Josh is Famous

Or working on it anyway! I found out in CA that he has an imdb page! I thought that was pretty cool. Guess I am easily impressed haha.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1873363/

Funny story about one of the movies. He just happened to be in the building when the casting director saw him and asked if he was there for the callbacks, so he just said yes! He went in and most of the guys were on like their 4th callback. He looked at the part, went in and rocked it and got it! So cool as that indicates he must really have some talent.

My Niece Rocks My World!

Wow am I going to have alot of catching up to do. Lots of posts with interesting stuff coming up while catching up on my email!

But this deserves to be first! This is my niece's MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/ammas_mahma
I actually cried when I looked it over to see how amazingly cool it is. (Yes, I am crazy and hormonal I'm sure). It just made me so happy to see I have such a soul sister so close in my family.
She is even in the process of becoming a La Leche League leader!

Heading Home

I realized just today I haven't taken any pictures of Orion and my dad! So I decided to get a few when they were playing with this spinny shooter thing. And I got one of the best pictures of them ever!
The trip home was mostly OK, although the drive to the airport - oy! I have been asking to drive as much as possible because my dad's driving makes me kindof nervous. I swear we almost got in 3 accidents on the way there! And I got even more stressed because he went the wrong way near the end, and we were already a bit late. Then my dad kept disagreeing with me about the airport directional signs. After like 3 times of me telling him it said left or right, I realized he was always saying, "No, it says straight ahead." It finally dawned on me that what he was seeing was the plane symbol. The arrows were smaller, but the plane looked like a straight arrow to him. It was kindof funny and sad at the same time. I am worried about him driving around by himself. I hope he stays safe.

The Burbank experience was good since they let me take one of the carts through the security area. The flight was also smooth. The only bad part... getting off the plane! What... the... heck? I have flown in and out of Portland several times, and the gates are literally right around the corner from the security, but today they put us out in some BF area I didn't even know existed. Why today when I had two heavy bags, a small child and a belly contracting every time I walk? I swear we walked at least the length of a football field outside along the building before we even got inside! Then we walked and walked inside for ages. At least I finally got to a cart machine. I was in a haze of pain by then. My back pain got really bad in CA, so this really sucked. Even after I got the cart, it hurt my back to push it. :( And we still had a ways to go! It was taking me so long that Ron actually called to find out what happened to us! Wow, what alot of whining I'm doing. By the time we got to the baggage area, everybody's bags were gone but mine. That gives you an idea of how far it was combined with how slow I walk!

OK, enough of that! We got home later than I expected, and it was time to collapse. Not sure how I am going to get through the next couple days with my back feeling like this, but I have to look forward with my blessing only a couple days away.

Day Before Going Home

This turned out to be a long day - phew. While my dad and I were chatting this morning, he started talking about an old high school friend he thought lived in Oregon. I went out to steal a connection, and the white pages turned up a hit right away. I gave the number to my dad, and sure enough, it was the right guy! He turned out to be in Eugene. This was one of the coolest things that has happened since being here. He got a chance to talk to him for quite awhile, and they found out they had a bit of a reversal in common. He has a son in Burbank and comes to CA sometimes, while I am in Portland, and my dad may come to visit me. Either way, they talked about connecting at one place or the other!

Then it was time to take Sarah and Josh home. We went to the apartment since they were bringing several things back, but we didn't go in this time. We had gotten a bit of a late start, and my dad and I were planning to leave for dinner in Ventura around 4. Orion was a real trooper considering we made a couple extra stops, so it took awhile to get there.

And then the poor monkey was only back at Simi for about an hour before we hit the car again. We went to Rose's first because it was going to be awhile before Christine was off work. That was nice for my dad because he got to see both places. He seemed to be very impressed with Christine's place when we got there. Her boyfriend made a tritip, which is one of his specialties. The boys did pretty well together - better than in the past anyway. Carter is finally coming into his boy energy. It was funny to see him jumping on the couch and pretending things were guns. They were having a great time running around and doing everything they are not supposed to at her house. :) Christine's boyfriend also has a great big Golden Retriever. He is an older puppy and kept chewing up the toys. I never expected to see that at her place! It was kindof crazy with both boys and the dog, just like I like it haha. But she seemed a bit frazzled. My dad was out pretty late for him, but he held up OK.

