HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISSER !!!!!

He's changed a lot ... and yet in many ways- very little. This is my "baby" boy Christopher. He was born 32 years ago today. By this time, oh so long ago, I had forgotten that I was told I was likely carrying a girl. I was never convinced of that- and never unhappy when it turned out to be a falsehood anyway.

At 8lbs, 12 oz ..... he was the ONLY boy in the nursery that day and the next to the smallest! He had a full head of dark hair and huge blue eyes. He didn't cry then and never cried much afterward either. He was (and is) a happy, happy boy! Much to my joy, by the time he was 2- his hair was blonde and his eyes were green just like mine.

He leads a very busy life, with a demanding job, two kids, a great wife & a house that they are always doing "something" to- but he calls or texts me at least once a week and he knows how important family is.

SO- this day is YOURS Chris .... do what you want with it (if you can). AND KNOW- that I love you & wish you a VERY happy birthday!!!

beauty in the eyes of THIS beholder!!

There is NO denying what a beautiful day it is today. I have been emotionally reminded at least a dozen times just in the last hour!! The pangs of guilt will just have to make room for the appreciation I hav to be living here and enjoying this far more often than not. The plumeria plants we have been pampering are flourishing and even Poki got up from a nap to come check out the sea breeze! Hawaiian music is playing and I am taking it all in, the right way .... without rush or plans to leave my

seat anytime soon!

Frankly, Franco .... you CAN come home again!

despite stories (and entire movies) on the subject. We have PROOF that you CAN come home again. I state this as a matter of eyewitness fact ... since when I got to know the Francos after they moved in just under a year ago ... I FELT, they were already home. MY KIND of home ... the place where you are meant to be. TODAY, their purchase of said house closed and when they walk in the door ... they will be coming home- AGAIN!! (life on CDS is as it should be)

THIS is how an engineer "waffles"

this picture doesn't do the event justice BUT- I had to take a picture to showcase the lengths my Captain goes to when he sits down to a meal. I've seen, that eating can be an art(and sometimes even a reason to live), to some people .... but this man takes it to a much higher lever. For me ... the food presentation is what I appreciate most. I like my plate to look colorful & "pretty". For my hubby .... it's about the combination of flavors, equal portions relative to each other ... and what he wants for his final bite! The Captain prefers waffles over pancakes, so he can fill each crispy pocket FULL of syrup. THEN, he cuts it systematically to keep the mapled fluid from leaking out! Who knew breakfast had an entertainment factor attached to it?!!

guess who came to dinner ....

By the position of BOTH cats on the same window sill ... I could tell our "foxy friends" were out & about. I grabbed a container of hotdogs from the fridge & by the time I shut the screen behind me- there were 2 of kits at my feet & I called out to Pa & the Captain. Just as they stepped out on the porch- 2 more trotted across the lawn. The little guys took a couple pieces directly from my fingers and we called out to the Francos to make sure they had back up treats, cuz they were going fast!! By the end of the dogs .... all five were zig zagging from our yard to theirs.

the tale of 2 grandkids

where do I start?? When the munchkins are around ... there's always a story to tell!

The night before Addy left, I finished recording the storybooks that we had bought for each of them. (What a clever idea someone came up with, to have your voice be a regular reminder to the grandkids of how much you love & miss them.) I wrapped them up like presents and told April they could be opened at her discretion (in case she needed to them as a bribe for "silencing them" on the ride home). I found out the following day that #1 she barely finished her sentence of approval when the paper was off and #2 they immediately began turning pages and listening to me reading the stories to them!

However .... herein lies the tale of which I titled this post. Anthony absorbed in his story, was taking it in one page at a time. Addy, on the other hand ... was doing was Addy does best.... trying this, testing that, pushing in, switching over, etc. And pretty soon, she brought the book to mom & told her that "gramma wasn't talking to her anymore". She had systematically erased nearly every page & recorded herself turning pages & sometimes talking to me!! April had to deal with a few minutes of pouting, but finally convinced her that gramma would fix her book when she sees us in a couple of weeks. Sounds like a drop of super glue might be in order (?)

FOX SIGHTINGS CONFIRMED

the CDS fox news reported the sighting of all 5 cubs on Monday night. For the few days prior to this event, they had not been seen as a family unit for nearly a week. Their appearance was good news to the caretakers, which consists of 7.5 volunteers, encompasing 3.5 households.

