’05 July

July 2

I’m still messing around with China. It’s the first click over there in the third column under ‘Projects’. At some point I’ll declare it done. Sooner rather than later I hope.

July 29

Goofing around instead of packing… From Marsha’s sister’s neighborhood near San Diego where I walked around for an hour or so a few weeks ago, snapping away.

How old were you when… Go ahead, Reminisce! Identify this car!

July 28

Happy Birthday Bill! I should mention, Big Five OHHHH.

Mindy came too and we had Funnn. Wow, Bill is prominently featured this month. Lucky me.

A waiter snapped these with Bill’s new and Fabuloso camera.

July 25

A few pix from my last week. Rather obviously I’ve weakened on the record-every-moment-of-my-life drill…

Mom at the doctors, her own flirtatious and coy sweet self.

Brigitte and cousin Sharon for a meet and greet and another great day in Santa Monica.

We trade favors and the giver gets a free dinner from the getter. It was my turn to give so we had a luxurious sushi outing, and cold dry sake. Yum!

BenBonnie did a faaabulous remodel and I am so So happy for them!

Happy birthday Becky!

Are we not a hot bunch of babes. Next time will I pleaZe remember a tripod?

July 20

Here we have a couple of lovely Aloha ladies. Angela’s Aunt Mary and Great Aunt Jean enjoying their cruise in Hawaii and celebrating Jean’s 87th birthday.

Cheers Jean!

July 17

Riding the bus out to the valley on Saturday…

…and then driving down to San Diego with Marsha to visit her mom at the rehab where she is getting therapy after a hip replacement.

She’s 83 and needs to get out of there asap so she can get home and take care of her garden. You know, you just can’t really trust anyone else to do it Right.

(ps I’ve been messing around with this thing for way too long, trying to turn a sow’s ear of a picture into a bag you might be willing to take to the beach.)

Ah yes, they are still on the road.

Saturday night we went to Marsha’s sister Mindy’s neighborhood block party. This, as big as a man’s head, is in Mindy’s garden.

Here’s a corner of that garden with the sunflowers at the far right. Food! And so so Very much work. But Mindy says it’s way more fun than work which is great for everyone else who gets to enjoy the fruits of this labor.

July 12

Brigitte’s Garden Party and Ladies Lunch. She made it an Open Door party and ladies came and went through the afternoon so we weren’t all together at once but everyone did get to come and enjoy a happy reunion.

Thank you Brigitte! (ps I am now in desperate need of that fountain/bird bath. Yeah, I know, where would I put it?)

One of Bill’s pix from Sunday Brunch at the Marina. How much fun is this? Single time swing. Oh lordy. Now I’m Dyyying to get back all those steps we learned.

Don’t miss that wailin’ sax-man in the back.

(…the Monday Nighters and taking the kids to the beach.)

July 10

Yes in-deed-ie, what a swell weekend! And miles and miles of The Bus and a good amount of walking but considering that I ate almost continuously…

Friday I went to Sandy’s and from there we went into downtown Culver City for a little shopping and a nice lunch.

From a billboard from the bus. Aaaaack. The billboard was very far away against an extra bright blank white sky and I did this just to see if I could. Turned out better than I imagined, really Ackkkkky!

Saturday the gang gathered to paint the baby’s room. Oh goodie, baby-time! It was fun and on top of which the room looks fab. Angela took the picture.

Then I met Brigitte for dinner and a free concert in the plaza of the Beverly Hills library. Wow. It was really delightful and they do different programs every Saturday night during the summer, not just opera.

These are four soloists from the LA Opera and a piano player/host. The host, who was totally Loving his job, introduced each piece, told funny stories and explained about what we would hear next. The singers did many arias, a kind of Opera’s Greatest Hits program. It was professional yet casual and friendly.

We took our time with dinner and hence got there too late to get a seat. But even sitting on the steps, it was lovely and I’d happily go again.

From the balcony of the library. We had a good seat here but then a guard made us move. I don’t know why. Just because we climbed through the police tape to get there.

Sunday at brunch with the boys. We had each been on a trip since our last chance to get together so it was story time for sure.

We strolled around the Marina after brunch and I got to do a quick little single time swing with Ken and that was an unexpected treat. Bill took pictures so that’ll be fun to see.

July 8

A few pals from The Good Ol’ Days back at the office. Now I get to have all the fun and none of the work!

July 7

L&H are home with their grand-kids and we were having a lively game of tag. I was able to deflect the avalanche by pulling out my camera.

A Japanese temple tree.

July 6

Lijiang: During a quiet moment between the raging hords, waiting for the d*mn tourists, to urge and hassle and press – ‘take your picture mister, wear my hat’. This scene was really disquieting and I didn’t put it in the first set because I couldn’t figure out what to think.

These are one of many different groups of native people of the area, meaning they are not considered Chinese. In this part of China minority populations make up more than half the residents.

Throughout China I saw many different costumes and ate traditional food representing the different tribes. They dress up and run restaurants, sell souvenirs, perform dances and music, but what they used to do or if they have any mobility in their lives I do not know.

Everyone I saw doing these dress-up jobs looked healthy and well and for the most part, except for this particular group, which makes me wonder, they looked happy and at ease.

Ann’s Happy Birthday Monday Night at Maryanne’s house. Everyone was there! Hi Ladies, so good to see you!!

It’s nice to be back. Everytime I look out my door I’m swept up with how-cool-is-This. And truth be told, I am already working on the next big one.

I wasn’t there. This was a Boy’s Night Out. A night or two…

The Boys: Paul, Merlyn, and Alex. You go boys.

al