30,000 ft with John Cougar Mellencamp....

It was back to the Boardroom this week in Chicago.....I wish I knew how many times I have been to Chicago....it started when I was working for a record company in 1977 and then for CBS in 1980 - we would go and be on the Phil Donahue show those were fun and exciting trips... then into the insurance business and trip after trip after trip....but good for me I love Chicago.....I love everything about Chicago....

 Except - I don't love going to planning sessions and board meetings and that stuff....I am more of a free spirit/non-corporate kind of person.....when preparing I need to go to My Happy Place and that is Music....I mean, I respect authority, but I fight authority....hence, my ipod travel buddy is always John Cougar Mellencamp....

Oh, they like to get you in a compromising position

They like to get you there and smile in your face

Well, they think they're so cute when they got you in that condition

Well I think it's a total disgrace

And I said:

CHORUS:

I fight authority, Authority always wins

Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins

Well, I've been doing it since I was a young kid

I come out grinnin'

Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins

 I was lucky enough in the CBS days to visit often while we were working on a mini series and really meet and stay near people that lived in old brick row houses, went to the local places, was accepted into their homes and their families and their community and felt like I  was part of that town.....

Well I was born in a small town

And I live in a small town

Prob'ly die in a small town

Oh, those small - communities

All my friends are so small town

My parents live in a same small town

My job is so small town

Provides little opportunity, hey!

Educated in a small town

Taught to fear Jesus in a small town

Used to daydream in that small town

Another born romantic that's me

But I've seen it all in a small town

Had myself a ball in a small town

Married an L.A. doll and brought her to this small town

Now she's small town just like me

No I cannot forget where it is that I come from

I cannot forget the people who love me

Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town

And people let me be just what I want to be

Got nothing against a big town

Still hayseed enough to say

Look who's in the big town

But my bed is in a small town

Oh, that's good enough for me

 Over the years and all the work I have done, I often wonder does it make a difference....the meetings, the stress, the time away from home - is this all I have learned about happiness?....check it out

A million young poets

Screamin' out their words

To a world full of people

Just livin' to be heard

Future generations

Ridin' on the highways that we built

I hope they have a better understanding

Check it out

Goin' to work on Monday

Check it out

Got yourself a family

Check it out

All utility bills have been paid

You can't tell your best buddy that you love him

So check it out

Where does our time go

Check it out

Got a brand new house in escrow

Check it out

Sleepin' with your back to your loved one

This is all that we've learned about happiness

Check it out

Forgot to say hello to my neighbors

Check it out

Sometimes I question my own behavior

Check it out

Talkin' about the girls that we've seen on the sly

Just to tell our souls we're still the young lions

So check it out

Gettin' too drunk on Saturdays

Check it out

Playin' football with the kids on Sundays

Check it out

Soarin' with the eagles all week long

And this is all that we've learned about living

This is all that we've learned about living

A million young poets

Screamin' out their words

Maybe someday

Those words will be heard

By future generations

Ridin' on the highways that we built

Maybe they'll have a better understanding

Check it out

Hope they'll have a better understanding

Check it out

Maybe they'll have a better understanding

Check it out

Maybe they'll have a better understanding

Check it out

Hope they have a better understanding

Check it out.....

 I love old town  Chicago and got to spend a 1/2 day there before the meetings started....my fave is Marshall Fields (yes, Macy's bought it but I will never call it anything else...)  I have been going there since I was 28 and life was different then...Marshall Fields is the Cherry Bomb in my soundtrack

Well I lived on the outskirts of town

In an eight room farmhouse, baby

When my brothers and friends were around

There was always somethin' doin'

Had me a couple of real nice girlfriends

Stopped by to see me every once in a while

When I think back about those days

All I can do is sit and smile

Chorus

That's when a sport was a sport

And groovin' was groovin'

And dancin' meant everything

We were young and we were improvin'

Laughin', laughin' with our friends

Holdin' hands meant somethin', baby

Outside the club"Cherry Bomb"

Our hearts were really thumpin'

