Thursday, June 30, 2016

Unlimited Possibilities


Hey Everybody! Check out my new LIVE UNLIMITED bracelet. Live Unlimited is the Muscular Dystrophy Association's new summer  campaign challenging us to transform perceived limits into unlimited possibilities to live life to the fullest.

Muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related muscle-debilitating diseases take away everyday freedoms - like walking, running, hugging, talking, and even breathing - from kids and adults. The Live Unlimited campaign is inspired by the strength and courage of MDA families who do remarkable things every day despite the limits these diseases often create. The MDA is inspiring everyone to view every day as an opportunity to overcome challenges, doubts, and obstacles.

Want your own Live Unlimited bracelet? Of course you do. We can be twinsies. Go to 
EndorphinWarrior.com where they're donating $6.00 from the sale of each bracelet to MDA. 



Wednesday, June 29, 2016

I'm in the Majors


Bob is is into baseball cards right now. A lot into. Extremely into. He lives for baseball cards. Today he paid me the ultimate compliment. He made a card for me. Apparently, I play second base for the LA Dodgers.

Also, as you'll see below, my stats are pretty impressive.







Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Good Boys


Bob walked backwards toward me.

"Mom? Can you do that karate chop massage thing on my back?"

"Sure."

"That's great. You can do it harder if you want."

Teddy hopped off the couch and gently squeezed himself between Bob and me.

"Aw, Mom. He thinks you're hurting me. I'm okay, boy. Mom wouldn't hurt me."

"Oh, Teddy."

"Come on you guys, group hug."













Monday, June 27, 2016

Alexa!


For his birthday, Mr. Rosenberg received an Amazon Alexa from his sister. Alexa can best be described as a black cylindrical talking robot that responds to voice commands, answers general questions, plays music, and I'm sure a lot of other things.

Bob: Alexa! Who is Mike Trout?

Alexa: Michael Nelson "Mike" Trout nicknamed the Millville Meteor is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball.

Bob: Alexa! Who was Jackie Robinson?

Alexa: Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was an American Major League Baseball second baseman who became the first African American to play in the major leagues in the modern era.

Bob: Alexa! Who was Babe Ruth?

Alexa: George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth, was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. 

Bob: Alexa! Who is Joc Pederson?

Me: Bob, you already know the answer to all of these questions. 

Bob: I just want to know if she does.






Sunday, June 26, 2016

Friday, June 24, 2016

Afternoon Schedule


"Hey, Felix? Let's point out every rookie card in the book then we can go play ping pong in the backyard."

"Rookie!"



Thursday, June 23, 2016

Blowing Out the Candles


"Did you make a wish, Dad? I didn't make a wish on my birthday because my life is already so good."





Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Bonus Question


Baseball Card Store Guy: Okay, if the two of you can answer this trivia question, you can each pick something out of this bag of random cards. You can work as a team.

Felix: Cool!

Bob: That's awesome.

Baseball Card Store Guy: Here's your question. Who is the Dodger with the lowest ERA?"

Felix: What's ERA?

Bob: Earned run average! Clayton Kershaw!

Baseball Card Store Guy: That is correct!

Felix: Yes!!

Bob: Score!!

Felix: High five!!




Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Happy Birthday, Mr. Rosenberg


Today, Mr. Rosenberg celebrates another fine year. To say I adore him would be understating it. The best way I know to describe him, is that he's a gentleman, in every sense of the word. He is kind and smart and funny and handsome and that to me is the definition of gentleman. He's a gentle-man. If you were one of his coworkers that caught him watching a kitten video on the computer yesterday at work, you may already know this.

On the outside he's a tall, dark, and handsome - and on the inside he's a kitten video. A gentleman.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Rosenberg. I love you so.


Monday, June 20, 2016

Go to There


Today, I kindly direct you to my other place, MyRawBlog.com where I'm talking about a health situation I've been dealing with for awhile and of course, my relationship with a raw plant-based lifestyle.

You guys are nice.





Sunday, June 19, 2016

Smacksy Sunday Links


Habits that will make you smarter.

What David Sedaris can't travel without.

Lasers reveal a lost city.

Christo's newest project: Walking on Water.

Sacred geometry.

And animal pom poms. 

Happy Father's Day Sunday.



Saturday, June 18, 2016

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Fishes and Sharkses


Remember that time we went on vacation last week and went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium? It was magic.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Home Again, Home Again


If getting myself together to pack for the recent road trip was an inner battle with procrastination, UNpacking from the road trip is an exercise in total procrastination domination. Our house currently looks as if we opened the front door, unzipped our suitcases, and threw them across the room. Dirty laundry scattered everywhere. Piles of old mail. Remnants of last night's Thai food delivery dinner. Books and baseball cards and a tired, sleeping dog.

I'm going to need a bigger cup of coffee.



Thursday, June 16, 2016

We Ended Our Adventure With an Adventure

Photo kclu.org

The last day of our vacation went up in smoke, for real. Last night, a fire started in the next canyon over from where we were staying and by 10:30pm we were told we would have to evacuate. We went outside to pack up the car and found the sky glowing bright orange and the moon a dark shade of red. With little traffic on the road, we made it home in less than two hours. 

