Oh-lympics!!!! Oh My!

I watched the opening ceremonies Friday night on our new "big screen" TV. Oh my! The sight was something to behold on the big screen. However, beyond that, I thought the artistic part of the show was spectacular! I thought it was graceful, beautiful, and well thought out. Overall, I enjoyed it immensely.

A good friend's daughter is in China as a training partner and as an Olympic Hopeful for 2012. See her website (link in this posting) for a firsthand account of her experiences. She's having a great time. (That's her picture in this posting.) http://www.themushi.com/

I'll send Annie positive thoughts until 2012. Annie, good job! Keep up the good work!

Happy Half-Year Birthday Tootsie!!!!

Tootsie (aka Tooter, Tudy, and Little Chit), the latest addition to our household, is 6 months old today. She was born 5 Feb 2008, and she came into our home on 6 April 2008. She has been a real treat. She's cute, rambunctious, diminutive, and curious about everything around her.

The picture is of Tootsie and Merlin. (Merlin's our oldest of three dogs.) Tootsie can often be found cuddling with Merlin, Woody, or the humans of the house - my husband Frank & me.

Tootsie gets along with our in-house cats (for the most part). Tootsie jumps all over Arrow - our 22 pound white 'n' black cat. Arrow tolerates it. No, she actually seems to like it - up to a point. I think Arrow considers it a massage - until Tootsie starts tugging on her ears. That's when Arrow may try to get away. Tootsie doesn't jump on or play with the other cats. I guess she has learned who she can or cannot pester. It amazes me how new animals find their place in the family.

I could write so much more, but there will be plenty of time for that in the future. We look forward to many years of Tootsie's companionship. We love you Tootsie.

Recap of the month & catching up

It’s been a month since I last wrote. So much has happened - besides the everyday mundane - I don’t know where to begin. I’ll get it all written out and then I can go back to edit, add text & pictures, etc. I guess it makes sense to pick up where I left off.

After two days in Fairfax Virginia, with the 4th of July in DC, I went to Baltimore to stay with my step-daughter Carrie, her husband Ron, and their new son Hunter. What a sweet baby. It will be fun to see his personality develop over time.

I went to Chicago from Baltimore. I spent a week with Buna, my maternal grandmother. Her 102nd birthday was 14 July. (The picture in this post is of Buna in a pink Cubs cap - a birthday gift from me.) Buna is a big Cubs fan. She’s a kick to be with. She has a great sense of humor, but I can see her slowing way down. I’m glad I went to see her because I probably won’t have too many more opportunities.

While in Chicago I got together with some old friends. Some I haven’t seen in over 30 years! I saw a few last December when I was in Chicago for my mother’s funeral. It’s great to still have these friends after all these years.

I got back home to Loomis on 15 July. I had two uneventful days around the house (cleaning, catching up, etc) before my step-daughter Emily and her fiance Chris arrive on 17 July. We went out for sushi on Friday 18 July. On Saturday, 19 July, we left Loomis for our Road Trip. First stop - the Monterey Peninsula for motor cycle races at Laguna Seca. However, we stayed in Gilroy (the Garlic Capitol of the World) because it was much cheaper than staying in Monterey due to the motorcycle races.

After checking in at our hotel, we headed for Monterey with a stop at the San Juan Bautista Mission along the way. It was a nice stop. Since it was close to closing (at 5pm), we didn’t have long to look around so we didn’t have to pay. We mostly saw the gardens. They were pretty and inspiring. It was a pleasant stop and a good start to our 5 day road trip. We had dinner on the Old Wharf, and dinner was excellent. I can’t remember the name offhand. I’ll try to remember to add it later.

After dinner, we strolled along the harbor/bay to Cannery Row. As we got close to Cannery Row, it was obvious that all the action was along that Row. The street was closed to auto traffic. Only pedestrians and motorcycles were allowed. It’s hard to say how many people & motorcycles were there, but at one point it was curb to curb people milling about in the street, and the streets were lines with parked motorcycles. Wow! How exciting. I’m glad we took the time to make the walk.

The next morning we made our way to Laguna Seca. We had to park at the local university and get a shuttle to the races. There were plenty of parking attendants, and the shuttles ran frequently. We got to the race track, went to the Corkscrew turn, and found a place to park our stuff. The races were extremely exciting, and a good time was had by all.

