Thursday, October 27, 2011

Toast.

The machine ground to a halt when it ran out of gas, leaving the unconsumed bread hanging out of its mouth.  (Feeding a tired 10-month-old ends with an unexpected nap.)

Monday, October 24, 2011

Sock it to me.

I keep a sock basket for wayward socks to go to until I can find the time to play match-maker.  I thought it was a cleaver idea...but not so much.   
After sorting through all of the socks and matching about 6 pair, this is what's left.  Where did the sock mates go?  I'm at a loss.

Friday, October 21, 2011

"Do you speak Chinese?"

My father-in-law does, speak Chinese, that is.  He was a professor of Chinese at Arizona State University for over 30 years.  Two of his three sons speak Chinese, and Rick, my husband, happens to speak Japanese (he's the black sheep of the family I guess you could say).  While vacationing in Newport Beach this past summer, we went to the Balboa Fun Zone where we each ate from whichever restaurant suited our fancy.  My husband and I chose the Japanese restaurant and were given chop sticks.  So, while sitting in the burger joint with our Japanese food, the perfect opportunity for Quinn to be taught how to use chop sticks from my father-in-law appeared.  I hope each time he picks up chop sticks to eat, he thinks of Papa and remembers his lesson.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Broken China.

My heart stopped for a few beats yesterday just after a special piece of my treasured china crashed to the ground.  I may have even let out a primal scream as the tragedy transpired.  This china was passed down  from my husband's grandmother, to his mother, to me.  I scored it while helping my in-laws move from their big house to their less than big house several years back.  I think I caught my mother-in-law in a weak moment when she released the box of china to me.  I've cherished it ever since and yesterday, well, I feel like I've lost a little piece of history.  It seemed almost primal to just throw the pieces in the trash.  I felt if I documented the carnage, at least we'd have proof that it once was....even if it was in pieces. 
This set was purchased by my husband's grandparents on a trip to the Orient and, as you can see, it was made in Occupied Japan which equals post World War II era (1945-1951).  My oh my, what a klutz I was to knock that china bowl to the ground.  Sometimes I wish there were do-overs.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

I was a Trek-ie!

How does three days of walking 25 miles of rocky terrain with no showers, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. sound?  That's what we just went through the last three days.  Rick, Truman and I went on a pioneer trek to experience the trials and hardships the early pioneers went through while settling the west (in a nut shell). 
Truman was more of a Tom Sawyer incarnation than a pioneer..... 
Getting ready to depart. Those poor people don't know what they're in for!

Notice Truman's new neck wear.  He liked to call it an ascot.  We liked to call it silly. 
Taking a break.  I would love to write more about the ordeal, experience but I'm too bone tired.  It will have to be done at a later date.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Goodbye Beloved Van.

We did it.  We sold our Honda Odyssey.  It was a tough decision but in the end downsizing won out.  We said goodbye to our minivan last night when the new owners came to take it away.  This is bittersweet; on one hand I'm glad I don't own a mini van anymore, on the other, it sure was a wonderful, comfortable ride especially for our California trips! 
We could sure pack that thing full of people and things (trust me, there's things on the top of the van too).
We loved having you for the last 5 1/2 years!  Thank you for being so good to us!  We'll do right by you by purchasing a car just like you but smaller.......

Sunday, October 9, 2011

This kid loves Legos.  We have three, almost four tubs full of the little blocks, and that's not enough.  This is one collection the kids can add to forever.  I took the boys to Lego Land a few years back (while their dad stayed behind) and they still says it's their favorite place to go. 

We drove on the first day of spring break in our brand new car, literally purchased the day before.  Just as we were entering the mountains between AZ and southern CA, it started to snow.  Then we got caught in a terrible traffic jam. 

But wait, that's not all, just about 20 minutes into the grid-lock, Truman said,

"I don't want to throw up!"  To which I said,

"Don't!!" 

Then, blah.......he threw up all over the back of the brand spanking new car.  We sat in the car, unable to open the windows very much because of the snow for three hours waiting for the traffic to start moving.  The car was now ours for sure.  Once we finally arrived at the hotel, I was able to clean the interior.  Just my luck.  The first time I ever get a new car and the very next day it's bathed in throw up!  That was a fun trip.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

I dreamed a dream.

The other night I had a dream that I was carrying my 10 year old all around Japan on my hip.  Granted, he is too big to be carried around but nonetheless, I carried him.  I held him in front of me and on my right hip while walking all around Japan.  While dreaming, I thought to myself, "You're too big for me to carry."  When I woke up, I had a terrible hitch in my get-a-long all along the left side of my back.  The mind is a miraculous thing.  Had I put two and two together during the dream, I would have realized I was sleeping wonky and then rolled over, but it was not to be.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Do you Gaga?

My 75 year old, Aunt Barbara, randomly sent me some pictures of her vacation home in Florida (she lives in upstate New York) recently.  In the pile of beautiful pictures was this gem. With the inscription on the back, "Lady Gaga.  She put on a great performance on the Today Show! 4/2011 N.Y. City"

First of all, I love the Today Show!  Second of all, I love NYC!  Thirdly, I wouldn't have minded seeing Lady Gaga, if it was for free.  I'm sure she probably did put on a great show.  I'm also a little bit curious about the guy in the back ground with the beard and guitar......just sayin'.