Spring Break 2008

Just got in from Monterey and San Fran. I forgot how much I love and miss the bay area. Of course had to start at my favorite spot - Monterey Bay Aquarium. Then we scooted up to the City. Stopped by my old place in San Carlos, and showed Little Guy where he was born. Took kids to Muir Woods where we hiked about with old friends, then to Alcatraz (funny - I never went there all those years I lived there!), kids and I walked all around North Beach and China Town and spent a day at the Exploratorium. Whew!


Here are some pics of aquarium and Monterey Bay area:

Really big Dolphin Fish. Also known in the restaurant bizness as Mahi Mahi.




Photo by Big Little Guy



Photo by Big Little Guy - Scared school of sardines, look like they're exploding.



Photo by ~L (These are upside down jelly fish. They swim so they stay on the bottom of the ocean floor, with their tenticles facing up. Their mouth parts are colored green and blue and look like sea grass. Incredibly cool!)






Sea Lions photo taken by Big Little Guy. There are sea otters just beyond the frame of this picture.








The Lone Cyprus on 17 mile rive has become such a land mark (tourist attraction) , that folks in charge are doing everything to keep it perched on the outcropping. Even building it a retaining wall with support wires. I'm glad I saw it before it was "saved."


Here are some pics of Monterey,17 mile drive, and Carmel as seen through the eyes of Little Guy:

Home Day

Its a cold and rainy, stay home day.

It’s a hot tea and honey, soup and slippers day.

It’s a do the dishes and do the laundry day.

It’s a pay the bills and blog day.

It’s a curl up with a book day.

It’s a perfect, stay home day.

~L~

Old Phone vs. New Phone

Got a shiny new cell phone. Sleek, racing red and super duper fancy shmancy. It has all kinds of fun, must have functions. Video, Picture, web access, games, maybe even an editing bay. So it’s a bit complicated. Actually, I don’t understand it at all. Perhaps I’m behind on the learning curve, but I can’t even get it to wake me up in the morning. And well, I miss my old phone. It was a sturdy little work horse. IT was faithful and when ever I needed it, it was right there in my purse or pocket. Yes, it exploded when ever it was handled too roughly, and it had the bad habit of making three or four numbers for one push of a button, but I knew it and it was usually there when I reached for it. Unfortunately, it’s problems continued to get worse and I realized it just wasn’t working out.

Argh! I miss my old phone!

Friends

I am so thankful for the kindness and love from my friends. Something completely knocks the shit out of me and I my friends are there. Their love and kindness gives me peace. They don’t ask questions. They can see it has been very hard, and they freely give their love.

I love my friends.

Chilling out with Little Guy.

One of the great things when only one child gets the day off from school, is that you get major one on one time. Lot’s of talking, ideas, and just hanging out.

The day was beautiful, he played tennis in the morning, we shopped central market for specialty items, then I cooked him up a fancy shrimp and pasta dish for lunch. Then out came the clay. Not kiddie clay from Michaels. I’m talking about the real deal. A 25lb bag of creamy grey clay from Armadillo Clay in East Austin. It was cool and smooth and delightful. It also ended up over a good bit of the dining room table and on us. Which is how it’s supposed to be. He worked on an urn/pitcher/cup creation, I worked on a leaf candle holder for the patio.

I didn’t realize I was humming while working and Little Guy said “ I really like that.”

“What sweetie?” I asked.

He said, “What your doing, and your singing too. It’s really good.”

How great is that. A complement from out of the blue. I couldn’t help but gaze at him and think I’m the luckiest person in the world.

Here is Little Guy’s brilliant creation.

Opera Gala

Mr. Hubby and I were invited to the Opera Gala by some friends of ours. I don't know why a tom-boy like me, who detested dresses and dolls, and preferred riding horses and working around the ranch, now loves getting dressed up and going to the ball. I'm still a jeans girl and would rather go riding than shopping, but something about getting all dressed up and fancy, brings out the inner princess in me. Fortunately, Mr. Hubby obliges and plays his part as my handsome and sweet Prince Charming.

It may be only once a year that we do this, but it's a wonderful fantasy.

Here's us goofing off before leaving for the Opera gala.

