Great Times in Gilroy! "Thank You!" (karl! & valerie!)
-loved, loved the theater itself, and the performance of pump boys and dinettes! excellent cast.. just smiled and laughed and enjoyed every moment
and left that performance on fire to write one more play myself.. "before i leave this earth Jesus.. one more play.. light-hearted, playful, funny -something that makes people smile and laugh like this one did"
the only play i have written is a bit on the heavy, serious side... kissin' the chocolate blues - i'm pleased with it, for certain, and believe it contains a great deal of literary history/value, inspiration, etc.
and it is my official thank you/love you card-on-stage to Dr Maya Angelou,
but,
well, karl shared that usually before any performance at the pintello comedy theater, they say something like,
"life already has enough drama.. we only bring you comedy" -and i agree.. so, "Thank You!" and i want to contribute in that way too.. for the same reasons.
years ago, i wrote/read in two different laugh out loud events.. and, yes.. it is its own beautiful reward to hear laughter specifically, not just applause.
***
and for introducing us to solis winery -gorgeous! fantastic views, staff, musician and wine...
and the old city hall restaurant -great food! service! cool vibe.. all seem to set the stage for our passionate conversations ranging from travels, to parenting, to art, to science, to politics and faith... we cover a lot..
-for the invitation, for driving, for the good times trifecta in gilroy -love and "thank you!"
hallelujah & amen
-jeep of faith day in monterey and prelude to concours d'elegance
-first time we took our jeep (vs. suv w/bikes in the back) to monterey -and -as if our jeep was a concour d'elegance showpiece itself, we made sure to take its picture near the ocean..
from every angle
like proud parents.. look at our baby
and! -speaking of..
next year we will do on purpose, what this year we just happen to do, and that is:
monterey bike ride from el estero to pebble beach and back on the wednesday before concours d'elegance!
wow! to how much excitement and intrigue this added to an already amazing bike ride
at first we couldn't figure out.. why so many gorgeous cars?
and why so many paparazzi stationed along the ocean near the road...
and we eventually caught on; they were positioned to capture pictures (not of celebrities, although we were told celebrities were there), but rather, these paparazzi were after the cars! the concour d'elegance cars as they drove along the coast from pacific grove to pebble beach
and we saw filmmakers filming -while simultaneously driving in front of the cars they were filming; hanging out driver side windows with very impressive cameras, -and balance
and a sotheby's car auction at fisherman's wharf with countless stunning, amazing, gorgeous cars from a variety of eras
cars i know my son could name by make and model and maybe year, but i only marvel at in general
and then..
certain sections of open space from our previous bike rides suddenly held
not pop up tents, but pop up buildings! mercedes, rolls royce.. a bugatti stage write at the pebble beach information center where we have lunch!
and, way fun on the way back, bike riding 17 mile drive.. we could get glimpses -between slightly open gates with security guards, of concours d'elegance cars packed within the grounds of some of the famous 17 mile luxurious multi-millions of dollars homes
and we were told "you should check out the salinas airport during concours.. see the private jets.."
and this particular kind person we spoke to could even name the private jets by make/model/year..
and with zero desire to own or drive any of the concours d'elegance showpieces, it is pure joy to just look upon them.. the magnificent designs, the elite paint and polish, the shapes/sizes, wheels/tires.. eras! to see the evolution.. to just know and see names, and be in the presence of luxury sports cars that are recognized among car enthusiasts as the best in the world bugatti, ferrari, lamborghini
my few pictures of what we saw, on the wednesday before the big event.. could never do it justice.. but my son turned us on to a photographer that obviously has the gift: instagram @tfjj, car photographer out of london
it's all wow for us
and remains on our family bucket list -concours d'elegance, pebble beach.. what year we go, unknown
but we have the conversation.. would you want to attend in a general admission, budgeted, least expensive ticket kind of way? -just to get to go.. or... save up and get the best seats/VIP experience?
and so,
we are saving up. stay at the lodge of course..
hallelujah & amen.
Praise God! for the path i'm on... (me!) ~topps
it is when i look back at pictures.. make collages; the accumulation of great experiences turned into great memories
we all interpret our lives, yes..
it is my interpretation that i am on the path! posted on my door ... the sweetest comeback in the history of ever!
sure feels like it..
the path of the righteous grows brighter and brighter.. from glory to glory.. the narrow path..
and,
also feels like this very experience; the accumulation of great memories/experiences
proving my statement true: when it comes to trauma -you do not bury it; you do not engrave it
you dilute it.
-this works. tried and true.
hallelujah & amen.
searchbar archives: hostess
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i waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [ a pit of tumult and of destruction ], out of the miry clay ( froth and slime ), and set my feet upon a rock, steading my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. -Psalm 40:1-3
Best Night of the Year!
many public "thank you's" and stories when time allows..
**************
#vellumdays
Nursery & Botanical Gardens Giize for (me!) ~topps
i have very strong nursery, botanical garden, plants, flowers, trees giize
-so a slice of heaven to visit griggs nursery in carmel valley
i do love to linger in a nursery, walk a botanical garden.. stop, stare, learn more..
i don't necessarily need to purchase; just enjoy..
but that said, i will be purchasing (God willing) select flowers, plants, etc. over the next 7 to 10 years.. with the goal of creating something so unique and attractive -and pleasantly surprising to any passersby
i have my own secret garden in my imagination.. inspired initially by the garden at jardines in san jusan bautista
****
looking for a new word too (like giize) -one word, which describes when you enjoy the process of something vs. you don't enjoy the process, only the result..
and
looking for a new word, which captures the distinction between when you enjoy figuring something out and when you just find it annoying..
