Week 21, Disney's World of Color

Our family has been Disneyland annual passholders every year since about 1994. We generally buy the least expensive passes which, unfortunatley, include a lot of blackout days -- especially during the summer. I don't mind; The days that are blacked-out on our passes are the more popular days when the parks are more crowded anyway.

So, I know Disneyland and the California Adventure parks REALLY well. Some of my favorite things in the two parks are: Soarin' Over California, Toy Story Mania and Buzz Lightyear (we're a very competitive family),

the Mission Tortilla mini-factory & samples (we're a very hungry family too). and the teacups.

If I'm with the grandkids, I like whatever they like and just enjoy being with them. If I'm with the little kids, I love to go on It's a Small World, the Carousel, the Storybook boat ride and anything else in Fantasy Land.
I used to love the Electric Light Parade -- especially that synthesized soundtrack. It makes me happy still when I hear that never-ending song -- wherever I am.

Last week, I decided I wanted to see the Wonderful World of Color Show before my summer blackout dates kick in. It started showing at California Adventure last Summer and we still hadn't had a chance to see it.

I had heard that you could buy a dinner which included reserved spots for the World of Color show. In my mind, I thought that buying the special dinner package would mean enjyoing our dinner while we sat and watched the show.
But we found out that you just pick up a reserved meal (we had the cold fried chicken dinners; they were pretty decent except for the cole slaw). The dinner is eaten by the winery long before the show begins; you're just give a special pass for the show. -- and that meant that we got to stand around with everyone else -- but in a specially designated standing area -- not necessarily at the front of the crowd or anything but not bad. John and I just sat on the pavement and enjoyed watching the people around us and the Mickey Ferris Wheel across the water with its colorful changing light patterns. I loved the way the show began with the theme song from the old Wonderful World of Disney television show from the 60's...."the world is a carousel of color". Anyone around my age (you know, 52) has some great memories of Sunday evenings watching "Disneyland" with the family. The show featured some other favorites too, A Whole New World and for this watershow, the song "Just Around the Riverbend" worked so well too. Anyway, we both enjoyed the show -- it was just great to be outside on a nice early Summer evening at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Week 20 Tinman Triathlon

So, you've heard of an Ironman Triathlon right? A real Ironman event consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full out 26.2 mile marathon.

Well, I did complete a triathlon on Saturday morning -- but instead of an Ironman, this one was a Tinman.And, well, I feel pretty darn proud of myself and had a surprisingly really fun time doing it! The Riverside Tinman http://riversidetinman.com is a free triathlon sponsored by the Riverside Stake (Mormon term for a group of wards or congregations). The event, held at Riverside Community College (RCC) consists of a 150 meter swim, a 5K or 3 mile stroller friendly (of course) run\walk and a 10 mile street & mountain bike finish. My total time hasn't been posted yet but I think it was around 88 minutes for all three events.

I completely stunk at the first event -- the swim. But, hey, the only swim lesson I ever got was when my dad threw me in the deep end of the Douglas, Arizona public pool when I was 5 or 6. I figured out how to struggle to the top, gasp for air and how to doggy paddle from that harrowing experience. Shortly after that, my parents divorced (his method of swimming instruction played no part in that but it does give you just a brief glimpse into his smoth people skills). But after that, as the kid of a single working mom, there wasn't a lot of money or means for luxuries like swimming lessons. On this morning, I started doing an ugly crawl (I've never quite "got" that arm-breathing thing) and ended up doing a modified backstroke which was really more like floating on my back while kicking and waving my arms. It was ugly and kind of slow at just under 5 minutes, but hey, I survived (sadly, last year, a participant suffered a heart attack and didn't survive the swim). From there, I was able to move on to the events which take less learned skills.

A side note, I did have a photo taken of me in the pool lookin' super hot with my skirted tankini and some borrowed goggles, but, alas, my trusty Canon Elf camera got misplaced. I'm hoping because this was a gathering of Mormons, somebody found it and it might somehow find its way back to me.

Moving on to the run -- the 5K...my time on that run was 33.03 -- just 15 seconds faster than my time at this event in 2009 when all I did was the 5K. Not bad, but I was hoping for a faster time since I've been running (OK, really, its jogging) a lot more the last few months to train for the Fontana Half Marathon next month. But, still, the way I look at it, I'm almost 52 years old. I have been blessed with a healthy, well-functioning body. I honestly consider this one of the best gifts of my life and I say prayers of thanks often for this blessing. I think often of how my body is not "me" but a vessel in which the true me, my soul, resides. I will continue to do everything I can to keep it -- and my mind -- healthy and working as well as possible. Too many women are so critical of how they look compared to some crazy, unrealistic ideals perpetuated by Hollywood, the media and just society as a whole. Instead of focusing on its health and how it's working, they focus on how it appears -- there's a big difference there. So, with that, I'm grateful I am able to run at all.

