Today my husband Earnest and I got such a kick out of our 10 year old daughter Maria who is clearly a 'Valley Girl'. Maria was born here in California. Burbank to be exact.
Keep in mind, it's sunny and warm 345 days out of the year where we live.
We have our own seasons here. We have a rainy season, fire season, awards season...
For the last few days, the weather report mentioned rain. Which we very rarely get here in Southern California. Being the responsible parents that we are, we made sure Maria packed an umbrella in her backpack.
Well the weather report was right and it rained all day. When we picked Maria up from school this afternoon, she opened the car door and was suddenly panic stricken as she yelled out, "How do you close this thing?" (Referring to the umbrella.)
She's wrestling with the umbrella while trying to throw the backpack in the car and get in the car all at the same time. And upset because her jeans are soaking wet. She's clearly frustrated and on the verge of freaking out.
Earnest and I both looked at her and were bewildered by her question and strange behavior. Earnest calmly said, "Maria, you're ten years old, you should know how to use an umbrella!"
Then it immediately dawned on us, wait a minute, this is the same child who once asked us very sincerely and genuinely did not know, "What's a coat?"
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Joy of Eating and Sleeping
The other day I was thinking about my happiest moments and asked my husband, Earnest, "Babe, when am I the most happiest?"
He paused for a moment and said' "Oh, that's easy. When you're sleeping!"
I was shocked by his answer and refused to believe it. So he suggested that I ask our kids Lawrence, our 11 year old son and Maria, our 10 year old daughter. He promised that he would not prep them and that he was 100% sure that they would also come up with the same answer.
I turned my nose up at him and told him, "There is no way our kids will ever say that about me."
During the Super Bowl game today, I took a little nap during the second half of the game and when I awoke, Earnest and I both remembered my question about my happiest moments.
So, Earnest being the fair person that he is, asked the children, without leading them in any way, "Kids, when is mom the most happiest?"
Maria, thought about it for a minute and replied, "When you're eating and sleeping."
Lawrence, who couldn't wait to chime in, then put his two cents in and said, "Yeah mom, you're like a baby because you wake up and you eat and then you go back to sleep. And if you don't get your sleep and if the food doesn't taste good, even if you're the one who made it, you get mad!"
Who knew?
He paused for a moment and said' "Oh, that's easy. When you're sleeping!"
I was shocked by his answer and refused to believe it. So he suggested that I ask our kids Lawrence, our 11 year old son and Maria, our 10 year old daughter. He promised that he would not prep them and that he was 100% sure that they would also come up with the same answer.
I turned my nose up at him and told him, "There is no way our kids will ever say that about me."
During the Super Bowl game today, I took a little nap during the second half of the game and when I awoke, Earnest and I both remembered my question about my happiest moments.
So, Earnest being the fair person that he is, asked the children, without leading them in any way, "Kids, when is mom the most happiest?"
Maria, thought about it for a minute and replied, "When you're eating and sleeping."
Lawrence, who couldn't wait to chime in, then put his two cents in and said, "Yeah mom, you're like a baby because you wake up and you eat and then you go back to sleep. And if you don't get your sleep and if the food doesn't taste good, even if you're the one who made it, you get mad!"
Who knew?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Living With Anger
How mad do I need to get for my husband to know that I'm mad? I was mad for two days and my husband had no clue.
Clue #1: I didn't talk much on the ride to and from the Zen Center yesterday.
Clue #2: The cold shoulder treatment and unresponsiveness.
Clue #3: The glaring looks and stares.
Clue #4: Speaking only to him through the children.
Clue #5: Serving him his meals last and cold and only making my favorite dishes.
Clue #6: Only referring to him by Earnest instead of 'Babe' or 'Daddy'.
Clue #7: Not laughing at his jokes (which are very rarely funny).
Clue #8: Purposely not seasoning his food and serving him small portions only.
Clue #9: Taking longer in the bathroom than necessary...really long.
Clue #10: Leaving very little toilet paper on the roll and not changing it!
Clue #11: Pretending like I forgot to wash his draws so he would run out!
This morning, while I was in the kitchen, he came in to mess with me like he usually does. I turned away when he tried to kiss me, and said, "Leave me alone, can't you tell I'm still mad at you?"
Laughingly he replied, "You're mad at me?", "It's hard to tell...you're always mad!"
Clue #1: I didn't talk much on the ride to and from the Zen Center yesterday.
Clue #2: The cold shoulder treatment and unresponsiveness.
Clue #3: The glaring looks and stares.
Clue #4: Speaking only to him through the children.
Clue #5: Serving him his meals last and cold and only making my favorite dishes.
Clue #6: Only referring to him by Earnest instead of 'Babe' or 'Daddy'.
Clue #7: Not laughing at his jokes (which are very rarely funny).
Clue #8: Purposely not seasoning his food and serving him small portions only.
Clue #9: Taking longer in the bathroom than necessary...really long.
Clue #10: Leaving very little toilet paper on the roll and not changing it!
Clue #11: Pretending like I forgot to wash his draws so he would run out!
This morning, while I was in the kitchen, he came in to mess with me like he usually does. I turned away when he tried to kiss me, and said, "Leave me alone, can't you tell I'm still mad at you?"
Laughingly he replied, "You're mad at me?", "It's hard to tell...you're always mad!"
Monday, January 19, 2009
Greatest Day Ever!
