tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80349525845491926272011-11-27T16:46:59.186-08:00Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comBlogger1601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-5309798470419411142009-11-15T15:42:00.001-08:002009-11-15T15:46:42.875-08:00

Today is my mom's 73rd birthday and my son, Jordan's, 18th birthday! Jordan and Grandma -- Lake Havasu, AZ -- Dec 2008

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-63837773204174673372009-10-06T20:24:00.001-07:002009-10-06T20:24:12.360-07:00

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-9547193475506819022009-10-04T09:15:00.000-07:002009-10-04T09:24:04.744-07:00

A friend and former Autodesk coworker, Wayne Hodgins, has been living on his 60-foot sailboat "Learnativity" for over a year. He happened to be in American Samoa when the tsunami hit on September 29. He's chronicling his experience here on his blog:http://learnativity.typepad.com/living_learning_aboard_th/He's posting the updates in several parts. Here's Part I:http://learnativity.typepad.com/

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-43161178717335752692009-09-24T20:36:00.000-07:002009-09-24T20:48:26.591-07:00

Sydney, Australia experienced a dust storm like no other. The before and after photos are stunning:A shot of Neutral Bay on a normal day (top), and (bottom) during the dust storm.Photo: Lauren Jarrott, smh.com.au readerhttp://www.smh.com.au/environment/sydney-turns-red-dust-storm-blankets-city-20090923-g0so.htmlWe just returned from a vacation in Sydney on September 6. We are feeling fortunate

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-13821842353637545882009-09-19T09:17:00.000-07:002009-09-19T09:20:32.667-07:00

Cool off with a FREE iced beverage at your local Peet's Coffee & Tea:http://www.peets.com/heatwave/Default.asp?rdir=1&cm_mmc=retailemail*09.summer_heatwave_beverage*retail*coupon_btnGet magazine subscriptions at deep discounts:http://www.sunset.com/FAF

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-15125052658359345222009-09-14T16:48:00.001-07:002009-09-14T16:51:04.591-07:00

I discovered a local (to the San Francisco Bay Area) consumer blog, "Michael Finney's Consumer Blog," that provides some good info. Much of the postings are about how to save money, free offers, scams to watch out for, etc. Have a look:http://abc7news.typepad.com/finneyblog/

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-26553537004062932272009-09-10T20:37:00.000-07:002009-09-10T22:21:51.368-07:00

Our family took a trip to Sydney, Australia from Aug 28 through Sept 6. It was a very long trip and the time difference was hard to get used to (17 hours later than California), but it was well worth it. It was our first time in Australia and there was so much to see in Sydney! We packed a lot into the 7 days we were there. We visited the:• Sydney Opera House• Harbor Bridge• Blue Mountains•

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-86872883527056590852009-08-21T21:01:00.000-07:002009-08-21T21:04:19.782-07:00

Here's a sweet deal:http://www.sagehospitality.com/specials/giveadaygetanight.htm

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-40970939798411133312009-08-21T20:24:00.000-07:002009-08-21T20:38:49.179-07:00

Jordan, our 17-year-old son, saved up his own money and bought a street motorcycle: a 1990 Suzuki Katana 600. Before he bought the bike, he took a motorcycle safety course and studied before getting his motorcycle license. He's really excited about his bike and has already gone a long bike ride with his dad (who owns a 2000 Suzuki Katana 750) to Mt. Veeder in the Napa Valley. It's pretty

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-68087439827321170302009-08-16T20:36:00.000-07:002009-08-16T20:48:53.895-07:00

At the end of May, I started a compost bin for all my organic kitchen scraps. We've had no problem filling it up with all the vegetable and fruit scraps we go through, however it started smelling really BAD and attracting tons of flies and wasps to our yard. It seemed like no matter what I did (adding paper, stirring on a regular basis), it just stayed too moist in the bin. There was almost

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-85335995259371551572009-08-15T09:49:00.000-07:002009-08-15T10:39:21.865-07:00

If you own an iPod and/or an iPhone, you are probably spending more than you need to on iTunes purchases. Here are some easy tips for saving money on all iTunes purchases. Combine the two for a discount of around 10% on your purchases.1. If you are a Costco member, you can purchase iTunes gift cards at a discount. The discounts seem to vary, but I believe my last purchase was a $50 gift card for

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-35339153230805232562009-08-07T19:41:00.000-07:002009-08-07T20:04:05.384-07:00

