my head which I now realize is the absence of him talking. Rachel spends half an hour with him in the evening and nearly goes out of her head - he just never shuts up! Maybe he will a racing commentator or an auctioneer or something when he grows up. Hannah very excited about school and about new school uniforms and meeting new friends.

More than a week since we heard from Half Pint. What is going on?

Meet Up...

So, I did it... I joined a running group. I have run with them twice...nice group...doesn't at all compare to ours in any way shape or form!!! BUT it is a start. I found them on Meet up which is an online thingy to meet people. They are a nice bunch, not a ton of interesting conversation, but all and all it has pushed my running up - which is good seeing the ING Marathon is coming up sooner then later. There is one guy who doesn't shut up -- in 3 miles I found out...he was divorced last year, lost his job, wife had cancer, he was going to be a teacher used to be something else, and on and on and on and on...but overall he is pretty nice and a good runner. So, hey, what do you do. I am going to have to spice up the conversation after running a bit more with them...I am trying to start with a good impression ;) - so I am easing them in.

On another note I just found out I have stage one lime disease. Yep, got it from a small crappy tick this last weekend -out of all the ticks in MN the shit had to land on me - or it might have been when I went to Northern Wisconsin a month ago - not sure. Needless to say I caught it early enough and just have to take medication for the next two weeks and all should be well...thank god...if you don't catch it it can lead to some pretty crappy things like major headaches, arthritis, joint ache and the strange list goes no and on and effects you all your life.

But besides that - things are going pretty well. My cuter then cute niece will be 1 year old on the 17th...


Work is ok...here is a picture of my work by the way...
There have been some highs and lows but overall the day goes by so quick and I am so busy I haven't been able to think. I am up to my ears with cute camp kids in lime green (there is that word again - lime) T-shirts doing acting, singing and dance. They have final presentations every Friday so that logistically keeps me on my toes.

No dates - but I am keeping myself busy. The Government Inspector opens on the thrust stage tomorrow night and opening nights have pretty awesome huge parties, a ton of food, drink, dancing and so on. The Life of Constance Wilde closes - another huge party. Little House on the Prairie the Musical is not even open yet and it is almost sold out (I really hope it doesn't suck). The big staff gala on August 17th should be pretty cool. Melissa Gilbert is even in the play (she is playing MA - little old to be Laura)...she is a bit of a Deva...her son will be in one of my camps next week...hopefully he will play nice.

Starting this Monday and then running every Monday until the end of August the park right by my house has music and movie nights - so at 7pm there is a band for two hours and then at 9 they play a classic movie - I guess the theme this summer is government and politics - so some oldie but goodies - I actually am looking forward to it. I could never get a spot in Bryant Park to watch their movies.

So that is a quick low down on my ho down...

How is the big baby belly?

the landlord?

and the newly relocated Aussie?

Miss you all a ton!!! and love our new found expression...we really are a cool group!

Baby is normal in size but big in weight? I'm having trouble picturing that. Can you post scan? It usually takes seven attempts to give up smoking -which one is this for Joao? I had to be hypnotized. Any word on Joao's new job?

All well here. We have a lovely big house to rent and I will send you address and phone number soon so that next time any of you are passing by you can just drop in. Kids start school on July 14th and will be wearing red and black uniforms. They will be learning Japanese. Sam going straight into kindergarten even though he will have missed the first six months. Rachel's New York office have given me work so I won't be short of beer money. All our stuff should arrive shortly including my running gear - then maybe I can start reducing this beer gut (no photo attached.)

Kathy can you post more photos of your feet? I've only just got in touch with my fetish side.

bababababababaaaaabbbbyyyyyy.......

isnt that what elvis sings???? I dont know, I'll have to ask the one who has the inside live scoop[, our own kathy!!!!! That is, if we get intouch! So it seems you have already found your watering holes, there, mr. rohan, and you need it, to keep you cool in that australian heat, although Im sure it is nothing compared to what you are missing here!!! 85-90 everyday.......and get this-you could see over jj byrne park on 5th, as we were running home from the sstorm that was approaching fast, the bottom of what appeared to be a tornado.....you couldnt mistake what that was, both Joao and I were transfixed. But I hear now from several people that this spring is bringing tornado warnings right into brooklyn!!!!!!

ok what else is new...hmmm......well the baby is normal in size, but overly big in estimated weight, and with th e3d images they give you it looks like she will have mateos mouth and big eyebrows, my nose, although a lot can change...kind of disappointing those 3d images; i dont really want to have a preview, i lik ethe surprise!!! but shes is a firecracker!!!! NEVER stops moving, even the doctor was predicting a professional soccer player.......he was the one who predicted it was a girl at only 13 weeks........hmmmmm.

Lorenzo is accepted into 321 full day...
Mateo will have Clay in his class......
everyone misses hannah like crazy from his class......
joao is quiting smoking.........
i'm in my 22 week......


post more soon! have to take these guys out before they burn down the house!!

big kisses!!

Elbow exercises

Half pint plays soccer. Lily runs 6 miles. I drink. In Melbourne, all business is transacted in cafes. Until dark. The action then moves, without pause, onto bars and pubs. Last night, after a day of drinking coffee in what retrospectively can only be described as a cafe-crawl, we went to a bar with friends, followed by dinner. This being Australia, one cannot leave a restaurant without consuming a bottle of port with the cheese. Today a hangover is the inevitable result. Who was that idiot who ordered the port?



Any sign of The Dreamer? She still hasn't replied to my invitation to write on this blog. Kathy, please give her a kick.

lame lil chick

One lil city chick by the name of Half-pint went to visit the country.  Excited about the fresh air & Spain vs Germany in the Euro Cup, Half-pint played a mean game of soccer with her mate & youngster barefooted.  Afterwards, the poor lil chick limped about with two busted toes.  Worry and fear took her to the Vet but she left very releaved, no broken wings or toes! She will soon be back on tho ole running trail!