Palm Springs Reunion

A few weeks ago, The Husband and I took a trip to Palm Springs to see my cousin, Paul, visiting from Massachusetts. He and His Dean (since The Husband is also named Dean, this seemed a good way to differentiate The Dean’s…) had come out to Ventura for an anniversary party and drove over to Palm Springs (about a 2 ½ hour journey) on their own for some gambling and visiting. I hadn’t seen Paul in 28 years!! We had such a fun visit!

My Dean, Paul’s Dean, Paul and me

Here we all are at the buffet at the Spa Resort Casino. Four thumbs up for the buffet! Really good food and since it was mid-week, we were able to linger a couple hours at dinner and another couple of hours for breakfast the next day. We gabbed about everything under the sun and The Dean’s have music in common, so they spoke their own language for a while :-)

Did I mention it was over 106 degrees when we got there?! Nobody really wanted to spend a lot of time outdoors but I got The Husband up at 7:30 in the morning to take a walk before the triple digits took hold again. Here we are in silhouette. I’ve been inspired here by Angela Cartwright, who does a whole series of her shadow.

I’m happy to report that downtown Palm Springs seems to be reviving. When we were there last, about a year ago, so many storefronts were empty--so sad to see. This time, we noticed a lot of new stores and restaurants. Of course, I had to snap a pic of the French themed shop!

We caravanned to the Agua Caliente casino the next day and did a little gambling with Paul and His Dean, then said our goodbyes. I hope they come back again, maybe in the winter, when it’s a bit cooler! On our way home, we stopped at the Palm Springs Air Museum, one of The Husband’s favorite places on earth. Here he is, peeking through a plane engine.

And me, at the end of a miniature of Doolittle’s Raid.

That’s what I did on my summer vacation. How about you?

Do What You Love!

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Finding Beauty on the Walk Home

Currently, The Husband and I have car issues. Namely, his car has been in the shop for two months! *sigh*

We live within walking distance of my workplace so he’s been dropping me at work and taking the car we’re sharing at this point the 10 miles to his job. Once in a while, when he has to work into the evening, I get to walk home (might as well make it sound enjoyable…). And in actual fact, the walk is good for me and if I go through the park, it IS pretty enjoyable.

Here’s a gander (sorry, there are geese in the park…) at my walk home:

The promise of things to come

Heron? Crane? Delicate and beautiful

Gorgeousness!

Contrast

The shady part

Duck Duck Goose

Reflections

This little guy lives down the street from the park, near a very nice housing complex.

Do What You Love!

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Bright Lights, Big Neighborhood!

The last few years, our Christmas tradition has been to walk through an outrageously decorated neighborhood in Brea, CA. Tonight we feasted on teriyaki bowls at Panda Express, then grabbed hot chocolate (me) and hot vanilla (The Husband) and headed for the Neighborhood with The Lights.

We are not the only people to discover this area and so as we amble amidst the decorated houses among other excited folks on foot (we actually saw a dad pushing a stroller decorated with electric lights), we carefully dodge cars driven by parents more concerned with gawking than pedestrians. But I digress…

Because The Husband was so busy this month getting his melodrama show, Christmas Calamity, ready for last Saturday, we had our walk a little late in the season and missed the live nativity scene, complete with baby goats and other assorted animals. But all the lights were still aglow and this year there were at least three bands set up on street corners. It’s a great place for young folks to play a little music for an amenable crowd.

I only got a few publishable pictures and this first one is pretty much a pure Out West kinda Christmas sight. Where else do you see tumbleweed snowmen?

This house is famous for the music played and the absolute coverage of every space and surface of the yard and foliage. And this photo only shows half the yard!

Last but not least, I had to have a picture of Eeyore. I’ve been an Eeyore fan since I discovered Pooh late in life, as a high schooler.

We must have walked at least a mile and thankfully, it was in the high 50’s, so the hot chocolate and the constant movement was enough to keep us warm for the hour or so we were there. This is a neighborhood of cul de sac’s that border other cul de sac’s, separated by pretty walkways and greenswards, so it’s easy to get around the various areas and you get to see more and converse with doggies and listen to music as long as you want. Much better than trying to enjoy the lights while driving and dodging those pesky pedestrians!

Hope you get your hearts desire this holiday season!

Do What You Love!

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PS-Forgot one. I like this picture because you can't really see the outline of the house or the trees that are striped with lights, so it's sort of lights suspended in air:

June Special on Etsy!

Everyone who makes an order from me this month on Etsy gets a free grab bag, worth anywhere from $10-$20. A combination of jewelry-possibly a bracelet, earrings, necklace, you never know what you'll get-in every bag. While supplies last. Go to bearchick.etsy.com for this cool deal.

Did some writing today and finally did the five mile walk DVD. It takes an entire hour and really makes you sweat, which is a good thing. Pulled apart Dean’s old PVC clothes rack, trying to make a light box to photograph my Etsy listings. I got it all apart but it only had three legs somehow and was too high… Reminded me of trying to build with Tinker Toys… Dean came home and made a perfect configuration. That’s what I keep him around for ;-) I’ll give it a try tomorrow.

Dean and I watched Juno last night for the first time and we were both charmed. Ellen Page was perfect as a young girl trying to be mature and through a painful transition, achieving the first fluttering feelings of grown-upness. The strange and wonderful music will make you listen and smile.

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Keep Moving!

This is what I have to keep reminding myself to do. I have a sedentary job (accounting) and at home I get involved in jewelry making, creating art or sitting at the computer, finding ways to sell the jewelry and art. When I get up from these chair bound pursuits, I’m stiff and achy. Not to mention that I’m hauling more weight around lately from lack of exercise.

So, I recently got a DVD by Leslie Sansone, who specializes in walking workouts. I bought one each for my parents several years ago. They live in New England and find it hard to walk in the winter, so this seemed like a perfect solution and they both said they liked their versions (she has several DVD’s out with different lengths and intensities). Since I don’t seem to have the time to go outside for a walk lately, I thought it might be a good idea to bring the walk inside to me.

Tonight I finally had my first opportunity to try the workout. I’ve been exercising but not as consistently as I’d like, so out of the 5 mile walk, I chose one of the 3 mile versions. Didn’t want to over do it… Sitting here now, I’m really feeling it in my legs and back. And that makes me feel like I’m doing something good for myself, which actually is long overdue, health-wise.

Five Mile Walk is sort of a misnomer, in that you’re also doing some low kicks, side to sides and a few other simple moves. Leslie changes the pace, incorporates some upper body movement and includes weights and bands as an option to some of the workouts. It’s very low impact aerobics and she gives you the opportunity to pace yourself--just keep moving. What I really like is that you don’t need a whole gym sized room to do the workout. The routine can be done in a very small space, which is a real plus for me. And, even though I didn’t find Leslie’s cheery chatter too annoying, you have the option of having a music only soundtrack once you get used to the routines.

So, if your interests are like mine, that keep us sitting for too long during the day (and evening, sometimes into the wee hours…), a workout like this is something to think about. I always feel so much better when I’m getting exercise. I’ve also been going through one of my dreaded insomnia phases, so I’m hoping for a little relief from that, too.

Today I did a lot of errands with Dean, since this is our only day off together this week. I mixed some paint and prepped a couple of mixed media boards I wanted to start on. I also looked through some magazines for another project I’m planning on paper dolls. This weekend, I’m hoping to get some more polymer done for a necklace and a bunch of ATC’s.

Tune in again real soon!

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