May 2014 – Page 3 – *the gratitude-a-thon

Mother’s Day

May 11, 2014May 11, 2014Uncategorized1 Comment

Happy mother’s day mom!!! I am SO incredibly grateful for you although occasionally I have trouble showing it. I am grateful for EVERYTHING you do, from the smallest things to the biggest. I am grateful for your sense of fashion because it really does help when I want to borrow clothes, and I am grateful for your ability to always listen to me. I am grateful for your sense of humor and the way you laugh at all of the jokes I attempt at making. I am grateful for your math struggles because at least someone understands why I can no longer comprehend anything my teacher explains in math class. I am grateful for all of your hard work because you taught me that you do actually have to work hard to get what you want and to get better at things. Most of all I am grateful for your never ending support, because you have been supportive in everything I do and more importantly everything I have wanted to do that have not followed through on YET. You even supported my ballerina days, although I had absolutely no rhythm and could not keep up with any of the other girls in the dances. After ballet didn’t work out you supported my subtle change into boyhood when I decided I would like to wear all boy’s clothes and play sports with all boys as well. Whether it was an attempt to be more like Jake or just a phase, you were there the whole way through. When I got older and realized I was in fact not the same gender as Jake, you supported that huge change of mind, attitude, and most importantly clothes. Most importantly to me though is you support my soccer. You come to countless games in freezing cold weather or games that take hours and hours to get to, and even though only 2 years ago you probably knew nothing about soccer, you learned things about soccer, you began to talk about soccer, and most surprisingly of all you have almost mastered the off sides rule. And you did all of that for me. Happy Mother’s Day MOMma!!!! I LOVE YOU!

love,

Ally

Mother’s day gratitudeathon

So much to be grateful for today. Waking up to sun coming through my window, warm weather, and another day to go out and take advantage of countless opportunities that I am given access to every single day. I am closing out my first semester at USC, and all of the amazing things that this school offers, are made possible for me to experience in very large part to my beautiful mother, Toni Friedman Lansbury.

This past year for me has been one that came with a lot of growing up, becoming very independent. Becoming a man. I travelled to a different country, and through every bump and great night I had, my mom was there for me. Her love and support made the distance that stood between us feel like nothing. The countless times I missed a flight, or went over my weekly budget, she comforted me and didn’t allow me to worry.

On to USC after a too short reunion with her and the rest of my family and friends over winter break, the next step of my journey begins in beautiful Los Angeles, essentially being just as far from her as I was in a different country. It was agreed that my lack of focus and success academically in Barcelona would not be repeated here at USC, it couldn’t be. I went in with a mindset in accordance with this agreement, but when I started pledging and my grades began to dip, I knew I could not uphold the promise I had made her and myself. After a lot of struggling and late nights studying I decided that to withdraw from a class was my best chance at optimizing my chance at success. I talked it over with her and my dad and they trusted in my judgment, treated me like an adult.

My mom has never been someone to doubt my decisions, especially when she knows I am really passionate about it. She hates the idea of being in a fraternity, read all the internet articles that as a college guy pledging a fraternity you never want your mom to read, and yet she still supported me the whole way. All she ever asked was, “Are you sure this is what you want? You really think it’s worth it?” To which I always responded, “Yeah I do, I really want this mom.” And with that we would be on to the next topic of discussion.

The unwavering support that my mom gives me is not something that many kids get from their parents, but it definitely does not go unnoticed and unappreciated on my end. I can not imagine not being supported in all my decisions by my parents, because I have never had to deal with them not supporting me. My mom has always taught me to do things I am passionate about and that I believe in, no matter what anyone else has to say about it. I take no advice as seriously as this. To her dismay this has backfired on numerous occasions in the past few years, namely with my love for wearing clothes that make her nauseous or not shaving my mustache.

