Debi Stitches

How do you spell...

2012-01-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

SPECTACULAR.

That was my day at Disneyland yesterday. Took my mom and - while we agreed we both dislike change in general - the changes in our day worked out splendidly.

We already knew that a half-block of Main Street, including our favorite breakfast place, would be boarded up and under renovation, but we left at our usual time anyway. When we arrived we were directed to park in a space that wasn't even a real parking space, very much out in a Neverland within the Mickey and Friends parking structure up on the Donald level. I was a little disgruntled as a handful of cars ahead of us had been allowed to park in the front of the first row in the second section and another whole row behind us was directed to the back part of the spaces in the front of the first row. (If you know how the parking structure is arranged at DL, that might make sense.) But we were directed to a non-space right by the exit. Anyway, I was whining in my mind as I got Mom's wheelchair out as a young castmember approached me and offered me a "1st Visit" pin for being such a good sport about being parked so far out there. I was trying not to be insulted (being a 57-year veteran and all) when he offered me a different pin from his bag. I spied a "Happily Every After" pin and asked for one of those instead, which he gave to me. I pinned it to my shirt and pushed Mom to the elevator which was - shockingly - empty.

At the tram station we parked as usual at the top of the wheelchair ramp, expecting to wait for the next tram. A young family with a stroller was waiting to be allowed to board in the wheelchair seat, but the young mother motioned to us and told the tram operator that they would wait since he had a wheelchair waiting. He misunderstood her and kept all of us waiting until the next tram. The young family was confused and disgruntled and said something polite but questioning to him (he had allowed two other families to move ahead of them into the handicapped seat). It turned out that he thought we were all together and since we all wouldn't fit in the area (there was already another family in the seat), he had us wait. I commented that the young woman was just being kind to suggest we go first, but that we were not together. It occurred to me then to give her the pin I'd just been given. She was thrilled; couldn't stop thanking me and asking "Are you sure?"

Oh, yeah, I'm sure. It was a kick to help such a nice young woman get her day off to a happy start.

It was a stunningly beautiful day at the Park yesterday. Santa Ana winds are the pits in Southern California and we'd had a couple of days of them, but the growth around Disneyland does a pretty good job as a windbreak so the result for us was a crystal clear day and mild temperatures. In fact, I was a little uncomfortable in my sweatshirt for a few hours in the afternoon.

After a breakfast at the Riverbelle Terrace (a painless experience) we started our day with the Disneyland Band at the front gate.

Usually when we're there to enjoy the band we also get to enjoy the antics of the Mad Hatter and Alice, but they weren't there yesterday. Not disappointed, though, for the extra time that the band wasn't playing into the Hatter Show, they played some numbers we had never heard before.

After this performance, we moved to Town Square to wait for their next concert. The flower beds in Town Square were full of Iceland Poppies, one of my favorite flowers. Bees were busily collecting pollen. Sometimes the oddest things pop into my head. When I saw these bees I was first grateful to be seeing bees at all (new data suggests we've been killing them off in the billions with pesticides and are on the verge of a food production disaster). Then I remembered when one of my colleagues was preparing to take a few dozen eighth graders on the annual Washington, DC trip and was approached by a parent insisting that my colleague contact the airline used for the trip to inform them that they could not have peanuts on board the flight because her son was allergic. I wondered for a moment if anyone had ever insisted that Disneyland make sure there were no bees in the park because their child was allergic.

Probably.

While we waited we enjoyed the antics of Dale as he played with children wanting autographs and photo.

The DL Band did one of my favorite shows of Disney movie themes.

Disneyland, where even the poppies dance.

After this concert we made our way up Main Street. Change - improvement - is coming to the Carnation Cafe, ice cream parlor and Candy Palace. I don't know what is planned for the Penny Arcade but with all I've read about the renovations to the others I fear the Penny Arcade might implode. The Refreshment Corner (aka Coke Corner) is also boarded up which means...

Sigh.

The Coke Corner piano corner has been a favorite hang-out for Mom and me since 2005 when I "discovered" Johnny Hodges there. Well, seems we had work to do.

And we did it.

I love the Mark Twain trip along the Rivers of America and Mom and I enjoyed the "new" addition of the piano.

Thank you, Ragtime Patrick.

I'm nuts about water wheels and manage to photo this one every day that I ride this boat. Never get tired of it.

Well, here was something new. I'm quite used to the ducks and coots that live on the river, but this is the first time I've seen one of these. Double-crested cormorant, I believe.

After our trip around the island we headed for a break at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon and the fabulous Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. We were early enough to get a great table, and by the time of the show the room was packed and everyone in high spirits. Nothing like audience energy to guarantee an exceptional (rather than merely terrific as usual) show.

After the Billies we decided we wanted to hear some more piano, and the challenge was raised. How do we figure out when this piano player was going to be on the Mark Twain? We took three rides in a row then finally connected up with him on the fourth.

It was worth the effort.

This was my favorite number of the selection on the program yesterday. Having fun with discord.

I have to say, though, that one of the things I love about this riverboat ride is the quiet among the chaos that can be Disneyland. On a glorious winter day like yesterday the park can get very crowded - and it was - and this 15-minute voyage is a calming break. I was grateful for the three quiet tours we took, and won't be sorry when the Main Street renovations are complete and the piano returns to Coke Corner.

By then it was nearly 3:00 and time to eat. Our favorite lunch/dinner place is the Pizza Porte which I'd read was also closed for renovations, so we decided to try the new Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (former Blue Ribbon Bakery). Adorable Mary Poppins theme. I had the Caprese sandwich and it was delish.

The restaurant is themed on the penguin waiters from Mary Poppins. Aren't the windows adorable?

During the 2005 50th Happiest Homecoming I really enjoyed finding the Mickey icons throughout the park and, in the process of finding them, noticed for the first time the use of clever weathervanes throughout the park. So I got a big kick out of this one on the new bakery cafe.

The yellow and white section of tables in front of the cafe is one of the best people-watching spots in Disneyland and we always enjoy the show. As we lingered I noticed the scaffolding to facilitate the changes to the Matterhorn. I've read they're installing new bobsleds to this old favorite of mine. I've also read that they will be a new style, one, it seems, that will give a little more security to the rider. I know some will grieve the loss of the cuddle factor on this ride, but the last time I rode this I nearly ruptured a disc in my back and I haven't been on it since. It makes me smile to think I may be able to ride it again.

I am often dissatisfied with my job as a middle school teacher. 8th graders can be a challenge. But when I consider what I might do instead, I guarantee anything that involves functional thinking on scaffolding like this is off the list.

It turned out that our table was also a decent place to enjoy the Soundsational parade, although we agreed we would return to our favorite spot on the sidewalk in Town Square in front of the railroad station in the future.

After the parade we did return to Town Square for the retiring of the flag. Disney does a brilliantly inspiring job of this every day, but Saturdays are special. Disneyland Band playing patriotic marches and tunes, Dapper Dans joining them. A "real" color guard to bring down the colors.

My favorite part of the program, though, is the honoring of vets and military guests. As the theme for their branch of service is played, they are invited to come to the flag pole to stand and let us applaud to thank them for their service and sacrifice. I admit to getting goose bumps every time when one of the Dapper Dans joins them when the Army song is played. I enjoy singing the National Anthem when the flag is lowered. Everyone needs to take a half-hour from their Disneyland day at least once to experience this thrilling ceremony.

The poppies were especially pretty in the twilight.

After the ceremony we made the trip up Main Street one more time to do something we'd been promising ourselves for a couple of years now.

It was time to enjoy some SWING at the Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Sets were scheduled for 7, 8, 9 and 10, so the sun set while we were there. By seven the floor had been cleared, swept, mopped, inspected and hand dried.

Time to swing!

Here's a surprise for my older son.

I gotta learn this one.

And yes, I know I'm only showing their feet. I don't want to violate the dancers' privacy too much by showing more than their feet without permission.

I can't believe how much fun this was! I thought we would stay for one, maybe two, sets, but we couldn't make ourselves leave. This is a "small" community of about a hundred people (as many as 40 couples on the floor at one time) dancing and watching and applauding and mostly just enjoying fantastic music and the closeness that comes when a community of people with a shared passion collects. Just before the last set the fireworks played and it was my all-time favorite show, "Remember, Dreams Come True."

Our time spent here made our day complete. We usually like to end our day tucked in with the piano at Coke Corner, but on Saturdays that became awkward for us. Now we have a new and - frankly - much more fun hang-out for our Saturday evening visits.

I'd been wearing my pedometer all day. Including the trek back to the Neverland parking space I logged five miles (and earned 5 WW points). Once in the car I noticed the advantage to that space - a quick right turn and I was heading down the exit ramp. Traffic was light, not too many drunks and we were home about 12:30 am.

Grateful for another terrific day with my mom at our favorite place.

Synchronicity.

2012-01-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

I'm bombarded with it.

So, today's kind of low day. Feeling blue.

It happens.

Brene Brown says we "numb" negative feelings like this with food, booze, drugs and meds.

My numb-er of choice is chocolate.

This started last night. I'd had a pretty good day on Weight Watchers, but came home, crashed and inhaled several handfuls of chocolate chips.

So, today I'm fighting the urge to numb. Again.

Reflecting on my sad feelings, trying to pinpoint the problem while I fight the urge to raid the chips again. And this popped up on facebook:

“There will be times when it’s tough going and you’ll question whether you can do it or not. There’ll be times when it seems fruitless and there’s absolutely no progress whatsoever. That’s when you take a deep breath, dig down deep, and persevere.”

Nancy Sathre-Vogel

Isn't that exciting. The perfect quote pops up when I'm in my deepest need. I took a couple of minutes to copy and paste it into my "Inspiration" Word file, then returned to facebook to find this.

Um.

So now, what am I supposed to think?

Purging...

2012-01-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

...the up side.

And sometimes purging is just delightful, especially when you run across something so full of memories as this sweatshirt.

My cousin has worked for the Hiawatha, Kansas, Walmart since it opened. One year they had a contest. Employees submitted designs for sweatshirts and the winning design would be made into a garment. My cousin's design won, and this was one of the sweatshirts that was made with her design.

I love Hiawatha. I love northeastern Kansas. I would retire there in a heartbeat if all my immediate family didn't live here.

My cousin is only three weeks older than I, and we've been spiritually close since we were about eight. In fact, now that I think of it, the first non-school writing I did was our correspondence over the years.

We used to to drive to Kansas about every third year to stay on my uncle's farm for a couple of weeks during harvest. Dad would help my uncle, Mom would help my aunt feed the houseful plus. And, as I recall, I would sit and giggle. My aunt and uncle were two of the funniest people I ever remember knowing. Uncle would come in from harvesting wheat or feeding hogs or whatever the work of the day was and recite poetry. Oh, how his eyes would twinkle!

I remember one year during my cat-crazy days they had a couple of dozen kittens of various ages and I thought I'd hit the jackpot. Another year uncle had been tilling my aunt's kitchen garden and came in with a nest of tiny baby bunnies cradled in his hands.

And fireflies. I guess Californians should be happy that we have such nice weather all the time, but I would gladly trade some of our 70-degree winter days for a couple of weeks of fireflies.

The sweatshirt is way too big for me now, I'm happy to brag. But it (and all the memories attached to it) stays. I'm so thrilled to have found it.

Purge...

2012-01-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

...in process.

I love these little scissors.

Even at this moment, the fat bows (did you know that's what the handles are called?) against the short, squatty blades make me smile.

We are still in the process of purging the accumulation of 38 years from our little 3-bedroom home. I am vacating our storage unit (rent = Japan trip) by March 1. We've unloaded a lot of stuff, some of which I might have liked to keep. My heart did a little skip when DS2's girlfriend shared excitedly about how happy people were to get the Disney Christmas pieces.

Yes, I'm sure they were.

Sniff.

Anyway, the scissors are the kinds of things I'm having a hard time with. I think they're adorable. They make me smile. But they are the WORST scissors in the world.

First of all, they are not black metal. The color comes from blacking on the device. I learned it was blacking when it smudged on my stitchery the first time I used them. It took forever to get the blacking off (no warning on the package to do this before ruining a piece of fabric). Still, I do love the design so I figured it would be worth it.

Then I learned - again the hard way - that they don't cut. I mean, c'mon. One strand of embroidery floss (cotton). They won't cut through one strand of floss.

So, do I pitch them out (they are non-functional) or keep them as art?

Sigh.

P.S. The embroidery design was a freebie by Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches. I love the whimsical nature of many of the Australian designers. This is going to be part of a memo pad cover. Someday.

Relief.

2012-01-14T13:54:00.000-08:00

Not a disaster.

Found the missing piece of chart and will not have to frog anything. Got carried away with the highlighter and will have to stitch the area between the yellow arrows first, but that's OK. I'm happy that I'm not facing a complete re-stitch of the green fairy.

The colors are pretty, aren't they?

I always did like to color.

Oh...

2012-01-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

...man.

2012 is going to be amazing. I love my resolutions and celebrate the hopefulness that fills me almost every morning.

(Yesterday was tough after spending 11 hours gutting the garage with DS2 in preparation for moving out of our storage unit but even then, the idea of saving $130 a month is a hopeful thought. $1560 a year is a trip to Japan, right?)

So, today has been a good day. Worked out my sore, exhausted self for an hour last night at the gym and came home feeling great. Good night sleep, good day at work.

Came home to my facebook friends and learned, sadly, that a former stitching friend can no longer stitch because of a new physical condition. She reminded me that one of my resolutions for 2012 is to finish my "Firefly Faeries" cross stitch. The last time I worked on it was the last time I visited Eden, Utah, which was about three years ago.

I have dozens of projects (cross-stitch, quilt, doll, embroidery) stashed around my house, waiting until I can retire when I will have the time to do them.

Naivete, your name is Debi.

It never dawned on me that 1) As I aged (arthritis, eyesight, attention span), it would be more difficult to do the stitchery that I've collected and 2) the economy would tank and I would have to postpone my retirement for possibly as long as 15 years, taking me to 70, when my body would have even more problems.

Hence the resolution. I want to complete some of these more difficult projects while I still have the chops.

So, I dug out the faeries, my favorite of the UFOs.

Locate the project..

...and the fibers.

Snap it into a frame...

...and add the protective covering for the edges.

Mount the absolutely essential magnifying lens...

...and I'm ready to stitch.

All I need now is the chart. Ah, yes, there it is. I'll just mount it on its stand and...

2012 Resolution #2 - Clean up my language. No more "f" word. Actually I decided to replace the common "f" word with the word "forgive". But "frustrated" seems more appropriate right about now. "Furious," maybe. "Fearful"? "Faltering?"

FAIL.

Three years. I have no memory of writing myself that note, so no idea what the problem is. All I can do now is wait until I can "follow" the directions I left myself three years ago and make a new copy of the chart (or two or ten or maybe just "four") and highlight my way through the chart to see where the error is.

I know I left out two vertical rows in the blue dress but was able to make it "good enough." Somehow - because I left myself that note - I'm thinking the green dress has more serious problems.

"Foolish" Debi. It's 2012. It's going to be "fabulous."

Keep moving "forward."

Walt Disney never steers me wrong.

The Poozies-Another Train

2012-01-04T20:38:00.000-08:00

Climb aboard. It's yours this time.

NINA SIMONE-FEELING GOOD

2012-01-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me.

Yeaaahhhh... feelin' good.

It will be...

2011-12-31T23:10:00.000-08:00

AMAZING!

One more day...

2011-12-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

...of 2011

This is my view when I wake up in the mornings. When I'm lucky and can sleep in a little, I can catch the sun turning these trees golden. A few minutes of magic.

I read for a while. I'm reading Brene Brown's I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't) and Stuart Brown's Play. Between these two lie the answers to our problems with education, if only we were willing to make the changes. And some of my problems, too, and I am willing to make the changes.