Say yeah yeah yeah

Say yeah yeah yeah

The winter days they last forever

But the weekends went by so quick

Went ridin' around this little country town

We were goin' nuts, girl, out in the sticks

One night, me with my big mouth

A couple guys had to put me in my place

When I see those guys these days

We just laugh and say do you remember when

Chorus

Say yeah yeah yeah 

Say yeah yeah yeah

Seventeen has turned thirty-five

I'm surprised that we're still livin'

If we've done any wrong

I hope that we're forgiven

Got a few kids of my own

And some days I still don't know what to do

I hope that they're not laughing too loud

When they hear me talkin'

Like this to you

 Browsing around by myself I am never afraid....the folks at Garretts Popcorn are friendly...

 However, when you eat alone, it is a bit lonely.....

 She calls me up and says baby it's a lonely ol' night

I don't know I'm just so scared and lonely all at the same time

Nobody told us it was gonna work out this way

No, no, no, no, no

I guess they knew we'd work it out in our own way

It's a lonely ol' night

Can I put my arms around you

It's a lonely ol' night

Custom made for two lonely people like me and you

Radio playing softly some singer's sad sad song

He's singing about standing in the shadows of love

I guess he feels awfully alone

She says I know exactly what he means

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

And it's a sad, sad feeling when you're living on

Those in-betweens

But it's okay

It's a lonely ol' night

Can I put my arms around you

It's a lonely ol' night

Custom made for two lonely people like me and you

She calls me Baby She calls everybody Baby

It's a lonely ol' night but ain't they all

It's a lonely ol' night

Can I put my arms around you

It's a lonely ol' night

Custom made for two lonely people like me and you 

So Thank  you JMC for getting me through that week.....I never ever want another one like that.  Life is disappointing sometimes....like when I went to see you in person and you were sick....you tried to croak it out but it just wasn't the same.....Thank God for your soundtracks - and thanks for the Jacque Wilson shout out!  You Rock!

They come from the cities

And they come from the smaller towns

Beat up cars with guitars and drummers

Goin crack boom bam

Chorus

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., Yeah, Yeah!

Rockin' in the U.S.A.

Said goodbye to their families

Said goodbye to their friends

With pipe dreams in their heads

And very little money in their hands

Some are black and some are white

Ain't to proud to sleep on the floor tonight



With the blind faith of Jesus you know that they just might, be

Rockin' in the U.S.A.

Hey!

Voices from nowhere

And voices from the larger towns

Filled our head full of dreams

Turned the world upside down

There was Frankie Lyman-Bobby Fuller-Mitch Ryder

(They were Rockin')

Jackie Wilson-Shangra-las-Young Rascals

(They were Rockin')

Spotlight on Martha Reeves

Let's don't forget James Brown

Rockin' in the U.S.A.

Rockin' in the U.S.A.

Hey!

 

Forcing Fall ~~ Fall is Stalled ~~ Fall Baseball Game Ball

I love Fall.....I long for Fall....I look for signs of Fall and try to force Fall, but Fall is Stalled.....our days are hot and long and in the 90's and Santa Ana winds.....we are teased by signs but it is just not coming....

The fall birds are starting to arrive at the fountain and the bird feeder....like a little homecoming every year....the fall birds have much more color and we even had Blue Jays this week!

And because Palm Trees and Coral Trees don't change colors, I obsessed in redoing my apothecaries in my garden window to bring in the Fall colors -( I am not proud of this...I feel like I have a behavior that people whisper about....'Did you hear?  She is obsessed with trivial things).....hard to see in this picture however I went and got glass scatters (shapes of acorns, pumpkins, fall leaves) in all the colors of the stained glass window, which are also Fall colors....I literally went to the store 5x and switched out the different colors in the different jars and mixed some and sorted and swapped...it took days I tell ya!.....it is like once I get focused on something I can't let it go until it is just the way I want it....I know no one notices but me and it is no wonder I drive some of my family and friends crazy with my  OCD tendencies....but recognizing you have the problem is the  first step right (or the nay sayer's can bite me)

 Steve was suppose to be in Switzerland all week, however at the last minute his plans changed and he  had to stay home and work 14 hr days so I got to have some of the chick menus I had planned....you know not the standard meat and potatoe meals and lovin me some girlie dishes like asparagus and shrimp....

