It's All Relative

On social media there are different settings and choices to make about which people see which posts. A person can create an-invitation only group, often with a theme (e.g., people who used to work at XYZ Camp).

Recently my older sister's classmate created a group for people who attended my elementary school. Most of the group's members are about my older sister's age, which is the same age (and elementary school) as D.'s older sister.  Someone posted a class picture from 1970 and there were both our sisters!

My sister told the group that her little sister had married a classmate's little brother.  Of course I knew that all along, but I always thought of it as marrying the brother of my older sister's classmate, not that we were the little siblings.

One of our sisters' classmates contacted me because she had remembered D.'s family, who had lived around the corner.  Of course she remembered us the little siblings of her classmates, the ones who were the same age as her youngest brother.  So odd.

I think of myself as a grown-up but this weekend I felt like a little sister.  It was kind of funny, but also very sweet.

License Plate Meet

It has been almost two years since I last wrote about license plates, probably because the meets conflict with soccer games.  No game today so we made the trip to Upland, a neighboring town.

I am guessing I have driven or cycled by the Cooper Museum at some point,
but today we attended a meet on their patio.

I was lucky enough to take a peek inside and there are a lot of historical artifacts.
I promise to go back and look more carefully.

There was a nice turnout

and a nice selection of plates.

This is the next plate I want, but is not available at a reasonable price yet.

Oh, shoot.  While looking for a link for the Arizona plate I found another plate I want now!
I love the word sesquicentennial.

I try not to dwell on the fact that we got our CA plates a few months too early to get this one.  Sigh.

Generosity

At the beginning of an all-day meeting one person showed up with oranges and avocados and another brought lemons.  When I thanked the first person she offered the opportunity to go to her place and pick more.  But how could she possibly have enough?  But I accepted the offer because picking fruit satisfies the nostalgia of being in farms near Ithaca.  And, yes, I like free things.

We picked all we wanted and there was no visible difference!  A. also brought home macadamia nuts, which he likes to crack open on the rocks.

We are so lucky!

Not holding onto everything

I have so many membership cards and most of the places I drive to so I keep an envelope of them in the car.  I stopped at a grocery store I visit about twice a year and took a look in the envelope.  I guess it is time to clean it out.  How many coupons to the car wash in Ithaca should I hold onto?

Both these bookstores have closed.
I admit that I did not do much to help since I usually
get my books for free from the library
and sometimes buy used books at the library.

The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass
expired in August 2014.  I will let go of it, too.

Now it is time to clean out everything else.

Company

About this time two years ago we had an international exchange student from Finland stay with us.  I admit that we did not keep in touch, but I am hoping to do better this time around.

Doen arrived from Korea speaking like an American college student.  I wonder if it is because of youtube and other videos.

She brought us some very cute treats.

Too cute to eat?

I was surprised how sad I was to move her into the dorm (left).
She said the construction noise hasn't been too bad.
Maybe they are close to being done because I could see that they
were pouring sidewalks and working on the landscaping.

picture from CMC
At least there is a good view from the room.

Mixing it up

How could there be girls' shoes and active shoes?
I asked the salesperson and he said it was for social reasons.
I think both girls and boys know who the shoe is intended for even if it is not labeled.
I moved a couple pairs just to help out.

I moved a magazine, too.
The man who bought it will thank me for helping him eat better.

I also helped some woman interested in STEM,
although I am sure she could have figured out to look a few feet to her right.

¿Dónde está el niño?

They are telling us to be patient, that El Niño is still coming.  We had a few storms over a couple of day and that has been it, unless you count the raindrops that are falling right now, but they are so few that you probably could count them!

The rain barrel is full, we do have a few flowering plants, and the weeds are already popping up so it is hard to complain.

Not-quite bionic woman

Not really the million-dollar man, either.  Maybe the $5K woman?

Wednesday was spent modifying my body a bit.

Up first was a temporary crown.  I think since it is so far back they used the copper cap.
The permanent one will match my teeth.
I am not sure which is worse, the anticipation or the sounds of the drill.

Later I picked up my hearing aids!  The top one has a microphone and transmits what it picks up the right one, which is only a receiver and does not amplify sound.  The feeling in my ear is mildly uncomfortable (a little itchy and a little feeling of stuffy ears) and the results are mixed.  I still have no directional sound (D. thinks my brain will learn which sounds are coming from the left and adapt).  I was able to hear my friend as we walked together and she was on my right, but I can not hear anything when I hold the phone up to my hearing aid.  Or maybe I am hearing a faint something?  Nothing useful.  I will continue to experiment with them for a few weeks and at that point I have to decide whether I want to purchase them or return them at no cost.

Even though I wear glasses I don't think I qualify as a cyborg.

Competition

Last June there was a story in the paper about the discount grocery store chain Aldi opening 45 stores in Southern California.  I completely forgot about that until I saw this sign today.

