Wheels of Life

Thought you all would enjoy this one!

A Southern Girl's Take On The Earthquake

I was standing in Steve's office at the time that it happened. . . .all of a sudden, everything was shaking. . . .the ground under me. . . .the 2 huge windows right to my right were shaking. . .the blinds were really shaking. . . . here I am standing there with everything shaking. . . .it hit me. . . ."We are in an earthquake!" Then it was over. . . I was a little freaked out. I hurried outside and there was no one coming out of the other offices in the area! I was amazed. . .this was no big deal to these people! But me . . . . the girl from northeast Louisiana who has been out here for right at 4 years. . . .THIS WAS BIG!!!!! After several attempts, I finally got through on the phone to Steve. He wanted to make sure I was ok. I was. . . . .just amazed that to everyone else this was really no big deal!! I went to the tailor that we use, she and another lady in there were real nonchalant about it. I came home and my mailman asked me if I felt it, he said that he felt it on the sidewalk, but no big deal! The Fed-Ex lady that delivered a package did ask me if I felt it, but it was no big deal to her either. I'm not sure if it will ever become just another happening for me. . . . .believe me. . . .when it is happening. . . .when everything around you, over you, beside you, and UNDER you are SHAKING. . . .it is a BIG DEAL!!!! Our weather here has been in the 70's. . . .really nice and when I called my sis-in-law Gayla in Dallas to tell her about the earthquake, she said, "I'll take our 105 degree weather!" Well. . . .I was raised in that hot humid southern weather, and I must say that I do love living in the southbay area of of Los Angeles where we are surrounded by water on 3 sides! Yes, I have gotten very adjusted to this incredible weather!! But one thing for sure, I don't think that I will ever get adjusted to earthquakes! That is a chance that I have to take being where God has me and believe me. . . .I love life here where He has me!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

This is a belated post to honor an incredible woman....Mom! She doesn't like her picture taken and much less put on the internet, but she is an amazing woman who we love very much. She is always taking care of her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. She gives unselfishly of her time, love, money and ....food! Ha! Her homemade flour tortillas are the best. Not to mention many of her other culinary masterpieces.

Last Monday, the 19th, was her 74th birthday! We took her and Dad to "The Pantry" for breakfast and the went on to the "Garment District" and the "Alley." Later on that day we grilled some salmon with all the trimmings for her bday dinner. Debbie then brought out her favorite yogurt from "Penguin's" with a candle in it as we sang "Happy Birthday."

Happy Birthday Mom!

Why I love Southern California!

Deb and I took some time later this evening and drove to the water. We live in an area that is almost surrounded by the ocean. We drove to a place in Redondo Beach called the Esplanade. The road sits up high over the beach below, but the view is incredible as you can tell by the pictures. We then drove around Palos Verdes Pennisula and got to see Catalina Island on an incredibly clear day. The temperature was about 62 degrees. The drive around the pennisula puts us close to our house when we get to the other side. So it's a neat way to go home from Redondo on a beautiful day!

Our Puppy Is Getting Big!

Today was a big day for Dexter! He had his rabies shot, his last set of shots from the Puppy Program that he has been on. This means there is life beyond the house and our backyard! He is not to sure about the leash. It won't be long before he realizes that it is the leash that will take him a lot of fun places! He is 4.5 months old and weighs 32 pounds! He was 12 pounds when we got him! ! He is a growing puppy! His Daddy took him for his first walk down the street about 4 houses! He is a lot of fun and is a cuddle bug! The pics are of him today in the front yard when we came back from the Vet. I can hardly wait to take him on walks like Bauer and I used to take every day!

The Concert

The great Ignancy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) was a Polish pianist who gained world wide fame and was very popular in the United States. I was recently reminded of this story and researched it. Paderewski experts say the story may have been inspired by a poster during World War II that promoted a meeting in support of the Polish Relief Fund. Paderewski is said to have organized the meeting. The poster included a sketch of Paderewski next to a boy at the piano.

Here is the story:
When the house lights dimmed and the concert of the great pianist, Paderewski was about to begin, a mother hurriedly returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on the stage. To her horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out Chopsticks. At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Keep going. Don't quit, son. Keep playing. Don't stop. Don't quit." Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that after the concert they couldn't recall what else the great master played, only the classic, Chopsticks.

What we accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, when we play along with the hand of our Master, Jesus Christ, our works in life become truly beautiful. His hands are always there to turn our feeble attempts into great masterpieces. Listen for that tender voice whispering words of encouragement for you today, "Keep going. Don't quit. Keep playing. Don't stop. Don't quit."

I Love Southern California

This morning when I opened up THE DAILY BREEZE, our daily newspaper for the south bay area of L.A. . . . .this is the picture I saw on the front page with this caption under it. . . .Snow-capped mountains loom over downtown Los Angeles after storms cleared the air. Most people do not think of Los Angeles with snow and mountains. But on any clear day, just driving around we always see the beauty of the mountains. I just wanted to share the beauty we are seeing today! I love southern California!!

I must add. . . .my roots do still come out. . . . . . . So proud of LSU!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!

Singing In The Rain!

Being raised in the south where it rains often, I never thought that I would miss the rain, but I do! After living here in southern California for just a few months and no rain, I was talking to my Mom on the phone while it was pouring there. She went outside, raised one of the garage doors, and held the phone for me to hear the heavy downpour!! That is something that I used to take for granted, but now I love a good rainy day or night like today! It may go for months here with no rain. But right now, I'm sitting here hearing the rain and loving it!! There is something about hearing the rain splash on the window! I know to all of you who live where it rains often that this sounds so funny! A little while ago, I went to our front bay window and took the pictures above. I even went outside in the front just to watch it rain! This is the rainy season for us, but nights like tonight are few and far between. I will enjoy sleeping tonight hearing the rain! Back in September it rained very hard, the first rain in over 4 months! Our dog Bauer who is almost 3 years old did not know what to think of that kind of hard rain. He had never seen it! While home in West Monroe back in the summer, I found myself up in the middle of the night looking out the back of my parent's home watching the hard rain hit the pool and the pasture behind it. Before I moved here, that would have been just another rainy night! I never thought I would say this but I love the rain!!!! What does the song say. . . ."Singing in the rain!!!