If you swim around the lake with a bright blue bill people will notice.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
My Uncle Jim
I forgot to say. When we visited my uncle he told us to look through the house and take whatever we wanted. He told me that last year, and I dutifully looked into the china cabinet, but I knew what I wanted wasn't in there.
This year when he said the same thing I asked about Aunt Delores' cedar chest. I didn't want the chest but I wanted some letters that were inside. She had some special letters in there that she read to me when I was 16 and I spent the night at their house. It's a sweet memory of mine. I found out the cedar chest was given to my own dad, then I remembered my dad already told me he had it but I had forgotten, but Uncle Jim said that it had been emptied of its contents before my dad got it! I don't know now where those letters are that she read aloud to me. Someone got them I think, but will they love them as much as I would have?
But ever since last year, I knew what I wanted of my Uncle Jim's but I was too shy and hesitant to ask. I wanted his book of prayers. He prays. He's Catholic and a strong believer. I think he had a near-death experience once. I heard about it but have not built up the courage to ask him about it, firsthand, myself. I better hurry up on account of he's 80 going on 81 years old!
This year I did it. When he asked what I wanted I told him I knew exactly what I wanted and that it wasn't in the china cabinet. I told him I wanted the white book of epistles he had when Aunt Delores passed on and we were at her funeral. Well, I have a pretty poor memory. It's not a book of epistles and it ain't white. I'm such a ditz. But he knew what I was talking about. He has a thoroughly well worn book of prayers that Aunt Delores gave him in 1951. He said, okay, I could have it, but just not yet. Haha! Of course not yet (insert uncomfortable Liliana here). He reads it a lot you know. Then I said, because I'm thinking ahead, "Uncle Jim, how will I get it when you're gone because someone else will take it and not know you said it's for me." And he said, "How about if I write inside of it that it's for you?" I said that would work. That would be good. I love my Uncle Jim. I love him more than I ever thought I did. He's a good guy. He's always been funny and a joke teller. Once I asked Aunt Delores why she didn't laugh at Uncle Jim's jokes because I thought he was hilarious, and she said because she already knew all his jokes by heart. Haha! I imagine she did. Now I understand, since I'm married 22 years and she was married for fifty.
Uncle Jim called me 'hon' last time we visited. He's never done that before. He said the years between 47 (my age) and 80 pass very, very quickly. I was trying to sound worldly and I said, "Oh yeah?" He said, "Hon, I know it does."
I'll be mighty lucky if I ever see 80. Mighty lucky.
This year when he said the same thing I asked about Aunt Delores' cedar chest. I didn't want the chest but I wanted some letters that were inside. She had some special letters in there that she read to me when I was 16 and I spent the night at their house. It's a sweet memory of mine. I found out the cedar chest was given to my own dad, then I remembered my dad already told me he had it but I had forgotten, but Uncle Jim said that it had been emptied of its contents before my dad got it! I don't know now where those letters are that she read aloud to me. Someone got them I think, but will they love them as much as I would have?
But ever since last year, I knew what I wanted of my Uncle Jim's but I was too shy and hesitant to ask. I wanted his book of prayers. He prays. He's Catholic and a strong believer. I think he had a near-death experience once. I heard about it but have not built up the courage to ask him about it, firsthand, myself. I better hurry up on account of he's 80 going on 81 years old!
This year I did it. When he asked what I wanted I told him I knew exactly what I wanted and that it wasn't in the china cabinet. I told him I wanted the white book of epistles he had when Aunt Delores passed on and we were at her funeral. Well, I have a pretty poor memory. It's not a book of epistles and it ain't white. I'm such a ditz. But he knew what I was talking about. He has a thoroughly well worn book of prayers that Aunt Delores gave him in 1951. He said, okay, I could have it, but just not yet. Haha! Of course not yet (insert uncomfortable Liliana here). He reads it a lot you know. Then I said, because I'm thinking ahead, "Uncle Jim, how will I get it when you're gone because someone else will take it and not know you said it's for me." And he said, "How about if I write inside of it that it's for you?" I said that would work. That would be good. I love my Uncle Jim. I love him more than I ever thought I did. He's a good guy. He's always been funny and a joke teller. Once I asked Aunt Delores why she didn't laugh at Uncle Jim's jokes because I thought he was hilarious, and she said because she already knew all his jokes by heart. Haha! I imagine she did. Now I understand, since I'm married 22 years and she was married for fifty.
