FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE BETTER (FOR ME) (WHO ELSE?)

I GUESS I OVERSLEPT

Pardon me, friends.  I am sorry I let you down last week.  With my house full of bronchitis and la grippe, and the Exhibits home for the holiday, the blog wasn't on my mind.  I prepared a Passover Seder for 18 and am thinking about how great it was to assemble (almost) our entire family together at one very long and oddly-shaped table.  Because of logistics it doesn't happen often, and as my nieces and nephews begin to go hither and yon to college it may happen less often, but when it does it makes me grateful.

1)  I am descended from women who were not cooks. At least the two generations preceding mine were almost disastrous in the kitchen, and thus I was given no instruction whatsoever on how to cook or even cook-ish.  When I had a large kitchen and small kids, I was more of a "meal curator" (I know) than the chef de cuisine. (I'd get the chicken from Yura [gourmet shop] and the roasted brussels sprouts from Ageta [another gourmet shop] and pair them with my OWN baked potatoes.  This is after graduating from heating chicken nuggets.)  By the time my kids were in their late teens, I was able to cook a few reliable dishes.  Of course, I didn't get the hankering for cooking until I moved into a house with a tiny kitchen -- 4 burners, no counter space.   

Now when I cook I feel I am serving love on the plate as well.  I think it's because cooking isn't easy for me.  It's always stressful -- particularly in the time management aspects -- so it is an effort, but worth the time and the worry.  Anyway...

2)  This is a good place to mention my long-time partner.  He uncomplainingly helped do a massive amount of cooking and zhushing up.  He is a good man and a great helpmeet (the original word for I think "helpmate." (See below.)  And I am always grateful for him in my life.

“He had a helpmeet as ancient as himself, but who differed from him in having a hump.”

The Story of Tim
Anonymous ”

3)  We have some Gluten-free people in our midst.  [Comedian Donell Rawlings says, "I heard Gluten Free, I said how long was he Locked up?"]  This year it was easy to find gluten-free matzah.  One that was terrific:  

We didn't care for the others.

4)  I found some early LILACS -- this blush color.

I can't smell them yet (my cold) but they look wonderful.

5)  Robert Mueller. 

Until Friday,

Lisa xx

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE BETTER (FOR ME) WHO ELSE?

Hello again.  Have you ever felt as if life were coming at you like a ballboy?  (The mechanical ones which send you hundreds of serves practically before you can return one? -- if the settings are too fast?)  That's what this week seemed like to me.  Whooh -- there goes Tillerson!  Now here's Stormy's lawyer.  Look sharp because another aid was fired, and the president lied to the Prime Minister of Canada.  Whoah.  Too fast.  Too soon.  Too much.

Walter Shaub, who was the director of the government's Office of Ethics until 2017 (having served there since 2006, under President George W. Bush) blamed himself earlier in the week for taking a "rare nap".  (He slept through the first reports that the Secretary of State had been fired by tweet.  It reminded me of the great movie comedy "Airplane!," in which the Chicago airport tower supervisor, played by Lloyd Bridges, realizes he "picked the wrong week to quit smoking."

In any case, this is March Madness, and the only sane response is to try to enjoy the moments in between the chaos.

1.  Once again I must admit my favorite thing was a 3/3 day, when I speak to all of my exhibits.  I have always known that I am a gooey, mushy mother, but feeling that streak of joy at just connecting with all of them, is deep.  I worry that I hover too closely over them, so when they call.... it makes me happy.  (Even if it's a call for money.)  (Luckily, they never read this blog.)

2.  My friends.  I could cry with gratitude for all of you.  You're there with a funny text, or a virtual high-five.  I try to be the friend I want to cultivate.  Somedays I feel like a misanthrope, and you save me... from me.

3.  Since I practiced Drynuary, (my least favorite fad), I have enjoyed drinking less than usual.  Instead of two glasses of wine, I find myself drinking one and feeling more satisfied.  This is not a lecture.  I adore adult beverages and am a practiced self-medicator.   But though the cocktails help dull reality, reality has also dulled the pleasures of the grape, and the mash, and the juniper berry, and the agave plant.  So less might really be more.

4.  Erasable pens.  I knew they existed, but I forgot to get one.  Then my friend Laurie pressed one into my hands, and presto!  My date book is cleaner.  It was covered with scribbles and crossings out. It may not seem much to you, but it's BIG for me. 

(https://www.awebtoknow.com/reviews/best-erasable-pens/

https://www.bestreviews.guide/erasable-pens

5.  Robert Mueller.

Have a merry weekend!

xLisa

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE BETTER (FOR ME) (WHO ELSE?)

It was wonderful to see that some of us are on the same wavelength.  I'd call it "Enough with all the crap that's bombarding us; which smaller, personal things help cheer me up?"  It's a little bit of a gratitude exercise blended with some random recommendations, and topped off with a dash of optimism.  

