ABC of Me

I was inspired by Susannah Conway's post and so many just popped into my head, but the rest. I've been working on this post for almost a week. Its hard to come up with a whole alphabet of stuff. So many things fit with a lot of letters and then there is Q, Y, and E. Gah. So here is my finally complete list minus the great photography Susannah has because its late and I'm not awesome like that. I'm awesome in other ways one of which is calling for me to take the clafouti out of the oven and dessert wins every time.

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A Week (Or Two) in Words

While thinking up my 37 Before 38 list, I came across the idea of one-sentence daily journaling. I started out with just mundane sentences, but lately I've been working on finding the joyful in every day. 

1/27: I like yarn.

1/28: Nothing like finishing Shabbat preparations early so you can walk to Coffee Bean.

1/29: Some people are so generous with other people's stuff.

1/30: I am sick.

1/31: The girls are sick now, too.

2/1: They are driving me nuts.

2/2: I cut my sweater!

2/3: I love it!

2/4: I'm so tired.

2/5: A great day for Polaroiding!

2/7: Should we go to Disneyland tomorrow?

2/8: Will this cough ever go away?

2/9: I love park day!

2/10: Shira is so funny!

2/11: This lamb smells divine.

2/12: Shabbat shalom!

37 Before 38

Last year I did a 36 before 37 list. I typed it up and occasionally looked at it on the blog (usually when something reminded me of it or when looking up something else) and did a fair share of the items. I'm making my list again and item number one should help me achieve more of my goals. 

1. Hang list up where I can see it.
2. Make sweaters for the whole family for Rosh HaShannah
House running on auto pilot again because of:
3. Routines
4. Menus
5. Zone maintenance
6. Learn to crochet
7. Learn to spin
8. Make and can strawberry for the entire year.
9. Complete my "100 Things That Make Me Happy" mini book.
10. Get our emergency preparedness stuff up to snuff.
11. Go roller skating
12. Yarn bomb Beverly Hills
13. Have smores at the beach with a bonfire
14. Go on a hike
15. Have family portraits taken
16. Have the perfect skirt (or three) made
17. Learn to sew
18. Make sourdough bread
19. Give Blood
20. Go to a drive-in movie
21. Learn to darn my knitted goods.
22. Work out a soaked flour recipe for challah
23. Get all of my digital pictures organized and backed up
24. Complete a machsom l'fi
25. Learn to dance
26. Have a tea party
27. Volunteer
28. Host women's learning for Shavuot.
29.  Update my blog reader.
30. Get back into the early wake-up habit.
31. Unplug for a week.
32. Resume DITLO posts
33. Stop biting my nails.
34. Get dressed every day.
35. Teach somebody something.
36. Journal by writing a sentence about each day.
37. Laugh every day

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I feel really weird writing that because its still August and therefore summer. School shouldn't start until after Labor Day. Kids nowadays are getting short-changed. Also, this week was the start of summer weather in Los Angeles. We finally broke past the 77 degree barrier. So there is absolutely no way that summer is over.

Yet everywhere I turn I am seeing back-to-school sales, back-to-school blog posts and back-to-school stories. The trend this year seems to be revisiting the dreaded essay topic. Since I love all things retro, here goes...

I spent my summer vacation taking the girls to the beach for the first time and then loading the back of the van with gear for impromptu beach runs.

I bought cheap annual passes for the Skirball Cultural Center and The Huntington Library and ignored our expensive ones to Disneyland.

I chased peacocks and peahens and stripped sprinkler-soaked kids for the long drive home.

I ignored my yarn in favor of expired film and found my way back by casting on three projects.

I made a new list and started the things on it.

I cried when I found out I wasn't pregnant and found peace with knowing there was no baby in me.

I had a meaningful fast and taught my children the meaning of Mashiach.

I picked cherries, tomatoes, beets and beans. I played in the kitchen trying to find new ways to use the bounty we received.

I let my domain expire and felt recharged in my new home.

I surprised one friend and screamed with joy for another.

I conquered jealousy and depression.

I cleaned crayons from carpets and walls, paint and glue from tables, markers from bodies.

I got a manicure. And a pedicure.

I traveled to Baltimore for a conference and ran 5 kilometers in 46 minutes.

I welcomed fish into my home. They welcomed more fish. A lot more fish.

I did a cartwheel and played "airplane" with three girls first thing in the morning.

I wrote on my mirror and shot silly string at Aba.

I had fun this summer and it's is just getting started.