Uncle Jim called me 'hon' last time we visited. He's never done that before. He said the years between 47 (my age) and 80 pass very, very quickly. I was trying to sound worldly and I said, "Oh yeah?" He said, "Hon, I know it does."
I'll be mighty lucky if I ever see 80. Mighty lucky.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
A paddle boat ride
The lady told us to take a yellow one because it stays a little cooler than the dark colored ones, so we took the yellow one on the left. It was a fun ride after the skipper and his mate quit arquing about who's steering and who's paddling (that's my sixty-five year old husband and nine year old son). Heh.
Looks like a tropical island, eh? It's smack dab in the middle of a highly urbanized area. Within five minutes from here you'll find every store you'll ever need for your whole life.
Snowy Egret
He's a heron and herons are all wading birds - like storks, eh. I guess the herons are all bascially a family. He's not a Great White Egret which is a basically an all white feathered Great Blue Heron. He's smaller than a Great Egret (aka Great White Egret) and has yellow feet. Those yellow feet are how you tell he's a Snowy Egret, plus he's smaller than a Great Egret. Got it? Well I looked it up so we can know what we're looking at.
Great Blue Heron
On the edge of a dock very intent on what's in the water. He's looking for dinner as we're paddling by.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Picked up somewhere on the Web
Yesterday, I killed my son's joy.....in the victory of his team. I complained about his dirty clothes, torn at the seam.
The day before I killed my daughter's pride in the dress she'd made. I pointed out its faults, then added faint praise.
One day, I killed a friendship ....turning affection to hate. I misunderstood, that's all.........but it was too late.
I killed my spouse's love...not with a mighty blow. It died, bit by bit, year by year...so slow. Tonight I saw the light of love die slowly in her look, when she reached toward me with her hand, and I picked up ....a book.
~Author unknown at this time
The day before I killed my daughter's pride in the dress she'd made. I pointed out its faults, then added faint praise.
One day, I killed a friendship ....turning affection to hate. I misunderstood, that's all.........but it was too late.
I killed my spouse's love...not with a mighty blow. It died, bit by bit, year by year...so slow. Tonight I saw the light of love die slowly in her look, when she reached toward me with her hand, and I picked up ....a book.
~Author unknown at this time
Thursday, March 29, 2007
A bird
I don't know what kind but it has a beautiful yellow tummy, which is what caught my eye, and he must be in the flycatcher family because he was catching insects in flight. I took this through our kitchen window.
I drove by myself in San Diego today. Drove by some of my old digs too, but not on purpose. I was going to a bellydance class. Couldn't find it. Ninety minutes later, came back mad. The class location is only 12 miles away. Duh. Took a walk to try to feel better. Finally, I ate some dinner and chilled and I felt little better. I was perspiring, man. It's scary driving by yourself in the city when you're afraid you'll get lost. There are lots of freeways here. Anywho, I'll have my husband show me how to get there once and then I can do it by myself. He offered to take me when I got home but I was a wreck by then. And we had meatloaf for dinner and I ate it late and you can't dance with meatloaf sitting in your stomach.
Washed my hair and shaved my legs and everything and I ended up staying home.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Marrakesh Express 1969
This morning I awoke to "Marrakesh Express" by Crosby, Stills & Nash playing in my mind. Why did I think of that song? I didn't even know the name of the group until 1987. I remember it was 1987 because a girl a few years older than I in my ballet class blathered on and on about how great Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young were and I felt inadequate because I had no clue who she was talking about. Later I figured out a couple songs they had done, then I knew who they were. Another girl, this one about twelve years my junior, was crazy about Barry Manilow. Puh-leeese.
We had kielbasa, fried potatoes with onion, and steamed broccoli tonight. It's one of our favorite dinners. The first time I ate this meal was when my husband was in a car accident and a neighbor brought some plates of food to us. I looked at it and figured I'd never eat it because I didn't even know what it was. I'd never eaten kielbasa before. For two days I cleaned the house. Usually I only clean like that when my sister comes over and she came over twice in ten years. For some reason I was a cleaning tornado while my husband was in the hospital though. And I got so hungry on the second day that I ate a plate of that food she brought us and it was the most delicious meal I'd ever had. She had a husband and four kids and she thought to bring me three plates of food.
