PHS Mexico 6-0 Reunion Cruise tips – part II 

Projected WEATHER:

Long Beach 85 F on Friday, Oct. 5,  Ensenada 81 F on Sunday, Oct. 8

Out at sea – don’t know but breeze and winds can get cold during the evenings and nights

However - we are in hurricane season through November 1. And though Pacific hurricanes are rare in comparison to Atlantic and Caribbean ones, --- there is a little bad news.

Currently (Sept. 16) there are two storms brewing just off the coast below Baja. Both with less than 40   percent chance of becoming a cyclone and eventual hurricane. (the second photo is the five-day outlook of where the storm is heading.) We’ll just keep an eye on them. Either way – even if they did become hurricanes, they should be gone by Oct. 5. (But we might see damage left behind.) And, with there being two storms brewing – it’s possible more can develop later in the month. I always keep an eye on the storms as my cruise approaches so I’ll keep you all posted if any new ones develop. The cruise ships are really good at staying ahead of the storms but worse-case scenario – we get some rough sea waves. (Another reason to bring Dramamine)
9/17: Good news that second disturbance has disappeared. (Yellow X). Bad News: A new one is developing, just southeast of the red one.

PACKING:

Remember, light is best. And if you need it – there are laundry rooms on the ship. I always throw a couple of laundry pods and some dryer sheets in a Ziploc bag - just in case but I have only used them on the 7-8 day cruises. I like to write down the days of the cruise and go from there:

Friday – Embarkation Day
Comfy clothes for traveling. Dinner is a “come as you are” for the first night – so no need to change. They know we are busy with the mandatory safety briefing and sail away party and then show and dinner. Plus some people may not get their luggage delivered till later in the evening.

Saturday – Sea Day and Elegant Night
Daytime: swim suit and cover-up, shorts or sundress and flip flops, hat, if you will be out by the pool.
Dinner – Elegant Night – dress up nice. Men: slacks, shirt, tie optional; Women: dressy or simple dress or just nice slacks and a dressy top. Take a sweater or shawl if you get cold easily. The showroom is usually cold.

Sunday – Ensenada
Comfort is key. Wear whatever you might need for your excursion. Wear comfortable walking shoes if you will do a lot of walking. Jeans and closed toe shoes if you are horseback riding. Swimwear and Shorts if you are kayaking. etc. There’s also zip lining and dune buggy excursions, wine tours, cooking classes, shopping in town, bar hopping, etc. La Bufadora (a natural blowhole on the coast) is cool to see. There are only three in the world – Australia, Hawaii and Ensenada. And Ensenada’s is the largest one in North America. (Second largest sea geyser of the world.) For photos of La Bufadora - click here: La Bufadora photos 
And if you go there - you have to try their tacos and other sea food. Everything is so fresh and absolutely delicious. Don't worry - you'll still be hungry for dinner when you return to the ship.
Sunday night – just remember to change back for dinner. Casual/dressy wear is fine.

Monday – Debarkation

Time to go home - wear something comfortable for driving home.

This is how I personally would pack.

Friday – black exercise capris pants, t-shirt

Saturday – same black capris, second t-shirt, flip flops for day / black dress and heels for elegant night

Sunday – jean capris and t-shirt, Nike shoes for Ensenada / simple dress and sandals for dinner

Monday – same black capris and another t-shirt for drive home.

Other – shawl for dinner, long sleeve shirt for early morning walking, jeans in case of cold day, undergarments, socks, swim suit and pajamas.

Toiletries: There is shampoo and liquid soap in every shower - but no conditioner. In the past, some rooms had hair dryers and some don’t. If you need one and don’t have a travel one, just ask your room steward as soon as you see him since they have a limited supply of them.

Other things which help:

·  Electrical power strip – can NOT have a circuit breaker, they will take those away from you. Sometimes they are hard to find without a surge protector – so I just like taking simple three-plug strips to plug in. That way two of you can plug in your cell phones to charge.

·         Post its – to leave notes on your mirror for the steward or on your door for family or others on where you are, etc.

·         Small bills – ones and fives and tens, maybe 20s if you plan on shopping. Avoid large bills. You don’t need money on the ship so always leave your wallet and cash in the safe deposit box in your room. While in port, you need your sail card, your driver’s license and cash for food, water, shopping – do NOT use your credit card. I have heard several bad stories.