I've been off work enjoying my 6-week sabbatical as of June 27. This is a fantastic benefit that my company, Autodesk, provides all employees. Every 4 years, we are entitled to take 6 weeks off (and it must be taken off all at the same time).I spent my sabbatical with a mix of traveling and relaxing and getting some small projects done around the house. Here's a recap of how I spent my 6 weeks:-

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-75304894562949547352009-08-02T11:10:00.000-07:002009-08-07T18:06:05.926-07:00

Buy one Jamba Juice, get one FREE:http://www.summerblissisback.com/bogo_print.phpFree Mocha Mondays at McDonalds (hurry, ends Monday, 8/3):http://www2.mcdonalds.com/mccafe/

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-59610982160921344962009-07-29T21:41:00.000-07:002009-07-29T21:47:29.946-07:00

A garter snake decided to relax on our backyard patio today... I came across it when I went outside to gather some fresh sage and thyme for our dinner. After this pic was taken, I finished gathering my herbs for dinner (with snaky hissing my way the whole time). Then luckily my husband and son came home, gathered the snake up and moved it across the street to an open wetlands area. (I had to

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-62927170289606590502009-07-28T15:00:00.001-07:002009-07-28T15:11:13.843-07:00

I'm challenging myself to not buy any new clothing for 6 months. That may not sound like a big deal to most people, but I am in the habit of picking up something new everytime I venture into Target, Kohl's, etc. I end up accumulating WAY too many clothes in my closet. I don't like to try things on at the store, so I guess at the right size, bring them home and then try them on. 25% of the clothes

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-38872137486969962582009-07-26T23:04:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:03:25.749-07:00

Here's a great news video about an 89-year-old woman and her beloved car.And here's another fun video about a unique wedding march that a couple chose for their special day.Enjoy!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-13975585268877378182009-07-26T22:05:00.001-07:002009-07-27T15:06:58.464-07:00

Martin, Devon, Josie (Martin's sister), and I walked with 25,000 other walkers in the 2009 SF AIDS Walk on July 19. It was a great event and our team (Autodesk) raised more than $5,000 for the event. Thanks to everyone who contributed to our fundraising--we really appreciate it (especially during these economic times). Gathering in Golden Gate Park, prior to the walk Lots of entertainment along

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-57483373486867709102009-07-12T12:09:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:04:18.078-07:00

Dear friends and family,Please sponsor me in the SF AIDS Walk, if you can! Only one more week til we walk (Sunday, July 19) and I'm terribly behind on meeting my goal of $1000. So far I've raised $225 (thanks to all my sponsors!!). You can donate any amount -- and every dollar counts! Here's the link to donate online: http://aidswalksanfran2009.kintera.org/kathyarizonHelp me get to 100% of my

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-79469298867672655972009-07-08T12:21:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:17:53.583-07:00

Imagine how thrilled we were to get a notice from our mortgage lender (CitiMortgage) telling us that our adjustable interest rate is resetting again next month and as a result, our monthly mortgage payment is going DOWN by $510!! That is a huge difference... We've had an adjustable interest rate on this mortgage since we first bought the house in November of 2003. Our new interest rate is now a

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-54927573039013723512009-07-07T14:57:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:05:42.877-07:00

Did you know that you are entitled to receive a FREE credit report from all three of the credit reporting agencies once per year? Everyone should be taking advantage of this offer. You should get a copy of your report at least once every 12 months to look for errors and fraudulent activity. Be aware, though, the web site is www.annualcreditreport.com--this is the only official site that provides

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-24807559863706402072009-07-04T09:45:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:05:57.438-07:00

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-27844356812757459712009-07-01T20:20:00.001-07:002009-07-27T15:06:24.508-07:00

3-day weekends are great....4-day weekends are awesome. But, 42-day weekends are even better! I just started my 6-week sabbatical from work on Monday. It's a great feeling to be at the beginning of six weeks away from work. I feel like a kid on the first day of summer after school lets out.Autodesk: thanks so much for providing such a wonderful benefit! I truly appreciate the time off.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-32276815026509490572009-06-20T23:50:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:06:42.979-07:00

Happy Father's Day to my dad and my hubby!My Dad!My Sweetheart!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-31201222336476467512009-06-14T12:42:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:07:12.527-07:00

