Marcail's Domain

My Aunt Sue is the Best!!

2012-01-03T17:21:00.000-08:00

I would like it Noted to the World that: my Aunt Sue ROCKS!

She’s been working on a reproduction Civil War quilt for me in her spare time using a late 19th century Singer treadle sewing machine…. and apparently she’s finished it!

Pic by Aunt Sue (1st Block & the Singer Sewing Machine)

She sent it back with my folks (who were out visiting her and my grandparents in CO for New Years) and requested a picture of my face when I saw the quilt. So today my folks arrived back in town (SNA – OC’s Airport is near my work) and they made a point of stopping by before they drove home in order to surprise me with the quilt.

And let me tell you, it was indeed a surprise! (And a pleasant surprise at that!)

Its gorgeous!! I absolutely LOVE how it turned out. (And my dad not only acceded to Sue’s request for a photo, he took it one step further – he *recorded my reaction* using his smart-phone. Err, o_O Thanks Dad?! ;-)

Pic from Dad's camera

Anyways, I’m all atwitter right now cause I have a LOVELY quilt made especially for me! Woo-Hoo! Like I said, my Aunt Sue rocks!!

Shameless Plug: if you need something embroidered (hats, sweaters, tote bags, etc.), my aunt has a custom embroidery business. Go check out: Creative Threadwork

Day Off = Welcome Free Time!

2011-12-30T10:02:00.000-08:00

My last day of official On-The-Job Work was yesterday (Work is Closed today!), which means:
I HAVE A DAY OFF!! Woo hoo!!

What to do with myself? There are SOOO many choices, I can't decide.
:)

I have cooking I can do and recipe research....especially now that I'm having to move to a more whole-foods, non-processed food diet - kinda the like the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) [think grain-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, etc.]. So I'm looking at various recipes geared for the SCD.

Tangent Warning:
Its very interesting to see how much I've improved health wise now that I've extremely limited my grains - no, I haven't cut them completely - in the last few weeks, plus I've upped my fresh veggies and fruit, and nixed refined sugar (except for a couple of splurges - like a chocolate or two on Boxing Day with Family :). Not that I've gone overboard with honey or molasses as alternative sweeteners right now. Just cutting the sugar. Its AMAZING how much of our (American) food products have sweeteners - we as a society have so gotten used to sweet things!
Between the new diet, and going twice a week to see an Acupuncturist (who's also a Herbalist & Nutritionist - she does a blending of practicing Eastern & Western medicine basically, and I highly recommend her! Dr. Kathleen Albertson, L.Ac., PhD - OC Acupuncture), taking the ground Herbs (blend of Evergreen Herbs mixed by Dr. Albertson) in my tea, I'm definitely seeing positive changes. I'm sure some of it is due to the fact that I'm just getting "down time" at the Acupuncturist visits (yay for relaxation time :). One immediately noticeable change is that my Adult Acne (which has gotten worse in the last few years) has drastically improved! YAY! (Who knew/guessed that it was a reaction to bacteria caused by my body not being able to process certain foods/things? My dermatologist sure didn't!) Anyways, there's other benefits/reasons that I don't feel like going into on this blog posting, but this certainly is a good start. Hopefully will have a much HEALTHIER year in 2012! :)
End of Tangent

Let's see, I could also spend time baking, since I never did do any baking of Christmas/Holiday cookies (I'll have to give away the majority of what I make, but the baking itself is fun - plus it smells wonderful :).

I could spend some much-needed time sewing (way too many current projects to list right now :) - or Knitting. (I'm currently trying my hand knitting a Sontag or Bosom Friend from an 1860 pattern...with a little help from someone who's already tried it and written her notes/translation to the pattern: posted here )

Of course, there are a TON of flicks in the movie theaters right now that I really want to see. (Finally!! There was a long stretch of "eh, no really that interested in spending my money on that movie" - besides my being super busy :).

My list of Movies currently in theaters (some for not much longer, some just released, listed in no particular order) that I want to see:

1) The Artist;
2) Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy;
3) Adventures of Tin Tin
4) Hugo
5) Muppets
6) Mission Impossible: GP
7) War Horse
8) J. Edgar
9) My Week with Marilyn
10) Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

(Yes, I've seen the Swedish films - guess its time to see how the US version holds up :)
and

11) Puss in Boots (still playing in my local Cheap/$2 theater :)

I started Movie Weekend last night with "Breaking Dawn: Part 1" (Yes, the current Twilight Movie - no judging! :).

I think I may try to see the Muppets & Hugo today (since they've been out longer and have limited show times).

So many things to possibly do! Love it! :)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T08:42:00.001-08:00

At DCA on Christmas day, a photo by marcailgaelyn on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

view from Paradise Pier across Paradise Bay (looking at the giant light up Ferris Wheel) in Disney California Adventure. :)

- - -

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Nothing like an impromptu family trip to Disneyland! (That's the nice thing about some of us deciding to splurge and get the Top-of-the-Line Premium pass that lets us in any day of the week - no "blackout dates").

Sara called in the mid-afternoon and said that as their prior plans fell through, Jeremiah suggested that they travel up & go to Disneyland for the rest of the day...and they were letting us know in case we wanted to join them. Heck Yeah! :D

So around 5pm my folks and I headed over to the Park. Turns out they were just getting in line for Toy Story ride and we might be able to meet up with them in time. Jeremiah and Chloe were outside of the line (Sara & Keely waiting patiently in the line) so C could "explore" and get some of her wiggles out (since she'd soon be restricted in line again :).

As we spotted C & J, C was next to the railing of Paradise Bay, looking out over the water. I snuck up behind her and squatted down to be on her level. She turned around, and gave a squeal of delight! Then she spotted Grandpa & Nana - another squeal! Such a happy little 2 yr old! :)

We rejoined Sara in line and eventually made it to the ride itself. (If you've ever been on the Toy Story ride, you KNOW its a long line - but well worth it! :).

In line for Toy Story Ride :), a photo by marcailgaelyn on Flickr.

Another pic from in line at Toy Story (Lil Miss Active), a photo by marcailgaelyn on Flickr.

I got to ride with Chloe and we sat facing her mommy, daddy, and lil' sister Keely.

Sara, Keely, & Jeremiah at Toy Story (Chloe is next to me), a photo by marcailgaelyn on Flickr.

Let me just say: C *LOVED* the spinning of the carts. (She kinda got how to fire the toy guns - pull on the cord - so I helped her out, let her try it herself, and then helped her out firing again).

Chloe's Score & My Score. (Not bad for either when you consider I helped Chloe some of the time :), a photo by marcailgaelyn on Flickr.

After Toy Story, we grabbed some dinner in the nearby food court area. (Side Note: the Holiday Special - slice of Beef Pot Roast with Whipped Potatoes & sauteed Veggies...and gravy of course - was excellent! Kudos to the Disney Chef/kitchen staff! Only downside is that their unsweetened Tea somehow got sweetener in it, and it wasn't until I had them check in the back after receiving Sweetened Tea twice in my cup that they discovered that. At least I got to exchanged for a bottle of water, so I was good :).

After dinner, we headed over to the Bugs Life area where we went on a bunch of Chloe-sized rides. She LOVED them! :) By this time we were getting close to the Evening Fireworks time (they go off at 8:45p), so the Cornthwaites headed off to the Main Park to get a spot to view the Fireworks and the rest of us headed to our respective homes. (Fortunately we had just debarked from the Tram when the Firework Show started so we DID get to see a good portion of it standing in the Tram/Parking Structure area.)

What a wonderful end to our Christmas Day - impromptu family trip to Disneyland was a success!

And now, on to 26th of December (Boxing Day) - another day of Family! :)

Moorpark Civ.War Event is still a Go (even w/ forecast of Rain)

2011-11-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

Just got the word - our event this weekend is STILL on, even though the Weather Forecast looks pretty dismal. (Rain and 60 Degree Temps. Brr! Get chills just thinking about it!)

Hopefully the rain will hold off long enough that we can our gear/camps get set up BEFORE the rain hits on Friday. (Fingers Crossed!!)

Send some warm & dry thoughts my way, won't ya? (Weekend's challenge: stay healthy / don't get sick! :)

Guess I better get cracking on those food items as I'll definitely need them this weekend!!
-Becky

EMAIL UPDATE FROM EVENT ORGANIZER:
-----Original Message-----

From: Ed Mann (Event Organizer)
To: Massive Email List

Sent: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 11:52 am

Subject: Moorpark Reenactment Update

My fellow reenactors,

The Rotary has decided to go forward with the event this weekend. Yes, the weather report is not promising, and everyone is well aware of that, but the problem is that critical personnel on the Rotary's side will be missing the following weekend, so come what may, the event will take place as scheduled.

The good news is that rainfall in Moorpark always seems to be different than what LA gets. Last weekend, the rainfall was 3/4 inch in LA, but only a third of an inch in Moorpark. The ground at the site is very good at wicking up rain, so the Rotary is optimistic that the problems with the weather will be minimized. Currently, no rain is expected at all until very late Friday night, so this should aid setup. Even then, who really knows at this point with weather predictions just what will happen and when? I understand that Sunday is supposed to be clear.

So, now it's on to Moorpark. C'mon out and join us for the weekend.

Ed Mann

Welcome Home Duncan Project

2011-11-07T14:37:00.001-08:00

Welcome Home Duncan, a set by casketgirl on Flickr.

My friend Heather (@Casketgirl) recently had her baby boy...2 weeks early!! Mom is doing pretty well & is home from the hospital, but baby Duncan is still hanging out in NICU trying to recover from some mystery infection. Boo!! :(

So, to help keep everyone's spirits up, they've decided to ask for Photos Welcoming Duncan Home - and thus was born the "Welcome Home Duncan" Project!

Your task, should you choose to accept it (and I sincerly hope you WILL), is to take a photo of yourself* with a "Welcome Home Duncan" sign and send it in to Heather/Casketgirl.

*Or a picture of any of the following (with a Welcome Home sign): Children, Co-Workers, Pets, Garden Gnome(s), Action Figures, etc. . ;-) Be Creative! :)

Email your Pics to "heather@pritchett.org" with the subject "Welcome Home Duncan".

Thanks!

-Becky

---
Via Flickr:
Our newborn son is hanging out in NICU trying to recover from a mystery infection. To keep our spirit's up we've asked friends and family to share some photos welcoming him home.

November 5th - Guy Fawkes & the Gunpowder Plot (remembering 1605)

2011-11-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

The Conspirators

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder treason and plot.

We see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent

To blow up king and parliament.

Three score barrels were laid below

To prove old England's overthrow.

Guy Fawkes

By god's mercy he was catch'd

With a darkened lantern and burning match.

So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.

Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?

Burn him!

Bonfire Night

Rhyme copied from: http://www.bonfirenight.net/remember.php
Images from various places on the web.

If you'd like to see how Guy Fawkes & the Gunpowder Plot have left a legacy (besides Bonfire Night) for modern times, check out this page: http://www.bonfirenight.net/traditions.php
(Fun trivia :)

Jane Austen Evening 2012 Tickets NOW on sale!!

2011-11-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

January 2010

Tix for the upcoming Jane Austen Evening 2012 are NOW on sale! Hurry & buy your tix if you want to attend - this event usually sells out within days of the tix going on sale! It is THE Jane Austen/Regency event for SoCal/LA County! :)

I just bought my tix for the Tea & Dance (both portions of the evening). Better buy yours quickly as I hear they might already be 1/2 way to sold out!

Hope to see you there!! :)

Event Date: Sat, January 21st, 2012

Location: Pasadena Masonic Lodge (Pasadena CA)

Be sure to check the website for more details! :)

-=-Becky

www.HistoricalCitizens.org

http://www.cgwcostumers.org/

Me, January 2010

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Dance & History

Date: Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 6:11 PM

Subject: Austen Evening Tickets Now On Sale

Jane Austen Evening Tickets Are Now On Sale

To purchase tickets, go to the website at http://janeaustenevening.org/

Tea + Dance tickets are $55. Dance only are $30

You are on this list because you attended one of our events, or subscribed at lahacal.org, walternelson.com or victoriandance.org. You may unsubscribe by clicking the link below

Walter Nelson

CGW Goes to Harry Potter 7.1 (Nov 2010)

2011-06-18T09:33:00.001-07:00

CGW Goes to Harry Potter 7.1 (Nov 2010), a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Pics from the CGW Event "CGW Goes to Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1" on November 19, 2010.
(I forgot to post these sooner :).

---

Well, I *finally* got around to uploading my pic from the "CGW Goes to see the Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Movie" event last November.

It was such a great time - we got a good number of people who showed up *in costume* no less, and of course lots of people staring at us (and occasionally asking us to take pics with them and or them telling us how 'cool' it was that we came in costume). We certainly enjoyed ourselves and especially the Picture Session afterwards (as evidenced by some of the fun posed photos we took in this set).

I'm certainly looking forward to the NEXT event, though of course I'm sad that its the last one. After all...."It all ends 7.15".

For More Details on the upcoming July 2011 event, check out our CGW event page: http://www.cgwcostumers.org/events/Event_20110715_HarryPotter.htm
(we also have an event page on Facebook - so find us and click I'm attending if you're joining us!)

p.s. you do NOT have to be a CGW member to attend, so bring your friends! :)

Anyone want to re-purpose a kitchen item?

2011-05-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Attn: Any of my creative engineer-minded friends.

I have a cheap hand-mixer I bought a few months ago but need to get rid of now. (Yes, you definitely get what you pay for!) The motor is still working fine but its the *Beaters* that failed me! (Who would have guessed?!?) The plating is flaking off AS I MIX THINGS – NOT GOOD!!. Hence I’m no longer going to use this product to make any food items and its just taking up space now.

Here's the thing: I hate to waste a perfectly decent (though admittedly cheap) motor when it might be re-purposed for something else (& *far more creative*). If *YOU* have a possible use for it, please let me know and I’ll get you the hand-mixer (sans beaters :) – you can have the fun of disassembling it for parts!

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here!

2011-05-26T12:15:00.001-07:00

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival 5/2010, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

pics from the Strawberry Festival in Garden Grove, CA. (Saturday, May 29, 2010).

---------------------------------------------------------------

And THAT means....Garden Grove Strawberry Parade & Festival!! YAY!
*Kermit arms*
:)

Its a fun little/big municipal fair and its been going strong since 1958!! They have the BEST Strawberry Shortcakes (not to be missed)! Its always a treat to take a few hours and wander around, eating Fair Food, seeing what's for sale in the booth, etc....and Admission is FREE. :)

For more info on the GG Strawberry Festival: http://www.strawberryfestival.org/

My Garden Grove Strawberry Festival 5/2010 pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157624267693192/

(If you want to see pics on Picasa instead, my Picasa Album: https://picasaweb.google.com/rebecca.thelin/StrawberryFestival2010?feat=directlink or

Strawberry Festival 2010

)

May 25th - Towel Day (HHGTTG)

2011-05-25T06:57:00.001-07:00

towel day - tribute to Douglas Adams, a group on Flickr.

Do you know where your Towel is? Don't Panic!
:)

Yes, its That day again, May 25th - aka Towel Day - a Tribute to the creator of Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams.

For more info on Towel Day: http://www.towelday.org/

And If you're carrying a towel today, in honor of Towel Day, be sure to snap a picture & add it to "towel day - tribute to Douglas Adams" on Flickr! (http://www.flickr.com/groups/towelday/)

----
“ A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-bogglingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.

More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: non-hitch hiker) discovers that a hitch hiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, face flannel, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitch hiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitch hiker might accidentally have "lost". What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with. ”

— Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Who knew braiding hair could be so hard?

2011-05-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Still dealing with fall-out from re-injuring my arm yesterday...and while I can do some things relatively easily, my arm (elbow) ligaments are certainly stiff and I have a limited range of motion...again.

I've been attempting to braid my hair (which is relatively long) in a single braid behind me for the past whatever number of minutes, and it just isn't happening. Getting my injured arm into a position for braiding my hair strains those sore ligaments to the point I have to stop cause its just painful.

Gonna make this weekend VERY interesting when I NEED to have my hair done up in a Civil War (1860s) appropriate hairstyle.

Wish me luck!

Sometimes I wonder if my life is a Screwball Comedy....

2011-05-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

considering the various things that just "seem to happen to me". Like Tuesday's contact episode.

This morning was another example: I literally FELL out of bed (tangled in my bedsheets/coverlet) in my half-awake scramble to reach a cup that was falling...and of course landed on my sore/previous injured (so easily hurt) arm. Doh! OUCH! Its like a good 3+ feet drop (I have an "elevated" bed that was made for me years ago so I could store things easily under it. Nice most of the time, just not this morning!).

At least the arm is only a bit sore and not TRULY re-injurred. I'll baby it a bit today and hopefully will have it mostly useful by tomorrow/this weekend. :)

Guess where I'll be this weekend?

2011-05-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

If you guessed at a Re-enactment, you're RIGHT! :)
I'm finally heading back to Fort Tejon for a Civil War re-enactment! (It's been way too long since I last made the trek up there.) And I'm super excited that I get to cook in the Officer's Headquarter's KITCHEN!! An actual Kitchen with a Hearth (i.e. Fireplace)!

No, I'm not cooking ALL the meals for our group this weekend (Yay for learning from the past!), but I did sign up to cook at least one - Saturday Supper (evening meal).

Right now I'm debating between 2 meals & can't make up my mind which I'd rather make (assuming I have cookware - dutch ovens/kettles - large enough to cook these):

1st Option: Apples & Buttons ("Schnitz un Knepp") or Dried Apple Schnitz. German/Swish dish.
>Cook a ham (on a bone) for 2 hrs with dried apples (that have soaked overnight) & brown sugar. Serve with Potatoes (boiled or baked) and Corn (I'm thinking of buying frozen kernals & cooking them up in a skillet). Possibly serve also with biscuits available.

2nd Option: Stewed Chicken & Dumplings.
>like the name says - whole chicken cooked (stewed) in a pot with fresh-made dumplings. Haven't though out yet what to serve with it...probably same as above for rest (Boiled Potatoes & Corn).

Both of these are assuming there's a pot (dutch oven or kettle) that's big enough for me to put a whole chicken or a ham bone into it for cooking on the fire/hearth, of course. Considering the weather forecast for this weekend, they both sound nice & warm (besides tasty!) for a chill evening in the middle of a Mountain Pass. :)

So....what do YOU guys think? (Especially those of you that might be eating with me ;-). Time to voice your opinion while I'm making up my mind. Anyone have a preference for one over the other?

Time is of the essence since the event is THIS WEEKEND and I'm driving up to the Fort on Friday, so I gotta make up my mind soon. :)

Oh, and I'm debating if I should volunteer for a 2nd meal....hmm....

Things not to do when taking a Wilton Decorating Basics Class

2011-05-17T21:43:00.000-07:00

Things not to do when taking a Wilton Decorating Basics Class (i.e. decorating cakes etc.):

1) Half way through the course’s allotted time, rub your eyes & cause one of your contact lens to fall out….especially the dominant eye’s contact lens.

2) Forget to bring a back-up pair of glasses in case you do the above.

And yet, that is INDEED what happened to me! Fortunately, the erstwhile lens landed on the table (and not in my frosting or on the cake I was decorating), but there was NO WAY I was putting that lens back in my eye! (Good thing it was just a “Daily” so I could toss it & not have to save it for cleaning later). Unfortunately, as that was my dominant eye, and while I can see ok up close, far away (and at night) is blurry…and with one I focused & the other eye trying to compensate for sudden change in focus (i.e. sans contact lens), let’s just say it made for an interesting rest of the evening! (Trying to keep your dominant eye closed while looking out of the other eye, for a period of time, is harder than it seems!)

Oh, and to top off the evening, I then had to drive home…at night! Fortunately for me the class location wasn’t far from home so it was only a brief trip. (5 minutes with stoplights).

And I did get to finish decorating my cake at home. It looks great!

