Erin Shaw Street

First slide

It's Sunday night and we're watching the Oscars. Eighteen minutes into it I am supremely underwhelmed. Of course I only saw one film this year, which was "Little Miss Sunshine," and was brilliant. So for everything else I'm just watching for the dresses.

This morning was brilliant. Shane, Nate and I went to my work to break down decorations for a big work fundraiser held last night. Nate loved seeing the eight-foot tall paper lanterns hung in the otherwise sterile clinic where we hold the party. Then we went for a walk around Rushton Park, where Shane and I used to walk with F. Scott, read the New York Times and drink coffee. Don't think we ever imagined pushing a Macleran stroler around the park, navigating it into its scooped bowl shape and pushing our little boy on a swing for the first time. But this is what we did on this nearly spring day, with the pink blossomed trees opening. I also took Nate for his first trip down a slide, which was thrilling for both of us.

Life is so good when Nate, with his baby teeth and infectious laugh, discovers a new joy.

"I was born before my father, and my children before me/ And we are born, and born again/ Like the waves of the sea." -- Paul Simon

Alisa needs sun, Nate blows kisses, Birmingham gets wine bar!

I haven't been very prolific lately. Something about work being crazy, Nate figuring out how to walk (not quite there but close) and planning a few events that has kept me off-blog.

So here's the round up. First of all, help a sister out -- please click here to watch a very clever short movie by my friend Alisa. She and her fiance Jeff made it in freezing St. Paul, Minnesota (oh yah), and have submitted it to a contest for the Scottsdale Chamber's "Take Pity on Me Contest." The person with the most votes (you can vote online) wins a trip to AZ. I think hers is the best and that's not just because I'm biased!

When you click here, click on the first photo in the collage -- that one is hers.

Vote For Alisa By March 1!

March 2 update: Alisa and Jeff WON! Click here for a link to a story about their victory:
Alisa and Jeff: Victorious!

In Nate news, I've created a Nate February 07 album -- check out his Valentine Day shots. In the past few days he's added new sounds to his Nate-guagem including those that sound close to "mama" and "dada." And "bad pug!" Just kidding on the last part. Plus he's starting to learn sign language, though most of the learning involves looking at us like we're crazy. Which of course we are.

And I am most pleased to announce that Birmingham has a great new wine bar, The Wine Loft, which has it's grand opening March 1. I've been twice, and loved it each time. They have a great list of wines, yummy appetizers (try baked brie with lavender infused honey) and a perfect space -- exposed brick walls, low couches, general great loft style. I'm planning Megan's girl's night out there.

Click here to check it out. You might recognize someone who appears on the main page. (That someone did not get royalties for her modeling BTW.)

Link to Birmingham's Wine Loft

Gwin Elementary Unicycle Club

We always thought it was rather quirky but endearing that a kid in our neighborhood practices his unicycle all the time. You just don't see someone doing the perpetual balancing act of back and forth on the one-wheeled contraption all the time, but this kid practices with the intensity of a young ninja, albeit a ninja with a helmet anbd elbow pads.

So you can imagine my surprise when I opened the local section of The Birmingham News today to read the following caption underneath a photo of a bunch of boys on unicycles: "Members of the Gwin Elementary Unicycle Club perform Saturday during halftime of the men's basketball game between Samford University and Austin Peay at Seibert Hall. The club has 36 members and promotes teamwork while teaching balance and coordination.

What? A unicycle club? I don't even know what to say, torn between giddiness and then the sudden realization ... Gwin Elementary, kid in our neighborhood, Gwin is where we are zoned, balance and coordination ... Stay tuned. In the meantime, here's an in-depth feature about the Gwin Elementary School Unicycle Club from the hard hitting Hoover Gazette: Hoover Gazette Unicycle Story

Hot, cold and moments in between

I've finally posted (most of) the photos from Nate's first trip to Fla -- check out the album "Megan's FL hower/Nate's First Trip to FL."

Speaking of Florida, click below to watch a funny video by Alisa. She's entering it into a Scottsdale (AZ) competition in which competitors vy for a free trip to Arizona by pleading their case of just how freezing they are.  Her short film is funny!

Alisa's plea for sunshine