I want to thank Nikki Stern, Kelly Curtis, EM, Katy Coffey, John Douglas Marshall, Karen Berlin Ishii, Honore Ervin, Shpresa Oruci, Deb Broide, Diane Heller, Juliet Roscigno-Filipkowski, Lisa Kulick Aiden, Dennis Wipper, and Barbara Webb for their contributions.  Maybe this week, we'll get even more.  Remember this is INTERACTIVE!

• THURSDAY:  This Thursday was my favorite day.  I spoke with all three of my Exhibits tm,  and not one of them scolded me for being... you know.... too me. Even more unusual and pleasurable was that my son, Exhibit A, texted me out of the blue to see if I wanted to have lunch with him.  I did.  (I always want to have lunch with my kids.)  And we had a quick, unexpected time together.
• CREAM OF WHEAT:  I had forgotten how comforting this breakfast food was.  The last time I made it was probably for a toddler or two I had living with me -- (those wily exhibits).  Anyway, in the cold and thundersnow I had the inexplicable urge for Cream of Wheat for my own breakfast, and it delivered coziness and comfort in every spoonful.  If you are unfamiliar with it, it's like grits for Yankees.  (Waiting for the dissent to come pouring in.)  I love mine with a big pat of butter in it.  Others like raisins, honey, or maple syrup.  Or copy the serving on the box.

• THE EXTRA-LONG PHONE CHARGING CORD that my boyfriend got me: No matter where I sleep on my bed, I can charge my phone and reach it, too.  You have no idea how much stress I had with the regular, much shorter cord.  I didn't either until I got my new one.  Phew.
• OPENTABLE.COM:  I'm not their spokesperson, and it's not even new or even unique, but the ease of making restaurant reservations just using an app is pretty fantastic.   Sometimes it doesn't work as well on my laptop.  I'll want to go to restaurants that don't use the service.  But by and large Opentable is a helpful, time saving tool.
• MY WRISTWATCH:  I love wristwatches, and own about six of them, though I tend to be conventional and only wear one at a time.  I never remove my watch before bedtime.  I usually wake up once or twice in the night, and I like seeing the time (generally in the 3s and 6s).  Leaving the house without a watch on my left wrist (it's happened occasionally) makes me feel untethered, even though my phone has a clock in it. 

Until next week, my lovelies....

Lisa

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE BETTER (for me) (Who Else?)

It's Friday, and the heavens have opened up over the East Coast.  I've decided that since I've been blue since approximately (checks calendar, which in my case is in a leather-bound book) November 8, 2016, I would try uplift by way of five things that cheer me up, or that I appreciate every week.  Five For Friday.

As I'm a giver, I am happy to start this off, but don't be shy.  I'd love to read your Five Things too. We all would, right?  (Everyone is nodding vigorously.)

I will try to do this every Friday.  Maybe we can turn this into a thing (We have italics here on Squarespace!) 

The Students of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School:  They survived the unthinkable and the unforgettable and have transformed swiftly into leaders.  Do they make me hopeful?  You bet.  Somehow these young, fragile voices are carrying where ours seem to go nowhere.  With passion, authenticity, and fervor they just might be able to change our country's love affair with weapons of war. 

Half and Half:  Any brand, as long as it has full fat.  We only use a few drops anyway; why not make your coffee delish?  (And when friends and acquaintances order their half caff/ skim latte/all foam drinks and look at me and say, "You're so bad!" I feel sorry for them.  Is this bad?  Really?  I could show you bad.  And even the French fries I plan to eat aren't bad. They may not be healthy, but they are not evil or cruel ... unless they are cold.)  If you are allergic to lactose or cow's milk, that's another story, and I am sorry.

Nylon Dog Poop Bag Holders:  

I used to have an embarrassingly large red then blue then green plastic bone-shaped container that attached to our dog's leash.  Dependably, half of the bone would somehow unscrew itself, and I would be trailed by a stream of poop bags.  When this happened I was unaccountably embarrassed -- it was a public accident.  Makes no sense, but I would panic and try to gather up all the bags quickly without garnering attention.  (Think toilet paper on your shoe.)  Anyway, this carrier is guaranteed not to break.  Yay.

Henry, aged 8 or 9:

Henry is a Hoosier, a rescue, and a good boy.  Naturally, he is the reason for the gizmo I praised above.  He may be a Schnauzer, is certainly a terrier, and has changed our lives for the better, though certainly added complications, too.  The big question I wonder sometimes is "who rescued whom"?   At the moment, Henry is sitting in a chair near mine, listening to me type and listen to....

WQXR classical radio:  Based in New York City, you can stream it online as well.  My parents had this radio station on all weekends in their house and I go through periods of my life where it is essential to my wellbeing.  Originally owned by the New York Times, the station is owned now by WNYC, our public radio station, so news breaks are provided by NPR.  I don't know how many classical radio stations exist in this country, but they are precious.  

Have a great weekend.  Stay warm and dry.  

Love, Lisa