Feeling old, yet thrilled to never be an adolescent again

I so totally remember the first time this picture was on the cover of Rolling Stone. I was what - 13? And let me tell you that Gun's n Roses changed my life. It was that stage of adolescence where music starts defining you and your friends. Where the JAP (Jewish American Princess) from the Valley with the big hair and fake nails that she first got for her  Bat Mitzvah and never stopped getting discovered The Cure and started wearing all black, while some of her friends went the teeny bopper Back Street Boys route, and others discovered a love for Glam Rock.

I was the glam rock lover. A wanna-be hesher girl but with a Mom that instilled a little too much style sense in me to go "all the way" into the Glam Rock look. I pretty much skirted the edge of hesherdom, with accessories such as the leather jacket and cowboy boots and torn jeans mixed into my Contempo Casual wardrobe. But lemme tell you. I loved me some GNR.

I decorated my room with posters of Axl and the gang - having great discussions with my friends over who was hotter, Axl or Izzy. I had the ALBUM. The original album that had the graphic album sleeve with a cartoon of a robot raping a woman - the OG cover art that they had to change since it was the height of the Tipper Gore censorship days and Target and Kmart wouldn't sell the album with that cover. That is I HAD it, as in past tense. I had it up until the day that my mom caught my brother looking at the image and trying to draw it himself which freaked her out so much that she ripped it up. Not really stopping to think that a) it was MY record and b) it would be worth $$$ one day with the artwork in tact. Sigh.

So back in the height of my GNR stage, I actually got to meet them. A few different times actually. Remember, I grew up in LA, so it was natural that kids in LA go to school with or are are friends of friends with children and family members of celebrities or some big wig here or there. People in LA are just very connected. My big day actually came in 1989, back stage at the launch party of Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever album. Steve and Duff were there and they actually TALKED TO US. What about I don't remember. The only thing I really remember about that night is that I was horrified to be wearing neon green shorts with my leather jacket (an outfit that I initially thought was cool.. not quite sure why..) and was also humiliated because Kurt Loder was asking my friend Adria and I about "hot new LA bands" like we were these cool chicks in the know (not like the lame-ass 15 year old Valley girls that we were) and all I could talk about was Guns N Roses and I think I even mentioned Skid Row and something about Sebastian Bach being hot.

Oh, man. I'm so happy I never have to be 13-15 again.

Beth, Steve Adler, Adria, Duff - circa 1989. Leather jackets RULE.

In-home incarceration only made easier with hot dogs

And now I know what Paris Hilton almost felt like.

Lucas, who's immune system (or lack there of??) never ceases to amaze us, greeted his Grandparents (Jason's parents) at the beginning of their week-long visit with none other than a raging fever. Desperately trying to overcome my issue of rushing to the Dr with every sneeze (hey, going to be a 2nd time around parent here - time to roll away the over-paranoia flag!) to hear "it's just a virus" yet again,  we waited to see where the fever would take us. When yesterday at 4 PM it took us to a 103.5 under-the-arm freak out, we called the Dr. OF COURSE.. The ONE time I don't rush him in.. it was strep throat.

The past few days have included a lot of me sitting in the house with a sick child time, forcing Jason and his parents out of "casa de sicko" to enjoy the VERY WARM San Diego sunshine without us. And yes, I'm beginning to go a bit stir crazy. But, looking to the bright side - it did give me the chance to finish up Harry Potter #7.  

In other interesting (or maybe not) minutia of my life, like a black fly in my chardonnay (that I wish I was drinking.. ) last week I was pitched by a PR person. Why is that ironic? Because that's what I do.. but unlike the girl who pitched me on behalf of Hoffy Hot Dogs, I pitch things like down loadable wireless content. Yea, doesn't really have the same "flair".

Anyway, knowing what it's like to be on the other side of that email, not to mention TOTALLY flattered that someone out there targeted ME as a "thought leader" or  at the very least someone they would like to see write about their product, I responded to her. Oh, yea. Her offer to send me some samples of the new Hoffy Extra Lean Hot Dogs didn't hurt either.

Dude, a pregnant woman pass up free hot dogs?

So first off, I think for now they are only available in So. Cal, but then again, who really cares about the rest of you?
HA. I kid, I kid... Hoffy Hot Dogs are the beef yumminess that they serve at Pinks, one of the most delectable hot dog stands in the universe. But if my stint with WW earlier this year taught me anything, it taught me that regular hot dogs are really the DEVIL disguised as rolled-up beef with the main intention of adding similar rolls to your ass. I mean, duh, we all know that hot dogs are not really good for you, but that a Hebrew National all beef dog is like 25 point each is just a little mind blowing - no? I have been more than happy curbing my craving for the fattening maddess with the 97% Fat Free version of the Hebrew's smacked in a wonderlight bun (2 pnts total!), but I will say that the new Hoffy Dogs may have given the HN's a run for my money. It was pretty damn d to the e, to the l-i-c-i-o-u-s.

And, it passed the Lucas test with the kid scarfing down 2 of them. And if you even understood the bizarre eating issues that we've had with Lucas of late - or, if you too are the parent of a 3 year old - you KNOW that means it was a damn good hot dog.

A wedding, a weekend away and the fact that Jason and Beth have lost the ability to sleep in a full size bed

This past weekend we made our way half-way up the California coast for a family wedding. If you have never been the Central CA coast, I highly recommend you put it on your list. Every time we go up there we dream of moving. It's calm. It's picturesque. And there is wine aplenty. Jason's extended relatives have lived there for years, while his grandmother moved there almost 2 years ago. We love the drive up and we always stop in Los Olivos for lunch and a little wine tasting at our favorite little tasting room, Andrew Murray. Alas, this time it was Jason doing the tasting... sigh...

The wedding was a huge family gathering with more aunts, uncles and cousin that we can name. It was nice though, because this is the first big family gathering that included the newest generation of little munchkins. Lucas and his little cousin Avery were "flower children" in the wedding, and both did a phenomenal job of walking down the aisle to a chorus of "ooohhhss".

We also walked around Morro Bay a bit, dreaming of the day when we will own our boat. The only real issue we encountered this weekend was the full size bed in the hotel room. Romanticizing back to a time when a full sized bed was a chance to snuggle, we didn't think much about it. But between the fact that we have become way to used to our king sized mattress and the fact that I account for 1.5 people while laying sideways these days, we had issues.

for more pictures from the weekend, click here

When I grow up I want to be Posh

OMG. Do you not LOVE Victoria Beckham?

Did you watch Victoria Beckham Coming to America tonight? MAJOR. I love her. I want her her to be my new best friend. That's all.

Melting my heart

This morning I was sitting on the couch and Lucas came over to talk to me. As often happens these days, my shirt had ridden up a bit, exposing the belly. Lucas looked down at my belly and says "Mommy, can I give the baby a hug and kiss?" and he leans in and puts his head on my belly and then kisses it and says "Hi baby. Keep growing nice and big!"

And then I cried.

I think he gets it, I think he understands whats going on. Then again, come November he will have no clue how much his world will be rocked.