Whew! It's Hot!

On a day like today, when the temperatures will soar, I like to think of this cool rushing river in Wyoming that we visited a few years ago.  Today, I  may go out to the ocean or to the Marina and watch the boats sail out the main channel to the ocean.  It's a perfect place to reflect, and catch a cool breeze.

Use Sunscreen

Hi Everyone,
I haven't written in a while because I couldn't think of anything upbeat to write about.  I guess I was a little "down."  Yesterday I got good news.  After having a growth removed from my leg last month, and finding it was a Squamous Cell Carcinoma, I had a followup surgery yesterday that was examined by the pathologist on the spot, and it was clear.  So, aside from stitches that hurt like x#%Xz, I should be doing my thing, whatever that is, in a few weeks.  Just a reminder: USE SUNSCREEN!
 I am going for a knee replacement in November, so I won't be running around doing "that thing" in full speed until about Christmas time.  Oh well, so I didn't write an upbeat blog this time, but I never made any promises!

A Happy Heart!

     Well, my husband caved in at the last moment; after I spoke to the shelter lady.

    He said that he saw a very sad little dog sitting on the sidewalk, and he realized he just couldn't give Webber up, not knowing if he too, would be a "sad little dog."  Actually, I think he doesn't want to deal with a sad little wife!!!

    Don't you think that since he put me through months of complaining about the dog, and insisted that I come to terms with the reasonableness of giving him up for adoption , he has "waived" his right to complain?  I think that from now on he has to just "suck it up" and be the nice guy that I know he is inside!

    I am going to hire a dog trainer and a walker as soon as I can get around to it.  And therein lies the rub.  I promised that I would do that when we got him 3 years ago.  I guess I owe it to Howard and the dog to whip him into shape.  OH, not really whip.  Do I mean Howard or the dog?  Hmmmmmmmm.

Heavy Heart

Oh boy!  I started the ball rolling regarding our putting Webber up for adoption.  I called the agency, Bichons and Buddies, from
whom we heard about him 3 years ago.  It has been a wonderful relationship between me and this dog.  We adore each other.  Howard likes him, but thinks he is a lot of trouble. I have been willing to overlook the problems and the expense, but it has gotten too hard to do all that it takes to be a good dog owner.

So, he is at the groomer this morning because the owner of the agency wants to come over and take his picture for the internet.  I am "holding in" being a wreck.  I am sure the dog will adjust better than I will.  He spends most of his time "sleeping around," and the rest of the time peeing and pooping.  What I will miss is our petting time, which is almost all the time he is awake.  He has a lot of bad habits that I won't miss, but on the whole life will seem more free, but definitely more lonely.

Dance Through It

     Al Pacino had a memorable comment in the movie "Scent of a Woman," where he plays Frank Slade, a blind retired marine. After he danced a beautiful tango with a lovely young woman, (quite a feat for a blind person) he said, "If you get tangled up, you just tango on." Sometimes life just throws things at you, and you get "tangled up" in the mess.  It might be good to remember to "tango on" to get through the tough periods.

How Old is "Old?"

My friends and I have been lamenting about getting old. I know the standard reply,
"It beats the alternative," but seriously folks, the three of us mentioned here are falling apart. Thank God for modern medicine. I'm having a second knee replacement in November, one friend is due for one as well. Then there is the other gal who is facing long term tooth repair and also has ortho issues. Now you add those to the myriad of internal breakdowns and you get bodies in decline!
I am not writing to complain, I am simply making an observation. I know a lot of people my age who overcome all kinds of adversities, and live their lives as actively as possible. I know some who give in, and really get old fast. I intend to be in the first group. I will just write off this year as an orthopedic disaster, and do my best to remain upbeat.
I simply will not give in; I guess I am too stubborn! So Kath, wheel that "Trolley Dolley" with pride.

Much Ado About Nothing

So here we are in lovely SANTA BARBARA. I packed too much as usual, and will not wear most of what I brought. Today we are going to the "wine country" in Santa Ynez and environs. We plan to have a relaxing day. Our hotel room looks out over the beach, it is morning, and there are a lot of ambitious athletes out there. They are running, biking, walking, and driving convertables with the tops down. IT'S COLD OUT THERE PEOPLE!!! So the big deal I made about packing was truly "Much Ado About Nothing!"

