My Wishes For You In 2014

This New Year, I wish for you:

A fresh start

Hard work

Mandarin oranges

A new song you like so much, you learn all the words

Adventure

Salt air

Rainy streets

A book that makes you forget your bedtime

Eye contact with a baby

Birds flying in a V

Coins left in your pocket at the end of the day

A secret

Soft socks

Grace

A run at full speed

Dog noses

Dark chocolate and good coffee (or tea, if that’s how you do)

Library voices

Hope

Train whistles

The smell of fires in fireplaces

Faith

Clouds that resemble running horses

Cool sheets

An inside joke

And a hug that takes your breath away.

Happy New Year.

A Classic

"Mom! Mom! Why did the chicken cross the road?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"To get to the other sidewalk."

"I think you mean - to get to the other side."

"Walk. Sidewalk. That's what's across the road. Haven't you ever heard this joke before, Mom?"

Smacksy Sunday Links

New Years Eve traditions from around the world. Perhaps I'll pretend to be Hungarian this year.

Easy ways to make life simple. All good.

Michaelangelo's illustrated grocery list. Wonderful.

A man raises a bear cub.  Yes, of course I want one.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Fording the Stream

Bob and Felix, doing stuff.

So Be Good For Goodness Sake

"How did Santa get in since our fireplace is blocked up?"

"Probably through a door."

"Okay Mom, but which one?"

"I'm not sure."

"Do you leave the doors unlocked?"

"No."

"Then how does he open it?"

"Santa is sort of magic, remember?"

"You should have asked Santa for some of that for when we got locked out last week and you tried to crawl in the bathroom window and then fell and did that thing to your ankle. Magic would have really helped out that situation, Mom."

Holiday Shopper: The 99 Cent Store Revisited

This year we were back at Bob's favorite place to do his holiday shopping, The 99 Cent Store. He is a thoughtful and practical shopper. Below are highlights from his purchases.

Aunt Jen - Bag of dried chiles "Because she does cooking."

Grandma Jan - 2 cut glass goblets  "For her and Pops' wine."

Pops - Calendar featuring photos of Yorkies  "Like picture friends for his dog."

Mom - White travel cup with bright green stripe  "For Mom's coffee. She always has a coffee."

Dad - Size 9 black socks  (Jeff's a size 15) "He always needs more socks and that time last week when he wore two socks that didn't match."

Miss Judy - Long handled grabber thing  "In case I'm not there when something rolls under her couch this time."

Nikki - Travel cup decorated with cartoon drawings of eyeglasses  "I'm pretty sure she goes places."

Aunt Jill - Bendy Santa and reindeer toy figures  "Since she's Jewish, she might not have enough Christmas decorations."

Barry - Bendy Santa and reindeer toy figures  "I'm thinking he likes toys."

Mee Mee - Orange polka-dot socks  "So her feet will be warm and good looking."

Dawn - Santa hat with attached white yarn braided "hair"  "That hair will look good on her hair."

Happy Christmas

Christmas 1969

It has long been my job to set up the Nativity scene every Christmas. I still have this set and I put it up every year.

Wishing each of you a Happy Christmas and a beautiful Wednesday.

In the 99 Cent Store

"Mom, wouldn't it be cool if everything in the 99 Cent Store actually only cost 99 cents?"

"Everything in the 99 Cent Store does only cost 99 cents."

"Really? Everything?"

"Yep."

"Oh my gosh. Why didn't you tell me this before? This sort of changes my life."

More Truth

"Hey, Mom? Sometimes when I toot it plays music."

Smacksy Sunday Links

Why not pick one of these ways to spread holiday cheer this week?

22 of the most embarrassing pages of the 1990 JC Penney catalog.

And a child teaching a newborn husky how to howl.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: My View

It's not special, but it is. It's my view from here.

A Close One

"Hey, Mom. You see this?"

"Your middle finger extended at me?"

"Yeah. You know what that middle finger means?"

"Why don't you tell me what it means to you?"

"It means this is my longest finger! See? Longest!"

Dress Code

"Which pajamas are you wearing to school on Friday for the hot chocolate party?"

"I'm not wearing pajamas. Not doing it."

"You're going naked?"

"No, Mom. I'm wearing regular clothes. Pajamas are embarrassing."

"Why?"

"You know, jammies are just so... personal."

Here

That first Christmas doesn't seem so long ago. The years are moving fast. I want to remember to sit still.

