home sweet home

Finally home from my trip to Colorado Springs, CO to watch my sister graduate from the Air Force Academy..... A few photos from the trip.

The first is the chapel on campus. It houses four different religions in one building... cathloic, protestant, jewish and buddism.

The campus is enormous and because of the elevation it really seems as if you are sitting in the sky.

President Bush was the speaker at graduation and took the time to personally shake hands with all 1,012 of the graduates.

My sis up on the jumbotron. After 6 weeks of leave she is headed to South Dakota. Not the most glamourous of posts!

happy memorial day

I am spending my holiday packing so that I can fly to Colorado Springs, CO tommorrow to watch my sister Amber graduate from the Air Force Academy. It is a 3 day long process to graduate from the academy. There are ceremonies and presentation of wings and all kinds of formal dress required for this and that award banquets. It is a little bitter sweet. My dad passed away two years shy of watching her graduate. He was always the one pushing her into joining the Air Force. My mom is already there with various other relatives. I will get to meet my sister's boyfriend for the first time. I can't help but reflect on how very different we are and all the paths that you can take in life. I super proud of her for sticking by her convictions but also worried where she will be sent and into what?

Already half way through the holiday weekend.. wow! time flies when you are having fun! Got to spend a great Saturday with my friend Kat talking about paper! Yes, my life is exciting :) Here is my latest layout with a pic of me and the hubby.

under a cotton candy tree

A few blog entrees ago I talked about my love for the Jacaranda tree.. so of course I had to do a layout on them...plus Britta challenged me to :). When they are in bloom they always remind me of a big ball of cotton candy.

What's It Like?

So, I am leaving a restaurant with a friend and I look over at the movie theatre and see this line. A crowd of people who are camping out over night so they can see the first showing of the new Indiana Jones movie. A movie that doesn't start until Thursday. My typical response would be to wonder aloud what is their deal? This time I was struck by the dedication and energy of their excitement. I can not, for the life of me, think of a single thing that I would sleep on the ground overnight to see. I would certainly never be so excited about the idea of it that I would take the extra step of dressing up in costume.... But, how cool is that to be so excited about anything?

ode to the Jacaranda tree

I think some of stereo types about living in Southern California is that we have nothing but palm trees and that we don't have any seasons. We in fact have both! yes, the seasons are not up in your face. They are more subtle. You just need to look for them. My favorite time of year is spring because that is when the most beautiful tree in the world (in my humble opinion) is in bloom. The Jacaranda tree has a very short time span when it is in full bloom. My street is awash in purple for about a month. I am often found with my neck crooked upward staring into the branches of these beauties for the whole month of May. Here are some pics for my friend Britta in Germany who had never heard of one before. Now you don't have to google them my friend :)

wedding continued

I scraplifted myself and made another wedding layout with the Teresa Collins paper I got in my kit from Freckle Friends... It is sooo pretty and fun to play with that I couldn't help myself :)

Hello New Friends

This is my newest layout. Inspired by our new friends......

Good Bye My Friend

Last night Johnny and I went to see the Glass Menagerie at the Old Globe..http://www.oldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=5756. Here is a link to a great shot from the play. I had never read the play all the way through before, so I didn't know what the ending would be.
It was really timeless despite taking place in the 30s. That is what I love most about plays. They are written about current events while they are still current. Somehow they always appear timeless because our world changes but the problems we have just seem to repeat generation after generation. Mare Winningham starred in it with some other brillant actors.
A scene was done in candlelight that really created an intimate setting. I wonder what happens to Laura and her mother after I left?
We have had season tickets for the last several years. Because of that we get to sit in the same seat every time we have play. I have been really lucky in my seat at the Cassius Carter as I am in the front row. It is a very small theater in the round and you really get to be up in the action.
I am sorry to say that this is our last performance viewed in the space.
Progress marches on and it will be torn down to build a bigger, better version. I am sorry to lose this space and this intimacy with the actors... It was a fitting last performance about love and loss....

Freckle Friends Contest Entry

I am entering this in a contest from Freckle Friends. You are to use Teresa Collins papers and products. The damask paper is so feminine and romantic that it just seemed to call out for a wedding picture. Keep your fingers crossed!!

All Buttoned Up

A little rambling blog.. loving buttons right now. My wonderful cat Harry :)

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!
We had a great time at Gator by the Bay yesterday. Met Larry's Co-Worker Mike and his wonderfully fun wife Tanya.. a new scrap friend!! YEAH!!

The Robot Smile

So I am a little bummed today... I found out that a design team spot I wanted pretty bad was not to be mine. I am super thrilled for everyone who did get on the team, but can't help wondering if I will ever get chosen for a team . Can't help wondering what's wrong with my stuff that I can't catch anyone's eye? Trying not to be a Debbie Downer so I grabbed some Bam Pop paper I have been wanting to play with and put my artistic angst to work!

wonderfully busy weekend!

What a tough problem to have! Too much fun on the menu! Friday night started off with dinner with my inlaws and a Michael Buble concert...so fabulous! Saturday, I got a new macro lens for my camera- that I am dying to try out! Then it was off to my fave scrapbooking store Yellow Bird for some celebrating of National Scrapbook Day! So many fun items on sale :) Then we had dinner to celebrate Larry's little bro's b-day-more yummy food! Yesterday we spent the day at Disneyland-got some fun pictures from the Jungle Ride. Boy! I need a vacation from all this fun! I am definitely using way too many exclamation points in this entry!

Buble Bubbly!

So can't wait for the Michael Buble concert tonight!! YEAH HAH!!!!