Dear Family,
Having a good time, wish you all were here!
Auntie Claire sends her best to all and wishes to express her delight in our success of travel through both desert and beach, overniting in Palm Springs, shopping on El Paseo (oooh la la), following maps and noses thru apple orchards, trout fishing ponds and furniture stores a la Hawaii only to have run out of places to drink Margaritas on outdoor patios. That was when we had to come home to regroup.
After some discussion and a day and a half of work, we've decided we're not done yet (hmmm, "round 2"?) and we will commence to more travel up the beautiful Hwy 99 to Yosemite, gold country and cowboys. Wish us luck! (luck in our travels! What did you THINK I meant?!)
Will write again soon! Send money!
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
An Angel every now and again to remind us
I just read a letter to the editor in the local paper that was simply "thank you to the stranger who found my purse in the Walmart parking lot and returned it intact to the store". It restored this person's faith in humanity.
I had cause to say the same thing last week when, due to a scheduling error, had too many students show up for a class and one very nice woman offered her space to the other man, saying that she would be less inconvenienced than he. She did it in a very genuine and cheerful way and I was reminded, I think we all were, of how touching simple consideration is.
I want to know about other "faith in humanity" stories! Got any?
I had cause to say the same thing last week when, due to a scheduling error, had too many students show up for a class and one very nice woman offered her space to the other man, saying that she would be less inconvenienced than he. She did it in a very genuine and cheerful way and I was reminded, I think we all were, of how touching simple consideration is.
I want to know about other "faith in humanity" stories! Got any?
Thursday, September 16, 2004
My Do
I think I know why plumbers charge so much. Because sink drains are DISGUSTING. Oh, and the fixtures that keep them together are small, hard to reach, and in the dark.
I am happy to report that every now and again I tackle such a project, and every now and again they turn out pretty successfully, as long as I chant quietly under my breath: righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. And when the project requires a tool, I go to my trusty tool kit that is in a baby-blue plastic case, each one of the tools that belong in it have blue plastic handles. Sheesh. Even I surprise myself with what a girl I am sometimes.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go fix a nail.
I am happy to report that every now and again I tackle such a project, and every now and again they turn out pretty successfully, as long as I chant quietly under my breath: righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. And when the project requires a tool, I go to my trusty tool kit that is in a baby-blue plastic case, each one of the tools that belong in it have blue plastic handles. Sheesh. Even I surprise myself with what a girl I am sometimes.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go fix a nail.
Monday, September 13, 2004
Wheaties anyone?
I'm not so sure I like this game, golf… but it has potential.
On recommendation from my sis, I had been instructed to "grip it and rip it" tonite. So I did. Off the tee. From the fairway for a 45 yard shot. On a 40 foot putt. On a 5 foot putt. Everywhere, grip it and rip it. Mind you, this course I've been playing is more of a pitch-and-putt, with our average yardage from Red Tees at about 90 yards, the longest (par 4!) being 185! Very short, good practice for a short game. Grip it and Rip it. Well, I knew I was over-hitting when after the snickering from my teammates died down, one of them asked: "hey Allison, do you lift weights?" Thinking he was going to compliment me on my strong, solid contact with the ball, I replied, "well, No…". He says, "Good! Don't start." Grip it and Rip it. Sheesh. Grip it and rip it my jass.
I'm not so sure I like this game.
On recommendation from my sis, I had been instructed to "grip it and rip it" tonite. So I did. Off the tee. From the fairway for a 45 yard shot. On a 40 foot putt. On a 5 foot putt. Everywhere, grip it and rip it. Mind you, this course I've been playing is more of a pitch-and-putt, with our average yardage from Red Tees at about 90 yards, the longest (par 4!) being 185! Very short, good practice for a short game. Grip it and Rip it. Well, I knew I was over-hitting when after the snickering from my teammates died down, one of them asked: "hey Allison, do you lift weights?" Thinking he was going to compliment me on my strong, solid contact with the ball, I replied, "well, No…". He says, "Good! Don't start." Grip it and Rip it. Sheesh. Grip it and rip it my jass.
I'm not so sure I like this game.
Gentlemen, start your engines
Ahhh. Good friends, good food, a good nite's sleep and getting my nails done after the fact almost makes up for a hard weekend of work. Almost.
