SAMURAI --- Asian Art Museum SF

Today we went to the Asian Art Museum with Jeff's Mother and Grandmother. I was a little worried about Grandma, she is 92 years "young", but she did really well!

Unfortunately, we were not able to take pictures in the Samurai exhibit, but it was really interesting...we were lucky enough to catch the "Samurai Stories", so that got us in the mood for the exhibit.
I don't know if the boys really appreciated the exhibits, but, they did like the video presentations about Japanese Castles, Zen, Shinto and Tea Houses...(I just checked, they still remembered the topics :) ).
Here are the boys with Grandma. Don't they look good for the end of the day? On the way home, Jordan and Grandma went to sleep. In Jordan's defense, he went walking with Jeff this morning at 6:30 a.m.

This is one of the many "Buddhas" that are on exhibit at the museum. They are from all over Asia...you will notice that some are standing and some are sitting. Jodo Shinshu's Buddha is standing so I took this picture. (Phew! We asked Jordan the other day what sect of Buddhism we are...and he answered "Jodo Shinshu"....Good job Noreen!)
The next time you see Neil, ask him about the screen with the Dog. Can you see the dog in the middle, and all of the samurai on horseback with (egads!) bows and arrows? According to Neil, "The game is, you have to shoot the dog with an arrow. There is something on the end of the arrow, so the dog does not get damaged. They could not hit the dog on its head or back." It still sounds like it would hurt, eh.

This was not in the Samurai exhibit, so, I could take a picture (without my flash, I'll get to this in a second...grrrr).

Isn't this basket gorgeous? I love baskets, and there were BEAUTIFUL hand-woven baskets on display!

Here are my two angels....hee hee...at least they weren't "battling" while in the exhibits...

Okay, about the "no flash photography". It's getting REALLY hard raising two boys, you try to teach them "right from wrong", "good values" etc...then you have some a$$h0)e taking flash photography at a museum when there are signing saying that it is prohibited...plus, the guards told you the rules, plus, NO ONE else is....sigh, once again I had to have the "sometimes people don't want to follow the rules, but that is wrong" conversation with the boys. At least, they knew it was wrong....and I made sure to get us out of there before the guards came, since I had my camera around my neck...and YOU COULD SEE THE FLASH STROBES going off.

Sigh...I'm tired....nite!

Lunch with Andi

So, I am a little late with this post....YESTERDAY, we had lunch with Andi. I have know Andi since she was probably younger than the kids she is teaching...yes, this officially makes me OLD!

Anyways, one day I was clicking through the school website...and I see Andi's name...I thought "nah...that can't be the same Andi..."...I called my Mom and she said, "oh yeah, Andi's teaching somewhere in Fremont....". My response: "um Mom, she is teaching across the street at the boys' school". On Wednesday, we had lunch and got caught up...then we helped her set up her classroom a little..."destroy" boxes (the boys like the more violent words), and put up books etc...

I can't wait to see their pictures from their vacation in Spain! Fun Fun Fun...get it in now...before the kids!

Whoo HOO!!! GO Vikings!!!!

Last weekend was my 25 year High School Class Reunion! It was a lot more fun than I expected and it is great to see everyone...

Friday night was an informal get-together at Casa Sorrento...it's owned by one of our classmates, Mike Hackett, and I also went to grammar school with him...now that's going WAY BACK!

Tim Castro, me, Leonard Santiago and yes, that's JUDE URETA...our class president... Marsha (Queturas) Santiago, Jeff Lopez, Jim Innocenti, Sandee Nelson and me....talk about going WAY BACK...we all went to El Gabilan Elementary together....I think Mike is hiding!

We were running late leaving Fremont, so, Jeff dropped me off at Elizabeth's house, and Mr. Armstrong picked BOTH of us up! Boy, was he surprised to see me at Eliz's. (I don't know if it was a "pleasant" or "bad" surprise...)

Hans and Margie came all the way from Kent, WA for the reunion. Margie and I met at El Sausal Junior High. We were always seated close to each other (in class and yearbook) since both of our last names started with an "I". She is one of the sweetest people I know!

Suzette Tindall and I are catching up on life...we might have been talking about Girl Scouts, HAH!

Okay, let's talk about Small Worlds, Rob Tompkins and I were talking about "what are you doing now" and I found out that he worked with "my mother's cousins' husband" (did ya follow that?) ...funny huh? Then Rob and Jeff started talking about softball and they lost me...willingly...(I am so glad softball days are over...too many weekends freezing in S.F. with no bathrooms...or roasting in Sacramento....)

Our class Valedictorian, Chun Lee, came to his FIRST reunion! Now that I am "friends" on FB with his wife Rina, he has no excuse for missing any more!

