I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers

Yes--FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE
I have been summoned...

Scene it!

The American Film Institute's 2007 list of the top-100 American movies:
The ones I have seen are in red..
56 out of 100...not bad.
The ones I have seen MORE THAN ONCE are italicized.
1. Citizen Kane, 1941
2. The Godfather, 1972
3. Casablanca, 1942
4. Raging Bull, 1980
5. Singin' in the Rain, 1952
6. Gone With the Wind, 1939
7. Lawrence of Arabia, 1962
8. Schindler's List, 1993
9. Vertigo, 1958
10. The Wizard of Oz, 1939
11. City Lights, 1931
12. The Searchers, 1956
13. Star Wars, 1977
14. Psycho, 1960
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968
16. Sunset Blvd., 1950
17. The Graduate, 1967
18. The General, 1927
19. On the Waterfront, 1954
20. It's a Wonderful Life, 1946
21. Chinatown, 1974
22. Some Like It Hot, 1959
23. The Grapes of Wrath, 1940
24. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
25. To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939
27. High Noon, 1952
28. All About Eve, 1950
29. Double Indemnity, 1944
30. Apocalypse Now, 1979
31. The Maltese Falcon, 1941
32. The Godfather Part II, 1974
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937
35. Annie Hall, 1977
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957
37. The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948
39. Dr. Strangelove, 1964
40. The Sound of Music, 1965
41. King Kong, 1933
42. Bonnie and Clyde, 1967
43. Midnight Cowboy, 1969
44. The Philadelphia Story, 1940
45. Shane, 1953
46. It Happened One Night, 1934
47. A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
48. Rear Window, 1954
49. Intolerance, 1916
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001
51. West Side Story, 1961
52. Taxi Driver, 1976
53. The Deer Hunter, 1978
54. M-A-S-H, 1970
55. North by Northwest, 1959
56. Jaws, 1975
57. Rocky, 1976
58. The Gold Rush, 1925
59. Nashville, 1975
60. Duck Soup, 1933
61. Sullivan's Travels, 1941
62. American Graffiti, 1973
63. Cabaret, 1972
64. Network, 1976
65. The African Queen, 1951
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966
68. Unforgiven, 1992
69. Tootsie, 1982
70. A Clockwork Orange, 1971
71. Saving Private Ryan, 1998
72. The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969
74. The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
75. In the Heat of the Night, 1967
76. Forrest Gump, 1994
77. All the President's Men, 1976
78. Modern Times, 1936
79. The Wild Bunch, 1969
80. The Apartment, 1960
81. Spartacus, 1960
82. Sunrise, 1927
83. Titanic, 1997
84. Easy Rider, 1969
85. A Night at the Opera, 1935
86. Platoon, 1986
87. 12 Angry Men, 1957
88. Bringing Up Baby, 1938
89. The Sixth Sense, 1999
90. Swing Time, 1936
91. Sophie's Choice, 1982
92. Goodfellas, 1990
93. The French Connection, 1971
94. Pulp Fiction, 1994
95. The Last Picture Show, 1971
96. Do the Right Thing, 1989
97. Blade Runner, 1982
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1942
99. Toy Story, 1995
100. Ben-Hur, 1959.

Happy Birthday to my SWEET Dad!

Tonight we celebrated my Dad's birthday at Lucille's!

With Gina and Eliane

and Mom too!

Gina and I split the luscious pork chops with sweet potato pancakes and Jack Daniels applesauce! Oh my goodness...

On the way out, we ran into William's Aunt Angie!
(I do love the small world that we live in...)
It certainly was one activity-filled weekend
...and oh so enjoyable too.

Dodger Fan-TASTIC!

The day was everything and MORE than I had thought it would be!
THOUSANDS of Dodger fans eating and dancing and singing and celebrating! (No, I don't know these guys, but they were happy to pose for a picture) SO much fun!

We got up there REALLY early...there was SO much going on before the game! The GIANT "Fan-Fest" included food and game booths--and a non-stop celebration of the 50th anniversary. The entire team was up on a stage in the middle of the park with dozens of players from past Dodger seasons!
We saw Steve Garvey and Ron Cey, Rick Monday, Tommy Lasorda and Joe Torre!

We were part of the LARGEST crowd at a baseball game--ever!
115,300 people

There was a special tribute to Vin Scully, which brought tears to my eyes. My earliest Dodger memories are captured in Vin's unmistakable voice. I remember listening to Dodger games on radio (as well as going to games) with my dad ALL the years I was growing up.

With my friends Tim and Julie and my sweet dad!
It was certainly not a memorable game (Red Sox won 7-4)
but it was a day full of GREAT memories!

Are you ready for some BASEBALL?

Take me out to the ballgame...again!
On my way to the Dodgers/Red Sox game...
Will take LOTS of pictures tonight!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Happy 32nd Birthday
to my baby sister,
Sarah Denise DiLallo!

