Pick A Lane

Dad was telling me a story about this girl on the freeway today. How she was behind him in the fast lane and she started texting. Then this...

Dad - She swerved all the way out of our lane into the SUV lane, or the SVU lane, what is it called?

Me - The HOV lane. (I'm laughing pretty hard by now.)

Dad - (recovering) When I drive in it, it is the SUV lane because I drive a SUV. Get it?

Me - Maybe it should be called the STFU lane then.

Both my parents look at me like I'm talking in Klingon.

They both ask what it means. I explain.

My Dad does the most wonderful belly laugh.

Sometimes It Lasts

Went to see "An Inspector Calls" at Pioneer Theatre and then Del Taco on 4th with Jeanette this afternoon. The play and company were superb. Also, the overhead music at that Del Taco was an awesome High School time warp.

Dropped by for a visit and finally delivered two years worth of Christmas presents at Kalee's. Grease is the word. So is Adele.

Speaking of Adele, I have been keeping her Live In New York special on my DVR. Unwatched. If I didn't watch it then I had something to look forward to. Well, now it is no longer unwatched. It IS still on my DVR.

I'm full. Today was full of activities, friends and now memories. Looking forward and looking back. There are worse things I could do.

When We Were Young

Watching the Grammy Awards right now, I'm thrown back in time to when I was about ten and we as a family were watching The American Music Awards and my parents sat there in a daze not knowing any of the musicians or songs. I teased them for being so old and out of touch. "How can you not know this song? It is the BEST!"

As I sit here watching these new batch of musicians, I find all I'm thinking is "Oh, I know that guy. When is this over? Who was that? That was a lot of glitter Taylor, I mean come on. When does Adele sing? What's the median age in the first two rows? If I see one more fur coat I'm going to spit. Don't these girls know they have to walk in their dresses? When does Adele sing? I like Adele's haircut. Lionel Ritchie, now we are talking!"

I'm an out of touch fuddy duddy.

There Is Love

Stephie would be 43 today. We would be groaning about crows-feet and gray hairs. Stretch marks, muffin tops and bifocals. But WE are not. WE are not giggling about the loud talkers in the movie theatre, or all the farts that will be in the movie itself. She will not be having Teriyaki ANYTHING in any form she can get it. WE will not be sending proof of life selfies at the end of the evening to confirm we made it home safely. I will have to imagine and pretend that we did, and could have. Because I'm here. Still smiling, when I think of her. Sometimes bitter-sweetly. I have fun, and love and laugh and smile and hug and kiss and dream with all my might. For her. For me. For us.

Today, would have also been the birthday for another beautiful member of my cousin Jet's family. Our Family. But sadly that was not to be. Sometimes, words don't fill the gap. Just knowing how much we love.

As the old superstition goes, if you say "Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit" on the first day of the month it will bring you luck.

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit.

Stephie, Stephie, Stephie.

Family, Family, Family.

Tea Time With Babs

The Moms came over and we tag teamed my Christmas Decorations. Now, my apartment is back to boring, excepting the spaces where Christmas used to be are all ludely naked and the dust outlining their absence is not so quietly nagging me.

Both bunnies were miffed about the disturbance. Pickle refused to eat until my Mom left. Peanut is now inspecting every surface my Mom touched and clearly showing his disappointment.

We also went through cookbooks and blocked out a menu. I'm going to try at least one new recipe each month, not only just pull ingredients from my cupboards and fridge to say víola.

There was also tea.

Healthy Screening

I had a message today from some sort of digestive health survey something or other asking if I had diarrhea, and if so please call them so they could give me $125 and take my blood and stool samples.

You know, cuz I loooooove to give out samples of my stool. For shits and giggles.

I'm imagining being the fella that leaves all those messages all day long. What does he say when people ask how his day went? New Year, same old shit.