Mr. & Mrs. Moine

A beautiful setting...a spectacular evening...the happy couple...

Allison and Alanna as they got ready yesterday afternoon

Yeah! Surprise eyes!

...and my beautiful daughter!

The ceremony was just gorgeous!

Allison and her groomsmen!

So many good friends...Megan, Courtney and Cathi

Andrea
and I have tried to get together for months...
it was such a treat to spend time together!

Brian
and Allison have been friends for YEARS! (He was an All STARS leader too!)

Such a JOY to meet Mary Rosenbaum
We have communicated through our blogs and really were excited to finally meet!
(Her blog is fabulous!)

Taffy
is the best

Sue
with her daughter, Lea and hubby too

Allison looked absolutely STUNNING!

Jaime and Zack
(Jaime still owes me dinner from our Red Sox bet last fall!)

Alanna's beautiful mom, Chris!
(Couldn't she be Kate Hudson's sister?)

KING of the bloggers! Josh Griffin
(For the love of God, I must remember to close my mouth!)

Courtney and I toasted to many a good memory on Saddleback Staff!

Alan was on Children's Staff too!

Katie
and Allison--so cute!

One last wide mouth shot with the whole gang!
Ryanne is a blogger too!

Oh what a night! It was a bit of a reunion for all. So many people from Saddleback Staff and SO many blogging friends too!
(If they have a blog, you can click on their name above to get to it!)
We laughed and danced and ate yummy ice cream cookie sandwiches. We celebrated GREAT friendships along with the marriage of these two people, who are so incredibly full of life, laughter and love!
Congratulations Alanna and Jared--love you guys so much!

Tonight's the night!

I have been telling Alanna FOR YEARS that I would one day dance at her wedding...
I've got my dancing shoes on!
Congratulations Alanna and Jared!

Life is (OH SO) Beautiful!

I was so blessed to be invited to join the celebration of my friend June's 80th birthday tonight. Yes, this gorgeous woman is 80 years old today! She just returned from a cruise with her husband of five years and before we even sat down she asked the waiter for a vodka martini with extra olives! Inspiration all the way around!

Ethel, June, Jack and Russel

Jack jokes that he and June have been married for over 100 years. He was married to his first wife for 55 years before she died and June was married to her first husband for 45 years before he died. And now, they have been married to each other for five years.
Ethel is my father's cousin. (Her maiden name is DiLallo!) She and Russell have been married over 60 years! That, along with great conversation about traveling, loving life and staying active (along with a bottle of wine!) made the evening so enjoyable and inspiring!

I have known and loved Ethel--who I believe is technically my second cousin--all my life! She has always been--and still is--so encouraging to me!
Each of these GREAT people--is over 80! And they are all actively living and loving life! Russell skied Mammoth a few months ago...they play tennis several times a week...they line dance and travel the world! I asked what the true secret to living a long, full life is...each gave one little bit of advice..."Stay active!" "Keep your mind going!" "Travel!" Then June took my hand and said, "Just laugh a lot." Amen.
No need to tell you that they all laughed at my apprehension about turning 45 next week.
Jack, who will be 86 at the end of the month, held up his glass of wine and said with a great big smile, "Hey! I am nearly double your age!"
Seriously, dining with these folks tonight was such a treat.
Ahh...to be living and loving life this same way forty years from now...
I'm all in.

Duty Free

My 'duty' has been finished...and I never even went!
I received my 'Jury Summons' over a month ago and was instructed to call after 5pm on May 9.
So I did. And at which time I was instructed to please call back on Monday, May 12 after 5pm for further instructions. Which I did.
On May 12 at 5pm I called and was instructed to call back on Tuesday, May 13 and to be prepared to report to Jury Duty on Wednesday, May 14 at 8:30am.
So on Tuesday at 5pm, I called again. And they told me to call back on Wednesday after 5pm but to be prepared to report on Thursday at 8:30am.
So...I called on Wednesday and was told to call back today at 5pm.
Seriously.
So, I just called.
The recording said that my duty services have been completed.
Why do people complain about getting Jury Duty?
It's so easy!

Eat Love Yeah

Tonight I was invited to have dinner at Mosaic,
one of three GREAT restaurants at Montage.
Mosaic, which is outside by the pool, serves dinner from mid-May through mid-September (or so) beginning this Friday night!

We had crab cakes and pesto shrimp and an ahi roll for appetizers.
Between us we ordered and shared
steak, halibut, lobster and, above, salmon.
All of the food was BEAUTIFUL as well as absolutely delicious!

The view from Mosaic is stunning...
And the weather tonight was spectacular!

And--OH--for the love of God...the desserts! Strawberries with Kiwi sorbet, Creme Brulee and--probably the GREATEST dessert I have ever had-- the Chocolate Banana Caramel Cake!

With Trisa, Joyce, Shadi and Javad...
Divine surroundings, delicious food and delightful company!

Life is Good

Giant Golfing Guy

When I was little, I remember driving past this golf course in Long Beach and thinking that the golf guy statue was SO gigantic!
Last weekend, on the way home from Zac's graduation, I realized that it's not nearly as large as I remember it being...