It never rains in Southern California

It never rains in Southern California, except when it does, for weeks on end. Thanks to the new Disney policy of required registrations, we end up at Disneyland on a rain soaked day, just before Christmas. I love the shimmery shiny photos the rain created. Other than those photos, it was a rather miserable time. Cold, wet and crowded. 

We very quickly purchase rain 'coats' from the Emporium. This is the first time in the eleven years we have lived in California that we have been at Disney on such a miserable day. Before reservations, we would have just passed on going to the theme park in such weather. I know we could have canceled and registered again, but it was the only day we were able to reserve before Christmas, thanks to said required registration. 

I truly wanted to seen all the Holiday lights and decorations that we have not had the opportunity to see in the past five years. Somehow, driving south from the Bay Area just to see Mickey didn't quite fit into our schedules during the Holiday season.

We stop for chicken and mashed potatoes at the Plaza Inn. Out on the covered porch outside of the restaurant, we were kept warm with heat lamps. The tradition of eating 'Christmas' dinner at the Plaza Inn started way back in 2012, when Thomas worked for the mouse. Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, 24 hour days. So many memories from way back when wrapped into that wet day at Disneyland. 

Even though the day was dusk dark early in the middle of the afternoon, the colorful lights are not lit up until the normal time, 5:30pm. Soaked through, we wait for the lights on It's A Small World to light up, rode through the enclosed (away from the rain) ride, then headed towards the exit. An hour long wait in the pouring rain, kept us from riding the Haunted Mansion ride. My favorite ride, even more so from the fall into the Christmas season, would have to wait for a more weather friendly day.

After just a bit over four hours, we casually headed out. A stop in this shop and that, along Main Street was not rushed, just damp. Even a wet day at Disneyland is still a good Disney day!

 

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#SoCalAdventuresBegin

“You have to trust in something; your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever, because believing that the dots will connect down the road, will give you the confidence to follow your heart.” Steve Jobs

After almost four years, two spent inside this crazy pandemic world, we head back to Southern California. A decision that took just minutes to embrace, happened in the middle of Thanksgiving week. Christmas decorations up. Presents half finished and spread through the apartment, we decide to move back down to Rancho. In THREE weeks!

Those three weeks pass by swiftly. With all of the chaos and confusion in finding a place to live, let's just say motivation ebbed and flowed minute by minute. After losing one apartment, three days before moving, Natalie and I went to Blackhawk Mall to say goodbye to our geese. A very unproductive day.

 

With just two days left before we leave the Bay Area, we finally get the apartment situation worked out. We end up getting a different type of apartment than planned, but at least we have a place to move into. Then, a quick trip down to Fremont to pick up the U-Haul, and we are set to begin packing it up. Oooops, too bad we aren't even close to being finished packing. 

One day before Move Day, the cats seem very unperturbed by the chaos surrounding them. Minutes later, the bed would be down. 

 

Yup, these photos are from the day before we leave! Things are not going well.

We left the front door open while packing up the U-Haul truck, and this rafter of turkeys comes right up into the door and gobble, gobble gobbles at us. Scared the bejesus out of us. Interesting moment in our last day of our #bayarealife This is four of them shuttering away! We passed a flock of at least thirty of these feathered beasts as we were pulling out of the apartment complex for the very last time. They could have eaten us alive. I wonder if they like white or dark meat? 😛

We work all day and well into the night packing that truck. At 2am, we give up and go to sleep on a pile of blankets in the middle of the almost empty bedroom. Up again at 5am, our original moving time, we are not even close to ready. By 9am, it is determined that Greg will stay and finish the cleaning while Natalie and I head down in Stormfly. If we are not here before 6pm, we cannot get into the apartment. The last thing we two girls do is help load up Reba onto the U-Haul trailer before we leave. 

  

375 miles south! With a short stop at the Love's Travel Stop, the halfway point, we are making good time. We grab a bag full of snack foods and head on our way. We hit fog in the Grapevine. Always interesting to drive through cloudy nothingness on a mountain pass, but soon we are driving past Six Flags in Valencia. Almost there! 

Then!! We hit Los Angeles traffic! Almost of third of our travel time is spent driving the last fiftyish miles.  

