An Open Letter

An open letter to all parties who will see me on my trip to IL, WI, and MI.

Dear everyone:

This time next week, I'll be on my way to Chicago to see Tovah and Andrew (wheeeeeeeeee!) before getting to WI and MI to see J's family. I'm leaving my little bun, Olive, in the capable hands of my mum and dad. That said, I'm totally going to be SNR about this. I'm told that she'll be fine; the House Rabbit Society says leaving little Olive with my fam is the best option for her health and safety and happiness. But I'm still going to be fraught with concern.

What if she doesn't remember that she likes her nose scratched? What if she's mad at me? What if she gets sick while we're gone? What if my dad is the Bunny Whisperer and she wants to stay there? I'm a momma who's never left her babe before, and you're probably going to hear about it.

Please be nice to me. I'm just worried.

Overheard in the J and L House

Lisa, envious: Andrew's composting?!?!?!?!

(loud sigh)

I don't have anything! I don't have a peahen* and I don't have a compost pile. Stupid compost pile.




*my parents have spotted a peahen that may have taken residence on their property. I am, of course, crossing my fingers and hoping for peachicks.

p.s. I know I'm being ridic; you don't need to tell me.

Say, "Hi," to Krista

Krista is my friend from the Shittaco area. We were first blog-buddies via Tovah and Andrew, then our friendship blossomed to Facebook. When I visited Tovah for my birthday, we met for reals and it was very fun. Krista is very sweet, really funny, has a great idea for the end of Lost and particularly enjoys my "Overheard" posts. I'm happy we finally got to meet, even though our visit was brief.

Anyway, I've been concerned that her terrific blog, johnsonville, was succumbing to some serious blog-fade since she's gone two whole months without a post. Thankfully, she's back at it with a post marking both her return to the inkerwebs and Cinco de Mayo. Keep it up, Krista and I'll try to do the same.


Also, check out her response to Westboro and her experience with a good Samaritan cop.

You Guys, I am So Tired

You must think I am so lame; that this poor, neglected blog is days away from complete blog fade. Its not, really. I'm just so, so tired. This blog is not the only thing that isn't getting the attention it needs. J is feeling bored and somewhat neglected. My friends (Erika, are you out there?) must think I've been kidnapped or something. I am weeks behind on Slog. Plus, we're trying to find a new apartment which requires the little bit of energy I can scrape together.

This job is kind of kicking my ass. It would perhaps be worth it if I was really digging the job but, well.... There are parts that I enjoy. I'd best leave it at that.

I hope that things will even out a bit as I adjust more. I really hope they even out. For now, please forgive me and accept the few meager posts as they come.




P.S. My trip to see Tovah was terrific; so much fun. It was almost just like old times but in Chicago and on the El this time. We ate so much delicious food (Karyn's Cooked, Chicago Diner, Molly's Cupcakes, Piece, Piccolo Sogno to name a few) and shopped in neat shops and boutiques and snuggled on the couch. This post absolutely does not justify how special my trip was but I feel I've neglected it too long. Tovah and Andrew, please forgive your sleepy friend. Find some pictures from the trip here and at Andrew's blog.

Overheard in the Tandrew House

Lisa to Tovah: Tovah, come here and smell my arm pit.

Tovah: No. That's ok.

Lisa: But it doesn't smell like anything.

Tovah: (silence) Still, no.

Dear Andrew

Look what I found! Isn't this great? The Office: The Musical.



via The Huffington Post

Hooray!

This great news comes from Andrew, Tovah's (former!) house hubby:

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to let all of you know that after all of these months I have finally found a job. Or I guess I should say a job finally found me. I'm going to be working for Willow Creek Church in a ministry to 18-30 somethings called Axis. I'll be helping Axis become a welcoming place to people of all backgrounds and help Chicago-land learn about Axis. I'm very excited about this position and the team I'll be joining. I fully believe 100% in the vision and mission of Axis and I feel blessed to pour myself out for this ministry.

I wanted to say thank you to all of you who have helped Tovah and I these past few months. It has been one of the most stretching, shaping times of my life and we literally would not have made it with out you. Some of you have helped us pay our bills, bought us coffee, and been the best friends we could have asked for. We are so blessed to have you all a part of our lives.

