Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
No Bad News
Patty Griffin - No Bad News
Spent a lovely afternoon with Jen, Mike, and the girls. We played in the river and creek and Token even joined us as the girls and I walked up the middle of the river and then back to the beach. Token got quite brazen after being initially skeptical about getting in the water. He was pouncing and jumping and created quite a wake while running. Very cute with his skinny little legs - which look even skinnier when wet. After our frolics, we came back home and hosed off our legs and flip flops. We then had a lovely dinner of Thai chicken over rice followed by a lush white chocolate with raspberry topping cheesecake and caramel ice cream. Yummy yummy for the tummy.
As we were dishing up dinner, my real estate agent called and let me know the prospective buyer accepted my counter offer. Mary and I will talk about what all that means tomorrow - and there are a lotta 'ifs' involved, but it could very well mean that I will be up in the great Pacific Northwest in about 6 weeks or so.
Sure made saying goodbye to Jen easier when I was able to tell her as they drove away See ya in 6 weeks or so.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Hippo Birdy
At 4:53pm on Tuesday, June 28, 1977, my first child, Jennifer Cameron W-dot was born. Today is her birthday. She, Mike and the girls are coming over tomorrow to celebrate before they head off to the great Pacific Northwest.
Happy Birthday Baby Brat - I love you bunches and wads, gops and gobs,
Mama Cat
PS - turns out i have no baby pictures of you scanned into the computer you lucky child - only semi old one I have is you and nana when you were a teen so I added this one of you, me, and nana taken at your wedding
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Crazy As A Loon
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Another Wedding Picture
My mom sent me this - tis my mother, then my little sister, me, and my little brother. Dayam, how did I end up being the shortest of us kids?
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Riding With The King
BB King and Eric Clapton - Riding With The King.
Another hot forking day :( Town hit 104 and here it was 98 forking degrees in the shade again. Too forking hot for someone who carries around her own personal summer - I have no need of additional triple digits.
Had an agent from my agent's office call early Friday afternoon and we set an appointment for a showing. They were here for about 15 or 20 minutes - about average I guess. My agent will get with her and get feedback - probably Sunday. Had another agent from a Santa Cruz realtor call Friday night and set up a showing for Saturday early afternoon.
Been watching tv coverage of the Trabing Fire which was allegedly started by an arsonist traveling northbound on Highway 1 between Watsonville and Aptos setting fire to the grasses along side the freeway. Five fires were started and they have merged into one. Homes and other structures have been lost. 2,000 evacuated from the area. The link is to the firemap.
Third forking fire in Santa Cruz County in 2 months. Descriptions of the fire scene on the news included describing the forest as August or September dry and it's just the start of the fire season. Lard love a duck, I do not look forward to this fire season. I've had one fire to the east-south-east (Summit Fire), the southwest (Martin Fire) and now the Trabling Fire also south and east of me.
It is forking dry outside.In 2005/06, we got our average rainfall: 75 inches. 2006/07, we got 29 inches and 2007/08's rain season gave us 38 inches. Sure could use some rain.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Silver Springs
Fleetwood Mac - Silver Spring
104 in town yesterday and we hit 97 in the shade at the little cottage by the creek in the redwoods. Supposed to be even hotter Friday, Saturday, and (oh joy) Sunday and not start to cool off until Monday. Sunday is the Open House. Fork. Too forking hot to clean in the daytime. Had the house all bundled up so it was nice and comfy inside when I got up. After I had been up about 10 minutes, a forking real estate agent showed up at my door (with his client in tow, of course) not having bothered to call for an appointment (as the listing clearly states in addition to the shown by appointment only do not disturb occupant sign hanging from the for sale sign out front) wanting to show the house. After getting 15 minutes, I quickly threw open all the shutters, drapes, and windows, turned on all the lights, made the bed, opened the sliders, lit the candles, got Token and Goldie secured next door, grabbed the garbage and scurried out. Forking lookie loos - not even here 10 minutes and by the time I got everything closed back up again, it was almost 90 inside. I had both fans blowing but it was too late - the hot was inside. Sigh.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Swan Lake
Swan Lake as performed by members of the 100 acrobats and dancers comprising the cast of the Great Chinese State Circus, filmed January 26, 2008.