We also learn from Greg that we have to stop and get a money order to pay for the first month's rent. By this time, the day is running long and our chances to actually get into the apartment before the office closes is looking iffy. With money in hand, we arrive with just minutes to spare. Tessa and Adam are waiting for us at Homecoming when we arrive. In the back of their truck is a bed for our first night's sleep. 

After a short visit, Natalie and I head over to Target for some blankets, pillows and FOOD! A panicked Luci is not much happier to be in this strange new place than he was on the long trip down. He hides under the newly set up bedframe and refuses to come out. He definitely misses his big brother, Severus. 

With the sun setting just as we arrived, we don't get a real look at our new surroundings. Before we even make any of the food we bought, we crash in bed. 

Up early, we get our first real view of the San Antonio mountains. Snow covered mountain tops loom almost 9000 feet above us. The photo above is taken from our new patio. The apartment we had never seen before last night still feels strange. With very little to unpack from Stormfly, we take a quick walk around the Homecoming complex. Having lived in this very same apartment complex ten years ago, it feels like coming home.

Having left Livermore at 3am, Greg arrives with our U-Haul full of stuff just after 10am. Lifting and moving and stressing and unpacking, we get the living room in this brand new place set up and ready for guests.

 

Thomas and Zach, Tessa and Adam arrive to take us all out for sushi at my favorite spot ever! Sake 2 Me. We are home!

 

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Christmas Past

 

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.”  Bob Hope

With just a few weeks left of 2021, it seems like I am spending more time looking back than forward. Perhaps the most unique thing about these reminisces is the feeling of wonder, rather than melancholy that surrounds them. For the first time in forever, I feel the occasional sense of anticipation that surrounded the Holidays as a child.  That pure excitement not clouded by adulthood and responsibilities.

Memories like driving out to the Maslow farm to drop off Christmas presents. Mrs. Maslow was our babysitter during Wednesday morning golf games, Friday night Football and weeklong parent trips. Closer to a Grandmother than a nanny, I named my first child Cecilia in her honor. I can recall Christmas Eve's with her and husband Leo. Him playing the accordion. Her sitting beside him on the sofa by the stairs. Then, after he was injured by a bull attack, him lying in a hospital bed down in their living. And then he was gone. 

Still we visited, long after the time for babysitting was over. Every Christmas she would bake dozens of pans of cinnamon rolls for her family. We were gifted two pans for our large family. Sweet sticky deliciousness, dripping with sugary icing and sugar sprinkles. One pan was always sprinkled red and the other green. She lived to be 83 and made those roll right through her last Christmas. 

After she was gone, I continued to bake cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve. With three kids under the age of five, I started a tradition that, thirty some years later, my own children now follow, as well. Traditions begun out of love and  carried forward through the years.

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Dieting 101

This post was originally posted years ago. I am adding it here because after seven years, this dieting plan is still working for me. The best thing about it is that if my weight starts to creep back up, (you know, like in the middle of a worldwide pandemic or other random chaotic events) I can just follow this plan for a few weeks, and I am right back to where I want to be. 

    

August 28th, 2021

October 6th, 2021
Four pounds from goal weight after just 40 days. These 40 days included Labor-giving, our anniversary weekend, building candy covered gingerbread houses (and a chocolate cookie cat), and a trip into Alameda to visit with friends.

The one thing I will say that is different from before is a daughter who works at Starbucks. 

It is tough to skip out on all those caramel apple lattes and white chocolate mocha frappacinnos. Especially during pumpkin spice season. Still, I have learned to order green tea with lemonade, unsweetened, and their egg white egg bites (quadruple cooked so they have a nice crispy outside).

Dieting 101

I have been 'dieting' for months. Note pictures below. I have decided to write down a few of the things I have learned along the way, because I am literally the laziest, most 'I hate to diet' person out there. 

I have read diet blogs, books, memes, watched videos, and almost always come away thinking there is no way I am going to do THAT! But, after years of successes and failures, I have comprised a personal list of things that work (for me) and things that don't. 

And, believe me, I have gone for the easiest, most pain-free way to lose weight possible, because this time I wanted not only to lose weight, but to finally have a way to keep it off. That, of course, meant a lifestyle that I could continue to live with after the weight was GONE.

