I Gotta Get A Life!

I just saw the line up for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars and I am greatly disappointed in their casting people.  Now, just the fact that I've been tugging at the bit waiting for this announcement should tell you something.  But having seen the new lineup and realizing that this is what I plan my Monday nights around . . . I gotta get a life!

It used to be a fun little show; the dancing, with the right couples, is wonderful to watch, then it became 'the' show.  Friends and I spent hours on the phone (well, maybe not hours) talking about who should and who shouldn't be let go and why.  We groused about the so called celeb's, some of whom were doing good to walk and talk, forget trying to dance.  Of course we groused about the judges and the voting.  We didn't always go for the star, we're more sophisticated than that, we wanted the best dancer, yeh - yeh - yeh.

When the show first started, it actually had one or two for real stars in the mix each season but that's gone by the wayside.  They must have been really reaching to end up with this latest line-up.   Guess it wouldn't draw much of an audience if you called it, "Dancing With the Has Beens & Wannabes", huh?  To top it all off, their best pro is off making a movie and won't be on the show this season.  Is this the beginning of the end?

I'm very disappointed and that worries me.  Yep!  I gotta get a life!!!

Has Anyone Seen My Sunday?

Got up for church this morning; it was almost 20 degrees outside.  Not snowing but really cold (okay, by west coast standards, really cold).  Got a call telling me the church parking lot was ice and that with my bad hips & legs, I might want to stay home this morning.  Since I was hurting like crazy from the weather anyway, I didn't argue.  I got out of my 'go to church clothes', into my grubbies, curled up on the couch with my coffee and my dog and threw a blanky over my legs and tried to get comfortable.

Some five hours later (about noon) a neighbor woke me when he stopped by to check on me (he does this every month or two).  He hadn't seen my car leave this morning and the newspaper was still out in front and he thought he'd make sure everything was okay with me.  We visited for a few minutes, he left, I reloaded the pellet stove and resumed my position on the couch.

When I woke again at 3:30, I realized I wasn't going to make the prayer vigil at 2pm and decided that maybe a little fresh air was in order, however, and Katie and I went outside to reset the timers for my yard lights and to walk around the yard where the snow had melted and get the fuzz out of my brain.

It's now after 4 o'clock, the day is shot and I have no idea where my Sunday went.  Guess I'll settle in to watch the Oscars and critique the "designs" being worn on the red carpet.  Sure hope I can sleep tonight.  I don't want to lose my Monday too.

And I'm Grateful For . . . (2-26-11)

This week ---

I'm grateful for ... special friends and shared experiences.

I'm grateful for ... family and family visits.

I'm grateful for ... my two constant companions, Katie & PITA.

I'm grateful for ... all the blessings God has given me this week!

My Granddogs

My kids came up to spend the day.  They brought the granddogs.  Cash (after Johnny Cash) is a 3 year old chihuahua that looks and acts like a chihuahua.  Chico is a 10 week old chihuahua that looks and acts like a little husky.  They are the cutest dogs/pups you have ever seen (or, in this case, don't get to see).

My camera was here, it's loaded, it's charged, it's ready to go, it was in my purse and never made it out.  I even mentioned taking a family portrait (my son, his wife, the two "kids").  Then brain dead hit.  We went on to other things and my mind, such as it is, went along.  I have NO pictures.  Next time, but it has to be soon, while Chico is still in his puppy stage.

We had a really good visit and I made a nice dinner using the leftovers from the dinner party that didn't happen last night.  This has been quite the weekend.  Now, if I just had those award-winning pictures of the cutest granddogs ever to bring some life to this post.  Dang!!

I Make Plans & God Laughs

One of these days I'll catch on to the fact that I'm not the one in charge.  I make plans and God laughs.  Yesterday I had planned to attend a lunch in the city, Friday night it snowed.

Tonight I had a dinner party planned.  It was a birthday dinner and besides the guest of honor and myself, I had invited three other couples.  We do this dinner every year.  I have a dinner party for my friend's birthday and he has a dinner party for mine.  Every year it snows and/or rains, but that's the mountains in the winter and we all roll with it.  This year the weather was a couple of days early so, although cold, no snow or rain this evening.  Just a group of good friends, good food, good wine, and a good time.