Packing Stress

     I don't know why the preparation for packing, whether we will be gone for a few days or a few weeks, is so stressful for me.  I'm not talking about the actual act of putting things in the suitcase, I find that to be an enjoyable challenge.   I'm talking about what I'm going to take, whether the clothes need washing or cleaning, the button I have to sew on the jacket, ironing the orange linen shirt, packing the toiletries for myself (and the things Howard might need that he doesn't bother to pack).  Howard's theory is that he is not traveling into the Amazon.  There are stores all over and if he forgets something important he can always buy it.  My theory is, "why waste the time going to the drug store when I can have it all in my little bag?"
     What results is a few days, maybe a week, of pressure to get everything done amidst the ordinary vicissitudes of daily life, like doctor's appointments, hair cut, phone calls, emails, vet shots for Webber (he goes to a fancy pet hotel), and numerous other stuff.  Now YOU all travel.  Do you go through such stress?  Howard has threatened to cancel trips because I make him "crazy."  I do have a major problem; I am a perfectionist.  I have the fantasy that I I could just put a few things in a bag and go away on a moment's notice.  But I think I really could if pressed to do so; especially if we were going somewhere exciting.  I would just have to fight my nature to have everything "done" before I left.
     Right now I should be sewing the button on the jacket, but here I am writing in my blog.  Oh, well!

I Bit the "Apple..."

     Good news for me.  The "Genius" at the Apple Store fixed my syncing problem, got my contacts back on the iphone, and put all of my "dates" back in the right place.  All of the time I was waiting for my turn at the Genius Bar, I looked around at the "people concentrated" (translate: crowded) store and its inhabitants and what they seemed to be doing there.
     Of course, there were the people who were wandering through the mall, and stopped in to play with the ipads and computers on display; many of them had baby strollers and packages with them which says to me, "not a buyer."  Lots of people had boxes of accessories in their hands; iphone cases, earbuds, speakers, etc. They were in a separate line to pay, or if they were lucky, someone with a charge "thingy" came to them.
     There were lots and lots of people like me, waiting to have their computers and other devices fixed....wouldn't you think that would scare some buyers away?  Maybe they should have put us in a separate room.  Actually, they want everyone to know that they can fix any problem that arises; thus, the Genius Bar.
     Best of all  were the folks who were taking lessons on the Mac computer system, iphoto, iphone operation, etc.  The Apple people are so very patient and knowledgable that it is fun shopping and doing business with them.
     Oh, I forgot, there was a double line outside the store for people who are buying the new iphone4, which has been acknowledged to have a glitch.  Wouldn't you think they would wait for the 4.1 to come out?
     My Genius said it is like that all day, every day.....and that is just one store in Manhattan Beach. It boggles my mind.  I wish I had Apple stock!

Going's On

Well, the gardener just arrived to do some planting, and the dog is going crazy. I don't get it, since he sees the gardener once a month, and has known him for 3 years. He just likes to protect the house and its precious inhabitants. For my blogger friends in the United Kingdom, who have gorgeous gardens that you care for yourselves, I must admit that everything I have ever planted has died. Howard loves to putter out there and except for monthly trimming of vines and tree,and a little planting by the gardener, he keeps it looking colorful and restful. I love it.
So, except for dinner tonight to celebrate grandson Eli's birthday, I look forward to a visit this weekend to The Apple Store to have them untangle the mess on my computer, iPhone and iPad that occurred as a result of faulty syncing. I probably should go back to my paper agenda!!!!!!

Hot July Day

So, it's the middle of July, and summer is finally here. We are in Lake Arrowhead where the temp is expected to reach the 90s. We came to visit our vacation home, which has been somewhat unused since I broke my leg. It is such a lovely environment and I am reminded each time we come here how much I love it. I had a dream that we decided to retire up here, sold this charming house, and bought a more spacious, air conditioned home near the lake. If there was some thing to do up here that interested me, it would be a good idea. Actually, it's a well operating "small town" where everyone knows each other. We've been here as weekenders for 17 years, and know quite a lot of folks. There are groups for most interests, two supermarkets, drug store, bank,library, four screen (small) movie theater, restaurants, etc. But I'm a city girl, and like to have many choices. Maybe we could live here and have a little condo by the beach In Los Angeles. Wow i'm really a wishful thinker.

Does This Belong In My Blog?

Today I was asked whether I planned to write about some of my life struggles in my blog.
I was stumped.  I don't want to discuss specific friends or family members, but how would I be authentic in my writing if I left all the meaty stuff out?  Another issue is whether it would be boring to others, while cathartic to me.  Who am I writing for, myself or others?
Both, I think.  I love getting comments to my posts, and I fear that my followers would "drop away."

THE VOTES ARE IN: What's private, stays private. Why did I even ponder this?

