I ALMOST LEFT MY HEART . . . .

I would recommend a family trip to anyone thinking about it. This is the Orpheum Theatre on Market Street in San Francisco. It was taken as Boyd and I were riding along with my brother Don and his wife Sandi. This was a trip we've been planning for some time now and it didn't disappoint. This is a mosaic on a wall at Jack London Square in Oakland. We spent a lovely morning and afternoon in Oakland here and at the swap meet.

These pix are SO not in order. This is me and my mom on a rock bench on Cannery Row in Monterey. My dream is to own a home in Monterey, I know it might be a bit unrealistic, but a girl's gotta dream!! (Boyd said he would make me one of these if I took a picture)

This is of my sweet Mom and my sometimes sweet Dad. We took the 17-mile drive along the Pebble Beach Golf Course and Cypress groves. It was so incredibly beautiful. . . . . . and windy.

This is Boyd, Mom and Dad on the boat over to Alcatraz. There was a "small" incident while we were there, but hardly worth mentioning (hahahahahahaha)

This is Dad on the gritty streets of the Haight Ashbury district. He thought that the young kids were "parasites" and needed to get a job!! I can't say that I disagree with him. It was a pretty dirty place, and not as much fun wandering as I thought it was going to be. We did find a great little diner to eat at though. There were lots of kids who looked like they smelled bad!

On Thursday Boyd and I were with my brother Brad and his wife Bev. We took a fabulous drive to Muir Woods and headed to Bodega Bay. This is Stinson Beach, we stopped and walked down to the water. This day was kinda cold and windy but so beautiful. We were headed to Goat Head site which is a 21-mile drive up PCH 1, where hump-back whales are located year round. We didn't see any, but the day was near-perfection. Easy going, beautiful scenery, great company, no place we had to be and no time frame that we had to get there in! We drove thru Dogtown, Point Reyes, Tomales (I think this is where we ate an incredibly average meal, but there was a better-than-average Inn that would be fun to stay in) Guerneville (maybe the most-gay town in America (?) I can't remember) Healdsburg . . . . . .just to name a few.

There's no rhyme or reason the way I've posted these pix. This is me and my hunka-hunka-burnin'-love on the corner of Haight and Ashbury!!

This is a pic of my oldest Brother Brad and his equally spastic side-kick Bev. Yes, this is an accurate portrayal of them . . . . . .goofy. . . . . . .fun to be with. . . . . . . great traveling companions.

This is of the entire vacation party peeps. Mom, Dad, Don, Sandi, Brad, Bev, Me and Boyd. We are on the Wharf.

I have lots more pictures, some of some incredible cemeteries. (yes I did say cemeteries) We found a place near Daly City that we called "Death Row" There were the following cemeteries:

Woodlawn - Itialian - Japanese - Serbian - Oliviet - Holy Cross ( Catholic) - Home of Peace - Hills of Eternity (I think this was the Jewish cemetery) Greenlawn - Cypress Lawn - Hoy Sun. There were also many monument businesses along this stretch of road. I have some video but I'm not sure how to post that. I may be adding more pictures when I get more ambition.

This was a great trip. We did lots of things I didn't post about. Thanks to my fun family. The hardest part is coming back to work and within a day or two if feels like you never left.

I Owe!

I made a bet. . . . . I lost. . . . . . (I think)
I need one of these!!
Oh SHIT what am
I going to do?

Plate Wall

I've purchased this plate recently.

. . . . and this one

I'm working toward something like the these.

seems like no rhyme or reason,

I'm loving them so much

I know what I'll be looking for at garage sales this season, and when I go on vacation. If you have a plate, a mis-match, a stray, an ugly and don't want it or can't decide what to do with it, send it my way. I have a wall. . . . . . . . . . . . aching for a plate. Currently, I have (2) large fish platters on the wall. They've been on the wall for 13 years, they need company.

These make my Butt itch. . . . . . . . .

This could be named "pet peeves" butt (hahahaha) I have this cute picture of my grandson's hiney (bad case of eczema) that I like to use it.