I can’t express how much I respect my mom for always being herself and not shying away from doing what she loves. I will always look up to her fortitude in any situation, her determination and persistence to get what she wants, and her continual desire to better herself in any number of ways. Every day I only wish to emulate these qualities and not only make her proud, but make her know how grateful I am to be who I am because of who she is. I could never ask for a better role model, best friend, or mom than the one I have. I love you to the moon and back mom, and I hope you have a great Mother’s Day and remember every second of the day how much you are appreciated and loved by everyone, but namely Dad, Ally and I. I’ll be home soon, and I can not wait to see your face. Love you so much.

– Your little Jakey forever

gratitude-a-thon day 388: diane keaton’s little secret unveiled

May 10, 2014Uncategorized1 Comment

71st Annual Golden Globe Awards - Show - Season 71 — Diane Keaton says she suffered from bulimia in her 20’s. She’s still pretty darn thin, for 68.

Apparently, the fact that Diane Keaton suffered from bulimia is old news (2011). But she is restating that she is a recovering food addict.

Here’s why this is good news, except for Diane Keaton, who probably suffers plenty. Because the actress is high profile, and looks amazing at the age of 68, just reminds the rest of we aging girls that to look that good can sometimes come with sacrifice, like mental torture, i.e. bulimia, should we or shouldn’t we heed the call of the cookies in the cabinet. We need to chip away at the unrealistic expectations of how a body and face looks as it ages naturally. I love the fact that she doesn’t seem to have had plastic surgery on her face, but having an eating disorder is another way of falsifying the fact that as we get older, women’s bodies tend to gain weight. To stay as model thin as Diane, you need to be aware of every little calorie you ingest, unless you have the metabolism of a three year old. I’m not saying you can’t be thin as you age, but let’s just admit, it’s not easy. So, thank you, Ms. Keaton for reminding us to be realistic. I wonder how many other Hollywood women, and girls, who play poster children for glamour are suffering with disordered eating, making us think we’re the ones who are weird if we’re not a size 2.

gratitude-a-thon day 387: having teeth is good

May 9, 2014UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hydrocodone is awful. Aside from making me feel like a pile of blah, it made me really sick last night and I almost fainted heading from the bathroom to my bed. I fell to my knees in the hallway. Cue the dramatic music. I should back up, I had a tooth pulled on Wednesday and the hydrocodone was helping the pain. But hell, not sure which was worse. I cracked the root of the tooth, which my dentist reminded me is nothing to blame myself for, it can just happen.

Anwyay, feeling sort of better today, even though I’m still horrified that I had to have a big fat molar pulled from my mouth. That tooth and I have been through a lot together. And now it’s gone; some medical garbage in the endodontist’s trash can. I’m feeling a little sentimental about it. I like having teeth.

So, obsessively brushing, flossing and upping my daily tooth care regime to the next level. I’m KEEPING the rest of my pearly whites. Because as far as fun experiences go, this one is at the bottom of my list.

gratitude-a-thon day 386: when someone is rude, find someone who is nice

May 8, 2014May 8, 2014Uncategorized2 Comments

Unknown-1 — I had an awful meter maid ruin my day yesterday. She deserves a ticket for bad behavior.

So yesterday I had to do some stuff in Brookline Village and I got an ace spot in front of Starbucks, but I didn’t have any change for the meter. Now normally, I’d just have left the car for the two minutes it was going to take me to run to the bank for quarters, but there was a meter maid two cars behind me chatting it up with a guy in a truck and a woman standing outside the truck. So, I politely went over and said “Excuse me, that’s my car right there and I’m just running to the bank for quarters.” She shot me a glance and in her snarkiest tone said, “It takes dimes and nickels, too.” Which of course, I knew. I’ve lived here for 21 years. I have stuck everything into the meter, but monopoly money, so no need for an education on what the meter will eat. I began to walk away, and looked back to say I didn’t have any dimes or nickels, and found the three of them mocking me, and rolling their eyes. I sort of couldn’t believe it, and it so incensed me that I politely went back and opened my wallet and said, “I only have pennies.” Miss Meter, again, in her I-dont-believe-you-tone responded, “Yeah, yeah, fine.”

