A New Season.....

.....Fire. The smoke and ash drift down upon us covering the car with fine dust. We don't notice it to much on the ground, but we have been outside and it seems to be snowing ever so lightly. The "Day" fire in the Los Padres Forest about 30 miles from us has been burning for more than two weeks. The Santa Ana's were blowing over the weekend and our soccer game was called on account. Standing around (trying not to be blown around, actually) for the team photos was eerie with the view from the field virtually the same as the view to the left here. We have had cooler weather, but we still have the A/C running to clean out the air in the house. The kids are remembering vividly last year's fire and wondering if we will be in danger. I assured them that we are not.

There was a solar eclipse a few days ago, coincinding with the Autumn Equinox and though we weren't able to "view" it over here, the afternoons feel rather eclipse-like with the smoke and ash from the fire. And the sunsets, a lovely brilliant red, remind us that beauty can indeed be deceiving.

Our new homeschool park day seems to be lifting off the ground a bit. It's been rather lonely these past few weeks and I have been painfully reminded that who you associate with is as important as who you become as a person. The lesson of all of this going hand-in-hand and about trusting and boundaries have been front and center, too.

When I first moved out to California, I painted and glazed a ceramic napkin holder (that is still in use today) with the phrase "Keep company with those who make you better". Today, Nicolas read the whole thing with no help. Then he asked be about the phrase and we discussed why it's important to surround yourself with people of quality.

Why are people petty and manipulative? Is it the way of humanity to have to "one better" each other? There are no easy answers to these not-so easy questions.

Last evening, we had an excellent harvest feast with two other wonderful families. The turkey was excellent and the celebration grand. I made up a new green-bean recipe and it was a huge hit. None left (of course, the adults ate them all). And of course, great wine and homemade apple pie......

I spent some wonderful quality time with my sisters and ended the day in gratitude for the circle and cycles of life. Some joy, some pain and balance continuing to be fluid.

Here's a great photo of Girl hanging out at a friend's s soccer game. She had just done her new eye-crossing trick. She can make Boy choke at mealtime when she does it out of the "blue"...(eyes. She has blue eyes. Get it???) She's so sweet and cute, even with that feisty spirit.

Gods help us...........

To the Very Edge....

...Where the Summer Ends. I love Autumn. In New England it's the best. But even here, I've learned to read the sunlight and the wind change. Such a good little witch I am!

My mother recently sent me a CD with some photos of my family (Thanks, Mom!). She knows I have developed a certain passion for geneology (which blossomed when I heard that I am descended from one who was tried for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials) and just enjoy the history of our family.

I was particularly struck by the photo of my mother and her two sisters (the B&W). My daughter very much resembles my mother, the one that looks like the trouble-maker in the middle. Actually....they ALL look like trouble-makers (Love ya, Aunties!)

We are all entering a Leadership Program journey toward Black Belt at our local martial arts studio, Woodard's Todai Dojo. You can see some photos there.

Girl can enter when she is 4 years old, but she accompanies us to class and is the quietest of any while class is in session. (Mr. Woodard thinks she's the cutest thing--and she IS!!!!!) When I get more photos of us in class, I'll post them. In the meantime, did you see the photo of me and my new "do"?

Boy had his first "official" soccer game of the 2006 Season today. He spent some time in the goal and made a save! The SuperStars didn't win this game, but it's only a matter of TIME........

The NFL season has started! Daddy and Mama (and Brother J) are involved in a Fantasy Football League. With the Steelers opening night (even without Big Ben at the QB helm) the Steelers had a great game and with Heath Miller, Cedrick Wilson and Hines Ward on my FFL roster, I didn't do so bad, either!

I can't believe that Toodles will be THREE BIG years old on Monday! Like most mothers, I feel like her birth was "only yesterday!" Thank the Gods that nature makes women forget the pain the second you look in the baby's eyes! Her's are still the bluest BLUE!!! And Boys...his eyes are the EXACT color of his Daddy's.....

