Ron Betty, my son-in-law-to-be, turns 31 today. He is Liz’s fiance, best friend and sweetheart. That description is quite apt since Ron truly has a sweet heart. He is generous, gentle, loving and kind and a very decent human being all around. He is also a wonderful match for Elizabeth, who always has something she’s…
Month: April 2018
Please Share One Piece of Wisdom You’ve Learned
HI all, I sat and stared at this computer screen for well over an hour tonight before heading upstairs to stare at the television instead. I simply couldn’t think of a thing to write about tonight. I have just now returned from a walk around the block with the dogs and it occurred to me…
Birthday Celebrations x 2
This was a big family day. Ron’s birthday is Tuesday and Rachael’s is Wednesday so we had a lot of celebrating to do. I made Rachael’s requested pumpkin lasagna and baked both a peach pie and a banana cream pie. Liz made a salad, Sarah supplied lentil soup, chicken, baked vegetables and bread. We exchanged…
Repost: Three Objects I Love that Connect Me to My Past
I am sitting at the long table in the living room, which is one of my primary work spots. Three items in this room are especially important to me: the fireplace, a stained glass lamp, and an icon of St. Mary. The fireplace is right behind where I sit and during most of the winter…
Ojai Work Day
As a gift to Rachael for her upcoming birthday, her dad suggested that we might spend one day (along with Liz and Ron) in Ojai helping her with the renovation of a little “Canned Ham” camper that she and Ariel bought. Rachael was thrilled with the offer since they have limited time to come up…
Giant: One of My Favorites
We are watching “Giant” with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean tonight. This is one of my favorite old movies, which I’ve seen at least six times. I love how Elizabeth Taylor jumps right into West Texas life, how Rick Hudson loves his family with such heart and how James Dean is such an…
A New Food Diary App: “See How You Eat”
Liz, Rachael and I are trying out a free app called “See How You Eat.” Basically, all you do is take a photo of whatever you eat during the day and share it with your designated person or persons. The app can be downloaded onto your phone and it breaks up the day into breakfast,…
Two of My Writing Friends
Today I had a lovely visit with one of my former students, Madison, who has been off in graduate school in England and is home for a brief time. We covered a myriad of topics in our time together, but we both seem happiest when we wander into the realm of writing. We talk about…
“Last Date” and the Roller Rink
Few songs on the radio trigger such a visceral reaction for me as Floyd Cramer’s “Last Date.” This instrumental piece featuring a piano with a strings’ accompaniment takes me right back to my childhood and the roller rink where I spent endless hours skating on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with my friends. As soon as…
Luna’s Birthday Weekend
We just returned from Ojai where we celebrated Luna’s fifth birthday. On Friday, Sarah, Gregorio, Nico, Luna, Auntie Rachael, Uncle Ariel, Auntie Liz, Grandpa and I went to Sky Zone in Ventura where most of us bounced on wall-to-wall trampolines for the better part of 90 minutes. This was Luna’s request for a birthday activity. …
20 Minutes a Day 