Green Up!

backyard greenery
Originally uploaded by lilylord

Drip Drip Drip of rain outside. I loved the rain as a kid. Loved stomping through the forest with my dogs. Alone but not by myself. I am so tempted to go outside right now and trudge up the street and the hill - where no one else walks, but know better. Living in LA for the past twenty years I have grown used to relatively mild weather cycles (with the exception of the crazy "el nino" events that coinicided with the Rodney King verdicts. It's strange to once again be visited by the oddities of "bad" weather. Everywhere one turns points to it being a trend. Think of the trees that topple down after the storms after bearing witness to streets for a century. Feeling the push of guilt to green up more in my daily life, for my city, for my child for my planet.

"He looks like and Archer"

more 08
Originally uploaded by lilylord

Comment yesterday when out with Archer. Then came across this list on my computer of names we were contemplating.

Asher - hebrew fortunate, lucky blessed, happy
Kyle - Gaelic Handsome near the chapel, narrow
Griffith - Welsh fierce cheif ruddy
Archer - Tuetonic The Archer
Axel - hebrew, swidish divine reward; divine source of life
Dean - latin, old English presiding official
Elroy - French King
Bronte - greek thundar
Baily - Polish white haired boy
Beck - Swedish - brook
Jules _boy/girl
Jasper_boy (Persian - the treasuer)
Otto_
Dalton_boy
Davan_boy
Deven_boy
Dominic_boy
Haden_boy
Jaden_boy/girl
Willow_boy/girl
Wyatt_boy
Jude_boy
Jett_boy (Latin - black)
Ace_boy (Unity-Latin)
Donavan_boy
Kirby_boy (Scandanavian)
Dag_boy (Scandanavian)
Quinn_boy (Irish)
Leo
Noah (Hebrew-peace)
Kai
Keane - English Sharp bold
Keene - Celtic Gaelic wise, learned
Kit (Greek - pure)
Sacha (French - defender helper of mankind)
Sage_(English- wise)
Cole_boy (Old English - dark)
Jayden_boy
Lyric_boy
Judah_boy
Topher_boy
Roman_boy
Dean_boy
Zeth_boy
Zhane_boy
Zeke_boy
Théodore_boy
Harrison_boy
Dexter_boy
Zollie_boyThéodore_boy
Harrison_boy
Matty_boy (stong fighter German)
Zollie_boy
Thurber_boy
Oliver_boy
Tennessee_boy
Baily_boy
Macdonald_boy
Carey_boy
Dov_boy
Finn_boy (Irish Fair)
Gil_boy (Hebrew for Joy)
Gilbert_boy
Max_boy (greatest_latin)
James

Happy New Year!

Santa's Magic

Santa's Magic
Originally uploaded by lilylord

"Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat please to put a pudding in the old mans hat." Not very cheery lyrics at all but embedded in my memories of Christmas. The holidays are so full of expectation that for a while I kind of backed away until I was so emotionally removed that I didn't care. Not the best solution. Because I really do love the cheery lights and connecting with loved ones and friends during the holidays. Reviewing the year past. And the red and green and jingle bells.

Ben, I and Archer celebrates Channeka as well as Christmas, which I think is nice. I can't wait until we move to a place that we have more room for a Christmas tree. Like a lot of new parents I've become a total cornball. Crying at stupid car commercials. Getting choked up at the Grove when the Christmas music blares and Archer dances his happy jig. It really is true experiencing things "through the eyes of a child" is really the sweetest thing.

I was reading my friend Robert's blog www.allthingsbutnone.com - he writes about our longing to connect and find passion and the question marks that often swirl around our heads in regards to "purpose". Those question marks bang around my head a lot. But as I type and Vince Guarldi plays "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and I think of all of the wonderful people in my life those questions lie still and I feel peace. Happy Holidays and peace to you.

Hulk angry - Hulk Strike

Hulk angry - Hulk Strike
Originally uploaded by lilylord

Spent a few hours walking the strike line with Ben today on Hollywood Boulevard. It was actually pretty fun...the last time I walked down Hollywood Boulevard it was to protest the war (lot of good that did), this time I was just an observer. Everything was well ordered. Sandrah Oh gave an impassioned speech about using consumer (no Disneyland for the holidays kids) clout to bust the chops of the large mega corporations that are refusing to pay writers anything for internet usage. I totally wish I had a guild that had clout for design. It was cool to see people of the same profession gathered together to stand up for themselves. The larger issues of corporate greed, bullying muscle and greed in the context of the growing wage gap in the US were mentioned. All issues I think about way too much. I know I'm really lucky to live in the US compared to other much more challenging places to live, but LA is a tough city to keep one's head above water - Housing starts at half a million dollars. Municipal transportation is a joke, so hello to expensive gas tank refills every week. And the air quality is - well, sucky. But the people, lot's of 'em - are pretty great. And walking in the crowd today was a nice illustration of that.

Stitched up throat

Stitched up throat
Originally uploaded by lilylord

A cut throat has been my easy halloween costume for 4 of the 8 past years. Glue on a fake scar, dab some putty around it and finish with fake blood dripping from it.

This month it was real. I had a goiter removed surgically. I went under the knife to be cut open, rearranged and stitched back up.

I'm usually so busy and so full of energy that the prescribed time spent resting now seems absolutely necessary but very odd.

I am restless, but tired at the same time.

Last night I was in Palm Springs at my friend Pamela's beautiful house near a golf course. The sky was soft black and lit up with stars.

We watched shooting stars. I counted ten.

Shooting across the sky.

I forgot to make wishes. Instead I thought of how I wanted to be less anxious in my daily life. Be as connected as I could. Be more graceful, gracious.

Surgery and shooting stars - makes me want to do well. be well.

July 31st

Fried Pickeles
Originally uploaded by lilylord

We went to "Hooters" for Archer's one year birthday. Our friend Kaz shares his birthday and joined for a dual celebration. My friend Bob shares Archer's birthday as well. All the best have July 31st in my circle. And Archer tops 'em all. Everything went by so quickly this past year...almost like a dream. I remember those first few months with little Archer. Exhausted a lot (nursing takes a lot out of new mommies). Feeling safe in my little new family cocoon. Dancing to music, weeping from the small beauties everyday. Strangely I feel so much more put together with Archer. Strong, ever so capable. Roots that deepen by pure function - more grounded.

We all went out to Hooters on Hollywood Boulevard. We live so close to these tacky tourist spots that sometimes it's just fun to walk through the door without expectation - to discover that fried pickles really aren't as horrible as they sound. That being tacky is kind of fun sometimes. Wonderous moments can be found in the most unlikely of places.

Peace, love and joy

Holiday Card 06 v1-1206061.jpg, originally uploaded by lilylord.

Happy holidays. This season can be so complex. Fraught with expectations and demands. I saw the new Will Smith movie in The Pursuit of Happyness today which is the kind of movie that I had to fight the tears back - and reflected the massive struggle that life can be and how during the holidays these feelings are often amplified. Saw it at The Grove an outdoor mall, which was dressed up in over-the-top lights and holiday cheer that stood in stark constrast to the pain and strife of "not having" enough that had occured in the story. Thought the characters in the story were struggling in a physical way that I (fortunately) have never had to, the pain of that struggle was very universal (I think) and for me often hit very close to home.

The trick of being happy...

Babies, my baby can be so happy and full of joy most of the time (when not strapped into the car seat for long stretches) that corny as it sounds really brings me back to the elemental carefree joy of just being in the world. Peace and joy, love and smiles.