Rebecca's Cafe

2011-04-08T11:34:00.001-07:00

Rebecca's Cafe
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn
Via Flickr:
My boss (one of 'em) who's on vacation just emailed me this pic he took from his cell phone. Awesome! :) Now I just need to figure out WHERE it is and show up saying..."I'm Here!" ;-)

1st Quilt Block with an 1889 Treadle machine

2011-04-08T08:36:00.001-07:00

1st Quilt Block with an 1889 Treadle machine
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

No, this is not one of MY creations, but something my Aunt is making for me. Isn't it FANTASTIC? :) She sent me this pic last night to show me the first block of my new reproduction Civil War Quilt that she has in the works for me. And yes, this quilt will make an appearance with me at events. :)

---

Via Flickr:
My Aunt Sue has graciously offered to make me a Civil War Reproduction Quilt...on her 1889 Treadle Singer Machine. How Cool is that?!? Of course I shall be reimbursing her for costs, etc. So I finally settled on a Antique Star pattern and a theme of browns & reds (possibly with blue accents :) and the project is finally in "GO mode". YAY! Here's a pic she sent me of the first block (of 124) with her 1889 Treadle machine. Isn't it GREAT!! I'm so excited to see the final Quilt. YAY!!! :)
If you would like to find out more about my Aunt's Embroidery business, Creative Threadwork, you can visit her website here: www.creativethreadwork.com

Counting Down to Maui!

2011-04-07T10:01:00.001-07:00

Starting to feel Real! #Maui #HawaiiVacation :)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Well, I've kept this Upcoming Hawaii Vacation semi-close to the vest as for a while the planned the Family Vacation was kinda up in the air for a time, but as of Monday (4/4/2010), its Officially On! (Reason for possible Postponement of Trip was due to fact that my sister is pregnant, on modified bed rest, and had to get her Doctor's Ok...which she did on Monday! YAY!! :)

So now its really Real! We're going to Maui! I've never been to Maui before. Oahu, yes (twice in fact - once with my grandparents to celebrate their anniversary - my youngest bro was still a baby/young toddler, so must have been around 1986-1987? - and once with my immediate family around Christmas time a number of years ago. Probably early 2000s.). So, I've enjoyed seeing North Shore (& Sunset Beach), hiking Diamond Head, visiting the Arizona Memorial & Battleship Missouri Memorial (where the Japanese signed surrender papers in WWII), the Pacific Aviation Museum, the Queen Emma Summer Palace (which I *LOVED*), the Dole Plantation Maze, learning to surf in Waikīkī Beach, etc. Can you tell I tend to visit Museums? Hey, I happen to LIKE museums! :)

I also got my first taste of Shaved Ice in Oahu. My folks liked it so much that later on, they got their own Shaved Ice machine (yes, from Hawaii). And those of you that have had one of their Shaved Iced (at a High School Football game or Church event :) now know where they got their machine came from. :)

Hmm...I've obviously digressed from the point. Sorry. :) Back to this UPCOMING vacation...to Maui! Since I've never been to Maui, I have no idea what to expect there or see there (except pretty scenery, which is a given). Hence I picked up AAA's Tour Book & Map (which I like to get whenever I plan a vacation somewhere that I'm not familiar with) as a start.

And NOW is your chance to chime in. Have you been to Maui? Do you have any suggestions to where I should go, what I should see? Comment & Advise away! I welcome your suggestions! :)

Yes, my camera will be coming with me, so expect to see a lot of photos uploaded to Flickr after this trip. :)

Oh, and in case you're wondering who exactly I'm traveling with, I'm going with my folks, my youngest bro, my sister, my bro-in-law (her hubby), and my 16 month old niece. FUN FUN! :) It's going to be a blast playing in the water & sand with my niece Chloe! Looking forward to that! :)

Let the Vacation Countdown Begin!:)
(Flying out on 4/13/2011---early early AM...before the sun has the decency to show its head, most likely. ;-)

Too bad you can't SMELL this rub, cause it smells AMAZING! :)

2011-04-06T09:02:00.001-07:00

Too bad you can't SMELL this rub, cause it smells AMAZING! :)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Just had to share this. (I know I've not been very good at posting blog updates lately, so here's a food related one at least :).

Via Flickr:
Nothing like early morning food prep! This Spice Rub was made to go on a pork tenderloin (4 lbs) that I am slow-cooking in a crock pot while I'm at work, and will finish in the oven when I get home. :)

Now, let's see if I can remember ALL the stuff I dumped into this rub. (I like to play with spices :).

4(+) Tablespoon Olive Oil
8 fresh Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
2-3 Tablespoons dried Minced Onion (accidentally dumped this in instead of measuring, so I'm totally guessing here ;-)
1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper (+ some extra grinds from my Pepper Mill :)
1 Teaspoon dried Thyme
1 Teaspoon dried Basil
1 Teaspoon dried rubbed Sage
1 Teaspoon dried Rosemary
1 Teaspoon dried Mustard
1(+) Teaspoon dried Parsley
1/4 Teaspoon Paprika

And I was doing so good...until today :)

2011-04-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

And I was doing so good...until today :)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Its Birthday Cake Time! (One of my bosses bday today, so I HAD to have a slice, right?
Right?!?
:)

YUM.
Chocolate-y Goodness. With Raspberries. So Nice...especially since I've cut down on how much sugar I'm consuming lately, this is definitely a Nice Treat. :)

Colors, colors, ah, so many choices :)

2011-04-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

Colors, colors, ah, so many choices :)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

But which to choose for my 1920s dress? I went to JoAnns 'cause I decided (rightly so) that I couldn't wait any longer to pick fabric for this 1920s dress and Ordering Online was no longer an option. I needed my fabric NOW. So I'll just have to find something at my local JoAnn's mega-store. Here's the 3 colors I finally settled on to pick between. Now realize that the colors appearing on your monitor look WAY different than what they looked like in person (to me) when I was browsing the fabric selection, so here are the colors:
Navy Blue Crepe Back Satin on Right. Teal ("Legion Blue") Crepe Back Satin on Bottom. Pink ("Carmine") Crepe Back Satin on Left.

And just what did I end up picking for my dress you are probably asking? Well...
.
.
.
I picked the Teal! :)

My niece Chloe (at Family Dinner)

2011-03-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

My niece Chloe (at Family Dinner)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Obligatory post about the Cuteness of my Niece. :-D Isn't she Adorable? (Even when she's contemplating reaching out for my camera...you can tell she has that look about her ;-). After all, what self-respecting Doting Aunt would refrain from posting a picture & blog post about how cute her niece is with a yet another picture (& blog post)?
:-)

Anyways, enjoy the pic. :)

Family Dinner at Mimi's Cafe for Kyle's Bday

2011-03-31T22:27:00.000-07:00

Family Dinner at Mimi's Cafe for Kyle's Bday (March 30th)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Happy Birthday to my YOUNGEST Brother Kyle! Can't believe he's already 25!! I can so remember when he was born (and I was sent over to a neighbor's house to spend the night! :)

This picture was taken the day after Kyle's birthday (on the 31st) but its much easier for us to get together as a family on a Thursday night than a Wednesday night (Church program obligations & such :). As you can see from this slightly blurry phone camera pic, everyone, including my Grandma Doris & Aunt Jody, made it to dinner! (I'm the only one not shown as I'm taking the pic :). And centered with her back to the camera is little Chloe (16 months) who is smiling big to everyone else as they happen to be turned her direction for the camera (which is directly behind her - so adorable! :).

Ah ha! Found it! :)

2011-03-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ah ha! Found it! :)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Success! I KNEW I had this stashed away someplace. :) Now to get inspiration & figure out my 1920s dress for Saturday, 9 April. So glad I kept my Mock-Up from that class (not that it probably fits *exactly* the same way, but its a good reminder of what my new mock-up should look like, & how it was put together, etc. ;-). Yay for attending this class at Costume College ® in 2007 & getting this CD as my Class Handout for attending the Demo Class! :) Awesome stuff on this CD!

Proof that we were there!! [LACMA's Fashioning Fashion Exhibit]

2011-03-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

Proof that we were there!! [LACMA's Fashioning Fashion Exhibit]
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

This Exhibit was SO COOL! I'm SOOO Glad that Gretchen & I were able to make it up there (especially since it was a fairly last minute planned trip to boot!). We spent about 3.5 hrs at the museum (mostly cause of me taking pictures of EVERYTHING) on a Saturday (3/19/2011) before we had to leave...not cause the museum was kicking us out, but because I had to race back to Orange County to pick up my car (we had carpooled in Gretchen's car) so I could then race over to the Hensley's house and babysit their munkins (as they were heading out to the Social Daunce Irregular's Spring Victorian Ball that evening). Whew! I was a tad late, but at least I made it & they were able to take off fairly quickly after I arrived.

Well, if you'd like to see the 1500 pics I took of this exhibit (I TOLD you I took a LOT of pics), you can find them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157626218879463/
on my Flickr page.

Enjoy!
:)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T13:35:00.001-07:00

Enjoying a Guiness at the Pub (March 17 2007)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

4 years ago on this day (2007), I was in London with my Great Aunt Glennys as we visited for basically an extended weekend in honor of her birthday. (She's born on St. Patrick's Day). The day wouldn't be complete without stopping in the local pub for a pint, so here's a shot of me (trying not to laugh as Glennys took a pic) of me drinking my pint in the pub.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ort!
(St. Patrick's Day Blessing On You)

Chloe at Thanksgiving

2011-02-21T13:59:00.001-08:00

DSC03051
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Isn't my niece a cutie? Absolutely must share this pic. Doting Aunt duty & all. ;-)

Oh, and yes, this means my Thanksgiving 2010 pics are now online. :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157625978835225/with/5465504641/

Herb-Crusted Pork Loin (slow cooked & roasted)

2011-01-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

So after reading a post from someone I know about her Herb-Crusted Pork Loin (see http://theprudentwife.com/cooking/main-dish/pork/herb-crusted-pork-loin ) I was all fired to try her recipe. I knew I already had the herbs she mentioned & I just needed to go buy a Boneless Pork Loin. So I did. Then LIFE happened. (For one thing: it got HOT and I didn't want to turn on my oven. Another thing: Cake explosion in my oven when I was baking a from-scratch birthday cake. Cake turned out fine though. Just had a messy oven to deal with later. THEN ants decided to come back to my kitchen sink area. And let me tell you, dealing with ants coming in from the walls around one's sink, not using commercial spray on them but letting them take the gel-poison, and trying to clean dishes - even cook food - is not compatible. I was so discouraged for a while).

Finally this past Friday, I said enough is enough - the ants were less (hopefully from the poison) - so I cleaned up around my sink, cleaned one oven rack (had previously cleaned the inside of the oven), & prepped the pork loin for cooking...all before leaving for work in the morning! Since I didn't want to have to wait like 1.5 hrs after I got home with a hot oven while it was cooking - I decided to cook it with a slow cooker during the day and then finish it in the oven. (Kinda similar to carnitas, I think :).

As I was already diverging from the original recipe, by slow cooking it first, I decided to also play with the rub mixture and only use it as a "starting point". :)

Here's what I did...

Rub mix:
1 tablespoon Kosher Salt
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
3-4 cloves Garlic, minced (or more if you want :)
1 Teaspoon dried Thyme
1 Teaspoon dried Basil
1 Teaspoon dried rubbed Sage
1 Teaspoon dried Rosemary
& a few grinds of Black Pepper from a Grinder (approx 1 Tsp? or to taste).

Combine the above in a small bowl & (using fingers) massage the mixture into the pork loin (completely covering all meat & fat).

Slow Cook on Low (Crock Pot) with the fat side up for 7-9 hrs or so (ex. while you're at work), then transfer the Meat & juices to a baking pan while you have your oven pre-heating. (Place meat on a roasting rack with fat side up). Roast for about 30 minutes at 425 degree oven (or even possibly up to 475 degree if you like). Be sure to rotate pan and baste with juices a few times during this roasting. Allow it to sit (rest) for at least a few minutes (5-10) before serving.

And I must say, it was absolutely WONDERFUL. Flavorful, Moist, Tender. Just perfect! :)

(Plus I get LEFTOVERS from this dish for later. Score! :)

Made From Scratch Angel Food Cake

2011-01-04T12:27:00.001-08:00

Made From Scratch Angel Food Cake
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

ok, so this pic is from 2008, but someone just "Favorite"d it on my Flickr account which got me to thinking...I really should make another cake from scratch. And I gotta say that the home-made Angel Food Cake was pretty dang tasty! (And yes, I've made it from scratch more than once & shared said cakes on multiple occasions - so those of you who have tried it in the past, feel free to chime in on your opinion ;-).

Hmm...if I make this again anytime soon, who wants to help me eat it? :)

old photos - Tom Sawyer

2011-01-02T14:43:00.001-08:00

Tom Sawyer0001
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

I finally uploaded a bunch of photos that my dad & I went through (& scanned) from my grandpa's collection of old photos. This is one of my favorites (ok, there's A LOT of favorites) in the the "Growing up on the Farm" collection.

To see more pics from that "Growing up on the Farm" set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157625606126769/

And now that I'm looking at this particular photo, after seeing a new Christmas photo of my niece, I think I also see a bit of Thelin resemblance in my young niece. (YAY!! :).

If I can, I'll post more old photos (some to this "Early Days on the Farm" set, & others to other themed sets yet to be created) to my flickr account later today. I just LOVE going through them and seeing snatches of life-as-it was...especially knowing that its family! :)

Pearl Harbor Day

2010-12-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

A song that always pops up in my head on today:

REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR

"History in ev'ry century

Records an act that lives forevermore.

We'll recall, as into line we fall

The thing that happened on Hawaii's shore

Let's remember Pearl Harbor

As we go to meet the foe

Let's remember Pearl Harbor

As we did the Alamo.

We will always remember

how they died for Liberty

Let's remember Pearl Harbor

And go on to victory.

Let's remember Pearl Harbor

As we go to meet the foe

Let's remember Pearl Harbor

As we did the Alamo.

We will always remember

How they died for Liberty

Let's remember Pearl Harbor

And go on to victory."

Have you been on the Memorial atop the Arizona (in Oahu, Hawaii)? I have. Tis something not easily forgotten.

Not only do I remember all the brave boys who died that fateful Sunday morning, but I remember all the veterans who fought in that war that have since died (post war) - including my Grandpa Art (Thelin Jr.). He may not have been drafted till near the end of the war (he was a farmer in South Dakota up till then), but he was a part of the in the Pacific War and then Occupation of Japan (US Army). He has a TON of cool pictures (lots of them are tiny - about 1" x 1" if I recall correctly) and one of these days I really need to scan them so there's a digital copy of them. :) He even has some pics of when General MacArthur came to visit (he wasn't close to the General, but you could see the crowds in the shot). Unfortunately I can't give you too much more info about my Grandpa's WWII days right now cause most of the information & pictures (including the ones we scanned already) from these days are still with my folks, though I do have a copy of some items (such as his discharge papers) at home. (And if it isn't obvious yet, I'm not at home at the moment - on my lunch break at work - while I type up this blog post :).

In the meantime, here's a few pics of my Grandpa Art from the WWII that I do have scanned (and already online via my Flickr account):

Colorized picture of Art Thelin Jr (probably taken soon after being drafted)

Grandpa Art in Japan with Survey Equipment

Taken inside a Japanese home. (I don't have a date/year) To see the handwritten notes on the back, click here

"relaxing" for a pose (pic taken in Japan)

Pic of Grandpa Art using the survey equipment (in Japan)

Another posing for the camera picture :) (Pic taken in Japan)

So for those of you who know my brothers (and my dad), can you see their resemblence to my Grandpa Art? :)

Oh, and in case you wanted more info on Pearl Harbor, here's a link to a previous post (2008) that I did on Pearl Harbor Day (when the day fell on a Sunday, like in '41). http://marcailsdomain.blogspot.com/2008/12/lets-remember-pearl-harbor.html

Perfect weather for baking...

2010-11-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

now I just need to find the TIME to get some baking in. :)

I recently bought a bunt pan that has a really cool design (its cast aluminum) and I SO want to try it out...especially as I'd like to make something for my next Civil War re-enactment (Moorpark - in 2 weeks) but should probably do a test run before I do a 'final run' on something to bring. :)

Plus with the fall weather, I love PUMPKIN items. Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Cookies, Pumpkin Pie...Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks ;-).

I just found this Pumpkin Spice Bread recipe on AllRecipes.com and want to either try it or compare it to another pumpkin bread recipe I have. (Pumpkin Cranberry bread. Yum! :). Of course, it doesn't have to be "Pumpkin" Spice Bread...it could be any spice bread. I just have a hankering to do a spiced bread and that's the first one that comes to mind. Any suggestions for another spice bread recipe I could try out? (Also, I guess I should check my historical cook books - both reprints of actual historical cook books and modern ones put out by interpreters, like Old Sturbridge Village's cook book).

Oh, and Molasses Ginger Cookies. I should totally make those too (especially for the Moorpark event). Sigh, so many things to do, so little time after work especially as I'm trying to be good and follow my Dr's advice at getting more sleep. :) (Hard, but working on it. I know I need it :).

Of course, I guess I could always try my hand at an old fashioned Pound Cake recipe. :)

And then there's Lemon Squares. (Always make these from scratch - using a recipe from my mom's old Peanuts/Snoopy cook book that's psychedelic green & fuchsia colors. Makes fantastic Lemon Squares! :)

Or a Lemon Custard...or a Pudding (one of the many English style ones, not the custard style American dessert that we call pudding...though that's yummy too :).

Can you tell my brain is focused on cooking & baking right now...and not on my work at hand? Speaking off....must get back to work now.
Ta!
:)

Attempt # whatever at keeping a diary

2010-10-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

ok, so if you didn't already know, I stink at "follow through" in keeping a diary. :) I like to write and talk (with friends), but sitting down *every day* to write in a diary...not so much. Some days I just never get around to it. Same with Letters. Love to handwrite letters, but hard to get myself to sit down and keep up the correspondence over long periods of time.

Blogging helped a bit, since I didn't need to do that *every* day, but lately I've been so busy (or avoiding things cause I need a break ;-) that I haven't gotten around to updating this blog as much as I otherwise would have liked. (Twitter is basically a form of a Mini-Blog, so I'm glad I joined that bandwagon. Its fun and easy for me to use to share my thoughts.)

Let's see, I'm still dealing with moving in to a new place issues. House is coming together (still no couch, comfy chair, or spare seating to speak of...but one day I will :). Its definitely feeling more like "home" than before (which is good) and its been like over a week since I've been invaded by ants (YAY!...or should I knock on wood? ;-). Still trying to figure out my "routine" or schedule for evenings, etc. now that my commute to/from work is longer. And I've not been getting enough sleep for a while now (my Doctor said that's a priority to concentrate on fixing). Plus being sick (a lot) last month or so certainly hasn't helped the energy levels or motivation at finishing doing stuff around the place. Needless to say, I've canceled on doing a lot of things with friends or going places, so I can relax and or do things around the place.

At least I finally started going through & sorting out some digital pics that I took (August - October) and had just dumped the pics into a "to sort later" folder on my computer. (Yes, the folder literally was called "to sort". ;-). As of last night I've now cleared that folder (sorted & stored properly in related sub-folders on my hard drive) so now I just have one more memory stick to dump onto my computer and then to get to uploading a bunch of these to my Flickr account, etc. (I did get my pics of babysitting my niece in August online as of last night. Such a cutie! :)

Anyhoo...back to this diary thing. So a couple of friends of mine joined the 365Project.org (a kind of visual diary that's kept online) back in/around September...so I decided to give it a try too. I started in September, but I haven't been able to manage taking & uploading a pic a day (which is the point of the project), but I'm not giving up! I'll keep trying, and maybe one of these days I'll actually start remembering to take (& upload) a pic for every single day. We'll see. :) But for now, I'm still enjoying the experience (even if I'm a slacker and not diligent at remembering to post ;-).

If you'd like to follow me on 365Project (or join & try out the program yourself - its free), you can find me at http://365project.org/rthelin/365 .

Well, I better get back to work now. (Slow day so far, but still, at least I have a job! :) Later all!

Break Time for Cuteness!

2010-10-24T21:37:00.001-07:00

DSC02145
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

I've *Finally* gotten around to sorting through and uploading some of my backlog of pics. :) Here's a set from babysitting my adorable niece Chloe on her 9 month birthday (August). (C'mon, it just happens to be her 9 month b-day *on* the day that Sara-&-Jeremiah needed a babysitter, so OF COURSE I'm taking pics & videos! :) More pics of stuff I've done or things I've been at will be gone through & uploaded later. Maybe one of these days I'll actually have time to upload to Facebook as well :).

Any-hoo...To view all 60 pics & 2 videos (I warned ya! :) of Chloe, here's the direct link to the Babysitting Chloe Set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157625110075229/

Enjoy the cuteness!
-B

I'm Not Dead Yet!

2010-08-24T13:38:00.001-07:00

Hmm, a camera...wonder if I can grab it?
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

I know its been AGES since I posted last to this blog, so I have a LOT of catching up to do. Lots of things going on, and will try to find the time soon so I can sit down and write about it (and post!).

