LET THE SILLY SEASON BEGIN

Top image: Girl and Mama. Girl DOES have pigtails in her hair. She kept them in most of the day.
Middle Image: Boy and Girl (with a look that looks very strangely like one my mother has once in awhile when she's trying not to look guilty of some sort of mischief).
Bottom image: Eating ice cream just outside our front door. The day was a balmy 85 degrees. Ah, California-- warm in the winter, blistering hot in the summer. Snow in the mountains and perfect surf at the ocean.....paradise under the "HOLLYWOOD" sign....

Well, we survived Thanksgiving. Rather excellently, I might add. Our dinner gathering was wonderful. We met "Phantom Matt", of the Clan Schmidt and stuffed ourselves silly on G'Ma Pat's turkey, harvest veggies and apple pie, pumpkin pie, Guiness, and then more pie.

Good Lord and Lady, now it's time for what I call the "Silly Season". It is rather difficult to keep in mind "Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men" when some gentle person comes out of nowhere to slide into the parking space, located 20 miles from the mall, that you have been waiting ever-so-patiently for over 10 minutes and then flips you the "Partridge in the Pear Tree" when you attempt to draw his attention to his faux pas (actually more like 'faux off'.)

There is something great to be said about shopping online. No waiting for a parking space in the upper atmosphere, then having some FOOL rudely abscond with it; shopping any hour of any day and in your pajamas (or less) no less. The only reason I even go to the mall now is for RECON missions. Then I don't have to stand in line and deal with rude checkout clerks who have never even heard the term "Customer Service".

I broke down and ordered holiday photos. I couldn't resist! I snapped the cutest photo of the kids in front of the Christmas Tree, so I had to do it. Besides, we got our first Holiday card yesterday and I'm feeling very sentimental.

Yeah, I'm a big ole' sappy goofball. Oh, there's my cue....Doris Day signs a beautiful classic Holiday tune. I can't identify it because of the loud battle for a blanket the kids are currently having (like we don't have a dozen they could choose from). For such small people, they could compete easily with 5 Gigaton dynamite blast.

This is BLISS...................

~~Mama

Serenity...

This photo, courtesy of Corbis.com, reminds me of the book "Misty of Chincoteague" which we borrowed from the library recently. The blue sky and earthy scent of horses reminds me of being a young girl.

Saturday was Boy's final soccer game and post-season pizza party. The Sharks tied their last game 1-1. Boy, H and O made some tremendous plays and the Stingers were a challenging team! Congrats to this years Region 9 AYSO teams. See you next year!

On Sunday, we hung out with Smuffy and Lady and their kids and just relaxed. It was great. We watched a bit of football, and the final NASCAR race of the season, sorted Lego's, and then built various modes of air transport wit them, played cards, played Porsche 911, fed the kids and us when it seemed appropriate and had a giant slumber party. It was grand!

What a weekend! The previous week was break-neck pace, so the slowness and the consciousness of not having to DO anything in particular was wonderful. Thanks to the H-family for being awesome hosts and letting us crash overnight.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

~~Mama

I'm in Hog Heaven....

Oh, boy. I'm in a bad state today.... I seriously want another Harley.

I had one, briefly, when I lived in Hawaii. But gave it up in an amicable division of assets before I moved back East in 1991. Since it was January in New Hampshire, I thought it best I have the vehicle with doors, windows and a heater. My half of the 883 Sportster (actually both halves) were best suited to living in a warmer climate.

My cousin and 11 of his cronies are in California for the week. They came out last Thursday for the 22nd Annual Love Ride (Jay Leno and other celebs usually ride, too) on November 13, 2005, from Glendale to Lake Castaic. It looked like fun (Chris showed me photos), though I suppose that 25,000 bikers strong doesn't make for a very "peace"ful ride. Maybe that's why they call it the "Love Ride". You have to LOVE riding to gang up with that many Harleys. I'm surprised I didn't hear them going up the 5 from way over here!

