Friday, September 30, 2016

And D Batteries Too


"Mom? Why do we need all this water?"

"Emergency Services put out an earthquake warning because there have been so many little quakes in southern California this week."

"And earthquakes make you thirsty?"



Thursday, September 29, 2016

Pokemon No


Note: If it takes me awhile to get back to your calls and texts these days, don't take it personally. I hear the question, "Mom? Can I use your phone?" countless times during the day. On those occasions when I do hand it over, it is no longer just a phone. It is a Total Pokemon Go Situation. Considering how much time I spend listening to details about this game, it's a bit embarrassing how little I still understand it. I can live with that.

Please leave a message. I will get back to you as soon as a Venasaur and a Wartortle are done doing their Poke business.



Wednesday, September 28, 2016

National Coffee Day


Thursday is National Coffee Day. Obviously, every day is Coffee Day for me but still I do intend to celebrate.

Last week I had an appointment for a fasting blood test. I couldn't eat or sleep after midnight until after the test the next day. It was a long appointment. I had a lack-of-caffeine headache and a lack-of-caffeine soul .When I finally got out of there at 1:45pm, I found my way to the nearest Starbucks as fast as a hybrid could carry me.

I got my venti drip and went back to the car and started gulping it down. It was boiling hot and seared my mouth. I took a drink recoiled in pain, swearing and then took another drink, more pain and swearing, more drinking. Finally, I looked up and noticed that a truck was parked opposite me. The guy inside was staring at my crazy coffee lady show. He must have been a frappuccino drinker because another real coffee drinker would have understood.

I will be observing National Coffee Day tomorrow. I'll let my cup(s) cool off a little first. Probably.






Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Simple


It was one of those soft evenings where the breeze is warm and the sun sets in a way that makes the
clouds pink. I sat in my soccer mom chair at Bob's practice, thinking back on my day. It was a good one. A day of friends and writing and dog kisses and homework and piano and dishes and laundry and conversations with little boys. It was a very good, very regular day.

I watched the kids play and laugh and run. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. And I was happy.





Monday, September 26, 2016

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Sunday Links


You are doing a noble thing.

Get dinner on the table.

How blind photographers capture the world.

Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor do The Sitting Dance. And it's terrific.

And if you haven't seen the chicken wearing pants yet, what are you waiting for?

Happy Sunday.





Saturday, September 24, 2016

Smacksy Saturday Photo: It's TIme


It's autumn. Even though it's going to be 102° here tomorrow, we are saluting fall with the traditional Trader Joe's wreath with the little pumpkin-y things on it.



Friday, September 23, 2016

So Many Questions


"Mom? Can I sit in your chair? Can I use your computer? Can I have a glass of water? Can you let Teddy in for me? Can you hand me my backpack? Could I have that sharpened pencil on the table? Can I watch the baseball card store guy on YouTube? Can I have some grapes? Oh wait, wait! Can I apply 'please' to all of that stuff?"




Thursday, September 22, 2016

Yes, I'm Writing About Being Defeated by a Squash


You are making dinner.

  1. Attempt to cut into spaghetti squash with kitchen knife. 
  2. You are not successful.
  3. Attempt to cut with serrated knife.
  4. You are not successful.
  5. Attempt again with kitchen knife.
  6. Knife goes in half-way and becomes stuck. 
  7. Pick up squash using knife as handle.
  8. Bang squash on kitchen floor in attempt to loosen knife.
  9. You are not successful.
  10. Hit top of knife with hammer driving knife in deeper.
  11. Swear at squash.
  12. Swear at knife.
  13. Wait for Mr. Rosenberg to get home to deal with squash.
  14. No one even likes squash.
  15. Dinner will be late.




Wednesday, September 21, 2016

12 Years Later


Today Mr. Rosenberg and I celebrate the 12th anniversary of our very first date. How will we honor this auspicious occasion?

This morning I ducked out of a PTA meeting a little early to go to a doctor's appointment. When I returned home, I put in a few loads of laundry and did the breakfast dishes.

Mr. R. left early for work, tonight he'll be working late and I might be asleep by the time he gets back.

