for the birds

For the Birds Has Flown the Coop.

But you can find us here: http://forthebirdsblog.com

Cheers!

Did Somebody Turn out the LIGHTS?

A few weeks ago For the Birds celebrated it's one year mark -- picture me sitting at the keyboard with a party hat on....vodka bottle rolling on the floor...  silly string still stuck to the monitor.. I mentioned in my post that FTB has built a following with over 20,000 site visitors. This is a rough estimate, because  -- come on, really. You don't think that I actually believe that 20,000+ of you are out there reading these almost daily observations... And thanks to all of the lovely comments that I received pointing this out. Side note, I am not that BOARING Ms. Kelly from Kentucky -- and although you don't know how to spell, I might have better things to do with my time but I choose to do this -- and if it's just not that interesting to you -- then STOP visiting. But, keep checking in if you must, I am into all things that depreciate. 

So, getting to the point, I do know -- thanks to those smart heads over at Feed Burner, that we do have a factual regular readership of 25 concrete, real-live people. That's right - a lovely and lucky 25. And to you I am calling out. In the next few days the following will be happening:

1. For the Birds will turn out the lights for a much needed beauty rest.
2. For the Birds will return, refreshed and better than ever—but only viewable at the new (still shiny) URL - http://forthebirdsblog.com
3. The old ugly domain http://designsigh.typepad.com/forthebirds will GO AWAY, so DON'T GO THERE
4. Those of you that have the old domain/URL in your readers, you will need to change to the new domain.
5. For the Birds will only be accessible from http://forthebirdsblog.com
6. This has very little to do with the evil birders over at forthebirds.com 

Unfortunately, I don't have specific timing on this event—otherwise I would fill you in. But the wheels are in motion. We've checked the logs, Batman, and will make a swift return... So, if you happen to be settling in for the evening, and pull up to FTB for some mild entertainment, please don't be alarmed if you receive some sort of error message or blank screen—We are still here... we are coming back—this has very little to do with the evil birders at forthebirds.com AND, the best is yet to come... More shameless self-promotion of multiple personality abundance -  I want you to know but I don't anxiety disorder...  have I mentioned most of us here are geminis? Any questions? Email me - rmsatbwdstudiodotcom.

Somewhere between Pollock & Kandinsky

It's all changing way too fast around here.

Last week I took a look at Will and thought MY GOD, he's huge! I swear that during the night he grew about 2 inches. Suddenly he was reaching up to turn the faucet on... Suddenly he is making up his own mind—From out of nowhere deciding that nap time—The regular every day 3 hour-plus nap was not for him anymore.. He's sleeping now (10:41am) so his body and mind are at odds...Yes, definitely my son.  

He's talking now, or should I say YELLING. Says Hi-BLUUUUUUE when the Bluedog saunters into the room... Dad. Mom. MOOOOM.. BYEEEEE-eeeeee... And everything is hot - he hovers his hand over objects before touching, looks at me and questions... Haute? Guests that have been around -- he calls out to them... KAAAAAATTTEEEE KAAAATTTEEE -- Anneeeeee—and the infamous, My & G. He couldn't care less if I use the hair-dryer—an act that used to cause devastating results, what was I thinking.

He's beginning to get it. Yesterday I suddenly had the opportunity to design a logo. I looked at Will, who was starting to vibrate due to being in-doors via inclement weather. I said, under my breathe—mostly speaking to myself, "Will I just need to sit at the table to get this done, are you going to let me?".. Glancing in my direction, I sensed that he was annoyed by my suggesting that he would object. He pulled himself from the pile of toys he had been mildly entertained with, picked up his pad of paper, walked to the table and put his hands  in the air for me to lift him into his seat. Once I had peeled myself from the floor I decided to let him try out some watercolors. I sat next to him and the work began.

 

Is it too soon to talk to him about controlling the internal artistic angst that comes with being creative, or do you think he knows already?

365 days later...

Year one has passed!

I began publishing For the Birds on this date circa 2008—wow oh wow have things changed since. Initially, For the Birds was to be a marketing tool for Breakwater Design Studio, and although it does serve that purpose, FTB has also opened up whole new worlds for me... Writing and Internet Social Media. Once shunned—Facebook and Twitter are now common tools that promote, engage... Once feared, writing a very public diary of almost daily observations has given me a personal boost that I never could have imagined... Sharing accounts with readers who then become friends with common interests and concerns... And then my favorite -- sharing our lives with existing friends and family scattered all over the world. In short, connections have become a way of life and For the Birds has allowed my family and I to have a mini piece of the pie—actively participating on an almost daily basis.

So, I guess that I need to thank me for jumping into a way of life that I never knew possible... but -- as I take my place at the podium to accept the award for 2009 Ego of the Year—I really thank all the readers... to date a shocking 23,247—even those that hit the website and went "what the f is this" and x'd the browser out... I have kept my word and emailed everyone back that has commented—and I have kept most comments private... knowing that privacy is still a major player in the evolution of For the Birds.

On another note, I really want to acknowledge a few other blogs out there that have given me the courage to share in this open forum... In no particular order:

Dooce
Mighty Girl
Suburban Bliss
Gotham Gal
Designing Moms

I don't think that any of these authors are aware of me or how much they have influenced... If they were aware—I'm sure that restraining orders would be issued. At any rate, I read their posts with the hope that someday FTB will boast it's own URL (damn you—you evil birders at forthebirds.com) and claim a regular readership. Until that day—keep stopping by—I promise generous helpings of almost daily observations... blood, sweat, tears all mixed with a fine selection of mundane tribulations.

PS. If you want to hear me talk more (The floodgates! Typepad you're killing me!)—visit me at Twitter.

Stay Visible.