I spent about an hour cleaning the Faerie Garden. I think we're in for an early spring. The lisianthus is jumping out of the ground, fuchsias in bloom already. The brugs are looking kind of puny. I'll need to decide whether to start their feeding program or not. If this is a false spring, I would not like to have encouraged new growth only to have it frozen off when winter returns.

I treated myself to something I've been promising myself for weeks - a quick trip to the sea.

I live less than 1/2 hour from many beautiful beaches, but never go to them. I usually get irritated by nasty parents and their nasty children. The beaches I love - the quiet cliffs of the central California coast - are too far for a quick visit. So, today I decided to give this one a try. Fifteen minutes out to Mugu Rock, where I sat on a much smaller rock for a half hour, then made my way home. It was a little foggy, but the visitors that I shared the parking lot with were pleasant. A porpoise made a quick appearance offshore. I'll try it again sometime, but maybe choose a spot with a little less asphalt.

I stopped at the gym for an hour. I managed to put on 12 pounds during this holiday season. I don't know that I would eat any differently next year, but will definitely keep up my workout schedule. I'm confident I'll drop this pretty quickly, but I'm irritated with myself for putting myself behind after it took so long to get it off. I'm really anxious to finish this weight loss project this year. Like, by June 14.

I can do it.

If I keep moving.

Amazed.

2011-12-29T20:44:00.000-08:00

This just in...

...from my friend about her daughter.

Nine days ago I got the phone call every parent dreads to get, that my baby was probably not going to make it through the night. She literally clung to life for the next 4 days and then roller-coastered up and down for a couple more. The past two days have seen vast improvement and this afternoon was like a miracle: off oxygen, eating regular food, they had her up walking (with a walker and nurses plus a chair following right behind) and they removed her neck main line today and replaced it with an arm IV. She was not downgraded off the critical list yet, but it is only due to a few medicines they are still giving her and that they want her white count down more. But she is on her way....talking coherently like you wouldn't believe.

I got the message via facebook on my android while waiting for my Weight Watchers meeting. It's OK; I don't mind sobbing in a parking lot if it's for such a happy reason.

Chef Oscar.

2011-12-29T12:07:00.000-08:00

Congratulations!

Whenever my mom and I head to Disneyland, we leave very early - between 6:00 and 6:30 am - because we have a favorite routine. Leaving by 6:30 am latest gets us to the park in time to park, get the tram in, go through security and gate and be at the Carnation Cafe in time to enjoy breakfast and make it back to the front gate in time for the Disneyland Band's first set.

No other restaurant will do, mostly because we've gotten to know our wait staff and the delightful Chef Oscar.

I just noted this article about the Chef. He's being honored at an "internal party" for being Disneyland's longest-term employee. 55 years, almost the entire history of the park.

Chef Oscar is one of those Disney castmembers who should serve as role model for the others. He always greets us with a smile of welcome and a short conversation that makes us feel like we belong. And I swear the food (I always order Chef Oscar's Scramble) tastes better when he is reigning in his tall white hat.

Sending my congratulations, Chef Oscar, and my fervent wish that you get your dream come true. I'll check the next time I'm there for breakfast with you.

More great news.

2011-12-29T11:33:00.000-08:00

'Like a Cougar"

This is how my friend describes her daughter's fight and progress.

Today is Thursday. On Tuesday she was off the ventilator and onto a cpap machine. She would squeeze her mother's hand on request, wiggle her toes for the doctor and chew ice chips. Yesterday she was on nasal oxygen, speaking single words and had opened one eye halfway. She said "Hi," to her Mom.

Today she is up in a chair, eating and talking a mile a minute. I can't even begin to imagine how her mother is feeling right now.

But this progress for this lovely young woman is making ME cry.

Splendid News.

2011-12-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

GREAT NEWS for all who have been helping with my friend's daughter. Today she squeezed her mother's hand on request, wiggled her toes for the doctor and chewed ice chips. She's off the ventilator and onto cpap assistance. Still in critical condition but everyone is celebrating this improvement and the reassurance that she's still there. I know they appreciate your attention and will appreciate your continued sending of the good stuff.

John Denver and the Muppets: The Christmas Wish

2011-12-24T08:46:00.000-08:00

"If you believe in love, that will be more than enough for you to come and celebrate with me."

Whether you are a familiar friend here, or if you just ended up here by mistake, please accept this as my Christmas wish for you.

Merry Christmas. May 2012 be filled with peace and joy.

P.S. My friend's daughter is breathing 50% on her own and got mad when they moved her this morning. Encouraging news. Please keep a good thought for her.

Sigh.

2011-12-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

Facebook family.

Today on one Michigan friend's status I keep tabs as her daughter, a Disney castmember in Orlando, fights for her life. The status immediately following is an exultant post about a Colorado friend's "perfect" day at Disneyland Anaheim with her family.

Later, the Michigan friend posts that her daughter remains in critical condition, on a respirator, unresponsive. The post immediately following is from my colleague (who teaches art in the classroom next to mine) who shares a picture of her holding her minutes-old grandson, born this afternoon.

It's hard to find an emotion to hold onto.

I suppose love will have to suffice.

Cradle in Bethlehem - GMCLA

2011-12-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hold your breath for this one; you won't want to miss a note.

They let us sing with them. I was probably flat, but my soul was on key.

To start a day...

2011-12-21T09:09:00.000-08:00

... in the right way.

I started - as always - checking my buds on facebook to see how their day is going so far. I have facebook friends from all over the world: France, Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan as well as from several of the United States. Some are old (and treasured) friends and family, others are new (and treasured) friends and family.

This morning two had left gifts. The first is (I hope) posted below. Another number from the concert I attended on Sunday. Just before DS1 left for his permanent move to Japan we had a conversation about live music and how important it is to keep the relationship between performer and audience alive. I performed (as a dancer) for a short time in my life, but am still the mother (and daughter and sister, for that matter) of performing musicians. I have experienced the magical exchange of energy in this unique relationship many times. I even had the experience of watching the transformation of a major stage performance just because one teenage audience member - my son - couldn't keep his enthusiasm for a duo of Celtic fiddlers silent one more second. His shouted, one word compliment had an immediate effect on the performers, which translated into an awakening of the audience and a more enthusiastic performance for the rest of the show.

Yes, magic.

I took my conversation with DS1 seriously, and committed to supporting live music as much as possible. For years, I had been enjoying the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles from their Christmas Eve performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion that has been broadcast on PBS. It was not hard to decide to buy a season series last year. It was such as fabulous experience that I had promised myself the series again this year, with an extra $100 donation to the chorus. However, when I got the notice that season tickets were again available, they were doing a special promotion and I got a significant discount on the series. It was enough of a discount that for just a little more than what I was budgeting (with my donation), I could buy a second series and invite someone to share a concert with me. This time I invited an old and best friend, and she and I had a blast.

So, having started my morning with "Joyful, Joyful" I scrolled down a little further and was gifted with this:

Yes, I am richer. More fortunate. Luckier. More blessed.

More grateful.

I don't have much "Christmas Spirit" this year. Oh, I'm not feeling "Scrooge-y" or "Grinch-y." I'm feeling quite happy and am enjoying the elements of the season. DS2 and his GF put up a lovely light display. The Charlie Brown tree is in the kitchen this year and we may get some ornaments on it tonight. The Santas are in the hallway as usual. This year I hung a garland with colored lights in the window of The Sanctuary and am enjoying them as I write this. I've had some lovely shopping expeditions where shoppers and sellers alike were in happy spirits. Today I'll finish my own shopping (although if I stopped now, I think my recipients would be happy with their gifts), including a trip to Trader Joe's for eggnog and hot cocoa mix and frozen bread dough for Christmas morning cinnamon rolls.

But I've apparently abandoned my traditional holiday spirit. This is probably a good thing and just another symptom of The Transformation.

I am not who I was, and not yet who I am.

In December of 2009 I started down a path of change. In June of 2010 a friend recommended Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. He told me it had transformed him. I smiled and replied that transformation was probably aiming a little high but that if I could find a couple of missing pieces I would be happy.

The next time I saw my friend, he said he'd been trying to come up with an analogy for me and remembered the old-fashioned Christmas lights. "Remember," he asked, "how when one would burn out, the whole string would go out? And how you had to unscrew each bulb and try a new one, one at a time? And then, when you found the right one, the whole string would light up?" That's how it will be for you, he said. Finding the missing pieces will transform you.

And he was right.

I'll never look at Christmas lights the same way again.

I worked that program, and it led me to others from whom I continue to learn. From Jonathan Haidt's Happiness Hypothesis into Sonja Lyubomirsky's terrific little "Live Happy" app for my ipod. To a writing class with Jack Grapes and some young people who continue to guide and support me. (I'm so grateful for you guys.) Joseph Campbell and Derek Sivers and Anne Lamott and Geneen Roth and Deepak Chopra. I'm soaking myself in Brene Brown now (multiple youtube presentations well worth the watch; second reading - with highlighter and sticky tabs - of The Gifts of Imperfection. I Thought It Was Just Me... is next on the book list). and from Brown I got the final shove into The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho and now The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

I am transformed - and happier than I ever remember being - and so my Christmas spirit is also transformed. For decades my Christmas spirit has been a wash of expectation and anticipation and eventual disappointment. I never thought I was asking a lot. Let me clean the house until it sparkled. Let me make cookies - chocolate chip and chocolate crinkles and peanut butter (with Kitchen Klatter flavorings) and snickerdoodles from Grandma's recipe and iced sugar cookies. Let me decorate every room (even the pig-themed bathroom) and let me create the annual magic with the Christmas tree. 1500 lights and almost four decades of collected ornaments including four dozen crystal icicles. Let me be finished with it all by the day before Christmas Eve - clean windows reflecting multi-colored lights, presents wrapped under the tree, a sugar cookie in one hand, cocoa in the other. Jimmy Joyce Singers singing Al Burt carols and a quiet Christmas Eve enjoying my own sense of anticipation, wondering what was in the gifts that had my name on them under the tree.

Never happened.

Someone was always right behind me to make a mess of what I'd cleaned. Need rain? Bring me to your neighborhood and let me wash your windows. Guaranteed rainmaking. The tree was always a love/hate project over which I usually became so frustrated and angry that when it was finally finished it would take me days to get past my resentment of the effort. There were never enough hours to do ALL the cookies. And my Santa had a different tradition than I. No gifts to wonder over in the days leading up to Christmas; they only appear on Christmas Eve.

This year - and I think it's a good thing - I don't have my usual "Christmas Spirit." Windows have not been washed. There are dust elephants (yellow lab) everywhere. Today there may be cookies. There may not. DH is expecting company Friday. He may do some cleaning (I will be at my mom's Thursday getting her house ready for the whole family on Christmas) or he may not.

I don't really have any expectations for The Day and am just enjoying each step toward The Event as best I can. Time with my mom (helped with a little decorating at her house last weekend). The SNC concert two weeks ago, GMCLA Sunday. Shopping has been delightful. For the most part everyone is in a holiday mood punctuated by patience and good will. I've been pretty lucky to find what I've been hoping to find as gifts. I'll get them wrapped and under the little Charlie Brown tree sitting on the kitchen cabinet.

So that my loved ones can wonder.

Meanwhile, the little sparkler that lives inside continues to twinkle.

Like the Christmas lights.

Joyful GMCLA

2011-12-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

No wonder I love these guys. This was the finale. Trouble with recordings of any kind is that you can't feel the music move through you like I could during this performance. But you can still get a hint of the energy these amazing men send out and have returned to them from loving fans.

Happily...

2011-12-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

...someone else's videos turned out OK.

The audience was given permission at this weekend's Naughty and Nice holiday concert of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles to video these two numbers. My videos did not turn out, so I'm sharing someone else's.

As always, it was a fabulous concert. Now I have to mark time until their "Mighty Pipes" concert in March.

Malibu Monks - Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles

2011-12-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles performs 'Chanukah in Santa Monica'

2011-12-18T20:57:00.000-08:00

Day 11 - Sunday, November 27, 2011

2011-12-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

Tears.

Leaving was hard, but I was glad I had a morning flight so that I didn't have a chance to completely break down. I did convince my DIL to stay upstairs with the baby rather than stand on the curb waiting for a cab.

My son and I took a cab to the Hotel Metropolitan (where we'd had lunch early in the visit; it was starting to feel like home) where we caught the limo bus to the airport.

I had dreaded this part of the trip, but we had such a lovely conversation on the two-hour+ trip to Narita that it stays in memory as one of my favorite parts of the trip. After picking up passengers at a handful of other hotels, we were on the highway.

Of course, I didn't have my camera handy when this happened, but at one point my son pointed out the other side of the bus and said, "Look familiar, Mom?" Sure enough, there was the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain. For some reason I had it in my head that Tokyo Disneyland was on the other side of Narita and certainly not something I would see on this trip. It was a comfort to get that connection at that time.

Check-in with Korean Air at Narita was just as easy as it had been at LAX. My son and I did some window-shopping (note to self: traditional souvenirs at the airport) before getting into the long security line. He stayed with me as long as he could and we exchanged a teary hug. I got a little laugh right away, though, when I learned that - after over a week of removing my shoes everywhere I went, the security check would be one place where it wasn't required. Go figure.

I survived the last heart-rending moment of the trip when my son, following a ritual he and his wife had created, gave me one last wave from the window overlooking the escalator that I had to take to get - eventually - to the gates.

Yeah, I lost it. It's OK. It wouldn't hurt so much if I didn't love them so much, if I wasn't so proud of them, if we hadn't had such a terrific time.

It was worth the tears.

I had no problems on any other leg of the journey home. The only culture shock I felt in the whole trip was going into the passport check area of LAX. By California standards the folks working this area just seemed loud, maybe overworked but not rude. But after over a week of continual, everywhere-I-went, everyone-I-met, quiet, respectful treatment the loud pushiness of LAX was overwhelming. Still, I executed the steps calmly and efficiently and was thrilled to find the rest of my family waiting for me at the top of the ramp out of customs.

I had lost a day when I got to Japan, and got it back when I returned. I arrived before 8:00 am on the day that I left Japan, and spent the rest of the Sunday doing laundry, catching up on email and in general trying to get my mind wrapped around the idea of returning to work the next day.

And now, the planning and preparation for my next trip begins.

Day 10 - Saturday, November 25, 2011

2011-12-11T11:13:00.000-08:00

Tough.

I tried really hard (and did a pretty good job) of trying to get the work of the day done (packing for my return trip) without obsessing over the fact that this was my last day with my family. Being my son's first real day off since I got here, I was happy to stick close to home and enjoy their company.

Since I was leaving behind most of what I had brought with me (mostly goods that my son and DIL had had to leave behind when they relocated and gifts for the baby), I was able to pack one carry-on into the biggest bag and fill the rest of the bag with laundry. The rest of my stuff I was able to fit into the smaller bag, leaving me only one tote bag and my purse as carry-on. I had that chore done before the family woke up.

After a brief conference on food, the kids decided to make Japanese curry and my son and I were off for one last visit to my favorite shopping street.


One of several family gardens along the street. I had enjoyed their bonsai each time we passed.

A shrine at an intersection. My son didn't know what or who was being honored, but I think he said this street had been part of the main road to Edo.


Here we are, ready to shop.

We got pork and chicken at the meat market...

...then went to the regular market for veggies and other foodstuffs.

And for dessert, delicious chocolate cake from the bakery.

I am grateful that I got to experience some of the fall color of Japan (which comes late to this part of the country) without sliding into winter just yet.

Goldenrod in a lot on the way home.

Once home, we visited while my son cooked up the curry for dinner and served lunch. Later in the afternoon they decided on a walk to the park. I asked for a detour to the market that had a 100-yen store upstairs (as I was still short of gifts for folks at home). All good.

It had been fun on the trip to note the "western" touches here and there, especially when they were tucked into the traditional neighborhoods.

As we walked to the park, I was happy to note there is a children's exploratorium science museum on their street.

The park was breathtaking, and I was happy that it was "theirs."

