THE LAUGH MAGNET! AS SEEN ON MY MOTHER'S FRIG

I went over to Mom's house last night and did little "Chores" that required an electric screw driver and a hammer. Mom spent the first 3 or 4 minutes micro-managing the tasks then I asked her if she didn't have something to do that world be more productive. So she started to pull together dinner comprised of roasted chicken mashed potatoes and peas smothered in a mushroom gravy that turned out to be nectar from the gods. All the while, Glenn Beck and Fox New blasted in the background and Mom made comments about how Obama was creating a socialist government and how the Tea Party was going to take back our country. Jesus! Glen Beck is such an ignorant creature. I am reluctant to admit it, but so is my Mother.

We had a great dinner; lots of laughs, a discussion about Scott and some eye-opening talk of my Father. When we got to the latter, things started to get pretty raw as Mom recounted some of the more embarrassing moments Dad had created while he was among us. The most upsetting story I had never heard about until last night.

Seems that years back Scott, Mom and Dad were working together in a Gerrie & Associates real estate office in Costa Mesa. Mom and Dad had set up the business and Scott was working somewhere else. So over dinner one night Dad convinced Scott to join the family business and Scott agreed, adding that he could bring at least ten agents with him from the office where he currently worked.

At that time Scott was somewhat of a young turk: successful and well liked by everyone in the local Real Estate Board so when he set about recruiting the other agents over to the Gerrie endeavor he had no problem and within a week the office was 12 agents larger. All went well for the first month – the new agents were highly productive contributing sales and commissions and all should have been good. However, Scott was not known for spending too much time in the office and his productivity was not necessarily up to par. But the new recruits were a very positive move for one and all.

At the end of the month there was a sales meeting and everyone was anticipating a big hug from Bill Gerrie and perhaps a inspirational chat about how good things were going: an affirmation that big things were going to happen at Gerrie & Associates. Instead, Dad focused in on Scott and his noticeable absence from the office. He proceeded to call Scott every name in the book and tell him that he was useless and an embarrassment to the family and his co-workers. He did this in front of all the agents and Scott was humiliated to the core. The next day all the agents came to Mom and quit. Scott never came into the office again. The office was now empty and soon after they had to close it. Scott was once again scared and Dad was, as always impressed with his ability cut out the slackers from the real men.

Or course they went back into business with each other many times over the years – each time was a disaster. I asked Mom how all this made her feel and she just said she had to "LAUGH" it off to carry on. Seems to me that "Laugh" is pretty powerful medicine. I would have cold-cocked the mother fucker! And I feel blessed that, through art, I escaped some of the lunacy of my family.

Love you Lauren more that you can imagine. XOXO Dad

Slush This!!!

Also known as "Fuck This" Weather!!! Currently it is 32˚ and we have another wonderful snow storm in our future... oh I just can't wait. The remainder of my day yesterday was wonderful; dance was a workout of both the mind and body, I read a lot on all of my subway venturing, I visited Marlow & Sons and enjoyed the company of my friend Robyn and all the other chefs that came up to say hello. It was great to see old faces and share in hugs and catching up. It was also great to look around and know that I don't work there any more, gotta tell ya, that felt amazing. Like most winter nights, I returned home around 7 and stayed my little warm cave for the rest of the night. Today I am baking a cake for Lovely Day, working on various proposals with Flannery, dropping off the cake, having tea/coffee with Marisa, stopping by Quinn's new restaurant(she is managing) to introduce myself to the mother of the owner who is doing all the desserts. I might help her out here and there, could be fun. Then I have to grocery shop for dinner tonight with four of my gal pals. None of us are drinking and two of the guests are doing cleanses so we will be having delicious water and soup, I know, sounds like a blast. It is more the company that I care about, they are all fantastic and we end up laughing so hard it hurts. I love you Daddy.
I miss you and California and fresh oj in the morning out on your patio.
xo

snow day

it began coming down last night. Daniel and I were on our way home after enjoying a Cheeseburger, Fries, and Wedge Salad at Black Iron Burger. By the time we reached our perch the thunder was booming and the flakes were swirling like cotton in a washing mashing. Awoken by the sound of shovels scraping against salt covered pavement scooping and moving the fresh frozen water from one place to another.
A leisurely morning was met by a busy coffee shop busting with warmth and talk of the current weather situation. After small talk with familiar faces I assisted Vanessa and her twins home. Vanessa is a beautiful young French mom, I would say in her early 30's, with twin daughters, I would say about two. They speak only French and they already have the stereotypical pout that is so often connected to their ethnic origin. They have very strong personalities and on this particular morning were both in the mood to scream and cry. As I watched Vanessa struggle to get both of them to cooperate and maneuver through the mounds of white that towered about their tiny frames, I decided to offer my assistance. I have some sort of strange ability to calm kids who are freaking out, maybe it was that year of being a nanny for Audrey? Maybe I just treat them like normal human beings and they appreciate that. Whatever it is, between Vanessa and I, we were able to quiet them and carry them home to their gorgeous apartment on 8th Street. I have never had a full conversation with Vanessa, merely surface coffee shop banter and acknowledgment. This morning the ice was broken, literally. I can see or more so sense that she really wants some normalcy in her life. I am assuming her husband makes the money and is often gone as I never see him and she is always battling her duo by herself. I am excited to venture into this new friendship. I know it will happen because of the way she was smiling and thanking me for my kindness when I dropped one of the girls on the front stoop. As her little feet hit the landing I glanced back at Mom, she had a look of astonishment on her face and stated in broken English, "wow, she has never let anyone pick her up like that without a fight... you have super powers. thank you so much." I am about to head out to make the long journey to the Upper West Side for Dance class. Then I am taking another long subway ride out to Brooklyn to meet up with an old friend who just quit at Marlow. She is also engaged so we are going to celebrate and hang out. Today is looking good. I am open to all the possibilities that it holds. The world is pretty magical if you just smile and open your arms. Taking it all in.

