Erin Shaw Street

New York City, Toddler Style: Thanksgiving 2009

Well it's official. You can do New York City with a toddler. But it's good to have a lot of hands to help out!

We got back yesterday from four days in the Big Apple -- one of the most memorable Thanksgivings ever. When we got the invitation to watch the Macy's Day Parade from our friend Nick's office it seemed like the perfect time to introduce Nate to the motherland. Although I have never lived in the city, it feels like a second home because of all the time that we've spent there (but that's another post).

Traveling with a three and a half year old is a different experience for sure, and a great one ...

Planes, Trains, And Strollers

We flew directly from Birmingham to NYC -- a non-stop is something I'd highly recommend for toddler flight. He was great on the plane, with props to Grandpa for burning DVDs of "Clifford" and "Dora" to play on a new portable DVD player (turns out my friends with kids are right -- the DVD player makes travel so much easier).

It was our first stay at the Hampton Inn in Chelsea. Just a few blocks away from the subway, it was easy to get anywhere we wanted (we did a combo of the taxi/subway thing). 

But the best transportation tool was by far the $14.99 umbrella stroller purchased a few days before the trip (it replaced our Maclaren, which has been in the press for safety issues). Although we rarely use a stroller anymore at home, it was indispensable for moving Nate quickly and easily around city streets.

Snacks, Naps, and Diners

OK, that subhead might be a bit deceiving because Nate never did take a bona fide nap during the trip. Like many toddlers, he fights naps on the road, but we made it a point to go back to the hotel room and at least have some quiet time in the afternoon. I stocked the room (and my purse) with healthy snacks from Costco so there was always something to nibble on. And we found a 24-hour diner just blocks away (The Malibu Diner). Easy to get to when one person was watching Sir Toddler.

Again, this is where the extra hands are especially helpful. Mom, Dad, and Shane traded off in watching Nate several afternoons and evenings (thank you!) This allowed us to switch off and do the things that we love to do in the city -- like seeing "Hair" and "Billy Elliot" on Broadway (both incredible), and squeezing in some shopping (obligatory trips made to Century 21 and H&M).

Things Go Wrong: Ah, The Lessons of Travel

It doesn't matter how much you plan or how seasoned a traveler you are: wrong turns happen. For us this occurred Thanksgiving morning when our cab driver didn't listen to our directions and dropped us off on the wrong side of parade. As in the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade. Our family was on the other side, high above 7th Avenue drinking champagne and having a big old time watching the balloons go by, and we were stuck in a crowd of a few hundred thousand people.

It was clear we couldn't cross the parade route, so we tried everything. The subway was closed. We asked a NYC police officer how to do  it and he laughed (nicely, but it was a distinct laugh). It was upsetting: We'd come all this way, and now would miss a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. As a last-ditch effort, we got in a cab and suggested he go through Central Park, a long route but maybe it would work. 

Instead, he made a quick U-turn and quickly located the road the police were using as a cut through. Within minutes we were zooming across the parade route, then up in Nick's office with a spectacular view of Kermit and Santa and high school bands. Detours happen.

Only In NYC: Must Sees With A Toddler

Four days was the perfect duration for Manhattan with a 3.5 year old. Some of the other highlights:

FAO Schwartz -- Yes it was crowded, but it was a delight to watch Nate's eyes light up in the world's biggest toy store. When I asked him later his favorite part he said "the soldier," the super sweet "toy soldier" who took plenty of time to greet us and chat with Nate at the entrance.

The American Museum of Natural History -- Again, ditto on the crowded (it was Thanksgiving week after all). But it was worth it to check out the dinos and ocean life exhibits. Then we walked through

Central Park -- Just a few steps in and it's easy to forget you're in the city. We spent some quiet time at the Turtle Pond.

Of course there are a million possibilities, and we're already looking forward to checking them out on our next trip back.

For more photos, check out "NYC Thanksgiving" album to the right.

What I'm Thankful For (Thanksgiving 2009)

It's Thanksgiving morning. Actually as I write this it's Monday afternoon, but I wanted to put my thoughts down about this Thanksgiving now because I won't do it Thanksgiving morning, while I'm watching the Macy's Parade, hopefully warm above the action in one of Ryan's friend's offices.

