Day one of my 20 days of working out - walked 6.12 miles! Part of the walking was at the lovely Huntington Gardens, where I took my mom for a holiday tea this afternoon.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I did, but ate too much, so I'm signing up to do the holiday exercise challenge at iowagirleats.com and exercise 20 times between now and Christmas! (Starting tomorrow!)

Today I took a very big step and bought new kitchen appliances. Keep in mind that my dishwasher hasn't worked for over a year, my oven only occasionally will light, and my refrigerator is leaking, so this is a very over due step. I'm excited, but slightly nauseous over spending a substantial amount of money, but it will make Thanksgiving (and Christman, and day to day living), a lot easier!

Decided to do a post about my weekend.

In the last year, I've tried to get out and enjoy all that Southern California has to offer. I realized that I had memberships in New York City Museums, but hadn't visited many local offerings. So, in the last year, I've visited LACMA, the Huntington (twice), the Norton Simon, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the San Diego Zoo.

I've also enjoyed going to ballet and theater at the Music Center. I've learned to take the Blue Line downtown, and to go early enough to enjoy lunch at Kendall's or Pinot on the Plaza. Yesterday was Kendall's, including some really good sorbet (pictured).

I went to see Vigil, starring Olympia Dukakis. It was quite good. An older lady, living alone receives a visitor, her long lost nephew who's come believing she'll die any day. A year later, he's still there.

Today woke up to rain, and decided it was a good day for cooking. Baked Oatmeal for breakfast, Snickers Peanut Butter Brownies (pictured), Trader Joe's tacos for lunch, and Potato Soup with a side of roasted brussel sprouts for dinner. Fortunately, my brother and my neighbors were available to help me eat all this!

Otherwise, did some chores, and hung out with my little buddy, Samantha. Cold today, so we brought out our sweaters.

Over a year and a half since I posted!

Not sure I can remember how to post photos, but we'll see how this goes . . .

Travels - had a fantastic time in March on an extended wolf watching expedition in Yellowstone with Nathan and Linda from wolftracker.com.

Went to NYC for my 50th birthday, and had a grand time! Saw The Book of Mormon and How to Succeed in Business, had a cocktail at 21, dined at Bar Americain and the Trustees Dining room at the Met, and saw the Cherry Blossoms in Prospect Park at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

Still knitting a lot, and my "stash" has reached a ridiculous level . . .

Hope all is well with the rest of you!

Wow - it's been about a month, since my last post!

Ok, time does fly by, but this is what I've been up to. Sam and I dogsat for Louie and Lola, the rat terriers who live next door. Lola, or Tripod, as I like to call her, had recently had hip surgery, so was carried around a lot of the time. Sam was exhausted by all the fun!

I finally finished a baby blanket for a cousin who is due in a month or so. Here's the blanket! I mailed it off today, and now I need to get knittin' quickly to make something for my other's cousin daughter who is about two already. In the mean time, I'm knitting more socks. Glad that summer is over - life at the beach is so much nicer in the fall, winter and spring. With football season here, I've been visiting the local pub to put my picks in the pool. I've come to like the pickled eggs they serve (perfect with a cold beer), so I made some of my own. And they turned out really good!

Was accosted on the street this morning by my former dry cleaner. He came running after me to ask why I hadn't been in for a very long time. At first I hemmed and hawed, but when he asked if he did something wrong, I told him. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was when I took in a hand knit sweater I'd made, that had pretty expensive buttons attached, and it came back with one button missing. He said I should have brought the sweater back and told him what happened, I pointed out that I had done just that, and got only a shrug of his shoulders in response. So now, that he lost my business, he went on and on about how he'd pay for the button.

The thing is that I had problems with these folks before - taking in a jacket with a gold pin still attached, and having it come back without the pin. Again, when I asked about it, they gave me the Sgt. Schultz. Another time I'd taken in pants and immediately after, remembered that there was 20 bucks in a pocket. Rather than go back, I waited to see what they would do. When I went back in, not only was the money not mentioned, but he pulled out some paper work that he wanted me to look at and give him free legal advice.

Given that he is but one of 3 dry cleaners in walking distance from my house, I'm not sure why he thought I'd keep coming back? Because I did, I guess is the answer. But three strikes, and you're out.

Meet the Boys - Calvin and Hobbes! They are green rumped parrotlets that were bred in Florida.

That's Calvin facing the camera and also snacking! C&H arrived on a Delta flight on Friday evening, and we've been getting to know each other. They are about 8 weeks old, and very comical. They are inseparable, but also bicker just a bit like brothers. We're trying out various fruits and vegies and so far, peas and apples are preferred to bananas. If you talk to Hobbes, he bobs and chirps back. Calvin is so far more comfortable with sitting on my finger and taking food from me.

Sam is uninterested in them, which is helpful, especially when they are out of the cage. They love all their toys, and have lovely little chirps. I'm having a blast with them so far.