Tripping around the Globe

Today I thought I would write about something of interest to me.  I love globes.  I have a "relief" globe in my office that teaches me new things all the time.  When I play Jeopardy, one of my worst subjects is bodies of water and islands, the other one is Chemistry.  Let's talk about islands; the visual is much better than a Bunson Burner.

I would love to go to Polynesia someday, sailing on a windjammer.  But it takes so long to get there.  Now I know why!  It's really, really far away.  If you try to get there from Great Britain, it's probably not worth the time it takes to get there.

I now know Samoa and Fiji (and Bora Bora, but I can't find it on the globe) lie below the Equator, just north of New Zealand, and East of Australia.  I can't tell if they are actually in the Coral Sea, or the South Pacific Ocean, or maybe both.

The islands that make up Polynesia, including French Polynesia, were discovered by Captain James Cook, a British navigator, in the mid 1700s. He was all over the Pacific Ocean; The Hawaiian Islands being another of his "discoveries."  I don't like to think that an aristocratic explorer who comes upon a land mass, whether a continent or islands, actually DISCOVERS them.  After all, they were there all the time, with indigenous peoples who didn't think they needed to be found. 

Anyway, just above Australia lies New Guinea; surrounded by the Coral Sea, the Banda Sea, and the South Pacific.  I have friends who went there and got stranded because their "guide" left them for a few days on their own and forgot to pick them up.  They said they were in very dangerous jungle areas where they thought cannibalism was still practiced; along with "head shrinking."  Who knows?  I thought they were crazy to go there in the first place!!!

So, enough for now.  I will find another location I know little about and bring it to you another time.

Life's Little Moments

     My second oldest grandson graduated from sixth grade.   He is on to middle school, to be faced with lots of new experiences; drugs, bullies, girls, pimples, panic, and decisions.  I think he will be fine..he is extroverted and smart, and I see good things ahead for him.
     My cast is still with me, preventing me from driving.  This could be a good thing, because I have a tremendous desire to go shopping.  I should be getting calls from the stores I shop in, wondering where I've been.  Howard says several of them have had to close their doors because I haven't been there.  IT REALLY ISN'T THAT BAD.
     There are things about department stores and good boutiques that feed my artistic personality.  I love color, and good displays.  Great advertising draws me in.  I did advertising design when I was younger, and the lure of merchandise has never left me.  I think it is in my DNA.
     My 94 year old mother and I loved the stores when we were young.  Shopping was our favorite pastime together.  We especially liked a good sale.  I still love them, but I hate the crowds, so by the time I get there, the merchandise is picked over and the good stuff is gone.  My mother once had a physical "tug-of-war" with a woman over a sweater at a sale; she didn't really want the sweater, but she didn't want the woman to have it either.  She bought the sweater and returned it.  What does that say about my mother?  I don't want to delve into that now.

                                 She was younger here...93.  Bye Now!

MotherLode and Dixieland Jazz Festival

  

                               

     We had a great time exploring the old west, including a private tour of the State Capitol.  Notice the personal welcome to the Senate Chamber.  

     The Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Festival was fantastic; about 60,000 people in lots of venues and on the streets, listening to great music.  One of the best things about car travel is experiencing the beauty of the California countryside; rolling hills, huge oak trees, cattle, horses, and all the things we forget about living in the big city.  It is very restorative.

"On The Road Again"

We are in Northern California on the trail of the Gold Rush in the 1850s.  Lots of charming old mining towns, with the historic main streets looking very much as they did, with the exception of little antique shops and boutiques housed in the storefronts.  The picture above is the Historic Murphys Hotel in the town of Murphys where we stayed.  There are a lot of wineries in Murphys, with tasting rooms.  It draws many tourists in the summer.  We are now in our state Capitol, Sacramento.  For the next few days we will be enjoying a Dixieland Jazz Festival...what fun!

THE DRAMA CONTINUES

Sunset Over a Blue Lagoon

The Dreaded Air Cast

  Why, you ask, is my last acrylic painting stuck in here with the cast and the nurse?  I don't really have an answer for that.  I just like the painting and don't have a good chance to look at it often since it is downstairs above the fireplace, and I am stuck upstairs most of the time.  The painting is much more light and joyful than it photographed.  

This evening my cousin's daughter will be getting married.  The family is very excited; we will all be gathering at an elegant hotel and will be having a great time.  I'm looking forward to it.
    
