MY VERY OWN FLYING CAMERA!! "THANK YOU!" Best Kids Ever!! -from writeousmom..
very first rookie shots.. "thank you!" here to my awesome kids for this very generous and super bad ass gift for my 60th birthday!!
i've been very nervous about...
but determined!
and "thank you!" here to youtube, and to sean (sp?) from air photography, for his outstanding, thoughtful, well paced tutuorials for beginners..
i mean,
i'm going to practice, practice, practice..
but.. door wide open for holy spirit help... guidance... encouragement...
so excited!! it is an all together AWESOME sensation when your drone takes its first flight..
lift off! mini journey... acclimate to controls...
take some pictures..
to have it come back.. and land safely. remarkable experience. I LOVE THIS THING!
MILLION "THANK YOU's!"
LOVE YOU!! -to be continued...
hallelujah & amen.
#bliss
guinness~bailey bliss yard art 2026 by sexy & topps, aka robert & sandra
and, -foam at top of guinness, our mailman keith's suggestion.. and a great idea it was! fun!
spectacular squares, beers cheers & happy st patricks.. our way cool, wonderful
artist, neighbor & friend, jerry heinrichs. YOU'RE THE BEST!!
"Slainte!" Much gratitude, love, appreciation...
GLUED TO EVERY WORD: sandra mickanen reporting with delight!
by typing 'arts and crafts' in the search bar of youtube..
landed on what is now my favorite interview of 2026.. maybe, of all time!
joe hage, i believe, founder of heni talks (?), interviewing hans ulrich obrist, curator.
totally unknown to me prior to this youtube search...
glued to every word; packed! dense! will need to rewatch and capture..
but 'handwriting!' -they need to hear about my super cool, way fun, handwriting letter activity @ golden psalms!
the above interview inspired me to watch another, and
giant CH = to:
because after i met my now, husband, he used to send me to work at alden lane with the
THE! best homemade lunches. place them in tupperware, and always place a sticky note on top that said what the meal was..
i used to write on the sticky notes.. thank you's, love you's, and, often time i would try and write my thank you in the language of the culture the food originated from... take and text a pix to him..
so, most have both of our handwriting on each post it note.
anyway.. before i met and fell in love with robert, i had a jar of peanut butter and loaf of bread in my locker at alden lane,
and it did keep me going,
but, robert absolutely spoiled me with the best homemade lunches, greatest meals..
and i found a variety of ways to show my appreciation; still do.
but i kept the large majority of the post it notes, and after he invited me to join him in retirement,
i laid them all out on the floor, and took a picture..
****
lots of post it notes, love notes, around our home.. always.
"Thank You!" prayers.. love youtube... so much! amen & amen,
GENIUS COMPOSER!! that's what she was.. is. -found it.. sandra mickanen DELIGHTED to share
so, i was write... regarding previous post. in drafts, not published,
but! i am going to post it here, change/remove her name, and not include the picture. I LOVE HAVING ACCESS TO MY MEMORIES... a thing for which i can never thank the blogosphere enough..
*****
from may of 2013:
it deserves a more detailed explanation..
so here you go: everyone's favorite wine lord, tony -was providing delicious tastings to some women on one side of the wine bar, while i had just finished up serving a variety of customers myself
so, looked like i had a little down time, as they say
but! this wine goddess likes to stay productive, (little pat on my own back), so i went write away over to the deli where i thought i'd constructively use my down time to chop up a giant block of gourmet cheese into darling little bite size square~ish pieces for our gem society members (do i sound a little like spongebob?)
side note: ruby hill's gem society members enjoy not only free wine tastings; but also, access to our vintner's collection, award winning reserve collection AND world class member only exclusive wines /thank you chris graves
PLUS! we spoil you (and up to three guests) by providing a delicious selection of gourmet cheeses & crackers in the area reserved for gem society members only
but! the cheese doesn't cut itself, write..
