Drum roll, please!   The excitement is building.

For a special member of our family ~ achievement and accomplishment is within her reach.  She’s almost done.  Just a teeny bit more!  And soon enough ~  graduation.  From College.  Bachelor of Architecture.  And the start of many happily ever afters PLUS.  Wow. WowoWow!  OMW!!

I honestly can’t believe the commute will soon be over!  Emphasize CANNOT.  No more SoCal.  Soon ~ setting up a real home base.   And life as new and fresh as it gets. That sounds really nice.

And my  girls are planning the whole rest of May and June already.  It may soon be time for me to panic.   I’m not there yet as I’ve been busy working an event that runs a good part of this week.  Last night, I found out that we will have the little girlie girl on Friday for an overnighter and I was glad about that.

I want the little boy, too!

And THEN, I’ve accepted a challenge proposed to me by my wonderful ad network which you will soon learn about.  It’s in the works but I’m excited to be putting it together.  I’ve also been working on that!

Tonite’s dinner is brought to you by Dream Dinners.  They have made me look good for two weeks now.    And now if you will excuse me,  I’m going to sit with my beloved and talk about his busy day.

Ciao bella!

Can I just please say that I’m glad my kids are grown ~ done ~ and independent?   My sweet sister has to contend with two teens who are left with gadgetry and devices to communicate.  As such, sometimes you will see them next to each other and talking like this.

The Daughter

The Momma

Oh yeah!  I’m sure some of you can relate to this!  Busy mom with a crazy travel schedule with two kids with social media skillz.  I have never seen anyone type faster than these two women.  It actually made me giggle because I have a hard time typing on my Blackberry [keyboard 95wpm though!!].

They should have an application that can measure your mad PDA typing skills.  I would flunk.  It would be a photo finish for these two.

Texting much?

I photographed my niece’s track meet today and I am so proud of her.   My sister had been telling me how she was doing so well in Track and since it was a gorgeously sunny (kind of HOT) day today, I decided to melt in the sun with my younger sib.  We didn’t just bond today.  We really melted, ha!

Okay, so first of all ~ I can’t for the life of me  accept that this little child on the right of this picture ~ and her sister on the left ~ grew OVERNIGHT.

This seems like yesterday

Today a budding athlete  (feared by many!!)

The photo I have of her at the finish line does not even show any of the other kids.

Uhhhmmm… don’t even ask about the scouts.  I can pretty much say with certainty that if this kid stays on the path she’s on, the future looks pretty darn bright.  I am so thrilled that I got to watch today!  All in all this weekend went by FAST!  I hardly stayed home   My hubby ~ bless his big sweet heart ~ did relax and fend for himself and even ran a few loads of laundry.   My camera and I had a field day practicing (make that two days of practicing).  The next few weeks ~ will be c.r.a.z.y.

Oh my G.   I guess I better get to bed.  It’s almost 1AM ~ way past my bedtime   Ciao!

I almost didn’t make it today.  Last night’s acid indigestion knocked me out for hours and came from nowhere.   I was invited by a photographer friend of my sister to accompany him on a photoshoot for an engaged couple.  The venue ~ there were actually three of them.   The Palace of Fine Arts, The Golden Gate Bridge  (Fort Point) and The Legion of Honor at the Presidio.  I wasn’t so sure last night if I’d be able to make it and I’m so glad I did.

Can I just say that everyone and their brother, the kids and their animals were out and about because the skies were clear and blue and about 70something degrees.  Perfect.  We shot from about 10AM till about 2PM, the latter part of the shoot in  the Legion of Honor which was nice because we didn’t have to deal with shadows.

I took this when I arrived and sat by the bench to wait for the couple and my photographer friend to arrive.

I just added a little vignetting to these pictures.  The sky was this blue, this clear.  Pretty, huh!

The Thinker, by Rodin

Surfer Dude under the Golden Gate Bridge

[by this time it was already getting a little bit hazy, can you tell?]

Tomorrow I switch gears and lenses at my niece’s track meet.  I learned so much today!  I learned how to use a Gray Card to determine exposure, lighting ratios and color balance.  Never heard of that one before, have you? We also used a reflector to bounce off some of the light.  My friend had an off camera strobe that helped with inner light.  So much to learn!

After the shoot, he was kind enough to take me to lunch ~ not realizing we were so THIRSTY!  We downed 2 cans of Diet Coke each and had the freshest sushi ever.  Good food ~  good company ~ and a patient teacher.

All in a day’s work.  Now off to dreamland I go

At lunch yesterday after I enjoyed an outdoor meal with my husband who was on a lunch break and my daughter who had the day off, I snapped some photographs of mother and child, enjoying being together ~ the sun and the clean air.  Alyssa is almost 8 months and wants to discover everything.  She likes to stand up [loves to jump and bang her hands on everything].

