Trip to California, Charlie's ashes in Depoe Bay, and Olympic Peninsula trip

Another Visit to California & Grandchildren!

Hello All!

As you noticed I've gotten a bit slack with blogging.  I've been a bit bored with my writing and
almost stopped the blog...but decided to wait until February 15th, 2013, when we return home
to SLO to do so.  So for now...here's a bit of catch up!

Visited relatives in NC in April.  Was wonderful to see Vera, Kristina, Mark and their kids Katelyn
and Jakob.  Weather was nice and Kristina lives on a ranch with horses and lots of rooms.  Got to
enjoy Jazzercise and eating out...2 of my favorite activities. I plan another trip in the fall and look
forward to traveling near and far with Vera.  Also saw my high school friend, Libby who reminded me friends are friends forever!

Another reason I haven't blogged as much is my camera sucks!  We need to get another but since I'm not working....money doesn't come easy!  I takemy Iphone shots but still don't know how to load them and FIND them on this computer!  So bear with me you all.

Went to a very fun masquerade, silent auction with Betsy and Kenny.  There was opera, costumes,frefolity and all sorts of fun and high priced bidding.  It was one of my bucket lists items and Ihad a ball.  Will was highly entertained. 

There's a young man, Austin, in our film club.  He's only 19 years old but what a film historian he is! I have 2 Felini films to preview and he speaks about them like an international traveler of 50+!  This trip and membership in the TriCities Film Club has taught me so much more about films....the distributions, the film festivals, the politics of clubs!  We recently saw a film at Austin's about a small country near Russia with very little dialogue but the story of a dying culture with incredible respect for life and the every day struggles we all go through.  The more foreign films I see, the more I realize how much alike we all are.  If you haven't seen "The Separation" last years best foreign film, see it.  And get over yourself and read the subtitles...widen your world!

Finished up my gerontology class and humanities class on "Love".  Enjoyed both tremendously.  I've decided to get certified as a couples therapist.  John Gottman (look him up in video) has an institute in Seattle and is international known for his well researched and effective method.  I have begun Level's I & II and will go in October to Seattle to become a certified Gottman Couples Therapist with the intention of doing that work back in SLO....well actually Arroyo Grande.  Probably 2-3 days a week.  If it works out...after they "graduate" (the couples)Will and I plan to do some retreats where the participants can learn to fly fish (he has a new Japanese method) and to watercolor paint.  So that sounds like a do-able retirement fun work!

We just returned from the Seattle International Film Festival.  There were 8 of us from this area who stayed 3 nights and saw  tons of films.  We went to the opening night and saw "Your Sister's
Sister" which I highly recommend.  Other recommendations (if you can find them..either on Netflicks or at the Palm) are:  "Intouchables," "The Beast of the Southern Wild" "Diana Vreeland:  The Eye Has to Travel" "LUV"  "My Brother the Devil" "Polisse" "Superclasico" "Teddy Bear"
and "Take this Waltz" with Michelle Williams who seems to be the great actress of our time!  And those are the best of the 13 we saw.  We plan to return next year...I met Tessa on Thursday at the Lake Union area and had lunch to start our wonderful 3 days.  She's preparing to relocate with Paula to Whidbey soon.  Paula just retired!  Hurrah Paula...you are now your own person again!

Will and Chris are in Oregon on a much desired trout fishing trip.  I went yesterday to see "The
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and wish along with "The Way"..movie with Martin Sheen, we could take these trips.  Maybe in the near future!  So what's up with you?  I leave tomorrow for CA.

July, 2012 Summer is finally here!

March rain & wind...is this really spring?

Let's see: Will's working hard and thinking about San Luis Obispo a lot. He got an outstanding performance evaluation and is highly appreciated for the work he does. He and Chris go fishing at least once a month and we adventure around the area by truck to
see as much of this country as we can...but we so miss the Ocean! And it has taken a long time for the Spring to arrive. I know we are near the Canadian border but I'm not a cold weather person. And without money to go skiing....classes and hikes have to do. So let me fill you in on the things we have planned. Will is currently in Huntington Beach...he had
to do an audit for Bechtel so he had dinner last night with Jim whose life partner Suzie died just a few months ago. She was wonderful and we visited them while in Australia.
They went to a wonderful Japanese restaurant and enjoyed themselves although Suzie
is missed.

