Mozzarella by the pool

Had a lovely evening on the patio outside the poolhouse we are staying in at our Contractor Jimmy’s house in the old southeast in St. Pete. We ate fresh mozzarella , basil, and Ruskin Tomatoes with some slices of roast beef and garlic bread. A glass of pinot grigio and the company of 4 of the many cats that make Jimmy and Cricket’s home so delightful (I think they have 8…but I forget). Then it was time to watch Dancing with the Stars.

The Woz, I love him, but its time to go. Gilles is just...well...sex on a stick. And Melissa is the nicest surprise of the season (her and the Cowboy!).

Multi-tasking in cyber space

Have a few concentrated hours to work on laptop...tough not having internet where we are staying. It is a challenge in this cyber intensive world. So I'm twittering while I'll update my blogs while I wait for Obama to come on streaming video on the local news station website while I clean out my email while I take a peak at Facebook...whew...only on one latte!

Notes from St. Pete

Welcome Home!

We used Welcome Home, Inc to help unpack mom into her new apt at the Fountains. Oh my gosh…what a godsend. Two pleasant, hardworking, organized women showed up on time to unpack, clean, and organize all of mom’s stuff. They did a small one bedroom apt with a teeny kitchen in 3 hours. 3 hours!!!! AND they took away all the boxes, packing paper, and trash. What a godsend! We will be using them when we move down for sure!

It’s Sunday night. Trying to rest up from the last 2 weeks of moving mom from California. Thinking its going to take more than an evening.

Had a nice time today with Jason and Yaric who drove over from Orlando. We visited Grandma in her new apartment, ate at Leverock’s, and the went back to her apartment to hang her new shower curtain and see some of Jason’s photo editing work on his laptop. Pretty darn cool! He’s really excited about. Already thinking jobs and interships. Considering an internship in Milan for Frog designs an international design house.

The Magic of Intertwined Memories

I went to Disneyland with good friends of mine on Saturday night. And as it happens everytime I go, I find myself amazed at how much the essence of Disneyland never changes.

I have been going to Disneyland since 1960 and when I was growing up we went at least once a year and in my teen years even more. When we had Jason and still lived in So Cal we had a season pass. I've seen Disneyland through the eyes of a child, a teen, a young adult, and then again through the eyes of my child. All those memories and experience intertwine into a tightly woven fabric of sights sounds and even smells.

Now when I go as an adult with adults I can still "see" things through the eyes of the child I was. I'm always thrilled that Disney is still vibrant, colorful, magical, and the same as it always was in all the important ways.

There are few things in life that remain true to memory...Disneyland is one.

A Wonderful Saturday

Had lunch yesterday with Maribeth, Byron, Kelly and David and their kids, Katelyn and Jonathan. We met at a Chevy's restaurant in Anaheim Hills. Keri had to work and was feeling poorly so she and Josh weren't able to join us...and were missed. We caught up on family "doings" and were thankful (once again) that we've been brought together to form a family despit the unlikeliness of it. Here are a few pics of our lunch...all the pictures are on my flicker site: www.flickr.com/photos/abaesel>

Then in the evening I went to Disneyland with friends Carol and Jerry...had a great time just soaking up the magic, hitting, a few rides, and marveling at the fireworks.

Rant of the Week.

Swedish Countess Marie Douglas-David wants to have a post nuptial agreement she signed after 4 years of marriage nullified. Instead of 43 million dollars in a divorce settlement, she believe she is entitled to 30% of her husbands net worth...or about 100 million dollars.



Now let me get this straight...They married and after 4 years were having enough troubles to sign the agreement. They attempted reconciliation for about a year. They have lived separately since. So 5 years of marriage. They've had no children. She claims to be a former "investment banker" so I assume she has an education. There is almost 30 years difference in age. Which means to me that the majority of George David's net worth was earned prior to their marriage and not during the 4 to 5 years they were married. He is the Chairman of the Board of United Technologies, Inc.


She claims to have expenses of over 50,000 a week (not a month...a week!!!). And she wants him to pay her enough money so that she will be set for the rest of her life at that level of spending . 5 years of marriage, no children and she wants to be set for life at that level of spending? Geeesh...what planet is she from...certainly not sweden! In the picturebook dictionary her face will now as the definition next to the word dictionary. I don't care if he is a creep, unfaithful, or whatever...this is rediculous. And


I figured that at 43 million if she earned only 2% on her money she'd have an income of over 800,000 a year without touching the capital. She can't live on that? Geesh...get a job. or sucker in another husband if anyone is willing to risk it.