Shortly after we arrived back home, my DIL's mother arrived for dinner. It's frustrating for both of us that we don't have the same spoken language, but we get along well with hugs and smiles. Genuine welcome is felt, not spoken, and she has always made me feel welcome in her daughter's life.

We spent another lovely, quiet family evening together. Too soon it was time to declare that day ended and head for bed.

Day 9 - Friday, November 25, 2011

2011-12-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

Solo shopping day.

My DIL was still feeling poorly, so I decided this would be a good day to take the hike up to the department store again to finish my Christmas/souvenir shopping. It is an easy walk - no more than a mile - straight down their street and straight back so I had no concern about getting lost. I managed to get there, buy what I wanted and get home without incident.

On the way home I went over an overpass and saw these posts. I think maybe they are to keep cars from parking on the sides of the bridge? They were the entire length of the bridge, and it wasn't until I got to the other side that I realized they had these lovely bronzes on them. I had to take out my camera and walk back until I had one of each in my photo collection.

My son brought home a feast picked up from small shops on his way home from the train station. Delicious sushis and rolls, chicken sticks (breast meat, dark meat, heart, liver and skin) and - the most interesting - takoyaki.

My son described the process to create this delicious treat (one of his favorites). The chef puts a little bit of batter - like a pancake batter - into the bottom of a pan that looks kind of like a round-bottomed muffin pan. He rotates the pan until the batter starts to cook into a coating on the sides of the pan. Then he adds a piece of octopus (tako) to the pan. As the batter continues to cook, the chef "rolls" the battered octopus into a ball. When it's done you have this kind of a dumpling with a piece of octopus inside. Ours was served in a bamboo boat like shown in this photo, but without the red sauce. Instead ours had Japanese mayonaisse. Fish flakes finish off as garnish. I love octopus and enjoyed this treat very much, although next visit I want to try one without the mayo and fish flakes; the flavors were a little distracting.

After dinner my DIL took over KP duty so my son, grandson and I could spend some time together. One of my favorite memories from this trip will be the joy of watching my son play with his son. They enjoy each other so much! It was on this evening that the baby was happily successful at sticking out his tongue on prompt. We could tell he not only knew what he was doing, he was proud of his little self for the accomplishment!

I'm so proud of my son and my daughter-in-law. They are wonderful parents and it's a joy to watch the three of them function as a family.

P.S. On my way home from the department store I had picked up more ice cream treats. They were even more delicious enjoyed while awake.

Day 8 - Thursday, November 24, 2011

2011-12-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

Quiet Day.

I think every muscle was sore from yesterday's adventures in trekking and stair climbing that when it was time to finally tuck onto my futon for the night I decided to take a couple of ibuprophen. I take so few substances that one ibuprophen is all it takes to knock me out for a deep sleep and I slept very well.

Until 3:00 am.

I lie awake long enough to accept I wasn't going to go back to sleep again, then read for a while and was awake to enjoy the 5.9 earthquake that hit at 4:30 am. It was just good enough to be fun, not bad enough to be frightening. The others slept through it.

My DIL greeted me wearing a mask over her mouth and nose. I got very used to seeing people in the airport and walking the streets in masks, a courtesy from those who are not feeling well to those around them. DIL suffered a sore throat all day (I hate those more than any other cold symptom).

I kept to their apartment all day. Took a shower while she and the baby slept, then had a nice play with the baby. We chatted and played for over an hour and he was all smiles, never crabby. Such a sweetheart. He almost giggled today, and is doing very well with his practice sessions.

He's learning to stick out his tongue.

Day 7 - Wednesday, November 23, 2011

2011-12-07T20:05:00.000-08:00

Long day.

This was the day that my son was taking me into Harajuku to see his school and the ritzy neighborhood he works in.

We were up early and left to catch the train at about 8:00 am. He usually leaves earlier, but this day was a national holiday (to celebrate the harvest, I believe) and school was out for the day. However, the teachers at the school worked in the morning for an open house. I really did enjoy the train ride into Harajuku, and wish Southern California (at least the part I live in) had better public transportation.

We arrived at Harajuku station and I got the biggest kick out of the message hanging on the station.


"Smile is best make up"

We started down Omotesando street. This is the street that leads to the Meiji Shrine and I looked forward to visiting that later. For now, I enjoyed a sightseeing walk through what they call the Champs-Elysees of Japan. I had to take their word for it, since I've never been to France. I will say there was little here to interest me as most of the shops were clothing manufacturers. I am not a clothes-obsessed person and, even if I was, most of these designers have shops in our outlet mall which is as close as I care to get to fashion.

I know. Plebeian.

Anyway, it is a pretty street and I enjoyed our walk.

Omotesando Hills

A couple of long blocks later we had reached Omotesando Hills. I had seen pictures of this shopping mall and would like to go inside on another trip (looks spectacular), but this time our goal was the school where my son is a teacher. It is, according to google, "behind Omotesando Hills." And it is. In fact, we went through one of the passageways between buildings and made an immediate 180 degree turn onto a ramp that took us to the school.

The Jingumae International Exchange School works in collaboration with the Jingumae Elementary School. I don't know what I was most impressed with: the long and complicated work day that my son works (compared to mine) or the fact that students - all non-English speakers - are taught in English with bi-weekly visits from a Japanese teacher for instruction in Japanese. Very impressive!


I don't imagine I'll ever get used to the custom of removing shoes.


Shared playfield. Elementary School at the end of the field.

Once I'd finished my tour of the school, I left my son to his duties and headed for the Kiddyland Headquarters. I'd seen Kiddyland goods in Aeon and wanted some more for stocking stuffers back home.

One of four different designs in sidewalk tiles.

He's hard to see, but there's a man tending his garden in there.

Newly planted boxes of pansies, one of my favorite flowers.

Again, these small side street shopping areas were among my favorite adventures on this trip. On my next trip I will actually go INTO some of the shops.

I found the Kiddyland building (not open yet), then turned around and returned to Yoyogi Park and the Meiji Shrine.

The walk to the shrine was gorgeous. It was a cool, brisk day - perfect for walking - and it was impossible to imagine (once inside the "forest") that you were actually in the middle of the world's largest city. I did the mile in a leisurely stroll,

Barrels (empty) from donated sake.

then took my time to soak up the spiritual culture of the shrine compound itself.


I remembered my good manners and respect and purified - I believe - correctly. Everyone seemed to have their own tradition, however, so I couldn't be sure.

There was a point when I could declare my visit concluded and I set out to retrace my steps onto Omotesando. It was now the correct time to visit Kiddyland so I returned to Black Cat Street. The sign at the corner should have warned me

that I would experience a culture shock when I stepped into the store.

It took me only about 30 seconds to remark quietly to myself, "This is hell," and to get myself out. Having heard this was the "corporate headquarters," I had been expecting a large space full of every product Kiddyland produced. Maybe this was their full line, but it was jammed into a teeny space equally jammed with shoppers. This would have been manageable except that they had music (sort of) blaring from all four corners of the tiny space (seriously, it was not much bigger than a travel trailer in the states). I made my way out, wishing I had the energy to return to the Meiji forest.

Instead, I decided to return to my son's school. He settled me comfortably in the quiet of his classroom and brought me a plate of snacks that included the cutest tiny banana I've ever seen. About an hour later his open house was pronounced finished (and successful) and he and I headed to the subway for the rest of our afternoon.


Starting to fray around the edges a little but still game for more.

Originally we had planned to go to Shibuya to see the Hachiko statue at Shibuya (Hachiko) Station, then walk to the Tokyu Hands and Loft department stores. But my DIL had told us that those stores were bigger in Ikebukuro, which my son had said was his favorite "city" within the city of Tokyo. It was, he said, "their" city. And so, that was what I wanted to see.

By the time we reached the station and disembarked it was well past lunch but not yet dinnertime. We decided it was time to introduce me to a Mos Burger meal.

My son has, in the slightly over one year that he has lived in Japan, become quite functional in the language so we did not really need the picture menu. He wondered, though, if the server taking our counter order didn't speak Japanese, because she pointed to the menu as if she needed help. Regardless, we enjoyed these delicious fresh burgers and fries.

Refueled, we started our search for the department stores. My son wasn't quite sure where they were, so entered the first (Loft) into his phone's gps system and off we went. We walked for about an hour before we found it. Hindsight being so crystal clear and all, I think what happened is that we exited the train/subway station on the wrong side, then made a very long circle back to the other side which held the entrance to the department store. I was tired when we got there, but not upset because on our adventure we lucked into a cultural festival.

It was being held in a plaza surrounded by tall buildings. I mention this because I hope you can imagine what it was like to hear drums pounding and the sound booming bouncing from one wall across to another. It only took one twinkly meeting of our eyes to decide we wanted to track them down and enjoy for a while.

After a short while, though, I realized I was starting to fade and we still had not done my shopping, so I asked that we find the Loft. We did, and I commented later that I was disappointed. I had been hoping to find more traditional Japanese designs in stuff, particularly stationery. It took me a while to catch on, but my family was finally able to get me to understand that we were shopping in a residential area, not a tourist area. And, of course, Japanese residents have little or no interest in Japanese souvenirs. Duh.

We took the train back to Kami itabashi, then stopped at the market for a few groceries before heading back home. By the time we made it to those two flights of stairs I felt like I was walking on stumps and practically stumbled up the stairs singing under my breath, "I am strong! I am invincible! I am WO-MAN."

For dinner they cooked up the wonderful steaks that we had bought the day before (served with a salad and garlic salad dressing, a gift from my DIL's aunt) and then we retired to the living room for dessert and some television. (Or rather, Frasier re-runs on the computer). My DIL had run across the street for these treats:

This is an ice cream treat similar to a convenience store drumstick in the states. Imagine a waffle cone that someone sat on while it was still warm and pliable, then filled with delicious, creamy, rich chocolate ice cream and dipped in a chocolate coating. I loved how easy it was to eat, and the flavors were perfect.

Although, I must confess, I am remembering the flavors from my last night (and my return to Family Mart for another round of these yummy things) because - well...

I became the comic relief on the evening of our big day out. I calculated that I'd walked at least five miles that day (maybe closer to seven, but who's counting?), including scaling several flights of stairs between the subway station, department store, train station and finally back home. Once I had that delicious steak in me and we'd settled in for TV, I was on my way out. My DIL put that ice cream in my hand and the entertainment began.

I must have fallen into deep - but brief - moments of sleep about a dozen times before I finished that ice cream treat. At one point I heard soft laughter and my son whisper something like, "That's cute; she's chewing in her sleep."

Adorable.

God.

Pause button.

2011-12-06T21:24:00.000-08:00

To my friends and family who pop over here for the latest installment.

I'm sorry.

1/2 a class to go, then progress reports and I should be free to come over and enjoy telling the story again.

Hugs.

Day 6 - Tuesday, November 22

2011-12-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

More shopping.

[Sorry for the gap in posting these reports. It's progress report time and I'm behind on grading. I've done all I can for tonight - the rest is at school - so will add a day. Thanks for being patient.]

Today's adventure was to trek up the street to Aeon, a department store. I don't know if this is typical of Japanese Department stores, but this one is more like a mall in one building. Different businesses have their "shops" within the store and conduct business separately.

For example,

this Baskin Robbins shared the floor with a number of different businesses including a grocery store, bakery, tea shop, sandwich shop and so on. I got such a kick out of this 31 Flavors. First was the Japanese name sign (at least I assume that's what they were; I guess I should have asked my DIL to make sure). But the biggest kick came from ordering our ice cream. I asked my DIL to order (although I had my yen out to pay). She named my flavor in English - Rocky Road. I guess, though, that the saleswoman didn't recognize the words because she grabbed the picture chart and had us point to the one we wanted. I was ready to have to point to foods I wanted because I didn't read or speak Japanese, but it didn't occur to me that I would have to point to the English version for the workers.

I have to conclude that the Japanes are - in the happiest of ways - baby- and child-crazy. My evidence is the kiddie heaven upstairs in the children's department. It easily covered 1/3 of the floor. I didn't even try to count all the video games. Huge play area. Quiet area to sit and have a snack. And the best part was a baby area with comfortable benches, and draped cubicles each with a comfortable chair and changing table. There was even a special "no smells" receptacle with plastic bags for soiled diapers.

I had the delightful duty of sitting with the baby in the Christmas area where I could listen to Jingle Bells and stare at my grandson while my DIL did some solo errands. I wish I'd found a Japanese recording of the Christmas music; it had a slight accent.

Which reminds me, the crows caw in a different dialect here. Honest.

On the way home we detoured to that favorite shopping street of mine for some steaks. I had promised to enjoy Japanese steaks at least once while I was here and was happy to treat us. I did not take a picture of the steaks, but they were similar to these:

They were about the size of a good-sized rib-eye steak here in the states, only these were about 1/4" thick. For a good article about the beneficial attributes of Japanese beef, check out this site. I can say they were absolutely sweet and delicious.

A real treat for dinner on a real treat of a day.

Day 5 - Monday, November 21

2011-12-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

Shopping.

In Japan, parents have a choice of how they want their baby's vaccines delivered. Fewer, bigger doses or more, gentler doses. My kids have opted for more frequent but gentler doses, and Monday it was my grandson's day to go get another shot.

We walked to the train crossing closest to their apartment, just a couple of short blocks.

And waited. And waited. And waited. For twenty minutes the guards never lifted, the alarm never stopped ringing and I counted at least forty trains traveling in both directions.


Kids and their moms on the way to school, trapped on the wrong side of the tracks.

My DIL figured out that there must have been in incident somewhere on the line and the trains had backed up. She led our little party a couple more short blocks up the street to the station where there was a pedestrian over-crossing to the other side of the tracks and we made our way across, then to the medical clinic.


Shoes off, please.

My DIL told me that this was the same clinic that she had frequented as a child, and that the nurse that served her was one she remembered from years ago. I waited outside (the train snafu had made us later than she'd hoped as she was trying to avoid a crowded waiting room full of sick people.) I enjoyed the sights.

Watch out for school children, please.

I think this was a beware of dog sign, although it could have been a please-don't-let-your-dog-poop-in-my-yard sign for all I knew. Still, it was typically kawaii (cute).

Once the vaccination had been delivered (he fussed briefly when they poked him, DIL said, and then was fine the rest of the outing) we did some shopping.

I loved this street, and looking back it is one of my favorite "sightseeing" locales. Small shops, open to the street, specializing in everything from nursery stock to meat to tea sweets to sake (now, THAT was an elegant shop).

Older building specializing in rice.

Nursery stock. Next year I'm shopping here for pretty trays.

Teas.

Grocery. We didn't go in this trip, but my son took me in later in the week. I wish we could get tomatoes like they had. (You know, the ones that actually taste like tomatoes?)


Tea sweets. DIL tells me this is a very famous shop. Delicious mochi.

Shopping completed, we stopped in the convenience store across the street from the apartment for bottled water, milk and "convenience store sweets," delicious chocolate cream puffs and a chocolate cream eclair. Once we were back home she fed the baby, then entrusted me with him for nap time. Some of the sweetest times of my visit were when the baby would nap on me and I never got tired of it.

The rest of the day was very low-key, just cuddling the baby and visiting with my DIL until my son came home. They worked together to make dinner and after a fine meal and some fine conversation we called it an early night.

Day 4 - Sunday, November 20

2011-11-30T19:12:00.000-08:00

The Loving Day.

Once the negotiations regarding my visit to Japan had reached "done deal" stage, my daughter-in-law told me that I would be participating in a ceremony at the shrine. I immediately went to the internet to see what I could learn. I found multiple explanations of a ceremony called omiya maeiri. It serves two purposes: to express gratitude to the gods for the safe delivery of the baby, and to receive a blessing for good health (or to ward off evil spirits, depending on which explanation I was reading). Some descriptions say that it is supposed to be held when the baby is one month old, and is supposed to be his first outing after birth. (Mothers and babies traditionally stay at home for the first month.) I assumed that was why we were there, even though my grandson was nearly three months old. After the ceremony, though, my DIL was looking at the gifts given by the priest and noted a pair of ohashi (chopsticks). Perhaps there was some confusion because of the age of the baby. Ohashi is the gift given at a ceremony called okuizome (to start eating) which is usually held around 100 days.

