When I was a little kid, we moved from Indiana to Florida when I was in the 3rd grade. I remember living in a slew of places before we settled in the house I lived in for the longest period I can remember - in Kissimmee. In the early 80's, it was a HUGE house (small for today), and I remember, it had an incredible 'Florida Room' - a screened in porch off our dining room. We had a table out there, and ate many dinners there in the 8 years on Flag Drive.
Anyway - no matter where we lived, my Mom (when my folks were married and for many years after their divorce) had a GAGGLE of plants. Maybe it was the Florida thing - I don't know...but she always had tons of green, leafy, live plants. Especially in the house on Flag Drive. Our Florida room was FILLED with them. She took immaculate care of them.
As always with adulthood, you're only thankful for the things of your childhood once you're grown. I remember those plants making my home so full of life - and so welcoming, every single day of my life.Once we settled in Florida, my maternal grandmother, Nana, came for a visit - once, sometimes twice - a year. Inevitably, the first thing she did every time she walked in the door from the flight, was to circle the house, inspect the plants....pull off the dead leaves and water them. It was something I never even took notice of - other than the fact that Nana always had dead leaves in her hands....and was just as into (if not more) plants as Mom was.
This Friday is my Mom's 61st birthday - and on February 27th, it will be a year since Nana passed away. Mom, Seb and I feel like we've lived a lifetime of memories since she went Home - and Mom and I talk about her, daily. Seb and I decided we'd love to see Mom for her birthday, so she got a ticket and flew out to California. She's with me 3 days, and with Sebby & Kayla for 4.
I picked her up from San Jose this afternoon - we had a late lunch/early dinner with my girlfriend, Heather, and her Mom & Granny (who are visiting from Mississippi).
After we ate, we drove the 90 minutes south to Monterey.Mom walked into my house, petted Chester and then....
...tended to the plants.
Mom, Nana and Me - March 2006 (the last time I saw her)
Toma's Favorite Song Today: "A Million Dreams Ago" by Glenn Miller (for Nana)
HARRABLE! It's 1am and I've begun my annual week of no sleep. That's just how I roll, and it's fine. No rhyme, no reason, and just get sideways like that. You're the big winner, though! I get inspired and I write and you're fortunate to get to hear my inner monologue.
For a short time.
Random Items:
1. I am now, officially, showing my age. I am addicted to (big sigh)...talk radio!!!! I can't believe I am just now getting it. Here's the thing, as I have mentioned in previous posts, I don't read. I don't watch the news. I don't subscribe to the newspaper*. I'm completely uninformed and I don't care. If it's really THAT BIG of a deal, it will be on the cover of People. Or my Mom will tell me. HOWEVER (pause for effect), my friend, Michele, turned me on to Armstrong and Getty. They're a team that have been together since we actually had radio dials - and they're now based out of Sacramento. Thanks to the digital generation, because I can't tune into Sac'to from this far away, I Podcast them daily. They cover it all - news, politics, celebs, random foolish people, et al without the nauseum. And you know what?
I'm informed.
Neither of them claim allegiance to the right or to the left - neither of them claim any particular religious affiliation. They report, comment and move on. I love it. And they are HEE-LAIRRRR-RIOUS. From what I understand, they are both Ivy League graduate-types, both AGAINST socialism (YESSSSS!), and are both musicians.
I'm on board.
2. Celebrity Rehab - Reality Show
Ohsweetmarymotherofoursavior.
This is an absolute DREAM of reality television. I just saw an interview last month where a pastor's wife said, "People that watch reality TV are people that don't want to get up off the couch and participate in their own lives."
And that's bad? Really?
I am those people. (I mean the couch people, not the addict people - see that diatribe here)
I realize that I lose points with smart, elitist-types when I claim my allegiance to reality TV. But, you know what, elitist-person? That's what makes our country great. The freedom to choose.
I just feel mid-elitist because I now balance it out with talk radio every day.
But, I digress.
I won't go into the details - but this show....this delicious, addicting (rim SHOT!) show is pure heaven. You've got Kenickie/Bobby Wheeler who is, LITERALLY, hanging on for dear life. This guy, God love him...is ON AGOOD ONE. I just still can't get over that scene in Grease, where he's got that monster Zippo - and he was the coolest of the cool, even though he almost planted a biscuit in Rizzo's oven in the movie. That was soooooo cutting edge in 1978.
And look at him now.
The rest of the celebs?
Don't matter.
Oh yeah! There's a Baldwin in there - he's been clean for X months, but wants continued sobriety and wants to be sure everyone in rehab KNOWS that HE KNOWS it ALL.
Just ask him.
Oh. Yes. And OH! DR. DREW PINSKY. Yum. Me. Especially tonight when he came in to talk Kanickie out of leaving - he was off duty - out of the doc clothes and....um.....well, black tee shirt. Ahem. Nice guns. 3. Election Bring it, bring it, bring it!!! I adore every single second of this, and I am learning so much (You see what talk radio has done for my life?). I usually try to give you my original, very best on this blog, but....when I read my friend, Chebra's, blog today....it was as if somebody gave her the keys to my head. She summed it up so perfectly and so eloquently, so I'm going to borrow her:
Getting excited for the election, getting REALLY excited that so many people are involved! Hooray for citizenship!!! Alexis deTocqueville would be proud. I am of course more interested in the General election after the primaries, when people stop trying to distinguish minor nuances within the same party (I don't think Hillary was trashing Martin Luther King Jr. And I don't even like Hillary). But I love that people are talking about the issues. I am starting to get minorly offended by the talk that America is not ready for a woman president... I by all means am not against a woman president. I'm a card carrying member of the Independent Women's Forum after all. I am not for Hillary Clinton. That does not make me a misogynist or a Bush fanatic.... it just means I don't like her. And guess what? I'm allowed to not like her. That's the best part of America! I have much more political commentary in my head right now... but for now, I'm just excited that people are talking about it.
