I have weird kids...

 

Hey everyone...

 

Its Sunday... I love being home for Sunday NFL Football...  As you can tell we are back from the Arizona 'Road Trip'... I wish I had a movie camera to video tape my kids [I have one but I do not know how to hook up to my computer and then put on YOUTUBE]

I am not kidding when I say they need their own show on MTV...

 

[My friend's daughter... who was here for a few days... said she would watch it for sure!]

 

Dinner table conversations and Road Trips would make highlight film!

 

We are driving the 4 hours to Arizona on Friday and I had bought this 0 calorie, berry water, something or other.... It looked like slightly flavored water... it tasted like artificial sweetener on drugs!

It was bad... anyway... 

I asked Sam to try it...  he didn't like it...

I asked Kieffer to try it... Ick... he didn't like it either...

 

2 hours later Kameron woke up from the back and I said...

 

"Kameron, try this drink... tell me what you think..."

 

and he says dead serious...

 

"The last time someone said that to me... I woke up on a floor in Mexico

with a kidney missing..."

 

I blinked... "What did you just say?"

 

Kieffer chimes in... also dead serious  

 

"he said the last time someone said that to him, he woke up on a floor in Mexico with a kidney missing"

 

and they both look at me like I am the weird one...

 

Where do they come up with that stuff?

and when do they practice?

Uh oh where did my mountains go?

This is the same photo I took the other day... see any mountains?  Nope they are all gone...

This is the very end of my street - behind this house is the San Gorgonio Mountain range with a tram to the top... every year they light a huge Christmas tree at the top... and they hold a contest every year - what date will it snow... if you pick the right date you get free tickets to ride the tram to the top...

but you can't see it today...

I am heading to Arizona now... be back Saturday...

You all come back now hear!

I spoke too soon...

 

Sam and I just returned from the movies...

"We Own the Night"

save your money... I give it 2 stars - Sam gave it 2 1/2...

Anyway, before we left it was eerie around here... the smoke from the fires is billowing over the mountain tops now that the Santa Ana winds are over...

I live in a valley surrounded by mountains and I can not see any of them! The full moon was blood red when we came out of the movies... I tried to capture it but it was too dark!

The San Diego smoke is coming over the south mountains and the Arrowhead smoke is coming in through pass where the windmills farms are... Ahhh phooey...

See the mountains? I can't see them anymore!

 

 

Yesterday Sam and I went to Newport as you know... a few miles down the freeway we could see the smoke hanging in the air.

 

40 minutes later we stopped at Home Depot in Moreno Valley the smell of fire was STRONG!  We bought a sink for Redondo, plumbing fixtures, and stain for the front door of Newport [red mahogany or cherry walnut we have decided]

 

The we headed over to Farmer Boys for some breakfast... where we received some bad news - Redondo was RED TAGGED

[stop all work immediately]

 

SHIT SHIT SHIT a Red tag alone is $250

 

Two doors down from Redondo a brand new 3 story home is being built and when the roof inspector saw our guys working on our old deck he sent a code enforcer over...

 

I guess the lady was a total bitch...  Our Forman kept telling her... we do not need a permit to replace old boards on a deck... we did not BUILD a NEW deck...  She says yes you do... and you need one for a new kitchen... we said No you don't if you are replacing the OLD CABINETS!

 

Then she goes and waits for our guys to leave!  When our Forman doesn't leave she goes back and tells him to!  He said "I live here, I am NOT leaving!" [he does live there during the week while working on the house] 

So she storms off in a huff...

 

SHIT SHIT

 

Anyway... I hate the permit game... its a racket!   [all the city is doing is generating fees... its bullshit... permits are fine when you are doing MAJOR work... but for what we are doing... its bullshit!]

 

The worst cityfor permits is Palm springs, Ca... that is why Sonny Bono became mayor... he was so sick of dealing with the city for changes to his restaurant in town... he ran for Mayor... and won!

 

Anyway...  after our foreman went down to the city and explained to them what we were doing... made drawings for them... they approved our work...

AFTER paying the city $400 in fees... $250 for the red tag, $116 for an investigative fee... etc.. etc...  Ooooo that makes me SO DAMN ANGRY!

 

Not to mention paying our foreman his pay to do it...

 

Back to my story... 

 

 we left Newport and drove to the City of Orange [by the orange county fire] it was raining ash from the sky there... the trees were all knocked over from the severe winds they had too...

 

Usually we have to be on the freeway back home by 1:00 pm or we will sit in bumper to bumper traffic for 5 hours to get home... Not yesterday... traffic was so light!  we left at 2:30 and breezed home no problem.

