Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Hobbit Is Coming!

Oh my gosh, I am so excited!

I still have to wait a year to see The Hobbit, but it's finally on its way to us.

I can hardly wait, if the film is half as good as the trailer, it's going to be 100 times better than the garbage that the studios put out 99% of the time!

Check it out!

Monday, October 31, 2011

A New Beginning

Well, except for being short on cash, I'm enjoying our new beginning. I have so much to do here and I've GOT to get finished moving so I can stop going to California every couple of weeks.

Oh, yes, I'll be back in Cali. In fact, I'll be in San Jose the week between Christmas and New Years. But running back and forth is killing my budget. I need to be able to settle down and just work for a few weeks to generate more income.

Anyway, this move is a good thing for all of us.

I love the house, I wish it were mine. There's a lot of things I'd do to fix it up. But the best part is the property. This is the view from my kitchen window.

Note the burn barrel in the yard! Yes, I'm not in Cali any more!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

RIP Josh

I can't explain why bad things happen to good people.

Josh, you were one of the good kids. We will all miss you terribly, until the day comes that we all go Home. You were taken before your time by a murderer, you and your cousin.

Rest in Peace dear young man. Rest in Peace.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The North Bay Stand Down in Dixon, CA

Yes, Stand Down started today and I'm not there. I have moved to Oregon to begin my "retired" life.

LOL! Retired? Yeah, right. Now I'm self-employed so you know I'm busting behind, writing online content, researching new revenue streams AND still trying to get organized.

I'm only retired from Gov't work. My real work continues...

In the meantime, it's not too late to head over to Dixon to volunteer at the Stand Down. They still need YOU to help tomorrow and on Thursday and Friday with closing down and the massive clean-up job. We always need more volunteers to clean the grounds, take out the trash, mop the floors and do a complete scrub-down in the kitchen.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I Am Moving!

Yes, I'm getting ready to move out of state.

It's not easy, but I'm going to do it. I'm a Cali kid, born and raised, so this is going to be a big change.

Well, ok, a change. I'm only moving about 30 miles outside the state, so there's plenty of California people already there. In fact, some of my old co-workers beat me there.

I'm moving closer to family, to a cheaper area, where there's ice hockey at high school level.

So, gotta run! Only another 7 or 8 bookcases to pack. And the rest of my liquor bottle collection. And the California Raisins.

And more, much, much more...

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Martha Stewart Wedding!

Yes!

My oldest son, the professional photographer, and his wife shot a wedding in Bali last year and it made it to Martha Stewart Weddings!

Wow!

And check out the next to the last image -- awesome!

The Wedding

Saturday, May 7, 2011

The First Week

Well the first week of retirement still feels like a week of Fridays (I used to have every other Friday off). Every day I get up, get a kid off to school, then come back and attempt to write.

I say attempt because my daughter is in the process of moving out! We spent all day yesterday painting the tiny little duplex she's renting (yes, Mom has been bleeding money) and have to go back to finish painting all the trim and the kitchen dining area. I must say that she's doing a good job -- of course I'm following along and touching up.

But, but, but, curses upon whoever used FLAT paint on the window and door trims. And it's a horrible almost brownish beige that looks like they mixed it with whatever was lying around that day. What the heck were they thinking? It's going to take at least two coats of a good semi-gloss to cover that mess. Maybe three. AND they painted the doors that color too!! I may need another can of cream-colored paint...

So, my little singer is also a decorator. The bathroom, a lovely shade of light grey with hints of lilac. Looks great with the grey floor and tiles. The bedroom is orchid. Gorgeous. And the living room is "Homemade Butterscotch". A little dark, hope the landlord doesn't have a cow, but beautiful. It will look fabulous with her leopard print sofa and chair!

She is incredibly excited, as she should be. Her first place and it's not even an apartment and relatively cheap, only about $100 more than a studio would be. Not too shabby.

I really should take pictures...

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Retirement - Here I Come!!

I'm both excited and nervous! Only four more working days and I'm officially retired.

Well, retired from THAT job!

I am returning to my other career, as an artist and writer.

I have so much to do!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The New Mercy Thompson - River Marked

Oh my gosh that was good! I read it cover to cover last night and it was great!

Now, some reviewers complained because a lot of the book was just Mercy and Adam. But (no spoilers here), it was freaking awesome and took some twists and turns that will just blow your mind.

Once again, Patricia Briggs has given us an awesome urban fantasy, complete with fae, werewolf and coyote.

This is a must read for the urban fantasy fan. But start with the first book, Moon Called, don't start in the middle of the series. (I HATE it when I find a book I like and realize I've started in the middle. Then I have to hunt down all the rest of the books...)

On a side note: I have a question - How old is Bran? Really, I'm serious. If Asil is 1300 years old and Bran is older, just how old are Bran and his oldest son Samuel? I'd like to see some more info in future books, either the Alpha and Omega series or in Mercy's series.

The West Coast Blues Awards

Sunday – March 27, 2011
6:00 to 10:00 pm

HILTON OAKLAND AIRPORT
Grand Ball Room
One Hegenberger Rd, Oakland, CA 94621

This years show will induct notables as Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Winton Marsalis, Lonnie Brooks, Lester Chambers (Chamber Brothers), Ben Hodges (Flamingos), Minor Ellis Williams III, Barbara Taylor, Chuck Johnson (Soul Beat), Patrick Brock, Bonnie Simon, Bruno Brunecker, Church of John Coltrain and Arch Bishop Franzo King,
Eddie Wilson, Henry Dalton Williams, Phil Givant and Johnny Winter.

Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Awarded to Vivian Waldrup-Patterson and Julie C. Paisant

TICKETS; $30 in advance; $35 at the door

Purchase tickets at:
Highsierratickets.com

Award Winner List

West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Press Release

We are planning on being there, the Leonard Lothlen Gospel Band is receiving an award and are scheduled to perform. Way awesome!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Despicable Me

My daughter and I just watched "Despicable Me."

What a cute and clever movie! I really enjoyed it.

It was a fun take on the classic villain/hero cartoon. I would highly recommend it.

Here's a trailer, check it out!