so, there i was
in the deli, with a cutting board on the counter, a very sharp knife in my left hand, and a block of cheese in the other...
i placed the block '0 cheese on the cutting board...
and (insert spongebob voice here) and set the very sharp knife down on said cutting board
because i remembered how important it might be to thoroughly wash my hands before touching the block 0' gourmet cheese
so i thoroughly washed my hands
and then picked the very sharp knife back up, and started digging, cutting, poking, stabbing, tearing, twisting the almost impossible to penetrate skin tight plastic wrap that -very, very securely- protected the cheese
and write as i was stabbing the plastic with my very sharp knife..
a super duper creepy crawly, like...
ultra big and nasa fast -blackish, brownish
freaky lookin' spooky tarantula~black widow~hybrid animal/insect creature
darts itself across the cutting board
so now you have a spider phobic wine goddess with a very sharp knife in her hand...
the result?
not blood.
opera! a very organic and effortless soprano
"waaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh" and that very sharp knife became my conductor wand as i backed myself at a steady pace away from the deli
and so sincerely, one of the beautiful young women tony was serving, said, " are you singing? opera?"
i had to laugh.
(that's the first way she saved my life... laughter. it's like c.p.r. for phobics)
then..
bless her genius composer heart...
i explained my circumstance, and even though, she doesn't like spiders anymore than i do, (well, maybe a little bit more than i do) she still went over, like a true she~roe, spotted the creature now camouflaged on the dark floor tile
and stepped on it with her cute foot, and darling sandal
"MY SHE-ROE" she flashed in my mind as a daring warrior-spy-homeland-security secret agent
then with great compassion and understanding
she showed me the dead squished spider on the bottom of her sandal
spider-phobic compassionate people, know, by the way, how very important it is for spider-phobics to SEE, with their own two eyes, that the spider creature is indeed DEAD
we don't like to be just told...
we need to KNOW.
/think osama bin laden here...
anyway..
she so kindly let me see the spider was actually dead, with no chance, whatsoever, it would return
and then she scrapped it off her sandal and into the garbage
i proposed to her, and we are now living happily ever after.
/having fun..
she then shared a couple personal terrifying spider/cockroach stories..
i thanked her for saving my life
and then we talked some more..
i learned, like me, her and her sister are best friends.. her sister is a genius history major... and she is a genius composer
and their genius mom & friend were so wonderful to talk to also..
we took a couple pictures..
exchanged emails.. and websites
and now, i'm just excited to see their careers & contributions unfold..
maybe write here in livermore! -because, it turns out, she writes -movie scores
so i told her, not only is pleasanton/livermore like a 2nd napa, but livermore is also, like a 2nd hollywood!
" nicole kidman was filming a movie here only months ago!"
so i will close here with a toast
"to she-roes! history! music! movies! family! friends! sisters! -success!"
look foward to our paths crossing again.
Hans Zimmer LIVE in P.... sandra mickanen pulling from the archives...
The same way i had a strong and mysterious internal experience
YEARS AGO when i heard.. the P word..
it happened again when this was read out loud just last night.
from the archives:
****
Thursday, July 26, 2012
IT WILL ALL EVENTUALLY MAKE SENSE for (me!) sandra, tvgp
k-, so
i realize i must of seemed -odd. mentally challenged in some non-specific way, because the conversation in the ruby hill tasting room went something like this, after a little bit of regular chit-chat
"and my (son?) lives in prague" dad customer says
me: "NO!? PRAGUE?!"
dad, "yes. he lives in prague."
me: "NO!? that can't be, did you say prague?!"
dad, (with a concerned smile), "yes. he lives in prague, he's just visiting"
me: "no way! (looking at son) -you live in prague?! really?! prague?!"
then they both had a concerned smile... justifiable, i must say, and i was left with no alternative but to try and explain the unexplainable.
