Jennifer is…going to write a bad review.

Well, at least a mixed review. I’ve been telling everyone that I would give this new restaurant, Little Nest, three chances to alter my original, and less-than-favourable impression.

First off, let me say that I think that the concept is a great one. Little Nest is a cafe, near the Drive, which caters to parents, and to kids. The menu is full of what has become typical Vancouver fare–organic, free range, etc. (None of which I object to, only that anything trendy always pains me slightly, even when it makes sense. ) But, I digress. In the main, my first objection to the restaurant is its overt lack of signage; nothing indicates that you order in a central area, or that you seat yourself. My first foray into the din was with my two small people, at lunch hour, in the middle of a rainstorm, and I stood a full 5 minutes, trying to figure out exactly how the dining concept worked. NOT ONCE did any staff person make eye contact, or invite me to sit down, or order, or ANYTHING. Bewildered, irritated, and low in blood sugar, I steered our stroller away to the much cheaper and friendlier bakery a block away. (Do i need to mention here how difficult it is to change a 3 1/2 yr-old’s mind, once they’ve been in a restaurant full of kids and toys???)

Still in love with the concept, I braved Little Nest a second time, about a month later. That experience was better. I came prepared (by a friend) for the order/seat yourself concept, and my food was decent (though americanos at $2 +, with no brew coffee are a bit of an ouch).

In the following weeks, I arranged with a friend to meet her and her son there for a late afternoon snack on a Saturday. Like a good urbanite, I checked online before leaving, to make sure the restaurant would be open when we got there for our hot chocolate. Again, my daughter and I arrived in a downpour, only to discover, this time, that they were closing a full 40 minutes before the time stated online, and on the door. errrgggh.

Today, I gave them one last chance. I took my mother-in-law. They lost our order. ’nuff said.

So, while I think a kid-friendly, family-supportive restaurant is brilliant in theory, there are a few ‘kinks’ that they need to work out in practice.  I don’t think I’ll be giving Little Nest a try again in the near future, which makes me sad, but there it is.

“What degrees would you get?”

My sister, Meghann, asked me this in the comments on yesterday’s post.  So, what degree(s) would I get if I were to go back to school?  First off, let me just say that I intend to.  Despite that I have no money saved for it, and that at this point have no childcare, I will go back, dammit.

What I really want, wait for it with barely suppressed laughter, is a home economics degree.  I know, I know, all that stuff yesterday about being a caricature of domesticity–BUT, I do think that it would be a sweet ride, to study in university, of all places, the creative things I do anyway.  In what other degree or program would it be possible to take “Costume Construction 404″ and “World Nutrition” simultaneously??? Ah, the glory of diversified interests.

Apart from that, practically speaking, a teacher’s certificate would be an obvious follow-up to that degree.

Separate from all practical considerations, however, I would  love to study the following: medicine, art history, curriculum studies, and, of course, wind up with a PhD in English, since I started on that path in the first place.

Seriously, though, what would that make for a degree count?  Including the 2 I already have, I’ve just mentioned 6 other fields that captivate my interest.  Like you, Meg, I too wish that Someone would pay me to stay in school forever.  oh, and take care of my children while i write, and do the requisite laundry and cooking, all so that I could soak up the learning in uninterrupted bliss.  (excepting, of course, the papers and exams.  they’re less like bliss, and more like having fingernails pulled with pliers.)

Hope that more than sufficiently answers your question, Z’Meem….i await others….hint hint…..

Jennifer is…depressed by blog stats tracking

this means, in case you didn’t know (i didn’t until yesterday), that i can see how many people look at my blog everyday.  Which is a strange thing, and a little disturbing, in that I feel somehow pushed to increase the volume and wit of my blog posts, such as they are.  As someone whom everyone seems to assume is a writer, it’s a bit depressing to contemplate writing every day, and, not only that, but to similarly imagine churning out humourous, pithy editorials to boot.  alas, my thoughts are far too inane, and to commit them to the page seems not only grossly egocentric, but also humiliating, since I read, and re-read, everything I write.   Likewise, there are only so many photos of the enfants that I can post, before I feel similarly nauseated by the notion that my life is nothing but a caricature of the domesticity my education so forcibly taught me to despise.  thus, the only option, it seems to me, is to welcome suggestions for subject matter, since it might shape my writing into some kind of discipline (which I sorely need), and keep me from obsessing about how much/little people read my blog.  de-lurk, people, de-lurk.  i’m begging you.

Jennifer is…going in all directions.

I feel like i’ve got so much to do, that i don’t know where to begin–make jammy pants for christmas presents, knit gift scarves, wrap gifts, read “The Hours” (which i’m loving, p.s.by the way),  make some cards with new, fun papers, watch “The House of Eliott”….. how do you choose what to do first?

and, just to be fair.

here’s one of agatha, in a jumper i knit for her:

what to say?

well, i don’t really know how to preface this one, so here it is…certainly, he’s going to need a combination of therapy and revenge when he gets older.

Jennifer is…overwhelmed with christmas. already.

Jennifer is…going to stick to statii and photos, for now.

I’ve decided that i just don’t have the energy to discover my true blogging self right now. I’d love to be writing good stuff–editorial, wry observations about life in Vancouver, etc., but the truth is, I’m not in the right headspace right now. So, I’ll just stick to little blurbs now and then. Consider my statii my “Wall” and write to me; I always love to hear from all of you.

Oh, and here is a picture of Edmund from Hallowe’en that I just have to post.

And one of Caterpillar Agatha. I think all she’s missing is a hookah.

Jennifer is…wishing all who were dear to her were near to her once more.

Wow.  if that isn’t a doozy of jussive subjunctive, i don’t know what is.  but, seriously, this evening i am wishing that i could just hang out with all of you.  i imagine a ginormous living room, full of table lamps and comfy couches, tea and/or decaf flowing freely, baked treats, and conversation.  inappropriate laughter goes without saying, of course.  ah well.  i suppose i shall have to content myself with television, rice krispie squares avec fruit loops (who knew???) and my own pot of decaf.  but, i hope all of you are well, and that your evening is full of peace.

awww…aren’t we cute?

Check out edmundo’s sweater; it only took like 20 tries (!) and 7 1/2 months to make!!!!