A date in the life

Last night I had the most incredible dinner at a little Italian restaurant by the Newport pier called Il Forro. It started with a glass of Chianti and a basket of bread with garlic butter...but the main course was absolutely one of the best dishes I have ever experienced! Pumpkin Gnocchi! Oh my deliciousness! I just had to say "WOW" every time I put one in my mouth! Absolutely fabulous. I enjoyed another glass of wine and a few bites of chocolate tart for dessert as well. What a great meal.
Oh! And...about my date...It was very nice. We talked until 11:30pm! (and I had to be at work at 5:30 this morning!) I left him with an open invitation to experience an Italian meal at my home next time. (I make the BEST manicotti!)
OK...I brought my camera, but didn't take any pictures! I know! I thought about it the whole time, but I decided that perhaps it would be best to "ease" him into the fact that I chronicle every moment of my life and post it on the internet! (Unlike me, I'm sure he didn't have 17 emails in his inbox this morning from people wanting to know how the date went!!) He's a really good guy. I do hope to see him again.
And that gnocchi!! For the love of God! Magnificent!

So fortunate...

..at the old ballgame!

SO great to be back at the ballpark tonight! Eliane and I arrived around 6pm, just in time to take in the tail end of batting practice and relax and enjoy the gorgeous surroundings!
And there was one ADDED bonus to the night--Allison and her friends were sitting a few rows away and came over for a visit!

Allison and her friend, Allison

Eliane (in her new 'lid')

Allison and Bethany...

Saturday my Dad and I will be going to the Dodgers vs. Red Sox game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
It's a once in a lifetime game commemorating the Dodgers' 50th year in LA!
I (truly) don't care if I ever get back...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Guess where I'm headed? OH YEAH!
Take me out to the ballgame, baby!!

Dating myself

"Oh, it's taking so long, I could be wrong...I could be ready.
But if I take my heart's advice,
I should assume it's still unsteady..."

So, I have a date Friday night. And I am not sure why, but I'm nervous as hell. He's a really nice guy...handsome, very funny and (a few years) younger than me. He totally knows music and though he's not a huge baseball fan, he's tall and has at least 60 pounds on me--which is WAY more important to me these days! I've known him for about six months and I am 'comfortable' with him...I think.
Here's the deal...I have not really dated since the last century--literally! OK--picture me back then--100 pounds, Jordache jeans, feather bangs, braces, listening to The Police on an 8 track tape--at the drive in! My date--long hair parted down the middle, AC/DC necklace, Angel Flight pants and a Members Only jacket--trying to convince me that the view of the movie would be better from the back seat...
Fast forward almost 30 years...I don't weigh 100 pounds, tho the jeans are pretty nice and the braces have come off (and yes, Allison, the bangs are basically the same.) I'm still listening to The Police--tho on my iPod now. But--I have a hard time staying awake past 9pm!! I would actually rather have a date at 7AM than 7PM! And...I hate thinking of the whole, "Where did you grow up? How many brothers and sisters do you have? You were married HOW MANY years?" conversation! (Honestly, I don't really care where you've been...'where are you going' is really my only question.)
And here's the REAL deal. I'm a catch. I am! I am smart and cute and hilarious! (And oh so modest and humble.) But seriously...I have a great job, I own a home, I am financially independent--and I'm happy! My kids are great--grown and gone. My former husband is out of the picture. No baggage, no drama.
My future plans are to travel the world and to ride off into the sunset with the top down in a 911 Carrera. And an occasional baseball game. And lots (and lots) of kissing.
So I'm looking for a man who is pretty much in the same position and looking for those same things. But I guess I am not really even looking, you know? It has to be Mr. Right. And his first name needs to be ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT.
And there is no hurry.
Honestly, I'm not sure if Mr. Friday night is interested in anything more than dinner and conversation anyway. Really, it's just dinner. I don't know why I'm over-thinking it. I guess I'm just a little nervous...I know, I know...I'm sure it will be just fine.
And I'm meeting him at the restaurant, so I don't have to worry about him trying to get me into the back seat of the car.
But if he's wearing an AC/DC necklace...

