Catching Up!

Hello out there... It's been so long since I've written because I either couldn't think of anything to write that sounded interesting, I'd gotten kind of tired of reeling off a list of all the places we've visited lately or I've been completely busy since I started back to work! But anyway, I have to say that I really like the idea of blogging in general and love reading YOUR blog, so I do want to continue to do it. I realize that blogging seems to be rather sluggish and outmoded compared to My Space, which I just don't feel up to, but there is still a place for blogging, I'm sure! For example, I'm encouraged to continue when I see that Uncle Marchy has just joined up, and I dearly love all the family blogs, making me feel connected to everyone! Being long-distance grandparents makes us LOVE any and all pictures and movies of our little darlings! And soon we'll be dandling them on our knees... a week from today... and we're counting the hours! (Figuratively) [I'm not at all sure how Madeline and Abigail are going to like being "dandled." Sam either, for that matter! But I believe Garrett will go for it!]

For what I've been up to, there's been some bike riding happening on the strand in Redondo and on the new trail through Whittier (the 3 bridges over 5 Points are now open). We planted blue and yellow flowers in both the front and back yards, representing our allegiance to the UCLA Bruins as we enter the football season. We've been going to Mom C's or Tom & Mary's house to watch the games, since our TV is now DVD only, so this has been and will be fun.

I started back to work in mid-August and it's been pretty much a non-stop whirlwind! We have a new director in our department who loves change... and that's good because we are gearing up for lots of new things. We're adding students, adding a Master's program and getting a new building (together with all the sciences) in probably three years, though plans are already under way. We've been cleaning junk out and generally sprucing up the office and everyone has changes to make to their coursework, many of which end up on my desk! But... we're all keeping our noses above water and I think things may begin to calm down a bit very soon. Or at least I hope they will!

Almost my whole 6 week summer break I spent working on the next phase of Erin's/our website. Our next step is to create a magazine which will contain recipes, articles and encouraging information of various descriptions. Erin will pretty much do the writing and I'll pretty much be in charge of the recipes. We plan to have it come out once a month, containing at least 20 recipes per issue, plus articles, and sell it as an ebook from the website. It took so much time this summer just to gather information about how we CAN'T do it, then narrow it down to what will actually work! I've also been reworking and typing in tons of recipes, then cooking and photographing them! Our goal is that we won't even start to publish them until we have a whole year of magazines ready... thus keeping us from having heart attacks! The picture of the airplane landing came about when we went over to the In-N-Out near LAX to do an article on fun side-trips and what to eat when there. It was great to highlight the protein style burger and watch the planes land!

One big encouraging blessing that happened this summer was that Abigail, our next-door niece-by-marriage agreed to make and photograph recipes for me in exchange for the necessary groceries. She has supplied me with a steady supply of excellent pictures and it makes me feel like we're going to make it! The food pictures above are some she's taken.

I mean, we don't HAVE to do this whole magazine thing, and it's my HOBBY, just like David has GOLF, but still, I think it's worthwhile and I really want to do it! You should see the letters people write in! Some would break your heart and others would make your eyes start to water with happiness! (You know me....)

Well anyway, thanks for reading! Next stop, Texas! (I'm glad hurricane Ike will have passed by then!!) Hope your fall feels just like it should!