Cuz's gang headed up to Monterey on Monday and back down the Coast Road where they will wind up the week on the Santa Monica Pier. The kids and I met up with Cuz in Santa Barbara at the Hotel Mar Monte last evening (Tuesday). The hotel is on Cabrillo Blvd, just across the road from the Pacific Ocean (Cuz's room had an ocean view) and it's a stone's throw from the Santa Barbara Zoo. Our family holds a membership to that Zoo. So, while waiting for Cuz to arrive in SB, the kids and I spent the end of the day and "feeding time" at the Zoo. We checked out some new exhibits (the most interesting being a Blue-Tongued Skink) and played by the farm animals who were annoyed that we didn't bring them any food. When the zoo was closing, we went over to the Hotel and just in time. The guys were checking in. I don't think I have ever met such a great group of bikers. (Gus is in the top photo worried about Girl falling off the back of his red bike). The kids were saying "Peace, Dude!".

The guys were friendly, respectful, generous, funny and very entertaining! Boy shared french fries with Sully and Mark kept us all well-supplied with drinks (lemonade for the kids). I got to meet Chuck and Jeff and Doug and the others whose names I can't remember now. All, exceptional men. I heard stories of the trek down through Big Sur and one person's reluctance to cross Bixby Bridge, a well-known California landmark. (You may have seen it in a car company advertisement, Chevrolet, I think, featuring a white bridge over the ocean. NOT for the altitude-shy!) I also heard about one of their own who was tragically killed in a riding accident earlier this year. I did not hear his name, but I know he is incredibly missed. I feel deeply for this group of gruff-looking, yet so wonderful, gentlemen.

I am so glad that the stigmata of bikers is changing into something much more positive than the day's of the Hell's Angels and such. There is no way I could ever think of Cuz in the same light as the Hell's Angels of the '60's and '70's, "Easy Rider" time. Before we headed out, the kids and I checked out the local Harley-Davidson Establishment (literally down the street from my house). I found a tank for myself and Boy INSISTED that we get Cuz a black T-shirt with a babe in a blue outfit. Girl screaming bloody hell because I wouldn't let her sit on the bikes for sale. She's going to give me a heart-attack and we'll be fighting over who gets to ride the family Harley. :) She was VERY happy sitting on Gus' bike in the top photo up there ^^^^.

Cuz and I share the exact same birthdate. We were born hours (and several states) apart. Spending the summers together growing up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire was a lot of fun. We jumped into the icy cold Swift River and slid down the natural rock slides, caught bunches of small trout to bring home for Cuz's mother, my mom's cousin, to fry up for breakfast. My grandmother even liked to eat the heads! (Ewww!) Once we were a certain age, we would have to outmaneuver the National Forest Service rangers, getting picky about fishing licenses and all that. I recalled, with amusement, the time that I flipped a trout right into the bushes behind me, I was so excited to get it's teeny-tiny bite. Yes, Gram ate that one, too, head and all. (Yuck!)

I also recall learning how to ride snow machines (by hanging off the back of them) with all my cousins at Buddy's house in North Conway. It is miraculous no one was hurt.

Maybe next year Cuz will come out again and I'll rent a Harley and ride with him. :)

In the meantime, I'm off with the screaming kids to the indoor playground and a large dose of real time.

~~Mama (imagining the wind in my hair and the road in front of me as I steer a sleek, purple , chrome and black H-D onto ... "Ventura Highway in the Sunshine/Where the Days are longer/the nights are stronger than moonshine" ).

Victory!!!!

It was a dark and stormy night...
No wait... wrong story. Ok it was a California chilly morning. The sun was casting its rays upon the field of battle where powerful forces would soon collide to decide the difference between victory and defeat.
In other words... Soccer. The game was at 10:00 this morning and the Sharks had their full team present and ready for action. They changed up their usual practice and did some drills where they played offense and defense against each other. Gone were the kids who look at the birds... these kids were swarming defenders and aggressive goal scoring machines.
Gametime...
(Image blurring.. thinking back) The Dragons were the first team that we were to play... that day they outscored us 7-0. (Image returning... to the present)

The Dragons set up to start the game. They had their wingers spread out and were in a 3-1-1 formation (only 5 kids on the field at a time). The sharks were two groups of huddled kids.. 3 up front and 2 in the back.