In the meantime, hope you enjoy this pic of my lovely little neice Chloe taken at the Orange County Fair last week (August 13th). I was holding her and snapped this picture as she was obviously contempating if she could grab the camera (or any loose part of it)...and shove it into her mouth. ;-)

If you'd like to see other pics from that trip (which includes a few videos of some music groups I happened to watch perform on the Fair Streets) as well as stuff from the Weird Al Concert that night, visit my Flickr Set here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157624662445979/with/4918584659/

Enjoy!
:)

a brand new chapter

2010-06-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

Considering its been *a month* (Sorry!!) since my last post about "stuff" going on related to the Escrow of my place & my (then) upcoming Move, and SO much has gone on since that time, I guess its time for me to write again and catch everyone up.

If you've been following me on my Twitter updates (and or Facebook status updates), you already know the *Wonderful* News: Escrow Closed!!! :) (May 18th, actually - the day after I wrote my last housing related blog entry ;-).
Woo-Hoo!!

Now comes the headache(s) of meeting with contractors in earnest, making decisions on what improvements/fixes I can afford now vs what will have to keep for later, how I plan on organizing/arranging the place, etc....the Fun part ;-). Pictures from my planning trip (meeting with 2 possible contractors - painting & window treatments) on May 15th are now online at my Flickr account. http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157624265467634/

Also - I moved out of the old place (completely!) on the Saturday, May 22nd, when I moved the stuff I still had at the old place (including my bed, desk, dresser, etc. - stuff not already moved to my temp. storage location) to my new place and started my temp. residence with my folks. (I'm not living at my new place till certain plumbing things are/were fixed, plus I get a opportunity to organize and start putting things away BEFORE I live there, which is something few people can do. :) Pics from that moving day (not many taken, as I was busy, are up on Flickr here). We went back to clean the old place Sunday afternoon and spend a few hours cleaning that place. My dad spent a while getting the yrs of built up gunk off the wardrobe mirror door track (which wasn't done before I moved in, I'd like to point out - so we left that in better condition than I received it in).

The days following are starting to blur together a bit, but I know there were filled with lots of my day job work (during the days obviously) and trying to get down to the new place to work on things when I could, and also trying to catch up on stuff (other commitments I had) which I had fallen behind on (such as my share of the work for Costume College planning committee - I missed a few deadlines for turning in stuff from my dept. Whoops!)

Plus I've been driving around to different stores trying to figure out what 'handy' organizational & storage solutions might best help me out as I start to unpack my kitchen, bedroom, & bathroom items. Heck, just window shopping for ideas takes time. Lots of time.

Oh, and I also bought a new fridge. Yay! :) You know me and my love of cooking (and baking)...so this little splurge is great! Found a nice Whirpool fridge that's slightly larger than my (then-)current fridge (a 10 yr old Admiral) and was way more energy efficient. It was at Costco for a decent price, but Costco doesn't do delivery. So we thought about it. And next time we were at Lowe's for some other items, we decided to drop by their appliance section to check out what fridges they had and compare. (Mind you my old fridge was still serviceable, but with changing the door swing from one side to the other after 7 yrs of the door opening in one direction, the cushioned seal around the door wasn't springing back into shape and forming a seal very quickly. So we were entertaining the idea of maybe it was time to get a new fridge. [Side note: the seal did spring back eventually - took a few days]) At Lowe's we found the exact same fridge that Costco had, but $100 more. Though they DID have Free Delivery, so that was a plus. We decided to ask if they would match the price...and after the Sales guy consulted his higher ups, they did! Woo-hoo! Same price as Costco plus free delivery? Awesome! PLUS since its more energy efficient, there's 2 programs I can apply to in order to get a rebate - 1st one was for SCE to take my old (working but not energy efficient) fridge away and I'd get $50 ; 2nd one was to see if the new energy efficient model was listed on the Rebate List (limited models) that qualify for another $50. And my choice of new fridge WAS on the list - so I could potentially get another $100 back on this deal. SOLD! :)

Now to arrange for delivery, etc. They were out of stock at the time we were there, but were expecting in a new shipment and could delivery on Friday of Memorial Weekend. Ok. We're fine with that. Thursday night we get the call that the delivery window is during the afternoon. While I'll probably get off early for the holiday weekend, it most likely won't be early enough. But my mom was willing to hang out at the new place working on lining shelves (Yay, Thanks Mom!) and so was my Dad (his work is only a few miles/minutes away, so it was easy for him to go straight over to join my mom in the afternoon - Thanks Dad! :). I joined them when I could, but it was still late afternoon by the time I arrived. Only thing, the Delivery Guys hadn't shown yet. Turns out they were running late cause they had to make a delivery down in Laguna and got stuck in traffic on they're way back Northbound on the 5 Fwy. (Ugh!!). It did eventually arrive though (Yay!:) and while I was waiting I got to meet my next door neighbor, her almost 7 month old baby girl, and her husband. (I'm blanking on all their names right now, though. At least I know their faces! :) Very nice little family. :)
So, new fridge is installed (all goes well, water line is even hooked up to a nearby valve just for such a thing - I now have a fridge that makes ice and has a door dispenser. Nifty!! That wasn't a selling point for me, but since it came with it, and with a water filter, cool :). The old fridge was moved down to my garage space to finish defrosting and wait for pick up by SCE. Only thing, I hadn't called SCE earlier in the week to schedule pick up so I called that day while waiting for Lowe's delivery to show - and got the run around. After calling the number on the flyer, I was told that this was NOT the right number, but here's another number I should call instead. Um, ok - strange though to not list the right number on the flyer (and I told them so). I dialed the NEW number and was told basically the same thing...though this time the number was for the local place they had contracted out to do the pick ups. So I finally call this 3rd number and was told that they're computer system was down and they'd take my name & number and would call me back when the system was back online and set up an appointment for me. (And they said they were open Friday evenings - calling late Friday afternoon by now - and Saturdays when I spoke to them). So I waited for a return call....and waited....and waited. Monday I decided to call to see if by chance anyone was there (even though a lot of businesses were closed for Memorial Day) - they were closed so I left a message. Tuesday morning - no return phone call, so by mid morning/day I place another call to this service and FINALLY speak to a live person who says they'll take care of me right now and get an appointment set up. Everything goes great until I find out that I have to have the fridge plugged in for 24 hrs prior (so that its working when the pick-up guy arrives and he can verify its a working fridge). Uh, oh! I had it moved to the garage (think converted carport). I don't know if there are any accessible outlets in there. Doh! Fortunately, it turns out that there *was* an electrical outlet that was in the back wall, kinda more near my neighbor's stall than mine (garages have individual doors, but no separating walls between parking stalls) and we were able to plug in the fridge. Yay! When the fridge guy showed up, he was able to stick his hand inside & verify it was working, and then proceeded to collect the fridge/have us sign off that he picked it up. Whew! :)

Um, what else? Oh yeah, I also did my *final walk-thru* with my former landlord. That was bad. :( Very Glad my folks were there with me (as moral support, etc.), and when he started nit-picking about stuff...well, it all kinda went downhill. On the plus side, though - I'm DONE with him. Even got what's left of my Security Deposit back recently. (Note to self: deposit that check ASAP! :) At least he didn't take the WHOLE amount. And I don't want to drag this out any further by taking him to Small Claims for the items he shouldn't have charged us (they were normal wear & tear, especially since we had been a tenant for 5 yrs & the Lease said "broom clean condition" for moving out ). Anyhoo - its now done. BIG SIGH OF RELIEF!

So where am I now with the new place? Well, I got some plumbing stuff done (no major stuff - wasn't touching the pipes or anything w/in the walls), but I figure spending some of small budget I had for improvements on plumbing stuff NOW was a good idea. So a couple of the things I did: swap out the toilet (I'm DONE with toilets that don't flush well) for a new one and replace the valves under all the sinks in the place. One was corroded so badly I couldn't have the water on without it leaking...and since I was replacing one I might as well replace *the rest of them* now so I won't have a future headache. I also got a couple of new chrome fixtures (including a S-neck extension piece for the shower head to raise it up higher - I can stand upright under it...yay! :).

I also wanted to turn the upstairs (loft) "built-in entertainment center" into a closet. I was in the middle of getting quotes on various things, and thought I was going to use someone through work (handyman type of guy, not a general contractor) when an old friend (Julie) that I hadn't heard from in a while called me up to remind me that her hubby is a *licensed* contractor and could give me a fair quote (and peace of mind if I didn't already have someone that I could *trust* to do the work). Turns out her mom (hi Kay! :) had been reading my Blog and caught my mention in one of my earlier blog posts about wanting to do some construction type work. So, after thinking it over, the next day I called Brandon (Julie's husband) to set up a meeting for a quote. And you know what? I ended up going with him as my contractor after all. Not only was the quote w/in the range of what I was expecting I might have to pay (decent price), but it was nice *knowing* the person...and that the person doing the work *is a licensed contractor* who can handle any surprises that might pop up as the job starts. ;-).
And as of last week, the demolition of the entertainment center & framing of the new closet being built in its place has started! (I was just over there on Saturday and saw the progress for myself :).

So, since construction has started, I've slowed down a bit with unpacking since I don't want to take everything that's currently nicely sealed up in boxes and put it out on shelves/in the open where construction dust will accumulate on it. (I'm specifically thinking of *all my many books* that are sealed up right now in boxes even though I finally assembled my Ikea Expedit bookcase and have it firmly secured to the wall with earthquake safety screws ;-).

In other news, I did order a new land line for the place to start service as of 6/1...a bit over a week later I found I still had no dial tone. Doh! So I called them up and they scheduled a repair technician to come out. I waited to hear that the guy had come out and the results of the technician's visit. And waited. I never did get the call saying the guy had actually come out and done anything, so I finally called them up. Turns out the guy HAD come out the day after I scheduled the call - and after a miscommunication with the first guy I spoke with that day at AT&T customer service, I found out (talking to the 2nd guy) that yes, he HAD repaired the problem and I should have dial tone. (Thank you, that's all I was asking for - confirmation someone had indeed gone out and I could go over & test to see if I had dial tone!) This Customer Service guy said the repair guy had 'attempted' to call me (and he noted he called the cell number) but was unable to reach me. I, however, did *not* have any missed calls from an unknown number (and I pointed that out the customer service guy - my first response to the fact he attempted to call me and didn't get ahold of me was 'which number did he call? Did he try the AT&T number being serviced, cause obviously I wouldn't respond on THAT number...it being the one currently under repair, etc. But technician had noted he attempted to call the cell number listed. Weird.) So what do I find when I get to my place and see I have 6 MESSAGES on my brand new answering machine? The *very first one* is from the AT&T Technician Repair guy saying he had fixed the problem and my line should be working now. (Doh! LOL :) At least it really WAS working now.

However, the downside to the fact that the new land line didn't start when it SHOULD have started means it screwed up the transfer of my DSL service (I use DSL Extreme) which was set to transfer same day. :( That meant I had to wait 7-10 *business days* to before they'd try again. And a week or so ago I finally got my email saying that they were re-trying to establish my Internet service and that (hopefully) it'd be active as of Wednesday June 16th. So when I stopped at my place Saturday afternoon I turned on my computer and checked to see if I had an Internet connection...and....Nothing :(. No Internet connection at all. Ugh! What gives? I then see that I have a new message on my voicemail....from AT&T (um, ok). From an AT&T Repair Technician, to be exact. And the really weird part about it...it wasn't addressed to me but to someone named "Denise" and it was about an order for "R. Thelin" and installing a DSL circuit to go on top of the dial tone of my (new) land line number. (Yes, it was the actual number). And then he said he try calling some 818 number that was listed and hoped he could reach her there. (Note: I certainly don't have an 818 number :). So I'm guessing that my DSL company found they couldn't activate the DSL service for my new number because of a problem on AT&T's end and set up a fix with AT&T. Not that I've had any emails or updates from them yet about this. :(

Seeing as I'm planning on heading over to my new place tonight to do *a bit* more unpacking (after I finish writing up this blog post on my work's computer ;-), I'll check *one more time* to see if Internet is now actually on. (Doubtful, but we'll see. Fingers Crossed! ). If its still not on tonight, then it looks like I'll be contacting my DSL company to find out what's going on with my order.

At least I've managed to get most of my kitchen unpacked and in a semblance of order (I'm currently working on organizing the pantry :), the basics of my bedroom in order (bed is assembled & made up with bedding, dresser is in place...though empty of clothing right now ;-), and my computer desk is where it should be (and desktop computer re-connected so I can at least turn it on...even if I can't get Internet to it). Oh, and a good chunk of my previously boxed-up bathroom items are unpacked...but I can't do too much more in there until the baseboards are put back in. (New ones need to be bought & painted & installed since the old ones were destroyed when they ripped them out when the new vinyl flooring was installed in the bathroom. Looks much better than the old stuff! :)

And it turns out that my missing window screen on the lower window (between my staircase & fireplace) wasn't "gone" but just had fallen downstairs! A kind person walking by (neighbor perhaps) noticed it and brought it up to my door seeing that I was obviously there (windows & door open for airflow!). The one time I was down on ground level on that side of the house was during the Home Inspection before Escrow closed and I never saw it sitting there...but I wasn't looking too closely at the time (I was looking for the water main for my unit since I had no water and the home inspector was there). I'm so relieved that I don't have to go out and buy a new screen for that window! :)

I did take MORE pictures of the place (and one small video) of the progress made so far. I'll get those uploaded to Flickr eventually, but at least for now I'm finally writing up this way overdue post about what's been going on! :)

Ok. Must really finish this up so I can grab some dinner and get a *bit* of work accomplished tonight at the new place. :) I still have non-moving work to accomplish too (like Costume College prep stuff! ;-)

So...Later Everyone!

Nom, nom, nom....Mother's Day cards are tastey!

2010-06-17T13:27:00.001-07:00

Nom, nom, nom....Mother's Day cards are tastey!
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

So I *finally* got my couple of pics from Mother's Day up on Flickr. (About time too! :).

To see the rest of the (small) set, you can go here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157624251742034/

Enjoy!

where did I leave off in this tale? (House Hunt/Purchase)

2010-05-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

So it seems I last left off on my story stating that yes, the bank (BoA) liked my offer, but Escrow had mis-read my offer and wrote up the info wrong to the bank & therefore we had to resubmit my actual offer to the Seller's Bank. (See my post on May 6th for more details.) Bummer, huh?

Fortunately, I didn't have THAT long to wait for a response. On May 7th (5:43p) I posted to Twitter the following Update:
"Has Great News! Bank has approved my *Actual* Offer to purchase the Condo! Finally! :) Deposit $ to Escrow will have to wait till Monday... "

(considering it was after 5pm when I found out that we were actually approved by the Seller's bank, etc., there was no time to get $ to Escrow that day in order to actually START the Escrow process).

First thing Monday Morning, my Deposit $ went over to Escrow and Escrow got their Escrow Instructions to me (via email) so I could start printing off pages and signing them. Fortunately, I could sign & scan the pages in order to email them back to Escrow.

An interesting twist is that the Seller REALLY wanted to close by THAT FRIDAY (5/14). Wow! That would mean a 5 Day Escrow!! Um, ok, but let us get our Home Inspection in etc. So I quickly scheduled that for Wednesday (5/12) but then discovered that Utilities were off and the Seller had no intention of turning them on for a Home Inspection when they were trying to close in just a couple of days/by end of the week. So *I* had to call to schedule Electricity (SCE), Gas (SoCalGas), & Water (Irvine Ranch Water District - IRWD) to be turned on by Wednesday (if possible) so that my scheduled home inspection was actually worth doing. (Kinda pointless to have a home inspection when the guy can't check anything).

Got ahold of SCE & IRWD first and got those scheduled. They said "no problem" for getting things turned on as of next day (Tuesday, 5/11). SoCalGas, however, was another story. They need at least 2 days lead time so earliest spot they had was on THURSDAY (5/13). Doh!! However, after explaining my situation, that I needed it on for a home inspection and just found out that utilities weren't on, etc, the gal I was speaking with was able to get approval to have the time rescheduled to Wednesday (tacked on after the existing jobs in the area were done). Yay! But wait! Problem - they need someone home or access to the inside. Uh, oh! I don't have keys yet and the unit isn't on a combo lokbox....that's gonna be a problem.

So some scrambling around and a few phone calls later, one of my work's vendors who's already helping me out with stuff related to my move and said he'd look over the unit & give me his opinion on it/what might potentially need fixing (free of charge for the looking over of the unit) said he had a spare combination lokbox and would loan it to me/put it on the unit. Whew! Plus the Seller & the Seller's Broker decided to meet with me (and my folks) on Tuesday and give us keys to front door (not all keys) even though the deals not final - that way we can come over whenever to look it over or have workers in to give us estimates. Yay! So by end of day Tuesday, I was able to call back the gas company and tell them that Yes, the unit has a Combo Lokbox and give them the combo (so they could get inside and test/turn on the gas).

Wednesday, May 13th - Home Inspection Day (rescheduled for 1:30pm from earlier in order to hopefully give time for SoCalGas to get over there & turn on the gas before we get there :). In the morning I get a call from the Termite Inspector, who was also scheduled to do his inspection that day. His first call was 'cause he didn't have the right combo (turns out his secretary transposed a number or two in the combo) and then later to give a verbal report/update saying that Things Look Pretty Good to him. (Whew!) I'll get a physical copy of the report later. (Now bank at this point said they didn't need a Certified copy, so I was just planning on getting a plain ol report from them). Also, while he was on the phone he mentioned that the gas company was there at the same time he was. (Yay! They made it in time! :) However, the only thing that was of concern to me was that the Termite Guy said the water wasn't on. What?!? It should be on by now.

So I call IRWD and confirm with them that Yes, according to their records, the water is on and was turned on as of Tuesday. Um, ok. Weird. I'll check it when I'm over there fore the Home Inspection then.

1pm I'm picked up at my work to carpool down with my mom to the place for the Home Inspection. (We stop briefly at my dad's work, which is nearby the place in question, to pick him up as well.) We get over there and another vendor friend of mine (through work) is there to walk through with us (yes, another favor :). Only had to wait a minute or two before the actual Home Inspector showed up and we all got started. First thing, however, was to figure out why the lights weren't coming on. Home Inspector found the main breaker down by the street/side of building (not the inside the unit breakers) and turned them - problem solved. However, Water STILL wasn't turning on. We looked all over and couldn't figure out why. I ended up calling the property management company just to make sure there wasn't another valve or something that was related to HOA/property management that we were missing that needed turning on. There wasn't. (They don't touch any utilities related stuff that deals with the individual units.) So then I called IRWD and had them on the phone while they directed me to the street side water valve/meter. Looking at the meter, it appeared it was on for our side - the handle/lever was turned into the on position whereby its parallel with the pipes - but there was no water flow. And obviously the Meter had been Reset cause it was at 00000, so the water guy had been there. This is getting really strange now! As I still had IRWD on the phone, they put in a request to have a technician come out as soon as possible to figure things out. Of course, by the time the technician GOT there, we had already left (by a 1/2 hr).

Technician calls me on my cell phone and says there's an oddity - he's looking at the street side meter that's marked for my unit (19C) but the meter number doesn't match his records. He'll have to investigate further & call me back. An hour or so later (however long it actually was) I got another call explaining that at some point the meter was replaced but IRWD's records were never updated with the new meter number. How weird is that? So end result of this call - THIS guy turned on the water at the meter. Ok. Finally! (Weird that in the IRWD's records it shows as being turned on, when it obviously wasn't, but now this guy turns it on. Right?)

Of course I want to test this claim that the water is actually on - so my folks go by the unit on Thursday and test out the water. Yes, it IS on (yay) but it turns out that there's a leak under a sink in the bathroom (a valve is corroded), so the water is turned back off (our side of the valve at the street side meter) until we get the valve replaced/fixed. At least we know about this problem now.

And since the Seller's Broker has been on our case all week about getting $ & all signed docs over to Escrow ASAP so they can close Friday (something about being Seller being assessed $1700 in additional fees...by Fannie Mae...if it doesn't close on Friday - none of which we can find in writing anywhere, nor does BoA know anything about these supposed fees that will be charged if it doesn't close 'on time') on Thursday morning (first thing) since we've had our inspection and better know what we're getting into with this deal (and yes, still want the place) we get a cashiers check over to Escrow with various original signature (my signature) documents so that things are 'done' on my end. At that point, we could only Wait while Escrow did its thing.

