CHRISTMAS

I had a wonderful visit with Laurie and Lou Mutalipassi in Westminster.  While there I went to my old book club's Christmas party and a party with old work buddies before going to visit my son for a few days.  His girlfriend, Renee, is a sweetheart.  She is a model for Bebe and took us to her proposed photo shoot at a boxing gym in Santa Monica, where I met Rashid, who plans to be the next Welterweight Champion of the World.  She is also best friends with Barry Zito's wife, so we went to their house in the Hollywood Hills.  He is a SF Giants pitcher and recently helped them win the World Series.  Best view in LA.  We also visited the Holocaust Museum.   I had Christmas with my family in Santa Monica, then a Boxing Day party with Wendy Chavis and her family.  Then Anne Grittman and I went to an exhibit on movie costumes at the Bowers Musem.

A Book Club Christmas--Rosemary, Jennifer, Lisa, Tara, Emmy, Karen, Eve.  Front row Laurie, Susan, Cheryl, Sandra, and me

A Pacificare Christmas (forget UNH)--Anne, Kathy, Dellamarie, Anne, Karen, Maryann, Donna, and me

With Cathy Giardina

Matt and Renee at Toast Bakery

Me and Matt at Toast Bakery.  Magic Johnson came in for takeout

Matt at Holocaust Museum

Barry Zito and the best view in LA

With Rashad Holloway in his gym

Boxing Day party with Anne Grittman and Wendy Chavis

SAN FRANCISCO AND MT SHASTA

I flew to San Francisco after Thanksgiving and was met at the airport by cousins Ann and Don,who I had not seen in many years.  I had a wonderful time, mostly eating and drinking and walking the dog.  We went to the Cakebread winery in Calistoga before going to a Christmas party at their friend's house.  Then a harrowing nighttime drive to Mt Shasta, where we relaxed and ate and drank and walked the dog some more.  We went a couple of times to feed some horses they have adopted near Weed.  We went walking near Yreka to collect mistletoe and acorns for holiday decorations.  On the way back to the Bay Area we stopped in Chico, my old home for ten years, and toured the Sierra Nevada brewery before having lunch at Italian Cottage, where I used to love to go for breakfast.  Sorry, Chico friends.  We were only in town a few hours and I wasn't in charge, so I didn't get to see you.  Next time.  I have to say the brewery tour was amazing though.  They just started when we moved to Chico in 1980 and now they are the third largest brewery in the country.  Way to go, Sierra Nevada!

It was cold in Mt Shasta and cold in San Francisco.  I am ready for something above the 40's.

Marin Civic Center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Christmas party in Calistoga

Feeding the horses near Yreka

Mount Shasta

Collecting mistletoe and acorns

Sierra Nevada Brewery tour

Italian Cottage, a favorite Chico hangout

Richmond Bay Bridge

Solene found a new friend