Down in Mississippi
Pinetop Perkins - Down in Mississippi with Debra Peters accordion, Will Indian Sr. guitar, Steve Wheless drums, Grady Pinkerton guitar, Vic Gerard bass and, of course, the legendary Pinetop Perkins on piano. Pinetop sings of his earlier days "Down in Mississippi" Recorded live in the front room of The Broken Spoke in Austin, Texas on February 13th, 2007. (info from utube page)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
You Don't Know How It Feels
Tom Petty - You Don't Know How It Feels
Drove into town today and did some grocery shopping. That horrible column of smoke behind the ridge is gone (woohoo). Signs in town and all along the hill saying "Thank You Firefighters". The Martin Fire in Bonnydoon is 75% contained per the CalFire page.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Ring of Fire
From his second appearance on The Johnny Cash Show, this is Ray Charles giving Johnny's No. 1 hit Ring of Fire a soul treatment. It was released on his then current country album "Love Country Style". Taped on Ray's 40th birthday this was aired on Sept. 23, 1970.
Wind shifted and I'm getting smoke from the Martin fire and also from the Indians fire down in Monterey County. This afternoon, the southern sky turned a rather fugly color that was sickly tan. Just came in from letting Token save a redwood tree and the not quite full moon is orange. I figure its from the smoke from the Indians fire. 6pm news had a screen shot from a skycam on top of Salinas Hospital and the entire sky had than tan/orange cast to it as the weather guy explained it was the refracted sunlight hitting the smoke.
Fire
Bruce Springsteen - Fire. Latest on the Martin Fire in Bonnydoon from the CalFire site:
| Location: | Bonny Doon and Martin Road, near Hwy 9 | |
| Acres Burned: | 600 acres | |
| Containment | 25% containment - 600 acres | |
| Structures Destroyed: | 10 residences have been destroyed. | |
| Evacuations: | Evacuations in effect for Ice Cream Grade Road, Martin Road, Moon Rock Road, Smith Grade and Pine Flat Road. | |
| Cause: | Under Investigation | |
| Total Fire Personnel: | 889 (632 CAL FIRE) | |
| Fire crews: | 31 (19 CAL FIRE) | |
| Engines: | 61 (43 CAL FIRE) | |
| Airtankers: | 2 | |
| Helicopters: | 6 (5 CAL FIRE) | |
| Dozers: | 8 (6 CAL FIRE) | |
| Water tenders: | 9 | |
| Costs to date: | $ 800,000 | |
My neighbors known many people who live in the burn zone - 10 residences burned is horrible. The good news is fog is forming off the coast and bringing up the humidity - always a good thing.
A lot of stumps are going to be smoldering for quite some time. Gotta worry about the poison oak in the air - it releases its toxins into the smoke when burned. Token and I went out last night/early this morning and there was no smell of smoke at all. Skies were still a bit hazy causing the stars to twinkle and the moon had a very slight yellow tinge to it.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Smoke On The Water
Update 5:36pm: Not smelling smoke so much but it is still pretty hazy outside. Haven't gone into town today but have been checking the KSBW fire map which now shows the burn area, evacuated areas and road closures.
Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water (Live, 1973)
Smell of smoke in the air - am staying inside holed up where it is cooler and less smoky - imagine me avoiding smoke (laughing). Am not seeing the smoke column from the fire here - I noticed yesterday that it was clearly visible from town but not from my little protected valley where it is hidden by the redwoods on the south side of my cottage. I am smelling the fire which I was not doing last night. Stayed up most of the night monitoring and fell asleep this morning to the local news coverage. Slept fitfully but I did sleep :) Token is holed up next door with Goldie, Bailey is laying on the front step and then comes in to let me know that she is displeased.
