INCLUDING THE KITCHEN SINK

Dinner is served. . . .

2011-03-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Or at least it will be served somewhere.

My children are coming to celebrate my birthday. Of course, the secondary reason they are coming (other than to help blow out candles) is to see what I spent their inheritance on. However, they are being good sports about the expenditure, and they graciously are going to allow me to fix dinner as part of my birthday celebration. Those kids, all heart.

There are a few things that need to be done before the day comes.......

1. Unpack the living room: I know that I had a couch in there somewhere, as of now, it's still hidden. Likewise various tables, lamps, and other treasures. My big red easy chair is upside down on something (could it be the couch?) Boxes and boxes and boxes, did I say boxes? of various kitchen supplies are everywhere. Oh and yes, there is still the old refrigerator blocking my path. However, a new path where the new fridge and old stove stood, until yesterday afternoon, is visible. Yes, I'm itching to get into that mess. I only hope that varmints haven't made it part of their home in the time period that it was unsupervised.

2. Dining room. Previously, kitchen utensils, dishes, baking tools were on the patio table. A power wash to the patio earlier in the week was planned, so everything was hand carried to the dining room to sit until the dishwasher is operable once again. I think that day is coming soon.

3. And one more thing. The painters were here sanding, sealing, sanding, sealing, sanding, applying the finish coat, sanding and reapplying finish coat. You get the picture..... lots of work to get doors and drawers ready for installation. The doors were laid out in rows to let the finish dry completely over the weekend. Alas, we had a terrible storm with lots of water and wind. It seeped in under the garage door and damaged seven doors. We will be starting from scratch with those once again. Those doors will be missing the birthday celebration.

Lots to do..... but it's all good.

Coming in to the home stretch . . .

2011-03-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it almost done.

The Granite is in. The lovely swaying bushes with clouds look more like a very green ocean with waves lapping up on the beach. I love it.

The cabinet doors were on. They have been taken off by Maurice the painter, so that he can apply stain and layers and layers of lacquer in his temporary workshop in my garage.

Once the painting process is done, the final clean-up with touching up and putting everything back in order will be done.

It's been a wonderful experience. My contractor who I think of as my partner, friend and co-worker has been better than great. He works well under pressure and makes sure that I'm not feeling much of it. He takes my suggestions in stride and works to make me happy. The finished project will be very much what I envisioned, only better. Who can ask for more than that?

Stick around, I'll be sharing photos soon of the final product.

Let it open

2011-03-01T03:47:00.000-08:00

Just got the final count for door and drawer knobs and pulls.

Kitchen:
32 door knobs
seven drawer pulls, three of them 7" or more
four 18" appliance pulls

Master bathroom:
eight drawer pulls
two door knobs

Powder room:
two door knobs

Yes, I believe the 401K will be cashed in.....

Let me regress

2011-02-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

Get yourself a cuppa coffee, this will take a while for me to vent. . .

Some of you may know that last December I had a leak in my roof...... I wrote out my Christmas letter with my story of the leak(s) and tried to make the best of it. After all, the Christmas tree came down early (December 19th, if I remember correctly), my Christmas trip to visit my family up North was cancelled and let me just say, it wasn't a typical Christmas.

I'll attach the letter at the end of this tirate for all that would like to re-live this with me, and for those of you that missed all of the action in December/January.

In December and January, as they were making repairs I stayed calm, but was anxious to have them replace the roof and repair the inside because I knew in January new messes were coming with renovations. Sure enough they finished January 20th and the new work began on the 24 of January. Close timing, huh?

My new project is going better than I could have expected. With the exception of the one morning in tears while they pulled up the tile floor, it's GREAT. With a capital G, as a matter of fact, great is all CAP's.

Last night we had a terrible rain, not sure how much came down, but I would have to say the majority of it was directly over my bed, banging on the tile roof, while I slept. At least it sounded that way.

This morning as I was making the tour of my house to look at the newly installed shower (ah beautiful), the cupboard in the powder room, and of course, the kitchen and my newly laid (for the second time) tile floor, I noticed something. . .

what is that?
could it really be?. . .
oh no. . .
yes, it must be . . .
can't believe this is happening. . .
but it is. . .
IT IS RAIN WATER!

A big puddle in my entry hall. That nasty water has come through the light fixture on my new floor. How can this be? Didn't they replace the entire roof like they said? What sloppy workmanship. I'm angry. Does this mean that there is also a potential leak in the master bedroom? Who can tell? The bedroom is under plastic wrap and crowded with furniture so that I can't check.

Okay readers, thanks for listening to my rantings and ravings. I think I'm getting my temper under control, and believe me, you have helped by letting me vent on you.

I will attach my Christmas letter and then go take a shower, a nice, cool, soothing, relaxing shower. . .

Following is the letter from Christmas:

I know that many of you are taking photos of your Christmas day. Pictures of children opening their gifts . . . stockings being searched for all sorts of treasures, dinners being served and guests enjoying themselves.

I'd like to share my Christmas photos with you. They are a bit unusual, but then so was Christmas this year.

We have had heavy rains and while I was so much more fortunate than a lot of folks in California, I did have my challenges on a daily basis. Part of the joy of Christmas is sharing with all of you.

So here goes, MY CHRISTMAS PHOTOS with an explanation of what the heck is happening.

This is the funnel that was created to drop water from the outside to the inside..... this time all in the bucket. The hole in the ceiling is a 6' x 7' squared off piece which would have collapsed had it not been removed. It was soaked and came off in pieces. (Many, many pieces).

Note that they have "closed" the bar to me. At my most needy times, the entire liquor supply has been sealed under plastic.

The Plantation shutters are standing in the back of the "funnel" which kinda looks like a tornado to me, or maybe an upside down Christmas tree. I should have taped decorations on it. The shutters literally fell off of the wall when they removed the plaster from the slider wall. Someday, hopefully they will be put back to cover the slider, in the meantime, the slider is covered by more of the plastic. I can't see out. But then again, no one can see in.

A view of the dining room. If you look closely, you will see the part of the Christmas tree next to the wall. The other parts of the tree are scattered about, (somewhere).
Please don't ever think that I didn't "do" Christmas, there it is. All in plain sight - all over the dining room table.

Ah, you are wondering what happened to my furniture that was in the living room? Here it is, in the entry! It serves a double purpose here..... anyone trying to break in, wouldn't have a chance. Anyone trying to get out has the same chance.... NONE. It does take care of those pesky people coming over here wanting a gift.

A view from up above. The carpet in the living room has been elevated to a new status........ The fan which runs night and day is hiding under the carpet. You can also see where they removed more wet plaster from the slider wall and also part of the ceiling there.

Of course the real question is, "will they be able to put it all back together again?" and "when". The when part is easy...... when it dries out, when it's safe to have someone up on the roof, when they get around to it. Everyone tells me it will look like this never happened. I'm taking their word for it..... and hope that they are right. I take my hat off to all who were helping in this mess. The workers were efficient, cheerful, and encouraging. The association insists I have no problem, they are responsible and will take care of it. My friends and family have been wonderful.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good night. (I'm going for a nap!)

A small bump in the road. . .

2011-02-18T15:43:00.000-08:00

. . . And a huge headache for all concerned. Mostly me.

After a tearful call to Mr. Contractor at 6:30 a.m. to tell him of my apprehension of laying more tile that I wasn't thrilled with, the tile men showed up to more tears...... (mine). With pats on my shoulder and reassurances that it would be okay, they started pulling it up. It felt like de-ja vu. Just a few short hours ago, they were putting it down, and now they were pulling up the tile.

Once again, a trip to the tile store, this time with Mr. Contractor. Of course, I've been in and out of that store countless times, with my color samples, over the last month; picking and choosing, searching for the perfect tile to go in my home.

Today was different...... we meant business! After all, there were five men sitting and waiting, (and I might add, being paid), to start laying the new purchase. Searching for tile took only moments to find the right piece, I had seen them all before. Thank goodness it was available and ready to take.

As the men continued their work, I retreated to my upstairs hideaway.

Oh what is that wonderful smell? YUMMY! Walking downstairs I came across the most delightful surprise. The tilers had prepared their lunch in my new kitchen, and what a feast they had. A grill was making browning tortillas to go with their meats, salsas, cheeses and various other yummy delicacies.

They know how to take care of themselves! Me? I'm upstairs eating peanut butter out of the jar.

Thanks guys for making my day great!

Mistake?

2011-02-17T16:21:00.000-08:00

It's late afternoon and I just returned home from a calm day at school, throwing my clay and enjoying myself. I knew workmen would be here to lay the tile floor. I stayed away longer than I usually do, in order to give them time to do their job. The men working have the saw going to cut the tiles, while carefully pounding the tiles into the mastic to hold them in place. In addition to doing their jobs, the radio is turned on full blast to the Hispanic station of their choice, while they are laughing, talking, and singing along. They seem to be having a great time.

Oh Lordy Bee..... have I made a mistake?

When I was hunting for the tile which will cover the floor of my kitchen, dining room, hallways and two bathrooms (yee gads, that's alot of floor space) I chose a beautiful tile with a background of white, a hint of gold and lots of sage green to match the carpet and granite. It was perfect.

Long story short, the tile is being laid as we speak........ it is a background of white, LOTS of gold and hardly any sage green.... will it go with everything else? or even anything else?

Do I shout halt!!! Don't lay anymore!!! That's not what I want!!!

Or should I stay upstairs in the office and write on my blog about my tummy filled with butterflies, wondering if it will all go together and blend...

Or should I start chewing my nails and pulling out my hair?

What or what should I do? I need someone to hold my hand.

Hang on! It's moving fast

2011-02-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how quickly things are moving here. The last time I wrote everything was in total chaos..... well okay, it's still chaos, but more organized chaos, or I'm getting used to it.

Let me think, who has been here?

Mr. Contractor for sure.

Mr. Plumber, with his crew

Mr. Electrician, with his crew

Mr. Appliance delivery man

Mr. Dry Wall (actually there were two of them)

and Mr. Hot Mop (ughh!) came alone at 7 a.m. this morning.

What has been done?

I have (maybe?) 10 can lights in the once dark kitchen ceiling, power in places my kitchen didn't know existed, in addition to more power plugs so that everything can run at the same time.

Yes, the same thing was done in the master bathroom, plus added the power for sconces on the wall.

Mr. Plumber changed the direction of the water running. It now goes up and around the door over to another wall..... pass Grandma's house. Yes, I will have ice in my new fridge that has changed it's location for the roomier spot on another wall.

My beautiful new fridge was delivered and is setting in the entry hall.... I'm hoping it's beautiful..... it's all wrapped up waiting to be placed.

The dry wall was done in two days. First the patching and repairing, (lot's of holes) then the spraying on the "pebble beach or orange peel" finish.

This morning Mr. Hot Mop was here bright and early at 7 a.m. and started the process of the "hot mopping". What a job. Hot tar applied to the shower floor and up 10"on the wall. This shower will not leak. Very smelly and worst yet, messy. But now my shower is a lovely shade of tar black......

Mr. Contractor at this moment is playing in the kitchen. He has moved the "boxes" which will become cupboards for the new kitchen out of the dining room into the kitchen. Now, I'm getting a real feel for what it will look like. The room has shrunk.

I'm ready for a nap..... wonder if I would be missed? This is tough work supervising all that is going on.

What's the meaning of chaos?

2011-02-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

Webster’s New College Dictionary states, “ A state or place of total disorder and confusion.” that just about covers it, with the exception I thought they might have my address listed under the definition of the word.

Yesterday, when I came in after my relaxing, peaceful day of throwing clay and visiting with friends I was greeted by a very quite house..... Mr. Contractor and his crew had left for the day. What they left behind was total disorder and confusion. At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words......
Let me share a picture of my kitchen. I swear I didn’t leave it this way..... there were cabinets on the walls and a sink in the corner, I believe I even had a stove in there. I had freshly swept the floor, why? I’m not sure. (Click to make the photo larger, if you have the nerve).

Ok, now for the next 1,000 words:

Remember the photos from my ceiling collapse, just last month? All of the furniture stacked in the entry hall? Yeah, same furniture, only now, it’s in the living room and still not useable. Everything is covered with plastic. Under some of that chamoflage are my cooking utinsels. Right now, I'm still trying to find a tea bag and a cup.

No sleeping here, but that's my bed under all of the plastic. I'm not sure what else is in there, only that I know it's all covered with a very fine dust..... that someday soon I will be dealing with.

I called to tell Mr. Contractor that I was impressed with all that they accomplished while I was gone. He said he would get back to me, but now he was going to go to Mexico to relax for a couple of weeks, (hee hee).

I said a few words too. The results? He will be back tomorrow to work.

The master bath and the powder room have also been torn up. When I can work up the courage, I'll show you those photos.

Slam, bang, crash, boom

2011-02-08T16:40:00.000-08:00

Today there will be sledge hammers, jack hammers and men tearing up my floors and taking down kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Lots of dust, noise and chaos.

Sounds like a great day for me to be gone, and gone I will be. A peaceful day at school throwing clay on the wheel and chatting with friends. Ah nice.

Back to yesterday..... we went to pick out cabinet doors. What fun! Almost too many to choose from, but from the first moment we walked through the entrance, a beautiful door caught my eye. I looked at all of them, but kept coming back to the "beautiful door". One more style to pick for my bathroom cabinets. I wanted to 'sorta' match my bedroom furniture and I came darn close. Okay, the deed was done. Two cabinet doors that will fit my dream.

As we left Mr. Contractor told me that I had picked the most expensive door there....
Well, yeah. Why not?

Just a word or two about Mr. Contractor. I met this man at a friends house. He had done their kitchen and I was drooling over it. I took his card and said someday in the future I would like to talk to him. That day came and he came to see my home to see what he could do to help me realize my dreams for it. I liked the easy way he conducted his business and a couple of weeks later, when we finally signed a contract, sealed with a hug, he told me that during this time I would love him and hate him.

Well those are strong words..... love and hate. I can't say that either one fit the picture right now, but I do like the way he conducts himself. He listened with patience and his drawing pencil in hand while I told him what my thoughts were. A couple of suggestions were made but always keeping my plan in mind.

When we went to the "door store" he stood in the background, not offering any suggestions or comments, except when I asked questions. I liked that. The decision was mine... Of course, that also means if I'm not happy with the plan, I can only blame myself.

It's early in the game, but I think Mr. Contractor and I are going to work well together.

Open the door, we're comin' in...

2011-02-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

This morning (bright and sunshiney) I'm meeting my contractor at Bears Bar B Que. No we aren't having a sparerib breakfast. From that meeting spot, we are going to select doors for my new cabinets..... My tummy is turning flip flops, this is all so exciting and it's happening.

Let tell you more when I've made my selection (s?)

Good Golly!

2011-02-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

I repeat, Good Golly!