She’s ready to give a smile ~ especially when she sees her Owpa (my husband) as it will always mean playtime.

As a mom looking at my children enjoying their young families, I feel blessed beyond belief.  My children spend TONS of quality time with their babes.  They take the children to parks and museums early.  They have gym time ~ read books ~ watch Little League and the big league (Go Giants!).  I have a feeling Alyssa will walk early.  Nathan is already able to read at two and easily tackles 25 and 25 piece puzzles.  Their brains are always stimulated and their imaginations ~ well THAT’S the best part of it all!  It’s wild!

I captured these bonding moments yesterday of mother and child.  Young and content.  Blessed with health and good stable jobs.  Saving their earnings ~ doing the right things.  Spending quality time with family and treasuring long time good friends.

Me? I’m just watching.  I steal the babies when I can but mostly I smile and laugh out loud.  I must have done something good or my children have learned from the life I’ve had.  Either way, it is all GOOD.   I thank God every single moment I’m graced with the company of these kids and kidlets.   My husband?  He’ll just spoil them super rotten.  To them, he’ll be King!

They’ll bloom where they’ve been planted.

Got good pictures you’ve taken this week and want to share?  Head on over to BetterInBulk and link up for this week’s GiveMeYourBestShot.  While you’re there, visit the other links and say hello, won’t you?  Have a great and fabulous weekend!

I had four hours of sleep last night thanks to a nap I inadvertently took at about 7PM last nite till 10PM.  After my shower, I was w.i.d.e. awake.  So I chatted with some overseas friends on Facebook and I wrote a few posts for the other topics on my blog which you can visit if you wish to see some more of the shots I took this weekend.

I woke up early because sweet  Virginia came to clean.  I worked around her and managed to get all my stuff done and soon enough it was time to head south for my lunch date.

Because you  must know, I’m missing the almost 8 month old little girlie girl.

Almost 8 months old (in 6 days)

My husband met us for lunch (Alyssa and her mom were my date).  Actually, my hubby got there a few minutes ahead and just hung out ~ al fresco ~ just the way I wanted since I felt cooped up yesterday.  After lunch, I took the kids home.  Alyssa fell asleep right away.  I think we tired her out some. I may be spending some more grammie hours babysitting soon as the little one is in a stage right now of wanting to discover a lot of things and the current caregiver has 4 other children on most days.  We’ll see how things go.  She is a lot of fun and hardly stays put.

I stopped by our Target close to home and they are done remodeling.  They are now a Super Target with food!  It’s a grocery now ~ and much cheaper!  There is an Albertson and a Safeway close by who are likely going to lose some customers to this giant retailer.

Newman was ready to go for walk when I got home.  And then he had  playmates who were MUCH MUCH MUCH bigger and WAY taller than him.  Meet one of ‘em.

Say hello to Bobby

My next door neighbors run a pet care business.  Bobby and a sibling similar to him in (big) size but about 3 years older ~ and most all of the dogs they doggie sit or walk/run ~ live in San Francisco.  Many times when their owners go out of town, the dogs stay next door so it’s always fun to see who’s staying over each week.   On the weekends, they all get picked up from their respective homes and taken to a park and walked ~ and walked.

Newman thinks they are here to play. He’s about 1/4 their size.  These dogs are TALL!  And one of them is in my house ~ which just got cleaned today.

SIGH!!

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My biggest  ‘joy’ right about THIS very moment just arrived.  In my house.  Being my most precious beloved sent from heaven cannot-do-it-without-her cleaning fairy, Virginia.

Virginia and her helper (who isn’t here with her today) used to come to my home every other week.  Last month, she fell victim to the economy and lost her home to foreclosure because her clients lost their jobs or their homes.   She had been stressing about it for a while now and I kept reassuring her that she could always start from scratch and that she was young and healthy and could do it all over again.  Conversations with her made her feel good in a little way, especially knowing that she tried her best but things were beyond her control.  She really was beholden to her clients.

Now, she comes to my home every week.  Joy, right about now ~ and every Thursday of the week.

This kind hearted lady is a hard worker, completely trustworthy and just a ray of sunshiny goodness.  She is a meticulous cleaner and gets on my case for not folding my clothes and putting my laundry back where they belong.  Additionally, since Spanish is the spoken language ~ I polish off my rusty spang.

“It’s job security, Virginia!” , I often tell her after she nags me ~ which is often.

Newman jumps three feet high when he sees her and a good part of the first few minutes that she walks in is playing with him and asking him how his week was.  If it were all left up to me, this is my cleaning agent right here.

Mr. Clean Air Jordan

How do I adore this woman?  Let me count the ways:

• My kitchen and bathrooms are disinfected
• My sheets are changed
• My toilet paper is folded like they do at a swank hotel
• My floors are shiny
• Dust be gone! Out!
• Garbage containers disinfected and liners replaced
• Newman gets a treat ~ and then some
• Bleach and Lysol is aromatic
• Flowers from the yard and surroundings are brought in ~ including lots of the PINK I found yesterday!