Theoretically, it could still close on Friday, but Friday came and went with no word other than a note saying that BoA signed off and forwarded the package to Fannie Mae and we were left waiting to hear back from them on their approval of funding/financing (or whatever).

Hmm...

So, that's pretty much where I'm at right now. Waiting for it to close. Fingers crossed this comes through soon cause it would be really nice if it does close today (or just this week) and then I can start scheduling contractors for various small repairs and improvements I want done BEFORE I move in. (There's no *major* work that needs to be done fortunately. Whew!) If all goes well, then I can use my scheduled move date of THIS SATURDAY (5/22) to move my appliances (Fridge & Clothes Washer/Dryer) and furniture (bed, tables, bookcases, etc - I have no couch right now as my roommate is the owner of most of the living room furniture right now ;-) straight over instead of going into storage. Then I can temp live at my folks (spare bedroom) while the work is being done and move the rest of my stuff over after the work's done.
That's the ideal plan at least. We'll see what happens.

Oh, and this past Saturday I was there to meet with a couple more vendors so they could get me quotes (like from our Window Shades guy and from a Painter we use - heck, with vaulted ceilings, I'm not painting this place myself!). So if you saw a picture of my niece that I uploaded (to facebook) when she and my sis came to visit (they were bringing me boxes for packing), yes, I was still at the unit from meeting with the vendors earlier that morning - which meant I was able to show off the place to my sis. :).

Well, that's the update. We *might* close today on this place. We'll see what happens...and of course, you guys know me. I'll keep ya in the loop. :)

They liked my offer!?! YAY!!...But wait a minute, um, that's not my offer!

2010-05-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

The continuing saga of my hunt for "affordable" housing in Southern CA...
:)

So if any of you were following along via Twitter, on Tuesday (5/4) you saw the following excited posts (or Tweets to use the correct Lingo ;-):

OMG OMG OMG!!! Mega Exciting News!!! Seller's Bank (Short Sale) has approved the offer I made (April) on a Condo in Foothills Ranch!! #fb4:39 PM May 4th via web

and then:

and the Seller's Bank even wants to close in 2 weeks!! That's AMAZING!!! :D4:40 PM May 4th via web

(For those on Facebook, yes, you too also saw these posts - 1st Tweet was imported to Facebook, and 2nd tweet I added as a Comment on my Facebook post).

However, since then, things have developed an interesting Twist (& complication).

Yesterday (5/5) morning while reading through the paperwork, it became obvious that the Bank's Letter of Acceptance was referencing wrong information (not part of my original offer signed by both Seller and myself). Doh!!!

Doh! Finally got to look over paperwork that bank wrote up for their approval & Seller's broker (or escrow??) wrote my offer wrong... :(about 20 hours ago via MOTOBLUR
Which means that I now have to resubmit to the bank for clarification on various points. Boo! :(about 20 hours ago via MOTOBLUR

By 4pm (5/5) I got an email from my broker (also my aunt :), who had been on the phone basically ALL day trying to straighten out this matter (and another one - more details later in this post). Goodness!

Basically, the escrow officer read my offer wrong and presented his/her misinterpretation to the bank for approval. DOH!!!!

Some background: There are 2 units with identical floor plans (1 bedroom + loft, 1 bathroom, 900 SF) that were Available in the same complex in Foothill Ranch and I liked them both, so I put offers in on both. One was significantly cheaper than the other but it had $10K in back owed HOA fees that *had* to be paid before the bank would sign off on a sale. (Reminder: Both are Short Sales so need Bank Approval.) By the time you added in the back owed amounts (etc.) on the cheaper one - #19C - it was only $5K cheaper than the other unit (#39G).
   [Other differences between the two: #19C would also need to be painted as it has blank white walls; a mirrored closet in dining room area that I'd want torn out to use as space for say a China Hutch; would need to look into sun blocking window shades for all the windows facing west - there's a lot - and some quite high up!, and a couple of light fixtures were OK but could be updated to 'nicer' ones...while 39G was already painted in colors I actually *liked*, had nice pretty nice light fixtures already, had that unnecessary dining room closet torn out, etc. Oh, and 39G is Poolside. Overlooks the complex's pool area...which is good and bad :). ]

Anyways - I first saw (& yes, actually walked through) both units on Sunday afternoon April 25th. My broker did her comps and figured out the best deal that I could afford that would still be enticing to the Seller (and did her homework on what 'hidden' costs might be lurking...such as back owed HOA and property taxes, if any - yes in the one instance), and after I agreed with her suggested offer on each unit she wrote up both offers and I signed both sets and we got them off to the respective Sellers' brokers. And then we set ourselves to wait. But we didn't have to wait for long! I believe we actually got responses from both brokers the very next day (or so) saying their respective Sellers/Owners were defnitely interested and would sign off on the deal. Um, ok wow. Both accepted, huh? Wow. Guess we'll see *which one* really follows through (or follows through first) or else I will get to make a decision between the two. :) Not a bad position to be in, obviously.

By Friday (4/30) we had received a Seller's signed copy of my Offer from the broker on #19C. (But nothing back from 39G who keep *saying* the Seller was going to sign and was still saying he/she would.) We also go word from the Broker for #19C that they had already forwarded the now signed Offer to Escrow and the Seller's Bank for Approval and that they expected the Bank to approve it early next week (1st week of May). Wow, that would be fast if it happens, right?

So we're waiting, and then on Tuesday - I get the call from my broker that yes, the bank accepted. (YAY!) Only problem is that Escrow misread my offer and presented it wrong. For example: I said I'd Pay X amount and that figure *included* payment for the back owed HOA fees (up to the $10K). Seller's Broker wanted it all listed on the first page of the Offer so it'd be clear & 'easy to read' and we complied and wrote it up that way. Deposit amount "A" plus $10K ("B") plus balance of purchase price ("C") = "X" amount paid (Total Price). Easy, right? Wrong, apparently. Escrow read that I'd be paying X *plus* an additional $10K. Um NOOOO!!!

        Also, the box was checked on my Offer saying the Buyer - that's me - would pay for Termite Inspection. Normally, yes, the seller pays for it, but on Short Sales my aunt has found that typically the Bank hates that. We didn't want to have the bank come back with a counter saying that the they the Bank objected to the Seller paying the Termite Inspection so we were proactive in just saying that I, the Buyer, would go ahead and pay the Termite Inspection. **However**, Escrow wrote down that the Seller would pay for Termite Inspection in their Presentation of the Offer to the Bank. Ugh!!

Isn't Escrow supposed to be careful in reading these things? (They're *supposed* to be very detail oriented, right?) MAJOR oversight here!!

So now (5/6) we have to get Escrow to fix their mistake and re-submit the presentation to the Seller's bank for approval. We'll see what happens. Possibly fixable.

But Wait! There's More!!

In the meantime, remember that 39G unit (poolside, with nice paint & fixtures) which said the Seller was interested & would sign, but I never actually got a signed contract back from the Seller?

Yesterday, my aunt got a call from ANOTHER Escrow company wanting my mailing address, phone number, Social Security number, and date of birth. Um, why? She got ahold of the Escrow officer and asked "what's going on? Why do you need the SS no, date of birth, etc.?" Turns out its for the 39G unit and Escrow officer said the negotiator wants it because the Bank is requesting it for their files. Jody, my aunt, then says "I don't have a signed contract from the seller, so why does the negotiator have the offer?" Escrow officer wasn't sure herself but needed the requested information "in order for the negotiator to continue processing the offer." Period. That's it on the explanation. (By the way, my offer is an All Cash offer, so why do they need that info for an all cash offer?? I could understand if they wanted the info to do a credit check on me if I was doing a bank loan, but I'm not doing a loan. I'm doing cash. Plus I already provided proof of my finances when I first submitted my offer.)
    Next my aunt (finally) gets ahold of someone in the Seller's broker's office and ends up talking with the Agent's assistant. He tells my aunt that they sent the offer through to the bank WITHOUT THE SELLER'S SIGNATURE to just get the process going and that he'll get my aunt an update later via email.

Um...say what?!? Who in their right mind sends in an offer to be processed *without the Seller signing off on it*?

LOL!!!

What drama! :) Laughable - and hopefully fixable - drama, but drama nonetheless.

Hopefully *one* of these offers/deals actually goes through soon. That would be really nice. :)

May the Fourth be with You!! (Happy Star Wars Day! :D )

2010-05-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Star Wars Day!
May the Fourth be with you...always! :D
"Will someone get this big walking carpet out of my way?" (Intergalactic STAR WARS Status Day - so you know I'm going to be posting a bunch of Star Wars Quotes on Twitter/Facebook today ;-)

It's May the 4th (Be with You): Intergalactic Star Wars Day !!!

In Honor of the Day (& Trip down Memory Lane for some of us): "Troopers" COPS parody:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqF_CVQ_U_I

and

for a cool Behind the Scenes/Interview with creator of Troops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlp9DHKDg6c

call for help moving :)

2010-05-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Anyone available Saturday, May 22nd to help me move out of my current place?

I'm thinking it might be the best date to move my furniture (etc.) to storage so that
A) my friends/family who are helping me move don't have to give up part of their Memorial Day Weekend to help me move, and
B) I have time after I move to work at cleaning, patching nail holes is walls, & repainting, if necessary (etc.)
I want to make sure I leave this place it good condition so I can get my Security Deposit back, after all!

Anyways, that's my thought process right now. Any chance that anyone is available to help me move that date? (Moving from Irvine, CA to Garden Grove, CA)

further updates in my Housing Adventures

2010-04-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

since I haven't published a blog entry on this subject in a while (most just twitter & facebook status updates)...here's what's been going on lately.

Part of my crazy schedule these days, when not packing (or cleaning) has been spent touring potential places with my Aunt Jody (who's representing me as my broker - she is a residential broker, though she's San Diego county based) and my folks. I've placed multiple bids on potentially good places for me, but most have fallen through (I've been put into a Back Up position) even with my Cash offers. Almost all of these places are Short Sales, too, which means even if something IS accepted by the Seller, the bank may take its own sweet time.

Never know though. :)

I've mostly been looking in the Lake Forest area, since prices are cheaper than Irvine, though as of last Sunday (4/25) I'm also considering Foothill Ranch. (Found a few units that were cheap enough and seemed perfect for me so I placed a few bids. We'll see what happens. There's potential there, but I don't have any confirmations I can share at this point.)

As of TODAY, I'm sending in my 30 Day Notice to my landlord telling him I'll be out by May 31st (along with my reduced rent check - hey, he had said if we keep the place clean & allow people to tour, then we can have reduced rent for both April & May. Not reduced by much, but something. Also I don't think he realized how long it would take to market & sell his place even though its not a short sale. It didn't help his case when he RAISED the listing price on this condo. He's now lowered it some since then...I could have told him this place isn't worth that much! Of course he wouldn't want to listen to me. Hehe ;-).

Where am I going? Well, at this point, all the stuff I've been packing up has been going into some storage units my folks built on their property in Garden Grove. (They were going to store their own stuff from the garage in it, but they've kindly held off transferring their own stuff and let me transfer my own stuff in there for my temporary storage needs. Huzzah! for my parents! :) I'll continue to transfer all my stuff to the storage sheds as I now pick up the pace on packing. Also, now I'm not going to care as much about making a packing mess as I go ;-). As for me personally - my parents have also graciously suggested that they have a spare room (half home office & half guest room) that I can use while I'm searching for a place and or waiting for escrow to close (if any of my bids ever make it that far in the process). I have no other plans for housing as of June 1st, so I'm taking up my parents offer of the spare room. It'll be an adjustment living there. For one thing: I won't have much access to most of my stuff for a while; plus, it'll be a longer commute to/from work for me. And finally, I haven't lived at home for...oh, over 10 years! :) Since college at least.

Like I said, it'll be an adjustment, but should be temporary. :) And I'm VERY very glad that I even have this as an option!! :) So to my folks who *might* actually read this article (Yes, I'm looking at you Dad! ;-), THANK YOU so very much for all your generosity, love, & support. :) (Both now and over the years.) Love you back! :)

finally looked at my Costume College Reg Book

2010-04-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

So I *finally* got a chance to actually *look* through my Costume College (2010) Registration book and I'm just excited about all the classes! Yay! :) I'm torn, though, on what (if any) limited classes I should apply for this year. A couple I'm interested in are out cause I'm teaching my classes against them (there's overlap in times which won't work). And a few others I'm interested in taking...they're against when the guest teachers (Shelly Foote and Shawna Trpcic) have their (unlimited) classes scheduled! Agh! (The ones by Shawna Trpcic are listed as "To Be Determined" right now, but considering I'm a fan of her work - she did the costumes for Firefly, Angel, & Dollhouse! - I'm totally game for attending any and all of her classes. :)

And with how busy I've been with packing & house hunting (and the emotional drama of dealing with my landlord and his broker while they're trying to show the place and get the condo sold), picking limited classes has not been a top priority right now. If I'm gonna turn in my form, its gotta be received by May 9th...and the longer I wait, the lower Recieved Number I get assigned (each form is assined a number in the order its received as its processed by Programming staff) which would affect my chances of getting into some classes (depending on how 'popular' the are with others wanting to be in the same class).

SOooo...maybe this year I just don't do any limited classes :). Might be the easiest solution for me. Certainly less stress NOW to not have to think about picking a class and getting my forms in right away.
:)

Fun Find last night ("Yo Becky")

2010-04-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

Just had to share this fun License plate I found last night:
http://twitpic.com/1ijyd4
"Yo Becky"

LOL! Wish *I* had thought of that years ago when I got my license plate for my car! :)

How fun!
:)

Costume College 2010 Registration Book Arrived!

2010-04-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

as my Twitter post said yesterday, I got my Costume College Registration book in the mail! Woo-hoo!

Like the new layout and larger format (more magazine style). I haven't had a chance to really look through it yet, but will try to do that today at some point. MUST go through and figure out what classes I'd like to take, especially Limited Attendance classes (registration forms due very soon! May 9th I think?), and when I'm teaching.

View of the Registration Book Cover (taken via my cell phone):
http://twitpic.com/1h4iat

and here's the page showing the 2 Guest Teachers for this year:
http://twitpic.com/1h4q3i

AWESOME!!

I'm *very* excited about this year's convention! (And not just cause I'm on the committee ;-).

attempted unauthorized entry into my place!?!

2010-04-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

So this morning, as I was just about to hop in the shower (took a day off of work and was doing things, such as cleaning, before I finally got around to showering) when I heard someone at the door trying to use the keys in both the deadbolt and the doorknob locks. What the...???

I quickly peeked through the Peephole and verified it wasn't my roommate. It was a guy (stranger or possibly my landlord?1? - hard to tell from the angle) attempting to use keys to get in. Good thing I had flipped the Security Lock that CANNOT be undone from outside! So, feeling relatively safe knowing that lock was in place, I showered. Afterwards I sent the following email to my landlord and his broker (who's selling the place...if you haven't been following along with the latest drama):

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rebecca (ME)
Date: Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Subject: attempted entry at [xxxx] around 10:30a?
To: Broker & Landlord
Cc: Roommate

Ali & Fred,

Did either of you or someone you sent over attempt to enter [xxxx] this morning around 10:30am? I was home and just about to step into the shower when I heard someone attempting to get in (using the key in both the doorknob lock and the deadbolt). As I was planning to shower and had received NO notice of anyone coming over, I had earlier this morning used the Security Lock (installed by my roommate and myself 5 years ago) that can only be undone from the inside to secure the front door.

I took the day off work and will be in and out all day. If you have people coming by, please let me know in advance of someone attempting to enter to view the place.

Thank you.

Rebecca

Tenant

[xxxx], Irvine, CA

---------------------------------------

And NOW I just got an emailed response from my landlord. Turns out it WAS him and he had some kind of appointment with a carpenter (LOTS of termite damage outside on the stairs leading to our place...we're on the 2nd floor) and the carpenter wanted to see the inside and make sure there wasn't additional damage (besides exterior). So my landlord thinking it was no big deal, attempted to get inside. UGH!

Here's his email to me in response:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fred (landlord)
Date: Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Subject: RE: attempted entry at [xxxx[ around 10:30a?
To: Me & Fred's Real Estate Broker
Cc: Roommate

Rebecca,

I was meeting with a carpenter this morning to look at the stairs and some other exterior items that need fixing. While the items in question are the associations responsibility, they are slow and I wanted the estimate as back-up in in case HOA was not able to expedite the repairs. I was not expecting the need to come inside.

After inspecting the exterior, he asked if he could look inside to make sure none of the items did extend beyond what was visible. I rang the bell a few times and did not get a reply. I assumed you are not home and tried to open the door and was not able to do so. So we left. I am sure based on the inspection done previously, fixing what is visible from outside will be adequate.

Sorry about not providing you with the notice. I was not expecting the need to come inside. I told him to limit his estimate to what he saw and we will take care of any additional items if we come across any. Thanks,

Fred

---------------------

Seriously?!? That's his excuse? He didn't think he'd need to come inside so because the guy wanted access and he assumed that we weren't home (doorbell doesn't sound in the master bedroom or master bathroom - no way I would have heard it) he thought it would just be OK to let himself in? Uh, No Way! We have rights to privacy still. Just another example of how he thinks cause he owns the place he can let himself in whenever. I'm sorry, per our Lease (and CA law), he must give us "REASONABLE NOTICE" of his intent to enter. Ringing the doorbell was not reasonable notice.

My landlord just sets my teeth on edge. I can't WAIT to get outta here!

Follow Up from yesterday's post (housing hunt)

2010-04-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

So, at end of the work day yesterday, I got a response (via email) from the poster of the 3 bedroom condo for rent. And I gotta say, it was a little weird. Perhaps the gal is just overly enthusiastic? (Also, I can tell that English isn't her first language just by the sentance structure and some of the word choices. My co-worker, who's married to a Chinese gal - she's from Taiwan & she's so very sweet/a fun person! - read part of the email response to me and remarked, 'you know, based on the writing, it almost sounds like this person could be Chinese.')

I had a co-worker do a search on Win2Data (provides property information including owner name) and my aunt do a title search...just cause I wanted to be sure that this person really does own the place their listing...and I came up with a weird discrepency. So guess I need to contact her and ask her how long she's owned the place. (Unless she's not the owner but a renter and needs to sublet while she's away? Hmm....but she did say "I owned the home you are interested in". Past tense, but could be just an issue with not having English as a first language.)

She's going on some trip and says that the place is available for up to 5 years. Um, ok. Good to know upfront I guess.

Also, my email had specifically asked to tour the place, meaning the INSIDE of the place, but she responded "You can go ahead and view the surrounding of the house and the neighborhood area". Um. Thanks. Not exactly what I meant. Ok, maybe she just didn't get what I was asking. It's possible....I guess.

Another weird point (maybe she's just overly concerned about the care/condition of the property??), she states outright that "also i will be come once in 4 months for visit to see how you are taking care of the home, and if any thing need to be repair inthe home, and fix it back!" I appreciate the willingness to be available to fix things, but having someone Check In on me every 4 months? Kinda weird.

Obviously she's requesting some information from me (reasonable, when your considering leasing to someone - name, contact info, number of people who'd live there, proposed move in date, etc.). No biggie.

She also finishes off the email with "Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt in your name and contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you..."
(she goes on about giving this based on trust, etc.)

So...um...yeah, like I said. A tad weird of a response. But then again, I'm used to dealing with commercial brokers and commercial tenants and our process of leasing here. So maybe just my perception of things.

And to respond to her point about documents & keys - there's no way I'd sign papers/give over any money WITHOUT looking at the layout of the place (inside & out). I gotta know what the insides look like and if it'll even work for me. Like I said previously...it all sounds good on PAPER. Gotta see it in real life.

So basically, I haven't responded yet. Still thinking of what to say. I mean, she just could be a very nice person who isn't as comfortable with English as I am and has a lot things on her mind and hasn't got much time to lease this place.

Thoughts anyone?

New Development in the Housing Hunt

2010-04-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

OMG, OMG, OMG......

My roommate found a rental listing last night (posted last night - so NEW) on Craigslist for a rental property here in Irvine that sounds too good to be true! 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 carport spaces, larger square footage....and for $100 less monthly than what we are currently paying! (Landlord pays for water & association/management fees vs. in my *current* place we the tenants pay for water in addition to all other utilities. Thought we don't have to pay the association fees. Written in to the original lease.)