Then God shook his head at me and laughed - again!  Couple #1 had unexpected company, wouldn't be able to make it.  Okay, dinner for six is still a nice group.  Couple #2:  she came down sick yesterday and was hoping it would pass (not happening, she was really sick!)  Couple #3:  wasn't sure until today but assured me that she and her adult daughter would make it.  Well, with the other two couples canceling, I decided to simply postpone the dinner until the Spring.  Seems like we did that last year, only I was the one under the weather.  I called #3 and canceled saying we were putting off the dinner party until Spring - again.

From the minute he came through the door we had a really fun evening!  I was in the process of  making pasta and a homemade ("from scratch") pesto sauce with seafood when he arrived and was able to finish the pesto to his taste.  I had a spinach & cranberry salad to go with it.  He's a chocoholic so I had a recipe for individual chocolate cheesecakes which we made together, laughing like a couple of kids.

Both the pesto sauce and the dessert were first time recipes for me and I follow a recipe to the letter the first time I make it, then feel free to play with it after that.  We followed both recipes as written, adding the pieces of seafood to the pesto when it was done, and both recipes were wonderful.  The chocolate cheesecakes are to die for and so simple to make.  I'll be happy to share the recipe with anyone who'd like it.

It's been a long time since I had someone working with me in the kitchen.  My husband used to tell me that dinner should be more than a meal; it should be fun!  Dinner tonight; the prep, the eating, and even the clean up, met that description.

Although we missed sharing his birthday with "the usual suspects," God's plan was just fine!  And, tonight, we were the ones doing the laughing.

And I'm Grateful For . . . (2-19-11)

It's Saturday again.  Time to stop, sit back, take stock and review the things I'm grateful for from this week:

1)   I'm grateful for ... my physical as well as emotional/mental health this week.  Even with the weather taking a turn, no Igor!  For this, if nothing else, I'm truly grateful!!

2)  I'm grateful for ... being busy and active and having a reason to get up in the mornings, even when I'd rather pull the covers back under my chin.

3)  I'm grateful that ... the challenges I'm given become opportunities - for me and for others.

4)  I'm grateful for ... this wonderful place I've been allowed to call home.  From the beauty I see through my windows, whether in sun or in snow, to the people I've been surrounded with who I call my friends.

5)  I'm grateful for ... the happy memories that fill and swell my heart.

Winter Found Us

Today was the awaited gathering in Fresno of a group of us that used to attend St. Mary's church.  Yeah, well, they'll do it without the member from the mountains.  Dang it!

We've had gorgeous, dry and sunny weather for at least the last couple of weeks.  This weekend, Mother Nature remembered us.  Last night we had rain, rain, and more rain.  It came down with a vengeance.  At one point I woke to thunder and lightening, a heavy downpour, and a terrified dog, and a cat under the blankets with me.

About 4am, it turned into snow.  This morning I got up to the birds leaving thank you notes on the feeders, temps in the upper 20's, at least 2" -3" of snow (and it was still coming down).  We're promised a high today in the upper 30's; Mother Nature isn't through with us yet.

 There's a pond under there

Snowing through the trees

View from porch of driveway & road

The snowfall has lightened up and is just soft flakes right now, the sun's been making an effort to break through and might make it yet.  However, the weather guessers are threatening another storm this afternoon and I don't want to have to drive back up the mountain in a downpour, nor while it's snowing, nor find the road has been closed and I'm trapped in the city.  I'll just stay up here on my mountain and enjoy the blanket of white all around me.  

I Love a Lazy Day

Lazy day today!  No place Katie and I had to be, no commitments.  With the exception of a Press Release that had to be finalized and emailed today, I had the option of doing what I wanted when I wanted and not doing what I didn't want to do.  Don't have these days often ... and I'm retired?!

I'm having a small dinner party Sunday and a little house cleaning couldn't hurt, but it's supposed to start raining and or snowing tomorrow night and into the weekend.  I'll clean on Friday when I'm stuck in the house watching whichever weather we draw.  I did get the laundry caught up so when I go out tomorrow it won't have to be in my jammies.  Hopefully, the weather will clear up by the weekend.  I'm planning to go to Fresno and join the "lunch bunch"; there's over 2 dozen of us scheduled to get together .  We only do this every couple of months so, please, no snow over Deadwood!

