6th Annual 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip *Spoiler alert for immediate family!

Over the weekend, we made Bob's annual holiday shopping trip to The 99 Cent Store. Following is a list of the presents that he chose. This year he even did some of the wrapping himself.

MeeMee (my mom) - A "sparkly and pointy" Christmas ornament. "Because MeeMee likes to do decorating and everything."

Mr. Rosenberg - Hot sauce. "Because Dad puts hot sauce on everything. I mean, everything, right Mom?"

Ba-Jan (Mr. Rosenberg's mom) - A Happy Holidays mug with small candies inside. "I've seen her use mugs a lot."

Aunt Jen - A sheet of snowman window cling decorations. "She loves snowmen. I always see them at her house. Not real snowmen because, duh, it's Los Angeles but for decorations snowmen."

Pops - A large sleeve of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. "So he can hide it in his office and eat candy whenever he wants."

Aunt Jill - A Santa hat with attached stuffed reindeer antlers. "This will look great on her!"

Aunt Lynne - A calendar with a garden path theme. "I think she likes things that are pretty and this is pretty."

Me - Small earrings in the shape of mice. "This is a surprise so pretend you didn't see it."

Smacksy Sunday Links

About spending your life.

T. S. Elliot reads, The Still Point in a Turning World.

A hundred things to be thankful for.

And gorgeous animal photography.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: These Two

They appear to like each other a bit.

How We Spent Black Friday

It was a door buster.

On Thanksgiving

Over the weekend, a friend wrote this on Facebook, "I just told a whiner that her life is perfect. She didn't appreciate it. Now she can whine about me." 

Her words were not directed at me, but I've been thinking about them a lot. When I catch myself complaining I go to that next thought - My life is perfect. Are there things I would have differently? Of course. Do I have reasons to complain? Not really, but I might do it anyway if you give me a minute. This is about remembering to recognize a larger truth: Right now, this moment, my life is perfect and I am grateful.  

Life will change, and when it does, it will be perfect then too. 

Don't Breathe and Don't Move

The technician pushed and pulled and dragged what felt like the entire right side of my body into the machine.

"Hold it. Don't breathe and don't move. Okay, and one more time. Don't breathe and don't move" After a routine mammogram a week ago, the radiologist had seen calcifications in my right breast. A nurse called me last Thursday and after introducing herself, she opened with, "Don't freak out." She told me that this situation was common and was most likely not anything serious. Today I was back for a diagnostic mammogram and possibly an ultrasound.

"Okay you can relax and close your robe now." A nurse led me to an exam room to wait while a doctor looked at my new tests. In the waiting room out front I had magazines to chose from like Elle and Martha Stewart Living. In this small room my choices were three issues of a magazine called Cancer Today. Don't freak out.

Somewhere I read that the incidence of breast cancer in women my age is one in forty-four. Perhaps I read that statistic when I was Googling "breast calcifications" while I was not "freaking out" in the days leading up to my second round of tests.

My first tests of the day indicated that I would need the ultrasound. The ultrasound room had no magazines, just a white machine like the one at the gynecologist's office. After the exam, I waited again while a doctor looked at my results. I watched the minutes change on the computer screen and tried to think about anything but one in forty-four. One in forty-four of my female family members. One in forty-four of my women Facebook friends. One in forty-four of my mom friends from Bob's school.

Twelve minutes later the technician returned. The calcifications were not obviously malignant nor were they obviously benign, they were somewhere in the middle, not close enough to bad to require a biopsy at this time. I was to come back in six months for more tests to see if there was any change. I was told this was good news for today.

Today, right now I am a most fortunate one in forty-four.

On the Menu

"Are we having turkey on Thanksgiving, Mom?"

"Bajan is bringing a turkey, yes."

"Okay but are you making those mashed potatoes?"

"Yep. And green beans, and butternut squash..."

"And the mashed potatoes?"

"Yes, the mashed potatoes and a salad that has a bunch of stuff in it. And pie, two different pies."

"Mom, you can just stop at mashed potatoes. I mean, really."

Holiday Break, Day One by Bob Rosenberg

Greetings from The Crochet Cave. (That's what Mom calls it.)

There is no school today so I'm watching soccer videos on the iPad under the covers and I had a cupcake for breakfast that was leftover from yesterday's end of season soccer party. I'm saving the little soccer ball shaped toothpick thing to put in the top drawer of my desk.