Monitoring of the orphaned fox cubs has been going on for approximately 4 months, beginning with the original sighting of 6 kits with their mother. Within a month, neither parent seemed to be present. Despite rumors that the parents may still be in the nest, even if the pups are roaming outside, no evidence has been found to support this to be the case here. Over the past few weeks, the remaining 5 have nearly doubled in size and witnesses have routinely seen them coming & going from a nearby hillside shortly after dusk. Remnants of their "catches" have also been reported. Lately, their appearances at the CDS community headquarters for the prevention of interference with the fox flourishment & training(known as PIFFT ) seem to be more social than as a food source. With time, it's expected they will move on & establish a community of their own. It is unknown how many males or females make up the nest, & no differences are noted in individual behaviors, other than a one in particular that appears to be braver than it's siblings. Locals are enjoying the nightly escapades, which include seeing/hearing them wrestle & play, drinking from birdbaths, & picking fruit from the neighborhood trees. "It's been a lot of fun watching them grow" stated Mrs Franco, while another volunteer, Pete, said "Frankly, I'm going to be sad to see them leave". It's brought an already close-knit group of neighbors together with a single purpose. To keep them safe & healthy, until it's time for them to move on!

UNREAL housewives ... my appeal for sanity

The money MUST be good because there is NOTHING good about how they come across on the tube! The friendships .... that apparently were not sincere, the personality changes, the lack of integrity. (and for EVERYONE to witness). If it's all for ratings ... I admit, it works- I watch it (well most of it) but I just gotta shake my head at them sometimes. THAT'S why the FF button was added to the remote! It just goes to show that NY, NJ, OC ... doesn't matter where you live- foolish, ridiculous, women are everywhere .... & apparently, the countess is occassionally 100% correct, when she stated- "money won't buy you class."
AND I GOTTA say .... a $50,000 holiday party that's for charity??? Somehow, I find it difficult to believe that enough gifts were brought to allow that to make sense. Seems to me giving all or some of that $$ could have helped more if given directly to the hospital they claimed was benefiting!! (and I hated hearing "it's for baby Jesus' birthday"- while they decorated 20' trees in their living rooms & hired people to put thousands of lights up outside!!)
ARGH (soaping is over .... but I feel better now)

back to OUR normal .....

IT'S BEEN quite a week. We spent more time at the beach than usual (more like what our Hawaii trips are like!!) and spent some really quality time with our 4 yr old grandaughter Addyson!! She & the Captain seemed to bond this time around and he was smitten by her smile!

There are things that just would not have happened had she not been here ..... and for that (and the pleasure of her company) ... we are MOST thankful. AND AS IF I don't come up with enough picture taking on my own, little Addy was pointing out things to see through her eyes too.

One day- while we waited for the Captain to finish his "chores" at the kayak shop so he could come play with us .....
Addy found all sorts of things to take picture of. I narrowed them down a bit, as I don't think most people care to see a weed growing out of a crack, or a dead bug on the pier!!

SURF'S UP! she's excited ... we're exhausted!

well .... not to be outdone by big brother Anthony .....

Addy took her first surfing lesson, RIGHT AFTER she finished paddle boarding (more like paddle board sitting in her case). She & I packed up a lunch and met the Captain at the beach- as he was finishing up a kayak tour. The beauty of it was a small pod of dolphins were playing in the harbor right in front of us ... so the "waiting" was no problem at all!!! While he was finishing up, we walked down to the beach & set up our chairs & towels.

The Captain paddle boarded over to our spot & we picnic'd while a couple of golden retrievers played in the water. It was sort of like... lunch & a movie!! So, once she finished off her peanut butter & honey sandwich, a few pita chips, half a banana, 2 ginger snaps & a juice box .... Addy was fortified enough to head out on her water adventure. I was snapping pics like crazy & off they went (for an hour and a half!) .... She never once asked if they were done yet. They finally returned, & she had some grapes, a piece of licorice, a little jug of water & off into the water they went AGAIN. (I'll have what she's feeling!!!!)

SHE is grampa's little water pup, and he's loving every second of it too. Last night, after he carried her downstairs to her room ... he came up and told me he "really" enjoys having her around.

"oh darnit" .... and other amusing things Addy says.