These are MY rules for dieting...they work for me. They are like 500 different diet types all put together into a lifestyle that works. Everyone has to adjust what they do to make things work for themselves.

The one thing I have done on every diet that has ever really worked for me is write things down. I have been working on losing weight for exactly 267 days. I know this because I have been charting my progress for that entire time. At this date, I am 3.8 pounds from my goal, which is to be officially In Normal Range for weight.  

Mary	Mary	Mary	Mary	Mary	Mary	Mary	Mary	Mary
date	weight	amount lost	total # lost	between weigh in	full time	fifth goal	comments	comments
GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!	GOAL 4!

fifth goal

new

outfit

to be

sassy in

yay

164

GOAL 4!

Achieved!

The last time that was that weight was in the eighties. And at that time, I felt like I still needed to lose at least another 20 pounds to look good. Isn't that just how it goes. This time, I have learned to be happy, every step of the way.

So, STEP ONE, create a chart and measure your successes. I use MICROSOFT EXCEL, even a notebook of a paper on the back of the bathroom door works.  In addition to weight, be sure to take measurements. I forgot this step until after I had lost the first fifteen pounds. It really help with motivation when the scale doesn't move but the measurements continue to go down. And, yes, that happens, especially if you start walking or lifting weights.

http://halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm

Now, don't gasp about the mention of exercise. I said I was lazy, not dead. Start simple, like parking at the far end of the parking lot and walking the entire distance. And buy yourself a kettle ball to lift while watching TV AND an exercise ball to sit on and bounce, again while the ol' television plays.

Work up to the gym or a walk around the block, if you feel like it. Baby steps.

STEP TWO, and this is a big. Get someone to join you in you diet, healthy life style plan. Someone to celebrate your successes and encourage you, while you do the same for them.

Really, though, diets are all about the FOOD. And hunger...oh so hungry!  And, isn't that where ALL diets fail.

And find or make some social media site that work for you. This is a link to my pinterest page. Note it is based on positive thoughts, not just dieting. 

 Let the Sun Shine in

STEP THREE, let's talk about FOOD! I am not an expert, and I am definitely not claiming any superior knowledge. Just hours and hours of internet research and personal experience. There are basically two different categories food falls into, carbohydrates and proteins. 

Everybody has heard of the Atkins diet, it works by only allowing the dieter to eat proteins and then the body fat just 'runs' out of them. Eeww. It's pretty efficient, but nobody can stick to that diet for very long. And, when you start eating normally again, the weight just piles back on. The Paleo diet works kind of the same way, allowing the dieter to only eat natural foods that would have been around an eon ago. But, still, no bread, no WINE, no way!

So, what can you eat and still lose weight. It is really more about the rules of how you eat, than what you eat. This is a lot like the Atkins diet and the Paleo diet, only I think it is much or user friendly, so to speak.

I like food. I really LIKE food, if I haven't made that clear. Look once again at the before photos. How does one go about the whole process of losing the blub while still wanting food, food, food?

Let's start again with the idea of the Aitkin's diet. It is popular not so much because you can eat protein, but because you can eat as much protein as you WANT.  What do I mean by protein? A steak, eggs, CHEESE!!! So much cheese! Bacon, Bacon, Bacon! And, you can eat until you are full!

Then, later, all of of that greasy slimy protein just kind of slides out of you. Good times.

If you haven't guessed it yet, I am not a big fan of this diet. But I like the idea of isolating protein meals from carbohydrate meals. There are many times when we have taco leaf wraps for dinner because they consist of taco meat, cheese, tomatoes, avocados and lettuce. Without the taco shells this is a protein meal and diet friendly AND delicious.

The reason that I can't follow Atkins, is I LOVE carbs. BREADS, PASTA, CEREALS. I could never stick to a diet that did not include carbohydrates. It would absolutely be destined to fail. The real trick to keeping carbs diet friendly, as well, is to keep ALL proteins out of your meals. 

 http://skinnyms.com/50-recipes-for-weight-loss/

When we choose to have pasta, we choose a pasta sauce with no meat or cheese. We serve it with a salad that has a vinaigrette salad dressing not oil based. And, sorry, no garlic bread. At least no buttery garlic bread. 

