9212 facelift

Well once I get started the dirt starts flyin and stuff starts to fall into place. The wall is DONE and the pathway isn't far behind. Stay tuned for the planting and lights.

Moving Day Take 3

Well he is in the new place and after we returned the rental truck I went back and set up the computer an the play station. the bird was checking out the balcony and Poe the dog was sniffin around. All in all a smooth transition. Could not have done it without my studly wife and bestest friend Mark...you guys are amazing. Lets all cross our collective fingers.

Section 8 Part Deux

Well those of you who read this are aware of the difficult year we have had trying to get the Section 8 Apartment for Greg.. Well we signed the lease at regency place apartments today...YAY...Now we have to get the U-Haul and get him moved on Sunday. Seven years and the destination is in sight.. I will update the move next week...

a year of miss connections and missed vacations

had you known that we were going to Santa Cruz for my first big Vackay from Kaiser you might think we'd be sharing crazy pictures from SC by now...but once again it wasn't meant to be. Rich picked me up in Oakland monday afternoon as planned. Boats and bikes affixed to the FJ. We were going to kayak and bike are way through our fav environment, stay at our fav place, eat at all our fav places and rest....Ha! the universe again had other plans for us. I packed the boxes of food for the animals, snacks for our days on the beach but yet we are home. We got one good night in but only to receive the call you don't want to get from your pet sitter, "aaaaah, did you change your locks....cus I cant get in..." Yup, we did change them and no one had the replacement keys...yet Rich had made them and told me to share them>" dooohhhh and after a hour of crisis...we knew the only options was to call it a Wrap and head home. Home where the front yard cried for our attention. We have spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday working on the Front Yard. Its therapuetic working on something you can actually see the progress on. I've dug and refilled and re dug and refilled holes for drainage, plumbing and electrical. alast I can see Rich's vision. Without work its calming to just enjoy the triumph that is "hard work" and Rich's vision. So much for Santa Cruz...

sometime you don't know where the day will take you....

today Rich had rented a excavator to continue the work on the front yard. We started last night with prep work, planting stakes, measuring heights for the walkway, diggin up bulbs...all the while Rich's creative juices running ideas, plans and vision...he has vision of plans that I'll never have. So while the sprinklers ran, to soften the dirt for the digging the following day, we unwound by watching Enchanted, goofy Disney movie...can I stop and talk about Disney as it has a cherished place in my heart...no matter how jaded I am, I can still be struck by the start up of the music, so many Sunday nights being swept away by Sleeping Beauty,Bambi, 101 Dalmations and the Aristocats...so I just thought this was a silly movie but got mesmerized by the magic...even at 42. Great movie, for young and old(young at heart.)

So Sat morning woke up begrudgingly and Rich headed off to pick up Mark and Mason and the tractory thing. And I was industrious while he was gone, pick axe and dirt...I started work. I thought my day would be filled with it. But things don't always work out the way you plan. Mark and Mason are great team but as plans turned out, Mason's friend Evelyn joined us. They are a pair, born from the same pod somewhere...I had friends like that growing up. Chris and Jon Takach and Stephanie Shipway...we fished together, played hide and seek in the avacado trees, chased chickens...we were a crew. But these two were precious. Although Mason works well with Mark , today he seemed more like sticking in the house. And he and Evelyn wanted to hang with me. This left the men to work which was ok but really I thought I'd be slogging beside them. Apparently I had other duties...since we had Enchanted I set it up for the kids, Mason had seen it before but Evelyn hadn't...and what young girl could say no to princesses and princes. So I tried to work on some Work training that I had, so I was close by but not too close. Mason wanted to warn Evelyn every time some big, scary or intense scene was coming in the movie...so cewt. But ultimately I found my way to my room to focus on my studies...but they are just so comfortable with each other. Different than siblings-better.they were so content to sit side by side watching, being absorbed in the movie. Then the movie was over and they wanted to be entertained...reluctantly I sucumbed. We wound up playing "Go Fish." It sounds so simple but it was precious to me. Life's simple pleasures can still warm the cockles on my heart. Eating Goldfish, Dots (remember Dots) and laughing.

Then we were invited to Anna's for a visit with her parents. Bart and Maya (sp?) were in from So Cal and chilling in Sac. The last time we met Bart was like 20 years ago and he remembered us. A breakfast at Carrow's a million years ago...pictures to prove it! But Anna had invited some close friends for yummy Zelda's pizza. It was a great crew of spirit. Beers and Pizza, art, politics, Project Runway, sunless tanning and family were all discussed. It was great exchange of thoughts, energy and love-Anna is lucky to be loved by special people. We are lucky to be invited along for the ride.