In my continued ignorance, I do not know which ceremony was being performed. What I will remember is the love of the family surrounding my grandson and the beauty of the shrine and ceremony.

Photographs were not permitted during the ceremony, but afterward we went into the back of the property for formal photographs. While there I was able to get some pictures of the shrine (above) and the property around it.

This was a peaceful piece of nature in the city. After we finished with the portraits, we headed to a place with a different kind of beauty.

My daughter-in-law's mother treated us all to a fabulous formal luncheon at the Hotel Metropolitan in Ikebukuro (in Tokyo). Our private dining room was not quite ready (we were early) so we hung out in the lobby for a little while.

I was taken by this frieze that soared over an indoor pond.

And by this Christmas tree.

After a short wait we were taken to our luncheon room.

Sigh.

The service was fabulous. Two young women in traditional kimono brought each dish individually, knelt on the floor to place the dish in front of a guest, then rose again to fetch for the next guest. I've made that move in kimono before, and I'll tell you what. Sumo wrestlers got nothing on these women for leg strength.

I can't begin to tell you about the flavors, but the presentation of the meal was so gorgeous I had to take pictures:

Physically and emotionally sated, we returned to the kids' apartment to spend a quiet evening. They have a good-sized loveseat in the room they are using as a living room, and my son set up his laptop saying, "You can't say you've been to Japan until you've watched a crazy Japanese game show." We watched this one,

which was certainly no crazier than any handful of American shows. Near as I could tell, these two contestants were to live for a given period of time (I think DIL said a month) on 1000 yen. We got to watch them fix their meals and were alternately grossed out by his and left wondering how she survived on hers. Both contestants had cute personalities, with the girl reminding me of the Morning Musume girlband musicians I had seen pictures of.

Not that I saw a lot of the show. As I recall, I fell asleep sitting there after not too long a time.

Kind of like I did today while I was grading papers. I hope I didn't snore. The kids were in the classroom watching a movie.

That would have been embarrassing.

Day 3 - Saturday, November 19

2011-11-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

It's my fault.

I understood that my extended Japan family wanted to share their country with me, I really did. But honest, I went to Japan to spend time with my son, his wife and most especially with my grandson. So I was sending out really strong, "Can we stay home today?" vibes.

My wish was granted.

It rained all day. Poured sometimes. And I stayed happily tucked in with the people I came to see. It was awesome.

Since we spent the day in the apartment, let me share some of the features of their home that I particularly liked and wish I could duplicate here.

No garbage disposal.

We have a commercial grade garbage disposal in our home and I've never been sorry we made the investment. It will grind up just about anything.

If you turn it on. If you push the food down into it, and turn it on. Which seems beyond some people in the house, because I come out most mornings to make my breakfast to find a pile of goobery, rotting food sitting on top of the garbage disposal. I have to push it down into the unit, but because it's so loud (remember, commercial grade) I don't run it; don't want to wake all the others up.

Not too appetizing.

In Japan, this is an extra-large drain opening with a drop-in filter unit. It's lined with a water-permeable paper. Over the course of the day you just push the food into the opening (no black plastic trap on top to prevent food from falling in easily) and at the end of the day you take it up, knot the top and throw the whole thing away.

I don't know why it seemed cleaner to me, but it did and I was wishing we could have something similar here.

Soba delivery.

I love soba. Soba is noodles made from buckwheat. You eat them cold after dipping in a "soup." One evening I offered to pay for delivery of soba for dinner and the kids made the call. I was expecting some of those little paper boxes like we get Chinese take-out served in here. Instead, a delivery man brought this big laquered tray with three serving trays (loaded with soba) stacked on it. There was a bottle of "soup" and three crockery bowls. Hashi (chopsticks) were also included. After enjoying the meal (I had the regular order and couldn't eat all of it) I asked if we needed to return the service to the restaurant (across the street). No, I was told, we just rinse everything and leave it outside the door. It sat there for a day or two, then disappeared, presumably picked up by someone from the restaurant.

I want elegant soba delivery.

Line dryers. Sort of.

I learned that most people in Japan - including my family - have washing machines but not dryers. Instead they have these plastic clip things. My daughter-in-law can hang about a basket full of wet clothes on this one (large size). Once everything is hung she opens the sliding glass door onto the balcony, picks up the whole unit and hangs it from the rod installed over the balcony for laundry by a strong hook at the top of the plastic unit. I'm jealous. We used to have a clothesline, but we had installed it in a place where 1) it didn't get much sun and 2) it was under the plum tree and stuff kept falling on the clothes. Add that I never seemed to have time to do the laundry in the morning so that I could hang the clothes and let them dry all day. Long story short, I rarely used the line and ended up taking it out. But there's nothing like several hours in the sun to really freshen your white socks, and I love crawling into the bed onto sheets that have been line dried.

I was able to buy a small version of this hanger at the 100 yen store. I'm going to try it for a year (I can hang it from one of my plant hooks and dry a load of socks at a time). If I do use it and if it works as I hope, I will buy a larger one (or two) next year.

About today (November 29) - I'm having a hard time re-adjusting timewise now that I'm home. My alarm went off at the usual time but I must not have been awake when I turned it off. Instead of getting up at my usual 5:30 am, I slept until after 7:00. A bit of a push to be ready for work but I made it. I'm guessing it will take as long - over a week - to readjust to the time difference now that I'm back as it took to adjust when I got there. It's really only a problem because I keep dozing off while trying to grade papers.

How embarrassing.

Day 2 - November 18

2011-11-28T21:39:00.000-08:00

Cheating.

Yeah, I kinda am. Heading west for 12.5 hours I crossed the International Dateline as well as covering the 17-hour time difference. So, after leaving at 9:50 AM on the 17th I found myself arriving at 3:10 PM on Friday the 18th.

We had my largest bag shipped to DS1's apartment, then took the bus home. We lucked out and hit a traffic jam (I can't believe I just said that) and had to detour through the city. My son was excited that I would get to see some of downtown - especially at night - on this trip. We even drove past the Imperial compound, although it was too dark to see much more than the canal.

It was such a loving thrill to see my son and daughter-in-law again and to meet my new grandson.

They didn't seem to mind at all that the baby was such a focus for me this trip.

As I recall, parents are pretty happy to step aside and let their children soak up the attention. She says hopefully.

Day 1 - November 17

2011-11-27T21:42:00.000-08:00

The least interesting day.

Up before dawn. DS2 drove me into Los Angeles at the crack of same to check in. No lines anywhere. Decompressed for over an hour at the gate.

I can't say enough good things about Korean Air. Respectful, courteous check-in. Fabulous service including a blanket, pillow, toothbrush/paste packet and bottle of water - at no additional charge - waiting in my seat on the plane. Headsets (again, no additional charge) delivered immediately. Flight was not full so they gave the opportunity for people to change seats. My seatmate chose to find a place with a solo seat, which left me with plenty of space in my two-seat row. Refreshments were served as soon as we were in the air, followed by full luncheon (I chose the Korean meal) and full dinner a few hours later. 12.5-hour flight gave me plenty of time to enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean IV, Larry Crowne, The Green Lantern and Billy Joel at Shea. Was treated with respect and courtesy again during immigration and customs. Only had a little struggle with my three bags, but the distance from baggage pick-up through customs and to my first-borne was very short.

DS1 was at Narita to "pick me up," meaning to direct me through a simple maze of baggage delivery service, airport limo bus and taxi ride.

I was impressed and tickled throughout the trip by the respectful touches everywhere I went. The airport bus had draperies and elegant antimacassars. The attendant honored us with a deep bow as the bus pulled away. The taxi also had an elegant WHITE eyelet coverlet on the back seat.

The prize was finally won. I will respect my children's wish to have their and their son's privacy protected by not posting their pictures here. Please know, however, that my grandson is perfect; absolutely the most beautiful little baby boy that there ever was. I was gifted with satin skin cuddles and smiles on that first night.

That first smile was worth all the travel of that first day.

Konichiwa!

2011-11-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

Beyond Fantastic!

Lots of adventures to report and photos to share when I get back.

My grandson is perfect. 3 months of friendly, cuddly, smiley baby to rain loves on.

I may stay.

Rainbow

2011-11-16T20:43:00.000-08:00

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish will come true

Just about ready to enjoy a dream come true.

Packed and ready to get ready for bed. Up very early in hopes of making it to LAX with plenty of time for the gauntlet. I've heard that the majority of clients who make this trip across the ocean prefer the night flight so they can sleep the time away, but I would lose my mind waiting a whole day to do this.

Looking forward to meeting my new best friends at KAL.

My friend Dustin has introduced me to the fun of astrology. For months my feelings about this trip have been anticipation of adventure and new friends and going with the flow. Amazingly, my horoscope for tomorrow says pretty much exactly that. Won't it be interesting to see if we jive with reality?

For now, I will say sayonara. I don't know if I'll be able to update this from Japan, but if I can, I will. Meanwhile, I'm sure I'll manage the occasional facebook post.

Hugs!

Jim Brickman - Simple Gifts.wmv

2011-11-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

I think Jim Brickman's arrangement of "Simple Gifts" is lovely. Mr. Brickman has been helping me stay sane and sleep well at night as I wait for my trip to Japan to see my family.

Day after tomorrow.

Day After Tomorrow

2011-11-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

Sigh.

When I was growing up, my mother used to incite our excitement about special holidays by teasing, "Day after tomorrow..." Day after tomorrow is Christmas. Day after tomorrow is Easter. Day after tomorrow is your birthday."

Day after tomorrow my world is going to get a lot bigger.

Day after tomorrow I begin my first international travel experience, leaving Los Angeles for Tokyo, Japan.

Day after tomorrow I meet my first grandchild, firstborn son of my firstborn son.

Dementia has passed. I now lurk inside a catatonic shell.

from Excitement...

2011-11-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

...through delirium into dementia.

5 days.

This weekend is wrap-it-up weekend. I still have a couple of little crafty tasks to complete. And the packing. With a layer of pulling stuff from storage so that my son can have a garage sale next weekend.

It's all good.

The important stuff is done.

This is such a first for me. My first trip out-of-country. I really have no prior knowledge to pull from, no expectations.

I don't like surprises, and usually prepare for the unknown with serious research coupled with paranoid imaginings. But I've become a believer. The more positive I throw out there, the more comes my way. And the more I fret and focus on the negative, the more likely it is that the negative is what I will get. So, I've done a little searching to get some mind-holds but when the fretting kicks in, I kick it out.

Consequently, I have few impressions, few fantasies.

My priorities are clear. This trip is about my family. I've left the details of how and what and when to them, and they're doing a good job.

Perhaps for the first time in my life, I'm totally relaxed about giving myself over to someone else for a while. My younger son will get me to the airport. I can manage getting myself checked in, through security and to the right gate. Onto the plane and belted into my seat. The only fantasy I've nurtured is the one that involves my netbook, new travel journal, kindle and daily journal. I refuse to fret about who will sit in the other seat in my row. I've had fleeting images of a nine year old with ADHD whose parents have decided to fly first class while he is banished to economy (next to me). Or the lonely 85-year-old woman reeking of April in Paris who is thrilled to have a captive listener for 12.5 hours. But as soon as they slip in, I banish them to business class. I plan to enjoy every minute of those 12.5 hours indulging in the reading and writing that I find it hard to make time for in the day-to-day.

I have tried to learn a little about my destination of Kami itabashi.

As near as I can tell it's a "suburb" of Tokyo in the same way that Hollywood or Santa Monica or Culver City are suburbs of Los Angeles. If you saw it from the air, there would be simply never-ending city, no real distinction when one neighborhood ends and the other begins. I look forward to learning its distinctions from walking and watching.

I did read that this is the time of year for fall color in this part of Japan. Maybe I will see some, or maybe it will be too late, or maybe it will be too early. My son is taking me into Shibuya one day and I will walk Yoyogi Park to the Meiji Shrine. Late November, I read, is the time for color at the park.

from maridari travel blog, November 2007

There will be pictures here, either way.

I may be experiencing a black-out. It's important for me to remember that this is a country still reeling from a major natural AND a major man-made disaster. The park that I will visit is one of the refugee homeless areas. I'm reminded occasionally of what it was like to visit New York the May after 9/11, and wonder if there will be similar reminders during this trip. They still experience occasional earthquakes. Coming from Southern California these do not frighten me, but it will be a different experience in a place where they have so recently suffered such terrible loss.

Mostly, though, I focus on the excitement of kissy-face with my new grandson, long catch-up conversations with my son when he is with us and with my daughter-in-law when he is at work. I suspect I will have the most welcome opportunities to get to know her family. I've met her mother once here in California, but this time I look forward to meeting the rest of her family.

5 days.

I'd better get this one started.

The Crazies...

2011-11-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

...are finished!


(Sorry for the crappy picture. Too tired to go take it over again.)

Gotta say, I'm delighted with how they turned out. The Kaffe Fasset fabrics were the biggest surprise. Those bags are delightful, although I love them all. What a great design. Only problem now is that I don't really want to give them up.

It's all right. They're gifts for love.

Only eight days until I leave for Japan. I'm normally a good "wait-er," but I predict that will be the longest 12.5 hours I've ever spent. Oh, heavens. Then there's the whole immigration-customs ordeal, isn't there?

Sigh.

Stunning.

2011-11-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

If we are very lucky...

... we get to experience days like this.

This is my very favorite kind of day in SoCA. It rained most of the night. Not a downpour (at least, I don't think so) but a light rain, on and off, all night and into the morning. I love the rain. Most SoCA folks do, since we get so little of it. Best of all, I love to wake up to it, and that was the music of my alarm this morning. Because we marked the end of [the despised] DST, I had a whole hour to read the new Nora Roberts book before my day was scheduled to begin. (She's back, by the way. She writes the best men, and the Montgomery brothers are terrific.)

By the time I was ready to start my day, the rain was blowing out and I was able to bring in what I needed for today's projects from the car without getting soaked. A short time later I took Dodger out for his morning toileting and was met by that gift of the weather that is such a treat. Everything has been washed clean - including the air - and nature sparkles. My neighbors have a gum tree that turns red in the fall. That tree against the brilliant blue sky was the first stunner of the day. By the time Dodger was finished with his routine and I had come into the house for my camera, clouds had blown into the picture, but it was still worth posting.

Yesterday I spent the day with my mom (who is doing great greater greatest) and my sister. I got a lot done on the crazies, but did not finish. I have to admit, I'm stunned at how well they are turning out. Now they are finished except for the handwork: trimming threads and tacking down the bias trim. I'm thrilled with them and look forward to gifting them in Japan.

Mine

My third "stun" of the morning was when the thought popped into my head that "a week from Thursday" I would be leaving. I can't believe that when I started counting days I started with day 56. Tomorrow the countdown begins at "10." I'm watching the weather (very similar to ours lately) and trying to predict what kind of clothes I will need. Buying something if I need it is not an option, so I need to take whatever I will need.

But it's coming together well.

I'm brain damaged with excitement.

Multiple dreams coming true in just over ten days.

Stunning.

The Sing-Off S3 Ep.7 Opener: Halloween Medley

2011-11-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Music is magic.

Transition Fog

2011-10-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

For the last several mornings I've awakened to a strange feeling, like floating in a fog. Not a scary, when-is-the-car-going-to-hit-me fog. Not a from-which-direction-will-the-hideous-monster-attack fog. This feels more like a cozy quilt of ignorance with an underlayment of transition.

Another change is coming.

I've gone through too many changes in the last couple of years to even begin to count. It's been an adventure and a comfort. Endlessly entertaining to relax and allow the Universe to have its way. I'm getting better about letting go and letting things fall into place around me. Oh, not perfect. I still want to plan and control sometimes.