By the by, if you happen to come across books by Michael Connelly and you're into the murder mystery / trial lawyer genre, pick one up.  He's very good!  I'm reading "the Lincoln Lawyer" and it's really hard to put down, another reason not much got done today.  It apparently was a movie last year starring Matthew McConaughey.  Fortunately, I missed it.  He has a couple of dozen titles out, maybe I'll make a stop at the library while I'm out tomorrow and stock up for the storm(s).

Valentine Memories

The picture I keep in the living room of my husband & me is a 'portrait' taken on our second cruise.  It's an 8x10 that sits on a shelf by the fireplace.  We always referred to it as our 'prom picture'.  Tucked into the bottom corner of the frame is a florist's card that came with the roses he ordered one year when he was in South America.  The thought still holds true, "You're always in my heart, no matter where I am!"  He's still my valentine!

As often as not, he was away on this Sweetheart's day as well as birthdays and other holidays.  But he was a romantic and whether home or away, he never let me forget that I was special to him.  (I used to put a card and memento in his suitcase - not to be opened 'til the holiday.)  When he was home, we always had a favorite restaurant for dinner.  The rest of the evening was simply time spent together; sometimes watching a TV movie, sometimes playing UNO.

He always brought or sent flowers.  He wasn't big on candy because I wasn't a big candy eater and he was.  He felt that if he gave me candy, he was just setting himself up for a chocolate frenzy.  And then, sometimes he bought me chocolates for that very reason (and it didn't have to be Valentine's Day.  Excuses not mandatory for chocolate frenzies.)

I don't miss celebrating Valentine's Day.  The day is  now special for the memories it conjures up.  Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetie!  I love & miss you!!!

A Visit to OUR Hometown

My new friend, with whom I have a long history, and I decided to get together for lunch and take a virtual stroll through San Pedro today.  We'd visit old teachers and places, and find memories that we'd each forgotten.  We decided we'd meet and grab a drink from Starbucks and a sandwich from Quizno's two doors down.  That way we could sit outside to eat and visit and Katie could go along.  Sounds like a plan, huh?  As my priest keeps saying, "nothing's simple."

We got to Starbucks / Quiznos.  Oh yeah, Quizno's isn't here anymore.  Where else can we go, grab a sandwich and sit outside?  Let's go to Raley's, order a sandwich at their deli, a drink at Peet's, and we'll go to the park.  Jumped in the car and drove to Raley's.  Went to the Deli, and after taking forever to make up our minds, the fun began ... "Can I have the Sonoma sandwich?"  "I'll check, sorry we're out of those."  Ooookay!  After a few minutes, "Can I have ---- this other sandwich?"  Mmmm, we're out of those too."  "Well then," after some thought, "how about the turkey wrap?"  "We don't do wraps anymore.  There are some pre-made wraps by the cheeses."  During all this, friends have walked in and are watching this show we're putting on and they're laughing and having a grand time and darned if she doesn't say "Can I have ...?"  Only to be told, "I'm sorry ..." you know the rest.  I will say, getting the drinks was much easier, even got a dollop of whipped cream for Kate.  I'll probably stick with Subway in the future, however.

Having finally obtained our lunch, Cathy and I jumped back in the car with Katie and took off for the park.  We took our lunches, some memorabilia, and yearbooks.  What a fun time we had.  Went through the books and picked out teachers we both knew (they were considerably younger when I knew them) and we each had stories about some of them, we looked at pictures of places we'd both hung out in or at least been to and remembered others and more stories.

For a short while she had the same doctor my mother had.  We lived maybe a block away from each other once or twice.  My brother and her brother were firefighters in the same place at the same time.  We'd known some of the same people, just at different times.  We talked about how, why, and when we made the transition from beach to mountains.  We laughed - a lot!!!  The similarities in our lives just kept coming.  It was a great afternoon!  And ... we have a traveling companion (companions if you count the dogs) when we decide to take a car instead of a virtual visit to OUR hometown.

And I'm Grateful For . . .

I've decided that on Saturdays I need to review my week and pick no less than three things from the week that I'm grateful for.  Here goes:

I'm grateful for ...

1)  ... the beautiful weather we enjoyed this week.  I especially appreciate this weather because Igor, the anxiety ogre apparently doesn't like it and he leaves me alone.

2)  ... the phone visit I received from my oldest son; not a quick "just checking on you" with a short conversation.  This was a nice long visit and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the time with him.