The bike ride along the Santa Ana River Trail -- heading north along pretty flat terrain felt more like recreation than a part of the contest. I guess I could have pushed harder, but it really just felt good to sit down on the bike seat. I was riding pretty much on my own and, being pretty unfamiliar with the streets around RCC, got a little lost and let a younger woman (I guess I could say "sister") catch up to me. With the little competitive "oomph" still left in me, I downshifted, turned up the heat and blew her away in the last 100 yards or so (once I knew where the finish was).

My sweet little Ella cheered me on through the swim and was there to meet me at the end. How I love her....and, yeah, I look like a total nerd with my helmet and baseball cap on -- but, it worked.

This is all of us who stayed through the end (Hayley swam but then had to go home to get Ryan to his ice hockey practice)...April, me, Ella and Heidi and Sarah. We had several other friends and Sarah's Mom, Sue Carter, there too.

This was a very fun event and I think I'll be participating in upcoming years now too. Come join us next year!

(By the way, thanks new friend Esmeralda for sending the I-phone photos above.)

Week 19 -- Shakespeare at the Redlands Bowl

Last Saturday after a grueling early morning practice run for the Fontana Half-Marathon with April, I was ready for an evening off my feet.

Instead of just sitting home though, I talked John into doing something I've been wanting to do for years -- going to the Shakespeare Festival at the Redlands Bowl.

http://www.redlandsshakespearefestival.com/?page_id=722

That night, the production was "The Merchant of Venice" -- a nice easy to grasp comedy. And, one of my co-workers, Michael Pierce, happened to be playing the part of the Prince of Morocco. Because of this, there have been emails at work about the festival as well as posters in the break room to remind me of this easy-to-miss event.

Michael Pierce as the Prince of Morocco

The acting was great and the staging was phenomenal. I'm no drama critic, so I may not even describe this correctly but it was done in the style of Commedia dell'arte -- you know, the old tragedy and comedy masks -- kind of like that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell'arte

It was easy to just relax, rest my feet and legs, drink in the whole experience in and imagine I was really in the 16th century at a beautiful outdoor theater on a sweet, if cool, May evening.

The festival is still going on for a few more nights. If you like Shakespeare or just being outside at a beautiful old venue listening to beautiful language, and seeing the talent of people who really love this stuff and who, you can tell, have rehearsed for months to put on a great production, you might want to just drop by. Otherwise, maybe I'll see you at the Redlands Bowl later this summer at their Summer Music Series.

Week 18 -- Pasadena Showcase House

Last week, some of my great Chino Hills friends, Nancy Sorenson, Valerie Gallagher, Monika Tolman, and Lauri-ann Hart and I, spent the day living like "ladies who lunch" and went to the Pasadena Showcase House http://www.pasadenashowcase.org/mcontent.php?mid=25. They really are "ladies who lunch"; I had to take the day off work to join them.

Lauri-ann, Monika, Nancy and me -- Valerie took the photo.

To get to the house, you park at the Rose Bowl and go by shuttle to the actual house. There was such a crazy route to get to the house, I could never find it on my own or drive to it again. I really can't even tell you where we were -- its called the Pasadena Showcase House, but the book said the house was in Flintridge -- either way, great house, great neighborhood.

Anyway, the rooms in the house -- well, really, mansion -- are amazing. The entire exterior as well as every room on the inside has been redone by some of the top designers in Southern California. Some of the before and after pictures show that before the redisign, some of these rooms look like they could be a part of a haunted house -- and after, well, they're gorgeous. I don't often covet, but some of these rooms make me wish I had a few mil of my own to live in and surrounded by such beauty!
There is a strict "no camera" policy at the house -- so I can't show you how amazing some of the rooms were. But, my favorite was this green bedroom -- the "Lady in Waiting".

Its that amazing bed that I just love. (If you look back a few weeks, I used a similar photo with a poem.) I think I need to find a bed like this and that way I can pretend I'm sleeping in the woods like in some intense fairytale. (I was raised on the authentic Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson fairytales -- the ones that are kind of scary with tragic endings.) Anyway. I LOVE this bed and room. I can so see myself plopped on those pillows reading a book -- while eating one of those apples.

And, this garden is what I am constantly trying to achieve in my own backyard. And I shant (it is an English-type look, so I can words like shant that when I'm in the cottage gardens) give up until I have achieved something very similar. I've had two trailers full of mulch brought in so far this Spring alone and plan to continue to do whatever it takes to bring more green into my life and yard.

