Meet Parker

Parker, a sweet little Miss

Jack has a new half-sister!  Look who came to live with Jack's brothers, Piper and Leo.  This sweet little girl is part Tabby and part Tortie cat.  Does that make her a Tartie?  I don't think so, but she's rather pert, pugnacious and extremely cute and funny!

Parker was rescued by our intrepid cat-loving friends in North Hills.  Yes, these are the same friends who rescued my Jack and his sweet family.

Our little Miss lost no time exploring her new digs.  She knew no fear in climbing to the top of the cat trees.  She thought it was great fun and only froze when her new human daddy caught her in the act.

Oh, oh!  Busted!  Parker knows no fear

So far the boys have been pretty nice to their new sibling.  They have played with her and been tolerant of her antics for the most part.  But, just like typical big brothers, occasionally get into a squabble.  It's inevitable.

Parker takes it all in stride.  She likes her new digs.  She especially likes to chill watching TV. American Idol is a favorite.

Watching American Idol

She also likes the Beach Boys, romantic tuna dinners and moonlight walks on the beach.  She's a California girl, after all!

Just kidding.

Have a terrific week!

Ren Faire Arizona Style

My dear friend Dianna and her cousin at the Faire

The Arizona Renaissance Faire takes place in Apache Junction, Arizona every year on Saturdays and Sundays throughout February and March.

For more information, see http://www.royalfaires.com/arizona/

The Apache Junction venue is great because they have real facilities for their various venues, be it shoppes where artisans are selling their wares, restaurants for feasting, or entertainments.  It's a whole historical village ready to explore.

Morris Dancers at the Faire

I have to personally attest to Faire food being a terrific feast for the body, and if you've never seen an actual joust, now's the time!  Honestly, there's something about men on horseback trying to kill each other that's a lot of fun to watch.  Trust me.

Jousting in action!

I made my pilgrimage to Arizona not that long ago.  It was a funne tyme.

One of the unique features of this faire is a show called, "The Ancient Art of Falconry".  A variety of birds-of-prey show off their unique skills in this bird show without parallel.  Falconry was once the sport of kings. When you see this show, you will understand why. Some of these birds are endangered.  Believe me, they are magnificent.  This is a show not to be missed.

The Falconer showing his art

Also fun are the Ghazaal Beledi dancers.  They are an award-winning belly dancing troupe based in Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona who specialize in Middle Eastern Belly dance and East Indian dances.

Ghazaal Beledi World Music & Dance troupe

These are only some of the countless pleasures of the Ren Faire. This is a great time to visit Arizona.  It will be sunny and pleasantly hot.  (Arizona only has three seasons, actually:  Hot, Hotter and Hell.)  So, right now is a good time to visit.

Dianna and her faire-going cousins

The Arizona Faire is currently in its 28th season - time dost fly, doth it not?  Don't miss it this year!

Love In the Air

Nils and Rachel

Have you missed me?  I know, I know, I've taken a small hiatus, but I'm back now, here to wish you a very Happy Valentines' Day!

The big news around here is the recent engagement of my dear nephew Nils to a very lovely young lady named Rachel.  This was not unexpected, and all of us - the whole kit 'n caboodle of our family and friends - couldn't be happier.

Oquirrh Lake

This (above) is perhaps not the most idyllic place for an engagement setting, especially in the dead of winter, but Nils and Rachel had their first date on Oquirrh Lake.  They went kayaking there during the summer.  So, it is a place that has special meaning for them.

Recently, they visited Oquirrh Lake again, and took a romantic evening walk around its frozen confines.  To Rachel's surprise, Nils suddenly dropped to one knee.

Yeah, you know the drill.  (Insert romantic string music here, and some of these red things...)

Rachel said, "Yes!"

A small token of his LOVE

Rachel is now sporting a small token of Nils' love and commitment on her third finger, left hand. Okay, not so small.  That rock is gigantic.  Way to go, Nils!

I'm so happy for them.  They make a great couple.  Not only that, but Rachel fits in so well with our family.  She's a beautiful and intelligent addition to our clan.

That's the happiest, most welcome news I've had in a long time, so I had to share with all of you.

I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day-President's Day Holiday weekend.

A New Year, New Wheels

The Nissan Sentra SV

I don't buy new cars very often.  I am more concerned with safe transport than looking cool. So, when I do get a new one, it's a big deal. This past month, however, it was getting increasingly evident that my 2000 Nissan Sentra SE was on its last legs. So, I decided to take advantage of the Year End sales and bought myself a new car!

Happy New Year to ME!

