My Tron-DMC's

Ok. A few weeks ago, I finally broke down and purchased real running shoes. I went to the fancy shoe store. Told the sales girl my needs. She made me run around the store so she could analyze by gate. When all was said and done, I spent $ 95.00 on running shoes. I can't even remember the last time I spent that much money on shoes. I needed good shoes for the Half Marathon, so I figure I can justify the purchase. There is only one thing that disturbs me.

These shoes are UGLY!

I would never choose these colors or the style. Apparently, running shoes do not come in a large variety of colors.

My shoes are super puffy and make my feet look 3x bigger then they really are. My shoes are light blue, light gray, white and silver. That's right, silver.

When I wear them I feel like I resemble...

These guys

Or these guys

The good news is that they seem to work pretty good thus far. Yesterday, I wore my "Tron-DMC's" and I was able to complete my first 5-mile run without a single blister!

My Green Thumb

Painting by Dan Butler

There were two things I wanted when I moved back to California from Alaska.

1. A place to live where we could have a pet.
2. A place to live where I could grow a garden.

Well our 90-year-old landlord Jerry says "NO PETS," but we at least have a private backyard where I can attempt to grow things. Last year I attempted herbs, but the bugs got them almost immediately. Last years tomatoes sucked because I planted two tomato plants in the same container. I guess that is bad. Very bad because one plant never produced a thing and the other plant which had a few tomatoes when I planted it, died as soon as they were picked. My flowers got scorched in the heat, and my strawberries were planted too late in the season, so we had no berries.

This year I tried to grow:

1. Juliet Tomatoes
2. Strawberries
3. Aloe Vera
   
4. Kangaroo Paw Plant-AKA Pink Joey
5. Eastern Star Dianthus
6. Great White Bacopa
7. Several other miscellaneous house plants.

I will now only post the pictures of the things I didn't kill...

The Juliet Tomatoes are growing in nicely! One plant per container did the trick.

I only have grown a handful of strawberries this year, and they appear to be stunted in size. On a positive note, they are very sweet.

Eastern Star Dianthus

This Pink Joey has been fighting for it's life since the day I drived it home from Ace Hardware. I'm still finding pieces of it in my car. Basically, I over watered it or didn't water it enough. The verdict is still out...the point is that it finally started to bloom again, but only in one really awkward spot. Oh well, it's not like I'm going for the "Golden Rake" award or anything.

Happy Birthday Lennon!

Auntie Ali & Uncle Jon were sad they missed "Lemon's" first birthday party! We hope we will get to celebrate next year's Birthday with him. We love you Lennon!

Summer Fun!

We have had some visitors this summer. Alaska Friends, Ed & Tia, were in the area in June and we were able to show them around Davis!

At Bistro 33

Public "ART?" Creepy deformed sculpture outside of Bistro 33.

I took a day off work and Tia and I rode bikes around the UC Davis Arboretum and took pictures of the "EGG HEADS."

Pick a Winner!

We saw lots of wildlife, but the 92 degree weather almost killed Tia. Jon & I can relate. We moved to Davis from Alaska during a California heatwave!

Tia & I met Jon for lunch at Burgers & Brew.

It's Finally Friday!

2 pm Friday



This has been a crazy week (for some of us). Due to a broken piece of lab equipment, Jon has been home most of the week, while others must work! I'm glad I made it through the week. We have had 100+ degree weather, and smokey, smoggy sky's due to the forest fires on the central coast and central valley areas. Air quality is pretty bad, but some of us still have to ride our bikes into work.

(Ali at work pictures supplied by co-worker Jessie)

$1.50

On the way up to Bear Valley last weekend, Kevin, Jon and I stopped for a bite to eat in Jackson. We decided to check out the local book store. Sitting out front of the store was a "Used" CD/DVD/VHS table. That's when I found it. Theodor Rex! I knew it was going to be good...plus it was only $1.50. We all tried to watch it that night. We only got about half way through it. I guess I just expected more from this talking Dino-futuristic-comedy. I think the best thing about this movie was Theodore's red high-tops!


The world's toughest cop is getting a brand new partner. He's a real blast from the past.

Plot:

In an alternate futuristic society, a tough female police detective is paired with a talking dinosaur to find the killer of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals leading them to a mad scientist bent on creating a new Armageddon.

BEAR VALLEY TRIP

Kevin and his folks invited Jon and I to their family cabin in Bear Valley 4th of July weekend. We had a great time. Some of the weekend highlights include:

1. Walking 3 miles around the lake.
2. Looking at Lloyd Bridges old cabin.
3. Eating good food & cookies, compliments of Kevin's Mom.
4. Wine tasting in Murphy.
5. Going down to the lodge for drinks.
6. Visiting with Kevin and his parents.
7. Entertaining the idea of watching the entire "Theodor Rex" feature.

Dinner & Conversation

Mom's Cookies

Lunch at Ironstone Winery



At the Bear Valley Lounge



Farewell Breakfast

What I'm I......80?

These past couple of days, I've come to the conclusion, that I'm spending far to much time with equipment from my grandparent's era. Lately, I have experienced feelings of nostalgia mixed with frustration as I have attempted to transfer Mom & Dad's Super 8 film to Digital Video. Though I love seeing old movies of Grandma Wever dancing about on New Years 1967, cigarette in hand, wearing a lovely dress with a leopard fur collar....I do not enjoy the hours of reel to reel malfunction. I can't believe what one has to put up with just to project a crappy-soundless piece of film. Technology at it's finest...NOT! I am making progress though. By piecing together parts from the Wever projector & the Bower projector...we are getting one working projector that just might make it though to the end of this project. Which frankly must end soon because I'm hearing the "clack-ckack-clack" of reel-to-reel in my sleep.


1960's projectors are not enough...I must continue my journey into the 1960's with my newest idea to teach myself to sew. I'm currently enrolled in sewing classes in an effort to learn all the techniques I lack. I think the Jo-Anne fabrics lady said it best..."You really shouldn't use those advanced patterns till you know what you are doing!" But once again, I have a sewing machine straight out of the 1960's Sears Catalog. It rattles and shakes. When it shakes...parts loosen...when parts loosen...well you know the rest. I'm hoping that my sewing classes will also teach me how to use this ancient artifact to its fullest potential.



Tonight I start my first official piano lesson. I go to my instructors house for a half hour lesson and will be using her piano. For practice I will have to go to the music department's piano room located on campus, or use my vintage 73 key Fender Rhodes electronic piano. Another blast from the past.

Geez, with super 8, sewing, and piano lessons, in conjunction with vintage technologies...I just might be an 80 year old women.