I have received word that the boxes which will become my cabinets are completed. This week the demo crew will be coming to tear out the kitchen, master bath and powder room, in addition to tearing up the old, cracked, outdated tile now on the floors. I'm not a dummy, I'm expecting to be gone that day!

Everything in the kitchen and dining room needs to be packed up and stored. Now, I'm in the midst of moving my bathroom toiletries to the upstairs bathroom, where I will be camping out for the next month and a half.

I'm excited and anxious to see how my design and selections will go together. Hope that I picked wisely, because it will be with me forever, good or bad.

For now, I need to start packing and figure out where to store all of this "stuff" once it is packed.

If you aren't doing anything, come on over. Boy, have I got a project for you!

It's happened

2011-01-22T09:23:00.000-08:00

The sage green grasses swaying in the breeze........ patches of soft, fluffy white clouds drifting in and out, with an occasional tree trunk coming into view.
It's nature at it's most wonderous... and it's my Granite counter tops.

Completely not what I was anticipating or looking for, but it was love at first sight. "It completes me".

Now on to pick a floor to go with this wonderful pattern.

My head is spinning

2011-01-18T18:36:00.000-08:00

I've been looking at slabs of granite for days . . . I'd like to say I nearing the end of the search, but alas, I keep finding new patterns, new colors, new ideas.

Many of the "rock shops" have somewhat similar colors and slabs, but like everything else, the prices vary between the out of range expensive to the just plain expensive. . .

A question . . . is it possible that all of the granite being used to cover counter tops and walls will run out? Do you suppose that someday there will be a shortage of rocks?

What happened?

2011-01-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, what happened to my blog? It slipped out of my mind and it's been too, too, long since I wrote.

A lot has happened in my life since we last "chatted". Some of the things that has taken up my time are several trips, I sold a house, started a great new class in ceramics, and other than the ceiling falling in at Christmas time, life is good.

I'm going to start writing again because I'm about to start on a new endeavor and would like to keep a log of that project - what better way to keep myself and you informed than the blog?

Last Friday, I started the process ...... for the next two months I will have various people in and out of my house. They will bring sledge hammers, saws, ladders, paint buckets, and other tools that I hope to see, but never have to put my hand on.

I've been in remodeling projects before so I'm aware of the drill..... Excitement! Anticipation for the start. Greater anticipation for everyone to be finished and go away. It's the long-drawn out "in-between" time that is difficult.

I will keep you posted with photos and details of what's happening.

Come back often to see the progress.....

Thursday

2010-07-08T00:10:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we did the Moulin Rouge..... got home at 2 am. Changed money and took the cruise down the Seine.........

Very hot and humid.

Today we are going to try Versailles again. Last day of the pass.

It's been a long time

2010-06-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

. . . since I've written in my blog. I want to get back to it, and especially tell you about my trip to Egypt.

However, today I'm going to tell you about the adventure I had with my kids this past week.

I had an unexpected call from my youngest son. He lives in Northern California and even though I love to see him, his delightful wife and children more, with everyone's busy work schedule it's hit and misses visits. Anyway, he called to say he was coming down to pick up his spouse who had been visiting in San Diego with her family.

They came in late one evening around 11:00 p.m. They also came with a plan. The plan was to take the beach walk from the Conejo Valley to the Pacific Ocean, the next morning. It's an great walk. Wildflowers, big oak trees, and an easy path. I had done it several times in the past - BUT not for a long, long time. It's also NINE MILES.

We would get up early to take my car over to the coast, leave it there for our transportation home, drive back here and begin our walk. The backpack was filled with water, snacks and sweaters. Weight being an issue, since my son would be carrying all of our supplies, I didn't want to contribute much to the load, besides lunch at the beach was part of the plan.

The walk was fun. It gave me a chance to visit with my kids with no interruptions, except to point out views along the way. . . we saw and heard from other walkers about rattlesnakes on the road, saw some poison oak, but other than that, it clear sailing. We were within a couple of miles or so of our destination when my shoe hit a soft spot and I took a nose dive. Checking over my body, other than a minor scape I was okay and continued on.

It was a little after 2 o'clock and we had been walking continuously for over three hours, when we finally reached the parking lot and my car. They had brought swimming gear in the truck of the car, and we would play in the water and enjoy the surf before leaving the Pacific Ocean. As I was coming out of the restroom, they were waving the keys and saying it won't work...... What???? My keys won't open my car door?

No, in my concern over the weight of the pack I had put in the second set of keys that I use when I take a walk. Trouble is, the car key wasn't on the key chain.

??? What now???? They suggested we walk back. I knew my aged bones wouldn't do it, and they said they could do it (and probably faster since I wasn't there). No. We decided to call AAA and after trying to pinpoint where we were exactly, they said a tow truck would be sent in an hour or so.

Nothing else to do, except to go to the beach. By the time I got across the highway (they had taken a faster way, climbing over fences), he was in the water, jumping the waves. My DIL was sunbathing in the warm sand.

We waited for the anticipated arrival of AAA. Finally time went by, and it was a very welcome sight to see our tow truck turn into the parking lot and come to our rescue, or so we thought.

This was going to be expensive. My towing coverage was for 7 miles and who could guess how much further that would be, to go around the mountain to get to the other car. The additional miles would be charged at $20 a mile. Also, the tow truck had room for one passenger, two of us would have to wait at the beach. The driver had forced open the door of my car, but now the horn was honking away with no relief there. Lots of phone calls from the driver to the company to see if my son's coverage could be used instead. NO. Now he is saying he can't deliver the car unless we have a street address, there is no street address, it's parked at the State Park. PLEASE load my Honda onto the ramp and get us out of here.

He said, "because the steering wheel was locked he couldn't load the car on the ramp". We said, "he was a jerk". However, he had a friend who has a taxi that could come, but it would be awhile.

More waiting. . . I don't think the taxi is coming and it's getting later and later. Is there no solution? Are we going to spend the night in the parking lot?

Seeing a young man unloading his bike for the trip back over the mountain we had walked, I decided to tell him our story. Relaying the story it sounded like a comedy of errors except for the desparation in my voice. I offered him $100 to take one of us back to the other side...... he perked up.

Pooling money, my son and DIL came up with $60, I had nothing. I walked back over, almost with tears in my eyes wondering, if that with the promise of more later, the deal would work. As I told him that was all we had, this Good Samaritan said he wasn't taking anything, and now his friend was there and they could take all of us over to our car with their two trucks. Two angels in the disguise of bike riders.

As we were getting into their trucks, zooming around the corner comes the taxi. We decided to take it and let our new friends take their bikes on the ride they had already planned. The taxi drive cost us $100 and was well worth it.

A quick clean-up and dinner for us before the trip around the mountain once again to pick up my car. Grateful the car started right away, after all it had spent most of the afternoon honking, I glanced at the clock...... 10 p.m. A very long, long day.

It's tough to be a foreigner

2010-05-04T04:36:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm in the Internet Cafe working on a PC that again has a bum spacebar........ excuse my typing. Where is my iPad?

Today I went to The Valley of the Kings and The Valley of the Queens......... very warm but so interesting.

The trip is great......... I got rid of the Mummy's tummy in no time with their "magic" solutions.......... but many of us have been struck with the misery.

I can't rave enough about the service and the trip.It's all fabulous. We are on the liner and eating good.

Wish I could post my photos but no luck.

Just wanting to say hi and say that I'm okay.........

Later.

Thanks for your comments

If it's Sunday it must be Aswan.

2010-05-02T01:09:00.001-07:00

If it's Sunday it must be Aswan....

At least I think it's Sunday.

This has been an Experience!!! Spelled with a capital E.

Last night we went to the Spice Market- what fun! The Egyptians are a
very resourceful group.... they use every tactic to have you buy their
goods, I have had a couple of marriage proposals, lots of flattery and
every other imaginable device to part me from my dollars.... Good
thing I have lots of Scottish blood, otherwise I would have been soon
parted from my money, Egyptian and USA. Not to worry, I love the
bargaining and whenever the price on anything is asked, it's always,
"don't worry it's cheap". Most times it's not and there is always the
last minute when the bargain has been made and the price has changed.
Walking away brings them back to what we agreed upon. I love it all!
Very fun.

I have separated from my group this morning.... a touch of Tut's
Tummy.... That's okay, I needed the walk by myself to the Internet
Cafe, and a little extra snooze time. Old Egyptian remedy - cup of
coffee with 1/2 lemon squeezed in.... UGH, but it seems to be working.

Today, we are on the Nile, (2nd day) and will be setting out from
Answan to the next destination (can't remember where. Doesn't matter,
I go with the crowd and love every minute).

I feel very safe, can't believe the security available for us. May be
overkill, but it gives people jobs and makes us feel safe - win/win
for us all.

Yesterday was Abu Simul...... I know my spelling is off on alot of
this, but no way to check it for now. Anyway -Very impressive. Not
only the site, but the fact that it was moved from original location.
You would really have to see this up close and personal to understand
the miracle of the whole thing... wish I had my facts straight, but
this is very old and to move it and have it look just as it did in the
days of Ramus is an amazing feat in itself.

As you can see, I'm having problems writing this. I have a little
box, maybe 1 1/2" x 1", no spell check as far as I can see, plus a
keyboard that doesn't work..... it's all good.

I will have to write more later...... Have fun. I'm having fun!

Well I'm back... apparently a communication problem - the shopkeeper
thought he had to watch my time for me and cut me off.... no problem,
I'm a rich American and can afford more time. There he goes
again..... he tells me one more minute........

Beautiful day today, the weather has been perfect. Warm but not too
warm, breezy. No bugs - I slept with my door open to the water last
night and could feel the warm breeze blowing on me.

A bonus...... Yesterday coming back from Abu Simul we came across a
camel train. Can you imagine! The camel drivers in their garb,
sleeping under a tent and camels gathered about. Am I transported back
to ancient times..... The Sahara Desert is unreal...... it goes on and
on and on. We drove for 3 hours to get to Abu Simul, starting at (I
think) 5 am. This is a dream come true.

Did I tell you about the people that are on the tour with me? I've
met a couple of friends - and everyone is fun and have traveled much.
I'm hearing about other tours and making plans....

Well, I have to close. This poor man is distraught that I'm taking
too much time. Hee hee.

MOre later.

A day in Egypt

2010-04-29T07:12:00.001-07:00

Ah, I feel much more relaxed. I'm sitting in an internet cafe and only paying 8.00 LE per hour. I can type slower.

I am having such an adventure........ what a thrill to be here.

Yesterday, we took the train to Alexandria. The contrast between Cairo and Alexandria was completely obposite. Alexandria is on the coast and a very clean lovely city. We went to the Museum at the Unifversity and I was completely blown away by the luxury of the site the students have to study in. If I was at home and had the luxury of time, I would post the site and share it with you. Later.

The adventure of riding the train and going through the station was a real trip in itself. We are under armed guard most everywhere we are, the Egyptian government considers us (tourists) very special people. WE are the VIPs and are treated by all as such. We were told to stick together and not to take any photos of the police. Finding my seat, I was very pleased....... I was next to the window in a single seat and able to take pictures at my hearts content. What impressed me most traveling through the countryside and seeing the farmers and their families working in their little patches of land was the extreme poverty of these people. The homes are many times, shacks made from palm founds (sp?) and covered with bunches of hay or something similar. I think they do most of their cooking outside and clothes lines are there for the purpose of drying their clothes, most times looks like a string strung between trees. Along the way, I could see women in the river (Nile?) washing clothes, although I'm not sure that the water was cleaner than the dirty clothes. They don't live as we do.

What are the farmers growing? From what I could tell as a city girl, trying to identify crops - I'd have to say for the most part, I have no clue. The Egyptians are huge veggie eaters and most were growing those, in addition to hay and corn which I recognized.

Next time I decide to take in Egypt, I will skip Cairo and go directly to Alexandria. We stopped on the coast near the palace where the king has a summer home and played in the surf, gathered shells and dug our toes in the sand. The sand is mostly broken shells and coarse sand, unlike ours. Hard on the feet but probably good on the callus'. There were lots of summer cottages for rent or purchase, when I inquired about the cost, I was told 2 million, so it's like CA.

To find the internet cafe, we (I've become friends with a couple living in Yakima, WA) crossed a street (26th of July is the name). Look it up. Not sure how many people are killed doing the very same, but let me say it would be easier and maybe safer to only cross when you have had a few drinks or are very stupid. I haven't had anything to drink so you can conclude the rest. Speaking of names, they name streets after battles or wars they have been in. October 26 is another big event and street.

Gotta go, Pat is waiting for me to shoe shop. I need some gold sandles to go with my new galaya (that's the wrong spelling) dress.

I'm having a wonderful time and feel very safe.

Love to hear from you!

I'm here

2010-04-27T22:42:00.001-07:00

Somehow I thought that I would have more time and energy to write my blog. I can see now that this isn't going to work like I thought it would. But let me fill you in on what is happening. This will be short 'n sweet,but I'll fill in later (maybe even at home). The PC at the Marriott isn't working great, the space bar doesn't work so be prepared for lots of typos.

The flight here was long,but okay. I sat next to an Egyptian woman who had a baby 1 month old, and another little guy that was four. It was like sitting next to Jack and Eliza Grace...........lots going on, ALL NIGHT LONG..

I'm in Egypt and in the midst of an adventure. Yesterday, I did ride a camel. I did see the pyramids. I did see Sakkara. I did have a wonderful time. Much more of all of this when I get to a better PC (perhaps at home).

I'm taking lots of photos, there is much to see. So far 202 in my camera.

CAiro is an adventure in it'self. You wouldn't believe the traffic or the people. All in all, its a very crowded place. I wouldn't be brave enough to drive here, most of the time I'm holding my breathe and grateful that I'm in a huge bus, and someone else is driving. I feel very safe here. There is a lot of security and in general it's good.

I've met many nice people on the tour, there are also some characters. More to come.

In a nutshell I'm glad I'm in a room by myself. My timing is off - It's now 7:30 am and I've been awake since 2 am.

Today, I'm boarding a train to go to Alexandria. A 3 hour ride. It will be fun to be part of the Egyptians travel.

Sorry, I've read back and this sounds very disjointed............. between the poor keyboard, the high cost of sending this (50 Egyptian dollars) and the other people in here and my limited time,I'm not concentrating very well.

Wish I had more time to tell you more. Rest assured I'll have plenty to say when I'm home........ for now ta-ta.

Hope everything is going okay with all of you. Let meknow,via email if there is anything I need to know. Love to hear from you.

Old Friends - Good-byes

2010-04-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

The funeral was on Saturday.

Actually I wasn’t going to be there. My trip to Israel had been planned long ago, and I was scheduled to fly out that morning. It was a feeling of regret and relief that I wouldn't be there to say good-bye to my old friend. Without the final ceremony, I would be able to fool myself into thinking that he was still around with that “twinkle in his eye” and engaging smile.