Today is June 14, which means it is Flag Day in the US. I was never really sure what Flag Day was for. But after a bit of research, I find it's a day for Americans to commemorate the adoption of our country's flag.So happy Flag Day!Press Release from WhiteHouse.gov about Flag Day:http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-Flag-Day-and-National-Flag-Week/

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-85730201625118076292009-06-14T12:35:00.001-07:002009-07-27T15:08:24.281-07:00

Arianne (my 22-year-old daughter) screamed for me this morning from her bedroom. She found a potato bug in her closet and wanted ME to remove it. Blech, those things are disgusting. Scariest looking bug I know. Here's a pic of the vile creature: potato bug

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-27661654707080872832009-06-09T18:56:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:07:41.985-07:00

Jordan graduated from high school today! We are extremely proud and happy (not to mention relieved!). Congratulations, Jordan, nice job!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-41264276587511720142009-06-07T19:44:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:08:48.552-07:00

Time flies--only 19 days left until my sabbatical (6 weeks off of work) starts. My plans are pretty simple: a few days camping at Burney Falls, a week in Lake Tahoe, maybe a visit with my sister, and hopefully some day trips with the kids.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-29003596889782717792009-06-05T20:48:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:09:18.259-07:00

Here's a story about Autodesk (where I work) and our team in the Manchester (New Hampshire) office:http://www.necn.com/Boston/Business/2009/06/02/Autodesk-helps-states-spend/1243987075.html

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-21010605461613932262009-06-01T19:28:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:13:30.500-07:00

Good news on our water conservation efforts! The city has given us a goal of 20% savings, but we decreased our water usage last month by 25% compared to the same month last year. From our water bill

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-18543783648415780082009-05-31T20:15:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:14:21.252-07:00

Or at least, we're trying to... We go through a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables at our house, so I wanted to be able to do something with the scraps other than throw them in the trash can. So, now I throw the scraps in a trash can that was specifically set up for composting. I simply purchased a cheap trash can and drilled holes in the can about every 4 square inches. I put the bin in my

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-13051255643937239212009-05-28T21:02:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:14:50.048-07:00

I love this video. 5th grade class in NYC singing Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide."

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-42626032553548076092009-05-25T17:36:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:15:51.155-07:00

Here's a photo of my mini herb garden. We've got cilantro, parsley, sage, thyme, basil, mint, and chives.And here's a current photo of our vegetable garden. The tomatoes are doing well, but something (snails or slugs??) ate almost all of my cauliflower plants! See the evidence below... The lettuce is sprouting, hopefully they'll survive the snails.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-49413364598308727282009-05-25T17:10:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:16:11.051-07:00

Yay, Jordan's working for a living now, and here's the proof! He's received his first full paycheck from his Domino's Pizza job. Martin, proud father that he is, insisted on capturing the moment. :)I think Jordan's already blown his whole paycheck on a Sirius Radio setup for his car. Oh well...it's good to be young and have a little money in your pocket...

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-26176284722304599122009-05-21T19:16:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:16:43.648-07:00

I admit it: I'm addicted to searching for great travel deals. I was so excited to find this awesome deal on airfare to Sydney, Australia: $580 (includes ALL fees) round-trip per person from San Francisco to Sydney on United Air, nonstop! That is normally a $1600 - $2000 airline ticket. So I booked a trip for the whole family (5 of us) for August 28-September 6. Autodesk is doing another "forced

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-74242778167921436322009-05-17T12:45:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:17:01.466-07:00

My family and I are walking in the AIDS Walk again this year. 6+ miles! We walked for the first time last year and it was a great experience for all of us. I've set a goal to raise $1000. If you can, please help me reach my fundraising goal by donating online. See below for the link. Thanks so much for your support, I really appreciate it. http://aidswalksanfran2009.kintera.org/kathyarizon Did

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-78254068522963727982009-05-15T22:34:00.001-07:002009-07-27T15:17:28.569-07:00

We just tried the new Thai Kitchen restaurant in American Canyon. Very good! Here's a link to my review on Yelp:http://www.yelp.com/biz/thai-kitchen-american-canyon#hrid:5uehcJfHPvgUNwk-2lLqUg

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-2598207182458551702009-05-10T14:56:00.001-07:002009-07-27T15:18:21.774-07:00

If you know anyone who is interested in buying my 2000 Nissan Maxima, here's the ad:http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/1180673608.html

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-61973561893478710372009-05-10T12:19:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:18:49.287-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there! Here's a photo of the sign that Devon woke me up with this morning:

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-37086762034484304222009-05-03T21:41:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:19:27.929-07:00

Well, not "New, New," but new to me... I bought a 2006 Toyota Camry yesterday. It was time to replace my 2000 Nissan Maxima which was getting a little rough around the edges.It's a fairly basic model. so not a lot of bells and whistles. The only bell/whistle I'll probably miss are power seats. Oh well, I think I can survive... ;-) It's very smooth and quiet, which I really appreciate.The best

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-80084210744271311782009-04-26T10:51:00.001-07:002009-07-27T15:20:15.582-07:00

I just watched a really interesting documentary called "Flow: For Love of Water" about the global water crisis.Here is some information about it from the Flow web site: The film "builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.Interviews

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-85918694569471251282009-04-25T22:21:00.001-07:002009-07-27T17:26:45.360-07:00

It was a team effort! Martin prepared the site (built the raised bed, put the copper tape on the top to ward off snails, and filled it in with dirt). I went out and bought all the plants and seeds. Devon got down and dirty and planted all the veggies. Yay! Now we have tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, squash, cauliflower, lettuce, and lots of herbs. Wish us luck!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-91171505182525231052009-04-24T23:38:00.001-07:002009-07-27T17:27:06.625-07:00

Martin installed the hammock in the backyard a few weeks ago. It was still pretty chilly out when he first put it up, but Devon didn't seem to care -- she was intent on enjoying the hammock. Ahhhh, life is good!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-72890874201397574272009-04-23T20:23:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:27:50.522-07:00

Our son Jordan (17) landed his first job! He interviewed today at Domino's Pizza in Napa and got the job. He starts tomorrow and will work 3-4 days a week. He will do all the usual pizza-place stuff: make pizzas, answer the phone, take orders, clean up, etc. I think it will be a good grown-up experience for him.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-84579325799509248902009-04-19T16:53:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:28:16.151-07:00

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, I haven't been able to give blood for the past few months because I have low iron. I checked in with my doctor about it and she asked me to come in take a blood test. Kaiser is awesome: within an hour of giving blood, I was able to view my own detailed results online. My levels were at the very bottom of the Normal range (but still normal). My doctor mailed

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-90442204287229627312009-04-07T19:53:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:28:32.528-07:00

I've attempted to donate blood at our company blood drive twice in the past 3 months and have been rejected both times for having low iron levels! Frustrating.... I'm not even sure why my iron is so low. I have been taking a multi-vitamin with extra iron every day faithfully for the last few years. I tried this past few weeks to eat more foods that are iron-rich, but to no avail. My level of iron

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-48291563440532515272009-04-05T20:00:00.001-07:002009-07-27T17:29:19.634-07:00

I was recently appointed to the American Canyon Parks and Community Services Commission. Here's a write-up in the local paper:http://www.americancanyoneagle.com/articles/2009/03/28/news/local/doc49caeb5518ae1764209460.txtAbout 10 years ago, I was on American Canyon's very first Parks and Community Services Commission. I took a break for a while but recently decided I wanted to get involved again.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-82679316528968774282009-04-02T19:38:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:29:55.475-07:00

I'm very proud to say that after months of conserving, we finally made a real dent in our water bill! We've been really trying to pay attention to how much water we use and doing what we can to conserve. For the past few months, despite our best efforts, our monthly bill actually increased compared to the same month in the previous year. The March water bill just arrived and -- Yes! We saved a

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-35564634586170271022009-03-30T22:00:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:30:49.960-07:00

My family and I just returned from a lovely 5-day vacation in Newport Beach, California. We had a great time. The resort (Marriott's Newport Coast Villas) we stayed at was absolutely gorgeous. The weather was perfect (sunny and 70F). You can't beat that. It was really tough to come home... Hanging out at the resort's poolArianne, Jordan, and Devon at Dana Point HarborMy parents (who traveled from

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-74971911333798794622009-03-15T17:08:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:31:20.449-07:00

From CIO Magazine: "From desert artwork that covers 62 miles, to a family of elephants, to the Firefox logo, Google Earth gives armchair explorers exciting images galore. After you take a look, be sure to use the coordinates for each slide to visit the sites and explore on your own."http://www.cio.com/special/slideshows/2009/03/google_earth_cool_images/index?source=nlt_cioinsider

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-46102557728603106312009-03-15T17:03:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:32:25.356-07:00

