Sep 17, 2012

One of the BIG ones (birthdays)

OK, I know that aging is part of life and thought I had come to terms with the process, but big numbers are scary! What makes it much less scary is fun. . .  and surprises!

Turns out I had lots of both this weekend starting with returning home from teaching on Friday evening to the sound of "Happy B-Day" coming from a wind-up music box in the kitchen. What I didn't know was who was playing it. My sister, Carolyn, from Seattle had secretly flown down the night before to be here for my special day. After that shock wore off, Geoff arrives home from "work" with my bro-in-law (I didn't know he had also flown down at that point) and with Chinese take-out. This was somewhat strange because I had been told we were going out to dinner in LA; turns out the continuing surprise plan was to go to IRIS (cirque du soleil) in Hollywood :~)


A great time was had by all but the next day, after lunch at Maniac Mike's Cafe at Cable Airport, I arrived home to another surprise; a houseful of family and friends. Turns out a party and BBQ was in the making and it went on 'til the cows came home. It was wonderful to spend time with so many people close to me and I was truly taken by surprise; twice!


The B-Day girl

(photo: C. Van Ryswyk)

Sep 1, 2012

Road trip

It's been many years since we've done a proper road trip. This summer we needed to move Geoff's mom to a more intensive assisted living residence and so I suggested we drive and take our time along the way to see my sister in Seattle and weave our way back from Montana through Utah and Nevada.
3 weeks later we had many memories and photos to remember our Great Road Trip of 2012.

California


Oregon


 Seattle, WA




 Montana



 Utah




Vegas!








Music meetings and registrations!

Been busy this week with scheduling private cello students, starting a new Cellogarten class (ages4-6) at Claremont Community School of Music, and getting the Claremont USD music program up and running.

It's always a challenge to get back into the routine, but I'm feeling recharged from our summer travels and "ready (or not) to go!"