·         Small cross-body purse – for your cell phone around the ship if you don’t have pockets – and/or for your cash and cell phone in Ensenada

·       Backpack – for your bottle of wine and sodas if you bring on the ship – also good place for medicine, makeup bag, light sweater or anything else you might need when coming onboard. This also great for Ensenada for your water bottles and anything you might need when you get off in port. (You cannot take fruit or meat or food off the ship – they have dogs to sniff you.)

·         Laudry pods, dryer sheets; and Fabreeze spray to freshen room

No Need to take towels – there are plenty in the room and at the poolside. If you need them in Ensenada, you do have beach towels in your room you can take off the ship with you but you are responsible for them.

Irons are not allowed – but there are self-laundry rooms onboard with irons and ironing boards if you need them.



Continue scrolling page to see Part 1

Note: PHS Class of 76 - this was too long to place on facebook so I'm placing it here.

Porterville High Class of 1976 

  Mexico 6-0 Reunion Cruise   

Carnival Inspiration: Friday to Monday, Oct. 5-8, 2018

Hi everyone – I just thought I’d put this together for you. I’ve cruised a lot in the past so these are just a few things. It may seem overwhelming but it’s really not. Once you are there, it is so much fun, you’ll be ready to do it again soon. Ok – here we go…… And remember, everything is included. Well, almost everything. You have to buy your own alcohol.

IMPORTANT Pre-cruising Documents: Do not forget these – you can’t board the ship without them.

·         Valid passport or U.S. Birth Certificate - needed to clear customs.

·         Government issued driver’s license or photo I.D.  

·         Boarding Pass - print it up at home or work before you leave.

·         Luggage tags – print one per luggage or make copies of it for each piece of luggage.

Pre-Register:

This is very important. You MUST pre-register. It is how you get your boarding pass and luggage tags. And, it is how you sign up for, and receive, your “check-in time” – the sooner you do it, the earlier you can come onboard. I am scheduled to board at 12:30. The latest you can board is around 4 p.m. But you don’t want to do that unless you have to because the ship party starts at noon. In other words, the moment you walk on the ship, music will be playing, drinks will be flowing and people will be in the pool spa or waterslides, learning a new dance on deck – or eating.

Packing:
This is just a long weekend, so a carry-on or small suitcase, should be plenty. (Unless you are Armando – then just throw your speedo in your pocket and you’re ready to go.) For the rest of us – pack light. We are only there for the weekend. I will post a list at the end as an example, as well as some things you should consider bringing. Pack a small carryon or purse with any medicines, a swim suit, your cell phone and charger, limited liquor or soda (see below) and anything else you might want to carry on. Do not put those things in your suitcase. Do not pack a swim towel – you can check them out pool-side.

Carry on Liquids:

You may bring one bottle of wine or champagne per adult onto the ship. (Don’t forget the corkscrew to open it. And you must open it yourself – though we’ve asked our cabin steward and he’s done it for us for free a couple of times.) You can also bring a six-pack of sodas per person with you. (A six pack of sodas onboard is $10.) However these things must be carried on – so either in a bag or a backpack. Bottled Water is NOT allowed (people were sneaking on vodka and other liquor inside the water bottles so they stopped it.) If you have cruised on Carnival before, you will have a courtesy 1 liter bottle of water in your room upon arrival. Or take an empty bottle and fill it up yourself in the buffet restaurant. OR – you can pre-purchase (must be done before you get on the ship) a six pack of bottled water from the Carnival website for $4.50 – they will place it in your room.

Driving:
If anyone is driving from the Porterville area and you have room for one more – please let me know.
You want to leave with ample time to get to the port. According to Google Maps, the port is 3 hrs. and 8 minutes away. But take traffic into account and give yourself more time. Even 4-5 hours is good. Our ship will be docked next to the Queen Mary. (If you get there early, you could always walk around there and check it out until it is time to board)  It is also safe to say that you can follow the signs for the Queen Mary – then once there, stay to the right to “Cruise ships” – where you can either be dropped off or park. There is plenty of parking there to leave your vehicle. Do not park in the Queen Mary parking, as that is not long term.  Park in the Cruise Ship parking garage.

Upon Arrival:

Once you park, walk to the front of the garage entry and you will see many porters there taking suitcases. Make sure your suitcase has a Carnival tag (the ones you printed at home) and get rid of your bag. They will take it to your room. Keep any meds, wallet, phone, charger and valuables, with you. Once you do that, follow the signs (people) to the check-in line. There is a shorter assistance/disability line for anyone who needs it.  The regular line may be long by the time you get there, but it will be worth it. You will check in (if you’ve already done everything online, it is so much faster) – and they will take your photo and give you a little plastic “Ship and Sail” Card. You can carry it in a pocket or on a lanyard around your neck. (Bring your own lanyard or buy one there.)