Here is the CalFire Incident page for the Martin fire - started on Martin Road and is only near Highway 9 if looking at a zoomed out map:
Location: Bonny Doon and Martin Road, near Hwy 9
Acres Burned: 700 acres
Containment 5% containment - 700 acres
Threatened: 1,000 residences, 50 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings are still threatened.
Evacuations: Evacuations in effect for Ice Cream Grade Road, Martin Road, Moon Rock Road, Smith Grade and Pine Flat Road.
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: Santa Cruz Sherrifs Office, CO, RDS, Office of Emergency Services, California Highway Patrol, Local Government Fire Departments, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pacific Gas & Electric
Total Fire Personnel: 719 (582 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 21 (17 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 69 (54 CAL FIRE)
Airtankers: 11
Helicopters: 7 (5 CAL FIRE)
Dozers: 9
Water tenders: 10
Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water (Live, 1973)
Smell of smoke in the air - am staying inside holed up where it is cooler and less smoky - imagine me avoiding smoke (laughing). Am not seeing the smoke column from the fire here - I noticed yesterday that it was clearly visible from town but not from my little protected valley where it is hidden by the redwoods on the south side of my cottage. I am smelling the fire which I was not doing last night. Stayed up most of the night monitoring and fell asleep this morning to the local news coverage. Slept fitfully but I did sleep :) Token is holed up next door with Goldie, Bailey is laying on the front step and then comes in to let me know that she is displeased.
Here is the CalFire Incident page for the Martin fire - started on Martin Road and is only near Highway 9 if looking at a zoomed out map:
Location: Bonny Doon and Martin Road, near Hwy 9
Acres Burned: 700 acres
Containment 5% containment - 700 acres
Threatened: 1,000 residences, 50 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings are still threatened.
Evacuations: Evacuations in effect for Ice Cream Grade Road, Martin Road, Moon Rock Road, Smith Grade and Pine Flat Road.
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: Santa Cruz Sherrifs Office, CO, RDS, Office of Emergency Services, California Highway Patrol, Local Government Fire Departments, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pacific Gas & Electric
Total Fire Personnel: 719 (582 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 21 (17 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 69 (54 CAL FIRE)
Airtankers: 11
Helicopters: 7 (5 CAL FIRE)
Dozers: 9
Water tenders: 10
Fire On The Mountain
Marshal Tucker Band with Fire On The Mountain.
Yep, the mountain is on fire to the south and west of me. Here's the firemap (updated regularly) by the San Jose Mercury News. The closed roads are in red - Alba Road comes into Highway 9 about 3 miles south of me is why it looks worse than it is. The actual fire is in Bonnydoon and runs a risk of blowing onto the UCSC campus if the winds blow that way. I'm pretty safe here - the fire would have to blow through several towns (Ben Lomond, Brookdale and downtown Boulder Creek) before it gets to me. Click on the terrain option at the upper right to see the topography of the land between here (Boulder Creek - Highway 9 and Bear Creek Road)
I've got an evacuation plan and will head to Jen's with the critters for an emergency overnight but would head to Anne's from there if its a long term deal. All planning for the for worst and hoping for the best.
The showing this afternoon - 'not what she was looking for'. Oy.
Update: 03:53am - The Santa Cruz Sentinel has a good article about the fire with photos and video here.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted by Joan Osborne. Originally Performed By Jimmy Ruffin. From The Movie Standing In The Shadows Of Motown...a story about The Motown House Band known as The Funk Brothers
Flourescent Light Blues
Flourescent Light Blues by Tommy Womack at a Songwriter-in-the-Round with Marshall Chapman and Tim Krekel, January 6, 2007 at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA
Monday, June 09, 2008
Sunday, June 08, 2008
On The Jimmy Reed Highway
Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan - On The Jimmy Reed Highway along with Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson, Delbert McClinton, James Cotton and Gary Clark Junior.
