Stealing from Christina, here's my list and it's been updated since I posted on her site...
…waking up to, “Time to get UP mommy!” and the tug of my hand
…pancakes with my boys and off to the park
…reading my book club book, The Glass Castle, which is really good
…cold glass of chocolate milk
…snoozing while reading
…chicken noodle soup and bbq baked lays
…my daily diet coke (down to one and almost not missing it)
…organizing photos on my mac
...a nice one-mile walk through the neighborhood
…the amazing race
...a new iPod from T (too nice and too much and I love it)
…story time and evening sing a long with Em at the day’s end
...finishing my book
...darn near perfect day
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Love Thursday
Through surfing and coasting, I have come across what appears to be a small but wonderful blogging tradition in a small corner of the blogging world - it's called Love Thursday. From the few posts I have seen about it, it appears to be taking a day each week to celebrate love - in whatever mode or format you desire. Started by a woman in the Caribbean, it seems to be a beautiful tradition.
Just like beauty, love is everywhere. This week I am celebrating Love as Accomplishment (in Emerson getting his first ribbon ever - for backfloating all by his big boy self!)
Happy Love Thursday everybody!
If you would like to see the leader of Love Thursday, visit http://www.chookooloonks.com
Just like beauty, love is everywhere. This week I am celebrating Love as Accomplishment (in Emerson getting his first ribbon ever - for backfloating all by his big boy self!)
Happy Love Thursday everybody!
If you would like to see the leader of Love Thursday, visit http://www.chookooloonks.com
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
My Newest Obsession
Guilty Pleasures have long existed in my tv and movie worlds, but now, they cross over into the World Wide Web, thanks to YouTube. What a cornucopia of random self-expression-exploitation-information-newsy-gunk (SEEING). I of course am not in this group because the videos I post are just for family and not for the viewing hungry (or more likely bored) public such as me (as a viewer, not as a poster).
Take tonight for instance. After uploading a sweet video of Emerson saying night-night, I blew a half hour just watching videos. Most of which are totally random and really add no value to the world, entertainment or otherwise. But then I came across some real gems:
1. Jennifer Aniston's chat with Oprah - pretty much entertainment value alone as I learned she and Vince are still together (thank goodness), she did not get a boob job and that she's partnering with Glamour Magazine to direct short films about life-changing moments for everyday women like me. Woah. That was worth the 6 minutes and 14 seconds I spent glued to my (you)tube.
2. Manufacturing Beauty - this was a clip that seems to be made by the Dove people (in their Campaign for Real Beauty) and it's really great. It's fast-forward video of a woman getting her hair and make up done and she looks good and all that. But then her image is totally photoshopped - more hair, eyebrow lift, raise cheek bones, plump lips, yadda, yadda, yadda and she now looks like a supermodel. This is nothing new - we all know those supermodel chicks are air-brushed. But a compelling two and half minutes of video.
3. Lazy Monday - HIGHlarious spoof to Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell's Lazy Sunday SNL skit where they rap about the Chroni(what?)cles of Narnia. Produced by (and co-starring) cutie patootie Mark Feuerstein (What Women Want, In Her Shoes) and a buddy of his, the two hit the West Coast and give Andy and Chris a run for their funny.
I can see this is the start of a beautiful friendship...
In Other Blogging News
It may be time for me to lay off the Starbucks. Case in point: Saturday Emerson and I are running errands after his swimming class - where he actually swam (woo-hoo) - and as we drove by a Starbucks my not even 3 year old son said, "Mommy drink!"
Aye, Yaye, Yaye!
Take tonight for instance. After uploading a sweet video of Emerson saying night-night, I blew a half hour just watching videos. Most of which are totally random and really add no value to the world, entertainment or otherwise. But then I came across some real gems:
1. Jennifer Aniston's chat with Oprah - pretty much entertainment value alone as I learned she and Vince are still together (thank goodness), she did not get a boob job and that she's partnering with Glamour Magazine to direct short films about life-changing moments for everyday women like me. Woah. That was worth the 6 minutes and 14 seconds I spent glued to my (you)tube.
2. Manufacturing Beauty - this was a clip that seems to be made by the Dove people (in their Campaign for Real Beauty) and it's really great. It's fast-forward video of a woman getting her hair and make up done and she looks good and all that. But then her image is totally photoshopped - more hair, eyebrow lift, raise cheek bones, plump lips, yadda, yadda, yadda and she now looks like a supermodel. This is nothing new - we all know those supermodel chicks are air-brushed. But a compelling two and half minutes of video.