I do not take this service for granted.  I appreciate it and I know that she appreciates the work.   I give up a few other perks in life to be able to afford this ‘luxury’ but in my heart I know that it is helping her get back on her two sturdy feet.  She will be good again.

She is my Joy Right About Now ~ and I am the lucky one.

Do you have special people in your life who help fill in the blanks when you’re so busy?  Do you make them feel like special members of your household and family?  Do you have joy to share right about now that you just can’t do without?

Note:  This is the first time I’m participating in Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop.  Click on the link above to look at the other topics for the week and then return to the site to sign the Mr. Linky and read other links from bloggers such as you and me.

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NOTE:  All the tabs up on my blog have been updated.  Please visit the stories and new posts and feel free to comment there or here. Thank you for stopping by.

Normally at this time of year we would be planting some flowers or vegetables in our yard to enjoy over the summer.  This is the first year we won’t be planting anything but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to enjoy summer’s color and home grown veggies!  My neighbor’s planting a TON of greens and orange, plenty enough to share.

We enjoyed late morning chat with coffee and then an afternoon  stroll with her kids and  Newman this afternoon and then I had to come home to pick up the camera because some of these pinks guys gals were calling my name.

I don’t know what this is!  Anyone? Mom?

These blooms are growing off of a tree.  Specifically off the branch of a tree.  I have no idea what kind of tree or flower this is but it was so pretty!  The tree isn’t even very full of these pinkies.  Kinda reminded me that Mother’s Day is around the corner!

This rhododendrons are going nuts!

[momma, i can spell the word!!]

One day SOON it’s really going to be Spring!   We have definitely been teased a lot lately. It was cold and drizzly, almost gloomy again today but the rest of the week looks like a really good one!

Warmer on the weekend!  That’s all I need to hear.  After that, it’s all good.

It is becoming evident to me from what I’ve been reading that  Mom 2.0‘s favorite hobby these days is quite addicting.  As a result, depending on your niche or sphere, there is / is not a turf war.  No matter which way you look at it, things have definitely evolved for women in the professional workforce ~ AND ~ at home.  With luck and in some instances God’s intervention (for those who prefer to give credit where credit is due) ~ the hobby is feasibly lucrative for as long as there are one of two things (or both): 

Content and/or  Controversy.

A recent article by Jen Klein featured on CNN invoking how women (mom) bloggers can survive the coined “Mommy Mafia” turf war was, in fact, quite enlightening.  Many of us could have easily authored the post, just as we could’ve penned best-seller  “The Secret“.  When I read the article last week, I thought it was quite apropos for one segment of the blogosphere and forwarded the article to a well known blogger.   The article was quoted on a subsequent post and resulted in a little bit of a debate ~ some with cause and some without.    One thing is clear, though, today’s mom segment blogger  will need to become much more interesting, almost reinventing herself time and again to stay on top of her game.  All of a sudden, it is reminiscent of life in corporate America; playing leap frog to stay on top of ~ or ahead ~ of the game.

Giveaways don’t always buy love.

It’s gotten interesting.  It has also gotten rough and rugged.  It’s unclear how home lives are affected but I’ve got to believe that other facets of running a home may take a back seat where or when they normally wouldn’t have before this ‘not yet acknowledged’ addiction.

To help move blog publishers along the way ~ small businesses such as  The Blog Frog ~ a Colorado start up co-founded by Holly Hamann (@hollyk) and Rustin Banks (@rustinb) encourage community building to take conversations and debates to more than the 140 characters that Twitter allows.  A couple of weeks ago, I participated in 5MinutesForMom‘s Ultimate Blog Party and met many new blog authors I’d never have met if not for the weeklong carnival ~ complete with tons of giveaways.   Weekly blog hops and memes abound, most niche related, abound and are there for the picking.  Blog buttons are the new collectibles.  Conventions for ALL sorts are there for the attending from small regionals such as Bloggy Boot Camp and huge events by SXSW.

Considering that women make more than 80% of consumer and health related purchasing decisions ~ advertisers are always on the lookout for the up and coming shining stars.  On the Blog Frog community which once was dominated by Jennifer Mckinney of My Charming Kids ~ a new and refreshing blogger ~ Single Infertile Female, Now What? (@sifinalaska) is asking members of her community for feedback as she processes three possible sperm donors for herself.  It’s quite a trip watching it all unfold.

Who’s to say where all this is going.   Moms and women have a great new playspace that they can carve for their very own.  Hobby or residual income, the rules of the game are made up along the way.  We tend to follow the unwritten rules of blogging but when push comes to shove ~ sometimes the gloves have come off.

If we’re to leave a mark, let’s hope it will be something our children can be proud of.