Kids are THE BOMB!!!!!!

(yeah, yeah, yeah.....I'm such a goofball). I'm gonna go back to my chic-flick now.

L8R!!! ~Mama

Time Flies like a Hummingbird....

...it's all beautiful when you have the chance to observe it and then....POOF!!..................only the dust is left.

Holy CowFlippers, Batman! I can't believe we haven't updated the blog since mid-June. Two months flew by like Jeff Gordon at Daytona!

We (all of us except Girl) have begun martial arts training. Boy has been wanting to do this for so long and we promised him that when he turned six, he could do it (provided he was still interested). So, we found a "dojo" just down the street where we live, called Todai (Japanese for "lighthouse") and we all really enjoy it. Daddy, Boy and Mama are testing for our next belt level this coming Thursday.

The photo above, incidentally, is not from our current class. Boy attended a birthday party for a friend last year at his studio and this picture was taken then.

The summer has been eventful and enjoyable now that it's cooled off some. As you can see from the photo of Girl, the breeze is blowing nicely on the day she decided to stay in PJ's all day. That same day, I got this great shot of Boy and D jumping off the tree stump together. Summer fun!

Soccer has started, too. Between that and martial arts, I'm glad for the days to rest between evening activities. I'm so glad we are homeschooling. I can't imagine trying to do homework in the middle of all of the rest of that, too!

Our favorite babysitter is off to college (she's the one with the snowflake on her head)! We are so happy for her but we will miss her very much. She is truly a part of the family. She's headed up to SFSU and we are planning a long weekend before the end of the year to head up and see her, take in Alcatraz and maybe pop over to the Wine Country. GOOD LUCK, K-drag!! She also works at one of the local bead stores. With her gone, I'll have less motivation to stop in and spend a gob on baubles to help me make more baubles (the Family Finance Dept. will be very relieved to hear this).

As school all over the country starts, our private school, ZEQ Leadership Academy, has been officially established this year and we'll continue to read, draw, play in the grass and on the less crowded beaches and explore our SoCal world. Museums, here we come! (They are the greatest places in the early afternoon after all the school groups head back out).

More later............

~Mama

The Princess is in court..

These kids are (for the most part) very loving to each other. The Princess Girl shown in the fashionable Cinderella dress was sitting on a "throne" that Brother Boy made with her rocking chair, blankets, a whole bunch of pillows and a giant imagination. They are very sweet... when they're not saying "He said...!" or "She's not...!" or "HE says I'm being BOSSY!" (Yes, Girl has lately taken to calling Boy by a nickname, a practice that is not thrilling to Mama. But he doesn't seem to mind....).

BELL-EE-SEE-MA

1. Gopher update.
2. My "legal" status.
3. Our new acquisitions.
3. Update on Kids
4. WHO is Bella?????

The weather has been FAB-YOU-LUS! It's been just wonderful. 75 degrees and SUNNY! Perfect horse-back riding weather. So, that bringe me right to #4. Here's more details; Bella is a 10 year old Paint mare owned by my friend C. I met C a few months ago when she moved from Cinncinati, OH. C and her partner homeschool their daughter, S-M, who is about Boy's age.

Bella is companion to Toby, C's 19 year old Thoroughbred Gelding. They are boarded just down the street from our home. In fact, the avacado and lemon orchards that are across the street are adjacent to the facility where the horses are housed. It's a private residence with some of the most BEAUTIFUL property I have seen since I have been out here.

Bella was acquired a few days before C and her family moved. The horses have had the stress of the move from Ohio to California and have also had additional facility moves in the months since they arrived in California. C has generously shared Bella with me and I have been taking my time reacquainting myself with equine, English tack and some of my leg muscles that I haven't visited in some time (since BEFORE children!!!)

