I've got one answer.

I got an answer from the Army - "It is most likely that your son will be coming home on ####, something, something, yara yara. . ." I have no clue what all the exceptions and disclaimers were.

But, That was the best answer I was going to get, so I have just spent lots of money I can't get back - and I'll have to hope and pray that he arrives, while we are there if not, I have just spent 2 months salary on a 3 day vacation to Nashville.

Finger crossed - I hope the rest of the answer's that come to me in life aren't as vague.

I'm not hiding. . . I promise.

I've just been programming. (I use the word Programming very loosely). Actually Kurt the Programmer (not Joe the Plummer) does the programming. And then in lots and lots of very very long emails, he attempts to teach me what I need to do to set up the Cochenille Computer to get it to do what we need it to.

I used to be proud of my intellegence and great attention to detail, but after this last two weeks, I can tell you my brain hurts, I'm not as smart as I thought I was, and I dont want to see another Hexi-decimal string of data for the rest of my life.

I hate change. And for the month of October I've been up to my ears in it.


My daughter decided to apply to Cal-State Maritime (that's in Northern CA) and Michael now has enough money to go to any University and not have to live at home. I've been sitting around waiting for these two to make University decisions for the last year, so Randy and I could figure out where we want to move to. And now it turns out that neither one of them needs us. That sucks I wasn't ready to deal with an Empty nest for at least another 2 years. At least that was the plan 8 months ago. I'm going to have to borrow some kids, they need to be between 5 and 10 years old, those were the best years.

And to top it off the flippin Army won't give me a date as to when Michael's plane will be coming in from Iraq. How the heck am I supposed to buy 2 airline tickets to Kentucky, get a rental, and find a hotel, and for how long do I need all this for??? I'll be so glad when he's out.


I'm not coping well with the lack of stability in all aspects of my life right now. I'm thinking of finding the highest mountain and going to hide there. All last year I could do Auto-Pilot - all this year - My brain hurts!!!

It takes a Village.

The old saying of "It takes a Village to raise a child" Has been true for Stephanie since she was born. I was living at home with Mom when she was born, so she called my mom "Ama" because that is what Beto, Roy and Monica called her. Then I moved to San Diego my brother Rigo was already there in his last year at SDSU, I left Stephanie with my mom for about a year. After everything was settled and I was working and in school (persuing a Fashion Degree) I moved her to San Diego. It was Randy, Stephanie and myself, and My brother Rigo, for about a year. Between the three of us, someone always had to be home.

For Stephanie her definition of Family is a large one. Even though I only had one child. She has been raised by all around her. We are trully grateful for Family.

So it is no surprise that Stephanie wants to be a traveler When she receives pictures like these from Rigo:


Amsterdam Canal:



Giza Egypt:



Gondolas:


Murano Italy:



The Netherlands:




Love you, little brother - (I'm the oldest of five - it goes. Me (Sonia), Rigo, Beto, Roy and Monica)

Why aren't you answering your phone??

I tend to keep my problems to myself, but here's my pitty party (Everyone is welcome). I've had what my Mother calls enough trials to last me 3 lifetimes, to bad I don't believe in reincarnation, or my next 2 lives would be so easy.

My husband has had problem with blood clots for a couple of years now. So on Thursday morning I come back from walking the dog, and he's awake not very usual. He sits up and tells me that his leg really hurst and that the blood clot that they had found on Saturday in the ER was getting worse. It's behind his knee so not life threatning but painful.


So at 8 AM I'm at the ER, I finally leave him there around 1 PM and come home to see if I can get some work done. There are several messages on the Cochenille voice mail, "Why aren't you answering your phone?" ok, I start taking down messages, names, and phone numbers, when my Cell phone rings.

It's my 17 year old daughter, her first words "I crashed the car, what do I do?" Well if you are ok, are you ok? Yes!! Oh Thank God!. You get out of the road, and if it looks like you can't drive the car you call the police get a report, have them call a tow truck and I'll come get you.



"Mom the oil and the Anti-Freezer are all over the floor" Well that car isn't going anywhere, call the police - then call me back, I'm on my way.



I finally got all the sorted and on my way home got home around 3:30pm and my husband calls and says "They are sending me home with a referral to a Cardio Vascual Surgeon" Ok I'll be right there to pick you up.

So I'm very sorry to all of those that called Cochenille and didn't get an answer. There was just no way I was able to answer phones yesterday. I'm back in the office now, and have gotten a hold of everyone that left a message, Thank you all for your understanding. If you didn't leave a message please call back - we are back to business hours (I hope).

That was my pitty party, Thank you all for joining me!

Edit - We just found out that the car has been totaled - in other words it will cost Farmers less to pay us blue book value that it will to fix it. So we had to drive to wonderful Idyllwild to empty out the car, and turn in keys and pink slip. Now to find a new car. That was the best car we've ever had, it gave us almost 35 miles to the gallon. Yah like I'm going to find now aday's something to replace that - cheap!




Such is life.. Carry on!

Bowers Museum - Terra Cotta Warriors

Stephanie and I had the chance to go on a field trip with Dehesa Charter School - the school she is home schooled through. We went to the Bowers Museum (www.bowers.org) where they are currently hosting the exhibition Terra Cotta Warriors: Gauardians of China's First Emperor - it will only show at 3 museums in the United States.

I dought that I will ever make it to China so the prospects of seeing a few of the Terra Cotta Warriors was very exciting to me. Stephanie on the other hand only gets excited at the mention of "a once in a lifetime opportunity", and this was exactly that. She may in her life to visit China she wants to be a traveler. I'm a really bad traveler, so China feels to be exactly what it is - the other side of the world.


It was the first time that I had ever expericienced a self guided tour with head phones and prerecorded information. I liked it, you can take your time, and look and not be constrained to a group. The down side was that the person speaking to you is not readaly available. There were plenty of Museum workers around, and if I had a question I'm sure they would have been able to answer it. I feel it's just different with a live person you get there personal feelings, and excitement coming thru in how they speak and the side notes that might come to them.



All in all I was very glad we went. Now I want to go back. They are also currently showing an exhibit on Quilts. "American Quilts, 200 years of Tradition"



And starting on Nov 15, 2008 there will be one called "Masters of Adornment: The Miao People of China"



I only work until Noon on Fridays, I think I found my Friday escapes.