goes back several years. i was watching a travel channel with vague interest -but as the narrator was describing different people, places to visit
when the name prague came up.. it hit me like
PRAGUEabsolutely no idea why... who knows how many cities, states, countries, places were mentioned... but PRAGUE like, leaped deep into my heart, soul, mind..
completely odd because -i know no one from prague; i've never read anything about prague; didn't quite know where it was on the map (no surprise); i've never written a paper, or traveled to, or been curious about, or even read any books that had any scene set in prague..
seemed entirely random. ignorable.
but ever since.. when i hear it mentioned, or read it.. that same big, pronounced, stand-out internal experience repeats itself
it's like i'm supposed to know something about it -but i have no idea what or why...
it's very vague and mysterious
but, this customer is the first person i've ever met who lives there; literally lives there, write now.
and so,
we agreed to connect on facebook
because i also have an internal mysterious intuitive feeling -that one day -and who knows when, why, where or how
but one day, this whole wierd
PRAGUE thing will all make sense.
tbc.
quite a pronounced 2nd CH too:
unsuccessful trying to find the post via keywords in search.. i believe it might be in my drafts; not published.
but very short version:
wine goddess days, ruby hill winery,
working the deli.. trying like heck to remove shrink wrap from a block of gourmet cheese..
when a spider comes creepy-crawling at lightning speed across the counter in front of me..
my impulse, primal reaction.. a kind of loud, long, high, stretched out scream..
with SINCERITY, a young woman came to the deli from nearby and asked me.. do you sing opera?
and she was not being sarcastic, or.. she didn't know about the spider..
but i laughed, and explained.. no, i am definitely not an opera singer..
turns out,
this young woman, at the winery with her sister, she shared with me
she had just been hired to join hans zimmer.. (on tour?), in his orchestra,
in what capacity, i don't remember, but i did take a pix of her with her sister..
and i did, at the time, post about it..
but i remember her asking me to remove it, for privacy reasons; which i did
no further questions asked.
*****
i hope, now, decade + later.. i hope she went on to have a remarkable,
exciting career.. -MAYBE!! she's even in this documentary which i will watch soon..
maybe it will serve as piece to the mysterious puzzle...
*****
selah! & amen.
The Healing Powers of LOVE & SUPPORT....
PEOPLE TRAFFIC for SMALL BUSINESSES... for GOLDEN PSALMS, my awesome 16 acre dream of bespoke small businesses plaza.. -sandra mickanen imagining
in the in between, my mind is filled with all my visions and dreams for Golden Psalms
currently projected onto the 16 acres of Serra Center in Milpitas, which is a large and neglected area, with many former businesses/stores boarded up, and a few hanger-on-ers..
this morning i woke remembering this truth,
when i worked at ricks picks on main street in downtown pleasanton, -LOVED.
i became fascinated with the impact of people traffic and how much it influenced our sales.
if it was raining, for example -like, next to no one would be walking on main street, and we'd use those days to do other things in the store, remain productive in different ways -re-merchandise, accept/process deliveries, etc.
but rain = very few people, very few sales
on a nice day = higher number of people walking along main street, which automatically resulted in more shoppers, more sales..
with an event nearby! like, good guys car show at the alameda county fair, or during the weeks the alameda county fair was open, or a big event at a local school..
large scale events within a few miles of ricks picks -we could count on more shoppers, more sales..
then of course, any/all of the gift-giving, house decorating, party-throwing holidays
Christmas for example.. we would be at the register non stop, all day.. open to please close, we're exhausted.
but it just opened my eyes to.. it wasnt necessarily about the products in the store, or how they were merchandised.. although, ricks picks was, like, the absolute coolest store around, with great products, and creative merchandising,
but.. simple but true rule of retail: the more people traffic, the more sales; period. true for all the small businesses, restaurants up and down main street
what's promising about the acres in milpitas, where Golden Psalms will be located..
[see that.. will be located... affirming my own imaginations..]
is that.. on any given day, IT IS ALREADY SEEN/PASSED BY, by very high car traffic ..
