Last in the Rat Race

Family night at the ballgame last night – MRA, Kate and me. It was clear. It was cold. Yikes. But the train ride downtown was entertaining and we had plenty of room around our seats when we settled in.

Once the nachos, hot dogs and peanuts lost their allure, Kate started hunting for Fred Bird. He’s perched in one spot for photo ops for the first three innings, but we were too busy communing with junk food to make the trek at that time. Fourth inning, Kate and I head out to find him. (have you seen the size of Busch Stadium? did I really think we were just going to bump into him?)

(Kate took this photo in the 5th… about the time we were looking for any distraction to keep her still while we watched the Cards tie up the game. Not the clearest pic, but you get the idea.)

We walked around our level to the outfield and hit the elevator. Making conversation with the elevator operator (yes, that’s right, they pay people to sit and push buttons for you. i think it’s to keep drunk couples from starting their own mile-high club there), we mention that we’re hunting for Fred Bird.

“Oh, I think he’s on the second level, visiting some private suites.” damn. “You could get off there and just hang out in the hallway and see if he comes by.” cool!

Great advice. We hop off and do just that. Of course, the ushers stationed there mention that you can always catch him at the start of the game, sitting for photo ops. I know, I know… we had to stick our faces in a steamy plate of nachos first. Hello? Priorities?

We wait. And wait.

Finally, giving up, I suggest to Kate that we head out to another level to just wander a bit. Just as the elevator opens to let us on, the ushers quickly call us back. “Wait! He’s coming out!”

We dash back, only to find the hallway empty. “Just wait, he’ll come back out,” she assures us.

Sure enough, here he comes… I try to let Kate down (she’d been piggy-backing the whole way – easier to cover more ground AND keep her close). She sees him coming and is simultaneously thrilled beyond belief and scared shitless. She’s glued to my back. Wrapped like a vice.

He’s coming at us. All 7 feet, red feathers and giant beak of him…

It’s clear why we’re there and he delivers. Comes right up and plants a giant Fred Bird kiss on Kate’s head.

She couldn’t have been more elated.

The ushers at the stadium get it. They’re the best.

Driving home the other night, I was taken aback by this odd caution sign outside the St. Louis City Hall.

Seriously, my first thought was, “Watch out for people falling.” People stumbling? At City Hall? Employees? Visitors? Are people lying down in the street?

Duh.

Next day, sign is still akimbo. Perhaps I really wasn’t far from the true meaning:

“Watch out for city employees falling down on the job.”

Yesterday was a big day at Kate’s school – evidenced by the hordes of green and white banners tied across ALL of the fencing, the walls of the school, and the playground equipment. Add to that, nearly every child skipping into school was dressed in green and white – even the Head of the school had on some Masters-like green blazer.

Shit.

What have I forgotten to calendar?

It’s Green and White Day! The big field day of the year. Lovely. Kate’s decked out in jeans and a fun (PURPLE) peace sign shirt. Damn. Young enough to not catch on, she walks oblivious into the building right behind a classmate who’s mom explains that they tried to do the “green and white thing” and then just rolled her eyes. Liking that one more and more…

Day passes and I pick KR up from school.

One of my favorite things to do on the short two-mile drive home is to ask about her day. Her teachers send an email update with short notes about the day’s activities… just for this reason. Were it not for that email, I’d have no clue what she does there – except for the fact that SHE knows “grapes” in Spanish and I don’t.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t your idyllic trip home where it’s all love, kisses and great conversation. Just as often as I get exuberance from the back seat, I get “I don’t want to talk about it.” (what the? you’re not even close to hormonal yet… can you see that little glimpse into the teenage years? is it too late to shove her back in the womb?)

So yesterday, knowing full well about the field day, I ask her, “So, how was your field day today? Big fun?”

That’s all she needed. Launched into a full-scale description of the games, the balls, the Popsicles. Munching Cheerios, she’s the town crier, telling me all about it.

Pause. Munch. Lip smack.

“So. Mom…” A very adult tone and a dramatic pause, “How was your day?”

Catching up with a co-worker (a 70 year old secretary) this morning, I learned of a great game for Easter (or any holiday for that matter):

The Geriatric Easter Egg Hunt!

She invites her friends over for brunch – older, younger, doesn’t matter – and following the feast, the hunt begins!

The twist? Instead of hiding dyed Easter eggs, she stashes little, individual-size bottles of booze around the house!

In a small feat of extraordinary magicry (so it’s not a word, whatever), MRA snagged two tickets to the Cardinals opening day game. Whoo Hoooo!

Bad news: he was stuck in a deposition all day and couldn’t go.

Good news: my trusty co-worker, Mindy, stepped right up to the plate.

Bad news: you remember Mindy’s love of beer.

Good news: we – WE – kept the vendors happy.

Bad news: Kelly loses sense of decorum.

The result?

(The boots! Love the boots!)

With amazing weather this weekend, Kate and I ran about half of our errands on bikes and left the car at home. Peddling along, we hit a few bumps, each of which generally elicited a comment from my little tandem cyclist.

The choice quote of the morning, following a particularly jarring bump:

“Oww! That hurt my penis!”

Dear god, I think it’s time we have The Talk About Our Bodies.

ick.

Wasn’t ready for this.

Didn’t expect it for another, I don’t know, 10 YEARS!

Kate loves dinosaurs.
(Really Captain Obvious?)

So, it should be no surprise that she wanted to celebrate her birthday at the Science Center. Again.

Actually, I was stoked about it. They make it so easy. (they make it so expensive) And all you have to do is invite friends and show up. In addition to the pizza and kid-head-sized cup cakes, we ponied up for a little who-ha at Build-a-Dino in the next room over. Kate had attended a similar party last fall and walked away with a big purple T.Rex that she promptly named “Sue” – after the T.Rex fossil exhibit we had visited at the same museum almost 2 years ago.

This time, she wanted… another T.Rex. Shocking. Lucky for us, they had come out with a gold version in the meantime, and set one aside for our little paleontologist.

While I can say she had a good time, this look sums it up.

Picked Kate up from school Friday, hooked up our bikes, looked up and saw this.

Blue skies.

(Suck it weatherman!)

More photos from the Exotic Animal Park.

How could you not love this Kate’s Gammi?

We had extra feed, the deer were clearly interested. Her solution? “Can’t feed through the fence so I’ll just throw it over the fence.”

Kate’s not buying it.

(since when is Kate interested in THE RULES?)

With a forecast of 80 degrees today (and morning temps around 60), we just HAD to bike to school/work today.

Awesome.

Kate was careful to get permission before dismounting to push the “Walk” button.

She was also careful to shout to me as she ran by, “Don’t leave me!”

Simultaneously made me laugh and feel like a dog turd. (see “Mother of the Year“)