I just wanted to let you know about this. Feel free to pass the news along!

Andrew Means

TandDrew,
This news is utterly delightful. I am so excited for you guys. Drew, this job sounds entirely perfect for you.

Now, may please I borrow a dollar?

2009 is the Year of Some Weird Anniversaries

I think now, January 2009, is a good time to tell you about some anniversaries that will happen this year! Some of them are sweet, some are unusual. All of them mine!

Here we go!

January 17, 2009: This is the fifth anniversary of the J and L duo! 2008 was a complicated year for our little family but we love each other and are closer than ever. We have high hopes for a less chaotic 2009. Send good energy our way!

April 2009: I've been retired from the funeral industry and out of the evil grasp of the E's for one whole damn year. Hey, E! See all that snow out there? See it all? There's alot, right? How about those cars? They're pretty damn filthy, aren't they? I hope you really like cold, wet socks because that's what you're about to have.

This is a terrific anniversary!

May 2009: Still crazy after all these years! May marks my ten year anniversary with psychotherapy and a wide array of psychotropic medication. The combo of therapy and medication is complicated and often its hard to see results but I try to keep doing the work and hoping that I'll someday have some relief from my messy, messy brain.

June 2009: I've been out of high school for ten years. TEN. What do I have to show for these years?

July 2009: Still riding after all these days! One year ago this July, I learned to ride a bike. So I have that to show for the past ten years....

August 2009: Still besties after all these years! Ten years ago this August, I packed up and headed south to St. Davids, Pennsylvania for college. Who did I find? Tovah was my roommate and Philly Rachel lived on the floor below me! What supreme luck! They're two of my dearest friends and, though vast distance separates us, we're close now and will be forever, if I have anything to do with it!

Nine years ago this August, I met my dear friend, Canadian Rachel, when we worked together on The Commons. At first, we hated each other. But then we loved each other and we still do! Yay for being friends for so damn long!

But why does everyone live so far away from me??

September 2009: Still in love after all these years! September will be our third wedding anniversary. I love you, Jesse! I think its time for us to get a puppy!

October 2009: Still airing out after all these years! Ten years ago, Tovah noticed I was wearing my unders beneath my pajama pants when I went to bed. She suggested I try pajama pants without my unders. I may have thought she was crazy but I gave it a try. Thanks, Tovah! That is much more sensible.

There is so much more to mention: In March, it will be 7 years since Nik died and 3 years since Grandma Mastroberti died. Grandpa Edmondson has been gone for 8 years in October and Grandma Edmondson died 3 years ago in December. Mikus came for a great visit 1 year ago in July (won't you come back again, please). Our close friends, Philip and Emily, will celebrate their first anniversary in October.

But I really wanted to make sure you knew when I stopped wearing unders to bed. That's the important thing.


drug image via The Buckeye Institute

The Past Few Days in Review

I know I've been an absent blogger for several days. Everything is busy and I'm feeling sluggish but here is a brief update:

• Thanksgiving: J and I had a really nice Thanksgiving with my family. As always, there was plenty of good food, good company and good booze. We made whole wheat crescent rolls, raw broccoli salad, pear sauce and whole wheat monkey bread. Of course, we also brought pomegranates and an array of craft brewed beers. Unfortunately, Lauren was sick for most of the evening (she subsequently ended up admitted to the hospital with severe belly pain and bad viral infection. Thankfully, she is home now and on the mend.). Everyone was pretty relaxed-even me. I have noticed a pattern recently: during family gatherings, I tend to be either
  
• a) sullen and moody which is no fun for anyone. Its tough on J; I'm sure my fam wonders what's wrong even though, most likely, nothing is wrong. I'm just sullen.
  
• b) wildly hyper, goofy, off-the-wall. Certainly, this is preferable to sad sack Lisa but the hyper crazy Lisa often leaves me tired and panting.
  

Is this what the Godell's have in store for them? Yikes. I don't think they could handle it; they wouldn't know what hit them.