3. Lazy Monday - HIGHlarious spoof to Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell's Lazy Sunday SNL skit where they rap about the Chroni(what?)cles of Narnia. Produced by (and co-starring) cutie patootie Mark Feuerstein (What Women Want, In Her Shoes) and a buddy of his, the two hit the West Coast and give Andy and Chris a run for their funny.
I can see this is the start of a beautiful friendship...
In Other Blogging News
It may be time for me to lay off the Starbucks. Case in point: Saturday Emerson and I are running errands after his swimming class - where he actually swam (woo-hoo) - and as we drove by a Starbucks my not even 3 year old son said, "Mommy drink!"
Aye, Yaye, Yaye!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Good
1. It's almost the weekend.
2. I got a totally cool mini camcorder and made my first video of Em tonight. It's super easy to use. I can't wait to send it out.
3. October nights and mornings - this is why we live in the desert.
4. On Oct. 11 Em made his first tinkle in the potty at school. Awww.
The Bad
1. Emerson has yet to take any real interest in using the facilities at home.
2. The wood chips in Em's playground at school seem to get transported to home in his diaper, butt cheeks, shoes, pants, whatever. We are being taken over by wood chips.
3. Uh-oh. My first film of Em is only 2 minutes but 22MB making e-mailing the file a bit ridiculous.
The Ugly
1. No real ugly right now. What a good thing!
1. It's almost the weekend.
2. I got a totally cool mini camcorder and made my first video of Em tonight. It's super easy to use. I can't wait to send it out.
3. October nights and mornings - this is why we live in the desert.
4. On Oct. 11 Em made his first tinkle in the potty at school. Awww.
The Bad
1. Emerson has yet to take any real interest in using the facilities at home.
2. The wood chips in Em's playground at school seem to get transported to home in his diaper, butt cheeks, shoes, pants, whatever. We are being taken over by wood chips.
3. Uh-oh. My first film of Em is only 2 minutes but 22MB making e-mailing the file a bit ridiculous.
The Ugly
1. No real ugly right now. What a good thing!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Evening Poem #7
Waiting for the Light to Change
The first thing I notice is her platinum blonde hair
flattening against her brush
Stroke after stroke after stroke.
Thickly smudged kohl
at once defines and defiles her tired eyes
that have seen more heartache than I know.
She takes a long drag on her cigarette
and exhales the failures of her day away
in a stream of smoke that lingers only slightly.
What story would she tell
were she to have the opportunity,
were she to have an audience?
The light turns green and I lurch forward
leaving behind an unanswered question
at one moment so important
only to vanish as I navigate my way home.
The first thing I notice is her platinum blonde hair
flattening against her brush
Stroke after stroke after stroke.
Thickly smudged kohl
at once defines and defiles her tired eyes
that have seen more heartache than I know.
She takes a long drag on her cigarette
and exhales the failures of her day away
in a stream of smoke that lingers only slightly.
What story would she tell
were she to have the opportunity,
were she to have an audience?
The light turns green and I lurch forward
leaving behind an unanswered question
at one moment so important
only to vanish as I navigate my way home.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Lara's Musts for October
1. Self Care
2. Reflection
3. Celebration
Watch
The Bachelor: Rome - It's the guiltiest of trashy tv pleasures!
Read
The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken
Listen
Keane: Hopes and Fears
2. Reflection
3. Celebration
Watch
The Bachelor: Rome - It's the guiltiest of trashy tv pleasures!
Read
The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken
Listen
Keane: Hopes and Fears
Monday, September 25, 2006
Evening Poem #6
Take my hand and follow me
through the brightness of the day.
Open your eyes and take it all in.
Slow down and listen
to the harmonies around you.
They are the symphony of right now.
Stop for a moment and savor this,
for everything we experience is once-in-a-lifetime
never to be repeated in exactly the same way.
through the brightness of the day.
Open your eyes and take it all in.
Slow down and listen
to the harmonies around you.
They are the symphony of right now.
Stop for a moment and savor this,
for everything we experience is once-in-a-lifetime
never to be repeated in exactly the same way.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Evening Poem #5
Fall
It's the first day of fall in the desert.
We accelerate onto the freeway
and I roll the windows down.
