Happy Father's Day

I wish I could be with you today Father. I found this old picture that I took of you (circa late 80's?)

Besides how cute you look, I think one of the best things about this picture is this mug...do you still use it? We need to find you a new one with a white beard!

My first week

It has been a great first week at my new job at Lakeshore Learning Materials. I have never felt so welcomed before at a new job!! The picture above was waiting for me and another new employee when we walked in on Monday and has been up all week. Several people have taken me to lunch. We celebrated a birthday with carrot cake that rivaled Publix (I am serious & if you know me at all, you know how I feel about Publix carrot cake!!) Fridays are "snack days" where people alternate as a team to bring in all sorts of goodies to eat. Today one girl brought 4 different quiches that she made herself! Plus, there was doughnuts, mixed fruit, a homemade pasta salad, a homemade casserole (yummy), brownies, etc. THEN...for lunch today there was fried chicken and all the fixin's brought in for everyone for Memorial Day. Yes, this is all in the same day!

One thing I know for sure is that I am going to start working out every day after work. Did I mention how close the office is to me?? 15 minutes!!

I take my first trip in a few weeks to visit a new store opening in....East Cobb!! Yes!! Near Merchant's Walk. How awesome is that? Can you tell I am excited?

Happy Mother's Day USA

My Mother is the best. She routinely lets me celebrate Mother's Day later in the month (May 31 or should I say 31 mai?) via Fête des Mères (French Mother's Day!!)

Since she is still waiting for my very thoughtful gifts to arrive in the mail in time for Fête des Mères, I thought I would post some pictures of Mothers...

I took this picture of Mother and Grandma

 in our front yard in Marietta, GA in June 1987 when 

Grandma was visiting for my high school gradulation.

I took this picture of Mémère in a cafe in La Samaritaine

when I was vacationing in Paris with Jessica in July 1981. 

Back then, it was not part of the LVMH group. 

Opposite Marriage

Just to keep all of you in the know...I copied Wednesday's Word of the Day from urbandictionary.com : opposite marriage

The P.C. way to specify the legal union of a man and a woman, as made popular by Miss California at the 2009 Miss USA pageant.

MISS CALIFORNIA: "We live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage"

After witnessing some horrible behavior by The Donald, I refuse to watch anything that he is a part of or will profit from, so I did not witness California's great representation of our state the other night in the Miss USA contest. (Although I am being slightly facetious, Prop 8 did pass so she is indeed an example of an average Californian, right?? Uuggh... And no, she's NOT from LA!) If you want to see the video or read more about the whole debacle, click the picture to be linked to the whole report.

So was this another political rant post or a post
making fun of a pageant girl who can't communicate?
(Seriously, "opposite marriage"?) You decide.

My trees are blooming...

I love, love, love the red puffy blooms on these trees. I am so lucky and grateful to have one of these luscious trees right in front of my condo.

I think Spring is in the air...

Thanks to everyone who helped me figure out what kind of tree this is! It's a weeping bottlebrush!

Happy Bunny Day!!

Quack, quack!!

And speaking of calendars...

For Christmas, I gave to my parents and to the Ohio Thomases each a super expensive* calendar of Long Beach that is mostly pictures taken around my part (ahem, the good part) of Long Beach. This way every month they can reminisce about me and places we've been together in the LBC.

When Scott was here, we mimicked the January picture. While my parents were here, we were able to capture March and April.
Any volunteers for future months?

JANUARY (In front of the Bayshore library - 2nd Steet - Belmont Shores)

(The day we took Scott's picture it wasn't as clear as the calendar. If you look really closely, you can see the mountains in the background.)

MARCH (Rancho Los Cerritos)

Looks like we had much better sun than the calendar photographer!!

APRIL (Hilltop Park - Signal Hill overlooking Long Beach)
Obviously, we didn't take these pictures with the calendar in mind, so the shots aren't exactly the same. Can you find the oops??





*Okay, the calendars were actually free from the Gas Company, which is funny because I haven't used gas since I've lived in the LBC. (Yes, I have electric stove and electric water heater - but I digress.) I did have to drive over 4 miles to pick them up (more like beg for them) at the Gas Company...

My two nephews love...

They ♥ LA! They love it!