Betcha can't say "no" to Aunt Julia!

Aunt Julia had the force with her ... and brought the family together in Jan 2007.

Two new foster kittens!

2 cute new foster kittens! They're both black/white. Difference; one has a black mustache! so soft and affectionate!

New Year's Readings

In addition to constant knitting, have squeezed in some good reading over the holiday...you just HAVE to do something while riding BART, although so many folks are staring into space,well... Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Odichie is a must-read. Just finished her first novel, Purple Hibiscus. Excellent!!

Birds Galore!

The winter birding is wonderful along the Pacific Flyway.

December, 2007, at the Cosumnes River Preserve
black shouldered kite, meadowlark, black-neck stilt, say's phoebe, long-billed curlew, tundra swan, house finch, swallows, some kind of sandpipers, northern harrier, Great blue heron, Egret, American Coot, Hawk,Red-tail, Kestrel, Turkey vulture, Yellow warbler, Ducks, American white pelicans, Sandhill cranes, Crows, Red-winged blackbirds.

cleopatra

Cleopatra helped me with picture-taking today ... as I was taking Ebay fotos, she stayed close by. She's whining ... desperate that one of the 3 humans around should open a can of food for her. Ahhhhh....the whining stopped...I guess someone complied with her noisy request.

Foster Kittens

Alex volunteered to be foster mom for 5 kittens from a Berkeley animal shelter. So, after a couple days corralled in the bathroom, I opened up my bedroom to them. Plenty of room to stretch! They're delightful. We now have only 2 kittens left, Torti and Snowball. Word is that a number of folks saw the Craigslist ad and most likely these little critters will be adopted out this weekend!

I will miss them. Well, job well done. Looking forward to another litter after the new year.

NYC November 2006

4-day weekend in NYC. Beautiful sunny days were my reward. As always, had a yarn emergency - thank goodness for the Yarn Co. @ 79th & Broadway! They always come through for me!
The leaves were turning colors.
It wouldn't be a Carla trip if there weren't travelin'feet! So...here you see us walking through town.

Business in Guad

Short business trip to Guad. Visited with family on Sunday. This morning walked around the hotel neighborhood and had breakfast at La Chata Restaurant. Good trad mex food.

Hotel Morales is a good one. Very comfy and the staff are helpful and cordial.
Check it out here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150798-d582442-r5806690-Hotel_Morales-Guadalajara_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html

On to the meeting now.

La memoria es como el mal amigo; cuando más falta te hace, te falla

Today is a day for wandering thoughts:

Lovely song -- "Mala Memoria" por Jose Zamacona

When I saw the quote above, it immediately resonated with me!! Cure for failing memory: Complete 3 crosswords per day.

I bet following a knitting pattern is an aid to memory, too. Stimulates the brain cells.

Going east

Preparing for a trip to DC next week. Hit Nordstrom Rack. Being on vacation is a wonderful, scary feeling. Because I'm spending a few days vacationing at home. Not travelling. That's scary, something I'm not used to. But, there are so many things to do, including waking up & getting dressed whenever I want.

I made my nail appointment at 11am, so I wouldn't have to rush to get up. But, since I was up at 7am, after all, I happened to hit the Nordstrom Rack @ 8am for their early morning sale. Ah...when was the last time I got some quality shopping in? Very nice, to be there first thing...with only a few other shoppers!! Who knows...maybe Macy's will get a visit tomorrow!! And, maybe I'll be able to check out fall styles in DC and New York next week!

how to cope with distressing?

I AM DISTRESSED . . . worried about a work issue, dismayed at a home issue . . . I've got this nifty cd staring at me -- so, what to do? Exercise is a sure cure. Even if it's short-term, it's better than this icky feeling!

15 minute workouts "cardio" by, who else: McDonalds!!!!!! Will march away those worries. Or maybe color my hair and then go for a bike ride when the sun tips below the horizon.

Must finish this weekends reading also:

Floaters by Joseph Wambaugh. Good, clean murder mystery! (See "Current Reading" below, on the right, for links.

Have you read this one yet? Noted on the New York Times Book Magazine "Notable Books"

Outside Passage - A Memoir of an Alaskan Childhood by Julia Scully

Sacramento Jazz Jubilee 2006

Workin' the Jubilee this weekend with Anastacia. Last nite's zydeco sets were rockin'! Tonite? The Blues ... all over Old Sacramento. Want to see this New Orleans group, new to Sacto Jazz Jubilee, group: Bonerama from New Orleans.

tijuana...on business

Tijuana -- I've been to Tijuana twice on business -- in about 2 months time. Aaaaahhhh....that's a nice thing. Seafood...good people...it's good to get to the border again. Even a day trip is a good feeling. I got caught up with the new Restaurants in the Zona Rio Tijuana. We went to Saverio's or something like that.

