Domestic Routine

Ah, domestic bliss. After several weeks adjusting to this remarkable and surprisingly foreign place, I think we're finally getting the hang of it. It's odd when you realise that what you think you know about the USA through TV and movies is only part of the story. Yes, it does feel a bit like touring a movie set sometimes - here in the suburban/semi-rural north-east think 'The Horse Whisperer' - and of course, New York is everything you imagine it to be. But it is different to see things in live-eyeball 3D rather than on the flat screen. I wonder if we'd have been any less prepared if we'd been sent to Hungary.

DH is back to his usual routine of working from home at every opportunity, but especially when its my free day and the Wee Child is at school (hopeful, isn't he?) The WC has made a bunch of new friends at school and wants to go there most days. Of course that's a lovely idea, but its cost prohibitive and what on earth would I do with all that free time? (If only!) She's also asking for ballet lessons because her school friends go.

Her recent birthday was a moment of significant change - aren't kids funny? One minute they're calling on you for every little thing, the next they're staking a claim for independence and asking if we like the outfit they've chosen, which they picked because 'its fashion'. You've no idea of the mixed feelings when I heard those words. Immediate laughter at the sophistication of a four year old, and an inward groan that I'm going to have to work against all that girly, mall-rat-in-training stuff.

In spite of not having our established group of friends here, we managed to make the birthday a memorable occasion. Our gift was a Minnie Mouse costume which she has barely been out of since opening it. And the moment she realised she was actually transitioning from three to four was priceless. On the morning of her birthday, as she brought in the presents the birthday fairy had left hidden around the lounge (going for the fun angle there), she asked me how old she was now. When I told her she was four, she jumped up and down saying she 'was so incited (sic)' about being four. It was hilarious.

The school also contributed to the occasion by hosting a birthday party for her at school with me providing the cake and introducing the locals to fairy bread. After all, what's an Aussie kid's birthday without the fairy bread? (Thanks to KF for mailing the 100s and 1000s.) She got to wear the birthday crown for a day and it gave her a chance to be the centre of attention for a while and make her presence known amongs the kids. Since then she has loved school and goes off with nary a tear for Mum. And of course, Mum has now adapted to the separation as well. It was quite difficult re-establishing this part of our lives, you wouldn't think she'd ever been at creche before.

Now that the weekday routine is established, it becomes a matter of finding things to do on the weekends. We've had one long drive through part of the state to look at leaves. I know that sounds a bit naff, but fall here is remarkable and you've got to get out and see it before the wind and rains come. We drove up to Essex and took a train and boat ride along the Connecticut River. It was a cold and gray day, but the trip was really good and I loved the scenery. We took about 80 photos that day and I've yet to do a serious edit. At that rate our files will be full months before we get home. And won't you be bored brainless watching that slide show!

Thanksgiving is coming up at the end of the month and its a long weekend so we are trying to find something to do then. Maybe a trip into another state - its not a very long drive to get out of Connecticut - less than three hours in any direction. I'm not sure what the protocol about Thanksgiving Day lunch is, but I'm not intending to cook a turkey just for two and a half diners, so we might try eating out somewhere if anything is open. Did you know that something like 50 million pounds of turkey are consumed in this country over this time of the year? Surprise, surprise, they overeat at Thanksgiving too.

But before we get to Thanksgiving, there's today to deal with. DH has been craving some Lebanese grocery and we need to find one before the family visits in December, so we're taking a drive north as apparently there's one to be found a couple of towns away. And next weekend I'll be cooking for DH's work colleague and wife - and I thought I wouldn't be doing any entertaining. It should be fun, the best way to wind up a local at the moment is to talk about the election and I hear this couple are on opposite sides of the political fence. Could be fun, could be a tragic disaster. I wonder how my Bush jokes will go over? (You know....Bush...Ha, ha. That's the joke.)

Yes, I couldn't get through this without mentioning the election and for me, sad result. And perhaps for the rest of the world too. I heard on BBC news that 75% of Brits wanted Kerry. It's a shame the numbers weren't similar for US citizens. But it just goes to show how malleable an ill-informed population can be.