 

One last thing I would like to say about these fires here... I dont know what you all are hearing about them but things are going really well with it... I talked to Sam's cousin Pam who's daughter has been evacuated because of the Fallbrook fire... they say everything is going so smoothly... they have a channel on the local TV just for updates, the reverse 911 calls saved a lot of lives, they had a town meeting and over 3500 people showed up... she said it was very informative...  she was so impressed...

I guess at one point... at Qualcomm stadium there were more EMT's and DR's than evacuees!

So my question is this... why are people reporting things are not being handled?  I don't get it?  Yes, the water dropping planes couldn't go up but it was because of wind...

 

I personally saw a huge line of fire trucks leaving the OC fire and heading up to the Arrowhead one...

 

I dont get it...  why all the negativity in the media?  why dont they report the positive?

 

So... thats all I have to say about that!

 

Oh ya... I won't be around for the next 2 days... our races for the weekend have been cancelled due to smoke and we have a National in Arizona Nov 2 to Nov 12...

 

So we are going to the track in Arizona to practice for the National... we leave at 12pm Friday... and come home Saturday after they practice... [I have to be home for Football on Sunday!!!]  The track is only 3 1/2 hours away...

 

and thats all I have to say about that ;)

My pics from today

Story to follow

Fire Zone

Going to Newport today... don't know if Ill see any fire damage...

Taking camera... let you know... check back later

The Arrowhead / San Bernadino Fire from the end of my street

 

Look... not a cloud in the sky over my house -Kameron is washing bikes

Below are some pics from newport beach house - Kameron made the gate in front and all the wall sconces - see it hanging next to him

That was Kameron welding btw

The travertine floor in the kitchen and throughout the house - except bedrooms!

Landscape is in!!! Outside of house

 

 

update

Goodmorning... its Tuesday and my friend's daughter is still here... because she is 12 she can not fly on anything but a direct flight back home... nothing is a direct flight back east from Palm Springs... you have lay overs in Vegas or Pheonix or LA...

There is another friend of the family who is suppose to pick her up [so she can fly out of San Diego] but the fires are preventing them from getting here because the 15 freeway is closed and to top that all off... they are having voluntary evacuations where they live...

I have been telling all of you how dry it has been here... how brown it is everywhere... this place has been a fire waiting to happen for a year now...

The weird thing is... everything is so calm here... you'd never know fires are raging everywhere else! We have had NO wind... No Santa Anas... last week it was blowing like crazy here... toppled over one of my tall cactus' in the backyard!

Anyway... I need to jump in the shower... hope your having a good day...

Strangers in the night...

Yesterday - while watching football I got a phone call from a J-land Mom who asked me to pick up her young pre teen daughter - I won't get into the personal stuff...

so I drove an hour away to get her and on the way - my cell phone was ringing off the hook with her as a worried Mom... [understandable]

but the reason I am writing this entry is because I have talked to her many many times on the phone etc... I considered her my friend, just like I consider all of you my friends... so when she kept mentioning...

"It was hard to call a 'stranger' to get your daughter" I felt that was SO weird to me... I have not met most of you face to face... but you are my very closest friends and I wouldn't hesitate to call any of you for the same thing...

So, I am asking you... do you feel we are strangers?  If you lived on the other coast and needed me to watch one of your children for a couple of days...  would you call me? would you feel we are strangers?

 

Football, Beer and Beach Houses in Malibu

 

 

We are not racing today... woo hoo... I get to watch football ALL day... where is my Bark-a-lounger chair, where is my beer... burp...

 

Ya right... can you imagine that...

 

More like where is my washing machine, where is my dryer, where is my dishwasher and mop... Grrrr...

 

Anyway I am happy to be home on a Sunday!  Next week I will be gone racing all weekend and then the following week... gone for 10 days to a National race in Arizona... which will be crowded with dumb NASCAR fans...

They follow us MX racers around the country... happens in Vegas every year too... they like to ride on our coat tails ya know... huh Phil... oh wait I am not speaking to you I forgot... [USC vs ND game thing we have going]

 

Every year in this house we all pick a football team we think is going to the Superbowl...  because Los Angeles doesn't have a football team - we cheer for whoever we want ;)

Sam picked the Patriots [looks like he might win... maybe... if they can beat my Colts]

My other team I almost went with was the Cowboys... so I have been cheering them on too... I will NEVER cheer for the RAIDERS...

