Whoa...what's ahappenin all up in heah?

Where to begin...hmmm...watta day...first, last night I noticed a purple plume of smoke has become all too familiar here in SoCal...and sure enough we were all driving out to dinner (a rare event) and there it was, a huge orange fire on the side of one of our mountains...the wind had actually blown it over the top of the mountain onto our side-it had originated on the other side the day before...700 acres burning and zero percent contained...the poor firefighters have to hike, in FULL UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT, over four miles up the side of the mountain before they can battle it...it's crazy...Also, we have had a windstorm ALL DAY...the wind speed has been between 25 and 45 mph with the wind gusting to 53 mph in the pass...and that is crazy strong...definitely fun to walk in but disastrous for wildfires...and then, we had a 4.2 earthquake virtually halfway between Emmy and I located in Anza, California...I didn't feel it and when I called Jacob, five minutes after the quake, he hadn't felt it either but he was in the car so that was probably why...he said everything was still on the shelves so all is well there....what a day huh-fires, quakes and wind storms???

A neat GOOD thing that happened today was this: I went out to tend to my sprouting morning glories ( I LOVE morning glories) and while I was there, my daily humming bird showed up RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE-LITERALLY!!!...I gasped and backed up...he had to back up as well-we scared each other...but he didn't leave-no way...he loves that big shrubby desert sage-type blooming bush I've got out there...he doesn't grocery shop anywhere else-just there-so he buzzes to the blossoms, then gets right back in my face, so close I could make out his little black eyes and his purple-escent head...he was so stinkin' adorable...the last time I got buzzed like that was probably 7 years ago when I first moved here...they are so dang cute and I see this guy EVERY SINGLE DAY, so I feel honored that he made a move...

Okay, it's late and I have more weather drama to live through...the wind is roaring and with 0% fire containment and aftershocks, it should be a busy night...sometimes dull is good...

Back from "The Ohio"...

This is my second entry on this...aaarrrgghhhh...I wrote a magnificent, award winning entry here just moments ago and now it's just disappeared into blogspace...gone forever...well, maybe it wasn't award winning but dang!!!

I'm back...was gone 3 weeks...my mom does NOT own a computer so I was internet-starved virtually the entire time...I don't recommend it to anyone...

Ohio was stunningly beautiful this spring...as it always is...and the people shine with lovely countenances...they reflect the beauty around them, they can't help it...they are surrounded by fragrances and incredible colors of blossoming trees and flowers so they cannot escape being beautiful themselves...beauty by association...

All is well. My Mom is beautiful and Pops is well. I asked him, of all of the houses he has lived in throughout his 95 years, which was his favorite...his reply?..."The one I'm always living in at the moment"...that is wise at so many levels.

Eric is engaged to be married to a beautiful girl from Jackson, Ohio...we think they may be related (distant distant cousins, but fodder for jokes for generations to come)...the family is crazy in love with Holly...and yes, Eric is marrying a girl with two L's in her name so I sound like Elmer Fudd when I say her name...she is WONDERFUL...and here's a plus...one day she'll be a "trust fund baby" because she's tied into the chicklets candy people...WEIRD...leave it to Eric...

Eli continues to amaze and delight us with his business acumen...he started me on an incredible acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee)juice loaded with antioxidants...the ORAC is a rating for antioxidants much like the RDA for vitamins...this particular product has a daily ORAC of like, 5,000!!!! I scraped my hand pretty badly when I first arrived in Ohio and I'll admit I'm not a quick healer and I scar easily, but it's totally gone and there IS NO SCAR...NONE...it's amazing.

And Jette...my Jetson...I have a great deal of fun with Jette when we are discovering something for the first time together, such as a show or a book or a current event...I love how her mind works...one of the best things about being a mother of mature children is to watch how they relate to one another and each of Jette's siblings have mentioned how much Jette moves, talks and acts like me...I can't see it too much, probably because she is so much more beautiful than I ever was or could hope to be..and that is the TRUTH...but it's fun the older we get...also, I stand all amazed at her capacity to love without condition...Jette is a rockstar at loving unconditionally...rock on Jetson.

My sister and brother and niece are the amazing people they always are... David's job is to advocate for the mentally and physically challenged in securing employment for them, which he seems quite suited for...no joke intended but if one fits here, cool.

My sister, as always, is creating incredible pieces of pottery which needs TO BE ON THE INTERNET...and my niece is wonderful in her caring for the legal intricacies necessary for mother's estate, God Bless Tiffany.

And don't get me started on the grandkids, which were incredible. Alex, you and I are the Pearl Namers and always will be and Emma Jane...wait till the summer my love.

