Recently someone said to me....'you have a lot going on'....and that is not the first time I have heard that, but doesn't everyone have a lot going on and isn't that how life is? Steve and I refer to our house as Casa de Chaos in a comical way...however after all these comments I am thinking maybe it is not normal....or the new normal or abnormal to others and normal to us?
For our own edification, we recapped what we have going on right now that is other than the routine of work, keeping the house and cars going, grocery shopping and the regular day to day.....
- Steve still undergoing neuro tests, still having some health 'episodes', 2nd of 3rd MRI's will be next week. Neurologist (which took us 7 weeks to get in to see) told us he is quitting due to ObamaCare...ugh...don't get me started....
- Condo # 2 under complete refurb, around 19k worth of work, both insurance companies fighting, renter in rehab....draining
- Taxes in process, audit recap....lots of questions on tax changes, next appt 4/1
- Finalizing insurance claim on Stove Fire and lingering red tape
- Financial care, support and assistance to my mom
- My job situation and things that I can't write about in my blog (but a friend of mine that is a Hollywood Screen Writer is working on the story - really!)
- Dealing with Adam's move to Phx....still have not been to see his new house :(
- Girlfriends that are in stress, ill and having scary surgeries
- General unrest in the external fam bam
- Retirement planning....it is true what they say, you cannot start early enough
- Trying to simply our lives and downsize (but I keep dragging home treasurers and clothes!)
- Refi on Condo #3 and all the hassles on that....I mean don't they do this thousands of times a month and why is is so hard to put all this together - we are not unique
- Still trying to get resolve from City of SD on their water leak and how we paid for it on our bill :(
- Notice from Condo #1 HOA to remove the Hummingbird habitat our renter put up....I mean really, doesn't the HOA have something better to do that pick on a refuge for Hummingbirds?
- Working on our spiritual calling and our volunteering....a constant work in progress that is like riding a rollercoaster!
We quit the list at this point.....not sure if we feel better or worse or what we feel. So maybe our friends observations are correct or maybe it is life nowdays for everyone and I am sure some have way more than that going on.....whatever....it really doesn't make any difference....our focus is to be grateful and be in the moment and don't let the distractions remove our focus from the pleasure of every day life and the beauty in all things.....
And speaking of things......here is a Blitz Blog catch up for the past 2 weeks....
Kristen and my niece Amy worked on making some Jedi Robes for the boys birthday party....I did a test one a few weeks ago and Kristen calculated she needed 30....the bolts of fabric rolled in but in an amazing stoke of genius Kristen's Plan B was to make 15 robes and have 2 trainings! Brilliant!!! We worked on these until the girls were cross-eyed and kept asking me where the arms were on the robes....now that's tired!
We took a fun day and went up off State Route 395 to Old Town Temecula and spent the day walking around and had a yummy lunch...
and lingered in wonderful shops that all looked like this......why do I love this look so much but am OCD about my own house?
Had a St. Pat's luncheon.....
Love to dec out with the Leprechauns....
Have had these glass shamrocks for years and always love to use them every year....
The weather has been so nice and Brody took advantage of it and played with all his outdoor construction toys.....
We have been grilling a lot and been on a veggie kick....lots of slicing and dicing and add some olive oil and seasoning pop them on the grill and yummmmmmm
I was happy to have Brody and his Kung Fu Panda to help me chop the eggplant!
The lepraucauns really pranked us this year! I did not take a lot of pictures but they t p'd the family room with green crepe paper, threw chocolate gold coins all over the room and peed in my toilet! Uncle Adam and Auntie Shannie woke up with GREEN MUSTACHES....the boys were amazed! Of course Dylan heard the little trickster - he said about 1 a.m
I did a LA getaway to see my old friends in LA for a few days....we walked and talked and laughed and cried and reminisced and stopped in yummy cafe's like this....
and like this.....
and talked late into the night about the old studio days and old studio and wild times.....yes, they have one of these....
and the fun we had with this vintage Harrods mink coat....
and this vintage lace dress....
and tables may or may not have been danced on at a 3 Dog Night concert while wearing this coat.....serape, suede and sable....
Does this make a statement on the 70's or what.....so many fun memories.....
I hung out and watched some Kardashian filming......
....and went LA shopping and bought Kristen and Shannie these adorable tin owls.....it was so fun to get away and remember the good times I had in LA and some of the incredible experiences I have been lucky enough to have.....
and on home to celebrate the Birthday Boys!!!! Brody @ 5; Dylan @ 7 - a Star Wars Extravaganza!
Jedi Training....
Mommies and young Jedi's prepare to become Master Jedi's
Love how she named all the food Star Wars themed.....
even the punch was Jedi Juice!
and pretzel rods dipped in frosting and decorated with sprinkles are Light Sabers!
and all the Star Wars toys as decoration....
Brody got his medal for Soccer....look at that smile!
The Addie and Shannie came to town to join in all the festivities.....and keeping with his tradition he brought his mommy a yummy berry pie!
For our 26th we escaped to Catalina to celebrate....we do to Catalina almost every year and love it and it will always be a special place to us. We stayed at a new place and they gave us a wonderful upgrade to a suite with this sweet view!
We did all our usual things, which basically is walking and eating at our favorite places and admiring the natural beautiful views of the island....
Definitely off season....the pier was empty and our buddy who used to have the dive shop has moved to Hawaii....
We walked to the Avalon ballroom and it is one of the prettiest views and peaceful walks...I would have loved to see it all in it's hey day with the big bands and dances and being Hollywood's playground with all the fancy outfits, etc. They have done an awesome job keeping it up...
Around the other side of the ballroom we walked to Descanso Beach and all the jelly fish were out
One last glimpse at that beautiful view.....and sailed back to the mainland.....
After 3 reschedules we finally got to our "Paint Your Pooch' night at a local gallery close to home. I love the concept.....you send them a photo and they do a very light high level sketch on the canvas and then you got in and they give you basic colors and you mix your paint and then paint and drink wine....not necessarily in that order ;)
They said you can either start with an outline or the background and with furry dogs like ours, better to start with the background.....
I had a bit of trouble getting the colors blended in and with the ears so I had to redo and redo those.....(I love how serious Steve is with his painting!)
So this is my final Rocky Road tribute....my little furball....like Steve says, new art for our garage!
And what is a birthday in San Diego without a trip to the Corvette Dinner! We took their mommy and uncle there on their birthdays and we take them too!
I think that catches me up! xoxoxoxoxoxo everyone!