Speaking of housekeeping, yesterday I got the funniest email from an old high school acquaintance, Collette. She invited me over to her house and she wrote "I never clean house so come over anytime." Haha! I love it. She was a beauty queen in the '70s. She had blonde brown hair and an outgoing personality and a big brother who was very handsome. Once I got to go to the river with her and a group of friends and it was one of the best times I ever had. We floated down the river in inner tubes and got deep, dark tans. I remember combing my wet hair out while I sat on a picnic table in the hot, hot sun. I was thinking to myself how great I looked with my beginning of summer, deep, dark tan. About five of us girls slept overnight on a dock and we giggled and talked until we all drifted off to sleep. I wish I could relive that time. It was delicious. If you could save time in a bottle I would stuff those two days in there.
We had kielbasa, fried potatoes with onion, and steamed broccoli tonight. It's one of our favorite dinners. The first time I ate this meal was when my husband was in a car accident and a neighbor brought some plates of food to us. I looked at it and figured I'd never eat it because I didn't even know what it was. I'd never eaten kielbasa before. For two days I cleaned the house. Usually I only clean like that when my sister comes over and she came over twice in ten years. For some reason I was a cleaning tornado while my husband was in the hospital though. And I got so hungry on the second day that I ate a plate of that food she brought us and it was the most delicious meal I'd ever had. She had a husband and four kids and she thought to bring me three plates of food.
Speaking of housekeeping, yesterday I got the funniest email from an old high school acquaintance, Collette. She invited me over to her house and she wrote "I never clean house so come over anytime." Haha! I love it. She was a beauty queen in the '70s. She had blonde brown hair and an outgoing personality and a big brother who was very handsome. Once I got to go to the river with her and a group of friends and it was one of the best times I ever had. We floated down the river in inner tubes and got deep, dark tans. I remember combing my wet hair out while I sat on a picnic table in the hot, hot sun. I was thinking to myself how great I looked with my beginning of summer, deep, dark tan. About five of us girls slept overnight on a dock and we giggled and talked until we all drifted off to sleep. I wish I could relive that time. It was delicious. If you could save time in a bottle I would stuff those two days in there.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The wedding gift (is selected!)
I finally did it. Well, I've finally almost done it. I chose a wedding gift for our son and his fiancé. I came up with the idea a few months ago and I was thrilled when my husband gave me the OK. Truthfully, it's not that original of an idea. It's the same gift my dad gave to us when my husband and I were married and I remember how I felt when we received ours. I hope to give the same feeling to our son and his fiancé.
I shopped online. I compared prices. I can get it shipped at no charge (yay, because it weighs 183 pounds) and if I order it outside California I pay no state taxes. That's a very good savings. I did go to the very tip top of my planned spending limit. Well, I went $73.00 over the top of my spending limit. It's well worth it though. The wedding date is April 21st. I still don't have a dress. In fact I dread getting a dress (it's growing worser in my mind). I'm such a cotton person. I simply cannot wear a mall dress. Is brocade cotton? Maybe I can find a quiet but classy brocade and sew a dress. Geez.
I chose for them a beautiful cherrywood finished Howard Miller grandfather clock! I chose this one because I like the mirror on the back panel. It reflects so much more light and highlights the pendulum. The case is also illuminated. It should make an awesome nightlight, huh?! I absolutely love the Westminster melody. It makes me miss our own clock a bit, but grandfather clocks and trailers don't go together. After they receive it they can order a small brass plate engraved with their names and a date. Really, it was hard to choose a clock because so many are so beautiful.
Howard Miller 610-904 Glenmour
My husband makes all beautiful things in my life possible. I love him so much, I squeeze my eyes shut and I imagine life without him and I cry!
I shopped online. I compared prices. I can get it shipped at no charge (yay, because it weighs 183 pounds) and if I order it outside California I pay no state taxes. That's a very good savings. I did go to the very tip top of my planned spending limit. Well, I went $73.00 over the top of my spending limit. It's well worth it though. The wedding date is April 21st. I still don't have a dress. In fact I dread getting a dress (it's growing worser in my mind). I'm such a cotton person. I simply cannot wear a mall dress. Is brocade cotton? Maybe I can find a quiet but classy brocade and sew a dress. Geez.
I chose for them a beautiful cherrywood finished Howard Miller grandfather clock! I chose this one because I like the mirror on the back panel. It reflects so much more light and highlights the pendulum. The case is also illuminated. It should make an awesome nightlight, huh?! I absolutely love the Westminster melody. It makes me miss our own clock a bit, but grandfather clocks and trailers don't go together. After they receive it they can order a small brass plate engraved with their names and a date. Really, it was hard to choose a clock because so many are so beautiful.
Howard Miller 610-904 Glenmour
My husband makes all beautiful things in my life possible. I love him so much, I squeeze my eyes shut and I imagine life without him and I cry!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Tylenol for me
Ooosh, this headache has been dogging me all day. I just took a couple Tylenol PMs. They should fix me up.