Fate has a way of changing our plans. Who would have ever thought that a volcano in Iceland, spiraling it’s fiery plume of silica, would cancel my trip and allow me to say a final good-bye to this dear friend.

Exactly one year and 25 days earlier, his beloved wife had passed. While her death had been unpredicted, his was expected. He was in poor health and anxious to be reunited with his love.

Memories were spinning in my head, as I sat in the church and listened to stories of him. He always was so much fun, showing us the way for a good time. It seemed only moments before; we were young, going to parties, dancing, taking trips and spending weekends just having fun. Over the years, we had drifted apart only to be brought back together for weddings, funerals, and occasional parties. Those were special times, always with references to “remember when. . . .” and a lot of laughter.

As I observed the children of my friends, it was evident that they had become us. They were now the parents and we had become the old people. No time for us to waste. . . dreams unfulfilled, needed to be fulfilled. Those excuses of waiting until tomorrow wouldn’t work anymore. . . this was tomorrow.

Once again, my friend had shown me the path way to live a fulfilled life.

Thanks George. You are missed!

It's been a roller coaster ride . . .

2010-04-16T15:18:00.001-07:00

Who would have ever guessed that a volcano in Iceland would change so many lives? I gave it no more than a seconds thought when I first heard about it - mostly puzzled that Iceland even had a volcano.

This Saturday, I was scheduled to board the flying machine at LAX to take me to JKF, then off to Vienna, and onto Tel Aviv, where I would experience the sights from days long ago. A couple of red flags were flying, making me wonder if this was the right thing to do. Another uprising in Israel; our State Department warning that this wasn't the best place to be, even though the tour company was reassuring and encouraging me to continue with my plans. Then notice came that "my new baby", the iPad, wasn't welcome in Israel. They would confiscate it and to add insult to injury, charge me a "storage fee", to keep it, while I was a guest in their country. The final red flag came by the way of the volcano with pictures of stranded passengers sitting in airports, trying to get home or on their way to their next destination. This was an experience I could do without.

I made hundreds of calls to airlines trying to find out if my flights were cancelled. Many more to the tour company trying to figure out what exactly they were doing to help me in this mess. I was busy on the phone, the PC and in the background scratching my head, wondering what was happening. Thankfully, I'm doing all of this in the comfort of my own home and not in the airport, sitting on my suitcase.

The bottom line? Pre-trip to Israel cancelled. I'll be touring Egypt only. That is, unless we have another volcano, earthquake, flood, or mudslide. The list is too long of what could go wrong, from here it can only get better.

Watch for me - I'm the one riding the camel!

Getting Ready

2010-04-12T08:51:00.001-07:00

Yes my time is getting short, I think I am organized and almost ready to go!

Saturday, I will be leaving for Israel & Egypt. I have a friend who has offered to drive me to the airport at 4 am! Now that is a loyal friend!

One of the things I'm still not prepared for is my new iPad. The camera connection is still not available, how will I attach my photos? Well, as one of my sons is so fond of saying "it is what it is". I'll figure out something.

Now to see if I can get this to my blog. Thanks for joining me on my learning experience.

Talk to you soon!

Sent from my iPad

The ongoing saga has come to the end

2010-04-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, my story that has been progressing for two years now, is over. I have a sad spot in my heart and I'm determined not to go through this heartbreak again.

A year ago I shared with you the trials and tribulations of finding a home by a young, happy couple wanting to start a family. Then again, earlier this March, another family found the housing development on the patio to be attractive and set up housekeeping in a flower pot. As I reported previously, it was perfect for me. I could peek out the window and see Mama or Papa sitting on the eggs of their family.

At one time, they had both flown off, (Could it have been because of me and trying to get a close-up shot?) I was able to take this photo, seeing the two, tiny eggs in the nest. I left and they returned.

Finally, after days and days of sitting on those eggs, they were rewarded with two off-spring. I could not have been more excited to see the itsy, bitsy little birds feeding from Mama and Papa than if I had hatched them myself.

Many times during the day I would go to the window and watch. The parents could sense that I was around and in their very protective way would fluff up those feathers and hide the youngsters beneath them. Sometimes I could watch as those skinny little bodies would stretch their necks for the beak of Mama or Papa to feed them. I didn't want to disturb the family, so no pictures were taken of the skinny little guys.

The next morning, I very quietly peeked out the window to see how the family was doing.

WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? The shelf was empty.

The pot was gone, so were the babies and the parents.

Where were they? I understand Mama and Papa taking their family away (it is Spring Break) but what did they do with their home? Looking down, I found the home.

Obliviously, it wasn't Spring break. Something much bigger and more powerful was in the picture now. A cat? A squirrel? One of the dreaded crows? I won't ever know. Tears and a lump in my throat for the injustice against the fate befalling this hard-working, young family, was forming against the enemy.

Later in the day, after I had replaced the pot on the shelf, I noticed that Papa had returned. I can only imagine what his thoughts were. Where were his babies? Where was Mama?

Life could be very cruel.

What's in a Name?

2010-04-01T08:15:00.001-07:00

I got my first glimpse into what kind of a day it would be when I opened up what had previously been Google. They have changed their name to Topeka.

At first glance, I thought it might be a Russian name for some mysterious holiday we were now celebrating. As I proceeded to do my business of using what had once been Google, I put the idea of Topeka on the back burner. After all, It still worked the same. It still felt the same, except for the name - was it the same?

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Right? Does it matter what we call it? Was it still Google? A Google by any other name is still a Google? Maybe? Maybe not.

But instead of Googling was I now Topekaing? Was I using Topekablog? How about Topekamap? or T-mail? Maybe not.

Changing a name isn't that big of a deal. Because of the changes at Google, I've decided to change my name.

Instead of Kathleen I will now be called, ummmm, let me see? so many choices. I love the name of my new Granddaughter, Eliza Grace. Would it be too much of there were two of us with the same name? She could be called "little Eliza Grace" and I could be "big Eliza Grace". I'll think about it. Maybe not. How about something simple and short, "Sue?" Nah, Johnny Cash had a song about A boy named Sue, and I remember the problems he had with that name.....

Maybe I'll just wish all of you a Happy April Fool's Day!

Have fun and Don't get caught

They weren't there

2010-03-30T18:54:00.001-07:00

Today, I took a drive on the Ronald Reagan Freeway, to the Golden State Freeway and finally exited at Los Feliz Blvd. in Glendale. I had driven this route countless times before. As I drove past Mimi's, a favorite restaurant of my Mom's, memories flooded back on the many times we were there.... and how much she enjoyed it.

Reaching my destination of Forest Lawn Mortuary, I was not surprised to see workers everywhere; trimming bushes, mowing lawns, and removing old flowers left on gravesides. Today, it appeared there were additional workers, probably in preparation of Easter when many families would be visiting the graves of their departed family members.

However, I was here for a different purpose. Last week, I had been informed that Mom's Memorial Tablet was in place, and I was anxious to see it.

My Mother had chosen wisely the spot where Daddy was buried. It's close to David's Court, and at the top of a hill, with a beautiful view of the surrounding areas. A real feast for the eyes. White fluffy clouds and a very blue sky was my extra treat for the day.

It's always easy to find the burial place of my parents. It's close to the street and as the years progressed and Mom wasn't as steady on her feet, I could literally give her close-up view of Daddy's headstone, without her leaving the car.

Today was different. I parked the car and got out to inspect the tablet close-up. They had done a good job, everything was spelled and reported correctly. I looked over at my Dad's stone and wished I had brought something to "spiff up" the tablet. I will do that the next time.

I had so much I wanted to share with my parents; the birth of a new grandchild, my upcoming trip, antics of family members and yes, even the difficulties I'm having with my brother. I was prepared to spend some time with "them", reminiscing about our lives together. The grass was green and inviting me to sit and visit.

It's a beautiful place and looking at their tablets; with their names and dates embossed onto the bronze, it brings the memories of my parents close-up. But as I sat there, I realized even the words 'final resting place' are hollow.

They weren't there. Memories of my parents and words I want to share with them, are always with me in my heart.

Eliza Grace

2010-03-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is the first photo I have of this precious little bundle of pink.

Eliza Grace - I love your name!

Baby Girl

2010-03-26T15:13:00.001-07:00

Our family has been blessed.

Welcome to our family, baby girl!
ELIZA GRACE.

Born March 26th at 1:00 pm.

5 lb. 15 oz and 19" long.

Mommy, Daddy, Big Brother Jack,
and Baby Eliza Grace
are all doing great!!

According to her Mommy & Daddy,
she is perfect!

A whole new world

2010-03-24T21:24:00.001-07:00

Yes, a whole, new world has opened up for me.

Jack, my 'soon to be' four years old, Grandson, and his family have signed on and we have had lot's of fun exploring this new tool in communication.

The new tool? Skype.

With this tool I have been able to share in their life from afar. Jack shared a race car and track that he made at the fairgrounds on Sunday. I've also seen him in his PJ's, fresh from a bath with still dampened hair, as he attempted to read the instructions to the camera they had purchased for our talks. I've heard him spell his name, quite an accomplishment, JACKSON and recite his phone number.

Will Skype replace family get together's with a PC screen? I hope not, but it does allow communication "eyeball to eyeball". Today's too busy world keeps us all hopping with jobs, outside interests and activities.

The only drawback...... hairdo's and make-up required.

What do they think about?

2010-03-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

She is sitting there for minutes, hours, and days not moving. Except for the occasional blink of her eyes, one might mistake her for a wax figure.

There is a job to do. Yes, it’s important, some might even say it’s the most important job in a lifetime. It’s the reason for being. This year, the site was chosen in what was thought to be a private place. Little did they realize, from behind the window, I can stand a scant few inches away watching and waiting for the appointed day.

I admire the tenancy and focus in carrying out the goal. I don’t believe that many of us could exhibit the patience and determination that is shown here. We could learn from this example.

Yes, Mama and Papa Dove are back.

Of course, I knew they were around. It’s spring and the time that they would be here.

I’ve seen and reported to you previously, their search for the perfect place. I see the excitement if I go on the other side of the glass or get too close to the sacred place. I’m supposed to be distracted with all of the commotion of rustling around. Yes, I know what the reason for all of that is, and I try to respect the privacy that is sought.

I’ll keep you informed, when I know about the sex, names and if the babies sleep through the night.

If you don’t hear from me. . .

St Patricks Day with J.Paul

2010-03-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

Today, I visited the Gardens at the Getty Museum. I'll let the photos tell the story. . .

I could see the Pacific Ocean and two ships that were out to sea.

This is a maze of Azalae bushes......

It's one of those things that you really have to see to appreciate fully.

Our state flower - The California Poppy

And one more shot of the maze.

There were lot's more.

Go see for yourself and pick a great, sunny day like I did.

Wonderful day!!!!

Breakfast

2010-03-15T01:15:00.000-07:00

I love to eat breakfast out. Especially when I'm eating with this little guy.

I don't need to say anything else!

Next step, one forward, two backward

2010-03-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Apparently, I'm way ahead of the class on this one. People were just bringing in their designs, some had started cutting their clay, others were still thinking about it. Okay, that gives me an advantage - we had the critique on the design and what I had done with it.

It took me a while to put the puzzle pieces together. After that we gathered around my project while ideas were tossed around. As usual, my instructor offered some valuable direction. The answer is UPWARDS. More depth, more layers, less texture in some places, more in others, it all boils down to this. . . .

Back to the drawing board!

I'll be working out in the garage again, rolling, flattening and shaping clay to go on my design.

Another thing, and maybe you can help. I need a name for my design - something flowing, interesting and fitting my project ---- jigsaw puzzle isn't gonna work.

Any ideas?

What I'm doing.

2010-02-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

Going crazy mostly. I think I'm having fun, I know I'm spending a lot of time doing it.

I'm taking a class called Glaze Design this semester. It's a challenge for me. It starts with Geologic Origins of Clay and goes on and on and on and on ...... do I care? Not really.

Sitting at my wheel, playing with clay, hoping it turns into something 'sale-able', or 'give away-able', or 'keep-able' is more my style. When I'm ready to glaze my piece, I walk over to the buckets of glaze and pick one, or maybe two. I have made countless buckets of glaze; all with a recipe and usually a helper to share the routine of it. Not my favorite chore, but certainly necessary to complete the project and be a part of the class.

Glaze Design is a whole other story. I will be glad when the class has ended. I want the knowledge, just not the work of getting it. With our masks and gloves to protect us from the chemicals our body is ingesting, our heads full of formulas, we are like busy scientists, mixing and combining chemicals with the hope that we will create a new, desirable recipe that will become a favorite for the class. We might even name it after ourselves and become famous! Oh yeah.

However, there are other things going on during the class that I am enjoying. One assignment is to make a design or picture that would measure at least 3'x3', cut it up like a jigsaw puzzle, put it back together mounted on plywood, joined by grout and have a finished product for some wall in our house or garden, (or the back of closet, wherever it would fit in).

Figuring out the design was difficult for me. I had brought in several designs, only to be greeted with a negative shake of the head, and the instructions to keep working on this. The morning I was to present my idea once again, in desperation, I sat down and doodled a design that I would sell to my instructor and the class. It passed with an exclamation of "it's beautiful".

Next came the part of having the 'doodle' blown up by Kinko's into a size of 3'x3'. That accomplished, I cut out the pieces of the pattern, put the clay on the slab roller, rolled out the clay, and then proceeded to follow the pattern of the design onto the clay. Finished, I packed up all of the clay pieces and under the protection of dry wall, carted it home.

Now the fun began. I had decided to put a different texture on each piece, but glazed with one glaze. Color? I hadn't gotten that far in the thinking. I spent the better part of the day, applying the texture, matching it against my photocopy of the original, so that the various textures would "go together" in a patchwork sort of design.

Feeling pleased with myself, when asked by the instructor how the project was going, I answered, "Great! It's all done." When he asked if all of the pieces fit together, it was like a bolt of lightning struck me. Fit together? Why wouldn't it all fit together? The pattern all fit together, what could the problem be that they wouldn't fit together?

I came home and from underneath their protective covering of plastic, started arranging the pieces together. I could tell I was in big trouble - nothing fit together. I pushed, pulled, cut, re-textured, and then more re-cutting, re-texturing and pushing.

It all fits now!

Stay tuned for the next step.

Good Grief.......

2010-02-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

I just heard, it's official.

California is about to be blessed with another embarrassment.

Zsa Zsa Gabor's eighth husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalf, has decided to throw his hat in the ring and run for Governor of the golden state of California.

His platform? Legalize marijuana and prostitution, then tax them. Of course, the 93 year old Zsa Zsa would be first lady as part of the deal.

