The scene: Ventura, California
The Venue: The Beach
The Event: ”Surf Rodeo”
What’s a Surf Rodeo? Well, I’m told it involves surfers wearing cowboy hats and bands rocking out on a stage at the beach. For years, it was a must see annual, weekend event in beautiful Ventura, California.
My husband’s friend John Drury is bringing back the “Surf Rodeo” next year with the help of “Roadshow Revival” productions (the team behind the Johnny Cash Music Festival).
But to get folks hyped up now, they held a “mini rodeo” on the beach in Ventura over the weekend.
Amazing venue to listen to music and boogie a little too. Pefect setting to catch the honky-tonk punk band “Jackass”.
Look closer- that’s my hubs banging on the drum kit. And yup, that’s my wee one playing his bongo on stage. Total family affair.
Some of the sights and sounds from vendors who setup on the boardwalk.
You didn’t have too look too far to find the real deal. This lil’ guy was on the swing next to my kid. Odd, but cute.
I’m sure we’ll be up here next year- COWBOY UP!
About a month ago, I made a big score at a garage sale. A family was getting rid of this dining set for $50. But it didn’t always look likes this.
The “before” pictures- I spent the last four weekends sanding, stripping and staining the benches and table.
I finished the biggest of the benches this morning. The stain came out a little bit darker than the others, but overall, I really like the finished product.
Perhaps the best part: The benches have storage! This is a big bonus for my family because our small bungalow lacks closet/storage space.
Roses I bought two weeks ago from our local “Trader Joes”. 
A wide shot of our dining/living area. You can see just how tiny our craftsman home really is. The new dining set fits perfectly in the small space.
An amazing and rare date night with my husband. We saw the one and only NEIL DIAMOND-at this historic Greek Theater in Los Angeles last night. 
But this wasn’t just any Neil Diamond concert— it was his final gig celebrating the 40th anniversary of his legendary album “Hot August Night”. 
A special thanks to our friend Mark who helped us score tickets to this sold out show.
We arrived about 30 minutes early and decided to walk around, check out the sites.
I’ve seen Neil three other times— and it’s always fun to people watch at his concerts.
We made it to our seats— time for a photo op.
And then the people watching continued. You just never know who you are going to see at a concert in Los Angeles….
Look closer, that’s comedian David Spade. Who knew he was a Diamond fan?
Finally… the main event. Not too shabby- 17 rows back.
The view behind us. There were no “Tree People” this time around, but ain’t the Greek gorgeous?
Neil Diamond is killer- 71 years old and one of the best showman I’ve ever seen.
WHEN YOUR CHILD WON’T OUTGROW SLEEP PROBLEMS
I think about it all day long; I want it all day long and night; And I’d do just about anything to get more of it. Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m referring to my now insatiable obsession with sleep.
I know the day it started: rewind 2 years 8 months 7 days ago— the day my second son was born. Since then we’ve experienced nearly 2,000 joyful days, but also suffered through nearly 2,000 sleepless nights. No, I’m not exaggerating. Our boy hasn’t slept through the night his entire young life.
During each of his pediatric checkups, I’d bring it up with his doctor. No, more like I’d plead my case with the good doctor: something surely must be wrong with kid because our first born slept through the night at 8 weeks (yes, we were lucky with him). The usual response from his pediatrician, “no two babies are alike” and “he’ll out grow it”.
Shortly after he turned two, my gut told me that something was wrong with him medically. I knew my kid. And there had to be a reason why he was be waking (on average) three times a night. I didn’t act on that feeling then, but I should have.
My “mommy intuition” went into overdrive during a recent family vacation to San Diego. For the first time since he was an infant, we slept together. I wouldn’t call it sleep, but rather it turned into two nights of me watching my boy struggle to get some rest. He tossed and turned all night long. He snored loudly, as well as broke out into night sweats. But what concerned me the most was the fact that he appeared to have episodes of not breathing, followed by gasps for breath. This was not right.
After we returned home, I made another appointment with our pediatrician to demand that she take a closer look at him. She listened as I rehashed the vacation sleepover. She too agreed this didn’t appear right. Plus, she also said he appeared to be a classic “mouth breather”. We finally got our referral to a specialist.
The specialist was amazing. By the end of our visit, he diagnosed our child with possible “Obstructive Sleep Apnea”. Yes, my boy apparently suffers from what I wrongly assumed only plagues older, overweight people.
According to the experts, obstructive apnea affects roughly 2 percent of kids under the age of 6. I also learned that sleep disorders have serious consequences. My kid could be at a greater risk of obesity and diabetes, as well as attention deficit disorders. The most common culprit of childhood apnea is enlarged adenoids and tonsils. The most common cure is surgery.
Part of the diagnosis includes an overnight sleep study. To my surprise this also includes toddlers. A few weeks ago, my son had his sleep study performed at a clinic in Glendale. It started off promising, my child actually allowed the sleep tech to attach all the sensors to his body. But, after a few hours, my boy decided that the sensors interfered with his tossing and turning, so he pulled most of them off his body. The tech tried replying them once. He pulled them off again. Game over.
As for our journey, we are now waiting to see what’s next in the diagnosis to treatment phase. Depending on the study results, the doctor will either remove just his adenoids, or perhaps both the adenoids and tonsils.
Bottom line, I can only hope it leads to a better night sleep for us all, especially for my son, who really doesn’t know what he’s missing.
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I had dinner with a friend last night who shared with me what I like to call a “only in LA” moment. The moment turned out to be so incredibly ironic, that I asked him for permission to share it on my blog.
My friend said he had dinner one night (in Hollywood) with OJ Simpson and a couple of other people. This was a few years before OJ (allegedly) butchered his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, in 1994.
My friend said that OJ pulled a piece paper from his jacket during dinner. He then proceeded to tell the group that he often carried it with him and read it anytime he felt the need.
My friend not only had the balls to ask Simpson to allow him to photocopy the piece of paper (the restaurant gladly obliged the request), but he also asked the “Juice” to autograph it. As you can see, OJ granted the request… and for the record, my friend wasn’t “bitch-slapped” on the head for asking.
And now you know.
This cover is wrong and it’s not because a 3 year old boy is breastfeeding. I have NO problem with that. But already, across the internet, people are reacting to this photo with disgust. It’s not my thing, but again, I have no problem with this boy, his mom, and her boob.
What irritates me is the headline:
“Are you Mom Enough… why attachment parenting drives some women to extremes.”
TIME Magazine editors, please know that all mothers are “Mom Enough”— we just choose different paths and styles to raise our kids. Some moms breastfeed, some do not, and some are not even able to. Some mothers have to work, some CHOOSE to work, while others are able to stay home. We are all different. We all have our own unique challenges. And we all go to “extremes”.
This cover photo, whether intentional or not, is an attempt to make “attachment parents” look like freaks. Sad… very sad. ENOUGH of these “Mommy Wars”.
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