I am having an absolute blast with Bella. She is incredibly smart with a strong will. When a firm, but kind, hand is applied, she will try her best to do what is asked of her. When there are carrots, apples or oat cookies involved, she tries even harder. Okay, so that my new "thing". Daddy, in the meantime, is very supportive of my visits to tack shops and the smell of saddle cream and hay permeating the garage. Good preparation for the day we have our very own horses.

Next is Daddy's good news! Ding-dong the gopher is DEAD!! After his appearances in the afternoons when the kids were in the yard and the lack of attention to our methods of persuasion to move on to more accepting realms, I decided that enough was enough. One day when he was bold enough to stick his face out of his hole and pack his little cheeks with grass the kids were feeding him while they were trying to decide on what to name him. I quietly found the gopher "peanuts", sent the kids into the house and distributed my own contribution to his buffet. The kids realized that after my telling them NOT to feed him that what I was feeding him was probably poison and barraged me with petitions of manumission and stays of execution. Anyway, we haven't seen any sign since. So, we can only conclude he has moved on to the "summerland". Feeding special peanuts to the gopher is most definitely against my spiritual beliefs, but my dedication to keeping my kids safe and unbitten by vermin-ridden rodents won out over my worry of judgment from the gods. I mean, it's not like we didn't ask him NICELY to leave, many times.

So, there is some update on the kids. They still wish we could get a hamster or another gopher and this time keep it as a pet ("then it will like us and won't bite us"). Now I just have to figure out how to get them to stop bickering. I've considered things like duct tape (it comes in such pretty colors now) and sewing their mouths shut, but they will manage to figure out ways to torture each other, I'm sure. After all, they will still be able to kick and pinch each other..... can anyone give me a quick lesson on hogtieing??

I am on hiatus from working part time for the law firm. I'll revisit that in September. In the meantime my time has opened up for horses and the peace of trail riding.


What's left? Oh yeah, we bought new bedroom furniture. A "West Coast" King bed and nightstands that match! It will all be delivered tomorrow! I can't wait!

Okay, I have to go get the kids now, whom I finally sent to the rooms for a "Mommy Needs a Time-Out!!!"

~Mama

Licensed... to hunt gophers

Greetings all,
For those that are not aware, I have been involved in the grand project of "restoring the land". These are some pictures of what the yard was like when we moved in as compared to more recently. This process has gone from bramble - > dirt - > grass. Originally we just threw down whatever grass we had in an attempt to get green. Now that I have grass, I've become a grass snob and now dislike the quality of my grass.. go figure. So with the help of a borrowed rototiller (Special thanks to G'Pa and G'Ma Huf for the extra long loan), I've started to re-till the back, planting one consistent type of grass that I like.
So now to the title of this post, for it must have been the transformation of this dead world into the paradise it is becoming, that first attracted the gopher. Now I don't recall having to deal with these guys back east, and other than the movie "Caddyshack", I can't say that I'm familiar with the species at all.
After multiple attempts to, shall we say.. "relocate the gopher to the untouched green fields of the afterlife", I have come to the conclusion that I am in fact dealing with a cartoon gopher.

Let's examine the evidence:

1. I've gassed this guy 4 times and he has survived. Only a cartoon gopher is either smart enough to snuff the wick after I've plugged the hole, or wear his gasmask which he procured from his endless supply of ACME brand products.
   
2. Water. I've sent rivers of water at this guy and yet, he still is around. No doubt he is now the cleanest gopher having dutifully shampooed and washed with every flooding and is the envy of friends and family alike.
3. Non-lethal methods only seem to please him. I got this anti-gopher powder stuff that is made up of dried blood, bone, and chili pepper. I am sure that being a southern California gopher, he likes it spicy, and has been bottling what I've spread around and in his holes.
   
4. He mocks all creatures bigger than him. He pops in and out of his holes, just enough to tease the neighborhood cat or get the kids worked up. This gopher has NEVER shown himself live and in person to me, thereby demonstrating a higher intelligence than a real one since he knows that I'd likely take the rototiller to the spot.
   

So there you go. Conclusive evidence that I am dealing with a cartoon gopher.

