Sum of my fav gifties

Brenda and Lori O did me right in the gift department...its yarnapoollza. I feel like someone if they won big in Las Vegas, and they jump on their bed covered in money.... only my fantasy would be yarn...don't judge me...oh and a cute pix of Meeps with my latest green scarf...come on New Years

It was Christmas and now its over, phew!

I was very excited Christmas morning to see my "wine guy" Gary Vanderchuk on the Today show. Then off to the Pyles for our Christmas tradition...morning coffee and bagels. Mark loved his Collectors Edison, Star Trek Pez collection. Santa was very good to me, Rich and Greg! Plus the turkey meal was unbelievably delish! Rich brined the turkey so it was super moist, plus stuffing and mashed potatoes AND GRAVY! Oh yeah, I need to get my as s to Weight Watchers...oy!!!! Not that I'm complaining, I married a great chef!!!

So I'm posting from my new baby 'puter...its so cute but I'm having to relearn my typing for some keys. Mark got Rich a new video game, so the guys had to check it out, Secret of the Ark...no Mark, not a continuation to Dager of Amon Ra. Hope everyone's day was warm and special!

quiet weekend

I had yesh my third freakin gum surgery thursday, all the while coordinating getting my car into get fixed and renting a car. So needless to say I was no fun this weekend. However, I am the luckiest gal in the universe in that Rich made sure I had all the essentials: a ride to and from the surgery, movies, soft food and a delicious candle. I spent a great deal of time sleeping between Thursday afternoon and today. And when I wasn't sleeping, I was knitting...love this cotton yarn! Well, let the healing begin...so far so good, but I don't want to jinx it! One thing about being home is I could run the kiln...look at the product of Pyle Christmas fun-night at the Marck's! And look at these kitties, thank goodness they get along...too cewt!!!

sad sad sad

but let me offer some background for my days events yesterday...my company holiday party was in Oakland at the Sequoyah Country Club. I had the opportunity to drive with a coworker who I enjoy and respect...but my side note is my pet peeve of people still driving when on their cell phone. And my friend Mike not only was guilty but also drove with his legs...while jotting down notes from voice mail...got to say I'm thankful for my knitting, pretty much I stopped looking because I was going to explode. So after making it to and from Oakland unscathed, all I had to do was drive home from the train station. Almost home, stopped at a stop light and a gaze up at my rearview mirror and realize that car behind me was totally unable to stop in time and I was going to get hit...the thought happened only a second before the sound. It was scary but I'm ok. The guy that hit me totally copped to it, he was more scared than me. And yes his insurance is still in his Mom's name...oy! So the adventure of getting my baby fixed, renting a car and working with the body shop has begun...I'm just so sad my baby's bumper is dragging...my first new car ever :(

It's beginning to look like......

The air is cold and foggy and the stove has all burners going....Tried out my new pot ... enameled cast iron a la, le creuset but a knock off and reasonably priced. So I cranked it up and made my moms Rouladen and Spaetzle. Christmas was in the air and joy was in my heart. The new pots a beaut and the dinner was all it should be... swiss cheese all over the Spaetzle and the gravey from the Rouladen was perfect(thanks to the Maggi seasoning ) I got the x-mass stuff up during the day so after dinner I was able to get a look at the finnished product...Nice.. Gotta give thanks to Morants German Store for having the needed stuff . I have 5 Landjaeger hanging in the kitchen...like I said its beginning to look a lot..and smell alot like christmas. Joy to all you and all you love.

pre holiday events

Got the tree up, some more presents purchased and the holiday spirits abounds. Rich agreed to go shopping with me today, a huge concession....and off we went to Roseville Galleria. To sweeten the pot, I suggested lunch at BJ Brewhouse (yes Derek) and consumed a seven beer sampler too before the shopping adventure. It didn't take him too long to get almost every persons gift...including a creative tandem gift for Mark and Mason (that's all I'm saying) .

Back home with Hellboy II. Slogged out the Christmas decoration boxes...Don't know exactly how Penny AND the tree will survive....hmmm, odds are on the Pennster! and look at the glint in her eye...pure devil-ness!

ps. the morning comic's made me think about my current job situation...and it inspired this quote to illustrate my feelings...sometimes you're the pinata and sometimes you're the candy.

WinOH!

We volunteered a Woffard Acres Vineyards (WAV) this weekend and you know there's just nothing wrong with being surrounded with friends, wine, pine trees and the challenge of a new experience. My friend Lisa's boyfriend, Mike is part owner at WAV and was in need of some support this weekend... so being "game," we said yes. Between the "Run for the Hungry" and working at the winery...volunteering just never ceases to amaze me in what it returns to you for the effort! We always wind up with much more in return for the experience....like yesterday's training was a prelude of the experience we'd have today...imagine a small "tasting room" filled with twenty plus people...us...the sober ones and those tasting, asking for more and more wine. Mike is truly the master orchestrating tastes, for the "white wine only," Red wine only and lactose intolerant tasters...between mouthing the acknowledgement of the direction to the bathroom, getting water to the designated drivers, where the clean glasses are and how to join the "wine club...to save 20%.