The Dragons came out kicking and started to move the ball to the Sharks end. Now this is where the comment on the practice becomes significant, because our team charged the ball and repelled attack after attack.
As the game wore on (about 5 minutes later), the Sharks pushed the Dragons back, by a great defensive clear by Boy Z. He took a tumble and a foot to the head, but got right back up!! After the throw in, BoyZ got the ball to Ry who broke free!! Score Sharks!!
Later in the game..
A dragon 1-1 ended up in a score for them tying the game. The Sharks, however, would not go quietly into the mid morning this time. Pressing attack after attack, the Sharks controlled the ball for most of the game. There were a few close shots taken by O and J, but both wide of the target. With about 5 minutes left in the game, out of the scrum came the ball and Ry!! Cruising ahead of the defenders, he shoots, he SCORES!!!
The Sharks kept up the tempo and at the whistle, the Sharks defeated the Dragons 2-1 for their first victory of the year!! (but who's counting).
The boys played with gusto, confidence and fervor.
It's so great to see when learning and fun start to sink in....
Especially if you're a slightly sometimes competitive Dad...

Signing off and still flying high!!
~~DaddyMan

... To Be Determined

Are they related or what????? Boy is playing in a play hut that our neighbors gave us. It takes up the entire "Great Room", but it's worth it to see how much fun they are having. They dragged every item imaginable into the tent. Blankets, pillows and clothes included! They are having a ton of fun with it. <Thanks Singer Family!>

Girl is well on her way to making this family "All Steelers - All The Time". Boy seems to be a "fair weather fan". Whatever team is showing on television on game day, he likes. We are trying to convince him to let go of his "Raider Envy". In the stores, the most predominant NFL team gear have San Francisco 49ers or Oakland Raiders logos. Both of which, um, in a word......STINK!!!!! See? All the other stuff has been snapped up by the hordes of "other" fans! Or maybe I just don't notice display of another teams insignia or name??? .....

Nah! The California teams are yucky. The Steelers have the MOST and the BEST fans, Terrible Towels down! Go #86 - Hines Ward-- three passes away from breaking the all-time Steeler record for passes currently held by John Stallworth. (My husband will be so proud that I remember this statistic; we just won't worry about the fact that I originally thought the record held by Lynn Swann!)

Hhmm....So, "What's new?" you ask?? Let's see.... I started a part-time job with the Law Office. Hey, J left to move to Ireland on a grand adventure and that left an opening in the firm! It is my duty to see that the place is held for her eventual return to the "States". Actually, it has been fun so far (one day). I was tossed right into the deep end of the pool. Fortunately, I can see the bottom and I'm a great swimmer! I'm glad to have joined the Team.

Yesterday, one of my oldest (meaning person I've known the longest; not in terms of solar age) N, had a birthday. I met her on her birthday about 30 years ago in Mrs. Morgenthaler's 4th grade class at John Fitch Elementary School. Wow. That's a long time ago. I haven't talked to her in awhile. I'm sure she's been busy with her beautiful daughter who should be about 4 years old. But, I wish her well in whatever she is doing. Today, one of my newest (met her fairly recently) but definitely one of my dearest friends, Lady, had a birthday. Her mother, MZMax, ad a birthday yesterday, too. What is with all the November birthdays?!? We are supposed to be in the malls shopping for the Winter Holidays and freaking out about our Holiday Cards getting into the mail on time after Thanksgiving when we are stuffed to the gills with whatever we will be eating on that day. Birthdays!smirthdays.

In all seriousness....Happy Birthday N and Lady (and MzMax!).

Yesterday was election day in many states across the country. Here in California, we voters spent the day voting down a bunch of propositions that were put on the ballot for our special election. So, there I was, arranging for an absentee ballot and then going over the summary and the laws packet, popping out my little chads and making sure none were "hanging" and then finding a place to deliver said ballot. Thanks, Gova-nator! >:( Personally, I can think of a million other more productive uses with that total time. I'm rereading the Outlander series so that I can catch up to J. We are forming the MalaMoor IrishCa Book Club. First meeting: whenever we can coordinate child care/sleeping/working schedules. This whole "time zone" thing is gnarly.

I have to close now. I have a date with yon Sheamus (Jamie) Fraser-->900 more pages to read.......

~~Mama