But especially at times like this, surrounded by the comforting fog, I'm learning to say, "Whatever is supposed to happen, will happen," and smile.

And watch the dominoes fall.

This is the first time, though, I've felt this happy anxiety. Something unexpected but positive is on its way. No clue what it will be but the anticipation is almost as good as waiting for Santa when I was eight.

There are some terrific things coming that I do know about.

My baby turned thirty (3-0) last week and the family bash to celebrate is tomorrow at my house. I've planned and cleaned and shopped. Know what happens when your baby is a grown man? He decides to cook a gourmet Mexican feed for his birthday. Oh, I get to do the tacos tomorrow. But so far he's made an original marinade for asada, cooked some chicken thighs on the grill with a sauce that smells pretty good. Now he's experimenting with cheese-stuffed jalapenos.

Gonna be quite a feast.

And of course, in just about 19 days now I'll get onto a plane for my first-ever out-of-country travel to meet my grandson and spend time with my older son and his wife. It's been over a year since they re-located to Japan. That's not the longest I've gone without seeing him, but there's something about being separated by that ocean that makes the distance and - strangely - the time seem so much longer.

I'll be taking off over the ocean, but not at sunset. My plane takes off at 9:50 AM and the sun will chase me for 12.5 hours.

I think I'm close to being ready.

I'll bring my luggage home from storage on Sunday and do a preliminary packing to see just how much adjusting I need to do. Have some projects to finish. Will get a haircut next week so it can grow out a little. Do a little more shopping for my son and his family. (I'm taking Christmas presents with me. I'll wrap them after I get there.)

Bake cookies.

I asked my son if they'd ever had any problems bringing my cookies back with them and he assured me they hadn't, then wrote "yay."

I guess I'm committed now.

I can't help wondering if the looming transition has anything to do with this trip to Tokyo.

Will I be the latest ex-pat?

I suppose I'll have to stay tuned.

Crazy Progress

2011-10-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

They're coming along.

Spendid.

2011-10-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

Another restorative day at Disneyland.

I love this place anytime, but HalloweenTime is just about my favorite. Candy corn bunting, Jack-O-Lanterns everywhere. And look at those mums! It's impossible to stifle a smile when you walk onto Main Street at Halloween.

This was Mom's first long, taxing day post-surgery. She's been doing great and we were both looking forward to a day to renew her spirit and give her a little push toward full recovery. She provided me with little moments of amazement at her condition so far, starting with walking her wheelchair off the tram and down the ramp (slopes of any kind were her worst challenge before her knee replacement). She didn't have a choice. We discovered that her chair was broken (again) while sitting on the tram. (I need to let the family know they have to lift the seat gently when they fold up the chair to put it in the car; when we snap it up quickly it pulls one of the joints apart and it's very difficult to get back into place, especially on the sidewalk in Downtown Disney.) We conquered the chair after a few minutes and made our way into the park for breakfast at our favorite eatery, The Carnation Cafe.

After a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage (replace the potatoes with fruit on mine, please) we made our way to the front gate again just in time for the fabulous Disneyland Band morning concert.

On their way on set Artie the Conductor recognized Mom and made her feel very special by taking a moment to smile, lean over and say hello, it's good to see you. (Can you see the detail of his chestplate? The band is wearing their Halloween uniforms and have the same design in the trim.)

One of the special treats of this performance is the appearance of the Mad Hatter, who supervises a number of guest performances. Yesterday there seemed to be a full cast of...

"THE WORLD FAMOUS DISNEYLAND SYNCHRONIZED STROLLER DRILL TEAM!" He's hilarious. They were hilarious. Just nothing better than starting your day with terrific music and delighted laughs.

As the set was coming to a close, Artie made Mom's day in one of the most touching moments anyone has provided her in this special, magical place. He walked over to her, reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the rare, coveted Disneyland Band buttons. She told me later that he presented her with the button saying "This is from the whole band for staying through the entire set." Well, we ALWAYS stay through the entire set. I told her I think they were just glad to see her back after so many weeks. She was thrilled and wore that button proudly all day.

From there we went immediately over to Town Square where we enjoyed another delightful Disneyland Band concert (this book was of Disney movie music), then did a little shopping before trekking over to California Adventure to see Aladdin at the Hyperion Theater on the Hollywood Backlot.

Aladdin had been running at this theater for YEARS before we saw it. I had always intended to, but there is so much to do at the Disneyland Resort on any given visit that I never bothered to check it out until I read they they were getting ready to end the run and replace it with a production based on Toy Story. I thought to myself, "I'd better get over there if I want to see this before it's gone." I've seen it a dozen times since then and have recommended it to lots of friends who have also loved it. I'm sure I'm not the only one with that experience, because it's always packed and the Disney folks who make those decisions decided not to shut it down after all.

I can't recommend it more highly. You have to check the show schedule, then try to get there about a half-hour early. They have special seating for wheelchairs, complete with guest seats next to the wheelchair guests.

Disney California Adventure is undergoing a massive remodel so it was a little bit of a challenge getting to and from the theater, but we made it and made our way back to Disneyland in time to hear a little ragtime piano by Ragtime Pat, who was replaced by Ragtime Alan. As we'd hoped, we were in time for Alan to be joined by The Mad Hatter for a game of Musical Chairs.

I think Hatter is one of the most highly developed "face" characters at the Park. All of the actor/comedians who "do" him are professional and very funny, but the Saturday Hatter is our favorite. We can usually catch him doing Musical Chairs on Saturdays at the Refreshment Corner, and if you have little kids it's well worth the effort to go by there and let them play. (He's usually joined by Alice in Wonderland and the two of them together are an even better show, but she wasn't there on Saturday; I missed her.)

Hatter and Alan exchange quips. They did a little three-hand ragtime; first time I've heard Hatter play piano!

Hatter with one of the "un-winners." There weren't many little kids playing yesterday, so they recruited some teens, all of whom "let" the little ones win. I'm continually reassured that we will be in good hands.

After Musical Chairs we headed over to the Golden Horseshoe Theater in Frontierland for a snack and set of countrified music by the incomparable Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.

"Billy" wearing his pros-teeth-is, which make him a "better" fiddle player.

The fabulous "Billy" bass player. Seriously.

My favorite "Billy" checking for "Ghost Riders in the Sky," their Halloween song.

There was a high-spirited crowd yesterday and this group - like any live theater group - really amps up the energy when they tap the flow. YeeHaw!

We did a little more shopping, then found a seat for the SOUNDSATIONAL parade at 6:30.

I must indulge myself in a little braggage: For the first time - ever - I was able to get down on the curb to sit for this parade. I sat there for over an hour and was then - wait for it - able to GET BACK UP without difficulty. I dig 60!

Wanna see an example of how the Disneyland cast makes magic at every opportunity? While we waited for the parade, someone spilled a drink along the parade route. A clean-up crew precedes the parade to clean up this kind of stuff (and keep the route safe for the dancers). This is how they clean up a spilled drink at Disneyland:

Pretty amazing, huh?

This was the first time I'd seen this parade at night. Just as awesome as during the day with a little sparkly magic thrown in.

For my friend 'minniestitches."

For my friend Emma, who loves Snow White.

My favorite segment is the "Steppin' Time" piece. I didn't get any good pics of the dancing sweeps but the float is stunning with the night lighting.

We had changed our routine yesterday, deciding to wait until after the parade for dinner. We won't try that again, but it worked out. I parked Mom at the Refreshment Corner with Ragtime Alan again, then shuffled my way with the massive post-parade crowd to the Pizza Porte for our favorite dinner of Planetary Pizza Salad. (And pizza. And Cheetos. And a brownie. Like I said, we won't wait that long to eat again). When I got back Mom again amazed me. She had managed to snag a table for dinner. They've closed down the majority of seating in that area as they renovate the Plaza Pavilion into the Jolly Holiday Bakery (the former Blue Ribbon Bakery will move into a Mary Poppins themed building) so seating is a cut-throat business. I was proud of her (she said she "one-footed" herself over to the table in her chair.) Anyway, we ended our day in our favorite style. Tucked in at "Coke Corner" with sparkly lights, delicious salads and Ragtime on the piano.

Thanks, Ragtime Alan

I had known all day that my favorite-est-ever fireworks show, "Remember, Dreams Come True," was on the program for the day at 8:40 PM, but toward the end of the 8:00-8:30 piano set I was feeling the effects of the day at Disneyland at the tail end of my now-two-week recovery from the flu, so we decided to make our way out of the resort before fireworks. Beat the crowds to the trams, saw the fireworks from the tram station and were just ahead of the post-fireworks crowd onto the freeway.

We were feeling self-righteous all day that we had not stepped foot into the Candy Palace, but were grieving the pecan nuttles and dark chocolate peanut clusters on the way home. But, we survived, and I will celebrate that choice in 25 more days when I can fit my smaller butt into the airplane seat bound for Japan.

(By the way, again in the braggage department, my Mom and my son and his girlfriend thought I looked darn cute in my snug little Maleficent tee-shirt. I have to admit it added a fillip of fun to my day to catch a glimpse of my self in a window or mirror and not recognize her. heeheehee)

The Power...

2011-10-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

...of the creative world.

Charles Hazelwood

Forgiveness.

2011-10-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

It's a positive thing.

Footloose 2011 - Full Dance Scene

2011-10-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

Yeah. I'm ready to line dance again.

Where can I find someone to re-sole my dance boots?

Cough. Cough.

2011-10-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Damn.

So, yeah.

I caught the flu. It's tempting to blame it on my students, and there was one girl coughing into her arm earlier this week (she sits not three feet away and right in front of me) so I suppose this could be from her. But so far she hasn't seemed sick other than those couple of coughs, so I conclude that I actually caught this at my internist's office last Thursday when I had my annual physical.

She announced that I was boring. BP doing great without increasing my meds (genetic issues but so far still using low doses). Cholesterol is "normal" thanks to "FANTASTIC" HDL levels (thanks this time, genes). Everything that was poked, prodded or peered into was fine. Still some preventive stuff on the agenda (skin cancer check, mammo and so on). I think it's about time to go back to the podiatrist for a second pair of orthotics; I'll have to call.

I'm a pretty sturdy girl, "boringly" healthy most of the time. Grateful for that, especially when I'm having to endure this rare illness. Honestly? I'd rather labor than flu. It's over faster and you get a lovely little baby that, at least in my case, grows into a spendid young man. All you get out of the flu is lank hair and sore ribs. Oh, yeah. And at day five - after a day of coughing - a sore throat developing.

Years ago my brother noticed that if he caught a cold and didn't take meds for it, it would be over in a week. If he did take meds (especially cough suppressants) he'd end up with bronchitis that would last weeks. I realized the same was true for me and now stay away from most meds.

What works for me is a house brand, generic guaifenesin, an expectorant that keeps the mucous loose so that it's easier for the lungs to move out without coughing. I combine it with an anti-inflammatory (like ibuprofen, risky in its own right but I use it so rarely that I just keep my fingers crossed and take it with food or milk in hopes it won't blow a hole in my stomach). I figure that will help prevent bronchitis from developing. (Rational? "itis" means inflammation, and surely coughing for hours must irritate the lungs so that bronchitis develops.) I've been using this concoction for years for my tri-annual illness and so far am kept reasonably comfortable for the duration.

And that will be enough of that.

Boring.

This too shall pass, hopefully sooner than later. I have a date with a mouse in a little over a week and want this over and done.


Oh, no, Mickey. Not you, too!

2011-10-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Shuffle Game for Drummers

2011-10-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this.

BTW, this is my younger son.

Crazies...

2011-10-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

are assembled.

Now the fun part.

Embellishments!

Cinderella "Ten Minutes Ago" 1957

2011-10-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

If I'd found this earlier today, I wouldn't have eaten those U-No bars.

Rare stitches...

2011-10-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

...but still they arrive.

I'm making presents for Japan and thought I'd share the process here.

I bought this pattern at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach a few years ago. My goal is to make the little passport purse with a crazy quilt outside pocket. Actually, I need a few, but will start with one and see if the others are possible in the time I have to make them. (Oh, yeah, and I want one for myself, too.)

Here is the first piece of crazy quilt fabric. I made it tonight. Fabric is all - I believe - Kaffe Fassett. I forgot to turn on my flash so the colors are pretty awful here. My apologies to Mr. Fassett.

And here is the first pocket. (That's more like it on the colors.)

At this stage I can carry the piece with me to embellish in open minutes here and there.

Wish me luck.

Ticket to Ride...

2011-09-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

...to Japan.

It's official.

I'm headed to Tokyo.

Got my passport. Got my ticket. I'll be there for a little over a week.

My purpose for this trip is to see my son and daughter-in-law and (honestly) to meet my grandson, who will be a delightfully smooshy three-months old when I'm there. They are my focus.

But I'm thrilled that - if they had to relocate somewhere - they chose a land for which I have a long-held admiration.

My appreciation for all things Japan started when my uncle - career Air Force - brought me two dolls from his time in Japan. One was similar to this one,

and at the age of eight I was fascinated by its face, hair, clothes and especially the blue hairline. I don't know what happened to it. I think it broke at some time, but as an adult I found another one at a doll club sale. It lives in my doll cabinet with the other Uncle brought to me - a Geisha style with a lamp.

Later in life I studied O Chado - which we call the Japanese Tea Ceremony - for three years. I wasn't good at it. Too fat to be graceful, and there were many cultural aspects to the practice that had not been part of my Western lifestyle as they had been part of the other students' (from flower etiquette to food preparation). But I loved my teacher and I loved the meditative quality of the study. I had to stop taking lessons when I went to work full time and now, twenty years later, frequently refer to the habits of focus when faced with a task. ("Zen it out" is a phrase I concocted to remind myself to stay in the moment and work through something that seems endless. Cut wood, carry water.)

Yum.

I leave November 17.

It seems - at the same time - like an endless wait and a frighteningly short time to prepare for the trip. I'm hoping to take Christmas gifts, belongings they left behind, baby presents. In addition, I want to make gifts for my DIL's family.

Very glad I have this weekend to start the process.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

My mother is doing great! She had some worrisome weeks fighting dehydration following her knee replacement surgery, but has recovered wonderfully and gets stronger every day. She's exceeded the standard for range-of-motion and has been released from physical therapy. We went out to dinner tonight and she is clearly walking better (standing taller) than she has in several years. We are both looking forward to her return to Disneyland later next month.

School is going well. So far I have few behavior problems. We are on SEVERE budget restrictions, including limited copies, which has forced me to be creative in lesson planning. I think - all whining aside - this will turn out to be a better teaching year for me than I've had for a long time. Less paper, more hands-on.

My son and I are in the process of purging belongings. Ebay, Craig's List, garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores are among the targets for 39 years worth of collectibles, Civil War costumes and just plain junk. It doesn't look good for the sales part of the project, but I tell myself that if I can clear enough to move out of our storage unit (at $130 a month), that will be my financial gain.

$1500 a year is a trip to Tokyo to see my family.

No contest.

LeAnn Rimes & GMCLA - The Rose

2011-09-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Perpetuum Jazzile - Africa

2011-09-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

Fridays.

2011-09-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

Always welcome.

Some weeks more than others.

Not that this was a bad week. It was, actually, quite good. But I'm tired and looking forward to the next three days.

Tomorrow is crop with my Mom and sister. Mom is still recovering from her surgery. I was telling a friend that she was having some issues with her recovery this time and my friends said she knew someone who had issues following knee replacement surgery, too. She proceeded to describe my mom's stuff, so apparently what Mom's going through is not unusual.

I should be working on scrapbooks tomorrow. Hoping to have some energy to pack up the car. Right now it's not looking so good.

Highlight of my teaching week had nothing to do, really, with history. I bought RealPlayer Plus and have been having fun burning videos onto dvds, then sharing them with my students. One of them was "Africa" by Perpetuum Jazzile. I'll post it here. Awesome Slovanian choir. I was delighted by the kids' response. I have one student who, I was warned, would be hard to reach ("look out for that one"). A cappella was a language he spoke. It will help us bridge. Can't wait to introduce him to Straight No Chaser and, later this year, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (not always a cappella but always awesome.)

