I'm Still Here

I've been really busy and having so much fun. I haven't blogged in a while but yes, I'm still here. My parents are in town...YAY! I didn't want my blogging friends to think I disappeared. I'll be posting some pics of our adventures...because you know how I like to be on the go.

Short post because I'm heading out to run some more errands with my mom...Stay Tuned!

Young Daisy's Battle

Daisy is a young girl who has been in a very serious battle. Not the battles that most of us go through, (excessive worry, bad days, struggle with finances, family or relationship problems)...but a battle of incredible magnitude.

I'm not making light of things that we all go through, because at the time, they are difficult...I KNOW...I've had my fair share and we all fall into the trap of letting our problems consume and control us. Almost to the point of making us quit, give up or grow bitter, angry and resentful.

Daisy's battle has been for her life. Her battle is with Wilms Tumor, a cancerous tumor of the kidneys. Daisy's example really puts my struggles into perspective. Sometimes I think we all need a little dose of this. Life, a gift from the Lord...so precious, something we all take for granted, until we see our loved ones battling for it.

Tonight Daisy's dad put up a post for his daughter. I saw it pop up on my blog roll and was so touched by what he wrote. Tomorrow is a BIG day for Daisy...please read the short amazing sentence & picture of beautiful Daisy here: 'PRAY FOR DAISY'.

Don't forget to say a prayer for Daisy tonight!

New York Fashion Week and More...

Jullien Herrera, (Red Models) for Number: Lab FW11

It's always nice to see a modern take on the 80's style collar worn by Jullien for New York Fashion Week, James Alix Thomas~Alix F/W 11 Show, seen here on Models.com.

James Alix Thomas Fall/Winter 2011
Photos: Stephan Moskovic

I love the jacket below and would definitely wear it! I've been intrigued with the art of layering lately. Mixing prints, patterns, vests, scarfs and jackets. It can be quite difficult if you don't know what your doing. Therein lies the art of fashion. Don't be too 'matchy-matchy' but also beware of putting too many things into one outfit. ART~FASHION=A person reflecting their personal canvas to the world.

What Goes Around Comes Around FW11

While In Milan for Fashion Week, Jullien did an interview for Essen-A Taste Magazine(Click Link.) He gave me props on my Taco's which is a family favorite. He also gave a recipe for a dinner he makes. WHAT? When did he learn to cook? Guess it's one of the +'s of sending him out on his own at 17...he's very self sufficient. I also gave him a hard time for his drinking comments, which he promptly told me, "Mom, the drinking age in Europe is 18 & so it's legal!"

photo by Marcelo Dino for Essen

Jullien Herrera from Fashion Model Management

Picture for Essen Magazine-Be sure to read the article.

CLOSET DORK!

I finally made it back into the gym this week. It's probably been 5 months or longer, but I'm at a point where I'm pretty much disgusted with myself (which is usually what it takes.)

Welcome to my life:

I walked into the gym, stood in front of an empty counter waiting to check in. A guy behind me walked up next to me and put his finger on a small scanner. I looked over to see what he was doing & started to read a sign right next to his hand, giving directions on the procedures. As I was reading, he was entering a pin number into a machine. He looked at me and said, "Are you trying to get my phone number? (guess that was his pin #.)

Realizing that it looked like I was staring at him and not reading the sign next to him, I looked up, face instantly red and muttered, "Uhhh, ummm, OH NO! I haven't been here in a long time and was trying to figure out what I was supposed to do!"

He laughed at me and headed up the stairs.

I stood waiting, feeling pretty dumb, until finally someone came up to help me.

Nothing like announcing to the entire gym, "I'm a big, lazy oaf who hasn't been here since the dark ages when you actually checked in with a person!" Not to mention, appearing to scope out someone's pin number and getting called out for it!

I wonder why things like this always happen to me?

I try to appear calm, cool and collected, you know, like I have it all together...then I get found out.

Yes, my name is Lisa and I'm a closet dork! I do stupid things alot.

This was one of my more mild incidents, but thought I'd give you a little walk through my daily bumbles. I spent the rest of my time at the gym trying to avoid the guy with the phone number, who seemed to be looking over at me and laughing throughout my workout!

I yigh yigh! Let's hope today's workout doesn't present more episodes...welcome to my world!

It's Only a Kiss

"C'mon it's only a kiss on the cheek," I pleaded!