Once you are called to enter Customs, it goes fast. You’ll go through a metal detector, and next thing you know, they are taking your photo and letting you board. Once on the ship – the party starts. Head to Lido Deck (10^th floor) for food and to meet up with our group. I’m sure everyone will be up there getting a bite.

Eateries:
Do not have lunch before you board – have lunch once you get on the ship. You have a choice of Guy’s Burger Joint (it has a sidebar of sides – the sautéed mushrooms are so good) and the Blue Iguana Cantina (delicious shrimp tacos, tostada bowls and burritos – and a sidebar with many salsas, including the mango salsa…yumm.) – all poolside. Inside is the buffet lido restaurant, a sandwich bar (they make your sandwich to order), complimentary sushi bar, 24-hr pizza and Caesar salad, dessert bars, salad bar, 24 hour soft-serve ice cream – and the free drinks - water, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, lemonade all day long; and passionfruit and orange and apple juices in the mornings. Alcohol and sodas are sold at the bars – which you will find in several areas, including poolside and at the back of the lido restaurant next to pizza place.  Remember, there is no additional cost for any of this (other than alcohol/soda) – it is all included. In the mornings, Guys and Blue Iguana turn into a breakfast buffet places with made-to-order omelets and other breakfast foods.

Cabins:
Usually your room (cabin) is available by 3 p.m. But I have found them open many times by 1:30 p.m. Feel free to run by and drop off any carry on stuff (wine, sodas, bags) once the rooms are open. The hallways leading to the rooms have doors which will typically have a sign stating what time the rooms should be open. But even if it says a later time, you can check earlier. I usually find them open earlier than stated. Most of us are on Empress Deck - the 7^th deck (which is the deck we enter on) – so after entering, check the room hallways first and see what time is posted on the doors. We enter at the center of the ship – which is where most of our rooms are. Then take an elevator up to the 10^th floor. (Lido Deck)

Once you eat, stay and visit a bit – but do go back to your room to deposit things you don’t want to carry around…..because….. See below:

Mandatory Safety Briefing
This part can be a pain but it is very important – and mandatory. Once everyone is onboard – and before the ship can leave – everyone must participate in a mandatory Safety Briefing. Your ship and sail card tells you where to go for this. There are several stations and you must be at the correct one. I was once on the other side of the ship and tried to attend one in a different room but they said no, you can only go to the one on your card. They will start making announcements – so don’t go there until you absolutely have to or it will be a super long wait for you. They count everyone and scan your card and will tell us what to do in an emergency. Don’t think you can hide in your room – they will find you and all you are doing is making everyone else wait. They cannot start the briefing until everyone has been found. (Honest, I am not making this up.) Once they go through the entire safety thing (they try to make it understanding but I have fallen asleep a time or two through it) then the whole group is walked up to the deck and we line up again near the emergency lifeboats – and only then…..after they count everyone again…..do they let us go. By that time, it’s either time for the Sail Away Party (we all go up to the Lido Deck and wave goodbye to people on the shore) or, if the briefing went late – get ready for show time or dinner time. In our case, show time! (We have “late dining” seating.)

Sail Away:
More music and waving goodbye to everyone on shore. This is a good time to take a Dramamine if you haven’t taken one. (Generic works fine – I get a box for 99 cents at Food for Less) I’ve never been sea sick but I still take one an hour before sailing. And then one every 24 hours.

SHOWS:
You don’t want to miss the Welcome Aboard Show. (By the way, the Inspiration has a lot of 70s music. The other ship we were looking at, the Imagination, has 70s and 80s epic rock music. Both are great shows. Please don’t skip them. There is a different show every night and they are all awesome. If you get cold easily, take a light sweater to the show….it tends to be cold in there. I am not sure of the schedule for this cruise. The show may be before our dinner – or after.  I’m thinking before.
This is what Carnival has to say about one of our shows:  

“Inspired by the sophistication of Studio 54 and the funk and fashion of Soul Train, Studio VIP is a dance party that celebrates the musical revolution that was New York City nightlife in the 1970’s and the glittering excesses of that decade. An all-out audience participation show, Studio VIP evokes the days of bell bottoms and wide lapels while showcasing some of the most memorable songs from a bygone era – from KC and the Sunshine Band and Donna Summer to Chic, Parliament and Barry White.”

