She loves me ...

Continuing my recent trend of babies-as-accessories, I have decided my family is ready to add yet another international morsel to our plate. (Madonna and Angie always adopt two exotic kids at a time, so why not Andi too?)

Meet Hettie! She's my "Hungarian Jewish Mormon, Who's Father Went To Non-Denominational Private Schools" baby. What else could I ask for in a child? She loves me and I see a future in opera for her. If we play our cards right, I just might end up with another Fulbright in the family!! Why not?

Not only is this child BEAUTIFUL and well tempered, she even came with her own stroller. It's the stroller-carseat-combo invented by her brilliant grandfather. Why didn't get this stroller for my other adopted mega-babies?! (Maybe it's not too late, Marco. I bet Katie would still fit in one of these.)

But I digress ...

If you are interested in one of these Hungarian apples in time for New Years, you should know if you order today, she comes with a Dennis Kucinich action doll (Frisbee and trophy wife not included with purchase). I know I would be quiet during church if I had a Dennis Kucinich action doll.


True story: Last week we had a nice picnic with Hettie, the whole Tilleman-Dick clan, Dennis and his wife Elizabeth (a stunning 6 foot tall, pierced-tongued young Brit. Her mother is a healer, she frequents frequents thrift stores for her wardrobe needs, she worked with mother Theresa in India, and she's 31 years younger than Kucinich.) Marco just reminded me that I can't point any fingers in the bizarre marriages category.

Thanks, Kimber and Dave for a great time this weekend.

Oh, babies!

How much for your daughter?

I know many have wondered why the month long break from my regular blogging? The answer is simple ... I have a new child. Surprise!

Yes, at the urging of Zina, I decided to purchase a beautiful international accessory -- er, I mean eternal bundle of joy on my recent trip to DC. (Domestic arrangements like those found in DC mean none of those pesky international agents to deal with. I didn't even have to go through customs!) 

Meet MY baby, Zara Saffron. Her first words: "Teach me thy ways." -- only she babbles it in Farsi, of course.

This shot captured her expression during my negotiations with her biological parents. Just between you and me, I have had my eye on a Nadia original for quite a while. (You remember her older siblings that some how escaped my clutches -- I mean my collection -- from a previous Indi-Kids post.) 

Nadia and Isaac have been married for almost eight years and, finally, I found the model I wanted for my home. (Word to the wise: the production time for a signed original is quite extensive. Orders for the 2016 model need to be placed immediately.) 

Here we are enjoying a pleasant afternoon in the garden -- just my little Persian Plum and Mummie! 

We're very very happy together. 

(Ah, I could dare to dream!!!!) 

Yea!

Meet Lindsay and Mike. My head is swimming with all the colors and details from their wedding this weekend. Not the least of these unique items is her new last name -- Yea. It's kind of wonderful, I think.
It was one of those weddings ...










I'm so excited about the new Mr. & Mrs. Yea that I am posting half-baked pictures before popping them into 1,000 layers of photoshop. Listen, when you plan a wedding with this much detail and marry Superman, who need photoshop? It was BEAUTIFUL! Later I will explain the costume change and the great families I got to be a part of for a couple of days, but for now ... just pictures.

Lindsay and Mike!

Here's a quick unedited preview of Michael and Lindsay! More soon.

Zendina told me ...

I should write a book. If I did, I would call it: Dust on the Bible and Flies in my Starter.

Wadduyatink?

"Aren't You the Woman Who Was Recently Awarded a Fulbright?"

Congratulations, Liz!

It was Paul Simon, in "I Know What I Know" from the Graceland Album, who mentioned meeting up with Liz at a party. And he was right: She really was recently awarded the Fulbright Scholarship -- today in fact. She'll be jetting off to Limerick, Ireland to continue her work revolutionizing the cello in performance. (And just like the song says, she really did meet Paul Simon at a party -- actually a Berklee board of directors meeting or something where she provided the musical entertainment.)



She just finished her Senior Project at Berklee in Boston, which is a CD of her playing her own compositions for the cello (or "Big Fiddle"). Cindy-Mindy-Pindy did the excellent cover artwork. The album is amazing.


You can see a cool animated version of the artwork at her website: www.lizdavismaxfield.com
You can even buy a copy!

This was how Liz announced the happy event today (we have a thing about poetry for major life events in our family... and of course it had to be in the form of a Limerick!)

Today was quite rainy, you see
A little like Limerick must be?
. By August I'll know--
. I just heard that I'll go
As a bona-fide Fulbright-grantee!

To see actual stop-action photography of her opening the Official Fulbright Award Letter, have a look at her blog.


Marco played in her band at the CD release concert in Boston. He wore a shockingly mafioso black shirt and tasteless tie.

Liz showed Zina around the Berklee campus, including the sidewalk where all the up and coming musicians practice looking hip and groovy by smoking.


Liz started a group called FAQ that plays what she calls "Backwoods Chambergrass" string quartet music. They played at her concert, too -- and she just finished an album with them that you can listen to at the Folk Arts Quartet website.


Andrew is the proud, supportive husband (and played at her concert, and on the album).


Yeah, Liz! You rock!

The Boston Pee Party!

Cold and muddy but more fun than playing air guitar with a bunch of six year olds. A weird way to sum up our trip to Boston, there is it is.  We spent a week with Andrew and Liz to be there for Liz's senior recital/CD release party. But first ...

 ... here are a few shots of Boston Cream, I mean -  Mud 3.14 Party at the home of our super DC friends, Miles and Joe (You can shoot me later, Ginger!) The food was SPECTACULAR, the children mostly self sufficient* and the adult conversation enlightening as always. What more can we ask for in life.

*It could be said that these three boys were a little too self-sufficient. Apparently we ignored them to the point where the neighbor had to inform us that our boys were filling a bucket with mud and leaves for mixing, then adding body fluids to make it more viscus. It started with spit and went "boyscout" from there. (But, how could that be? They are all such ANGELS!)

I don't think this nice little girl saw the incident, but she thought it was really funny when she heard why the boys were in trouble. (I'll just call her Dougletta because she looks exactly like her father ... and her parents don't seem like the type that want their kid's picture -- much less her real name -- posted on the world wide web.)

The hansom revolutionaries of the "Boston Pee Party"

A muddy group of scally-wags! The girls marched the boys around in straight lines all afternoon. Don't mess with these misses, despite the fact they are significantly younger than their minute-men charges.

Below Joe is reclaiming his independence from imperial parental tyranny. I can hear him now. In 30 years, he will still be telling the story of the great Boston Pee Party. "It was in the frozen spring of '09 when we acted like real men. Our message was clear ... THIS IS OUR BACK YARD, AND WE ARE FREE TO PEE WHERE WE WANT!" 

Thanks, guys! Next time we get together I hope it is War Games in the West. Bring your own bow and arrow.