daily exhale

I got out four years ago. She just caught on.

An honest take from today’s LA Times…Thanks for sending this Bret and, thank you Candice for writing what I figured out years ago. 

Dear California, I'm dumping you
I thought it would last forever, but you've changed and I want out.
By Candice Reed , August 16, 2009


Dear California,

I've been thinking about this for a very long time, and I've come to the conclusion that we should go our separate ways. I thought I loved you and it would last forever, but I was so very wrong.

I know that our relationship has lasted 50 years and that we should fight to stay together, but you've changed so much that, frankly, I don't know who you are anymore!

When we first met I was young and rather naive, and I loved you unconditionally. I spent years running with abandon across your sandy beaches in the bright sunshine, playing in your beautiful parks and attending your top-rated schools, which were a national model for the other states. For 18 years or so, I can honestly say that I was truly in love with you, but then came your first major transgression: Proposition 13.

Oh sure, you tried to tell me that property taxes were bad for our relationship, but I knew you were lying. Low taxes, you said, would bring us closer together. You wanted to have your cake and eat it too. You said we could build schools and roads and parks without that tax money, but even back then I knew you were in denial.

Struggling to focus today.

Most of you travel more than we do as a group.  For us it's beyond a novelty - it's a spectacular event when we go as a family - especially when it involves planes and rental cars.  The children are giddy and so am I.  We will see many friends for the first time in a few years and our family.  Let's throw in Disney - actually a minor at this point and a dear friend's birthday party at Build-A-Bear.  I can barely contain my excitement.

Camera is charged, cards are emptied.
Flash drive filled with most current projects.
Passwords transferred.
Clothes packed.
Presents packed.
Snacks will wait until tomorrow.
House sitter set.
Clients notified.

I think we're set.  Now I have to focus on work - work, work until noon.  Tax appointment, more work tonight and tomorrow morning and OFF WE FLY! EEEEEE!  I'm as excited as Miss Piggy at the county fair when she joins Kermit in the Studebaker.

The Class of 1935 Payne, Ohio

Another package from an old friend arrived the other day.  This was a padded envelope with a sweet note inside. The envelope contained two photos - one of my brother when he was about 7 and one from my dad's high school.  Dad attended Payne High School in Ohio. It was a small class.  The photo is yet another treasure from my old friend and my dear friend. They keep uncovering treasures in storage and sending me surprises from time to time.  Dad is in the lower right, bottom. Handsome man, isn't he?

The neverending bus ride home

By 3:40 we made the call. They were due at 3:23.  Around 4:05 they came around the corner with a noise that was a combination of screaming, cheering, crying and diesel.  89 degrees, not the best day for this to happen.

My best friend is NOT coming, but may meet me in SF!

I'm sad to report my best friend is NOT coming to visit.  Regional sales meeting got in the way.  But, she's daring me, as a birthday present, to meet her in San Francisco.  My husband is having great difficulty with the pronouns in this invitation. Somehow he's confusing, "... invited me" with "...invited three." 

Longing for a pellet gun

Stupid, useless crows!  Nasty birds.  If you like them, I don't care.  They awakened everyone within 500 yards each morning this weekend during our camping adventure to Beverly Beach.  Two stupid crows CAW-CAW-ing back and forth at 15 minute intervals.

8 Gallons Not Enough

Four people, four days, eight gallons.  Not enough; especially when the two smaller people were not key-op trained on how to use the toilet in the trailer.

We just completed the inaugural trip in our tent-trailer.  It went beautifully except for a minor detail of mathematics and physics.