Really California is a great place!

  All of you midwesterners admit it... you think of CA in kind of negative terms.  Too much smog, too much traffic, wealthy crazy actors, no seasons, flaky people, daily earthquakes, too expensive, all houses cost too much, etc. Well, I know where you are coming from because I came from there too! California seemed like a foreign country and the people seemed like a different breed.  Just want to say don't knock it until you've tried it. Now I am only speaking for the San Diego area but it really is normal here! As our weekend guests expressed, " I did not expect to fall in love with CA." Now to correct some of those misconceptions... The air is clear, skies are blue and the temperatures are amazing! While the middle part of the country roasts and swelters we enjoy 70's during the day and high 50's at night with a gentle cool breeze straight from the ocean. We used our AC  only once and that was for 2 hours ! That was only because I was cooking and baking and we wanted it comfortable for our dinner guests. There is a lot of traffic but it is no worse than Chicago and you just have to allow for it. We purchased a beautiful home here and didn't spend anymore than we would have in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Our property taxes are less than almost all the Milwaukee area. Gas costs more but I spend less for food. Produce is very inexpensive especially at my favorite Mexican grocery store: bing cherries $0.99/lb, head of leaf lettuce$ 0.69, container of cherry tomatoes $0.99, peaches $0.50/lb, mangoes and avocados $0.50 ea, watermelon $0.15/lb, sweet corn 7 ears for $1..... need I go on?!  Our gas/electric bill was $40 last month since we don't need the AC or the heat. Our water bill is hefty since we purchase water from CO I hear.... but everything grows here so if you irrigate your yard all the gorgeous flowers, palm and citrus trees make you smile! People have been very friendly and I truly think that in general people here are happier probably because of all the beautiful sunshine. We live 1/2 hr drive from the ocean ( only 10 miles as the crow flies).  What a delish option to chose to take your daily stroll along the coast! We are not on a fault line here so no quakes so far- and the midwest has been getting quakes! There are seasons here just not as drastic. It is summer here which means no rain at all until probably November. So plan that outdoor event and don't worry- it will not rain and the sun will shine. Mosquitos? No nasty squeeters here. I have seen 2 flies.... We do have a red eyed devil bird that keeps trying to get in our windows but Dave is trying to feed it a little lead breakfast....

  In conclusion, did we ever think we would live in CA? No. Did we chose to live in CA? No. Are we glad we are living in CA? Yes- aside from the fact that certain people need to move here to make our life complete....and you know who you are!!!

Halfway round the world and back....

I give up! This picture totally refuses to move into it's correct spot.... But I really like these 2 so I will let them misbehave. We attended Garrett and Sarah's wedding reception in Milwaukee.

Actually, we were at least halfway across this great country and back.  Although we flew to Wisconsin (make sure to say that with a very strong "on" sound so everyone here will make fun of your accent) we drove back. 2400 miles pulling our camper over the plains, through the wheat fields, up and down the mountains, through the barren desert, and finally reached the Pacific coastline. This blog post is all about what we did during those 3 1/2 weeks in case you were wondering....

Took a trip down memory lane.... this is the house my dad built before I was born.  I lived there all of my growing up years. 

My sister Karen and her hubby Ray and their family. Doesn't everyone take family photos in a cemetery? It was a glorious sunny day when we buried our dear mother and we were inspired to make some photo memories since we are scattered all over now: WI, FL, CA and KS. My sister Karen has been with me through all the challenges of aging parents. I couldn't have done it without her. We agreed on all the decisions we had to make for our parents. Love you sis!

The entire clan.

Grandkids and spouses and the only great grand baby Mikayla! She is so adorable AND advanced that she counts for more than one great!

We lined up in birth order... Keith, Karen, Kevin, Kristi. Yes our parents (our dog) never called us the right name-especially my dad- he would even throw "Smudge" in the mix!

Now we are back to Garrett and Sarah's reception... a lovely group of young ladies that all hold special places in my heart.