The Sentra SV's hiney

My Dad was Buick man.  I'm more of a Nissan gal, I guess. The new vehicle is also a Sentra, but the new, improved, SV line.  I love it. It's got everything from a rear-view camera to Bluetooth technology.

I'm a happy camper.

The new car is a metallic grey, but looks blue in this light

I began waxing nostalgic over my past cars upon buying this one.  My very first car was a used beige '69 Volkswagen Beetle that I named Bert.  I bought Bert upon graduating from college, after I got my first real job.

Bert had an "automatic" stick shift, which regularly left me stranded in the middle of busy Phoenix intersections. That was the only thing that ever went wrong with it, but it happened on a regular basis. Luckily, he was small and lightweight enough to be easily pushed out of the way, when necessary.

A 1969 Volkswagen Beetle

Bert was totaled in an accident and then got sold to a California Dude who wanted a Dune Buggy. I think Bert had a whole, wonderful new life down at the beach after he left me.  That still makes me happy.

My next car was a Datsun 200SX.  A good friend of my Dad's had bought the car as salvage and totally rebuilt it.  It was a great car with a velvety blue interior.  It had the black louvers on the back window - the ones a friend of mine called "go-fasters".  It had a manual transmission, but I really liked the way it handled.

The Datsun 200SX, circa 1980

Several gazillion miles, a short stay in Nevada and a move to California later, the grey Datsun got traded in for a new Nissan Sentra.  [The Datsun company had become Nissan in the interim.] This was the base model of the cheapest car they made, but it was my first totally new car and I was thrilled.

The Nissan Sentra, 1987-ish

The silver, base model Sentra served me well clear up until the turn of the century.  It literally broke down on the way to the dealership to trade it in.  My friend Vicki and I pushed it into a McDonald's parking lot from where it ended up being towed into the dealership.  It went out in style.

That's when I bought my last car, a gold 2000 Nissan Sentra SE that I named Goldie.  It was the top of the Sentra line at the time and gave you a lot of bang for your buck, including cruise control. I really enjoyed that car. It had a good life in California, and also saw a lot of scenery in Arizona, Utah and Nevada.  I was sad parting with it on Monday.  

The 2000 Nissan Sentra SE

But not that sad!

I'm glad to be starting a new chapter of my life with new wheels!  Look out world!  I've got all the bells and whistles now and I'm not afraid to use them!

HERE I COME!

Jack's Christmas

Jack with his new toy

Last Christmas, I bought Jack a battery-operated motion toy that lasted all of four days before the motor seized and the thing totally broke.  Luckily, I was able to get a full refund for it.  However, he had had so much fun playing with it, that I decided to get him another one - from a different manufacturer - this Christmas.

My boy was very surprised!

He liked it!

I got it, Mom!

Jack was a very happy camper.  We've been having fun with it ever since.

My sweet guy

I hope you had a terrific Christmas, too!

May the Force Be With You

My coworker and good friend Barbara came to work one day just to get a few things done.  She was was only supposed to be there for a few hours, so she wasn't too worried about her attire.

She had kept her jacket on, until someone noticed a bit of logo showing below the bottom hem. Then she finally did a full disclosure Big Reveal (above)!  I had to laugh.

Yup.  If you are a huge Star Wars fan, as I and many of my friends are, you will understand. Christmas vacation, for me, included a sojourn to the theatre with a good friend to see The Force Awakens.

Selfies att the Theatre to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens!

It was great fun!

Then we headed off for some lunch.

Lauri in her 'hand model' mode showing off the pepper

We were at the Regal theatres in La Habra, so we just crossed the street to the local Applebee's. We had a REALLY good lunch.  I ordered a Thai Shrimp salad that was yummy.  Lauri also enjoyed her salmon (above).

                              

Doing lunch and a movie, or a movie and lunch, or dinner for that matter - with friends, is one of my favorite things! This was a great way to spend a day of Christmas holiday.

Hope your 2016 has gotten off to a terrific start.

The Final Christmas Party

For years now I and my friends have held a big Christmas bash, usually on a Saturday well into January to accommodate everyone's busy schedules.  Having a Christmas celebration in January is actually a good idea.  There are no work, school, church or family celebrations competing for the time, and no one has to rush off to go shopping.  We spend an entire day in each others' company and it's a lot of fun.

This year was the earliest our celebration has been in many years.  It was held on Saturday, January 2nd.

Our host did a terrific job of decorating.  Above you see one of the two decorated tables.  The food was fantastic, and the company was stellar.

The only thing wrong with it?  It's now over!

Today it's back to work and back to the regular routine.  I fear I'm suffering majorly from the after holiday blues.

Despite that, let me wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year!  May 2016 be the best year ever for all of us.