Note: Thanks to my bloggy friend,  Tina,  for alerting me on S.I.F.’s interesting conversation currently developing.

Our weekend was spent up in Sonoma County by the coast.  The drive up via Highway 1 was awesome and inspiring.  It was also quite eventful.  We drove up to spend my husband’s 50th birthday away from anyone who might have celebrated ~ which is typical for the man to refuses any hoopla focused on him.  Hence the drive.

We took Newman on his first roadtrip.  Long story short ~ he is not a traveling dog and was miserable in the back seat.  The windy road made him sick.  Twice.  On the shorter drive back, he sat with me.

We had no agenda other than to leave and head north.  What we didn’t anticipate was how disconnected we would be from civilization.  There was no cell phone reception and no television where we stayed.  We just had nature and ourselves and a plush little lodge.

This was the view outside our window.

Just before the sun set there was a tinge of green in the sky.  It happens quite a bit here, apparently

We enjoyed this old  barn that will soon be inspiration for a future painting.

The deer was plentiful and quite fun to watch.  They weren’t really shy and came pretty close.

Being at the top of the hill was so exhilirating.  I shot this picture of  my husband from our window

We kicked back and enjoyed each other’s company.  It was fun just being out in the country and enjoying the fresh air.  I forget how pretty the California coast is at this time of year.  It’s green and the air smog free from recent rain.

Detachment is good for the soul.

PS: For inquiring minds ~ these photographs were taken using my Canon 7D with my 24-70 f/2.8 lens which was the only lens I took with us.  Photographs were taken in RAW format and edited in Photoshop CS4 (the full version).  That’s half the fun.

Visit BetterInBulk to see other photographs being shared by bloggers who share their affection for this fun hobby!

Launched. Star Date 4/18/10

We’re taking a crack at the blogging world and the great ~ good ~ bad ~ indifferent ~ ridiculous ~ petty ~ poignant ~ bright and dark sides.

Magazine Cover Style

Cover Story in Pictures

Blog Wars?

From the ridiculous to the sublime.

We’ll surf for front page newsworthy stories and may be looking for YOU.

Yeah, really.

It was a fun weekend getaway up the north coast of California to celebrate a birthday.  It was kind of a crazy weekend. I took 32GB of pictures and am trying to process a few ~ but I’m sooooo sleepy and the mancave and a movie and perhaps an early bedtime looks like something I could really dig right about now.  It’s 5pm and I’ve already had dinner.

Thanks to the lovey of my life for quite an entertaining weekend not hooked to any electronic gadgetry.  We actually HAD TO talk to each other!

And Newman too <— except he was a little bit of a pitiful disaster.  More about him when I have find energy.  Au revoir for now.

I suddenly  have LOTS of things to look forward to in the next few weeks and into May.  Gosh, even all the way through September!  Here’s a random list:

My niece graduates High School (May)  Formal party thereafter.

My son’s GF graduates from College with a Degree in Architecture (May)

Disneyland to celebrate after the graduation in So. Cal (May).  California Adventure for us oldies; we can’t do both parks anymore

I photograph Club Volleyball in Sacramento (May)

I attend a Photography seminar in Sacramento (May)

babyGrand #2 will be Baptized (June).  Catered reception.

Summer School Break (June – September).  Weekly lunches.

babyGrand #1 will turn 3.  Big party to include #2′s 1st Birthday (August)

Two weeks vacation 5 hours east or west. Have to decide. (August)

Photoshoots!

My 70-200mm (June) <– last one!

I can feel it already.  Only a few more weeks and school will be out.  My teacher-daughter will be on break and that means we do weekly lunches with ALL MY CHILDREN.  That will be table for SEVEN, please!  That will mean swimming lessons for Nathan and perhaps Alyssa too.  We will watch the Giants at AT&T Park.

We will have our Just Girls afternoon where we either spend the day at the spa or at a nail salon getting pampered.

Speaking of nail salon, here’s what’s waiting for our baby girl when she’s ready to join us

Alyssa’s Pedicure Chair

So much fun and new adventures to look forward to in just a few weeks!  Can I feel it?  You betcha!

Words to live by

I had a long post composed in my head on the way home this afternoon.  Funny how bloggy my head gets when I’m behind the wheel.

Or in the bathroom when I’m in my glory *grin*

Then when I sit behind the keyboard, my mind goes blank.

I had these pictures to share with you today.  I’ll just let them speak for themselves.

Rock and stones. You can throw these ones back at me. They’re keepers.

These weekend, we’ll be driving up the California coast.  My son will stay at our home and Newman and I will be celebrating my husband’s birthday with him.

He’s going Gold turning 50 going Gold.

And y’know ~ I’m NOT allowed to celebrate his birthday so we have to hide from the human race.

But I want to hide where there is water and a beach.  Kick back where hopefully it’s not too cold.

