ten

When asked what Neil would like to do for his birthday this year, he had lots of ideas, all of which included a guest list of 30+.
He started with Disneyland, Legoland, or Sea World. It was his 10th birthday, after all, and he wanted to do something really special. I asked him to think a bit more, perhaps, excluding ideas that would easily get us all onto MTV'z 'My Super Sweet 16'.
"TaDa!" he said," I've got it: We deliver the invites to each guest, and include a camping outfit (whatever that is), canteen, and personalized dog tag necklace. Then, it's a camping sleepover party! We'll put up tents in the back yard. Yes"!

Not sure how to explain that we would not be spending $2300 for guest attire and tents, not to mention the obvious lack-of- a- yard-problem, I sent Neil and Keith over to check out my idea - Nickel City. It's an arcade with a party area and all games are a nickel! They came back with "It's loud", and Neil added "They have cheap plastic chairs". Sounds perfect! Nickel City it was!



Karly joined in the fun, and was a great help. She really kept things moving, ensuring that the fun lasted not one minute longer than the 2 hours planned. She had the gifts loaded, the party area cleaned up, the favors distributed, and the a/c in the car cranking, 15 minutes before the party was over. Thanks, Karly!


Neil and his buddies did have a blast!

happy july 4th!

Karly & I started off the July 4th weekend with a bang - a shopping spree, chinese dinner with Keith, and a marshmallow fry. You have to fry (burn) a marshmallow to truly appreciate it.





Neil spent the week at Indian Hills Christian Camp, and here he is in front of the wagon he slept in. Actually, nine guys slept in it! He said that the week was a blast, but scored only 8 points on a 10-scale, losing points for bad living conditions. He likes clean bathrooms and eating indoors, without bugs. He is our son.



Will (Keith's friend since childhood) and Laurie Moselle, and their children, Ava & Spencer, came over on Friday, to visit, eat, swim, and see our new house!

santa barbara

In anticipation of the upcoming death of Michael Jackson, we spent June 20-24th up in Santa Barbara, near his Neverland Ranch. (Michael died on the 25th, so it worked out well that we left the area before the paps converged there).

Anywho, we had a great time! Keith was working for a couple days, but Neil and I "helped" him a bit, and then kept him company in the evenings.

During the day, Neil and I shopped, swam, and played tourists. We especially loved the Ty Warner Center, out on Stearns Wharf.





This sign describes how the wharf and all of its buildings have been destroyed by fire, SEVERAL TIMES. Yet, it continues to be rebuilt entirely with wood. Huh.



Once inside the Sea Center, Neil got to touch the sharks...





get beaten over the head with messages about keeping the planet clean, while trapped inside a maze...



find the eagle we were supposed to look for...



read every word on every wall of that maze, with moi...



and swim with whales!



Keith was working at UCSB, and this is his booth. We hauled all of this junk up in the Aztek, and helped him with unloading and such.



Neil took our picture at dinner, and I added some red-eye assistance and blemish re-touching. I'm not sure this is how it's supposed to look. hmm....



On the last day, Neil & I went to the SB Zoo, which is now my favorite zoo in the world. Why, you ask? It is so small, we were done in one hour!



Keith, thanks for letting us clump along!

paul & rosemary's really great photo

Paul & Rosemary came to visit us in June. We had a great time, as always, and I got a great photo of them! This is not always the case, as Paul is not keen about posing for smiley photos. This one, however - suitable for framing, which I think I'll do.

time to say goodbye

on june 11, robin beth karas moved to heaven. we will all miss her and her sweet, funny spirit. on june 20, gustaf rooth & brad wilkins held a wake in her honor. while it was sad, it was also a joyful celebration of the awesomeness that was robin.





corrie & randy karas (robin's twin brother & his wife)





in front - eric & carol johnson's son, ian. boy in white & girl- randy & corrie's children (robin's nephew & niece). boy on far left - not sure, but nice kid.



eric hensley & ricky haisha




camille & eric hensley



angela piccard, gustaf rooth, louella woodhouse


marshall & tracey (freeman) murphy, eric johnson, jim audette


jim & me

courtyard ala schner

bunching, mack, and our green house

I've always wanted a place to to put these semi-circle flags, called bunting. Now we have the perfect place, but I prefer to call it "bunching" (kind of like when your undies get stuck in the wrong place). Memorial Day seemed like a good time to try them out, and it was good practice for the upcoming July 4th. Karly came to visit and admire my work. Bunching, ahh...

Sadly, our computer bit the dust last month, after battling a tough case of jacked-up hard drive. She lost the fight, and I lost a good month of computer therapy. I'd occasionally sneak ontp Neil's IMac to check up on email and feed my Webkinz. (Yes, I love Webkinz,and I'm not afraid to admit it). I was prepared to go without for awhile, but ... Happy Birthday to me! Thanks, Keith! I have named the new IMac "Mack", and she is just right nice.

As the photo shows, our new house is pale green. It is also G-R-E-E-N. Yes, we are inching ever closer to 'living off the grid', as Ed Begley calls it. What , exactly, is green about it?
1) Solar panels. And those puppies give us an average electric bill of $5. Not bad.
2) Tankless water heater. Heats the water only when you need it, and takes up no space.
3) Photo-cell exterior lights go on automatically at dusk, turn off sometime later.
4) Reclaimed water for landscape. If you come to visit, don't drink from the sprinklers. "Reclaimed" means 'sewer'.
5) No grass. No yard, either, but NO GRASS! All landscaping is drought-tolerant or concrete. I love concrete.
So come for a visit and enjoy Verde Del Schner. Or is that Del Schner Verde?

happy easter

The Scimes were brave enough to join us for yet another holiday! We went out to eat, and then they came over with these... Yum!



They even posed for a photo, where we tried to blind Teri & Jeff with the sun. (sorry, guys!)


Hope you all had a Blessed Easter, too.

karlulu no volvo la mesa

She's back! After a 3-month "vacation" in SF, Karly moved back to SoCal on March 25th, and is living with her dad. Welcome home, Karly! We missed you!