Under the Weather

I'm on the tail end (hopefully) of a 24-hour bug (hopefully). This guy is helping.

On Being a Baseball Mom

It started with T-ball when Bob was five. My job was to buy him a (tiny) glove and (tiny) cleats, get him to practice and games and cheer him on from the bleachers. Those first few years in the stands, I learned a lot about the importance of (SPF30) sunscreen and a (giant) sun hat.

As Bob moved into club baseball in addition to Little League, I was volun-forced into keeping score - first on traditional paper scorekeeping templates, then on an app. Because I had yet to internalize the rules, this was a big stretch for me, requiring a lot of time and error and strenuous use of the "un-do" button on my phone. My sunscreen use became more stringent (SPF 50) and the brim circumference on my sun hat reached peak life guard standards.

When Bob began playing for multiple teams, every day was spent in the stands at various fields. We traveled to exotic places with names like Covina, and El Monte, and South El Monte. We drove to Las Vegas (SPF 100) and flew to Hawaii (Zinc broad spectrum coverage). My hat of choice resembled that of a bee keeper.

Mr. Rosenberg and I had, at best, rudimentary knowledge of the game going into this baseball experience, but now find ourselves watching MLB games on TV even when Bob isn't home. I'll let you sit with that for a moment. I understand what WHIP stats are and know the ins and outs of the infield fly rule. Who am I?

Through baseball, and the hard-work of terrific coaches, the boys learn teamwork and perseverance, how to work hard towards specific goals, push physical limits, and how to implement change from constructive feedback. As a baseball mom, I can say I've learned the same. The other parents and coaches are my team. I can wrangle a complicated carpool map with ease. My hat of choice is now a large golf umbrella. I have an extreme farmer tan. The inside of my car looks like a Big 5.

Baseball is shaping Bob into a responsible young man. and I wouldn't trade my own experience for all the sunscreen in CVS.

It's Time

Fall ball has started, y'all.

It's international Dog Day, Apparently

Here I am with one of my International Dogs.

Smacksy Sunday Links

A story is my favorite way to read a recipe.

Claiming quiet in a loud world.

10 Steps to help you enjoy daily life.

How I ate a plant based diet on $5 a day.

America's last drive-in movie theaters.

And a seal on a kayak.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: This Guy

Nice camo work, Tiny.

Dry

It has taken me a long, long, long time to figure out the reason the grass in the backyard is dry and the plants are lifeless: Our automatic sprinklers have stopped automatically sprinkling. Since I don't know when.
I'm a regular Sherlock Holmes.

Keeping an Eye Out

When Mr. Rosenberg is on the phone, Mr. Rosenberg likes to be pacing. When Mr. Rosenberg is on the phone, Levi likes to be watching.

Goof

What is even going on right now?

Livin' the Dream

Q: What Sounds like the punchline to an old joke, but isn't?
A: I spent the day at the DMV in Rancho Cucamonga.

Bye Old AC

Look! Up in the air! It's our old AC unit attached to a giant crane, sailing off into her next life. She served us well, until she didn't. We salute her and welcome temperatures under 88° back in the house.

Smacksy Sunday Links

America has never been so desperate for tomato season.

Finding flow through simplicity.

The art of stillness.

A meal plan is what makes my life a billion times easier. Here's one.

Photos looking down from a bridge on the Seine.

And a pile of sleeping kittens.

Happy Sunday. 

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Nap Weirdo

*snore*

No A/C: Day 31

Apparently Levi explained to Teddy how this whole fan thing works.

Fan Guy

Update: HVAC still out. Levi still hogging fan.

Another, Same Moon

Maybe I like looking at the full moon from the front steps so much because as much as the world keeps changing down here, the moon seems to stay the same up there.

You Should Come to Cortes Island

Remember that time last September when I went to the most beautiful place in the world (Easy first place) for a writing retreat with the ridiculously talented, Janelle Hanchett? Remember how I learned so much? How I had a life changing week? I'm going back again next month, this time to teach with the ridiculously talented, Janelle Hanchett. Our focus will be on humor writing. The class has filled, but the lovely people of Hollyhock will make room for a few more folks and what I'm saying is, you should totally come. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say it's a once in a lifetime situation. The class. The scenery. The salad dressing. Just do it. Here's more information about it. You can thank me when you get there.

Hot Hot Hot

We remain un-airconditioned. Today was our ninth visit from a repairman. He is the second (4th) opinion that we need a new system required by our home insurance. He will file "the report" and then we start in with the insurance again and this time we hope we'll come out of it with cooler air. In the meantime, we're sitting in the dark, in front of the fan, watching the baseball game. Could be worse.

Smacksy Sunday Links

The legacy of Toni Morrison.

There's only one thing better than a lot of money.

How to stop shopping. 

Georgia O'Keefe in the wild west.

And capybara in a pool. 

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photos: Backyard Tomatoes

Not from our backyard. The critters ate most of our tomatoes, but Bob's friend sent him home from a sleepover with these beauties from his family's backyard.

Oh, Hi

The return of the 67 pound lap dog.

Motorist

This guy in the Honda is the only thing that could improve the look of my amazing, super clean windows.

It's Getting Hot in Here

Here in Southern California, the weather has been in the 80s and 90s recently. Yesterday we received a visit from our 4th air conditioning repair company in the last three weeks. It's a whole kerfuffle involving nine different service calls and many phone conversations with our home insurance. All of this has resulted in still no working air conditioning.

The only ones not actively complaining about the situation are Teddy and Levi. Levi especially is great at judging the trajectory of the breeze of the standing fans in the house and then laying directly in front of them, hogging the cool air. Since he's the one wearing a fur coat, we're letting it slide.

The next repairman is scheduled for Monday "morning," some time between 9:00am and 2:00pm. Watch this space.

My Colorado Airport Guys

Cutest.

Bikes on the Lawn

I love coming home to bikes on the lawn because I know Bob and his friends are inside the house.

Smacksy Sunday Links

Everyone has a story.

Morning phone breaks.

Walking, the easy superpower.

Things people say to their dogs.

The people of Ethiopia planted 350 million trees in a day.

The most jaw-dropping train routes in the world.

And beautiful horse pictures.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Valhalla

Where it all happens.

Coors Field

Tonight we took Bob to see his favorite baseball team, the Colorado Rockies. We've seen them play many times before but this was the first time we saw them play in their home field. The clouds stole the show.

Seriously

Who's a good boy? This guy.