My friend at work (Merrill) shared this video with me and I love it! Check it out. The story behind it is that T-Mobile filmed this commercial at a busy train station in Liverpool, England. They planted people inside the station and everyone else around them didn't have any idea what was happening. Very cute.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-41656696855641815882009-03-14T20:41:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:32:51.731-07:00

My niece, Missy, gave birth to a baby boy this morning! He was about 10 days early. Mason Allen Cornell, 1.25 days oldWhen Missy went into labor last night, I drove down to Union City (where she lives) to pick up her two older children (Taylor, 5, and Ryan, 6) and take them back to our house for the weekend.Here's a peek into what Taylor and Ryan were up to while Mom and Dad were recovering from

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-7679830730392169492009-03-10T18:42:00.000-07:002009-07-27T17:33:26.688-07:00

Mom and Dad are celebrating 53 years of wedded bliss today! They tied the knot on March 10, 1956. Congratulations!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-61159313620700866562009-03-07T20:22:00.001-08:002009-07-27T17:34:14.112-07:00

So far, we've booked one trip for my upcoming summer sabbatical (7 weeks of vacation). We're taking the RV to camp in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in the far northern area of California. It's supposed to be really beautiful... Burney Falls, CAThat's a start. More plans to make, but the challenge will be to plan trips and activities that are cost-efficient.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-32632904917907098822009-03-01T14:02:00.000-08:002009-07-27T17:34:54.705-07:00

I suggest staying away from these hotels, just in case...(based on TripAdvisor traveler reviews)1.Hotel Carter, New York City, New York2.Continental Bayside Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida3.New York Inn, New York City, New York4.Eden Roc Motel, Wildwood, New Jersey5.Days Inn Cleveland Airport, Brook Park, Ohio6.Days Inn Airport / Stadium Tampa, Tampa, Florida7.Travelodge Bangor, Bangor, Maine8.Velda

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-25451015928428236852009-02-25T19:32:00.000-08:002009-07-27T17:35:35.080-07:00

This video from the Conan O'Brien show really makes you think.... Hmmm, maybe we all need to stop whining?http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2009/02/so_amazing_but.php

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-54983418575368108422009-02-24T19:45:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:17:36.557-07:00

One of the best perks of working at Autodesk is the benefit of receiving a 6-week "sabbatical" after every 4 years with the company. I earned mine in February of 2006 but have not had a chance to take it yet. I finally put mine on the calendar for June 29 through August 16 (I'm taking 7 weeks). Now I get the joy of planning it and looking forward to it! I'm not sure yet what I'll do with all that

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-78785136162069524202009-02-23T21:00:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:18:17.109-07:00

Our son, Jordan, earned enough high school credits as of today to earn his high school diploma! This means he is officially done with high school. He'll return in June for the official graduation ceremony. It's bittersweet...on one hand it's exciting and a relief to him that he is finished; but on the other hand, it's a bit sad that he is leaving his school, friends, and teachers.Congratulations,

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-79292878450070947562009-02-22T21:23:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:18:49.978-07:00

If you use TurboTax to do your taxes, you can save a lot of money on the TurboTax fees by using the available discounts through your Costco membership, your employer, your bank, or other sources. The best discount I have come across so far is through the T. Rowe Price web site. You don't have to be a customer of T. Rowe Price; you can get the 35% discount as a guest. Just access the TurboTax site

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-38739938677009957362009-02-18T19:57:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:19:15.561-07:00

Wow, hard to believe, my oldest child is 22 years old today (as of 12:45 a.m.). Exactly half my age... She's certainly grown up to be a really lovely young lady (well, apart from a few pet peeves of mine, and she knows what I'm talking about. :-)Arianne: if you're reading this...happy birthday sweetie! Arianne showing her true colors on her 21st birthday at Benihana

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-38820489704676379952009-02-15T08:22:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:19:42.007-07:00

Our "baby" Devon turns 10 years old today!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-41089076364268604802009-02-14T09:20:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:19:57.388-07:00

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-35279181471747559432009-02-11T21:54:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:41:36.450-07:00

With Tom Daschle's withdrawal as President Obama's nominee for secretary of health and human services, Obama needs to appoint a new health care point person. I signed a petition urging Obama to pick a progressive champion for his health care reform effort. If you like, please join me at the link below:http://pol.moveon.org/hhs/?r_by=15542-10293603-tJ3B8Qx&rc=confemail(MoveOn.org's #1 priority