In bed that night Orion and I had an interesting talk about death. He hasn't been asking any questions, so I haven't pushed it. Then tonight he said something about grandma being in the magic box. I assume that is the coffin.... I am wondering if it is something Josh said or if he came up with it on his own. Will have to ask him.... But anyway, I told him her body got old and needed to rest in there, and some people believe you get to live on later with your body all healthy again. We talked about how your spirit lives on, and that some people believe it goes to a place like heaven or others believe it goes back into a new baby. I said even then her spirit might decide to take a rest. I asked him if he thought she wanted to rest or go right away into a new baby, and he said she would go right away. :)

This made me realize I haven't really talked to him about any spiritual concepts. Even when we do ritual, it is very seasonally focused, so I haven't talked to him about the concept of deities at all. I think I have been putting it off because I haven't decided what kind of regular traditions I want to use. This has been on my mind alot the last year or so, but somehow I haven't made any progress with it. Maybe this will get my butt in gear.

CA Monday

Sarah stayed another night in Simi. Well, actually she had no way back to LA. :) We have been going through tons of pictures together, and have put some up along with all the cards my dad has been getting. You can't really see them very well here, but there is a really cool old one all the way on the right. Just in front of it, with the angel on the front, is one of the announcements from the funeral. The one about three from the left in front is me and my parents at my 21st birthday party. But the one leaning on the blue dish was the best find. My dad had told the pastor the story about driving way out of the way once on a roadtrip to see the actual "supposed" Big Rock Candy Mountain. It turned out to be a bit of a disappointment, but of course we snapped a picture. You can't see it at all here because of the glare, but that is what it is! I got back out in the afternoon briefly after talking to Pam. I started thinking I haven't done anything to address the breech issue and should be thinking about it a bit. So I called Pam to see if she thought I should try maybe getting a chiro or acupuncture appointment for the Friday before I see her on Saturday. She suggested acupuncture and grabbing some pulsatilla to start now. I also wanted to get some envelopes that would be a good fit for my mom's announcements. My dad has talked about sending them out to those who couldn't make it a few times, but I have a feeling it won't get done unless I do it. Missions accomplished at Staples and Lassen's, and back home to address and stuff envelopes.

We had planned on going to a local cafe for dinner, and that turned out to be the most challenging thing I have done since being here. Orion was completely out of sorts. It was weird - like he had the overtired clumsies. I mean, he is never great in restaurants, but this was in a whole different league. He kept hitting his head and getting hurt in other ways. And then he would scream.... We went outside a couple times until he could calm down. But the hardest part is that Sarah was freaking out about it. She has been so great and helpful with Orion the whole time, but she went on a rant tonight about how he needs consequences and has no respect and ....

I have felt challenged before talking about parenting to friends and family, but I think the hardest person to talk to is your older child who you did things differently with. I started trying to explain what I have learned and why we are doing things differently, but she was pretty out of sorts about the whole thing. I just tried to get O through it with alot of compassion, and we all managed to live through it. :)

Then Sarah and Josh wanted to go to Blockbuster and rent a movie. That was interesting. Orion had never been to a rental place before, and I think it was overstim city! He ran all over up and down the aisles, but at least Sarah had seemed to regain some of her patience at that point. :) Back at home, they took over bath (and blowdryer) again. Josh even came in to help with jammies and read the Tractor Book in his best farmer accent LOL.

After bedtime, this was the cute scene on the living room floor. :)
They picked a movie called 27 dresses. It was pretty cute. I'll be taking them back to LA tomorrow, and then it will be almost time to go back to Oregon. Seems like it has really gone by fast....

Mixed Mother's Day and Josh's Genius

Mother's Day was mixed, as you might imagine. It didn't even dawn on me that we would be in CA for it until a few days after I got there. Then the thought was so depressing I kindof put it out of my head. Then Sarah said she wanted to come and make me dinner, and I realized there was still that flipside part of it for me.

During the day, Sarah and Josh offered to watch Orion for a bit while I got out of the house and ran some errands. They took a few pictures while I was gone.

He looks sad in this one, but cute.

This was cracking me up how he had this random of assortment things in this little wagon he wanted to take to the park.


Then when I got home, I found out she had been working with Orion to make this great card! Notice that is both their handprints on the front.
Then she found two pictures of me - one with each of them - and helped Orion right the letters and heart so she could cut them out. Best Mother's Day card ever. :)

Then Sarah and Josh made dinner and actually set up the whole dining room area, which my mom would have liked, and they did all the dishes!

I also wanted to write a bit more about how great Josh is with kids. I swear he is a better "parent" than I am, and such a natural Playful Parent. Apparently, he has had some anger problems in the past, and I said to him I couldn't even imagine that. They both kindof rolled their eyes and said it is all about the situation. He is SO patient with Orion, and I said I wondered if he would start to get to him if he had to spend all day with him, and he said, "Oh no! Having kids around keeps me grounded!" Hmm. Some big food for thought for me. Orion is my biggest challenge but Josh's biggest joy? There is a lesson there for sure.