They’ll have us dancing in our seats – and following them out to the atrium for more music and dancing. It’s really pretty amazing. Lots of great songs. And, of course, if they “Play that Funky Music White Boy,” I can’t help but jump up and dance.

Click below and scroll to "Motor City" and "Studio VIP" for a snapshot of the shows we will see. Amazing.

https://carnivalentertainment.com/playlist/shows

DINNERS: our ship and sail card will tell us what dining room we are in. There are two onboard. Come as you are (casual) for the first night. (No swimsuits or cutoffs allowed). More than likely the second night will be Elegant Night – bring one dressy outfit for this night. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to wear a tie. A nice top and slacks for men, and a dress or nice slacks and dressy top for women, is fine.

You can order more than one appetizer (great time to try frog legs, alligator fritters, escargot, or caviar.) Different item every night. But don’t worry – they also have “normal” things – like soups and salads to order. Desserts are great too. If you’ve never tried the Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake – it’s sooo amazingly good.

Ok - This is all for now. Later I will make a list of misc. things you might want to take to make your trip more enjoyable. I’ll also post some tips on shopping, info about excursions, and I’ll give you an example of what to take in your suitcase.

Less than three weeks to go – I’m very excited about this trip. There are still cabins available (I just checked) if anyone wants to join us.

Talk to you all soon. 

Once a Panther, Always a Panther

Esther Avila

Autumn Leaves

Autumn has always been my most favorite time of the year. Sweater Weather is what I call it out here in Central California. It's a reprieve from our scorching weather - but never cold enough to require more than a light sweater.


It's odd to be writing about Fall when Spring just arrived. But I love it and there's a reason for this blog post.

In 2006, I was listening to the playlist provided on my plane as I flew home from the East Coast.



Suddenly there was Nat King Cole singing about Autumn. But I did not catch the name of the song. For weeks I tried to find it. However, I thought it was Summer Leaves for some reason, and I ended up finding Summer Wind - which I also love. I always wondered about it. What song was it? Why can't I find it? I finally convinced myself I would never find it and I stopped looking for it.

Then last week, out of the blue, I found it by another artist. I have a large selection of LP albums which I play on my record player in my bedroom. I play The Best of Bread every day. I play Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra .... and yes, Donny Osmond too, quite often. But this time I decided to play
Tom Jones. I was in a "What's up, Pussycat?" kind of mood and started playing my Tom Jones collection. On Side B of one of them, I suddenly heard the Autumn lyrics I searched for so long....... I could not believe it. I had found the name of the song - the last song on the last Tom Jones LP I played. And I almost stopped it but saw there was one song left, and decided to leave it.

I love Nat King Cole's version. Melancholy.

Autumn Leaves

Nat King Cole

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

March Madness 101

If you landed on this page because you googled "March Madness 101" -- please note - you might as well go away right now - you won't learn a single thing here. I hardly know what it is myself, so there is no way I can tell you anything worthwhile.

So why am I writing about it? Because I was trying to figure it out. I, too, googled "March Madness 101" and all it got me were tips on brackets. (Like I know how that works.) I also googled "How long is March Madness?" -- mainly trying to figure out how long I have to stay away from someone who loves March Madness - in order to let the certain someone enjoy the games. Turns out it is April 3. APRIL???? Aye aye aye.

I remember now. I have another close friend who loved March Madness. We used to hang out a lot all the time - except when March came along. Then, he was like, "leave me alone - I don't want to do anything or go anywhere" So I knew, every year, he was off limits through the month of March.

Ok - back to the current. April 3? That's so far away. Superbowl is only one Sunday. World Series is only two weeks. This thing is 3-weeks long!

I guess I should be thankful - afterall, World Cup runs for 32 days.

It's ok. I love baseball. Come October, I am the same way. Go away. Leave me alone. I've got a game to catch.

I See the Light

Disney songs - some of them - really move me. This is one of them.
For those of you who know me, for years and years and years, it has been just me and my three girls. Yes, we do a lot, and we travel a lot, and I love them, but something was always missing.
When I first saw Disney's "Tangled" with my baby Marisa - back in 2010 - I thought it was sweet. And when I first heard the song "I See the Light" - I loved it. But it made me sad. I knew what it was like to always be watching from a window. I knew what it was like to spend years "outside looking in" or in my case, "inside looking out." I knew what it was like to be lonely and to feel like my life was preordained. I was meant to care for others, not to have someone care for me. I knew I would never have more. At least, that's what I thought back then.

