Good Times

This week is just flying by but it's been both fun and productive.

I was elected the new XO of the Angeles BTW. Dave is the second officer.

I worked Monday and Wednesday but Tuesday I got caught up on errands, laundry etc. Also did a bunch of research to come up with more potential guest judges for the Showcase competition. I seem to have hit paydirt. Both the director of a local dance company, a local composer and conductor, a jazz choreographer and the LA Opera Works director have agreed to participate.

Also got caught up on USFSA test stuff and other misc. paperwork, bills, etc. There was a stack of stuff to be filed.

The garden is just gorgeous, so many things are blooming and there is color everywhere. The roses are particularly nice this year, and the lily's and iris's are huge. I put a new border, a small white picket fence, around the front flower bed and gave the entire garden, front and back a good weeding and fertilizing.

Thursday I just took it easy. Mel came up to spend the day and since Adam was home early I took him over to the mall to get new jeans and we wandered around a bit looking before heading for Andrews game.

Andrew had a hell of game today. He went 4 for 5 and hit a grand slam home run in the second inning. He also hit two balls to the center field fence for easy doubles that scored two men each time. It was a league record 7 RBI's in one inning and 9 overall , with two runs scored in a game they won by 9.

My Feet Hurt

I worked 2:30 to 11:30pm today. Or should I say yesterday. I'm off to bed in a few minutes.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. We have an Angeles Meeting tomorrow at Gary and Steve's home in Hollywood. We're going to BBQ and it's also Jenn's birthday so I'm bringing the cake. Jesnns our ship's CO and tomorrow the crew will decide on a new XO. It will be either myself or Dave Mason.

The club's founder Janice stepped down after 11 years and Jenn, who had been XO, stepped into command. I've been second in command for about 3 years now after being CMO for a while, but Dave has been with the ship since launch. Either of us would work, and the entire command staff pitches in so it's more a matter of delegating that anything else. Dave already edits our quarterly newsletter so if he takes on XO someone else will have to step up for that, but it won't be me :)

What a Week!

Wow it's Thursday already. I've been so crazy busy my head is spinning but I'm almost caught up. But it was worth it. We had so much fun with Ann.

I had to get the judge invites out for the upcoming Showcase competion (June) and get two articles into the SFI Newsletter by 9pm last night. Now I've got to start lining up volunteers.

There's a local USFSA test session next week and I hadn't yet done anything so that paperwork is underway at last. There are two next month but I'll worry about those after this ones behind me.

Worked Monday, Wednesday and work Friday and Saturday. Saturday night will be my first time to close. Then there is the usual errands, housework etc. Went to look at potential houses Tuesday as ours looks like it might be sold soon. Two different couples have been several times now. Both are coming back this weekend so hopefully one of them will make an offer.

Andrew's Big Day(s)

Andrew passed his drivers test on Wednesday and is now a licensed driver.

He'll be fine I know, he is sensible and cautious but not overconfident. After we got home and had dinner he decided he wanted to drive himself somewhere for the first time so he went down to Robeck's Juice and brought back smoothies.

Today he drove himself to school and then after to his baseball game in Chatsworth. I had carpool pickup today and after I dropped the kids all off Adam and I went home where he started his homework (after his usual dose of ESPN news) and I finished the gardening and laundry. Then I drove up to catch Andrew's game.

He hit a monster home run in the first inning to drive in an RBI. The ball was so high everyone was ohhing and ahhing. It was a great game, both teams played well but Andrew's Pirates never gave up the lead and it finished 9 to 7 before the game was called after 6 innings because it was getting dark.

Ann's Visit

We had the best time while Ann was here. We were all sorry to see her go.

Adam and I picked Ann up around 1pm last Thursday (has it really been a weak?!?). After stopping for some lunch at IN-N-OUT we headed up to Santa Monica to spend some time and money at Whimsic Alley.

Whimsic Alley is a little recreation of Diagon Alley, complete with a wand shop, wardrobe store, book store etc. It is total Harry Potter immersion and a fun place to visit. Ann is a BIG Harry Potter fan so she was in heaven. I bought a Hufflepuff scarf for myself and some buttons for my collection.

Friday Andrew, Adam, Ann and I went on the Warner Brothers Studio tour. It was great, the best studio tour I have been on. We got to go into the craft shops and even one of the prop houses. The Museum was a blast. The entire second floor is devoted to the first four HP films.

Are you seeing a trend here yet? It was a HP themed weekend as you will see.

After the tour we drove down to Hollywood and Ann took in Grahman's and we walked around so she could gawk. By this time we were all starving so we had dinner at Mel's Diner before driving home.