• TanDrew: J and I were lucky to have some great company last night. Tovah and Andrew were driving from CT to IL after Thanksgiving and stopped at our place for the night. Although brief, the visit was fun and relaxing. Time with them is always a treat. I made vegan vegetable soup with garlic crostini and Dorie Greenspan's chocolate chip cookies for the omnis. We caught up, played some Wii, snuggled on the couch and watched The Simpsons mock (m)Apple (thoroughly timely and appropriate since Andrew is such an apple lover).
  

I'm already starting to get excited about my trip to see Toves and Drew in March for my birthday. Yay! See you in 115 days.

Imago Andei Sends His Friends to Me

Tovah's husby and my friend-in-law, Andrew, is doing a new series on his blog entitled "Friends Who Blog" and I was his first "Friend!" Drew is amazingly complimentary and urges his readers to head over to see me.

Dear readers, Drew's blog is incredibly great! He and I have many things in common and, before I began wildly blogging, I frequently emailed him curious oddities or funny tidbits in hopes they'd make the cut for his blog. On Imago Andei, Drew reviews the plethora of books and films he has gotten his hands on; he reports on the new adventures he has alone or with Tovah in their beloved new home, Chicago; he shares an array of musings on faith, life, the environment, gadgetry, his corner and many other sundry topics.

Don't delay! Please head over to Imago Andei and read about their roomba!

Some Recent Happenings That Have Gone Unreported

I've neglected my report on the past week or two and the list of notable elements is lengthening so I'll try to be concise and relay the interesting parts in list form:

• Thursday, August 7: P, E, K and B were over for steak tacos with salsa, guacamole, lime crema and Mexican rice. P and E brought the sangria, K brought the tortillas chips and salsa and B brought dessert. We ate outside on our common lawn and had fun until it started raining. We tried to stick it out for a while but wet guacamole was all we accomplished. We relocated to the P and E house for some booze, Wii and more booze.
  
• Friday, August 8: J and I recovered from the debauchery of the night prior before we headed out for an Emily's Toy Box show. Emily's Toy Box is a totally fun, maniacal pop punk band from Pennsylvania; Jesse saw them a couple of times before we knew each other and, coincidentally, they were playing at Sloppy Joe's in Key West when we were there for our honeymoon in 2006. The show was great and made me nostalgic for our tropical, romantic week in the Keys.
• Monday, August 11 (i.e. Me and My Big Ego): I had my two interviews. I half expected to have to offers for both jobs by the end of the day. Not only did that not happen, the rejection letter I received was dated and mailed the day of the interview. They were so quick to reject me that they could have asked me to drop the letter in the mail for them. I never thought it would take me so long to find a job. I know my friend-in-law, Andrew is having the same problem. Certainly, the economy is awful and throngs of job-seekers are everywhere. Many families in similar circumstances endure exceedingly frightening situations; we are incredibly fortunate to be doing as well as we are.
• Tuesday, August 12: Jesse and I drive to West Hartford, CT for his interview.
• Wednesday, August 13: I left home shortly after 7 am and headed to Johnson City to pick up a funeral coach and drove to Plymouth, MA to pick up poor Mr. So-and-So who died while visiting his son. The trip was uneventful which is ideal, I suppose, since I was driving someone else's $80,000.00 vehicle and transporting a very important, albeit deceased, passenger.
• Thursday, August 14: After my trip, I was so exhausted, messy, irritable and irritating that I warned people to avoid me.
• Friday, August 15: I awoke feeling relaxed and rested. I treated myself to the most delicious, relaxing and simultaneously maddening lunch perhaps ever. My server was so incompetent that it was nearly comical. She was awful. J and I had dinner at CyberCafe West with P, E and K who brought his friend, John. The food was delicious and the beer menu was fairly extensive and diverse. After dinner, we landed at K's apartment. The boys beer consumption continued, E drank H2O and I drank kombucha and purple carrot juice. We watched part of an old Robin Williams dvd before we watched some Olympics on mute while listening to some of K's favorite comedians on mp3. E and J nearly passed out in various parts of the apartment. It was all fairly random but fun.