Make a Difference & Vote Today!

July 4th, 1776 and August 20, 1920

Who can tell me the significance of these two dates and why I might post them today? Read my comment to get the answer.

Today being election day, I thought this would be an appropriate topic.

Besides deciding the party candidates for the state Governor's race and several other state offices, today Californians will be voting on several important propositions. Please take a moment today and exercise your right to vote!

Prop 13

LIMITS ON PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT.
SEISMIC RETROFITTING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS.
LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I'm for prop 13 because one's property taxes shouldn't rise because one has repaired earthquake damage or retrofitted a building to make it safer following earthquake preparedness guidelines.
Prop14

ELECTIONS. INCREASES RIGHT TO
PARTICIPATE IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

I was torn on this proposition because I think the 2 party system has limited our choices and has put a financially backed stronghold on our government. The only reason I am against the proposition is because it would not allow voters to see the party affiliations of the candidates on the ballot.
Prop 15

CALIFORNIA FAIR ELECTIONS ACT.

Prop 15 is not real election reform as it still allows politicians to receive special interest funding for their campaigns.
Prop 16

IMPOSES NEW TWO-THIRDS VOTER APPROVAL REQUIREMENT FOR LOCAL PUBLIC ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I'm for Prop 16 as it keeps the decisions regarding electricity purchase and sales in the hands of the people and out of the local governments limiting their ability to spend or borrow public money to enter the retail electricity business. In tough economic times like these, taxpayers should have the final say in how government spends our money.
Prop17

ALLOWS AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BASE THEIR PRICES IN PART ON A DRIVER'S HISTORY OF INSURANCE COVERAGE. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

I'm for Prop 17 as insurance companies should be able to discount potential new customers ~ driver's with a good history just as they can penalize drivers with a poor record.

How are those New Year's resolutions going?

Here are my 2010 resolutions:

1) Eating healthier and exercising more. This is a continual quest for me and my Honey Sideways Sam. I am definitely guilty of not getting enough sleep which adds to snacking in the middle of the night, poor digestion during the day, and not enough body "down time" to maintain a healthy fired-up metabolism. If this is one of your resolutions then you may want to view this slide show of 24 tips on how to loose weight without really dieting.

2) Selling my Mom's Barbie collection on eBay. Haven't started this one yet. No, I don't have the Barbie dream house in the photo. I never had a dream house when I was little because they didn't exist yet back when I was playing with Barbie. (Yes I had one Barbie and one Skipper and they dated/married my blond haired scar faced GI Joe with the orange jump suit, not Ken!)

3) Having exchange students live with us. We had our first student, May from Tokyo and she couldn't have been sweeter, more fun, or smarter. We really lucked out with May as our first resident student. Our second student, Ipek is from Turkey and we will meet her later this week. We are really looking forward to it!

4) De-cluttering our home. We make strides on this front all the time, but I'd still like Nate Berkus from the Oprah show to to tackle our garage for us. Pleeeease!

5) Complete those pesky "What if one of us dies?" plans; like our Medical Advance Directive, updating the deed on our properties, buying life insurance for me (Sam is already insured) and making sure both of our names are on all of our bank accounts and not just as beneficiaries. Well, I did order the Five Wishes forms back in January, but they have yet to be filled out.

I'll check back with you at the end of the year and we'll see how I've done by then.

What are some of your resolutions?

Celebrate the Irish in Everyone

Saint Patrick
The Patron Saint of the Irish and one of my favorite Saints.

Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti

The Holiday of St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorites.
Did you know that the symbol of the shamrock was used as teaching guide by
St. Patrick to represent the Holy Trinity?
The Father, Son & Holy Spirit

Green Chicago River

Chicago is famous for a somewhat peculiar annual event:

dyeing the Chicago River green.

The tradition started in 1962, when city pollution-control

workers used dyes to trace

illegal sewage discharges and realized that the green dye might provide

a unique way to celebrate the holiday.

That year, they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river

~ enough to keep it green for a week!

Today, in order to minimize environmental damage,
only 40 pounds of dye are used, making the river green for only several hours.


Patchwork Quilt of Green Velvet

As a child of 7, I flew over Ireland in a propeller plane
while on our way from England
and I remember it looking like a velvet green patchwork quilt.


This photo makes me think of Gulliver's Travels.
The scene where the people of Lilliputia tie
Gulliver down with ropes and pegs.

Do you have any St. Patrick's day traditions?
We like to eat corn beef & cabbage
and drink Guiness.

Baby Moo

This calf is named Dolly, but she is also called Baby Moo, Dinner Bell Dolly, and Dolly Burger.

Her wrangler is known as Gaucha Uma.

Her Mama is Daisy and she is the senior herdford cow on the BigMooRanch.

Dottie is the yearling with a square dot on her forehead.

At least they don't call her Blockhead!

A Day in Los Angeles

Irene & Patti in front of the famous Clifton's Restaurant which has been a favorite in downtown LA since the 30's.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Start of Alvera Street.