1000's of cars already pass it by.. very near, the street touches the parking lot, you don't have to look way far in the distance to see that....
that's the problem write now.. people just drive by, because there is nothing there to drive to!
but imagine, imagine with me..
gorgeous landscaping, like blackhawk plaza.. pond, fountains, greenery, flowers, a pretty bridge..
imagine, 3 of the buildings have rooftop patios, staggered in height..
imagine, darling, charming store fronts.. some beautiful, creative color theme.. a magnet for human eyes..
every store can customize, personalize in a unique way on a variety of different products..
all bespoke...
many opportunties for INTERACTIVE creations..
fortune cookies, mag time frames, t-shirts, hats (small scale); those gorgeous german dream light, for tea lights, a flower shop,
then, because i recently so thoroughly enjoyed my experience at san jose batting cages..
batting cages! massage envy! and so recently enjoyed my experience at campbell float station..
a float station!
my stationery store, w/writing letters as a fun activity, choose your pen, paper, stickers, envelope, etc. beautiful place to write.. the iconic mailbox, -big deal to mail from THIS particular mailbox, take your pix dropping your letter in...
grateful that with everything going on.. my mind likes to visit this imagining, re-visit it,
write about it, draw it.. envision.. evolve it, develop it..
it keeps growing more detailed in my rich imagination...
selah! hallelujah & amen!
Affordable Housing for SJPD! Fix Booking Time Problem -sandra mickanen reporting
YES! HIGH PRIORITY! A WIN/WIN/WIN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS -no one can be at their best when they are
commuting for 2 hours in high stress situations, working for 10 or 12 hours,
commuting back home, another 2 hours, add mandatory overtime, and let it all
accumulate week after week, month after month.
NO ONE WANTS THAT LIFE.
By providing affordable housing in the areas WHICH OUR
POLICE & PEACE OFFICERS ARE SERVING! You eliminate the utter waste of extremely
valuable time and energy currently spent just getting to and from work. Providing affordable housing can
simultaneously reduce stress, show support, make the position and career more
attractive. You send the message: We value you, your time, your energy and the
high stakes, vital, work you do to PROTECT all of us. Affordable housing is the equivalent of a
raise and benefit; and a no-brainer when it comes to RETAINING &
ATTRACTING THE BEST; building The Best Police Department in California; in
the USA: Vital to achieving and
maintaining the goal: Safest Big City.
BOOKING TIME:
PROBLEM: currently takes 2 ½
hours on average per arrest.
That’s 2 ½ hours our trained patrol officers ARE OFF THE
STREET & NOT PATROLING.
We are already significantly short-staffed, when you pull
from the limited number of police officers we do have, and swallow up their
time with indoor paperwork, policy & procedure -You only make matters worse for
everyone: The police officer and the
public who need them.
You can’t have The Safest Big City without our police
officers; period. And they cannot
patrol or respond to calls if they are mandated to spend ridiculous amounts of
time booking their arrestees.
SOLUTION:
Obviously affordable housing, pay, benefits help retain and recruit..
To this specific
issue: We have the brightest minds here
in Silicon Valley: surely to our good
God, we can figure out ways to streamline the arrest/booking process! In other cities it is less than ½ hour!
Also, and of
course! An entirely different
person/position, where the police officer arrests, and then brings arrest-ee to
a different person who does the booking, and follow-through; which lets
the police officer return to the position he or she was actually trained and hired
for.
Recent headlines, which include, rapes, murders, gun
violence, robberies.. assaults..
Combined with our severely low staff levels AND patrol time
wasted with booking procedures:
All of it correctable by SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT, SHOWING
YOU VALUE..
Not just in word, but
inDEED, you should provide affordable housing.. value their time and energy..
prioritize their pay and benefits…
ROI: The return on investment: PUBLIC SAFETY! Quality of Life! The Safest Big City! Crime levels drop! We
successfully retain and recruit the best!: Men and women of great character
with hearts to serve; All the places we
want to visit, we can visit.. they are
clean, safe, beautiful… LONG
LIST. Our taxes go to this great cause,
this great goal… which benefits EVERYONE! Entire population!
