Happy Birthday to Me!

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! It was a nice relaxing day...no sudden awakenings to help clean up a leak with the water heater pipe....no appointments to deal with Mom or Dean (at least for me...Gary had an appointment with Social Security)...just a leisurely lunch with my friend Elizabeth; a side trip to the John Steinbeck House; Elizabeth had to drop off her guild dues; taking Neil to get a haircut and ice cream at Cold Stone.

Elizabeth gave me a very pretty bracelet and necklace for my birthday...my first Cookie Lee pieces...the AP club had a fundraiser at North HIgh and Elizabeth generously got me these pieces.


Neil FiNALLY got his haircut from his favorite barber..Lilly....he doesn't look very happy...oh well...he looks much more handsome now.



We made a side trip to the John Steinbeck House. Elizabeth is a guild member and had to drop off her dues...the dues allow her the "privilege" to work in the restaurant...

Tonight's dinner is at Sea Harvest Restaurant in Moss Landing...hopefully there is something for the boys to eat.

Our friends were out to greet us!



Ah...the lovely Moss Landing landscape (aka the PG&E power plant)


On the way home we stopped to see the newest member of Jeff's family...his cousin's daughter, Kalenna Ottinger...


While Jordan was putting on his shoes...he was attacked by Uncle Haku...so, he fought back...


Guess who won...



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Happy Independence Day (Weekend)

On Saturday, we had Mom's 49 Day Memorial Service...a tradition in the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist faith. Rev. Hanayama wrote a fantastic, albeit lengthly explanation of the 49 day service. Basically, when a person dies, they face "judgement" every 7 days to determine which realm a person would be reborn into. The 49th day is the final judgement. This custom started in India, travelled through to China then to Japan, where it was brought over with my Grandfather's generation to the US.

After the service, we had dinner...and then hung out at the house. Dad had ordered a birthday cake for me and Uncle Sam...but, he went to sleep, so, Dave took cake to his house.

Karen, Haku and Kalena came to the house for cake...here is Jeff with Kalena.


Much to Neil's delight, Auntie Lori Yoshida sent some fireworks with Rev. Hanayama for the boys. Jeff had told the boys and my Dad that we were NOT going to do fireworks...it was nice...Mom would have liked the boys to do some...it was the perfect amount. Even Uncle Gary got in the mood...



Please note, that these were the safe and sane fireworks....much to our shock and surprise....my father's friend's house was burnt down on the 4th by bottle rockets. Both cars and the entire house was gutted...luckily both he and his wife are safe...especially when you consider that he just turned 95 on the 2nd...yes, we share our birthday...

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City Boys...sigh

Ok, so, I have been able to ignore the boyish cries, "Mommy, a tractor...", when they were young...but, this is truly embarrassing...

We drove to my Dad's house to take care of some things for Mom and meet with people regarding my brother.

Today is the last day for harvesting lettuce...so, Tio Tony (aka "our amigo") showed Jordan and Neil, how to pick a head of lettuce...sigh....I think Tony had the box picked and filled before Jordan got his shoes on....

As usual, Neil got all into it...

Jordan on the other hand, I guess he might be a "lettuce model"....


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New necklace

I haven't beaded in quite a while...but, about a month ago, I stopped by the Bead Asylum, and was inspired...this is my version of Joanie's necklace...a green and purple Russian stitch with a crystal accent strand. I did notice that there are a lot of necklaces with a large crystal section...I love it...now, I wonder I'd I have something to wear with it....


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Lunch and coffee with friends...

Hmm...I'll get in trouble for this post!

Teresa and I finally met for lunch...we missed Christmas and last summer...so, it has been a while. It's great to see her daughter Miranda..who will be starting in first grade...she is getting so big! It was also great to see Teresa's mom...

Here is a picture of the kids...



Now the reason why I am in trouble. Since I met Teresa for lunch in Pleasanton, I called Alina and Danny for coffee...sorry, everyone else...I was short on time, so, I couldn't hang out longer...Toga, you were in a meeting...

I promise next, time...lunch....and coffee...question, why did Starbuck's open across the street AFTER I quit?

Alina and me...I miss her, she was my neighbor...forever!




Danny and Alina..."Coach Danny" helped Jeff for a few years..he is a good kid...


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Great weekend

It was a nice weekend...I don't even remember the last time we were all home for the weekend.

On Saturday, we went to got see Dr. Kyle for our adjustments. We met our friend Lori there...and along with Kyle, Teresa and their new baby we went to lunch at Santa Ramen...quite yummy!

Afterwards, we went to the Lego store at Hillsdale mall...Neil picked up a mechanized Lego set...on Friday, we had hit up Toys R Us for an RC car...Neil put that together...but, last night and today was devoted to organizing his Legos and Bionicle tubs...tomorrow, we are probably hitting up Target for boxes/tubs....sigh....

Here is a picture of what is left to organize and separate.




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