Bob went to school today, then hung out with his friends and will do some homework. He'll feed the dog and the fish. We might go by the orthodontist to have her look at a wire that's come loose from Bob's braces.

This itinerary might not sound like a celebration but it is. This is a glorious celebration of a regular day in a life we have built together. Our marriage, our son, our home, our pets, these are all the byproducts of one fortunate date on September 21, 2004.

It's a good day. It's a good life.

(And on Saturday night Mr. Rosenberg and I will go on another date.)









Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Checking in on Allan Murray


How is Allan Murray, you ask? Allan Murray is fantastic. He's a dreamy little fish and we love him. That's it. That's the whole update on Allan Murray.







Monday, September 19, 2016

Ood-gay Ight-nay


"Re-ay ou-ya eady-ray or-fy ed-bay, ob-Bay?"

"O-nay, add-ay."

"Tsi-ay ime-tay ow-nay."

"Uck-yay. Ot-nay leepy-say.

"Ogh-tay eans-bay."

"Our-ya eird-way, ad-day."





Sunday, September 18, 2016

Smacksy Sunday Links


Not doing all the things we want to do.

The one foundation for financial freedom.

The difference between a book that's not right for you and a book that's not right for you right now.

Roald Dahl's ten most wonderful quotes.

How dogs drink water.

And live streaming kittens. 

Happy Sunday.




Saturday, September 17, 2016

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Bed Ted


Someone's enjoying the new blankets. *whispers* Please don't eat them. Please don't eat them. Please don't eat them.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Another Bob


As I waited at a stoplight, I saw a man in his eighties walking down the sidewalk. He seemed to be struggling in the heat. He turned and sat down hard on the edge of a planter. I pulled over and rolled down the window.

"Hi! Are you doing okay?"

"Not really. My car broke down back by the school. I'm so hot and sweating so much, I don't think I'm going to make it home."

"Can I give you a ride?" He eased into the passenger seat and turned his ear with the hearing aid towards me.

"Thanks, I don't live far. My name's Bob."

"I'm Lisa. My son's name is Bob."

"He must be a good kid."

"He is." In our short drive, I learned that Bob's son lives on our old street, and works at Trader Joe's. Bob graduated from high school where my Bob will attend. I learned about the history of the school's district's zoning and that all of Bob's neighbors on his cul-de-sac are selling their houses "for a bundle" and moving into retirement homes.  I dropped Bob off in front of the house he's lived in for thirty-eight-years.

"Nice to meet you, Bob. Be sure and drink a lot of water when you get in."

"Oh, I will. And I think I'll add a little scotch to it."





Thursday, September 15, 2016

These 2 Things


Today I want to share a couple of fun things I got to be a part of recently, all with some fantastic women.

The first one is this.

The other one is this.

I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to do some cool stuff.





Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Feeling Known


Sometimes one of your best people gives you something that fits and also fits. 




Tuesday, September 13, 2016

The Blessed 5-2


I'm 52 years-old today. Life has been super life-y this past year. I'm celebrating the good stuff and even the stuff that feels less than good because it's all part of the big, gorgeous, mess.

Yesterday, I went to lunch at my favorite LA-vegan-hippie-woowoo restaurant with my friend Karen. At this place they always ask a "question of the day." It's not an extemporaneous test, thank goodness. The server doesn't wait for an answer, just poses the question. Over the years, I've been asked what inspires me, what I am grateful for, and what do I delight in. It's all kind of ridiculous but I always answer the question in my head, because why not?

Yesterday our server, Cory, tossed off a question that felt deeper than usual. "What is your mission?" he asked. In between lunch and my on-the-house birthday dessert, it suddenly got real at our table. That question felt too deep for a quick one-word answer. I thought about it on the drive home. What was my mission?

Back when I was 46, I celebrated 23 years of sobriety. Because I was 23 years-old at the time I got sober, it meant that on that day at 46, I had been sober for half of my life. A young woman who knew I was celebrating my sobriety that day asked me, "How does it feel to have lived half your life in grace?" Her question took my breath away.