Also, I know the area that this place is located in, and its a pretty nice area. Ok, yeah, I know what you're thinking...its IRVINE. Irvine doesn't really have a lot of "bad" areas with all their focus on community planning, etc. ;-P Whatever. :)

Moving on now. The write up says "spacious kitchen" and "gas range" - which you KNOW immediately got my attention! :D I have truly MISSED having a gas cooking range and would love to have one if given half a chance. But alas, the last whatever number of years all the rentals I've lived in have only allowed for electric cooking ranges.

Anyways - I've already emailed the contact person who listed the rental. Waiting to hear back about touring, etc.

Fingers Crossed!!! :)

another annoying message from my landlord

2010-04-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

So tonight I came home to yet another message (left on my home phone) from the landlord about the state of the master bedroom. Apparently, now the "brokers" are complaining that its not organized enough to show it off as well as they'd like ("they're concerned that its not showing well"). Well, tough! This is not a model home, I live here...and I work full time. It takes time to box everything up. And there's no way I can box EVERYTHING up to be out of site. I've got projects I'm in the middle of (including stuff for committees I'm on) and research for classes I'm committed to teach in a couple of months - so I've got deadlines.

And his suggestion that the items I box up (to create more open room in the master bedroom, in order to show it off better) are stored in the downstairs closet is laughable.
   1) The key doesn't always work - there have been periods of time (*months* at a time) when I could *not* get the key to turn in the keyhole of the doorknob in order to open the door. I've come to think its some weird fluke of the weather affecting it, cause other times it works so easily its like night & day. (And yes, I'm using the SAME key each time. Not grabbing the wrong key and trying it in the lock. Trust me. I double & triple checked :).
   2) We already store things down there...so there's no room to add up to 10 additional boxes (he left 10 empty boxes). Also I don't store things in cardboard boxes down there for a reason (see next item for reason).
   3) We've had rodents in the complex, and they have specifically gotten into that storage closet. There's rodent droppings and dried urine over most of our items down there (one reason I don't access stuff in there much) and the few things I haven't stored in heavy duty plastic/rubber bins have been chewed through and I had to toss. So I'm having to store things off site, which means trips to take said boxes elsewhere. (Yes, I have a lot of stuff, but I also have a lot of hobbies & interests...which means I have to cram them all into my room. Its a bedroom, office, & sewing room all combined into one.)

I realize that brokers recommend a place be pretty much in 'model-home' condition in order to show off the place in the best possible light to potential buyers. But c'mon! Be realistic! The only *real* way to achieve that look is for there to be no tenant at all! Its one thing to do when you're motivated to sell your own place - but as we all know, this is NOT my place and I live here. So, yet another reason for me to pack up as much as possible while I try to look for a new place to live.

And before anyone suggests to me just give him my 30 day notice - Not yet. 1, that would be unfair to my roommate to do w/o discussing with her first. And 2, I want as much time to find a place as possible...and time to pack so I don't have to take days off of work. So for now I guess I just get to suffer through things a bit more (and cancel appearing at some of my previously scheduled engagements/events) so I can focus on packing & finding a place to live.

Whew. Rant over. :) No back to your regularly scheduled evening. (And I'm back to packing :).

catching up on stuff (March 2010)

2010-04-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

So it seems like I haven't posted in a while on here. Sorry about that!
Things have been kinda crazy busy lately.

First, I started attending Ren Faire Workshops (held weekends beginning March 13 on the Faire site - Irwindale - while Building was going on to turn the area into Faire as we know it) cause they were interesting and good improv/character development practice. I could see how some of the classes could be adapted for other groups that portray different time periods, such as one obviously dear to me - American Civil War. Though it was interesting stuff, and I enjoyed attending the classes (and challenging/stretching my creative side - Improv has never been my strong area, though I'm working on it) I actually hadn't completely decided if I was going to "participate" this year with one of the Guilds. Part of the issue was that I knew I couldn't commit to the *entire run* of Faire as I already had specific commitments for some upcoming dates that conflicted with Faire Dates. Committing to be there every weekend day for run of workshops, with the Dress Rehearsal date falling on Easter (4/3) this year, and then every weekend for run of Faire which starts April 10th and ends May 23rd...and then helping during Tear Down in the weekends that follow is a LOT of commitment. And already busy enough with other things that are important to me, so there's no way I could ever commit to ALL of that. There was a slim chance that one of the Guild's (St. Cuthbert's - Parades & Pageants) might take me in even if I couldn't attend the entire run or make all the 12 required workshops for a 1st time/year newbie (aka "apprentice").

Turns out, however, that I didn't have to make a decision - it was made for me in the form of my landlord giving me (email) notice on Thursday, March 25th* that he's selling the condo that I rent. Gah! And he insisted that the place be more clean/organized than it currently is for showing (and a bunch of other unreasonable demands given the time frame he gave me - he wanted it lok-boxed & signage up by end of week and clean/organized for show-able condition by end of Month...which meant Wed, March 31st!). Which means that a) this last week I've been busy cleaning organizing in almost all of my spare time, and b) I'm now looking for a place to live (rest of my spare time). I have no idea if my roommate wants to stay roommates and we find a place together or if she wants to go our separate ways (she told me she's exploring all her options right now and won't tell me either way at the moment), which leaves me in a bit of a quandary. And while the new owners (which may be in as little as 30 days, since landlord is advertising 30 day escrow cause he wants this place SOLD quick to earn some money - and no, he has no mortgage or liens on the place, my aunt did a title search and this address came up clean, so he's just trying to make some money...not being foreclosed upon) may be ok with tenants, there's NO GUARANTEE that they will want tenants. They may want to live here themselves. (By law, since we've been here over a year...actually its been 5 yrs now...we're required to have 60 day notice. BUT apparently there's a loophole that says if an escrow is open, only 30 days is required. Boo!!! Not that I've been informed escrow has started yet).

There was also the added twist of seeing if I could possibly afford to BUY a place. I've never seriously considered it, knowing that I would never qualify for loans, or whatever, just on my current income alone. Plus So California (and Orange County) is just plain old expensive! But they still have that government 1st time homeowner's incentive ($8K back) and my folks were willing to crunch some numbers to see if they could perhaps loan me the money (instead of me going to the bank) so that I could actually buy and have an investment for the future. (And of course I'd pay them back!) This looked like it may be possible, but we had to rush our thoughts and decisions so much, we felt pressured in making decisions - which is never good. And after looking at some possible places listed - I took one Saturday and drove around neighborhoods in Lake Forest to get an idea of where those listings where and what the places/neighborhoods looked like, how was parking, etc. - we discovered that with lower prices and enough investors plunking down cash still out there, there wasn't that much wiggle room for negotiating the price down (repairs, etc.) and you had to make a deal there and then when you found it or someone else might beat you too it. AGH!!! Don't need that pressure right now when I'm cleaning & organizing and just about to start packing up! So we're back to the drawing board right now. Focus on packing up and start looking for a short term lease so perhaps I can look for a place to buy later in the year. (Who knows? The Government may extend that 1st Time Homeowner's incentive again? They already did it once when it was expiring in November '09 and extended it through June of this year - so its conceivable. )

So THAT'S been my crazy hectic life so far. Things have been going better at work at least. Haven't had any more problems with my accounting software since they did the system maintenance on 3/25 (yup same day as my notice) and updated things & migrated the software to a new server. So that's been nice to not have to worry about randomly not getting into the program cause of a stupid glitch or getting kicked out while in the middle of using it cause of a different glitch! :) Also been able to get almost completely caught up on my back-log of work. Also nice feeling! :)

Must run now - if I don't leave, I'll be late for work. Eek!

-=-B

- - - - - -

*Yes, got the notice same day as my trip up to Hollywood to see Tommy & the High Pilots perform at the Viper Room. That was a LOT of fun, and a good distraction from my troubles. I'll write a separate post about it and links to my pics online (there's some cool ones! :).

planning for St. Paddy's Day cooking

2010-03-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

so currently I'm planning on cooking up some Corned Beef, Cabbage, and other goodies...including trying out some mashed Turnips. :)

Which means WAY more food than I can actually eat. (Of course I'll keep & use my leftovers. :) But if *anyone* in the area wants to join me for eating this feast, let me know. Soon!
:)
Consider this your Invite.
:)

If I can borrow a crock pot from my mother (since mine apparently will be used by my roommate), then I'm planning on cooking this up on Wed, March 17th. If I can't get the crock pot in time...then either I'm cooking this another way than with the crock pot or I'm cooking this meal on another day. :)

Finally Got a New Phone!!!

2010-03-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

So today on my lunch break I *finally* broke down and got myself a new cell phone. I've been putting it off for a long time, but I decided that Enough was Enough - It's time to Make a Decision and get it over with. (I can be so indecisive, I know :). And now I've done it.

I re-upped with T-Mobile, and managed to get grandfather'd in for the new contract with a lot of my old contract terms (YES!!) and just added a Data (Text/Web) on top of it...plus managed to get my AAA disccount with made the monthly price definitely more reasonable. (Whew!)

So - all in all - I'm quite excited that I finally have a snazzy new phone. Yay!!!
:)

(p.s. - I got the Motorola Cliq, which works on Google Android. And Yes, I still have my same number :).

Dolly Madison Special on PBS - Tonight!!! (check your listings)

2010-03-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

Hey all! In case you didn't know, PBS is premiering Dolly Madison on American Experience tonight!
("The American Experience," at 9 p.m. It's on KCET, channel 28 for some of us).

Below are 2 different emails I got today about it airing tonight! So far I've checked out one of the Behind the Scenes Online segments (1st one listed - with the Costume Designer) and really enjoyed it!

:)

Thanks to Val & Dana for both getting the word out about this new special about to air!

-=-Rebecca
aka - Miss Violet Johnson, Johnson Oak Inn (47 Oak St)
www.HistoricalCitizens.org

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Val
Date: Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Subject: [CGWcostumers] Dolly Madison on PBS and making her costumes & turbans
To: CGWcostumers@yahoogroups.com

PBS is premiering Dolly Madison on American Experience tonite, but unfortunately for us San Diego folks, it won't be on for two weeks. My friend, Angela Burnley, of Burnley & Trowbridge, Williamsburg, pointed out the behind the scenes videos on the trailer at PBS' website.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/dolley/ The trailer starts up immediately but you can click the pause button. (IT HAS SOUND)
Move your cursor over to the right of the black screen and some boxes pop up, with Behind the Scenes- Dolly's turbans, that show them making them from straw hat crowns, and with the costume designer.
Great stuff!!
Val

------------------------

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dana
Date: Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Subject: Dolley Madison special on "The American Experience," Monday night at 9 p.m.
To:

Fellow Colonial Folk,

She served as hostess of the White House for 16 years, under two administrations.

Dolley Madison, as the wife of the secretary of state, organized the White House social functions for Thomas Jefferson (who was a widower) for eight years. Then, when her husband, James Madison, succeeded Jefferson as president, she was White House hostess for eight more years.

And what a hostess she was! Such charm, such grace. She was the Jackie Kennedy of her time. An invitation to one of her parties was a prized possession.

She was very helpful to her quiet, scholarly husband. The social bonds she created, quickly became political bonds for him. There were those who said that the reason he won a second term as president was that everyone loved his wife, Dolley.

She was considered quite a looker in her time. James Madison always referred to his wedding day as "the luckiest day of my life."

Do you know who the first president's wife to be called first lady was? It wasn't Martha Washington. And, it wasn't Jackie Kennedy. It was Dolley Madison.

When she passed away, that was the largest funeral there had ever been in Washington, D.C.

So, when someone asks you what you are doing tomorrow (Monday) night, the answer, of course, is watching the Dolley Madison special on "The American Experience," at 9 p.m. It's on KCET, channel 28.

Happy viewing,

Dana Parker

P.S: In case you want to see a preview, or how they made the show, or to find out how the bodice and stays were the 18th-century version of the Wonder Bra, check out:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/dolley/

DP

time for a change in hair...

2010-03-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm pretty much ready for a change in my current hair style - but what? Part of me wants to do something drastic...like get a Bob haircut. :) My sister-in-law told me a while back she think it'd look good on me and obviously it stuck.

Also haven't dyed my hair in a while either.

So, should I dye it AND cut it? :)

Only problem if I do a drastic hairstyle, is that it'll make doing up my hair for some of my reenactment/costume events more difficult. And I might have to buy new hairpieces to match whatever color I dye it (if I dye it).

Playing with hair can be expensive.

But my current hair length/color/style is annoying me.

So, any suggestions?

Tommy & the High Pilots @ Ground Zero Pics online

2010-03-01T09:23:00.001-08:00

DSC09582
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

On Saturday, Feb 20th, Elizabeth McCash, Gretchen Foltz & myself drove up to USC to see Tommy & the High Pilots perform at a student run coffeeshop (Ground Zero). We got there just as the first band was finishing up, but managed to snag seats/a table for the second band - which turned out to only be 1 member of the band (other member had a grandmother's birthday party he had to attend - so decent excuse for not being there :). 2nd band was the Martyrs (from Santa Barbara, I believe) - they're on Myspace at myspace.com/sbmartyrs.

Considering it was just one guy on stage for most of his show (he had a few special guests come onstage for a couple of songs to play with him), he was pretty decent. I'd listen to him again. :)

As for the Pilots, they rocked - as usuall! :) Tons of energy on stage! Crowd was definitely in to their playing too. Definitely a great show - so glad I came. Plus I got to give them a bunch of home-made cookies & lemon squares. ;-)

The lighting during the show kept changing, so that made taking pics (& occasionally videos) interesting/challenging. There were a few shots that might have been ok except that the spotlight completely washed a few people out. Also, while my location in crowd (front & center - in front of stage) was ok for most of the sound and photo-taking...it really didn't pick up the sounds center mic very well. Bummer, cause that means that the recording didn't pick up the harmonic when Tom was playing (during their cover of "Desire")

Anyways, that's my thoughts for now. If you haven't checked them out, you should TOTALLY try out Tommy & the High Pilots. They'll be playing at the Viper Room (in LA) later this month (March 25th - email them to get in FREE)!

For More Info on Tommy & the High Pilots, check out: http://www.myspace.com/thehighpilots http://www.facebook.com/thehighpilots http://twitter.com/TheHighPilots
http://www.youtube.com/thehighpilots

Oh, and back to my Pics!
Here's the link to my Flickr set of the Pilots @ Ground Zero
(all pics & video) : http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157623376003445/

To see the Videos on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MarcailGaelyn

And if anyone wants to try listening to them, I have some of their demo cds to pass out - just contact me. I'll get one to you. :)

Picnicking at "Fort Knotts" (Feb 2010)

2010-02-18T18:09:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, February 13, 2010, Oak Street (part of the Historical Citizens Association) picnicked at “Fort Knotts”. Fort Knotts is an American Civil War Living History Encampment set up on the grounds near Independence Hall – and the parking lot - at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA.

It was a beautiful day. Not too hot, not too cold, and just perfect in the shade where we set up our picnic. (Thanks go to Gina, Chris, Cat, Elizabeth McCash, & the Crosbys…and anyone else I may have accidentally left out….who snagged us such a perfect picnicking spot!).

I didn’t get that many pictures, but it was a fun ‘relaxing’ day. (I even managed a nap, which I really needed :). Jenn Mulvey even managed to make it over to visit with us with 15 *day* old baby Talon. (Yay!) So of course the baby was passed around, which he was pretty good natured about for the most part. :)

Around 5pm we day-trippers were packing up our stuff, with a few people leaving for the day and some headed over to Mrs. Knotts Restaurant to eat supper over there. I was chit-chatting with a few people and it took longer than it should have for me to pack up my stuff, so by the time I was ready to figure out my supper plans, I had missed the earlier group. I did manage to join up with Elizabeth McCash, Colleen Crosby, & Shaw Crosby as they were about to head over to try the line at Mrs. Knotts. By the time we got there, though, the wait was an hour and our friends somewhere inside. We decided not to bother and instead trekked over to the nearby Claim Jumpers (where we all proceeded to split a couple meals due to HUGE portions and 3 of us wearing corsets! :).

When we finished dinner, the 4 of us headed back to Camp and soon found the location where the dance was going on and found our friends already there. We were just in time to join in on the Virginia Reel, which was a blast. :)

I danced a few more dances (though not every one – we had only recently had supper after all!), and visited some more with other non-dancers. Then sometime past 9pm, we called it a night. What an excellent end of a long (but full) day.

Pics available at my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157623451829278/

Jane Austen Evening 2010 Photos & Video Online!

2010-02-18T16:02:00.001-08:00

DSC09320
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Belated notice, but my Jane Austen Evening 2010 pics (& video clips) are now online.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157623309385342/

I also have added the three videos from 2010 to my Youtube account’s Playlist for Jane Austen Evenings. You can find the Jane Austen Evening Playlist here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C7A0D6C8F38EE5D2

in a baking mood

2010-02-18T15:47:00.001-08:00

so, I'm thinking of baking some cookies tonight, since the baking mood has apparently struck. ;-).

But what cookies should I bake? Hmmm...so many choices.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal are always yummy. So are Molasses-Ginger Crinkle Cookies. Then there's Snickerdoodles...

:)

Any suggestions? :)

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Recipe

2010-02-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

Here the recipe I use for Garlic Parmesan Chicken, which is originally from Mary Hunt's Everyday Cheapskate (I don't know when it was published, as its a recipe my mom found and passed on to me).

- - - -

"Even if you are not typically fond of garlicky dishes, don’t rule this one out. The garlic does a wonderful job of tenderizing the chicken so that it nearly melts in your mouth. My family raves about this, and I’m nearly certain yours will, too. The secret is to make sure you use very fresh garlic. Hint: If you see any green or hints of sprouting, the bulb is not fresh."

Garlic Chicken

4 egg yolks, beaten slightly
6 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into desired portions
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup dry unseasoned bread crumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper

Drop the egg yolks, chopped garlic and chicken breasts into a zip-type plastic bag. Press out as much air as possible and seal. Massage the bag to make sure that the chicken pieces are all well coated with egg and the garlic is well distributed. Refrigerate for at least four hours, up to overnight.

Preheat oven to 400F. Place melted butter in a 9 x 13-inch glass baking dish, tipping dish until bottom of pan is coated. In a small mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Dredge chicken pieces in this coating mixture so they are coated well on all sides. Lay pieces in the baking dish in a single layer. Pour any remaining egg mixture over the top.

Bake for about 40 minutes, or until no pink remains in the chicken and the juices run clear.

Servings: 4 to 6

- - - - - -

Becky's Notes:

Go ahead and add more garlic! I love the big garlic flavor so I add a LOT. :) Go ahead and refrigerate the chicken for overnight...4 hrs is too little. In fact, feel free to do more than 24 hrs. (This last time I made it, I prepped the chicken with the garlic marinade on Monday night, and didn't have time on Tuesday to cook...so it sat marinading until I made it on Wednesday. Turned out yummy! Did I mention I like the garlic flavor yet? :)

I also tend to split the pepper into half white pepper & half black pepper...though when I'm cooking for a friend of mine who's allergic to black pepper, sticking to white pepper as a substitute is just fine.

I'm having difficulty at present adding in pics to this blog post (not sure why at the moment), so instead of delaying posting this further, I'm going to suggest just looking through my Flickr set of pics while you read the above recipe directions. I took pictures throughout the process of making the chicken, so it should match up. :) If you have questions, please let me know! I've made this enough I can possibly help. (Plus, I've even made this for a large sized crowd...I'm talking like 25-30 people! :).

For Cooking Process Pics (Recipe illustrations!) and the finished/plated food, check out my Flickr Set ("Garlic Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, & Veggies") . http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157623314268134/

Enjoy!!

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pics online

2010-02-01T10:21:00.001-08:00

DSC09262
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Ok folks - for those of you following me on Twitter & or Facebook, in January I mentioned making some Garlic Parmesan Chicken...and then had requests for the recipe. So, here are the pics from the process of making the chicken (well, the whole meal really) as well as the final product. Ta Da! Looks good, doesn't it? :)

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pics (full set): http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157623314268134/

And Yes, I'll post *another* blog post with the *actual* recipe (and a few of the pics added it :).

Costume College 2010 - what to teach?

