Tahoe 2007

So he we are, back in Tahoe for the holidays. When we arrived, there wasn't much new snow -- which made for a great drive there (no white out conditions on a crowded, slick roadway) and lame snowman making conditions. The snow was just too drive and had the consistency of sugar. So instead of making snowpeople, we ended up making snocanos. The condo did have a sled in the garage so the girls took that out for a test drive. Nice! Parker, however, was too busy eating snow to bother sledding. Excuse me. What we call "eating snow" is what Parker called "eating snowman". Hmmmm. That just doesn't sound too civilized.

The grandparents were with us (my mom and Chris' parents) and the graciously offered to watch the kids, which gave the parents a chance to hit the slopes. Now I've had more miserable days on the slopes but this trying it's best to get there. It was cold, windy, and icy. As I mention earlier, no new snow so each fall potentially could end your day...and that was just on the bunny slope. However, after the men folk took off for larger, steeper slides, my sis and I proved that we're tuff enuf and went up (and down) a few more times. Joanie even took the hill solo! Like any good snowbunny, though, we ended the day in the bar soothing our bumps and warming our toes with hot toddies.

What a difference a day makes! Sunny. Bright. We all headed up the mountain, this time so the kids could get some sledding in. The snow...much better than the stuff outside the condo...taste wise (because, of course Parker had to again "eat snowman") and building wise, allowing the kids to work on a better snowman.

Of course, we did spend all day making snowmen. The kids had real business to tend to...SLEDDING! Parker, however, was having none of it. Oh well. The girls, however, did awesome. Forward and backward, they kicked butt! And what did Parker do while the girls were tripping the ice fantastic? Nap on Daddy's stomach. Cozy huh?

Christmas 2007

Let the Christmas festivities begin!


On the Saturday before, we headed over to Thommy & Geoffrey's place for a delicious holiday brunch, brought to us by the other Chef-Boy-Ardee in my life...Geof. Parker also got to check out Thommy's Christmas Express that circled their tree. And we opened gifts, of course. Chris got the ''The Dangerous Book for Boys'' and Geof and Thommy got the equally ''dangerous'' ''Space Academy, The Complete Series'' and ''Beverly Hills 90210, Season 2'', respectively.


The next day, the party moved to Tehachapi. Unfortunately, not all of the Trillos has arrived yet but, since we were heading up north the next day, the kids got to open some of their presents...TWO DAYS EARLY! WEEE! Parker opened a Hot Wheels race track set and didn't open the box as he discovered that running your car over the picture of the track was just as fun. (No worries, he would find out the truth when we finally assembled the track a couple of days later in Tahoe.)


On Christmas Eve, we made our way to the Bay Area, first stopping as my sister Susie's place so even more cousins could collide. The newest one, Susie's little baby, Brian, brought the number to a round six. Of course, getting all six in one picture proved to be tricky. In the end, the best I could get was one which featured half of Parker's face, right up front on the left. You can't even see Jason's face...but, they're all in the picture so that's got to count for something.

By the way, regarding the huge Hot Wheels bandage on Parker's head, have no fear, he didn't injure himself. He was just feeling a bit grumpy on the way up (it's a lot of traveling even for big kids like me and Chris) so I slapped an obnoxious bandage on his forehead. He loved it. But that meant I couldn't remove it for the rest of the night.



Christmas morning...FINALLY! Luxi was up first to check out all that Santa has left for them. Begrudgingly, Niko and Parker woke up (with encouragement from Joanie). But once all the kids woke up, it became a madhouse. Thank goodness we were at Joanie's. There was chocolate to be had, tea parties, doll play, gun play, and of course a bunch of absolutely loud drumming. Holy crap! Parker loved it. And again, thank goodness we were at Joanie's. What a way to rock out the old year.

That said, WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PLEASE NOTE: Chris will kill anyone who buys Parker drums for his birthday.

Office Par-tay!

