Bob is having a lot of fun making some changes to the house. A while ago he put in a new air conditioning unit, and then this week we've having a proper ceiling installed in the living/dining room. Those of you who have been here will remember the exposed beam ceiling we've had; what you may not have known is that the ceiling you saw between the beams was also the bottom part of the roof. No attic space, nothing between. There were insulating batts (hard backed insulation, basically) under the roofing materials, but that's all. In some places, there wasn't even plywood over the insulation! Well, now we're going to have insulation in the living room and a proper ceiling. Should really help keeping the house warm in winter and cool in summer!
I've been working like a maniac this last week trying to get ready for the new season. Securing venues, coming up with themes for the concerts... of course, our new Artistic Director will be working just as hard coming up with singers to fill all these concerts! I can't tell you how much I look forward to our vacation, which is coming soon. We're going to have a house-sitter for the dogs/cats/chicken so they won't get lonely. But it's going to be fun! First I get a four day Opera America conference - in terms of intellectual stimulation, it doesn't get much better than that! Then Bob, Dorothy and Tyler will join us and we'll have a proper vacation away from home. Yea!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day
Bob and I have been watching a PBS series on World War II - it's an interesting perspective the filmmaker has taken. He is tracking the course of the war through the eyes of four towns in America.
Every time I watch a series like this - and since Bob & I are both history buffs, it's more often than you'd think - I am particularly struck with how America turned over her entire being to the cause of that war. Every piece of every life was affected as we struggled to not only maintain our freedom but that of many other countries.
Every time I watch how different families were affected differently, some with so much loss, some with deprivation, I am struck with just how differently we are reacting to this new type of war in which we are now engaged.
If our country today was asked to fight that same kind of war, I don't know how we would react. Could we accept the rationing, doing without, the wholescale fear of loss?
Our parents did so much to preserve the life we now live.
Every time I watch a series like this - and since Bob & I are both history buffs, it's more often than you'd think - I am particularly struck with how America turned over her entire being to the cause of that war. Every piece of every life was affected as we struggled to not only maintain our freedom but that of many other countries.
Every time I watch how different families were affected differently, some with so much loss, some with deprivation, I am struck with just how differently we are reacting to this new type of war in which we are now engaged.
If our country today was asked to fight that same kind of war, I don't know how we would react. Could we accept the rationing, doing without, the wholescale fear of loss?
Our parents did so much to preserve the life we now live.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
A Saturday morning
A three day weekend, and I barely know what to do with myself! Saturday is always laundry, clean house, yard work and work-out day, Sunday I finish what I didn't get done Saturday. Now I have a Monday! Maybe Bob & I can actually do something fun...
Although ... today I'm joining Carolyn and her daughters for a fun day at the AG Strawberry Festival, something I haven't done since the kids were really small. I'm not even sure that Dorothy was around then! Street Fairs aren't really Bob's thing, but that's okay. It's just really nice to have a buddy to do them with...
Tyler recently got a summer internship job offer for a firm down in Goleta. I won't give you the particulars, but I can tell you that if this salary is typical for an internship, Tyler is going to get his childhood dream of having lots of money once he graduates. It's really neat that his life is going so well! He's working so hard, and he really deserves it. I'm so proud of him.
Dorothy is looking forward to a school-filled summer, as she works to catch up in time for fall. I don't envy her, but it has to be done. I'm glad we're at least going to have a nice vacation at my brother's place in June.
Although ... today I'm joining Carolyn and her daughters for a fun day at the AG Strawberry Festival, something I haven't done since the kids were really small. I'm not even sure that Dorothy was around then! Street Fairs aren't really Bob's thing, but that's okay. It's just really nice to have a buddy to do them with...
Tyler recently got a summer internship job offer for a firm down in Goleta. I won't give you the particulars, but I can tell you that if this salary is typical for an internship, Tyler is going to get his childhood dream of having lots of money once he graduates. It's really neat that his life is going so well! He's working so hard, and he really deserves it. I'm so proud of him.
Dorothy is looking forward to a school-filled summer, as she works to catch up in time for fall. I don't envy her, but it has to be done. I'm glad we're at least going to have a nice vacation at my brother's place in June.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Listening to good music
One unexpected benefit of working in this room next to Dorothy's is that I get to listen to her good music through the heater vent. Right now she's listening to Sufjan Stevens, so mellow. I'm so jealous of her and Tyler - they're going to see Deathcab for Cutie in June. For those from my generation who read this, have no fear... Deathcab is a great band. I have many of their songs on my iPod, and enjoy them often.
Work today was rather interesting. We're planning a new Summer Concert Series - something our company hasn't done before - so I'm running at full tilt trying to get it scheduled in time to get the materials out. So many people are away during the summer that it will be interesting to see how successful we can be. A lot of long days lately.
I love the longer days of spring. I haven't had a chance to take Sparky and Scamp for a walk lately, but at least we can hang out for a few minutes every afternoon on the front porch swing before the mosquitos settle in for a feast. Oh, and Mika the cat left a full grown bluejay on the carpet yesterday. My word. It was half her size. A few days ago it was a big ole' gopher. Good girl!! He had been leaving big dirt piles in our back lawn, so I'm not sad to see him go. Although I did have to fight Sparky for him. Sparky was absolutely determined to eat him for a nice meat snack. I was determined to put him in the trash. Well, I may have won that battle, but I have a sneaky suspicion that I'm losing the war because for the last few days, Sparky has had the stinkiest dog farts in the world... and a smug look on his little doggy face...
Work today was rather interesting. We're planning a new Summer Concert Series - something our company hasn't done before - so I'm running at full tilt trying to get it scheduled in time to get the materials out. So many people are away during the summer that it will be interesting to see how successful we can be. A lot of long days lately.
I love the longer days of spring. I haven't had a chance to take Sparky and Scamp for a walk lately, but at least we can hang out for a few minutes every afternoon on the front porch swing before the mosquitos settle in for a feast. Oh, and Mika the cat left a full grown bluejay on the carpet yesterday. My word. It was half her size. A few days ago it was a big ole' gopher. Good girl!! He had been leaving big dirt piles in our back lawn, so I'm not sad to see him go. Although I did have to fight Sparky for him. Sparky was absolutely determined to eat him for a nice meat snack. I was determined to put him in the trash. Well, I may have won that battle, but I have a sneaky suspicion that I'm losing the war because for the last few days, Sparky has had the stinkiest dog farts in the world... and a smug look on his little doggy face...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
How time flies...
How do these days get by me so fast!??! It must be a function of getting really old...
Work just keeps ramping up faster and faster - good thing that I love it so much. And it just keeps getting better. I keep saying that one of the best things about my job with the opera is that I learn something new every day; and it's true. We had a board meeting this evening that went rather late, and it really didn't bother me. I had several proposals pending that the board approved, so that feels really great.
Home is more problematic. I find myself so frustrated with my inability to help Dorothy. I am either totally passive or I lose my temper - there just doesn't seem to be any middle ground lately.
Dorothy just completed a project for French class - a short movie - that ended up with huge technical issues due to an overwhelmed and under-memoried computer. I just have to keep telling myself that she's 17, and so close to being an adult that she has to learn to deal with these things herself. Bob is great about helping her, he's so patient and good. I'm a lucky woman.
Work just keeps ramping up faster and faster - good thing that I love it so much. And it just keeps getting better. I keep saying that one of the best things about my job with the opera is that I learn something new every day; and it's true. We had a board meeting this evening that went rather late, and it really didn't bother me. I had several proposals pending that the board approved, so that feels really great.
Home is more problematic. I find myself so frustrated with my inability to help Dorothy. I am either totally passive or I lose my temper - there just doesn't seem to be any middle ground lately.
Dorothy just completed a project for French class - a short movie - that ended up with huge technical issues due to an overwhelmed and under-memoried computer. I just have to keep telling myself that she's 17, and so close to being an adult that she has to learn to deal with these things herself. Bob is great about helping her, he's so patient and good. I'm a lucky woman.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Kids and their laundry
I had a fun chat with an old friend yesterday - someone I've always considered a friend, anyway - about adult children yesterday. How we as Moms always end up doing their laundry even though we know that perhaps we shouldn't. After some thought, I've figured out that it's because we love to. We love to feel needed as they grow up and away. We love being able to do whatever we can without crippling their ability to continue to grow up and away. Laundry seems like one of those things...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A day in the life
Today was fun! My co-workers and I had the opportunity to visit Hearst Castle on business today, which included a tour that's not open to the public. It was very fun! We had time to work on a couple of good ideas for next season, and we made some really good contacts - fun and work don't always go in the same sentence, but today it did.
Dorothy and a couple of her friends are working on filming a short project for French class. Dorothy wrote the script in English, and then the members of the project team shared the translation duties. Now they're filming in the living room, and I'm relegated to my office - enough motivation to get me to blog, in any case! It really is amazing how much better their French has gotten in just a couple of years...
Brighton had an important interview today, and thinks it went well, which just makes me so happy for him! And I believe that this Friday is the day he finds out if he passed the Bar Exam or not, so it's a big week for him.
And today when Tyler dropped off his laundry (yes, I'm one of those moms) he told me that he and his new girlfriend are going up to Sacramento so he can meet her Dad. So apparently he and his girlfriend are going to try to get together with Brighton and his girlfriend for a date. I think that this might be the first time that both guys have had a girlfriend at the same time...
On the topic of laundry, Tyler knows that I will do his laundry (as time allows) for a hug. Cheap labor. :-)
Bob is on his way back from a business trip to Napa. HOT! From a week of mid-sixty degree days last week to mid-ninetys today - quite a change. It was even hot in San Simeon up on the hill at Hearst Castle. Did you know that William Randolf Hearst loved weiner dogs? Anybody who loves dachshunds can't be all bad.
Well, I think this is all that's new. We have exciting things coming up soon, so I'll try to be better about blogging!
Dorothy and a couple of her friends are working on filming a short project for French class. Dorothy wrote the script in English, and then the members of the project team shared the translation duties. Now they're filming in the living room, and I'm relegated to my office - enough motivation to get me to blog, in any case! It really is amazing how much better their French has gotten in just a couple of years...
Brighton had an important interview today, and thinks it went well, which just makes me so happy for him! And I believe that this Friday is the day he finds out if he passed the Bar Exam or not, so it's a big week for him.
And today when Tyler dropped off his laundry (yes, I'm one of those moms) he told me that he and his new girlfriend are going up to Sacramento so he can meet her Dad. So apparently he and his girlfriend are going to try to get together with Brighton and his girlfriend for a date. I think that this might be the first time that both guys have had a girlfriend at the same time...
On the topic of laundry, Tyler knows that I will do his laundry (as time allows) for a hug. Cheap labor. :-)
Bob is on his way back from a business trip to Napa. HOT! From a week of mid-sixty degree days last week to mid-ninetys today - quite a change. It was even hot in San Simeon up on the hill at Hearst Castle. Did you know that William Randolf Hearst loved weiner dogs? Anybody who loves dachshunds can't be all bad.
Well, I think this is all that's new. We have exciting things coming up soon, so I'll try to be better about blogging!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Post #1
Hello everybody. While I've let go of Dorothy's recovery, and she's asked me to not blog about her anymore, I've found that I enjoy blogging and have missed it.
So this blog is going to be my own personal blog. It will be about the rather boring process of being me, but will also have peripheral updates about the family for those of you who care.
So this blog is going to be my own personal blog. It will be about the rather boring process of being me, but will also have peripheral updates about the family for those of you who care.
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