Dear Santa

"Tradition: Sit with husband in a room lit only by tree lights and remember that our blessings outnumber the lights. Happy Christmas to all."

~Betsy Canas Garmon

It's just Alan and me. All our family has either passed away, or moved away, and while we have some really great friends, when all the shopping, and cooking, and decorating, and wrapping of presents is done, we settle down, wrap our arms around each other, and our little furbaby boys, and cuddle. Of course this comes after we track Santa At Norad. We have to watch the jolly fellow make his way around the world on Christmas Eve! This year we are especially blessed to have our newest furbaby, Joey, come into our lives. As much as we love the little guy, it was a surprise financially speaking, to have a little addition come along, So far, to get him healthy, we have put out in excess of $300! But when you look into his eyes, and see his unstoppable energy, and feel him cuddle up next to you, with a purr that would shake a room, we both know we did the right thing, and we also know what a blessing little Joey's love is.

This year, with the new addition to the family, Alan and I have scaled back our respective Christmas Wish Lists! We have set a $75 limit each, which is just perfect! I swear, the older I get, the more I understand why my mother and father always said they didn't need or particularly want anything for Christmas! One... I am getting to the point where I don't want to have to dust, put batteries in, wash & dry, or find a place for, another damn thing! Two... SEE NUMBER ONE! LOL. It just is what it is! I am happy with little things, and practical things. iTunes Gift Cards. (I know, those last two words should not have been capitalized, but they look good that way, don't they?) I also enjoy socks more now than I used to! Socks! The most boring present possible! LOL. You know you are old when the thought of a pair of socks for Christmas turns you on! Some sandpaper would be nice also, my back itches occasionally! LOL. 

Well, anyway, here is my practical Christmas wish list... 

1. 1 Hamilton Beach Panini Maker
2. 1 set of Mainstay Standard Pillows (Medium)
3. 1 set of Cost Plus World Market Floral Measuring Spoons
4. 1 set of Corelle Impressions 16-piece Dinner set
5. 1 RCA 7" Tablet with 4GB Memory
6. 1 set Cambridge Silversmiths Blossom Sand 20 Piece Flatware Set
7. 1 Presto Pizza Oven
8. 1 Panera Bread Cookbook
9. 1 Vera Wang Princess perfume
10. 1 Oscar de la Renta perfume
11. 1 Philadelphia Eagles Jersey
12. 1 Cal Bears Teddy Bear
13. 1 Pier 1 Imports Cranberry Balsam Filled Candle
14. 1 Pier 1 Imports Silver Snow Sizzlewick Candle
15. 1 Pier 1 Imports Sugared Cinnamon Candle

Any combination, not to exceed $75.00. Although I would be really happy with a long back rub! :) Also, if Santa wants to give me the gift of the Philadelphia Eagles making it to the Super Bowl, I would be VERY happy!

:)

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Saturdays, Football, And Leaves

Fox Sports Robot "Cleatus"
Cal Berkeley Campus
Berkeley, California
September 14th, 2013

"In football everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team."

~Jean-Paul Sartre

 

Yesterday, Saturday, was an absolutely beautiful day in Berkeley! The sky was perfectly blue. The air was crisp and clear, and it was football day! I know... every Saturday this time of year is football day, but there is something about the first home game at Cal that makes it all so much fun! Yeah, at certain times the traffic can be a challenging, but at the same time there is a certain energy and excitement that can't be missed, and that can be really contagious! God I love it here! GO BEARS! :)

It also doesn't hurt that Berkeley is getting a big jump on autumn. Sometimes when I am out driving, I will turn a corner, and suddenly I feel like I am in the middle of autumn, rather than just on the edge of summer. Streets lined in bright greens, will suddenly burst with crimson! I could be having the worst day, and just turning down the right street brings me around to a wonderful sort of calm. So much slow that my sleeping will even improve that night. Look Ma... No Valium! LOL.

 It's hard to explain.

 

Autumn will officially be here in less than a week. Isn't that wonderful?

The Final Score: Ohio State (52) Cal Bears (34)

Mood: Peaceful

~Me :)

The People In The Trees

"We say we love flowers, yet we pluck them. We say we love trees, yet we cut them down. And people still wonder why some are afraid when told they are loved."

-Unknown

The decision will probably be made this coming Monday, by an Alameda County Superior Court judge, regarding the fate of more then three dozen oak trees in danger of being removed by, University Of California Berkeley, in order to make room for a $125 million athletic training center, which includes a 900 space parking garage and the seismic retrofit of Berkeley's Memorial Stadium. The project, the university claims is badly needed, has been met with opposition for over a month now, by local environmentalists, and residents of Berkeley, including long-time resident, folk singer, Country Joe McDonald. Tree sitters have been keeping watch over the beautiful grove of Oak trees since early December, and have no intention of leaving. The new training center would provide accommodations for the over 300 staff and students who would use the facility. The tree sitters are in favor of the new center being built, just not at the cost of the trees, some of which are over 200 years old.

The tree sitters cause got a boost this past week, when three very brave Berkeley residents joined them in protest of the planned removal. 71 year old Shirley Dean, the former mayor of Berkeley, Betty Olds, Berkeley City Councilwoman, and Sylvia Mclaughlin, 91, co-founder of Save The Bay, allowed themselves to be hoisted up high into the trees, to demonstrate their commitment to seeing the trees being saved. What a snazzy thing to do! I am somewhat afraid of heights, so I am not sure I could be that brave. As I drove by the grove today, I saw that the protest continues, and I am glad. I am really hoping the decision will be to keep the trees in place. One of the nicest things about Berkeley, is the beautiful trees that surround the city, and outline the university. This particular grove provides a calm, natural escape from the narrow, sometimes, packed streets that line the university. The trees represent a part of Berkeley's natural history. What a shame it would be to lose that forever, in the name of progress. Sigh.

Here is some of what I saw today, as I visited the grove...

You can read more about the effort to save the trees at the "Save The Oaks" official website.

UPDATE: An Alameda County judge issued a temporary restraining order this morning (Monday 1/29/06) to halt the construction of the Memorial Stadium project. Go Trees! :)

-OndineMonet
"The Oak Grove"
2245 Piedmont ave
Berkeley, California
January 27th, 2007
Late Afternoon