 ....and I love quinoa and sundried tomatoes.....Steve would not consider these dinners so I try to plan them when he is busy doing something else....

In the worlds tiniest kitchen which is located in my house I have the worlds tinest food pantry - in fact it is not a pantry - it is a cupboard....I can't stand it crammed with bags and boxes so I have to put everything in containers we can see through.....

 We put in some pull out shelves which make the access a bit easier, however this is the only food storage I have....except what I store outside or under the stairs (and then forget about until the date expires) I do a major clean out every spring and Fall  .....

 I found a bunch of these cute owl candle holders which I needed for some hostess gifts....I wrapped them in cellophane with some of the glass scatters and thought they looked pretty cute...

 I kept one and put on one of the end tables with some of the glass scatters....

 One of my dear friends knew I was sad with Adam's move and invited me out to spend time with her and enjoy a wonderful dinner downtown at Arrivederci's.  (I crack up every time I hear that name as it reminds me of one of my favorite I Love Lucy shows)  It was a nice night and we walked and walked down all the streets of Hillcrest and ate outside on the patio....

 Yummy Gorgonzola Chicken Salad and fresh bread, white Pinot Grigio....Thank you so much Mary Ann - it was the lift I needed xoxoxoxo

 Our sweet boys came over Saturday night for sleepover in stead of our usual Friday - they had other plans Friday.  They were so excited to bring over their new tackle boxes - I just love it that these boys love to fish....I wish I had more time off and could take them anytime they wanted.

 And Sunday morning they suited up in their Athletics Uniforms for Fall Ball.  Fall Ball when the weather is in the 90's - say what?  (Yes, Adam - that is your Fire  Engine book that you loved and treasured when  you were 2....I know what your saying...'My Mom is an Organized Hoarder'.....truth hurts....)

 The boys could play on the same team due to their ages, however, Kristen and Brian wisely chose to move Dylan up to Rookies - which is great for his abilities, hoever means two games at different times and sometimes on different fields...but we will help as much as we can.....lucky for us they played at the same field this week.  On Field 1 - Brody on the Athletics tball - so cute and so proud when he hits and fields and loves for everyone to cheer for him.....
Brody makes a hit.....

 Brody fields playing 1st base.....

 Brody on the mound playing pitcher....

 On Field 2, Dylan on the Athletics in Rookie ball....his first time playing with a pitching machine and the youngest on the team....

 3 for 3 at bat; 2 RBI's....

 Sliding safe into 3rd....

 And presented with THE GAME BALL for his stats and fielding....

Ok, Fall....you can stall.....the weather can stay in the 90's as long as we have days like this!

Courage ~ Faith ~ Perseverance ~~~An Uncanny Parallel in Life

I have often written that Dylan is Adam's clone/mini me....and it is not just me who thinks this...it is everyone who knew Adam as a baby and knows Dylan (my mom, sister, all of us, friends, etc).  Not only in his physical appearance, in his disposition as well - not always sure of himself, a bit afraid to put himself out there, wanting it to be perfect and not fail, anxious to make changes.....

When I worked at CBS when Adam was 3 he was my little buddy who came with me to work some days as I ran around delivering the writers scripts (back in the day before email and pdf) and we would sit at the daily read (which is the painful process while all the stars and directors would change and tear apart the words and the scenes and explain that the writers were out of touch with real life and how things happen)....after a long drawn out emotional and painful process, everything came together and the show went on and was wonderful....

Having said that, I have always known that life is greater than any person can imagine or script writer or any planned activity and that if you just observe life it is the most incredible story/show/movie/entertainment ever imaginable and the greatest of all lessons (faith)....maybe that is why I love reality tv....but I digress

Here is Dylan playing with Uncle Adam's Micro Machines that I kept for years...it is like a time warp watching him hold the same toys that were so loved and played with so long ago....

