Blog a la Cart

Currently Gawking

I recognize that this video is pretty terrible from a technical stand point. Shaky and blurred and honestly a fairly sad capture of that circle of nerdy, fantastic, a capella love. One of my favorite moments of Reunion weekend was standing on the outskirts of that circle watching James, some of his dearest friends, and various students and alums that over generations have claimed a space among that circle, band together for a half hour of “doo woops” and “ba das” and “jsun jah nos” representative of the collegiate days of yore. I stood with the significant others of three of the guys in the circle who had met their loved ones post-college and were giddy to witness this display of nerdy, adorable awesome.

One of them leaned over to me, grin smeared across his face, “I had no idea there was a CIRCLE involved. This is even nerdier than I suspected! I love it!”

See if you can spy Lucas of Netflix’s “House of Cards” among that band of arms – and note that his kind, talented, and delightful spouse (a Broadway star in her own right) similarly circled the group, truly smitten by what was playing out before her eyes. Despite singing with the likes of Indina Menzel, she was nonetheless enthused, dare I say, thrilled, to witness Seb sing with his collegiate a capella group.

This was a very happy, memorable moment indeed.

The Rose

Last night I had to work late, so James was in charge of solo dinner/bedtime routine chez Cart.

The kids have been going to bed later and later (they are SO ours, night owls that they are). We’ve been trying to have them asleep before 9:30pm, but even that seems a struggle. Last night, James turned off all the lights in the house at 9pm, and sat in the hallway between their bedrooms singing to them to try to get everyone to CHILL THE F OUT.

He was rotating between a series of mellow tunes, and began singing “The Rose” by Bette Midler (I KNOW! Dying from adorable over here). Sunny suddenly began to cry. James stopped and asked what was wrong assuming it was going to be claims of dehydration (despite 8 prior cups of water) or a need to urinate (despite 8 recent trips to the toilet) or ya know, sleeping is hard hashtagpreschoolproblems.

Her: Daddy, that song is just so beautiful that it makes me cry.

Apologies to Addison’s future partner, we have confirmation, she is indeed her mother’s daughter.

hashtagFEELINGS

I fall more and more in love with that little girl everyday, sentimental, sweet soul that she is. May all your weekends be equally as sweet and heartwarming. And to get you in the mood, Bette at her finest…

Currently Playing

New tunes from my favorite musicians in all the land (Darlingside, duh). Purchase the EP, “Woodstock,” here.

Love this track in particular. Hauntingly beautiful.

Currently Playing

Darlingside in The New York Times. I repeat, Darlingside in The New York Times.

God I love these guys. Do give their latest song a listen. Such a beauty.

Currently Playing

Addison … okay, fine, all of us… are obsessed with this song. A capella? We’re hopeless.

It’s trending HARD chez Cart.

Fire & Ice

I. Swoon.

Up, Up, Up

My heart! So inspiring. So moving. So many more tears.

Ode to Sleep Deprived Parents

I would like to thank the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for providing the soundtrack to last night’s car ride home from the Cape. If I were to express the experience in song, this would more than do it justice. Plus, #travelwithkids.

Hopefully this is one anyone can familiarize with. At least, anyone with children. Sure, we’ll tell you we couldn’t live without them, we love them to death, we would do anything for them… but it’s hard not to miss a good night’s sleep. I got myself a mattress to comfort back pain when sleeping. I didn’t even have back pain before kids! It’s just a theory, but I may be bending over to pick up stuff more often… as in all day everyday. And well, there goes my back.

Some alone time every once in a while. Not having to wonder every 5 minutes where your kid is, as he could be doing all manner of terrible and unimaginable things. Yes, I love them and all that. No, I don’t have any regrets.

But I remember.

With the Band

As James mentioned, this past week, our talented friends of the band Darlingside were holed up in our neighbor’s pool house song-writing and recording. It’s always a treat to have them nearby, and the girls so enjoyed visiting them mid-process. They even got to try their hand at the drums and rock out to a jam session.

James was beyond thrilled when the guys asked him to “lay some vocals” for one of their songs. All of them, James included, sang a capella for Williams during their college years, so James was excited to get back in the game for an evening. As he said, “I have really small testicles, so I can hit those high notes for them.”

His words, y’all. His. Words.

ANYWAY!

One night we had everyone down to our house for dinner, and Sunny was ecstatic as she has a major crush on Auyon (don’t we all?). We let her stay up and hang at the table, and, to no one’s surprise, she lived up to her age by boldly declaring mid-meal that she had to defecate.

She headed off to the bathroom, and reappeared shortly thereafter. James and I, concerned that she had not requested our wiping assistance, inquired if she had indeed pooped, and if so, why she had not required our help. She glared at us, clearly enraged that we had suggested that she was incapable of wiping her own ass in front of company, then dramatically pulled down her pants, bent over, and shouted, SEE! I WIPED! THERE’S NO POOP!

And boom! Apparently, preschoolers are the world’s best birth control.To gross out an entire band of 20-something year old dudes with a full moon takes real talent. James is so proud. And Darlingside may never accept another invitation to dine chez Cart.

Perhaps the girls’ dance moves can convince them otherwise.

Currently Playing

I spent the majority of yesterday driving in the car to and from the North Shore of Boston to squeeze in a pow wow at Kate’s studio for the plans we have brewing for this year. Country music isn’t normally my thing, but this song came on the radio as I was winding the roads of Rt 2 late last night and I haven’t been able to shake it from my head.