Fast forward to 2017 and the song is suddenly perfect for me. I love, love, love this song. All at once, everything is different. I thank God every day for my life now.

What does snow have to do with the song? It's just that I feel like I finally left the window. I'm finally outside - and I am loving every minute of it. In the photo I am not only blinking in the sunlight, I am blinking in the falling snow. This photo has happiness and love written all over it. I see the light now. It's warm and real and bright.
"I See The Light" - from Disney's "Tangled"

All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been

Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it's all so clear
I'm where I'm meant to be

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you

All those days, chasing down a daydream
All those years, living in a blur
All that time, never truly seeing
Things the way they were
Now she's here, shining in the starlight
Now she's here, suddenly I know
If she's here, it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you
Now that I see you

Stuck in Lodi Again - Amtrak Mishap 2017

"Driver needs assistance. ... I repeat, driver needs assistance!"

No, that was not our Amtrak conductor shouting out the above sentence. But it wouldn't surprise me if it had been. 

And no, that's not my train to the left -- and that is not what happened. But it's a cool photo, no? I actually covered that story back on Oct. 1, 2012. 

Ok - sorry - back to the Amtrak mishap of February 2017.

Let me take you back to the beginning......

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017

After getting snowed-in and having to spend two extra (and amazingly wonderful) days in Carson City, the adventure began. It actually started with getting kicked out of Harrah's (but that's a whole other story) before I finally boarded a bus to take me from Reno, Nevada to Sacramento, California. 

But traffic was slow. Donner Pass had been closed for two days resulting in numerous vehicles slowly serpentining their way up the hills and through the mountain. And by the time I got to Sacramento, I had to run to catch my train connection. I barely made it - with only a couple of minutes to spare. Before I could find a seat, the train was already moving. Fortunately, I found one solo seat all by itself just outside the dining car. I settled in and shortly after - less than an hour - was when the fun began.

I heard a high-piercing shrieking, metal-scraping sound, almost as bad as nails on a chalkboard, followed by a strong, forward thrust that threw me into the seat in front of me. Luckily the seat in front served as a cushion for my head to hit. It was ugly and scary. I was actually texting my love at the time and I quickly sent another text:

"Train came to a screeching halt, throwing everyone around."

The conductor then came on the intercom and told us that someone had placed a lot of debris on the tracks and they would have to clear it before we could continue. As he talked, the lights began to flicker. Then the power and the sound went out and we were left in the dark - figuratively and literally. A few seconds later, little glowing lights lit the floor. The conductor was going through the cars telling everyone to stay in their seats. One worker going by told me it was large pieces of metal - large debri items - and that it appeared someone was trying to derail the train.

Stuck in Lodi again

A quick glance at my cell phone told me I was in Lodi - or about a mile from the Lodi station. The sun was setting and we were in the middle of flooded fields. I remember thinking, "There is no way we can walk across those fields to get to the road." There were a lot of babies (I could hear them crying) and a lot of elderly - and we even had a blind man with his seeing-eye dog.

That was just the beginning. They told us one of the tanks was leaking gasoline. I have videos of the announcements but can't seem to get them uploaded here, so I am including the link below: (to listen, first start it, then  unclick the "x" on the volume control situated at the bottom, right hand corner of the video.)

We finally inched our way to the Lodi station one mile away and then waited more than an hour for buses to arrive for us. When they did - the fun continued.

I kid you not, our bus broke down one block from the station. Or, at least, the driver thought it had - but it turned out she was in the wrong gear. She said she normally doesn't drive those buses and she was "new" at it.  She got on the intercom and started yelling "Driver needs assistance. I repeat, driver needs assistance."

While on the freeway, we came close to getting hit by two drivers speeding - or chasing each other - in what appeared to be road rage or some other horrible thing. It was bad.

Then our driver got lost getting to Stockton. She ended up going through a neighborhood with narrow streets and she had trouble maneuvering the turns and almost hit a parked car..... in fact, she may have brushed one. It was kind of hilarious. All the passengers kept looking at each other in disbelief and asking "Is she for real?"

When we finally made it to the Stockton station - which was abandoned at that late hour - the driver simply pulled up on the side of the road next to the station, facing the tracks. I was already paranoid that we were too close to the tracks but she wanted to leave room for a second bus to park behind us. That second bus turned into the station. (They had a good driver.)