Angel Island Adventure

Initially we were going Saturday, but had a fun night with the Pyles Friday night at Hoppy Brewery...needless to say when we got home we ended up watching "We are Marshall" and stayed up way too late. But what a great movie, especially with Football starting this week. So we swapped our plans and went with Plan B. Plan B consisted of using other peoples Air Conditioning. We went see Tropic Thunder-Oh Muy Gawd, it exceeded my expectations...we laughed our arses off...and I had to look away many times (gross factor) totally entertained!!! Then shopping at the mall and topped with, yes I know you already know SUSHI! The Taro experience is a little different these days...John comes and sits with us on break. We have some new friends and it feels nice. Then we went to bed before 9:30. So off to Angel Island today. It was a beautiful day and nice balance of fun and fitness...just when you build up a sweat....huge downhill. What a treasure, with views of Tiberon, the city, the Golden Gate and the Bay bridges.

Shuckers Surprise...

Today we got up and headed to SF (can you believe our gall, after last Sundays traffic disaster?) with Japantown in our sights. Last time we went there we only were able to "window shop" as all the stores were closed. We saw one hardware store that looked soooo unbelievable and Rich found you that they sold his beloved Sushi knifes there. So with bagel filled bellys we headed down the road. First Stop, Soko's Hardware and to our delight it surpassed our expectations. Rich was able to put down the coin and buy his first, ten and a quarter inch, yanagi, carbon steel, single bevel, right handed Sushi knife. She's a beaut! We found all kinds of other treasures, a gift or two and more sushi supplies. Then into the Japantown mall. So much visual stimulation, origami cranes, buddah sculpture, sushi everything and art. We went to a book store, everything in Japanese but wonderful, I found a book of just owners and their cats...the Japanese are silly even when they're serious. I was lost for a while exploring random books, all the while Rich is looking at Sushi books, dahhh. Then off to surprise our camping friends at one of our favorite places on earth, Samuel P Taylor. At the host stand we asked what site our friends the Pyles were staying at...and tootled down the road to find them. We found their site and Mark was out front...he gave me the most confused .....loook....and off we drove, giggling our Asses off! We had to park in "vistor's parking." Then up we walk, six pack in hand and some noshables...Hi, what are you guys doing here. We just stopped by to say HI> They had five/six families camping and we just hung for a bit. Mark and Don were so happy cuz they were Oyster heavy...thrilled to eat some raw and some BBQ'd. We looveeee you guys, thanks for letting us crash your party for a bit! Lob K ps. check out our movie crossing the Golden Gate Bridge...a beautiful day in SF-good luck to those facing Gustov...scary s hit.

An Indy weekend

Rich went to Infineon twice this weekend. Greg (his brother) won tickets for all three days but we had tickets purchased for months on Sunday. So he went with Greg, Mark and Mason (Mark's son) on Saturday. Endorphins are delish and you can't say no to them....so he embraced the situation and went Saturday and Sunday. Plus its more time seeing the "Rum Bum" and oh yeah, there was racing. He came home Saturday, Sun burnt, exhausted and ready to return the next day. We were scheduled to ride the Holloway bus, but it looked alittle tight, so we opted to drive ourselves (our demise) So Sunday we got up early connected with the Holloway posse and headed out. In our car, we opted (read cheap) to stop at Safeway to buy our sandwiches for the day. MISTAKE #1, we got the surelish Safeway person....who had no idea how to make a sanwich and her boss, who begged with her eyes to understand her position and forgive the 30 minutes it took to make are freakin sandwiches...cranky we proceded on...go forth and concure. At Infineon, we joined the crew and went into the Garage...I ended up at Danika's trailer, where she had just returned and YES I saw her back. Then the WAIT...we waited for her to return, to no satisfaction. But we had fun with the group of mis-fabulous that Brian had put together...we checked out all the cars, drivers and crazies. Then it was race time, 80 laps and Danika made it a good run but ultimately lost to the Penske team and Helio...boooooo. What a great day, or so we thought, we found our car and headed out...only to be stopped by HELL trafic. It took us 4 hours to get home, all I know is at one point I punched Rich sooooo hard without apology and yes we survived but it was a crunchy ride home. All the while the Van, with all are friend were leisurely drinking away and having fun. Oh yeah, you are at the Dixon Chili's and we were inching along in HELLLLLLL. Brian, it was fun but the departure has to improve. Love you K and R and PS. Rich's best memory was Mark and Mason, zonked in the back seat Snuuzzzzing after the days (food filled for Mason) day.

Another art baby released to the universe...

