Thursday, March 28, 2013

Junior Prom: Kids on Top of the World

Our oldest recently attended his junior prom. It was a beautiful night, and before the festivities, one of the families graciously hosted an alcohol free cocktail party and dinner. Pictures were taken with the Golden Gate and San Francisco in the background. It truly was a stunning.









Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Last of the Little Bikes

We finally donated our last little kid bike. Somehow, our garage is lonely.





Opening Day 2013

Another early morning with trucks, banners, donuts, balloons and flying candy.

Last year, it was in the pouring rain, so we were all extra thankful for this beautiful spring day!











Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Disneyland and Whiplash: The Gift That Keeps Giving

About a month ago, we had early entry to Disneyland.  We stormed the front gates and went directly to Tomorrow Land and Space Mountain.  I have ridden Space Mountain more times in my life than I can count.  It is the one roller coaster that I don't find absolutely terrifying, until now.

All I know is that I went on Space Mountain feeling fine.  I got off Space Mountain and I knew that I could not fully turn my head and my neck was killing me.  Less than 5 minutes and I was done for.

It turns out that this visit my husband attacked Disney like a crazed fan.  I have never in 24 years seen this much enthusiasm from this man for any theme park.  It was like he had Disney mania.  He was dragging me across the park, my head cocked at an angle, but I do like Disney, so I went with it.

I went with it for 3 full days.  We pretty much went on every ride.

Now a normal, sane person might say, "Hey, my neck is killing me, I think I shouldn't ride California Screamin' 3 times in a row."  But, darn, we were all having so much fun, so I just kept going and going and going...

Until I got home, and realized, I didn't wake up magically cured.  No, in my Disney tale, I needed ibuprofen, ice, heat and medical intervention.  I tried the neuromuscular massage hoping for a Tinkerbell miracle...no pixie dust for me.

It wasn't until the chiropractor that I am finally starting to see some relief.  My old chiropractor gently hammered me into place.  This new lady cracked me like a nut, and surprisingly, I am feeling quite a bit better, not cured mind you, but better.

Yes, I have learned my sad lesson.  I am old.  No more Space Mountain.  I will miss you Space Mountain, it was a wild ride while it lasted.  I cannot forget you, especially now.  I hate to say it, but you are a pain in the neck.

Friday, March 8, 2013

To Tip or Not To Tip, That's My Question

I feel like I've asked this one before, but I'm still confused in this new-fangled world of tip jars and open palms, as to who do I tip and who don't I tip.

On the whole, I probably could tip everyone and be very popular, but who in fact really expects a tip?  Who, in fact, really deserves a tip?

Today I had some furniture delivered from a store.  Expensive enough furniture.  When the delivery guy, who was one full hour late, saw just where he was hauling this new furniture, he did not look pleased.  I tried to be sunny and chatty and friendly.  He wasn't grouchy, but he wavered between being exasperated and officious.

Was he indeed tired?  A long day?  Was he worn out and at the end of his rope?  Or did he expect a tip from me to deliver the furniture that I paid a delivery fee to have delivered?

It was a true gray area in my mind.  I could see where he would want a tip for his hard work, but it wasn't like he was super friendly, fast and on time.  He wasn't unfriendly or rude, either.  He didn't hold out his palm, or even act if I was supposed to give him a tip, yet somewhere in the back of the mind, I felt like maybe I wasn't doing the politically correct thing.

My friends give gifts to all of the people at the holidays: post man, UPS man, landscapers, teachers, crossing guards and more.  I am also very unsure about all of those departments.

Somewhere, there needs to be the definitive tipping guide.  If I am truly supposed to tip, could someone please let me know?  Couldn't we please figure my 20 percent tip into the price and call it a day?  Then I would know that I was doing the right thing.