I thought everyone would enjoy a break from serious political talk, so I included links to the Alfred E. Smith roast, featuring Barack Obama and John McCain.  Sure wish the campaign had a little more of this and a lot less of the rhetoric.

I'm having a fairly productive day and hope to get the last two of California propositions up today.  In the meantime, I've hit the gym for the first time in a few weeks (and am happy I nagged myself into going).  And I'm keeping busy in the laundry room as well.

We're going out to dinner tonight with two of our long-time missionary friends, Bill and Donna Davis.  Looking forward to getting caught up with them and the work they're doing, translating the Bible for the Palawanos.  Our paths have been very different for many years, but we share Clairemont Emmanuel as a starting point and that's always a sweet reunion.

Happy weekend everyone!

Prop 7 is up and ready for your review.  I'm actually a bit discouraged about that one because I so wanted it to be a good initiative...but I ended up recommending a no vote.

My recommendation was partly due to the nature of the initiative...but it's also illustrative of the fact that good energy policy is difficult to craft, especially as we begin the process of transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy technologies.  It seems to me that new technology is a legitimate reason for subsidies...as long as those subsidies require clear, measurable progress and include a weaning off/sunset clause.  (We're still subsidizing helium, I believe, and our last airship sailed some time ago.)

It was not all work and no play for me today, though.  I drove down to Carlsbad for a yummy lunch at Fidel's Little Mexico with my friend from Junior and Senior High, JeanMarie Blaisdell.

JM and I haven't been in touch much in recent years, so it was good to sit and get caught up on what we've missed in each other's lives.  And it didn't hurt at all that for part of our afternoon we were gazing out over the sparkling blue Pacific ocean on a breezy Southern California day.

I've seen a number of oceans and bodies of water...but there's a unique quality to the combination of the ocean, the light and the air in San Diego that says "home" to me.

I should have Prop 9 up tomorrow.  Thanks for your patience!

We had a good visit today with our friend in prison...and it only required the sacrifice of my underwires (in my new bra) to accomplish.

How many times have I been to this prison?  And yet, as I left the house on Thursday, the nagging thought that I was forgetting something did not translate into "prison bra."

I'm not sure what it is that one could do with an underwire that makes them so dangerous, such contraband that one must snip them out of the offending garment with fingernail clippers before entering the prison.

I could ask, I suppose.  But I fear I still wouldn't be any the wiser.

Like the kleig lights they brought in to comply with regulations when the prison started getting "lifer" inmates...and that still run (on diesel) every night even though the lifers are gone...the underwire rule is a vestigal remnant from days gone by.  Without logic or explanation.  And still and integral part of the California Prison system.

Ah well.  At least it was a good visit!  Cool weather, good conversation, vending machine munchies and at least a few hours where prison walls melted away in the pleasant company of well-worn friendship.

Phew, what a day!  I got up at 6:00 a.m. for a session with my personal trainer followed by 30 minutes of cardio.  My legs are still sore, but I pressed 180 lbs with my legs (and no lower back pain...that came later...with the bicycle crunches).  Back home to fix breakfast.  Then off to the dentist (or really the dental hygenist who suggested that I might want to floss a bit more frequently).  Back home to fix lunch.

In between lunch and a business meeting, I spent time exchanging emails (that made me feel like I'd already blogged about 3 days worth) with a libertarian friend of mine. 

Which leads me to today's fill in the blank question.  A special prize to whomever comes up with the best answer (according to my arbitrary selection) posted on this website to the following:

The only thing more verbose than an exchange between a writer and a lawyer is...

Three hours later (only a slight exaggeration), I had a golf lesson (it's all so easy when the pro is there) and then met Dan for dinner.

Oh...and in between all of that, I found myself whistling a new tune, set a few words of poetry (using the term very loosely) to it, then transcribed the snippet into musical notation using several websites.  It's a duet and I've got the two opening phrases for man and woman to sing.  (It could also work with same-sex couples.)  Amazing how useful the internet can be to someone who took two years of piano, two of clarinet and two of guitar in writing music.