The latest attempt to dislodge him from my lands comes in the form of a couple devices that send soundwaves every 28 seconds that gophers find highly irritating. Now this of course will result in two options..

1. The gopher will leave, unable to stand the annoying sound and go on to greener pastures

OR

2. He will undoubtably don his pair of ACME earmuffs and mock me yet again...

Daddy

Boy Bowls into his Sixth Year

Boy's sixth birthday was a bowling bash at his request. A fun time was had by all of the little people and some of the big people too. Even Dad decided to fling a rock down the lane.
Mom actually bowled pretty well for not having done it in such a long time. The big guy had some trouble since as you know if you are a bowler... it just isn't quite right if you can't grip the ball well.
The party was a resounding success and we were bombarded with Legos.
Girl is now planning her party..........

Interim correspondent
Daddy

The Sweetest!

Though it is not an "official" Valentine's Day photo, is this NOT the cutest pair you have ever seen? Okay, okay.... I'm a bit biased, but still??????????

It's been a euphoric few weeks, coming off the Super Bowl win of the "house" team and with the news that my "sister" will be returning stateside very soon.

I've been frantically busy with CHN Legal matters. Will someone give me a good reason why public school districts think they OWN our kids? Okay, don't give me the argument "because they DO", because I will shout a resounding BS! on that play. The issues with the public school districts have been that somehow, once the children are turned over to the public institutions, the only rights the parents have is the right to be pulled into school like their children when the PARENTS aren't behaving as the SCHOOLS think they should. This way of thinking is totally amazing to me. Today's kids are spoiled, bratty, snotty, undisciplined, whiny, unmotivated, watch too much television, don't get enough exercise, go to bed when they "feel like it" and have never felt the sting of discipline on the seat of their "Versace Young" jeans. Holy Guacamole! I've never paid $300 for an outfit (except my wedding dress) and I saw a "dance" outfit on a website somewhere for this amount. I saw three kids at the mall the other day wearing the exact same outfit. They weren't knock-offs.

We live in an affluent, Hollywood bedroom community. One of the local High Schools has so many students, many of them park on the street. Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Escalade, Hummer--I even saw a Maserati in the upper parking lot one day! (I wanted to know what the parking lot contained if the STREET contained so much "cheap" chop-shop bait). There is so much PC jostling that we have lost sight of the goal. My husband and I are raising children who are responsible leaders who can think for themselves. And yes, it sucks when they assert their little wills at 2-1/2 years old and refuse to go to their rooms when they have thrown something across the room in frustration. I pick my daughter up and place her in her room if her feet won't move her there. As a result, my son is outgoing, articulate, talkative and wise. My daughter is following in his footsteps. Why, because we spend TIME with our children rather. We teach them how to go out in the world and find a way to EARN what they want. We don't give them the world.

Most of the children I encounter will claim that they are "entitled" to have the GameBoys, in-car DVD players (on on across town trips), computers and telephones in their room and many of today's parents will give in. That, my friends, feeds the monster.When will it stop?

Thank you to those who are reading this and know who you are, for the feedback you give us, even though you lives thousand of miles away. We love you and are proud to be raising the next generation of your family.

By the way, if you are reading this blog and you don't KNOW me, keep your opposing opinions to yourself. I don't care if you were a straight A student. You'll wind up working for the Bill Gates of the world. And you will probably think you have "earned" the right to his lifestyle.

Think again.

~~Mama

CHAMPIONS!

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Super Bowl XL - Now the Steelers are Livin' Large in Detroit and moving the party back to Pittsburgh.

Wow. Excellent game played by BOTH teams. Of course, our house is very HAPPY with the results. We had a great Super Bowl party with our closest friends (residing in the states).
I received some good news today, a friend who decided to live abroad for a year is returning early. I'm glad. I've missed her very much.

Daddy took a Super Bowl Holiday off from work tomorrow. Yay! I'm off to bed. It's been a long day.

