Ventura, CA

We party late here so I am again trying to post through bleary eyes when most of the world is sound asleep. Saturday was another perfect day...what can I say? We picked up Frank and Marion at 12:30 then drove to Ventura Harbor Village.

As we were walking down the pier, there was a crowd gathered so we checked it out. They were having a Kinetic Sculpture Race. This was the second of the three heat race. First they had raced in the water, now this figure 8 land heat, and last was a mud run. The vehicles were fun and inventive!

 And They're Off!

This was the first contestant in the mud run but they exhausted more than their allotted ten minutes without any success so we went to lunch because this was going to take forever.

My companions seemed to enjoy watching them get stuck in the mud though!

After a tasty lunch at Margarita Villa in the Village we walked across the street to Surfer's Knoll Beach. I do love me some water!

I am always the only one to walk down to the shore and into the water. That is some great exercise by the way!

Our niece, Barbara, always comments on Rich going to the beach with shoes and socks on so I posted this on FB and again here, especially for her.

Not me, I've been in the ocean and back up to where they were waiting.

We visited at their house a while then came back to feed the girls some dinner and call to see what the rest were up to. July, Merl, Barbara, and Marianne were all at Helen's so we went over there. There is no shortage of laughter when we're with any of them.

Lovin' Life ~~

Can't Wait for Tomorrow to Continue the Fun!!!

A Normal Weekend!

After all we have been through this winter, we finally have had a nearly normal weekend! The weather is gorgeous, Rich has recovered from a nasty cold, and my pain is okay. While I was laid up at the kids' house, Rich renewed his interest in bicycling and found that he loves riding off-road on the many desert trails in our area out here. Yesterday was the first time that I got to see him prepare and take off. He has ridden as far as thirty miles in a day but was only gone about half an hour yesterday to get back into it after being sick. Lookin' good, huh?

Shawn and Sandee brought the kids out mid-afternoon. We took a ride, viewing the Superstitions and driving along the kids' favorite roller coaster road as fast as we safely dared. I'll have to try to get photos of some of the steeply wavy roads out here.

Aren't they adorable, all clustered together at the Red Box to check out what movies are available?

While I fixed dinner, they all just hung out playing with the girls or on one of the computers. Then it was time to make up the beds and watch Madagascar 3. The five of us love the Madagascar movies!

We enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning with cinammon rolls and bacon for breakfast (no Kathy, not delicious home made ones like yours, I only wish!). Dylan told us that our friends' daughter was racing today so I called Jen and we made arrangements to go to the Gymkhana where Jordan was competing with her horse, Doc.

They had also brought another horse that is stabled with theirs that their son, Josh, sometimes rides. Somehow, I didn't get any photos of Jen, her husband, Dave, or their other son, Dustin...geesh, what a lame excuse for a photographer. Sandee met us there, the weather was perfect, the events brought back lots of childhood memories of horse shows we attended as a family, and it was great getting to visit with Jen and Dave. The kids all had a blast hanging out around the horses, riding, and playing.

And what kid doesn't love a clubhouse under the bleachers?

This weekend meant so much to me because this is the life we normally live...and getting back to our life is long overdue!

Lovin' Life ~~ And Family, And Friends, And Horses!

2013 Firsts

The first three days of 2013 have been filled with "firsts" for us.

Tuesday, January 1st

On New Year's Day Rich brought the girls over. This was the first time I had seen them since I left to go shopping on December 12th. We were all so excited to see each other!

I even made my way out onto the patio for the first time to sit in the sun for a bit that afternoon!

Wednesday, January 2nd

With their parents back to work today, Grandpa picked up the kids for a day of fun at Amazing Jakes. It is an indoor amusement park that we go to every year but, for the first time, Grandpa took them without me. They all have their jokes and competitions, especially with the bumper cars and laser tag so they all had a great time and came home with stories to tell. He got some good photos of them on the climbing wall.

Thursday, January 3rd

This too has been a big day for me. I had physical therapy this morning; he comes to the house of course. He was confident that my transitions are strong enough to safely transfer from the wheelchair to the car and back. So, after Rich got here we decided to go out for a late lunch...did you catch the importance of that...OUT for lunch...for my first outing! I can't imagine how many years (decades?) it's been since I've gone 23 days without going out to eat. I was able to get in the front passenger seat too, which meant facing forward and riding like a normal person instead of sideways along the entire back seat like I had to do coming home from the hospital and going to the appointment with my surgeon a week ago...the only two times I've been in a vehicle since that eventful day. Oh the little pieces of life we take for granted.

It was the five of us, riding and joking and laughing, just like we always do. We are missing out on so many times like that with our grands this winter. When Dylan suggested La Casa Blanca we all immediately agreed! No steps, you just roll right in through two large, arched doorways (something we had never consciously appreciated before) and our meals were absolutely delicious (something we had often consciously appreciated before!).

Lovin' Life ~~ Enjoying Some "Firsts"

A Riverwalk Evening

We picked Ken and Gail up at 3:00 to spend the evening at Riverwalk. This is such a beautiful place, packed with people and humming with energy on this holiday weekend.

We had dinner at Dick's Last Resort and luckily scored a table right at the sidewalk and river. It's a fun place with rude, sarcastic waiters and great food!

By the time we finished dinner, the sun had set so here are some shots of the holiday lights on the Riverwalk.

From there we walked to Alamo Plaza to see the 55 foot white fir Christmas Tree.

The Alamo

Tower of the Americas in the distance, framed by lighted trees at Alamo Plaza

One final shot of Riverwalk from a bridge at street level as we walked back to our car.

This was such a fun evening. We had hoped to ride a barge along the festively lighted river but the lines for tickets and then to board were incredibly long. 

Lovin' Life ~~ Enjoying the Sights With Friends