Going North.  To Gualala. <– yeah, go Google Gualala

It’s way south of Eureka. And west of Manteca.

Mentally, I’m already there.

Such a beautiful day today that I couldn’t stay in my office.  I had to leave ~ take my laptop ~ and work outdoors. I’m blessed to be able to do that.  God had me at “Good Morning” today.

I walked Newman around the neighborhood and then met a neighbor who saw me taking photographs of flowers blooming.  I think I’ve got a reputation now for being the lady with the white dog and the camera.  This man told me he had some Japanese Iris blooming in his back yard and invited me to see it.  They were gorgeous; quite small but the contrast of the blue and the yellow was something to behold.  And I did.

When I returned home, I decided to work outdoors so I took my stuff and headed downtown.  Before getting to my neighborhood coffee spot, I went to the nursery and captured these pretties.  God, you are so amazing and I’m realizing it more so with a camera in my bag.  Look at what You’ve done!

Forgive me, but I went trigger happy today.

Imagine COLOR

Who would have thought I’d find prayer in a nursery.

My grandmother owned a nursery abroad and had the greenest thumb.  My mother can make anything grow even out of a rock.

I may not have inherited the ability to create and nurture blooms like these ~ but I inherited the ability to appreciate these gorgeous gifts of Spring.

I’m inhaling and breathing deeply today.  The air is clean and clear (no whammies, no pollen).

It was too good, I couldn’t help but share.

Celebrated momma’s birthday today but not before we had some fun jumping and ‘walking’ around in our pink TBird!

Go fashionable baby go!

Goodness, 7 months and on is a growth spurt!

Happy 29th Birthday Mommy and Mini Me (Mini You!)

I can’t ever take life for granted.  Not me.  Not after I’ve lost a sister early (at 45) twelve years ago.  Not after I see the beautiful grandchildren she never met.  Not after mine were born.  I’m blessed daily and I know it and thank a good God that the babies completed me.

I can’t take working from home for granted.  Not after a daily three hour RT commute for 5 years at my last job and a boss who let’s just say was not qualified to lead.   I’m perfectly happy I’ve found a niche.  I appreciate all the people I cross paths with in real life and tell them so.

Life is too short to be spent in any negative way.  You don’t get your minutes back, no rollover minutes.  Sometimes I forget things like these and I’m happy to be pulled back into appreciation mode.

Every single day we have choices to make.

Grateful.

I can look at our  purebreed rosebush and thank God for it’s perfect shape and for it’s sweet scent.

Some roses are pretty but don’t smell because they’re hybrids.  I love my perfectly blooming rose smelling bush.

I choose to be grateful

Hopeful.

Beside those that have bloomed to perfection, there are buds waiting for their turn.

I am hopeful that they take nourishment from the recent rain and bloom when it’s their turn to do so.

I choose to be hopeful.

Thorns in Life.

Daily reminders that we have  choices to make each day.

We are careful so we don’t hurt ourselves and others

and fully appreciate the bloom.

Do I focus on the beauty of the flower or on the danger of the thorn?

I choose to be mindful of both.

Remind me, please.  In case I forget.

My husband sometimes tells me I need a bed of my own since I need too many pillows to sleep.  He sleeps with one.  I used to need SIX pillows as a kid and a teenager.   Including one to cover my eyes so that I could stay asleep until 12noon.  Ahh ~ that was life in the before days in a different country.   I woke up ~ rang a buzzer for the cook to bring me food, another buzzer for someone to remove my food.  I had it good then!!

Nowadays, I’ve learned how to sleep with only three pillows.  It was that or a double bunk bed for us with ME on the top bunk.   We’ve made our room darkable ~ blackout shades so no light can come in.  I also need white noise to sleep.  So I have one of those baby sleep machines and use the sound of waves to take me to drift me to knock me out.

I also have earplugs when needed.

Earplugs! ~ the ones used by anyone that needs to work next to the engine of an airline.  Ya know, those really NOISY jet engines?   Moldex Pura-Fit 6900 with a Noise Reduction Rating of 33 decibels.  Life saver.  I cannot hear my lover snoring.  Ha!  And I never lose one without losing the other.  That’s important!  <– my mom had one stuck in her ear because she forgot it was there and put another one in.  I learned.

[note: I'm not paid to endorse this brand but it's seriously the best one I've used].

Before sleeping and after saying our requisite I Love You’s it’s  “first to sleep wins!“  and thus determines which contraption will be necessary.

You’d think it was just a simple thing of putting your head on your pillow and falling asleep but it’s not.  Finding the RIGHT position for me takes time.  I have to warm up my spot in the bed. And then there’s multiple trips to the bathroom to make sure I don’t have to go in the middle of the night.   Oh, I’m looking forward to getting old !!  Poor whoever has to care for me

I was compelled to blog about my mini-OCD before-sleeping story because I had Baby Alyssa here last night.  She’s all of seven months.

