Another pair of sandals!

As if I thought summer would last forever, I purchased yet another pair of Navajo sandals. These are Jack Rogers. They are just so incredibly comfortable. I was getting impatient waiting for my Bonanno monograms, so I bought these lovely handmade leather sandals in bronze and silver:



There is quite a rivalry between Bonanno, Rogers and Solario. I like them all equally.

My Latest Purchase - Stephen Bonanno Sandals

Yes, I did it, I retired my old pair of Stephen Bonanno sandals and ordered a pair of sandals in the Emma style, which will have my monogram. I ordered Black with Winter Camel whip-stitch. I hope I get them before summer disappears here in Washington. This is the Emma style:

It was only about 70 today, too cool to ride the Vespa.

Butch Hancock & Jimmie Dale Gilmore

One thing I really miss about Texas is a great music. Here is a favorite of mine,
Jimmie Dale Gilmore along with Butch Hancock (both of Austin, Texas)

I took a raft trip hosted by Far Flung Adventures a few years back and Butch Hancock was the oarsman on my raft. Here is a photo of me getting soaked - Butch Hancock is the guy with a hand one one of the oars:

Trip to Los Angeles

Took a trip with my husband to visit my youngest step-daughter and her sweet daughter, Sydney. Here are some photos from the trip:

Hooray for Hollywood!

Where else can you see Superman strolling down the street?

Of course I had to shop a bit. Bought a cute Hermès scarf!

After some serious shopping, Sydney took a gelato break with Grandpa.

At the Pier at Santa Monica for some super-fun rides and excellent people-watching.

The best set of shoulders in Santa Monica!

Back in Simi Valley, after a very long day.

It's been a very long time....

Since I posted on this blog. I've been busy. Working, taking care of my husband and mother. I get up at 4:15 and rarely get to bed before 11:00pm. I have the one hour commute, work until 3:00, one-hour commute back home. Two hours at Bally's Gym, a quick stop by the grocery store, then home. Clean up after the dog and the husband(who works nights), cook some food for him. I usually have leftovers or a bowl of cereal, mess around on the computer then bed. Then I do it again.

So blogging isn't on the top of my list. I will try to do better in 2008. Really.

Visit with my 76 year old mother

My husband and I recently traveled to Texas to visit my mom. I made a couple of videos of her. She is somthing else!I love her so much, but her love of smoking has dominated her life for so long. I feel like it is killing her.

Here is a photo of my mother. She is 77 years old.

I love my job

I love my job. I really like the folks I work with.

I left the U.S. Attorney’s Office to take my mother home to Texas, as she said “…I want to go home to die…” this was two years ago.

I worked briefly with the Department of Labor in Dallas, as an administrative legal assistant. I absolutely disliked the commute, the building and the “work”…what a waste of my time. I suppose I should be thankful they afforded me the opportunity for a job and to continue my federal career, but it was just awful.

I returned to Washington to marry my husband, leaving my mother and son in Texas. I bear quite a bit of guilt about that, but one must live one’s own life. I applied for and was selected for the job I currently hold at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

I work for eight attorneys. I say work, but I mainly do the payroll, purchase a variety of office-related items and services, monitor a million and a half dollar budget, scan documents, organize files, make coffee, take care of the mail, etc. Compared to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the job is relatively stress-free and pleasant. I wonder how I survived with the USAO for almost 18 years, dealing with high-strung, sometimes mean and nasty prosecutors and equally hateful support staffers. I can’t see myself returning to such a toxic environment.

I have a one-hour commute each way, but I take a van pool and can sleep or cat-nap the entire way. So it isn’t so bad. I’ve been here almost a year, and still enjoy coming in each day and feeling comfortable with my surroundings.