Second week: The girls are back!

                                                                          October 26

                                                                       October 22-26 

Nothing much happened at home. I watched a lot of movies. I talked to Norbert and Nuri, separately, for a long time. As usual, they spoke and I listened. I am almost done with all the food I had planned for the two weeks, it worked very well. I even cooked a nice Italian pasta dish. Delizioso!

The girls were in sunny Firenze and left by train to Roma. It rained for a couple of days but it didn't stop them from walking around and added a lot more miles and steps. They did the Ghost Tour, went to the Vatican, had a yummy food tour and we had a face-to-face call, very nice. Their hotel was near the Pantheon, I checked an Italian webcam in the Pantheon and told them where to stand so I could see them, and they did and waved and it was fun! :

On Saturday, they boarded a plane from Roma to New Jersey, and then from New Jersey to Los Angeles, the flight was delayed and didn't get to LAX until 10PM. They got safely home and we had some chile verde pork and croquetas, and a toast with Bailey to celebrate the safe ending of a super nice Italian adventure.

The next day, we went to In'n'Out, then drove to the Long Beach Airport to say goodbye to Sandy. On our way home, we got a text from Sandy saying the flight was overbooked and she chose to stay another day, and got a little compensation. That was a bonus day!!! :)

On Monday we drove Sandy to Long Beach for her flight to Salt Lake City. Lizzie and I went to Trader Joe's. The next day, I went to the Library and Voted.

For Halloween, October 31st., Lizzie dressed a Holly Golightly and she looked great!

Even Lulu dressed up

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

My first week with Lulu

 

On October 13, my daughters left for a two-week Italian Adventure. 

Here's what I did during the time they were gone. 

Lulu is trying to get used to her new meal times. If I'm sleeping she will come and tell me it's time for breakfast, usually after 10AM. I had a couple of all-nighters and she got to eat at her regular time lol.

At night she sleeps all over the house, sometimes in Lizzie's room, sometimes in her pillow, and most times in my room. I have been cooking a lot and Lulu spends the time in the kitchen looking for some morsels.

10/13 -I made Avila's style chicken soup, enough to last for a few days. It was pretty good but not my best. I also made some puff pastry things. 

10/14 -I made ensaladilla de atun with home made mayo Again I made enough for a few days.

10/15 -I made green enchiladas, ate some and froze the rest. It's sprinkling a little.

10/16 -I had some Avila's soup and fried potatoes with fried eggs (huevos rotos). Cloudy day.

10/17 - I made croquetas, lots of them.  Lulu and I went for a walk. Amy gave me a cute succulent planter.

10/18 -Lulu's Birthday, she's 14 years old! She got a birthday bone. I cooked the Pork butt and we went out for a walk in the evening.

Birthday present

10/19 - I had some delicious carnitas tacos. Talk with Norbert, he had all kinds of health problems poor guy, had to go to the ER. He's OK now.

10/20 -I spent some time talking to Jennifer. I had clam chowder and more carnitas tacos. Lulu refused to eat her Sunday bone!

10/21 - I decided to go for a little drive, went to Marshalls and got a toy for Lulu, a top for me, and some other minor stuff. I couldn't decide where to go to eat, so I went back home and ate some enchiladas and made some more puff pastry things.

-To be continued-

 

SEPTEMBER RECAP

 September started hot, then it got cooler, then it ended hot again.

September started with Sonia's ongoing problem. I had talks with Sonia, then with Nuri and Monica, and I exchanged texts with Eric and Nicole. There have been accusations of lying back and forth. Sonia doesn't seem to think she has a problem other than depression. But it is more than that. 

Mia had a birthday September 15. She had a big party at her special hotel with almost all her family and friends. She turned 70 years old.

September 18, Lizzie and I went to the Long Beach Brewing Company, and stayed for the sunset.

September 23, my financial advisor came with a list of my investments. It looks good.

              September 24, marked the 60th Anniversary of meeting Marvin in Barcelona. 

                                      9-24-64 - Plaza Catalunya - George Lopez and Marvin

Lizzie and I celebrated by going to Happy Hour at El Torito Grill in Brea. It was a favorite of Marvin and me. Afterwards, we went to the Cheesecake Factory for some delicious cake!

September 26, I bought a cool pair of red slip-ins at Skechers. Lizzie went to LM Theater.

September 27, Lizzie had a COVID booster and a flu shot. I didn't go because I had a cold.