The first Aldi I shopped at was in Ithaca, right by the Farmer's Market.  If you plan to visit do not try to leave the parking lot on Saturday or Sunday morning.

I found this review of the Ithaca store.

I have also shopped at Aldi in Roskilde and still have a cycling shirt I bought there.
It is also on the edge of town, but I am guessing they save money
by renting or buying where it is less expensive.

Fun fact :  Two brothers started Aldi and one went on to buy Trader Joe's!

By looking at today's hiring event listing I see that a store will be opening in La Verne.  I'll keep you posted if I learn more.

Why I didn't post on Sunday

Blogging was on my list to do, but I received a last-minute invitation to go cross-country skiing.  I couldn't think of a reason to say no.

The drive up was awful since everyone else wanted to enjoy the snow, too.
We did have some nice views.

It was worth the drive!  The last time I skied on groomed trails was in the early 1990's.
Plus the skis did not have to be waxed and did not have three-pin binding.
I wasn't worried about falling as much as I was worried about not being able to get up.
I proved several times that I could get up!

The drive home wasn't great, either, but we had podcasts and tush warmers.
It was a great day!

Catching up

It is a good thing when life is full and I don't have time to post.  It is also good to slow down and reflect.

Saturday we said sad good-byes to company, but then jumped right into schoolwork, a bike ride to San Bernardino and back, and playing with friends.  A couple of us stopped by the grand re-opening of Shelton Park.

"In a related agreement in 1997, the City acquired from the College Leonard A. Shelton Park, at the corner of Harvard and Bonita avenues."

You can learn more about the history of land disputes between Pomona and Claremont here.  You could also attend city council meetings in 2016 and learn about the current relationship!

I was lucky to bring home a cookie with a picture of the new stage.

Festivities included live music by professionals and a school band,
a planting, and comments from dignitaries.  

Also filling the day were college basketball games (I went to the women's game and was lucky to see a win), a movie, root beer floats, and a sleepover.

I was so caught up in the action that I took a picture only before the game.

And a parting shot of another exciting part of the day.  A. can now captain the tandem (if he has a willing friend).

DTLA, take four

In October I went downtown with an international visitor, in November I went with A. and his friends, and in December we went skating downtown.  This month's trip was with family and we did two new things.

As we were walking through Union Station we could see that something was going on in the front room.

This is a picture of the "tightly choreographed news conference,"
as described by the L.A. Times ,when the new M.L.S. team,
Los Angeles Football Club, was announced.

They were already selling scarves with the team's logo.

We pulled ourselves away and took a DASH bus tour past the museums and around the library, then caught another bus and took a little tour around Little Tokyo.  We got on a third bus to go to Grand Central Market for lunch.  After an uphill climb we made it to The Broad.

We looked at a lot of art, but I especially enjoyed the building and looking at it in unusual ways.

Here we are in the elevator looking up to the roof.

I like the way the building is reflected in the Koons sculpture.

a different style selfie

We were so lucky to have good weather!

Flip House

Last October I wrote about an house in poor condition that was being remodeled with the intent to sell it.  The new owner lives in the neighborhood and flips houses for a living so I was hoping the updated version would fit in.

a screen grab from a 2012 Google map
Too bad you can't see how much stuff is on all the porch
and all the abandoned cars and motorcycles in the back.

This was taken last October at the beginning of the project.

taken yesterday
Check out the website for more photos!  
At the open house D. learned that there have been multiple offers and
when I stopped by to take a picture more people were looking.
I miss the greenery (and who puts in grass these days?),
but I think it is an improvement for the neighborhood.

~~~~~~~
Thanks to sharp-eyed reader D.T. from California, here are couple more before photos.

A good start

After celebrating on the last day of 2015 we all got off to a good start to 2016.

bicycle parking along the route

D. was the first out the door to meet a group that planned to cycle to Rose Parade. Even though it started at 8am the route was so long they were able to get good viewing spots and see a lot of it. Even though the floats and bands were fantastic, the most talked about event was the skywriting.

Anybody but Trump
funded by a Sen. Rubio supporter

It wasn't nearly as exciting, but I enjoyed a hike and swim on a beautiful day.  The other highlight was celebrating the birthday of a friend who had been in the paper for being the first baby of the year.  Rumor has it that her parents almost named her Missy since she missed the tax deduction deadline.

The youngest family member spent a good chunk of the day practicing tricks at the skatepark and on the campuses.  I am so grateful that we did not start the year with any broken bones.  Here's to another 365 days (leap year) of the same.

R. was able to celebrate finishing college applications. The party was also a nice chance to catch up with people home from college. It is great to live close enough to everything so R. could walk home when we decided we wanted to stay a bit longer.

The day wrapped up with a funny dinner, serving the food intended for company that did not materialize.  Appetizers make a great meal!

Best wishes for a good health and peace in the year ahead!