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-59012149353714387392009-02-11T20:14:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:42:12.005-07:00

With the economy in the state that it's in now, my family and I have been looking under every proverbial rock to find ways to reduce expenses. With a lot of effort over the past few months, we've finally made a dent (a big dent!) in our utility (electric and gas) bill. Last month, our utility bill was around $400, this month it decreased to $210! I also compared this month's bill with the same

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-65155674773137129772009-02-06T20:01:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:48:35.798-07:00

Devon participated in another usability test at LeapFrog Labs this afternoon in Emeryville. She was testing a new game they are releasing soon for High School Musical. She IS an "HSM" expert, so I'm sure she told them everything they needed to know about how to improve their game prior to release. :) They gave her a $20 Target gift card, so that made her day.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-69614729681005661682009-02-01T10:04:00.001-08:002009-07-27T18:49:19.710-07:00

Did you know that we have an active drive-in theater in the bay area? It's the West Wind Solano 2 Drive-In and Public Market in Concord. They show double-features every night and all kids 11 and under get in free. It's open year-round and plays first-run movies. I've never been, but Jordan and Arianne (my two oldest kids) go fairly often and have nothing but good things to say about it.Here's

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-31392850846201036122009-01-31T20:52:00.001-08:002009-07-27T18:49:51.979-07:00

We have our cable service through Comcast, along with our internet and telephone (two lines). For the first year, it was fairly reasonable (if you call $150 per month reasonable). But after our discounted period ended, it jumped up to full price of $212 per month. That is crazy! I decided to check into our other option, AT&T. The best they could do for similar services was $167 per month. They

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-81562261468931449982009-01-27T19:46:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:37:16.714-07:00

According to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), "The scientific evidence is overwhelming that rising temperatures could cause two-thirds of the world's polar bear populations, including all of Alaska's polar bears, to go extinct by 2050. Polar bears are already drowning and starving."Take action by going to the NRDC web site and send your comments to new Secretary of the Interior Ken

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-13819776664432760882009-01-21T22:51:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:51:24.534-07:00

Normally, there is a street in San Francisco named "Bush Street". Well, San Franciscans took matters into their own hands on Inauguration Day and changed the "Bush" signs to "Obama" along the entire stretch. Sadly, city workers were tasked with changing all the signs back to their former name.http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Obama_signs_temporarily_replace_Bush_signs_this_morning.htmlhttp://

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-76804373350760852592009-01-21T22:35:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:52:06.839-07:00

You know times are hard when....Jordan and Arianne heard that a new Cheesecake Factory restaurant is opening in Walnut Creek. The restaurant was having an open job application event on Monday, January 19. They drove down there (roughly 20 miles and a $4 bridge toll from home) to apply for jobs first thing Monday morning. When they arrived, there was a line of people wrapping around the restaurant

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-56306890822414795152009-01-18T19:45:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:52:44.498-07:00

Our long-time (notice I didn't say "old"... :-) friends from Phoenix, Liz and Ken Godfrey, were in Napa on vacation and called us to come up to their condo and have dinner. They were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary! Wow, time flies...I've known Liz since roughly 1985 when I worked at her family's floral shop in Phoenix, AZ during college. It was such a wonderful place to work. It was a

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-39514086598466512132009-01-16T13:46:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:53:32.390-07:00

I'm proud to say my cousin, Sarah Franklin Jayne, is a brilliant artist! (Too bad those artistic talents didn't somehow make it to my corner of the gene pool.) Check out her beautiful work on her web site: http://www.oldgarden.com/"Old Garden Arts features still life and landscape paintings by Virginian artist, Sarah Franklin Jayne. All paintings are original oils using high quality artist

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-58666748614205075902009-01-13T18:09:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:54:33.154-07:00

My Autodesk colleagues and I are very excited to hear that Yahoo! has officially appointed Carol Bartz (former Autodesk CEO) as their new CEO. Congratulations, Carol, give 'em hell!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-52508519319511075542009-01-04T11:04:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:55:15.021-07:00

I've chosen 3 New Year's resolution this year. My philosophy is that the more you advertise your goals, the more likely you are to reach them. So here are mine, in priority order:(And yes, I know "lose weight" should be one of my resolutions, but I've never had luck with that one, so I'll focus on the ones that are achievable. :-)1 - Nurture my important long-distance family and friends