3)  ... the youngster now coming twice a month to help me around the yard and the house.  He spent an hour and a half here today cleaning acorns and more acorns from the yard, the walk, and the drive.  He went home happy with paper money in his pocket and I can see my lawn and walk out in front again without worrying about sliding on an acorn (like walking on rollers).

4)  ... the new friend I've made, with whom I share a long history.

5) ... the promise of a visit this Spring from a special friend and former neighbor who now lives in Texas.  Airline tickets bought, visit locked in.  My latest "ticket in the drawer" (ref: post of 6/08/10).

Thank you Lord, I'm grateful for this week!

Hey! That's My Hometown

.Life is full of funny little twists and turns.  And, I often find that my little world is even smaller than I thought.  I've been living in this mountain area for a little over 5 years now.  I used to come up to visit during the foggy winters and triple digit summers in the valley and finally picked up and relocated in 2005.

I "originated" in the harbor area in southern California.  My mom was from San Pedro, my siblings and I were from San Pedro, I raised my children in San Pedro.  We attended various elementary schools but all of us attended the same junior high school (Richard Henry Dana Jr Hi') and the same high school (SPHS).  My kids and I even had some of the same teachers (they were somewhat worn out by the time my kids got them).

Back then San Pedro was a "small town" much like Oakhurst, where I live today.  When I was a kid, people who came in to town either lived there or were visiting someone, no one just drove through.  In fact, in the 50's & early 60's, you couldn't drive through; there was only one access/egress.   As I grew up, the town was full of relatives and my mom's friends from her work so she almost always knew what I'd been up to before I got home.  My kids suffered the same circumstance.  But it was a great place to grow up, especially in the fifties.

All this to tell a new story ... last month I attended our monthly SPCA meeting.  There are a dozen /dozen and a half of us there every month.  I've gotten to know some, mostly by working events with them.  A few weeks ago I saw one of the gals, that I don't know, on Facebook.  Being nosy, I looked at her profile and discovered she was born and raised in San Pedro and graduated from San Pedro High (w-a-a-y after I did).  We've since made contact and compared other "similarities".  We attended the same elementary school as well as junior and senior high.  We knew some of the same teachers.  Our birthdays are a week apart (actually 15 years and one week apart but whose counting), and we live off the same road, 2 miles away from each other.

What are the chances?  How many of us beach girls end up in the mountains; not to mention - same beach, same mountain?  And love it?!  I'm really looking forward to getting together with her over a starbucks or Peets and/or a sandwich and seeing what, where, and who else we both know.  It'll be fun taking a virtual trip home (and it won't take 4 hours and nearly a tank of gas to get there)   I'll keep you posted.

Tidbits

I attended a graveside funeral Monday.  The priest asked, at the last minute, if I would do the reading.  I was delighted to be able to participate.  After the opening prayer I stood and started the reading.  It suddenly dawned on me, I was in the front row ... everyone was behind me, might be a good idea to turn around and read to the people - you think?  (I thought to myself, when was the last time you were on stage with your back to the audience.)  Do you suppose he was having second thoughts up to that point?

Went to an SPCA meeting last night and stopped on the way home to gas up the car.  I'd been home maybe an hour when the neighbor across the road drove over to tell me my car lights were still on.  We went out and everything in the car was in its correct position.  We moved levers, pushed buttons, scratched our heads, and the headlights would go off and on but the parking lights held steady.  Since, even with a flashlight, we were virtually working in the dark, he finally disconnected a cable so the battery wouldn't die overnight and we gave up.  This morning I connected the cable again and everything came back on ... including the parking lights.  I drove up to where I take the car for maintenance and Mike got in and showed me a button on the steering column (that I can't see and didn't know existed) that turns the parking lights on even when the engine is off.  I'd apparently hit it when I reset the trip mileage button.  Who knew?  Hope that big "L" (for Loser) on my forehead washes off.

At the meeting last night we were setting our calendar for this year and a question arose regarding whether or not the Honorary Mayor Contest would be held this year.  I volunteered to go to the Chamber of Commerce and find out.  This morning Katie and I stopped at the Chamber office on our way home and I inquired and was assured the contest would be held and was given the tentative kickoff date.  Now, we've won 4 of the last 5 years and I was asked who we were running this year.  I told her last year's entrant & winner might run again this year.  She explained to me ... read this slowly and carefully ... "an individual may run in consecutive years but may not win in consecutive years".  Say what?!

