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highlights of 2020

     this is just a quick review of the year.  to see the full details, keep reading after the Highlights, including many many pictures! 

january

     ventured into a movie theater to see the quirky knives out!  had a cast party with my beloved Nutcracker family, for the last time.  watched our football team make it to the super bowl!! 

february 

     while the super bowl was in Miami, I went to the watch party at the local team stadium, and ran into a co-worker, who shared a table with me.  the food was excellent!  too bad the ending wasn't.  got involved with our theatre group, helping with the junior production's costumes for freaky friday, a musical version of one of my favorite kid movies!  also helped Janet at another of our favorite venues as a bartender and as a stage manager.  

march

     had so much fun working on freaky costumes and as a dresser during the production.  got to see each of the two cast's performances one time, and was surprised by the producer when he pulled me onstage to give me a thank you send-off - with flowers and wine - as he announced my move to AZ.  then, the pandemic hit, and I had to start working from home. 

april

     to create virtual proximity, I'm participating in - and even co-hosting - Friday karaoke happy hours with co-workers around the globe!  making light of the pandemic through our mutual love of music!  

 may

     our leadership authorized us to spend the company's money in our neighborhoods, to support local restaurants and rideshare drivers.  for Mothers Day I even got a great brunch with an adult bev to go!  otherwise, I'm enjoying cooking my own amazing meals too.    

june

     passages became more challenging.  attended a virtual retirement party for a theatre friend.  also, our favorite bartender passed suddenly after surgery.  this pandemic has made even the most ordinary activities a huge challenge.  my hair-style is maintained by getting it cut every six weeks or so.  it had been months, and my long shaggy hot hair had become unbearable, so I cut it myself!  extreme times and all ...  had virtual opportunities to attend local city council meetings, as well as staged theatre readings.  

july

     had a stealth visit with my hairdresser - back door, cash in hand - and she provided damage control over what I had done the previous month.  she said to me "you are so brave" which I think meant the Southern "bless yer heart!"  made a big pot of mole for Fourth of July and listened to my neighbors blowing up illegal fireworks for days.  started to make lists of activities that might be open in preparation for what will possibly be my least spectacular decade birthday.  more virtual theatre activities, and one attempt at virtual karaoke.    

august

     lots more virtual theatre activities, and one live in-person, albeit outdoors - brunch with two dear friends on the patio of a local eatery!  this pandemic will not deter us!!   

september

     my favorite KJ had started hosting safe, masked karaoke in his back yard, and I joined for Labor Day.  unfortunately during the visit Joyce called me to say she had had a stroke and was in the hospital!  stupid pandemic wouldn't even allow me to travel to go be with her.  luckily she recovered so my ordeal so far away was short-lived.  more work virtual events to attend, as well as virtual cooking!  

october

     a 2-week in-state quarantine prevented me from spending our birthday with Joyce.  instead I went for an outdoor venue opportunity in central California.  the drive along the coast, the stop at the "pink hotel" for lunch, and finally to my coastal inn for a short vacation to the other "wine country."  because they have to control customer volume, you have to make a reservation to get a winery tour.  my final evening I spent at the new art installation of magical lights in a field, best showcased after sundown.  I opted for the VIP package and thoroughly enjoyed this destination!  

november

     politics, ugh!  so glad this election is over!  but I did get a chance to attend a live webcast with the actual Broadway Genie!   

december

     more virtual karaoke with co-workers, but also helped to coordinate a virtual holiday party.  and we had a virtual paint and sip party too, where the organizers sent you the items you need to create the painting.  for Christmas I created a delicious vindaloo and house-made raita, and safely sheltered in my pandemic pod.  let's hope the next year is full of recovery!  

     read about the whole year in greater detail below and in the Older Posts.

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holiday blessings ... 

 

had the opportunity to co-host two karaoke sessions at work, singing holiday songs with co-workers around the globe.  music makes the heart feel light!  and, as usual I was on the planning committee for our team holiday party, and this year they made me the MC for our first ever virtual gathering.   no ugly sweaters this year, we had a festive hat contest.  we also had a comedian magician join in at the top of the event.  to wrap up, I came up with a pass the story game where we talk about a dream vacation in a "suddenly - tall tale" where everyone has to continue the story from the previous person's telling.  It was mostly hilarious, once people got in the spirit of it. 