Dream House

Everyone should have some type of guilty pleasure. (Keep it clean folks, this is a G rated blog here). I'm talking about the sneaking of chocolate, the splurge on those must have, too expensive shoes. Perhaps you let the kids watch too much t.v., so you can read the trashy tabloid or you spend too much time playing solitaire on the computer. I’ve known more than a few mom’s who have confessed to me in hushed tones that they occasionally sneak into a movie theater, while the kids are off at school (gasp!)
Well, the time has come –Yes indeed, right here and right now, I am going to admit my sins, confess my guilt and cleans my soul. (Halleluiah).
My sin is that I lust after… houses. Yes, several times a week, I slip off to my computer and check out the MLS listings. I know it’s ridicules, because I don’t plan on moving for another year, but I can’t help myself. I just must know, what house has just come on the market, what’s it’s square feet, lot size, pool?, 2 story, etc. Is there anything about the house that’s special or horrid. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small teardown or an opulent mansion, I look at it all. Irrelevant of the price tag, I find myself asking “Would I want to live there?” Some how reality melts away and I see myself sitting on the porch of a cute little 1920’s Craftsman watching the day unfold on Duval street, or maybe I’m having my friends and their kids over to play in the pool, at my sprawling ranchero down in Dripping Springs or maybe I’ve found a terrific fixer upper in East Austin, and I’m just the person to make it shine.
Unfortunately, a problem has come up. My husband warned me this could happen, but I didn’t think it would happen to me. That is, I have totally and completely fallen in love. In love with a house, that can never be mine. From the very first time I laid eyes on it in the MLS section of “Rare Finds,” it has been love at first sight. I don’t care if it’s crummy and broken down on the inside, if the plumbing needs to be replaced, or there are rodents in the attic, I totally love this house.
Just by looking at the outside of it, I can tell you it is the house of my dreams. And that is where it will have to stay. It is so incredibly expensive, I couldn’t afford it in any lifetime. (Also, it’s so expensive, I couldn’t justify spending that much money on a house, even if I was super rich) But I will always hold it near to my heart.


Here is a picture of it and yes it is located here in Austin Texas.

Happy Holidays, Peace on Earth, Good will to everyone.

Life is a mixed bag and I may be all jumbled up, but I don’t feel bad about it. So I guess that’s all good and good. I did my party and it went really well. Folks are asking me if they can come to next year’s bash. I didn’t know I was doing one next year, but since my hubby said, “ya, plan on it.” I guess it’s going to happen. Would some one please put it on the calendar now and remind me about it in 11 ½ months?

~Happy Holiday’s. Ya they are pretty happy. Like I said jumbled, but happy.

~Peace on Earth. Peace to everyone, in your lives, in your hearts and in your soul. A wish to have peace in your soul. I love that.

~Goodwill to Everyone. This is definitely a good one. How great would it be if we all felt no ill will to anyone. To those we love who inadvertently hurt us, to the drivers who cut us off, to the folks who intentionally hurt us. That would be a learning experience. And would probably lighten the burden of a grudge. Forgiveness should also be included in this batch of well wishes, but put too many things in there and it’s going to sound like a sermon. So perhaps I’ll leave it to those three things: Happiness, Peace and Goodwill.

Holiday Party FUN

From all accounts, my holiday party was a huge success. Lot’s of foodie stuff, desserts, cases of wine, candles, fresh garland, hanging lights, live music, laughter, conversations, seeing old (and new) friends and having what seemed like a bazillion kids. It’s a good sign when your guests say they’re dropping by for a quick hello and end up staying the evening. Some folks came in jeans, some in beautiful party dresses. One family came with their twin 2 year old daughters in matching red and white Christmas outfits. Adorable. (Where was my camera?!) The problem though with being a hostess to a party of this magnitude, is that I didn’t get to visit very long with some of my favorite people. The good thing though, is that I have a ton of rain checks for lunches and get-togethers with said favorite people.

When I look back on the party, I think my favorite memory will be the look on the little kids faces, after having snagged enormous slices of chocolate cake. Absolute triumph and glee. I know they couldn’t possibly eat it all, but they acted like they had won the lottery . What’s not to love about that? What’s not to love about a really fun holiday party.

Tis the Season...

“Tis the Season to be Jolly!” Or something like that. Perhaps, it should be “Tis the season to be Jolly and/or Sad.” When Jolly hits, I’m happily doing the Santa Dance around the kitchen. But when something reminds me of my dad, Sad walks in and sits with me awhile. My Dad’s birthday would have been December 3^rd.

In looking to the future, I have some ideas that I’m cooking up. I’m not going say anything about it right now, but it’s feeling like the right thing to do. Once I have more to show for it, I’ll spill the beans, but be warned, this is something that may take many (Many!) months to get going.

Ps. Thanks to everyone who has emailed me during my absence from this blog. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support and kind words.