His qualifications? bank clerk, sauna manager, married seven times, former lover of Anna Nicole Smith, and claimed paternity for the millionaire daughter. It goes on and on . . . .

Don't we have enough problems without adding more?

He wants the good life for California.

So do I. But it doesn't include the Prince.

What were you doing 39 years ago today?

2010-02-09T06:14:00.000-08:00

It was 6:00 a.m. and I woke up to the sound of perfume and cosmetic bottles falling on glass shelves in the bathroom. Before I could fully comprehend what that sound meant, the rocking and rolling started. The realization of an earthquake suddenly became a call for action.

Together, my husband and I drug still sleeping kids out of their beds and into the hallway, safe away from breaking glass or falling ceilings. Never mind, that the hallway was lined with book shelves and books that might be tumbling down on us.

To my recollection, we had never thought of our "earthquake plan" and where we would go, what we would do. We had a small transistor radio (remember the days before ipods?), listening to the news, keeping everyone lighthearted while feeling the aftershocks. I remember someone sneaking out of the hallway to get blankets and pillows, even some cereal while we waited in our safe haven.

Enough of the fun..... it was time for the kids to get ready to go to school. As we were getting dressed and ready to start our day, we turned on the TV and realized what had really happened. Schools, public buildings and roads had been closed. This was more serious than us "camping out" in the hallway.

We had experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6. Sixty-five lives were lost. Two hospitals and two freeway exchanges destroyed. The Van Norman Dam was damaged. Estimates of half a billion dollars in losses were reported.

This was the "big one" in our lives. Nothing to be compared to the Haiti quake, but something that we would talk about for years, comparing our experiences with others that had been "in the quake".

Do you remember what you were doing 39 years ago?

It's a Mac!

2010-02-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

I've been away from my blog for too long. I love to share with you what I've been doing, thinking about and what's happening. In return, I receive many comments and remarks from you. I really appreciate that. I write for myself, but it's an added bonus to know that someone is interested enough to follow along. Thanks.

Where have I been? I've been busy!

Recently, I made a purchase of an Apple product. The iMac. 21.5", 4 GB of pure joy, frustration and delight. The frustration part is mainly my elderly brain trying to keep up with technology. The delight is when it finally does.

From the first moment I walked into the Apple Store, I've been impressed. Their staff is courteous, friendly, very helpful and acts like they really care about me and my comfort level with their product. They offer more support in learning about my new tool, than I can take advantage of. Workshops, their Genius Bar for technical problems, One to one help in whatever you are interested in learning more about is invaluable. Yes, I can be in the store every day for one reason or another, and yes, I usually am.

As I was making the purchase, they assured me that all I would have to do to set up the Mac was to plug it in. Not quite true. I did plug it in, it turned on - but trying to find the cord to connect the keyboard and the mouse was a problem. No wonder - there are no cords! Everything is wireless. Once I realized everything was working without a USB cord I was on my way.

It's only been a few weeks since my life changed with my new friend, but I can say I'm very satisfied. I'm learning the in's and out's, organizing and lovin' it.

But one more thing - what about the new iPad? Would that fit in my suitcase?

IN EIGHTY-EIGHT DAYS. . .

2010-01-18T22:38:00.000-08:00

YOU CAN FIND ME HERE !

New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-31T10:24:00.000-08:00

I love this time of the year. It’s a new beginning. A promise of good things ahead. I make resolutions that most likely I won’tkeep. However, even knowing that, doesn’tseem to matter. The anticipation oflooking forward to the new me and howthis simple resolution will change my life for the better is what keeps megoing.

Following is a list of the top ten Resolutions, at least according to thelatest email I received. They are allgood and can improve anyone’s life. How many of them are on your list that youwill follow?

1. Spend More Time withFamily & Friends

2. Fit inFitness

3. Tame the Bulge

4. Quit Smoking

5. EnjoyLife More

6. Quit Drinking

7. Get Outof Debt

8. LearnSomething New

9. Help Others

10. GetOrganized

There are a couple I can cross off the list, thankfully they aren’t inmy life. Others I can continue to workon. However, there are two that will beput at the top of my list where they belong! Number 2 and 3.

Talking to one of my sons, he reminded me ofa statement I had made years ago. Itmakes so much sense and yet I have trouble putting it into my life. “I only need to lose one pound a week. Not much at all, and at the end of the year, I am magically “50 lbslighter”. Sounds so simple and yet I’vebeen working or not working on this for years now, and don’t seem to be able topull it off.

I’ve used many excuses, nonevalid and yet for the moment they have worked for me. This year I have no excuse. I have the time and resources to devote tothis. Motivation isn’t going tohappen. I just need to do it. It’s ahabit that I will put in my life.

Will I do it?

Yes, of course I will! But rightnow I have to check into that Spinach/Artichoke dip that is calling my name.

The surprise visit

2009-12-30T23:27:00.000-08:00

The surprise visit up north for Christmas was a success! Even though everyone had the sniffles and didn't feel good, you wouldn't have been able to guess by the fun we had.

In the short time I was there we managed to fit in lots of talking, laughing, eating, movies, and just fun. My Granddaughter and I explored an old cemetary that was located close to their home. She was a good sport to indulge me in this favorite pasttime of mine, inspecting headstones. . .

Izabella, our newest addition to the family kept us all entertained. Her runny nose and eye infection didn't stop her from having fun! She thinks that the dogs are there for her personal enjoyment. She giggles, smiles, and wrestles the dogs. Fortunately, they seem to enjoy it as much as she does. However, the small dogs run in terror when they see her little legs running towards them.

Next to the dogs, she loves to play in the piles of leaves her Grandpa rakes up. . . sometimes she will even take a snooze. This little nap lasted just long enough for the photo to be snapped, and then she was up again.

We also managed to get into countless games of Tile Rummy. I never get tired of playing this game.

It was a great Holiday. I came home with good memories of a Christmas spent with family in the woods, and yes, the sniffles. Thanks family!

Happy Holidays

2009-12-23T07:56:00.000-08:00

I'm off to make a surprise visit to my kids' house. Santa and I should get there just about the same time.

A blessed, beautiful holiday to all !

Mission Accomplished!

2009-12-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

Mission Accomplished and hopefully, the end of the story.

Yesterday, the delivery men brought in the replacement microwave, unpacked the box, removed the offending microwave with soot still attached. Installed the new oven, took out all of the boxes, etc. and were gone from my home probably in less than 15 minutes.

Here is a photo of my new microwave, (plus if you look closely, you can see me reflected in the window)

Thank you GE. I promise not to bake any sweet potatoes in my new oven, take good care of it forever and yada-yada-yada-yada. Ya Right!

One "hot potato".

2009-12-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Just a follow-up to my last article about the microwave potato burning story.

My microwave was manufactured by GE. Yes, General Electric, a company started before 1900, that stands behind their products. This a company that I had bought stock in, and put my trust when purchasing an appliance.

The very first appliance I ever bought was a refrigerator, and yes it was a GE. A brand that was trusted and dependable. Okay, it was turquoise, and in the early 60's, I wasn't a flower child, but I did want to express myself. A turquoise refrigerator seemed more of an expression of me, than burning my bra, smoking pot or dancing naked in the streets.

This morning I called the respected company to find out the status of my microwave. What I found out is that, according to them, I 'misused' my oven. They said I shouldn't have put the sweet potato in the oven and pushed on the "Potato" button. That is only for a baked potato, and because it was a sweet potato they weren't going to honor the replacement. WHAT????????? Of course, I asked where in the manual does it give me those instructions. Obviously, it's not in print anywhere, and for all of the rest of you that don't know how to bake a potato, it's supposed to be general knowledge..... ya right!

WHAT????????? A potato is a potato! The very sweet customer service representative offered a rebate of 50%, on an oven that was 21 days old. WHAT?????????????? I want to speak to a Supervisor! The Supervisor was found and offered me an additional 30%. No way. . After I very calmly told her that she should be paying me for potentially setting my kitchen on fire and subjecting my lungs to the smell of burning plastic with a faulty product, she left the phone, only to return with the news that in the interest of good customer service, they were going to replace my microwave at no cost to me. I choked out a feeble thank you.

No Big Surprise!!!! Even if they didn't know it then, I knew that they were going to replace the oven.

Twenty-one days later . . .

2009-12-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

Three guesses what this is?

Did you figure it out ? No? Well, here is another hint.

This led to the result you see in the first photo.

Does that help? Incidentally, this photo is NOT upside down.

I know, looking at it gives me a queezy tummy too.

Here is the last clue. See the black LCD screen? Blank,burned out.

Well okay, I’ll tell you the story. Actually it goes back to last June, when Ihad relatives here and put four potatoes in the microwave to bake. Remember this story? Baking four potatoes in the microwave caused it to crash.

I had procrastinated about purchasing a new microwave. Only when the realization of Thanksgiving dawned on me, did I know I would have to quit the dragging of my feet and find an oven.

Twenty-one days after the purchase of my replacement micro, I put a sweetpotato in the new microwave for dinner, then left the room to go upstairs. Minutes later, coming downstairs, the smellof burnt plastic was overwhelming. Goinginto the kitchen, I could see some smoke, but, after I opened the door to themicrowave, the smoke poured out, filling the house. It was 32 degrees outside that night, and I ranaround flinging doors and windows open, turning on fans before the firedepartment would be called by a well meaning neighbor.

Do you think there could be a defect in the oven?
Not anymore – it burned up.

It does give the phrase “Hot Potato” a new meaning.

You can have the last word!

2009-12-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

At this time of year especially, it's good for me to look back and reflect on what is working, what needs to be changed and appreciate what's happening in my life.

Writing my blog is a positive for me. It has opened many doors and avenues that I didn't realize I had in my life. It has allowed me to share my life (or part of it anyway) with people that I care about, people I have met online, and people that are total strangers, who happen to be here by chance. I want to thank all of you for the support and nice words you have shared with me. It has also opened up a part in me that I didn't realize existed........ the love of writing. I recommend it to all. Many of my articles never get to the publication part (and maybe more of them should be in that catagory) but just putting the written word on to "paper" is an outlet for me.

I recently added a new part to the blog. Unless you are planning on leaving a comment, you wouldn't see this. Except today, I'm going to share the paragraph with you and invite you to participate in writing on my blog. If you aren't sure how to do this, click on "COMMENTS" at the end of the article and you will be connected.

This is the paragraph you will see:

I love comments! I know that many that follow my blog, 'INCLUDING THE KITCHEN SINK', email your comments or tell me in person your thoughts. I like that too. It's fun to check back on my blog for your reaction to what I've written. Sometimes, I even look for comments a couple of times a day AFTER a post has been published (However, we don't have to go into what obsessive behavior is all about, at this time).Read the blog with no comments? That’s good too. I appreciate your support and taking your time to read 'INCLUDING THE KITCHEN SINK'. Please come back and visit often!

My Point and Shoot

2009-12-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

As all of you that are following my blog, know I recently purchased a new camera. There is so much to learn and I'm plugging along, one step at a time.

I'd like to share a photo. This is one of the zillions of settings that is on the camera. It will take me forever to figure it all out. The photo is a little spooky and would have been more appropriate for Halloween (minus the Christmas props) but it's fun effect.

I want to thank my Grandson Jack, for allowing me to keep his truck at my house. Little did I guess it would turn into a prop for my photo. Thanks Jack!

If it looks like a tree, acts like a tree. . . then it's a Christmas Tree

2009-12-01T22:57:00.000-08:00

After stuffing my kids with turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy forThanksgiving, I requested their help in setting up the Christmas tree.

Last year, I coughed up enough cash after emptying my piggy bank,to make a purchase made in

China

. This reproduction made out of plastic toresemble fir branches with pine cones and tiny lights, is attached to a steelrod made to look like a tree trunk, and stands 10 feet tall. The tree has been in storage all year, highupon a shelf in the garage. Other‘stuff’ had been piled upon it during the year. I chose to stay inside as they wrestled the huge carton down, and into thehouse. It was a smart move!

We all gathered around the box as it was opened. My 3 ½ year old grandson, in particular, wasanxious to see what was inside. Expectingthe aromatic scent of Christmas Pine, we instead experienced the smell ofplastic. I hoped it would dissipate intime. Remembering the beautiful,somewhat unique looking tree in the store, I was a little disappointed thatmine was crumpled looking. I guessthat’s understandable, after all, the branches had been pushed into a cardboardbox for a year, and they needed to stretch and be smoothed out.

The ‘tree’ comes in three sections and each of these sections hasmultiple light sockets to be attached. Ibelieve that it was said there were 17 in the entire set up. The middle section didn’t light up, althoughI recall it was lit last year when I purchased the tree. After much searching and trying the plugs indifferent sockets, it was determined that one string didn’t work. Apparently Christmas elves were busy doingthings other than making toys during the year, and I had a mischievous elf inthe tree box. No problem, I have lots of lights. A new string was stuffed intothe gap and lights were lit over the tree.

I put a couple of Christmas ornaments on the tree. They looked lost and out of place. I tried to keep the disappointment out of myvoice as I said, “it will be a beautiful tree”.

My family was getting ready to leave. It had been a long day with the preparationsfor dinner, eating the feast, the clean up, finally setting up the tree andenjoying the antics of our little guy. I was pooped and not looking forward tothe job of trimming the tree. I decided the best thing for me to do, was to goto bed.

The next morning, struggling to wake up, I realized my work wascut out for me. This was the day I musttrim the tree. After all, there was stillan eight foot ladder in my living room, in addition to boxes of ornaments,decorations, and other assorted stuff, that should have been thrown out withlast years Christmas trash. Furniture had been moved about and chaos waseverywhere. I didn’t have a choice – thedeed must be done.

I have too many ornaments. Over the years, I’ve tried to sort out the faded ones, the colors I wasno longer interested in, but even with that, I still have boxes full of shiny,glass balls. The inventory has been narrowed down to gold, silver, a box or two of red, and a handful ofholiday green. I also have bells, ribbonin every color, foo-foo, and garlands to adorn the tree.

Bulb by bulb, I started trimming the tree. I would need the ladder and also the stepstool to reach the upper branches. Boxby box, the bulbs were being used, by late afternoon I had finished attachingthe bulbs. The branches were loaded, butthe tree lacked pizazz. I cut up the yardsof gold netting I had, creating more foo-foo. How about using gold ribbon for garland? Good, but that was in addition to the red bead garland I had drapedaround the tree.

It was a lot of work and effort, but it wasn’t the tree Iwanted. What was missing? The top wasn’t going to work – I had a goldfiligree star that not only was lopsided, it wasn’t big enough. My efforts on the ladder weren’t payingoff. By now it was late, and I wanted tocrawl into my warm bed. Maybe the treewill look better in the morning.

Talking to a friend the next morning, we discussed Christmas treesand favorites over the years. I waseying my tree, wishing it would be a favorite, and not sure why it wasn’t. Something was missing, something had to bereplaced. But what?

