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!!!!

Bren visit

Friday I went to the California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate park for our department's team building adventure. It was fun and the Rain Forest and aquarium are really impressive, if you can...go! They put a lot of time, effort and money into the rejuvenation!

But the best part was Brenda, my BFF was picking me up in Oakland and driving us back to Sac! Once in Sac we picked up Rich and headed to Taro's so Brenda could experience Rich's fav place in town. And a bit timid at first, and after the highly intoxicating margarita...Bren was up for the experience of SUSHI. She was brave and adventeruous...even if she didn't like the nori (seaweed) The Chefs were in feisty friday night mode and there was loads of banter between us and them....thats why we go there!!!

Then home for GUITAR HERO, now mind you Brenda and I have been playing video games together for twenty years...we are bonded in our geek-dom but the beauty of Guitar Hero is its Classic Rock tooo! So Brenda kicked ass to Heart, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Cheap Trick and more...we all have fun taking turns rockin out. shhhh, I love GH and think Bren's a convert now tooooo!

Saturday Morning, Bren and I knitted and talked to a groggy Rich...it was a longgggg night. Then off to Tower Cafe for Breakfast...nothing better in my book. We had phenomenal morning meal. Then off to R5, the one owned by the old owner of Tower Records, for old time sake...the GH revived my need for a Kansas album (yes I said album) Bren and I went to Ikea and she made it a serious haul, can wait to see her place with all her new loot! I got a flingleflaggin and shellalucch....you guys have those already, right???? Then Rumplestilskins and Babettas for much oooooooing and ahhhhhing over yarn! Bren so glad to have the visit, love to you!!! Hugs K
ps, I got one picture of us together, but it reflects our going to bed after midnight! We need to get some good pictures of us three together, deal????

Newest Glass

The front yard has had most of my waking hours and I have put these on hold...but they both turned out well and I am gonna figure out the best way to display them. the "Love symbol is for Sean and Lori to commemorate their nuptials and the other one is the LOGO of Holloway Land Co as a thank you for the Infineon Indy excursion.

focus on the possitive

ok, Lor and Bren...I can't finish one end with casting off but put the fringe on the other. What chew think??? My creative combination of two separate colors and styles...taaa daaa.

The big tree is in !!!

Well they delivered the big tree at 4PM and with a little pushin and shovin its in its new home. Gettin close to azalea planting. ran the lighting wires and was happy to see them working.... more later...phew this working till its dark is getting old...or is that me????

Two trees planted...front seating area leveled and the sandstone in place...We are getting close...

Looking Good

The pathway went in today and I love it...next we need some trees and bushes. The rain chain is cool..thanks for the idea Brian.

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.