After touring the lush yard and gardens, we had a great lunch after the tour (I chose the Rosemary Chicken with Balsamic Mushrooms) and enjoyed shopping in the boutique. -- Well let me rephrase that -- my friends enjoyed the shopping. I cased the whole place out in about 10 minutes. My friends spent about an hour there -- some of that time, I sat on a plastic lawn chair watching all the other ladies -- now that's enjoyable (lots of facelifts and plumped-up lips -- ugh, who says that looks good?)

I don't often buy stuff (most people who know me know one thing -- I really hate shopping) at such venues. But, I found a pair of comfortable black OKA b flip-flops that I understand can be washed in the dishwasher (or clothes washer)...but the dishwasher thing is what makes them sound so unique and just right for a shoe-abuser like me.

http://www.shoesthatloveyou.com/?gclid=CIzT552D8KgCFQImbAod_FJQDw
I've got my eye on some higher heel sandals called Flora at this website -- I'm just trying to decide between the two colors now -- dark brown or camel....now, this is how I like to shop!

On the way home, I stopped by Lauri-ann's house, saw her gorgeous rose garden and she hooked me up with lots of seeds and plants to try to fill up the gigantic hillsides in my backyard. I came home and planted them all. I have the before pictures ready....but, it might take years and LOTS of work for the "after" to be ready to share.

Week 17, A Three Hour Cruise...

Okay, I'm cheating here. My last post was about Flat Cami and her boat ride adventure. This blog is just more of a part two of that one -- on the other purpose for our San Diego boat ride adventure.

As I mentioned earlier, I started a new job in January with North American Medical Management. Our company manages many independent IPAs. One of the IPA's my company manages, PrimeCare of Hemet, sponsored a "get to know the doctors" Sunset Dinner Cruise (a three hour cruise) out of San Diego.

And, yes, I can't deny it, this is one of the reasons I love my job. Of course, being invited, John and I were more than happy to come along and get to know some of the doctors and, at the same time, help entertain some of the other guests to do the same. John and me just getting ready to board for the evening.

Me, Dr. Sudha Madabhushi and one of the Hemet Employees.



John, me, Dr. Tin Tun of Hemet and Dr. Anthony Flores and his wife.

Dr. Tun is originally from Burma (now Myanmar). We really enjoyed talking to him about the history and more recent developments in his homeland. I love having these kinds of conversations with new and old acquaintances -- from near and far. It made for a very enjoyable night.

My co-worker, Charisse Contrereas, and me. Charisse is totally my right hand at work and pretty much runs the Marketing end of our department single-handedly.

Week 16, San Diego With Flat Cami

John and I took Flat Cami down to San Diego with us and made sure we photographed her in front of a few San Diego landmarks.

Cami is my cousin Connie's daughter. Her class (2nd grade I'm quite sure) read the book "Flat Stanley"and made flat versions of themselves to vacation around the globe.

To read more about what this is all about, visit http://flatterworld.com/ .

Cami just checking out the Star of India.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_India_(ship)

Hey Cami, I hear this ship might be haunted, what do you think? http://gothere.com/sandiego/Ghosts/Star_of_India/index.htm

Cami may or may not believe in ghosts but I don't think she like climbing up too high on the masts.

Captain Cami, "Hoist those sails mateys!"

Cami just pondering the possibilities of a cruise in the Pacific -- maybe down to Mexico, up to Alaska, or East to Hawaii or the Orient.

Cami in front of the USS Midway

Flat Cami just relaxing at the front of the boat -- enjoying the sights of the San Diego Harbor.

More Southern California adventures are in store for Our Cousin, Flat Cami!

Week 15, Self-Defense Training

A few months ago, our ward Relief Society, gathered items to prepare and donate survivor kits for victims of sexual assault to the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center. Debora Monroe Heaps, one of our members, is one of the managers of the center. http://www.rarcc.org

Without saying too much, I would just say that after we made that donations, someone close to many us, became a victim of such an attack, which brought this issue far too close to our hearts.

So, to help prevent anything like this from ever, ever happening again, we organized a Relief Society meeting during which Debbie Heaps gave some great tips for protecting ourselves. We learned and practiced moves and stratigies for escape.

Look at Donna Hall's Face -- I wouldn't mess with her!

Each of the sisters took a good upward kick -- Above, Judy Strickland, Barbara Schultz, Carol Crouch and Donna Hall.

Look at those strong stances....you don't want to mess with these Relief Society Sisters.

Barbara Schultz taking a whack at the attacking dummy....

With Joanell Ellis looking on, Natalie Sandgren shows the dummy what's up!

Here's the real expert, Debora Heaps showing the rest of us how to stop this guy and leave no mistake about who is NOT his victim.

The good sisters of the Jurupa 1st Ward intently listening to instruction.

I hope that we can take the lessons we all learned and share them with our friends, sisters, daughters. Ask me for some tips next time you see me. And, if you're feeling real strong and brave, let me demonstrate some of my new defensive moves on ya!