Yesterday I saw the doctor after my 3 month term was nearly over (1 week to go).  I expected the bone to be healed.  However, the ex-ray showed that it is BEGINNING to heal.  I have to come back in 6 weeks for another look.  I can put a tiny bit of weight on the foot from time to time, but no major difference in my activity.  Suffice it to say I am disappointed, angry, depressed, think the boredom will "do me in," and just want to cry.  If you are not well, getting older just sucks; but the alternative is suckier.

     Then there is the lovely Jennifer.  She is an RN, and comes 3 days a week.  I don't really need an RN, but we have known her for a long time, and she is like a member of our family.  It feels so comfortable with her here; she anticipates my needs and truly gives me a lot of care.  We also laugh a lot and she makes my days go faster.   I just love her and would hate to have to give her up.

     Howard, out of love and commitment does the other 4 days.  I am very grateful, it's really hard to do, but we are getting on each other's nerves. Our upcoming vacation will give us a well needed break in the routine.

Nurse Jennifer and Webber

TROUBLE IN A CURLY WHITE COAT

     This is Webber.  We think he is the biggest Bichon Frisee (without the fancy haircut) on earth.  He has the papers to prove his lineage, and he acts like a Bichon, but he weighs 25 lbs.
     We've had him for about 2 years, but he lived with a neighbor in a very loving home since his birth.  He was 5 when we adopted him from his home, where he could no longer be taken care of.  Now I know he was spoiled when we got him, but he has become very needy of late.  He has his own way of communicating with us.  He squeaks and whines.  He starts with one squeak, and if he doesn't get a response, he adds to the squeaks and gets louder and more insistent.  He reserves this behavior for begging at the table and standing at the side of the bed wanting to climb in with us.  He is a playful sort, loves his long legged stuffed dog toys.  He grabs one leg in his teeth and twirls it around, ending with a flip over his back; it's really cute.  He is also very loyal and protective; too much so.  He hates the UPS man; hears his truck coming up the block, and stands at the gate barking at him until he passes our house.  If I get a package, the man often just puts it in front of the gate and hurries into the truck.
     His loyalty is unparalleled; we go out for a few hours and find him sitting at the gate waiting for our return, and as happy as if we were gone for weeks.  I love the little guy; so does my husband, but he said when Webber goes up to doggie heaven, we are not getting another dog!  We'll see.

ARIAL OR TREBUCHET?

     This is ridiculous! I've been in search for the "perfect" blog layout; one that reflects my personality, preferences, talents, and so forth.  There "'ain't" no such thing.  I spent a good chunk of my time yesterday changing templates, colors, fonts, and formats, and nothing was good enough.  Finally, I settled on one.  I don't know how long it will last, because I love to change them around.  But at least this one looks like me.  I'll let you figure that one out!  Really, I think that what one puts into a blog is more important than the way it looks.....a good metaphor for building one's character as well.

THE RANCH AND THE TORNADO

    We have dear friends who have a wonderful ranch in Montana.  They raise buffalo to whom they give names of family members and friends.  The buffalo and the people are so proud to have the honor bestowed upon them.  Whenever I go to the ranch I get the feeling of calm and relief from stress that wide open spaces can bring about.
     One summer, our hostess, a friend and I (all city girls) drove the jeep into the small farm town to buy decorations and food for a neighbor's baby shower.  It was about a 45 minute drive, and we looked forward to the outing.  The moment we got there, we sensed there was something wrong.  There was a stillness in the air, and little pieces of paper were twirling around in a little circle.  Odd?  We thought so, too.  But it didn't stop us.  It was 3:00 PM on a Saturday, and some of the stores were closed.  Why? Did they know something we didn't know?
     We got some of the errands done, and when we exited the store we looked up and saw a pitch black sky.  It started to get windy.  We realized that it was a tornado, and we had a long drive ahead of us.  A tornado?  We don't have those in New York City or Los Angeles.  What do we do, hide from it? Drive right through it?  We were speeding down the road and the black funnel cloud was following us.  Then it started to hail.  Believe me when I tell you that the hail was as big as baseballs; and they made big dents in the car.  The only building we saw on the road was an abandoned gas station, and there was no place to take shelter, so we pressed on.
     We got back to the ranch in time to avoid being swallowed up by the storm, but there were others who were not so lucky.  The storm went on through the night.  We saw on TV that there were tornado warnings, but we couldn't see anything out the window but blackness and lightning.  We were glad to be on our way home the next day, but at the Billings Airport there were tornado warning sirens going off.  My thought?  Get me outta here!
     Of course, we returned to the ranch several more times, always with the anticipation of a wonderful few days with friends, living a much different life than we do at home.