I'm enrolled in two classes at WSC: gerontology and a humanities class. That takes my
Tuesday and Thursdays for most of the day. I also participate in the local film club,
they show alternative films and have monthly board meetings, which takes some time.
And we recently celebrated a year in our community discussion group complete with an article in the local paper about what we do. Suki goes to the "doggie-day-care" twice
a week...for socialization. And that my friends is my schedule. I haven't gone to book club in a while (read a lot for classes) but I do go to Bunko once a month.

So plans...Will has two more audits: one takes him to Atlanta and one to Colorado.
So while he's in Atlanta, I'm going to see my cousins and Aunt in North Carolina in
April. My Aunt Vera is currently going through some medical procedures which are
concerning to all of us. She doesn't know much yet, but it will good to be near her and
support her through this trying time. Will will drive from Atlanta to Pittsboro to join
us the end of the week. Then after we return home....off he goes again. This time to
Colorado.

I'm hoping Justin, Maia and Marly come to visit soon. They have a lot on their plate but would love to have them visit Washington and see where we are. In May, we have
the SIFF: The Seattle International Film Festival again. We had a blast last year so expect a repeat this time. June ...we are hoping for more visitors. So come on up!

Hope you are all well and doing lots of fun stuff. Miss you all!

February 29th, 2012 Leap Year!

It has been cold as you can see....here in Richland, WA. It's our last winter here so we are enjoying it.

Will's work is still challenging but he's the "go to" guy so he likes being needed. Wish I could say the same. Being domestic is more than I ever wanted to handle. I am enrolled in 2 more classes at WSU.
One in "the psychology of aging" (as the admittance clerk said "Why would anyone 'study' that?) and "the art of love." Actually both classes are great. The aging class is like an adult development class from mid age to old-old age. A gerontology class if you will. Once I said since Sacramento didn't have a gerontology program back in the late 70's, I'll just study social work and become a gerontologist when I get there...meaning old age. And since
I had my 65th birthday in December...I'm there! I took some classes both on line and in Spokane recently to update my California license. Loved the classes and the communion with social workers! I'm looking at offering a "Crones" class at the local Parks & Recs in May/June. Depends on travels.

I was in California for Justin's, Tom David's, Marly's and Kiara's birthdays in January &
February. It was so great spending time at each grandchild's (and son's) home, seeing their daily lives and school activities. Marly gets up at 6am so her kind mother kept her from my room until 7! Kannon & Kiara were wonderful...they keep getting bigger and more socially involved. But being there before and after school and in the mornings and evenings adds so much intimacy. I got in trouble with their Dad...."every time you are here, you break the rules!!" Being lectured is never fun, I felt sorry for my grandson. But you know how Grandmother's are....we are not the rule makers..this time.

Justin & Maia are planning a wedding. He gave her a beautiful ring for Christmas...one that used old diamonds so as not to use the "blood diamonds" from Africa. And Kannon's 10th birthday is coming up in May. I will return to my favorite state (I love Jerry Brown! I keep up with his governorship through the paper and facebook. He's so frugal and such an inspiration for the many political leaders around the country.)

I'm also, as many of you, tired of the political rhetoric. The divisiveness of the republicans (and democrats) is toooo much. But what's most disturbing are the conspiracy folks, the anti-college educationist, the racists and the lack of impulse control in our politicians! The governor of Arizona approaching President Obama on the tarmac....it's only comparable to that idiot in SC calling Obama a liar! How do we teach our children to respect others and our leaders with these offensive public displays?? And this from an anti-vietnam war protestor!! A formerly pot-smoking feminist from California? Let's hope this election is soon over and Obama has 4 more years to support our government and it's people.