And already shows signs.

This baby no likey the LIGHTY

Must cover eyes!

Don’t worry.  I checked.  She can breath.  She has an uber hard mattress and when she deep in slumber, she’s turned on her side.   Last night she slept with us in bed.   She’s a huggie baby and soft and smells like a just-bathed infant.  Kind of like warm fresh laundry you can’t help but sniff over and once more.

No pillows on her bed. Yet.

I have time to work on that one.

All Aboard!  This is the Love Train running all weekend long.  Drop off your doggie and babies ~ we’ve got you covered!  Weekend At Bernie’s Grammie’s!

Welcome to a glimpse of our weekend beginning Friday   We  had 2yo Nate for an overnighter on Friday and we have Puma (Yorkipoo) all weekend.  Yesterday Alyssa got dropped off here so her mommy could celebrate her birthday with friends in San Francisco.  I’m been the little old engine that could.  With my very patient husband.  Actually ~ they’re adorable.

Saturday was definitely the better day of the weekend.  We were able to play outside with new trains we got at Nate’s fave ~ Target.

Rare Rear View

Percy the Hard Working Engine

When mommy and daddy came to pick him up, we decided to go out for a late lunch.  We came home with extra food but my hubz and I took the couple hours in between Grands to do what oldies do ~ POWER NAP!

Then the little Miss arrived.

All decked out in a party outfit.  This one is a fashionista.  She’s such a girlie girl.

Today is going to be stormy here in the Bay Area.  My wind chimes are already loving the wind.  We are stocked with food and I’m going to be meeting new bloggy friends from 5MinutesforMom’s Ultimate Blog Party 2010.  I’ve already ‘met’ some cool ladies that I’m looking forward to communicating with and getting to know.  If you haven’t stopped by the blog party/carnival, it’s not too late to do so as it runs till the 16th ~ and it will take a little longer than that to meet fellow bloggers.

So ~ I’m headed over there for a look-see ~ while the little one takes a mid morning nap.

First up ~ warm up my coffee!  They tend to get cold when there are children and doggies running around!

Have a fantastic Sunday!

I’m sure I’m not the only one in America SNEEZING today!  Welcome SPRING.  Hello boxes of Kleenex.

If only the culprits weren’t  so pretty!

Who wants to complain when nature is just crazy blooming?

and the fields are ORANGE filled with poppies everywhere!

Nope.  I can’t complain.  Because I love the smell of  freshly cut grass and our rose bushes (not hybrids).

I have two hummingbirds [so far] who’ve discovered the sweet nectar I just poured into their feeder this morning.

It’s like everyone and everything WOKE UP from winter ~ packed up all the fleece and sweaters and are eating outside al fresco.

Ode to Joy!

Bloom Like Crazy!!

Head on over to BetterInBulk to link up for this week’s Give Me Your Best Shot!

HAPPENING NOW UNTIL APRIL 16, 2010

It’s the first time I’m participating in 5 Minutes For Mom‘s Ultimate Blog Party!  It sounds like a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to meeting other bloggers who write about similar interests: family ~ life and living ~ fun and adventures and the general business of social media.

I’ve been blogging since about the end of 2004 on a different platform.  The following year (2005) ~ I successfully built my business blog site  (on Typepad) where is now generates hits to our promotional product site and subsequent business.  In 2007 after the birth of my first babyGrand ~ I moved my family oriented website to Blogspot and then to where this is now ~ on WordPress!

I’ve been around several platforms, haven’t I !!

I’m a work-at-home mom / grandparent ~ a credential that came only after over 23 years in the high tech corporate sales environment in the Silicon Valley [yes! i survived the commute and the politics!!].  I love California and I love emerging technologies. I understand it ALL from silicon wafer to the finished product.   I’m a gadget aficionado and may be running out of things to buy.  Finally! Oops, cancel that ~ I want one more Canon lens. Shhhh.  You might notice that I’m very much into photography nowadays.  I blog about my journey out of Green Auto Mode since June of 2009.  I am now able to shoot in Manual mode and practice every day.  It is a wonderful hobby!

click to enlarge collage of photos I took recently

Being a WAHM allows me a little bit of (earned) freedom these days.  I work harder than I did but I don’t wake up debating whether or not to call in sick anymore.  I love the friends I make along my journey.  I am always learning, always meeting people. I work 24/7 ~ am connected by a couple gadgets and I even work when we go on vacation.  There is no rest for the Wicked WAHMs.

Iwrite about my two babyGrands a lot. They have completed my life and I’m seeing things from a far different and more relaxed perspective.  I feel successful as a mom but that certainly did not come  easy.  I am proud of my children: a teacher, a nurse and a geek.  Their significant others are an engineer, a solar energy technician and a soon-to-graduate Architect.  What more can I ask?