Gotta get this cd.
Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends
Joan Osborne with Bruce Molsky accompanying on this lovely cover of Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends from The Transatlantic Sessions, October 2007.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
You Complete Me
Been a while since I checked in on Anna Popovic - here she is at the 2007 Moscow Blues Fest in Lefortovo with You Complete Me.
She can forking play that guitar. Her site says she recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy who will be joining her on tour.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Deja Voodoo
Had a great time featuring Born With A Broken Heart by The Kenny Wayne Sheperd Band at the lake last nite - found this video of them from the same 1996 show performing Deja Voodoo that includes info on the band.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
For The Pups
Shoe and toe pictures for the pups - why, yes, the Late Nite pups are an interesting bunch (laughing).
I Want To Go To Heaven
Getting back to the music... dayammit, there is not a utube of Paul Thorn's song - Ain't Living In Sin No More (laughing - in the intro to the song he says he wrote it on his wedding day)
Texas - I Want To Go To Heaven (live) from their Ricks Road Tour. Filmed in Madrid, Spain in November 1994.
Texas - I Want To Go To Heaven (live) from their Ricks Road Tour. Filmed in Madrid, Spain in November 1994.
Yet More Photos From The Wedding
Jen's dad's toast to the bride and groom.
Jen and Mike getting ready to toast.
First dance.
David dancing with my mother.
Whew, I'm still tired! That should be it for the photos until I get more in (hint hint).
Monday, June 02, 2008
Still More Photos From The Wedding
Immediately after The Kiss.
Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Michael Roach.
Seated at the head table after being introduced and seated.
Mike and Jen dancing with the girls - Mike with Karina and Jen with Kayla.
Moi and Jen dancing.
More Photos From The Wedding
More photos are coming in... here are a few more:
This picture has Alicia (Jen's step-sister and bridesmaid), David (Jen's brother), Stephanie (Jen's sister), me, the lovely bride Jennifer and her equally handsome husband, Mike, Wendy (Jen's step-mom), Bob (Jen's dad), and Jeff (Jen's step-brother).
Jen escorted down the aisle by her father.
Jeff, Jen, Alicia and David.
This picture has Alicia (Jen's step-sister and bridesmaid), David (Jen's brother), Stephanie (Jen's sister), me, the lovely bride Jennifer and her equally handsome husband, Mike, Wendy (Jen's step-mom), Bob (Jen's dad), and Jeff (Jen's step-brother).
Jen escorted down the aisle by her father.
Jeff, Jen, Alicia and David.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Photos from Wedding
The photos from the wedding are slowly dribbling in. The first batch to arrive came from Alicia, Jen's step-sister.
Check out this picture of Jen and my two new granddaughters Kayla sitting down on the left and Karina standing to the right - just before we went down to the ceremony in the gazebo:
I love that photograph!
This is Jen and Mike, the girls, and Jen's Dad's family:
And this is Stephanie, my baby girl, holding Gabby during the reception. Gabby fell asleep on Stephanie's chest.
The former Meddling Mother of The Bride is now a mother-in-law to a wonderful man and gamma to two precious little girls. I am putting my feet up and relaxing, enjoying the sounds of silence punctuated by phone calls from Stephanie. She's on the road, driving back to Utah.
Check out this picture of Jen and my two new granddaughters Kayla sitting down on the left and Karina standing to the right - just before we went down to the ceremony in the gazebo:
I love that photograph!
This is Jen and Mike, the girls, and Jen's Dad's family:
And this is Stephanie, my baby girl, holding Gabby during the reception. Gabby fell asleep on Stephanie's chest.
The former Meddling Mother of The Bride is now a mother-in-law to a wonderful man and gamma to two precious little girls. I am putting my feet up and relaxing, enjoying the sounds of silence punctuated by phone calls from Stephanie. She's on the road, driving back to Utah.
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