200th post

on this blog. The subject: packing for Italy and preparing for the LONG flight

There is no luggage stand in our bedroom. Therefore, the cat tree is serving as a pseudo-stand, but only the two lower levels as amazingly, Luna has actually surprised us by perching on the top level for three days running. Maybe she likes the new view.
In any case, the middle level is a sloppy pile of the "maybes" and the lower level (a short cylindrical tunnel) houses the unopened subscription magazines and sudoku books for the 12 1/2 hour plane trip as well as a few little gifties for the Italian part of the family. (Derek's family that is) Yes I did say 12 1/2 hours. straight. Here are the tips I know about flying:

*stay hydrated
*stretch
*don't contort to try to sleep comfortable or your lower back will hurt for weeks (I just learned this the hard way on my 5 1/2 hour return flight last week.)
*take little walks
*stay hydrated
*bring layers (yes, again, learned the hard way. what happened to the seasoned traveler I used to be? Oh, yeah. She moved all the way across the country and doesn't fly as much anymore.)
*stay hydrated (this one is obviously something I don't want to forget!)

Here are the things we have purchased for our trip:

*me-lavender pashmina (layers on the plane, remember?)
*him-very stylin' Merrell walking shoes
*me-size 6 1/2 Skechers Active Mary Janes (now on sale on craigslist because I am a size seven)
*him-leather passport holder from Brookstone (still deciding if he wants to return it for a cheaper one at REI)
*me-baby blue pashmina for Italian relative (so soft, matches mine, layers work everywhere, right?)
*him-new digital SLR camera with special lenses

Here are some we still need:

*me-walking shoes that fit
*him-converter for plugs

Tico Joe has informed us that he has packed and repacked several times, and that no matter what we pack we will all end up looking like bedraggled peasants by day 4 or 5 anyway, so it's all good! :) So excited! Please send more flying tips! (that's my way of begging for comments...)

media frenzy

I am currently viewing/listening to the local city council meeting online, viewing the national news, posting on my blog, and surfing for topics of interest which include the following:

*cheerios "Spoonfuls of Stories" contest
*Canon Powershot A95 memory card error troubleshooting
*local electronics recycling programs (as I am quite sure the ancient imac and accompanying printer currently stowed away in my trunk are NOT helping my mileage!)

Top three stories in the news:
1.fires
2.floods
3.nuclear power

hmmm.

Top three items in local city council agenda:
1.neighborhood traffic complaints
2.bicycling laws
3.development and construction

I would love to post some pix of my lovely Florida trip, but due to the "memory card error" mentioned above, there are none. :(

Summer Solstice

celebrating the summer solstice in M's enchanted home; readying ourselves for Jayden's baby shower. so excited. I am sleeping in the nursery with the giraffe rocker and the zebras. M is so adorable with her baby bump. Wishing you a wonderful Saturday.

Of love and stuff

A great weekend was had by all:

*furniture was rearranged
*cat toys were batted about
*air beds were reinflated
*air bed leaks were found and patched
(This actually was next on the "to do" list but didn't happen due to much ironing on of baby onesies.)
*bags were packed
*bicycles were ridden 10 miles
*parks were jogged in
*delicious Indian food was eaten
*groovy "buddha bar" music was listened to
*sunday papers were read in the sunshine
*floors were vaccuumed
*laundry was done
*crafty projects were attempted (and are nearly finished!)
*sleeping in happened twice!
*naps were had (at least by the cat)

Feels like summer

around here. Said goodbye to the little ones yesterday; ready for organizing and cleaning up the house today in preparation for summer! Not much to report~

370 days

So we've lived in our adopted hometown for just over a year and I thought I'd post five faves and five places we want to get to soon that we haven't experienced yet: (Scroll over each one for a link)

Five faves:

Towsley Canyon ( a 6.47 mile hike with a couple of bubbling tar pits, tons of lizards and wildflowers, a babbling brook and a sweet finish)

Hart Park (W.S. Hart was a silent film star who settled here and built his manse at the top of a local hill. It is now a park and the old ranch house where he lived while the big house was under construction is still there at the bottom to go inside. The house at the top had a room dedicated to his dogs. There are buffalo residing on the way up the hill.)

Town Center (our own little indoor/outdoor shopping area reminiscent of CocoWalk, Weston Town Center, and soon it will be like the Oasis at Sawgrass Mills when construction on a new phase is complete in Fall 2009)

zpizza

Yoga Yoga





Five on the list:

Vazquez Rocks

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Melody Ranch

Castaic Lake (recreation area)

Mojito ( a cuban/latin american restaurant nearby)

(+1- Just Breathe Yoga)


Okay- now on to top five fave places in California so far and top five places "on the list"

top five

*Harbor seals in Carpenteria (I've been three times this year to see them: end of Jan.(w/C,J,B,andS) , Feb. (V-day w.D), and first week of April w/K. They were pregnant in Jan, some pups in Feb., and LOTS o'pups in April!)

*Cayucos (adorable beach town in San Luis Obispo area)

*Wandering Dog Winery in Solvang (so cute- I haven't tasted here, but K did!)

*Carlsbad (flower fields, legoland -though we didn't hit that yet!)

*BIg Bear

(+1 San Francisco)

to-do

San Diego (D. is probably going in Aug. for a bachelor weekend- but I haven't made it yet. The main activity is skydiving. He has informed me that "he would've probably done that if he was single...but prefers not to take the risk anymore." How sweet is that!?)

Napa Valley

Temecula (hot-air ballooning, wineries etc.)

Yosemite/Redwoods

Berkeley

talking in your sleep

anyone else do this?
For the first several years I taught, I would end up "teaching" all night in my sleep.
Luckily, that nasty (and exhausting) habit waned once I learned about meditation and "emptying the mind". But that only works if you do it. So, last night was a doozy. The end-of-the-year assessments, report cards, incoming Kindergartener testing, bridal showers, baby showers, retirement parties, classroom parties, and general craziness had me absolutely LOOPY all night. At one point, I told Derek "I asked the lemonade if it wanted water." oh yes. It was that kind of night. Please remind me to "empty my mind" right after I empty the garbage tonight.

The pic is just for fun; can't believe it'll be two years this summer! The girls are ready for summer adventures; one is off to Spanish camp (in Costa Rica!) The family is making it into a vaca. I will see her this Thanksgiving. One is leaving for 2 weeks of sleepaway camp three states away from where she lives. (Yes - flying there!)I will miss seeing her as she will be at camp when I visit her mom in 3 weeks. The youngest I'm not sure about but I hope to see her again very soon! hugs to all three of these amazing girls~miss you!

Sunday Summer Glamour Shots

We had a fun Sunday doing a little shopping and errands. D. made "vaca frita" for dinner; we're about to indulge while watching Juno. Went bike-riding on the paseos last night and then took a jaunt over to the hot tub. I finished my last assignment for my last class this year today~ I am done!! Now just two more weeks of school to teach the little ones all those things missing in between the blanks (i.e. frantic list of what I need to reteach, review, and generally press into their adorable selves before June 13) Here are some backyard shots D. took today~ notice the "soliluna" hanging courtesy of Tico Joe hanging in the background? so great!
Thanks Tico Joe...are you practicing your italiano???