Filling time

Not so many pictures, but it has been a good few days.

When computer time is used up there are always other things to do.

Some of us went to a play and some of us went to Mishpachanukkah.

Some of went to a high school theater production.

We were all happy with our choices!

Today D. was a good sport and took A. and a friend to the Nissan dealership because we got mailing telling us that we were a winner!  And we were - a $5 gift card for Walmart and a two-night stay at a hotel (if we pay some fees).  They did take a test drive of the Leaf and earned the chance to spin the wheel to see what else they won, but it was NOT thirty seconds in the money-blowing booth.  The good thing was that the folks let the kids push the button and watch all the bills floating around.  They also got to ooh and ahh over this car.  Quality bonding time.

GT-R

Competition

Last year we joined the Cool California Challenge and we did again this year.

Each household enters information about electric and gas use.

Cities compete based on households' total usage.

At the moment I am in fourth place for Claremont.

When I saw that the thermostat wasn't working and D. couldn't fix it,

I figured the silver lining was that it would improve my numbers for the competition.

Today the repairmen came.

I always ask them to send a skinny person.

That person has to go under the house and crawl under a couple rooms to get to the furnace.

D. did it last night in the dark and despite unplugging it and plugging it back in, it still didn't work.

Today the people reset something and we are warm again!

Great News!

This has been my routine for the last few weeks:

Morning

• use the pulley in two different directions
• use the stretch bands three different ways
• push my arm back using a yard stick
• ice my shoulder

Noon

• use the pulley in two different directions
• use the stretch bands three different ways
• stretch my shoulder manually
• ice my shoulder

Night

• use the pulley in two different directions
• use the stretch bands three different ways
• do the I, T, and Y stretches
• ice my shoulder

Today I checked in with the physical therapist and showed off my progress.  It changed everything so now I have a new set of exercises and am required to do them only twice a day!  They include modified push-ups and using the weight room!  The big news is that I have permission to swim!  He asked me to take is slowly and liked the idea of sprinkling in a length here and there.  

Now that I may swim I hope I can!

Recipes

Why don't I think about taking pictures until it comes time to write a post?

 I did remember to take this before picture.  I am happy to say I was enjoying myself too much to take an after picture, so here is one from the newspaper where I got the recipe.

Our after-Thanksgiving tradition is to go to Oak Glen to buy apples and cider, but the weather was not great this year.  We still had plenty of apples at home so I tried a new recipe and used the slow cooker to make applesauce.  It was delicious but made such a tiny amount.  Tomorrow I'll stop by the market to see if the farmer has his ugly duckling apples and try the recipe again with double the apples.

Adventure with the tween

It was fun to wear the pedometer yesterday and watch the steps add up!

We walked to the train station, around Olvera Street (stopping to examine every trinket), and then to the bus stop.

We didn't have tickets but strolled around The Broad and through Disney Concert Hall.

We made our way over to Grand Park and past the Unlimited Delight exhibit,which is in town for only one week.

I did sit down while the kids ran around.

 Next we headed to Grand Central Market, separated, each got our own lunch, and met up again (thank goodness, I was a bit worried about losing someone).

We found the bus to get to Little Tokyo and walked around there.
We got a bit lost so we had a long way to get to the metro to get to the library.

Unfortunately we went out the wrong door and took another long walk to eventually get to the library!  We explored a bit before finding books to enjoy.

On our way to the metro we passed the ice rink and at least some of us were tempted to stop,
we decided to say something for next time.

I think a good time was had by all.  I would be happy to do it again.

Adventure with the teen

Any guesses where we were on Monday?

Geisel library

the latest outdoor art 

library's namesake

Sun God

What else would you expect to see in the dining hall of the nation's leading surf school?

Having a week off from school meant there was a enough time to take a college trip.  A lot of people had the same idea, but we got a great guide plus a chance to eat in the dining hall and sit in on a class.

Today's answer?  UC San Diego!

Life

Meetings!  Meetings at the schools.  Meetings for League of Women Voters.  Meetings observing the school board on behalf of the League of Women Voters.  Time to find a new needlework project.

But parties happen, too!

We didn't do pumpkin relays yesterday, but otherwise the day looked like this.

Yesterday was the swim coach's birthday and he said if we had 31 swimmers at practice he would swim 31 lengths.  We had only sixteen but he was a good sport and got and swam for a bit (four lengths).

 The next birthday party was for a 100 year old!  Her son-in-law showed a video of her on a recent hike in her favorite woods and talking about helping future generations enjoy the same.

My favorite part of the party focused on her love of Scouting.  Some girls were there dressed in vintage uniforms, the badges Marilee had earned as a girl were on display, and woman dressed up as the founder of Girl Scouts was leading a sing-along.  There were also boxes and boxes of birthday cards sent from troops from all over the US and the world.  It was amazing showing of the power of the internet.

The final celebration was an anniversary party.  The original event had only twelve people in attendance, but this party was bigger.  The longest-married couple (68 years so far) were invited up to give advice and the maid of honor and best man said a few words, too.  Something to look forward to!

Now it is back to work, navigating the grocery store crowds and entertaining children who have the week off.