brakes squeal

Car stops. Dust Swirls.
I started downshifting on Friday.
Whew. Finally on the other side of the holidays.
Finally I can stop.
House clean
Bills paid
Kids all off to school.

Its been a busy couple of months. And it would appear that my only down time has been the occasional pit stop. Im afraid I did not really have much time to write home from the throne. Did you miss me?

By in large the holidays were good to us. Greg got a nifty little bonus that let us splurge and also  resulted in a longer vacation than we had been initially planning. Our turn around weekender turned into a somewhat impromptu week road long trip which allowed us to pay a visit and celebrate the season with about 50  "local" (Meaning all of us in a 100 miles) AFA'ers. We had timing and energy conflicts all year which had prevented us meeting up prior (with the very wyrd exception of running into Steve and Sheila at the Nugget when I was in Reno catching up with Dave during his visit stateside). Anyway.. I ramble.. longer story told shorter.. we were happy to be able to get together for an afternoon of reconnections with one another and with our deepest roots. Greg contentedly played chess for hours as he was unable to carry on much conversation having just had oral surgery that reestablished his gum-line. Painful.

The next morning we hit one of the most amazing brunch places we have ever found.. a place called Midtown Creperie or something like that. Its located on the Miracle Mile in Stockton. Everyone of us thoroughly enjoyed our Louisiana style meal.

From there we were off to visit a good percentage of my cousins in foresthill along with my Lovely Aunt and Uncle. Even if I have not seen them for a million years there is no doubt they are family. It was a warm and cozy reunion.  Except for stargazing which wasn't that warm but boy it was worth it.. The sky was so clear and you could see so deep into the heavens. The milky way stretched its spill across a broad expanse.  It was breathtaking. Expansive. And I had thought we had a good view from our home! bah! Magnificent. The kids were all of similar age and got along perfectly. It was wonderful. One of my cousins spoke of an off the grid comunitee that she had her eye on. I really want to hear more about that and am looking forward to a good sit down visit when they come down in March.

Off to truckee for couple of days with no one but ourselves to answer to. Which is a spot on sentence considering that we didn't have much in the way of cell reception. Not to mention a lost charger cord somewhere along the way.  We filled our time with the hot tub, movies in bed (including Heathers!), wrestling (thin walls..oops) wandering the town, strolling the river bank looking for rocks, mani's Pedi's and facials, off roading around the dams, picture taking, and the watching people play hockey near where my three played on the ice.

New Years eve day we headed to Zephyr Cove for lunch before heading to moms. We were surprised and disappointed that the restaurant no longer served milkshakes. It was one of the places I used to go with my pops on the rare get away take the car for a ride trip. Fries and a malt. No more. Now its more haughty taughty. Decent... Looks the same... But not the same.

And NO SNOW! The lack of snow and rain this year is daunting.. heartbreaking even. I pray for rain!

Then off to moms. We settled in and then took in the desolation of smaug. I'm not going to give it great marks as I find such movies dizzy making. I will say that its action packed and everything one would expect given the earlier films and the story. Personally with this series Id rather read the story.

After the movie, Greg and I stopped in on some friends to wish them a happy new year. We laughed and Greg took rather kindly to a bottle of Glen Fiddich. We chatted it up and caught up before leaving before the strike of 12. Actually we walked into moms two minutes before with a bottle of sparkling juice to celebrate with the kids. They were happily watching Labyrinth and the first sound I heard while opening the door was "Dance baby dance" which made me happy. David Bowie singing a magic song in magic pants. Now that's how to kick of the new year!

Anyway, we stayed a few quiet days in Carson, the kids played happily with their cousin and we did a lot of coloring. Mom got the kids these really cool coloring books and introduced us to the art of zendoodle. What is zen doodle? Its sort of like all the doodling I have ever done only on a much more structured basis. Separate sections are created on the page and then they are filled in with various patterns. It is rather meditative and is something I need to return to.  This year I intend to work harder at my art and my passions. Which is perfect given my 2014 horoscope, which reads..

 

The citizens of Iceland love literature, but many are not content to simply read. One out of every ten Icelanders writes and publishes a book at sometime in his or her life. I know it's unrealistic, but I would love to see at least one in ten of all my Libra readers do the same in 2014. I think you're ready to make a big statement -- to express yourself in a more complete and dramatic way than ever before. If you're not ready to write a book, I hope you will attempt an equivalent accomplishment.

 

Now my next big question is where to fit this work in. I work best when the house is quiet. So I suspect early morning will be my time. Need to set the alarm!

 

Anyway, back at moms, Greg and I ducked out for a bit to watch American Hustle. This movie is one that I will brag about. A very well put together flick.. from the story to the quality of acting to the costumes and soundtrack. Nice bit of work.

 I might as well interject a side note about another movie while I am at it. RIPD. It extremely men in blackish but it stars Jeff Bridges who can make any so-so movie a winner just by the way he sits. Such the Dude!!And the frosty comments.. The movie wasn't bust a gut funny but I did laugh quite a bit.

So we left moms and returned home to a call announcing unexpected but dearly welcomed company. Denise! She needed some refuge. It was a nice visit and she helped us get our greenhouse started.

This last weekend was geeky good. We got in a visit with Nell and David in Palo Alto while taking in the Bay Area Lego Clubs annual winter display. Pretty cool. And I need to stop here and take a minute to praise Nell for her knitting. I recieved a most beuatiful scarf that she spun and knitted herself.  I love it! We discussed thier work. They are studing or attempting to find the science to reveal that a far more major factor in stream polution (as compared with brake and tire dust) is the degridation of asphalt.  Its made of oil.. Soo.. No Duh. Right?! They are out to scientifically prove it in order to change laws to prohibit or make asphalt usage more ecologically friendly. Right on.. Nell and David Rock! Speaking of rock.. we need to go concerting with them this year.. can you say Motorhead?! :P

All the while and during all our activities, we have been fighting this damn flu. Add to it Asthma induced by our new down comforter.. Im over it and oh so happy to be returning to the groove..  Time to stop looking back and start looking forward. Out with the old and in with the new! Wonder what wonders are in store?! It will be a great year!  I may or may not get pics up anytime soon. Its not a priority. Connors Birthday preperations are taking precidence at the moment. It is going to be a minecraft themed event.  Anyway... Off I go to settle happily back in.