My journey has a very long and winding story ~ a twist here and there ~ lots of color.  Tie dyed, my preference.

I wouldn’t trade any moment of my life for anything.  Nope, not me.  I’ve found bliss and I appreciate each waking moment.

I’m looking forward to sharing with and meeting new fellow bloggers at this years Ultimate Blog Party 2010!

As for the prizes ~ my hope is to win any of the prizes which I’ll give to the kids and kidlets. In particular order of preference:

*GRAND PRIZE at the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 is a Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025** who doesn’t want that!

1 – Win a $150 shopping spree at Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles.
Provided by: Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles
Follow here: 5 Minutes for Mom or Visit Our Fan Page: Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles

USC 17 – With the upcoming release of their iphone app in the next few weeks, CmomGo is offering up a $200 Apple Gift certificate. For moms that do not currently have an AT&T contract and have wanted that Iphone this will cover the cost of a 16Gig 3GS iphone with the signup of a 2 year contract with AT&T. For our moms that already have an AT&T contract with a different phone this can be used towards the purchase of a new iphone or it can be used for anything else at the Apple store! Our friends from CmomGo sure hope you use it for an iphone though!
Provided by: CmomGo

USC 39 – A $50 paypal cash prize for one winner.
USC 35 - $50.00 CASH ~ Paypal Transfer. USC 57 – One winner will choose a pair of children’s shoes from Eleven Collection.

74 – 73 – We will give away 2 (1 for each winner) – $30 Amazon gift cards to the winner so they can buy items of their choosing.
76 – One Sentimental Silver personalized “Silver Sweethearts” necklace. Necklace will be customized with two names or words to be selected by the winner.
87 – 2 winners will receive a $30.00 Amazon Gift Certificate.
88 – $25 E-Gift card to Amazon.com!
107 – $25 Gift Card to Target
USC 8 – $55 E-Gift Card for Amazon.com Gift code
USC 32 – A $20 gift card to Target!!!
USC 36 – $25 Amazon.com gift card.
24 – One framed 8 x 10″ photo entitled “dahlia.”
USC 40 – $20 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com.
USC 44 – $20 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com.
52 – A $25 GC to Amazon.com.
55 – A $20 GC to Amazon.com.
31 – A $20 Amazon gift certificate.

Happy UBP2010 to all!  Wishing a success for 5Minutes for Mom!

Peace

My daughter had a birthday on Tuesday.  Usually ~ our family celebrates by going to lunch or dinner together but with everyone’s schedules being so different these days ~ we have opted to celebrate when we can. Even if it’s the day after someone’s birthday.  Which is exactly what we did yesterday.  We had originally intended to take the metro to San Francisco but my daughter (a teacher who was on Spring break) couldn’t in her heart leave Nate with the sitter.  Which thrilled me.

Birthday lunch was off a mobile MoGo BBQ lunch truck that people in the Silicon Valley follow on Twitter.  Good food!  The ol’ roach coach has gone Social Media and the food’s good!! The quesadillas were to die for.

Far cry from the uber fancy meal we had planned but Nate wanted a picnic and so a picnic was had.  At the back of the car ~ with the picnic blanket all laid out.  The things we do for our children.

After our picnic, we headed on out to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose.  I remember going to this park many moons ago when I was 16.  Apparently the park had been shut down for a complete makeover and just reopened last month.  We were in for the most pleasant of surprises!  It was FANTASTIC!  A wonderful family place with entertainment any which way you turned.  The weather being gorgeous ~ the park was filled with families and children but lines were not too long for the rides.

Nate thinks they named this ride after me.

BlogFrog hopper anyone?  Holly and Rustin, I thought of you when I saw this ride!

Nathan had an absolutely wonderful day and so did we.  Mommy had to go up and down the slide with him and even go to the petting zoo [I had to pinch my nose, ha!].  I felt like we were in our own Disneyland, kiddie style!

The smile that never fails to melt my heart

Me ~ I was in seventh heaven watching two of my favorite people having a grand afternoon ~ celebrating a birthday week and Spring break.  Today I will be having lunch with two classmates of mine whom I’ve been friends with since I was a measly child of FIVE.  One of them I hadn’t seen in about 12 years.  It will be a fun lunch playing catch up and ‘remember whens’.

Life is good to me.

NOTE:  All these photos were shot on Manual mode on my camera.  None of them were retouched.  I’m pleasantly surprised at the quality of the pictures, all shot on ISO 100 and on f/4.0 ~ the only variable being the shutter speed as some places were in bright sun and others were in the shade.   Thank goodness for digital photography that you can instantly delete.  I am learning

My interpretation of MARCH MADNESS in photos ~ although it wasn’t really ‘mad’.  It was filled with family and events ~ lots of babysitting and sleepovers capped off with a huge family get together this last weekend.

Click to Enlarge

And now it’s on to April ~ when almost everyone in my family has a birthday!