Again...using the term very loosely.

Now...I know this day sounds pretty idyllic.  And I'm not complaining (except for maybe the time spent educating the libertarian).  But it was busy for a semi-retired ex-banker.

And busy felt pretty damn good.

(Oh...and laundry...did I mention the laundry?)

About coming home that feels so darn good?  We arrived about 20 minutes ago after a 6 1/2 hour drive from the "South Bay" and our good friends, Erik and Bob.  Prior to leaving we enjoyed a gi-normous breakfast with them.  This enabled us to push through without much more than a snack break.

Now I am for the couch with a good book and a smile of satisfaction on my face!

We've had a lovely day (so far) in Northern California.  It started off with a bit of a "lie in" as they say in Great Britain...Dan and I sleeping in until a bit after 8.  Then we moseyed down to enjoy the Embassy Suites' continental breakfast.

I hit the gym while Dan did a bit of work and before we knew it, it was time to meet Erik.  One of the things I've looked forward to about this trip is that Bob and Erik take such good care of us, come up with fun things to do, and we're not required to do planning of any sort...we can show up and that's good enough.

So it was today.  Erik planned a driving trip to Half Moon Bay, lunch, a bit more driving south along the coast with a short hike to a bird preserve overlook.  Half Moon Bay is a cute little button of a town where we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Half Moon Bay Inn.  We wandered for a bit through town, stopping in several stores where I bought a sweater and some books.

Who knew it was so cold here in the summer?  Erik relayed a saying of his Dad's that sums it up--"The coldest winter I ever spent was one summer in San Francisco."

The coastline drive was lovely...lots of moody gray ocean, twisting cypress and a few kitesurfers to remind us we were in California.  The hike along the sea bird preserve was suitably breezy and by then, the cloud cover had burned off.  It was still cool but not freezing.  After a short hike, we headed back to the car--windblown and pink-cheeked.

It was an excellent wander made more enjoyable by being able to spend time with two of the best men on the planet.  Tonight should only get better as we join Erik and Bob for dinner...then it's me and three of the best men on the planet.  How lucky can a gal get?

Before we get to the Sunday Question, a bit of an update on the 30th Reunion.

The party was held at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego.  About 200 people from a class of over 1,000 attended...so not the best turnout in terms of numbers.  But it was a wonderful turnout in other ways.

At the outset, I ran into a friend of mine from grammar school, Loreto Remorca and told him that I'd just been thinking of his campaign slogan when he ran for student government--"Vote for Loreto.  He's "Remorcable."  Even though I've never been one for puns, I've always loved that one.

I saw about ten folks throughout the evening with whom I'd gone to elementary school.  I was surprised by the depth of connection I felt to these men and women as compared to individuals whom I'd met in High School (and of whom I would have sworn while in High School that we'd always remain close).  Jackie nee Beaupre, who used to walk with me to Hawthorne Elementary school, was one of my earliest friends and I especially enjoyed catching up with her.

I also ran into folks that I knew I'd been connected with in High School or Junior High...but I couldn't quite place the connection.  No matter.  We would chat amiably and find out about each other's lives.  Hugs abounded.  Old boundaries of social sets were, for the most part, blurred.

The Warhawks 78 class seems to have done an excellent job of procreating.  Most folks had at least two kids.  Only a few of us were childless.  I ran into the wife of an ex-boyfriend, a couple of ex-boyfriends, a number of friends who've come out of the closet since school.  I was surprised by the number of alums who still live in San Diego (about 50% of those attending) and the number who moved to New Jersey/New York (about 4%).

Many of those I spoke to have lost one of their parents.  I feel especially glad that Dan and I have complete sets (and a few spares!) of parents still living, and whom we love and cherish.  Many of those who had surviving parents spoke of troubled relationships.  Again, counting my blessings.