We're in our new digs in Southern California. Shazaam. Have to go visiting tomorrow. Hope it goes nicely.
The weather is marvelous. I'm full of anticipation. Wore my hair in a braided oval bun today.
Our truck pulled the trailer up the BIG hill super well today. Last year it scared us because truckie was working so hard and we were chugging along at about 30mph. We had a Banks Exhaust System installed after that. This year, truckie ate up that ten mile incline. It's a blessing it is. I was worried about the weight and whether our Ford 250 could pull it well. She came through with flying colors. Husband also learned since last year that keeping the truck at 2800 rpms keeps her running uphill well. Go over 3000 rpms for an extended length of time and she'll overheat. You never want that!
Our washing machine is broken. Husband is going to get that fixed tomorrow hopefully. We have one of those Splendide washer-and-dryer-in-one machines. They're made in Italy. It takes a tiny load but if we have full hook-ups we can do a load or two a day and keep up.
My brain hurts. Oh yeah, we have zoomin' broadband DSL here. It comes with the site!
We're in our new digs in Southern California. Shazaam. Have to go visiting tomorrow. Hope it goes nicely.
The weather is marvelous. I'm full of anticipation. Wore my hair in a braided oval bun today.
Our truck pulled the trailer up the BIG hill super well today. Last year it scared us because truckie was working so hard and we were chugging along at about 30mph. We had a Banks Exhaust System installed after that. This year, truckie ate up that ten mile incline. It's a blessing it is. I was worried about the weight and whether our Ford 250 could pull it well. She came through with flying colors. Husband also learned since last year that keeping the truck at 2800 rpms keeps her running uphill well. Go over 3000 rpms for an extended length of time and she'll overheat. You never want that!
Our washing machine is broken. Husband is going to get that fixed tomorrow hopefully. We have one of those Splendide washer-and-dryer-in-one machines. They're made in Italy. It takes a tiny load but if we have full hook-ups we can do a load or two a day and keep up.
My brain hurts. Oh yeah, we have zoomin' broadband DSL here. It comes with the site!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
She with grey hair
Today we went out in the desert to take pictures of me with the ocotillo. We didn't have to go far. I wanted a 2007 hair photo too, but alas, I wore a dark brown vest and my hair blended in with it so the hair didn't make much of a showing. It showed up fine in the bathroom mirror but it blended in from a distance outside. However, the cleavage showed up more than expected and those who visited earlier may notice I had second thoughts and took that photo down. Yes, I uploaded it then later when I looked at it I was struck by a case of indecision. Not that I'm against cleavage mind you. No, I'm very much a proponent of cleavage, but this was just a little too much for today. Finally I decided to go with the jewelry rule. If you feel like it might be a little too much jewelry, then take it off. If you feel the girls might be a little too exposed, then probably they are. My husband likes the cleavage though.
We went to a campfire talk tonight that was absolutely the worst we've ever seen. The ranger was a nice gal but she went through an exercise of having the audience guess the official state symbols such as the official state grass, official state dance, official state rock, official state mineral, official state marine mammal, official state marine fish, official state insect, official state prehistoric artifact (I kid you not). We've been to a lot of campfire talks and I'm being straight up, this one at Borrego Springs State Park was the worst. And we stayed for the whole thing. I didn't think it could get any worse so I stayed in my seat expecting improvement. After 40 minutes of 'name the state poet laureate' she did a slideshow. Need I say more.
Well I don't know where the week went. We're leaving tomorrow and I've enjoyed it here so much. Would have liked to see a bighorn sheep, but you have to be pretty lucky for one of those, huh.
About 36.5
Approximately two more inches and I'll reach the length that I was when I was about 30 years old. Then! I shall endeavor to experience length beyond. I think.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Today
Big rainstorm in the California desert today. Well, big for California. In California, 30% chance in the forecast normally means not bloody likely, but it rained today a lot. Desert rain!
I put out birdseed and there are mourning doves and sparrows. The sparrows are cute and not the usual ones I often see. These are White-crowned Sparrows. Quite cute methinks. At night we hear the songs of lots of coyotes. There's a fairly large pack out there sounds like.
