At some point early in the week we played in the rain.

And at some point in time, Nicole went away for an overnight trip. I slept poorly and Zoe woke up very early (4:30am, which to me seems early). She finally slept on top of me on the sofa, and that feeling of a 30lb bundle of love is probably one of the most pleasant way to spend 5:30-7am, and then was up “working” on the windowsill, meaning she was typing, just like how Papa makes money.

While out playing she saw an octagon shape and was able to tell me about it. Sesame Street really is fine. Then she did this, which meant this:

Tonx arrived and I broke out the Chemex because the day seemed very trippy and night coffee is rad.

Building with heavy blocks

Nicole returned and Zoe got a bike helmet for her first bike ride that I’m still too afraid to take her on.

On Friday night I was feeling super empty and soulless. We went to Lanesplitter. Meh. You can’t win every day.

Zoe draws while Papa stews in some sort of unnamable personal crisis and also wanted to eat 300 slices of pizza.

Saturday morning I felt a little better.

We spent some of Saturday getting Zoe some new shoes, which sparkle and are adorable.

On Sunday we dropped Nicole off at SFO for her week-long trip to NYC. Then we went to Fairyland because somebody kept talking about trains and we eventually rode the five car train that loops around twice. Every other child also wanted to ride the train that day. It was very warm out and really encouraged me to not spend another season fat.

Here is a pretty sweet shot of Zoe’s new sneakers.

• Somebody I hadn’t seen in years had to put an extra question mark and exclamation mark on the end of their sentence AND put my name in italics: “Are you Ross?(?!)”
• My doctor used the word “shocking” or “startling” when updating my weight
• My clothes, that come from Target, are super depressing and boring
• I get out of breath when I talk
• I look like I never lost the baby weight
• Nobody wants a fat dad

Ok. Let’s do this. I won’t bore you (the Russian spam bot that “reads” my site) with the details, but rather I will just use this random date to draw a line in the sand. See you in two weeks with an update!

Do you not use a computer at all and missed hearing about the affordable shaving club? Perhaps you know I do not enjoy spending 4 to 6 dollars on a 5 cent piece of plastic and metal. Also, I’m terrified of using what seems to be an affordable and sustainable straight or safety razor (I assume it would castrate me in the shower on day one). I like to think I’ll never have to give Gillette another dime. I toy with the idea of writing a big long comparison between the Mach Whatever I used for years and the less expensive but still does the job as good as, if not better than, new razor, but I think I said all I could say about it just now.

Then it was my little buddy’s birthday and I made my yearly pilgrimage into the faraway land of San Francisco to eat dosa(s) that were too hot and drink in bars that catered to my need to have booze in tall glasses brought to me. Note: those legs go all the way to the ground.

It rained.

Zoe strutted.

We went to Ikea to buy matching bowls and plates and then Zoe ate a frozen yig-git yogurt for an hour.

I made a lentil loaf, but not as good as the one that came before it (the key is for me to not go off the recipe at all. At. All). In fact, this one was weird and maybe shouldn’t have been. The week can’t all be good news.

It’s getting warm, and the Owl’s Howl over ice at Modern is delicious.

In an effort to do absolutely nothing about my terrible physical appearance, the family went to, and I write this knowing it’s kind of lame, California Pizza Kitchen. I had never been, but, and I write this knowing it is super lame, their frozen pizza that I buy at Target and say I’m not going to eat tonight but then eat the entire thing and then say that’s the last time that will ever happen, but it so isn’t going to be the last time, is more tasty than anything I have ever eaten in my entire life. But they do it up ok there and the sugary drinks made the world seem ok for a little while. (See you on my birthday, CPK!) Christ, I’m getting old.

Zoe came by the office and mused nostalgically about last Easter at Fairyland.

And then it was Easter! And we were in Golden Gate Park and on a carousel and Zoe didn’t cry even though they spin that thing like they’re testing to see if you have The Right Stuff.

And after Zoe fell asleep in the park, exhausted from the sun and the playing and the running, we ate Nature’s Express in the car.

Keeping with the spirit of the weekend, Zoe ate her first creme egg.

On Easter Sunday we learned an important lesson about just showing up whenever and not stressing about being someplace on time. Also, Zoe got to run around the same spot where Mommy and Daddy got married on a special day in October.

I’m not completely sure why I’m currently obsessed with this version of “Eventually, All At Once”. I’m not a huge Joan of Arc fan (could change [has changed, now — RG]), but am very into a few tracks from Victor’s Invisible Cinema. I don’t really “get” Cap’n Jazz, either.

I think it could go something like:

• Really into the hoodie/hat look
• Drummer’s tasteful choice of instruments (shaker thing); his ability to play a pleasing snare roll with one hand, which might be a really easy thing to do if you are a professional drummer, but it impressed me
• The stage presence they have radiates disinterest, but they’re kind of cooking
• Victor looking like he’s going to beat the shit out of the gentle melody he is unleashing
• Christ: the riff!

Are they my Grateful Dead?!

Also, but to a different degree, these crisp beats:

I don’t know what keeps most taco stands from having amazing vegetarian options: it isn’t “authentic”, there’s no market for it, nobody wants a lame zucchini taco…whatever the reason is I usually call bullshit and pout.

Today I stumbled across the Cholita Linda stand at the Farmers Market. They had the usual no thanks offerings and when I saw the veggie option I initially scoffed at it as another pile of roasted veggies that I didn’t really want. But what was this? Fried tofu? Salsa roja? Two for seven dollars?! The line was very short but grew quite deep as we waited a brief moment to order. I started to feel bad for the neighboring stands: nobody wanted a calzone today. Everyone was already in the know about this amazing taco spot. I was about to become initiated on a bed of cabbage.

I watched my tofu get fried to order and killed the time by drinking watermelon juice in a cup. Moments later, to my shame, I had inhaled two folded friends and debated getting back in the now absurdly long line for two more.

If I’m reading my internet research correctly, Ms. Smith is an “emerging artist” that will hopefully visit these great United States from Canada so that, unless she is playing in my house, I will make plans to see but then try to get out of them because being out late is boring.

Then Zoe did something cute:

And then Zoe did something cute.