Happy Spring!

I had a conversation with a cousin of mine who is a professional photographer.  I asked him what settings he would recommend for a low light situation with a group shot with a blurred background on AV mode.  His response?  “Get a good camera“.   Of course I laughed!  “I just bought a 7D!!”

After a good short conversation in which I got excellent tips ~ (like playing around with exposure compensation instead of bumping up the ISO or dragging the shutter speed) ~  we agreed to meet for lunch next week.  Prior to that, I’m hoping to shoot this Sunday with another pro photographer.  I’m so thankful to these kind people who are willing to help me and give me great guidance.   I was mainly self taught (self learned) but learning from pros IRL is fun!  [No offense to my fave friends online who I've learned tons from!]

So today, I’m officially OFF the comfort AV zone on my Canon.  I’m shooting on Manual mode now.  I either get the shot, or I don’t.  Practice will be my middle name.  Thank goodness I’m not wasting film!!

We all know that exposure is the most fundamental technical aspect of photography.  In my case, I believe I have completely understood aperture and ISO settings.   I don’t have to tinker around with shutter speed when I’m shooting AV ~ thus the lack of practice that needs to be corrected immediately.

I just had to step outside my front yard to figure it out.

ISO100 f/4.0 at 1/100 sec

ISO100 f/4.0 at 1/400 sec

ISO100 f/4.0 at 1/640 sec

ISO100 f/4.o at 1/125 sec

ISO100 f/4.0 at 1/320 sec

(I like this setting the best)

With natural sunlight and at an f/4.0 setting, I still managed to get the blurred background I wanted with these photographs.  The only thing different in these shots are the shutter speeds as indicated above.

Now I need to focus on a moving subject ~ but I don’t see the babyGrand till tomorrow ~ and work beckons ~ so this addicting hobby must be set aside till this afternoon.

All these photos are SOOC using my 24-70  lens (so far, my fave).

My cousin’s advise  “always aim to take the perfect shot without the need for post production work“.  I must remember that.

Easter celebration was crazy fun.  We were at my sister’s and our entire family was there as well as my daughter’s in-laws who wanted to be were Nathan was.   There were a total of 19 for our big  meal and for the egg hunt for everyone!  BIG party!  Food and dessert to fill everyone [I'm still full at 11am, Monday].  I think it was one of our more memorable Easter celebrations.  There were FOUR generations and everyone was happy and laughing a lot ~ out loud.  Simply put ~ in pictures.

Surprises in big and little eggs

and some even made noise and wiggled!

There were treats for kids of all age and sizes

and the kids who refuse to grow up!

A little nap before the treasure hunt

Mom and Babe finding treasures high and low

Making sense and cents (and dollars) out of the treats they found!

Four generations of funny-ness

Treats from the Easter Bunny

The medium kids played with the littles

The Great showing the GreatGrand  the  art of wearing fine jewelry

And the doggie got his tail in a bind

And I didn’t even mention any of the food and the dessert ~ which is a whole other post in and of itself.  Let’s just say Hail to the Chef!  and  I’m STILL stuft.

Crazy fun. Crazy fam. Crazy fun fam.

Spectacular Saturday.  Clean fresh air.  Effortless commute.  Wonderful company.  The City.  At our leisure.

Do you know where we were today?

Yesterday was Good Friday ~ a revered holy day for me growing up and still a solemn one for me as an adult.  It was a day spent listening to some quiet music [mostly John Williams' compositions] and reminiscing with some friends about the  memorable Holy Weeks we spent growing up in the Philippines.  We would all trek up to the mountains and spend an entire week at a cabin at the country club ~ order food, play bowling and pingpong at the rec center ~ sit and chat overlooking the golf course ~ tell ghost stories at night ~ and sign for more food [which our parents paid for].  I never needed money growing up  now that I think about it.  Everywhere we went ~ we would just sign our name and the bill was sent to mom and dad.  NOTE: in retrospect, not a good thing when I sign my name now and I get the bill!!

Anyway ~ while it was a whole week long out of towner for my family ~ Good Friday was always quiet and a time to reflect on Jesus’ death and the reason for the entire season of Easter.

I spent some time cruising some blogs yesterday but mostly kept my comments to myself.  It didn’t seem right to debate wedge issues.  For most of the day, I was in and out anyway as I had to groom a dog [he's soft as a bunny now] and get easter egg treats to hide tomorrow.

We will be spending the day with family and extendeds at my sister’s home.  Nathan will come with his basket and will hunt for eggs which we will hide more than once.  I’m looking forward to that.

Today, my son and his girlfriend will take the metro back to the city since it’s going to be sunny and nice.  Winter sort of came back just when we were beginning to enjoy springlike weather. At least my grass is happy.

I’ll leave you with this YouTube video that a childhood friend of mine posted on Facebook.  I wish you all a very Blessed Easter.