Our driver jumps out but forgets to put the bus in park. She left it in gear....and the bus started rolling towards the tracks. She jumped back on just in time to slam on the brakes and back up. I have a big phobia of railroad crossings (not trains) so I was ready to jump out of the moving bus.

I finally made it home after 1 a.m.
Yes - it was quite the adventure.

The Problem with Moving

In the past, I've had a problem with going through stored belongings. In other words, it would take me a long time to sift through my things. And by things - I am referring to paperwork and other stuff which I have no idea why it was not thrown out in the first place. Thing is - before I could throw it away, I wanted to sift through it. All of it. Until recently.

Now I am moving  and I am finding it easier and easier to just throw out stuff. Suddenly, I just don't care. I just want to finish moving. I don't care as much. I'm careful with things I am sentimental over, but everything else.....out it goes!

(Family: I said MY STUFF - I know some of you have accused me of throwing out mom's things, but I am specifically talking about my own stuff at my own home. I have not gone through mom's things yet.)

It's been interesting. I found like 12 bottles of White Linen (my signature perfume since graduating from high school) saved. For the most part they were empty except for a tiny bit of the scented concoction at the bottom of the bottle. I took a deep breath and threw them away. Then I had a change of heart and took out two of the thrown bottles and kept them - lol - because, well, they had more than "just a little bit" of perfume at the bottom of the bottle. Maybe I can figure out how to extract it. I actually went to Macys once to complain about not being able to take out or use the last of the perfume. I mean, why should I buy another bottle if I can make one full bottle by combining all the "left behind" perfume.

I must also have at least 50 bank boxes of papers - newspapers, kids' school papers, receipts, etc. But for some reason, I feel like I need to go through all of them before tossing them out. Unfortunately, many of them need to be shredded, so it's not as easy to throw those away.

Recently, (about three months now) I started watching "The Big Bang Theory" and love the show. (It's just silly. Plus I have actually learned a few things.) A few days ago, I watched the episode where Sheldon has Amy, his "girlfriend," drive him to a storage unit where he confesses to her he has a problem with throwing things out -- the unit has everything he has ever owned since he was born.

Ok, I'm not that bad - but I do have a lot of unnecessary stuff. I still have my college pom poms and megaphone, the newspapers bearing my first printed stories (Arrowhead Newspaper) and who knows what else.

I did pretty good when I started cleaning - getting a lot accomplished each day. Things have slowed down a bit - but just a bit. Suddenly, knowing what the final goal is, it's easier to throw out things.

Afterall......

"My world is changing, I'm rearranging.....I'm not the same one....see what the time's done...."

My world is changing.....I'm rearranging

Wow - it has been a long time since I've written anything on this blog. Unbelievable! I blame facebook.

I found my blog site again recently and started browsing around -- I honestly can't imagine how I managed my time back then ..... I did so much compared to today.
Thinking specifically of 2005-2008.  Unbelievable.

http://midnightwritings.blogspot.com/2006/01/jan-3-happy-new-year.html

http://midnightwritings.blogspot.com/2006/12/2006-writing-accomplishments.html

http://midnightwritings.blogspot.com/2008/01/reflecting-on-past-year.html


Well, to catch you up ...... I am still writing, but only for one newspaper. I shattered my arm a couple of years ago playing dodgeball and it required surgery. I never went back full time. I work weekends, holidays and special assignments.

My momma died a few months ago and it's been difficult for me. I rarely left her side for the last six months of her life, and was there till the end when she entered Hospice the final two months.
I now care for my handicapped sister - and it's quite challenging...

My three girls are doing great. One graduated from UC Santa Barbara, the other from UCLA. My Down Syndrome little girl almost died last year from Stephen Johnson Syndrome (I'll have to write about it) but is doing awesome now. She attends a special adult program which focuses on the arts and theater, and recently had a lead role in the Creative Center's "Christmas Carol."

Lots of changes recently but I won't get into any of that.

For now, I'll just quote these lines from "Where are you Christmas?"

"My world is changing, I'm rearranging......I'm not the same one....see what the time's done....."

Jamaica 2015

Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to visit Jamaica. I knew I would go someday. That's how I am. If I want something bad enough, I make it happen. So I did. It just took a little longer to do so because I kept finding other places to visit and I kept putting Jamaica on a back burner. Until this year. And - it was everything I always dreamed it would be, plus more.

For one thing, there was a hurricane constantly in the horizon - Hello Danny! Hurricane Danny, that is.... but Carnival is so good at what it does, it managed to constantly stay ahead of it.

