A Warm November

2010-05-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

Catching up

2009-03-22T22:29:00.001-07:00

Glen Ivy spa with my ladies

Cruising up the CA coast in convertables

The Light and Power shower

Toilet paper wedding dresses- Jessie won the competition

The shower my sisters threw for me

A trip to Idyllwild

Brandon and me (and the Captain)

Seeing Ben in Santa Barbara

On a hike in the Sierra Nevadas

California Wildflowers

2008-02-24T18:45:00.001-08:00

The Living Desert

2008-02-24T18:30:00.001-08:00

It was Brandon's birthday on Wednesday and my present to him was to take him camping in Joshua Tree. We stopped in to visit with his grandparents in Palm Desert and his grandpa Don took us to his favorite place- the Living Desert. All the animals were out! It was a lot of fun.

Up close and personal with a leopard!

A Cheetah!

The biggest bird ever- it was also very angry at me for taking this photo

Joshua Tree

2008-02-24T18:11:00.001-08:00

Windmills on the way to the park

Joshua Tree National Park

On a hike near our campsite at Black Rock Canyon

Gorgeous wildflowers near Cottonwood campground

Watching the sun rise from the tent

The pile of rocks we climbed up and where the question was asked...

My new piece of bling- Brandon did well!

The newly engaged couple....

For Joey!

2008-02-18T10:08:00.001-08:00

On a hike above Palm Springs

4th of July at the apartment pool

Pictures from when my parents were here this summer

Wow- 8 months later and I almost forgot how to log into this blog. It is crazy how quickly time can go. Here are some pictures for Joey- I'll post one of my new hair color later.

What kind of zones?

2007-06-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

On Wednesdays at the Redlands Thrift Store books are on sale- ten books for one dollar. We have bought many classics like the Thornbirds, My Name is Asher Lev, Catch 22, The Jungle (and others perhaps not as classic-Harlequin anyone?). Let's just say that this one was was hard to pass up. The cover speaks for itself. Unfortunately we misread the title, and were expecting something a bit jucier...what a disappointment.

La FooFi

2007-06-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

It was time for a new Foofles photo.....

Kmart

2007-06-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday my Sunday School class went on a shopping spree to Kmart. The class is called "Light and Power" and is a class for adults with developmental disabilities. We have some wonderful characters in the class like Mark, who goes to state bowling tournaments and sings the Unchained Melody at music recitals; Jerry, who's favorite thing to say is "You meow meow!" and who's favorite thing to do is try and spank you; Monique, a woman who paints beautiful pictures and sends homemade cards to veterans; and Luis, perhaps the worlds biggest fan of the Three Stooges.

Each disabled class member was given $50 to spend on whatever they wanted to at target. I was paired up with Jeffrey. He loves anything yellow but is not given color choices at the group home. Together we picked out a bright yellow baseball cap, three yellow balls and a Sponge Bob Squarepants wall clock (among other things).

As we strolled through Kmart, Jeffrey introduced me to everyone we walked past. What a gentleman!

More pictures from Prospect Park

2007-05-09T18:16:00.001-07:00

Sunset at Prospect Park

2007-05-09T18:13:00.001-07:00

Off to Delhi Palace for Murg Makhani

2007-05-06T18:04:00.001-07:00

Gangotri-June 2004

2007-05-04T18:31:00.001-07:00

This picture may look posed, but I can assure you that I was ill (thanks amoeba!) and Brandon had altitude sickness. Still, change what we are wearing and we could be on the cover of a great romance novel..."Hike to the Heart" or "Highland Love."

Three years ago we hiked to the source of the Ganges river. It was quite the adventure and included Ashrams located at 10,000 feet, cracking glaciers, cold sores, dizzying heights, stowaway rats and gorgeous views.

I love India....

The pier

2007-05-01T22:39:00.001-07:00

Oceanside

2007-05-01T22:37:00.001-07:00

This past week I went to Oceanside for a two and a half day training 'retreat' focused on identifying and counseling individuals from incestuous families. It was an intense time but at a very beautiful location. We were given a couple of hours off each afternoon and could go walk the beach. I love the ocean, and I value having time alone, but this time I wished I had someone to share my walk and the view with.

Wine bottles

2007-05-01T22:29:00.001-07:00

We have been collecting wine bottles for a number of months in order to put them up across our counter. We finally got enough, and are quite pleased with the results.

Las Brasas

2007-03-31T18:32:00.001-07:00

Idyllwild

2007-03-26T20:00:00.001-07:00

I went to Idyllwild this weekend on a
Women's Retreat with my Sunday School
Class. I had never been there before-it was
beautiful. I am constantly surprised by
what there is around me. I pretty much
live in the desert, but if drive an hour north
you are in the mountains, and if you drive an hour south you can be at the beach.

