TRAVELS WITH MATTIE

First day back, and we're already making new friends. The Santa Ynez River welcoming party. Must be spring on Paradise Road! It was a big day today - my first day back teaching since January, meetings and emails, grocery shopping, and generally trying to get back into the swing of things. It's pouring rain on the cabin skylights. God, it's beautiful here. Come visit us at the Laughing Place! Love, Allison and Mattie Dog (and Turtly Primero)

Mattie and I are about to take off for the cabin (ready for a long night of lecture prep and cleaning spiderwebs).  I just had to post this - a card that Sid made for my dad when he was coming home from Stanford. I think it's about the best card ever made.  FRONT:  When she was drawing this, she said "Grandpa always wears striped shirts." True.   INSIDE:  "Dear grandpa, I hope that you won't be sick any more. Because you shouldnt be stuck in the hospital all day. You should be having fun. I love you. Sincerely, Sidney" Love, Allison & Mattie the Southbound Dog

Hey! A great Saturday today, just made better by the sound of rain falling as I lay here in bed thinking about microbiology.  Dylan and Jessie are here. So: we saw a lot of new jade pieces (including silver jade), Yeti grafted her own apple tree, then we all watched Caddyshack, ate a delicious dinner that Yeti and Jessie made, chowed down on brownies, and tried to scare each other in the dark as everyone was getting in bed (including creepy Jessie, who won...by making a terrible squeal like a dying animal in the dark, and crawling on her hands and knees out of the room...).  Important news: Dad walked a total of 3 miles today! By far his biggest day of walking yet, including 2 miles straight to return a cell phone he found on the side of the road. He definitely has karma reserves. Now for something totally unrelated and unimportant!: This picture (from a not-so-recent Half Moon Bay weekend adventure with the puppies) just makes me so happy I had to post it som...

It's a beautiful SPRING!  The most important thing:  Dad is home, and is awesome.  He came back several weeks ago and has been busy recovering (lots of cardiac rehab, playing electric guitars, walking, buying outrageously priced old coins on ebay, taking some adventures out to the ocean, and watching movies with the Yeti). He continues to get better, see better, walk further, have more energy, and it's been the best thing ever to be able to hang out with him and watch his amazing progress. Spending time with him since I've been staying back at home in SLO always reminds me just how lucky I am to have all of these extra days with Dad.  He has inspired some of us (me, Yeti, Greg, Scott, and Laura - and anyone else who wants to join!) to get back in shape, so we're starting to train for a possible half marathon at the end of June. Nothing gets me out the door and running like my Dad saying "I wish I could go running today..." It really makes ...