The pureness of the day bursts through
loudly taking over all I can hear.
But it's your squeals and giggles that tickle my ears.
And as I look in the rear view mirror,
the only thing I can see is you smiling.
It's the first day of fall in the desert.
We accelerate onto the freeway
and I roll the windows down.
The pureness of the day bursts through
loudly taking over all I can hear.
But it's your squeals and giggles that tickle my ears.
And as I look in the rear view mirror,
the only thing I can see is you smiling.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Evening Poem #4
High Dive
Carefully placing one hand after the other, I make it to the top.
I tug and adjust in all the right places and am ready to go again.
A confidence sweeps over me as I walk to the edge
pausing only to search the swarm of sunbathers for your eyes.
Crouching down, springing up, pushing off
and sliding seamlessly into the cool water
I push all the air out of me.
Decending brings a calmness quickly turned into anxiety.
I am never sure I can make it back to the surface
but the air comes faster to me every time.
Walking back to the the car your hand squeezes my shoulder.
My hair smells faintly of chlorine
and we recount the perfectness of the day.
I don't realize this is the last summer I will do this.
The last summer free of self-consciousness
When girls are girls and boys are boys
and there really isn't any difference.
Carefully placing one hand after the other, I make it to the top.
I tug and adjust in all the right places and am ready to go again.
A confidence sweeps over me as I walk to the edge
pausing only to search the swarm of sunbathers for your eyes.
Crouching down, springing up, pushing off
and sliding seamlessly into the cool water
I push all the air out of me.
Decending brings a calmness quickly turned into anxiety.
I am never sure I can make it back to the surface
but the air comes faster to me every time.
Walking back to the the car your hand squeezes my shoulder.
My hair smells faintly of chlorine
and we recount the perfectness of the day.
I don't realize this is the last summer I will do this.
The last summer free of self-consciousness
When girls are girls and boys are boys
and there really isn't any difference.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Evening Poem #3
Imprint
Reaching across decades of memories,
she hands me the flesh-colored circle
hardened with my tiny handprint.
Her eyes are damp, face soft.
Do you remember making this?
Looking at it closely, I do.
Thirty years have passed since I pressed my hand
into the cold, damp clay and held it there,
creating a permanent keepsake of my childhood.
Part of me will always be her baby.
Watching you make your own imprint on this life
I know that part of you will always be mine.
Reaching across decades of memories,
she hands me the flesh-colored circle
hardened with my tiny handprint.
Her eyes are damp, face soft.
Do you remember making this?
Looking at it closely, I do.
Thirty years have passed since I pressed my hand
into the cold, damp clay and held it there,
creating a permanent keepsake of my childhood.
Part of me will always be her baby.
Watching you make your own imprint on this life
I know that part of you will always be mine.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
A Poem a Day - My New Personal Challenge
I have been inspired by a super creative woman and mother who also blogs (Christina). She's the one I got the Robert Bly poem from as well as the idea for this latest venture. Bly has a collection of Morning Poems, poems that he wrote at the start of each day. Christina and other readers of hers have taken to the challenge, and I too am going to attempt -- with one small caveat. Those of you who know me, know I am terrible at mornings. So, I am going to try an Evening Poem each day for the rest of the month; the first was my Surrender poem, posted yesterday. Below is my next attempt.
Evening Poem #2
LATE
Checking the clock, my heart accelerates.
Exiting the office shuts down one part of my day;
and with the start of my car, another begins.
Brake lights insinuate a false start;
and the push and pull of rush hour ensues.
My knuckles pale against the steering wheel.
It's one dollar for every minute past 6.
As I race inside, your face brightens
filling me up, filling up my heart.
The clock reads 6:04.
Evening Poem #2
LATE
Checking the clock, my heart accelerates.
Exiting the office shuts down one part of my day;
and with the start of my car, another begins.
Brake lights insinuate a false start;
and the push and pull of rush hour ensues.
My knuckles pale against the steering wheel.
It's one dollar for every minute past 6.
As I race inside, your face brightens
filling me up, filling up my heart.
The clock reads 6:04.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
My Second Attempt at Poetry
Surrender
Every day my list grows.
Each item I check off
Celebrated yet diminished
By the additions.
Mundane tasks and errands
Always make the list.
Leaving the important things
Fighting for inclusion.
Tonight I stop the struggle
for a moment of quiet
blanketed by the darkness
whispering lullabies to you.