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-80336782138056347902009-01-02T09:12:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:55:45.945-07:00

If you purchased electronic items over the holidays, I highly recommend you check out "SquareTrade Warranties." This is a company that sells warranty packages for all electronic products. I've purchased a number of them and have had great luck with them.Here's why I love SquareTrade:Cheaper: Prices are 40% lower on average than store warranties (i.e. Best Buy, etc.)Easy: You can buy online,

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-41626310100928917672009-01-02T08:54:00.001-08:002009-07-27T18:56:08.367-07:00

My sister-in-law's birthday is today. Happy birthday, Josie, have a fantastic day!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-41624355077551309132009-01-01T21:01:00.001-08:002009-07-27T18:56:57.197-07:00

I enter this contest every year, just in case my luck changes...You can enter daily for your chance to win the 2009 HGTV Dream Home and a new 2009 GMC Acadia – a package worth more than $2 MILLION...http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-dream-home-2009-giveaway/package/index.htmlYour entry is based on your email address, so you can enter once per day with each email address you have.Good luck!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-86863438296980709042008-12-31T18:53:00.001-08:002009-07-27T18:57:19.450-07:00

I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2009!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-58812806198629531932008-12-29T16:50:00.000-08:002009-07-27T18:58:30.606-07:00

I am just wrapping up a trip to Lake Havasu City, Arizona (where I grow up) to see my family and friends. I drove down the day after Christmas with Devon and Jordan (Martin and Arianne had to work). It's a long drive (10 hours) through a lot of boring terrain, but we survived. We're driving back home tomorrow morning. I was able to spend a few hours with my brother, Charlie, the first night

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-74160073111007889682008-12-24T08:27:00.001-08:002009-07-27T18:59:01.484-07:00

Here's wishing you all a very merry Christmas, happy Chanukah, and a wonderful new year! Arianne (21), Jordan (17), and Devon (9)

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-38687335404932326112008-12-03T19:13:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:04:33.151-07:00

MoveOn.org has been offering free Obama "Victory" stickers to its members and more than 3 million stickers have already been ordered.If you would like a free sticker, they will be offering them for a few more days, so go to their web site and order one now: http://pol.moveon.org/shepstickers/?id=15204-10293603-oNqbI3x&t=1

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-78120758803762304592008-12-02T21:07:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:05:12.506-07:00

A few months ago, I discovered a web site for exchanging books with other readers all over the US. In the past, whenever I finished a book I would normally donate it and who knows what happens to the book from that point. PaperBack Swap is a great web site that enables you to post all the books (hardcover or paperback) you want to give up and search through everyone else's posted books to order

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-25108937113507018582008-12-01T11:56:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:05:54.671-07:00

Today is dubbed "Cyber Monday" because it is the equivalent of Black Friday for all of us online shoppers.If you haven't yet discovered Ebates, you should check it out! Signing up is free and all you have to do is click on your favorite store's link on the Ebates web site. You will be redirected to the store's online shopping site (i.e. www. target.com) and then receive a cash-back percentage of

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-45461352056967426182008-11-25T20:49:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:06:41.834-07:00

I wish you all a great holiday with your family and friends!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-86025454878745479102008-11-17T20:05:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:07:27.020-07:00

Saturday was my son Jordan's 17th birthday. We went out to dinner to our favorite Chinese restaurant (Princess Garden in Vallejo) and came home to have his birthday cake. Imagine our surprise when we went to get the cake off the dining room table only to find that our dog Doolin had already helped himself to the ENTIRE CAKE! Yes, he ate a whole 1/4-sheet cake all by himself.... Sheesh.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-7333421911961720642008-11-16T19:26:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:07:58.884-07:00

I am proud to announce that one of our chinchillas gave birth to three little "kits" last night! I could go on for days about our chinchillas...and at some point I will, but for now here are a few pictures of the three babies:

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-77783116010829036662008-11-15T16:38:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:08:27.500-07:00

Today is my mom's 72nd birthday -- happy birthday, Mom!!!AND today is also my son Jordan's 17th birthday -- happy birthday, Jordan!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-79131481682861562852008-11-13T22:20:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:09:16.102-07:00

Safe Haven?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27706078/

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-3939416565894361712008-11-09T20:55:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:10:17.283-07:00