Shapes

2007-03-26T19:43:00.001-07:00

California Flowers

2007-03-26T17:53:00.002-07:00

I took my lunch break the other day to walk about and take pictures of all of the flowers I saw.

California is kind enough to grow flowers year round.

Me and Brandon

2007-03-17T20:58:00.001-07:00

Who lost a tire?

2007-03-17T20:54:00.001-07:00

The Village People?

2007-03-17T20:43:00.001-07:00

You never know who you might run into up in the mountains.......

Big Bear

2007-03-17T20:37:00.001-07:00

Today we travelled up the mountain to Big Bear. Redlands was hazy but as we drove the skies cleared and became blue! It was beautiful.

a bath

2007-03-01T23:22:00.000-08:00

Views of Redlands

2007-02-25T18:12:00.000-08:00

Saturday was a beautiful day and Brandon knew a great "hill" for us to hike up. I love it when it is clear...at the top we had almost a 360 degree view of the surrounding areas. The mountains had been recently dusted with a little snow adding to their beauty. It was a hike well worth making but I must admit I am a bit sore today.

Sunset with Foofi

2007-02-25T18:08:00.000-08:00

The other day the sunset was gorgeous and we just had to run outside to take pictures. Lafonduh wanted to come and we couldn't refuse her. A couple driving by our apartment complex actually pulled over to watch and laugh at us as we took these.

The cat

2007-02-06T22:53:00.001-08:00

The novelty of LB hasn't diminished as of yet. She was far more at home today, purring and rolling about on the floor. She likes her tummy rubbed which is unusual for a cat.

She likes to lay down on the tile right inside our front door and in our bathtubs. I am sure she gets very warm with all that fur.

In-N-Out at Midnight

2007-02-05T20:18:00.001-08:00

The new addition

2007-02-05T20:15:00.001-08:00

I would like to introduce Lafonduh "B" Wetherby!

She's a two-year old Persian with quite the personality...and though the photos may appear to indicate otherwise, she is very pretty.

2007-01-25T22:07:00.001-08:00

Water

2007-01-25T22:04:00.001-08:00

Sunsets in Arizona

2007-01-25T21:45:00.001-08:00

These pictures were taken last winter up near Flagstaff, Arizona. Janelle and I were only there for a couple of days, but they were incredibly relaxing and restorative days. It is wonderful to be away from buildings and concrete, even if for a little while.

GuadalaHARRY's and other birthday fun

2007-01-21T23:19:00.001-08:00

Thrift stores are fun

2007-01-18T20:59:00.001-08:00

Turning 25

2007-01-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday was my 25th birthday. I was serenaded over waffles by Bon Jovi and was given this groovy hat created by my two wonderful sisters. I was also given socks!

Another car story...

2007-01-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

I have had a good deal of time on my hands since I have been sick and off of work the past two days. Today I was feeling well enough to drive Janelle downtown and make a quick stop at the post office. When I got back into "Rolly" (our new stick-shift car) he wouldn't start. Of course he had been fine on the way there, but now he wasn't turning over. There are times when I feel that there is some car-god who likes to reach down and make my life miserable every couple of months or so....
Of course I had forgotten my cell phone, wasn't properly dressed and still feeling ill. I went to the library to find that the payphone was out of order there. When I asked the woman at the circulation desk if there were any other phones where I could make a toll-free call to AAA since my car was dead (there was one on her desk) she told me to go to the police station down the street. There I called AAA and went to wait for them in my car. Just for fun I tried to start it again, and this time, it begrudgingly started and I was able to get home.
I checked the car again a few hours later and it started up beautifully. I half wonder if I was hallucinating the entire event.

Mussoorie

2007-01-16T18:27:00.001-08:00

August in New Delhi

2007-01-16T15:19:00.000-08:00

My Friends Jyoti and Manoj

Sneaking in to Humayan's Tomb

(we were caught!)

Parliament

Driving near Parliament on a scooter

The Red Fort through a car window

The Lotus Temple

Independence Day, 2006

Photos from New Delhi

2007-01-15T17:41:00.001-08:00

The Huntington Gardens-one of my favorite places

2007-01-15T17:33:00.000-08:00

Brandon

2007-01-15T17:32:00.001-08:00

This weekend Brandon and I went to Palm Desert to visit his grandparents. I can't remember the first time we ever went to Palm Desert together, but it was sometime within our first year of dating. So, we were sitting outside in their hot tub (probably a bad idea when you are coming down with a cold) and I looked over at him and was struck with how long we have known each other. We really have been through a lot in the 4 years we have dated (you couldn't help but...) and I appreciated him so much in that moment.

