State of Obvious

Not me, of course. Cha-Cha, QofL, had a card reader on her laptop! So, there's been a card reader literally at my fingertips this whole time...and she pointed it out to me today so I get to post some pictures and clear out my memory card. It's the little things, really. Some of my favorites so far: And a California slideshow: You can click on the slideshow to go to photobucket and see the rest of the photos from the trip so far (I don't know why it just keeps 'loading' sigh). When I have more time I will organize it better, but for now everyone is waiting on me to get done so we can have some fun!

Is clearly a visit to the beach. Best parts of an afternoon beach sittin: ~ Carly mothering the birds: "Don't eat that bird! Bird ! Don't eat that!" ~ Watching Josh get knocked over by a crashing wave and then seeing him pop up grinning. ~ Sand in my shoes and between my toes. ~ Seaweed attacking Josh. ~ The sound of crashing, rolling surf. ~ Salty lips. ~ Carly wearing her sunglasses on top of her head instead of over her eyes. It's all about the look. ~ Never having the camera ready at just the right moment...like when Josh was picking his swimsuit out of his bum. Or when the water dragged it down to expose his carpenter tan. ~ Sand stuck in Carly's eyelashes. ~ The satisfying thump of sand as it falls out of Josh's swimsuit on the bathroom floor in a wet heap. (Josh described this to me in detail, so I know its bonafide). I'm still cranky - let's blame it on an almost 3 year old that decided 3 a.m. was the PERFECT time to be awake - but at l...

We made it safely to sunny CA and are enjoying our stay with Cha-Cha, Queen of Legos. She moved to the LA area about nine months ago and this has been our first chance to come mess up her new digs. We spent a couple of hot days (HOT!) doing nothing in particular which is just fine with me. Charlotte is just one of those people I feel at ease with, no need to run around or make things happen. On Monday we went to the LA Air and Space, Science and Natural History museum. They have a really nice set up down town where you can visit most of the museums and such for only $6. The Natural History museum cost extra, but its a very nice museum overall and Charlotte paid so I'm not going to complain. Tuesday we went to Disneyland! Other than being crazy expensive, it was a very good time. The weather had cooled off a little bit, which was a blessing. It was very very crowded but we still managed to ride some rides and shop and we stayed late enough for the fireworks (even though Carly was cl...

So Joshua, Carly and I have journied cross country since my last post. My intention was to catch a flight - probably just me and the little mite - and come out to NM for my Grandmother's funeral/celebration of life. I priced out plane tickets, however, and deductive reasoning led Eric and I to decide I might as well drive out so that Joshua could come along too. The 3 of us set out on Tuesday and got here Thursday evening. I was, for the most part, relieved that the drive went so well. I never realized just how boring it is to be the passenger, it is much much easier to have to drive. Carly slept in the morning and afternoon of each day we drove, which was hugely helpful. Joshua put forth the required number of "I'm so bored!"s and was generally good natured otherwise. A few trip highlights so far: - Josh asking me to put the 'metal to the pedal' and get to Texas. - Staying at a Super 8 outside OK City in the room next to a guy driving a truck emblazon...

I remember when my grandmother taught me to stamp white horses. It was a traveling game, I don't recall the details of why she taught us kids to play it - we were probably being rowdy and she wanted to distract us. She said to lick your thumb, press it to your palm and then 'stamp it' with the fist of your other hand. On driving trips all of us kids would search for white horses and compete to stamp the most. Even now, as an adult, I play this game. I suppose when someone touches your heart, you can't help but play their games. My grandmother passed away last night. Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place ...

This has been an interesting week. Interesting in a topsy-turvy, emotional, retrospective kind of way. We (meaning not me, but Eric and his brother Scott) are cleaning up the last vestiges of Tario existence over at the house on Lincoln. It is basically cleaned out now, stripped of all it's charming loveliness, all of Mom's touches. Scott produced a box of the aforemoaned-about dishes, which I was very happy to acquire. They are currently sitting on my dining room table in boxes because I really have no place to put them...at least without cleaning out a closet or two. Scott also kept half of the aforemoaned-about dishes to 'remember mom by', which is totally fine (no sarcasm, I promise). I only wish he had been up front and honest from the start that he wanted them, it would have saved me a few tears and crazy attacks. I will freely and fully admit that I wanted to keep all the dishes, all of Mom's dishes, so that someday I could pass them on to Carly and Josh. Bu...

Here is Miss Carly in her new hat and shoes. But for a drip from a drink on her shirt, she could be a magazine photo dontcha think?