Every day my list grows.
Each item I check off
Celebrated yet diminished
By the additions.
Mundane tasks and errands
Always make the list.
Leaving the important things
Fighting for inclusion.
Tonight I stop the struggle
for a moment of quiet
blanketed by the darkness
whispering lullabies to you.
As I Lay Me Down to Sleep...
...it's the last line that's so important.
Things to Think by Robert Bly
Think in ways you’ve never thought before.
If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message
Larger than anything you’ve ever heard,
Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.
Think that someone may bring a bear to your door,
Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a moose
Has risen out of the lake, and he’s carrying on his antlers
A child of your own whom you’ve never seen.
When someone knocks on the door, think that he’s about
To give you something large: tell you you’re forgiven,
Or that it’s not necessary to work all the time, or that it’s
Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.
Things to Think by Robert Bly
Think in ways you’ve never thought before.
If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message
Larger than anything you’ve ever heard,
Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.
Think that someone may bring a bear to your door,
Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a moose
Has risen out of the lake, and he’s carrying on his antlers
A child of your own whom you’ve never seen.
When someone knocks on the door, think that he’s about
To give you something large: tell you you’re forgiven,
Or that it’s not necessary to work all the time, or that it’s
Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Good
1. The great mix I made to play for dinner at next week's leadership retreat my department is responsible for hosting.
Tio Pepe by Bona Fide
I've Got You Under My Skin by Michael Buble
Cold Cold Heart by Nora Jones
Summer Samba by Astrud Gilberto
Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Buble
Belle by Jack Johnson
Kissing a Fool by Michael Buble
Remember Me by Peirera, Heitor
Summer Wind by Michael Buble
Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones
Desafinado by George Michael
Quando, Quando, Quando by Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado
Popsicle Toes by Diana Krall and Michael Franks
I've Got a Crush on You by Steve Tyrell
I've Got the World on a String by Frank Sinatra
Don't Know Why by Nora Jones
You Don't Know Me by Michael Buble
It's Not for Me To Say by Johnny Mathis
It Had to Be You (Instrumental) by Harry Connick, Jr.
I'll Be Seeing You by Steve Tyrell
The Bad
1. My work schedule for the next two weeks.
The Ugly
1. Emerson's legs which were dessert for some nasty mosquitos. Pobrecito.
1. The great mix I made to play for dinner at next week's leadership retreat my department is responsible for hosting.
Tio Pepe by Bona Fide
I've Got You Under My Skin by Michael Buble
Cold Cold Heart by Nora Jones
Summer Samba by Astrud Gilberto
Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Buble
Belle by Jack Johnson
Kissing a Fool by Michael Buble
Remember Me by Peirera, Heitor
Summer Wind by Michael Buble
Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones
Desafinado by George Michael
Quando, Quando, Quando by Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado
Popsicle Toes by Diana Krall and Michael Franks
I've Got a Crush on You by Steve Tyrell
I've Got the World on a String by Frank Sinatra
Don't Know Why by Nora Jones
You Don't Know Me by Michael Buble
It's Not for Me To Say by Johnny Mathis
It Had to Be You (Instrumental) by Harry Connick, Jr.
I'll Be Seeing You by Steve Tyrell
The Bad
1. My work schedule for the next two weeks.
The Ugly
1. Emerson's legs which were dessert for some nasty mosquitos. Pobrecito.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Move Over Gwyneth, I Have My Own Baby Apple
A couple of weeks a new baby entered my life - my mac mini. You could say that I adopted her so that her former parents could trade her in for a newer, younger, faster model. That's sometimes how life works out.
Despite some initial sleepless nights and us getting used to each other, I think we are going to get along just fine. I have even included a picture of her for you all to see.
She's really small, but packs a pretty good punch.
Remember, looks can be deceiving.
Despite some initial sleepless nights and us getting used to each other, I think we are going to get along just fine. I have even included a picture of her for you all to see.
She's really small, but packs a pretty good punch.
Remember, looks can be deceiving.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Lara's Musts for September
Read:
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - I am reading it for book club and am loving it
Listen:
Beautiful Girls. I think it's some new band and I am liking the stuff I am hearing.
Watch:
Monsoon sunsets. It's a beautiful thing.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - I am reading it for book club and am loving it
Listen:
Beautiful Girls. I think it's some new band and I am liking the stuff I am hearing.