However, I don't think that stress-filled, adrenaline fueled panic is any way to motivate what promises to be a long hot day 100 miles away. Ah, but the best laid plans of mice and men… it all started at about 4:35am last Saturday when I was so carefully planned, fastidiously packed, and ready to trek to Ventura to work. The one thing I didn't plan on was "click….. click…………. cah…lick " from my starter. Let's see, no second vehicle (the bike's under the weather, too), no current phone number to call the instructor I am to work with, no jumper cables (and no neighbors awake at this ungodly hour anyway even if I had cables) and approximately 105 miles in between me and where I need to be. Thank goodness for triple-A who came to my rescue and heard the quaver in my voice so he put a "rush" on the call, and sure enough, not ten minutes later came my knight on a white flatbed steed. Unfortunately I don't think driver thought that "rush" extended to the job itself, and wanted to discuss the predicament and the weather we were likely to be having. Suffice it to say, I may have driven a little faster than usual to make up this time, and while I was a few minutes later than planned, all turned out well.
So the sushi tasted oh so welcome on Sunday nite and the saki helped the mood as well! The friends were their ever gracious selves, and I'll blog more about what I'm coming to think about the Ventura area and the offers and ideas being bandied about....
However, I don't think that stress-filled, adrenaline fueled panic is any way to motivate what promises to be a long hot day 100 miles away. Ah, but the best laid plans of mice and men… it all started at about 4:35am last Saturday when I was so carefully planned, fastidiously packed, and ready to trek to Ventura to work. The one thing I didn't plan on was "click….. click…………. cah…lick " from my starter. Let's see, no second vehicle (the bike's under the weather, too), no current phone number to call the instructor I am to work with, no jumper cables (and no neighbors awake at this ungodly hour anyway even if I had cables) and approximately 105 miles in between me and where I need to be. Thank goodness for triple-A who came to my rescue and heard the quaver in my voice so he put a "rush" on the call, and sure enough, not ten minutes later came my knight on a white flatbed steed. Unfortunately I don't think driver thought that "rush" extended to the job itself, and wanted to discuss the predicament and the weather we were likely to be having. Suffice it to say, I may have driven a little faster than usual to make up this time, and while I was a few minutes later than planned, all turned out well.
So the sushi tasted oh so welcome on Sunday nite and the saki helped the mood as well! The friends were their ever gracious selves, and I'll blog more about what I'm coming to think about the Ventura area and the offers and ideas being bandied about....
Friday, September 10, 2004
Monday, September 06, 2004
Home Sweet Home!
I'm home safe and sound but I think I've skidded in broadside, totally used up, thoroughly worn out!
What a Ride!!!
Oh my, where to start, where to start…
Well, Magz is doing a GREAT job of keeping you updated with the adventure, and her pictures are really helping fill out the stories, I took a few of my own (the old fashioned way, on a disposable camera!) so wait a few days, I may have some more to add.
I'm too dang pooped to write much tonite, but I will leave you with a few 'snapshots' that are running through my mind as I come in tonite:
The Heat. Sometimes oppressive. Sometimes rather comfortable. But always there.
Icy cold water to jump into.
Whoopie-doo roads and CB radios ("Have yourself a big ole safe day"...)
A summer shower waited out under a barn awning
Saguaro cactuses and mesquite trees with thorns.
Reverie and camaraderie
Music, private guitar performances on the tailgate and dancing in the dust
Dogs and ice-chest water bowls
Long days, beautiful sunsets, and oh so starry nites
And a sister to make it all possible! Thanks Sis! I love you!
What a Ride!!!
Oh my, where to start, where to start…
Well, Magz is doing a GREAT job of keeping you updated with the adventure, and her pictures are really helping fill out the stories, I took a few of my own (the old fashioned way, on a disposable camera!) so wait a few days, I may have some more to add.
I'm too dang pooped to write much tonite, but I will leave you with a few 'snapshots' that are running through my mind as I come in tonite:
The Heat. Sometimes oppressive. Sometimes rather comfortable. But always there.
Icy cold water to jump into.
Whoopie-doo roads and CB radios ("Have yourself a big ole safe day"...)
A summer shower waited out under a barn awning
Saguaro cactuses and mesquite trees with thorns.
Reverie and camaraderie
Music, private guitar performances on the tailgate and dancing in the dust
Dogs and ice-chest water bowls
Long days, beautiful sunsets, and oh so starry nites
And a sister to make it all possible! Thanks Sis! I love you!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