I found this so uncalled for, that I was ready to march over to the Traffic Department and complain. Except for I didn’t have time, and secretly I was afraid she’d then look for my car all over town, and ticket me the minute my meter ran dry. I’m grateful that Mary, the manager at Zoots let me vent about my encounter, and was totally sympathetic. She’s exactly the opposite of the meanie maid. Every time I pick up my dry cleaning, she is crazy nice and we always share at least one good giggle together. So, instead of complaining about that miserable and completely unprofessional meter maid, I called Mary this morning and told her that instead of dialing up the Traffic Department, I wanted to call her boss to tell him what a great employee she is, and how she is always spectacularly nice. She said it made her day. And it’s going to make mine, too. I hope that small minded meter maid can’t find even one empty meter today.

gratitude-a-thon day 385: the balancing act

May 7, 2014May 7, 2014Uncategorized3 Comments

I feel like I’m teetering on the top of this pile, trying hard to stand on it gracefully like a ballerina, and not fall off it like a rag doll.

I get overwhelmed when I have too much going on. My head gets spinny with snippets of stuff I must accomplish in time frames that are completely impossible. My sleep is invaded by lists a marathon long, and sudden panic about a deadline that just might get missed. My teeth clench, my shoulders wilt forward, my leg bobs up and down with nervous energy.

But, instead of giving into the ghastly feeling of an overflowing plate, I’m trying to tame the beast by doing something really simple. Taking one step at a time. Doing my best (because as I’ve always told my kids, you can’t do better than that), and moving forward. Maintaining sanity, seeking serenity, and getting some exercise and healthy food during an overbooked period can also help.

Grateful to be busy. Busy is good. And even more grateful to figure out a way to balance without falling off the top of my “to do” list.

gratitude-a-thon day 384: Jocina Becker for president (I mean Town Meeting)

May 6, 2014May 7, 2014UncategorizedLeave a Comment

JocinaBecker_02-300x300 — Jocina Becker, Precinct 6. She’s smart. She’s energetic. And she’s only 25 and running for Town Meeting. This girl has a future.

Today is Election day in Brookline. One of my neighbor’s daughters is running for Town Meeting. Honestly, and slightly embarrassingly, I don’t’ normally pay attention to the Town Election (Which is not to say I’m a slacker, I do a ton of school volunteering and at this very moment am knee deep in the After the Prom Party). But this year I am paying attention to our Election, and there’s a very simple reason why. Jocina Becker is 25. And she gets my vote because of that.

Oh stop, of course, she’s smart and articulate and got scads of energy (not to mention is completely adorable), but she has my vote because she’s 25 and doing something for her town. We need young voices and opinions. We need that kind of super sonic youthful moxie.

At 25, I was obsessing over boys, aerobics classes and getting a job in advertising. I was not considering ways in which to help Boston, other than spending money on clothes, which I imagined was good for the economy (but not my tiny Newbury Street closet). So, if for no other reason (although there are plenty of reasons, like she’s for the Brookline Place Development, for one) she gets my vote. Go Jocina. You’re a great role model (even my 16 year old took notice and that’s saying something).

gratitude-a-thon day 383: i still love obama

May 5, 2014May 5, 2014Uncategorized3 Comments

I still love Obama. I’m not really an ultra patriotic, loving my country, flag waver type, but I love the guy. I watched his White House Correspondence Dinner speech and I loved him even more. He’s funny. He’s really funny. And totally hip, with great timing. When this president thing ends, I could totally see him doing the comedy club circuit (don’t say it, republicans).

gratitude-a-thon day 382: the writing is on the wall

May 4, 2014UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Miami has a super cool art district, where even the outside of buildings display art. And it’s growing leaps and bounds. Even since I visited last year. I’m a little in love with it.