Suddenly, I had the idea that there was too much. I began to strip off all of the red and greenballs. The red bead garland was the nextto go. Already, I liked it better. More foo-foo was added, an improvement, butthe tree still needed something that wasn’t there. Something that would really make it pop!

I found bunches of gold poinsettias at the craft store andimmediately knew that this was the answer. A purchase of gold painted leaves, would make a striking top for the tree and would complete my sale.

All of the red and green balls were put into a box, wrapped to begiven away at a White Elephant gift exchange I was attending. Nothing wrong with them, it just wasn’t forme anymore. Someone would treasurethem.

I love my tree. And yes, it’s afavorite.

This experience has re-taught me a life lesson. I spent four days doing something that couldhave been done in a few hours if I had been able to figure it out. Days of massaging, adding and subtracting, movingthings around, adjusting and all of a sudden it’s what it’s meant to be. Sometimes it takes a while to see theobvious, then it’s easy. It’sright. If it's not working, change it. Change is good, even a challenge, whether it's a Christmas tree or life.

As we near the year2010, I look forward to a new beginning with the hopes and aspirations itbrings. I see more changes and challenges and I'm up for it!

Well we did it . . .

2009-11-27T00:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, we did it. It's over............. Too much food prepared, but somehow vanished before the day was over.

Everything went well, with the exception of a small glitch along the way. Somehow the lock on the door to the oven was set. (Did you even know that the door could be locked? I sure didn't!!!!! ) Fortunately, a solution was found to unlock it before the dinner burned up, but not before a couple more grey hairs were added to my head.

My plan to take photos of the dinner were forgotten in the confusion of getting the meal on the table, but I did manage to snap one after we were almost finished gorging our faces.

It was a good day, as days with family always are.
I'm thankful.

Preparing for the day

2009-11-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

All over the USA, preparations are being made to celebrate our national holiday, Thanksgiving.

Supermarkets are bustling with shoppers looking for the ingredients to prepare the big meal. Glassware, silverware and linens are being washed and polished to be used for the celebration.

My table is set. I have pumpkins, gourds and squash from my friend at the pumpkin patch. I found some pretty leaves that are reds, yellows and green to finish the decor of the table. I've used both my Mom's and Mother-in-law's Apple Pattern dishes. It brings back the feeling of family get together's of years past. Both of my Mothers would be pleased to see them on the table.

I've been baking. This is a pumpkin pie, just from the oven. Apples are waiting to be peeled, cut and put into a waiting pie crust.

Do you think I should cut a small slice to sample? My guests wouldn't want to eat it unless I could tell them that it was really good . . . ummmmmmmmmm.

I have so much to be thankful for and I'm grateful for the many blessings in my life.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Who woulda guessed?

2009-11-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

My Mother has been gone for five months. Her house for the most part has remained untouched regarding major repairs, painting and upkeep since 1984, when my Dad passed. Nothing major was to be done, she wanted it that way, and anyone that knew my Mom will attest to the fact SHE WAS IN CHARGE !

I might add this part right now, Mom was always in charge, but out of self preservation, both her children, my brother and myself, became the same. WE ARE ALL IN CHARGE. Yes, control freaks! We all individually knew that our plan or idea was the best. If the others would only listen for a minute or so, they could figure out they didn’t know what they were talking about and that only the one plan would work! There was no compromise, we weren’t raised that way.

My folks moved into their home in 1954. I think I have mentioned my Mom was a pack rat. Not only did she not get rid of anything, but she accumulated much more. While my Dad was still alive, it was under control, he would fill a box with the stuff and it would disappear. . . . Not sure where it went, but it was gone. After he was gone, so was the box . . . need I say more? You can picture this can’t you?

We have cleared out her house, but not really cleaned it up. Yes, her possessions are gone (for the most part) but not the memories of living in that house. It has been difficult for us, both in different aspects of the house clearing, there are so many memories of our childhood home.

Now that the house is empty, what do we do with it?

The Bro and I have gone ‘round that mulberry tree more than once trying to figure out what to do with the family homestead. Suggestions of one of us moving in (‘no way for me), renting it out just as it is, fixing it up to rent it, fixing it up to sell, adding a second story for the view, redoing the pool, replacing all of the piping, then replacing all of the walls where the pipes had been removed, one of us buying the other out, or selling it as is.

As anyone over the age of ten can tell you, right now the economy stinks. We have all been affected by the housing market one way or another. Putting money into a house that needs so much seemed to me to be throwing money down the proverbial rat hole. Where would you start, where and when do you stop?

My vote was put it on the market to be SOLD AS IS, and the faster the better. Who knows what will happen next year? The economy is bad now – could it become worst? Maybe – Maybe not. I’m not a gambler and I prefer to take my chances now. Finally, at long last my handwriting on the wall was beginning to be clear to all concerned. Yes, let’s sell it.

The next decision was how? Bro was in favor of us selling it ourselves. What !!! Is he completely nuts??? Sell it ourselves in this market? He had a couple of plans to make it work, none acceptable to me. We could sell it with a realtor (I would even get to pick one out, in addition, I would pay for the realtor out of my share) Does he think I just fell off the turnip truck? Didn’t it say in the Trust and wasn’t it my Mothers wishes that everything was 50-50? The next plan was to put a sign up in the front yard with our phone numbers so that we could give information when someone called and then one of us, could drive in to show the property. Well, I live 40-50 minutes away, depending on the traffic and he is 1 ½ hours away…….. guess who will be doing most of the showing? I wasn’t too thrilled about either plan. Who would handle all of the legal part is anyone’s guess. He didn’t want to pay the realtor, and when he discovered an estate attorney was even pricier, that wasn’t going to work either. I don’t trust myself or him to know all of the in’s and out’s of the escrow system. It was my intention that after the house was sold to never hear from the buyers or their attorneys again. I didn't want to come back to repair, replace or remove anything. I certainly didn't want a lawsuit. When that last paper in escrow was signed, I wanted to be done. Oh how I wanted to be done with this business with my partner.

The story isn't finished, and well, there are some SURPRISES in store for us all. . .
Stay tuned and I'll keep you updated with the experience of selling a family home with family involved.

Triskaidekaphobia or Paraskevidekatriaphobics?

2009-11-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

Are you infected with Triskaidekaphobia or Paraskevidekatriaphobics?

If so, you are in good company . . . there are an estimated 17 to 21million people in the United States affected by this anxiety.

Is there an inoculation or a “pill to pop"that will keep you safe?

NO WAY!!!

You will just have to tough it out and livethrough it!

What is it? An irrational fear of'Friday the 13th' or the 'Number 13'.

Some results of the dreaded triskaidekaphobiansmay be the following:

· Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.

· Many cities don't have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue.

· If you have 13 letters in your name, you're said to have thedevil's luck. (Charles Manson, for one).

· French President Nicolas Sarkozy may know that in

France

,socialites called quatorziens (fourteeners) make themselves available as 14thguests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate.

· Many airports skip the 13th gate.

· Airplanes have no 13th aisle.

· More than 80% of high rises lack a 13th floor

· Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.

· On streets in Florence,

Italy

,the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.

· Many say the No. 13 pointed to the ill-fated mission to the moon,Apollo 13.

· Historians say there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper andChrist was crucified on Friday the 13th.

I hope you have an uneventful Friday 13th.

But watch out for ladders or black cats in your path!

An Irish Ghost Story

2009-11-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

The time has passed for a good ghost story, but this is a true story (at least according to my friend) and I thought you might enjoy it.

Remember the ghosts and goblins are with us all year long, even though we usually only acknownledge them during the last week of October.

This story happened a while ago in Dublin , and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's true.

John Bradford, a Dublin University student, was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night and in the midst of a big storm.  The night was rolling on and no car went by. The storm was so  strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him.

Suddenly, he saw a car slowly coming towards him and stopped.

John, desperate for shelter and without thinking about it, got  into the car and closed the door.... only to realize there was nobody behind the wheel and the engine wasn't on.

The car started moving slowly. John looked at the road ahead and  saw a curve approaching. Scared, he started to pray, begging for  his life.

Then, just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared out of nowhere through the window, and turned the wheel. John, paralyzed with terror, watched as the hand came through the window, but never touched or harmed him.

Shortly thereafter, John saw the lights of a pub appear down the road, so, gathering strength; he jumped out of the car and ran to it.  Wet and out of breath, he rushed inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he had just had.

A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realized he was crying ...   and wasn't drunk.

Suddenly, the door opened, and two other people walked in from the  dark and stormy night. They, like John, were also soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing John Bradford sobbing at the bar, one said to the other....

Look Paddy.... there's that idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!!!!'

A love affair and what it means. . .

2009-11-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

It started with your eyes locking. Your heart beats a little faster. Your palms sweat, you want to hug andsqueeze, and the next thing you know you are committed.

You promise to love, honor and obey. With those vows go the unspoken words that youwill be dependable, trustworthy, and responsible for this loved one. Along with the rewards of having that‘special being’ love youunconditionally, you will pitch in and do some of the “dirty work”.

I live in what I consider a very nice neighborhood. I along with others in this small communitypay a monthly fee to have workers trim the bushes, plant flowers and clean thesidewalks. They also paint the fencesand keep everything in tip-top condition. Our community provides benches, and areas to rest if you have walkedpast your limit. I feel proud to livehere. There are good walk-ways and theyare usually filled with joggers, mothers and dads with strollers, and peoplejust enjoying the outdoors.

There is an encouragement for pet owners to carry disposal bags forany droppings that their pets may leave during times of the dog's need. The community even provides them! Many people carry the bags and use them, someirresponsible ones don’t.

Today, I walked the ½ mile to the market. I was shocked and I’m sure you will be too by what I saw on my walk.

I counted nine bags, YES 9 BAGS, in the space of the ½ mile.These are bags that pet owners had gone to the trouble of filling with dog poopand then just left for someone else to pick up. Congratulations for filling the bags, but finish up the job. You get the rewards of the wagging tail, the unconditional love. . . it’s time to live up to your promise of beingthe care taker.

Follow those vows you made………. Pick it up the bag of poop!

Careful now, I’m climbing off my soapbox.

The new toy!

2009-10-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

Days have been spent looking for a new camera. My old Casio isseven years old and still taking photos, but not with the quality I wouldlike. The new ones have so much more tooffer. I’ve been thinking about this for some time, and now the time was right to find a replacement.

The choice would be fairly simple, or so I thought. The new camera only had to fit a couple of my priorities. . . I didn’t want it to be complicated. Fitting in my pocket, able to slip in andout at a moments notice, was an important feature. Also, something with the capabilities to focus on a petal on a flower, a grain of sand, or even a bug, clear and sharp was what I was looking for. In addition, the camera must do the majority of the thinking;I don't want to have to figure out the settings and lighting. (Did I evermention my Dad was an amateur photographer and we would stand squinting in thesun waiting for him to get the "shot just right"? Well that's astory for another day).

A knowledgeable friend was also looking and willing to shop with me. We traveled near and far looking for the perfect camera. She was also looking, but forsomething much more complicated than I was able to comprehend. That's okay,she knew enough about what I wanted so that she was able to point out some ofthe features I was looking for. The big problem was not finding one, but sorting out what I wanted from the many that fit my priorities.

Not only did we travel about searching for that special tool, Iused the internet and was able to compare and figure out somewhat what I waslooking for. Finally I found the one! I chose the Canon PowerShot SD940 IS. Next decision was how should I purchase it? Online or from one of the many stores I had comparisonshopped? Online was the best bet forme. I could have it delivered in twodays and pay for the speedy delivery and still come in under what the stores wereoffering it for. The order was made. NowI only had to wait.

In the meantime, I had promised myself I would paint my bedroomcloset. It’s a walk-in, filled with clothing, shoes, vacuum, ironing board, various sundry items, boxes, and just plain stuff. Not anxious toempty it when the painters were here, I said very casually, “Oh I’lldo it myself at a later time”. Okay, thelater time is now.

I spent a good amount of time, unloading the closet, filling my bedroom, bathroom andyes, I even branched out to the hallway, and to the dining room. The whole house is a mess, and how could all of this fit in thatcloset? No matter, I will sort through it later andgive the “Good Will” a nice donation.

Finished caulking the base boards. Whew, that was a job! Starting onthe flat paint . . . But what is that I hear? The delivery man at my door with my new toy.

What a decision, play or paint?

Like Scarlett O'Hara, "I'll think about it tomorrow".

Final Day - Trip 10/09

2009-10-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

It was a feeling of relief, but also sadness as I startedthis day. I knew it would be my last dayon the road. I was tired but alsograteful that I had had the chance to experience this wonderful trip.

I’d had the chance to see many sights that were unforgettable. The weather had been on my side, a littlewindow in between rain storms, as I trekked across the country. My car had served me well, the only problem wasthe Honda's undying thirst for gas, but even that was okay. Californiaseems to be the only state that the gas prices are soaring. The accommodations that I found werecomfortable. This was my biggestexpense, and renting a motor home or dragging a trailer would help in thatarea, but create other problems. Yes,I’m delighted and satisfied with my trip just as it was.

One of the stops on the trip home was to the Meteorcrater, “Thefirst proven, best-preserved Meteorite Crater on Earth”, at least according tothe brochure. Meteocrater is 20 miles east of Windslow in Arizona off of I-40. As I drove up to the crater,again I marveled at the beauty of the desert. The wind was blowing very hard and without extra help from me, Iwouldn’t have stayed on my side of the two lane road. Surprised at the largeness of theexhibit, I struggled against the wind toopen my car door and make my way over to the entrance.

“No rim tours today," the ranger informedme, "too much wind." Okay, I was thereto see what I could see and I would take my own tour. I walked through the Visitors Center to the Observation Area. The wind was blowing everything in sight, including the visitors! I heldon for dear life to the guard rail, as I made my way up to the observationtower. Reaching the top, I came to therealization that maybe carrying extra weight on my body wasn't all that bad, withoutit I would have blown off the top of the crater. I was still clenching the rail, but as I letgo to get my camera, the wind gave a mighty burst and there I was sitting on my rear end, the wind had blown me down. I finished taking my photos in thesitting position, thankful that I had a strong anchor to sit on. It was a manificent view and well worth the effort.

Continuing on the road home, thoughts of where should I go next were running through my head. Route 66 had been in the shadow of I-40. Wouldn't it be interesting to follow it from start to finish? Yes, the plan was forming . . . from Chicago to Santa Monica! Signs along I-40 had promised museums, motels, restaurants and other "must see's" for Route 66 along the way. "Get your kicks, on Route 66!" Books and memobilia had been for sale at the many gift shops I have seen along the way. Route 66 was not going to die - the main traffic may have moved to I-40, but there was lots of life along Route 66.

