Pondering Questions

Could it be that the airline industry - besides charging for your second bag of luggage and keeping you under 50 lbs.... could be a direct link to the sluggish economy? Does anyone know a CEO or president of an airline industry they could ask for me? When I go someplace I want to buy souvenirs and take local food items, t-shirts and whatever else home with me to California. I again noticed on this most recent trip that I couldn't spend money or pack anything in my luggage since when we left home we were already at 48 lbs on the luggage (yes, we weigh it at home we don't like surprises).... I kept my wallet in my purse a lot more than I wanted to. I know you can buy it, pack it mail it.... which brings up another point who wants to spend their 5 day trip running around doing those errands (find the box, buy tape, pack it, address it, go to post office... you get the scene)? And don't you want what you purchased with you when you arrive home in lieu of waiting for the post man to deliver it? I guess you could keep the new stuff and mail home the dirties... ICK.....


Next question - all the airlines (that I know of) have gone to a "CASHLESS CABIN meaning you need to have your credit card with you to purchase anything and these days the airlines have lots of stuff to sell besides an adult beverage (pillows, headsets, snacks, movies). What brings this up? A recent article in some newspaper about Jet Blue or other airlines charging to go to the bathroom? ..... Well not yet, but could it be coming? Which leads me to my biggest Pondering Question.... if you had to pay on the plane to go to the bathroom ... would #1 cost more than #2 and where or where would we slide our credit card... would toilet paper cost more if you are a female? Or here is a suggestion if this really happens... perhaps when we check in you could have us buy a pre-paid potty pass and the flight attendant after storing all those ridicules carry ons that weigh more than 50lbs could punch our potty pass... Somethings are just meant to be FREE or INCLUDED or a NICEITY.... George Carlin where are you when we need you to make this all very funny for us...? Be sure to laugh out loud today it is good for the body - good for the soul.

Home Again Home Again

Southern California is a great place to live! Our weather is definitely different than what we experienced n Colorado.... See that picture that is SNOW on the windshield.... yes SNOW in AUGUST? Thunder, Lighting and an occasional glimpse of the sun!

Still - I am ready to go back again. We had lots of fun and adventures some planned, some not planned, we made lots of new memories. A few highlights... Oh there were so many - and so many laughs, visiting with our friends Deb and Larry (Deb works for Frontier and got us the buddy passes which worked out just fine once WE worked out a bug or two and made a second trip to the airport for Rich's golf clubs that didn't make it on the plane the first time, this was securities fault not Frontier's), having my first beer in two years at TOMMY KNOCKERS, in Idaho Springs on the way to Vail. They had the best Garlic - Parmesan French Fires. It was a bit rainy and I couldn't have the camera out much but I would love to go back to this picturesque town and shoot about 100 pictures... We spent 3 days in Vail and between the thunder and rain, the guys even got out for a little golf. Larry, took us sport clay shooting on Sunday - Rich and I both learned how to shoot a gun for the first time and it was the last thing on earth I would ever imagine myself doing but it was a real kick. I hit 3 of about 70 round orange clay disc somehow and I haven't a clue how I hit them. At one point being the expert marksman/women that I am - I asked Larry can these bullets hurt you.... He assured me they were real and you could take someones head off with them. Suddenly this was not as much fun as it was 10 minutes ago..... #1 rule SAFETY FIRST - and it will remain fun. Yes, I would do this again. Like I mentioned these are just some highlights. Monday it was time for our 3rd trip to the Denver airport - Rich was flying home and I was staying to have lunch with Laurie, my friend Donna's daughter who lives in Aurora (friends since we were 10), visit Archivers (baby mecca of scrapping) and see some of the sights of Denver with Debbie. Back to Laurie she is having her first baby and since I am the always adopted auntie and I was in her town I just had to see the baby bump.

We don't know yet if it is a Boy or Girl Sprout....

Tuesday it was back to the airport for our 4th trip... I was meeting our friends Robin and Jim, who were flying back from 10 days in Kauai. After a nice car ride to pick up their new puppy Max (14 weeks) it was back on the road to Morrison.... where they have now lived for a year (since leaving Irvine last August, this has not been easy for Robin who is beach loving native of California) in a beautiful mountain home with panoramic views of the mountains. Jim told me not to go out alone at night since the week before they had seen a mountain lion in their backyard. Yeap, that is a little different than Irvine when you look out your window and see someone driveway. They also have moose, deer, bear and fox that travel through the yard... YIKES... I did see the fox and deer and that was quite enough wild life, thank you. My friend Robin is in my opinion one of the best folk art designers ever. I can scrap book but she can do amazing things with Styrofoam, paint and wires. She designs for DEMDACO and if you click on the link it should take you to her Mistletoe Manor Collection. She has several other lines as well and if you are a snowman lover..... Check it out or buy some of her collections at your local (hopefully, they carry her line) gift store. A few more pics to share and time to move on... Happy Day... God Bless...!!!! Max the puppy .... like you couldn't tell..... view from Robins's deck in her back yard.

