Kindergarten

 Song - Better Together by Jack Johnson

Do you remember your first day of Kindergarten?  

Cots & blankets, graham crackers & milk, the play ground, monkey bars, "duck, duck, goose", new crayons & trying to stay inside the lines, new friends, hand prints in plaster, learning to use scissors, using "inside voices", wooden blocks and a teacher that made you feel special?

Or the first day you dropped your child off for Kindergarten and cried all of the way home?

My son's girlfriend, Ashley will be starting her first day of Kindergarten in a few days - as a new teacher.  She is creative, tender, smart and dear so I know her "children" will be well taken care of.

I just wanted to send her my love and support on this very special day! Also, to those of you who may be sending your children back to school soon - it will all be fine.

First Day of Kindergarten

I gave you a little wink and smile
as you entered my room today.
For I know how hard it is to leave
and know your child must stay.

You’ve been with him for five years now
and have been a loving guide,
But now, alas, the time has come
to leave him at my side.

Just know that as you drive away
and tears down your cheeks may flow
I’ll love him as I would my own
and help him learn and grow.

So please put your mind at ease
and cry those tears no more
For I will love him and take him in
when you leave him at my door.

“It is hard to be brave, when you're only a Very Small Animal.” - Winnie the Pooh

Willie Mac

 Song - I Left My Heart in San Francisco by Tony Bennett





Mr. B was invited to meet Willie McCovey Monday evening and was allowed one guest.....hahummm......that would be ME!

We were at the AT&T Park that evening for a reception that Mr. McCovey would be attended and gave out gifts for people who had donated money to the Giants Community Fund which supports the Junior Giants and other worthy causes. 

Willie McCovey began playing for the Giants in 1959 when he was 21 years old.

Doesn't he have a wonderful smile?  So genuine. So calm.

After the reception, the "key people" (that would be Mr. B and not me) were escorted down to the field for the opening ceremony. 

I did a little shopping and moseyed down to our seats.

We had invited some friends who met me and together we watched Mr. B walk out on the field (in a BLUE shirt - whatwashethinking?) and get presented to the fans along with taking a group photo with Willie Mac.

Mr. B watching to make sure I can see him

So far the evening was going beautifully.

There were fun people in the crowd.


But then the sun started to go down and it got cold, really cold.

And the Washington Nationals got a bazillion runs by the 4th inning.

Now we are really not having fun. We never leave the games early as it's a tradition. You gotta have faith.

But my friend Diane and I decided that if the other guys got one more run then we would go home, have a glass of wine and light a fire.  The guys decided on one more out. That didn't take too long. 

On the way home my friend Jill sent me a text about "Did Willie remember you"......and suddenly I remembered that she and I went down on the field at Candlestick Park many years ago during our single days.

It was photo day but no one knew what that was, so we and a small group of people went out on the field and met the players, got autographs, sat in the dugout and acted like big shots for about an hour.  We had put a Gardenia in our hair and posed with Mr. McCovey.

Tomorrow I am going to dig up those old photos and remember when.

PS - Final score was  Nationals 14 - Giants 2 - ouch.

If it's a tie......
"I'd walk me."- Willie McCovey on how he'd pitch to himself.

Hot Summer Nights

 Heatwave by Martha & The Vandella's

My dad at the Boardwalk beach a few years ago!

Just returned from 3 days in Santa Cruz with Mr. B, Andy & Ashley and Max. 

Mika got to stay with Grandma & Grandpa and get spoiled for a few days. 

It has been so hot here in California that the hills are brittle and brown while the trees are begin to show signs of distress. Everyone and everything is "crisping up" - is that a word?

However, Santa Cruz was beautiful up in the Redwood forest.

Our first night there we dined out on the Wharf.  For the life of me I could not get a good photo of the Boardwalk with all of rides whizzing by in full color.  (I think I had better read my camera manual!)

Is it plumb Mr. B.?

The guys worked on the cabin deck.  This has been a real team effort as everyone goes down to work as they find the time. Notice how Mr. B supervises while Andy is "in the trenches"???

Ashley and I fed the guys and worked on individual projects inside as it was warm even there. However, late one afternoon she took me for a joyride in my parents golf cart.  I didn't know golf carts could go so fast!!!

Just kidding, she was an excellent driver and we enjoyed taking a tour of the park with Max sitting between us.

Max supervised the guys work from inside the cabin and he made sure that Ashley & I were safe from big dogs that would walk by.


On Saturday evening we played a wild game of shuffleboard.  We were not too sure of the correct rules but Andy & I are sure that we skunked Mr. B & Ashley!!!

Huveros Rancheros casserole with a poached egg on top

This morning the guys did some work and then the four of us went to Gayle's Bakery in Capitola for Brunch.  Yum-oooh.


If you have never been there, it's a great spot for some wonderful food, casual dining or getting something to go and heading to the beach for a picnic! 

Always a hit with my boys - Fresh Fruit Tartlettes

Cute "broken plate" tables at Gayles

One question for my brother Tim.....what's up with this addition? You used 45 screws for a temporary little step?  Mmmmm......I had better check the receipt book for the cost of that item!

Mr. B checking out the decks progress....

Looks plumb to me!

 Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  ~Melody Beattie