I picked Nate up this afternoon. There wasn't a Thanksgiving program, which I wonder about. There was a huge Halloween presentation for the parents. Isn't Thanksgiving more important? (And it has the opportunity for cute pilgrim costumes.) But I digress.

The teacher did ask the kids what they are thankful for this year, and the answers were written on a dry erase board. "Mom and Dad," "my family," "my dog," were the standard answers. Then there was Nate's: "my clothes." I laughed. He is my son indeed.

This has been an extraordinarily challenging year for almost everyone I know, myself included. But I am still extraordinarily lucky, or blessed. Take your pick. I'm writing this list today to remind me of what I'm thankful for, which I may pull up if I'm frazzled in the crowds during this trip, or when I'm back at work under a deadline next week.

This year, I am thankful for:

Planes, trains, and automobiles -- Touring the Vegas Neon Sign Museum with Stephanie, led by a former showgirl turned volunteer; Confronting my unease with horses in the Texas desert; And certainly this trip with the whole Shaw-Street-James clan. Thankful for getting turned around in many a rental cars and even for missing a flight because a TSA agent didn't know what an iPhone was. (Yeah, annoying at the time but I still learned something. Namely: get to the Lubbock Airport super early.)

People who go with me there -- Closely connected with the above. So many new friends this year, met on assignment, or over margaritas (including my new pals in the "Mandatory Margarita Club"), or online. Yes, these are real friendship that we form through our Tweets and Status updates. (If you doubt it, check out this post I did last week at SL Live Healthy about the power of the Internet in supporting one mom who is going through a crisis).

Thankful for my old friends staying my friends despite me being a pain at times. Each year I'm more thankful for these people who remember all sorts of embarrassing episodes and won't ever let me live them down. I appreciate being put in my place!

The opportunity to write for a living -- Last week I was interviewed by a college student for a paper she was writing on journalism. I was honest about the state of the industry, but found myself breaking into unguarded optimism. If there's one thing that I know for sure (thanks Oprah) it's that I will never get over the honor that people give when they invite me into their lives and share their stories so I can share them with the rest of the world. Or a piece of it.

I am thankful for having work that is engaging, challenging, and fulfilling, that helps me connect with creative people. I truly love what I do, and could go on for hours about it. But that's another post.

Most Importantly ... My Family -- Watching Nate grow into a funny, smart, caring, stubborn at times (hmmm), inquisitive person is beyond description. I want to press "pause" on where he is now just to take it all in.  I am extremely thankful that he is able to spend so much time with all of our family, especially mom and dad. And I can only imagine the hi-jinx that we're all getting into in Manhattan right about now. Yes, my family really is that cool and crazy.

There are lots of other things too, some big (getting over these darn shingles!), some small (Alabama's Super Target opening a mile away from the house ... OK not that small). But these are the biggies.

Paint Changes Everything (And Is A Pain)

I am putting down the paintbrush. Combing out the globs of Benjamin Moore stuck in my hair. Hanging up my painter's cap. 

Painting is hard!

OK not that hard, but time consuming. I recall this every time I get a whim to paint (which is quite often), usually around the time that I make my first mistake, getting paint on the ceiling, or baseboards, or floor. Yes, I've taped it. Yes, I'm being careful.

But when it comes to painting I'm a mess. Knowing when to say when (sometimes) I finally waved the white flag over the weekend, calling our trusted professional painter Brooks to finish the gold dining room that I started and was sure I could finish before we take off for New York. Right, in between packing and getting the house in shape.

The work that you see above is all Shane's, and it has made the family room look entirely different. I take credit for the Don Draper-approved mirror over the fireplace.

And for this black dresser in the dining room (imagine the walls being gold, which they will be in a few weeks). I found the dresser at a church garage sale several years ago.

It's actually a baby's dresser (from a sticker inside I think it's from the mid-60s.) I bought it having no diea what I would do with it. Then after I got the Asian inspired dining room set I decided to do it in a black lacquer. Following these instructions from YoungHouseLove I sanded, re-sanded, primed, painted and re-sanded.

The moral of this story: paint is much more tiring than they make it look on home improvement shows.

I also put up a coat of paint in my Namaste Nook, the area in the master bedroom I'm turning into my yoga space. There aren't photos of that yet because it needs to be seriously retouched.