Kim and I go back to Kindergarten! Isn't she pretty, just like back then! She had done a great job with all of our reunions...we are lucky to have her!

Marsha and me....we went together to the reunion while Pete played with the boys at my parents' house. Dad and Jordan dropped him off at Marsha's mom's house later that night...

More of the El Gabilan Elementary crew, Jim Innocenti (he came out from Colorado Springs), Sandra Villalobos, Marsha, Suzette, me, Lee Hickinbotham, Kim and Sandee Nelson.

The group picture....

Dinner at Fuddrucker's....again....but I love it!

We made it hope in time for Logan's 1st birthday party...unfortunately, I didn't have my camera since we walked to Evonne's Mom's house...oh well....I plead lack of sleep!

But, I did take my camera to Fuddrucker's after the last day of basketball camp! I couldn't resist taking this picture of the kids....look at them....and these are only the ones we went to dinner with... I am going through my reunion pictures tomorrow...look for a LONG post...or at least one filled with pictures! I'll also post pictures to FB.

Updated with pictures: Pizza and More...

Last night was the "informal get-together" at my fellow classmates restaurant, Casa Sorrento Pizzeria Wine and Spirits. Ok, to be honest, I didn't know if I really wanted to go to the Friday social...it was one of those things...you don't always remember everyone....sigh....but, it was a fun time....should be...we left after 10 p.m. and the event was officially over at 8! But, there was a band there that played pretty good music etc...so, it was fun seeing everyone.

The funny thing is, there were a lot of people that Marsha (my friend we visited in San Diego) and I knew from Grammar School. The owner of the restaurant Mike Hackett, Jim Innocenti, Sandy Nelson, Kim Anders, Jeff Lopez, Marsha and I have know each other for 30+ years....sheesh, we must be getting old! I thought it was bad enough that we were going to our 25 year High School reunion!

On a sad note, when I got to my parents' house, they handed me a newspaper clipping....never a good thing....our leadership advisor/teacher had passed away from brain cancer earlier this month. Mr. Kunas was a wonderful person....I will always remember him in his hawaiian shirts and birkenstocks! So sad....

Tim Castro (not to be confused with his "evil" twin George), myself, Leonard and the long-lost Jude Ureta are posing for a picture.

I hitched a ride with Elizabeth and Mr. Armstrong to the social. Elizabeth lives off of 101 in Prunedale, so, Jeff thought it would be faster for him to drop me off there...I quickly changed and refreshed at her house, and Mr. Armstrong drove us to Casa Sorrento.
The ole "El Gobble Gobble" crew....El Gabilan...I think our mascot was a turkey. In this picture is Marsha, Jeff Lopez, Jim Innocenti, Sandy Nelson and me!

Hair is done...ready to go to the Ball!

So, I was due for a haircut...so, I scheduled it for today since tomorrow is my 25 year class reunion...WHOO HOO....I think most of us are in shock that it has been 25 years!

Anyhoots, this is Tiffany....she is AWESOME and has a great personality! If you are looking for someone to do your hair...go see Tiffany at Visual Image! I love her!!!!!

Back to the reunion....tonight is an informal social followed by the reunion tomorrow at Paraiso Vineyards.

Funny thing is, Gary also has his reunion...his 21st....it's a 3 year combined event....and then Dave has an Academic Decathalon reunion on Sunday! Crazy, huh!

I almost forgot....check out this blog: http://hachiko-dog-story-movie-trailer.blogspot.com/ . Looks like one of my favorite Japanese tales is being brought to the big screen...with Richard Gere in the lead....should be interesting...it makes me want to get an Akita...or Shiba-inu....

Color Me Mine!!!

For our Wednesday outing...we went to Color Me Mine with Kaitlyn, Kristen, Riley and Makaela. At first Jordan said that he didn't want to do it...then he saw a dragon....it was a cool dragon, but it's wing was broken so he settled for a T-Rex....Neil, is still missing Kiku...so, he painted her! Blue eyes and all! Riley painted a mermaid....and Kristen (with Kathy's help) painted a red and purple ladybug.

I think Kaitlyn's piece is going to turn out GREAT! She painted a dolphin on a wave....Makaela painted a castle switch plate....too cute!

Ok, so, I got in the mood...and since the boys are more or less self-sufficient....I painted a utensil container...of course its a light purple (more mauve) with purple flowers....

Here are our final pieces before it gets fired....yes, the T-Rex is multi-colored...I dunno...Kathy and I are talking about going back sans kids....and having a Girl's Day...Michelle wants us to go on a Wednesday and then she will join us...hee hee...