Towards the end of April, there was a  segment was on the news about Slow Down London. A group of people... with time on their hands, decided to walk as slow as possible across Waterloo. This "Big Slow Walk" was in an effort to get people to slow down—take a while to circumvent and relish. It was hilarious. Not only did the crazy Londoners look like a bunch of you-know-whats... walking heel to toe as slow as possible—like zombies.. But they were really ticking off everyone else... you know, the normal people that were trying to busily cross the bridge. People were speeding by in cars shouting to speed up—throwing things at the zombies.. Craziness. I laughed and laughed... shook my head—but I didn't miss the point (as I ran off to do 12 things at once). You can see for yourself, here.

Now, a few months later... as people seem to be very busy doing ... well, very little, I found myself infuriated by just that... Busy accomplishing nothing. Twittering about. The thing is that if we all stay slowed down, nothing much is going to be accomplished... and although it is nice to stop and smell the roses—breathe in the salt encrusted air... don't we all have to lift ourselves out of the monotony and move on?

And now a word from our sponsor... (please click to enlarge)

 

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Triumph de Royale

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I am not one to write television reviews... but for those of you that were looking for a follow-up to the must see, anticipated premiere of Royal Pains... here 'tis...

not so bad.
funny.
completely unrealistic.
groundless.
why do I watch this junk.
could be much worse.
waste of time.
southampton hospital is not that scary.
get a life.
did not watch the extra 17 minutes.
might tune in again.

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you know it.

The Meat Eating Vegan

Will was only a few weeks old when we discovered that the rashes that seemed to come and go all over his body were being caused by allergic reactions to eggs, cow's milk, peanut products and dog saliva. Interesting combo, but impossible, right? I mean he was only a few weeks old... it's not like he was eating any of these things... However, his Allergist was quick to point out that he in fact was ingesting all—through my nursing... which then came to a screeching halt. The dog saliva—that was just welcome-to-the-world-love from the Bluedog.

We left the Allergist that day—Epi-pen in hand...just in case the test results were off the mark... and ears full of instruction... Speechless. Not only could Will not have eggs, milk or peanuts in their singular form—but he also had to avoid foods/drinks that contain them as ingredients. Do you know how many products this cuts from daily living? Aside from having to read every label on every item that ever comes in contact with Will... there was the guilt... MY GOD THE GUILT. How did I let this happen, it must have been something that I did or didn't do.. Dammit, why did I smoke in the nineties? I thought wine and coffee were supposed to be good for you.. Maybe I didn't eat enough apples... And as for the dog saliva, we'll just have to tie Blue's tongue up in his ears somehow... A bubble.. I need a bubble to put my boy in... Maybe there was too much Mercury in all the fish I've ingested these 33 years.. I'm a minefield..  Maybe I... But wait. There is a chance that he'll grow out of it. All of it. A very good chance.

Now, let it come to pass that I have researched food allergies inside out, up down, backwards, under-over and in my sleep. There really aren't any answers to be had... despite the seriously condemning nature of the topic... Most kids born today—in America— are allergic to something... And, most parents are not as insanely bothered by a rash as we were... but everyone is looking for an answer. And thank God—for Will, his reactions are just a rash—some kids go into shock and the unspeakable happens. After major investigations... it's the same as everything else that seems loopy in modern day life... We can blame the world around us, the things that we have done—most unknowingly, to our bodies and well—life as we know it. The rash, by the way, never seemed to bother him.

So, we are in it... and honestly, it really isn't that bad. Will is incredibly healthy—turned 18 months this past Friday. There are tons of "alternate" food choices out there... Alternates to things that, as it turns out, are really not very good for him anyway. And, thanks to the vegetarians and vegans of the world, these things are not hard to come by. Soy is a blessing in disguise... and cow's milk—not so great for the bod anyway... who knew? Most things, in fact, that contain milk and eggs, even on their own, are not so hot health-wise (as heart disease sweeps the nation). And, on a more "all about me" note... We as parents are in massive growing company of others that are scouring over books, websites, blogs— frustrations equaling fear demanding answers looking for solutions..... something has to give.

Eventually—sooner than later...  there will come a day when he'll want the ice-cream... someone will give him a piece of cheese... I guess we'll deal with that day when it arrives.. Peanuts -- we have high hopes that they will be banned from existence entirely.  For now we're doing great, and as for Blue... we untied his tongue and are just mindful about the number of licks that actually land on Will.... as that friendship grows, however, it has become the hardest part. 

(March 2009)

3OnTheSides

1. This book is amazing: Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living by Alisa Marie Fleming
2. This book is awesome too, although it has given me a huge bought of deja vu: The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food is Making us Sick -- And What We Can Do About It by Robyn O'Brien, Rachel Kranz
3. These cupcakes rock, as does the yet again deja vu causing article.

Go Wednesday....

Good friend and Artist Photographer — Doug Young presents.....

Click to enlarge.. or here are the deets...

Land & Sea
Fine art prints on canvas by photographer Doug Young
In “the gallery” at the Greyhorse Tavern
Opening Reception May 27th, 6-8p.m.291
Bayport Avenue, Bayport, NY 11705, 631.472.1868
www.greyhorsetavern.com

My Happiness Project [ part one ]

Before going out to fight the Memorial Day weekend acutremont gatherers, a morning of calm....

• 2nd cup of tea
• Baby swan
• No messages
• http://www.lenneganandmarantz.com
• The new Citarella is now open in the old Red Market in Bridgehampton
• Open windows
• Monday is a holiday making today [Thursday] the new Saturday
• Pizza night
• The IRS is surprisingly understanding
• Will's haircut
• Fun people coming to visit this weekend—arriving on an early Jitney
• Gardening, playing, updating
• Thai food this weekend
• I understand Flickr
• I'm beginning to understand Twitter
• Bluedog is all better