Gut Yontiff!

In honor of the Jewish New Year, VH1 classic music television station is celebrating with, what else,

RUSH HASHANAH!

24 straight hours of concert footage, interviews, videos and features with the best band EVER,
RUSH! I stayed up way too late watching the "Hangin' With" show interview last night with
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. I also have the "Rush in Rio" concert as well as at least an hour's worth of their 80's videos on my DVR just waiting for the next batch of ironing.
Spence, I wish you were here.

(no, Rush are not Jewish, they are Canadian and probably agnostic)

Happy 5769 Everyone!

Re-decorating

Sunday morning we woke up to this:

Pete and I were up past midnight, and slept with
the windows open,but we didn't hear a thing.
The van was parked out front instead
of in the garage where the bathroom
construction workshop is set up,
so it got covered. Pete's car was in the driveway and they got it as well.
(at least there was no shaving cream)

The kids were good sports about going out and cleaning it up

some theories on why we got targeted for t.p.:

the kids in the ward were teasing Pete
just a random target
"they got the wrong house!" (our neighbor's theory)
attention from the same people who "Boo!" us with treats every Halloween (still don't know who that is)
our tall tree in the front yard is just too good of a t.p. target

Flashback Friday - Juxtaposition

Photo taken by Pete in Phnom Penh Cambodia on our visit there in 2000:

(its either a strategically placed public health announcement, or a reminder
to shopkeepers to not sell their wares to infants)

just a few things

The last Wednesday of every month is when our book club meets. Last night was my turn to host and lead the discussion. My selection was A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. I had read the book years ago when I lived in New York, and at one point when I was reading it on the subway and reached a certain plot point, I said "no!" and started to cry. (so unlike me) At the time I'm sure no one else noticed but it is a memory that has stayed with me. So when my turn came around this month I chose this book to introduce to my friends.

We had a good turnout, everyone seemed to really enjoy the book, and we had a lively discussion past our bedtime. Not bad for a 58-year-old book written by an englishman who died before any of us were born and deals with the themes of war, colonization, female empowerment, prejudice, death marches, a crucifixion, and true love. It's full of exotic locales and strong characters with a bit of history thrown in. The novel was made into a mini-series in 1981 which was shown as part of PBS's Masterpiece Theater series, and I managed to secure a worn VHS copy from our library system.

("hey! it stars that australian guy that was in Cocktail with Tom Cruise! " one of our members noted)

We watched highlights of it while enjoying our dessert of pound cake topped with mixed berries, whipped cream and vanilla bean ice cream.
If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. Next month we will be reading and discussing the latest in the Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, for our October selection. (yes we read all kinds) Please join us!

and here's something else, apparently its not only girls who call each other in the morning and discuss what to wear to school that day.....

(yes, they planned this)

so where I live

recently seen car bumper sticker on street near our house

FlashBack Friday - Summer Vacation 2008

Today's Flashback is really not that far back - due to our major (and majorly needed) master bath renovation I have had to move the computer out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, but I didn't bring the scanner out here with it. So I have decided to feature our recent Summer Vacation to Utah! (those photos are already on the computer)

We had a wonderful trip. Peter stayed behind to prepare for the new school year and get some work done around the house, so my sister Carol-Diane graciously flew SLC - OC and then turned right around and did the drive back up to Utah with us. And when it was time to return to California, my brother Spencer drove us all the way back home! (and then took the train to San Diego to meet up with aunt Sarah, and they flew home together! awww!)

But in between those two long drives are the people and activities that make it all worthwhile.
Here's a look back:

Pit stop in Vegas - checking out Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

in one of those walk-through aquarium tubes, in case you can't tell


Before spending the night in St. George we stop by Uncle Tom's "Castle in the Clouds"
overlooking St. George and beautiful southern Utahcan you see it up there?

Tom on his multi-colored spiral staircase in his uniquely decorated home
full of memorabilia, souvenirs, a full suit of armor, knick-knacks,
etc. etc. etc...

Looking down at Harriet on the staircase

swimming in Tom's awesome pool with the disappearing edge
(and breathtaking views)

Hit Salt Lake and had a blast playing with our fun (new!) Aunt Sarah

Visited my friend's new twins Zachary and Nicklaus

I held them and feed them, then happily gave them back to their mom

Rode a sweet pony named Cowgirl and got our faces
painted at g'ma & g'pa's ward party

Waited in a long line for some yummy Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Watched a giant bridge get slowly moved up Wasatch Blvd.
with Grandpa Bob (and a lot of other people!)

(i'm not sure why we needed binoculars)


Hiked around Silver Lake at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon
with Grandma Carol and our friends Beth & Emily

wearing the cool visors they were giving away at the bridge move

these ducks loved G'ma Carol

Went to the Utah Olympic Park to see the ski jumpers

(they land in a big swimming pool)

Henry was m-a-d he had to pose in the back of the bobsled;
we tried to tell him that was the most important position,
but he wasn't buying it...(click on photo to make it big)

those bobsleds coming down the track are LOUD!



Hiked in Millcreek Canyon with Uncle Spence
(after Aunt Sarah flew to San Diego to see their newest niece!)

(can you tell we're visiting from So Cal? who else hikes in flip flops!)

And played with A LOT of Legos!!!

We had a great time and appreciate everyone who helped out and who welcomed us!
Hope you all had a wonderful summer too!!

Gone Gleaning

The week before school started I coordinated an activity for our ward's Primary children to go gleaning for the Second Harvest Food Bank. This is a wonderful activity run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a non-profit lay Catholic organization. They plant and grow vegetables and fruit on land donated by local cities, then rely on volunteers to come and "glean" the produce left between regular pickings. This food is then taken and used in the food bank.

Our local site is the Incredible Edible Field in Irvine. Sam is the man who runs the program, and he is great. He is a patient instructor and is wonderful at motivating the kids to work. The kids love searching for the produce which is ripe and ready for picking, getting down in the dirt, finding ladybugs and other creatures, and filling up their blue baskets to the top. This year we really lucked out with the weather, after a week of scorching heat, Thursday morning was overcast and close to cool.

Here's our group getting the orientation talk from Sam.
today's first crop - cucumbers. Remember, pull
and break the stem near the top, don't pull out the whole plant

Henry with his cucumber

Jack and his crew filled three of these baskets

The kids work hard, and get a taste of what its like to be a farmer
(or a migrant farm worker which we see a lot of in the
strawberry fields in our area)


We gleaned bell peppers, squash, eggplant & green beans as well



one of the best parts was riding in the truck
when moving to another part of the field



at the end of our shift

All in all it was a fun activity and a good lesson in hard work, productivity and service to others.