The Lisa Life

The Wise Man

What the hell, you may ask, dear and gentle readers, is THAT?

It's a wise man, of course.  Duh.

A bit of a back story to this.  I have a really nice regular camera that was my dad's.  I used to carry it with me everywhere and take lots of pictures.  Once we went digital, I got away from the Olympus and didn't use it often.  I dug it out today since we were going to the zoo and the digital is on the fritz.

It had 8 pictures left on a roll of 24 and I had no idea what they were pictures of.  We finished the roll and I dropped it to get developed, knowing I was going to have some surprises.

The Wise Man was one of them.  One night the winter before last, (yes it has been that long since I got the film developed) Martin and I were going to his folk's house for dinner.  On the way there, on a stretch of deserted country road, something on the side of the road caught my eye.  It was the Wise Man pictured here, perched up in a tree.  I snapped a picture. 

For some reason, this just strikes me as hilarious.  A Wise Man up in a tree.  Obviously liberated from someones Christmas nativity display.  It took some doing though, to get him up in that tree and secured like that.  It should also be noted, said tree was about ten feet off the road.  It's not like someone just randomly threw him out the car window.

Potter Park Zoo

Even though I have a viewing to go to tomorrow and a funeral on Monday and I'm a bit preoccupied with that, today was a nice day and we decided to take Mia to the Potter Park Zoo.  Potter Park is less than half the size of the Detroit Zoo but it's very nice, very clean with lots of beautiful gardens and just the right size for the under five set.  They get tired, but not cranky.

My favorite?  The tiger.   Isn't it beautiful?

Mia had a fabulous time, although she was ready for a snack that wasn't coming quickly enough to suit her majesty.

The In-Laws

Meet Peter and Margaret, my in-laws.  I am very fortunate that my in-laws are actually nice fairly normal people and we like each other.

This picture (click on it to make it larger) was taken at Martin's friend Don's wedding almost two years ago.   I finally got the film in my camera developed and had a couple happy surprises.

Shout Out

This is a shout out to my latest reader, T from my local area.

WHMI, our local lame radio station, was one of T's jobs as news director.  He also worked for WWJ, AM 950, which I admit freely, I am becoming my mother because I am addicted to all news, all the time.  Roberta Jacino, one of the on-air personalities on WWJ, well, she's like an old friend.  I don't know her, wouldn't know her if I passed her on the street, but she's my morning friend.

T and I not only share geography, we share the same 80s music taste.  We've raised glasses in some of the same places, albeit not at the same time. A shame.  We must meet with the spouses.  Much fun will occur.

Just like my other friendly never commenting except in email reader B, you must come to my 40th.

Now, my next quandry is, what the hell are ya'all gonna do when I bail for somewhere else?  Like maybe Boise, Idaho?  Where there are jobs and cost of living is reasonable and there are mountains nearby and I can hike and oh my freaking God!  I've fallen in love with Boise just over the internet and I must admit, I dated a guy from Boise and it's BEAUTIFUL.  And there are JOBS.  JOBS!  Jobs that I won't be underemployed!  JOBS!  WHERE YOU CAN EARN A DECENT LIVING!  JOBS THAT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND 401(k) PLANS!

What the fuck, we haven't had that sort of thing in Michigan in years.

Holly cover your eyes because it's a fair bet that the Watsons will be leaving Livingston County at some point in the not too distant future.

I'll turn out the light when I leave Michigan.

Exciting Saturday Night

In case my geek membership was in jeopardy, here is the latest example.  It's almost 8 o'clock on Saturday night.  I am sipping wine, listening to a Jayhawks CD, anticipating dinner.

NOTE: Martin is making dinner. (Get Ripley's on the phone, okay?)  We are having steaks marinated in teryaki, twice baked stuffed potatoes and a veggie yet to be determined.  I expect the smoke alarm to go off at any moment since he's using the indoor electric grill and I know damn well he neither scraped it first nor lined it with foil.

After dinner, we are going to watch Wal-Mart: The High Cost Of Low Price.

Nothing like a little pinko documentary to make my Saturday night complete.

Easter Dinner

I'm such a slacker.  I am taking the completely easy way out for Easter dinner.  I had a gift certificate for Honey Baked Ham that I've had since Christmas.  The nearest Honey Baked Ham store is in Ann Arbor and I'm not a huge fan of ham.  My father-in-law had a doctor's appointment in Ann Arbor so I gave him the gift certificate to pick up the ham.

I don't have to glaze a ham, cook it, slice it or anything.   I just have to slap it on a plate and call it good.  It smells wonderful.

I'm also making potatoes au gratin (using the handy dandy Ore-Ida hash browns) and the inevitable green bean casserole, which is something of a family joke since I make it every holiday.  I have some bust open the can biscuits and the raspberry creme brulee is chilling as I type.  (NOTE: Creme Brulee is a very impressive dessert and it's SO EASY to make.  The recipe is posted elsewhere on the blog, look under the Food & Drink category.)

All I have left to do is vacuum the living room and shower.

Mia was thrilled with her Easter basket which contained two books (Lady And The Tramp and Thomas The Train), a pair of sandals and a stuffed tie-dyed Easter Bunnie with a carrot embroidered on his left foot.  Bad mommy, no candy.  Gran and Paw Paw have plenty in their Easter basket for her.

