Tantrums and fireflies

This morning we went to the Farmer's Market to buy cheese, bread and organic popcorn. We didn't stay long, though. Joseph was committed to a day-long tantrum entitled: "I hate this day!!" Given that I have no power to bend the laws of space and time, we just had to ride it out. I suspect that Joseph is just having a hard time waiting for his birthday.
Update: the final tantrum occurred just before midnight. Joseph woke up because of urgent digestive needs that he was unwilling to address during the day. Note to self: when building dream house, don't forget the high capacity toilet.

Joseph's tantrum at the Farmer's Market.


We have been bringing Argos to the Bloomington Farmer's Market to help him get over his city-related phobias (gratings, buses, motorcycles, etc). Argos had a GREAT time at the Farmer's Market today: the cheese guy was getting rid of his excess samples of cheese curds, so Argos got to eat a half-bag of the squeeky little treats. He also got lots of loving.


Today we saw fireflies! There are no fireflies in Riverside. Although we go to Baltimore and New York in the summer, we rarely go early enough in the season to see fireflies. I had kind of forgotten about fireflies, so when I saw them for the first time in Normal, I was charmed. The kids had a great time chasing them around the yard.

Return of the Farmer's Market

The Bloomington Farmer's Market has started up again! There was not so much produce today due to the extremely cold winter. However, there were plenty of herbs, vegetables and flowers for sale, and I am very excited about my new heirloom tomato plants. There was organic popcorn, cheese, honey, eggs and meat. Also, everyone's favorite: soap made out of goat milk (I hope that it makes you smell like a goat). The kids ate tremendous quantities of cheese curds and french bread. Sam took pictures, which I posted on his blog.

The alpaca woman was at the Farmer's Market plying her wares.

Sam met a Lincoln re-enator who let Sam wear his stovepipe hat. Apparently Lincoln and Mary Todd are trying to start a business giving tours of historically haunted places in Bloomington.

Squeaky fresh locally made organic cheese curds.

Mmmm...heirloom tomatoes. I like mine without eyes.

Situation Normal

Hey there!

After years of stalling, I finally started a blog! I just moved from California to Normal, Illinois to start a post-doctoral research position. I uprooted my kids and husband from the glorious golden wasteland of Riverside, CA to start anew in this blandly pleasant midwestern college town. I have often thought about my adventures in graduate school as being similar to Odysseus' travels. If I were to continue the analogy, I would say that Normal is less of an adventure, and more like running aground, or stopping to clean the barnacles off the boat or whatever--there is not much to do around here.
On the plus side, (1) our house is HUGE compared to our tiny 900 sq ft place in CA, (2) there is a nice park a block away from the house, (3) both kids really like their new schools, (4) I am very excited about my new research project, (5) Danny has his own office with all of the peace and quiet that he wants and (6) Argos is obsessed with the squirrels and rabbits.

Sam at the public pool; Who needs Santa Claus when you have Abraham Lincoln? The Bloomington Farmer's Market; A picture of squash taken by Sam