Author Archives: cherethomas

Robb Akuch & Alo are Southbound!

And sending photos along the way.

The ones above are from the Monterrey Aquarium.

On the home front, I finalized my airline ticket purchase yesterday. There’s no turning back now. Pune, here I come! I selected a flight with the least stops and shortest travel time – 1 stop (Dubai); 21 hours total travel. I’ve been in touch with some friends I met in 2013 who I’ll be hooking up with during my time there – 1 from Australia (Jill, who will be staying in the same flat); Aubrey from the UK, staying in the same building and Kathleen from Milwaukee, staying in the same flat with Aubrey. They all made appearances in my Blog in 2013, and you will be seeing them again during this trip.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Winter Blooms & Sparty walks!

Ron took this short footage yesterday of Sparty walking. The music in the background is perfect for the event!

Such a cutie!

We have some beautiful orchids in winter bloom. I took these photos this morning.

Ho hum … another beautiful sunny San Diego winter Santa Ana. Now if we could just find a good water source …

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Happy Valentine’s Day & Progress

… and happy anniversary to my honey. 41 years! It’s hard to believe that much time has gone by, but it has.

Here’re the latest photos of the progress being made. The first photo is the bathroom. The tub/shower was moved to make more room.

The second photo is looking from the living room toward the dining room/kitchen area. With the walls removed, it’s a lot more spacious.

This last photo is from the dining area into the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen is going to be so nice!

Bruce has not only done a LOT of work down there, but he’s also overseen tons of progress, from demo, to hauling of junk, to concrete & brick removal, to having the guys level dirt & lay bricks in the shedded area and replacing bricks along the pathway where concrete was removed, to framing, to daily trips to Home Depot. He’s also coordinated meeting with various trades, getting quotes, doing research, drawing plans, and so on.

I can’t take credit for much except supporting him, because he’s working a lot! In fact he’s working there today … on a Saturday, on our anniversary. I helped out by meeting with him and the kitchen designer a couple times to help come up with a floor plan, cabinets and countertops. My biggest job is to be the financier, trying to keep track of paperwork & receipts, and making sure the funds are available so everyone can get paid. I suppose that’s a good job for me. Today I drove down to bring a caulking gun and to give the window guy a deposit so he can order the windows. So I came in handy …

Ron spent a couple days this week running electrical wires & I think he’ll be back next week to finish that up. The framing will be done, hopefully this next week, and then the insulation and drywall can get done. After that, Nino can tape, then the flooring can get done.

The kitchen cabinets will arrive in another 10 days. I can’t wait to see how they look installed!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Flu

I ended up with the stomach flu. I haven’t had the stomach flu in ages and forgot how it knocks you down. Throwing up, fever, nauseous, back ache.

No fever today, but I lost 5 pounds and am very lightheaded. I ate some breakfast and hoping I’m going to be able to get up & be normal by mid day. That may be high hopes but I’m planning on teaching my 2 classes later today. I just have to get this fog out of my head and the lump out of my throat. Needless to say, no Nati’s for me today, & no gymnastics this morning with Maya 🙁

On the northern front, here are some photos of Alo.

Watch out Pappa. I think Alo might want to take over your contracting business!

Alo knows the names of all these animals on his closet door.

Alo with his friends. It makes me happy to see he’s settled in and has plenty of friends! It makes me even happier to know they’re coming to visit next week!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

The weekend – a sleepover

We had Maya from 3pm Saturday to Monday morning. A lot of playing went on.

And downright cuteness!

Some spaghetti & meatballs & Caesar salad.

And bath time fun.

Hair brushing – it took me about 20 minutes to brush her hair out, but she was very patient & sat still for me the whole time.

This was the pretty hairdo Sunday morning.

And then shortly after lunch (with a tangerine smile) …

Hey!! What happened to that pretty hairdo???

Sparty arrived after breakfast on Sunday, and then early afternoon both Maya and Sparty found a good spot to rest!

And then more playtime.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

What’s going on in the Bay Area?

It looks cold.

& rainy.

So why not eat ribs??

Ron & Jen left for Steamboat Springs this morning, Grandma returns from her trip Tuesday, Robb & Akuch & Alo head down for a visit in a little over a week!

Meanwhile, we’re looking forward to spending some time with Maya & Sparty this weekend.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Maya at Disney on Ice

Last Sunday while we watched Sparty, Maya went to Disney on Ice. I hear she loved it!

Of course, she had to finish her job before she went.

Afterwards a little shopping spree in her Minnie Mouse dress …

& here’s Sparty. I have no idea where this is, but my guess is the library. I think he’s going to take after his daddy & become class clown :-/

A busy day at work for me with lots to do & 5 days in a row off to follow. Monday is Jeff McFaddin’s memorial service, which we’re planning on attending.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Maya

Thursday I had a little one-on-one with Maya. Above she is paying close attention in gymnastics to the instructions and demonstration of what she was supposed to do next.

After gymnastics, all ready to go, but needed to put on a little (ok, make that a lot of) lip gloss.

And then I took her to McDonald’s for lunch. Her lunch pretty much consisted of sucking ketchup off French fries and sipping apple juice. Oh & about 2 tiny bites of her cheeseburger.