2010-01-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

Just realized that the deadline for turning in Teacher's Forms for Costume College 2010 is FAST approaching. Eek! I haven't even thought about what classes I'm interested in offering to teach.
(Deadline to submit forms is February 6, 2010)

Any suggestions from the Peanut Gallery?
:)

Classes I've taught in years Past:

*Average American Woman of the 1860s (Lecture - Open)
>Taught 2007 & 2008

*Regency Ettiquette (Lecture - Open)
[My actual title: Ettiquette, Deportment & Social Manners in Regency England]
>Taught 2008

*Intro to Leather Tooling (Workshop - Limited Attendance)
>Taught 2009

*Timeline of Costuming (Lecture - plan on revising if I do again - Open)
>Taught 2008 (co-taught with Rebekah Metzger)

*Civil War Reenacting Panel (Panel Discussion - Open)
>Taught/Participated in 2007 (I put together the hand out and kinda moderated :).

Impromptu Road Trip to see Tommy & the High Pilots (December Madness)

2010-01-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, so back in December (2009), Tommy & the High Pilots were playing a concert up in their home city of Santa Barbara (CA).

Elizabeth had been for a while saying how she wanted to go, but the drive obviously is a bit long from Orange County (especially if she was going by herself - hubby wasn't interested in tagging along, and there was their son L to consider as well). So, didn't seem like it was going to happen after all (though it was a fun daydream idea :). I didn't even consider the possibility for myself...

...and then I got E's text message (which she NEVER does) on the day of the concert around 2pm asking me if I'd drive up with her to the concert. I've been pretty busy up to this point, both with Real Life (RL) & Work (especially with work - overbusy & working some Overtime to try to keep on top of workload), so it caught me in an interesting mood. I actually stopped to consider the request seriously! :) After a bit of texting & a brief phone call between us, figuring out some of the logistics (such as how long of an esstimated drive time, when I could get off work, how soon I could get over to her place after I drove in the opposite direction to get home and change ;-) for this last minute hair brianed scheme of ours, we set about putting the wheels in motion. ROAD TRIP!!! :)

I left work about 4:30p, headed home to quickly change and get back in the car...and managed to hit the 5 fwy (northbound) around 5pm...and merge with all the traffic heading North right then through Orange County. What normally takes around 20-30 minutes took a good hour. I showed up around 6:00pm at E's door, we piled into her car...and we were off!

No stopping for dinner on the way as we were too worried about making it to the concert by 8pm (or a bit after), when we figured that Tommy & the High Pilots would go on (doors opened at 7pm, but someone else was opening for them). Fortunately, we made it JUST in time! Yay!! :) Orange County to Santa Barbara in 2.5 hrs! Managed to arrive about 8:30pm, found parking near the Bar/Club (location for Concert)...and then found our way to Soho (the bar/club). Paid our entrance fee of $10 (and showed ID :), and to our delight, they were just starting to set up the stage for the High Pilots! We made it!!! On Time! Awesome!!

The concert itself was rocking! Energy was high - both on stage and in the crowd. Everyone was having a blast! (You can see for yourself in some of the videos I shot :)

Here's a few pics from the night:

Pic of E & myself - taken with E's camera

Some shots of the band playing away...

At one point in the night, E (wearing a knee length skirt, mind you) knelt on the floor to get a picture of the band performing on stage...and managed to get a nice cut on her knee (possibly as a result of some broken glass - someone knocked over & broke a glass near us earlier in the concert...even though it was standing room only where we were).

After the band finished playing, they hung out in the back with everyone (and of course they had a Merch table set up). We let some of the crowd pass before we even attempted to go and socialize. I killed a few minutes by buying their cd (I had been meaning to get a copy earlier, and even had plans in the works to get one mailed to me from the Pmo as they only sold at concerts and up till that day I didn't think I'd be at a show till they were back down in LA/OC areas in 2010, but seeing as I was now THERE at the concert I was totally in favor of supporting the band by *actually buying* their cd.) I even did the deal of 'buy a T-Shirt and CD for $20'. :)

I then proceded to go 'round the room, talking to each of the guys (mentioning that we saw them at Rusty's in Santa Monica and that we drove all the way up from OC - which they were suitably touched/impressed by the gesture :) and got their signatures on my newly purchased cd. Yay! :)

Unfortunately, we weren't able to hang out very long with them as it was getting late and niether of us (E or myself) had eaten any dinner that evening. We asked for a late night food spot recomendation from them (Tom, Mike, & Pmo were all nearby us at this point) since this was the band's home town - so theoretically someone might know the area/what was open this late. Mike gave us directions for a spot down the way (theoretically w/in walking distance) that could still be open, & Pmo mentioned another place nearby the one Mike mentioned, so we set off on foot (in the chilled night air) in search of food.

However, after a number of minutes of walking in the cold breezy night air, we weren't having much luck in finding any late night eateries open (besides an expensive looking restaurant that we passed on). Eventually, we turned around and stopped in the still-open CVS Pharmacy and picked up a few snack-items to tide us over. (I got some beef jerky & some kind of nuts/berries/granola/honey bar. Turns out my bar choice was a better one than E's choice - we both decided that the one she picked was Nasty! I shared some of mine with her :)

So, we hoofed it back to our car and set off on the long drive back to the OC. Fortunately, we came across a still open In N Out (it was only around midnight at this point :) so took advantage and got some real food for ourselves. Yay! :)

Then we settled in for the rest of the long drive back. Fortuately, I wasn't driving, as I many of you know how I do have a tendancy to nod off when driving (if tired enough). We got to E's house around 2am, and I got home sometime around 2:30am. Good thing that when we started hatching this crazy scheme I decided to take Wednesday Morning (12/23) off from work! (Yay for Half Days :).

And that's the end of my crazy last minute Road Trip Adventure to see Tommy & the High Pilots in Santa Barbara only days before Christmas! :)

To see MORE Pics and Video, you can check out my Flickr Site here. You can also check out just the video on Youtube here. (If you want to catch up on all my recordings from Tommy & the High Pilot's concerts, I also have a Playlist on my account dedicated just to them :).

English History Article - "Oldest remains of English royalty unearthed"

2010-01-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

I've always had a soft spot for English History - don't get me started on 12th Century/the Civil War between King Stephen & Empress Matilda (hey, I admit it, I'm an Anglophile ;-), and today a friend of mine posted a link (on facebook) to an interesting article published in the Telegraph.co.uk that relates to English History.

Score! Right up my Alley!

"Oldest remains of English royalty unearthed"
by: Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Published: 6:50AM GMT, 20 Jan 2010.

So I've decided to share the link as well. It's neat, and maybe a few other History Buffs out there will appreciate the info. :)

Libeled Lady - 1936 screwball Rom Com :)

2010-01-20T10:10:00.000-08:00

So the other night I watched a wonderful gem of a movie, Libeled Lady (1936), staring Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy, & Spencer Tracy. (Names listed in order of screen cap/picture below :).

Its a Screwball Romantic Comedy as only the 1930s can produce! It has a wonderfully convoluted storyline about a rich american heiress (Myrna Loy) who has been slandered by a paper (Spencer Tracy's) and she sues the paper for $5 Million in damages. With the help of William Powell's & Jean Harlow's characters, the various characters scramble about trying to figure out a way to straighten everything out (ideally get the lawsuit dropped) and lead in to the inevitable happy ending as only the 1930s Romantic Comedies can produce.

It was a fantastic ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. Jean Harlow was in fine form giving as good as she got, slinging back some witty lines to both Spencer Tracy & William Powell. And its always fun to see the chemistry of Powell & Loy in these romantic comedies.

Hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did!

Here's some online reviews I found & places to find Additional Info on the movie:

IMDB ; Amazon.com ;

The Daleisphere ; Eternal Sunshine of the Logical Mind ; Dr. Marco's High Quality Movie Scans ; The Digital Bits - Barrie Maxwell's Classic Coming Attractions ; DVD Beaver

(I also got these pics/screen caps from the above sites :).

Mmm....malty chocolate goodness!

2010-01-13T10:00:00.001-08:00

Mmm....malty chocolate goodness!
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

a personal favorite pic from the CGW Ruby's Diner & Ice Skating Christmas Party set. :)

Pic taken on 12-20-09 at Ruby's Diner (near Seaside Ice) in Redondo Beach, CA.

CGW goes to Ruby's & Ice Skating - pictures now online!

2010-01-13T09:57:00.001-08:00

Group Shot #2
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Pics from Costumer's Guild West (CGW)'s December 20th outing to Ruby's Diner & Seaside Ice, in Redondo Beach, are now online.

It was a cosutmed event, and we also made it our Christmas/Holiday party :)

To view the entire set on Flickr (pics & video):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157623193885764/

2 videos are also available on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MarcailGaelyn

Me holding my 2 hr old niece!! :)

2009-12-22T14:29:00.001-08:00

Me holding my 2 hr old niece!! :)
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Yeah, that's right, that's ME holding my (almost) 2 hr old niece, Chloe!

Which means I *finally* got pics from my camera from when my niece was born onto the web! :)

Name: Chloe Lynne Cornthwaite
Born: Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 10:56pm
Details: 8 lbs, 9 oz, and 21 inches long

Monica got a *bunch* of photos on her really cool camera (HD and everything)...but I don't have any of those pics. Just got the ones on my camera.

Flickr Photo Set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157623050647984/

Tommy & the High Pilots Pics online

2009-12-22T13:19:00.001-08:00

DSC08627
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

I've now got my pics and all 8 videos from Tommy & the High Pilot's concert at Rusty's Surf Shack (Santa Monica Pier) on 11/27/09 online.

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157622912233735/

(Videos will also be posted to Youtube...eventually :)

In Need of Phone Upgrade Advice/Feedback

2009-12-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

ok, I am SO overdue for upgrading my cell phone. I'm tired of putting up with my broken Motorola Razor (a flip phone). It works 'ok'...its certainly not the best for texting, but I manage...that is until the camera button is accidentally pushed (either external button on side of phone or the camera button on the keypad) and then the *whole thing freezes* and I have to take the battery out to reset the thing. And since I let my phone contract expire (I'm now on month to month)...I *could* switch to a new service provider if I wanted to.

But do I want to? Don't know. All the plans I've looked into so far are *worse* than my current plan (even if expired, I still continue at that plan/rate until something is changed, like a new phone). However, if I get a new phone - either with same carrier or switching to a new carrier - I'll get less minutes for either the same amount of money (or more money). And for ANY of the phones I want, I'll need to add on a Data Service plan, so that means more money spent too. (And I'm on a budget. May not seem like it some times, but I am :).

Currently, I'm with T-Mobile and have had decent customer service and cell service ever since I switched to them years ago. (I think sometime around...2002 or 2003? wow! Was it really that long ago? Time flies!) I called last night to find out what my options with them were, and they do have a plan where I don't have to sign a contract (can continue month to month and get a similar minutes plan with unlimited texting and data service) without it being TOO much more expensive than I'm already paying a month, but I would have to pay for the phone (or, well, a discounted portion of the new phone price).

If I stay with T-mobile, I *could* get the myTouch, their/Google's version of the iPhone. I need more info on the phone though. (FYI - I'd have to pay like $120 for the phone.) So, anyone heard good/bad things about this phone? Anyone now of a reputable site that reviews it?

Feel free to share thoughts on switching/staying with various service providers and the benefits/drawbacks of some of the different new phones offered right now. I'd welcome the input. :) Thanks!

That time of the year again...for Christmas Card Mailing Update

2009-12-03T07:39:00.001-08:00

Yup, its that time of the year again...time for Christmas Cards!

Yay!!! :)

I love sending/receiving actual mail...such as cards...don't you?

So, IF you'd like to be included in this year's Christmas Card mailing list, please drop me a line with your current mailing address so I can update my address list.

You can email me at: Rebecca (dot) Thelin (at) gmail (dot) com

(email spelled out so its not as easily picked up by spam :).

Thanks!

-=-Rebecca / Becky

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-26T23:00:00.000-08:00

So this year, Thanksgiving plans were kinda up in the air for a while. Sara (my sister) was due to give birth any day (her official due date was Nov 17th, but that date had come and gone). My folks and I then made tentative plans to do a small family dinner (them, my youngest bro Kyle, and myself)...maybe even invite my Grandma Doris & Aunt Jody over (assuming they didn't end up accepting one of their other Thanksgiving invites). We didn't want to do anything super big in case the baby decided it was time to come, and we all would be disrupting our plans to go to the hospital.

Then on Tuesday (Nov 24) got an email from my dad saying that mom had badly sprained her ankle (not broken, they went to the hospital to x-ray it and make sure). Thus, I ended up cooking dinner for my folks and Kyle. We kept it fairly simple since it was just the 4 of us. And it turned out great.

My very first attempt at cooking turkey (by myself) turned out wonderful. Fortunately, earlier this year (a few months ago?) while flipping channels randomly, I stumbled across PBS's airing one of Julia Child's tv shows on how to roast poultry (including cleaning & trimming, trussing it, etc.). I thought it was interesting stuff at the time (you all know how I like to cook :), and though I had no plans to utilize the info in the immediate future, I filed her advice away for later.

And it came in handy for Thanksgiving! :)

The turkey was about 13 lbs (fresh), and I stuffed it with fresh sage, rosemary, & Parsley, a thinly sliced lemon, 2 large shallots (also sliced), a couple of cloves of garlic (smashed & then cut into large chunks), and a large pinch of salt. I also rubbed the outside of the turkey/skin with some butter. Cooked it for about 15 minutes at a high temp (500 degrees) and then lowered it to like 325 for the rest of the 2-1/2 hrs of cooking time. ( I did baste the bird a few times throughout the cooking process, but not *every* 20 minutes.)

I also made mashed (red) potatoes. (Discovered that they didn't want the skins on after I had chopped most of the potatoes, so spent next number of minutes slicing/peeling off skins from potato chunks. Oh well...at least I got them all. :) I also cooked some fresh green beans (so spent a while trimming & cutting green beans after I washed them). Oh, and I can't forget the stuffing/dressing! Used the Trader Joe's cornbread stuffing (just breadcrumbs & seasoning) which I cooked on the stove and then finished in the oven. (I added a bit of turkey flavoring to it too...and some of the chopped giblets).

AND, of course, I made gravy. While I did use some Trader Joe's Turkey Gravy (comes in a small box/carton - no funky stuff/preservatives, etc added), I definitely made some gravy from scratch using the turkey drippings, some of the chopped giblets (and using the broth from the water/herbs that they cooked in), and some flour/butter. My homemade gravy was WONDERFUL, but obviously not much, so I added it to the Trader Joe's gravy, and it mixed very well. (Didn't loose the flavoring, cause mine was strong enough - I had cooked it down before adding it in to the other stuff). So we definitely had plenty of gravy, which is always nice.

I think the best compliment was my youngest bro, who is a picky eater, giving the Thumbs Up approval on the food...especially the gravy. :) He took plenty of helpings of that (for his turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing). Not that my turkey *needed* gravy (it was flavorful and moist), but it is nice to have a bit of gravy with your turkey. :)

So the four of us (Mom/Kathy, Dad/Greg, my bro Kyle and I) sat down to a simple but yummy dinner at about 2:30/3pm and enjoyed the food and each other's company. :)

Ludo Concert @ Troubadour Pics now online

2009-11-12T10:34:00.001-08:00

DSC08359
Originally uploaded by marcailgaelyn

Pics from the Ludo Concert (with Without a Face, Ha Ha Tonka, & Meese as the 3 opening acts) are now online at my flickr account.

(Well, all but *one* pic that the Flickr uploader just didn't seem to like...oh well...I'll fix that when I get home tonight :).

To view the entire set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157622786512656/

Remembering Remembrance Day (aka Armistice or Veterans Day)

2009-11-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Today is November 11th, which means its the anniversary of the day that World War I officially ended (or at least major hostilities did) when an Armistice treaty was signed between the Allies and Germany on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. (Or at least that last part is what tradition tells us :).

While here in the US, these days most people know this day only as Veterans Day (for honoring veterans of all wars)...and as a federal holiday, an excuse for many to take a day off of work, I like to also remember the original purpose of marking the end of the Great War and a hope for peace.

So whether or not you are working today (like I myself am) be sure to at least take a moment today to remember our veterans , the sacrifices they have made for our freedoms today, and of course remember Remembrance Day (Armistice Day).

In Flander's Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm

And for those of you wondering, Yes, when I 'hear' this poem in my mind, I often think of Linus (from Peanuts) reading it. (from the What have we Learned, Charlie Brown? tv special) ;-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VtGbJHXTQ8

Rossum Corporation (Dollhouse)

2009-11-09T21:21:00.000-08:00

Something cool for Dollhouse fans like myself....

The Rossum Corporation has new website.

http://www.rossumcorporation.com/

Pretty slick website, huh?

Not bad considering its for a corporation that doesn't really exist (except for within a TV show :).

Ludo in Concert was AWESOME!! :)

2009-11-07T10:50:00.001-08:00

Ok, I had SUCH a blast yesterday going to see Ludo with Gretchen Foltz and Elizabeth Ray at The Troubadour. Truly a Fun Evening. :)

We all met up a bit before 4pm at my work and carpooled up to West Hollywood, grabbed some food, and then found the theater and some parking. (Garmin/GPS kept telling us to go in the wrong direction - odd - but we had the address, so we looked for the street number and eventually found it :).

Only downside to the parking we found for the evening - found a 'public parking' area, but no guy in booth (all closed up), and no signs up anywhere saying whether or not it was free or paid for the evening. HOWEVER, when we got back to our car, there was an attendant, NEW signs were up saying a parking rate - which were NOT there when we parked - and a note was on my car saying that we had to pay the Max. Rate of $15.00 for the parking lot. What?!?! We argued with the guy about it. Said that when we arrived it was 7pm, there was no one around, and there most definitely were No signs up saying there was a fee for parking. He argued back that HE go there at 7pm and there were signs around/at the driveways and you had to pay for overnight parking past 7pm. Considering we walked out of the driveway/entrance where one of these New signs were standing (upright sign holder out on the side walk) - the three of us all agreed it certainly wasn't there when we walked by at 7pm. UGH!! Dude!! What a rip-off! We would have paid for our few hours of parking when we got there IF there were signs posted and a guy around. We looked! But we got into a stalemate argument, and there was no 'supervisor' to complain to or anyone to take the issue up with over his head...and we wanted to go home...so we finally gave in and paid the $15 cause it was like 1am and we all needed to get on the road for our hour drive back to the OC.

Back to the FUN part of the evening. :)

Both on Twitter and Facebook, Ludo had posted that the doors to the Troubadour would open at 7pm that there might be 'free stuff' available.
Facebook: "LUDO Is rocking the troubador in Hollywood tonight. Come early for free stuff and Without a Face. Doors open at 7. Tickets still available!"
Twitter: "In Hollywood tonight at the troubador. Doors open at 7. Tix avail at the door. Come early for free ludo crap and @waftweets !!!"

So we (and a bunch of others who read the messages) all got there early...only to find out the Troubadour WASN'T opening early...and their staff was pretty annoyed with all of us fans showing up early and keep walking up to the (unlocked) door and inquiring about them being open. They had a line queue up a bit down the street (and there was no signage or anything to say "stand here to wait for concert" so you walk by w/o knowing what the line is actually for...since its a decent distance away from the Troubadour). Basically, the line started at an abandoned building at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd & Doheny, on Santa Monica, and wrapped around the corner back along the sidewalk on Doheny. Eventually (like almost 8pm), they opened the doors and started checking tickets and IDs.

Got my nifty little orange wristband that says "Troubadour" (proving you had a ticket and could go in and wander around, I guess. Hmm....perhaps they were color coded for those over/under 21?...though I didn't look to see if there was another color. The Troubadour has a bar, so its possible).

We checked out the front bar area, where they had some merchandise set up, but they had a bunch of stuff for the other bands/acts that I didn't recognize and and who were apparently the groups leading in to Ludo's act....and I didn't spot (at that time) much Ludo stuff out. (A couple of T-Shirts and posters, mostly). Maybe they had more Ludo stuff there...just not out. They people working the area were all trying to quickly eat some food - not focused on hawking merchandise, really. ;-)

So we headed into the main area. Checked out the bleacher style seating in the upper area, but eventually just kicked it in the main standing-room-only section near the stage. Of course, considering who I was hanging with, the three of us were great at entertaining ourselves and cracking ourselves up. (We broke out into spontaneous movie quotes often throughout the night - even in line outside - and even the occasional Song. "Brave, Brave, Brave, Brave Sir Robin" (Monty Python's Holy Grail) was one of those songs while waiting in line outside. :)

1st act finally started and it was some guy who called himself "Man without a Face".
Um...we were not impressed. I got a Guinness and drank it while we waited. He kinda got his target audience with his first couple of songs. Some of which had some potential, but he needs more work/help/pointers.