Since my next vacation will be in September 06, I need a little R&R, even if it's a dinner -- after a day of meetings! For the first time in approx. 25 years, I walked across the border back to the U.S. The woman driving has one of those commuter passes -- only the person holding the pass may cross in the car. And, knowing how loooooong "la linea" is, we jumped out and walked across while she got in the "short" commuter line. A very pleasant trip. *sigh* Hope to be back real soon!

one beautiful sunny day...today

The sun finally shone through today...ah, it's a beautiful day!!
In spite of the beauty, your elected officials are embarking on an ugly
course of action. It's HR4557 or some such...the immigration bill.
Just say NO to idiocy!! Don't get me started.

I'm going to find a book and read it.

LONG WEEKEND

What a nice long weekend. Got a kick in the pants from Anastacia, to get working on my projects! Continued working on the Flying Geese crocheted afghan. Going to start on the one-skein scarf with beaded tassels. Thank you, mi hijita.

where in the world is....

Here's my schedule:
Friday 2/10: Bakersfield, CA
Tuesday, 2/14: 8pm or so -- Sta. Barbara overnite
Wednesday, 2/15: Training
Wednesday, 2/15: 8pm or so -- Del Mar, CA overnite
Thursday, 2/16: San Diego
Thursday, 2/16: 5pm approx -- Tijuana
Fri & Sat, 2/17 & 2/18: Tijuana
Sat 2/18: approx. 6pm - San Diego - Sacto
Sun & Mon 2/19 & 2/20: Sacto
Tues. 2/21: Oakland
Wed. 2/22: Oakland to Riverside, CA
Th. 2/23: San Diego
Fri. 2/24: San Diego
Fri. 2/24: approx. 6pm -- San Diego to Sacto.
Sat & Sun 2/25 & 2/26: Sacto.
Whew!

time for a change

Well, I'll be moving next week -- about 10 miles away. As I planned the packing job, my smart roomie Catherine said that magic word...plastics. it's the future! (remember The Graduate?) Well, plastic see-thru bins are this week's amazing tool!!

So my stash is clean and easily seen in a nice clear plastic box! Yay! It makes packing a happy thing. I'm not so happy about lugging all this stuff down my stairs ... and then up the stairs to my new place! Heeeellllllppppp!!!!!

Now, more than ever, I must think ... LESS is MORE, LESS is MORE!!

Let me interject - this month's amazing word is -- "flummoxed." To be complemented by "bolloxed." I've used the two words quite a bit this month -- and they appear to be virus-like. Once you utter them, people around you begin to use them, too!! Try it. I dare you!

I don't have my recent pics with me, so I'll close with this pic of Anastacia and me in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico -- where I'll be next month!! In the photo, we're in front of Caesar's Hotel & Restaurant -- yes, the place the caesar salad was first made and served! yum

happy hannukwanzumas!

Okay, Mark had the ultimate multi-holiday name idea! We had been happy chrismakwanzakuh'ing everyone, but he will have his way!

Today was sandhill crane day -- took the hour's drive to Woodbridge Ecological Preserve -- to see the wintering 5-foot high cranes. and they did not disappoint!! In spite of the rain...like a bird cares about the rain...they flew in waves and waves by the dozens, hundreds maybe, into their evening roosting areas. Impressive!



See this website: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/51/_/Sandhill_Crane.aspx

Another gorgeous sighting -- northern shoveler ducks! See: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/97/_/Northern_Shoveler_Male.aspx. What a treat to see dozens of such lovely birds!

Justin and Tina went along, were not too sure at first if this was a "wild goose" chase, but soon became believers! Thanks, guys, it was great showing you the beautiful sights of greater Sacramento area!

second-hand rose (earnheart)

he humbles us -- Earnheart just wants a little bit of understanding. He doesn't mind using a flimsy, cheap plastic bag as his bed. No! No fancy "Kitty Pi" for him.

livin' the good vida loca

Exercise is big in Baja -- this gym, advertising Pilates & Spinning was busy at 8am on the Thursday we drove through Guerrero Negro, Baja California, at Parallel 28. Viva Mexico!