Just a couple examples of his playful approach:

When we were at TGM the day before, Orion was not wanting to get in the car. At one point, he ran out into the street, and when I reached out to grab him, he freaked out of course. I was totally losing my patience, and Josh just hollered, "Hey Orion, let's play a game!" I don't remember the details, but he immediately turned getting into his carseat into some kind of fun thing.

Then at bathtime on Mother's Day, he got out of the tub and Sarah was trying to get him in a towel. He was running around like a nut, and she was getting annoyed. Ever cheerful Josh just says, "Oh, he wants to get dried off the cool way," and whips out his blowdryer. Oh my God, Orion loved it! Totally genius. I don't even own a blow dryer, but I think I am going to take my mom's home with me.

CA Saturday at The Lake Shrine

The morning had some interesting and funny moments. First, my dad pointed out that the lilies he had planted for my mom awhile ago suddenly died. He has never been a very "woowoo" type, but he clearly thought this was freaky. Then he started talking about the weather, and how it had been pretty overcast and chilly the entire time I have been here (which is really weird for this time of year) but how it was clear and beautiful just during the funeral. So I say to my dad, "Well I guess mom is up there nagging God. If anybody could nag him into changing the weather, it would be her." He thought that was pretty funny. :)

The rest of the day was a mixture of frustrating and nice. Sarah has been getting into all sorts of alternative spirituality stuff lately, and has been reading a big encyclopedia style book lately. The other day she did that thing where you open to a spot to see what message it has for you, and it was something from the Upanishads. It immediately made me think of the Lake Shrine on Sunset, especially since she lives so close to it. It hit me all at once that she really needed to go there. I haven't been leaving my dad at home alone much, but I thought this was important. I used to go there all the time when I was at UCLA if I was sick or sad. I also told her about the Ananda community and that Orion was going to be going to their preschool in Portland in the fall.

So what was frustrating? The fact that we had set up a meeting time and I couldn't get Sarah on the phone! I went to "the ghetto mansion" first, where she said she was going to be, but I didn't get an answer on Josh or Katie's phone, and nobody was answering their buzzer system. So I figured I would drive over to Josh's just to kill time, and I wasn't sure if maybe he was staying there and I was going to have to get him anyway. Same deal. Still no answers and then I couldn't find Josh's name on the directory. Argh! So I started heading back to TGM. At this point I was getting pretty annoyed. I had already left several voice and text messages, and I left one final one saying if I hadn't heard from somebody by the time I got back there, I was heading back to Simi.

Sarah finally called, and sure enough, they had just been asleep after a stressful late night. Damn kids. But there was no point in being bent out of shape and ruining the rest of the day, so I just headed over to pick them up. Katie had hurt her ankle pretty badly the night before, so she couldn't come, although she had wanted to, so we headed out with Sarah and Josh.

It was cool to be back here after so many years! It wasn't quite the calming and meditative experience I used to have with Orion running around, but it was still awesome. Sarah loved it and saw the potential despite the distraction. :) She even called Katie and told her they should come here every day. And she picked up some flyers about the services, which are at a temple even closer to where she lives.

The first thing we spied and thought Orion would like were all the turtles in the lake. See the little mama and baby on the rock? So cute.
This is part of the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial. There are actually a portion of Gandhi's ashes here - I believe the only place in the US.
A Kwan Yin close up.
Sarah reading the sign.
View of the lake from the Memorial.
There are lots of little religious figures hidden away on the hillsides, including this Krishna.
And there are signs like this all around the lake as well.
The Memorial from the other side of the lake.
The swans on the lake are really tame because there are a couple places they leave food out for them for visitors to feed them. They will eat right from your hand. The food was mostly gone, but we found a couple pieces in the crevices to hand over.
Buddha on the hill.
Another view of the Memorial from the rose garden.
Part of the Court of Religions. There is a pillar for each of the major religions with a symbol. Sarah had to get a shot of her Om tat next to the Om symbol.
My close up
Little Mary grotto in the sunken garden.

We stopped in at the gift store on the way out and picked up a few things. I got Orion a flute, Sarah got a couple books, and we both got the same Om brass hanging with little bells. We stopped back at TGM so Sarah could cook up some of her famous pasta, and then we finally got back on the road to Simi. Long day, but I am really glad we went.