I suspect, in my memoir, I'll entitle this chapter "The Year I Spent at the Doctor's". Just got back, this time for M, who seemed to be getting better from her 10-day sickness but then coughed, seriously, for 4 hours straight last night (and increasingly over the last 3 days). We kept her home from school again today and Scott and I did "working people scheduling gymnastics", handing off at the doc's which is not particularly conveniently located for any of us. Now she's on antibiotics and a puffer - and expected to feel better over the weekend. I'm trying, admirably, to finish a presentation for work but there's whining in the background...
Have I mentioned this ever-increasingly recurring fantasy I have wherein I live in southern Italy, in a small town - my ancient (but refurbished) flat on a quiet, winding street? The ceilings are 20 feet high. The windows go from top to floor. Cooling drapes float in the mid-afternoon breeze. They keep the high, bright sun from encroaching overly. The palette favours cool-green, a washed-out, minty hue. The rooms are temperate, the day hot. I sit in my mid-century-meets-functional (but sleek) salon, with a rustic glass of Chianti. Hejira plays on the fancy stereo. On the wood plank, there's a loaf of crusty bread with the most lofty, bubbly interior. It's there to sample cheese I've never heard of, from the local farm, an hour away. Conversation with my husband is awesome. I am keenly aware of my great-fortune. I feel rested and healthy. Dinner reservations are at 8. That's enough time to drink the rest of the bottle and have some great sex...
Really, this miserable winter has to end.
On the plus side - but SO far from that fantasy - my Fabric.com order arrived in what, 3 days?!?! The box weighed at least a pound and there was no customs charge and I only paid 15.95 in shipping. That's about as good as it gets.
What do I think of the fabric? I like it. Is it awesome? No. Is it Modal? Nah-uh, though I ordered that too, from Fabric Mart. (Note: Totally suboptimal customer service at Fabric Mart, IMO. More to come.). The yellow is pretty garish, and I might never use it. This fabric is thin - Tencel tends to be, though the high-end (RTW) stuff has a bit more body than this batch. The slate blue holds up best - obvs dye-depth impacts the body of this fabric a lot. The grey is better than the yellow - and entirely usable - but not as good as the slate blue. All in all I am happy with this experience and, in the future, I will be on the lookout at fabric.com for good knits, the likes of which I find almost impossible to come by in my own garment district.
So, bowl of soup eaten and bitching accomplished, it's time for me to get back to work.
Today's questions: Have you created a rich fantasy life to get you through this winter? Does it include Europe? Or fabric? Let's talk.
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can i just take your fantasy life? it's so very perfect, and i'm kind of lazy.
ReplyDeleteYes! We can share!
DeleteI think you're going to need to make room for many!
DeleteThat's cool. I have a big imagination!
DeleteOh yeah! My fantasy includes prompt retirement which I have taken advantage of by moving to a small apartment in St. Germain to write. Punctuated by monthly trips to London for a weekend of shows, gallery visits, etc. Every few months a girlfriend decides to visit, and I wave good-bye to my husband for a girls' weekend in Rome. . . or Amsterdam. . . Brussels, Barcelona, Lisbon. . .
ReplyDeleteNow that I've read your fantasy, though, I may park myself in your Italian apartment for a few days -- you have a guest room, no?
Hope the coughing abates and full health is recovered quickly. And now I'm back to reality and work as well. Sigh . . .
You can come to the apartment on your way to Rome! Reality is so overrated ;-)
DeleteKristin, the evil sickness fairy seems to have moved into your home! I'm so sorry M is not well and hope she feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the visit to Italy :).
It doesn't deserve the title of "fairy". That sounds too pleasant! Thanks for your well wishes, Susan.
DeleteI love this story. Except about the persistence of sickness. We've had much the same winter, I fear. One or both of the kids has been sick since January 15, and one or both had been sick through December. I've been recovering from minor surgery, and if my kids don't get well soon, I'm going to miss another OT session and fear that my finger (left index, dominant hand) will forever be scarred and slightly useless. I've had a migraine off and on since Monday. And my son's school is restructuring its 4 year old kid program in such a way that he's probably not going to go there.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for spring.
