InstaFriday

Well, well, well…

What have we here?

InstaFriday…on a FRIDAY?  And on time?!!!

(Although let’s be real: what official time is there?  I made this up.  So it’s whatevs, right?)

(Also, it’s 2:47 am.  Because insomnia.)

Don’t tell my kids this made me giggle.

But FOR REAL.

(It’s part of a coaster set at Target.)

So remember how we were at Disneyland for Epilepsy Awareness Day?

Well, straight from It’s a Small World, Andy dropped me off at the airport…where I was enroute to New York City on a red eye.

I had a meeting there the next morning first thing.

While walking through Downtown Disney, I saw these fantastically neon hats.  I decided there was no better way to fly to NYC than in an obnoxiously loud hat that screams CALIFORNIAAAAA!!!!!

Also a tank top.  Because it was 90* that day.

And in case you’re like “wow, Jeannett lives such a jet set fun crazy life!”  I assure you this is wholly out of the ordinary and most definitely NOT my real life.  My real life is Costco and Target and diapers.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.

Being that I was all the way in New York, and being that I had never been there before, and being that Nelle and Tess recently moved to the east coast, I decided to tack on a couple of extra days to the trip.  Seemed silly to go all that way and not see what there is to see.

We took subways.  Lots of them.  And it took every fiber of concentration to stay standing and not flop around like a fish out of water during starts/stops.

This, however, did not stop me from falling right into the lap of a very nice gentlemen.  He was originally from California…moved to Chicago after college…and was now in NYC.  Nice man.  He’s in real estate.  Plus, he didn’t slug me for profoundly invading his personal space.

We asked a random girl for a good Mexican food place.

She smiled and said “Well, I’m from California, so I can’t recommend a good Mexican place in New York.  I’m too biased.  BUT I can give you a fantastic Italian suggestion…”

Oh yeah.  I guess we are kinda spoiled in the land of all things avocado and guacamole.  Of which I could happily base my entire existence off of.

A small bitty place filled with locals.  Everything was fantastic.  Handmade pasta.  All of it.  Except for the service.  The service was atrocious.  BUT THE PASTA.

During dinner, we discussed what we would be having for breakfast.

BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE DO.

And since we had eaten like birds (vultures are birds too), we decided to partake in some of New York’s finest pastries.

Just a few.

We all wore our #teamjilly shirts under our sweaters and peacoats and scarves and beanies and boots.  (So. Much. Clothes.)

And like crazies, we stripped down to t-shirts and tank tops.

Because hello.  #teamjilly and the Empire State Building.

And then got dressed really really quickly.

Because it was frigid.

And then we stripped down in the center of Times Square for a reprisal.

Which drew some curious looks, but it’s kinda hard to compete with the Naked Cowgirls strumming guitars in itty bitty string bikinis emblazoned with the dear flag of the U S of A.  And boots.  They were wearing boots.

Thank you ladies.  Because that’s just what we want these visiting friends to think of Americans.  Way to solidify that stereotype forever in their minds.  Thanks.  Solidarity.

Then we went HERE.

And I wanted all of the things.

But I couldn’t bring them home.

But still I swooned.

Whiiiiiiite.

All the white.

It’s called Fis’s Eddy.

It’s such a fun place.

And they had a giant vintage sign that said Gibson City that I wanted so very badly.  But they wouldn’t sell it to me.  Not to mention it was probably 9 feet long.  BUT STILL.

(I took a pic of it.  And I may or may not recreate it.  Because it belongs on my patio.  Forever and ever Amen.)

Doughnuts.

We took two subway rides to get here.  Well beyond the touristy beaten path, in the middle of a neighborhood.  Nothing else to really see or do.  Just deep fried morsels of delicious.

Hands down the best doughnut I have ever had.

And I’ve had a lot of doughnuts.

Ahem.

So you really have to listen to me here.

Next time you find yourself in NYC, amid the tours and attractions (and food), carve out the time to visit Hillsong Church.  It’s really the coolest.  It may not be your cup of tea for every Sunday, but it is definitely a treat.  100 times better than Times Square.  Not to be missed.  No lie.

We visited the 9-11 memorial and the Freedom Tower.

That was hard.

But important hard.

And then later I insisted on visiting FAO Schwarz.

And it was fantastic.  More fantastic than I expected.

I was kinda bummed my kids weren’t with me to see its grandiose, but my wallet thanks me that they were far far away.

After a whirlwind three days, I headed home.

NYC is a fun, vibrant place with lots of energy and people and NOISE.  Stuff, stuff, stuff ALL THE PLACES.

(Y’all.  THE HONKING.)

And I can see the allure if I was a young, unencumbered 20-something.

But I left The City That Never Sleeps…

And landed in a place that boasts of living “The SLO Life”.

I vote my quiet easy paced life.

Plus, it’s a million times warmer here.

(And honestly, all I could think the entire time I was in NYC was “How on earth could you raise a special needs child here???”)

I’m always the last person in the universe to read the book du jour.

I’m just a skeptic.

But a five hour flight begged for easy reading.

And I DEVOURED it.  Did that thing where I ignored my children fully and wholly for a day to finish it.

We have Saltines in the cupboard.  It’s totally fine.

And then lo and behold, who walked through my front door unannounced just a few days later?

Tessy.

Apparently she had planned to surprise me/the kids by coming for the Walk to End Epilepsy.  She had planned the trip before I ever knew about my own trip to New York.  So, just four days after seeing her…I got to see her again.

The kids missed her.  A lot.  A lot.  A lot.

So we went for a walk at the cliffs and played on the equipment.

It was blustery and wet and gray.

But it didn’t matter.

Did you know that Jill was on the official poster for the Walk?

Also Tess.

Because of course Tess.

He poured an entire cup of water into Lucy’s boot.

I’m really the meanest mom in the history of moms.

It’s any wonder he manages in his baby life.

While Tess was here, we decided to get pedis.

“Mommy, can I go too?”

And she was so grown up and I was not happy with it not one little bit.

I freaking love this girl.

I went to Goodwill.  Because what else did I have to do, right?

I found this giant chalkboard.  And it was perfect and lovely and I wanted it.

But I have not a single  place I could hang it.  HATE when that happens.

#firstworldproblems

And finally.

“Mom!  ALERT ALERT!  Owen is in the poison oak!”

I look up from getting Jill off the bus to see my barefoot, shorts wearing child standing in a vibrant patch of poison oak.

OBVIOUSLY.

I threw him in the shower and blasted him with cold water (as the internet directed me to).  So far, he hasn’t broken out in a rash.  Fingers crossed.

But it turns out there this special soap stuff that is a miracle worker.  (And then Zanfel if it does turn into a rash).  All of my local friends were like “Duh, don’t you know anything Jeannett?!  How do you not have this in your medicine cabinet already?”  “Because I’m from L.A.  That’s why.”

He may be immune to the poison (yes please), but in the meantime, I ordered a bottle of each to have on hand.  We have plenty of poison oak on the property, and while the big kids are excellent at identifying it and staying away, I know it’s really only a matter of time.

Dumb nature.

Alright.  Longest InstaFriday ever.  It’s 3:48 now.  I’m tired.

Peace out friends.

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jeannett

I'm a mom to four. A wife to one. I believe in story. I love telling you about mine and would love to hear yours. There's really no sense in wasting our suffering and not sharing in each other's joy. We're all in this together...even if it doesn't always feel like it.

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