September 30, after going to Home Depot, I felt pain in my left leg, very painful, it was hard to walk. I didn't fall or hit anything but the pain was bad :(   We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

La Mirada sunset

BOOKS I READ IN SEPTEMBER

MOVIES I WATCHED IN SEPTEMBER

A story in 4 pictures

                                          Hang a ripe banana and the butterflies will come!

So I did, and waited...and waited...

YAY  they are coming...

but WAIT!!!!

those are not butterflies!

June bugs really love bananas :(

 

AUGUST RECAP

 

      Summer is almost over, and it has gone by so quickly...and just like that, it's September again.

August was a hot month!

Here's some August happenings:

I watched the Olympics every day from start to finish. I liked it was in Paris. The  beginning was chaotic and the end was a bit of a let down, but the games themselves were fun!

August 15 was Sandy and Marty's 31st wedding Anniversary. Cheers!

August 16, Lizzie and I went for our evening walk at the Fullerton Arboretum, always a lovely stroll!

August 17, the side door needs replacement, going to Home Depot and pricing it gave me a headache!

This  is my Summer mantel decorations

August 21 - Paint & Sip evening at La Mirada theater. It was fun, and made some new friends.

                                                                Lizzie and  Aaron (and Levan)

August 22,  Went to Benardo Salon in Fullerton to have my hair cut and colored. Nice place and nice hair stylist.  I still look like a muppet.

After the salon we went to eat at Let it Brie

August 23, Lizzie went to meet her friends Barbara and Becky at Encinitas

August 26, We went to Home Depot to order the door.

August 27, big kitchen clean up, trying to get rid of a cricket semi-invasion

August 28, have linner at Dame Mas. DIXON HOUSE FOR SALE!

August 31, Farmer's Market and Nick the Greek - Mia's pre birthday celebration.

BOOKS I'VE READ IN AUGUST

MOVIES I'VE WATCHED IN AUGUST

July Recap

 

Signal Hill

I am having many problems with this blog, gmail, etc. I wrote one post in July that doesn't show up, hmmm. So I will start with the recap now:

The best thing in July was that Sandy visited us for a few days. It's always wonderful when she comes and I have my two girls with me :)

July 1  Our finance man came by and all seems to be going well.

July 5   Due to a language misunderstanding with our gardener, my beautiful lavender looked like this after he chopped it :(

July 8  Breakfast a Ruby Red.

July 10  L cleaned the garage, getting ready to give things away...bike, lamps, etc.

July 11  Biden's speech, very bad.

July 13  Trump got shot!!!!   - Nuri's birthday 83.

July 14   Norbert got the grill. Then we went to Sol Inka for dinner. 

July 15  Lizzie went to San Diego for work for 4 days. I watched the RNC

July 18  I went to Kaiser, Dr. Chopra appointment.

July 20-21 Cleaning the house.

July 23   Picked up Sandy at the LB airport. She cut her hair :)

July 24   To Kaiser to get my glasses. Linner at Dame Mas.

July 25   We went to Long Beach, ate at the Belmont Brewing Company, then to Signal Hill for sunset.

July 26  We stayed home all day watching the Opening Ceremony at the Paris Olympics. Bizarre.

July 27  Farmer's Market - Dinner at Kentro's Greek Restaurant in Fullerton.

July 28   We drove Sandy to the airport. I miss her already. All the time.

BOOKS I'VE READ IN JULY

MOVIES I'VE WATCHED IN JULY (many!)

June Recap

                        Still resting from my Arizona trip. I read a lot and watched many movies

Had to cancel my car insurance with California Casualty, after being a member for many years, they raised my insurance more than twice what I was paying in May, without any reason. 

                                 Lulu had a spa day June 14.  L had a cute haircut on June 27

             We went to Huntington Gardens in San Marino, beautiful day in beautiful surroundings.

                                                                   Japanese Garden

                             On June 21 we took an evening walk at the Fullerton Arboretum

                                                                  Gigantic water can

                                                                          c'est moi

Fun Fact: This month I walked more miles in 2 days than the rest of the month

Ordered 3 new pairs of glasses after visiting Optometry (Dr. Alimento)

Random things I did this month: Bought some rugs @Marshalls for my bedroom. Made a coca de pinyons for San Juan. Saw the entire Trump-Biden debate and aftermath. 

Food: El Cholo, Panda Express,Cane's, Dame Mas, Last Parrot Cafe, Midori's :(  Nick the Greek, Amor y Tacos, Crunch Burger

BOOKS I READ IN JUNE

MOVIES I WATCHED IN JUNE

Happenings in July

Sandy coming to visit June 23-28

Paris Olympic Games  June 26-August 11

L going to San Diego for work June 15-18