 

the admin community had an end of year party too, where we gathered online for another wine and painting session.  here was my finished result.  

for Christmas I cooked a non-traditional meal of chicken Vindaloo with homemade raita, and store bought chutney.  dee-lish!!  I sheltered in my pandemic pod-of-one and had a quiet and safe holiday.  

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...always give thanks... 

 

 

the end of a very contentious political year finally arrived. Maybe now my post boxes will have fewer unnecessary items stuffed in them. 

 

had an opportunity to attend a live webcast hosted by a local theatre company and starring Broadway's original Genie!  he was such an inspirational extemporaneous speaker ... I thoroughly enjoyed the time he shared with us. 

 

...

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birthday month!!  the BIG 6-O  

I can't spend it with Joyce - she's still quarantining and not letting me come visit without a 2-week quarantine in AZ in advance - so I opted for a destination low in population and high in fresh air and open spaces.  and we kept in communication throughout much of the time, so it was "almost like being there" to some extent. 

Friday - Birthday-day

my first destination as I drove south on 101 was lunch at this "historic location."  not only is it overflowing with pink everything - yeah! - it has a western and rustic feel to it, which is the opposite of the urban nightmare where I live.  I wish I could have afforded the price of one of these unique rooms - ah well, maybe someday.  Joyce and I have stopped here a few times on our trips to D'Land, and I can still remember the first time we stopped here when I was almost 11.  that's what makes it "historic." 

If I had stayed on property, I definitely would have also scheduled a horseback riding session.  that's right, they have that too!  this is a statue of the late owner who was a legend in these parts.  there's even a segment of the highway named after him. 

it was a beautiful day, perfect for wandering around the property, sightseeing. 

I'm pretty sure this cow is new since the last time we were here.  I know I'm not imagining pink elephants on parade or anything like that because I didn't even finish my glass of wine at lunch! 

afterward, I continued down 101 and thru the beach traffic along the coast.  I eventually got to my less expensive hotel and unpacked.  when it was dinner time, the on-property restaurant provided fixin's enough to feed a tired and hungry cowpoke who just finished a long cattle drive!  I started off with a birthday drink, a Washington Apple, and a bowl of their famous chili, brought to the table in a dutch oven...

...then a garden salad, and to really fill me up, I got a petite sirloin and a calamari steak.  that's oven potatoes in the skillet in the back.  everything was delicious!  

luckily there was a "light" dessert option, and one of my most favorites ... root beer float!  topped with a birthday candle.  perfection! 

day two, Saturday 

I had booked a walking tour of wineries with various flight and present options.  first stop was the horserace named vineyard that has nothing to do with horses - - it's the family's name.  I had a delicious rose and a lovely - and safe - environment in which to enjoy it.  the glass and the wine in it were the items I had prepurchased. 

there was just one other couple on the patio while I was here (they are just left of this shot, so I was giving them their privacy).  

a short walk away was my next destination.  it also had a small group so there was no problem social distancing.  

I was to receive a flight of 5 tastes at this establishment.  I started with a Prosecco and ended with a Temperanillo.  all of them were delicious!!

I walked around some more but the next winery where I was to receive another flight was closed.  they posted that they were doing some specialized sanitizing.  boo.  

I thought this sign was clever:

Tonight's forecast  -  99% chance of wine

:-)

the downtown area where these winery's have their tasting rooms is just so delightful.  there was even a lovely park where families were enjoying the glorious weather. 

when I'd gotten my fill of the quaint downtown walkabout, I headed back to the beach region.  I was craving BBQ, so I did a net search for the most popular eatery that had take-out.  it was delicious!! 

Sunday

I slept in because the hotel bed was just so comfortable, and I really needed the rest.

the destination that my whole vacation was scheduled around was this light and landscape extravaganza.

I dressed in my new lovely lacy birthday dress, and drove back out to Paso Robles, over to the "winery row."  I was the first person in line; I easily passed through the temperature check and then moved on to the next queue where I waited for the opening. 

finally we were guided up to the VIP section - I paid extra because I'm worth it - and I got a perfect spot with a view down the length and breadth of the site.  

now we just waited for the sun to set.  I loved how the light stalks look like the typical dry grasses that typically grace these hillsides in late summer.

turning to my left, they had started a firepit nearby.  I loved this solitary tree standing watch as the lights slowly twinkled on. 

people queued all night long to meander through the acres of rolling illuminated hillocks.

as the sun descended the lights grew more brilliant.  

earlier in the day the temps had been in the 80s, but by sundown it had cooled down and a breeze had picked up.

finally the sun was down, darkness surrounded us, and the lights were doing their magical dance.  their colors changed and dimmed and brightened.   I left my VIP seat and meandered through the display.  I felt like Alice wandering in Wonderland! 