Its hard being an aspiring artist. But harder still is asking if others see "your vision"...and ultimately paying for that vision. This time it was all on me. I have finished the piece for my hair salon, after four months of work and I had an appointment today. I packed the piece this morning knowing what the end of the day held for me. Would the owner be there, would he be available, would he listen...would he see the vision? Armondo, owner of Salon 701, is an avid art collector, a savvy connoisseur and dare I say, daring with his art choices in the Salon. So my heart was palpitating in my throat when I walked in...he's there, check, he's available..oh the phone rang..ok now he's off the phone, ok Kris...nows the time: do or die. So I walk up and say that I had a business proposition for him and if he gave me a moment I'd be right back. I run/fly to my car and return. His attitude to me is, "what is she doing...? cold call, who is she..." mind you I've been going to this salon for two years and he helped me when my car was broken into. But I told him I created this specifically for the salon, it conveyed the feel and style of the salon and (a little butt kissing) told him I knew he knew art and could appreciate a struggling artist. Then the final nail was my expectations...I told him that all I could ask is that if anyone asked about the piece to refer me. He was cool at first but really warmed to the struggle of hanging a glass piece verses the risk of putting it on the counter, with the potential for breakage. He enjoyed seeing it in the sunlight but ultimately put it up (out of the way) right under Buddha (giant, like 4 feet high). Then I got a hug and he's not a huggy guy. So all butterflies from my belly gone and I've released my art out to the universe. Its weird, I feel the absence but also a hope for a future where I can do this for a living.

The other piece was inspired by our neighbor, Nelson. He has health issues but tries to stay on track with yoga and meditation. I gave him the piece yesterday and I think he was truly touched....let go and wish!

when I think about Rich's company party, I'm not neccesarily excited...but this year was different

There have been so many political challenges with his work over the past couple years, I was apprehensive for this years company party but we had had a dry run at one of his board members house prior to the event and knew that we really enjoyed Brian and Lisa's company and this year it would be different. They are great hosts, the kind that think of EVERYTHING and between the killah barbarque and pool...the event was set for success. Some times you have to let the work world behind you and recognize that we are all people, people who want to have fun and enjoy an event for the sake of it. And ya know what, we did...stories were told, jokes exchanged, banter and laughs all over delish BBQ and beers. And the best part after the party we stuck around to clean up and ended up sharing more stories and beers with Lisa and Brian, what great people. Ya know whats even funnier is since we have lived in Sac FOREVER you find if you talk enough you find friend overlaps that blow your socks off. Today was the perfect relaxing summer day, bbq, beers, pool time and friends...I feel like today things in life don't need to be so hard, its wonderful when its easy! ps. look at Brian and Lisa's monkeys...they climbed all over Rich in the pool....how fun! ps. Derek, I've got a question for ya....

Serindipity is Grand

Well we started Saturday very laid back reading and chilling at the home front when we got a wild hare and put on some date duds and headed out to second Saturday downtown. We walked all over doing more people watching then art appreciation,,,after not getting into a few possible dinner spots we are down by 16th and J and those who know us know we were drawn to Mikunis like moths to a flame.,,we grab a margarita and start salivating in advance of the coming yummys...Then Kris looks over and in strolls Taro looking sharp(just came from a wedding) Well Kris is practically shoving me to talk to him about the new MIKUNI sign....Well I slug a little liquid courage and dive in.. He was great and I think he really likes the one I did for TARO's,,,gives me his cell # and e-mail and is off to the reception,,,needles to say I am giddy and not sure if I blubbered. So I sent pics to him today and will call in a few days to see if he has had a chance to see them,,,,,WOOOO HOOO. After the great chow we meet up with Anna and Kelly and Cheryl at a dive bar on Folsom Bl. They were havin a few and were in good cheer. Today it was the japanese bazaar and the farmers market...Rattatouilee this week,,,maybe some homemade bread...All in all a good weekend.

Where's Rich....least thats what I've been asking...

Well He's at Mark's. He has been part of the Brain Trust in Mark's backyard adventure. We dug it out but he and Mark have valiantly worked to bring it into vision for Mark. And Edda has put her blood sweat and tears into it too but look at the results:
ps. for those that don't know Our dearest friends Sean and Lori tied the knot today-with all the 80808 luck, I'm sure they have a lifetime of love to experience and share. We couldn't be happier..ps. Lor-missed your Bday again, I really suck. LOVE YOU BOTH!

Mikuni 's sign done!

Got some some in the shop and finished the Mikuni sign,,,now to decide how to sell the idea.....

A trip to Otos and I finally tried gunkan style. Not bad for a first attempt,,next time a little smaller.

Also got Michelle's 2nd version in the kiln...will see how it turns out in the morning.

Kris tried her hand at signage by doing one for her hair salon...Should be gorgeous. Even did a bunch of yard work..Good weekend