2nd Act was a group called "Ha Ha Tonka". I actually liked this group. Better than the 1st act by far, though they were not to Liz and Gretchen's taste. (Too country-ish for them...even if it was a *Rock* Country influence). They said they were from the Ozarks, so a bit of a Country influence makes sense (to me). I loved the A Capella song the guys did. Their voices blended well together. These guys were drinking beer while performing (had beer bottles instead of water bottles to take swigs of between songs :), and its influence definitely showed on at least 1 of the guys soon enough. And wow!, the guitarist was REALLY talented! Liz thought so too - and mentioned that no matter what happens with this band, that guy could probably make it with probably any band. Oh, and overall, this band had good stage presence. (Kudos to them :).

The very last song they performed they were joined by members of the next Act, Meese. It was a rip-roaring good time. They were all having a blast on stage, which the audience loved. Fun.
:)

3rd Act, "Meese", got set up after a bit and started in on their set of songs. They're from Denver, CO, and the reason they're called Meese is cause their two main band members are brothers with that last name (lead singer/guitarist/keyboards and a guitarist/signer...or was he base...I forget now). I enjoyed the songs (the beat mostly, cause with the sound as it was, it was sometimes hard to understand the actual lyrics :) Liz mentioned that they were a bit too monotoned for her taste. (Playing style). And we both agreed that they're stage presence could use a bit of work. :)

And funny enough, some of Ha Ha Tonka members came back on stage for Meese's last song to play with them. (Ha Ha Tonka lead singer & guitar player joined Meese's drummer in the back...helping out on drums ;). It was fun to watch.

When they were done, it was a flurry of activity as the stage was fixed up for LUDO! (Last 2 bands had to get their gear off-stage, and Ludo's gear had to get on and set up how they wanted/needed it for their performance). As each Act had performed, the Troubadour was getting more and more Crowded. Now, as Ludo was just about ready to go on, it was pretty packed! Definitely standing room only in this downstairs section between stage and bar. :)

Eventually, everything was set up how they wanted it (the band members were down there working away with the stage hands, making sure guitars were tuned, levels were ok on mics, etc.). The band members left the stage for one last gathering (up in a box office area, stage right up a flight of stairs along the wall leading from the stage/corner of the room) and then made their grand entrance.

Woo-hoo! Everyone was ecstatic! Opening song for the night - "Go Getter Greg".

This guy recorded some pieces from few of the songs (from his cell phone) at last night's concert and posted them on his youtube account
http://www.youtube.com/user/DaWeaves79

Go Getter Greg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udqF6PKqqKg
Hum Along: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_h_kDMEkXU
Saturday Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkU01p_gicw

While the first songs were great to sing to, and they played to the crowd (the energy of the crowd was really high!), the Band REALLY kicked it into gear once they started playing Broken Bride. (Entire album!)

That was AWESOME. If you don't know about Broken Bride, the entire CD is one long story. Its a Rock Opera about this guy (known as The Traveler) who's wife died in May of 1989, so he builds a time machine to go back and save her. Only he shoots too far and ends up in pre-historic times, is attacked by Pterodactyls and ends up hiding in a cave. Next song on the album is "Save Our City" where we go back to the 'present/future' and where the world is in chaos due to a zombie apocalypse and we follow the story of a young boy trying to get people to rise up and help fight the zombies (and their evil leader, known as the Dragon). Then we head back into pre-historic times with the next song to catch up with the Traveler. He makes a run for the Time Travel Machine and manages to reclaim his machine (narrowly avoiding a pack of pterodactyls). He then activates the machine and tries again to get to 1989 to save his wife...only this time the machine malfunctions again and he shoots too far forward and lands in the zombie apocalypse. The Traveler, faced with a decision to help save mankind or to go back and rescue his wife....and I'll stop there. (But I will tell you there's a twist in the end :).

Note - when they perform Broken Bride, I mean they perform it *all* w/out a break... straight through. Just one song into the next. Like I said...AWESOME!!!

They performed a bunch more songs after that, including Hum Along, Druken Lament, Topeka, and (I think I recall) a few other songs from "Your Awful, I Love You" album (which meant I could sing along cause I KNEW those songs :). Oh, and Andrew Volpe sang "Horror of Our Love" before the band started in to Broken Bride. (He had the stage to himself for that one). Great song, so couldn't forget mentioning it. :)

Lake Pontchartrain was DEFINITELY a fan favorite. The crowd ate it up and they were having a blast on the stage. (I really started getting horse by this time, shouting/singing along...along with everyone else in the audience).

It was really fun when the band would stop singing on some of the songs throughout the evening and let us just sing for a bit while they played. (Testing us to see if we would continue/know the lyrics).

One of the last song of the night: Goodwill Hunting by Myself. (Yay! Crowd loved it)

AND final song of the night: Love Me Dead!

YES!!! Definitely one the crowd was waiting for. Such Fun! :)

Oh!!! And at the very end of the night, after all the songs, they said they have one more CA show (tonight - Sat, 11/7 - at the Glass House in Pomona) and announced that in January/the new year, they'll be back in CA to work on a new album. YES!!! :)

After the concert, most of the people headed in to the front are to buy merchandise, and Ludo's band members came out to meet the fans, autograph stuff, take pics with fans. It was great. I got 4 signatures, and got one pic with Andrew Volpe (and got to say to each of those guys how much I enjoyed the concert - totally fun seeing them live).

RE: my 4 signatures - They signed my copy of "Your Awful, I Love You" cd liner :). Forgot the CD in my car (doh! thought I grabbed it) and my sharpie marker (also in the car), but at least I had the case so I could get the liner signed...and I had a regular gel/ink pen in my purse that worked for one signature, and others either had a sharpie on them, or a fan lent them theirs :).

Souvenir for the night - besides tons of photos and autographs - Liz got me a copy of the Broken Bride album as a Thank You for driving and such. (You're awesome Liz. Thanks!)

Members of Ludo:
Andrew Volpe
Tim Ferrell
Tim Convy
Matt Palermo

Links for Ludo:
http://www.ludorock.com/default.aspx
http://www.facebook.com/LUDO
http://twitter.com/LudoRock
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheLudoVideoThing

Overall - Wonderful, Wonderful time. I'm SO glad I went. Totally recommend them live. If you Like Ludo's stuff - Go see them in concert!

(p.s. - I'll upload my pics in a few minutes...and will post again to here when they're all up on Flickr...and I'll add at least some on facebook too :)

The Islander (song by Nightwish)

2009-11-05T09:59:00.001-08:00

A friend shared the youtube link for this music video on my facebook acccount yesterday...and I gotta say I really like this song (and the music video). I listened to it a few times last night/this morning, and the song is still stuck in my head.
:)

So *I'm* going to share the link and post the lyrics here.
:)

"The Islander" - by Nightwish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2sd8UMUaIk

Lyrics:

An old man by a seashore at the end of day
Gazes the horizon with seawinds in his face
Tempest-tossed island, seasons all the same
Anchorage unpainted and a ship without a name

Sea without a shore for the banished one unheard
He lightens the beacon, light at the end of world
Showing the way lighting hope in their hearts
The ones on their travels homeward from afar

This is for long-forgotten light at the end of the world
Horizon crying the tears he left behind long ago

The albatross is flying, making him daydream
The time before he became one of the world`s unseen
Princess in the tower, children in the fields
Life gave him it all: An island of the universe

Now his love`s a memory, a ghost in the fog
He sets the sails one last time saying farewell to the world
Anchor to the water, seabed far below
Grass still in his feet, and a smile beneath his brow

This is for long-forgotten light at the end of the world
Horizon crying the tears he left behind long ago

So long ago....

This is for long-forgotten light at the end of the world
Horizon crying the tears he left behind so long ago

- - -

Wikipedia link for info on the song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Islander_(song)

Remember, remember the 5th of November

2009-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

"Remember, remember the fifth of November.

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.

I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot."

For those of you wondering what this rhyme has to do with anything...well, it cause I'm a history buff, an Anglophile and today's the 5th of November. :) The Rhyme basically a warning aganist treason (and not to forget its consequences.)

For more information on Guy Fawkes Night, the Gunpowder Plot, or even the nursery rhyme itself here are a few links:

Guy Fawkes Night Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Britannia History: The Gunpowder Plot (Overview)
http://www.britannia.com/history/kaboom.html

Gunpoweder Plot Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot

Rhymes: 5th of November
http://www.rhymes.org.uk/remember_remember_the_5th_november.htm

Jane Austen Evening Tickets Now On Sale

2009-11-02T08:16:00.001-08:00

Passing along the info for the Jane Austen Evening 2010.

I've already bought my ticket (dance portion of the evening only)

-=-Becky

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dance & History <laha@pacbell.net>
Date: Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Subject: Jane Austen Evening Tickets Now On Sale

The Jane Austen Evening

You are cordially inivited to the Jane Austen Evening, a civilized afternoon and evening of tea, entertainment, pleasant company and dancing. It will be held at the Pasadena Masonic Hall (200 S. Euclid) on Saturday, January 23rd 2009.

The high tea begins at 4 PM. The dancing at 7 PM. Tickets may be purchased to the tea and dance or for the dance alone.

Live music will be provided by the "Philadelphia Academy of Music". Our dance mistress will be Marsden Macrae.

Formal attire or military uniforms (any nation) of the time of Jane Austen is suggested. If you don't have period attire, please wear modern formal wear (tuxedo, coat and tie, long dress etc.). Formal wear of some description is a necessity in refined company.

Classes to teach the dances for the Jane Austen Evening will be held on the two Sundays preceding the dance on January 10th and 17th.

For more information, and to purchase tickets online or through the mail, go to the website at http://lahacal.org/austen/index.html.

a day in the life of me...one crazy busy Friday afternoon

2009-10-31T09:10:00.000-07:00

so My Twitter Update from around 1pm (and imported to facebook) said:

"seems like over half the office took the rest of the day off. ;) Not me, though...still working away..."

and THEN I discovered a voice mail left from a broker for me, wanting to move forward with a deal that wasn't even put together on our side...and both our in-house leasing agent for that property (who's also the property manager) and the managing partner for that property were GONE for the afternoon. ACK!!!!

Here's the situation: This broker and his client had toured 2 available units that were next to each other in one park, and he liked both of them, but wasn't quite sure which one to take. He finally told us Unit A, so we rushed to put paperwork together (this guy wanted/wants to move in this weekend, of course) for unit A. Wasn't able to finish it Thursday afternoon (cause paperwork turned into us Lease Admins so late in the day), so it was finished 1st thing Friday morning. Only when we told our guy that it was ready (been approved by the managing partner and everything), he said to hold on sending it/printing off the hardcopies for the client/potential tenant to sign as the guy is now waffling on which unit! Gah!! He may want unit B after all.

Ok. Hold on that. Sure, I can do that. No problem. If it changes I'll just get new paperwork for the new address (suite B) with instructions for a different lease. (They were different square footages and different floorplans, so while the rental rate would be the same, I would have different $$ amounts to enter into the lease, different Lessee's Share % to calculate out for the new lease, new floorplan to draw up, etc...a trickle down effect where I would have a lot of changes to make and not just simple swap out one address for another on the already drawn up lease).

I came back from my lunch break and discovered:

1) The Managing Partner for this property (think ultimate boss that all deals go by since he signs off on them, literally) was out for the rest of the day, [Call him "T" for this narrative]

2) the Listing Agent/Property Manager for this property was out for the rest of the day, [Call him "J" for this narrative] &

3) I had a voice mail from the Potential Tenant's Broker saying they decided they wanted Unit B after all, and how quickly could that lease be gotten to him (& email him a copy) cause his client wanted to sign and get keys today?

ACK!!!!

I never even GOT a new lease request for unit B for this potential tenant from "J" (the Property Manager/Listing Agent) before he left for the day....so I had no numbers, etc.

Twitter update around then (not imported to facebook):

"Frantically scrambling to keep a deal from falling through. Ack!!!"

On our Internal electronic In/Out Board (system's called Gatekeeper :), the "T" (Managing Partner) had at least said that he'd be available by cell, if needed. So I called him and updated him on everything that's happened.

He had me check our listing to verify that both units were listed at the same rental rates (and that they were different square footages), and told me to go ahead with writing up the new lease (but I would obviously need to calculate out all the various differences, figure out what the percentage increase bumps in rent were for this guys Options to Renew cause I would have to duplicate that percentage with the new rental numbers, calculate out the new Lessee's Share % of the park - individual unit Square Feet divided by entire park's Square Feet - and use that % to re-calculate Base Year amounts,...etc. )

So I begin pulling all the necessary documentation together, working on the new calculations, found an original floor plan for the unit in our Plan Room and re-drew it in Microsoft Visio so I could then use the drawn image in a Word Document Exhibit, and just in general being frantic busy all afternoon.

Outside Broker, of course, called about and hour after I picked up his voice mail message in order to follow up on his previous message. I gave him an update (not exactly the one he wanted - he wanted it all done and ready right then & there, of course), and told him that both our broker ("J") he was dealing with was gone for the rest of the day and that the Managing Partner ("T") who signs off on things was also gone, so I had to scramble to get approval of the deal (cause I have no authority to sign off on deals - whew!! :) and was now working on it. And that it was more than a simple switch of the address cause this unit was a different square footage so I had to re-do a lot of the work from scratch (including various calculations) and that I was actually in the middle of re-calculating the rental schedule when he called. So, he left me to my work with my promise to keep him in the loop.

(whew!)

About an hour or so later (I'm still frantically working), I get a call from "J" checking in to see if we had ever heard back from the outside broker. Boy, had we ever! I filled him in. Not much that he could do for me, though, being unavailable to come back to work. He thanked me for stepping up, though. Oh, and I think it was that call from "J" saying he had just talked to the outside broker. And I'm like? What?!? Why is he calling you? I TOLD him you were off for the rest of the afternoon, and *I* just spoke with him/gave him an update like an hour ago.

Sheesh!

Needless to say, "J" said he didn't realize that the outside broker & I had already talked, and that we were working on fixing the deal...and basically apologized for not getting me the paperwork I needed before he left.

I go back to working on the stuff.

The one remaining Managing Partner (I have 4 in my office, and they cover different properties, so we always try to have 1 around at all times...just in case) - let's call him "F" - was in his office, so I went over to him and filled him in on the situation and asked if he would be around to sign the deal, assuming I got all this paperwork done in time. He said Yes, that he could make sure he was around, and then proceeded to leave the office to check out the unit himself (to verify its move-in condition) and retrieve the key in the lock box. (Yay! :)

Around now I called the Insurance Broker for the potential tenant (we had spoken yesterday, cause the guy was trying to start the insurance process in advance so he could have it when he signed the lease - we require proof of Commercial Liability Insurance that covers the premises leased before we hand out keys) and left a message with the guy saying I know he was working on an insurance policy for his client covering unit A, but the client now wants Unit B, so while we're re-drawing up the lease documents, we need him to change the policy to cover the correct unit. About 5 minutes later, I get an email from someone in their office sending me a copy of the Insurance Certificate (for Unit A). Wow! So I email her back with my request, and she's like "no problem, here you go!". AWESOME!! One hurdle down. :)

Back to frantically working....I get the other Lease Admin to double check my numbers on my calculations for the new unit. Yay, we match. :) "F" comes back from checking out the unit, I get him to verify that the floorplan I just drew up is correct and matches what he saw (yay!), and then I finish putting all the pages together of my new DRAFT of a Lease Agreement (with all its supporting paperwork too) . "F" then reviews the new lease and says its good to go. So I finalize it all, including printing to PDF files...and then compiling the various files down into 2 PDF files - one for the entire Lease Agreement with Addendum and Exhibit Pages and the other for the various lease supporting docs like the initial bill statement, a memo re: our late rent policy, Utilities and maintenance information, etc. - and then emailed off those PDF files to the broker. Then I called him to give him the good news.

By now is was just after 4pm, so we were calling it close to get this deal signed, but he was very happy that the lease was ready for signature and said that he'd call his client and let me know if/when they were coming over to sign.

So while I waited, I called both "T" & "J" to give them the updates. (And also let them know that "F" would be able to countersign the Lease and give keys to the new tenant).

Outside broker called back and said his client (and himself) would be there in like 15 minutes. He wanted to know if his client needed to stop by the bank for a cashiers check first or not, but we ("T"s & "F"s decision) said it wasn't necessary as his client had such good credit. (We generally require that if you want to take possession immediately upon signature, you give us a cashiers check. You wouldn't believe the number of initial checks we've gotten that have bounced. Sad, but true).

The client/potential tenant arrived first, and I put him into our small conference room to start going over the paperwork with him. His broker arrived a few minutes later and joined us. And then I got "F" so he could answer the questions that were starting. (Better that answers were coming from a more 'authoritative' source than myself)

One last thing to figure out while they were going over the Lease - "F" asked me if Trash was included in the Common Area Operating Expenses or if the tenant was responsible for his own services (as he wasn't the managing partner so he didn't know). I wasn't 100% sure myself, I quickly scrambled to look through various past CAOE reconciliations and asked our Accounts Payable gal. I called "J", since he IS the property manager, but he was no help and couldn't recall off the top of his head if it was or was not. (Doh!) Fortunately, after talking with Accounts Payable gal, we verified that Trash was NOT included in Common Area stuff, the tenant was responsible for his own trash service. (And therefore my Tenant Utilities & Maintenance information sheet was still correct! Whew! :)

My Twitter Message when they were signing:

Woo-hoo! My scrambling paid off and the deal is being finalized (signed) right now. Yes!!! :)

By 5:00pm, the lease docs were signed, keys handed over, and the new tenant was walking out with his executed copy of the lease, ready to start moving in this weekend.

WHEW!!!

What a rush! But a good one.

Great way to start the weekend!

Curse your Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal! (Firefly quote)

2009-10-29T11:14:00.001-07:00

wash dinos
Originally uploaded by TiLT creations

How Cute! :) Someone hand embroidered that quote and some dinos!

I just have the ThinkGeek.com t-shirt :)

For those of you not in the 'know' about this quote, the quote & dino images have to do with a scene in the pilot episode of Firefly (tv series - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/ ).

Here's the clip on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buCuMVmvZPw

Golden Bough's Program (10/26)

2009-10-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's the program from Golden Bough's performance on Monday night (10/26) for the North Orange County Community Concerts Association.

Golden Bough: Margie Butler, Paul Espinoza, & Kathy Ross Sierra.

"America Bound"

"Set sail for the land of freedom and opportunity. Tonight, the popular Celtic trio, Golden Bough, performs a new musical concert, America Bound, capturing in song the experience of millions of Irish and Scottish immigrants who crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of a better life in the New World. Margie Butler, Paul Espinoza and Kathy Sierra trace that journey in haunting ballads, humorous songs, sea chanteys and rousing jigs and reels and demonstrate how the songs these immigrants carried in their hearts to their new home became the foundation for some of American's best-loved folk music."

PROGRAM

Mursheen Durkin

Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore

P Stands for Paddy

When the Boys Come Rolling HOme

Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears

Froggy Went A'Courtin'*

Frog in the Well**

When New York was Irish

The Little Beggarman / The Red Haired Boy***

The Bard of Armagh / The Streets of Laredo

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

Real Old Mountain Dew / The Arkansas Traveler

*Popular American Folk version of an (originally) Irish song, according to the performers.

**The Irish Version

***Went from Irish song to an American Appalachians/Bluegrass song. :)

- - INTERMISSION - -

The Water is Wide

The Scottish Soldier

Green Grow the Rashes-O

Black is the Color

Charlie is My Darling

Banks of the SAcramento

Irish Eyes Are Smiling / Too-Ral-Loo-Ra*

My Irish Molly-O

Bonnie Highland Laddie

Cape Breton Tunes

Donal, Where's Your Trousers?

*According to the performers, though these 2 songs are usually known as Irish, they' actually written by Americans. :)

Joy of Spontaneity (Celtic Concert)

2009-10-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, around noon, I got a text message from my friend @Candai which said something to the effect of "tell me your available tonight?!?"
:)

After being on the recipient end of many of her last-minute invites too cool things (mostly where she got free tix through work), I've learned to say "Yes". :)

I asked her what was up, and she responded that it was a Celtic band performing in Fullerton (7:30p) and that FREE tickets had just fallen in her lap. Woo-hoo!

We BOTH love our Celtic/Irish/Scottish music! So carpooling plans were made, and we met up after work to travel straight over to Fullerton, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the concert.

Though we missed one transition from 55N to 91 (too busy chatting, I know :), it turns out that it was all in the best as by taking our detour route to get back on the 91 fwy we COMPLETELY missed the car fire that shut down the other side of the fwy. (If we had made the transition, we would have been stuck in that horrible mess). Whew!

