International Spy Museum Website

Yes, I do own a mug that has pictures of DC and says "Beware of Female Spies"

Unfortunately, it looks as if the aren't selling it on the Spy Museum Website. But for those who aspire to go undercover .... Happy Shopping. You know Xmas is coming and any random gifts are much appreciated.

A boyz sleepover

Ok, well I was worried that the boys would be the rowdy ones but it is apparently the dogs who have the problem. The small dog just keeps barking and barking like M's friend has never been here before. So my solution is to put the dogs up with me in the front room, but Brandy has discovered how to break free from the mega expensive frontgate doggy gate.

Hmm Dogs are calm and videogames are being played. Is it too early to lock myself away in my room, yet?

Location Description

The sun shines down on a purple bougainvillea. The sky is blue, cloudless, as usual. The wind rustles the leaves of the trees and grasses, singing a natural symphony. The chair beneath her feels comfortable, but rigid. Suddenly, her Akita barks loudly, joining into a chorus. Although there are sounds of random cars and motorcycles nearby, she feels serene. She drifts peacefully into the cobwebbed corners of her mind,drinking hot, sweet tea from a red and white mug that reads, “Beware of Female Spies.” Time briefly stands still, as she notices the bloom of a single red rose.

Happy Friday! Hope that everyone is having a good day. We have survived more than one week of homeschooling at my house. It seems to be going pretty well. I think we will be fine once we both get into the swing of things.

Life is going along. I am keeping busy with soccer. Still cleaning up stuff around the house and I am preparing for my big move. My creative writing class started. I am excited and scared. That's it for me today.

THE FAIR WAS FREAkING AWESOME!!! for the boyz it was all about the rides. For me it was all about the food and shopping. I did have a stomach ache from all the greasy food. Pictures to follow. Home school Day 7: We were tired today so ... we passed our spelling pretest 100% and watched Nat Geo Amazing Earth Episode 3. Max had junk yard legos and he built the niftiest houses connected by conveyor belts. Video to follow lol. He's gonna have to figure that out for me ... but anyway. We did toys Ya us and library and duck feeding and mall and game stop. I am happy to report that I bought a microscope and a telescope and a used copy of glee karaoke. Watch out neighbors, I'm gonna be singing!!! LOL No video of that to follow. Running off to an appointment tonight! Toodles ya'ALL ... trixie

Homeschooling getting you up to speed

Max and I have been homeschooling for 6, (yes count them) 6 big days. Tomorrow is the start of day 7. But today we have the LA county fair on tap with a friend of Max's. So gotta run to the grocery and grab the discounted tickets. I'll report back on the fair. Promise!

Three states in half in hour ....

Well, we have arrived at the 'rents house in OHIO. We took a town car from home to the LAX airport and I must say that a town car is really the way to go to the airport. I think that I will try that again!

We were on the red eye and we were a little red eyed upon arrival. The flight was fine. It was totally packed though. We arrived at the pgh airport at three am our time so we were a little blurry. Anyway, they found us right away and we got our things just fine. We headed to Pappy's executive parking place and took a short ride through 3 states! PA, WV, and OH.

It is not too far from the airport to the rents new home. The new house is nice. We relaxed a few days and took a trip to see Gpap yesterday. He looks good and had good news from the Doc, so that is good. We delivered the TRIX cereal and really made his day! He ate some as soon as he got a bowl! We brought Rainey back with us to visit for a few days.

All is well. Everyone seems good and Max has only been in time out one time. History repeats itself and toilets are clogged here, so it feels like home already! Max and Pappy enjoy each other's company a lot. Max has been playing chef's helper at dinner time. He runs up and down the stairs to get the plates and everything that is needed by the grill master! He loves it. Max has taken to telling stupid jokes at 1 am in the morning, laughing his head off is his ploy to get to sleep in Mom's bed.

The fam is playing scrabble and I guess somebodies going to slow! Max is playing lego star wars too. He is liking that game and that rat game too. Max and I have been reading the JUnie B. Jones book and he seems to like it too.

All seems well, we will be having the cousins over soon and I am excited to see the new nephew! All is well, but I miss me manny! We'll see him soon! Enuff for now! Toodles trix

Happy Birthday America and other musings ....

We enjoyed a beautiful, although hot Independence Day. It started on July 3rd in the evening at the Gardens of the World. Maddie, Max and I listened to the Air Force Band of the Golden west play a patriotic set and also celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force. Both Maddie and I were dressed in Air Force T-shirts and while we waited for the band to start, someone from the Ventura County Newspaper took our picture. It must of been b/c both the children were glued to their gameboys waiting for the concert to begin! We must really be Conejo Valley residents now that they want to put our picture in the newspaper. The concert was great, free and the garden's of the world are beautiful. Who would have thought that tucked right off of TO Blvd., such a beautiful place existed! So far we haven't seen ourselves in the paper yet. I am hoping it happens and certain teens are hoping it does not! Funny how some people like the spotlight and other's do not! I think teen thought it would be so incredible uncool to be seen at the patriotic concert, but I think she actaully had a good time.

The fourth began with, sleeping late, watering plants and then a small shopping trip for Maddie and Mom to KOhls'. After that we came home and headed out to the pool for an hour. Much fun was had by all. Our swimming star, Maddie was beaten by Mom in backstroke and Dad in freestyle. 8-( She is convinced that she now needs to do some laps or something b/c she used to be able to beat us both! I must say that my rear and butt are hurting today from the swimming. We came home and I began working on the feast in honor of America. We had surf and turf, a spicy non-mayonnaise potato salad, bean salad, and corn on the cob. The only problem was that the grill gave out in the middle of cooking the turf. But we stuck it in the broiler and it turned out fine. After dinner, we met up with our neighbors up the street, Max's very good friend Chase and his parents and we climbed the mountain across from Peppertree to watch the fireworks there. We could see the mall fireworks and much to our surprise, someone in Newbury Park was lighting the fireworks right on the street below us. We had a great view of the fireworks and did not have to battle with any traffic, which is really nice when your poor hubby has to go to work the next day! The guys from down the street came over and we all ate red, white and blue cake. I tried a new one this year with ice cream on the outside inside of icing. It turned out great and now my friend thinks that I am a gourmand. She kept asking me, "How'd ya get the ice cream on there?" And saying "That had to be really hard!" It took a little patience and fast work, but it was really easy to do and tasted pretty good, if I must say so myself. We had a nice time.

We have been busy. I had been playing too much when summer first started so last week I had a huge to do list. I got most of it done. But, now I am on to the getting ready for vacation to do list.

Applied for a job. We'll see what happens with that. Am ambivalent about the whole back to work thing. Anyway, once I return to CA from the vacation then I'll get down to seriously trying to find something.

Vacation should be busy. A lot of people to see and visit with. I am blessed to have so many people who are close to me.

Maddie has her classes today ... stained glass and volleyball. Don said yesterday after hearing her rave about the class "We have no room in our garage for a stained glass studio." He seemed sort of sad or wistful (can a man seem wistful?) when he said it, almost as if he would actually like us to be able to do stained glass in the garage. Hmm, maybe ...

Anyway, much to do ... so toodles for now. So Cal Trixie