Saturday we spent with Stephanie at Oxy. Ann hadn't seen the school in person so Steph gave her a tour then we hung out watching some guys play wiffle ball on the lawn in front of her dorm before we drove to Old Town in Pasadena to stroll for a bit. We had dinner together before dropping Steph off and heading home for an early night.

Sunday the four of us went to Grand Slam, an annual SciFi convention. We meet up with Jenn, Dave, Boyd and Janice from the Angeles. This was Ann's first con and she had a blast.

First up were the Battlestar Galactica stars Jamie Bamber and Katee Sackhoff. Then we took a break to check out the dealers room before going to a photo op with James and Oliver Phelps who play the Weasley Twins Fred and George in the Harry Potter movies. Ann was so thrilled and excited I thought she was going to burst.

Jenn had held seats for us and we all settled in to watch the Phelps take questions etc for 45 minutes before signing autographs, another big thrill for Ann.

After that it was Colm Meaney and then James Marsters. It was a long, full day and the whole group of us went out for dinner before we all headed to our various homes.

Sadly it was back to school for the boys on Monday and Ann had to fly home. But it was a fantastic few days and loads and loads of fun!

Upcoming Fun

My sister Ann will arrive on Thursday just before 1pm from Colorado Springs. It's freezing there so our warm sunshine will be very welcome to her.

Andrew has to work on school project with some friends so Adam and I are going to pick her up at the airport and then before we drive home we're going to spend some time in Santa Monica.

You can't help but have fun when you're with my sister. She's so much fun and always enthusiastic about everything. It's going to be a short visit as she has to go home again Monday, the 16th but we're going to make the most of if.

Here's the agenda of our upcoming fun:

Thursday afternoon--Santa Monica, Whimsic Alley Stores after lunch at In & Out

Friday--Warner Brothers Studio VIP Tour and HarryPotter Museum

Saturday--Grand Slam Convention/Hollywood Sightseeing then on to visit Stephanie at Oxy and spend the evening in Old Town Pasadena with Steph

Sunday--Convention Fun All Day! Meet Harry Potter Stars etc.

Needless to say I can't wait!

I had today off so everything around here is taken care of and I work all day tomorrow but then I'm off until Monday--Let the fun begin!

Ren Faire Photos

Just wanted to share some of my photos of the Ren Faire this past Saturday.

I got some pretty good ones from the joust and battle between the Celts and British (who had German mercenaries).

Ren Faire

The Ren Faire was a blast! Today was opening day and the weather was perfect.

I went as a jester and got pulled into the opening skit by William Shakespeare who read me a sonnet. But it was fun and not too embarrassing and the boys got a big kick out of it.

A lot of the USS Angeles folks turned out today, we had 15 attending. For several it was their first Ren Faire experience and of course they loved it.

We worked our way through the Faire just taking things in as we headed all the way to the back for the first joust of the day. Our champion was Lord Garreth and we cheered him loudly, though alas he was unseated.

Much was eaten, way too much ale consumed but a good time was had by all.

Uneventful, But Nice

It's been a fairly quiet week, just the usual stuff. Uneventful can be nice for a change.

Saturday though is the Ren Faire. The boys and I are really looking forward to that.

I sent off Stephanie's Easter package and have chocolate bunnies stashed away for the boys. I'll be working but we will all have a nice meal together Sunday evening.

Today was the last day of school for the boys, they have tomorrow and then next week off for spring break. Andrew will be shooting more of his movie and Adam and I plan a trip to the zoo but when Ann gets here next Thursday we will be going strong, taking in the con the next few days along with other adventures.

I'm really liking my job at Borders. This past week was my first working five days. It wasn't bad. Sam picks up carpool when needed and cooked a couple of times, which was a big help. I'm glad he is feeling strong enough to get out a bit more, even if it's not far.

Recent Reading

I've had a bit more time to read lately.

Just finished the new Star Trek Enteprise book THE GOOD THAT MEN DO by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin. It was excellent and goes a long way toward reconciling the way the series ended with what fans want to see happen.

I've had several books on hold at the library that finally came in for me. Deborah Crombie's newest mystery WATER LIKE A STONE was a great read. M.C. Beaton's new Hamish MacBeth mystery DEATH OF A MAID though was a disappointment. This is the first time I've been disappointed in one of her Hamish books, which are set in a small Scottish Village populated by some really great characters. The characters as usual made the story but the mystery itself wasn't so great.

I am hoping to finish the latest book I'm reading tonight, MR. DARCY'S DIARY by Amanda Grange. It's a lite read but a very pleasant one and I highly recommend it any Jane Austin fans.

I had started the first MIRROR UNIVERSE volume but Sam wanted to read it so next up I'll get back to that and hopefully get a taste of the new Corps of Engineers series. This was formerly Starfleet Corps of Engineers but after over 60 stories they've made a few cast changes and started a new. I loved SCE so have high hopes for COE.