Friday, March 31, 2017

Ted Said What?


Possible captions for this photo:

"I'll be right back, I'm headed in to eat the delicious bathroom trash."

"Sirens are coming down the street, my howling will commence shortly. Prepare to be entertained."

"I'm done tail-dusting the chair, shall I do the piano bench next?"

"Did you guys hear the mailman? I'm pretty sure I heard the mailman. Please stand back while I protect us from the mail."

"There's a disgusting smell in the backyard. Will you let me out so I can find and eat whatever is making that disgusting smell?"

"Hold on a minute. Are you actually going to finish that sandwich without giving me the last bite? Who ARE you?"

"If anyone needs me, I'll be on Bob's bed licking my nethers. As usual."

"I have secured the perimeter. I am now ready to stare at you while you use the restroom. Let's go."






Thursday, March 30, 2017

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

I Left My Heart


I was standing in the kitchen this evening making a little 10:00pm coffee. While I waited I took some time to really stare at this little treasure. The previous owner left this hanging on a wall near where we keep the coffeemaker. I have always been in love with it. It doesn't belong to me, it belongs to this house.

This little flower stand scene in San Francisco is drawn by Ted Lewy, a man from Prussia who traveled to San Francisco in the 1950s and fell in love with the city. He has painted many other scenes, most often of nature and architecture of the west coast.

Perhaps because I grew up in Northern California, this particular little scene is especially dear to me. As the coffee brews, I take a step inside the picture and imagine what Ted Lewy's early 50s San Francisco might have looked and felt like. I know the sound there - the clanging of cable cars, traffic, seagulls. The smell of saltwater and the cool damp of the fog sitting on your skin. I am the lady dressed in red, buying yellow roses from a man with a cap, my hand inside a glove, clinging to my pocketbook.

And then, my coffee is ready.




Tuesday, March 28, 2017

You're Welcome, Pasadena Community Urgent Care

The worst thing about spending three hours at Pasadena Community Urgent Care on Sunday night was of course, seeing Bob in pain. But a close second, was this:


Who are the barbarians responsible for this arrangement? How is a person supposed to accomplish any level of pain management in a room with this kind of unholy, lopsided flier presentation?


I made it a full forty minutes before I had to take matters into my own hands.  


I think we can all breathe a little easier now.





Monday, March 27, 2017

For Pete's Sake


My friend Garth saw the bandage on my hand today and asked if I'd been in a blogging accident.

My hand hasn't been feeling better since the fall so I went back to the doctor today. Having an MRI later this week. We'll see what's up.

Yesterday Bob was playing catch with Mr. Rosenberg and caught a pop-fly with his nose. Spent some time at urgent care last night. The x-ray revealed that his nose wasn't broken so that is excellent. Today he's just swollen and sore.

In the meantime, Bob has a bandage on his nose and I have a bandage on my hand so together we look like we got in a fight.

We're just a mess.

This too shall pass but in the meantime thank goodness for acetaminophen.






Thursday, March 23, 2017

It's National Puppy Day


Did you think I'd let National Puppy Day go by without a Teddy photo? Of course I would not. Here is Teddy enjoying a road trip.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

You Are My Favorite

Thank you for this terrific card, Ann.


So you, you reading this? This is about you. (I think you will recognize yourself.)

You are smart and you know how to make me laugh.

You are kind, caring, and you have a beautiful smile.

You have a way of making other people feel important.

You are extremely creative.

You do many things well and the things you don't do as well, you make up for in joy.

You remember all of the important stuff.

You would rather get along than be right.

You have eyes that have seen the world.

You know how to have a good time.

I am so grateful to know you.

You are my favorite.









Tuesday, March 21, 2017

No Question


"So, Bob. What do you like more - Pokémon GO or baseball?"

"Mom? Are you kidding? Baseball is the best thing in the whole world."



Monday, March 20, 2017

Very Vernal


I found this tree photo on my phone. I didn't take it on purpose. I think it's one of those photos that happens by accident when you didn't shut down your camera like you thought you did. So, a tree selfie. With today being the first day of spring, it only seems appropriate that this lovely spring-ish photo would show up from nowhere.

In honor of the new season, today I decided to do spring cleaning. I got as far as straightening my underpants drawer before I got tired and sat down with some spring coffee. It's a start.

Welcome, spring.



Sunday, March 19, 2017

Smacksy Sunday Links


Hotel Room/Writer's Assistant


A "new" (previously unpublished) short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Baking and cooking makes everything better.

This artists replaces billboards with photos of the landscapes they're blocking. Genius.

And a polar bear and his green bucket.

Happy Sunday.



Friday, March 17, 2017

Kiss Me, I'm Super Irish


My great-great grandparents the Sullivans, or more accurately, the Ó Súilleabháins. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day.



Thursday, March 16, 2017

A Sa-weet Scrimmage Single



I hope you're getting used to it, folks. There's going to be a lot of Smacksy baseball happening here for the foreseeable future.



Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Spectators


"What are you guys watching, Bob?"

"Baseball."

"Right."

"I mean, you really had to ask, Mom?"





Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Just One Thing


I read an article today about doing just one thing at a time - really being where you are, doing the one thing you're doing and nothing else. I know this is basic Mindfulness 101, but it's still so hard to do.