Again, not painting any more any time soon.

Though I did find these chairs at a garage sale last week and am dreaming of how to re-cover them ...

Wishing Mom and Dad a very happy 38th anniversary!
Here's to 38 more ...

Doing Yoga Without Moving A Muscle

I've written about recovering from shingles a good bit. It's been a process that has been slower than I would like.

But just when I think I'm better, I'll get a shooting pain down my arm, reminding me that I'm not back to 100%. Ah the gift of illness.

My yoga practice has been off and on (yeah, I still haven't created my personal yoga studio at home that I wrote about when I was really sick).

But the quiet of the past few weeks has given me the opportunity to get into a community studio that I've really enjoyed -- Soho PiYo in Homewood.

I've been working with a wonderful instructor named Suzanne Graham, who has met my Type-A, perfectionist self with compassion. On a practical level, Suzanne has helped me modify my practice to accommodate my bum arm and other challenges.

When I push myself too much (which I know I'm doing because my arms shake and I hold my breath, among other signs), Suzanne looks over and gives me a sign that I need to ease up. Then I fold myself into child's pose or another restful position, and try to suspend judgment of myself. This is one of the things I'm working on.

Anyhow, in addition to teaching regular classes, Suzanne does something called "Yoga Nidra" several times a month. The class is held on Friday nights from 6 to 7:30 p.m. From her description:

"Yoga Nidra or 'Yogic Sleep' is a combination of relaxation, affirmation, respiration and visualization techniques that are used together to create deep relaxation in the physical body. This multidimensional approach to relaxation facilitates deep integration of mind, body, and spirit."

    I was running late to Yoga Nidra Friday night, having gotten caught up in traffic and a million other things that day. Convinced I would disrupt the class that had already started, I wondered if it was even worth it to duck in with my mat under my arm.

     It was. The first 20 or 30 minutes we practiced some gentle yoga. Then began the Yoga Nidra. Suzanne advised us to get comfortable on our mats. We lay down, covered up with thick blankets and listened to her instruction, eyes closed.

    Then the most amazing thing happened: we did yoga without moving an inch off our mats. In the quiet studio, with only the whirring of a fan, Suzanne walked us through steps to help us unwind from whatever busied us that week. She encouraged us to concentrate on our breath, and the sensations in our bodies, from our little toes on up.  

    In this 45 minutes, I was able to rest more than I usually do in eight hours of sleep. I felt the tension in my spine and hips and let some of it go. I cleared my head of self-defeating thoughts. The things that Suzanne called are things "that no longer serve  you."

    Yoga nidra isn't about abandoning what's happening in your mind, but quieting these scripts long enough to breathe, to feel what's happening throughout your body. There's always time to think and over think. That started as soon as the lights came back on. But for 45 minutes I was OK with just existing, just observing. Small steps.

    I'll be going back to yoga nidra for sure. But first I'm breathing, which is yoga in itself.

Links:

YogaDork.com

Yoga Nidra Description From Revolution Health

To My Uncle Jack on Veterans Day

Today marks Veterans Day. I'm celebrating the man second from the left in the photo. His name is John Day ("Jack"), and he's my uncle, my mom's brother.

I got to know Uncle Jack as a child -- he gave me my first record album and first teddy bear, whom I promptly named Edward, after Edward Kennedy. (What can I say, I was a weird and political kid.)

A few weeks ago my Uncle Jack was recognized by the President for his heroic service to our country as a recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation along with Alpha Troop, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. This is the highest honor that can be awarded to a military unit (here's an Associated Press story about the honor they received). 

From  the story:

"On March 26, 1970, Alpha Troop heard that another unit of about 100 men had stumbled onto a massive underground enemy bunker of North Vietnamese forces. They were "outnumbered and out gunned" by about 400 enemy fighters, so the nearly 200 men of Alpha Troop set out to smash a path through the jungle, risking ambush and land mines, to rescue their colleagues, Obama said.

Though "the fog of war makes a full accounting impossible," Obama said about 20 Alpha Troop members were wounded in the rescue and at least two died.

"These soldiers define the meaning of bravery and heroism," the president said.

But their bravery in what came to be known as "The Anonymous Battle" went largely unnoticed — until now. He credited the unit's leader, ex-Army Capt. John Poindexter of Houston, for his years of efforts to ensure that his soldiers' service was ultimately rewarded.