Stopping for refreshment at the Wilcott Yacht Club after clay shooting with Larry & Deb. This is very funny since there are no Yachts or Lakes nearby....

View from Larry and Deb's place in Vail. I guess you could call this white water view....

Thank you, Debbie and Larry for some memories that will last forever. In case you want to run for public office I left out some of our finer moments and no I didn't take pictures so you won't see your self on the front of NE....

Robin and Jim, thanks to the two of you too.... Water is like friendship it should never be taken for granted. xxoxoxo

Rocky Mountain High

COLORADO.... yep, time to pack up the undies, clean the camera cards and recharge the batteries. We are officially going to "TRY" to get to Colorado Thursday evening. Our friend Debbie works for Frontier Airlines and she sent us buddy passes and since just like every other Airlines they are having problems and layoffs and she has low seniority she told us "YOU BETTER USE THOSE PASSES ASAP"... So off we go on a little adventure. The first part of the adventure will be getting on the plane. You have to fly stand bye. At least we are close to JWA so if we don't get out of Dodge (I mean Irvine) we are close to home.

Have you become an Olympic Junkie...? I was not going to get caught up in the Olympics. I told myself I am not going to be an Olympic junkie for 16 days.... Never say Never.... there are a couple of events I can not keep myself from watching... BEACH VOLLEYBALL and since we have old swimmers and water polo players in the house (Rich and Jeff) - we love the swimming and water polo. Is it not amazing that so many of these athletes have a connection to California and Orange County... GO USA! LOVED the gold in the 400 meter relay... Now those guys are what an American male role model should be.... Jeff actually swam with the old guy (not my words but used by the commentators) Jason Lezak here in Irvine and Long Beach.



Went to the Oasis the other day and purchased some of the new Scenic Route line and put a lay out together of Beautiful Meghan at her Luau party. I sometimes amaze myself by doing a 12 x12 layout. Because I still have problems putting only one or two picture on a page, it just feels like alot of money in paper and embellies (new word for embellishments). This is all scenic route with the exception of the Bazzill cardstock and old Lil Davis letters... 3 SR papers, rub-ons 2-different sets, the cardstock, the letters, some of the new SR stickers and I used one of the new label stamps from SR.... add that all up.... NO I DON'T WANT to.... it's not like I don't have the supplies so why am I whining? Don't know that answer either. I just remember the good ole days where you did a two page spread with about 5 to 8 pictures. You would die-cut your letters and the entire layout probably cost about $2.00. Of course the price of gas was also under $2.00 a gallon. Time ot go get something done.... Maybe I will just scrap some more... Oh I need to finish that darned baby book... Have a great summer day. xoxo

Surprise

How can you be married to someone for over 33 years and they do something totally out of character and unexpected? Well this man did last night.... Maybe it was the company, maybe it was the wine, maybe he was just letting his hair down, maybe it was in honor of the Olympics.... He was attempting a cannon ball off of one of the water falls in the spa into about 3 feet of water and tyring to avoid the step.... And he didn't do it once he did it twice. I know this picture looks like he is sitting on the rock... He wasn't - he was in mid air - my sides still hurt from laughing.... So after 33 years plus they can still surprise you. Good job Diana capturing the moment on film... Oh the judges only gave him a 7.8 for degree of difficulty... Only received a bronze.

AUGUST

what happened to July? Is it really the 7th already? Five weeks to go til VACATION. We have had such a great summer so far with visitors to Hyland's Island both near and far. A week ago we had the group from Church for the HYLAND'S ISLAND dinner from the valentine auction. I think all the guests would agree we retained our 5 (five)Pineapple rating. TIPS: Smart and Final has the best Filet Mignon (spell it 3 times fast) going... It was like budder (butter). Giant Scallops from Costco marinated in that famous rare marinade... Wish Bone Italian- Trader Joes Mushroom Risotto, grilled fresh vegies, Salad and of course the fruit tart. I love a good meal that has taste and your tongue gets involved....! Of course the Nikki Pina Coladas and Caribbean Martini's weren't bad either... All in moderation of COURSE. Saturday was the Brisley- Ross wedding in Laguna Beach. It was beautiful. I took my camera (for fun) and I like to take what I would call the forgotten wedding pictures. I love the details of the things ... I do love to take pictures of the people too but some times the things cooperate so much more than the people.... case in point below...

I even managed to get a little scrapbooking done between all the guests and visitors. I need to take some pics and post them.... ahhh more pictures just what my computer memory is begging to have added to the already bulging "MY PICTURE'S" section.

GSLC group before dinner on left.

a couple of wedding photo's.... see that pineapple smiling?

Below my right foot in an actual tennis shoe... YIPPPEEEE.... PAULA BUNION is gone. Can't wait to get back to tennis. Doc says another couple of weeks.... You see that dog squinting in this picture? I dont' know how she know but she knows when the flash is going to flash and she squints... darndest thing. Time to go prepare for Happy Hour tonight at Hyland's Island. There maybe some blackmail pictures tomorrow!

HAPPY SUMMER.... ALOHA... GOD BLESS....

HAPPY ADHESIVE....STAY COOL.....