Pollyanna Lunch

So it started off like every other day. Wake up, get kids to school, go to the gym. It is the Tuesday before Christmas and it was the day of my Holiday lunch with my yoga girls. Yay. That's fun. So three of us start the day off with the gym. While we are working out the craziest of all my friends decides to ask Tracy ( a totally tattooed guy) to come to our lunch. We kind of thought she was kidding and we definitely thought he was kidding when he asked, "Where?" and totally thought he was kidding when she told him it was a gift exchange and he asked, "How much?"

Weren't we surprised when all of us were sitting at the Oriental Pearl with our big pile of presents on the table and Tracy walks in with a present himself. At first he tried to leave the present and leave. We wouldn't let him. So without to much arm twisting he sat down. Seriously, the odder the better for me. Tattoos and piercings are right up my alley. I wasn't quite sure about the rest of them. Tracy is tattooed all over, even on his face. Some might find this odd. I kind of like it. Just like I was fixated on the girl with hot pink hair the other day in HomeGoods. I wanted that hair and if I wasn't closer to 40 (just today) than 39, I just might get it. Not really, but I want it just the same.

Turns out Tracy is one of the most together people we had ever met. He owns four tattoo parlors, he eats no sugar, no carbs, doesn't drink. He knows all about alternative medicine and herbal remedies. He is well versed in the caring and feeding of dogs, travel and a plethora of other information. He was well spoken, kind, funny and intelligent. He totally understood the White Elephant Pollyanna. He knew the rules. He actually picked the most awesome present that Sue (blogger Sue) had given. It was some cool aromatherapy stuff. How fun is that?


So we're thinking we might need a show. We have some serious drama going on between all of us. Our new best friend Tracy just adds to the crazy. And, I'm going to be honest with you, tatttooed head and all, he is way more normal than anyone sitting at that table For real. That's true. You don't even want to know why. Post.

Happy Birthday/Chanukkah

So in the spirit of doing things half assed, while still embracing the multi cultural heritage of the loves of my life, we celebrated Chanukah tonight. We were lucky enough to have Crazy Aunt Jenny with us. So while she and I partook in the liquid celebration of the holiday season, Marc and said angels lit the candles on the menorah. Now, my non-Jewish friends, one might ask where do you get these candles from? Hmmm... Good question, because we lit birthday candles in lieu of the traditional ones. This was all Rite Aid had to offer at 8.30 last night when we remembered it was Hanukkah. Then today, Marc and I went back and forth between who was going to pick them up. It ended up Marc because he had to stop and get Saige an Ugly Doll for her Pollyanna and they were supposed to have them in the store. Whoops they didn't. Day two- Birthday candles.

So Chase had asked for a Mac laptop for Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Groundhog day or YOUR birthday because he is all about the homework. Not. In fact, I'm not sure what he plans on doing with this computer except we can safely say Government files will stay unhacked, there will be no War Games out of our house my friends. Not to worry. I believe he will be more likely found googling 'boobies'.

This being said, candle lighting and Jewish prayers were tier two priority next to the sparkly wrapped present in front of him. He smacked that yarmulke on his cute little pate faster than you can say L'Chiem. He grabbed the lighter like the true pyro he is. He lit the candles, mumbled some prayers, and with that, had at the gift. His parting words were, before he dragged his sister, the computer aficionado, up to his room, "Thanks Mommy!" like I had ANYthing to do with the acquisition of said gift.

It reminded me of the Chris Rock stand up routine when they say kids thank Mommy for everything. Never do they say, "Thanks Daddy for keeping the lights on. Thanks for keeping a roof over my head. Thanks for the food on the table." It's always, "Thanks Mommy for the laptop." But he checked himself before he wrecked himself and gave credit where credit was due. The only part I played in the whole damn laptop was wrapping it. But you're welcome baby. Anything Mommy can do to put a smile on your little cherub face is all the thanks I need.

So in the words of Adam Sandler, for those of you who are Jewish and those who are not, cause you know I'm all about any God you pray to.......

"So drink your gin and tonica, smoke your marijuanica, so much funnica to celebrate Hanukkah!" (When you are the nine-year -old recipient of an Apple Laptop!)

Wordica.

A Chris Pick

You know I love a good song recommendation so I was so happy this morning when in my mailbox was a nice e mail from Brother Chris with a Youtube video attached. It's a song from a movie. It is from the soundtrack of Bob Dylan's movie, "I'm Not There." My brother says, "With all due respect to Bob, Jim James & Calexico version is better."


After discussion with Lula and some serious time in with Itunes, it is imperative you get the whole soundtrack from "I'm Not There." Totally rocks. It's like 34 songs for $14 a greatl deal. Get out those Itunes gift cards you have and start downloading.