Today was the greatest day ever! Our family spent the whole day down in Leimert Park, here in southern California, at the Annual Kingdom Day Parade in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Unlike the Tournament of Roses Parade, we were able to leave the house at 9:00 a.m. to secure a prime spot and didn't have to camp out over night! The parade started at 10:30 a.m. and usually lasts for two hours, but today it went on for hours. My last count was 240 entries at 2:30 p.m. and the parade had not ended! (The Rose Parade has only 89 entries!)
After the parade we walked over to the plaza and ate up! We had fried catfish, wings, french fries, sweet potatoe pie, snow cones, nachos, cotton candy, hot links, chips and well...let's just say that our family will probably have very bad tummy aches tonight!
What a wonderful feeling of excitement there was in the air. People were dancing, laughing, and just enjoying each other. The 82 degree weather was a treat as well as it was the perfect temperature for a perfect day. (I love LA!)
There were so many people there (of all ethnicities) and most of them were sporting Obama and Dr. King T-shirts. Mostly Obama.
I jokingly mentioned to Earnest, my husband, that I'd love to open a store and sell Obama-bilia! His popularity alone could probably bail us out of our national deficit!
Something was definitely very different about today's parade than others we have attended in previous years. There was a sense of hope and readiness for change. Long awaited change. You could feel it. People were so friendly and just wanted to celebrate. There was a true feeling of unity. A confirmation of a dream fulfilled. And that we should continue to dream and never give up on our dreams.
I'm sure that tomorrow's events of President-Elect Obama's Inauguration was on everyone's mind and it contributed to the excitement of the day.
As I looked out into the crowd and thought of everyone Dr. King touched, I could not help but feel grateful. Grateful to Dr. King and the many who made today's celebration of his dream - a reality.
Thank you Dr. King!
Unlike the Tournament of Roses Parade, we were able to leave the house at 9:00 a.m. to secure a prime spot and didn't have to camp out over night! The parade started at 10:30 a.m. and usually lasts for two hours, but today it went on for hours. My last count was 240 entries at 2:30 p.m. and the parade had not ended! (The Rose Parade has only 89 entries!)
After the parade we walked over to the plaza and ate up! We had fried catfish, wings, french fries, sweet potatoe pie, snow cones, nachos, cotton candy, hot links, chips and well...let's just say that our family will probably have very bad tummy aches tonight!
What a wonderful feeling of excitement there was in the air. People were dancing, laughing, and just enjoying each other. The 82 degree weather was a treat as well as it was the perfect temperature for a perfect day. (I love LA!)
There were so many people there (of all ethnicities) and most of them were sporting Obama and Dr. King T-shirts. Mostly Obama.
I jokingly mentioned to Earnest, my husband, that I'd love to open a store and sell Obama-bilia! His popularity alone could probably bail us out of our national deficit!
Something was definitely very different about today's parade than others we have attended in previous years. There was a sense of hope and readiness for change. Long awaited change. You could feel it. People were so friendly and just wanted to celebrate. There was a true feeling of unity. A confirmation of a dream fulfilled. And that we should continue to dream and never give up on our dreams.
I'm sure that tomorrow's events of President-Elect Obama's Inauguration was on everyone's mind and it contributed to the excitement of the day.
As I looked out into the crowd and thought of everyone Dr. King touched, I could not help but feel grateful. Grateful to Dr. King and the many who made today's celebration of his dream - a reality.
Thank you Dr. King!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Finding My Center
Where is my center and how do I find it?
For me, it is that very quiet place that is still, tranquil, calm and at peace. Usually while on the cushion in sitting meditation.
And yet, while sitting, there is thought. But I see the thought arising and as I breathe in slowly, the thought slowly fades and I breathe out - calmly. I do not force the thought away, nor do I hold onto it or follow it. I lovingly and gently let it go.
Breathing in...breathing out. There is only the breath. There is no me, no I. Only equinimity. (No duality.)
Ahh...there it is.
Staying here (centered) is the real challenge. Especially off the cushion.
For me, it is that very quiet place that is still, tranquil, calm and at peace. Usually while on the cushion in sitting meditation.
And yet, while sitting, there is thought. But I see the thought arising and as I breathe in slowly, the thought slowly fades and I breathe out - calmly. I do not force the thought away, nor do I hold onto it or follow it. I lovingly and gently let it go.
Breathing in...breathing out. There is only the breath. There is no me, no I. Only equinimity. (No duality.)
Ahh...there it is.
Staying here (centered) is the real challenge. Especially off the cushion.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Right Speech
Lately I have been keeping up with my Buddhist friends in the blog community and was inspired to take my practice to a higher level. I shared one of my thoughts about RIGHT SPEECH with my husband (Earnest) and said to him, "Honey, I have decided that one of my goals for this year it to take RIGHT SPEECH more seriously and if I can't say something nice, I just won't say anything at all!"
Without skipping a beat Earnest replied, "This is going to be a very QUIET year for you!"
Without skipping a beat Earnest replied, "This is going to be a very QUIET year for you!"
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Married Life
This morning as Earnest, my adorable and loving husband, were in our car and on the way to our bank, I hinted, "Honey, you haven't said those three little magic words to me yet today".
After a long and quiet pause, Earnest responded hestitantly, "What's...for dinner?"
After a long and quiet pause, Earnest responded hestitantly, "What's...for dinner?"
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