-because, if you just isolate 'figuring it out' it can come with multiple linked internal experiences..
i love to figure out a poem, for example.. puzzle poems, which for me are any poems that already have an established set meter/rhyme/line/word or syllable count
figuring out haikus, -enjoy the process, enjoy 'figuring it out' -working it through..
and their are plenty of people who enjoy 'figuring out' math problems; figuring out the solution, working it through..
figuring out which is the side or top/bottom of a fitted sheet though... having, so many times over the years, guessed wrong the 1st time and having to start all over... exclusively annoying; feels like an utter waste of time and energy for such a simple task.. hence my recent post re: this topic. -and folding fitted sheets... yuck.
amen.
Supersoft & LABELED Sheets as appreciated by (me!) ~topps
i believe
if the manufacturers, packaging and salesforce understood the true value of these labels;
this packaging would not have the most valuable information in fine print
this simply vera verawang packaging should look more like this:
600-thread-count
100% supima cotton supersoft sheet set
blah, blah, blah..
TOP & BOTTOM & SIDE LABELS
FOR EASY PLACEMENT!
now that we know these exist, we insist.
public "thank you!" to whoever started this time saving, frustration-free labeling on bed sheets
now i lay us down to sleep
on supersoft and labeled sheets
amen.
the heart seen.. couple recent treats! by (me!) ~topps #theheartseen
i spied this heart seen! in the distance at first.. and sometimes clouds move too fast, but in this case i did have enough time to grab my phone and click away... -awesome!
this next heart seen! just the opposite.. not fleeting at all, it's still there write now if you'd like to take a picture too
fisherman's wharf near the bike racks at entrance, monterey, ca
#theheartseen
and then, not as fleeting as the clouds;
nor as fixed as the concrete
but still, a limited time window to capture the hearts seen in our ginkgo!
Summer N2 Fall 2023 yard art (sexy! & topps!) #bliss
+ driveway happy hour! hallelujah & amen
fresh & delightful batch of heart seen contributions from (squidmann! & spike!) #theheartseen
what a joy! -delight! to go through and see, collect and create a thank you from the 3 months worth of heart seen contributions from squidmann & spike!!
the love and blessings that surround you two!! BIG gratitude for each and every heart seen, captured and shared with me..
and!
BIG thank you, also.. because guess what August 2023 is?!? My 18th anniversary of blogging...
i can vote now. /she says with a smile
you get full credit for introducing us.. me n' me blog.. match made in heaven.
God Shine!
****
p.s. i still have an unknown # of contributions from friends/family i have yet to organize and post...
when the window opens...
i.e., jar giize! car giize! fossil giize! puppy giize! mixed media giize! wildflower giize! headframe giize!
face-painting giize! i've got it, everyone knows it...
fossil/dinosaur giize! my husband has it.. took 100's of pix.. couldn't get enough...
luxury/sport car giize! my son has it.. always has..
beautiful/charming jar giize! fashion giize! travel giize! my daughter has it..
puppy giize!! /i mean who doesn't have puppy giize?!?
headframe giize! we've got it.. can overlap or be separate from history giize!
the list is endless; the discovery of your personal giize; an exciting and worthy pursuit
identifying the giize in others... pure joy!
have fun -amen.
Fallen and Raised RIP Arturo 'Kiki' Romero & Richard 'Troy' Reynolds
with love and healing prayers for the loved ones of; and in recognition of the two recent deaths..
i want to share here my insights gained from spending over 5 years in the company of many different law enforcement officers
i have come to the clear realization, that in today's hostile climate
one year of service as a law enforcement officer, is the equivalent of about 5 years of a traditional civilian job/career
so, the paper suggests that Arturo 'Kiki' Romero served 24 years working as a correctional officer and deputy for the county before being killed by a drunk driver at age 50
but multiply those 24 years by 5
in my heart and mind, Arturo 'Kiki' Romero gets credit for 120 years of service
"Thank You!" God raise and keep you..
true also for Richard 'Troy' Reynolds -served 27 years before dying at age 54 (his peers do not rule out stress from the job in a chronically hostile environment as a strong and most likely contributing factor of his premature death) -they know.. they understand, those still working vs. those retired, share the same vulnerability
but again, in my heart and mind, Troy gets credit for 135 years of service
"Thank You!" God raise and keep you
pix below: 2023; Annual Santa Clara County Deputy Reunion hosted by Frank Salazar,
Garin Park, Hayward, CA
where a 'love you, miss you, remember you' toast was given to honor and recognize Arturo 'Kiki' Romero and Richard 'Troy' Reynolds "....until we see you on the other side..."
****
due to several very strong CH's,
i must also share this headline from Montana, USA
in my own circle of friends and family -people are very enlightened and conscientious regarding not drinking and driving, and especially the younger generations seem very smart and consistent about using uber and/or other forms of public transportation if alcohol has been, or will be, consumed..
-for this i am very grateful
in Jesus name, amen.
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