Jalapeno Peppers and Green Tea

My oldest boy’s voice is cracking like Peter Brady.  [OMG, I am really 33 years old.] He sustains life solely on hot pockets and frozen chocolate chip waffles (his choice not mine).  He is getting an A+ 100% in Algebra in the 7th grade.  He amazes me the way he makes school look like cake.

I bit into a Jalapeno pepper whole heartedly at the most esquite baby shower I’ve ever been to.  It left me red faced and in tears from the fire on my tonque and lips.  Milk is the only cure.  Just because I am 30-something doesn’t mean I have ceased doing stupid things.  Sometimes I wish it does but, then life would be boring.

I saw Beck at the Hollywood Bowl which I thought was excellent.  Thom will tell you and his guitar geeks he was not impressed.  Yes, you can take a bus from Lakewood to Hollywood Bowl for $5.  You may bring alcohol.  Yes,” bottles and cans, clap your hands, Clap your hands.”  I have related to Beck for a long time.  I don’t know how many times I insisted to anyone who listen that I had a Jazzersize shirt back in the day.  Had to be there.  My age right now is really bizarre.  When I was 14, I watched Thirtysomething  When I go to concerts and see the young hipsters I feel Grandma and wizard like at the same time.  I feel that all of this knowledge and history and I have absorbed is too much and I want to spill it all out everywhere.  Blah blah blah.  I want to have the strength to give up alcohol and meat.  I want to give up food for that matter. Eating is for pussies.  HA ha ha ha ha.

I’m tired. ‘I will tell you about the Green Tea and most embarrasing work moment in my life later.

Stopping to smell the Dahlias

Some times when you leave a job unexpectedly it’s like jumping out of an airplane and wondering if your chute is going to open or not. Some people call it blind faith. Some people call it courage. Some people call it stupidity.

I have been spending my days at home with the boys and it has been swell. Noah went to the OC Fair with his friend on Tuesday. Aaron and I had a special date just the two of us at Starbucks. Sammy is growing into a tall slim preteen all of 12. He has been texting a girl! Holy Smokes! Daughter-in-laws in my futures, oh my!

Yesterday I took the kids to the Getty to see Maria Sibylla Merian & Daughters: Women of Art and Science. Yay, Women! Hooray Bugs! We had a great time wondering around the Santa Monica hillside stepping on the Travertine Blocks.

Next year two will be in Junior High, One in the Fourth Grade. They are growing up very fast.

They were a lot of crazy flowers to stop and smell.

Blue Spark

Last Wednesday I met my mother-n-law with the kids at the worlds tallest thermometer. The thermometer read 108 as I rushed the kids inside Del Taco for cover from the burning soleil. “We’re across from the Alien Jerky,” I told her as we collaborated a meeting spot. The kids were anxious to get out of the car. I was anxious to get the whole drive over with since I had to work in the morning. Plus, It was our first night of freedom. What do people without kids actually do?

Wednesday night we just stayed home and rested.

Thursday I went out with the work girls to El Torito and had a delicious raspberry mojito.

Friday, dinner at Marisa’s Mexican Food followed by a quick stop into a local dive.

Saturday the heat was unbearable. We headed down for Venice Beach. I walked up and down the sidewalk with four blisters to find that our favorite spot had a line out the door with never foreseeing to seat people. We just wanted a cold beer and place to take off my shoes that were now torture devices for my feet. Damn it if i were to just wear flip-flops. The lack of pedicure dictated a loud “NO!” (Later Thom offered up his own shoes.) We finally settled at a place that had the cheapest hamburger and the most expensive pitcher. We were glad to sit some where and gaze at the ocean. Later on we went to our friend Brian’s where I had too many beers. Our landlord is flirting with the idea of selling our home. This and other pressures have made me sort of buckle emotionally.

Sunday the plan was kayaking with the jellyfish and a bbq at Thom’s co-worker’s place. The beer from the previous night made us miss the kayaking but I didn’t want to miss the bbq. Blue Sparks on the grill, smoke rising, and happy smells always make me feel good. We arrived at her cute place hidden away behind a beautiful old house that I desperately want to explore. Her place was decorated with beautifully selected low-brow art pieces with a mixture of framed vintage movie posters. I wanted to sleep and hydrate that day but our days were numbered until the kids get back. And even though the kids were gone other responsibilities were omnipresent. Cats were getting fixed to be picked up by 5pm. Monday loomed over us like a bolder ready to crush us.

So I had some vodka to kill the previous night’s pain. This hair of the dog was more like the whole dog. We had a great time and I most likely made an ass of myself and was really ill for two days afterwards. And all though I was convinced and mortified that I had humiliated Thom and co-workers alike. They convinced me otherwise. And my love for Thom has never been stronger. All of our faults and weaknesses smothered away in each other arms, in this house or any other place, we still have us. Oh and I think I have some new friends.