As of now, that fire is still raging out of control. Thinking of the people and animals that live there and hoping for their safety.





Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Porch View


I've always been interested in the tiny house thing. Now that we're in this cabin, I'm even more into it: Nice bed, tiny kitchen, tiny bath, porch, trees all around. But then, I remember our 864 sq ft home and realize, I think I'm already there.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Another Cool Day, Another Cool Cabin


We made it to the next place. About two miles from the beach, our cabin faces a creek bed. We are surrounded by what my seventh grade social studies teacher Mr. Marshall, would refer to as "scrubby chaparral." We'll explore tomorrow. 

Monday, June 13, 2016

Picture Postcard


These last few days, we have been in and around the area where I grew up. The smell of redwood, eucalyptus, and ocean, and the feel of fog in the air, all remind me of home. Artichokes, dark roast coffee, and fresh orchard stone fruit taste better here. There have been boardgames and books, sleeping in late, and visits with old friends.

Lucky to have lived here, fortunate to come back and share it all with Mr. Rosenberg and Bob.




Day 3 of the road trip. No wifi. Just checking to say hi. 
Hi. 

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Friday, June 10, 2016

Outside the Door


This is the view from the cabin. We can hear the creek below.  I believe I have found the spot where I will be drinking coffee in the morning.



Thursday, June 9, 2016

13 Things I'm Doing Instead of Packing for the Road Trip


  1.  Folding socks and underpants.
  2.  Drinking a 9pm cup of coffee.
  3.  Taking an unflattering pajamas/no-makeup selfie of my new haircut that is exactly 1/2 inch shorter than my old haircut.
  4.  Half-watching an old Master Chef.
  5.  Reading the fine print on the multi-vitamin bottle.
  6.  Making the bed before right before I get in it.
  7.  Studying my pores in one of those macro mirrors. (No good has ever come of this.)
  8.  Searching for the charger for the Kindle that I never use.
  9.  Watching this video 17 times.
  10. Drinking a 9:30pm cup of coffee.
  11. Cruising for dresses on Ebay.
  12. Organizing my earrings.
  13. Squeezing Teddy.



Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Last Day of Third Grade

Still Life by Bob

I know how time works. I know that it wasn't really the beginning of the school year last week. I know last month was May not September. And yet.

And yet.




Tuesday, June 7, 2016

It's True, He Does


"Mom? Can you keep Teddy out of my bedroom for a little while? Me and Felix have all of the new baseball cards organized and Teddy always comes in and lays all over the piles."


Monday, June 6, 2016

The Program


"Is that supposed to be you on there?"

"Me? No. It's a woman I saw in a play today."

"Oh. Well you kind of look like her. And the Volvo thing. And the Madwoman thing."



Sunday, June 5, 2016

Smacksy Sunday Links


You might need a life audit.

When less is better.

Complete this Italian teacher's summer assignment.

I adore Andrew Bird. This is his just released NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

This young artist is spectacular.

And dogs that look like teddy bears.

Happy Sunday.



Friday, June 3, 2016

Owl About Me by Bob Rosenberg


A dream of mine: To become a famous drummer

My favorite school subject is: Typing

My favorite food: Sushi

My favorite animal: Dog

I want to be: A drummer, an architect

My friends: FelixDesmondEmilioRyanAndySamuelBrandonRingoAdamCaleb

My favorite after school activities are: Playing with my friends, baseball, soccer, coding, homework

HOMEWORK? I have it in writing, folks.




Thursday, June 2, 2016

Into It


Felix: Did you guys know that Babe Ruth's real name was George?

Desmond: Can we talk about something besides baseball? Something I'm into?

Bob: Okay, Desmond. We'll talk about mythical dragons.

Felix: Like Babe Ruth




Wednesday, June 1, 2016

About The Smell

Lavender Diamond playing at The Smell

In 2005, Mr. Rosenberg spent a lot of time playing out with Lavender Diamond. Like anyone who's ever been "with the band," I often sat at a merch table, selling CDs and t-shirts.

One night LD was playing at The Smell, an all ages punk club in downtown LA. I was seven months pregnant and barely fit behind the table. As the crowd moved through the club a familiar face appeared, a young woman whom I had worked with on a TV show a number of years before, when I was her boss. She approached the table slowly.

"Um wow, I guess you've had sort of a career change." I didn't bother trying to explain my giant, pregnant, punk-clubbing,  merch-selling self.

"Yes, I have."


The Smell is dark and grungy and wonderful. Everyone is welcome at this Los Angeles institution and thousands of bands have played there over the years. Our friend Jim has run the club since its inception 18 years ago. Last Friday when he came to open the club, he found a notice on the door that the building has been scheduled for demolition. Immediately a group of friends of The Smell, including Mr. Rosenberg, mobilized and have been working on ideas to let The Smell continue in a new venue. You can read more about saving The Smell in this article in today's LA Times and at the club's website here and their Go Fund Me page here.

Long Live The Smell.