I spent a great portion of the evening with Jean Marie, trying to squeeze substantive conversation in and among the many "Hey, I remember you!" conversations.  It was good to see her, good to hear about her life, her boys, her marriage, her job.  I suspect we'll be back in contact.  And the same with Mona.

It was nice to feel comfortable in my own skin at the reunion; definitely not the case when I went to my 10th.  At that time, I still felt many of the old judgements and insecurities that hampered me in High School.  This time was different.  Sure, I was nervous to go into a room of virtual strangers.  But I no longer felt at the mercy of their conclusions about me, like I did when I first walked through the gates of MHS.  Instead I was curious, eager to see a few specific folks, more than willing to leave if I got bored.  (I couldn't have been too bored, I stayed for four hours.)

All of which leads me to the Sunday Question.  High School was a stressful time for many folks.  If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice about your High School years, what would it be? 

We had a good time playing golf at Cottonwood's Ivanhoe course this morning.  The first tee time was at 6:15 a.m. with Dan and I joining Lori Butters and Steve (whose last name escapes me), both of whom I went to Jr. High with.  I remembered Lori right away but it took a while to remember Steve.  They were delightful golfing companions and we had a good round.

Dan won for closest to the pin on the 4th hole.  I won for lowest gross score (it was me against Lori so I had a 50/50 chance).  I ran into a few other folks I knew from High School; Mike Howell and Perry Wright amongst them.  Very fun to see how folks have turned out.  Nice bunch of "kids" I went to school with. 

Now it's time for a nap and then getting ready for the shindig at Paradise Island tonight.  I think I'll be home pretty early but Dan's betting I'm not home until 10 p.m.  Something about my being chatty.  Hmmm.

 

We're down in San Diego for my High School Reunion (kicking off tomorrow with a 6:00 a.m. tee time at the Reunion Golf Tournament).  The festivities started a bit early today with the marriage of my friend, Mona and her girlfriend, Holly in Chula Vista.

Mona and I met in the fifth grade.  We spent time together in grammar school, had intersecting schedules, classes and interests throughout Junior and Senior High.  As she mentioned tonight, she saw me through my (first) wild child phase to my conversion to Christianity as a teen.  We went to the same church for a while, Clairemont Emmanuel, as did many of my friends.

We've been in sporadic contact through the years and I am so glad we've reconnected given the opportunity both of the reunion and the wedding.  To be there as she joined with Holly, to see her as a beautiful woman and remember the girl she was...what a blessing.  I am proud to be in a state where gays and lesbians are entitled to the same rights as heterosexuals--to marry the person they love, to have that marriage legally recognized with the obligations and joys that accompany the legal and the spiritual state of being a family. That's something new...and something too long coming.

Dan and I also reconnected with my long-ago best friend, JeanMarie, at the wedding.  JM and I have fallen out of touch over the past 10 years or so...and it's been a good fifteen years since we'd seen each other.  She too has matured into a lovely woman, her eyes sparkling, her sardonic humor coming through in almost every word. 

It's an interesting experience to see someone with whom you were so intimately connected and realize that so much has changed, so many of life's challenges have shaped you in unpredictable ways, that you are wholly different and that person is a stranger.  And then to hear a laugh or catch a physical idosyncracy and the stranger becomes an old friend.

Isn't life rich?

As you remember from June, I was on a cruise in the Baltic with my Mom.  We knew several of the people going on the cruise and met a number of equally nice folks as part of the Classical Action group.

One of the folks I mentioned, Arie Boris, is editor of a website called Cruise Gourmet.  Imagine my delight when Mom forwarded this linked article to me. 

I've called Arie my "brother-from-another-mother."  He's a delight and we're trying to figure out a way to go with him on a cruise next year.  Check out his site!

It will give you something (else) to do while I am offline until Sunday.  Off to get a LONG needed haircut, then to a birthday party tonight for one of Dan's friends, then spending time with my wonderful friend, Lynne.