I got to another spot where there were benches, and I sat and watched as the colors went through their transformation.  

finally I went through the last few turns and back out again to the upper patio area.

I collected a few souvenirs and then made the drive back out of wine country and headed home to the hotel near the beach.  what a tremendous and unforgettable experience!! 

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all painted and ready for Labor Day! a friend of mine who is a karaoke jock (KJ) is now hosting SAFE sessions in his back yard, with proper health measures and social distancing.  since I haven't sung live karaoke since February, I took the chance to enjoy some "vocal therapy."  instructions were to dress in stars & stripes; since I don't have anything with actual stars and stripes, I went instead with red-white-blue clothes and nails. 

 

unfortunately, while there, Joyce texted that she was in the hospital.  she had a small stroke and spent a couple days in the hospital.  I of course was a basket-case the whole time, since I couldn't travel to be with her - "thank you" stupid virus!  luckily her prognosis is good, and should completely recover her eyesight in the one eye that was affected.  Praise The Lord!! 

 

at work, our onsite health and fitness group teams with our cafe group to create healthy meal programs; and one featured activity is a virtual cooking show, sharing prep and recipe info with us.  the season finale was a "top chef" experience where three chef employees "competed" using the same ingredients and preparing their individual meals.  it was great fun to watch, and learning some videoconferencing tips along the way! 
 
I had an opportunity through work to attend a zoom event that was a discussion with the celebrated activist Dolores Huerta. I remember as a kid honoring the grape strike led by UFW leaders Dolores and Cesar Chavez. For years we didn't buy grapes, until the workers finally won their strike. That Dolores is still an activist and that she has a foundation to help this generation with our current struggles is amazing and heartwarming. It was quite a moving hour, and I must admit I did tear up a couple times.

 

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... still sheltering, still in California...

 

had a couple more opportunities to virtually view theatre programs.  my friend James reprised his role in Looking Over The President's Shoulder which is a phenomenal one man production, in which he is a tour de force!  as part of my Disney Family Museum membership, I got to watch a webcast of Alan Menken and Lin Manuel Miranda talking about and making music magic!  that was fun!! 

 

virtually attended the annual meeting for our theatre group.  it was nice to see people in the zoom session, and I even piped up with an opinion on what I felt was an important matter.  voted in some new officers and on some bylaws updates.  

 

attended another BLM webcast called Voices for Justice: Standing for Black Lives which was filled with poetry reading, informational sessions, protest commentary and musical interludes.  it was moving, inspirational, heart-warming, maddening (at the many injustices still carried out today) and all around well worth the time spent. 

 

 ventured out one Saturday afternoon to have brunch with two of my oldest theater friends.  we all vowed that we were virus-free, and wore our masks, and had a delightful time dining on the patio of a local eatery.   

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summertime, and the livin' is ....  hmmmm.  I am still struggling to plan a 60th birthday vacation smack in the middle of a pandemic, and I'm definitely NOT succeeding.  Maybe I'm not destined to have "milestone" birthdays.  my 50th was great fun but was cut waaay short by a scrooge of a boss (I asked for a week off and she begrudgingly  gave me 2 days).  for my 40th I was struck down by a wicked flu and spent several days in bed wishing I were dead.  my 30th was spent celebrating others' more momentous birthdays - 1 and 60 - so it was fun but it wasn't "all about me"  :-D   and before that, my 21st birthday was spent moving out of an apartment I'd been living in for at least a year, possibly two, and it took most of the day.  I did celebrate with champagne with my mom, after all the moving was done, so that was fun.  

 

Joyce was talking about going to D'land, but whether it will even be open, and whether we'd want to go there if it were opened by then, is all pure speculation.  Hearst Castle is closed (as are most National Parks I guess).  I did a quick spin through the website for Madonna Inn (which is currently open) where they at least have outdoor activities that could make for a wonderful birthday - the horseback riding through beautiful countryside is definitely right up my alley!  yesterday's news headlines stated that US residents are not welcome in the EU, so a trip back there is definitely out of the question.  