And a group of fine young men that mean a lot to us! Not sure about that Georgian cowboy though!

3 of my double first cousins. They are like siblings to me since our dads were brothers and our moms were sisters and we grew up a few miles apart.

A very special friend/cousin/sister/confidant.... she wasn't too sure about this picture but since we both had our eyes open for once  it isn't too bad.

I got to attend a girl baby shower for Leslie- one of our boys surrogate sisters.

We stayed with our Korean "relatives" too :)  And listened to a violin recital. Violin music has never been a favorite of mine but the violinists were adorable! 6 year old Minzie.

And 3 year old Minah- who is quite casual about this violin business and drops it on the floor and smiles!

Great water fight on a hot humid 95 degree day in Wisconsin.

Went to visit Dave's mom in Illinois- this is when our 1 night at every place started...

On to Chicago for Shane's award ceremony at Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier. 

Shane's classmates that also received awards

Here is Nikelle who deserves the "I stood by my man award" She patiently endured  many days and nights of an absent in body or mind husband. They set a goal and accomplished it together.

The support team. Randy and Brenda (Nikelle's parents) came from Colorado for the main event.

Navy Pier on a rainy day.

Graduation was at the Civic Opera House in Chicago.

The graduate!

Aww....

Shane graduated as an RN in 2008, worked 1 1/2 years in an ICU at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Then they moved to North Chicago in Feb 2010 so he could attend Rosalind Franklin University to pursue a Master's Degree in Nurse Anesthesia. A very intense course of study for 27 months full time. 1 year later they moved to Waukesha,WI ( 2 miles from us) so he could travel to all his clinical sites. Now they will move to Berlin,WI where he will start his new job. And we hope Nikelle will finally be able to use her Elementary Education teaching degree once they settle down in one place for more than a year!

The family

The other family

Brothers and good friends!

Yeah!!!

We all stayed at Ananth and Amanda's home. More very special people in our life!

I realized how much I miss this! The 4 "brothers" being very random and hilarious!

We gathered up the last of our belongings from WI- the truck and camper . That is our former home in the background.

And said good bye again to our special neighbor, friend, and honorary grandma to our boys.

Attended the high school graduation picnic for these 7 graduates.

We headed out across this great country- stayed 1 night in IA, 1 night in NE with very special friends, Lynn and Jeanie. Discovered this historic place and actually paid to go in the museum. Did you know the pony express only operated for 19 months before the railroad put it out of business?

Yee ha!

Statue in the town square.

Stayed 1 night in Manhattan, KS where Tristan lives. Here he is entering his office- a work trailer at the Kansas State. Very proud of our Architect son :)

We got to snuggle with Chewy our grand chinchilla.

Great to be able to see where Tristan lives.

The breadbasket of the USA. Wheat,wheat,wheat.

Limbering up before getting on the road again.

Beautiful ? I-70

Now we are in Colorado!

Hiked on our 31st anniversary.

Another of my double first cousins, Lynette. Our gracious hostess and her hubby Scott put up with us for 2 nights. Then 1 night with our friend and co-in-laws, Randy and Brenda.

On the road to Hotchkiss,CO

One night at Hotchkiss Convention.

Ron and Jan ( cousins) who let us camp next to them. A brother to Lynette.

We left CO and found some beauty along the way.... not ready to go live here though! Utah, Arizona, Nevada all kind of blurred together!

Local color restaurant that was featured in National Geographic- I wouldn't go out of the way to eat there again...

Our last camping spot before home. Yes- a Walmart parking lot!

Yup you are in CA now- gold miners at the gas station. They even moved and talked about what snacks you should buy in the station.

Highway robbery! But when you are the only station for miles you can charge whatever you want.

What I did for hours on end. Dave was thankful because usually I sleep the entire trip.

What Dave did for hours on end.... So here we are home again in Fallbrook. It was wonderful to see everyone and hard to say goodbye again. I have to say we were both ready to be back in our place in sunny California! Y'all come see us now!

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