Steve & Charles II.

~~~~~~~~~ A baby boy on a burro.

The traditional Aztec ceremonial wardrobe.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The gate to China Town.

A Malibu Get-a-way with Great Friends

Arrived at Pike's Palace ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcomed by Eric while Karen's on the beach




The Triangle House ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Pod House





The China House ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pike's Living Room ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy B-day Carey!

Steve, did that little birdie tell you these paintings are Karen Pike Originals?

The adorable mademoiselle Elle & her mama.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Such a lovely green space right on the beach!


Sunset on Saturday night heralds a gathering at the bonfire with
smores to be shared by all, musical musings via guitar followed by an all important safety meeting, karaoke & movie watching.

We had such fun meeting new friends, as well as Karen's family. Sunday morning sadly sent us back once again to our usual lives in the OC. Can't wait until we are invited back again!
;- )

Happy Birthday Mom!

We miss you...

Happy Birthday Mom!

Caymen, Montana, Angie, Sharon & Aunt Ann

Aunt Jean, Candy & Gary

Jeff, Elan & Uncle Jim

Flowers & cards from those who couldn't be there...









Manny, Malia & Amy

Friends & Family joined in all day!

A Day at the Bonnie Hunt Show

55 Flash Fiction Friday ~ Moon

Floating above us like a balloon on a string.
Full as a pregnant belly.
Ever present and oh, so bright.
It gladdens me to see you every night.
Luminescent guide to us all.
Keeping the darkness at bay.
Magnet to the tides.
I can't wait to see you at the end of each day!

HNT ~ Flowers, Flowers Everyehre!

I am such a lucky girl to have received three bunches of roses in honor of St. Valentine's Day!
Yes that's me in the mirror amongst the paper hearts.

This is my favorite bunch.
The creamy peach turns bright fushia along the edges of the petals.

Here are some bright red beauties!

And these are deep velvety red with baby's breath.
The house smells just heavenly with all these flowers blooming.
I can't wait until they all start to open.

Happy HNT! For more please visit Views From the Back Row.

Rainy Weekend Projects

As you can see, it's been a rainy weekend here in Southern California. It's so rare for us to have rain, let alone 3 days of it in a row, so I've been forced to find projects about the house to keep me occupied while I wait for the sun to return.

I replanted my bamboo in these fun ceramic Chinese food boxes. The plants are much happier now that they have loads of room to grown again! Bamboo is so easy to grow. All it needs is water & a sunny spot. And it adds such a lushious shade of green to your environment!

I also did some St. Valentine's Day decorating. It was fun to get out the scissors and my markers to get crafty with some hearts and stars. I cut out a bunch of hearts and put them up all over this mirror. It definitely looks like Cupid has been to the our home now.

I hope you had a fabulously frisky Valentine's celebration! We spent the day together doing one of our favorite things. We went to a movie matinee. We brought our munchies and drinks with us to enjoy while we watched two movies; Slumdog Millionaire and Doubt. I definately recommend them both. SM is the most creative story telling I've experienced in a long time. Meryl is stupendous as usual in D, and along with the rest of the talented cast, she keeps you rivited to your seat while you try to decide if she's on the mark with her suspicions about the priest.

How did you celebrate your Valentine's day?

HNT - Flash Back Family Trio Photo's

Inspired by Susie & Lime, I'm also having a flashback HNT today. Not having any children of my own, I've instead flashed back to my baby years instead. Here is a snap of my Dad, Me and my Mom circa 1962 or 63. That is their VW Bug in the background. Wouldn't you love to have that car today? Just think how much cash one could raise selling it to a collector. My piggy bank would be stuffed!


I've always loved the candid portraits of my family & friends which show them in sets of three. They end up being some of my favorite photos. The energy of the subjects really shines through. There is something magical about the number 3 that I think adds to the composition of the shots as well. Below are a few examples:


My Nephews and my Brother-in-law at the Disney's Storybook Cafe ~ October, 2007. It truly is "the greatest place on earth!" when it comes to family-friendly entertainment.


My Godson/Nephew, Sideways Sam, and Myself ~ October, 2007. At the beginning of a great day spent together while his Mom was celebrating her 30th HS reunion. Go Cypress Centurions!


October 31, 2007 ~ Irene the Fairy Princess, Lilian the Good Witch, and LisaPizza the Purple Puma out to lunch together at the Olive Garden on Halloween Day.


I have also had a fascination over the years with photographing my cars. Which I attribute to the many family photo's of the past where a family is often seen posing in front of, or riding in, the new family car. Just to show you what I'm driving these days ~ here's my Honda CRV.


Vintage photo ~ Can you name the make, model & year of the car? Hint: these ladies could be driving to the first US National election for which they were eligible to vote.


Above is my Dad with the Hummer of the moment ~ Spring, 2008. This photo was taken by my Bonus Mom, his wife Jeanne. She is always so good to share photo's with us and I love her for it. Unfortunately, because she is usually the photorapher, she is rarely in the photo's herself. Therefore, I don't really have many photo's of her :- (

Please leave me your guess on the vintage photo in your comment. All other comments are also welcomed. Hope you are having a great day in Blogland. Your blogging buddy, LisaPizza97