Congratulations, Bill Cowher, the Rooney Family and most importantly the players of the Pittsburgh Steeler team. You guys are AWESOME!!!!!

~~Mama

~~Melissa

1. Take Two Kids and Two Ballooons and you have an afternoon of fun and frolicking.
2. Take a friend I haven't seen in awhile (even though she lives down the street) and add my two adorable kids and we have a KandKid photo op.
3. The two kids having a good moment of love and non-bickering.

We played with the video camera today and got some great shots of "homeschooling" in action.

~~Mama

AF Champs on to SuperBowl XL

CONGRATULATIONS PITTSBURGH STEELERS!

Extra Large? That's how I felt when the Steelers won the AFC Championship. I can only imagine how the TEAM feels.

Second year QB, Ben Rothelisberger (photo top right) took them this far (with a broken thumb, no less) and looks to be able to take them ALL. THE. WAY. It was be a great achievement as long as I've been a fan. They went to the SB in 1996, but didn't win. Coach Cowher deserves a ring. I believe he is a phenomenal leader and mentor. The team is a TEAM. Not collection of Marquee players or smack-talking-nothing-to-back-it-up boneheads.

My favorite player is Hines Ward #86. (Photo top left) The man NEVER stops smiling! He enjoys the game so much and I enjoy watching him enjoy the game. See him up there! I have looked at TONS of online images of Ward. He SMILES in every single shot. He's PLAYING the game!

Good Luck, Bill Cowher and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hope they retain their offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt after the Bowl. It would be horrible if he went to the Oakland Raiders as is rumored.

Hey, Oakland! Nothing is going to save you!

~~Mama

New Kidlet Photos

I really don't have much to tell about them that wouldn't bore you to tears or make you gag from the sweetness. So, I'll just post a bunch of photos. The last one is just another shot of the Orcas, but I love the color of the ocean in this one.

~~Mama

Thar She Blows!!!!

Boy and I went on a whale watching expedition on Monday, January 16. Our homeschool group got together for this very fun trip. We left out of Ventura Harbor toward Anacapa (photo here) and Santa Cruz, two of the Channel Islands. (Anyone remember the book "Island of the Blue Dolphins"?) It was quite choppy at first and it took a few minutes for Boy and I to get our sea-legs. Boy looked pretty terrified, hanging onto the rail toward the stern (rear) of the boat. I kept asking him if he was okay, (he said that he was!) and the little trooper rode it out until he stopped being dizzy and was able to enjoy the ride. Here he is with his friend, L.


The first creatures we encountered were a pod of Orcas (Killer Whales). These beautiful creatures are so playful and amazing. One was right next to the boat, turned belly up and swam under the boat. Peotry in motion! As we moved off to find other creatures, we realized that several seals were following the pod of Orcas. Now, Orcas like to eat seals, so either they had a death wish or realized that the Orcas were not hungry and better to keep an eye on the enemy than become lunch before one's time!

We were treated to the rare and wonderful sight of a female Pacific Gray whale with a newborn calf! Rare, because these whales are migrating to the warm waters off of Baja California from Alaska to give birth in the saline lagoons and feed. It takes them several months to undertake the journey. Our Captain told us that the mother was very nervous as she was alone and with her baby. Plus, the Orcas were relatively close by and they are a natural predator of juvenile whales. I could not get a good picture because the Grays were so elusive, but it was absolutely breathtaking. We followed them for a bit and then moved off to return to shore.

As we were returning with the sun low in the sky and the b.r.e.e.z.e. (okay, it felt much colder to me than it probably was) blowing in our hair, we encountered a HUGE school of common dolphin. They were playing around the boat and there was a TON of them! They were clicking and calling, surfing our wake and it was magical. This is the only photo I was able to get--The End.