As a side note, we totally forgot my mother in law's birthday.  Since she is starting to suffer from Old Timer's, we are somewhat off the hook, as it is highly likely she forgot as well.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Update From Our Favorite Soldier

Our favorite soldier Sam called tonight.  He generally calls every week-end, usually at ten or eleven o'clock.  The phone rings then and Martin and I say to each other, "Hey, it's Sam!"

He is currently stationed in Washington State.  So far, he's been led to believe he will be stationed in Korea, Japan, and Germany.  Wherever he ends up, he is assured to end up In The Rear With The Gear.  No indication of an Iraq invasion.  Thank God.  Or Allah.  Or the Easter Bunny.   

Latest destination is Germany.  Again.  In August.

He was drinking a beer (or six) and dyeing Easter Eggs while we chatted.

We love you Sam, and we miss you and I may hate this war but God Bless our troops.

Progress!

As many of you know, my husband Martin has acute psoriasis.  It's been very bad, bad to the point that his feet are so afflicted he is barely able to walk and can not wear shoes.

He started participating in a research program at U of M using Enterecept.  These are injections that were originally developed for something else and found to heal psoriasis.  The side effects, however, are scary. (Higher chance of MS, TB, liver damage, etc.)

Guess who is the lucky one who gets to actually administer these injections?  Yes, that would be me.

No worries of me becoming an IV drug user since the needles really creep me out and I absolutely shiver and freak out giving Martin his injections.  I hate doing it.  I absolutely loathe and detest it.

The good news? 

It's working.  Martin's skin is looking clearer than it has since we met.  It's remarkable.

His doctor is fantastic, and so cute and little, you want to put him in your pocket and take him home and put him on a shelf as a knickknack.

If you'd like to know more about Martin's journey with this experimental drug, you can read about it here.

As a side note, every time I have difficulty jabbing him with the needle, I just think of the last time he pissed me off and that makes it so much easier.

I am an evil bitch.

Metaphysical

We watched Practical Magic last night.  Never mind that I think Stockard Channing is a hoot.  (Loved her as Rizzo in Grease.)

It's a movie about a family of witches who are cursed in love.  Cute little movie. It made me think about the metaphysical side of things.

My sister Sandi is a witch.  She earned the nickname Metaphysical Sandi from me.  I tend to joke about it and tease her, but there is definitely something to it.

She claims she can feel my presence before I am there, that my aura is strong enough to proceed me.  We planned on going to Lillith Fair together, many moons ago.  We agreed to meet at the concert.  I asked where at the venue we should hook up and Sandi said, "Don't worry, I'll find you.  I always know when you are around."  Being the ever practical bean counter and skeptic I am, I asked what Plan B was.  I got there quite early and was wandering around,looking at all the vendor wares when I was enveloped in a hug from behind while Sandi whispered, "There you are!"

Another time, we were at Mr. B's, a local restaurant/pub.  We were sitting at the bar having munchies when a young man, probably 19 or 20, walked up to Sandi and said, "I had my bottom wisdom teeth out today and I'm really hurting.  Will you help me?  I can tell you are a healer."

We didn't know him, had never seen him before.  But he picked Sandi out of the crowded area and pegged her as a healer.  She did a few massage/pressure point moves on him and he was grateful and said it helped.

I just sat there like a lemming with my jaw hanging to the floor.

Sandi and her partner Janie had their commitment ceremony about six months after Martin and I got married.  Sandi and I went shopping together for the occasions at  David's Bridal Salon.  We had a rather young salesclerk helping us.  (NOTE:  One of the great things about David's, they actually have salespeople who help and give you an honest opinion and aren't pushy and will even button/zip/clip you into the dress.)

Our salesperson was acting really skittish around Sandi and finally, Sandi told her, "I'm a WITCH, you know!  So knock if off, I'm a good witch and I won't hurt you."  The salesgirl replied, "Okay, I'm okay now.  I knew there was something about you."

My husband got Sandi a bumper sticker that reads "I didn't go to church today.  I was busy practicing Wicca and becoming a lesbian."  Sandi cracked up when she saw it and said, "Pretty much sums up my life, doesn't it?"

I would scoff at all this if I hadn't witnessed it firsthand.  I do think many people have a lot of intuition and insight.  I think  people just don't tap into it. 

I don't know how much of this I posses but I think it's something I may explore a little further.

A Great Find

I'm on the quest for the perfect tan.  I go through stages like this.  Tanning boosts my self-confidence tenfold and I am convinced the rays make me feel better overall.

I know it's bad for my skin, so shut it already, okay?

I'm always trolling for products that make me tan better and faster and improve my skin.  I was in Wal-greens the other day and the very helpful cosmetic clerk saw me looking at lotion.  She commented that I was very tan (YES!) and suggested I try Hawaiian Tropic Island Glow.  It also came with an instant $2 off coupon so I was game. 

It's moisturizer with a bit of sunless tanner thrown in.  It smells wonderful (green tea scent) and not only is it an effective moisturizer, it has boosted my tan subtly and evened out my skin tones.

Hawaiian Tropic Island Glow is sure to become a staple in my lotion collection.