what a difference a year makes ...

we tend to measure time by marking dates, and their recurrence - 'measuring' past points against where we are today. we actually find ourselves in the same locale today that we enjoyed last year on the first of july (canada day) - appropriately, in canada. at the home of gilda and morris. bike riding and having dinner with cheryl and andré (superb!).

last year at this time, our lives are very different however. i am preparing to leave for africa, jane is readying herself to meet me in paris, and we are basking in the afterglow of marlee's bat mitzvah. the kids have just left for summer camp (as they have this year) and we have seven weeks of action packed days at that time, to be capped with a family trip to israel.

this year, we are staying put. we are regrouping, thankfully feeling as if jane has fully recovered and is back on track - exercise, diet, hair growth, good post-cancer regime. now it's time for us to each focus on what we would like to accomplish with our work - our career goals and aspirations. so instead of looking towards a summer of levity, we are thinking about a summer of accomplishments. and it's exciting and energizing for both of us.

but first, there is ice cream in them-there hills! so we will sadly kiss our hosts goodbye, and begin the long, leisurely drive home ... stopping for a cold treat half-way at our new favorite ice cream spot north of albany. oh, the joy of chocolate peanut butter! they claim it's ninety calories per serving - we do not believe this nor do we care!

summer now begins in earnest ...

karma chameleon

whenever a day goes this lousy, i always tend to extrapolate ... what ELSE will happen? what else can go wrong? do the days somehow know to bunch up all these little things, grouping them together to impose a greater sense of chaos and disarray on the unwitting victims, or is it just a spot of bad luck?

or will there be an earthquake tomorrow, or worse?

well, it's all 'small stuff', so no matter - printers exploding, internet disappearing, phones not working, washing machine threatening to self-combust, toilets leaking, water filters spontaneously becoming full-fledged fountains ... hmmm, on second thought, where is that hard hat of mine?

and, it is monday. start to the week, which will end with the kids being off for a seven days. no vacation ratified, we'll cruise through (with trepidation!). jane will just be getting over chemo, everyone scattering for the break ... we need to make some plans so we can structure the days a bit ... get out, see new york (or at least, the new york that WE never see). rangers games. broadway shows. observation decks. botanical gardens. uptown. a real culture club! i'm certain i can't bear to watch everyone shuffling around in their pj's for a week - been there, done that.

we'd love to take off for a few days at the end of next week - a mini-break in prague? frida kahlo's house in mexico city? riding bikes in santa monica? strolling the streets of charleston? a last-minute club med no-brainer? skiing in vermont? driving to montreal to see friends?

we'll play it by ear, gauge jane's health and energy, and make a decision. there's always the lure of the big apple!