SANTA BARBARA FUN

During our California trip we took a day to drive to Santa Barbara to visit Phyllis, Brent's grandmother. Perry, Lane, and Avery had never been there before so we wanted to show them around. Our first stop was the Santa Barbara marina for lunch at a place called BROPHY BROS. They had excellent clam chowder! I actually had some fresh crabs for my lunch.

Our next stop was the court house so we could take in a view of all of Santa Barbara.

Our last stop was the beach in Goleta, where UCSB is located. Avery wanted to surf but the waves weren't that good. I was doing what I enjoyed most, sitting and taking lots of photos of everything!

SUNNY CALIFORNIA

Perhaps sunny isn't the best way to describe some of the scenes I have seen while visiting California this week. We spent a day touring around Venice Beach. I couldn't believe all the homeless people we saw there. Of course I couldn't resist capturing some of their images with my camera. One positive note was watching a young man buy a gentleman a drink and a sandwich and sit down with him while he ate it. That was a true mitzvah!

DOG SHOW FUN

Last weekend I went to the Reliant Dog Show and took lots of photos. Here are only a few to share with you. I could take all the dogs home with me if I could.

Looks like a mop on the floor! Kisses with my friend Sandy and a Bichon puppy. Out for a day at the show...

OOO, EEE, OOO AH AH

While watching the president talk last night about health care this came to mind:

Ooo eee, ooo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang 

ASTROLOGY SIGNS

• CAPRICORN The Go-Getter (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

Patient , wise, practical, rigid, & ambitious. Tends to be good looking, humorous & funny. Can be a bit shy & reserved. Often pes simistic. Capricorns tend to act before they think; can be unfriendly at times. Hold grudges. Like competition.

• AQUARIUS - The Sweetheart (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

Optimistic, honest, sweet personality. Very independent, inventive, intelligent, friendly & loyal.. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original & unique. Attractive on the inside & out, eccentric personality.

• PISCES - The Dreamer (Feb=2 019 - Mar 20)

Generous, kind, thoughtful. Very creative, imaginative. May become secretive & vague. Sensitive. Don't like details. Dreamy & unrealistic. Sympathetic, loving, kind, unselfish. Good kisser.. Beautiful.

• ARIES - The Daredevil (Mar 21 - April 19)

Energetic, adventurous, spontaneous, confident, enthusiastic, fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse (Easily angered). Lively, passionate, sharp wit, outgoing. Loses interest quickly, easily bored, egotistical, courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical & athletic..

• TAURUS - The Enduring One (April 20 - May 20) charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers, warm-hearted, strong, has endurance. Solid beings, stable, secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient, reliable. Make great friends, gives good advice, loving, kind. Loves hard - passionate. Expresses themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper tantrums. Determined, indulges themselves often.

• GEMINI - The Chatterbox (May 21 - June 20) Smart, witty, outgoing, very chatty, lively, energetic. Adaptable but needs to express themselves. Argumentative, outspoken. Likes change, versatile, busy, sometimes nervous & tense. Gossips.. May seem superficial or inconsistent. Beautiful physically & mentally.

• CANCER - The Protector (June 21 - July 22) Moody, emotional, may be shy, very loving, caring. Pretty/handsome Excellent partners for life. Protective , inventive & imaginative. Cautious, touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.

• LEO - The Boss (July 23 - Aug 22) Very organized,.Needs order in their lives, likes being in control, likes boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy.. Like to help others, social, outgoing, extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted, sensitive, creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. Doing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.

• VIRGO - The Perfectionist (Aug 23 - Sept 22)

Dominant In relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy.. Often shy. Pessimistic.

• LIBRA - The Harmonizer (Sept 23 - Oct 22)

Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous.. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators.. Very gullible.

• SCORPIO - The Intense One (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long Relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.

• SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious.. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.

SWEARING IS GOOD

The healing power of words—whether from prayers, chants or therapy sessions—has been acknowledged for centuries. But who would have thought that swearing could make you feel better? In a study published in the journal NeuroReport, scientists at Britain's Keele University discovered that, under the right circumstances, swearing can have a "pain-lessening effect." So,

1. F....U....
2. Sh...
3. Da...
4. J...
5. G....D....
6. S...O...B...

Can you add anymore?

MAKING RAIN WITH A SNAP OF A FINGER

This is Toto's Africa performed by Perpetuum Jazzile live at Vokal Xtravaganzza in 2008. Give it a chance to get going so you can hear the rain!

NIGHT SWIMMING

Avery and Mike were in the pool last night with the blue tinted light on. I thought I could capture some cool photos and grabbed my camera. They were open to having me out there so I snapped away! Here are some of the images I took. Notice the pink nail polish on Avery's toes.

PENGUIN COUPLE SPLITS

The San Francisco Zoo’s popular same-sex penguin couple has broken up. Male Magellan penguins Harry and Pepper have been together since 2003. The pair nested together and even incubated an egg laid by another penguin in 2008, but their relationship hit the rocks earlier this year when a female penguin, Linda, befriended Harry after her long-time companion died. Zookeepers say Harry and Linda are happy and were able to successfully nest this year.

BITE SIZE CAKE BALLS

Last night I started to make cupcakes to take to a friend's house for dessert. Well, I didn't bake my cupcakes right and they all fell apart. I didn't want to throw away the delicious cake so I started doing some research on the internet and found this. I didn't even know about them before last night. I am looking forward to trying these later.

http://www.fox11az.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/lifetravel/stories/DN-nf_cakeballs_0910liv.ART.State.Edition1.3e35b8a.html

Basic Cake Balls

1. (18.25-ounce) boxed cake mix plus ingredients called for on box
2. (16-ounce) can prepared frosting

INNER PEACE

• If you can start the day without caffeine,
• If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
• If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
• If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
• If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you anytime,
• If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
• If you can conquer tension without medical help,
• If you can relax without liquor,
• If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then you are probably the family dog.

CAN YOU PLAN IT

I heard on the radio this morning that there was something very special about today. Yep, there is! Did you know that it is 7-8-9? Wouldn't that be the coolest thing to have been born on this day. Wonder how many parents tried to work that out nine months ago...

The 100 degree temperatures continue as we try to stay COOL-CALM and COLLECTED.

DESIGNING SHOES

I received an e-mail from my friend this morning about some new "DESIGNER" shoes. They are shoes that I would NEVER wear! What do you think?

WHAT IS SUCCESS

• At age 4 success is not peeing in your pants.
• At age 12 success is having friends.
• At age 16 success is having a drivers license.
• At age 20 success is having sex.
• At age 35 success is having money.
• At age 50 success is having money.
• At age 60 success is having sex.
• At age 70 success is having a drivers license.
• At age 75 success is having friends.
• At age 80 success is not peeing in your pants.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Today is another HOT, HOT, HOT, day here in Houston. Hopefully you can stay cool and not melt in this weather. I thought you might enjoy trying this recipe.

Hard Candy Peppermint Twists

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=116606&servings=8

HEAT WAVE

If you are listening to any of the weather news you will notice that Houston is having a heat wave of over 100 degrees for weeks. It is so hot that I was inspired to do an entry in my art journal about it.

GET NAILED

This picture is all made out of nails! Amazingly beautiful..