We went to Coeur d' Alene, Idaho last month. It's a fabulous little place with lots of great shops, water and art. Thanks Dick & Linda (SC) for the suggestion. Like you, we loved it. It snowed while we were there. Spokane is ok....divided into the old town and the newer part of the City. It was nice to engage with local social workers and see how much dismantling of services...especially Drug & Alcohol Services...is currently going down. It will be difficult to reestablish such important work for those without means.

So let's see...we have another "Reflection Cafe" gathering soon (it's our local community chat group) and this time we are meeting at one of our facilitators home. This last week the topic was "humor" and we all had some good laughs. Surprisingly we all liked Bill Maher! We have discussed religion, art, the meaning of life, etc. but to date...not politics! We are a bunch of atheists, agnostics, Christians, catholics, Presbyterians who all actually like each other!

We had our annual Academy Awards party...and Will won the kitty! See his trophy?

So with this update...I will say adieu....till we meet again. "Slow down, calm down, don't worry, don't hurry and trust the process"....Alexandra Stoddard

Christmas 2011 and End of the Year!

It was a very good year!
We joined Kristina & Mark in SF during the summer for a reunion and adventure. The picture above is at Golden Gate Park in the Japanese Tea Garden...sushi & tea for all.
Below is Mark & Kristina in a quiet moment..not many of these when you have 2 small children and 2 big jobs! She's my uncle Sonny's daughter from N.C. and I sure don't see her as much as I would like. Will and I promised to visit her "at least once a year" which
I'm sure will be a challenge.

December....Will's ablation & a Holiday!

We took a trip to Palo Alto area for Will to have his 2nd ablation with Dr. Winkle. He was having regular and frequent arrhythmia's and was again on medication. His first one lasted 5 years so he was happy but concerned. We learned a lot about the study and this time he's hoping for at least 7 years! And maybe more before another procedure. We were able to meet with family before we left for a wonderful Italian dinner and a walk to Starbucks. All grandchildren were there as were Will
's youngest adult-children: Samantha & Matt. We had such a good time...after the ablation! We are also grateful to the Hospital for allowing us to spend 2 nights in their patient home. It was very near the hospital so I stayed as long as I could at the hospital. We again loved being in the Bay Area. Discovered Redwood City, Palo Alto and visited SF
the day we flew out with Roland & Daniel after breakfast with Matt & Samantha. Roland and I had another of our notorious disagreements over "shopping" (actually looking) at Neiman Marcus'. It was absolutely obscene to see the prices of things...I was there because Roland had gone ahead and found an "absolutely fabulous jacket" for $2200.00! He joked that he was only dreaming...and of course I scolded him on how much money things costs there....a simple men's casual shirt was $595...reduced to $350 "on sale." I was so annoyed and shocked at the differences in "life style" between
us & them...."DO YOU KNOW WHAT LOTS OF LOCAL SF'S COULD USE THAT $ FOR?" Roland said he and Daniel love to go eat there during the holidays and honestly we waited over 1 1/2 hours for a table...which the host lost before our 3rd time of asking if we were up yet. And the bill for a simple lunch of rolls and salads?....$97.00 for 4. So
I'm just not a person you want to take shopping to the expensive end stores in the City!!
Now I use to frequent SF back in the 80's....taking advantage of ACT's Wednesday rehearsals and magnificent lunches everywhere you look! There was a time when the
old City of Paris building was astonishing and so beautiful. There was always a center
huge Christmas tree and a pianist in a tux which made just walking through the building a SF experience. Herb Caan wrote often about the sites of the City! And I was always a fan. But somehow NOW with the lack of jobs, incomes and attention to inequities and consumption (in 2005: 76.6% of purchases were made by 20% of the population and it's higher today) I had a very difficult time...with Neiman Marcus'

Politics shadows everything these days and I'm trying very had to keep my mouth shut but you can see it's not going very well. I do miss California more than I can tell you.
I love my life...especially being in the West with my best friend and partner. We have had so many adventures and we love our almost 2 year old boxer, Suki. So will do one more blog before the year ends. Happy Holidays All! And happy shopping....