After another night in Gilroy, we left on Monday morning, 21 July, to go up the coast. We went over the Golden Gate Bridge and stopped at Vista Point, then had lunch in Sausalito at Avatar’s. We got to our next place of lodging about 3pm. We checked in at the Timber Cove Lodge, looked around, and went to the bar before dinner at the Lodge. We had a nice dinner before retiring to our respective rooms. The Lodge is known for its raccoons. They walk around the premises looking for handouts.

On Tuesday morning we left for Gualala. We stopped at one or two beaches along the way. By the time we got to Gualala, it was time for a break. I found a quilt shop, The Loft, and did some shopping. Fabrics of course. We drove north of Gualala a ways looking for our lodging. My husband and I decided to surprise Em & Chris. As we passed our lodging, Frank said, “That looks like a nice place.” I agreed so we turned around and stopped in at St. Orres. I went in, go the key to our rooms, and said, “Let’s take a look.” We drove a wee bit up the road and turned into the creek side cottages. We pulled into the driveway for Osprey Cove - our lodging for the next two nights. Em & Chris were prepared to stay in the car since they didn’t know we had really planned to stay there. They finally went in with us, and we eventually told them we were staying. Surprise, surprise. We’d had flowers delivered and there was a bottle of champagne chilling on the dining room table. That's when they figured out we were telling the truth.

We had a house to ourselves. The upper floor consisted of a large living room, a dining area, a kitchen, and a master bedroom, bath, sauna and a spa on a deck off the bedroom. There was a large deck across the whole front of the building with large windows in the living room that looked over the deck and out onto the ocean. Wow!!!!! There were two bedrooms and one bathroom downstairs. One bedroom was locked because we’d only reserved two bedrooms. There was another deck (smaller) off the downstairs bedrooms. That deck also looked out onto the ocean. During the day we often saw deer munching on the apples that had fallen off the tree next to the house. It was a great place for watching wildlife - something we all enjoyed. Oh yeah, there was a telescope in the living room at the front window.

We had reservations at the hotel restaurant where we had a nice dinner, but I think we were burning out on restaurant food by that time. After dinner we played poker. That was fun. I took along Scrabble, cards & poker chips, and a portable DVD player so I could play some music CDs. It was nice and homey and more family oriented than the typical individual hotel/motel rooms.

The next day, 23 July, we drove up the coast to Mendocino & Fort Bragg. Oh, that was after breakfast that was delivered to the door between 8:30 and 9:00 am. What a treat. Anyway, we stopped at a beach, then Mendocino, strolled around (window shopping) and had lunch. After lunch we drove to Fort Bragg. We went to the Botanical Gardens where we spent at least an hour. Nice place. Great gardens. Next stop was Pacific Star Tasting Room in FB. We did some tasting, talked with the owner, then left for the Harvest Market where we got items to fix dinner at “home” rather than dining out. After dinner we played poker again. It was a pleasant evening. Good thing we weren't playing for real money. I'd be broke! (I haven't played much in over 30 years.)

The next day we headed home after breakfast, but we took a different route so we could taste wines at some of the many wineries in the Anderson Valley wine country. It was a really nice drive. We stopped at 7 wineries/tasting rooms. I don't typically drink much, especially that early in the day. We came home with 7, 8 or 9 bottles. (I lost count.) We didn't get home until about 8:30 pm. Phew!!!!!! Another full day.

Em & Chris stayed another few days. We went to Thunder Valley for the buffet on Friday (Crab on Fridays), we saw The Dark Knight on Saturday, and we made a couple of curries on Sunday night. Em & Chris left early Monday morning, 28 July. It was a really nice vist. It was Chris's first time in California. I'm glad we were able to show him the many sides of California, and we're lucky everything ran so smoothly. I don't think he could have asked for more.

We haven’t done much since then except shop for a new TV so we can upgrade our satellite to HD. We got a TV and BluRay player so I spent a day hooking it up. Then I spent another day adding another component and working on a TV and DVD recorder in another room. I like electronics, and I get some enjoyment out of tinkering with the components and connections. It’s really neat when everything works!!!!

Well, that’s it for now. Probably way more than I planned to write. I can get wordy at times. (Usually when I think I have nothing to say!!!!)

. . . and the rocket's red glare . . .