Speaking of which, I just ordered the new season series. Going to be fabulous. The final show in June will be a country show with Leann Rimes. I'll re-post her Christmas performance with them. I wasn't there that day so am hopeful to catch her show in this series.

Sunday I've promised my son I will spend the day purging my holiday decorations. He will sell what he can at a garage sale or on Craig's List. My goal is to empty my storage unit (more purging). The yearly rent on that is a trip to Japan; amazing how your priorities change when there's a grandson in the picture.

I'm very close to buying the ticket for my Thanksgiving visit to Tokyo. Just waiting for a confirmation that the date and times of the ticket I'm looking at will actually work for my son. He has advised that I let him meet me at Narita at this, my first visit, rather than try to navigate the Japanese train system to his home on my first trip to a foreign country. I will listen to this wise man. I think customs will be challenge enough.

This will be the first time in over 30 years that I will fit into my seat on the airplane. I'm going to be positive. I will be sitting in a row with others who fit into their seats (not between two 300-pound men). They will not be too chatty, although a little conversation (music? Disneyland? crafts?) will be enjoyable. Perhaps a writer? That could make this quite the adventure.

No bigots.

Please.

Nag, nag, nag...

2011-09-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

And now, by popular demand.

One of my regular readers who shall remain nameless (but who I love very much) reminded me that I haven't posted the details of my day at Disneyland yesterday.

Twist my arm.

I was up at 5:00 AM and was ready to leave at 5:45 for the 6th Annual Visions Fantastic Scavenger Hunt. I played the first two years, volunteered the third and have been out of it for two. It was wonderful to see old friends, people I've developed a great respect for over the last six years. Chris Lang, VF founder, has developed the most elegant Disney fansite on the net. He and his staff of volunteers are dedicated, hard-working and generous, determined to share a love for all things Disney in the most positive of ways.

The Scavenger Hunt is no exception.

I picked up my team mate around 6:00 AM and we made it to the park without a hitch, arriving at the picnic area under thunder and lightening. Within just a few minutes we were being pelted with fat raindrops, and those present shared just a moment of concern that - while we wouldn't get rained out - we might have an uncomfortable day. But, hey! It's Disneyland, right? The rain lasted only a few seconds, stopped, then resumed for a couple of minutes and that was it for the rest of the day.

We were given our team ID tags, a very handsome pin with our name on it and had our team picture taken by VF photographer, Brett "DaddyB" Garrett. After some final instructions and distribution of our hunt materials, we headed for the Park.

This year the hunt was divided into three parts, but the basic principle of all three was the same. We were given a selection of cropped photos. For example, the organizers might have taken a picture of this:

and then crop it down so that just his bow tie and part of his vest showed. Which is silly, because they didn't use live anything, but you get the idea. We took a few minutes to sit at the Candy Palace and go over the pictures, making notes on where we might find the items, then hit the pavement. There were things to find in every land from Toon Town to Tomorrowland, Critter Country to Main Street. In the final stage competitors had to go to the Disney hotels.

We were too beat to even try that one, so are pretty sure we came in last place. But we had fun, found more than we thought we would.

The best part of this event is learning about the park. It's been under some renovation and the shops have been transformed into a style more appropriate for the turn-of-the-century Marceline, MO, of Disney's childhood. Many of the new decorative elements were included in the hunt, and it was fun to track them down. I don't know, for example, that I would ever have noticed the "off to college" theming in the men's department of the Clothiers unless I had been trying to find the picture of the Yale pennant that was in the hunt.

After the first phase (we had about three hours) we ate lunch at the Mexican Restaurant in Frontierland. Restored, we picked up the materials for stage 2 and worked that for a while, then turned in that paper. By then we two over 50s (well, as you know, I'm 60 this year) were dragging. We found a bench to enjoy the parade, then picked up the stage 3 materials even though I knew I couldn't manage the hike up to the hotels and back. We moseyed - somewhere - and decided to just head to the meet-up place for the final turn-in. As we passed Town Square we realized they had just started the lowering of the flag in the flag retreat. We stopped and stood respectfully, sang the National Anthem, and made it back in time to turn in our unmarked card.

After the awards we headed to Space Mountain for a nice tour of the universe, then picked up salads at the Pizza Port. We took our salads to the Refreshment Corner hoping for some pleasant piano with our dinner but, unfortunately, a certain entertainer is still storing his head in a rather dark and uncomfortable place and we had to miss out on that part of the evening's program. That has been a favorite way for me to end my day since years before that casting change and it irritates me to miss out on it. I keep hoping reality will reign once more but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Such a shame. Must be a hard way to live.

It didn't damper my fun for long, however. After finishing our salads we made a restroom stop and wandered along the Pixie Hollow path in time to catch part of a new mini-water show that I didn't know about. Delightful. We still had about 20 minutes before our Star Tours fastpasses would be valid so we decided to ride the Monorail. I hadn't been on that in years and it was a fun ride. Then it was time to use our Star Tours passes to take a different tour than I'd taken before.

We decided to try to beat the fireworks to the tram, so we headed to the lockers to pick up our stuff before heading out. After a quick stop at the Emporium for a small purchase, we headed out and did, indeed, beat the crowd to the tram. Turned out we had a GREAT view of the fireworks from the parking lot.

The trip home was uneventful (although there was an accident on the southbound 5 that made us very glad we were northbound) and I was home before midnight. I was overtired, overstimulated and my legs were screaming that even though I've lost over 60 pounds I'm still carrying too much weight to abuse them like that. I took a nice hot shower (that helped), a couple of ibuprofen and read Justin Cronin's The Passage until I was sleepy enough to turn out the light.

All in all, a thoroughly delightful day.

And I get to go back in a little over a week.

No, I'll never get tired of it.

SuperTrooper...

2011-09-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

...is my Mom.

Needed no assistance getting up or down her stairs, nor with anything that happened in between. Her therapy session today - says she - went well. She sounds strong and confident.

Hooray.

School's In.

2011-09-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

A little tough...

...to get back in the swing of things.

Guess I was really spoiled. I did so much, had so much fun, did so many little chores that I felt like the break went on forever and I'm completely rested and ready to face reality again.

Well, as ready as anyone can be to face reality.

The brugs are amazing. This is "Peach?" This is taken from my bedroom window. Nice to wake up to, isn't she? Now, if I could just figure out how to camo those sprinklers...

So, what's the news?

DS1 and his family are doing well. I'm planning on a visit in November, Thanksgiving break, to meet my grandson and - oh yeah - hug his parents, too. I've never been out of the country and it is a real thrill to have a passport! The world really is opened up. And for Debi the historian, this thing is a thing of beauty. When my sons got theirs, the pages were plain, but this one has historic landscapes from all around the country. And each page has a quote. My favorite is a two-page spread of bison grazing against a rocky mountain background with a bald eagle superimposed and a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King: We have a great dream. It started way back in 1776, and God grant that America will be true to her dream.

I did a lot of reading this summer, mostly positive psychology and how-to-write books. So how I got Justin Cronin's The Passage in my hands I don't quite understand. But what an amazing writer. "...pacing the halls of her mind." Sigh. I'm finding that it reminds me of Michael Crichton or Dan Brown at their best.

I didn't quite get my Christmas jacket finished, although I'm confident I will finish it before the holidays. I ran into some supply snags (why isn't it easier to find deep red and hunter green ultrasuede for fringe?), which brought me too close to my end-of-summer deadline for the project to remain fun. So, I put it away when I left for my mom's.

My mom had a rough couple of weeks after her knee-replacement surgery, but is not getting impatient with her recovery. (They warned her it would be 3-6 months to a full recovery; she's getting irritated that it's taking so long at 3 weeks tomorrow.) She has her first in-office physical therapy session on Thursday and is determined that she will take a real shower and wash her hair in her shower UPSTAIRS. She's scaring the crap out of me. I'm going to drive to her house and sit and read my great book while she does the deed. Just terrified that something MIGHT happen and she would be stuck for hours without someone to call for help.

While I was staying with her after surgery I bought the fabric for this new chart:

Josephine Wall, Spirit of Flight. Heaven and Earth Designs.

If you've been visiting here for a while, you might remember that I found this art on a journal early in the summer. I felt then - and still do - that the color and energy of this piece reflected the New Debi that is in process. I don't know why it never occurred to me to look for a cross-stitch chart of it, but it wasn't until someone followed a search for it here (and found the journal, I guess) that I went hunting, too. It's produced by Heaven and Earth designs. The company has a great reputation for rendering art into charts so I'm hopeful for a true rendition. My only problem is that my eyes are so challenged now that even with my wonderful magnifier, there is no way I can follow the instructions to work this over ONE ON 25 LINEN. Uh uh. So I bought a large piece of 18 Aida. I know it won't be perfect, but at least on that (and it's huge, as you can imagine) it stands half a chance of completion in my lifetime.

Journal writing and Morning Pages were about the only writing I did this summer. Did a little character development for my book, but managed to procrastinate the project nicely.

And now it's time to head to my bedtime routine so that I have some energy for teaching. Saturday is a Disneyland trip. A colleague and I are entered in the Visions Fantastic Scavenger Hunt. I've done the hunt a couple of times and worked it once. Excited to see my Viffer friends and see what they have in store. You'd think after 56 years of visiting Disneyland I would know it pretty well, but these hunts always teach me more about looking carefully and discovering treasures.

This is only a test...

2011-08-29T17:05:00.001-07:00

Time to Regroup...

2011-08-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

...to be a working girl again.

I will honor my son's request that we help protect his son's security by keeping our conversations about him within the family. Instead, I celebrate his birth by sharing one of my favorite entries to the Worth1000.com photography contests.

My mom is doing well. She had a scare with dehydration but was doing much better when I left yesterday thanks to IV fluids at Kaiser.

I was happy to return to Camarillo, which seemed 20 degrees cooler than my mom's town, and even though we are much closer to the beach it seemed much less humid here. I got the car unpacked and spent the afternoon catching up on email and pulling together some of the bits and pieces of writing and research I'd worked on at Mom's.

I'll do some writing now, then go to Costco for some prints I ordered last night. From there I'll go work in my classroom, then home to put together lesson plans for the first week or two. I had exciting news when I was able to get into my school email. The principal was able to get me a projector and Elmo. I will have to make an adjustment from my overhead projector (which was so loud I had to turn it off to hear student comments and which had a bulb that burned out in the middle of lessons about every two months). Of course, before I adjust anything, I will have to figure out how to get the new stuff hooked up.

My family took GREAT care of my gardens while I was at my mom's. The summer heat finally arrived, of course, while I was gone and I worried that the schedule I left wouldn't be enough watering to keep everything alive. But, they adjusted beautifully and everything is looking wonderful. I even came home to a gardenia full of blooms. Four of them float next to me, now, and smell divine.

It was a wonderful summer, and now I look forward to dragging these good feelings into the next school year with me.

Here.

2011-08-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

On the planet.

8 lbs. 2 oz.
My grandson.

Gorgeous. If his parents give permission, I'll post his picture.

They're a little busy now.

Body Functions.

2011-08-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

Amazing.

Mom has been home for two-and-a-half days. She can navigate from the family room to the bathroom quite competently with her walker. She is doing light chair exercises. The Home Health Physical Therapist visited yesterday and complimented her range of motion. Her pain is controllable with minimum allowable dosage of painkiller and she is sleeping well. Everything is looking good.

I'm grateful.

Meanwhile, across the Pacific, DS1 and DIL are working to bring my first grandchild (a boy) into our world.

If there are words to describe what it's like to wait for news of the baby's birth, I can't find them yet.

While those bodies are working away, mine has been slacking. The last couple of weeks have been the weight-loss nightmare of an off-program summer. I alternated from celebration eating to stress eating and back all break. Gym work-outs were rejected in favor of garden chores (which were at least minimally active) to computer stuff (which was not). But at least home is relatively food safe for me. HERE Mom is stocked with my favorites, and after eating one dinner in the hospital cafeteria I compounded the nightmare by stopping at the grocery store on the way home the next night for a basketfull of comfort food. Some I've given away, some I've thrown away, but too much I've eaten. And virtually no exercise.

I fear the scale.

Fortunately, school starts next week and I will have the comfort of the routine. Am confident I can get my physical well-being back on track.

For now, I'm focused on sending energy to my loved ones. Too bad those calories don't count for me, too, huh?

Mom's Surgery

2011-08-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

She's doing well.

My mom had knee-replacement surgery yesterday at the Kaiser facility in Woodland Hills. She's tired but doing well. She got through her fairly rigorous physical therapy, including a morning walk to the end of the nurse's station and back, and another in the afternoon around the station.

We had hoped she could come home tomorrow (Friday) but they want to keep her at least until Saturday.

When she sleeps, I hang out in the very comfortable family room in the fourth floor post-surgery recovery area. The nursing staff is taking wonderful care of her.

Once she's released I'll bring her back to her house, where I will stay with her for the next week.

She's looking forward to riding Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland again.

Things are looking good.

Time to Reflect...

2011-08-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

on the summer.

My summer break is drawing to a close. I started having back-to-school nightmares about three weeks ago, which is kind of early but is probably indicative of the great summer I've had. I'd love this break to continue for - oh - about thirty years, but the summer was so nice that I'm not dreading the return.

Early last week I got my principal's "Welcome Back" letter. Friday I turned in my documentation of my credential renewal and my TB test card. It's feeling like a go.

There was good news in the letter. Last year our two new teachers (both fabulous ) were pinked. One is getting married; one just had a new baby. At the end of last year they had both been warned they probably were not coming back, but as of now they've both been rehired. Whew!

My schedule is essentially the same. I'll have my preparation period period 4 instead of period 3 (where it's been for several years) but otherwise I'll be teaching what I'm best prepared to teach, so that's a relief.

So, as I say a fond farewell to summer 2011, here's my fond farewell to summer 2011.

The first week of break I worked in the Fairy Garden.

I also started cleaning out the pantry in the garage, learned that two shelves had to be discarded due to rain damage (don't ask) and gave up the project. When something is so frustrating from day one, it's time to put it off until sometime in the future. WAY in the future.

June 18 marked the beginning of Birthweek 60.

My family gave me the best birthday party ever. They ASKED what I WANTED (what a concept) and made sure I had it. Everything was perfect and I felt very spoiled.

After a Father's Day break the next day, I was treated to a delicious Weight Watcher's dinner prepared by Amber. Originally we had planned to spend the day watching chick flicks, but the day ended up being pretty busy and we only got one in (Disney's Enchanted).

The fun continued on Tuesday. I captured Amber again and we headed into the big city. We started by meeting my good friend Julie at the Autry Museum to check out their exhibit, "Skydreamers."

Amber and Debi enjoying the Autry western heritage museum, Griffith Park, Los Angeles.

Julie (a pilot) and Debi really enjoyed the "Skydreamers" exhibit.

After enjoying the museum, Amber and I headed into Hollywood where we watched Super 8 at the ArcLight.

The lobby was impressive, but we didn't like the movie that much and - for all the ArcLight glitz - I have to say that our little Roxy is much more comfortable. After the movie Amber and I made our way down the street for dinner at Miceli's, an old Italian restaurant with OK food and dynamite atmosphere.


We sat in the right corner under the window. It was dark, so very cozy.

Piano player that night was named Brian (or Bryan?) and was hilarious. I love when musicians make jokes with their music.

The next day was REALLY my birthday. As always, the first thing I do in the morning is boot up the computer and head over to facebook to see how my peeps are doing. When I got there, I had this birthday surprise.

I cried.