Now I'm watching videos of other guys watching soccer videos. The guys are cool because they have accents from England like Harry's dad and are "footballers."

I dropped the iPad on my face while I was watching it and it hurt really bad but mom gave me the Batman icepack to put on my nose, so it's okay. I'll probably-maybe be fine.

We are going to the Ralph's today to get stuff for Thanksgiving at our house. Some of it will be good. Some of it will be sweet potatoes.

There are more cupcakes left, so that'll be lunch.

Mom's still in pajamas at 10:00 o'clock in the morning and that's how you can tell we don't have school or anything where people can see us yet.

I can't find any clean socks and I told Mom that "the laundry situation was unacceptable" and she told me I now have to do my own laundry. That seems extreme.

Hanukkah starts on the sixth night of Advent this year. Sometimes it's hard keeping track of being Jewish/Christian but it's still fun and you get to see your friends and relatives and do celebrations and everything.

Dad has off Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week. Hashtag EPIC.

Smacksy Sunday Links

How to want very little.

Life, one sentence at a time. 

Can reading make you happier?

And a hamster eating a carrot coin.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Retro Bob aka Mr. Casual

Kickin' it in Ringo's backyard. 2007

And Now, a Holiday Public Service

Six years ago I first shared my recipe for Mademoiselle Magic Stuffing with all of you Thanksgiving-ing folks. The whole vegan situation over here did not stop me from making it last year, nor will it deter me this year. I made the same recipe using vegan butter and forgoing the egg and it was as delightful as ever. I am linking to the recipe again here. This will give you time to get all of the ingredients in case you are celebrating Friendsgiving and need a potluck dish before Turkey Day. You will not be sorry.

Just Some More Guy Talk

"What do you guys sleep in? Do you wear pajamas, Bob?"

"I wear my clothes. Just regular clothes. Not my shoes though. What about you, Felix?"

"Just underwear."

"Me too."

"You guys don't get cold?"

"No, it's cozy."

The Playoffs

Photo C Seid

After tying and going into double overtime, the guys of Argentina lost by one penalty kick. Bummer. But there's still a soccer and pizza party to look forward to with the team this weekend. 

It was a great season. 

Oh, Mr. Rosenberg

Mr. Rosenberg capped off a long workday with a quick trip to Trader Joe's to pick up lunch-fruit for Bob. He came through the front door, sighing, his hands full of grocery bags, a work computer, and dirty workout gear.

"The checker at Trader Joe's asked me how I was doing. I said, 'I keep on, keepin' on.'"

"Wow."

"I have never said that before in my life."

"Yeah."

"I keep on, keepin' on. Did you know that's what I'm doing?"

Musicians

"Hey, Bob. So I went to this harp recital on Sunday. It was in this really big house in Beverly Hills and they had a big harp and a huge piano."

"That sounds cool, Felix. Was it, like, a grand piano? Or like, a baby grand piano?"

"I'm not sure."

"My dad's friend Steve has a baby grand piano in his house because he's a pee-an-ist."

"A what?"

"A pee-an-ist."

"You know what that word sounds like, right?"

"Yeah."

"That's so awesome."

"I know."

Smacksy Sunday Links

This is the ritual you need to do every day.

Ways to take care of yourself over the holidays.

How to peel a hard boiled egg. (Game changer.)

And dogs versus their own shadows.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Retro Mr. Rosenberg

Munich 2005

Hear All the Bombs Fade Away

Paris Gare du Nord Train Station

The last time the Rosenbergs were in Paris was in February of 2007. We traveled by train and stayed in the smallest hotel room I have ever encountered. We could barely fit our suitcases through the door because the door opened into the bed. The room did have its charms, like everything in Paris. J'aime Paris.

Sleepy Baby Bob in the tiniest hotel room in Paris

We were in Paris for the last part of a brief European tour. Mr. Rosenberg, with Lavender Diamond, opened a show for the Decemberists at a club called La Maroquinerie. At the end of the night, both bands joined together, with Mr. R holding baby Bob, and sang a Decemberists song called Sons and Daughters. It's a song about peace.

I wish peace and grace for the people of Paris tonight.

Santa Snacks

"Felix? What kind of snacks do you leave out for Santa?"