Addy has changed alot since she spent a week with us in April. The stuff she talks about, the depth she goes into when she explains things. How long she concentrates before changing gears. amazing (and NOT just because she's my grandaughter!!) If she doesn't get the answer she was hoping for ... then the "o darnit" shows up .... it was happening a little too often so we asked if she could add some variety with "o man" or "gee wiz" or even "ok" AND SHE DOES! She is full of questions and has a look she directs toward me routinely. whatever is on her mind ... comes thru loud & clear. She is irresistible!

dreams that seem like .... more

I awoke this morning at the end of the movie. Actually, at the end of a dream- that seemed like a movie. (by M Night Shyamalan). It was so interesting, that I wanted to watch it again!! (but alas, it was time to get miss Addy some "hereal" for breakfast- she decided).
the gist ... without the RIGHT words to really explain it, was that I was a frail creature .... physically, spiritually, & emotionally until I found another that I drew strength from. Without realizing it at first - he always seemed to be there when I needed saving, whenever I needed courage or help. I could feel the bond, the connection between them as I slept through the plot. And just as most of my fav movies .... you don't realize until the end that it is not really ME that the story is about, but rather how "he" finds his true purpose in life.... the strengths he never realized he had. And when his job is done ... he passes on. Bittersweet. I awoke missing him deeply, and I was SO happy at that moment, when the Captain arrived at the bedside to tell me good morning with a kiss. ahhhhh, I neeeeeeded that!

now showing in a yard near us ....

Addy got her instant replay on the CDS fox news tonight! She saw 3 at once & since it's a little chilly tonight- she watched from inside while the Captain took them a snack to keep them up close & personal! THIS particular picture is a couple of weeks old .... they are beginning to mature now ... their ears are little more pointed, & their tails are as long as their bodies. They have less of the rusty color now, except for behind their ears, and their noses are a little more pointed. Once routinely seen a couple times during the daylight, it seems apparent that their instinct to be out after dark has kicked in, and they often come running down from the field when they are ready to socialize with us. We still have regular visits into our back yard ... for a watering hole (birdbath), and general playtime up & down the length of the fence. We can usually hear them playing with each other late at night if our windows are open. They sound a little like puppies wrestling around. yips & barks I'm sure it's just a matter of time (and nature) before they head a little further away to stake claim to their own territory .... so we're just gonna enjoy them while we can!

memories of yester-year ....

the moment I saw this picture ... it transported me back about 30 years. This one has daddy(Chris), Anthony, Addyson, & grampa Ken walking down the path. The former pic was of daddy (Jerry), Terry, Chris, & grampa Elmer doing the same. These moments are what family is all about. .. time together, doing simple things, enjoying each other I LOVE IT !!

stolen moments ... the legal version

It could have been longer, but no more perfect. Our short & sweet trip over to Big Sur to meet up with Chris & April (& their friends Charlotte & Paul with son Erik). They had been "camped out" for a day previous to our arrival, so they were already enjoying the perfect weather & outdoorsy-ness. It's been about 5 years since we've enjoyed this kind of outing and I for one, was looking forward to it. The smell of an open fire, food cooked outdoors, the stream running over the rocks just a few yards away, and that first toasted marshmellow. To steal the Captains now-favorite declaration- it was ALL as good as I had hoped it would be! As a living souvenier .... little Addy came home with us, and though her weary-teary goodbye with Mommy had us wondering for a moment or two (and Anthony thinking HE might be going with us instead) ... she finally let loose long enough to climb into our car. She dozed off on our final leg home, but woke as we pulled into the driveway and was alert enough to see one of the CDS fox cubs playing in the front yard. With promises that we would get him some "treats" for tomorrow night so she can see him again, we washed up and snuggled her into bed. (but not before she said hi to Papa Bill) She looks like a little angel here next to me, where I (and my laptop) watch over her until she is fully asleep. Clutched under her arm is her new little chenille kitty. I can hear her breathing become slower & deeper and it reminds me of my own desire to head for the comfort of my own bed. Sweet dreams little princess .... just as I shall have.

this one's for you Mildred J. ...

Princess Jr needs a Monkey Jr

the princess in waiting is going to be visiting with dramma & Capin this coming week ....

She is always excited to see if she can get the kittys to come play with her, but alas .... it has yet to ever happen. The most she can expect until she is a LOT older or they are .... is a peek now & again when they get so curious that they watch her from a distance. IF ONLY she could wake at night to see how they hop upon her bed to sniff & watch her!!

TODAY, we happened across a "pretend" Monkey (the name of our calico) and we're hoping Addy is just a little less disappointed that the real thing won't come to her .... Monkey herself, rubbed & sniffed and even chewed on it's whiskers a bit. THAT alone should certify her as an official body double!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you ....