My son and I had enjoyed men's choirs since Paul Simon introduced us to Ladysmith Black Mombazo in his Graceland album. I had attended a Los Angeles performance of Straight No Chaser in December, and after telling Garrett about it, he had done some searching on the internet and found The Whiffenpoofs from Yale as finalists on the show, Sing Off. I searched for a live performance, and we enjoyed this group of 14 Yale seniors on tour (venue was in Santa Barbara). Garrett corresponded with the group after the concert, and they generously and graciously granted his wish to give me this special HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Once I got myself together, I got ready for my next big celebratory event. I had decided weeks before that I would have a formal portrait taken on this big day. I had a blast with the JC Penney's photographer and managed to get some decent pictures of myself to give to my family.

That evening my family went to Brendan's, a new Irish pub-style restaurant in town. It's my favorite place to eat. Great food and great atmosphere.


Son Garrett, Amber, Debi and husband Larry. I got my entree free on my birthday, but would have enjoyed their Irish version of onion soup just as much.

The next day my son and I had a date in Seal Beach. Tom Kubis leads one of my favorite big bands and they play the fourth Thursday of each month at the famous Don the Beachcomber's in Seal Beach (Huntington Beach). After a difficult trip down (took three hours instead of the usual 1.5) we got there just as the performance was starting. The food was excellent and the music terrific. This youtube video was taken last year, but they did "Village Dance" when we were there. It was my favorite piece.

That was Thursday night. The next night was our scheduled baby shower for my first grandson. We had shipped a couple of boxes of goodies to my son and his wife in Japan, then arranged to "meet" them on Skype for the unwrapping. It was the next best thing to being there.

On Saturday I had planned to end BIRTHWEEK 60 with a solo trip to Disneyland. And solo is just what I did. What a great day! Highlights included:

Being the "Director" (meaning announcer) for the Disneyland Band Disney movies book. This is the second time I've had this honor. It's the only way to get the coveted Disneyland Band button, but the best part is sitting next to the hilarious bass trombone player, Toby, for the show. Artie, the conductor, noticed I was wearing a birthday button, so the Disneyland Band serenaded me with "Happy Birthday" at the end of the set. They really know how to lay on the magic!

Birthday photo with Mickey.

The new parade, "Soundsational." It really is! The Mary Poppins chimney sweeps are my favorites. Great choreography executed with high energy, enthusiasm and charm. (One of them popped over to say, "Happy birthday, Debi." Smiles.

And the super amazing All American College Band. I think I saw this group a half-dozen times this summer and NEVER got tired of them. I've been enjoying each year's group for about five years now, but this year's was extra special.

That was supposed to be the end of BIRTHWEEK 60, but hey, when you're having fun, why stop the celebration, right?

The next day my terrific sister-in-law came to Camarillo and we went together to see the hideous movie, Bad Teacher. Cameron, really? What were you thinking? We were so disappointed in that movie with no redeeming value, but made up for it by going out to The Sportsman, a small restaurant/bar, to see Swing Shift, a local big band.

The amazing Don Tanner, 92, still swinging.

I can't say it enough - learn what is available live in your community. This band was every bit as good as Kubis. My son is a fourth-generation drummer (and a damn good one, too) and he was blown away by Swing Shift's drummer, Don Tanner. (To read a feature story from our local paper, go here.) Add in a wonderful singer and the fun of a handful of swing-dancing couples and it made for a delightful evening.

I had hoped to include my good friend, Suzi, during my birthweek, but she still had a week of work so I sacrificed myself by extending my celebration yet again. Suzi and I started our day by going to the Monastery of the Angels in Hollywood for a loaf (or two) of their famous pumpkin bread (yum), and then to South LA for some See's chocolate fresh from the factory. After a pleasant drive down the 405 (believe it or not; must have been the company) we had a delicious (and healthy) lunch at Andrew Weil's True Food Kitchen in Newport Beach. (Don't know that it made up for the pumpkin bread or See's though.)

After lunch we spent a lovely hour or more at Roger's Gardens, a premier garden supply center (and more) in Corona del Mar. We had a leisurely drive home along PCH, hoping to find a fabric/quilt store that Suzi knew of. We found it, but it was closed for the day. It happened to be right next to a Claim Jumper restaurant, and I was suddenly craving a piece of their chocolate cream pie. Once seated I learned they no longer serve the pie, so I made do with spinach and artichoke dip with a hot fudge brownie for dessert (Dr. Weil would be so disappointed in me, I know.)

I suppose I could have called BIRTHWEEK 60 concluded at that point, but found myself in the delightful position of having not one but TWO old friends in town and available for a visit. I met my friend Sandy at Cafe Nouveau, a favorite restaurant in Ventura on Tuesday of that week, then that Friday our mutual friend Maureen was visiting from Missouri. I met her on the beach at Silver Strand for a nice visit.


Cafe Nouveau for pecan pancakes with pixie dust syrup. No, that's not us but I do love to eat in the courtyard.

Thus ends the day-by-day, play-by-play (in the fun sense of the word "play") of BIRTHWEEK 60. But the fun of summer break didn't end there. No fear. I'll just hit the highlights.

I read more this summer than I have for the last five combined. At the top of my nightstand pile was Anne Lamott. I read Bird by Bird (twice), on how to write. I read all of her "faith" books including Grace Eventually, Tender Mercies, Plan B and Operating Instructions. I read her novel, Rosie and have the other two in that series waiting.


Wonderful advice for writers.

I did a lot of yardwork, including (drum roll, please) finishing this planter that had been on hold for over a decade. What SHALL I plant?

I discovered treasures in my garden including blooms on the stephanotis,

They smell so delicious!

and this year's crop of Monarch cats in the milkweed.

I started a jacket that has also been "on hold," this time for closer to twenty years.


Made of black duck with Christmas fabric patchwork, this will be done by Christmas although I did not get it finished before the end of summer break as I had hoped.

I wrote just about every day. Some days it would be just a thought jotted in a journal or the small notebook I carry in my purse. Most days it was Morning Pages, a habit I had developed as I worked Julia Cameron's Artist's Way last summer. And sometimes I would work on one of the books I have on file - one an autobiographical piece and the other a novel. I had found The Artist's Way so transformational that I decided to continue the growth process with Right to Write and am still working that process.

I had purchased a concert series of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles and attended their last concert of the series in July. I started that day with a lovely drive down the coast into Hollywood, then enjoyed a delightful lunch with my writer friend, Dustin (a very talented essayist). The concert was called TOTALLY! and was a tribute to the music and events of the 1980s. This group is brilliant. In case you missed it the first time I posted:

Add another half-dozen trips to Disneyland with friends and with my Mom and I had a very full and entertaining summer break indeed,

As most teachers do, I took care of health issues with visits to dentist, dental hygienist and internist. I went to the gym for my 1.5-hour workouts regularly, clogged most Wednesday nights and attended Weight Watcher's meetings most Thursdays. I did not meet my goal of increasing my work-outs and losing 20 pounds this summer, but will finish out the summer with a loss and considering the "fun" I had, that's doing pretty well.

For now, I'm getting ready to go support my Mom as she has knee replacement surgery. Her surgery is scheduled for this Wednesday. I'll move in with her on Tuesday afternoon and stay until the 27th, starting back to work on the 29th.

It's much easier to return to work when the summer break has been so rejuvenating.

A Gift...

2011-08-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

...when I needed it most.

Everyone can benefit, but it is especially for my TEACHER friends.

Straight No Chaser- Fix You by Coldplay

2011-08-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

HUGS!

2011-08-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

It's International Friendship Day.

“If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem & smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart – I’ll always be with you.” — Winnie the Pooh (the official Int’l Friendship Day Ambassador of Friendship)

I have the most amazing people in my life. I'm grateful that I can call them "friend".

Hugs to my Friends here at the stitchery.

Power

2011-08-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

of love...

I was at this concert and it was a magical experience.

Turn up the volume and know that what we see and hear in this fabulous video doesn't come close to what I saw and heard and FELT from the GMCLA that day.

I can't wait until the next series.

We Belong - GMCLA sings the 1980s hit

2011-08-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Kinda Pooped.

2011-08-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

We all got 'em.

I tried to lump all my errands into one trip today, in a line to minimize backtracking. It worked out great and I'm not exhausted (hooray), but I did a lot of stuff. Because this is my online journal, bear with me as I list what I took care of today.

First stop was the drugstore for a baby card. My oldest and his wife are having their first child in just a couple more weeks and DH and I wanted to send some money for a stroller (or whatever else they want). Sending money to Japan has been a little complicated, so we were delighted when my mom approached two Japanese women in a restaurant and asked what they thought was the best way to send money to a Japanese family. Their answer: International postal money orders. The fee is under $5.00 and it's a safe, smooth process. When they try to cash the money order they have to show proof of identification and their address has to match what I put on the MO.

I had to control myself choosing a card. They had such cute ones. I really loved the clothesline with the baby bibs hanging by real, tiny little clothespins but I controlled myself and found a sweet one that wasn't 1) bulky and 2) heavy.

Next stop was the ATM in the grocery next store.

Then to the post office. The little office in the neighboring town is actually closer to me than our town office (and never crowded like the big one in town) so I headed there. Pretty seamless process.

Next stop was our town library. It's a gorgeous thing...

Entrance. To the left is the used bookstore where I dropped my donation. There's a coffee bar there, too. Sometimes I wish I liked coffee.


Children's story area. Blue floor is a thick rubber mat.


Check-out. I got my card here. Gorgeous mission styling throughout. That's not a rug but tile on the floor.

Pretty cool, huh? I've only seen pictures. Seems to be videos, but there is another video section so I'm not sure what these are. Guess I'll check it out next time.

Young adults. Spectacular "found" mosaic work.

And my favorite section upstairs in reference. Actually, my FAVorite section is the little niche at the back of the photo. There's a window there and I love to tuck in to read there. During the school year I want to take one evening a week and do cross stitch up there. Usually quiet (today there was a screaming child who needed to be taken home much earlier than he actually was). For today's "assignment" I was sitting at a table next to the window just to the left of the fireplace.

My library card. I had one for the old library for 35 years and only used it twice. Maybe I'll take better advantage of this one.

Boring, huh? Sorry. You can see I really do like our library, although so far I haven't spent a whole lot of time there.

Anyway, next on my route was the Camarillo Police Department. I have a box of stuffed animals I want to move out and several people recommended donating them to the CPD. I wanted to make sure that was a real option, and a very nice lady enthusiastically told me they would take them. I like to think of them comforting a child in a difficult situation.

As a teacher in California, I am required to get a TB test every four years and this summer is my turn. I tried to stop at the medical clinic that does our testing but ran into a parking lot problem so just went back into the street and promised to come back in the afternoon. I think my Universe was probably taking care of me again. Later I imagined that a Monday morning just might have been pretty busy there.

Anyway, I headed to Costco. First I got my passport photo taken. It's pretty awful but I figure that just puts me in with an elite group of international travelers. I couldn't figure out why I looked so washed out; then I realized that I had forgotten blush when I did my photo make-up. And I must be allergic to something in the make-up, 'cause my eye was tearing all morning (still is), which gave me a look way beyond "dewy-eyed." The photog asked if I wanted another one and I said it was fine. I'm sure that the "What the hell am I doing here?" look is the one I'll be wearing when I travel anyway, so I'll match. Got groceries, then gas, then headed back.

Stopped at Home Depot for three more retainer blocks and some 2x6 redwood to finish out my retainer planter project. That section of deck has been missing one 12-foot strip of decking for about ten years (waiting until I got the planter done). Now I can finish that out once and for all tomorrow. From there, on to Target for some Dymo label refills. (I know, the story builds doesn't it?)

Back in Camarillo I stopped at the Presto Pasta. DH got dinner there last night, but I didn't recognize my shrimp parmigiana (the little pieces of battered, fried shrimp looked like sausages to me). DH drove all the way back to tell them we'd been shorted the entree and they gave him another one. While he was gone (and not answering his phone) my son, who used to work there, pointed to one of the entree's and said, "This is your shrimp parmigiana, Mom." When DH got back we had two of them. Sadly, because the shrimp was battered and fried, I couldn't eat it anyway, So, we had two dinners with nobody to eat them. I felt sorry for the guy who made both of them (and was probably wondering if he'd lost his mind) and went in on my Errandscapade and paid for the dinner. I think it made the manager's day. He kept offering me drinks and cookies.

It's a sad commentary on our culture that people won't fess up when they make a mistake like this, or try to make it whole. But one of my favorite lines from a song is from Billy Joel's "My Life."

"...you wake up with yourself." I wake up with myself every morning, and if I'm going to like the experience, I have to try to remedy my mistakes.

One last stop for the day was back at the medical clinic. Ran into two teacher friends, both there for the same reason as I. Enjoyed a short visit, got my injections (it's never hurt before but today was OUCH time). Have to go back on Wednesday afternoon. My plan is to drive about 30 minutes from here to submit my passport application and materials, then come back to town to get my test read.

Tomorrow...

I'm splitting my time between purging the spare room and garage so that I can give up our storage unit (the year's rent on that thing = a round-trip ticket to Japan. Nothing in there is that valuable) and working on my Christmas jacket. I will take pity and not bore you with all the re-arranging plans to make this work.

My jacket is coming along splendidly.

Yesterday I had a moment of terror when I started to cut out the pieces. I'd spent hours creating that strip-pieced fabric and was really nervous about making that first cut.

But, I got over it and got it all cut out except for set of pieces that I have to create using the black background fabric and leftover strips of the pieced.

Here's some of what I did finish:

The little quilt for the back.

Pockets.

I'll get that last piece done tomorrow, then can start stitching it all up. My goal is to have it done and hanging in the closet before I leave to move in with my mom, who is having knee replacement surgery on Wednesday, the 17th. I'll be staying with her for the first week or so. The rest of the family will take over on the 27th so that I can come home and get ready for school to start again.

It's always hard to believe that what SEEMS in June to be a long break (and is, really) is coming to an end. Next week I have a Disneyland trip with a friend, then will take Mom to the hospital on Wednesday so she can leave her pint of blood. I'll spend the night, then take her to Disneyland for one last visit with the All American College Band and Ragtime Jonny before her surgery. (The College Band ends their stay the next week, and Jonny only plays on Thursdays, which will be out for me once school starts.)

Even though she will be challenged during that week after her surgery, we're kind of looking forward to the time. I have a stack of stitchery, writing projects and scrapbook projects to do while I'm there.

And she has promised that once her anesthetic wears off, she will teach me to fancy knit.

Should be fun.

Quilt Project.

2011-07-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

It involves stitches.

In 1990 I bought a terrific jacket pattern called "The Oregon Trail." I thought it would make a wonderful Christmas jacket, so I also bought a lot of Christmas fabric for it. Problem was, I was already wearing an XXL in jackets (was more comfortable in an XXXL if I could find one) and the pattern only went up to size XL. So, I tucked it away where it has been languishing for 21 years. It occurred to me this year that - having already lost 60 pounds (am wearing M/L clothing now) and with the potential to be down 90-100 pounds total by Christmas, I should make this jacket.

I started today. The first step is to make a 44x18" piece of wonkystrip quilted fabric. I finished this today as well as two other, slightly smaller pieces. I'm using black duck for the body of the jacket and these strips are used for collar, pockets and embellishments here and there on the jacket.

So far I've made one serious - although correctable - mistake and have broken one needle. Also turned out I had only one small spool of black thread in the house so had to quit earlier than I'd hoped.

For me, though, (The Frog Queen) this is "so far so good" status.

It feels good to be sewing again. I'll be taking some cross-stitch with me to my mom's for the week that I'll stay with her after knee surgery, and bought supplies for her to teach me some fancy knitting.

Fiber, color, movement. Awesome to be back in it.

(More time, please.)

Truth.

2011-07-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

from Joseph Campbell

It is by going down to the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.

It's Quiet Here.

2011-07-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

A.M.

I've started a couple of blog posts in the last few days, but don't manage to finish them; don't end up with anything worth sharing. So this may be a ramble, just to catch myself up with where I've been.

I turned off the fan for a while the other morning, so I could enjoy the quiet while I did a post. Then I postponed writing it because the keyboard sounds were interrupting the silence.

