Why didn't I think of this sooner?

Here's a vidoe for you. Hope you like it!!
Hi, Amy!!

Dance, dance, dance

Just wanted to post a few pics from the annual belly dance gala. Hope you like them. You can find the rest on facebook. Miss you!!!

Me with all my makeup on for the gala.

Myself and the ladies from my dance class.

All dresses up and ready to go!

Happy 25th Birthday!

In honor of your birthday, I present an excerpt from the acclaimed literary classic Twilight: The Graphic Novel by Stephenie Meyer:

Happy Birthday Amy!!! You're both my heroine and my heroin!

Because it's too funny not to repeat:

Mummies in the OC

Today Doug and I went to the Bower's Museum in Santa Ana (near Disneyland). It was recommended to us by my manager (her husband used to work there). It was Free First Sunday (even thought it was the second Sunday of the month; they were closed for Easter) and Doug and I were both off, so we decided this would be the perfect time to go!

It looked like something you would like - it focuses on Oceanic and Eastern art (and cultural artifacts). We got to see the special exhibit "Secrets of the Silk Road". It was really cool - they have mummies! Naturally preserved Caucasian mummies that were found in far Western China. The artifacts were awesome; unfortunately the curating left a little to be desired. . Doug was frustrated with the spelling (If I can tell things are misspelled you know it's pretty bad) and I was frustrated with the editing (fluffy sentences should be CUT. The explanations sounded like when you try to pad a paper). Still, it was a very cool exhibit. We weren't allowed to take photos inside the exhibit, but these are a few from around the museum's permanent collections:

A happy Coffin in the form of a Mythic Beast from Borneo, early 20th Cent. I like how he's smiling:

Canoe, Yani Culture, Orchid Island, Taiwan, 20th Cent:

This is a tiny little, like 3inch Chinese carving on the top post (neither Doug nor I can remember the technical name):

Another Chinese Sculpture - I love her movement:

A trio of happy, laughing Chinese Horses:

Seriously, look at these faces! I love them!

Oh no, Knott Again!

Knott's Berry Farm was having a super sale on tickets so we went. We weren't even out of the parkinglot when I saw this:How gorgeous are his blond feathers? Doug is so good, he let me stalk the rooster and take pictures for a bit. I mean, why else do we drive 45 mins to Knotts if not to take pictures of poultry?

Knott's is all decorated for spring:

Snoopy's Shop! (It got cold!)

Hoppy Easter!

I unexpecitedly had the day off, so Doug and I went to LA to spend the day with his mom (who was down for a mini-vaca), aunt & uncle, and grandma. It was a very nice day (except for the huge EARTHQUAKE that hit while I was talking to Mom on the phone. Seriously. A 7.2. That's like the earth tearing itself apart. It's so not natural!), and I'm glad Doug got to see his family - and that I got an excuse to buy and wear a new dress. I had opened my Easter Basket when I woke up (of course) and had a little candy then, but in the rush to leave I didn't really get into it until that night!


Poor little Bunny - he didn't have such a good Easter. I did!!

Huntington Beach

The weather's been really warm the past few weeks so we figured it's time for the beach!!! We went to Huntington Beach - which as usual had something going on. It's always busy when we try to go and, of course, neither of us ever check the website. It was a Classic Car Show - which turned out to be really cool. There was a bunch of restored Woodies and Beetles and stuff - it's about as SoCal as you can get.

The water is still too cold to swim (but I always find the water here frigid) but it was gorgeous weather. Afterwards, we went eat at Mrs Knott's Fried Chicken- yum!

Wear Green!

Happy St Pat's Day!

We both worked all day, and then Doug and I went to the Royal Falconer for a pint (of Guinness obviously) to celebrate. At work I had to settle a debate between my manager and her husband: she was convinced my last name was Scottish, he that it was Irish. I had to disappoint my manager - she was NOT happy that the hubby was right!

Cheers!

Merlin's in Riverside!

Doug and I walked into WinCo (like Walmart) and this greeted me:

A whole display of Merlin's Bunnies. I almost screamed with joy.

I promptly bought a White Choc Bunny for Doug (because I think the Easter Bunny will send me one of my very own)!

Last Disneyland Trip (for now)

Our Annual Passes expire on the 10th - so this will be our last trip on these passes. We've decided not to renew immediately - there's no discount and we're both working a lot the next few weeks, and then there's Easter, so why renew if we're not going to use it? We'll probably (hopefully) get passes again in a month or so.

Captain EO just reopened. You remember - we saw it at Epcot at least once. It's a 3-D movie with Michael Jackson. The brought it back asap (once the family and sponsors agreed).It was fun- nothing spectacular. The seats bounced to the music (like when you're in a stadium and people stomp their feet).

The tulips were amazing. All of the little statues around the Hub were very social and wanted to hold the HI AMY sign all by themselves!



I finally dragged Doug up through Tarzan's Treehouse! Hurrah! It's actually very cute.

Two men of action sporting their Tallish socks. The unique knitted foot wear the boys have on.

A gift from AMY.

We are standing in front of Dunleith. The tour guide that took this picture talked so much the 30 min tour lasted 2 hrs. We have no way of checking his facts but he was very entertaining.

WHO says it don't get cold in the deep south? Natchez Ms 7 Jan 2010

The Civil War cemetery in Natchez.

One of the many pre Civil War homes in Natchez.

They were untouched because Natchez gave up very early.

This just speaks for itself

Natchez

Sheila and I took a trip to Natchez, MS

Two of Amy's Aunts Cheryl and Su plus Uncle Ricky

Christmas 2009

Next year we hope to have all the little children home!!!

3 of the 5 mac pac kids made it home this Christmas Martin (with the facial hair), Emily, and Jonah

Birthday

I was very happy on my 51st birthday

Behind the Apartment

My shift was cut today - so Doug and I went to the Getty Museum in LA (it's free on Saturday's after 5). To kill a little time we wondered around the park a few blocks from our apartment before we left - how pretty is this view? It's Downtown Riverside behind him in the distance, snuggled up against Mt. Rubidoux.


(Doug was super excited about the Getty, my amazement with the mountains, and the HI AMY obsession)

Christmas, One Last Time!

Christmas has been so weird this year anyway, I figured we should go whole hog and live it up. Christmas isn't over until the Epiphany anyway, right? So we went to Disneyland for one last day of Christmas joy.

I love how festive Main Street is:

It's a Small World Holiday



Esmeralda is like my own personal Mother at Disneyland - she's always telling me to finish what I start, not to be discouraged, that things will work our. It's funny. My fortune today was:

You are indeed a most fortunate person. While you think your life has
been hard and you have struggled with poverty, you have been fitting yourself
for the great change that will come when five rainbows have spanned the
heavens. Not only yourself, but four of your relatives will be benefitted
by your good fortune. It will not only be in money but also in social
position and influence. You will also meet one who will love you, but will
be prevented for a time from marriage. Be patient. In time the
obstacle will be removed, the union will take place and happiness will be yours
for a time. This happiness will continue as long as you are true to your
marriage vows, and are kind to those around you. Your lucky stone is
onyx.

One of your lucky numbers is 14.

So....it's not exact, but she's a busy woman. It's not too bad.

Minnie! in Christmas gear! I was thrilled!

I really wanted to get a picture with her - she's so tiny.

Happy New Years!

Another quiet day at home - woke up, had coffee and opened my awesome LaTran gift - a book The Complete National Parks!

We then watched the Rose Parade. We had talked briefly about going see it - but you have to get there almost the night before to get a spot.


I cooked cabbage and blackeyes! Doug placated me and had a few bites of each.