"Milk and cookies, usually. What about you, Bob?"

"Yeah, cookies and sometimes hot chocolate and carrots for the reindeer. Desmond, what do you leave?"

"Cookies with almond milk or soy milk or something."

"Does Santa like almond milk?"

"I guess."

"You guys, wouldn't it be weird if Santa drank reindeer milk?"

"Yeah. That's sort of creepy."

"Yeah."

Veterans Day

We pause and take this day to thank our veterans for their service. Photographer Michael Stokes has been taking photos of wounded veterans in a way the public is not used to seeing them, fit, healthy, and proud to show themselves. Watch this CNN piece about his work. And thank our veterans today.

Blue Man

"Did you see the guy I made, Mom? He's got stilts and a six pack and nipples!"

The Club

"Mom? At school me and Andy and Ethan started a club. It's called The Character Club. Anyone can join, boys and girls, you just have to sign up on the paper we made. Our club spends our recess time doing good deeds. The last three days we picked up trash off the playground and we took Geon He to the nurse when he barfed."

Smacksy Sunday Links

Photo C. Seid

Tiny tweaks to improve your life.

What my mother wanted us to pack. This is lovely.

Screw finding your passion.

I could hang out here.

And a little cow that thinks it's a dog.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Retro Rosenbergs

Us with Small Bob in 2007. Photo by Lisa Sjolund

Pacific Time

Teddy has dinner every evening at 5:00. It is now 4:15 and Teddy is concerned that his dinner is late because just like everyone else, he doesn't understand Daylight Saving Time.

20 Fascinating Facts About Me, Me, ME!

I play piano with that same one-fingered style today.

A friend suggested this topic for me today and of course I would never miss a chance to write about my fourth favorite topic. (Number one is Bob. Number two is Mr. Rosenberg. Number 3 is coffee. Thanks for asking.)

1. When I was five, some kid almost poked my eye out with a stick when I was at Frontier Village. 
2. I miss using a typewriter. I also miss linear video tape-to-tape editing. It was all riskier.
3. On occasion, I will answer the phone, "Casting!" I haven't worked in casting since 1994.
4. If I could be anywhere now, I'd pick right here. Cinque Terre, Italy would be okay too.
5. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Yes, gratitude and togetherness, but also pie. 
6. I am usually awake between 3:00am and 4:00am.
7. I've been in love four times + Bob. 
8. For a few months in the 80s, I worked as a figure model for art classes at Otis Parsons, now called Otis College of Art and Design. It's a great job if you like having to hold a pose and be perfectly still for half an hour at a time while 28 people draw your left hand. (I wore a leotard. I wasn't that kind of figure model.)
9. My two favorite nicknames for our dog are "Man" and "Poopface." He will answer to both.
10. I have 26 (27?) first cousins on one side, none on the other.
11. Some of the very best things and some of the most awful things in my life have happened when I was in Las Vegas.
12. I can still tap dance a little.
13. I have moved house 29 times.
14. I met Ronald Reagan in an elevator in 1990.
15. If you sneeze in my vicinity, I will say "bless you" to you even if you are a stranger.
16. I will also tell you if you have something in your nose or your teeth or you have toilet paper coming out of the back of your waistband like that lady in Von's, bless her heart, and I hope you will do the same for me.
17. I have 5 piercings that I have given up on.
18. I always wear the little "I Voted" sticker.
19. I'm too self conscious to try free samples in the market. If forced, I tend to overact my reaction.
20. I have had the same therapist for exactly 25 years. You're welcome, everyone.

Is there something I should know about you?

You Asked

"Mom? What does bamboozled mean?"

"Hoodwinked."

"Mom, you're not helping at all."

Oh, My Little So Cal Boy

"Bob? I think you're going to want a jacket this morning."

"Why?"

"It's a little cool out there."

"What's the temperature?"

"Fifty-five degrees."

"Let me go outside and check... Mom! It's so cold it's like literally snowing!"

New Information

Photo: Christopher Seid

"Mom? If it's raining today during practice, were you going to sit out in the rain and get all wet again? You can sit in the car, you know. It's dry in there."

Smacksy Sunday Links

Scientifically proven ways to have a better day.

The fourth meal.

Surfing the biggest wave in the world.

I would like to ride with this family.

Beautiful portraits of dogs.

Happy Sunday.