 

I realize there are bigger problems in the world right now than my silly birthday, but I have waited 10 years to have a spectacular follow-up to the 21/50 birthday in Vegas that I celebrated with Joyce. 

 

fourth of July was quiet in that I stayed in and cooked a big pot of chicken mole (enough to last awhile). It wasn't quiet outside, as my neighbors had been shooting off illegal fireworks for two weeks, and spent the evening blowing up what was left. so annoying! 

 

and speaking of first world pandemic problems, I was finally able to get a haircut after at least 5 months, but not before I took scissors to my hair myself!  all my stylist could say was "you are so brave" - which I think is what Southerners mean when they say "bless yer heart!" - as she was doing damage control.  

 

I had a couple opportunities to do zoom and audio casts of theatre related programs, and even participated in virtual karaoke one night! While it was mostly fun, the host's GF was really rude to me so I doubt I'll try that virtual venue again.  

 

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springing into summer... still not able to really go anywhere, so don't really have much to share. 

 

attended a retirement party for a theatre friend via webcast, which was a lot of fun. lost a favorite bartender, who passed suddenly after surgery. gone too soon. 

 

this pandemic is causing people to do crazy things.... the craziest for me was, out of frustration after going several months without visiting my salon for regular maintenance on my typically short do, I took a pair of craft scissors to myself and whacked off 3+ inches of hot heavy (useless) hair. not bad for a non-professional! 

one thing about having virtual connections is now I'm seeing opportunities to watch/listen to our City Council meetings.  I also received an invitation to watch a staged reading in honor of Juneteenth, highlighting the struggles that people of color have that whites aren't even aware of, for the most part.  very moving, and troubling.  it was called Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project: Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids.

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still weathering the sheltering.... doing my own cooking is great - I am a good cook - but our "fearless leader" at work authorized us to spend a goodly sum on take-out/delivery to support local restaurants (and rideshare drivers) who are struggling in these difficult times.  I found it easy to comply, and had barbeque one time, carne asada another time, and treated myself to brunch on mothers day. I like that some restaurants have alcoholic beverages to go! 

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staying positive while staying "negative."   at work, as one of our proximity/apart activities, we are now holding friday happy hours with karaoke webcasts!  I am so all over that activity.  the host who leads it even asked me to co-host one time since he was going to arrive late from another meeting.  it's fun to see coworkers from other sites and countries. and we all love music! 

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spring ... fever?  continued with my costume/dresser work backstage for freaky friday. there were enough parent volunteers that I only needed to be there half the performances, so I got to watch two performances, one of each cast. Steve the producer even surprised me before one performance, during the curtain speech, and thanked me (with flowers, wine and presents too) for all my years of service, and announcing my departure for AZ.  I will SO miss my theatre family.  

 
the pandemic finally hit hard in the bay area. at work we have been ordered to work from home until further notice.  too bad - - I'm not really set up to work eight hours a day five days a week.  I like having air conditioning and a cafeteria!  oh well, this too shall pass. better safe than sorry. 

 

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Leap year month ... what will an extra day bring...... "invested" in the watch party for Our Team who is playing in the Super Bowl this year!! ran into one of the guys who does phone tech work at my work as I was standing in line waiting for entry. we had such a good time talking that we decided to hang together for the whole watch party.  if only our team could have won.  we had such a tremendous lead! 

waiting in line to gain entry.

the game was in Miami, so there was a definite theme going on here! 

the food, especially the desserts, was the best!  

 

ramped up costume construction for freaky friday which opened in the second half of the month.

to help Janet out, when she double-booked her calendar, I was her stand-in/body-double :-D  first she needed me to set up the opening night party foods at our favorite theatre. (The show was the 39 steps, which was hilarious, what I saw of it!) usually I'm on the other side of the bar, but after my new years bartending gig, I had this down.  then I spent a day as stage manager for secret garden, which was rehearsing at a church a mile away from my home. convenient, and so fun, since I LOVE secret garden! 

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looking forward to a new year, and the lead-up to my 60th birthday!

 

treated myself to a movie - - it's been awhile since I was last in a movie theatre - - and saw knives out, which has an all-star cast and a quirky premise.  it was hilarious - so glad I went. at the end of the month the cast of nutcracker gathered for our cast party/viewing party.  one final time that I get to gather with these precious people.  I know I'll miss them! 

 

watched our favorite football team go all the way through the play-offs and make it into the super bowl!  Yeah!!