Exagggggerating

If I tell you that someone called me 20 times today...you know what that means.
If I tell you 500 people were standing at my desk this morning...you know what I am saying, right? If I mention that I had to make 8,000 copies for a guy, you know it just means I made a lot, right?
I was telling my neighbor that today was Mexican food day at work and that I ate like 37 taquitos for lunch. Obviously, I did not. I ate three--but that's too many--and 37 represents the fact that I had too many. You knew that, right?
Did I tell you that I had to make 50 trips to the market to get everything I needed for my Easter party? And that I have listened to "In Repair" by John Mayer 112 times today? How about the fact that I had to go to TEN different Nordstroms to find the jeans I was looking for...
My name is Julie Hibbard....and I am an exaggerator. Big time. Probably the biggest exaggerator on Earth.
I exaggerate all day, every day...and I have tried a thousand times to stop.
The thing is...those who know me, get that. No questions asked!
But...those who don't get it...well, it drives them nuts! They question everything I say as if I speak another language or something. Our Banquet Director, Jose, got angry at me yesterday when I told him I had to drive to Antarctica to find the items he had me purchase. And today I told him that I hate having to walk down to room 266 cause it's 300 miles away. He HATES that I say that! And he acts like he doesn't understand what I am saying! He says, "Really? 300 miles?"
And it cracks me up.
I could write about this for DAYS...but I have company coming tomorrow and I have a thousand things to get ready! First tho, I am going to eat my Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich...
I poured a gallon of chocolate syrup on it!

Factory Incentives

If you would ever like me to join you for dinner, just say two words: "CHEESECAKE FACTORY." (Actually, you know me better than that...I'll meet you anywhere for ANY meal!)
But I do freaking LOVE 'The Cheesecake'.
Allison and Sam and I met there for dinner last night...so delicious!

I order the same thing every time...'Pasta Da Vinci" --beautiful, isn't it? (The picture is especially for YOU, Dad!) It is FABULOUS! Oh MAN is it good! (You missed out Gina!)
Tonight Sam and I split it...which is perfect and helps leave room for dessert!

Of course the best part of going to dinner (besides taking 35 pictures so you can get a good one to post) is spending time with these amazingly gifted and inspiring people! Sam is leaving for London with 'Youth with a Mission' in just a few weeks and Allison is leaving for Kenya with Saddleback Church in just a few months! Those thoughts, as well as MANY others, made tonight's conversation super engaging, truly enlightening and incredibly enjoyable.
And for some reason, I laughed about 'Bob the Builder'
all the way home.

Write here waiting...

Lately it seems like many of us in the blogging community are just basically trying to figure out life. Ironically, the overall theme of many of our multiple serious postings of late, has been the desire to find out, not just what's NEXT in our life, but more specifically, what we are supposed to be doing in the meantime.
What I'm realizing is that TRUE bloggers (those of us who blog several times a week--because it's in our blood, because we HAVE to) are also deep--often intensely deep--thinkers. And, from this deep thinking flows lots of writing...lots and lots and LOTS of writing (yes-- lots of blogging.)
Through these (primarily virtual) friends' blogs and the alignment of our words, I am finding amazing commonality with thoughts I've had myself: What am I supposed to be doing with this time? What is God's plan for THIS season of my life?
We all write that we truly believe God has a purpose for our life, (Jeremiah 29:11) but the question and disappointment seems to seep in when we have done everything RIGHT (for a certain amount of time anyway) and things still don't seem to be moving forward. We are all starting to wonder why those plans for a future that He knows for us, have not been yet been revealed to us! And what the heck we should do while we're waiting? What are we supposed to do in the meantime?
Through a comment on Josh Treece's blog the other day, I suggested that maybe THIS was God's plan for us. THIS. This right now, (hopefully) interim time. This time we've been given to think and sit and wonder and read and pray and trust and hope and rest and write and write and WRITE--this might BE the plan for us...in the mean time anyway.
Of course I put myself in this category of thinkers/waiters/writers. In my fourth year of living alone, I have a painful amount (I almost wrote, "an ungodly amount") of free time--reading and writing blogs every day has been an unexpected gift! I'm realizing that blogging has actually become a cathartic outlet for many of us heavy thinkers. It's a journal, a best friend and a psychologist rolled into one--and at your fingertips! It's much cheaper than therapy, open 24 hours a day, and my laptop actually keeps me warm at night.
This is my 800th post! In a little more than 15 months. (That's almost 2 per day.) And, Lord knows, I could write more. My mind never turns off. I have a lot of time and a lot to say. So I write. I have to. And sometimes, it's all I have to do. In the mean time anyway.
I am seriously starting to consider writing a book about living "in the meantime." (Loisa correctly emphasizes the often "MEAN" part of this meantime.) This "purgatory time" that so many of us seem to be waiting and hoping to be prayed out of! But while we are aching to get out, are we wasting THIS time? Are we MISSING something that God is trying to teach us or show us right NOW?
At this point in life, I feel like I am pretty healthy and for the most part, I have my sh*t together. I think it's because, for the last year or so, I have been allowing myself to "wallow" in this meantime. I have accepted it and have actually learned how to enjoy it. I've started to understand that THIS might be God's plan after all...to sit down and to enjoy the quiet, to read...and to write. And to learn to fall in love with this new life. THIS part of life.
I'm thinking that this meantime might not be so mean after all. It might be about doing the things we won't have time to do once the 'big' plan is revealed. It might be about praying and hoping and dreaming and laughing and writing (and cooking and singing and dancing and eating and traveling)--and enjoying life right now--THIS season of life. And it might be about remembering that it's ALL part of the plans He has for us! For me it's the alone season. For others--the unemployed season, the uncertain season, the waiting season, the unanswered question season, or the clarifying season. For all of us, it's the "in the meantime" season.
Perhaps "the plans He has for you (and me)" start with learning to love this part of the plan. Maybe He really does just want us to sit back and relax and let HIM worry about the future. After all, He said He knows the plans and that they were gonna be good...
Maybe He just wants us to trust and relax and be faithful and pray.
One thing for sure though. I know that He wants us to write.
...in the meantime anyway.