Elijah had his Winter Formal on Saturday night and decided to go with his boyzzz, as he calls them. Nowadays a lot of kids go with groups of friends instead of dates, like we used to, (do I sound old or what?) They have more fun because they can dance with whoever they want and not have to entertain one girl all night, typical boys!

So one of his best friends since he was 5 years old, Trenton came over for pictures. I took some with me and him before T got here.

I tried to lean over and get a picture of me kissing his cheek, but nooooo, little brat kept pulling away! I tried one final time and he was too quick. What happened to the days when he would run up, wrap his arms around me and say, "Mommy, I'm giving you a BIG Lijey hug!" Wa wa wa (yes , I say that whining)...I want my baby boy back!

My 15 year old baby boy!

Those days are long gone, I can't even sneak a kiss on the cheek!

Elijah & Trenton

Goofballs!


Strategizing how to get the ladies!

They Scream Spring

Spring approaches, sprouting up from the earth, awakening from their slumber, budding, opening, drinking in life giving sunlight, arising to become all they were created to be...









double click pictures for larger view-all photos by: lisa petrarca

Sitting, waiting...warmth, showering down, enveloping your soul, giving life, new beginnings...the earth screams spring.

No More Waiting...Please

Trip to Lake Tahoe-stopped at abandoned house to take pics

Waiting for answers has to be one of the most torturous things! I thought I was getting better at it, until today. I hide things! I stuff my emotions down so deep that sometimes I don't really even know that I'm stressed or anxious. But my body knows and reacts in a very unfavorable way...forcing me to run to the bathroom with bad stomach cramps...I yigh yigh, and other unmentionables.

While waiting for my incident to pass, I got the call from my hubby that I'd been waiting for all morning.

He went into work thinking they were going to tell him early in the morning if he got the job that he went through two grueling interviews for. By noon I called and said, "WELL?" He was stressed too, but said they'd tell him at 2:45 p.m.

More waiting.....

More torture....

His friend (who interviewed for the position also) was going in at 2:30 to find out. My mind immediately went to, "Oh no, if Tom's first, he might've gotten it." Unfortunately that comment snuck out while I was on the phone with my hubby. Which of course didn't make him very happy, "Thanks a lot...it's not like I wasn't already stressed enough! I gotta go!" and he hung up on me. Oops...me and my big mouth. Sometimes things just slip out and I think, "Did I really just say that out loud?"

So it's not bad enough that I was starting to wig out, I made my hubby even more nervous, nice wife!

The phone call finally came as I sat in the bathroom, I picked it up with a tentative, "Well?"

He said, "What do you think?

Very softly, with a questioning voice, I said "Yes?????"

"YES! I GOT THE JOB!!!" he shouted back.

I'm so excited and if I ever have to wait an entire day again, it'll be too soon! No more waiting...PLEASE!

What? Why? How?

Over the weekend I helped my hubby with mock interviews, preparing him for a Crew Chief job interview he had on Tuesday. Monday night, we realized we had NO HOT WATER! My first question to Anthony, "Did you forget to pay the bill?" (yes...I have him pay the bills so I don't get stressed out.)

Next we tried the heater to make sure that the gas wasn't shut down in error. Finally heading down to check a very old water heater (1989). The pilot light was out and water in the bottom. Well that was that, the old bugger was shot! No showers for us, which wouldn't have been so bad under normal circumstances, but the night before Anthony's big interview? Why do things like this ALWAYS happen at the worst possible times?

So my hubby had to wake up extra early, go over his friend's house to shower. Oh AND this same friend is a fellow employee going up for the same position. Bet he wanted to say, "No, you can't use my shower...the stinkier you are the better my chances.

My son, Elijah stayed the night at his friends house to use their shower, while I just went to work without one (I'm not a sweaty person & didn't really do anything the day before...justification for being too lazy to get up early to go to someones house.) I pulled my hair back in a pony tail, put a second layer of makeup over my old slept in makeup & headed off.

Everything worked out, Anthony did great on his interview and received a "highly recommended" to go on to the second interview TODAY at 3:00 p.m. This final interview is between Anthony and his friend. Fingers crossed, lots of prayers and ultimately whatever happens is exactly what is supposed to happen.

I've learned this over the years...the Lord guides our path and we need to just do our part to walk through the open doors and accept the closed doors as shutting out the wrong things and redirecting our path to new and better opportunities coming in the future.