Sam is the Man

3 awards:

First Place Science -Individual

Second Place Super Quiz-Team

Fifth Place Over-All- Team

Family Life at the speed of Light

Kids had school projects all due the same week. Noah had to create a flip book of the solar system, complete with extra credit styrofoam comet. (Sam is working on his soda and mentos experiment). Aaron had to do a report on Meriwether Lewis. We have been going a million miles an hour trying to keep up with ourselves. Last weekend was x-ray school for 16 hours and a surprise baby shower. And at the end on Sunday, Thom and I saw The Raconteurs. It was the usual work week but on Friday, I had one kid home with a sore throat and then I had to give away a kitty.

I got news one brother is moving away to San Francisco and I only have this weekend to say Goodbye. So Vegas brother is down here chilling so we can have a proper, “Peace, Out!”

Christmas Crunch

Time is coming down to the big day. And I am just not feeling it. Even with the lack of Television to render feelings of exceptional gift givingly inadequancy… I am still feeling the bitter bite of financial fuck over. Fucking Urban Outfitters is selling a Charlie Brown replica Christmas tree for like $30 bucks. What kind of shit is that? That cost more than my Home Depot, 6-7 foot Douglas Fir.

You know I am feeling really down. Something about not being able to buy all of the things for the boys I would really like. In some ways, I should have opted out of the whole season like some new age hippie.

We got the tree up.  I got a few gifts. And I’m spent, literally.

Staying home sick

My Noah told me he was sure to cough while I was telling my boss I wouldn’t be in today. Although genuinely sick with a nasty cough and fever, He’s a genius. We layed around in our jammies for quite some time. He watched Jimmy Newtron while I oogled online discounts buys. Noah helped me pick out some goodies. Shhh. don’t say anything. It’s a surprise for Christmas.

We played one round of Battleship (I won), and four rounds of Connect Four (Noah won three!). I finally showered around 11:30 and drew a warm bath for the bubble boy.

What could top a warm bath than a lunch of strawberry waffles? Nothing, except maybe a sip of two of Good Earth tea. I sure love my bug!

Staying home sick is the best.

Sorry dude, you’re going back to school tomorrow. Mama’s gotta go back to work.

Home

The 15 fwy framed between my favorite pair of vans appeared harmless. At least on Wednesday it was as we made our way to Utah, Horchata’s birthplace. Horchata’s family have embraced me with warmth since I showed up at their door that October in 1994 with him to celebrate his 20th birthday. They didn’t know me but hugged me at the entryway, not the awkward tapping of shoulder blades but, big squeezes. We married within less than a year of meeting and the kids followed quickly after that, 3 in a row. Cousins asked us if we were Mormon or if we had heard of contraceptives. Young, stupid, in love, now with kids and a lot of debt. His family kept embracing and haven’t let go.

It was good to see them and the aunts, the uncles and the little cousins. Even good to see the fat cats and the old dog. Good to come home too.

Travel Baggage

Horchata and I are mulling over a Thanksgiving visit with some family out of state. Even with considering all the disappointments I’ve had with the past few times I’ve decided to travel, (3 times feeling guilty about leaving Horchata and the kids at home, 2 missed weddings, 1 abandonment by father), I still get excited about packing my hello kitty suit case and hitting the road.

Admittedly, I am an optimistic idealist with an unwaivering supply of hope. In the back seat I imagine 3 smiling children flipping through books or playing gameboys on silent. The car windows frame a wonder land scene in fast forward of: face make-up-tinted-desert-dirt swirling into Dancing Dust Devils with fellow entertainers, The Joshua Trees waving a warm welcome as our blue van noisily makes its way. The Flamming Lips is the soundtrack and sunglasses clad Horchata, is bopping his head as I speak inner truths and current revelations about myself.

In this fantasy there is no fighting, no throwing-up, no fast food wrappers up to my calves, and no strong lacking of cds. At least, there’s no missing Horchata and the kids, because they’ll be there, he won’t leave me behind, and there is no wedding jinx!

* I gotta get the girls together for non wedding adventure. In this fantasy I am 25 lbs lighter… more on that daydream later.

Hollywood Cemetery 2007

                                                            

Got an invite from my Pops to go check out the Day of the Dead at the Hollywood Cemetery this weekend. Fabulous.  The cemetery is 108 years old.  We ate at Piper’s restaurant with Horchata and kids in tow.

As soon as we stepped through the cemetery gates,

there was a beautifully bone-adorned car and Mariachis serenading us.  Happy, happy times.

My mother didn’t even want to her me discuss the upcoming trip during our visit the Wednesday before because said it was EVIL!

Absolutely no evil, mom.  Infact, it was a joyful family gathering filled with pregnant women dressed in black with faces painted in bone fashion.  Kids, gleefully running around the graveyard in and out between the tombstones like there were no roting corpses 6 feet below.

Later, I realized my dad’s nice button down shirt and black slacks were mere components of his costume to be  donned later at the Cemetery.

Bella was quite a hit.  Getting his picture taken by random on lookers.

I think my favorite decorated grave site was the one who’s love one passed due to breast cancer.  The alter was adorned with photos, flowers, candles, huge pink ribbons and bras. Other highlights include:  Johnny Ramone’s grave.

Next year, I will go early and get a better parking spot.  Thanks, Dad.