I just got back from a great trip to Chicago! I went there for a conference by IABC (International Assocation of Businesss Communicators).I took a lot of photos while I toured the area Friday and Saturday. If you're interested, check them out here.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-46391349858253361342008-11-07T17:24:00.000-08:002009-07-27T19:10:49.602-07:00

The Chicago Tribune has beautifully captured the celebrations in Chicago the night of the election. I'm here in Chicago now for a conference (got here the day after the election), and I walked around Grant Park tonight to check it out. It's amazing to look at the photos of the city streets filled with tens of thousands of Chicagoans celebrating the victory together.Look at the photos (a ton of

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-74149285415396850642008-10-23T20:22:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:11:09.020-07:00

I love this...Ron Howard's Call to ActionSource: www.youtube.comRon Howard wants to talk about the election. So does Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler.

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-7623243700797192632008-10-20T20:51:00.001-07:002009-07-27T19:11:44.080-07:00

When Arianne's stolen car was recovered a few weeks ago we thought there wasn't much damage... Now that Martin and Jordan took a little time the following weekend to check it out more thoroughly, they realized that the culprits had sawed the catalytic converter off the bottom of the car! They also took several other bits and pieces including several hoses, the tire jack and spare tire. We took

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-84142770039378629242008-10-06T08:17:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:12:15.055-07:00

Today is my brother's birthday -- Happy Birthday, Charlie!! Becky, Charlie, and Kathy in Portland - Sept 2005

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-46113691667472917512008-10-04T18:57:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:13:32.773-07:00

I attend a "calling party" today in Napa. MoveOn.org is a political action organization that supports Obama's campaign. About 15 members got together at a "Call for Change" calling party at someone's home in Napa. We were calling other MoveOn members in the Auburn, Washington area to ask them to volunteer at the local Obama campaign office next weekend to "get out the vote." Washington is leaning

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-74556780494377550022008-10-03T18:49:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:14:08.348-07:00

I took Devon down to LeapFrog Lab yesterday in Emeryville to participate in new product testing. If you're not familiar with them, they are a software company that makes a bunch of cool educational games and toys for kids. There were looking for girls in the 3rd through 5th grades who are "High School Musical" fans. That's Devon!! I couldn't go inside the testing area with her, but it took only

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-62431862654230025912008-10-02T20:30:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:14:44.391-07:00

Arianne's (our 21-year-old daughter) car was stolen in Napa on August 12. We assumed since so much time had passed that it was long gone. But lo and behold, Arianne got a call tonight from the Napa PD saying they found her car in an older Napa neighborhood, abandoned. It was a wreck, but much better than we expected. It looked like it had been sitting in the same spot for a very long time. They

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-19274984434162050992008-09-28T17:53:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:15:22.825-07:00

We were SO looking forward to attending the the grand re-opening of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco on Saturday. We got up early (on a Saturday!!) left the house by 8:00, got to the academy by 9:00 to park (doors were to open at 9:30), and lo and behold... there was a line wrapping around the block! We wanted to give it a shot anyway, so we searched for parking, finally gave

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-20406804048196193662008-09-26T22:29:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:15:49.564-07:00

Yay Devon! She completed the Jog-a-thon fundraiser for her elementary school (Donaldson Way Elementary School). Congratulations Devon--I knew you could do it!!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-12752915453255824402008-09-26T22:08:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:21:19.940-07:00

Devon has taken up playing the violin in school. She had the choice of several instruments as a 4th grader and she chose to try the violin. She has a one-hour lesson at school every Friday. You go girl!!

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-20830929489202247572008-09-24T19:41:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:22:19.465-07:00

My sister-in-law, Josie, and I are signed up to "Drive for Change." On October 17, we'll drive to Reno, Nevada and stay the weekend to help out with the Obama Nevada campaign. Nevada is one of the battleground states, so Californians are asked to help out in the Reno or Las Vegas areas. Should be interesting! I'll give a full report after we return.If you are interested: http://my.barackobama.com

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034952584549192627.post-84272748866071402142008-09-22T21:15:00.000-07:002009-07-27T19:22:43.069-07:00

...when we received Jordan's latest high school progress report. STRAIGHT As!!! Even an "A+" in History. Wow, we're really, really proud of him and all the great changes he made for himself over the past year. We always knew he had the ability to achieve those kinds of grades, but now he's proven it to himself.He's in his senior year of high school and he may even end up graduating early. Keep it

Kathy Arizonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445232003762544181noreply@blogger.com0