Things I Miss Most About My Car

I never really thought of me as a real car person. But now that my beloved Highlander is damaged goods sitting at the tow lot awaiting an evaluation...AND...while I am driving a not so beloved Dodge Nitro...I am compelled to make a list of the biggest misses I have for my dear car.

1. Steering Wheel Radio Controls. Despite the sense of luxury, they really are safer than leaning and reaching for the dial. Really.

2. Auto running lights. Every night since having the rental car, T has had to remind me to turn my lights on. I am a hazard waiting to happen.

3. My comfy seats and smooth car-like ride. The Nitro is a bit lacking here being as boxy and stiff as it is.

4. My Sarah Bareilles CD and Emerson's We Are the Dinosaurs - Whaddya Think of That? CD. Thank goodness for iTunes and the ability to reburn cds.

5. My Oprah and Friends XM Channel 156 radio. This is probably the biggest adjustment. Her friends are my friends. They talk about everything I want to talk about. And now it's like they have left for summer vacation and we can't catch up until Fall.

Big Things

Lotsa big stuff going on in our little corner of the universe...

1. We bought a new house. It's got everything we could want and more. We close on September 21 and can't wait to start calling it home sweet home.

2. Emerson started going poopy on the toilet at home. All he needs is a little privacy (and sometimes some books) and he seems to have it.

3. I have been reading more now than ever and it feels really good.

4. We went to a movie...The Bourne Ultimatum...and loved it.

5. I finished up my postcards for Karen's postcard project. A picture and more on this shortly.

Good Things

KIDDO: Every day on the way home from school, I ask Emerson how his day was. Last week for the first time ever... after he told me about his day, he says, "Mommy? How was your work?" I gushed of course and looked back at him telling him how sweet he was to ask only to have him thrust his finger at me and say, "Look, mommy! I got a booger!"

GADGETS: I got a cool new phone, a Palm Treo! iPhone, shmiPhone. I will wait until a second release...

KIDDO, PT 2: One of my favorite parts of a Saturday is putting Em down for his nap only to hear him reading books. He gets most of the stories right from the sheer fact that we have read most of them 19 million times; but, it's also great to hear him switch things up and put in his own stuff.

MUSIC: Sara Bareillas, Little Voice - Fantastic debut. Artists never want to be compared, but if you haven't heard of her, she's a mix of Fiona Apple and Maroon 5. Interestingly enough she's opening for Adam Levine and the boys on their current tour.

KIDDO, PT 3: You never think you are going to talk so much about poop, but when you have a kid, you surprise yourself. Emerson is fully, daytime potty trained, but Number 2 is another story. He has advanced to knowing when he has to go, but is very embarassed. When the time comes, he discreetly asks for a diaper and to be left alone in his room where he will lie on the floor playing with his cars or reading (so this is where it starts!). Over the past week, though, we have made a smidge of progress...we have advanced to going on the toilet, but while still wearing a diaper. Keeping my fingers crossed this kid won't be wearing Depends in high school.

BOOKS: I am reading something I should - as an adult, as a citizen of our great country - Food Fight: A Citizen's Guide to the Farm Bill. But I must say it's not something I would have picked up on my own. Thanks to Book Club for keeping me current and informed. But the Libra in me needs balance and a little bit of fun, so I am trading off and going back to summer in New York in the 40s and am enjoying Marjorie Hart's Summer at Tiffany.

Discoveries

The past handful of days have been disproportionately focused on work, but in that time I have also uncovered some little gems that bring a smile to my face:

- Podcasts. Okay, I realize that podcasts have been happening for a while but I really kind of just ignored them and figured I didn't need yet another thing to spend my money on. Well, it turns out that I should have been paying more attention. It turns out that every week that I miss Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion broadcast on NPR, I can actually download it, FOR FREE, and get each week's monologue to enjoy at my own pleasure. I have even subscribed, FOR FREE, and will get each week's monologue on my iTunes and, with the ease of syncing, my actual iPod. I am sure that there are a number of other podcasts I would love to get, but I am going to take it easy and savor this new found treat.

- Drive + Play. In other iPod-related news, my friend Scott found a way to route your iPod through your car speakers via your satellite radio. This reduces the need to buy any type of FM transmitter or the like. It works like a charm and I can hear all of my music, or newly downloaded podcasts, while en route anywhere.

- Taylor James. Not to be confused with James Taylor, Taylor James is a female performer who has two albums out that really seem to only be available through iTunes. She's really great and would probably be better classified as a folk singer. I found her through researching some music for a Father's Day mix and I am thisclose to buying both of her albums after previewing her songs.

- Emerson is a couple of pounds and a couple of inches from eschewing his car seat and graduating to the uberbigkid car accessory - the Booster seat. We are thrilled at this prospect and may start stuffing him more to speed up the process.

What new things have you discovered?

I've Been Tagged

I was tagged when I read Cynthia's Blog...

An alliterative meme:

Your name: Lara
A Country: Lebanon
Song Title: Landslide
An Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci
A Reason to Stay Home from Work or School: Lovesick
Something you'd see at a Zoo: Lost Lads
A Snack: Lemon Drops
A Character in a Book: Lolita
Something Icky: Loogies
A Six-letter Word: Laughs
Something Breakable: Lipstick
Non-Alcoholic Drink: Latte
Something you Whisper: "Love you."

