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."

June Book Club Broohaha

The second Monday of the month is a most favorite day for me. I get to connect with some great gal pals and dish over usually fabulous food about a usually fabulous book. We were two for two tonight with the tasty food at the Cheesecake Factory and a divine piece of fiction - The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich. It's one of those kinds of books and she's one of those kinds of writers that you instantly want to pick up everything she's written and keep taking her in.

But until I have a bit of a break, we are on to the next selection: The Three Junes by Julia Glass.

Not so Happy Feet

My little piggies needed major attention today. They were haggard and chipping and just deserved some TLC. Off to a new pedi place (which I hearted mucho). The gal loved on my feet and scrubbed the callouses away, brushed on a beautiful, bright, berry lacquer, painted on some darling little flowers that had me saying, aloha and mahalo and it was just what Dr. Scholl's ordered.

Imagine my utter shock and dismay when I just looked down at my precious piggies (click pic to enlarge for full effect)...



I don't even recall the slightest of bumps, swipes or stubs.

Well CRUD

I have become the person I most didn't want to become. No, no, no - not my parents (that's pretty inevitable, right?) I have become a blogging hypocrite. I used to kindly suggest, send friendly notes to some of my dearest blogging buddies, saying,

"Yoohoo. Hey there. I know you're busy, but you should update your blog - I would love to know what's going on in your world."

Funny though, they always read it as,

"Uhm, can you take a minute and update your blog? I am tired of clicking over to it ONLY TO FIND THAT IT STILL HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN TWO DAYS/WEEKS/MONTHS/YEARS. If it's going to sit dormant, why even have a blog?!?!?!?!"

They say perception is everything.

Anyway, back to my lament. I have turned into the lazy blogger and I have no one to blame but myself. I guess I have been busy (actually, I know I have). It's possible I haven't been inspired (well that's true too). It's come to me in a ray of clarity that I haven't updated my blog for the same reasons my friends often don't udpate theirs.

I hang my head over my keyboard in shame and vow to do better.

The Blessing of Patience

I have never been a really patient person. It's something that's worsened as I have gotten older; the desire for results and immediacy often marring my attitude and view. And then Emerson came along and then challenges between T and me that forced me to slow down and embrace patience. I have had to redefine success and focus on the day at hand not the ones that may come my way. Or may not. It has felt slow--painfully slow--at times. And yet, I know I am on this journey to learn and this is one of the lessons I am to take with me.

So, after much time caring for Emerson and his dysphagia, after training myself that a plateau can be a good thing (it's better than regressing, remember), after reminding myself to walk the careful balance between hope and realistic expectations, we had movement today. Movement to the plus side of the page. Movement that will expand Emerson's diet into a greater realm of normalcy and one that tonight, let him drink from a straw.

Happy Easter!

Easter

Drops of color swirl and glide across our gloved hands
and slowly stain the delicate shells of still-warm eggs.

Two of them tumble to the table and crack;
Your little hands still learning the weight
of delicate and fragile and gentle.

The light comes through the glass and showcases
the beauty of these miniature works of art
you helped me create.

You can't even see the fractures.

____________________________________________________________

It was a great Easter weekend. Beautiful weather, stunning flora and a reasonably cooperative toddler.



Saturday was pretty cool, too. Click to see if you agree.

Weekend Highlights and Lowlights

* Emerson got a private swim lesson on Saturday due to the mere fact that his three other classmates failed to show up. He was in heaven having Coach Adriana all to himself. His placement in heaven resulted in some spot-on swimming too, and he emerged from the pool wielding his second ribbon - awarded simply for being Awesome.

* A trip to the bookstore, a favorite place of mine, and a well-behaved toddler to boot! Until, that is, we ran into one of his daycare buddies and the two began running and reeking havoc. A quick check out and McDonald's lunch diversion put a stop to, "But I want to wait for David, Mommy!"

* We went to dinner at one of my favorite places for comfort food and for the first time - EVER - I ordered my chicken grilled and not as breaded tenders or as a steak (read: chicken fried steak). This is huge and may need a descripter more important than highlight.

*Picked up everything needed for Emerson's Easter basket, sans the candy and the basket.

*Emerson cried from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. complaining of an ear infection. It was the saddest thing to hear him pleading to go to the doctor and asking for medicine. Rough night for our bleary eyed little guy. Meds kicking in and some self portrait fun livened him up and we were all asleep by 2 a.m. See below...

My New Celebrity Boyfriend

First, I need to thank Tristin for setting me up on my first celebrity date. This was several months ago and it was a serenade, if you will, by THE John Mayer. I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when he showed up and sang like 12 songs just for me. And they were all perfect and resonating and left me all warm inside and thankful. Not for the results in life, but for the moments, the precious moments that make a life.

So anyway, we really hit it off and all and imagine my devastation that he's actually pretty seriously inolved with someone. And that he sings his songs to millions. Not just me. MILLIONS.

A girl can dare to dream and as I close my eyes in wonderland, let me leave you with one of John's gems...

The Heart Of Life from Continuum

I hate to see you cry
Lying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears
And listen

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good

You know, it's nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
But, then your circle of friends
Will defend the silver lining

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it's good

DUMB - OUCH! - REALLY DUMB

So, I decided that since I had to leave work early today, I didn't have time to do the whole gym workout, but I could go out for a 20 minute walk. It's nice out today and my loafers are comfortable enough. No, no, NO, I do not need to get the tennies and socks that I have IN MY CAR. at the ready. I will be fine. Really.

I take off to go around the half-mile loop of the business park, for which there is no re-entry point along the way. Halfway around, the balls of my feet are on fire. I take off my loafers and walk in the grass along the side all the way back. I returned to my desk with uniblisters stretching across the balls of both feet.

WTF was I thinking?? I have ruined my potential for walking the rest of the week until these heal.

My sweet friend went out to my car for me to get my socks and tennies so I could be semi-comfy the rest of today.

At almost midnight my feet are quietly throbbing. Oh so quietly.

Okay, I am done whining.

Good Reads, Good Site

I received a nice surprise today... an e-mail from a friend of mine that I haven't spoken to in forever, inviting me to join this site called Good Reads. The site enables you to rate and track what you have read, are reading or want to read. Then, like Netflix, you can invite friends and see what they are reading, recommending. You can write reviews or just rate books.

When something like this comes my way, my usual tendency is to go in and account for everything. But, in my new effort toward simplicity, I simply rated the books I have read since November, and have to read in the coming months, per book club. I am going to keep this clean and simple. No matter how much it hurts!

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.

Candy Hearts Go Virtual

No chalky taste and you can personalize them!

Make Your Own Candy Hearts Here.


Kudos to Cynthia for the cute idea!

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...

Bet You Didn't Know I was a Royal

The internet proves it!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Entirely Miss Reverend Lady Lara the Charming of Hoptonshire by Leer Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

This is Kinda What My Life is Beginning to Be Like

Yep this is pretty much My Life.

Tee-hee.

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...

Love Thursday

Love is birthday party balloons in an array of colors...

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

Ha!

Karmageddon: It's when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, and then the Earth explodes and it's a serious bummer.

- Washington Post Mensa Invitational