I've sent them wishes & songs & gifts for today .... but I have not shared my deepest thoughts with them, til now.

JULY 12, 1964 ..... I know I will be getting a baby sibling any moment now. My older brother & I are awaiting a phone call from Dad, as soon as it happens! (he will go to a pay phone that hangs on a wall in the waiting room. He will put money in it to use it, & when our phone at home rings, I will have to go the the wall, where it hangs and answer it while standing there .... there is a cord that connects the phone base to the receiver. There is NO SUCH THING as a cordless phone or a cell phone). Honestly, I don't remember what time of day it was ... although I imagine it was very late at night or in the weeeee hours of the morning. (some people love making an entrance). NO ONE, including the OB, expected twins .... so imagine my surprise (not to mention mom's) when dad called to tell me I had 2 little sisters. And LITTLE was the right word. They weighed in at 2-11 & 3-14. There was a significant hospital stay, and had I been more knowledgeable rather than excited, I would have slept a lot more before they came home!! I was caretaker #2 most of the time and, they slept in MY room! I may have missed out on a function or two -for babysitting, and there may have been a few times when what I needed had to be set aside for something they did .... but in the ___ years since they were born, I have NEVER wished them away. I may have wished they would go to sleep, or wished they would stop drinking out of my glass, but I loved them from the moment I first held them, and that love has continued to grow. They have gone from my own "babydolls", to bratty little sisters, to adorable shadows, to fine young women, to some of my bestest friends. And today- is their BIRTHDAY. Oh happy day to you Cindy & Lindy!!

maiden voyage delivers positive results ...

I have just completed my 1st show with the Celebration Chorus (about 24 hours ago). I'm elated & exhausted (not quite sure which one has the greater impact at this moment). It was a very positive experience .... BUT, there was some time beforehand, that I wasn't so sure about the whole ordeal. AND IT IS an ordeal, I assure you. It starts out early in April ... with our director reminding everyone what the theme will be. Ideas are bandied about with humor & excitement. People start talking about what they would like to contribute to the entertainment above & beyond the chorus parts of the show. AND I, unknowingly, have gotten elected costume chairperson. End of April arrived, the ideas are morphing into actual scripts and the side acts are throwing music out to each other. AND I .... have agreed to 2 quartets (which comes to a total of 6 new songs to learn) and ... the costume decisions are in it's early stages. By mid May ... some tweaking is going on and rehearsals outside of regular chorus Tuesdays are getting scheduled. In what seems like days, we are auditioning for the director and ... dagnabit .... we are (both) ok'd for the show. PLUS ... I'm getting some valuable (but habit changing) advise on the use of my voice. (my muscle memory feels like it's paralized .... just thinking about it) AND a costume decision has to be made for the quartets of course! By this time, members are still missing rehearsals here & there and I am wondering "what have I gotten myself into?" (AKA ... what are "they" thinking?) But, things are moving along .... JUNE arrives ... and an outline of the acts is penciled and it's dawning on me that we are on stage the ENITIRE time, and we will need to remember to move here, go there, step back, walk forward, up stage, down stage, use this mic, move to the side of that one .... OMG, who is going to lead me around with a leash so I get to where I'm supposed to be??!!! Rehearsals are amping up and I'm meeting with someone, somewhere, about something at least 3 days a week (or 4). By now, I have mailed out or answered at least 100 emails about costuming, and participated in 3 of the 6 singouts. I'm collecting for some of the new costuming, contacting people about old pieces yet to be paid for, and learning (a LOT) about individual personalities within the chorus (!) And laughing (also a LOT) during the quartet rehearsals! The Captain pulled out the recording equipment at the end of June & we are "trying" to learn from our mistakes. (argh) Costuming on ALL levels has been finalized and the "costume Nazi" is being taken seriously. I have, during my non-existant free time .... replaced the buttons on 14 chorus shirts and applied aurora stones to 26! I have ordered and "blinged-up" 6 garrison caps and the same number of flight jumpsuits, and hemmed or altered 5 other costumes. Bythe final Tuesday rehearsal ... I have sworn off any more last minute fixes in lieu of extra rehearsal time (and some sleep). I found that figuring out where to be, when during the production, is not as difficult as it sounded 2 months ago and I'm even getting a little excited. JUMP TO Friday, July 8th .... dress rehearsal. The lighting crew arrives late and having some trouble getting into gear. The sound guy is a perfectionist ... which is a little scary, since 2 hours into the rehearsal ... we have yet to "dress". But his pickiness proves to be worth the anxiety in the long run. 4.5 hours later and without a full run-thru of the show ... we opt to GO HOME AND GET SOME SLEEP! This worries me a bit at the time, but I do it (myself) by visualizing before I am able to drift off to sleep that night. 11:40pm .... the mantra .... you are getting sleeeeeeepy. LESS than 12 hours later, I am AGAIN at the theatre for starts & stops. I can feel some butterflies- but I'm not nerve wracked. hmmmm. This is a good thing. (no Inderal dose). Minutes into the first act, I spot my family in the audience so I play toward them at times. The show runs near perfect and we end it going into the audience. I loved seeing their faces. But this hug .... was as big in my heart as it looks in the picture. I felt it to my toes.
1 performance down- 1 to go. (details due soon to a blog near you)

