It IS a small world afterall....

No details, not today anyway. Just rambling. But something happened this week that showed me that it truly is a small world. If you find it necessary to keep part of your life private, you'd better keep it private from EVERYONE.

12 of 12 for November 2008

November 12 of 12. Here's the concept for those of you new to the idea. Take 12 photos of your day on the 12th of each month. It is the wonderful idea of Chad Darnell. People from all over the world participate.

This months photos are tiny, but I don't know why. It has something to do with having to email them to me because the wireless connection was acting up. But, they are now here. Enjoy.

Good morning. Elverta CA 6:43am.

The Nut Tree amusement park. THEY have the BEST gingerbread cookies ever. And they are BACK!!! Vacaville, CA 7:26am

A Ferrari leaving the Club parking lot. It is even red. I only drool over a couple of cars, but red Ferraris will do it to me everytime. Vacaville, CA 7:45 am.

My Desk. Photos of Heather and Luke on the right, Luke and me on the left and my Champ the Horse that I got when we went to the Autry Museum last summer. Vacaville, CA 8:45 am

The Championship Ribbons Luke won this show season, with Heather in the irons. The photo is a collage of me falling off in Watsonville.
Vacaville, CA 8:45 am

My laptop. Our T-one line died. I had to resort to the laptop. That's my Facebook page. I understand now why my SIL finds it so addicting.

Vacaville, CA 2:40 pm.

Good Evening. Sunset, Elverta CA 4:57 pm.

Just loved this cloud. Elverta CA 5:02 pm

The moon rising over the ranch. Elverta CA 5:02 pm

The Grapefruit are about ready. The orchard. Elverta CA 5:03pm

Kitty Kat, the dog, watching something. Elverta CA 5:15 pm

The kitchen herb garden. Starting to grow. Elverta CA 6:20 pm.

12 of 12 Two Days Away

November 10, 2008. Would have been my mom's 80th Birthday.

Will go to Sizzler as we have every year for the past 14 to celebrate (ten with her, these last four with her spirit.)

Will ponder what might have been; had she not gotten so tired so quickly and too soon.

Will carry my head high and move forward. I made it through the first two phases, in a long process. Will update all later.

Remember, 12 of 12 is two days away. If you haven't seen 12 of 12, it is the WONDERFUL idea of Chad Darnell. 12 photos of your day on the 12th of each month.

A work day. Commuting. (The crowd protests the very idea). The critters will run for cover. The birds take refuge in the brush, hoping the flash will not work. But I will get those photos.

And, tomorrow, Thank a Vet for their service.

The Human Mind is a Wonderful Organ

As I discussed yesterday, the nephews were visiting. One of the most amazing things I have seen is the transformation of my nephew. His early years, living with my sister, were rough, to say the least. He has been living with his father and step-mom, who should be knighted with sainthood. (Yea, I know that is a totally mixed-image, but you get the jest, I am sure.)

We were at the barn for my lesson and someone asked him who he belonged to. He replied, my Aunt Liz. He was then asked, how is she your aunt. He replied the way a ten-year-old would, "my grandma was her mother." No mention that my sister is his mother; no mention of her whatsoever.

Later in the day, someone asked him if he remembered who she was. He said no. She said well, you and your sister came to visit at the other barn. You guys rode Luke. He said, sorry, don't remember. He then asked me about it. Well, the only other time he as been to the barn was with my sister and the "brat" girl who was living with them, about four years ago. I asked if he remembered, the "brat" (NO, I didn't say it like that), her dad, his mom, my sister. He said no. Can't say that I do. Is it ok that I don't remember? Yes, it is. Except, he also doesn't remember our (the Stevens Family Birthday Trip) to Disneyland that same year.

Ah, but I have photos of that trip. Glad the other "trip" is locked away. Thank you, Janelle.

What not to say to a Six-Year-Old

Ok. So two of the many nephews were visiting today. Both their parents had to work. We like having them over; they like playing pirates, cowboys, indians. You get the picture. And six-year-olds are full of questions, which require answers that make sense to the six-year-old.

Niko, the six-year-old, asks me "How much would you sell me Rufus for?". I hear, "How old is Rufus?" and quickly answer, "Two".

"Cool", replies Niko, "I have two dollars at home. Can we take him tonight when we go home?"

I spend the rest of the day explaining that Rufus has to stay here, even if he does pay me $2 for him. His landlord, his neighbors, the county will not allow him to have a horse, even if his parents would...All explanations fall on six-year-old ears that do not hear.

His parents arrive, and he immediately runs them to the pasture to see his new horse. And, they, to no avail, attempt to explain that the only animal they can afford to feed is their Boston Terrier, Eva. Niko promises to buy the hay for Rufus. Then, my very tired pirate loving nephew begins to cry that cry that says, "I finally hear you, but now I don't care. I am tired."

Moral of this story: Always know the question you are being asked by a six-year-old; otherwise you may have given away the farm for a song.

Kings Game

The last NBA team to play their homeopener for the 2008-09 season was the Sacramento Kings. We were able to go. Amanda and her two of her nephews, Dillion and Sean, joined us. Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson was in attendance. Bobby Jackson made his return debut. Great to have him back. I am cautiously optomistic about their season. The new young players are pretty good and should be able to hold their own against all but the top players. And they will give them a run for their money. Oh, and they finally won their game. Here are some photos from last night.

Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson

Dillion looking at the scoreboard.

Bobby Jackson. Coach Reggie in the background.

There comes a time

when being a good loser or a poor winner matter. Now is that time.

Our local water district is under the watchful eye of the State regulators for non-compliance issues that can only be solved by building new infrastructure which costs money. I am not a ratepayer in our district, but may soon be.

My fellow district residers have elected to the board, three women (I use the term extremely loosely), who do not believe that there is a compliance issue and refuse to believe the several engineers who have told the district they need to repair their 1960's and 70's equipment. They ran on the ticket that the big developers bought and paid for their opponents votes and that they will NEVER raise rates. My water district has some of the lowest water rates in California.

Receivership is just around the corner and I will be asked to assist, by paying, for the cleanup.

But I must be a good loser, accept this defeat, and figure out how we can obtain the goal of not losing the district to the state in spite of this cackle of women. What did I learn? If I really believe in a project and truly support it, I must be a louder voice for that belief. I just never realized that you really can lie, steal and cheat your way into office.

Let's Show Photos

These photos are courtesy of Linda, who boards her horses at the training barn.

Hunter Class on Friday Afternoon.

Watching the others go before us. Yes, Mom, we can do this. No problem.

Heather and Luke.

Hunter Class on Saturday.

Hunter Class on Sunday.