Keeping carb meals and protein meals separated makes it easier for you body to digest the food faster. And, by separated, at least-LEAST-two hours between. The longer the better. Plus, fruit, sugar or desserts should be separated for both the carb and the protein meals by the same amount of time.

Ah, so many rules.

Here's a few more:

STEP FOUR: Don't eat anything you don't love. If you take a bite of something you don't like, push it aside and don't finish it. Save those calories for something that you will really enjoy.

STEP FIVE: Stop eating when you are full. Sound simple doesn't it? I don't care if there is only one bite left of your hamburger. Stop eating when you are FULL. Period.

STEP SIX: There are NO foods you are NOT allowed to eat. Just eat one doughnut, not three. And remember, every 2 hours, you start fresh. That is the best thing about this diet plan; you never waste an entire day if you eat something fabulously sinful. In two hours, you know your body has reset itself. You can still lose weight that day! Absolutely NO cheat DAYS! What you stuff your face with for a single day will take at least a week to lose, again. Go ahead and eat that lemon cake. Just be certain to stick to your diet for all the other meals. 

Finally, STEPS SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE... Read labels on food. In other words, eat naturally. The peanut butter jar should say PEANUTS, SALT. Really. Your body can't process chemicals, so avoid them whenever possible. Whole grain breads, not whole wheat, whole grain. 

Apples, avocados, almonds, pistachios...chia seeds. Finds some health foods you love.

Make you own smoothies at home. USE organic honey, not sugar. And, GREEK yogurt. 'FAGE' works great with frozen berries.  

Add quinoa to everything. Chili, spaghetti, life.

Non fat milk on your cereal. Honey and cinnamon on your toast.

Grilled chicken. Salad with blue cheese and pecans and cran-raisins. Num. 

EAT Breakfast...snack...lunch...snack...dinner...stop eating!

Water, water, water.

Green tea and lemon.

Do not eat diet food. Just don't do it. Those 100 calories snack bags have no food value and will just leave you hungry. Spread real peanut butter on celery and eat with raisins. It will fill you up longer and is so much better for you. Or humus and pita bread. Or vegetables with dip. 

Or smooth DARK chocolate. Calories: Per Chocolate Bite : 39 Calories, 1.5 g Fat, 6 g Carbs, .05 g Fiber, 2.5 g Sugar, .08 g Protein. 

http://simplytaralynn.com/2013/04/28/2-ingredient-organic-dark-chocolate-trail-mix-energy/

And remember, you are always the strongest on your diet the first few weeks, so be strictest, then. So when you start to weaken, you already have a few pounds of success to smile about.

Mostly, find good delicious food that you love. I love grilled salmon and, paired with broccoli, it is satisfying and delicious. Find your 'go to' meals. Make them delicious, so you don't feel deprived. Healthy meals will still drop pounds.

And, when you get frustrated, go out for that hot fudge sundae. Enjoy it. Then, start again. I have eaten every delicious thing I have wanted for the past few months. Doughnuts and cookies and chocolate dipped ice cream cones. Knowing I can do that, is how I get through the days when I choose to be strong.

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Hello Stormfly...Goodbye Mint Julep

To say the past few months have been a tsunami of one crazy thing after another would be an understatement, the size of a...tsunami.  Wave after wave of sh*t hitting the proverbial fan. It is no wonder that some days it feels like I am drowning.

Reba, my beautiful red truck, has been dead for going on a month now. Her brand new radiator is currently sitting on the passenger side front seat. At this point, it is doubtful that she will ever be road worthy again.

And Mint Julep, Natalie's 1999 Honda Accord is definitely feeling her age. Though she has worked hard to keep us mobile is the past few weeks, the fact that her air conditioning pushes out only HOT air has become a problem. 105+ degree days are practically impossible to handle. Heat stroke, anyone!?!

So, we went out and did a thing! 

Meet Storm-Fly, our new 2017 Mazda CX-5. Purchased from the local CarMax after many, many hours of searching, researching and stressing. This is officially Natalie's car, or will be once she gets her driver's license. Yes, this is now the second car she has owned but still can't drive. Being her car, she got the majority weight on what vehicle we chose. 