This evening, I sat at Bob's baseball practice and watched. I watched the guys play and I watched the wild parrots fly in formation overhead and I watched the sky change colors as the sun went down. I felt the air shift from hot to mild and then - and then I tried to capture the moment by taking this picture and then the moment was lost.





Monday, March 13, 2017

Why?


Ted was hanging out in the backyard after dinner. When he came in, he looked like this. Something weird and brown and slimy smeared across his head. Nowhere else. What was it? I couldn't tell and he wouldn't say.

It's okay. I don't think I really want to know.




Sunday, March 12, 2017

Friday, March 10, 2017

Book Club


I belong to two book clubs. They each have different personalities, different traditions, and rarely have any of our chosen books crossed over from one club to the other. I have been in one club for five years, one for six. Both of my invitations to join the clubs were from moms I met in Bob's pre-school.

I read the monthly book selections about 60% of the time, but I always try to show up for the clubs whether I've read or finished the book or not. I just adore these ladies and the chance to get to hang out with them. When we get together, I always learn something and I always get to laugh a lot. And often, there's cake.

Oh yes, and books. I love books.





Thursday, March 9, 2017

Slide!


"Dad stopped at RiteAid on the way home and picked up some epsom salts for you."

"What are epsom salts?"

"They're little crystals you dissolve in your bathwater to help sore muscles. I thought you might need them because you guys were practicing sliding today."

"Oh yeah. They probably invented them for that."









Wednesday, March 8, 2017

It's International Women's Day


Happy International Women's Day to all of you lovely women and men that know women. I celebrated International Women's Day by doing no laundry and no dishes and no cooking. I didn't even make the bed. I visited with some friends, had some nice meals, watched Bob's baseball practice, and felt intense gratitude for the women in my life.

It was an excellent day.









Tuesday, March 7, 2017

It's Called a Wrist-O-Prene™

The product of an extremely glamorous selfie photo shoot.

Today, I voted. In our city, there was only one measure on the ballot this election, but it was an important one. The majority of the poll workers at my voting place appeared to be in their 80s. My favorite lady was wearing a fancy blouse with small bedazzled American flags on it.

Anyway.

That ridiculous face-plant-fall I had the other day? Turns out I have a concussion and a wrist situation so the doctor has instructed me to wear a splint on my wrist for two more weeks. The octogenarian handing out the "I Voted" stickers today took a look at my wrist brace and earnestly asked, "Bowling injury?" I replied that I had tripped on the sidewalk.

Sticker Guy was visibly disappointed that I had not actually had a bowling mishap. I wish I would have just said, "I had an out of control axis tilt on a baby split in the fourth frame." Or even, "Yes."

Obviously, I need a better story.

Ideas?









Monday, March 6, 2017

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Smacksy Sunday Links


Mr. Rosenberg and I lived on the 6th floor of this building in Korea Town during our first year together. 2005.

A guide to the basic anxiety of life.

What do we do with the clothing of grief?

This old cement factory is now a breathtaking home.

The reason you keep killing your succulents.

Monet's pond.

And this pug.

Happy Sunday.



Friday, March 3, 2017

Oh, Duck

I ordered this tiny guy to slip into a small Easter basket gift I'm assembling.

He arrived today.

Apparently, I didn't read the dimensions correctly.





On the plus side, if I put him in the passenger seat, I'll be able to use the carpool lane.




Thursday, March 2, 2017

Musical Mysteriousness


Last night, the guys and I sat together in the living room. Bob and I were in the big chair, watching this awesome band on the computer. Mr. Rosenberg and Teddy sat on the couch.

We all heard it.

Mr. Rosenberg's ukulele that lives on top of the piano, made a sound. It sounded as if someone had plucked one of the strings. No one had touched the ukulele in at least a week. Nothing had fallen on it and yet, it did make a sound.

We all heard it, but none of us could explain it.

Can you?




Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Take a Knee


I first learned about "taking a knee" when Bob played soccer. When one of the players from either team was injured, the players stopped the game and were told to kneel down (take a knee) until the injured player was up and off the field.

In January, there was a lot going on over here. Good stress and bad stress but stress is stress and it takes it's toll physically and emotionally. I was ready for a re-set in February. I looked forward to starting the new year over with the new month. I took it easy for a few days and then it was business as usual. I powered through.

On Saturday I was taking Bob to his baseball lesson. I took off in a jog towards Bob who I had told to walk ahead while I got my bag out of the car. My left foot hit a bump in the sidewalk and I went flying. I came down hard on my knee, hip, hands, wrist, and face. Bob came running to me. I lay on the ground, stunned for a minute or so. He checked to see if I felt like I had broken anything. Bob found my phone and I texted Mr. Rosenberg to come pick us up. I knew I needed to get home and that I wasn't in shape to drive. Bob was a champ. I was a mess.

It's been four days since my fall and the recovery is taking longer than I had anticipated. I thought by Monday I'd be back in the swing of things. Not so much. My wounds are healing but I'm feeling exhausted and beaten up. This morning I told Bob that I had go to a meeting at 9:00. He answered, "No you don't." He was right.

It's time for me to take a knee. For myself.

I'm doing as little as possible and trying to be okay with that. Easy to say, harder to do. But for now, every day is pajama day. It'll take as long as it takes and perhaps a little longer.