hi all – no, i didn’t decide to take another blogging hiatus – just went down to LA for a few days to be with NANI for her birthday and visit with GRANDMA and PAPA JOE and so blogging simply fell by the wayside.  while i was gone ABN did a little blog maintenance that i didn’t even know that i needed but now i’m back and you know, as good as new.

LA as always, was a mixed bag.  so good to be with NANI, just sitting on her green velor chair while she lays on her pink couch – that permanently holds the mold of her body.  so good to force feed her chocolate cake and turkey breast and some chalky orange protein drink that is supposed to make the HUGE wound on her foot heal more quickly (it’s really awful and maybe one day i’ll go into it in more detail because when i close my eyes it’s ALL I SEE).  so good to see GRANDMA and PAPA JOE (even with a fractured knee) and D and best of all JESSICA and BABY MAX (i thanked him for coming so far to see me and he responded, “it’s cool man!”).  but hard too.  not only is NANI in serious pain (again, the foot…it’s awful) but her heart is so totally broken that it makes my heart break all over again.  i feel so lucky to be able to spend this time with her – to have made the choices that i have made in the last couple of months that make it possible to go to to LA for days at a time whenever i want.  but leaving is hard and saying goodbye sucks.

one funny story – so ROXANNA, the housekeeper/GOD is about to bring lunch into NANI on friday afternoon after a multitude of drs appointments and a quick trip to MARTIN (yes, i got a cut!).  but first she pulls me aside, she’s holding a small container of beans – black and edamame, from WHOLE FOODS.

R: i’m going to give these to your grandmother, she says.  and i’m going to say they were your idea.  that way she will eat them

LBN: okay but it will never work – my mom and i always say things were you’re idea in order to get her to do something (remember – ROXANNA = GOD).

we walk into the den, where NANI is on her couch.

NANI: (a scowl on her face) WHAT are those? (she points at the beans and sorta sticks out her tongue).

R: elizabeth told me to get them.  she said they would be good for you.

NANI: oh, well, okay (she proceeds to eat every bite – roxanna walks out of the room shaking her head – i sit there with my mouth hanging wide open in disbelief – i swear, nothing like this has ever happened before).  these are WONDERFUL – where did you ever get anything so good?

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this week a multitude of RABBI friends have descended on SF for some conference.  i feel less anxious just knowing they are in my city.

have i mentioned my bathroom recently?  the good news – we have a door (particle board but still) to the bathroom.  the bad news?  the bolt lock on our front door fell out.  i didn’t even know that was possible.