Movie Tuesday

Movie Playing: The Counselor
Recommendation:  DO NOT SEE IT

Despite the good actors and director, this movie has nothing to redeem itself. It was gory, gruesome, disjointed and basically left ourselves wondering why we were sitting through it. What a waste of time and money.

Retired

Forgot to mention...yesterday I filed papers for my official retirement. First, PERS, from my work at the school district, then Social Security. My retirement date will be January 21, 2014, one day after my 69th birthday. Hope I make it.

My "old" friend

She wouldn't like me calling her "old," but we've known each other for a long, long time. Last May we visited Nancy and husband, Bill, in Durango, Colorado, and Wednesday-Thursday of this week Nancy came out to the ranch to visit us. We had dinner Wednesday night with Gary and Mom with Chef Dennis cooking paella for dinner and crepes for dessert. Later, he surprised Nancy and me with chocolate chip cookies.

On Thursday, Nancy and I took a walk around the ranch and had a good time reminiscing about old times. We had lunch at Mediterraneo in Alpine and then she was on her way to a visit with another friend. It was a short, but very nice visit.

Movie Tuesday

Gravity--A lot of things can go wrong when there is no gravity. Just ask Sandra Bullock who stars in the movie, Gravity. The critics point out there were a few goofs in technical details, but agree that Sandra Bullock was wonderful in the difficult role. We all were riveted as we watched. Go see it.

Getting ready to move in

Dennis and I went to IKEA in Mission Valley Friday morning to shop for some cabinets for the new craft room/office. We ordered the cabinetry for a "Nook" that will be used for coffee pot/supplies. Upper glass door cabinets will be a space to display some of my glasswork.

We also bought a large cabinet for our office and cleaning supplies, and two long chests of drawers that we will put side by side to make our layout table.

Today Dennis and Uncle Johnny are going back with the truck to buy and bring home the stuff we bought.

Obviously we are getting ready to move into the craft room/office above the new garage. Final inspection will probably be next Wednesday and then we can move. Vivian and I have been packing up my office drawers in preparation for the move. Boy do I hate packing. Wait until we have to pack the craft room in the house!

Clever Sign

I saw a cute sign on a gravel truck the other day. It said, "Our customers rock, and we roll." Clever.

Movie Tuesday

On Tuesday we saw Captain Phillips, the true story of the hijacking of a cargo ship by Somali pirates and the heroic actions of the ship's captain, Richard Phillips. Captain Phillips saved his men and his ship, but was kidnapped by the pirates for a ten million dollar ransom. It was a pretty tense movie but fascinating, too. If your nerves can stand it, this is a great story.

Mom's birthday week continues

Because we had a big breakfast, we skipped dinner and just brought a lemon pie (and a candle) over to Mom's house last night. This afternoon I'm cooking artichokes and we will bring them over to Mom's.

He's Baack

We've been having sightings of our new rescue cat, Ivan, for the past couple of days. Last night, I saw him in the carport and captured him. Now he's safely in the cat room. He's very sweet, with a cute little meow. Hope he sticks around.

New Garage-Craft Room

Hydronic heating and cooling system in the garage

Craft Room looking from the door to the end of the room

Craft Room looking from the end to the door.

Mom's Birthday Weekend

We decided Mom should have a Birthday week, or weekend, just like everyone else. We started Friday with pizza dinner. We ordered the pizza and then had our dinner at Mom's house. On Saturday Dennis picked up Chinese food and we again ate at Mom's house.

Sunday was a big day. We took Mom to breakfast at the Cafe 67 in Lakeside where we met up with Angie, Gary, Bryan, Danielle, Morgan, Kristy, Amanda, and Jennifer. We had a great time visiting and kissing and hugging the babies, Morgan and Jennifer. Amanda wore a funny hat with big bunny ears that went up and down when she squeezed the puff and the bottom of the tie strap.

Amanda can also "murr" at the drop of a hat.

I think Mom had a really good time with her family around her. Plus presents!

Gary and Dennis took all the family photos so they are missing.

Movie Tuesday

Today we saw "Enough Said," a sweet romance starring James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. There were some laughs, but otherwise it was a little slow. Didn't matter--we liked it anyway. Enough said.

Ivan

Last week I was at the vet's office and they coerced me into taking another cat. This one was a mature cat whose owner had brought him in to be euthanized because she couldn't afford to keep him anymore. (Who does that?) Anyway, I took Ivan home and introduced him into the "cat house." He, like all new cats, went to the top shelf and stayed there for 3 days. Last night I went in to get their dishes and he was at my feet wanting to be petted. I thought all was well until this morning. I took the cats' food dishes into their house and Ivan was nowhere to be found. I had the window cracked about 2 inches wide and somehow he pushed it open and got out. I guess he'll come back or he won't. Being a cat whisperer is a tough job.

The Sicilians

Last week Dennis went to his high school reunion and met up with his friend, Sam Lupo, who was there with his wife, Mary Lee. They had a great time reminiscing about their high school and college days. It turned out that Sam and Mary Lee knew some of the same family and friends who I grew up with. In short, Mary Lee contacted Margarita and Joe Lo Medico, owners of Venice Pizza and long-time friends from the Sicilian community, and set up a dinner for last night.

We (Dennis, Mom and I) met the Lupos at Venice for dinner and had a great time talking about the old days. We expect to see more of them and the Lo Medicos in the future. As an aside, we found out the Lupos were in Sicily around the same time we were. Small, small world. I should have taken pictures. Darn.

Movie Tuesday

I know it's a little late, but we did go to the movies last Tuesday. The movie was Prisoners with Hugh Jackman, Terrence Howard, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano, and Maria Bello. This was a very dark movie. I didn't care for the storyline, but I have to admit it was gripping.