~~Mama

Rain, Rain, Mud and Snow (in the Mountains)

Winter returned with a vengence this weekend. "Winter" in Southern California being defined as "tremendous volumes of rain and mudslides". It rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained for two straight days! Now, this may not seem like a lot, but for a place where 1/4" is a lot, it's a wonder SoCal isn't floating halfway to Hawaii. Fortunately for us, there were no mudslides nearby. The fires over the summer weakened the flora and it's root system, but so far, all has stayed in place. And I must say our lawn is now looking rather like a jungle. Tomorrow or the next day I will be forced to mow it! The kids had fun going outside in their "wellies" and splashing around in the puddles. Daddy and I enjoyed watching our grass grow. He was off of work for two weeks and it was very tough for him to go back to work today. It was quite difficult for me, too. I got used to someone else being around. The kids didn't like it much either. I spent much of the morning telling them that Dad was at "stinky job".


WARNING--> I have to go on a Political Rant.

I keep listening to NPR when I am alone in the car. It's the only time I can actually LISTEN to something other than Disney songs. NPR stretches my brain and sure does get my blood boiling. Also, reading my friend "Bly"'s blog isn't helping me remain ignorant either. She has such a way with words.

What is going on in this country where the government controls the people rather than the other way around? I read that there is a probe into who leaked the information regarding illegal spying on American citizens. Uh, EXCUSE ME???? But, don't we want to know WHY this is being allowed before we give a rat's fanny about WHO leaked it?

Okay, yes, find out who did it and GIVE THEM A REWARD. I don't believe that we should allow our Mr. Baby Bush to usurp the laws that WE, the People, law down for HIM, our notorious leader. He truly does believe that Jesus died to make him God, doesn't he? In addition to his personal religious values which he insists on cramming down our throats being illegal and unconstitutional, he's an arrogant, ignorant ASS to "cowboy"boot.

Now that I'm sure I just wound up on some government "watch" list somewhere. Good! I hope Laura or Jenna or someone else close to him bought him a good phonics dictionary for Christmas. He'd best start practicing how to pronounce "Impeachment" correctly.

~~Mama

The Weather Outside Was Frightful...

actually, it was .... dum-dee-dum-delightful.

Christmas Eve we spent at M and S's home. The H family swept us into their warm family circle and Christmas Eve tradition. Brother B was visiting from Atlanta (he's the one wearing the red nose). We played fun games that M and S cooked up and ate a fabulous meatless lasagna (Thanks again, S, for the special no-peppers one for me!). Girl left the party early. She was so excited to see Umby Bumby and Aunt Lo that she fooled me into thinking she was napping. We learned later (the hard way) that she had NOT napped. Just after she left, the boys were washing their hands in the powder room and placed the used towel on top of the beautiful tea light holder on the bathroom sink. M remarked "if you smell smoke, don't worry, the fire is out". So, not much harm done except a charred and smoldering hand towel.

Christmas day was just about as non-boring. Boy was awake at 4:00am and then at 5:00am and I finally convinced him to sleep in until 6:15. He ran into our room to tell us that there was a gift under his bed .... "Santa must have dressed invisible and chucked it in there". He ran back out to roust his sister who discovered a giant stuffed "Uniqua" sitting on her chair. She and Umby Bumby were teasing each other calling it "My-Niqua". B and Ls arrived early and L (bless her in her beautiful skirt) gamely parked her self on Boy's floor to help him assemble the Viking ship.

We headed over to Lady and Smuff's for a bite of lunch. L and I sat at the kids table to keep the chaos in some semblence of order. Boy's stomach rebelled at my attempts at getting him to clean his plate. Sooo.......I was finished with my lunch rather early and cleaning up the boy and the table. After some great quality family time with the wonderfully generous family, we returned to our house to have dinner (and wine!) with B and L and we had a great evening of discussion and sharing.

Santa brought a video camera and a great sound system for my iPod. We are having fun using both of these fun gifts. Our greatest blessings of this Season were the moments spent with our wonderful family and friends. We love you ALL!

God/dess Bless us, everyone! -- Tiny Tim in Santa Susanna Repertory Theather production of Dicken's A Christmas Carol December 2005

Happy 2006! (Enjoy that extra second of 2005!)