 So this week was the goodbye week for Adam and Shannie as they make the big move to Arizona.  This move has been planned for YEARS and so many obstacles had to be overcome....it took Courage, Faith and Perseverance to make it happen - against odds that would have defeated many (and did slow them down for years) but it came together and happened - it really happened and that was reason to celebrate their goodbye.....

A toast to the beginning of the next exciting chapter in their life.....

 and some yummy firecracker shrimp appetizers!

 Steve and I wanted to take them to our favorite family celebration restaurant - Peohe's in Coronado....this is the view from the outside patio...looking back on the beautiful San Diego Skyline....also you can see the hotel they got married in and their downtown loft in this picture....

Steve and I were honored to give them a generous check (like we did for Kristen and Brian) to help line their new little nest in Phoenix....they were most appreciative and they more than deserve it....

 We had our favorites.....if you ever go to Peohe's, have their lobster bisque....yummy....just look at all that lobster in it!

 Adam and I went for their Prime Rib....wowser - I had enough left over to make 2 sandwiches the next day!

Shannie and Steve went seafood....Steve the Coconut Shrimp; Shannie the Talapia

 ....and you must have their No Ka Oi (macadamia ice cream pie)

 So fun to celebrate this beautiful night together.....

 ....and the smiles on their beautiful faces say it all....

 And an opportunity to squeeze in one last goodbye....an early morning breakfast at Richard Walkers on moving day....

 So many choices....we got the Southern Pecan Pancakes and Banana Macadamia Pancakes and shared....

 But too soon the celebrating was over and the moving van was loaded and it made a stop at our place to pick up a few final things.....Uncle Adam had lots of help!

 And then the car got loaded.....

 And THIS PICTURE is the one that will always stick in my mind....note Adam climbing out of his wheels and Dylan to the left riding his bike with his training wheels that he refused to let go of....for weeks we knew he did not need them but he did not have the courage to let go, to preserve to have the faith that he could do it....

 So tears, hugs, confessions of love and the promise to see each other often - off you go....off you go....

 I just could not stay home....I felt antsy, unsettled - caged.  To the Park I say!  So we loaded up the bikes and boys and Kristen and off to the park....where....a little boy (man) had the courage, had the faith and persevered and off those training wheels came and off...off you go...off you go....

 I teased Kristen that both our sons had big 'Rites of Passage' days....now how could you script that - how can anything be more symbolic or a tribute to our human spirit to have the courage, have the faith and perserve and make it happen.....(are you listening Romney?)   So So Proud of these two identical souls....

 However, the day grew long and the little riders grew tired and left and I was still antsy....what do I do when I am struggling or need to think.....organize!  Off to Container Store!

 I love scarves....I don't have the flair my sister does for wearing them, but I am a wanna be.  I have scarves from all over the world from our travels, but I never was happy with where I kept them.  I tried folding, I tried drawers,  I tried storage bins.....

 So I took a plain wooden hanger and some clear shower curtain rings....

 Clipped the rings on the hanger

 And Voila!  A great and easy way for me to see my scarves and easily access...

 Still fidgety (is that a word?) so I decided to make some hostess gifts for some plans we have in October....took my trusty E6000, some square glass containers and a clear candlestick....

 Glue Glue Glue....Dry Dry Dry

 Then I glued on some large Rick Rack across the brown (unibrow anyone?) and some google eyes and cut out a mouth out of felt and then tied some fuzzy ribbon on the base....

 ....and presenting my little monsters.  Prior to the parties I will fill them with green m&m's or green jelly bellys, but for now the green tissue paper shows the final effect....

 Then I spruced up my owl with a fall festive wreath....does not look so stark...sometimes less is not more....

 And my clock that always read 12:30 and made me burst in song?

 Combined with my inspiration in Paris.....(which no way could I get it home or even pay for it)

 Was recreated thanks to Kristens trip to HomeGoods....and I added my sign that says IMAGINE out of license plates from different states....

Because I could not imagine being happier for Adam and Dylan.....but still sad for me, but it like being back at the reading table....is a process...a long painful process that will turn out wonderful....