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First Day of 2025 This might be the Happy Blog, but the year didn't start happy. First news of the year was about the tragic happening in New Orleans.  After absorbing the news, I found my favorite Nola ornaments and let my focus shift. Good memories of that magical city. Changing Focus A little later on New Year's Day morning, I let the Rose Bowl Parade lift the mood. Especially since I had my new mug, filled with hot chocolate!  Football is not my thing, so I went upstairs and finished a kiddie puzzle (started by my granddaughter) and watched the Twilight Zone Marathon! Just right. Nature Later I put out the bird feeders, that my daughter-in-law gave me for Christmas.  The cardinals and our silly squirrel made things entertaining. Packing Up Christmas Days later I started in on the annual Post Xmas chores. I love and hate putting the decorations away.  It took many many days, but I actually enjoyed it this year. I took my time and listened to podcasts. Some curious. Some amusing. Some boring... I didn't linger on those. Cold The cold weather arrived on the 7th, along with some worrisome news from a friend. I headed off on a midday run to clear my head.  When I spotted some neighbor boys with a cocoa stand, I was delighted. Delighted to buy a cup after my run. Mostly I was delighted to see these young enthusiastic boys in the cold, waving down customers. Cheers for kids playing outside in 2025! Good-bye Jimmy I planned on less TV this year, but we watched President Carter's service and a few specials about Jimmy Carter's life. What an inspiration he was to us all.
One morning I ran past my son's old school and saw the flag at half mast. I reminded myself of a vow I'd made on Carter's 100th birthday. Sign up for Habitat for Humanity! Volunteering I've only made one step towards connecting with the Habitat organization. Eventually I'll swing a hammer. But at least I did a tiny bit of volunteering this month.  I had a crazy time entertaining these energetic 3 year olds! I guess when your granddaughter's in the class, it doesn't really count as volunteering. But it got me started! Austin Fam I had just a brief visit to Austin. Enough time to enjoy this sweet family and to do a little babysitting.  We played and puzzled and laughed...  ... and made music and whistled! Charlie can whistle now! Sacramento In mid January, Don and I headed for California.  Luckily Scott and Chali live in the Hollywood Park neighborhood, far from the real Hollywood. California spent most of January, dealing with huge fires near L.A. Post Xmas We planned a Sacramento visit for January, after learning Scott & Cha wouldn't be able to travel for Christmas.
It was absolutely wonderful to spend time with these 2 at this special time in their lives. Halfway through this pregnancy journey! Dining Adventures We had a couple of good dining adventures in Sac.
Zelda's had an incredibly fun and retro vibe. The service was ridiculously slow and we didn't even care. What a funny old place
Our dinner at Paragary's in Midtown, felt like a piece of heaven. The atmosphere matched the food! Perfect! Grass Valley, CA On Saturday we drove to the sweet town of Grass Valley.   Lunch in the wonderful Hollbrooke Hotel...
...where Mark Twain once stayed.  Then a pleasant walk at Empire Mine State Historic Park, before driving back. "March for the Dream" on MLK Day January 20 was inauguration day, but we were determined to put our focus on Dr. King.  Sadly we could only attend the beginning of Sacramento's 43rd annual "March for the Dream". We had to cut our trip short a day, when we learned about airport closures. Good Bye Cha and Scott Snowstorms were predicted in Houston the day we were supposed to fly home.  We were able to get flights out a day early, after learning of plans to close Houston airports. Hard to say good-bye to these THREE! Snow at Home We got home at 10 pm on Mon and snow came during the night. (click on images) Since we weren't traveling and there were no power or pipe issues, we enjoyed the day. The TV news was all about Houston, mostly having fun with the snow! We rode no plastic bags down hills. We stayed comfy at home and enjoyed the scenery! The birds had fun.
I did step outside to at least wander the yard... and make a snow drink. Maybe. Sorting! I spent the last 10 days of January, sorting through boxes. I was inspired after my sister spoke with the director of Knowledge & Legacy, at Lincoln Center in NYC.  They were very much interested in the materials that our family owns from 1963-64, when our Dad worked with Lincoln Center. I started hunting through boxes... and went off on crazy tangents. Shipping the Stuff Jennifer and I both eventually mailed boxes to Lincoln Center. Our parents' names will be recognized for their gift. It turns out that Lincoln Center has nothing from that special time period, when the very top directors, musicians, actors and playwrights came together to create a Repertory Theatre, in the already established LC Performing Arts Center.  I sent off my box, filled with reel-to-reel tapes and interview transcripts. My parents' voices were on those tapes, interviewing Elia Kazan, Arthur Miller... Jason Robards. Some things I didn't send, like folders filled with other articles my mom wrote that year, in our 1 bedroom apartment, with 4 kids. I remember hearing Mom's typewriter late at night. Memories I can't even guess how many hours I spent on the floor looking through boxes. Boxes of Lincoln Center materials led me to other boxes of family treasures. I need to list all the discoveries I made as I looked through letters and articles and drawings and photos.
Good discoveries for the most part. I felt like I was getting to know my parents and our family in a way I didn't before. Yes, I did get rid of stuff. My old report cards were pitched. They don't bring me joy. But many things are staying put in this house. I feel lucky to have these treasures. Bye Bambi On the last day of the month we headed to our storage unit and said good-bye to our old Air Stream.  Pretty sad saying farewell to this the little trailer. But it was in good hands. Our new "friend" Oscar, was driving it to California for us.  And the extra fun news is that the old trailer will soon be living with Scott and Chali, in Sacramento! Cheers to new adventures for "Bambi"!
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