Ruth

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

End of Holidailies: now what? : . . . . To Holidailies – Jette & Chip & the mysterious panel of distinguished readers, I don’t know how you all find the time to pull this off every year but I’m so grateful you do it. I’m in between jobs right now (thus the 1000 word ramblings I try to pass off as essays) and having this ... (posted Jan 6, 3:12pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

3013 days and counting : When I was a girl, I was perpetually grateful for two things. One, that our country was not at war. And two, that I was a girl, because girls didn’t have to go to war. I held the idea of “War” as the worst-of-the-worst-case scenarios. The worst thing . . . (posted Jan 5, 3:49pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

January in Paradise : Can anyone recommend a free photo collage website? I have 20 pics I’d like to combine. I used iComic to create my Dalmatian collage earlier this month but it keeps crashing in me today. What are the new 20 pics? I set out for some exercise around the neighborhood . . . (posted Jan 4, 10:32pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

The Truth : . . . I have one imaginary bunny and (in my fantasy) she frolics with my imaginary lambs. Off screen are the kittens and inexplicably larger than life lollipops. When my grand nieces and nephews ask, “What did you do, Aunt Ruth, when the soldiers had been stop lossed . . . (posted Jan 3, 6:52pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Just sayin’ NO : [Photo] (posted Jan 2, 5:29pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Since you asked . . . : . . . Why is it among my faves? . . . I like that it portrays some genuine flaws of mine as well as a bit of growth. . . . I like reading it today because this is the start of a new year and the post’s revelation is about fresh starts. . . . . (posted Jan 1, 10:16pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

New Year, New Dreams : Best of Holidailies . . . I quickly learned that when a director jokingly says, “Put her in this shot,” there are suddenly seven people moving with military precision – snapping polaroids, putting a pen in your hand over a line on a release form and herding you through wardrobe. . . (posted Dec 31, 2:43pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

60 words : Dear Holidailies, I’m hell bent on following through with you. Regardless of . . . (posted Dec 30, 11:02pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Short lived idea .... next? : . . . So there was no reason for me to wish a pox on Julie Powell's house during that answering machine scene when - not only is she basking in the warm love of wedded bliss - she's getting served with about 37 invitations to write for money. . . (posted Dec 29, 2:19pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Recommended Reading : . . . Chris and Snoop would enter a scene, something awful would happen (notice me not giving spoilers, you’re welcome) and hours later, away from the TV, Andy or I would say to each other, “God, I just love Chris and Snoop.” We had whole conversations about feeling warmly towards them. It seemed inexplicable but it wasn’t really. . ... (posted Dec 28, 7:30pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Sweetness : [photo of the couple who inspired my blog's name: Mary & Bob] (posted Dec 27, 10:22pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

So Grateful : [photo of a painting Santa brought] (posted Dec 26, 12:26pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Good Day : Are you ever afraid you’re going to reach your joy quota? The day before yesterday I started feeling flashes of heaven-like happiness. Then yesterday, the blocks of bliss just got longer and longer . . . (posted Dec 25, 9:59pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Standing up : I’m on the fence about telling you what I did yesterday. One side of the fence is my Grandma’s camp. Total WASP humility. . . . (posted Dec 24, 1:16pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

La La Christmas : I started panicking on Monday. There was no sign of Christmas anywhere in our home except for the pile of unanswered greeting cards. This is only my second Christmas in Los Angeles. For fourteen of the last fifteen years, I’ve flown back to Maryland where all the staples & accoutrement of the holiday are waiting for me. . . . (posted Dec 23, 10:01pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Patience, Please : Our machines are telling us to be patient: “Patience, please, the application is loading; this may take up to 20 seconds.” I’ve often wondered what type of human beings are being shaped from our current array of technological tools. I mean, what kind of person has to be told to “have patience” for 20 seconds? (posted Dec 22, 3:13pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

First Snow : . . . I didn’t know that there was ever such a thing as the Vietnam War or the Khmer Rouge. I had barely just learned the word refugee. But I did know that something special was happening. We stood there in the darkness looking up at the white coming down. . . (posted Dec 21, 2:59pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