When I tell people that Bob is seven, they say, "That's such a good age." And it is. He likes us. He's snuggly. He'll hold hands. He's still on board with Santa. I know there will be more good ages but I want to notice and feel this age, this Christmas season, this day. He'll be a big boy soon enough. Today he's a little boy and I'm grateful.

Slippers Review

"How do the slippers fit?"

"Good."

"They're cute."

"Yeah, but that's not the best part."

"What's the best part?"

"The ears flap when I walk."

A Monday

Today, I'm giving you this photo of my mom's puppy, Samson. Yes, he's wearing a tie. He's a little blurry in this photo because if he's not sleeping, he's on the move. I think most people's Mondays could use a little dose of a puppy in a tie. Here's yours. Have a great Monday.

Smacksy Sunday Links

11 untranslatable words shows so much about their cultures. Fascinating.

This 20 year-old t-shirt was found in Kenya, the internet found its original owner. So cool.

Sweet and happy shelter dogs going home for the first time. Oh, my heart.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Retro Bob In A Box

December 2007

In the Classroom

"Class? One, two, three, eyes on me."

"Ms. Gina?"

"Yes, Bob."

"If my eyes were literally on you, it would be pretty gross."

Dear Santa

Dear Santa
Minecraft Steve
Creeper
Steve Diamond Edition
Minecraft 
Stickers
And Surprises

Hopefully Santa will know what all that stuff is because I really don't.

Symptoms

"Mom, I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to candy canes."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because when I eat it my hair stands up and I get goose bumps."

"Interesting."

"I am definitely not allergic to hot chocolate though."

Pillow Talk

"Sleep tight, Bob. Good night."

"Wait, Mom. What's it called again when someone is right handed and left handed at the same time?"

"Ambidextrous. Now close your eyes."

"Okay, good night... Mom? What's your favorite number?"

"Nine. Now really, good night, Bob."

"Good night... Wait, Mom? I know how to spell hour. It's h-o-u-r."

"Terrific. Go to sleep."

"Can I open my advent calendar for tomorrow early? Like right now?"

"What do you think I'm going to say, Bob?"

"No and go to sleep?"

"Correct." 

"Good night, Mom. Wait! Mom!"

"Bob."

"Mom, this is important. I really want a trail mix in my lunch tomorrow. Also I love you."

Carol Confusion

"Mom, who's Timmy?"

"I'm not sure who you mean."

"In that Christmas song. It goes, 'Timmy's having a wonderful Christmastime.'"

"No, they're saying 'Simply having a wonderful Christmastime.'"

"Oh. Okay... So who's Timmy then?"

Smacksy Sunday Links

Here are eight things you can live without.

Breathtaking photographs of individual snowflakes.

And this baby squirrel.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: A Retro Bob Classic

Back by popular demand - Our 2006 Holiday Card - Bob and Fiddy

With a Z

"Bob?"

"Yez?"

"I need you to put your clothes in the hamper."

"Okayz."

"Will you do that now, please?"

"Yez, Momz."

"What's up with the way you're talking?"

"It's my new accentz."

Multi-Lingual

"Brgermaln."

"What did you say, Bob?"

"Brmelgrop."

"Barrel crop?'"

"Bramlgropl."

"What?"

"Mom, I'm speaking caveman."

Under Construction

"Mom, I need to taste the candies."

"They're for decorating the gingerbread house, not eating."

"But if I don't taste them how do I know which part of the house they're for?"

Seasonal Humor

They call it "dreidel." I call it "gambling."

"Mom, hey Mom. I have a holiday joke."

"Lay it on me."

"What do snowmen eat for breakfast?"

"I don't know, what?"

"Ice Crispies. Get it? It sounds like rice."

"And the snowman is made of snow and he might eat ice."

"Good one, Mom. That's like an extra joke in there."

Marathon Man

Jeff and his father, Bob Rosenberg, circa 1980

Mr. Rosenberg is the maniac runner in the family. (I am the avid sitter and sometimes low-speed walker.) He is currently in training for the LA Marathon taking place in March. He will be running in just a few hours, more miles than I care to drive in a day.

This is a very personal event for him. He is running with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Team in Training and will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease and myeloma. 

He will be running in honor of family friend Randy Peterson who is currently undergoing stem cell treatment. He will also be running in memory of his father, Robert N. Rosenberg, who passed away in 1987 after a battle with leukemia.

To find out more you can visit his fundraising page:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/la14/runsenberg#My-Fundraising-Page

Smacksy Sunday Links

Old Finnish people with things on their heads - and they are lovely.

My kind of fashion show, with principals from the New York City Ballet.

And cats sharing dinner.

Happy Sunday.