Wow! I spent yesterday in Washington DC. I'm visiting my step daughters on the East Coast. My first stay is with Emily & her fiancé, Chris, in Fairfax VA. We went into DC with Chris's dad about noon. We spent over THREE (perhaps over four) hours in the Newseum. What a great place. Even the orientation video had great news clips. The museum is 6 floors of wonderful exhibits of historical news events. The 9/11 gallery was very touching, and the Pulitzer photographs were gut wrenching, humorous, and extremely moving. The exhibits had different ways of presenting the material so it was never boring. I highly recommend the Newseum. It just opened earlier this year so it is still clean and "fresh."

At 6pm we made our way, by car, to the Dept of Labor building where Chris works. It's several blocks from the Capitol Building. We had a security check to get into the underground parking lot, and another check to get into the building. We were just four of many going through that. We made our way to the roof top along with many other people. I think initially there were dozens of people and eventually a couple of hundred. (I'm a poor judge of estimating so ...)

We picnicked on the roof top then lounged around in chairs to await the 8pm concert in front of the Capitol Building which we could see from one side of the roof top. From our vantage point, the Capitol was to the left, and the Washington monument was to the right (west). Huey Lewis played but it was difficult to hear. At 9:15-ish the fireworks started immediately behind the Washington Monument. WOW! & DOUBLE WOW! What an experience! A rooftop full of people oohing & aahing. Also, from our vantage point, we could see at least 6 other fireworks going on around us, but they were further away and much smaller as a result.

The fireworks ended with a magnificent finale, and we made our way down 6 flights of stair and got out easily and into traffic (surprisingly light) and home in no time. I wanted to write last night but I don't even have a laptop with me. I may come back to this later to edit & refine, but it will do for now. Today’s a nice quiet day for kicking back, shopping, and whatever. A day of "down time." I love it. I love the contrast. As much as I loved yesterday, I'm liking today. Oh. One more thing. I thought the heat & humidity would bother me. So far it hasn't been too hot because it's been overcast. It even rained yesterday on the roof top, but I liked that. It was refreshing. I think the humidity keeps me from getting dehydrated as easily as I do when in the DRY California heat. In California I feel that all of my energy is sucked out of me from the heat.

Well, I'd better go and kick back. Yeah, it will be a rough day, but someone's gotta do it. Kayo

Happy Birthday Woody!

Woody. Aka Woodman, Woodster, and more. (Sometimes Good Dog, Bad Dog . . .) Born 7 years ago today. The picture is Woody at about 3 months old. You can't see it well, but he had been in water & mud. Woody LOVES water. He swims in the pond, he plays in/with the sprinklers, and as a puppy he played in his water bowl. Fortunately he grew out of that.

Woody learned to ring a bell to go outside. (The bell hangs on the back door.) He's been doing it for at least 6 years. He has a weak bladder so he goes out often. So often in fact, that JC (one of our cats) picked up the "ringing bell" trick when he wants to go out - I'm sure because he'd heard it so much. (More postings about the cats another time. This is about Woody.)

Woody learned the names of his toys. When he wants a specific one that's put away, he won't give up until we give him the one that matches the name for his favorite of the day. We try to trick him into taking another toy, but it doesn't work. He's too smart for that.

Woody has been a real treat all these years. He's been a good companion to me, my husband, and Merlin, our older dog. (Merlin was rescued. More on him another time.) Now Woody's learning to be a big brother to Tootsie, our new puppy. (Check back for more on Tootsie later.) We get a lot of enjoyment from Woody's company. We love you Woody!

Happy Birthday Gramps!

Gramps. Figure Skater. Fisherman. Baseball Player. Ventriloquist. Railroad Worker. Provider. His given name was Howard Axel Olson. His stage name was The Great Chesterfield. He was born 126 years ago today in Chicago.

Gramps was a ventriloquist in Vaudeville as a young man. He passed that talent along to his eldest son Howard Minor Olson, my uncle, and they toured together for a while. My uncle went on to have a 60 year career as a ventriloquist and magician, but I’ll save all that for another posting. I just mention it here because it’s a way in which Gramps lives on. One of my uncle’s figures is still in action, and he may have come from Gramps originally.

