It’s not fair that 8 years have passed. On 9/11, our country was knocked to its knees in grief. We were humbled. Let’s be that way all the time…well without the grief. As Michael Franti would sing, “Don’t let your love be so confidential.”

I was born on May 5th in the suburbs of Philadelphia far, far away from any Cinco de Mayo celebrations.  And even though Californians and Mexicans have been celebrating it since 1863, the year after the Mexican army defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla, I’d never heard of it until I moved to California in 1979.  And even after 30 years of living in Southern California, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a “display” set up in a grocery store like the one I saw in Gelson’s in Westlake Village.  It was set up where they have other holiday displays.  They do the pumpkin pie cans with other baking stuff starting in October, turkey pans and boxes of stuffing for Thanksgiving, stocking stuffers and candy canes for Christmas, noisemakers and champagne for New Year’s Eve, you get the idea right?  Well, I’m sure I’ve seen displays for Cinco de Mayo before, where the chips, salsa, margarita mixers and tequila are set out to entice shoppers to get “loco,” in the San Fernando Valley or maybe even at Jon’s in Simi Valley.  But I was quite surprised to find such a huge display in Whitelake Village, I mean Westlake Village and of all places, a Gelson’s.  But then again, Cinco de Mayo is a drinking holiday and we do live in the United States where Super Bowl Sunday has become as big of a holiday as Mother’s Day.  But I digress, I was actually excited to see the big “Cinco de Mayo” sign hanging down from the ceiling and recalled a time where I’d want to own that sign.  It would have gone rather nicely with the life-sized, cardboard, Mariachi player I used to own and hang up at my annual Cinco de Mayo parties. Continue Reading »

A co-worker and I started carpooling last year.  (Read more here)  It’s worked out rather well until one day this week he needed to get somewhere after work that was in the opposite direction of my house.  Luckily another co-worker that lives near me was able to give me a lift.  So I had the unexpected pleasure of sitting in the back seat with his two-year old son.  I was told he may serenade me and I was ready to enjoy some “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “The Wheels on the Bus.”  However, as soon as the iPod was inserted into the player, my little friend was asked by his parents, “Douglas, what song would you like to hear?”  He responded, “Bad to the Bone.”  Wow, ok, I could go for some George Thorogood.  As soon as the song began,  little Douglas started rockin’ out.  As he sang I thought to myself he’s going to “break a thousand hearts” if he keeps this up.  His mother told me about his playlist and when it came time for the next request, I whispered in his ear, “Rock the Boat,” just to irritate his classical/jazz/rock loving dad.  Douglas was not swayed by my request for disco as he asked for “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Interesting song.  It was also one of my two-year old’s favorite songs.  I have a video of Matthew at twenty-two months singing his rendition of that 1972 hit about an extramarital affair.  He sang, “Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Joooooones, MRS. JOOOOOOOOOOOOONES!”  Douglas stuck to the original arrangement and serenaded me. Continue Reading »

After seeing the film, “He’s Just Not That Into You,” I recognize that Sammy, my loving, kitty, cat is really into me.  Even though he’s always been an affectionate animal, I’m not sure I truly understood how wonderful it is to have a companion around that wants to be with me and is not “forced” into a relationship out of obligation.  Obviously, I take care of him; I feed him, clean his cat box and let him outside and he shows his appreciation by snuggling with me and following me around.  I appreciate that he keeps me warm and keeps me company and that’s why I give him cat nip, in moderation of course.  Many marriage experts claim that this very nurturing/appreciation dynamic is key in successful relationships.  Sammy represents loyalty, unconditional love and family, without even trying.  He didn’t have to learn how to be these things, he just IS.  He doesn’t have to practice any of it or even go to therapy to work on it. Continue Reading »

My son, Matthew has been taking piano lessons for the last 5 years.  I know you must be thinking, “Here comes the part where we hear all about how talented and gifted he is.”  Well, I’m not going to do that, because this is a story about more than his God given ability.  The music teacher who first began to teach Matthew at age 5, had to deal with a squirmy little boy.  She taught him to the best of her ability until she told me in December that she was going to be recommending an advanced teacher for him.  She recommended a pianist from Russia, who teaches out of her home in Simi Valley.  Yeah, for me!  No more trips to Thousand Oaks.  She told me that the recommended teacher was disciplined and very serious and that Matthew needed a change.  He was quite pleased to hear that he “graduated.”  I explained that his 30-minute sessions would be increased to 45 minutes and that he must get very serious about “reading” the notes and not just memorizing or feeling his way around a song (part of his amazing talent and ear for music, oops, I said I wasn’t going to do that). Continue Reading »

1.) The film, “Friends With Money” (Nicole Holofcener)
2.) The lyrics, “The more I see the less I know” (”Say Hey” Michael Franti)
3.) The book, “A Prayer for Owen Meany” (John Irving)
4.) The film, “Little Miss Sunshine” (Michael Arndt)
5.) The lyrics “That’s why it hurts so bad to hear the words that keep on falling from your mouth” (”Why” Annie Lennox)
6.) The book, “Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy” (Sarah Ban Breathnach)
7.) The quote, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” (Irina Dunn)
8.) The lyrics, “I mean to tell you all the things I’ve been thinking deep inside my friend (”Crush” Dave Matthews)
9.) The book, “Silence of the Lambs” (Thomas Harris)
10.) The quote, ” Why is it that when we talk to God we’re said to be praying, but when God talks to us we’re schizophrenic?” (Lily Tomlin)

Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing Michael Franti and Spearhead at the Majestic Ventura Theater.  This band “blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock.”  A friend and music lover described Michael Franti as “a reggae, Robert Randolph.”  I thought that was a great description, so I borrowed it and suggested she become a music critic.  The Ventura Theater was the perfect place to see a band that “wants to see ya jumpin’.”  There are only seats on the third level, otherwise it’s “dancing room only.”  And Friday’s night crowd was ready to do just that.  I watched old, young, singles, couples and families jumping up and down like they were on pogo sticks every time Michael requested it.  Even though I thought I was wearing pretty comfortable shoes to dance in, half way through the show, I wished I had forgone style for comfort.  Next time, my outfit will be built around sneakers. Continue Reading »