I've decided that my mission will be to live my life in grace. Under that umbrella of grace is love, kindness, forgiveness, patience, acceptance, and gratitude. I will absolutely fail sometimes, but grace will be there, ready to be claimed at each new moment, whenever I'm ready.






Monday, September 12, 2016

Banner Year


This year, there are no banners being made in Bob's soccer league. I don't know why. The coach's son took matters into his own hands and crafted this for the team. It's all kinds of awesome. Go Orange Crush!



Sunday, September 11, 2016

Smacksy Sunday Links

Last Night

To fall in love with anyone, do this.

The real Ruby Bridges.

Live more intentionally.

No, the internet has not killed the printed book.

What your sleeping position says about your personality.

And the world's cutest puppy sneeze.

Happy Sunday. 



Friday, September 9, 2016

Lovely Day


I interrupted my doctor's appointment to take this photo out the window.



Thursday, September 8, 2016

Antarctica


Bob: Why did you throw it in there, Desmond?

Desmond: I didn't mean to, it just went there. I'll probably never see it again.

Felix: How weird would it be if you went to Antarctica one day and found it inside a giant block of ice?

Desmond: I bet you a million dollars that will never happen.

Felix: What do you want to be when you grow up, again?"

Bob: Baseball player or architect.

Desmond: Yeah, architect. Why?

Felix: I just want to see if you're going to have enough money to pay that million dollars. You might need a different job.

Bob: If I'm a baseball player, I can loan it to you, Desmond.




Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Just Give Me a Minute


Sometimes you're getting over a cold and you have a little dry cough so you take "daytime" cold medicine. For some reason, in this instance, "daytime" is code for "knocks you on your behind." You have laundry to fold and some dishes in the sink and some calls to make and a trip to the grocery store waiting for you. Instead of all that, you fall asleep on the bed still wearing your shoes. But before that you take a sleeping selfie because you're going to write a post about this. And you do.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Named


"We finally named the team tonight."

"Did you guys go with The Orange Oranges?"

"No, we went with Orange Crush."

"That's a good name."

"Or Orange Crushers. No, wait. Orange Crush. No, wait. I don't remember. It's something about oranges and crushing."



Monday, September 5, 2016

On Labor Day


Walk a fallen log in the woods.
Finish that library book before it comes due.
Learn about the history of Labor Day.
Listen to a podcast.
Call an old friend.
Eat dinner outside.
Meditate.
Play Frisbee with the dog.
Try a new recipe.
Make your holiday list.
Go for a swim.
Watch a movie.
Compliment a stranger.
Draw an old-school selfie.
Ride your bike.
Drink coffee on the front steps.
Buy some handmade soap on Etsy.
Plant fall bulbs.
Dance like you used to.
Hug your people.

















Sunday, September 4, 2016

Smacksy Sunday Links


The Unprocrastination Challenge. This will be good for so many things.

Extreme downsizing.

Miracle Messages - reuniting the homeless through social media.

Dressing in late 14th century armor. 

Elderly married couple committed to dressing exactly alike.

And the 33 fluffiest animals on the planet.

Happy Sunday.



Saturday, September 3, 2016

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Rosenbergs Represent


We retired the Star Wars decal family with the station wagon. This is the answer to Bob's question, "But without the red car, how will people know it's us?"

Friday, September 2, 2016

Reminder


Last fall, I had a mammogram. I was then told I needed a follow up diagnostic mammogram. Further, I needed an ultrasound. My results were inconclusive and I was to come back later, next year. That later was yesterday.

I had yet another diagnostic mammogram and another ultrasound. As I reclined on the table for the ultrasound, not moving, with my right arm over my head, the technician let me know I was, "doing a good job." A good job of what, exactly? I wondered what a bad job would look like. Twitching? Excessive wiggling? The test took no more than five minutes. I checked out just fine and the radiologist could see no problems. Exhale.

This is sort of about wrapping up my little story from last year, but it's more about you. It's a reminder for you to get your tests done. Men, this means you too. Depending on our ages and previous outcomes, we all have things to attend to. My next stop? Colonoscopy. I probably won't write about that one. If you're lucky.







Thursday, September 1, 2016

Sold


We sold the station wagon to the place we got the new car from. They paid us $300.00. American.