There ain't no party like my Nana's tea par-tay! --Flight of the Conchords So we had our annual office party today. Ah...good times. With the whole company gathered together in Tomorrowland (our largest conference room), the IT group once again demonstrated that oil does not mix with water when they, as usual, clustered together at one table. On the bright side, we proved that, yes, these tables can accommodate up to 12 people. The big winners of the mystery gift give away -- Ravi with the iPod Shuffle and Aimee with the emergency light (which was exactly what she wanted).

Happy Birthday...To Me!

So, for my birthday we headed over to Chevys for a fiesta filled with friends, food, and fun. YUM! To all those who attended -- Matt, BC, Maria, Geoffrey, Thommy, Parker, Aimee, Jan, Eric, Fred, & Kitty -- thanks for coming and making my birthday extra special. You only turn 38 once and I'm glad you were able to share in the experience. Too bad no sombreros were involved. But the event did come with a mariachis!

That's Kooky

Here's Parker's latest obsession that's driving me crazy...but in a good way, I guess.

Every morning now, I lure Parker out of bed by letting him watch the episode of Wow Wow Wubbzy that I have tivo'd. This allows me to almost effortlessly change and dress him as he's mesmerized by the television. Of course, since I currently only have one episode recorded, that also means I've started my day off with this video every single morning for the last week.

I guess it's time for me to record a new epiosde of Wow Wow Wubbzy.

That's Kooky!

Ocean Front Property?

Ocean Front Property?,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

So I forgot to post this. I took it about a month ago. Something to keep in mind when it gloomy gray. Just over the marine layer, it absolutely beautiful.

This is a picture of the Los Angeles basin. The cloud cover lays over the city like an ocean of cotton, shielding the city from the beautiful blue skies.

I took this on my way to work, off of Angeles Crest Highway.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Xmas

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Xmas,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

It's nice to wake up in the morning and discover that everything has been dusted with snow.

Devious Case of Bedhead

Devious Case of Bedhead,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Someone not only woke up on the wrong side of the bed but he was left with a serious case of bedhead. Sorry little dude, if I still have to go to work, you still have to go to school.

Mouse House

I noticed my car was starting to smell like gas...not a good sign. So I too my car in and not only found out I need a new fuel pump but the local rodent population thought the top of my gas tank would make a good home.

On the bright side, I mentally applied part of my repair bill to the nest removal, which makes be feel kind of better about the big bill. Kind of.

Halloween 2007

Halloween 2007,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

This year, Parker was a fireman and his entourage consisted of me, Chris, Aimee, Geof, Jan, and Thommy.

I tell ya, after a bunch of brush fires hit a region, the best costume is...yes...the fireman. Everyone loved Parker's costume, which meant a big haul this year. The good thing, though, is that Parker still doesn't have a concept of candy so I didn't have to worry too much about him snacking along the way on a bunch of sugar. Which is good, since we ended the festivities at Bob's Big Boy. (This is the second time in a row we've done this...could this become our ''thing''?)

L-R: The setting on my camera switch but it kind of looks like Fireman Parker's escorting the masses out of an inferno. Yes? Parker inspects his haul. Happy family calls it a night.

Only A Faint Memory

Only A Faint Memory,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Later that evening, we're decked in our Incredibles gear and we're ready to head to bed. There's only a faint reminder of the tantrum that occurred just minutes ago. Look close closely at my shirt and you'll see the tear/drool impression Parker let behind. Pretty funny.

Parker's New Ride

Parker's New Ride,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Thanks to Geof, Parker has a new ride. Rocket from Little Einsteins. Right now, the ship has landed. But soon after this you can hear a vibrating bbbbbbbrrrrrr sound as Parker has taken to the air and has begun zooming around the house.

I like how he uses Rocket's antenna as a joystick to steer the ship. Nice!

