Daily Life 2001-2003 (in my Gray People phase)

Waiters at Black Forest. I took this picture and the very next thing, seconds later, these guys had turned to the counter where they were standing and without missing a beat began writing their email addresses on bar napkins. It’s a way of life!

Great Aunt Jean and Angela, who adores her Great Aunt Jean.

Here kitty kitty. Destrey and the gentleman Liz introduces by saying ‘meet my boyfriend’. That works.

Stacy and Carrie – Stacy packing up. Step one in the last chapter of my ten year plan. From now on I’m not making any plan past two years. That’s my new 10 year plan.

We’re still clueless about the crowds but we’re talking some photo-ops so unexpected, I was ecstatic.

The Seven Deadly Sins. Watch out! Pride, Avarice, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony and Sloth. That about covers it.

I got back the day before Thanksgiving and this is the only halfway not horrible picture from the lovely party at Lucas and Betsy’s place. I had a thousand pictures backed up from the trip and apparently I couldn’t have another one.

This was the year when Thanksgiving fell on a Friday…

Liz gave gifts to the kids that were subsequently re-gifted back, and are now prominently displayed as a daily enjoyment to all who pass by.

Because I wanted a flower on the front page.

Teresa and Cathi.

Shirley, Grandpa George’s wife.

D&A and I went to the Santa Monica Crafts Exhibition where Angela’s boss was set up for one of her more profitable weekends. That’s her, Judy, in front and also Connie, Judy’s traveling assistant.

Mary, sweet Angela (you remember…) and Liz.

Cynthia heard a story about Phillipes on the radio and it made her mouth neeeed to go, so we went, on Sunday. It was absolutely the same as ever and isn’t that the point, isn’t that what it’s all about anyway.

Then we walked over to Olvera Street and WOW, Day of the Dead! The place was Raging! At this point however we hadn’t figured that out yet and I thought 1) what are all these people doing here and 2) what’s with these kids.

The side planter.

The ever popular glass blowers. If the glass blowers aren’t working, Olvera Street is missing a part of its soul.

This guy was making a pig. I knocked on the window. ‘Say, can you add wings to that pig?’ ‘I was just going to do that.’ ‘It looks perfect but now can you add a hanging loop?’ ‘Oh, fine.’ ‘Oooo, can I buy it?’ ‘I made it for you.’ ‘Sold,’ five bucks.

When pigs fly!

Cathi, our birthday girl. How old? Maybe I can’t tell. But let’s just say that guests flew in from around the country to mark this festive occasion.

Standing in line for churros. Take My picture! Take MEEEE.

Fall in the front yard.

What’s a fiesta without Mariachi!

Carolyn grew all the flowers for this bouquet and another one just as gorgeous. I asked her how many rose bushes it took to have so many perfect roses on hand and she said oh, acres of them.

One after one after one after one…

Liz and her lizards. The are Everywhere.

There was a gallery of these Day of the Dead tableaux. We put ourselves into this one.

An outside lizard.

A long and personal Day of the Dead story – maybe tomorrow at work when I need a break, I’ll tell the story?

The party guests are as follows, from left to right, in respect to their relationship to Angela (the future mother of my grandchildren):

1. Shirley, Angela’s mother’s father’s wife
2. Alice, Cathi’s friend
3. Rosemary, Cathi’s friend
4. Aunt Carolyn, the wife of Uncle Loco Richard
5. Ann, Karen’s Mom
6. Melisa, Cathi’s daughter
7. Karen, Cathi’s friend
8. Monelle, Cathi’s friend
9. Aunt Cathi, the Birthday Girl
10. Holly, Anne’s son’s wife
11. Liz, the Mom
12. Aunt Anne
13. Aunt Mary
14. Great Aunt Jean, the sister of the mother of all the sisters
15. Teresa, Cathi’s friend

Angela and I are taking the pictures.

From an email I wrote:

‘A new Mom story – it’s bad but as it turned out not That bad and actually, some part of it is good. She fell twice last week and a time or two in the weeks proceeding so it was obviously time for The Walker. Mom was disconsolate. She pictured herself clumping along with some silver bars that would call out to all around ‘Watch out, here comes a weak old lady’. She was Miserable of what people would think. Windy dragged her to the walker store anyway and Mom was pouting like a little girl who didn’t get to wear her party dress to school.

But it isn’t your gra’ma’s walker anymore! She ended up with some Jaguar of walkers, all matte black, sleek looking with amazing wheels, brakes, and a seat and a basket. Now she parades around with the basket piled high, all smiley face and nodding and waving to strangers, just like always, and when she feels like sitting, she just sits – no matter where, she Is the queen and so she can just sit as she pleases. The positive side is that now she walks with so much more confidence and independence. Love those silver linings!’

The Sisters.
Auntie NoNo Carolyn-in-law wife of Richard, the oldest of the siblings.
Auntie Cathi, the birthday guest of honor and the middle child.
Liz, Angela’s Mom and the second born.
Auntie Anne, the youngest.
Auntie MooFy Mary, next after Cathi.

From the window at work – the same view that last week was invisible due to smoke from all the nearby wild fires.

picturesPicturesPICTURES. A truly documented event! Melisa, Mary, Holly, Great Aunt Jean.

A Bon Voyage for David as he moves to Ventura. It’s really just up the road. It’s not as though he was moving to M*aine or anything…

Angela, the future mother of my grandchildren. Her mother, Liz, put on a Par-teee. Meet the lovely ladies in Liz’s life!