Little did I realize that my dream vacation was about to begin. As I pulled off the road to Seligman Arizona to get a cold drink, I felt like I had stepped back in time. The photos will tell the story.

Okay, it might be a 'little hokey' but fun and MAYBE a view of what's to come.

Thanks for joining me on my trip. I wish you could have been sitting in the car with me and experienced the real thing, but I appreciate your company via on-line.

Day Five - Trip 10/09

2009-10-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

The time is going fast – too fast.
It was cold Sunday morning, at least cold enough to wear the jacket, previously unworn on this trip.

I walked the two blocks to the Botanical Gardens. The streets were almost empty. The glass bridge had not yet opened, nor had the inside gardens or gift shop. It was Sunday and most everything is closed until noon time. No matter – I enjoyed walking through the gardens and watching the ducks swim in their watery home. It was all very lovely and I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in the springtime with everything in bloom.

Before leaving OKC, I decided to take one last trip through Bricktown before I got on the road. I had spent time there the night before, wandering through the streets, and enjoying the garlicky aroma of the restaurants. The smell still lingered early morning, whether it was left-over from the night before or from preparing today’s feast – didn’t matter. Pizza, spaghetti and other delicacies were in the air. It was all good.

Bricktown, was once a warehouse neighborhood that was restored in the 1980s. It has become a great walking place for families and friends. There are shops, restaurants, and yes, even a baseball park. the night before the streets had been crowded with people. This morning, I was alone. I’m sorry I didn’t take photos of the brick warehouses or the brick lined streets. It was very picturesque. Don’t miss it if you get near OKC.

Leaving Oklahoma City, I was again impressed how lovely the landscape was. I had a mistaken impression of OKC as the dust bowl. Wrong! Everything was green and growing. As a matter of fact, they had "mowers" with the full-time job of keeping the grass that grew near the Interstate mowed.

Years ago, Mom and I had taken a trip to Iowa, traveling on I-40, for the purpose of picking up a rocking chair that had belonged to my Grandfather. That was the purpose, our real reason was to recover from the unexpected death of my Dad the previous February.

While driving we saw something that could only be described by us as a fantasy mirage. Cadillac Ranch. Click on Cadillac Ranch to read the story, it's pretty interesting. Ten, red, Cadillacs were buried nose down in a field close to Amarillo. On the trip to OKC it was dusk, and the traffic was heavy, so I missed seeing them. Now it was late afternoon, and the cars stopped by the side of the road with the crowd drew my attention to the half buried automobiles. Turning at the first chance, I parked on the roadside, and then walked over the field for a closer look. It was very windy and as I passed groups who had already visited the cars, we exchanged comments and smiles.

Changes had been made since my last visit. Visitors were leaving their mark. Spray cans were scattered about, having been used to spray individual names or graffiti on the cars. The paint was applied in many layers, and I would guess that anything painted last month was now covered with new paint. It's all very colorful and fun. Of course, I didn’t have any paint with me, but a nice family offered me a can to leave my mark. I declined, and now have a regret that I didn't put my k. on one of the cars.

Quite a sight, huh?

I came across another sign in front of someone’s home. . . . I think it’s a joke, but didn’t want to check into the Motel to find out for sure.

Another "10" day.

Day Four - Trip 10/09

2009-10-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

I headed towards I-40 on a shortcut that a delightful new friend had directed me to. I was in one of the shops and struck up an immediate friendship with the shopkeeper. We had experienced much of the same travel and had the same philosophy on life in general. We shared many stories and as she walked me to my car and gave me a hug goodbye, I regretted that I was leaving Santa Fe, the capital city in the Land of Enchantment.

The day was short, and in order to get to Amarillo, Texas as I had planned, I needed to keep ‘truckin’. I kept my eyes on the road, but my thoughts were busy elsewhere. The desert was especially beautiful, the colors in full bloom….. the trees that could change colors had done it, and they were proudly showing off their gorgeous hues for the season. There was a lot of road work being done along the way. The speed limits ranged from 75 mph, which was really in the 90’s, to 40 mph, as we whizzed by workers, laying new blacktop on the roads.

Finally Amarillo was up ahead. I swung into the parking lot of the chosen motel and settled in for the night.

Bright and early the next morning, I arose, hurried to get showered and dressed. Today was the day that I would reach the final destination going east on this trip. I was excited and anxious to be there.

Here I am at my final destination. Can you tell where it is?

Need more of a hint? How about this?

One more clue and you should have guessed it for sure!

Ah, you have it now. Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Oklahoma City was a surprise to me. I certainly wasn’t expecting the sophistication yet convenience of OKC. The National Memorial was unforgettable and inspiring. They have done a wonderful job with it. I was not disappointed. I probably spent close to 1 ½ hours there and could have stayed longer, except that the stories contained in the museum were so sad. They went into much detail with photos, news, personal accounts of the victims, the saved and the rescuers. There was a large part devoted to Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, perpetrators of the bombing, and how they managed to pull off this horrible incident. and a quick glimpse into terrorism in our world today.

Walking outside to the pool and the grounds surrounding it was heartening. I listened to a ranger talk about the incident and how the Memorial became what it is. We sat under what is called the survivors tree, and he told stories about that. He did a good job of bringing that day into the minds of all of us.

After his talk I walked around the pool once again and reflected on his stories. The chairs were magnificent. So appropriate. Yes, the people of OKC and the planners did a thoughtful, loving job of remembering this day.

I can feel tears forming once again as I write this.

Yea, a 10+ day.

Day Three - Trip 10/09

2009-10-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

New Mexico is called the "Land of Enchantment” and for good reason. The azure skies, adobe architecture and the red rock cliffs bring a wealth of colors and enchantment.

I had arrived in Albuquerque the night before and a quick glance around the city as I searched for a hotel gave me a good impression of the city. The next morning I was up early to continue on my adventure, heading towards the capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe.

I took advantage of the city shuttle for a quick tour around town. Our guide pointed out the old adobe buildings some which had been constructed when the Spanish arrived in 1607. He also told us many interesting stories about Santa Fe and the people while we were learning of the history of New Mexico.

Art galleries, shops, restaurants, street vendors, it was all so lovely. Santa Fe is charming. It’s the kind of place that you need to stroll around and not be in a hurry to see everything all at once.

This is a photo of vendors that are licensed to sell at the President’s Palace. This “patio area” where they sit with their goods spread on blankets is a good block or more long. Apparently, they do quite a good business. I saw many gringo's parting with their peso's in exchange for handmade jewelry and pottery.

I didn’t purchase any jewelry but did buy Ristras. They are said to ward off evil, welcome visitors and alert guests to the fiery delicacies served in my kitchen. I don’t usually cook with fire chilli. . . but you never know. You have been warned.

I loved Santa Fe and will be going back!

Rating: 10 for sure!

I goofed

2009-10-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

Well I've done it again. Locked myself out of the PC. It had something to do with the wireless setup and trying to connect with the ethernet(?) cord. Call me stupid, an idiot, but you will have to stand in line - I'm calling myself all of those names.

Let me say, I'm having a wonderful time and seeing the country. The weather has been perfect. Yesterday morning it was 54 degrees when I left my hotel, but it quickly warmed up and has been outstanding.

I'm now on day five, and have articles for the time up until now that will be published at a later date (yeah, after I get home and get this figured out again).

I've reached the end of my destination and will be making my way back, probably tomorrow (if I can get a hotel tonight). Don't know why but everything is booked. I want to stick around and see what the excitement is all about.

I can still be reached by phone (805 300 9142) or email. Yes, on the public PC I'm a whizz......

Day Two - Trip 10/09

2009-10-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

It was a great day!

I left Kingman to travel to Albuquerque, but as usual on all trips I got distracted and took another turn. I had thought about Sedona, but decided I wouldn’t spend the time, however, when I saw the cutoff, my car turned onto Highway 17 towards Sedona. I stopped at all of the scenic views and enjoyed it very much. The leaves are changing and I took special pleasure in the reds, golds and yellows, mixed with the greens.

Not everyone was enjoying the views...... there were vendors selling their Indian Jewelry and pottery at many of the stops.

About 30 or 35 years ago, we had friends that moved to Sedona AZ. They invited us to visit them in a log cabin that they had built. True it was made from logs, but there was no cabin involved. They had a huge home with many rooms, nestled in the red rock amongst the trees. They were interested in the spiritual and metaphysical – perfect spot for them to end up – Sedona.

At that time it was a sleepy little town and walking the main street visiting all of the shops took approximately 20 minutes. I was curious to see how much the city of Sedona had changed . . . and changed it had. It’s loaded with gift shops, restaurants and anything else where a tourist will spend their hard earned cash. No problem, the red rock is still there and with it the beautiful scenery that makes it a special place.

When I got into the town, it wasn’t difficult to find a good place to eat. There were many to choose from. I ordered a sandwich, sat and visited with some folks from San Diego for a while in the warm sun, basking in the beautiful sights of the rock formations. All too soon, it was time to get on the road. I still had a long drive to Albuquerque.

Both Arizona and New Mexico have speed limits of 75 mph. That means that most cars are traveling in the 90s. It's pretty "zippy" out there, and this is from someone that has been described as a lead foot. Even so, traveling by myself the time doesn't move as fast as it would with a friend. (Travel Buddy, how are you feeling?) It's still a beautiful drive going through the painted desert, with the pinks, mauves, and golds. I throughly enjoyed the trip.

One of the interesting spots I came across was the Continental Divide. I stopped of course, for the photo and I've been reading about it on the Internet. I embarassed to say, I guess I didn't know what it was all about, BUT NOW I DO, and you can too, just click on the link.

One last photo that I couldn't resist. It needs no explanation, I think the photo shows it all. I would just like to say that I followed all of the "P's" that are stated.

"NO PHOTOS" wasn't mentioned, so here it is!

I'm rating the day a 10!

Day One - Trip 10/09

2009-10-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

The sun was just coming up. The sky full of clouds was colored with reds and golds. The air just a little chilly but perfect for starting my adventure.

I had loaded my car the night before, and as I put last minute things into my trunk, the garage door across the street opened. My neighbor was . . . Hey, wait a second this was the morning before.......... I never took that trip.

Let me start again - The sky was dark and full of clouds, it was raining hard. I took one glance outside and pulled the covers up and went back to sleep.

By the time I really woke up, it was late and I had to move fast. I checked the weather report .... it looked good, all I had to do was get out of the Los Angeles area and I would head into the sunshine. Traffic was clear - no major accidents on any of the freeways I would take to get out of town. It was time to get moving! I hurried to get my belongings into the car, grabbing a quick snack of a banana, after all, it was a few hours after I had planned on leaving.

The rain was coming down pretty heavy, but I continued on my journey knowning that up ahead the sun was shining. And sure enough, what is that that I see up ahead? Blue skies, fluffy clouds, and the beautiful Mojave Desert . . . yes, I was on my way to Barstow for my first scheduled stop, breakfast. But of course with my late delay in getting out of town, it was now lunch time.

No matter, I was on my own, answering to no one. My travel companion had come down with a bug and was unable to make the trip.

I don't think I've ever seen the desert so beautiful. The colors; plus the clouds and the very blue sky made a picture meant for a post card. As I listened to the radio and became more and more confused with the contraversity over Obama's health plan, I wondered was there an answer that would work with this? So many opinions, none of them agreeing on anything.

Plans had been made for spending the night in Flagstaff, AZ, but I was ready to get out of the car, and Flagstaff was still hours away. Kingman was coming up, and I decided to find a hotel/motel there. It was early but dinner and a movie would take care of the evening.

Oh, incidentally I should apologize for trying to fool you with the faux trip yesterday and also for the photo in this article. Yes,the picture is beautiful and similar to what I saw, but not my photo and not my location. I'll do better tomorrow.

Day One on a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the best is an 8.

My trek begins

2009-10-13T16:44:00.000-07:00

The sun was just coming up. The sky full of clouds was colored with reds and golds. The air just a little chilly but perfect forstarting my adventure.

I had loaded my car the night before, and as I put lastminute things into my trunk, the garage door across the street opened. My neighbor was getting her newspaper. Weexchanged waves goodbye. She knew I wasoff for sights unknown.

Traffic was light going in the direction I was headed. The heater was on low, directed on my feetand the radio was on the morning show. Feelings of butterflies were dancing in my tummy as I thought of myadventure. This was going to be fun!

My little car zoomed along going from one freeway to the next,then the next. I had had an orangebefore I left home, and I was starting to get hungry, but I had previouslyplanned on having breakfast in Barstow,so I would wait.

Doesn’t this sound like a great start for my adventure? Well it should have been but with the rainand another complication I have postponed the get away until another day. . . I have decided that I will play this by ear, traveling as the weather and interest dictates. I know my destination - but it could change, we will see.

Stay connected to read about the real beginning.

On the road

2009-10-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

My bags are packed. . . the car is gassed up . . .
the mail has been stopped. . . .

I'm on an adventure! Stay tuned in to see where I will go.

When life gives you lemons . . . reach for more!

2009-10-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

This is Izzabella Rae, the newest addition to our family.

She is adorable. She has smiles, hugs and waves for everyone.

So what does she get for all of this? LEMONS !!!!

Yes, they give her a lemon to suck on and she loves it.

She sticks her chubby little hand out formore.

Yes, when life gives you a lemon,

do as Izzabella does andrelish it!

A trip around the world

2009-10-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

Last week I traveled the world. No, I didn’t even pack a suitcase and yet experienced the international world close up. We are very fortunate in the Los Angeles area to have wonderful museums with great exhibits so that we are in touch with the world, ancient and current.

Earlier in the week I “toured” Pompeii and the Roman Villas around the Bay of Naples. How cool is that? A friend who is a great source of information for things like this, plus other stuff invited me to the exhibit at LACMA. The art work and statues were beautiful, how I wanted to run my fingers over the smooth folds of the marble. This exhibit piqued my interest in learning more about this historical time in our history.

This is a photo of my favorite . . . .Aphrodite.

A few days later eight of the ten members of our Reading Group boarded the Amtrak to Los Angeles Union Station to visit the Japanese American Museum. As we walked to the museum we were excited and chatting about what we were to see. We were greeted by a 90 year-old docent, named Cedrick. Not a typical Japanese name, however, he was the real thing and what an education he gave us.

The museum is a collection of the history of the Japanese since they came to California. Of course a great deal of information was centered around World War II and the interment of the Japanese people. Cedrick’s family had been in Manzanar and during his leaves from serving for our military visited there.

By now, we were all famished, so we headed for our next scheduled stop – Dim Sum in China Town. Yummy, yum. Not sure what we ate but it was all good. I took the word of one of our members that had tried to eat the chicken feet, and decided to pass on those.

A walk through Olvera Street, the oldest Mexican community in the Los Angeles, completed the tour around the world.

It was a delightful week, touring the world.

