Jamaica Bound

Hard to believe it's only two weeks until we leave for Jamaica.... Going to Negril for spring break to a family resort, Beaches Negril. We're all looking forward to it!

I'm a bad blogger, I know....never seem to get around to it. Maybe I'll start posting from my Droid. :-)

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Finally went to see it with our friends Jay and Lola. It was fun and the CGI special effects were amazing, but the plot was light and it was fairly cheesy. Interesting to see the fruition of the project that I'd been hearing about for the last three years, what with James Cameron being on the board at Multiverse.

New Years at the Lake House and Snow

Went up the the Lake House after Christmas, just to hang out and relax, and then go up to the snow....


I had a heck of a time getting online, but was able to get some work done thanks to Jody and Steve.

We finally made it up to the snow at Crane's Flat on Jan. 2nd. Juliet enjoyed sledding, building a snowman and having snowball fights.


Candice took this nice self-portrait while we were at Crane Flat.

Julilet at six

Today was Juliet's sixth birthday party. For the first time, she requested a jumpy house, but it was raining so we had to make do with a toss the bug into the frog's mouth game and a cotton candy machine. Both were very well received by the girls. I say girls because there were eleven little girls... no boys.

All in all, it went pretty well. No major meltdowns, and everyone had fun. Once again, Lisa, "Auntie Lee Lee" came early to help with the cake, and she was a huge help. Candice did he usual awesome job on snacks and drinks, and it was a very nice party overall.

Now on to Christmas!

Halloween

Bittersweet Halloween, remembering what was happening a year ago. Back to normal to some degree. Went to work as a monkey princess, which apparently is my lot for this year's costume after many years as a cowboy.

Blogless Summer

Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Somehow I never found time to blog this summer...since The Fourth.


To make up for it, I'm going to post some pictures from the Lake House. Candice took these.




And now summer is officially over because Candice and Juliet have returned from The Lake House. School starts next week, and we are back into our normal routine. The lazy hazy days of summer are over....for those who really had them, that is.

As for me, I went back and forth a lot between Edgewood and The Lake House, and also refurbished my study (nee Library) into a whole new room, at least it feels that way. At some point, I'll post pictures of the new study and my new Scotch Bar.

Another Fourth at The Lake and Lucy

At Pine Mountain Lake, where the "McKinney Relaxin' Shack" is, the Fourth of July (Independence Day) is THE big holiday, when the normally placid beaches fill up with throngs. Normally, we lay low. But this year, our friends Lisa & Eric joined us (unexpectedly) and we were invited by our neighbors' family to go out on their boat and join the Boat Parade, another fine PML tradition in which folks festoon their boats and parade around spraying everyone else onshore and in other boats with squirt guns, partying, and generally making merry.

Apparently, there are even annual "themes" beyond the obvious red, white, and blue and other patriotic regalia; this year it was holidays. A canoe was made to look like a Thanksgiving turkey rowed by pilgrims and Indians. A prancing leprechaun, festooned in bright green with a red beard cavorted maniacally beneath a pot-o-gold terminated rainbow. Drinks were drunk and music was played. And, as my mother used to say: A good time was had by all.

Until the next day. Lucy awoke not her usual perky self, but lethargic and weak. She appeared to be in pain, and at times, she shivered. We were worried, and I had to return to work and our home in Aptos. Then, Lucy developed a swelling on her chest; Candice took her to the vet twice in Sonora (who unfortunately was leaving imminently). Then Candice decided to come home for a while and consult her usual vet.

Lucy seems to be getting better, but her temperature won't stay down. We're still worried.