Kindness

Had lunch with mom the other day at a place called Bon A Pita on Moulton Parkway in Laguna Hills. It is run by a couple. They serve a mix of diner food and middle eastern food (falafel, schwarmas). The food is a bit better than average. But what is special is the way in which the owners, Sam and his wife, treat the customers. They relate to their customers with extraordinary kindness and consideration. There are many seniors who eat there from the surrounding senior community of Laguna Woods. They were all treated with personal attention, respect, and kindess. it was lovely. i wish them well.

Jerry - the thinking person's Cramer

Jerry was on CNBC the other morning along with Cliff Asness from AQR and John Bogle of Vanguard. Talking about Hedge Funds. He had a great time at the studios and enjoyed hearing Cliff and John. His talk, although shortened by the AIG coverage, was well received. Here is a link to his portion of the telecast.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1064424706&play=1

Take A Second, Wave At your Flagger

A Flagger's job is generally a thankless job. He or she stands out in all weather, in the hot sun, cold wind, rain, or snow bearing the generally unpopular news that you have to Stop and Wait, or Slow down, or otherwise be careful so you don't sideswipe some hardworking utility worker or road crew. They are just the messenger. They are just trying to keep you from hitting some other poor slob head on. So give them a break. Do more than that...wave at them...a 1/2 second thank you for performing a valuable job....keeping you and yours safe. And throw in a smile while you are at it.

Did I Miss The Memo?

I'm sorry but when did the State of PA legislature rescind the law against using a cell phone while driving unless you have a headset or are otherwise handsfree? They must have, because today I drove by car after car of people (okay...I'll say it...mostly women...grrrr) chatting away happily with one hand on the wheel and one hand on their ear....and only 1/2 their brain driving. Its a good law. let's enforce it. How difficult is it to get a head set? And my blackberry even has a speaker phone you can use and voice activated auto dial...I can just set the phone down on the console. Come on people...you were not born with a phone attached to your ear...honest!!!

A La Maison

I had a delightful lunch with friend Sue K last Friday at A La Maison French Bistro in Ardmore (on Lancaster). Its new...opened after the first of the year. A delightful, casual, and pretty authentic french bistro. high ceiling, wood floors, brick walls, and delicious food. Reasonably priced too. A BYOB. I had the hamburger with caramelized onion and gruyere cheese...yum.

It's Spring

Officially...it is spring. Yes...i know the robins are here, the goldfinch are getting more yellow, my gardener did the last of winter cleanup, my thoughts are turning to sandals...but those aren't the reasons its spring. Its because the Dairy Queen on Fayette in Conshohocken as reopened after its yearly winter break. I had my first dipped chocolate cone of Spring....heavenly.

I am Left Thumbed

I've always considered myself VERY right handed...not an ambidextrous finger on my body. Until now. It appears when it comes to the tracking ball on my Blackberry that I'm left thumbed. Go figure. Maybe its utilizing the other side of my brain then...a little exercise...a little? sadly, probably not just a little.

More Cyber Addictions

As if having 3 blogs, 2 online book groups, an active Flickr Portfolio, and a daily Facebook habit wasn't enough, I have joined the Twitter Nation AND have stumbled upon www.stumbleupon.com (thanks to my husband). I may never get up from my computer again (oh, except facebook and twitter have apps for my blackberry...so there is some hope for a walk as long as there is signal).

Remembering Rada

This is a picturetaken in the summer of 2006 before Rada started getting ill (she's the one second from the right). The photo was taken at George and Rada's home in Yardley, PA. We had a lovely day with them...Jason was there too (he was taking the picture). Rada was always such a gentle, intelligent, and warm person. When I imagine her in my mind I see warm light and happiness. She will be greatly missed by all of us who knew her. We feel so fortunate to have known this remarkably interesting and loving woman. We are with you George at this time and going forward.

Photos of a Wintry Day - March 2

Photos from around the house in Villanova.

Check out our "house" blog

I've updated our "we can't believe we're remodeling a house" blog. There is now a great rendering of what the addition will look like (minus a few existing mature trees that didn't get put into the rendering). Check it out! www.annettesspot.blogspot.com