The Girl's Weekend

2009-09-30T20:35:00.001-07:00

And then there were three. . .

Our yearly reunion was planned as usual. Four of “us gals” had worked together at the Good Neighbor Company and even though we had scattered across the country, we still got together for an annual reunion.

This year, our hostess was in Tucson, AZ. We were looking forward to seeing each other and visiting Tucson. Plans had been made to entertain us, but it wouldn’t matter much what we did, we would still find time for giggles, eating, and catching up on the news since we had last met. We were excited!

A glitch……….. one of our group had been taken into the hospital for emergency surgery. She now has a pacemaker in her chest and will soon be her old self, but for now, she is recuperating and will miss this gathering. It won’t be the same without her.

As expected, we were busy. We celebrated birthdays, feasted on delicious meals, visited the local nature center to learn about the desert and the protected Saquaro Cactus. Numerous games of Tile Rummy were played, and we even attended a melodrama where we hissed and booed the villain. That fun event was followed by a visit to a 50’s diner where we feasted on burgers and won ice cream cones by identifying singers, played on the jukebox from the 1950’s.

It was a memorable weekend, but all too soon, it was time to say our good-byes until next year. Thank you ‘Arizona Hostess,’ we had a great weekend!

Why do mothers worry?

2009-08-27T05:29:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my heart throb when I was 14 years old. He was so "cool".

I was flattered he would cut class so that he could walk me the half block to my home . . . I wasn't allowed to get into his car.

I don't recall him attending my junior high school, but ALL the teachers and the Vice Principal knew him by name. . . .

He was respectful of my parents having a non-smoking home. . . . He would flip his cigarette on the front porch before he would come in.

Why are parents so unreasonable?

No Man Is An Island

2009-08-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

It was Tuesday, the day I scheduled repairmen to come help me. The microwave wouldn't heat, I couldn't get online with my PC, the upstairs toilet was constantly running, plus the faucet wouldn't turn off. Trimming the outside bushes had become too much of a job for me and there were some large pots to be replanted. It was time to call in the experts.

The experts were staggered to come from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It would be a full day of waiting, hopefully they would all show.

Promptly at 8:00 the doorbell rang, and the microwave expert was here to get the oven working again. It had simply stopped when I tried to bake four potatoes at a time. The oven was supposedly a good one and this shouldn't have happened, but the bottom line is that it did. The cost of repairing this item would have been close to what I paid for it a short two years ago. NO GO! I'll buy another after I write a letter to the company expressing my disappointment in their product.

Once again the doorbell. This time it was the computer support company, MakeitWork, I had called to work on the errant PC. I couldn’t get online. After a very short time, the technician, Justin, said he thought it was my virus protection that was keeping me off line. What kind of a deal is this? Norton is protecting me from a virus by keeping me offline? Great strategy! The program was removed, in its place a free program installed, and I was back in business. But wait!!! There is still time left on my expensive service call . . . what about getting my phone to synch with the PC ? What about getting me back on Outlook? As Justin worked we spent the time conversing about our families, and life in general. A very pleasant hour passed and soon my PC was back in business.

Where or where was the plumber? He had promised to be here between 9 and 10. It was now after 11 o’clock. A call to the company with the result; he was busy elsewhere, apparently so much that a call couldn’t be made to let me know. Didn’t they know or care that I had a life and expected the curtsey of a call if they weren’t going to show up?

On the flip side, an hour earlier than expected, the gardener was at my gate. He looked like a capable young man, and not only that, he had ideas of what to do with my yard, the strong back to do it, and best of all, his charges were reasonable. The bushes were trimmed, a couple of heavy potted plants replanted, the courtyard cleaned up and all in a short time. Juan is going to work out very well for me.

John Donne wrote, “No Man Is An Island”. I know he wasn't thinking of me when he wrote those famous words in the 17^th Century, or even if I have put the correct meaning to his words, but it’s true. We aren’t isolated, we need people to help us live a productive life and today I had the help of a few great people that will make my life more productive.

An update on the fiscus move

2009-08-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

I know you have been waiting for the news. . . How has the move with Mr. Ficus progressed? Is he adjusting to his new surroundings? Is he getting along with his straight cousin? Is he making new friends in the garden?

I want to put all of your minds at ease. . . The location is working out. He has perked up, and his leaves are becoming shiny and lifting up. He is trying to stand straighter but needed the support and example of his cousin. It was lonely in the corner, so at his request, I drug him over to be next to Ms. Ficus and her friend, Sago Palm.

Sago has a pup attached to her side, which will soon be detached. Since Mr. Ficus had just gone through the separation process, it made sense that a support group be formed to comfort each other. The plan is to be surrounded with old and new friends.

Don't worry, like it or not, I'll keep you posted on the latest developements in the garden.

It's all the fiscus' fault

2009-08-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's all because of Mom's ficus tree. He was standing very 'lonely-like' in her yard, crying to come to my patio. "Oh all right, I'll take you", I said to him.

He was loaded into the truck, taking care to lay him on his side so that the wind wouldn't whip his branches and leaves off. After all, he's been through an ordeal. His owner, the one that had done the regular watering had died. and since then he was given only a sprinkle here and there.

Looking around the patio area for the perfect spot for my new plant member, I visualized the plan. I had thought about this project many times in the last month and a half, when I knew I was adopting this orphan.

The hibiscus plant wasn't doing well at all. Those darn white flies had made this plant undesirable to me. It had to come out. . . In its place I would plant the potted lemon tree that should have been a dwarf and wasn't, then I could put the Mr. Ficus in the lemon trees spot. It was a done deal.

The only thing missing was “digging help” for this project. But it was coming…….in the form of my number one, son. He is always good at this type of job. He thinks it out, doesn't complain very much and gets the job done. Besides that, he and number two, son were delivering not only the ficus tree, but the beautiful piece of marble that would replace my cocktail table in the outside conversation area.

While the tree and other goodies were being transported to their new home, I stopped at the local rock shop for six concrete blocks that the marble would set upon.

Waiting for the truck I inspected my yard and decided that my plan was going to work out very well. The new marble table would be fabulous, a real touch of class on my patio. The hibiscus would be gone, along with the white flies, the lemon tree would be in a healthier spot in the ground, and the adopted ficus would love it's new location. I would eventually replace four pots of the honeysuckle that weren’t doing well with something else. My courtyard would be lovely.

The truck arrived! At this point, the ficus eyed its beautiful full, healthy cousin in the coveted spot near the slider. It began to look dejected. Mr. Ficus’ trunk wasn't nice and straight, it had followed the sun and was bending in the direction of the light. He hadn’t been watered so the green leaves were drooping and listless. No matter, in a short time he would be in its new location, far enough away from the already established Ms. Ficus to avoid comparison but close enough to establish a friendship. It would work!

Life was good…

The marble was brought in and set on the concrete blocks. It wasn’t steady, so something would have to be done … But what ? That project would be set aside for the time being.

Number one son started the digging the hole for the lemon tree, while Number two and I began other projects in the house … We were hanging photos, putting boxes away, jobs necessary but not nearly the manpower that was required working in the sun, digging out tree roots. Finally the roots were out, and with them, accidentally the sprinkler head.

Number two son, was tightning the bolts on my patio furniture that had come loose. A trip to the garage resulted in no bolts. Another project set aside.

Parts were found for the sprinkler head and was replaced. Hurray, a success!

A trip to Home Depot and much money exchanged for four bush bougainvilleas was made, to replace the four pots of honeysuckle, plus the purchase of new bolts for the wiggely furniture. A second trip to Home Depot was made for the forgotten two bags of planting soil and two bags of gravel.

The long and short of this is, the lemon tree couldn’t be planted in the spot vacated by the hibiscus because of the water pipe, and is left in the original location still in it's pot. Mom’s ficus is in the corner feeling sad and neglected, one of the honeysuckles that were replaced by the bush oleanders is in the hibiscus location, and another one is planted elsewhere. Two are still waiting on the patio; four of the bougainvilleas are planted, and will look great in a couple of years. Furniture, now tightned with the new bolts, is scattered about, mud is everywhere, outside and in. I’m sitting in the cool house waiting for the heat of the day to lessen so I can finish my work outside.

It would be best, NOT TO ASK what's been happening.

The Apple dishes

2009-07-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

I’ve been working at Mom’s clearing out possessions that she has collected since her marriage in 1940. There were five Fostoria goblets from a set of six, I think they were a wedding gift. I wish that I had asked more questions; who gave them to her? did she set the table for company with them? I remember them always in the cupboard, not on the table, which reminds me to start using my nice things on a regular basis. The young women of today don’t seem to want to be bothered with the “stuff” that was so special to me; silver, crystal and china plates…….. I must use them up before they are sent to the Goodwill.

Another find was the odd pieces of the Apple pattern dishes. Funny, my Mother-in-law also had this pattern. I will use them for Thanksgiving this year in memory of Mom. Just thinking about Mom and missing Thanksgiving brings a tear to my eye.

Back on track – The Apple dishes. I don’t know how often we would go to Gladding-McBean, the dish factory on Los Felix Ave, in Glendale. They manufactured Franciscan Pottery, and periodically had a 'seconds sale'.

I must have been about four or five years old at the time. We would stand outside the chain link fence in the cold morning, waiting with other buyers for the gates to open.

I say we, but it was my Mother, with her hand tightly clenching mine, that was the eager buyer. I can remember the anticipation as the man would walk over to the gate to open it The gates would open, and there would be a mad stampede of women all rushing to get a few dishes to add to their collections. There is no way of telling at this point, but I would bet my last dollar, Mom dragging me along, was one of the first through the gates.

Inside the gates would be stacks and stacks of Franciscan pottery dishes on tables. Not only the Apple Pattern, but the Desert Rose (yes, my Aunt had that pattern) and the colorful Coronado plates. I also remember huge pots. Oh why, oh why, didn't we get any of those? This was probably my first exposure to pottery.

I remember holding on to her skirt as she would examine each piece, afraid that I would become separated from her. It was most probably my first experience at a clearance sale, many more sales would follow……

Mom loved a bargain.

Mysteries

2009-07-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

Many times when someone close to us passes on, there are mysteries left behind. Already I have come across several.

Yesterday, I realized that some of those mysteries will never be solved. My kids and I were looking at a photo collage made by my Dad years ago. When one of my kids asked for the identity of one photos, I was stumped. Had I ever looked at the collage before? Did I know at one time who this person was? Why didn’t I mention either to my Dad or Mom, I had no idea who was on the collage? That is a mystery that most likely will never have an answer…. Most of the relatives on my Dad’s side who would know are gone now. I will be left trying to figure out what connection this person is to our family.

Something else. . . . And I intend to investigate this mystery a little further and see what I can find out. In an old Bible that belonged to Mom, was a yellowed newspaper clipping. No title, date or author listed but after my daughter-in-law read it to me, we concurred - it was definitely written for Mom. Thanks to the Internet, I was able to trace back to the author, Edgar Albert Guest – 1881-1959, with the approximate era of publication, 1930’s. Reading further on- A remark stated it was required reading and memorization for some students in the 30’s.

Why it was in the Bible? Who put it there? Why it was kept for so many years? All questions left unanswered. We can guess or suppose, but only Mom knows the reason, and she has taken it with her.

I’ve printed it out for you and those that knew Mom will see that indeed, yes, it suited her. Maybe others will see themselves in the writing… the title is

MYSELF.

I have to live with myself, and so

I want to be fit for myself to know.

I want to be able, as days go by,

Always to look myself straight in the eye.

I don't want to stand, with the setting sun,

and hate myself for the things I've done.

I want to go out with my head erect,

I want to deserve all men's respect.

For here in the struggle for fame and self

I want to be able to like myself.

I don't want to look at myself and know

I'm bluster, a bluff and an empty show.

I never can hide myself from me;

I see what others may never see.

I know what others may never see.

I know what others may never know.

I never can fool myself, and so,

Whatever happens, I want to be

Self-respecting and conscience free.

--Edgar A. Guest

Speech Class 101

2009-06-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

100 years ago or so, when I was in Jr. High School and continuing on through High School, occasionally I would have to give an oral report. This was something that I tried to avoid at all costs; sometimes skipping school on the appointed day, and many other times taking an "F" rather than standing before students who would be listening to me stumble over my words. At that time, I was painfully shy and easily intimidated. (I've since changed)

Since my Mother passed away, I have had this haunting feeling that I should say something to these wonderful people who thought enough of her, and me, to attend her Memorial Service. My terror is insignificant in comparison to the effort that they were putting out to honor Mom.

The next step is what would I say? The more I thought about it, the easier the words were coming. I didn't need to tell my Mom's life story - someone else was going to do that. All I needed to say were a few words from my heart, and those words were forming in my head. When I actually sat down at the PC, it only took minutes to write what had already been created.

Her Service will be this coming Monday. Am I nervous or scared? No, today I feel calm. Monday will have to take care of itself. Am I hoping, praying and practicing over and over these few words I will be reciting to the audience? YES! I do not want to stumble over words or worse yet, start my ugly cry.

I can't wait to see the shocked look on the face of my high school chums, when I get up and give my speech.

A Phone Call to Mom

2009-06-21T17:29:00.000-07:00

The other night I had the strongest urge to call my Mom. I wanted to share with her the days in the hospital after her stroke, my feelings of relief that she was safe, and of course the plans for the upcoming Memorial Service with a gathering of family and friends at her home. Of course, she wouldn’t have answered, she was busy elsewhere.

I usually talked to Mom once a day at least. These last few months I would call to see if she was okay and pass the time with her. Sometimes she would answer quickly, other times it would ring and ring, as she made her way to the phone. She would sometimes sound far away, picking up the receiver from the wrong end, other times trying to turn down the blaring TV, not hearing my voice she would hang up.

Phone calls with her were something that my children and I would laugh about. As young adults they would call to talk to their Grandma. The conversation would most often end with a conversation still going, and her interrupting with a “That’s all the news I have”, the line would go dead. We never figured out if she was off doing something more important, or thought that they should be. As frustrating as it was to them at the time. . . there was much laughter over the behavior, it was so “Grandma like”.

I remember the long nights when I was expecting my first child. That is when my insomnia began. She would always say, “if you can’t sleep, call me” and very often I did. In the middle of the night we would have long, intense conversations about life and our upcoming baby. We were both pretty excited about the prospect of the changes about to happen to our family. Those were good calls.

Maybe if I just dial her number. . . .

Life changes. . .

2009-06-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today my life changed.

My Dad passed away 25 years ago, and today is the day that my Mother died. I will never again hear the words, "This is my daughter. "

She lived 91 years, 2 months, and 7 days. She would say that it was all good.

Her life centered around her family; husband, two children, three grandsons and their spouses, four great-grandchildren, and one great, great-grandchild.

I know that many will miss her. I can only speak for myself, there will be a hole in my heart that will never heal over.

