Rusharound

It’s a little bit of a stretch – but bare with me.

It turns out there’s a regulation in Cambridge requiring developers to include a certain amount of greenspace around new commercial developments.  As a result, our little condominium building has extra large grassy parking lot “islands” and lots of other landscaped areas.

Yesterday the three of us spent the best part of our afternoon on a private little 15′ x 15′ park.  …next to my car.  Admittedly, it wasn’t the most exotic place we hope to ever visit, but for us without a backyard, it was an acceptable substitute.

Thanks for making sure that space is there, Cambridge city plannerpeople.

If you’d ask me to invent my dream vacation, I’d create a place where the weather is great, there’d plenty of access to boats and salty water, and everyone would think River is one of the most important people in the world.

We just got back from there:  my grandmother’s house in Newport Beach, California.  For the last seven days, Nana gave us all of those things.  Just like her mom did (“Nonny” to us great-grand children), Nana continues to teach us grandkids lessons about the power of a positive attitude and grace.  Thanks for everything Nana.  We owe you so much.

This week John invited me sailing.  Actually, he’s invited me sailing a bunch of times this summer, but this is the first time that I was courteous enough to show up.  Nevertheless, he met me with his trademark good humor and a two of the best former colleagues I’ve ever worked with.

John became legendary in our little family when River was just several weeks old.   Mr. FreeDisco showd up at our door with a week’s worth of totally-legit-eye-talian pasta and a teeny lifejacket for the even-teenier-River.

The sailing trip turned out to be a longer expedition than we expected  for the simple reason that none of us bothered to notice the time until it was 9PM  — which was past the bedtime for at least one of the boat’s crew.  Check out the pics to see how relaxed I am when I go sailing.

Thanks for being such a generous and fun friend (with a boat).

Some of our neighbors here at our condominium complex spent the better part of their Saturday arranging brand new planters near the buildings’ two entrances.  They look great, and they are something we’ll all enjoy at least twice every day.

Thank you, neighbors, for spending your time to make all of our living space a little nicer.

On Thursday afternoon my business partner and I called Katherine (of the soon-to-be rebranded KHM Freelance) because we were in a jam.  We needed some tricky and technical graphic work done ASAP.  Katherine dropped whatever she was doing (but not her kids) and spent her afternoon and late night helping us out.  Though she doesn’t usually have to talk  “thousandths of an inch”-talk with an engineer, Katherine got up to speed quickly and pulled together an outstanding deliverable just before midnight that very same day.

Her over-the-top service is part work professional ethic and part being a great sister.  I appreciate both.  (And if you are reading this, Katherine, I’ll get a 1099 and some good stuff off to you soon.)

River’s been busy learning new things.  This week he rolled over in his crib (twice, both times while we weren’t watching), and he’s learning how to make that raspberry noise.   We hope you enjoy this 60-second montage…

By pure coincidence, this week’s props go to people who also offered us shelter and food.  This weekend Jess, Dan, Matt and Leo let us use their home as basecamp while we attended a wedding on Long Island.  In addition to all the food, their happy family of  four gave us all kinds smiles, cheer and company.  You make raising twins look so easy (and believe us, we know raising a (singular) child isn’t easy).

Thank you Jess and Dan! (See the pics)

Is ‘props’ even used anymore?   For the nanosecond that it was a hip phrase, it meant thanks, recognition, or congratulations.  In this case, I’m employing it in its “Thanks” capacity  – for a long overdue message to my parents.

A couple of weeks ago I graduated from Babson College’s MBA program (to which I also owe lots of thanks to Mom and Dad).  The two of them flew out from California and treated Sarah, River and me to a mini-vacation that included every convenience imaginable (car on the ferry!), an endless series of top-notch meals, and even a some neat little takeaways.

I won’t embarrass us all by enumerating all of the gestures, but I do want everyone to know how much I appreciate all they’ve done for us.  Thank you Mom and Dad.