Weekend Recap

It had all the components of a pretty perfect weekend:

*Saturday morning swim class and Master Emerson actually paid pretty close attention.
*Joining T for Centennial Days at UPS (click link for more) and Em got to sit in his first big rig.
*Early evening at the park with sand squishing between your toes, desert flowers lighting up under the emerging moon and a happy boy in our sight.
*Lunch and catch up with a good friend.
*Lazy reading on Sunday and finishing another book.
*Ending the week content, starting the next refreshed.

Busy Bee, Busy Me

The last few weeks have been teeming with activities, tantrums, milestones, funny sayings and more. It's only now, as the little one sleeps that I can attempt to recount it all. A list will have to suffice.

**Emerson graduated from being a Little Snapper to a full-fledged Goldfish. The result is bittersweet. Mommy no longer has to get in the pool with Emerson, and Mommy misses that 30 minutes of action-packed, water-soaked quality time. Looking on from the 'bleachers' has its great moments and and ones that keep me longing.

**I survived another crammed work week. Every quarter we get a major project that requires one - three late nights. The good news was that only one was required, and it was a long one!

**Emerson turned the B-I-G T-H-R-E-E. Party at school, party with the family, professional pics (his best ever), and big-boy 'tude. I have heard the terrible twos can take until 4 to subside. Deeeeeeeep breaths.

**I got to reconnect with a childhood friend that I haven't seen since childhood (as in about 30 years ago). How lovely, that she's cool and creative and geniune and down to earth and all the things you want someone from your past for which you have fond memories to really be.

**Tomorrow will be the first day Emerson goes to school fully commando. Okay, not totally commando. He WILL wear big boy underpants and jeans, but no pull up. AT ALL. We are to arm his teachers with four changes of clothes. Let's hope our kiddo isn't the one to think it's cool to wet himself...

Holly Jolly Recap - Stand out moments from 12/25

1. This is the first year that our almost 3 year old is starting to get it. Although, he was more interested in eating the cookie remnants from Santa's visit than looking at the presents Santa left.

2. Wearing comfy jammy pants all day long.

3. Cinnamon Rolls.

4. Bigfoot Memoir, mistakenly wrapped for Emerson when it's clearly adult fare - Chuckle Chuckle.

5. Emerson taking more interest in T's Shiatsu chair pad than his own toys.

6. Patti LaBelle's divine mac and cheese recipe.

7. Walking through the neighborhood and taking some casual family shots with my new zoom lens.

8. A long afternoon nap (and the fact that all of us were able to take one).

9. Getting in some much wanted reading.

10. Talking to family we don't have the luxury of spending the day with and recapping our respective hooplah.

11. Tickle time.

12. Christmas night in the Southwest. High 60s and clear and, well, just see below for yourself...

Top iPod Tunes of 2006

Following Deejah's cue, I am listing the songs that topped my mp3 player of choice this past year.

25. Your Latest Trick - Dire Straits
24. Quando, Quando, Quando - Michael Buble f/Nelly Furtado
23. Tio Pepe - Bona Fide
22. Hold Me Now - Wayne Wonder
21. Adelaide - Old 97's
20. Light Up My Room - Bare Naked Ladies
19. Is She Really Going Out with Him - Sugar Ray
18. Jump - Madonna
17. La Belle et le Bad Boy - Mc Solaar
16. Ghost in You - Mark McGrath
15. The Only Living Boy in New York - Simon & Garfunkel
14. A Summer Song - Chad & Jeremy
13. 1985 - Bowling for Soup
12. Everybody Wants You - Josh Kelley
11. Sitting, Wishing, Waiting - Jack Johnson
10. Lebanese Blonde - Thievery Corporation
9. You Got the Love - Candi Stanton
8. Nothing Left to Lose - Mat Kearney
7. Wish You Were Here - Ryan Adams
6. Ride - Cary Brothers
5. Pain Killer - Turin Brakes
4. Hearts and Bones - Paul Simon
3. Home to Me - Josh Kelley
2. Chocolate - Snow Patrol
1. Got to be Real - Cheryl Lynn

My December Musts

1. Get all my Xmas shopping done in enough time to avoid rush shipping.
2. Finish There is No Me Without You for Book Club.
3. Slow down and just be.

READ
The History of Love

WATCH
Brothers and Sisters - if only to see the killer house

HEAR
Sarah MacLachlan's Wintersong

Love Thursday - Thanksgiving Style

Love is...an embrace.



This photo was taken yesterday at Emerson's school Thanksgiving Lunch for families. It was a beautiful day (80 degrees!) and we got to dine outside on traditional Turkey day fixings. Emerson was most interested in the cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and playing with his friend Aidan.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for so many things. All of the obvious ones, family and friends, a good job, my health (despite the Whooping Cough), but here are some others...

1. Music - I like having an ongoing soundtrack for my life. Music is celebratory, reflective and therapeutic.
2. Good books. I feel fortunate the the last several I have read have been really good.
3. That while there are many things I want, I truly have everything I need.
4. The patience I am continually embracing.
5. The silliness and wonderment of toddlerville.
6. The help, support, and humor that I get from so many.

For more Love Thursday, click here