TV OD

Why is it that when I crawl in bed at night, the SLIGHTEST little noise will keep me from falling asleep? The ticking clock, a neighbor's laughter, that dog barking two blocks away...


But freaking lay me down in front of a blaring TV and I completely pass out!

Twice this week, I have fallen asleep on the couch while watching a movie. Yep, missed the end of both of them.



I am SUCH a light sleeper, it doesn't seem to make any sense! And I gotta tell ya, it's a very good, deep sleep.
Kinda grateful that there's no one here to wake me up and tell me to go get in bed...

I am just about there...

Guess who's coming to dinner?

I had an email from Allison this morning...
"Can I come over for dinner tonight...with NINE friends?"

Sure!! Why not? A trip to the market and--in a snap--
we had enchiladas and fresh baked cookies for eleven!

With my other daughter, Bethany

Gabe, Caleb, Bethany, Allison, Jesse and Andy

Sam (yes he's back from London) and Bobby

Gabe and Luke
Luke is Ange's brother.
I've known him since he was about 10

Caleb and Andy

Jesse, Bethany and Santi
Santi helped host "Name that Tune" for us tonight--
he REALLY knows music!

We had a little fun with the self-timer and a lot of fun with the iPod...
Oh my gosh!! There is NOTHING I love more than
a house full of HAPPY people!
Such a blast!

Diet...you'll like it!

Today was Day Two of my diet and Summer exercise program...
I have eaten only low-cal, low fat, HEALTHY foods and
have taken a 2-mile walk around the block two days in a row now!
Yep. I'm gonna get back into those size 4 suits.
(I'd settle for the 6s at this point.)

I want to be to my "goal" weight before I leave for Kenya...
just for comfort sake mostly.
Oh...and it would nice to fit in any of my jeans again.
Yeah...I'm doing really well.
That chicken breast with fat free
cottage cheese was so delicious tonight!
Really...there's nothing I'd rather eat.

Traveling with Otis

Saw this Sunday at a parking structure in downtown Los Angeles...
How cool would it be to push '2' and have the doors open up to Paris?
(Allison, you can push 3)
We parked in Rome

These are the good ol' days...

I was looking for a certain picture today and came across all of these.
Couldn't resist sharing them.Allison's first trip to New York 1986

Allison and Zachary 1988ish

With Aunt Gina (great drapes and wallpaper, huh?)

Heavy Metal Allison

How freaking cute are my kids? (Nice towels too.)

Adorable...
So glad I have always taken WAY too many pictures.

Just like heaven

Me and Robert Smith

The Cure is yet another one of the GREAT bands that I have loved, admired and followed for nearly 30 years. Last night was at least the 7th or 8th time I have seen them perform. The first time being around 1980...most recently in 2001 and 2004.
Seriously, it's been an incredible experience every single time!

We had 19th row orchestra seats...
but soon found ourselves in the 8th row. ...we spent the last part of the show in the 3rd row!

When the group first took the stage last night, I just stared at Robert Smith--almost with tears in my eyes. I met Robert in 1980 at Pier Records in Irvine. He was sitting just outside the store at a card table waiting for someone to come ask for his autograph (which I did of course.) I remember talking to him--he was VERY shy--and letting him know how talented I thought he was. I was 17 and Robert was 22. Wow...After that, I bought every album (yes LPs, then cassettes, then CDs!) and went to as many shows as possible...
My KIDS know all their songs...THEY grew up with The Cure too!
Last night, when Robert Smith stepped out on stage, I felt like I was seeing someone I went to high school with...someone I grew up with. It's 28 years later, and he is still singing his amazing songs to sold-out audiences--night after night. Just like a dream.
I am so proud of him.