getting my butterflies lined up for take up .....

bottom line .... if you I'm not ready right now, I will never be. I was NEVER a "crammer" for tests, I never wait to the last minute for anything. SO- this is no different. I can think of nothing that I haven't covered. After this point ... it is what it is. Anything that goes wrong will only be seconds long, all the good stuff will be a reminder of the hard work that's gone into it! The most important thing is that everyone has a good time. That includes all the friends & family that are coming in support of the chorus.

break a leg pink ladies!!

the fragility of life

One has to wonder on occassion about how fragile the world is. How minute things survive in abusive environments. The cycle of life. Survival of the fittest. Instincts. Balance of nature. Babies born half term. Centurians in primitive countries. A single object left untouched in the middle of a tornado ravaged community. Is there a master plan? A destiny for each of us. Does our number really "come up"? Is there really no such thing as an accident? The questions keep rolling into my thoughts. Nearly escaping death. Waking from a coma when there was no chance of recovery. Tumor found one day & gone weeks later. Healers. Psychics. Miracle workers. ALL of this started flooding my brain when we found a tiny bird that must have fallen from a nest in the rain gutter. So small, it would never have survived the fall. So fragile.
I ponder on things such as these.

oh my aching ..... EVERYTHING!

These past few days have just been packed with obligations and deadlines! In fact, now that I glance at the calendar .... it's more like the past MONTH! And it's not likely to change for at least another week. I was chatting with someone yesterday and I told her "honestly, when did I have time to work before I retired?!!!" Today was a very long day and I can FINALLY feel myself floating off mentally. We had the gang over for an Independence Day barby & watched the fireworks display presented on the pier ... from our own lanai .. The marine layer hung out at the horizon, giving us a clear, cool evening for viewing- and I'm just now hearing the fog horn from Avila. Good Timing Mother Nature! I will be full for a week .... but for now, I am dwelling instead on the amazing people I got to spend time with today. From the many gals I am getting to know in the chorus, to the neighbors I would never want to live without! Thank you to all of you who made this a wonderful day!

on this Independence Day eve .....

A lot of people see tomorrow as ANOTHER day off work, another day for a party or an extra dessert ..... and even though we will be enjoying all those things .... in our hearts, on our minds .... is the real reason to celebrate tomorrow.

WE ARE a patriotic household. We live it everyday. We are proud Americans, & we love this country we live in. We appreciate what it stands for and the advantages we have by being here. And most important of all- we are thankful that there are faithful, loving, loyal, brave & strong American soldiers that protect our rights to be what/who/where we are. God Bless America. You are our beloved country!! Happy Independence Day to all our friends & family.

in the cool cool air of the evening .....

We spent a chunk of the day in the company of a couple who hosted a BBQ to celebrate the momentous occassion(s) of RETIREMENT. It was a rowdy & cheerful group, & though we were not aquainted with many of the 50'ish guests, those who we bumped into or nestled under the shade with, were very friendly & interesting. (food, music, libation- the works). But .....

it's July 2nd and it was inland a bit and it was .... toasty.

so, conversation & yummies aside, along with wanting to check in with Pops- we headed home to cooler climate, just 31 minutes away! We were not disappointed in either. The fog bank was beginning to creep in, & pops had finished his dinner, evening meds, & was ready for a breathing treatment & a movie! The Captain & I talked a bit about how moving from a hot, dry climate to the Bay area- took only a couple of weeks to aclimate to, but if we did the reverse ..... we would be compaining about the heat every single summer! AND AS IF we needed any more reasons to love where we live .... well there you have a major one!