Hey Kids--Update

This is just a reminder that I am going on that trip with my mom. I will leave on Saturday and be gone until Feb. 16th. I am going to scan info about where I am staying (contact numbers, etc.) and the itinerary so you will know where I am in case of any emergency. I will send those through email before I leave.

Some of you might know that the California rains caused a flood in my apartment/living space last week. The landlord is finally getting some of the important things done around that--e.g., removing the rug and lining up someone to work on clean-up and repairs. It has added a layer of things-to-deal-with. All of my stuff is discombobulated--makes day-to-day routines more complicated. It will be a challenge to come back to home to all of the mess.

Sending you hugs and stuff like that!

Flapper dress

And also another significant thing that's been happening during my visit: mom is helping me to construct a 1920's style dress for an event I'm going to attend when I return to Columbus. It has been quite a project (Thanks, Mom!!!). Anyway - here is a picture of mom draping some bits and bobs from Jo-Ann's that we found..... I was trying to hold things in place with my hands, arms, chin, and - yep- even the elastic from my underwear.... (with varying degrees of success). Hopefully we'll be awake and lucid to take pictures of the finished product.

Blueberries for Breakfast

So I finally made it out to CA to visit mom in Berzerkely. :)

Here are a few photos to summarize the trip-in-progress:

Alas, this is not the newest Rorschach test. Rather, the blueberries made a pretty design before they were destined to make yummy muffins for breakfast. Thanks (yet again) to mom and her lovely cooking.


Carrie and Curtis, two of mom's friends, gave us a tour of Napa Valley. You can't really tell, but there is a reservoir of water below us. The winery where we were visiting is owned by someone from Ohio - and they were so close to naming the reservoir after me (ohio-ians are very much about solidarity)!! I told them that I was trying to recover from my kick of narcissism so it would be better if they just named it after a grape or something....



I really loved this tree.....

Still have one more full day - and if it is anything like the time I've been having, it is sure to be memorable and fun!!!

Volleyball

This will be one of many posts that will happen over the next few months. Bailey is part of the Minnesota One (M1) Volleyball Club this year. She will be participating in a number of tournaments to advance her training while competing against other girls her age. On Sunday was her first go at competition. As I normally do when sports are involved, I try to take a few action shots. While we were talking with the other parents, Laurie and I had the idea to put together a collage of all the girls on the team to present at the end of the season. Therefore, I tried to take pictures of all the girls. There were a few really spectacular action shots, but only one really caught the expressions on their faces. This shot is not one of stellar performance, but of shear action.

There were other good shots of Bailey.

Their team won 2 of 3 matches to finish second in pool play. Not a bad start for the season. I will keep you posted on how the team does throughout the year.

Laugh Riot

Last night I had the opportunity to play Apples to Apples at one of our neighbor's New Year's Eve Party. We played with both adults and kids. It was a very fun time for everyone involved. The adults had a few moments of inside jokes from the cards that were played, which made the game a little more fun for us. I could see how this game when played with just adults could turn into a huge laugh riot. It is also a game for a larger group of people. I highly recommend that if you get the opportunity to play this game.

Happy New Year to all of you. I hope that you had a fun evening wherever you were.