Trip to San Diego

My grandaughter Katie, came home from College (Sonoma State) for the first weekend since August. So I went to San Diego to see her and visit my family. We had a great time. I always love being in San Diego. Perfect weather and familiar turf for me. We went to Seaport Village on Sunday to eat at one of our favs...The Greek Island Cafe, known to us as "Jerry G's". Good food and great outdoor seating on the water.

We took Katie to the airport after dinner and then waited for several hours to get her "home safe" phone call. I noticed we all relaxed then. She is growing into a lovely, competent, young woman, but she is still our "little girl"...and we worry.

Michael is just a few months from turning 16 and he actually misses his sister. Amazing.

In San Diego

My grandaughter Katie came home from College (Sonoma State)for the first time since August. I came to San Diego to spend the weekend with her and the family. We have had a lovely visit. San Diego has perfect weather, and is good, familiar turf for me.

We all went to Seaport Village Sunday night to eat at our favorite place, The Greek Island Cafe...better known to us as "Jerry G's". Then we took Katie to the airport and waited for her call to say she was safe and back at college. Once we had that message we all exhaled and relaxed.

Our girl is growing up to be a lovely young woman.

Life is Good

Since my last post I have been busy. I joined the Westernaires singing group and I absolutely love it. It is so wonderful to be back in a choral group. They are quite good and being surrounded by 4+ part harmonies is a spiritual experience for me. The leader is a hoot. She is technically excellent and has a great sense of humor. We practice for 2-2 and a half hours at a time and it flies by. We are getting ready for a Christmas concert and will do another in the Spring. I have also joined a writing class with a teacher from the University of Washington. I knew he was my kind of guy when I attended the first class and he arrived with his Obama button up front and visible. His focus is poetry, right up my alley. Although he is a fan of the modern, open format. I will have lots to learn.

My big project with the house has been to have the exterior painted and do some planting. I went with a yellow, grey and white color theme. I love the result. What do you think? I'm still experimenting to find "rabbit proof" plants. So far it is pretty limited. I just read that putting baby powder on the plants will discourage the rabbits. I'll be trying that soon.

Bonding with Sun City West

I'm still having flashes of "what was I thinking", particularly since we are still in triple digit temperatures. That being said, I am doing my best to get involved with the local community and take advantage of all SCW offers. I did join the Westernaires singing group and I am loving it. I had forgotten how wonderful it is to be surrounded by harmony. The group is very good and I am looking forward to the Christmas Concert. We are doing some lovely music. So fun. I have also signed up for beginning Spanish, a writing class and landscape painting. I'm doing a volunteer project at Church and continuing my phone calls for Obama. All this reaching out is not easy, but I'm determined to give Sun City West and Arizona a chance.

I have to admit I have been "Seattle Dreaming" since I've been home. I'm missing my Tribe, especially with this election looming. Also miss the water and trees and I guess, just the familiarity. It takes time to settle into a new life in a new place and I am definitely a "work in progress".

I have been watching, with great concern, the financial crisis our Country is in. I will suggest to anyone reading this....put your cash in a federally insured account. I moved my money market out of a money market mutual fund and into a bank money market account. With all my years in banking, greed does not surprise me, but where were the Regulators??? They are suppose to keep us honest and protect us from flim-flam. The proposed bailout by the government looks like the only reasonable choice if we want to avoid a complete meltdown that could look very much like another great depression. I'm most worried however, about the incredible deficit we face. Since the US is technically bankrupt, let us hope that China and others want to continue to buy our paper and keep us in operating mode. No matter what both candidates say, tax increases are inevitable.

The USA may be down but I believe we will recover and rise again. For me the best chance for leadership is Barack Obama. But what a mess he will walk into. Stay optimistic out there but wear a life preserver.

P.S. The sunset view is from my back yard. Nice.

Home Sweet Home

I loved Show Low, AZ but the altitude created some breathing problems and a bit of vertigo for me. I stayed in the pool as much as possible....much softer landing when I fall over. I do love my water time.

Got Ms. Capri in good shape, checked out the area and finally decided it was time to go home. I was also motivated by an email invitation to the Obama AZ. Headquarters opening.

So off I went on Tuesday, Sept. 9th. Nice drive on Hiway 60. Got home about 7PM, unloaded the essentials and checked out the house. I'm pleased to say that all was in order. My house checkers did a great job of keeping things watered and cared for. So no unwanted surprises.

Yesterday I attended the Obama AZ event and signed up for phone and doorbelling work.
Met some lovely people who are all excited about the coming election and "our" candidates. I'm going to work on the "Seniors for OBAMA" project. I now have my bumper stickers, signage and a tee-shirt "Women for OBAMA). Only a couple months to get the job done so I'm getting busy!

Today I finished unpacking Ms. Capri, sorting through the tons of mail, mostly junk and getting cable TV, and telephone back in service plus some new faucets put in.

I already have a busy week. I meet with the Westernaires Chorus tomorrow to see about joining. We'll see if this used and abused voice can contribute anything. Also time to see my great hair guy, Vittorio for a cut and more highlights. I have never colored my hair before this summer and now I'm hooked. Still no gray but some white zingers showing up.

It is wonderful being back in my home bed and stretching out to full capacity. The Valley heat and air quality are still not very user friendly to me but it is what it is and I understand it won't start cooling down until October. So maybe next year I will be gone from mid-May to Oct. 1st. Northwest sound best to me so far. Much as I loved all I saw and experienced this summer, it was way too much driving and too hot and humid for me. I turned 6200 miles when I pulled in my driveway. Needless to say, I'm road weary and physically tired. We'll see how fast I snap back this year.

Pictures show a happy water "baby" in Show Low and plants all in bloom at my AZ home.

Pictures of Ms. Capri's Interior & my spot in Florida

Pictures of the trip over the Mountains to AZ

Just some fun pictures of the trip over the mountains. Hope you enjoy.