Mean people.
Sunday night TV viewing options.
Reality TV.
Expiration dates.
Cell phone use while driving.
Spring. . winter. . spring . . winter. . spring. . winter. . . . . .
Washing my car and 20 hours later. . . . . it rains!
Spills in my oven.
Dust.
Hot flashes.
The smell of burnt popcorn.
People who burn popcorn in the office. (also heat up fish . . . )
Callouses on my feet.
The word "GINORMOUS". . . . . it's not a word!!
Mondays . . . . .they're so Monday-ish.
Not having a stack of reading material from the library.
Gastrointestinal distress (mine and that of others)
Non-waxed dental floss.
Unsightly stray hairs . . . . don't ask where.

Well, there's a few.

. . . .where are you ?

Hi, I'm Tilly the Tomato, (I'm an "early girl") I'm waiting for Mother's Day, because that's when I'll get planted. But. . . . I need warm air and sunshine. Where are you?

I want to do my best to make my owner happy.
I want to bulge with big fat luscious tomatoes.
With a salt shaker and a carton of cottage cheese I'm PERFECT.

This corner at the bottom of the stairs in no place for a big beautiful plant such as myself.
I'm waiting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cinco De Mayo
Day of many

Many years
Many tears
Many joys
and sorrows.
Many hugs and kisses.
Many loud words.
Many opinions.

Me and my hunka hunka burnin' love
were hitched 28 years ago.
It's been a Great Gig!
In fact, it's the thing
I've done in my life that
I'm most proud of.

I don't want my children
to be offended by that truth.
They were a huge part of my
pride. They have added to my
marriage in the most
incredible of ways.

Without them, I would not
have been inspired to
this awesome commitment
I've made with an incredible
person.

I can say I love Boyd more today than
ever. Each day I have with him is a blessing.

He helps me see life as something to enjoy.
To look forward to tomorrow
and not worry about yesterday.

We went to Good Wood Barbecue Company
to celebrate. It was good, but
I've discovered food is but
a small part of the meal,
the real treat is being with
Boyd, he makes me
laugh and most of those
around him laugh too.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

This also marks 5 years since
"the episode"
We refer to the time 5 years
ago when Boyd "blew-up"
while we were in Jamaica.
It was then that I realized that:
*God answers prayers,
*God knows me personally

I KNOW THIS ABSOLUTELY

I found out how much my
daughter in-law, and not yet son-in-law
loved and worried for me.
I found out Harmony was
the last person to spend
time with her Grandpa
prior to his passing
And that brought peace to
Harmony.

I found out we live in
"The land of the good health care."
I found how helpless you
feel when you are totally
at the mercy of strangers
(I think of them as guardian angels)
I know that I have an
inner strength that
I can tap into with the
help from My Savior Jesus Christ.

I know what's it's like
to have a 2nd chance at living
with someone you almost lost.
I know how much I love
Boyd and my marriage.

I need your opinion (?)

What is up with this look ?

Well, It was Mr. Boyd's 50th birthday celebration. It's been going on for a month (that is a story for another day) I made reservations at Christopher's downtown in the Peery Hotel. I purchased him some new summer duds. (This is a man that NEVER, and I say NEVER purchases himself anything to wear. ) He would wear the same old thread-bare items forever. Plus, I must add, he will never forgo comfort for style, if it feels good (natural fibers are what he likes, he doesn't know this!) he always strokes whatever I purchase for him to wear, and he can tell if he likes the "feel" or not. Any-hoo, here he is in some new khaki shorts and a lovely Hawaiian print shirt and he looks smashing from the ankles up!!! But, he has on a skanky old pair of athletic shoes and some ankle socks. When I say, "You need to change your shoes" he informs me "like hell I do, these feel good, I'm wearin' em." So, he schleps into Christopher's with his "quirky" little "look". Bless his heart. . . . . . and all his other parts. I love him! Now for the 64-dollare question, is he a goof or what?