The ocotillo are in full bloom but there are no other wildflowers as of yet unless you count the creosote. Creosote doesn't really count though. Ocotillo are one of my favorite plants. I have a snapshot of me from about 1988 in front of a blooming ocotillo. I'm going to have my husband take a picture of me in front of one here. Today we planned to do it but it turned cloudy then rained. Tomorrow is supposed be 80 degrees. I forgot to say that on Monday it was in the nineties and a helicopter, and ambulance and a firetruck were here to airlift a hiker. I don't know any facts, I make them up as I go along, but there's a trail right behind us and I'm sure a hiker got overheated or something. It's not hard to do up there with the sun beating on your head. We hiked it on Tuesday and we had perfect cloudy weather, not hot. We were so lucky! I'll write more about the hike next week.
My upper back is sore. My lower back is usually problematic, not upper. That's weird. But I think I must have been leaning in to my computer screen peering too hard last night which caused this. I made a siggie for a friend and I'm waiting to hear back if she picks one. I could happily spend all day at my computer. Oh wait, I do do that. lol! Not really, just kinda.
I'm writing about all minor things which happily distract me because I will see family in April and April is very close.
Oh, I screamed the other day. And much more loudly than the time I dropped my wash cloth on the floor at the campground showers. This time I almost dropped my wedding ring down the heating duct in the trailer. You'd think it could be retrieved but I have an earring down there that I've begged the men to get out for me. They tried but the ducting does something which makes it not easy to take apart and get to something. If I'm saying 'something' a lot it's because I have no clue how these mechanical parts are fitted together, but I saw them take it part ways apart and my earring was nowhere to be seen in the first three feet of ducting. It's a mystery.
I end with a song, popular at our house today. As a homeschool mother I want to ensure that my child is not robbed of any of the best experiences of the school experience so I taught him this ditty I learned in fourth grade.
There goes (fill in with name of beloved family or very good friend) floating down the Delaware
Chewing on his underwear
Can't afford another pair
Ten days later...
Eatin' by a polar bear
Ain't that a shame?
NO IT AIN'T! (To be yelled by all humans present, in unison, at the top of your lungs.)
I put out birdseed and there are mourning doves and sparrows. The sparrows are cute and not the usual ones I often see. These are White-crowned Sparrows. Quite cute methinks. At night we hear the songs of lots of coyotes. There's a fairly large pack out there sounds like.
The ocotillo are in full bloom but there are no other wildflowers as of yet unless you count the creosote. Creosote doesn't really count though. Ocotillo are one of my favorite plants. I have a snapshot of me from about 1988 in front of a blooming ocotillo. I'm going to have my husband take a picture of me in front of one here. Today we planned to do it but it turned cloudy then rained. Tomorrow is supposed be 80 degrees. I forgot to say that on Monday it was in the nineties and a helicopter, and ambulance and a firetruck were here to airlift a hiker. I don't know any facts, I make them up as I go along, but there's a trail right behind us and I'm sure a hiker got overheated or something. It's not hard to do up there with the sun beating on your head. We hiked it on Tuesday and we had perfect cloudy weather, not hot. We were so lucky! I'll write more about the hike next week.
My upper back is sore. My lower back is usually problematic, not upper. That's weird. But I think I must have been leaning in to my computer screen peering too hard last night which caused this. I made a siggie for a friend and I'm waiting to hear back if she picks one. I could happily spend all day at my computer. Oh wait, I do do that. lol! Not really, just kinda.
I'm writing about all minor things which happily distract me because I will see family in April and April is very close.
Oh, I screamed the other day. And much more loudly than the time I dropped my wash cloth on the floor at the campground showers. This time I almost dropped my wedding ring down the heating duct in the trailer. You'd think it could be retrieved but I have an earring down there that I've begged the men to get out for me. They tried but the ducting does something which makes it not easy to take apart and get to something. If I'm saying 'something' a lot it's because I have no clue how these mechanical parts are fitted together, but I saw them take it part ways apart and my earring was nowhere to be seen in the first three feet of ducting. It's a mystery.
I end with a song, popular at our house today. As a homeschool mother I want to ensure that my child is not robbed of any of the best experiences of the school experience so I taught him this ditty I learned in fourth grade.
There goes (fill in with name of beloved family or very good friend) floating down the Delaware
Chewing on his underwear
Can't afford another pair
Ten days later...
Eatin' by a polar bear
Ain't that a shame?
NO IT AIN'T! (To be yelled by all humans present, in unison, at the top of your lungs.)
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
A drive to the ranch
New Mexico backroads.
The following photos are from March 6th when we went out for the day to see a friend's ranch.
Outside shed
The front of the shed was used as a backdrop for a model who posed for a glossy magazine. It was a gorgeous photo. The wood looked so rich in spite of it being so old!
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