12th Time's the Charm : I'm blaming the iPhone's camera, not the sweet dalmatian. [photo] (posted Dec 20, 10:32am)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

“Unless they some smart-ass pawns” : I’ve become like a bad babysitter of Holidailies, “Ruthie’s got stuff to do, kiddos. Sit and watch this video; I’ll be back tomorrow.” . . . . If I had to name one reason why I love The Wire, it would be this: ultimately, if you watch long enough, everyone is lovable. (posted Dec 19, 10:16am)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

More than funukkah : Best of Holidailies . . . for me, there is sometimes a buzz: an inexplicable surge of goodness, a palpable wave of joy. It’s been happening my whole life. Often times, I feel it when I’m out in nature – on the hiking trail, looking up at a tree, being present with a single leaf. . . . (posted Dec 18, 3:46pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Writing for 7 hours today is not an option : So much to do, so I’m offering this tidbit rather than anything remotely resembling an essay. This month, Andy and I began rewatching our beloved series, The Wire. Episode #2 has this gem which reminds me why I love this show so very much. Enjoy. (posted Dec 17, 12:56pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Four Star Masochistic Chic Flick : Some movies push you down and then start kicking you about the face and spine before stomping on your bones and . . . well, I'll stop there. This movie didn't feel that way to me. Instead, I felt lifted up before my chest cavity was plunged into and my heart twisted out. But I like Precious (the title character); ... (posted Dec 16, 10:48pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

How goy is this? : I’m doing Hanukkah all wrong. Skipping nights, blowing out candles, heating up frozen store bought latkes from a bag and serving them with egg nog. I said to Andy this morning, “Your people have stamina.” Understatement of the last 15 millennia. (posted Dec 15, 6:12pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Holy Night : Best of Holidailies . . . All I saw of her was her blanket covered feet at the end of the bed. She had a toe tap going, offering silent percussion. It was the first time I've ever sung, “tidings of comfort and joy,” and meant it. . . (posted Dec 14, 4:06pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Empty rooms and imaginary disorders : . . . I still remember creeping under the fence, keeping a look out for neighbors, listening for squatters, not wanting to surprise or threaten anyone. It was dusk, so the interior was dark enough to make me wish I had brought a flashlight. . . (posted Dec 13, 12:50pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Blogligation : Photo: Sunset from 2005 – Santa Fe, NM. (posted Dec 12, 12:44pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Tradition : . . . Yeah, leave it to a shiksa like me to think of lighting a menorah as a Christmas tradition. Joy to the world, it’s Hanukkah . . . (posted Dec 11, 1:43pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Dialogue with my Imaginary Friend : I.F.: Ahh. So what’cha been up to? Still writing? Me: Yeah. I do a little blogging. I.F.: But no writing? Me: Well, I’m writing the blog. I.F.: Right. But I mean writing writing. Something you can sell, or leave for your children. Me: Except that I’m not having children. (posted Dec 10, 2:57pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Later is Too Late : I started researching the Terri Schiavo case to come up with a witty opening line for this post. One stop at Wiki’s summary – less than a paragraph in, at that – I realized, man, this is not funny. Not. Funny. Yesterday my mission was to get the ball rolling on finishing my Advanced Health Care Directive. That’s the “What ... (posted Dec 9, 2:03pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Stuck in a Moment : . . . We took turns giving updates and I ended mine by saying, “Yeah, so I feel really . . . privileged.” The word came out after a pause of nose wrinkling hesitation. I couldn’t think of another way to put it. Privileged. Weird. . . . (posted Dec 8, 3:37pm)

Mary and Bob's Journal by Ruth (31)

Holidailies: Day One : . . . It feels like the first day of camp. Quick: be likable. If I’m not sufficiently funny and hip and interesting today–right now, you may never click on Mary and Bob’s Journal again. I’ll be relegated to the text that might as well be invisible, skimmed over on your way to . . . (posted Dec 7, 12:56pm)