Walking about Downtown Fullerton, we spotted an 'early bird' special (2 for 1 entree price, w/purchase of 2 beverages...any beverages, even soda/tea :) at an Italian place so decided to chance it. Food was yummy, and the service was good (except when it came time to pay - the server was a tad slow at noticing that we were ready to to pay :). And best of all, it was w/in walking distance of the concert location.

The concert was part of a series put on by the North Orange County Community Concerts Association (NOCCC). http://www.northocconcerts.org/ Apparently, the NOCCC is celebrating its 64th season/year. WOW! Impressive. Though I've never heard of them before now...and its no wonder! @Candai & I were the *youngest* ones there! :) But it was all good. :) The evenings concert was by Golden Bough, a Celtic band (trio) who's been around for 30 yrs.

From the North OC Concerts website:
"Golden Bough, Celtic Trio Monday, October 26, 2009, 7:30 PM - A musical exploration of the Irish and Scottish folk heritage and its influence on some of the best loved folk music of America today. Golden Bough features spirited vocal harmonies and instrumental numbers performed on Celtic harp, guitar, pennywhistle, violin, recorder, octave-mandolin, accordion, and bodhran. Enjoy rousing instrumental music, ballads, humorous songs and sea chanteys, plus the stories behind the music"

Group's website: http://www.goldenboughmusic.com/
Besides concerts & special events (and educational programs), they also perform at some festivals (like Highland/Scottish festivals). Last night's concert was called "America Bound" (1st time they performed this particular concert) and featured a selection of Irish & Scottish tunes (ballads, humorous songs, sea chanteys, & of course jigs & reels).

The Irish set was up first, and then after the Intermission, it was time for the Scottish set.
All in all I really enjoyed the music. I personally would have loved to hear more reels & jigs (more traditional instrumental only songs) thrown in the evenings concert, but I did enjoy all their singing songs. They did occasionally ask for the audience to join in on some of the choruses, and of course, @candai and I acquiesced...enthusiastically. :) (Ok, me possibly more than her on a few songs...since I knew a few more of the sea chanteys, etc.).

Their last song of the evening (not counting their encore) was "Donal, Where's your Trousers?"... was of course fun to join in on the chorus!

(I apparently left the program at home today, so I'll type up the full list of songs covered in the concert later).

Afterwards, most everyone moved to a smaller room off the side where some light refreshments (fizzy punch!! and cookies/brownies :) were served while the performers sold and signed their cds and just generally chatted with people. @Candai & I struck up a conversation first with their Violinist, Kathy, who came out and asked us how *we* ended up coming/heard about the concert, as we were obviously the youngest ones there. (That got a laugh :) We explained, and then started chatting about various things. @Candai asked how Kathy went from training/playing violin the Suzuki Method to playing Celtic...and she actually gave us more than a quick & simple answer. (It was great!) She performed on both the Viola and the Violin during the concert (and sang too). Both were wonderful (especially when they performed reels. Superb playing!).

The other musicians were multi-talented as well.
Margie, who's one of the co-founders of the group, played a wide variety of instruments throughout the evening (tin whistles, recorder, bodhrán , a Celtic style harp, spoons - 'the bones', guitar, etc.) as well as performed vocals on I believe every single song that evening. Her father apparently was an Irish Tenor, and she learned many a song from him. Paul, the other co-founder of the group, played guitar and sang most of the songs, but occasionally he'd break out another instrument. Occasionally he'd use the Mandolin, and for at least one song he used a banjo and for one or two others an accordion made an apperance. :)

It was hard to choose which cd to purchase, since they had a bunch of them available (including a new one they just put together called Celtic Love Songs), but I eventually settled on their "Songs of Scotland" cd and got their autographs on it. :)

The crowd had thinned out a bit by then, so we all chatted some more. (Though Kathy was drawn off by some people in attendance from the Ross clan, who apparently wanted to interview her since she had some ties to the clan :). Margie told me that she really appreciated my enthusiasm in the audience. (Hey, we were 2nd row, front & center - and the youngest people there - easy to spot :). When you're at a Celtic concert, you gotta clap (and sing) along whenever possible. (And smile at the performers....there's nothing worse than performing and staring out at a sea of deadpan faces. I know! :)

Soon, though, @Candai & I called it a night as we had to drive back to my work (where I we left my car) before either of us could drive home. Great night of music, overall! YAY! :)

December's Dollhouse Schedule Confirmed

2009-10-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

Just passing on some info for the other Dollhouse fans out there :)

Fox has apparently confirmed that the official schedule for the next Dollhouse episodes to air.
(Yay! :)

"Fox rep tells io9 that this is the airing schedule for Dollhouse between now and 2010:
Friday, Oct. 23 (tonight) - Episode 204 (9PM-10PM et/pt)
Friday, Dec. 4 - Episode 205 & 206 (Summer Glau episodes 8PM-10PM et/pt)
Friday, Dec. 11 - Episodes 207 & 208 (8PM-10PM et/pt)
Friday, Dec. 18 - Episodes 209 & 210 (8PM-10PM et/pt)"

See http://io9.com/5388711/double-the-dollhouse-in-december
(and http://whedonesque.com/comments/22131)

And *Don't Forget* that tonight's episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes. (Yes, THAT Jonathan Frakes...the one of Star Trek fame :). And if I heard/read correctly, tonight's ep is focusing on Sierra.

If you want to see a Clip from tonight's episode (&/or a Promo spot), go here:
http://www.dollverse.com/2009/10/a-clip-and-promo-for-tonights-episode/

Enjoy!

Another Leak from inside the Dollhouse

2009-10-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

Another Leak from inside the Dollhouse
:)

This time the Memo is from Topher Brink:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21182659/Rossum-LA-Narrative-Diagnostic-Tests

Memo's from Adelle DeWitt (Dollhouse)

2009-10-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, so if you are a fan of Dollhouse, like I am, you'll probably get as big of a kick outta these Inter-Office Memos issued by Adelle DeWitt as I did.

Oct 12th: http://www.scribd.com/doc/21008596/Rossum-LA-Client-Acquisition-and-Retention

Oct 15th: http://www.scribd.com/doc/21129621/Rossum-LA-Weekly-Staff-Meeting

Soup's On!

2009-10-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Since I tweeted about planning (and then making) soup and biscuits tonight, here are a couple of pics of tonight's dinner (made from scratch)...

Chicken & Vegetable Soup with Dirty (Whole Wheat) Biscuits

The Soup was really just something I threw together - I tend to do that most of the time. :)

The Herbs & Seasonings were picked by what I felt like would taste good, and the amounts were completely by guess (dash of this, pinch of that...you get the idea :).

Herbs & Seasonings that I used:

Fresh Ground Pepper

Kosher Salt

Garlic - (about 6 cloves - 1/2 chopped & 1/2 crushed)

Parsley (dried)

Rosemary (dried)

Thyme (dried)

Tarragon (dried)

Bay leaves (1 med & 1 small)

Ground Mustard (dash)

I also sautéed some finely chopped onions and celery stalks in butter before adding in the rest of the soup ingredients. (I used both chicken stock and vegetable stock for the broth)

Other ingredients:

Onion (1 medium sized one - finely chopped)

Chicken Breast (1)

Red Potatoes (sm-med, about 4-5, diced)

Carrots, chopped (around 6)

Celery (5 stalks, 2-1/12 chopped finely, 2-1/2 chopped in chunks)

Mushrooms (about 6? - roughly chopped)

The Biscuits are a simple Soda Biscuits recipe. For the flour I used a mix of whole-wheat flour and regular flour (1 cup of each - it wasn't a very large batch of biscuits).

And Yes, it does taste as good as it looks (or sounds).

Leftovers are first come, first served! ;-)

September Wrap Up (pics online)

2009-09-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

Well, pictures from September are finally uploaded to my flickr account (if you haven't noticed already ;-).

Sara's Baby Shower (9-12-09)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157622334291593/
This was the OC baby shower. Sara's in-laws were throwing another one on October 3rd (which I didn't end up going to). I only have a few photos as I soon was drafted to take notes while presents were being opened, but that was ok. :) Monica (my sis-in-law) was taking tons of photos throughout. (Official photorapher for the party and all that :).

The Match-the-Nursery Rhyme game (don't know if it had an official name or not, since I think my mom made it up - rules were based on the game of Pit :) was a lot of fun. It was definitely a mixer and got people moving about.

I didn't have time to make anything as a present (perhaps later), but two of the presents I gave were from ThinkGeek.com. :) I got my sister (as an early birthday present) this shirt:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/womens/bc2c/ and for the baby (my Niece!), this Onsie: http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/kids/59cc/
Awesomeness, I know! :)

My 31st Birthday (9-18-09) at Disneyland
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157622334350573/
I spent the day with two friends, David and Elizabeth (Betsy) and had a great time. Got soaked on Spalsh Mountain, but it was a hot day, so it felt goo. Crowds weren't too bad, since it was a Friday (yay!) and we pretty much got on any ride without much of a line. Space Mountain & Haunted Mansion were down (both being 'fixed up' for Halloween/Holidays, I guess). Even had a break from the rides (and the heat) by sipping a Mint Julep in New Orleans. All in all, it was a good day. :) I also got sucked into the great deal they have for Annual Passes and went ahead and turned in my "Get In Free on your Birthday in 2009" ticket towards their cheapest annual pass: the So. California Select. Pretty much no weekends and July and major holidays are blacked out, but no biggie. :) Who wants to go in July (heat) or crowded weekends anyways? :)

HCA's 1870s Summer Afternoon Picnic (9-20-09)
(held at the Banning Residence Museum, in Wilmington, CA)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbec/sets/72157622465941158/
A lot of sewing was done to get ready for this event. I converted my sheer 1860s gown (with help from Maegen) into my 1870s outfit. But I still needed to make a bustle (undergarment) and the underskirt. And of course, besides small setback with sewing and working with a new (to me) pattern, there was the fact that my machine broke right when I was in the middle of the project and the deadline looming (1 week out). Fortunately, between having some PTO time left (able to take 1/2 days and a couple of full days off…one of which was used for my Disneyland trip :) and Maegen & Charlie allowing me to basically camp out at their place working (and using Maegen's sewing machine), I was ablet o get the outfit done in time. Yay! (Maegen threw together the hat I'm wearing in the pics, and made the brown straps for my overskirt the pull it up into an ‘apron’ in front, and also the brown belt).

The picnic itself was fun. I arrived about a ½ hr late (was getting ready with the Hensleys), but there were others still arriving so no big deal. It was a nice day, and we had lovely grass to picnic on in a large shady area – perfect! Downside –after a little while, I asked someone to take a picture of me with my camera, and to get a better shot for the picture I was asked to take a step backwards….which I unthinkingly did. Bad idea, as I quickly fell backwards (stepping on my trailing skirts and slipping on the slick grass with my 1860s boots – slick soles, no tread). Of course, the natural thing to do is throw out your arms to break your fall backwards, which is a BAD idea in my case, as I have repeatedly injured my left arm (around the elbow), so this fall re-injured the arm. (Elbow started to pop out of joint, and fortunately I was able to get it back in place as people assisted me up into a sitting position – the movement upward helped). Someone fetched some painkillers for me from her car, and Gina gave me a bag of ice from her cooler, so I could try to mitigate the pain. (Both helped, so thanks!) Maegen (and a few others?) joked that it isn’t an HCA event with me getting hurt in some way. :) Unfortunately, SO true!

At 2:00pm I joined in the tour of the house, since it intrigued me. A tour (with 4 Brits) had already started, but they and the tour guide kindly let me join in. While the rooms were neat, I was left feeling a bit disappointed as we went through very slowly and there wasn’t as much information given on some of the things I was interested in. (Also – I’d like to double check some information that my guide gave as ‘fact’, as I have never heard of it before in all my research…and I must say that I do like to research things for fun and know a lot of random and generally ‘useless’ knowledge). Between one thing and another (some confusion as to which order the rooms should be toured in with another tour guide flustered our tour guide, and getting off on a few tangents with the other people on the tour), I was starting to look forward to the end of the tour (and wondering if I should duck out early as I had been absent from the picnic for quite some time).

As I rounded the corner of the house, after touring the Garage/Stables/Blacksmith shop area in the back, I discovered everyone was assembled on the steps of the Front Porch to the house for a group picture! Ack! Barely made it back in time to join in! (I did miss a picture that was taken on the lawn just prior to this one, sounds like). No one apparently knew where I was. A couple people remembered I had gone on a tour, but didn’t realize it took SO long and thought it must have finished a while ago. Lana/lily was also arriving just as I rounded the corner, so we both got in the group picture (yay!).

Not too long afterwards, as there was no one for a 3:30pm tour, the docents started closing up the museum, and hence they’d start closing the grounds shortly afterwards…and we had to start packing up and saying goodbye.

Truthfully, I felt a bit cheated ‘cause I barely got to participate in the picnic itself (cause I decided to go on the tour – so my own fault – but that was part of the draw of this place, to see the historic buildings). But it seems like *everyone else* had a really good time, so that’s pretty much all that matters – it was a good event with a good turnout, which means we’ll likely repeat this event in the future. (Maybe same place, maybe somewhere else, we’ll see).

Sound of Music Sing-Along at the Hollywood Bowl. (9-26-09)
No pics, unfortunately. (Brought my camera, but never did end up taking a single picture). I met up with a few costumers and friends for the Sound of Music Sing-Along at the Hollywood Bowl. Now *I’ve* never been to the Bowl before (that I can remember, at least), so it was a totally new experience. Since I was in the area, I visited for like 20 minutes with some friends in West LA (that I hadn’t seen in a while) before driving over to the Bowl. One person suggested that I park at Hollywood & Highland (in the parking structure there) as there’s a shuttle that leaves every 15-20 minutes for the Bowl. Sounded like a good idea (instead of trying to navigate the Bowl parking on my first visit) so I took surface streets to get there and got stuck in congestion on Highland trying to get to the intersection of Hollywood & Highland. (doh!) Besides Bowl traffic, something was going on at the shopping center and at one of the nearby places. (They had closed off a portion of Hollywood and I saw some banners saying “Jimmy Kimmel Live” hanging off a building). After getting into the parking lot, I kept asking for directions to the shuttle, but only got vague directions. Got my parking validated (bought chocolate at the Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory :) and then I went to the 2nd floor where I was told to go for the shuttle…but then couldn’t figure out where to go from there. Wandered for about 20 minutes, and asked more people (who were clueless), and finally ended up going to Guest Services down at street level at the front. She knew what I was talking about, but then told me that since the Show (really was the Pre-Show) already started, she thought the shuttles were done until afterwards. ACK!!! I pestered her until she *finally* called over to the Shuttle area and asked if shuttles were still running…and the WERE, much to my relief. So I finally got good directions and made my way to the Shuttle stop, paid my $4 (ticket) and entered the bus (which was almost full). We were off within a few minutes and shuttled over to the Bowl. Upon arriving, I made my way to the stands in order to seek out my seat and my friends. (Phone calls to one friend were just going to voice mail, but with the noise in the Bowl, it wasn’t *that* surprising she didn’t hear my calls). I eventually found the section in which my seat was and joined the others who had already arrived. (I wasn’t the last to arrive, though – Rizwan & Hollee showed up like 5 minutes later, and their seats were next to mine) Turns out I hadn’t missed much by being late. The “Pre-Show” pretty much as a Costume/Fashion Show in which practically anyone that had dressed up for the performance was allowed to line up and take a walk across the stage, announced by the Host for the evening. Ok in concept, but BORING. Perhaps if it had been whittled down to only a small number (of really good/outstanding entries), it would have been interesting, but for a whole hour – definitely not!

The experience of seeing the movie on screen with a bunch of people was fun. (Though the jerks with the lazer pointers did make a nuisance outta themselves ‘announcing’ the arrival of each new character with fresh bursts of laser pointing at these screen/characters. Grr. Worse, though, was the angry rumbling from the crowd, as I’m sure that only was egging on those attention-seeking miscreants.)

I could have done w/o the crowd ‘boo’-ing or hissing at the Baroness, as the crowd was instructed (paper ‘invitation to the ball’ enclosed in the gift back we received upon entering). The Baroness really didn’t deserve that. Yes, she was looking out for herself, in trying to secure the Captain’s affections and getting rid of a potential rival, but when she realized that she didn’t have a chance, she bowed out gracefully…and that’s the point. She actually had class! Now Rolfe, however…TOTALLY fine with booing/hissing for his character! (Little Hitler Youth/Nazi-in-the-making, after all).

Overall, I really liked seeing it on the big screen, with a lot of people. (But I liked seeing White Christmas in the LA Theater, dressed in 1950s better :).

The Crosbys (and Amy C., since she carpooled with them), gave me a ride to my car so I wouldn't have to figure out which bus/shuttle was mine (in the mass of people crowding near the busses). Thanks guys!

By the time I drove home, it was near 1am (I think I managed to fall in bed around 1:30am), so needless to say I was tired! The night air didn't help my already compromised system and I wasn't feeing 100% on Sunday. (Just was a bit off). I had coffee that afternoon with my friend Becca Metzger (who was driving home to San Diego after attending a meeting up in LA county earlier that day) and then I ended up bringing dinner over to Chuck (Hensley) - stopped at Paul's Place to pick up food for me and him...and Rhiannon since she'd snitch fries from both of us ;-) - and visiting with him and the kids for an hour or two. Ok, so maybe I mostly visited with the kids. But that was fine by both of us - allowed Chuck some time to work on leather stuff and I got to have kids time. (Rowan was bouncing with excitement when he saw/heard me enter...he loves my voice! :) We had a fun time, but I made sure to leave like by 9:00pm so I could get some decent rest before the work-week started.

Unfortunately, I ended up sick. Started coming down with a bad cold on Monday, and ended up going home early from work on Tuesday (9/29) from how sick I was feeling - and not to share my germs with my co-workers (which they appreciated). Stayed home to rest/get better on Wednesday (9/30).

And that's pretty much what's been going on with me since my last blog post in September.
:)

anyone want to go to Disneyland?

2009-09-04T07:24:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

So I've decided to join the Disney bandwagon and actually take advantage of the "Go to Disneyland Free on your Birthday" promotion, seeing as its my birthday in a couple of weeks.

Anyone want to come with me (i.e. meet up with me there) for either part or all of the day?

I would definitely enjoy meandering around Disneyland (and waiting in the various ride lines) more if I'm hanging out with friends - new or old - than wandering the park by myself. (Done that before, and its boring not having a friend to hang out with while waiting in line :).

My birthday (9/18) is on a Friday this year, which means Yes, I'm taking the day off work.

Let me know if you want to meet up with me. Hope someone (or a few people) can come along with me! :)

Marcail's Domain

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And I was doing so good...until today :)

Colors, colors, ah, so many choices :)

My niece Chloe (at Family Dinner)

Family Dinner at Mimi's Cafe for Kyle's Bday

Ah ha! Found it! :)

Proof that we were there!! [LACMA's Fashioning Fashion Exhibit]

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Chloe at Thanksgiving

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I'm Not Dead Yet!

a brand new chapter

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call for help moving :)

further updates in my Housing Adventures

finally looked at my Costume College Reg Book

Fun Find last night ("Yo Becky")

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attempted unauthorized entry into my place!?!

Follow Up from yesterday's post (housing hunt)

New Development in the Housing Hunt

another annoying message from my landlord

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planning for St. Paddy's Day cooking

Finally Got a New Phone!!!

Dolly Madison Special on PBS - Tonight!!! (check your listings)

time for a change in hair...

Tommy & the High Pilots @ Ground Zero Pics online

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Jane Austen Evening 2010 Photos & Video Online!

in a baking mood

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Recipe

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pics online

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Impromptu Road Trip to see Tommy & the High Pilots (December Madness)

English History Article - "Oldest remains of English royalty unearthed"

Libeled Lady - 1936 screwball Rom Com :)

Mmm....malty chocolate goodness!

CGW goes to Ruby's & Ice Skating - pictures now online!

Me holding my 2 hr old niece!! :)

Tommy & the High Pilots Pics online

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Ludo Concert @ Troubadour Pics now online

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Rossum Corporation (Dollhouse)

Ludo in Concert was AWESOME!! :)

The Islander (song by Nightwish)

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Jane Austen Evening Tickets Now On Sale

a day in the life of me...one crazy busy Friday afternoon

They liked my offer!?! YAY!!...But wait a minute, um, that's not my offer!