4. Exercise = Endorphins? What the?....Who the? Again, I am at one with my couch. It's no secret. I won't go into the long, drawn-out saga...but let's just say, I am out of my funk. Out of the "I had the flu and it lasted a month" out of the "No I'm not sad the holidays are over and I'm still single - I just want to sleep for 12 hours a night. GET. OFF!!". Yeah, it was noooooo bueno. But, I'm back in business, baby! I'm all in! Ready to be an active participant in my own life.
And I got moving. I went back to spin class and I've never felt better. New class, new teacher, and I'm on my way.
5. Book Recommendation Yes, even read a book. You see? Times are changing. Go here and see a fellow blogger, Laurie, who lives and knits L.A. Laurie is a gifted writer, and she's actually published her blog into a BOOK!! You can see about that here! My review? Loved it, loved it, LOOO-HHH-OOO-VEDD it! Although not divorced, and owner of a dog...I still related to this book. I love how brave she was to write her story. MY story. My favorite line in the book [when she soberly refers to eating everything in sight when you're depressed] "...it is no longer good for me to do things that are bad for me." Sure, it sounds simple. But - oh, the resonance. Love it.
Although I am drawn to knitting, I'm not sure my A.D.D. is. Stay tuned.
6. I will leave you with my favorite nugget - this came from my favorite talk radio show via You Tube. And it's pure holiday delight. Merry Belated Christmas, ya'll...
"SANTA CLAUSSSUH NEVER COMES DOWN A CHIMNEY WITHOUT PRESENTS!!!"
Hope you enjoyed my insomnia-tic litany. It's 2am and I have to work in the morning. So pass me my Ambien whilst I watch a UFC Champion go through withdrawals. Goodtimes.
Toma's Favorite Song Today: Mr. Sandman by...zzzzzzzzz.......(I fell asleep trying to find the artist. YOU KNOW THE FLIPPIN' SONG!)
*ADDENDUM - I now subscribe to the Sunday paper. Although I say it's so I can be more informed, it's really for the coupons and the Parade magazine. I lie to myself. And it's good.
I am forwarding this on....from my baby brother, Sebastian...
As discussed in a earlier email a friend of mine from Mariners Church, Reed Dickens, (who used to be the Asst. Press Secretary to George W. Bush) has co-produced this documentary titled "Article VI - Faith * Politics * America". The DVD is now available.
Last night I had the privilege to view the film at a special screening here in Newport. WOW, what great insight and examination of a national conversation that has been ongoing for centuries, Faith & Politics, and how they work together.
If you are unclear about the in depth details of both subjects, this film will help you to better understand.
We all like to think we know what is what and who is who in the upcoming 2008 primary, but when it comes to faith, it is quite the mess, take the time, spend $20 and educate yourself on what's really going on.
I am planning to host an additional screening of the film in the upcoming weeks in the Orange County area for those that were not able to attend last night and would like to know more about it. The screening will conclude with a Q&A session with the producers.
Stay tuned for updates, as I will be sure to keep you all posted on the details.
To order the DVD today for $19.95, click here: (no I don't make money for referring you)
Every American with a pulse needs to see it before they vote.
Make a difference with your vote this coming year!
Please forward this to everyone you know, you'll be glad you did!
So - a vicious windstorm came through northern California last night - to me, the semi-native Floridian, it was just a little breeze. To the native Californian, it was a hurricane. Strong winds, some heavy rain, and we lost power for 24 hours.
Under normal circumstances, I would be fine. I don't prefer it, but I'd be fine. When the power goes out, I can go to bed at 6pm and not feel bad about it.
When I'm alone and the power goes out, I can read. Read BOOKS.
Which I never do. I only read on planes or beaches. Or when the power's out with my itty bitty book light.
How very "Little House on the Prairie".
As I said, under normal circumstances, no problem.
But I had company.
One of my very closest friends from Korea, Joey "Eggs" Benefiel was here; along with his wife and two boys. They are en route to a new duty station at Fort Lewis, Washington. Originally, they were to stay Thursday night, and get on the road Friday. But, Mother Nature had other ideas. Although I was sorry their travels were delayed by a day, I was thrilled at the thought of spending more time with them. The power went off around 11am, and we spent the time by the fire, playing backgammon and catching up/laughing about old times. I cannot think of children I'd rather be with! At 7 and 4, they were absolutely wonderfully behaved. Most kids would be bouncing off the walls! Not the Benefiels! The Benefiel children cozy up on the floor and cuddle with your dog.
What are your questions?
It just says so much about Joey and Taryn as parents. I am so proud of them. Good on ya!
I told them this before they left: there's not many people I can be stuck in a house with, without power. But I'm glad it was them.
Thank you for the fantastic time, Benefiels! Come back soon, I love you all!!
Mom, Nana and Me - March 2006
