I Miss My Daughter

I suppose I'm being melancholy but I really miss you Shannon. I was looking through old videos on my computer and came across this one.

When I would talk to Shannon on Skype I would snap pictures of her. Then I put them together with some music. So cute. These are from the very first days when she went to New Zealand. She missed home at first. Sybilla was just a baby.

Now she's moving into a new house this weekend, signed a one-year lease. I'll just have to visit you and see you on Skype.

Love you, Mom

After Reading This Blog, You all will Say "Kathy, Get a Life"!!

This is what I've been doing for the last week. Carl went fishing, so I worked on the house.
The landscapers finally came and did the work I had requested. They removed all the hodge-podge plants, leveled and put sod in the yard.


My plan is to put a large pot with a bush or tree in it just to the left of the front window.


The house was recently painted and I'm really happy with the look.

My little flowerbed in the patio.

The gladiolas bloomed so nicely, those were from Carl's mom's bulbs she shared with me years ago.

While Carl was fishing, I painted the hallway wall.

It's sort of our "gallery" wall and has had so many nails and holes in it, it really needed a fresh coat of paint.

Now for my latest YouTube movie of the week:

Not much to blog about. Hope you were slightly entertained.

Thanks for looking.

Kathy

The Rockets Red Glare......

I'm sitting at my computer on the Fourth of July evening, listening to the booms and pops going on down the hill at the various parks celebrating the 4th. Lili is hanging out close to me, dogs don't like fireworks.

I went to brother Carl's to party with him and Kathleen, Lacey and Kristen and family and kids and dogs. They had a table full of good food and I ate a ton. Kathleen made BBQ chicken in the crock pot to put on rolls. Lacey made "blue" rotini pasta salad, and lemon blueberry cake/bread and cookies. Everyone brought food.

They were out in the pool playing when I arrived around 5 pm. Dean was wearing his floating one-piece swimsuit.

Dean and Maddie were dancing, nice moves Dean.

Maddie is Nick's (Kristen's boyfriend) little sister. She loves to dance and is a gymnast.

Kristen finally got off work at 6 pm, and made it before all the food was gone. Notice the blue pasta on her plate.

Dean keeps so busy, you have to watch him every minute. He takes ice cubes and throws them into the pool. And he delivers beer to people.

Lacey and Kathleen

Poor Sandy dog, she was terrified of the fireworks going off in the neighborhood. Fireworks are legal in Buena Park so everyone buys them and lights them off in the street after dark. The neighbors were testing early, sounded like M-80's to me, really loud and illegal. Notice the chewed off leash, original teather for Sandy. She chewed it off and the had to tie her up with a large chain. They gave her a Benedryl to calm down.

This is the famous "Garando" Kristen's condo in the garage. Custom decorated by Nick's grandma. This is her bar and refridgerator and eating area.

Her living room. Love the shelf around the top of the wall.

I left before the sun went down because I wanted to be home before all the drunk and crazy partiers hit the freeways. I was shocked at how empty the freeway was, all the way home. I had to take a picture. Everyone was either in a stadium, waiting for a fireworks show, or home in their own backyards, BBQ-ing with friends.

When I got home I headed next door to Rondi and Neil's where they were just finishing up their 4th of July party. Everyone left except me and Teresa and Neil and Rondi, so we went upstairs to the bedroom balcony and watched the fireworks in the skys from Pomona to Long Beach.

I didn't take many pictures, Lacey did, so we'll have to look at her blog too.

Oh, Carl went fishing, so he wasn't here for the celebrations.

Adios, Kathy

The Other Blogs

If you look to the right of my blog and see the list of friends' blogs, you should check out Lacey's blog "Donatelli Family" and also "Anna's Excellent Adventure". Lacey is so creative and funny, she is an inspiration. Anna is a very good writer and is living 30 years in the past in New Zealand, and having one experience after the other, and is also funny and clever.

I'm scanning pictures of Al Teague's cars so Shannon can do a painting for him. Someday she will be a sought after artist for automotive personalities and cars. It takes time and effort to build up the portfolio. Keep on painting and drawing Shannon.

Carl is cleaning the garage, there is a huge lizard or snake living in it. I can tell by the large do-do's all over the floor. Either one.... has to go! They have a smorgasboard of spiders and bugs living in there, maybe if the garage gets cleaned the critter will move out.

Happy Sunday, Kathy

I Missed a Week

To recap the last week before Shannon hightailed it back to New Zealand.....
The same day she left was the Bonneville 200 MPH Club party at the NHRA Museum. Not wanting to miss the company of our good friends we made it a point to attend, eat some great BBQ, then take her to the airport.
Here at the lunch table is Shannon, Dennis, Grandpa Roy, Jim Travis and Donnie.


They held a raffle for some great prizes and 50/50 for the entire amount of $$.

Dad really wanted this picture of Andy Green breaking the sound barrier at Black Rock, but someone else won it. I went over to see it and offered the guy $50 and he took it. Now it is proudly displayed on the wall at Full-Bore! Happy Father's Day dad, early.

Shannon with two of her favorite guys, besides Grant, of course. Fast Kenny Hoover with his arm on her shoulder.

Modeling by Dennis' car.

The day before, Friday, we invaded Lacey and Brandon's house. Everyone showed up for a BBQ. So much fun. The boys played in the back yard on all the ride on's and on the big jungle-gym. Dean driving the fire engine.

Ryder was playing one of Brandon's guitars.

Dean on his electric 4x.

Uncle Roy with Amanda and Shannon.

Ryder going down the slide with no legs!

Fearless Dean!

Wounded Dean!

Put your shoes back on Ryder!

Ryder was wounded, cut his finger, Nanny Shanny to the rescue.

Sweet!

That's all the BBQ pictures I took, there were so many people there that night, but I must have stopped taking pictures. We had steak and chicken, roasted potatoes, pasta salad, and more.

Last year when Shannon and I visited New York City, we ate at a great little place called Serendipity 3, you know the place where we each had $15 sundaes for dinner. Betty had recommended it and it was super. So last year, Betty sent for some Frozen Hot Chocolate packets to us girls. I saved mine to enjoy with Shannon, and we sure did. Thank you Betty.

On Thursday, of the "Last Week" with Shannon, we took the train to LA for dinner and drinks. Rondi and Neil and Betty and Brian joined us for a marvelous time. We started at the famous "Musso and Franks Grill", the oldest restaurant in LA.

The Olson clan in front of the restaurant, with the Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars on the sidewalk.

Betty and Brian went to the city earlier in the day to conduct some business, so they had a huge head start on us at the bar. This restaurant is like going back in time. Nothing has changed, even the waiters. I think we were the only ones there for a while then maybe 4 other people showed up. We were early, most people don't even go out until 8 or 9:00.
Betty Shannon and Rondi.

Family at the bar =)

Animal print was in that day. Forced smiles!!

Pretty Girl! big pupils.

Dinner was delicious. A very special day with good friends.

After dinner we walked a few blocks to Hollywood and Vine. Shannon on the corner of H & V.

Me with the Capitol Records building in the background.

We made it!!! The Frolic Room. Our favorite place.

Just a dive bar, with great drinks, the best jukebox in LA and fun people. And a cute bartender who was fliting with Shannon.

Brian's new best friend.

Betty and Me.

We miss you Shannon. Thanks for coming to visit. Now for some rest.

We caught the last train out of town.