Our first Christmas

2007-01-15T17:14:00.001-08:00

I have been looking forward to living with Jessie and Janelle for so long, there are times where I have to stop and remind myself that I am actually doing it right now and that these months we have will go by quickly.

We had our first solo Christmas in our first apartment. We have been apart on Christmas before, but this was the first time the three of us were together without Mom and Dad. We went all out with decorating the flat, buying a little Christmas tree and putting gifts under it. We even had 'twinkle-lights' up around the living room!

Redlands, CA

2007-01-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

The spectacular view from Caroline Park

....and another view.....
(Megan, Janelle and Me!)

These pictures were taken right after Janelle arrived here. This was the first snow on the mountains- so beautiful! The first few times I came to Redlands to visit Brandon the smog was hiding the view. I had no idea how gorgeous it is here (can be here...) Hopefully Redlands will woo us enough now to help us ride through the scorching ugly months in the summer. (It was 117 degrees the day I was looking for apartments.)

A day at home

2007-01-15T16:49:00.001-08:00

I'm sick...it happened really fast. I sneezed a few times on Friday at work and now here I am, three days later, with runny eyes/nose and a headache. This is the couch that I have been laying on for most of the day. It is very comfortable.

Ocean Beach

2006-11-29T22:07:00.000-08:00

I love this picture because it looks like you are far away from others when in fact I am standing on a pier...the water is beautiful and I love the clouds. I am far too used to smog.

2006-11-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

"Miss Mackail was stunning of body, but in the face very like a horse eating an apple through a wire-netting fence."
-Colleen McCullough in The Thorn Birds

Ryan

2006-11-13T22:49:00.000-08:00

Thi s weekend my friend Ryan came to visit. I remember the first time I saw him at the beginning of 7th grade. He was playing four square at Ridgewood. I couldn't believe it when, 10 years later, we both ended up in Pasadena. We were running buddies and then didn't see each other for over a year until this weekend. Reunions are fun.

The dancing fish

2006-11-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

This is our fish Finnigan the Terrible. He is ever hungry and will nearly lunge out of the water at you if you put your face above his bowl. He likes Jessie better than me.

Family traditions

2006-11-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, the flowers are fake, but that is my aunt's wedding dress. What is even better is that I am wearing my Grandmother's wedding dress. None of my sisters, cousins or I ever got to meet our Grandmother Leona but we have the dress she wore when she married our grandfather. It is awesome to have, and to be able to wear a part of family history like this.

2006-11-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Brandon and I went on a date to the Rainforest Cafe...the atmosphere was a lot of fun, but it ended up being a bit more expensive than we anticipated. It's always a bad sign when the waiters wear pins that say, "Ask me how you can save 10%."

2006-11-11T15:52:00.000-08:00

Car Woes and evil mechanics

The fact that the rear driver's side of my car was bashed in (before I bought it I must add) has sometimes meant that people think that I am a terrible driver/ditz. Case in point...last weekend my car was making horrible noises and when I took it into a repair shop the man was blatently laughing at me. He even said, "this happens when you have had one too many Corona's to drink." The nerve. He looked at the car and proceeded to say the repairs would cost $857.00 plus tax. I hate being at the 'mercy' of car mechanics...especially ones who think you are stupid and have money to throw away.

Well, I may have an ugly car, but I know better than spending that much money on a car I paid $1000 for two years ago....It has now been fixed for a mere $175. Imagine that.

So, my car is still ugly and bashed in, but it is running and cost less than $200 to fix. And now I know what brake pads sound like when the pad is completely worn down and rubs against the rotor...

2006-10-30T20:34:00.000-08:00

2006-10-30T20:23:00.000-08:00

2006-10-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

Waiting for dinner in New Delhi

2006-10-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

A Saturday trip to Lake Arrowhead

This is what happens when someone has spent their whole life in California and has had to deal with bad drivers and "selfish" parkers.....

Unfortunately we were not there to see the owner of the car (a.k.a. the person who took up two spaces in a very crowded lot) come back and find this note.

Lake Arrowhead. I live in the desert but

this place is only 45 minutes away.

2006-10-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Alistair.

I got to hang out with him all last year. Alistair loves swimming and is quite good at it. These pictures are from summer school.

2006-10-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

So it is the next day and I decided to keep the blog. I'll get over my stage fright....

This picture was taken the day Jessie and I moved to Redlands. We were sitting in the moving truck (driven by my fabulous boyfriend Brandon) and suddenly we found ourselves behind this man on the tractor talking on his cellphone with the huge American flag flying in the background. Words fail me.

Jessie and I in San Diego before the move.

A long time coming

2006-10-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

Am I a sellout? It feels so strange to be starting a blog.

Jessie hates the name I have bestowed upon this blog, but on the spur of the moment this was the best I could do.