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...

Time to retire?

Admittedly, there are two things I miss about being married: having someone who handles the finances and someone who takes care of the cars. (There's actually one other thing I miss...but let's not go there...)

Anyway, the other day I came out of work to find my front tire nearly flat. I stopped at the gas station and put air in the tire only to find it flat again by the time I got home.
The car is seven years old--I bought it used--and I am embarrassed to say, I have no idea how old the tires are. I took a few minutes to look at all of the tires and thought they looked a bit worn out and I was kinda bummed to think I would have to buy new tires...I know they're not cheap.
I was also concerned about going to the tire place...you know, a woman who doesn't know how old the tires are, doesn't really know if they are in decent shape or not and didn't even know what size they were. (Funny tho, I can remember that our Volvo Wagon took 195-60-15s--that must have been drilled in my head...) People are constantly warning me about being ripped off by mechanics or repair people. No, I don't see myself as that kind of woman, but I'm sure no one really does. I do know that I am WAY too trusting of people...it's hard for me to believe that any one would try to pull one over on me.
I made an appointment at Action Tires in Mission Viejo...a place we took our cars for tires over the last 20 years. When I went in, Graham at the front desk was SO kind. I told him what was going on...flat tire, filled it up, flat again, tires look a little shabby, etc.
Then I said, "Graham, I don't think I need new tires....I would just like your professional opinion on what needs to be done." He smiled, offered me a cup of coffee and said not to worry...they'd take care of it. I enjoyed the coffee (surprisingly!) but worried just the same. He could come back and tell me the tires were all shot and I would believe him. He could charge me an arm and a leg to change them all out...and I wouldn't have a clue if I had been ripped off or not.
A few minutes later Graham came to the waiting area and said, "Miss Hibbard, your tires are in good shape...though they DO need to be rotated. Oh, and we found a screw in that front one. We'll fix it for you."
I thanked him and thought to myself, Yikes, wonder what this is gonna cost me. Rotated? I wonder if that's just a scam!
I had no choice but to trust Graham at that point. He seemed like a bright kid--probably about the same age as my son--articulate, polite and very professional.
As he came back in, Graham said, "Ok Miss Hibbard...you're all set."
I thanked him and asked what I owed. (I had taken my credit card out of the lock box that morning and was prepared to put a chunk on it if necessary.)
"That'll be $10," he said as he handed me the invoice to sign. Seriously. Ten bucks.
I looked at him and smiled! "TEN dollars? TEN? Really?" I was amazed.
He said, "Yeah, the rotation is $10...we didn't charge you for the flat fixing...it was no big deal."
I thanked Graham, paid the bill and as I drove off I realized they had even washed my windshield.
See? Good as new!
And here you were all worried about me being ripped off...