Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Battle Snacks


"So, Mom? I made this modified ship for the battle droid. It has a cannon and two quick firing missile features. It has a landing base and a fold out wing on one side. There's a turret and in the middle there's a table with orange-colored cheese on it. This battle droid is really into orange-colored cheese."

Monday, May 30, 2011

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Smacksy Sunday Links

Old-School Bob

Do you read The Selby? It's another fantastic photos-of-the-inside-of-other-people's-houses blog.

Loving these vintage-y beach pictures. Capri, anyone?

A number of my friends sent this link to me this week - because they really get me.

Happy Sunday.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Friday, May 27, 2011

Overheard at the Playdate 2


"So, J.P.? Guess what?"

"What, Bob?"

"I'm a Lego enthusiast."

"Okay."

"And when I grow up, I'm going to be an adult Lego enthusiast."

"Whoa, Bob."

"I know."

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Thanks For Noticing

photo from here

"Mom? Where are we going tonight?"

"Nowhere. Just here."

"Are you sure we're not going somewhere for special?"

"Yeah, Bob. Why?"

"It's almost dinner and you're wearing real clothes, not pajamas."

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

A Matter of Taste


"Mom? Why are you putting cat food in the pasta sauce?"

"It's not cat food, Bob. It's tuna."

"It looks like cat food."

"Yeah."

"And it sure smells like cat food."

"Yep. It's not."

"Is tuna like fancy cat food?"

"Yes."

"Ew."

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Memorialized


We found one of the blue jay's babies on the ground under the nest. She was breathing but barely. I wrapped her in a napkin and set her in an old Christmas card box and Jeff drove to the emergency vet that's open on Sunday. They told him that they only treat dogs and cats and gave him some other numbers and addresses to try. As Jeff drove around making calls, he watched the little bird in the box. Her eyes were closed. Soon he could tell she had stopped breathing. He drove her back home.

We still hadn't scattered Pearl's ashes and I had been keeping Stella's ashes in a little silver box for the last ten years, never really ready to deal with whatever comes next. Finally, something about the little jay's passing made this the right time. At Bob's request, we would be having a memorial service for the baby bird. We let him know that at the same time we would be scattering some "special memory dirt" to remember the other pets.

We picked a spot under the yellow rose bush on the side of the house for the burial and Jeff's dug a hole. He said the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer of mourning. He lit the Rainbow Bridge candle the vet gave us when Pearl died. Bob and I decorated the tiny grave. "I know that the little bird never got to fly on earth but I hope she'll fly now. I miss Stella and Pearl everyday," I said.

"Bob? Do you want to say anything?" Jeff said.

"Yeah. That candle smells like gummy fruit snacks."

"Amen, everyone."

Monday, May 23, 2011

Overheard From the Front Seat

photo from here

"Mrs. Rosenberg?"

"Yeah, Jake?"

"Is your car backseat so messy because Bob likes to bring sticks and stuff home with him from the park?"

"I think we just need to clean out the car."

"Hey, Jake! You know what?"

"What, Bob?"

"The back of J.P.'s car is a mess like this too."

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Friday, May 20, 2011

That Is Really... Something Else


"Mom? did you see what I made?"

"That's great, babe. I like... your use of color."

"It's black."

"I see that."

"Do you know what it is?"

"A Star Wars thing?"

"No."

"A bowl with a spoon sticking out of it?"

"No."

"A wig-on-a-stick?"

"Mom! It's an umbrella!"

"And it's a lovely one, buddy."

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Practice


"Watch this, Mom! I'm practicing!" Bob got a scooter for his birthday and for the past forty minutes he has been riding it on our patio. Six feet one way, turn around, six feet back the other way. "Did you see? I'm getting good! Watch this, Mom!"

At this moment, all is right in my world.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

So you guys? Tomorrow (Friday 5/20) I'm going to be on The Talk on CBS for approximately 12 seconds, maybe 10 depending on editing. They do a thing called Follow Friday where they highlight some mom bloggers who are on Twitter and tomorrow I'll be one of them. I'm pretty sure. So check your local listings, do not sneeze or blink, and enjoy all of the production value that can be squeezed out of a Flip camera balanced on a stack of Legos.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Because


"Mom? May I be excused?"

"Yes you may, Bob."

"Thanks, Sir."

"Why are you calling me, Sir?"

"Because."

"Okay, it's time for your bath."

"Can I stay up late, Sir?"

"Nope."

"Aw, Sir!"

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A Big, Run-On Question


"So, Mom? I'm going to put my tooth inside the tooth fairy box so that Tooth Fairy can bring me a dollar while I'm sleeping but can you please-oh-please let her know that I need her to wait to take the tooth until after the alphabets-sharing-day of "T" on Monday because I'm going to bring my tooth to share for "T" at school but then after that she can have it but I just need it until then because tooth starts with T-T-T and then can you just tell her that mom, do you think she'll say okay? Do you?"

Monday, May 16, 2011

Two Years Later and You Guys

photo from here

Two years ago today I hit publish on this blog for the first time. It was terrifying. I have posted everyday since. Sometimes it's still a little scary but mostly it's fantastic. You guys, make it so.

