So, Saturday I got to go whale watching. We boarded the boat for a two hour cruise off Dana Point in Southern California.

This my friends is a gray whale photo taken with MY camera by me. No the animal isn’t particularly attractive but, heck, I SAW A WHALE!!!!

There were two swimming north that we were watching but they weren’t very active. So, our boat guy got a call that there was a large pod of common dolphin swimming south of us. So, after we watched these two for a bit we headed south and saw this.

Also, taken with MY camera by ME. (Quality isn’t that great, it’s my regular digital camera and we were on the ocean, but heck — they’re still cool!)

So, yeah, it was pretty cool!!

Till later…

I just got back from Southern California where I spent my birthday weekend with a friend. I arrived late Thursday night (following a NOT fun trip with some freak teen boys playing frisbee over my head while waiting for my connecting flight).

Friday we went for a manicure/pedicure that I was SO looking forward to only to be disappointed at the HORRIBLE service I got. Want a perfect idea of what I’m talking about??? Look at this video which pretty much sums it up…only my service was worse….Pedicures are supposed to include a foot/leg massage — at least every one I’ve ever had did. Manicures, the same thing. Only I didn’t get one. My fingernails or so screwed up it sucks. I could put polish on my nails better AND CHEAPER than they did. I pay for the MASSAGE, people.

With all my heart I wish you a very happy Valentine’s day. Remember to tell the ones you love how special they are.

A very special friend of mine is in the Oakland Tribune today (I large newspaper in northern California) take a look at her story. Morgan is an amazing little girl with a lot of spunk. To know her and play with her you would never know she has the medical issues she has. To read more about Morgan visit her blog.

Does Morgan’s story touch you? Give a gift greater than any other gift you can give this year…give blood. There’s more of Morgan’s story on the American Red Cross’ website with information on how you can donate blood blood to save people like Morgan.

Happy “heart” Day!!!

Till later…

Jeez. I really hope this means the rest of my year will be absolutely wonderful because it hasn’t started out so hot. It’s been one thing after another since day one. Then, Thursday evening I started not feeling so hot. Nothing bad, just a slight sore throat. Friday, I felt worse. Saturday, you would have thought I had a hangover but, no, no great stories to tell as to why I was spending most of the day worshiping the porcelain throne. Today, I feel a bit better (key word there is “a bit” if this weren’t coming after yesterday I’d say I felt like crap) but I can’t talk. My voice will come, very raspy, then shut off after a couple words.

I can’t be sick, especially not in January. Plus other stuff going on is just making the start of 2007 suck.

But…this too shall pass and I’ll be back on my own private road to…..I haven’t figured out which road I’m on but I’ll be back on it soon.

Till later…

Here’s my niece. She’s a “Snow Fairy”. She was going to be a regular fairy but we got a cold spell and her regular fairy costume wasn’t going to cut the 15 degree weather…so my sister-in-law adapted it and she became a “Snow Fairy”. I think she’s cute.

Here’s my nephew in his “Willy” costume. He absolutely LOVES the movie Free Willy so he got to be Willy tonight. He loved making Willy swim and if you ask him he’ll even tell you “Willy’s and Orca”. Cool Auntie moment — Rider won Best Overall Boy Costume in the costume contest at the party we went to at church. No, I’m not proud or anything. LOL

At Rider’s school the classes make their own costumes. Here’s his. They were penguins…his teacher was the mama penguin. I have to say, I think their class had the cutest costumes in the whole school. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of the back….he even had a little tail…it was ADORABLE.

So, since I’m not with Ally I got to spend the day with Rider. I went to his school party then he, my sister, and I went up to visit my dad in the hospital. I got to his room and got dad sitting up and gave him some candy to give Rider when he got there to “Trick-or-Treat”. Dad was so excited. Rider showed up as a Penguin and left as Willy. Then we went to the church party. A very fun evening.

AND, the biggest news of the day. Dad is getting transferred from the hospital to the rehabilitation center TOMORROW!!! They don’t know how long he’ll be there the doctor said to expect several weeks but he didn’t think it would be months. He’s getting better slowly but surely. Now he just needs to regain his strength.

(P.S. — sorry about the bad photo quality…I didn’t bring my camera when I came here so all I have is my camera phone…the pictures aren’t bad but, well, it’s a camera phone. LOL)

Till later…

I have to admit, I’ve been a little discouraged with the negative press lately in regards to Christmas. Today, my pride in man-kind has been renewed. Christmas is a time of magic, a time to enjoy family, a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. I understand not everyone celebrates the holiday with the birth of Christ, I respect that, but I also expect the same respect back. But, this pride doesn’t have anything to do with Christ, it has to do with Santa. The spirit, the magic of a dear jolly man and a group of people who go to great lengths to keep that spirit, that magic alive.

Norad is a group of people that go to great lengths to keep the spirit of Santa, the joy he brings to children alive. My nephew is almost 2, the excitement and the joy on his face today as we’ve watched the video updates on where Santa is has made me remember the joy of Santa, the reason he is part of our celebration. The excitement on Rider’s as he squeals “More Santa more!!” has made me believe, again, in the spirit and magic that surrounds this season. The magic of a man who is able to fly around the world in 24 hours. The magic of a man and his eight reindeer who is able to visit billions of children on one night.

It reminds me of the spirit of a man who was born in a manger for us. A mother who gave birth in a filthy stable knowing her son would bear the sins of the world. The man who took the shame of bringing his pregnant betrothed to meet his family. The woman who faced the world pregnant, but a virgin, bearing the Son of God with her head held high. The magic of the season is alive, the spirit of this time of year lives on.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

O Holy night

~ Words by Placide Clappeau, 1847; trans­lat­ed from French to Eng­lish by John S. Dwight ~
~ Music by Adolphe C. Adam ~

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt His worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Mary Did You Know

~ Words by Mark Lowry ~
~ Music by Buddy Greene ~

Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know, that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered,
Will soon deliver you!

Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Will give sight to the blind man?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know, that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod
And when you kiss your little baby,
You’ve kissed the face of God?
Oh, Mary did you know?
Mary did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear,
The dead will live again,
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
Praises of the Lamb?

Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?

Did you know, that your baby boy
Was Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
And this sleeping Child you’re holding
Is the Great I AM