Gramps was a man of many interests. I can’t attest to his talent because much of what he did was before I came upon the scene. He lived with my family since before I was born in 1949, and I lived with him until I was almost 20 years old. He’d had a shock of white hair ever since I can remember. My nickname, Kayo, came from him as far as I know. After my mother left when I was about 8, he took care of me and his son, my father. (My father had had a nervous breakdown.)

Gramps told me stories of his youth. I heard about days playing hooky from school and hiding under the wooden sidewalks of Chicago. I heard about him doing figure eights on the ice. I heard about baseball with, or against, Satchel Page. I remember one story about attempts by robbers to steal Gramps’ suitcase. The robbers must have been surprised by its contents. The contents, I’m sure, would have looked like a dead body to the unsuspecting. Well, that was no dead body. That was just Jake, his vent figure.

Gramps kept his interests alive in later years. He belonged to The Old Timers’ Baseball Association, Vent Haven Museum in Kentucky, and Show Folks of America. We made a trip to the Vent Haven Museum in Kentucky in the early or mid-1950s, and Gramps regularly received a Christmas card from Sophie tucker, the last of the Red Hot Mammas.

Gramps was a gadget man. He had cameras (still & moving), a projector, a machine that spliced the movie film, a tape recorder, and more. There were books in the house when I was a kid. I’m sure they came from Gramps’ side of the family. I think I got my love of gadgets & books from Gramps. I also have many interests, as did Gramps.

Gramps read books, and he talked about writing a book. I believe his interests and his learning kept him young. I think it’s also what made him so interesting to me as a young child and young adult. I think it’s why he is still so often on my mind. I should have written more about him before now, but I waited until this morning to write this. There is so much more, but there isn’t time or space for that now.

Gramps has been gone for decades already. He passed away in 1977. However, I talk to him every year on his birthday and then some. I think he knows that he lives on in me. He may be long gone, but he is certainly not forgotten.

Welcome Baby Hunter!!!

Best Wishes to Baby Hunter, Momma Carrie, and Poppa Ronnie! Our first grandchild, Hunter Thomas Riccitelli, made his debut in Baltimore Maryland at 11:37 pm (EDT) tonight. Hunter came into the world at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and 21 inches long. Baby, mom & pop are doing fine. This is truly a momentous day. See the slide show to the right. See the link below for photos to come.
http://babyriccitelli.blogspot.com/

Coming into California!

I just realized that today is the 33 year anniversary of my arrival in California. I arrived 2 June 1975, also a Monday. I had a going away party 30 May with friends at Diana's, a great Greek restaurant in Chicago. I left Chicago 31 May and drove cross country with a friend and a 6 foot trailer with all my stuff. I couldn't even get all of my books in that trailer today. My, how times change. Today is also my step-daughter's one year wedding anniversary. Last year at this time we were in the Bahamas - that's where Carrie & Ron got married. I'm not normally a warm weather person, but the warm balmy breezes and the proximity to the ocean made it truly heavenly. The Atlantis was like a big adult playground. It was fun, but next time I'd like a nice quiet place to just chill. We never get "vacations." We travel, but I think of them as "trips" during which we're always on the go. I want a vacation at a nice quiet spot. I want a place to settle down for a week or so. Even though my life isn't always hectic, I think the down time is important for mental health. Besides that, it just feels good.

A whole week since my first post!!??!!

Where does the time go? I'm just getting back to my blog. I've been wanting to add some pictures, but I'm not sure what to add. The Lost image is just practice for now. It was either that or Mick St John, my favorite friendly vampire. I have hundreds (if not thousands) of pictures to go through. I take lots of photos of my dogs, cats, the sheep, and whatever else takes my fancy. I'll eventually get around to picking out some of my favorites. I'm still experimenting with the blog and all the buttons/options. It's fun to try something new. Never too old to learn. Later. ko

My very first post on my very first blog!!!

I'm on my way. This is something I've thought about for a long time, but I'm only just now getting started on my first blog. Actually, this is practice so I can help my husband set up his own special interest blog. He's into Scottish Games and he competes in the athletics. I figured a blog would help him keep in touch with his fellow athletes, and he could post practice times, etc. I offered to help him set up his own blog. No problem. This is a piece of cake.

As I develop my blog, it will be a way to keep in touch with family & friends as I travel, and it will allow me to share some pictures of my projects (quilting, sewing, woodworking, etc). with friends. I may do more with it. Only time will tell. ko