With gratitude,
Robert & Sandra Mickanen,
-Beautiful Berryessa Neighborhood, San Jose.
VELLUM DAYS in progress 2026 #vellumdays
Chinese New Year 2026 Celebration Party @ The Georges
Year of the Horse #fancynancy
#sjpac
#bliss -yard art dismantle.. new empty canvas for st patrick yard art..
all "Thank You!" prayers... xoxo
p.s. "THANK YOU!" President Donald J Trump for putting a quick end to the utter nonsense of start-stop feature in our cars!! -the micks, celebrating
it IS! the most hated feature.. it is so annoying! we know
it's not good for the car, for drivers/passengers...
could never even believe they mandated it to begin with
and was certain they did not do a quality assurance check.
we are celebrating the end of this stupid feature!!
"cheers!"
hallelujah & amen
****
ok, so technically what they're doing is not putting a quick end to, but rather
ending fuel-economy credits for the installation of the start-stop technology
therefore
DISincentivizing the automakers from installing it.
****
financial incentive vs disincentive is the only language some people speak...
(i.e., tariffs)
and my limited layperson research shows the absence of this irritating start stop technology will also reduce the cost of cars.. that's the very definition of a win/win!
****
selah! & amen.
navigating breast cancer, -mom, wife, daughter, granddaughter, friend, aunt, sister.. photographer, podcaster and entrepreneur
The Triple Blessing of Kassandra's PODCAST: Where I am Right Now [on spotify and other platforms]
1) helping her heal 2) helping us understand on a deeper level 3) helping others
My experience floating outdoors, in the ocean, with my husband, in puerto rico.. so life changing, i investigated opportunities locally.. this indoor experience; not quite the same, but equally glorious..
and no sun screen required! let there be no doubt it has healing powers..
-more later, but.. yes! to campbell float station
grateful you exist!
President Donald J Trump, State of the Union, Feb 2026 Q&A -by sandra mickanen of beautiful berryessa in san jose, ca.
OUR QUESTION EXACTLY... !
typical pro-criminal-and-too-bad-real-victims california..
releasing a serial child predator
PLEASE SEND HELP: serial child predator, rapist is being RELEASED in Northern California.
PREDATOR: david allen funston, 64 years old
-WAS SUPPOSED TO SERVE LIFE SENTENCE
-paroled on some super stupid, 'elderly parole program, federal court order for people age 50, who served 20 years
-which we all know should not negate LIFE SENTENCES for CHILD RAPISTS
****
honest to our good God, -the level of either ignorance, or incompetence, or evil, or some combination of the three, -how these people make the decisions they do...
its criminal.
Public "Thank You!" to Saint Anthony & blogosphere & friends -for memories otherwise lost.. -sandra mickanen
enormously grateful to maritza for taking the time to share her very recent Saint Anthony prayer experience
in the comments section of my several-years-old experience praying to...
and that gap between testimonies,
CH= to the bank robbery experience of course! one of the many gifts of the blogosphere is being able to connect closely, testimonies, despite large time gaps. i still regard it a genuine treasure, its value unquantifiable..
but, decades after i experienced being in a bank that was arm-robbed, i blogged about it, from memory.
WILD TO ME! that sue-sue, a best friend at the time; and the driver.. that she would show up and in comments share her side of the scary story.. we hadn't spoken or connected in a good long time.
AND EVEN WILDER STILL!! -that years later, the ex-boyfriend i reference in the memory, steve shaw, due to a friendship reunion, and chance to talk.. HE grants my wish, and shares his incredible, and previously unknown to me, side of the story in comments of that post also.
being able to read it with my own two eyes.. and process...
it is -one of the highest, most generous and most healing gifts to me..
another belated "THANK YOU!"
hallelujah & amen
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