I started Smacksy as a writing exercise. What I didn't know back then was that this blog world I was jumping into would offer so much more than a place to stack the words. I have made friends here. Through connecting on this site, I've had the privilege of meeting a number of you in person and there are so many others that I hope to some day. Also, I have some memory issues. I have memory holes you could drive a gypsy wagon through (horses and everything). The practice of noticing and writing down the happy bits from my life with my family makes all this stuff real for me. It's a place I can return to and see what happened and meet up with you guys. I like you guys.

Thanks for hanging out here.
Let's keep going.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Smacksy Sunday Links

The egg-hunt game never gets old, apparently.

This is just real cool.

More bookcases... kinda dusty and good.

And oh my, with the cuteness. (You know I'm fond of the cuteness.)

Happy Sunday.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Eponymous


bob
Bob Rosenberg, 2011
pasta and Elmer's glue on construction paper

(It's settled. I'm doing my next business card in macaroni.)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

On the Loose


"So, Mom? This tooth is really, really, really, loose."

"It's incredible, honey."

"Where does the Tooth Fairy live?"

"I don't know. Where do you think?"

"Maybe in a cloud?"

"That sounds good."

"And I know she must have pets."

"Why is that?"

"She needs a dog and a cat to get all the doggy and kitty teeth."

What's With This Guy?


This guy sat on the other side of the glass door and stared at me for twenty minutes. When he wasn't staring, he was talking. When I walked to the kitchen, he appeared at the kitchen window. More talking. When I went to sit in the living room, he showed up in the front window. He wasn't yelling at me, like that pissed off squirrel that used to give me a piece of his squirrel-mind every morning. This guy was just chatting.

When I finally went into the backyard, he did a couple of very close fly-bys near my head, then landed on a patio chair and yakked some more. I tired to introduce a new discussion topic but he dominated the conversation. This guy made it clear, my job was to listen.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Overheard at Bob's Check Up

photo from here

"So, Bob. What's your favorite thing to eat?"

"Burgies."

"Boogies? Like from your nose?"

"No, Dr. Bess, burgies like from In and Out burgies."

"Those are good. What else do you like?"

"I like macaroni and cheese."

"Yum. What about fruits and vegetables? What's your favorite vegetable?"

"Pasta."

"He had broccoli last night with dinner."

"Yeah, Mom's right Dr. Bess, but I didn't like it."

Monday, May 9, 2011

Star Wars Birthday Party: The Numbers

photo by Karen

30 inflatable light sabers were blown up by Jeff while sitting in the car in the Target parking lot.

72 chocolate cupcakes with Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire decorations were baked by my mom.

23 of Bob's closest friends bounced in the bouncy house at the indoor playground.

3 shoving matches broke out in the bouncy house at the indoor playground but none resulted in blood injuries or insurance co-pays.

2 Jedis were tipped 15% for their non-union acting and spectacular swordplay.

6 minutes were spent with Bob trying to work out the logic of how Anakin and Darth Vader could be in the same room at the same time if they are the same person.

29 boxes of Ewok Food were distributed.

5 extra large cheese pizzas and 28 juice boxes were consumed.

1 more annual appearance by the Princess Leia caftan.

And 1 extremely happy 5-year-old Jedi.

It was a good day.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Smacksy Sunday Links

Portrait of Me by Bob Rosenberg

My extremely talented artist friend Stuart has started a new blog. ArrghPtoo is a daily blog of art he makes on his iphone. It's super good. You will totally like it. I know you.

Loving this fantastic anniversary photo shoot.

And a little more art. This time the medium is hair.

Happy Mother's Day!

Friday, May 6, 2011

My Stylist

photo from here

"Mom? Your hair is extra long."

"Longer than usual?"

"It's so long it going all the way out of the known universe."

"Wow. That's long. You think I should get a haircut?"

"Yeah, but you'll need an astronaut to cut it."

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Happy Birthday, Bob


"Mom, I am very, super excited about my birthday."

"Me too."

"I'm four and four-quarters. That means five, Mom."

"That's right."

"Are you going to do dressing up like Princess Leia again for my party on Saturday?"

"I am."

"That's so awesome. She has fancy-buns-hair."

"Indeed."

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

For Vi's Approval


"Mom, I'm going to tuck Vi into her bed."

"I think she'd like that."

"What about this?"

"That's a funny face."

"It's a new face I do. I'm trying it out on Vi."

"I think she'll like that, Bob."

"She also super likes how tuna smells."

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Spilled Smells

photo from here

"Mom! The car smells bad. Like bottoms."

"I know. There's milk spilled in here somewhere and I can't find it."

"It needs to smell better super soon."

"I agree."

"It needs to smell like flowers and tree leaves and mint. Not bottom-y."

"Check."

Monday, May 2, 2011

Jedi Camp


"Bob? Daddy and I got you a surprise."

"What is it?"

"You're going to Jedi Camp! You're going to learn to be a Jedi."

"You mean like the one where Anakin went and had to leave his mom forever and ever?"

"Oh, no, Baby. It's just at the park for a few hours a day for a week in June. I'll be there with you the whole time."

"Oh, okay. That sounds even better than the other way."

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Smacksy Sunday Links: Movie Edition

photo from here

I follow a lovely blog called Even Cleveland. This week, they posted a scene from one of my favorite movies. This scene in the museum is a sweet one from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It's made even more interesting by director John Hughes' commentary.

Then I started thinking about other movies I love and thought of the great opening scene from Manhattan.

And the final scene from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is one of my all time favorites. Gene Wilder is magic and the last line always makes me cry.

Happy Sunday.