And, last but not least, how about Pepsi and their new tall & thin diet Pepsi cans.  Nothing wrong with their cans; their logic, however, leaves one wondering.  It's promoted as a "taller, sassier, new skinny can ... which is a celebration of beautiful, confident, women."  What?  Now there's a concept that our teen, and even pre-teen, girls need to grasp.  I'm sure it will do a lot for young women who think they're fat when they can't cast a shadow, and on a personal level, being short and round, I suppose I can forget celebrating anything about me, then again, I do still have my confidence.  And I'm pretty confident that I'll go back to Coca-Cola!

What Superbowl?

It was much too nice a day today to be stuck inside watching a football game, I don't care who was playing.

After church this morning, a large group of us went to breakfast.  When we left, Katie hadn't had her breakfast yet so we headed for home.  Upon arriving I looked out my kitchen window, as has become my practice lately, and was immediately transformed into Mata Hari.  To my credit, I fed my girl and then we "went for a walk" up the road to "Judi's house" to check out the car that didn't belong there.  We met the nice looky-loo lady who had lots & lots of questions, which I answered ... sort of.  I may have been just a little discouraging regarding the property, I certainly didn't mean to suggest that this house just wasn't for her, with its little flaws and foibles.  I then proceeded to call Judi, identifying myself as my alter ego and telling her Katie and I were at "her house" and were on the job.

As long as we were out and the weather was so pretty, we finished our walk and when we came home I decided that it was NOT an indoor day.  I wasn't in the mood to clean house, was tired of working on the computer, and didn't want to work in the yard.  Only one thing to do:  "Katie, let's go for a ride in the car."  We headed for Fresno.  This is not a trip that I normally make voluntarily but I burnt up my toaster oven last week and needed a new one.  Today (Superbowl Sunday) is the ideal time to hit the big stores.  First stop, Target!  A little problem finding someone to assist you as they apparently are all TV/radio salespeople and they r-e-a-l-l-y don't like to be disturbed during 'the game' just to make a sale.  Fortunately, I didn't need anyone's assistance.  I found the unit I liked, placed it in my cart, and headed for the check out.  Wow!  No lines!!!  I love shopping Super Bowl Sunday!

One more stop at JoAnn's for some material I need (there were more than a few of us not into "the big game," and we were all at JoAnn's).  Now it was time to head back up the mountain.

It was pushing 70 degrees in the valley and lowlands today and the drive was as perfect as the shopping, both going and coming.  In addition to ideal weather there was a definite lack of traffic.  The scenery was beautiful, and when out of the city, the air was fresh and clean.  Great day for a drive!

Okay, it's 7:30pm.  The game is finally over and now we have to have a recap?  Don't these talking heads get enough air time?  Go away! My turn! It's time for GLEE!

MATA HARI, 2011

It's been such a stressful week.  Trying to keep up with our daily doings ... therapy dog visits, doctor appointments, office day at the church ... and trying to play mata hari.  One of my best friends is, hopefully, moving in up the road.  Everything is in limbo right now as we wait for the FHA appraiser so the inspector can finish his job.  Absolutely nothing seems to have been going on this week, or last.  I take that back, the inspector was there but decided to hold off completing his inspection until after the FHA dude showed and did his/her thing.  Meanwhile, Kate and I try to keep watch on the place when we're home.  You would think that if an inspector, realtor, worker were going to be there, it would be for more than 20 minutes, giving me an opportunity to see cars, trucks, activity - and that's not happened.  On the occasion when we did see activity, we just happened to 'go for a walk' up the road.  I even drove up there after dark when I saw lights on.  My friend, however, sneaks up and visits for minutes in the wee, small, (non-working) hours and wonders why I'm not on the job.

Sheeesh!  Boy, this mata hari gig is downright stressful work.  And all for a glass or two of 2 buck chuck.  Good thing I love her like I do and am really praying and pulling for this to go through.  (Besides me, Katie is anxious for Foxy to get relocated and join us.)  Guess I'll have to move the porch rocker to the back deck, although it's in the 30's right now and outside is not necessarily where I want to be.  S'pose I could stay home, move my computer to the kitchen table and take up residence at that window, it has quite the view of the house up the road.  I understand the inspector is due back Monday, FHA appraiser or no;  maybe then there'll be some action worth sitting at the kitchen window for.  Maybe we should be offering them the wine!