Hello, and Happy Easter! I'm going to my mother-in-law's house for a barbeque after a while. My sons will be there. My ex won't be there. He'll be with his girlfriend's family (the girlfriend deserving the sympathy card! We all get along.)

Last night I was playing around with my Yahoo 360 page. I got my own radio station launched. Playlist includes Nirvana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stone Temple Pilots, AC/DC, Zep., VHalen, Hendrix. I must remember to add Smashing Pumpkins. My Yahoo ID is lagunahuna if you'd like to visit.

My son and I went to the harbor a few days ago.



As we walked to the end of the breakwater, we could see a sea lion sitting in a shallow pool by the boulders. It was really cute!



The sea lion sat there for at least 20 minutes. We were very close to her and it was like looking into the face of a dog, in a way. I felt like I could just go, "Come here" and pat my hand on my thigh, and it would come right to me.

We saw 2 crabs using sign language as we were walking, too. One of them was missing it's large claw. The other one was waving it's large claw around, as if talking in sign language!



There were plenty of sea birds. I'm not sure what kind this was; I should look it up. There was a swallow flying around among the boulders, under the piers, and along the breakwater where we were walking. They migrate into the area about this time of year and build their nests of mud against upper corners of structures, like eaves of houses, etc.



The "Lil Toot" shuttle boat went out. One of my favorite things to do it lean over the sea wall, or sit on it, and see the waves crash on the boulders.


The pale green of the sea foam (which glows at night!) is a beautiful color. I love to watch the ocean.



I like to sit on the sand at night, watching the sea foam, especially when the moon is full and moonlight is sparkling on the water. It is so awe-inspiring and things are put in perspective. Just being in natural surroundings is such a healing experience; we all need to do more of it.



A whale-watching boat went out while we were there. A 15 foot whale was cruising around inside the harbor a couple of weeks ago, a grey whale, I think.

We left because I had an eye doctor appointment. I got to test my driving skills on the way out. A delivery truck parked very close to the back of my VW, but there was enough room to back and turn then stay in reverse to round the front of the truck. It's fun to drive a VW because you can get out of insane places! The truck driver mouthed the words "I'm sorry" as I went by. I felt like thanking him for the great opportunity to boost my self-esteem. When it was time for the doctor appointment, I couldn't find my keys so I called to postpone. We found the keys in the car about an hour later.

Hope you enjoy the photos of the harbor and have a good Easter Sunday! Before Christianity celebrated resurrection, there were events or mythologies surrounding the death/sacrifice/crucifixion of Osiris, Attis, Krishna, Quetzlcoatl, and many other dieties, masculine and feminine. The word Easter is from Estre, Esther, Ostara (pagan), and notice the similarity to estres, estrogen! It's the rebirth/new life thang.

Lulublue



Peeps and Peeps

I was tagged this past weekend. I'd almost forgotten about it. So as I recall, I need to write 5 things that were said to me that I will never forget. I hope that's correct because here I go:

1. You're a smart cookie...

My mom always used to say that to me. I can hear her voice saying it in my memory.

2. For the love of Mike, can't you do anything right?

My dad was landscaping the backyard in our new house. I was about 7. I was holding a string taut so he could mark where stepping stones should go. I accidentally let go of the string as he pulled it tight.

3. Is there alcohol in this?

My older son said this, at age 3 or 4, in a Burger King, as he was holding his orange soda. We never did much drinking of alcohol around the house so I was surprised when I heard this. The place was quiet, around 11:45 a.m., and a few other moms sitting around with their kids cracked up.

4. Mommy, what was I in the other life; the one before this one?

My younger son asked me this when he was about 2-1/2. This was also out of left field because we did not talk about reincarnation around him - I thought it was too early for him to understand it.

5. You have no artistic talent whatsoever, and you may as well stop taking art classes.

My old, gray-haired art teached told me this in 9th grade. The whole class heard it. I stopped taking art classes. I love to draw and paint but hearing those words shook my fragile self-esteem enough to take the joy out of it. I thought she was right for a long time. She wasn't right. This was a big part of the reason I was very picky as far as schools for my children would go.

It's funny the way I've lived for 50 plus years hearing things people have said. When I was tagged, it was hard to come up with these things.

Blessings,

Lulublue

I am an American. My ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War for the ideals I now hold dear. I love this country but I dislike the behavior associated with being an American.

I rarely watch TV any longer because the commercials make "us" look stupid, selfish, and definitely in need of a mental health professional. Of course, we see this because the big corporate advertisers want us to feel that we don't measure up if we don't have a big screen TV, a brand new gas-guzzler, and Ipods or video games up to here.

I had noticed that Gene Simmons and his wife, Shannon, would be in a new TV show. Last night, while looking for the Dodger game, I came across Gene, Shannon, and their family show. I watched it for a few minutes and had to turn it off. The condescension and arrogance, which I would hope some writers told the Simmons family to use, were sickening. It reminded me of a time I went out with a real estate broker who treated the restaurant employees with such heartless, seething superiority that I asked him to take me home.

Before Bush was selected president by his dad's buddies, I didn't feel this strongly about American arrogance and the way "we" are portrayed. After 9-11, Katrina, and the Middle East blunders, it is no surprise that the rest of the world associates us with the behavior displayed by Bush, Cheney, and Condi Rice.

It's time for the image of the heartless, rich, selfish American to die out. There are a large number of us who are caring, giving, and have no great drive to have more of everything than anyone else. There are also many of us who have been blessed with material wealth but do not fit into the "ugly American" mold. It's time for a change and it is happening.

Instead of being perceived as self-absorbed, gluttonous malcontents, let's speak up as helpful, capable problem-solvers.