I love you Mom.

The dome light goes on

2009-06-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, 2 a.m. the phone rang, it was the hospital. I wanted to be with Mom during the time of her passing and had asked them to call if there were significant changes, day or night. There had been a change. They suggested that I come. . . the end was near.

The hospital is 45 minutes from my home depending on the traffic. There are three different freeways I would use. California freeways intersect with each other, crossing and turning, over and under to get to the destination.

My car is in good shape despite the fact, it's six years old, and 100,000 miles shows on the speedometer. Driving along the almost deserted freeways, my thoughts were on Mom and what she was experiencing. I felt priviledged to share this important day in her life with her. She had been the one to bring me into the world, I was going to share her departing the world. It was all very profound.

Out of the blue my dome light came on. It didn't flicker or hesitate, it just came on. Was there a short in it? It had never done that before. Before I could reach up to turn it off, it turned off by itself. Okay, again my thoughts back to Mom and my driving. It came on again. I don't know if I believe or disbelieve in signs like this from someone passing over, but at that moment, I was sure it was a message from Mom telling me to hurry. As I said outloud "I'm coming Mom" the light went out. 4:04 a.m. is what it showed on my clock.

Approaching the hospital, I was expecting the word that she had passed at exactly 4:04 a.m. I was wrong. The dome lights had merely been a Good Morning call from her, if it had been a sign at all. There she was lying on the bed, exactly as before. The Hospice staff had taken good care of her during the night. Her hair was combed, her face creamed. She looked beautiful, and peacefully sleeping on her pillow with snores that let us know she is definitely still with us.

We waited all day, taking breaks for breakfast, lunch, phone calls and walks down the hall. Her breathing became slower, sometimes it seemed that she wasn't breathing, then quick breaths to catch up. The dedicated staff, with their concerned loving care of Mom, included us. There was always a friendly word, offers of coffee or pillows, exchanges of conversation as they tirelessly went about the job of caring for their patients.

6 p.m. I was exhausted. I didn't relish the idea of sleeping in the chair and decided to give up my bedside vigil. She would pass by herself. This whole episode has been her plan anyway……. From putting off the stroke until after her lunch had been eaten, to going into the coma giving her peace and quiet to herself. Now she wanted privacy. Okay.

Now it's the next morning. No phone calls during the night. She is still going. This is all so very predictable of her and her personality. She is doing it her way, in her time. Hurray for her! True to herself to the end. I admire her for her every move.

This isn't her time yet. You go girl!

Lunch with Mom

2009-06-11T03:06:00.000-07:00

Mom and my brother went to lunch at Mimi's. Mom has always had a great appetite. Her little body belies the fact that she can consume so much and still keep her shape. She ordered one of her favorites - the meatloaf sandwich, prepared on ciabatta bread, with a side of coleslaw. As usual, it was yummy and she took her time eating every last morsel of the delicious lunch.

When she finished her lunch and not a second before, she had a stroke.

My poor brother wasn't prepared for this, who would be? But with the help of fellow diners and the able staff of Mimi's, 911 was called and she was rushed to a local hospital. Here they determined that indeed it had been a stroke and admitted her to the hospital.

The next morning she was in a coma.

I feel oddly detached. This woman lying in the bed trying to die is the same strong personality of Mom. She doesn’t seem helpless, just determined to do her task and leave this body that has forsaken her, getting on with her life in another place.

I will miss my Mom very much. She has been a part of my life and such a strong part, that even if it were possible, it will be impossible to replace the position she has held.

But my Mom of late isn’t the person I will miss……. Her life has become too painful to watch without sorrow. It’s time to let her go.

She is under the capable care of hospice now. We feel helpless to do anything for her, except to offer support and our love, as she prepares for her journey. She is busy getting ready for her new life and the adventures she will have there.

The day began in 1917. . .

2009-06-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

when Santo Cambianica left his home in Northern Italy to settle in the midst of a bustling Italian-American community in Los Angeles. Santo had no idea that he would be beginning a family business that would survive over the next four generations, prohibition, wars, only to produce the award-winning Riboli Family of Wines.

San Antonio Winery, is the last of the more than one hundred producing wineries that once lined the Los Angeles River Basin. Today, the LA River is paved, the vineyards have been replaced with heavy industry, and San Antonio Winery is the only winery now recognized by the City of Los Angeles as a Cultural Historical Landmark.

Light rain accompanied us as we boarded the public transportation on our quest to visit this California Landmark. We walked the few blocks from the bus line to the winery and were just in time to join a tour. The photos and family history displayed on the walls, made it easy to visualize what once had been, compared to what it is today.

On the tour we learned about processing the wine and watched the conveyor belt slap labels on the filled wine bottles. Huge vats of wine and kegs made of wood, lined every room.

At the end of the tour, we were offered a wine tasting, but by this time our tummies were growling and the smells coming from the kitchen very inviting, so instead, we settled for a glass of Sangria to drink while we ate our delicious sandwiches. We sat chatting and discussing what we had seen, while live music played in the background.

Isn't life great!

A New Home?

2009-06-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

The last week I have spent searching for a new home for my elderly Mother. She is 91 and life has become a struggle for her.

The home where she has resided since 1954 is too much for her to handle; dementia has settled in, slowness and having bum legs has made what was previously easy, now complicated. Food preparation, turning on the TV, and even making phone calls are chores that have become frustrating and difficult.

The time has come, she needs extra help. Paying bills online, shopping and “gentle” clean-up help somewhat. Real housekeeping and preparing meals is another story…….. She doesn’t want, but needs help.

Did I tell you that she is very independent and wants to make all of her own decisions? This she has always done, and even though her judgment isn’t the same, still would like to do. Over the past year or so, even though she has slowed down considerably, becoming more passive, and easier to get along with, SHE IS STILL IN CHARGE!

How to broach the subject of living somewhere other than your own home? I took the “chicken way” out and invited her to go to lunch. I watched as she got dressed, looked for her shoes, and prepared to go out. What she assured me was a 10 minute job, turned into 60 minutes or more. As I loaded the wheelchair, cane, and her supplies for the day in the car, my heart was beating very fast. I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation I was about to begin.

She was her usual cheerful self as we sped away on our adventure. My brain was scrambling to come up with the words to tell her we were going to visit a home for people in her situation. As I broached the subject I knew that the idea would be met with resistance. After all, who wants to leave their home and the independence they think they have?

Independent or Active Living means an apartment where meals are provided, activities offered and a shuttle service is available for errands, outings, and day trips. She will still take care of herself, but she will be surrounded by other active seniors and won’t have the responsibility of the house or food preparation. Another selling point is the facility is located 10 minutes WALKING distance from my home. I will be able to pop in and out, offer aid when it’s needed and become a Pal to my Mother.

We drove into the parking lot and as we admired the beautiful landscaping and attractive building, my heart was pounding. Would she see the opportunity that could await her? As I wheeled her into the facility in her spunky, red, wheelchair, I said a little prayer that it would suit her. We took a quick tour and viewed one of the apartments I had previously seen. I enthusiastically showed her possibilities for furniture arrangement, and saying it would fit in perfectly. She was polite, but somewhat reserved in her judgment.

We had to hurry as we had been invited for lunch and it was about to begin.

Seated at a table for four, we were introduced to two friendly, elderly women, who had been residents for two and three years, respectively. They were happy to share their views, both good and bad. One of the ladies, 96 years old, had just had her driver’s license renewed for another 5 years. As we lunched on a nicely prepared meal, they pointed out the oldest gentlemen there – 98 years old. They also shared the gossip of several “romances” and the fact that a couple sitting near us, were “shacking up". Apparently, life as we know it goes on to the end, even for the aged.

As we prepared to leave, we thanked our tablemates for the information they had shared and waved our good-byes.

Will she make the move to make her life more comfortable?

Most likely not.

Captive audience views photos

2009-05-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks for joining me on my trip! the Photos go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on . . .

PLEASE Someone take that camera outta my hand!

Home Sweet Home

2009-05-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

Does any bed feel any more comfortable than the one in your bedroom?

In my view my bed is the best. I love my bed. True, it’s probably too large for any one person to enjoy… A king-size with a ladder to get in, for gosh sakes. My luxurious sheets and comfty pillows really say “welcome home to me”. My eyes usually start to close as soon as I hit the pillow.

So the question is, why can’t I sleep?

I’m trying to get back on local time and meal times after being in nine different time zones on a cruise ship for the last 17 days, and it’s difficult. Oops! Maybe it was more than that – nine to go in and nine to come out, doesn’t that make eighteen or am I back at zero? To tell the truth, at this point I’m not sure where I am. All I know is that I’m not sleeping days or nights and the room is rockin!

Yes, I’m turned around on the clock and as soon as I stop rockin’, I’m going to go take a nap!

Under QUARANTINE!

2009-05-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

They didn’t mark my room with a red cross, or skull and crossbones, but they might as well have.

A few days ago, I attended a lecture given by a hypnotist regarding controlling weight (can you think of a better subject for a cruise ship full of gluttony people?). I thought I was really getting into this as he attempted to “put us under”, after all my body was tingling, I couldn’t focus on what was being said and suddenly felt I was going to faint if I didn’t get out of the room.

Turns out this wasn’t a spell I was under, but rather the 24 hour flu. This is when the adventure started. The doctor was called, questions were asked and the diagnosis was made………. I was under quarantine!!!! I was not to leave my room, bland food would be ordered from room service, medication was prescribed and all of my laundry would be sent out at the expense of Emerald. We would no longer have our delightful steward, Sela, to turn down our beds or bring in fresh towels. This was all done with a special “crew”. The cruise line take this very seriously, as they should.

The cleaning squad arrived and stood in the doorway putting on their special uniforms to enter into the room. Gloves, hat, masks and white protective coveralls to cover their clothes. All I could see was their eyes.

They worked quickly but efficiently; wiped everything down with a disinfectant, took all of our towels, to be replaced with fresh ones. Everything was put into giant bags to transport the germ laten materials to the laundry.

We created quite a stir at the doorway. People stopped and asked what was happening, others peeked in the room, only to see me sitting up in bed, feeling very ill. Some called out “hope you feel better”, others sneaked by quietly, hoping that the germ wouldn’t get to them.

For the next day and a half, I lay in bed too sick to care that the others were getting off the ship to go into Oslo, enjoying their delicious food, and doing other ship board activities I wasn’t able to share. The dry rice and clear broth I was trying to get down was more than enough for me to handle.

I’m well now, and ready for the next adventure. I’m heading home

Tiptoe thru the Tulips

2009-05-14T05:22:00.000-07:00

Well, we didn’t exactly tiptoe, run or even skip through the tulips, as a matter of fact we didn’t even see any tulips. We were told that they are past their peak……. Damn!

But we did see other “Holland” sights. Windmills, Amsterdam with it’s Dam Square, Dam Shopping, Dam canals and Dam boats, Dam Floating Gardens and yes, even the Dam Red Light District. Okay, I may be getting carried away with the Dam, but because of the many canals and dams that is part of the country, that’s how they refer to most and seems to be the word of the day for us.

Something that was known to me and now re-confirmed is that a cruise isn’t the right venue to see any of the country. We boarded our dam bus for a predicted 1 hour and 45 minutes to Amsterdam, and as we passed through the green farming area it was beautiful. Fields were planted with the now familiar crop (to me, anyway) of the plant that is used to make Canola oil. It’s a brightly colored yellow, and very pleasing to the eye. Occasionally we would see a windmill, now protected by the government. Other fields were green pastures filled with cows, sheep and even some horses………. All very picturesque.

As we were arriving in the city of Amsterdam, it was interesting to see the architecture of the area. Three-story houses, spaced close together, all different yet the same, with individual colors of paint and gingerbread on the facades. Canals and water everywhere. As a Californian with problems of water shortage it was amazing to see. No wonder everything looked green and lush. A quick tour of the city to view the palace of the Queen, points of interest, Anne Franks home, and finally the red light district with its shops of Sex for Sale ($40 for 10 minutes is the going rate).

We ate lunch in a delightful cafe, part of the shopping center called V&D, pronounced by our driver as Vay and Day. Bins of bread, freshly made salads and desserts filled one floor, upstairs they were grilling fresh fish, and other delicious smelling morsels. Bon Appetite!

We didn’t have a chance to see very much of the Netherlands……. This will have to be another trip, soon. All to soon we boarded our dam bus for the ride back to our ship which will carry us to our next adventure.

If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium

2009-05-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

After our day of high winds yesterday, we were anxious to disembark at the port Zeebrugge, the gateway to Belgium. The day was cold and windy, but we bundled up in anticipation of our trip to Bruge.

Bruge is affectionately called the “Venice of the North.” Cobbled streets, centuries old buildings and canals are hallmarks of this romantic medieval city. Today tourism is the main industry. In the prosperous age of the Renaissance, Bruge was the center of trade and manufacturing in the 16th century. Swans float alongside the sight-seeing boats for the pleasure of sight-seeing for those that visit this unbelievably beautiful fairy tale appearing city.

Belgium of course, is famous for it’s chocolate (and yes, I felt it was my duty to taste it). Candy shops, selling chocolate molded into shapes of rabbits, ducks and flowers and other decorated designs fill the windows of shop windows. Another thing that Bruge is famous for is lace making. This is a craft that Flemish women have maintained and refined over many centuries. Many shops carry the lace, much of it edged on linens, and all skillfully made.

The week is going quickly. Tomorrow is Amsterdam. Hope we see lots of tulips.

A spot of tea with Elizabeth

2009-05-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Today is London and we are planning to go to Buckingham Palace for tea with the Queen. It should be a lovely day. I will be wearing my ‘going to tea with the Queen clothes’, and wearing my floppy hat, you know the one that is so elegant. After tea the Queen is taking us to Harrods where we will be doing a wee bit of shopping.

Unfortunately, our plans had to change. The winds were so strong, (60-70 miles) that the pilot boat captain couldn’t get on board the ship to lead us into the port. 6:30 a.m. our Captain announced that the trip to England will have to be postponed. Tired, we took advantage of the situation and crawled back into bed for a snooze. Another time change last night and another one today at 2:00 pm, plus our late nights and early mornings make the snoozes a priority.

We sailed past the port in Dover, England with it’s beautiful white cliffs shining in the sun. Thankfully, there is no rain, and even though the ship is rockin’ and rollin’, life on the Princess goes on. The crew jumped into action finding new activities to keep the slightly disgruntled passengers entertained. A special lecture, given by our Port Lecturer, regarding the life of Anne Frank was both informative and interesting.

We have missed Harrods, lunch at a pub, and seeing the historical sights in London, but still had a lovely day. We will be back to explore London on another trip.

Our ship is now sailing very slowly towards the port of Zeebrugge. We are hopeful that we will be able to dock and visit the Renaissance city of Bruges tomorrow.