Chris, You Will Be Missed

So with the launch of the ABCNewsStore at work, we had to bring in a temp to help us test the new store. Things have been going well. The site's now launched and the job should be pretty much wrapping up shortly. Last Thursday, Chris had to go to the DMV and then interview someone (he's a writer); so he took the day off. Curiously, he didn't show up to work on Friday. Weird. We called his temp agency to check in on him but nothing. Odd.

This morning I get a call, asking if I know Chris. Yes. Then informing me that he collapsed in the lobby of their building on Friday. He passed away over the weekend and now the coroner is looking for his next of kin. What?! Who is this? How did you get this number? This isn't funny.

Well, it wasn't a joke. The building happened to have Disney tenants and they were able to use his temp access badge to find me. I wish they could have found me sooner. How awful! It makes me sad that his family couldn't be with him before he left this world.

Chris hasn't been with us long but it's amazing how much of an impression a person can make. I can't help thinking of the things he left unfinished -- his blogs/mogs, a book he was ghost-writing, his computer was just fixed (is it still in the shop?), he was learning German for her girlfriend (She's in Germany, has someone contacted her?), etc. Hell, he was only 35. It just seems too soon.

Looking at Chris' blogs, I can't help but smile when I see things like a mention of his job interview with us...I got a call with an offer for another gig over at one of the major studios to expedite this Web-related project which, although won't last as long as the law firm editing gig, would pay a grip more $crilla than I would've if I were working with that fancy-pantsed lot down in the finance district...a couple of minutes ago I got the call back and ...I'm in there, son! I start on Monday...The ladies who interviewed me were much more laid back than those two twitchy tossers with the sticks in their keysters and we got right down to brass tacks without all of that alpha male posturing...it was refreshing...I just shot on over to the lot and acted like myself, no fuss no muss (and yes, I wore the Blerd glasses again).



A couple of weeks later, he blogs again from his desk......pardon the Obi Wan-Darth Maul, Jedi look but the A/C in this building is boomin’ and it’s colder ‘n a witch’s titty where I’m sittin’...never knew there was an Arctic Circle setting on that thing, so I’ve been rockin’ a hoodie while at my desk...too, I’ve been on the phone waiting for the last half hour while the IT guy sorts out my email clearances and such shite...so, in the interim, I’ve been cleaning out the desk of whomever was in this office space before me to keep my teeth from chattering...apparently it was a chick...who liked seafood..I found this magnet and an old compact in the bottom drawer of one of the cabinets...kinda funny, it made me think of Fred Schneider’s words of wisdom when starting at a new workplace...watch out for them piranhas, y’all...BTW, MOG ’s eating posts done in FireFox today but Safari’s working like a charm...so don’t be a crab if your post gets pinched…roger, over…check your vector, Victor…CP, out.

I feel I should reply to this entry as I was the one to clear out Chris' desk; however, I can't figure out how to do it just yet. So I'll list the contents here: ear buds, a "Di Vinci Code" mug, a notepad with scribble about the work needed on his computer, a shirt (he biked to work so I guess it something to wear if he got too schvitzy), and the hoodie mentioned above. That's it.

I asked Aimee, the resident Ghost Whisperer, if he was still hanging around work but she has yet to see him. Good. I hope he's moved on to better things.
Even though I didn't know you for long, Chris; you will be missed.

Check out Chris' blog and mog -- he interviewed a lot of interesting people and loved music.

• The Chronicles of Ridicule
• Crash Pryor's MOG

Ground Control to Major Tom

While Chris was at the chiropractor, Parker and I went out to breakfast and had pancakes. While we wait for our order to arrive, I give Parker my empty creamer container to play with. Usually they become blocks but today they're a spaceship. ZOOM! The capsules separate. And then they land on the surface of the alien planet. All right. Go ahead. Say it, in your best Scottish accent, of course.

Well, that's a huge noggin. That's a virtual planetoid.

Has it's own weather system.

I'm not kidding, that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Now that was offsides, wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow.