Sold the truck!

Transaction closed today. Enough said.

Couch Surfing

Today I made the big plunge. I joined couchsurfing.org

When you travel you can find someone who wants to host guests,

decide if you are interested in their profile

and statements about themselves,

meet on the site and share enough information to be comfortable

with each other, then you stay in their home FOR FREE (!)

and experience the culture and lifestyle of a new friend when you visit their area.

They can tell you how to navigate your way around

and either point you or take you to the major sites and non-tourist areas.

So you are not alone in a new city, but have a personal contact person

who is happy to give advice as well as friendship.

And you can choose only women hosts, which I like.

Here is my profile picture.

I heard about this years ago in the local newspaper, but

just now got around to doing something about it.

I wanted to do this when we went to England, but Tom

just wasn't comfortable staying in someone's home.

What a missed opportunity to meet some wonderful people.

I've also wanted to have internationals come stay with us

and Tom finally agreed tonight.

And I didn't even coax him.

We set the rules of the house and length of stay.

Of course we have the right to refuse anyone.

I'm feeling both interested and cautious.

I just wonder if we are far enough away from the major sites

that no one will want to come.

Vacation Day 4 and 5

The Riverside Train Station at 4:30 a.m. Yawn.

On my way to Oceanside!!

I LOVE taking the train. So relaxing.

When I arrived in Oceanside at 7:00 a.m. it was completely overcast and looked like rain. But it cleared up by 11:00 a.m. and was a beautiful day.

In the late morning we went to the downtown market stalls for fruit, snacks, and just walking around looking at the different vendors.

Then to shops on the wharf for clam chowder, fish and chips,

and more walking and window shopping,

where Bella found a Great Dane much bigger than she.

I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the boats.

We went to the beach in the afternoon and soaked up some sun with a light breeze.

This was my "hotel" for 2 days--Roxanne & Eric's RV.

They bought me a jigsaw puzzle to work on, but I never finished it.

I fell asleep on the couch (my bed) at 9:00 p.m. and didn't even wake up when Roxanne shook me to give me bedding.

I woke up briefly at 11:00 p.m. to change clothes and make up the bed then slept until 9:00 a.m. Delicious sleep after getting up at 3:00 a.m. the day before.

On Friday we hung out at Eric's parent's RV because his sister and family came for the day.

The girls all taught me to play "Hand and Foot," a card game

complicated enough to make it very interesting, but my partner and I lost.

The older kids hung out in the RV playing Clue or tore around the RV park on their bikes and scooters with many other kids.

Grant attracted girls to play with before his cousins arrived.

Ethan trying to convince us he is strong enough to hold Bella's leash

without being dragged around behind her.

The adults sat around and visited, eventually making Carne Asada for dinner.

Vanessa arrived from Cheer Camp

where their squad won three trophies

and $600 for their school.

Terry and "the girls"--Sasha and Tiffany.

It was a wonderful two day get-away.

I told Tom, "No more staying home and calling it vacation."

There is a good reason why the root word for vacation

is VACATE.

Vacation Day 2

Gotta get out of town! Did laundry and ironing while watching old movies and practiced piano and had a lesson with my friend Rae Kate, an awesome teacher trainer, in the evening. Not real vacation activities. But I slept in, so that was nice.

Went to Redlands Bowl tonight to hear a lady sing Patsy Cline Country Western classics, but she was seriously out of tune about 1/4 of the time.

Selling the truck debacle...

Day #1 of vacation.

Last week I got the insurance transfered to the new car, got the pink slip out of the bank safety box, washed the truck, vacummed the washed the floor mats, hand cleaned every spot I could find, got the new smog certificate, called Gene to make the transfer...and suddenly couldn't find the pink slip. Okay, I'll look harder. Several hours later it's nowhere to be found. I remember having it in my hand at one point on Friday morning, but from there I have total amnesia. Don't remember laying it down anywhere...nothing!

I felt terribly embarrassed, inept, unorganized, irresponsible, you name it. I was down in the dumps. Tom was the only one who had any sympathy for me! So now I have passed the Friday deadline to hand it over and it is now uninsured, so on Monday I have to re-insure it. $110. RATS!! Oh wait, my friend who is here working with me said I can go to Triple-A, get a duplicate pink slip, and finish the transaction right there and be done in an hour. No extra insurance premium necessary. WHEW!!!

Well that fell apart, because Gene discovered he'd have to pay some fees and doesn't have the money until payday. Two hours wasted--on my vacation (!). But ultimately it's my fault because I lost the pink slip in the first place. But I'm not driving an uninsured truck, so it's parked in the hanger so no one can hit it while parked on the street. Eric will lend Gene the money tomorrow, and hopefully I will be rid of the truck and Gene will have transportation.

Then this evening Roxanne admitted she lost the doctor's prescription she just got yesterday. HA!!! So I'm not the only one. Unfortunately, she can always say she got that trait from me.

But one good thing happened today. Duchess got shaved at the doggie groomers. She looks so cute. Two times in one year! Isn't she something! Don't get used to it, Duchess. It's back to bathtub baths and daily combing for you.

A night at the Bowl

Tonight at the bowl 14 year old prodigy Miclen LaiPang

performed Medelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor.

Such a thrilling performance.

The entire audience of 4,000 spontaneously got up on their feet and loudly cheered him.

He made his hometown debut. Although he won the Young Artist Award a couple years ago and he's been in many recitals around town, this was his introduction to the public.

I got to sit in the front row with his family.

His mother is a piano teacher friend of mine

and his beginning violin teacher (when he was 3 years old) is another friend.

In addition, the symphony performed Beethoven's Eroica Symphony,

my favorite of Beethoven's symphonies,

and Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

The program was co-sponsored by the Maupins, a wealthy family in our church, in appreciation for the children's programs of Micah House !!! So they and Micah House both got the beautiful small crystal statue given to sponsors. How cool is that! So Micah House is becoming more known in the community.

And my students who were there found me and came over to say "hi." I always feel like an absolute queen when that happens.

Volkswagon #1 and #2

Forty years ago we bought a new Oriole Yellow Karmann Ghia, but not a convertible like this internet picture. Loved that car. But we had two accidents in it and just after Roxanne came along we opted for a larger car with a stronger frame: a family car. Drat! But that sporty car has a special place in my heart because it represents my somewhat carefree youth.

Now thirty-five years later I'm back in a Volkswagon: a Jetta. Germans still make the best cars. I had no idea it was so luxurious for a working woman's price: leather seats that heat. Believe it, I never thought I could rate leather seats, let alone ones that heat! Bluetooth that connects automatically to my phone in my purse, so when my phone rings I just push a button on the dash and it comes through the sound system, hands-free. There is an IPOD connection so my favorite classical and worship songs come through the stereo sound system. How do they THINK of these things?!? I'm going to be rockin' down the highway singing praise songs to the Lord. And it seats 5. Steel gray with black interior. It reminds me of a tuxedo, so when I wear my evening gown, I'll be in a cool car. Ü ber cool in every way. I am soooo thankful.

I believe I'll give a special thank offering to the Lord for His goodness to me.