They just flipped our itinerary - starting with the furthest away (and closest to hurricane) port and working their way back - and away from the hurricane.

Anyway - Jamaica-- what I really wanted to see - and experience - were the waterfalls in Ocho Rios. I heard there were hundreds (ok, maybe dozens) of them along the mile-long river climb.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to do this. Now I can cross it off my list. Jamaica was amazing. We hiked all the way down to the beach and then climbed 1,000 feet up through the river. And I did it! I did the entire climb. I am very proud of that.Unbelieveable. Dunns River Falls was amazing. But there was so much more.

I love watching track and field events (really almost all events) in the Olympics -- and Usain Bolt is one person who Jamaica is proud of, and rightfully so. We drove past William Knibb Memorial High School in Falmouth on our way to Ocho Rios. The bus guide talked quite a bit about the "fastest man in the world" belonging to Jamaica. It was very interesting hearing and learning all about him.


August 2015

I'll return soon to tell you all about my day.

525,600 minutes - The Quarterback

525,600 minutes...... how do you measure, measure a year?

"In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife... In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life? .... How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love......... 525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?"
(above lyrics are incomplete)


July 13, 2013 was an extremely painful day. It was the day Marisa cried uncontrollably after learning her favorite actor, one she had a huge crush on, and one whose sweet face could be seen on numerous posters across her bedroom walls, had died.That night, we all cried. I love Glee and I loved Finn too. The girls - Catherine and Jennifer - also cried. But no one cried more than Marisa.

"Why? Why?," she sobbed loudly and uncontrollably, to the point of falling down."I love him. I love him with all my heart."

It was painful to watch. All I could do was hold her. We cried together.
What do you say to something like that? Especially since the cause of death was a drug overdose. There was no consoling her.
Finally she looked up and said, "At least Finn didn't die. Just Cory." She was serious too.

Did she really not know the difference? Did she really not know it was the same person? Or was this her way of coping?


Tonight, Glee honored his memory with "The Quarterback" -- a heart-wrenching episode honoring his memory and one that helped Marisa, myself, and fans, with closure. The opening number "525,600 minutes" was touching.

How do you measure a life?

In one of my favorite books - The Fault in Our Stars - which I read recently, is a line I love: "Some infinities are bigger than other infinities."

Why couldn't Cory's life be one of the "bigger" infinities?

Suddenly, I am thinking of another life cut short. One of someone who was very special to me. One of a person I loved with all my heart -- my brother in law, Albert, who died in 2003. Oh, how I wish he had one of the latter infinities.

Albert and I were close. Very close. After I was left alone as a single mother with three small children, ages 1, 3 and 10, he became one of my best friends. A "free spirit" who came and went, he lived with me off and on for years and was always there for me - as a brother, nothing more. Nothing inappropriate.

An artist - Albert painted our windows - a Winnie the Pooh for Jennifer, Hello Kitty for Catherine, Brian from the Backstreet Boys for Marisa, and a white background with yellow butterflies for my bedroom window. I could never wash those windows and to this day, they still have the artwork on them.

My home's front windows still have a snow scene and snowman on a sled, little critters pulling him, on one window; and Bambi playing in a snowy meadow (that spring he added green grass to it) on another window.

When the girls said they wanted a tree house, he built them one in my grapefruit tree. I have climbed it many times over the years.

Albert was also my faithful, frequent companion to Oaks baseball games. Once, when I was without a car, he gave us rides to the game -- on his bicycle. First he took Catherine and Jennifer - Catherine sitting on the handlebars and Jennifer on his knee, one arm around her tiny body. I still am not sure how he steered the bike with just one hand. He dropped them off at the main gate, making sure they were all inside with baseball friends. He returned for Marisa and took her sitting on the handlebars. We only live down the street, so by the time he returned for me, I was almost there and we just walked the last few feet.

When I mentioned I wanted a baseball jersey I had bid on and won signed by the player who wore it, Albert took the jersey from me, snuck into the clubhouse (we were not even at a home game - we were in Bakersfield) and returned with it autographed. "Here you go," he said.

And I will always remember the night he confessed, "I think I am in love with Chatter." -- technically, it was not the mascot he loved, but the girl who wore the outfit. Heart warming memories.

In the fall, it was all about football - his main passion. It was Albert I caught Monday Night football games with on big screens while eating $1 tacos at the Lamp Liter Inn, or while enjoying sandwiches at The Depot.

He would take me dancing on Saturday nights to The Depot and bought me my first margarita.