"This isn't the story of a battle that changed the course of a war," Obama said. "It never had a name, like Tet or Hue or Khe Sanh. It never made the papers back home. But like countless battles, known and unknown, it is a proud chapter in the story of the American soldier."

    Today I think of Uncle Jack, who has finally been recognized for his service, and for those who haven't been recognized. I think about these words:

"Thank you for being a true servant of the people," wrote the late Senator Edward Kennedy to my uncle in a letter dated March 23 of this year.

    I keep the letter in my bag. I show my colleagues and friends.

    I can't imagine the losses that my uncle suffered during the war. I grew up privileged, a charmed existence some might say.

    How? Because of the unselfish sacrifice of people before me.

    Like Uncle Jack. Today I admire this dedication, and his unwavering and bright spirit that remains intact today. To me, he and his brothers (those who came home and didn't) are true heroes who faced challenges that many of us will never remotely know.

    How many stories remain untold, but for the memories of the brave men and women who were there?

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Today and every day I say thanks to Uncle Jack, and all of our veterans. Words can never express our appreciation for what you and your brothers and sisters sacrificed. Know that we are thinking of you, and honor stories told and untold.

With Love, Erin

(Here's my Uncle Jack now, in Birmingham for my sister's wedding two years ago.)

Related Links:

CNN: Vietnam Vets Receive Presidential Citation For Heroism

New York Times: President Recognizes Vietnam Vets As Heroes

Blogging from the Genius Bar (by a Non-Genius)

I'm sitting in the Apple Store as my new Iphone syncs with my PC. Why do I feel like such a dork bringing in a PC to an Apple Store? I feel like wearing a sign that says, "seriously, I am a Mac girl, and if y'all would just lower your prices I'd be there." So the Geniuses are looking at me suspiciously as I sit at the Genius Bar syncing. I think I like real bars better.

I've been dodging bullets lately, but friendly iPhone has not.  After all the places I've been with it in the past year it was the kitchen floor that delivered the final, shattering blow. But there are far worse things, which is what I keep repeating about a lot right now.

And many good things. I'm counting down the days to Thanksgiving in New York -- the first time I've celebrated the holiday there. Can't wait to watch Nate experience the city for the first time. It's a much needed trip.

Last weekend we had fun at Hoover's Moss Rock Festival, where I bought a new Paul Cordes Wilm painting (one that is further transforming the house into the mid-century modern salute to Pop Art). Photos to come at some point.

This one has a distinctively Southern twist -- it's an image of the famous Piggly Wiggly Pig. Not sure where it will be hung, but a place of prominence for sure.

(Also finally got the paint to start painting the dining room gold, which I'm hoping to do before Christmas as to best showcase the Elvis tree.)

Getting to know Alisa's baby Graham during their visit the past few days. Watching our kids play together has been fantastic, if a little surreal, since it feels like she and I were just being goofy kids ourselves a few years ago. Um, try 15 plus. Graham is absolutely adorable and I've loved getting to hug on his cute self, and watch him and Nate interact.

I particularly enjoyed my little rocker educating Graham in the finer points of guitar playing. Alisa and Jeff may never trust us to watch their baby again!

Their visit has been a blessing in the middle of the storms that have been brewing around me. As the leaves turn and we brace for winter, it's friends, family, travel and art that keep me warm.

All Saints Day

All Saints Day

The bottled orange sodas were still cool, long after the ice melted around them

In the silver tub on the porch. So I took one, squinting in the sunlight, legs achy from running.

And dumped the laundry into the washer, jeans and mismatched socks and towels that had grown into

mountains over that week.

The children were beaming, holding their plastic pumpkins, grabbing fistfuls of Tootsie Rolls, and

running away.

 

Nicholas of Myra, Anthony of Padua, Raphael the archangel, all of them patrons

Saints to protect travelers, and this is their day.

It is a holy day of obligation.

I decided not to read the news reports,

the speculation and  updates.

Candy corn,  cooling nights and

sticky fingers were more important.

If I can smile through this

I can move through anything.

By planning parties, making mixes,

carving pumpkins, removing their seeds one

by one.

Watching the leaves that line the

parkway.

Change.