Claire Wiest, Photographer

Ok - Claire didn't actually take this picture (a post-rainstorm puddle reflecting the girls' school building), but it was her idea.  She has a great eye for photography, and she was relatively aggrieved that I didn't have my real camera with me . . . but at least I had my phone!

Claire Wiest, MD

As some of you know, I was recently out of commission with an serious headache that left me literally unable to get out of bed for several days.  (It was quite unpleasant, but I am now happily on the mend.)  The girls, understandably, were concerned.  We were trying to keep their anxiety down, in part by sharing basic information about what was going on.

Claire, who, along with her bizarre ability to remember every fact she's ever heard or read, has also long shown signs of being a serious worrier.  Don got into a conversation with her about my headaches and encouraged her to talk about any concerns she had.  She had clearly already given it some thought. 

Claire:  "Maybe cancer is causing the headaches."
Don:  "Well, no.  They did a scan of Mommy's brain and she definitely does not have cancer."
Claire:  "Stroke?"
Don: "No.  Strokes can cause headaches, but Mom did not have a stroke."
Claire:  "Migraines?"
Don:  "Well, that's a good guess - these headaches are a little bit like migraines, but they're not exactly migraines either."
Claire:  "Amyloid placques?"
Don: (who apparently knows what "amyloid placques" means) "Um . . . no.  Definitely not amyloid placques."

I, unlike Don and Claire, actually had to look up the meaning of amyloid placques, and I am very happy not to have them.

Wiest-ette Vocab List

The Wiest-ette vocab list continues to grow, with Jane emerging as the leading contributor. It is, however, taking up too much blog-related real estate, so I am moving it from the sidebar to an actual post, which I'll continue to update. The entire list is below, with the newest item being "matilda." I am pleased to note that this useage has also been adopted by Jane's friend Louisa. The two of them routinely enjoy a matilda-related treat after their Thursday ballet class.

Wiest-ette Vocab List

• bagiant = vagina (Jane). Most effective use requires shouting this word, preferably in a grocery store or other public place -- e.g., "Mommy, you SEE my ba-GIANT??"
• belly suit = bathing suit. This appears to reflect the fact that one's belly is covered by a one-piece swimsuit. But it also involves some confusion with "ballet suit" (a/k/a "leotarn.")
• calicounter = calendar (Jane)
• diamond room = dining room (Jane)
• fake noodles = Fig Newtons (Jane). You can't imagne the confusion this one caused before we finally figured it out.
• fighterman = spiderman (Margot)
• fire executioner = fire extinguisher (Claire)
• leotarn = leotard (Claire)
• matilda = Nutella. As in, "Can I have Matilda on my popover?" (Jane)
  
• Magic Flag = American Flag (Jane)
• meaniac = one who is mean (All 3)
• nike (rhymes with bike) = nightgown (Jane). We think this is from her mis-hearing "nightgown" as "nike on"
• nufkin = nothing, i.e., the opposite of "sumpkin" (Jane)
• pokey-tot = polka dot (Jane)
• president = present (Jane). As in "I opened my birthday presidents yesterday."
• rudiecat = a person who behaves rudely (e.g., "MOM! Margot is being a rudiecat.")
• sumpkin = something, i.e., the opposite of "nufkin" (Jane)
• sun roof = sun room (Claire). As in, "Mommy, can you get the beach toys out of the sun roof so we can take them with us?"
• sunbird = sunburn (Jane)
• wash closet = washcloth (Jane)
• wrascalin' = rascal + wrestling (Jane). As in, "the puppies are wrascalin' again!"

Fashionista Gets Some Press (Sort Of)

Claire was thrilled to realize that one part of this piece from the Boston Globe's "G" section was talking about her . . . and it will come as no surprise to those of you who know Claire that the title of the article is "Why Won't My Kids Dress Like That?"

I, on the other hand, was thrilled to see myself described - for what is surely the first and last time - as having "a Zen attitude."