I crave silence. It's one of the appeals of the garden. Rarely I'll take the ipod out and listen to music while I weed but normally I just enjoy the relative quiet, conversations with grumpy hummingbirds (who don't seem to understand that I'm the one who fills the feeders they are so determined to keep me from) and butterflies.

Pretty sure this is a mail broadtail hummingbird. It makes a clacking sound as it flies.

I've been enjoying the fritillaries that have found my passion vine. I don't know if I'm seeing the same female multiple times, or different females, but there have been a lot of eggs laid. Yesterday I finished a clean-up project in the front courtyard and finally (it's been a year) planted the red milkweed that I got at Roger's Gardens last summer. It hadn't been in the ground a full hour before a HUGE Monarch mama fluttered in and fed, then laid eggs all over the plant.

That's rewarding.

The courtyard is looking better. Thanks to DS2 and his girlfriend, the pond area is looking good, too. They started the grass removal and I joined in to help for a while. The north sideyard is gorgeous and if I get nothing else accomplished this summer, I can live off the satisfaction of having finished what I have of that garden. I moved a large pot around to the side. It has a set of hooks anchored in a pot of cement. I planted a new Mandevilla, this time a deep, velvety red. It's just a baby plant right now. It's root system will be restricted by the way I've potted it up, but the last one I had in the pot did live for several years, did climb to the top of the hooks and did bloom. That will all be good enough for me. The hooks gave me a place for my extra hummer feeder.

There's an empty hook. Oh, dear! What shall I hang there? I told DS2 that I have a pot hanger that I can put a saucer in and fill it with peanuts for the scrub jays that nest in the pyracantha on the other side of the back fence. In the south side yard I have a windowbox sitting on a shelf, just outside the kitchen window. The other day I watched a scrub jay burying a peanut - a gift from another neighbor.

I've been keeping "busy" puttering. I love to putter. But I know that - again - when the summer comes to a close I will look back on this summer break and be - again - dissatisfied, angry with myself for all the time I squandered. I'm trying to get something done every day that will help carry me through the school year with a more peaceful mind (I HATE having chores hanging over my head nearly as much as I hate doing them). I'm looking at different maintenance scheduling programs on the net and talking with friends.

There's good guidance on the internet of course.

DH is retired. I went from stay-at-home mom/housewife to full-time teacher twenty years ago. Naively, I assumed we would split the housework 50/50. Snort. I guess I deserve a good smack up side the head for the "fool me twice" assumption that once retired, he would step up and at least clean up after himself.

We had The Talk a couple of years ago. He agreed that it was his turn to take over the housework. He would do it HIS way.

I tried - I really did - to live in filth. I just can't do it. Happy clutter, the clutter that comes with little children or busy crafting, I can handle. But I need to know that under it there's a clean floor, a clean carpet. I need a clean bathroom and I REALLY need to be able to make my breakfast and pull my lunch together every morning on a clean counter. My cluttered mind needs my surroundings to be in order.

Decades ago I read a quote from the great fabric artist, Jean Ray Laury. She wrote that housework while important, is maintenance. Maintenance on a grand scale, I think is what she said (my mom has the book or I'd go look up the quote.) And she said (and this is the part that has stayed with me all these years) maintenance on a grand scale is still just maintenance, not a life.

This needs to be the year that I finally get maintenance in control. I have too much headed my way to have my mind (or what's left of it) cluttered with random maintenance chores bouncing from one side of my skull to the other. So, developing a plan that I can stick to, live with, has to go to the top of the list of things to accomplish this summer.

With the quilt projects, garden projects and fun stuff that I already have planned.

Speaking of which, my mom has decided to have her crippled knee replaced (she had the other one done a few years ago) and her surgery is scheduled in August, less than a month away. So...

DISNEYLAND one more time with her this Thursday! Hoping to duplicate the great day of music we had week before last.

GOOSEBUMPS!

2011-07-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

Just stopped in to say that the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles gave me goose bumps at the beginning of their concert, moved me to tears during Thriller and had me rocking in my seat during It's Raining Men and I Wanna Dance with Somebody...

(And wasn't there some "Wake me up..." rockin' in there somewhere?)

Next year I'm buying TWO series' so that I can introduce them to a friend.

BRAGGAGE!

2011-07-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

Giant Steps.

My older son just found himself in the following youtube video. He played bass with the Santa Barbara City College Lunch Break (award winning) big band. He can be seen in the back just to Michael Brecker's left - "lush" brown hair and goatee.

The braggage part? I was at a competition for his younger brother once and this director was one of the adjudicators. I was sitting close to the judge's table. I noticed that my older son had come into the small theater to hear his brother's big band performance and had stopped for a few seconds to greet his then ex-director and have a short conversation. After he had walked away, I overheard the director say to the judge next to him, "He was the most gifted bass player I've worked with in years."

Moms like that.

6. Giant Steps

2011-07-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

Outstanding!

2011-07-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

In Every Way.

Yesterday's trip to Disneyland with Mom was pretty amazing. Amazing how well everything went. Amazing performances.

Had a little adventure with my passport. Seems that when you renew online you deactivate the passport you had (mine was supposed to be good until July 29) so I had to spend a little quality time with the ticket lady getting a courtesy card and fastpass card, but it only took a few minutes. As always, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and lovely service at the Carnation Cafe.

Finding ourselves with a little time before the first music set we wanted to see, we headed over to the Mark Twain for a tour of the Rivers of America. This was the first time we've been able to sit on the bow and we enjoyed the view from there.

One of my favorite animated vignettes.

Real. Tiny ducklings.

From there we returned to Town Square for the Disneyland Band concert. Sad to say, Family and Friends, I somehow messed up the definition settings on my camera and my video from the day turned out very badly. Still, I have to post this incredible selection. Brian Williams playing the piccolo in "The Wren." Wow.

We had expected it to be incredibly hot and humid yesterday and it was NOT, but sitting in the sun waiting for the Band concert (and then the 30-minute concert itself) did take a toll on Mom and me, so we decided to arrive very early at the Golden Horseshoe for Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. Even the Billies commented on the great AC in the theater.

There are multiple combinations of castmembers in the Billies and - just one of many happy events of the day - on this day it was our favorite team. As always, they entertain with great music and great laughs.

We were quite early for the first set of our real "target" for the day, the All-American College Band, so we took a seat at the Plaza Gardens stage for some quality people watching. Serendipity smiled on us again. We were just in time for a Disney Performing Arts showcase featuring a dance troupe from Australia. Their first number was to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now, " one of my current theme songs. They proceeded to keep the stage cooking for a full 30 minutes. Their teacher (Breanna?) taught them well. You don't have to do difficult stuff (although some of it was) but what you do, you do BIG. And they did. Great energy, great fun.

Well-rested, cooled down and with the sun blocked by clouds, we decided to perch ourselves in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle for the first All-American College Band set. We were SO glad we did.

They did some fabulous hip arrangements - with choreography - of Disney theme music.

After the Castle set we moved back to Plaza Gardens for an amazing jazz set by the same group, then moved to the Corner Cafe for some "take-out" from the Pizza Port for dinner. That area has been called the Coke Corner and the Refreshment Corner, but I call it the Piano Corner because that was where - after 50 years of RIDES RIDES RIDES - we discovered an upright piano six years ago during the 50th Anniversary Celebration, The Happiest Homecoming on Earth. What a delightful surprise we found there.


Ragtime Jonny

We've enjoyed some terrific piano at this spot over the last six years, but this young man blew us away. What a showman! Energy, fun, talent and a winning charm. We were delighted to "meet" him because we really enjoy ending our evenings at the Piano Corner and now looked forward to returning for those last sets.

After dinner we headed to the end of Main Street and a very nice spot to see both the new parade - Soundsational - and the last All-American College Band set.

Thanks for the kiss, Goofy!

Octopus percussionus. This float spews bubbles and we were engulfed. Loved it, but don't know if they show here.

Little Mermaid float. Didn't we see him in another movie?

Rapunzel


Can you tell the chimney sweeps are my favorites?

This marked the beginning of the most delightful part of an already awesome day of musical fun. The sun went behind the trees, the cool breeze increased and suddenly we were enjoying an ideal Southern California evening. Within a few minutes the All-American College Band returned for their final set of the day. Stevie Wonder. Earth, Wind and Fire. If this doesn't fill your serotonin reserves, there's no hope.

Gonna try to share part of their last number with you but, again, I apologize for the lousy video quality.

Sorry to say good-bye to these talented young men and women, we headed back to the Piano corner for a bit of ice cream and people-watching to some awesome piano music. This is my favorite time of day at Disneyland; as the sun is setting and the lights come on all over the Park the magic really starts to saturate this place.

We enjoyed two more sets with Ragtime Jonny, who showed us he is also a warm and hospitable host. We learned that Jonny is 24 years old and has been playing piano at Disneyland for SIX YEARS! What were YOU doing when you were 18?

Jonny with Mom

As if the evening hadn't been quite delightful enough, as Jonny left after his last set, he introduced us to his wife. We were captivated by this charming, friendly young woman and Mom and I will keep our fingers crossed that we cross paths with her again. This sweet couple set the bar very high for our future visits.

After fireworks we made our way home. There must have been a horrible accident on the 5 north of the 118 interchange because we sat in stopped traffic for quite a while on the way home, but nothing could dampen our high spirits after such a wonderful day.

Life is Good.

2011-07-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

Disneyland...

tomorrow with my mom.

GMCLA concert TOTALLY! on Saturday.

Should be full to overflowing.

It Gets Better: Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles "True Colors"

2011-07-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes You Swing.

2011-07-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

Last summer someone directed my path to Julia Cameron's, The Artist's Way. It's a brilliant writing-based personal growth program intended to help each person embrace and nurture her (or his) creativity. I was warned to expect "transformation." I was cynical, and responded that transformation was probably reaching too high, but if I could just find a few missing pieces it would be worth it.

He then gifted me with this analogy. He said to think of it like a strand of old-fashioned Christmas lights. The kind where, when one went out, they all went out and you had to try, one bulb at a time, to find the burned-out bulb. But when you did, the entire strand was transformed. I remember that experience. You started with something dull and kind of hopeless looking, and ended up with something lovely. Sparkly.

I wanted that transformation, and set out to work Cameron's program in hopes that I, too, would end up sparkling through the rest of my life.

It wasn't always easy to work. Her prompts forced me to face some issues that I didn't want to face. But, face them I did. Finish I did. And transformation is my gift.

For me, part of transformation has been developing a new openness. Open to new experiences, new people with new ideas, new direction. Transformation is, at least in this new stage, fragile. I have down times, when I question what I've done, where I am and where I'm headed. This morning was one of those times.

But one of the appeals of Cameron's process is that it is premised on a spiritual belief system that I already embraced, although I didn't have vocabulary for it. She gave me the words, which I paraphrase to remind myself several times each day that...

The Universe is always working for us.
There is no such thing as a coincidence.
We have to be paying attention - stay open - to see the coincidences as opportunities and grab them when they come.

This morning was a down day for me, a questioning day. But immediately, the Universe responded. My friend Scott (there's a link in the sidebar that will take you to his poetry, which frequently helps me get my head in the right place) posted a link to Em. Em's life concept is phenomenal - rich - and she shares generously.

This morning, as I questioned whether it was worth the painful moments of living outside of the void, Scott's group, A Circle of Twelve, posted this:

You see,

sometimes we are emptied.

We are emptied

because

Life wants us to know

...so

much

Light.

- Em Claire

And just like that, my day was right again.

Declaration of Independence

2011-07-04T06:19:00.000-07:00

I found it...

2011-07-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

...and it wasn't hard. Amazing.

I've had this pattern since it came out. Copyright is 1990, so I've had it for 21 years.

Black fabric for the body of the jacket, Christmas print for the lining.

Yep, it's going to be a Christmas jacket.

I collected some fabrics for the embellishments.

Of course, every year there have been more beautiful fabrics to consider. I have a hard time resisting.

I remember having a hard time deciding what to put in the "quilt" area of the back. Apparently I experimented with pieced Santas, trees, hearts...

Pretty sure I don't like the muslin-colored background but the designs might be cute. Maybe on those newer, lighter fabrics?

So this is a summer project. Lots of decisions to make. One definite that has stayed with me for 21 years, though? See the fringe in the pattern photo? I have always seen this as forest green satin ribbon with a tiny bell tied at the bottom of each strand.

This is gonna be fun!

Stitchy update.

2011-07-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

Purging pays.

I finished the stitching on this a few weeks ago, but couldn't find the "right" buttons in my stash so lost interest. Then, yesterday was purging some clothes and cleaning out my closet (in which a lot of craft supplies are stored) and I found more buttons. These are just right. Once I get them on, I'll find my pretty pink fabrics and make it into a pillow.

Joy.

2011-06-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

Contentment. Tolerance. Satisfaction. There is a noncommital look that could be any of them.

But joy is a diamond sparkle. More than the twinkle of an eye, more than sunlight sparkling off a toothy smile. It's an energy that builds in the soul and shines like a sparkler escaping through the pores to inspire everyone to love life just a little bit more.

2011-06-29T14:15:00.000-07:00


June 22, 2011

Yep, that's me turning sixty. No sneaking into it. Thoroughly enjoyed the process and thank everyone - most sincerely - who helped me celebrate. Gonna be hard to return to real life.

Maybe I'll just keep the party going, a little every day!

My Birthday Present from DS2

2011-06-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

We're huge fans of the Yale Whiffenpoofs 2011. Don't know how he managed it, but these are the real guys.

Yes, I cried.

Three days later I was similarly serenaded by the Disneyland Band.

Amazingly lucky.

Birthweek 60 Draws to a Close.

2011-06-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

Whew!

Getting ready to leave for Birthweek 60 Sushi, the last meal of this most memorable week of spoil-age. I've had eleven days of doing what I wanted to celebrate this milestone and must admit - it's been terrific. I've enjoyed lunches, movies, concerts, shopping expeditions, explorations in the city and way too much chocolate with old friends and family. I've committed acts of extreme bravery (getting my portrait taken, for one, and driving the SoCA freeways and Los Angeles city streets). Saw some bad movies, heard some terrific music. Had a perfect day in my happy place and received some gifts beyond setting value.

As I've reconnected with old friends, they've noted that I'm not the same as I was the last time they saw me. I've used some of this week to reflect on this past year, keeping in mind that a birthday is not the beginning of a new year, but a celebration of the completion of one. So, in my case, this year's birthday - 60 - has been a celebration of the completion of my sixtieth year. This seems significant, because while I am excited to be in the beginning of a new decade, as I look back it really does seem that this past year has been very different from any other year of my adult life and - consequently - does seem to have been the beginning of the new decade.

I've been trying to come up with an analogy for the year. I'm thinking of it as domino art.

I feel like I've been stacking dominoes all my life. Not the black and white ones, and not even the white-with-colored-dot ones in this picture, but the multi-colored dominoes used for those gym-floor creations that spiral and climb and form complicated, intricate designs as they topple. And then, going on two years ago, the first domino was tapped to start the chain reaction and bring all those designs to life. I don't really know which strands will be successful, which designs will reach completion. It appears that some have already hit dead ends or failed to cause the next step in the chain reaction.

What I do know is that I am entertained by the sequence of events that are making up this decade, and excited to see what will develop and the dominoes continue to fall. I'm hopeful (if not optimistic) that some of the failed chains can be resurrected to complete their patterns, but if not, what had been completed already has value and I feel gratitude for what has already happened.

I admit to being a tad tuckered by the past week. Celebration has an element of work. I look forward to winding down for the rest of this summer break. I will finish another bed along the south side of my back yard. I will finish a quilted jacket for Christmas that has been waiting for almost 15 years for completion. I will write every day - morning pages and Rosedale and whatever else calls. I will make progress on the Brown genealogy. And I will purge this house and relegate something to the "move it out" area every day.

This new decade of mine will be one of clearing the decks to accomplish the tasks that I will look back on at the end of my life with a sense of satisfaction, pride and joy.

Onward.