Watch:
Monsoon sunsets. It's a beautiful thing.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
What I am Loving Right Now
1. My so scrumptious I can eat him up like a medium cookies and cream gelato amazing wonder kiddo, Emerson. Tonight at dinner the kid just out of the blue sang over half of the alphabet song with no previous attempt, hint or nuthin'. Gosh he is GREAT.
2. Speaking of gelato...the Cookies and Cream homemade gelato from the Gelato Spot. Heaven and better for me than ice cream unless I consume more of it...
3. The Last Kiss Soundtrack cd that Tristin gave me. I can't stop listening to it. Period.
4. Bobby pins. At 34, they are my new hair friend that I seriously wonder where Goody has been hiding my entire life.
5. The ice cold, low fat chocolate milk that I am savoring as I type this.
6. The New Adventures of Old Christine. She just won an Emmy - but I assure you, it's funny.
7. The summer monsoons - with more to come this week and the anticipated conversation with my little dreamboat: "Thunner mommy? Lightming, mommy? No lightming. No lightming mommy."
8. This is Not Chick Lit. Good thing I started reading it since it's on my must list. And it's a must my friends, a must.
2. Speaking of gelato...the Cookies and Cream homemade gelato from the Gelato Spot. Heaven and better for me than ice cream unless I consume more of it...
3. The Last Kiss Soundtrack cd that Tristin gave me. I can't stop listening to it. Period.
4. Bobby pins. At 34, they are my new hair friend that I seriously wonder where Goody has been hiding my entire life.
5. The ice cold, low fat chocolate milk that I am savoring as I type this.
6. The New Adventures of Old Christine. She just won an Emmy - but I assure you, it's funny.
7. The summer monsoons - with more to come this week and the anticipated conversation with my little dreamboat: "Thunner mommy? Lightming, mommy? No lightming. No lightming mommy."
8. This is Not Chick Lit. Good thing I started reading it since it's on my must list. And it's a must my friends, a must.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Emerson at Two and a Half
Words ramble through your brain
over your tongue
and out into the world
a new one or two or few every day.
Bug bites, scrapes, rubs and cuts
stick to you all over you
blemishing your once-perfect skin
giving you scars and character and experience.
Your need to do it, "I do it Mommy!"
takes over now and competes with me
yielding varying results
the smile of success or the sadness of surrender.
The Wild Things, Curious George, and Thomas the Train
fill up our nights snuggled under covers
while the softness of your voice
follows along with me page after page after page.
You live with passion and excitement
knocking me down as I bend down
hugging your body charging toward me
toward your day
toward your life.
over your tongue
and out into the world
a new one or two or few every day.
Bug bites, scrapes, rubs and cuts
stick to you all over you
blemishing your once-perfect skin
giving you scars and character and experience.
Your need to do it, "I do it Mommy!"
takes over now and competes with me
yielding varying results
the smile of success or the sadness of surrender.
The Wild Things, Curious George, and Thomas the Train
fill up our nights snuggled under covers
while the softness of your voice
follows along with me page after page after page.
You live with passion and excitement
knocking me down as I bend down
hugging your body charging toward me
toward your day
toward your life.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
I Just Don't Get It
1. Why is it that when you are most up in arms about what to do with your hair, or you are sick of it, is it that everyone notices how great it looks? Cynthia and I were talking about this on Sunday. And you know what? The compliments dont' really help - they actually only confuse matters. But Cynthia had great hair on Sunday and I had great hair on Friday and I am still not sure what I should do about my bangs.
2. Why aren't movies like Little Miss Sunshine on a wide release schedule?
3. Why have I been feeling really weird and out of it the past few days (hangover symptoms without the booze) and a fever on Sunday? Weirdness, sans fever, persisted today.
4. All the fighting in the world.
5. Trigonometry.
6. Where in the good Lord's name did I put my special contact lens cleaning case?
7. Something keeps grazing the kitchen window and it's not windy out. CREEPY.
8. Why I am so freaking tired.
2. Why aren't movies like Little Miss Sunshine on a wide release schedule?
3. Why have I been feeling really weird and out of it the past few days (hangover symptoms without the booze) and a fever on Sunday? Weirdness, sans fever, persisted today.
4. All the fighting in the world.
5. Trigonometry.
6. Where in the good Lord's name did I put my special contact lens cleaning case?
7. Something keeps grazing the kitchen window and it's not windy out. CREEPY.
8. Why I am so freaking tired.
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