~~Mama

Gratitude. Let's Have a Serving

This is Girl during a recent haircut. She let A curl her hair. I was at the office so A snapped this photo with her camera phone. My Beautiful Baby with Curls!

It's the height of the Silly Season here in Hollywierd; the week before the REAL insanity begins. Everyone is trying to outdo everyone else with the decorating. There are icicles galore and booty-shaking snowmen, moving deer, large globes with air blown "snow" inside, Santa and a million reindeer cavorting on rooftoops. Where Lady and Smuff live there is a "candy cane lane" where all the houses on the cul de sac decorate to the NINES each house with a theme (M&M's, salsa penguins, the Grinch, Disney, etc....) except for one, dark house in the middle. It is a reminder that not all celebrate the Season of Silliness in the same way.

Our family celebrates ALL of the light festivals, specifically the Winter Solstice and Christmas. At least we do in Spirit and are really working to do so in Wallet, too. It's so tough not getting caught up on all the craziness of the most DOMINANT "celebrations" of $MONEY$--Ka-CHING!!!
Everyone is crabby, rushed, stressed, overspent, overworked, overfed, over hung (take that in any way you want) and I wonder.....WHY do we always do this? So far, I haven't found any answer that makes any sense.

My mantra right now is "Gratitude". I got something about it in an email from my good friend Pat and it's been a wonderful, beautiful gift. Like a good shot of caffeine, it's a "feel good" substance, so I try to have a little bit every day. Today it is for the beauty of frost on the clay rooftiles and the smile on Girl's face as she says she's a "Steeler Girl". That is what the real meaning of the season is about--Peace On Earth and doing everything with a Grateful Heart, no matter what book you read or in whichever god/dess you Trust..

Last year we and three other families did an all night vigil on the Longest Night (Winter Solstice for those not familiar with the Ancient Feasts). The kids stayed awake up until they were delirious and passed out. The adults stayed awake all night and were just delirious. Just before dawn, it was time to hike up the hill and greet the Sun. It was fun and special, but I don't think we have it in us this year. We will spend special time with friends and family to remember really, what Winter is about--hibernating, being lazy and preparing for Spring to arrive--after a nice long nap.

But, we still have to get through the Silliness!!! I have been online shopping and everything got screwed up. After one whole day spent on the phone everything is fine now. I should have just STARTED on the phone. It seems that most sites were completely unprepared for the frenzy of the online shopping and out of stock for EVERYTHING. I'm glad that there wasn't THE one BIG HOT Furby-like toy this year. Though, trying to find a child's Easel seems to be a major hassle.

The kids are very excited for the arrival of the BIG RED ONE, and all his treasures. However, I doubt we will get Girl anywhere near him. Speaking of BIG GUYS....What is UP with Howard Stern? That is ALL I have been hearing about today. Is it seriously going to make Headline News if he decides to moonlight as Santa? There are definitely more important things to discuss other than him! Oops! The other "him" isn't talking.

It reminds me of the steriod controversy in MLB. It was the Feds way of saying "LOOK at this SHINY OBJECT over here to make you forget ALL ABOUT what we are (or aren't) DOING OVER THERE".

Okay, I'm babbling and wandering onto dangerous soapboxes. I thought I had all this interesting stuff to say, and actually I do. But, I fear it's only interesting to me. Though, my wee Irish-living bookworm friend and I could kill a few pints in such a discussion. As I sit here in front of the screen, I realize that most of what I have to say is probably a tad too liberal for most of my family, even though they all know that I am a Bleeding Heart, Tree-Hugging, Moon-Worshipping, Freaky Homeschooling Alternative Witchy Liberal Mom.

Let's just leave it at that.

Oh, Happy Christmas!--John Lennon

Holy Guacamole, Beginning Batman (--a great movie! and a subject for another day--), I can't believe I just quoted John Lennon--My Mom will be so proud!

~~Mama

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" ).