Back in the Swing 'a Things

tran·si·tion

/trænˈzɪʃən, -ˈsɪʃ-/ Show Spell[tran-zish-uhn, -sish-]

–noun

1. movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change: the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

2.Music .

a. a passing from one key to another; modulation.

b. a brief modulation; a modulation used in passing.

c. a sudden, unprepared modulation.

3. a passage from one scene to another by sound effects, music, etc., as in a television program,theatrical production, or the like.

–verb (used without object)

4. to make a transition: He had difficulty transitioning from enlisted man to officer.

It is so very interesting to me that such an important word would have such a simple definition. I suppose that is true of most "big" words; love, hate,sadness,happiness,laughter,tears...the list goes on. My return back to New York, per usual, has been a gradual acclimation to urban life, Fighting and Kicking all the way. By this point, my friends and Daniel have certainly tired of me talking about 80˚ weather and fresh orange juice from you backyard's tree. They are, however, not tired themselves of complaining about shitty "winter mix" weather, which by the way is a combination of rain, snow, wind, and below 30 degrees and is pretty much the most disgusting type of weather there is. I jumped right on the ban wagon and started complaining myself about being inside all the time, not wanting to motivate and do anything but watch movies and sleep. Not venturing out into the city or over to friend's places, but instead trying to coerce friends to come over to your place, if for not other reason than the simple fact that this enables you to NOT GO ANYWHERE. Aside from the weather there is easing back into work and generating work. I don't have to tell you a thing about that, needless to say, the panic feeling the wakes me up every morning is starting to become a bit to familiar. Being here is also hard because, well, I am not there. There being California. There being somewhere else. There being another life with other people where I do other things. I am fortunate to have both, I love that I have both and I don't take it for granted. However, the struggle this time around is how do I make my life on both coasts a concrete reality. How do I get myself back and forth more often in order to have those in my life that make my life worth living. This is not to say I don't love my family, friends, and life here, but I want to be better about the harmony between my two worlds. Sure, it might be like aiming for the stars, but I like the stars so I am up to the challenge.
This transition is about being a better me. Listening more. Talking more. Creating more. Dancing more. Cooking more. Being more of an artist. Don't get me wrong, by "more" I don't mean taking up time or filling my days to the max so that I burn out. By more, I mean higher quality, more diligence, more intent, more of Me in everything I do. This has begun with cleaning out my system of alcohol, which feels fucking amazing and I am not even a week in. Doing more yoga on a daily, sometimes twice a day, basis. Dancing. In class, in the supermarket, on the street, at the coffee shop, in my home.. everywhere. I went to dance today and I feel so much more relaxed and at ease. I am rambling, but it feels good.
Fuck, my mouth is on fire right now. I am having left overs for lunch from dinner that I made last night for myself, Flannery, Weston, and Daniel. I made Israeli Cous Cous with Caramelized Onions, Dried Apricots, Chick Peas, and Toasted Pecans. For lunch I decided to add some Sriracha hot sauce and it sure as hell gives it a kick. I am so addicted to that shit, it makes everything spicy and delicious!!
Tonight I am going to lay low. Do work. Read. Draw. Tomorrow I have Jury Duty which I am going to try and get out of, but this is the third time I have done that so they might say "hell no." I will be somewhat fucked in that case because starting Thursday I am working through next Friday. There must be a way to get around the system, I think if I prove that I am self employed and that I can't not work... who knows, I am going to put on my actress hat and see what I can do.

Now... about that photo. First off, how crazy is the similarity between Barbara and Flannery, it is almost uncanny. Secondly, how about your hair!!! Wow, daddy you were really letting it all out. You do look so handsome and I can certainly understand why Mommy would fall for you with a smile like that. I love you Deaner and I am glad you and Maccers got together, I really am.

Adios Nancy! Hello Barbara!

That last post was just starting to bug the shit out of me so I deleted it. However, I am replacing it with a picture that Eileen just sent me of a dinner party many many years ago. You will notice a very young Barbara Edivan sitting next to Eileen. This is well before I met the beautiful lady that would someday carry you, the joy of my life. Isn't it amazing how things turn out? All my love, Dad