He knew I loved Harrison Ford, so he accompanied me to the movies once -- even though, he admitted, "Six Days, Seven Nights" was not his type of movie and he would much rather be watching "Star Wars", which was on another screen. "You want to see it. That's all that matters."

Albert would occasionally babysit for me so that I could go with my friend Dennis to catch Porterville College basketball games. When the team made it to some championship-type games (can't remember what exactly - either Elite Eight or Final Four Championship - kind of games, it was Albert who drew on big white sheets - which I took to the games in Irvine (he also did it for me to take to Reedley and one for a COS game.) I remember also making it to Sacramento for a game but don't believe I took a sheet.

When Marisa graduated, he did the same thing for her..... drawing Marisa's image, with cap and gown, on a large sheet. He was an amazing artist.

Why couldn't Albert have more infinity minutes?

"You get me through Christmas, and I'll get you through New Year's," he would tell me each year.

He hated Christmas. I hated New Years. But that's a whole other story and I'm not going there tonight.

"Listen," he told me once, cupping my chin in his hand and forcing my tear-streaked face up so that I could see his face. "It may not be this year. It may not be next year. But one day -- maybe in December, maybe on New Years Day -- something wonderful is going to happen to you. You will know the moment it happens. And you are going to remember this day. You are going to remember me telling you this. "

Oh Albert, why did you have to go? You were too young. I miss you. I need you - and not just on New Year's Day. 525,600 minutes. Where are you? I want more minutes.

Two hearts, two families - now one

Two hearts, two lives, two families - now one.
Everything about Kristina and Gary Buckingham's wedding yesterday was beautiful. From the moment their children took the first steps down the aisle to the final dance - I could not stop smiling. This family is beautiful and blessed. I love them so much and it was an honor to be at their wedding.

It was held at Everygreen Island - a lusciously green wedding venue with pond, waterfalls, fountains, thick grass and hundreds of trees and plants -- and flying Monarch butterflies through the entire ceremony. Beautiful!

First down the aisle were the parents - the father of the groom, a recent widow, accompanied by a friend.

My sister Lily, - the mother of the bride - walked down the aisle on the arm of her handsome son, Daniel. Too precious!

 Then came the children of the groom and bride. I loved seeing them walk down the aisle before the wedding party walked down. "Marry You" played as five of their seven children walked in. First, gorgeous Sabrina, the eldest, on the arm of her boyfriend, Jordan. Followed by Rebekkah, Gary, Alyssa and baby Jacob. Aaron and Anthony walked in later.

"It's a beautiful day.....hey, baby......I think I want to marry you."

The bridal party entered next, couples and the little flower girl, Bella - cousin of the bride.

Just before the bride, Aaron walked down the aisle alone. He was holding a wooden plaque with "Here Comes the Bride" written across it.
If you looked to the front, Gary was down on one knee, with two arms outstretched, beckoning him forward. Precious! But it was what I saw next that almost literally took my breath away. I always love watching the groom as the bride walks in..... and seeing Gary - with so much love, I can not even describe it. It is something I will never forget. I turned to see what he was looking at and there she was - the most beautiful bride ever. My tears rolled down - happy tears, as Marisa calls them - as I watched Kristina walk towards the front; "A Thousand Years" playing as she walked towards the altar - towards Gary.


"Time stands still, beauty in all she is. I will be brave. I will not let anything take away what's standing in front of me. Every breath, every hour has come to this....."

Their own wedding vows, the kiss, and the fun fast-beat number as the bride and groom, and wedding party, walked and danced down the aisle after the ceremony -all different and cute.

The sweet bar, hors devours - stuffed mushrooms and stuffed jalapeno-bacon wraps, along with chips and salsa - and the dinner: smoked triptip, chicken, zucchini, scalloped potatoes, garlic bread and that amazing spinach and walnut and feta cheese salad in vinaigrette dressing was to die for! (But glad we didn't.)

The dance was so much fun! And Kristina asked the DJ to play one of my favorite dance numbers - that's right - "Play that Funky Music, White Boy!" -- I had to hit dance floor and James even got up and danced with me. Fun fun fun.

I loved being there yesterday. The ceremony, the bride and groom's children, my family, the butterflies, the flowers, the cake, the dinner, the dance - I loved it all.

I had so much fun and felt so much love. I love this family. (ok, I'm crying again)

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Buckingham - I adore and love you, your lives, your family! Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day.

If I can figure out how to add video clips - I'll add some, but so far, no such luck.