And now, I'm off to walk my dogs who are very very happy to see me... as was my exploding sweet potato plant which is devouring my kitchen...not to mention my hubby and step son

me out

GRANDKIDS, GRAND HOUSES AND GRAND WORDS

Emmy and the kids came "over the mountain and through the woods to Grandmother's house" yesterday. We went to the Living Desert, which is a way cool place to see animals and such. We went into the butterfly garden, which is enclosed, and found ourselves in a mini-fairy land of flowers and butterflies...they were flying EVERYWHERE and it was magical. Naturally, one landed on Em, her being the groovy celestial self that she is...and then she transfered it to Mae and then from Mae to me. We captured lovely pictures of the whole day, but alas, they have not yet been emailed to me...tsk tsk...It was fun to have Mae over, it was the first time she had been to my house and she was delightfully excited. Her other grandparents have THE house, complete with endless rooms, manicured lawns, play ground and pool with rocks and waterfalls, but she was still delighted to hang out with me in my little metal box...she is so cute!!! Clarkie was also adorable and remained edible the entire day.

THEN!!! later that night Em's dad called me with the wonderful news that my airline, which was responsible for getting me to and from Ohio on not one but FOUR future trips was defunct and would no longer be around. WHAT!!!! Oh, it's true...Skybus could not compete with other carriers and with rising fuel costs...rats rats rats...so now I am frantically searching for cheap tickets to get me home to my momma...I'm sure something will work out...I wonder what fuel costs would entail if I chose to drive?....hmmmmmm

Today I looked at 3, count 'em 3, manufactured homes at The Colony...The Colony is a way groovy manufactured home community from the 70's...lots of stars and celebrities hung out there to "escape the whirlwind of Hollywood"...whatever...all I know is that it is so cool...it's gated, it has a great pool and tennis courts, a party house with my "very own locked liquer cabinet" for the C&C event each Friday (Cocktails and Conversation)...sure...that will be one empty locker.

One of the homes is adorable, and comes furnished in this incredible "retro" look...very minimalist but bright...red sofa, lime green walls, yellow accents...anyone who knows my history with paint (and a dreadful history it is) knows how important it is that I DO NOT DECORATE WITHOUT A CHAPERONE...I heard that Hebdon...

The other furnished house is right next to the pool and the front porch sits out by a little pond...the furnishings are KILLER!!!...buttery leather couches, chairs and loveseats in both the living room, as well as the great room...a HUGE FLAT SCREEN TV...hello...and all new appliances...sigh...

The third was the least expensive, not furnished, but probably the largest square footage AND outdoor area...everything needs updated...new carpet (or tile if I had my choice), new sinks, new applicances, new counter tops...the kitchen is like, June Cleaver on the Jetsons...there is a built-in can opener on the cupboard door below the sink... A BUILT IN CAN OPENER...how many cans does one have to open on a daily basis to make the decision to build in that appliance?...I stagger when I think about it...there is also a built in toaster and a built in mixer...I'm serious, a built in mixer...I'm still in awe.

And then, today was General Conference and I was edified and uplifted by great words of counsel and wisdom...a great 2 days if you ask me...and you didn't, so I thought I'd blog about it....ta dah!!!!! me out

INTERESTING THINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY...

Instead of Emmy and the kids coming over Thursday, I get to go to her house in Temecula...she is in need of a mom...HURRAY!!!!...I just LOVE that stuff!!!

The little Asian girl got voted off of Idol...I called that but it should have happened sooner.

Went to the Redlands Temple today with some friends from Church...then to lunch at a really cute little cafe/bakery...and they sold Snickerdoodles...oh yea...

Barack is wooing blue collar voters in Pennsylvania...really?...Please let the blue collar workers of today not be like the ones I knew in the 60's...back then those blue collars often covered red necks...please let me be wrong on this...

"ELIZABETH THE GOLDEN AGE" will be arriving tomorrow from Netflix...ohmygosh....

I am getting larger and larger...but not "in charger in charger"....If I have to gain weight, I had better start rhyming.

Received a flyer for books...REALLY?...for moi?....hmmmmmm, lets take a look at a few of them shall we?...Let's see, well, Gregg Bradden has a new one out...I have a couple of his books...maybe 3...this one is "THE SPONTANEOUS HEALING OF BELIEF: Shattering the paradigm of false limits"...yes, this one sounds right up my alley but since we're on a spending freeze, all I can do is watch from afar...and check used books online because I have no pride or self control...hmmmm, what's next?...Oh! this one is from an MD with psychic experiences called, "THE SCALPEL AND THE SOUL"....oh la la....that's another interesting title that will NOT be on my shelves...We have, "THE ORB PROJECT"...What was that?...something about orbs...my little photo friends?...okay, that one may end up here..we'll see.....there's one by the Ghost Whisperer called "WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK"...huh uh....oh, here's one from one of the lecturers in The Secret, Mike Dooley...he was pretty interesting...it's called, "NOTES FROM THE UNIVERSE: New Perspectives From an Old Friend"....interesting...and this one looks good also, "MOZART'S GHOST"...about a professional medium and a pianist who practices nonstop...it's a romantic comedy...Oh! and a really cute one by Dr. Nick Trout, a vet, called "TELL ME WHERE IT HURTS"...about pets...okay, that's it...nothing more to look at...break it up...me out.