Well we know nothing (or really the equivalent to) about wine, accept we like it!!! We destroyed the pronunciation of Noibiollo, Pinotage and Monteverdi....actually I could barely say Soveneign Blanc...but the experience was valuable...cuz talking about something that I know little about is very good test to your BS- ibility. And ya know what...either together or alone we can "walk the walk!" We sold over a thousand bucks of wine today ! We are thrilled and must say...go see them next time you're in Apple Hill. Or call us, we'll meet you there! Tomorrow is rest day! Mike and Lisa, dinner was "above and beyond." Thanks to you both, K

gobble thanksgiving!

We got up early and did the Race for the Hungry. 3.3 miles, running...ewwweeeee, we are in shape...just not for running. Its majorly a mental negotiation of survival....but through the pain, we made it to the finish line. And it was delightful to see Mark and Eric 2.0 at the end of the race, we weren't the only crazy ones.

Then after the race we headed to our newish family....Kelly and Erin are Toms (Rich's sister, Cookie's husband) neices. The most welcoming and wonderful dual family craziness. ahhh Thanksgiving, Wii fun, a killer meal, kids and while getting the rare opportunity to see our nephews, we feel like our family is growing. Happy TD to you all.

some times you gotta try something new

friday night we opted for a crazy attempt to support a friend of ours, John (aka Grasshopper) from Taro's. We have tried to see his band, Imaginots, a number of times but never had it panned out. Then his girlfriend, Aimee caught Rich this week and told him that they had a perfect solution for the many false attemps. There was a 6pm show...so we were in.

Club Retro, yesh needless to say one fact was left out. Club Retro is in the Family Christian Center Campus, in Orangevale. So really, no beer at this venue and the average age was 14...and that may be stretching it. I even went to H & M and got him a cool "rocknroll" tshirt...
sooooo, hmmm the show started 40 minutes late (of course) where of course we waited in the parking lot with all the teenieboppers. But we paid our $10 cover (really?) and FINALLY saw the Imaginots. They rock, kinda alittle Rush, Systemofadown, The Police and Paul Simon.

Then in return for Rich's need to do this, I touche'd him demanding we go to a new restraunt close to home. Its called, Pizza and Chicken Love Letters. It was reviewed in the Sacramento Magazine and won the "best name" prize. So livin on the cusp of Rancho Cordova there are a number of Korean restraunts...so same with this place, Korean owned. The owners were gracious and thrilled that we came in. We inhaled a few beers while they cooked our pizza and chicken. Gotta say YUMMY and you got to love their marketing!

As for today, Rich did chores and was kind enough to let me do Glass...kilns going-keep your fingers crossed. K
ps. Pizza is always a family affair in our house, look at this dogs! Can I see pizza in their eyes???

Our Nephew, Bryce turned 21

And invited us to his celebration. Bryce celebrated with style, surrounded himself with family and friends. He started the night with Jamesons, then slammed something called a Washington apple and deferred on the Jaeger Bomb...he's smart though...smarter than I ever was...taken his time and drinking water too! Its great to see him so comfortable in his skin, successful yet silly. Off to So Cal to continue his education. Bryce you have such a bright future and your uniqueness sparkles from your soul. Jo you raise a great being...can't wait for each new installment.
ps. for extra credit...find Prez Obama's on the TV in the back of one of the pix

the Universe made up for Santa Cruz...

So this weekend I wanted to have the authentic Fall experience of a Cal Berkeley game with our friends...Richard and Vicky. Ever since they said they went to every football game, I knew I just had to have a taste of this collegiate tradition...cuz they didn't have any thing like this at Sac City community college! and since Kaiser sponsored an "offsite" at the Claremont Hotel on Friday, we got a killer deal and even lucked into a Suite!

So we were close enough to walk to the stadium...and starting in the morning....every exchange we had, at the hotel or coffee shop it was like..."here's your change, Go Bears..." "here's your ticket stub, Go Bears" and everywhere you looked it was a sea of gold and blue in the very young to the very old!!! and the magnetic pull of the stadium sucked all far and near into it, then once in the stadium the alum are a force to be reconed with, what with the band, the students, the UCLA fans...rounding out the experience...it was a trip. The first half was blazing in Berkeley...we had to take breaks to seek shade and Rich had to break down and buy a light colored shirt (Go Bears).The second half was more eventful in that the Bears ended up stomping UCLA. Then the glorious afterglow of a rivalous WIN at the faculty club with Richard, Vicky and Sara. Pitchers of Bear Beer, delicious! Then we went to a wonderful Mexican restrauant (read Margaritas) and met Sara's friend Ed. Ed is genius in my book, not only did he get us a table, we had salsa, gauc and chips waiting for us!!!

I have such a special place in my heart for Berkeley and this experience exceeded the need in me...I heard "fight songs," heard about "tradition" rooting for a team that won and walked the campus like a student...the same campus that I went to on a field trip in 8th grade...I never got to go there but this weekend made me feel like I got a taste of what it would have been like....

bringing a bit of SF home

When we surprised Mark and Edda, a couple of weeks ago at Samuel P Taylor, I took these pictures....love the one of Mason and Mark, sweet but Don and Rich, PRICELESS!!!!


Then there's Rich's Crazy Halloween front yard, check it!!!!