In the meantime, I am fantasizing about a dark bar in Chelsea, maybe the Lower East Side of Manhattan, it has a polished wood bar, a pressed tin ceiling and a faded mirror behind me. I pour a generous Martinis and Manhattans and dole out love and sarcasm to my regulars. (The place is called Charlie and Rick's after my grandfather and dad)
Firstly, Di, let me say how much your situation truly SUCKS right now! I'm sorry you've got everything going sideways and it's winter and it's hideous. I wish you an early spring and I hope that your finger is going to be fine. Please do whatever you can to prioritize that appointment! Your mobility is very important. (I do understand how hard it can be to manage for yourself when children need you...)
DeleteI love your Chelsea bar! Tin ceilings are my fave. I would love to have a martini and chat about things - including your beloved dad and grandfather. Thanks for this terrific mini-trip.
I often fall asleep thinking about how I would spend the Lotto Max draw. It does not include Europe but some travelling, perhaps an apartment in New Orleans so we can visit when we want. It also includes financing a feature length version of The Post Lifers. And house concerts. And a detached house with lots of storage space.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I've never been to New Orleans but I would like to go. I imagine you'd have a music salon happening just about constantly. Here's hoping you've got the winning draw soon, Sera!
DeleteOooh, I love N.O.!! Such a great place to eat, drink and listen.
DeleteThere's a reality check even in southern Italy, trust me. I've lived in Naples for 4 years now and it's been cold and pouring rain much of the month. The houses don't hold the heat plus it is ungodly expensive to heat them, so it's slippers and layers and cold fingers. Yes, there is good cheap Chianti or here it is Aglianico or Negroamaro. But no dishwasher but myself when the eating is done. What I wouldn't give for a properly heated house with a dishwasher. And a commute to work that doesn't fell like a stock car derby. My fantasy is a breezy Caribbean island cottage and margaritas in thick glass tumblers with salt. And where you hear nothing but the surf (and maybe the dishwasher running). Va bene. Mi piace il tuo blog.
ReplyDeleteOMG - Is the grass always greener??? :-)
DeleteOK, I have to upgrade my fantasy somewhat: I'll have to be super-rich so that I can throw money away over heating (or maybe I'll just go to Italy in the summer?). And I'll eat out every night!
Thank you for bringing some perspective, though I'd still love to live in Italy for a while.
The Caribbean has never been my fantasy. I'm not a beach person. But you sure are making it sound nice.
You really need Spring to arrive in a big way!
ReplyDeleteUsually it's Fiesole (a small town on a hill that overlooks Florence) where it sounds like we'd be neighbors. But this winter it's Miami that's on my mind... an art deco home in Miami Beach, Phin at the grill/bar and me in my sewing pool house. On the weekends, I drive to the Keys for some scuba diving.
Miami is a trip! What I love most about it is that all the Puerto Rican ladies have the same body type as me!
DeleteJust a "p'tit clin d'oeil"; maybe this cat can sew something out of your yellow fabric ;-)
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.deer-and-doe.fr/2033-work-in-progress-3/
Lucky you that customs missed your package!
JJP
OK, that is scary! I am worried for those paws!
DeleteWhat fantasy would be complete without great sex and wine. Ahhh. I'd go with the Caribbean island though. Preferably one with a kickass golf course. But that's me. Regarding modal have you tried lowpricefabric.com? Mimi G has recommended them at various times (although I don't think I've seen her use their modal knits). They seem to have a good selection of colors, just not sure how the quality stacks up
ReplyDeleteI know, those are the backbone of every great fantasy. I see the Caribbean is a popular fantasy destination :-)
DeleteI checked out the site, thanks!, but they don't seem to have modal. Good to know about it for future, nonetheless.