"He is not here,
for He has risen, just as He said."
Matthew 28:6

Comfort's sweet...

The incredible aroma of anything cooking in MY house means company is coming. Today, as the delicious smell of enchiladas and corn cake wafted throughout my home, I set the tables, made a vat of guacamole, lit candles and made sure everything was set for my special guests!

It was Easter Saturday dinner...and I was honored to have my most favorite people in the world over to share a meal and enjoy the night together. The shirt says it all.

Mom and Dad and their four oldest (and favorite) grand kids...

Allison's friend, Sam, joined us tonight! ...as did my (favorite) sister, Gina, and her friend Greg.
I do believe I may have met my "name that tune" match in Greg.
He's good. He's REALLY good.

Later in the evening, Sam's brother Jesse joined the fun
(anyone in a baseball hat is always welcome in my home. Even if he's a Red Sox fan.)

The BTS was SERIOUSLY the best one ever!

This was my favorite part of the day.
Can you figure out what it is?
Sam brought me flours.

Let me tell you--I'm not just a lucky mom--
I am about the luckiest person I know.
Happy Easter

Available for giving and receiving...

It smells oh so sweet...
and it is, indeed, amazing.

CLASS Reunion

My friend, Annie is graduating from The Art Institute of California and I was blessed to be a part of her exciting graduation celebration last night. Annie was part of my small group at Crave and has always been a JOY to be with as well as an amazing artist and graphic designer! I am OH so proud of the truly incredibly kind, intelligent and artistic woman she is today!
Check out her fantastic body of work at www.annienoelsmith.com

The night became even more fun as the other guests--and long time friends--began to arrive. Amber and Jordan Slaybaugh were also part of Crave and Amber was part of my small group too. Jordan and his entire family were part of the Saddleback Staff at one point or another! Of course, I like to remember Jordan as the boy Allison went to Homecoming with sophomore year.

Kara was part of the Crave staff, went to London for a semester with Allison AND is best friends with my nephew's wife. Loisa worked at Saddleback, was in the show choir at El Toro High School with Allison AND danced with me every Thursday night at Crave (oh, and at a Saddleback Christmas party!)

And the old friends kept coming...Michelle was part of one of my small groups at Crave. Katherine was in Zac's class at school, was an All STARS leader AND was in my WILDSIDE small group when she was in 7th and 8th grade! Yep! It had been YEARS since I'd seen her. Tonight she hugged me and we talked for quite a while. She said the kindest words to me about things I had shared and talked about with the group when she was in Jr. High. She said, "Julie, you really made an impact on my life!" Wow! (I started to cry...)

And then there's Jared and Alanna. Jared's mom and I taught Sunday School at Saddleback when it was at Trabuco Hills High School--Jared and Allison were in Kindergarten! He was part of the GREAT group of church friends who hung out at our home and grew up with Allison. (Remind me to post photos of Jared and Allison when they were "Goldy Locks and the bear.") Alanna and Allison have been close friends since 7th grade. Alanna traveled to New York and to London and Paris with our family and spent a lot of time over the many years at our house!
Jared and Alanna are getting married in May.

Carrie--as well as HER entire family--has worked at Saddleback too! Tonight she told me that my blog is 'so inspirational' to her. Wow.

Cathy and Allison have been friends since sixth grade Sunday School class with Jon Mooney. Cathy also worked at Saddleback...and the one thing that all "Former Saddleback Staff" want to do together is drink. And we do.

Dana!! Oh Dana! Dana was on Crave staff with me and was fabulous to work with! I have not seen her in months...SO good to re connect!

Becky is Loisa's mom and YET ANOTHER "former Saddleback staff" (notice beer in hand.)

Last night was like one of those dreams where everyone you know from different areas of your life all show up in one room. The thing is...MOST of my last 20 years revolved around Saddleback--almost ALL the aspects of my life--work, ministry, my kid's activities.
Everything really.
The thing is--that very large church is more like a really small world.
SO many good friends and memories came out of those years. So much GREAT stuff...
And I wouldn't trade it for anything on Earth.

Congratulations Annie!