the whole thing around
Drum Solo
Cup o' Joe with his Dad
He said he was 'riding a motorcycle'...
My little nephew, Elijah, is now two years old!
Today is the day! Mops, brooms, dust rags and sponges are ready to go. I've got Mr. Clean, Mr. Muscle and a Janitor in a drum. There's the clean smell of pine and that lemon fresh scent too...and OH the scrubbing bubbles! (They work hard so you don't have to!)
The entire gamut of human experience is yours to enjoy once you decide to venture into territory where you don't have guarantees.
Can't wait to see how many things I don't know
In three words I can sum up everything
Kelly and I have been friends since Freshman year of high school. Our first babies were born three months apart. Our second babies were born three months apart. (Kelly went on to have a third...I never could keep up with her!) We have lived life together in OH so many ways since those days...and it has almost always involved food, beer, wine and lots more food!
But not anymore! Tonight, Kelly and I met at the gym and did our very first Pilates class together! Holy Cow...it's hard! (My stomach muscles are hurting as I SIT here typing!) It was SO fun to be next to Kelly during the class...and knew that it was ok if I couldn't keep up! We seriously laughed and sweated and tried to keep breathing and lost our balance and counted off the repetitions as we watched each other struggle. Kelly kept saying, "Am I skinny yet?"
(This photograph is just a special treat for everyone...found it when I googled "Pilates"...inspirational in SO many ways...)
As we left, worn out and sweating in our workout pants and baggy t-shirts--mascara running down our faces, Kelly said, "I know you're gonna blog about this, Jules. Thank you for not bringing your camera."
Beautiful hat, huh?
Tonight was the Master Awards Dinner at Montage...and OH what a night it was! As a special treat for me, Jaime, Chris, Joyce and Evette showed up in Dodgers tee shirts!! I was SO excited and SO honored!! They even brought one for me to wear!
With my beautiful daughter!
And, when the berry crisp dessert was brought out for the group, Allison and I were served warm Bananas Foster! It is my very favorite dessert!!!
I took this picture while away with some friends last year...it was a long weekend that included a whole lot of guacamole and just about as much tequila! I love the shot...it tells a great story.
mean people
. Especially the Dodgers.
I've let too many little things ruffle my feathers
My sister, Leesa, is in town for a few days with her adorable kids, Thea and Sidney.
Continuing our tradition, my Dad and I attended the Dodgers' Home Opener today! And WHAT a spectacular day it was! Vin Scully threw out the opening pitch and said from the mound, "It's time for Dodgers Baseball!"
Orlando Hudson became the second Los Angeles Dodgers player to hit for the cycle, Andre Ethier powered two homers and Chad Billingsley dominated with 11 strikeouts in seven innings to give the Dodgers an 11-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
And, continuing our LONG TIME tradition, my dad and I are heading up to Dodger Stadium for the game!! Kinda strange to being going into Opening Day with a 4-3 record (and a game behind the Padres!)...but I am SO excited to be going! I'm DOUBLY thrilled that Randy Johnson is pitching for the Giants today. I have seen Randy pitch for Seattle, Arizona and New York...and now for San Francisco. At 6'10, and with a 100 mph fastball, he's BRILLIANT watch!
H
ope your Easter was fantastic!
OH what a GREAT night...
It is tagged as "A Purpose-filled Musical"...
The show has run on Broadway, in London and Las Vegas and has received multiple awards including the Tony for best musical. It is incredibly creative, thoroughly entertaining and even a little bit touching! And absolutely freaking hilarious.
Tonight Ange and I celebrated her birthday at the Angel's game!
Before the game began, the Angels showed a video honoring Nick Adenhart with clips from his pitching performance just two days prior, and Torii Hunter and John Lackey held Adenhart's jersey on the mound during a moment of silence. The team will wear a patch on their uniforms to honor Adenhart throughout the season.
Put your right foot forward and your left hand back.
Are we doing the Hokey Pokey?
Nope…it's just my new favorite hobby—YOGA! Seriously, if you’ve ever been to a Yoga class—you get this. It is one intentional move after another. Holding the pose. Breathing in. Breathing out. You are reminded to “feel the invisible cable that is pulling your head to the sky…” while putting this hand here, that foot there...etc.
Yeah, and if you haven’t ever been to a class…let me tell you that it’s a whole new world. Bending, stretching, standing on one leg, arms up, down, up on your toes, and on and on...it's kinda like a very organized game of Twister!
Each time I go, I can't help but watch the ‘new’ people. It’s always someone’s first time. And there is always one who loses their balance…and another who falls over...But it doesn’t take long.
Two weeks into it and I am able to do most of the positions/poses in the class. I can’t always HOLD them for as long as the instructor asks, but I sure do try. She asks us to breathe. To clear our mind. To feel the peace and joy of life. And I do.
It feels so good. It really works. For me anyway. I run around all day at work. My mind doesn't stop. And I don't think I've relaxed since 1981.
But I do now. Three or four times a week anyway. I’m now venturing into the 90 minute class and I go early to just lay there in the dark silence before it starts. I stretch, I breath, I (attempt to) clear my mind and I remind myself of how good life is.
Then I put my right hand in…I put my right hand out…
Yeah…that’s what it’s all about. 
Allison and I went to the Angels' Opening Night tonight!
And, more importantly....
Allison sang at Saddleback tonight! And was she fabulous!!
Bum did the Carol Brady wave to Allison!
After, we celebrated my dad's birthday at Claim Jumper!
Damn, life is good.
Happy Birthday to my favorite Dad!
This is the first time in...YEARS!!...that I have not been at a freeway series game. For some reason, there is only ONE Angels/Dodgers pre-season game this year--and it's in (the real) Los Angeles. Just can't do that on a Thursday night.
...and yet my mind won't stop.