Oh yeah, I definitely have a fantasy life. In it, I have a nice big gothic-style stone mansion on top of a hill overlooking impossibly green grass dotted with a herd of Herefords (polled, of course). I have a housekeeper, a gardener, a well behaved brown eyed boy, a set of grey eyed twin girls (also well behaved), a trustworthy hired hand for when we want to take a vacation, and my husband and I get to spend the days caring for our cattle and children, no 8-5 jobs, and no money concerns. *Sigh* That would be heaven. :-) I'd totally spend time in your Italian villa though, and I'll be sure to give advance warning--don't want to interrupt anything. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that your daughter isn't feeling well still. Hopefully you guys are all back to perfect health soon! I'm hoping your husband is taking vitamins and making sure to get enough sleep? He seems like he'd be the next target for illness.....
I love this! It's vaguely "modern Downton Abbey".
DeleteMy husband is definitely concerned. He washes his hands every time he looks at one of us. Smart, IMO.
Sunshine is so good. This is one of the many reasons we *stuck* in Austin. Although it's hell in summer, I get a lot less sick and am 100% less melancholic. My fantasy usually involves Scotland--a lush garden that wanders into secret glades with rustic benches. But ya know, the sun disappears a lot there. ;)
ReplyDeleteI meant to comment on your lovely Tiramisu dress a few posts back. Absolutely gorgeous! It has such a flattering silhouette on so many people but looks especially pretty on you! And now you have me thinking about wool jersey.
I would be entirely happy to be stuck in Austin right now! But I do understand why places like Scotland appeal. You'd probably love a combo trip to Montreal and Toronto in early Oct. It's cool but still temperate. And it's the sunniest time of year.
DeleteThanks for your compliment about the Tiramisu! xo
I find my winter coping mechanisms involve banishing all thought of warmer climes. If I can avoid thinking of any alternative to winter, I don't miss it. This was a lot easier before I spent time on the internet and had to deal with Australians and people from the southern States on a regular basis. ;)
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you're all feeling better. My kids' school hit public-health-alert levels of absenteeism a couple of weeks ago...
Sorry! :P
DeleteWhenever I complain about winter, I suspect I'd do well to consider what you're going through. I mean, that's hardcore on the Prairies. The absenteeism at M's school - and at my work, for that matter - is ridiculously high.
DeleteOh lord. It's got to be spring soon. Sending healing vibes.
ReplyDeleteMy fantasy involves small village in the Loire valley with a golden stone Maison Maitre, a vegetable garden and much better French than I speak at the moment!
Feel better.
You get spring about 6 weeks earlier than we do (on average) - so I'm half-inclined to run away to England! I do love your Loire valley idea, though. Another good choice :-)
DeleteIt's surprisingly lovely here at the moment. We've had sunshine...very strange!
DeleteStill....the Loire wins hands down. Great wine too!
After reading these, I'm slightly let down by my own fantasy as it stars neither great wine nor great sex. What it does star is me taking off in a comfortable (but not flashy) car with my camera. I drive all over America, experiencing its various landscapes and cities. And food. I film, I write. Sometimes I sleep in a boat on a quiet lake, surrounded by pines. I meet Le Doc in the desert, and Mimi in an LA diner. It's easy, quiet, nobody needing or wanting anything from me, just space to breathe and think and dream and watch the stars.
ReplyDeleteMy other fantasies are all about the wool jersey. Or sometimes silk jersey. I imported a whole roll of that from China once. *Those were the days*.
Um, hello, yours is a great fantasy! And I love that you imported all of that jersey. Do you still have some?
DeleteAlas no, I used it all up. But I would do it again, though it felt very decadent at the time.
DeleteHi Kristin! Lovely meeting you yesterday! I look forward to immersing myself in your blog -- I'm already finding your writing really engaging. Talk soon! p.s.: Pictures from the meeting are up!
ReplyDeleteThanks Adrienne! It was terrific to meet you and I so appreciate all of your effort in producing a great event!
DeleteI've not had a bad experience with Fabric Mart as of yet, but then, I'm not international either.
ReplyDeleteOh, the attitude. I'm happy you've had good experiences. May they continue...
Delete