When we first arrived at CarMax, I saw a shiny bright blue vehicle right across the little service road. Greg had disappeared into the little boy's room, so Natalie and I walked over to check it out. 

BIG MISTAKE!

The car was cute, but the salesman was on us long before Greg returned. 

Happy talkin' talkin', happy talk                                                                                                                    Talk about things you'd like to do link

Yup, before we even realized what we were doing, we were in the pretty blue car, taking a test drive. Unlike Minnesota, the salesman rode right along with us. It was a fun, cute LITTLE car. I said many times over, "You don't buy a car based on the color."

Still, in minutes we were inside with credit scores being run and deals offered. The car man made us a really good deal. He was definitely working hard for that sale. Still..."You don't buy a car based on the color." The farther into it we got, more uncomfortable I became.  I wanted to see the car we drove out to see.

Finally, I just got up from the table and walked away. We left Greg who was busy talking to the man at Stoneridge Chrysler about this Honda CR something or other, Natalie and I walked across the road to see the Mazdas I had been researching.

Walking out to the far side of the lot, we found what we were looking for. Many SUV just waiting to be adored. The Mazda we chose to give a closer look to was NOT the one we came to see. This 2017 car was a very, very dark blue, not the shiny bright blue that caught my attention earlier. 

The doors were unlocked. Cleaver move, CarMax. Less than ten seconds after we sat down, Natalie declared, "This is the one!" 

So much larger than the Honda, we were sold by the roominess. Natalie then got out and climbed into the back via the push button hatch that swung up magically before us. So much space. Room for cats in cages, groceries and suitcases for going to Disneyland. 

Natalie texted Greg to STOP! Come over and see the car we ARE going to buy! After a few minutes of no response, she called. He hemmed and hawed. "This one has such good gas mileage!" "It's too SMALL!", she replied.

At last, came over, followed by Honda salesman. WTF!

Talk about uncomfortable. Salesman looked over that car, then declared, "I have another SUV I can show you." Sorry, we may have considered going there again, since Greg and I will need a car once Natalie drives, but Honda guy crossed the line when he crossed the road. Very seriously doubt we will go back there. Had a nice car, willing to deal, but definitely got the sense he expected the MAN to overrule us.

Sorry dude, welcome to 2021! Natalie and I were providing the down payment. No deal happens without our little lady approval.

Too late on a Sunday to officially drive the Mazda, us ladies made an appointment for the following afternoon. After an hour and a half wait to deal with the "You can't finance car with a license that say expired." Both Greg's and my driver's licenses we sent off to Rancho Cucamonga in SoCal. An hour and a half trip to the DMV to get provisional license. Got it after they locked the doors to new people from entering. Ooooofff!

 

Harold, our new salesman from CarMax let us drive this car by ourselves. Once around the loop from  Fallen Blvd to Santa Rita, past Natalie's target and back, and we were sold! Back to the car lot to finalize our sale. 

More wait, wait waiting.

Us girls drove Mint Julep back to Target for a couple of Starbucks teas while Greg sold his soul to the car loan guys. Once back, Natalie texted Ryan photos of the new car. Before the paperwork was done on the Mazda CX-5, Natalie had sold her very first car. The Honda Accord called Mint Julep.

 

A  little bittersweet, after only driving her car for a few circles around the RV dog park, Natalie says goodbye to her first baby. A car made the same year she was born.

Finally, as dusk approaches, the paperwork is done. Storm-fly (Natalie named her after just a couple of minutes, the first day) is ready to go home. I get to drive her, as Greg has to bring along the now 'old car'.

 

We stop at Ryan's house. First, to show off the shiny new vehicle. Second, to deliver the car he just purchased. He is just as excited for Natalie to have a new car as she is herself.

The men study the Accord, as Brett meets his new 'driving to work' car. Good luck with that air conditioning, pal. I swear they all say they can fix it. Hummmm, Reba...radiator. I hope it works out for everyone. Not having to solve where we park a third vehicle is a great relief.

Finally, Storm-fly makes it home. Here she is parked in our spot. Welcome to the family, Stormy!

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