Kameron - went with the San Diego Chargers

Kieffer - picked the Rams - he is loyal to them - why? I have no idea

Kris picked the 49'rs

Candice picked the Cowboys because I told her too and she didn't really care anyway...

Collin is busy with school and he didn't play...  we will get to see Collin when we go to Arizona Nov 2- 12

 

On to baseball - I am cheering for the Boston Red Socks

[sorry New Yorkers and Lisa Jo]

but we had so much fun with the BRS fans at Fat Face Fenners last week in Hermosa Beach... I just have to...

 

Have you seen the fires raging in Malibu? Wow... 

I can NOT begin to imagine what losing everything you own must feel like...

Mortgage payments on a home that is no longer there... 

So sad...

 

Whenever the kids ask for something they are not going to get the conversation goes something like this...

 

"Kameron, what do you want for your birthday?"

"have you seen the new Range Rovers... I want one of those"

"I want a beach house in Malibu but that is not going to happen either"

or last week when we were visiting Sam's father he keep asking

 

"Can I get you anything to drink or eat"

"No Dad, thank you"

"Are you sure you don't want anything?"

"I want a beach house in Malibu..."

that made Grampa laugh

 

 

Anyway... Hope everyone is having a good weekend .... 

Go Colts and Cowboys...  and UCLA next week against the University of Spoiled Children [ USC]

WTH? kind of day...

Wow ... what a strange day... 

 

We arrive at Glen Helen raceway and the boys go sign up for their races...

 

Practice starts and Kameron heads out there...  Sam walks over to the track and watches as he always does... I grab my book, kick back in my chair with a full view of the track...

 

Kieffer takes off for practice too...

 

[the first practice of the day is an OPEN practice - meaning if you believe you can hang with the Pros, Intermediates, and Vets... well then, go for it]

 

Kieffer is gone about 4 minutes and he comes back shaking his head...

I think - Uh Oh something is wrong with his bike-

Me - "What's up Kieff?"

Kieffer -"Number 97 rides up to me and says "Why did you try to take out my Dad, I'm gonna kick your ass" and I said "I dont know what the Hell your talking about!" and then they flagged the open practice..."

Me - "HUH? Where did this happen?"

"ON THE TRACK" he yells at me - like its the stupidest question he has ever heard... I quickly realize he is really upset about it... and quit asking questions... he walks over to talk to Sam...

 

Meanwhile - Kameron is practicing in his Intermediate practice - and I guess he goes into a corner with 2 other guys - Kameron backed off his speed but I guess he tapped handlebars with a guy and then this guy yells something at Kameron and throws up his arm at him like "What the Hell?"

[Nobody went down - nobody was 'TAKEN OUT'- being taken out usually means you go down in a dirty move  - tapping handlebars in an Int or Pro class is NOTHING! Nothing to be raising your hands and yelling at another racer for!]  Kameron is NOT a dirty racer...

 

but he also doesn't like cocky talkers...

 

I believe it has to do with being jumped by 6 guys 9th grade summer...

 

I guess I better tell that story before I go on with today...

Kameron and this other boy in the neighborhood had a beef going over Kameron's girlfriend... this other kid would call up Kameron saying all kind of stuff to him - So Kameron says "Why dont you come over here and say it to my face!"  So the kid does but with 6 other kids who then proceed to jump Kameron in our front yard - Kris runs in the house screaming about what is going on outside - We run out there just in time to see - 3 running off and then the other 3 - Kameron had a lovely black eye, and a huge lump on his head from hitting his head on Sam's truck! [the dent is still there on the truck] 

I wanted to call the police... but Sam said no.. we'll handle this...

 

Sam walked him down to the place all the kids were at and said "Addison you want a piece of Kameron? You do it fair and square, one on one, like a man"

 

and Kameron beat the crap out of him....

I was a wreck...  Kameron had to show up to football weight training the next day with a black eye! I thought that was terrible but Sam said "Kendra... that black eye will keep guys from wanting to mess with him in high school because they know he is not afraid to fight - trust me - its a guy thing- its a respect thing"

 

I call it a 'penis thing' because I will NEVER understand it myself... but Sam was right...

 

 

So anyway... back to today... the guy throws his hands up and yells something to Kameron... so Kameron slows down like "What?" the guy is all pissed but Kameron just shakes his head and continues to ride...  Then I guess the Dad pulls over and talks to his son - who I guess then goes after Kieffer... thinking its Kameron...

I guess when Kieff gets off the track - the Dad pulls up to Kameron and says "Oh! your just a kid... I should send my kid after you then!" so Kameron says "O ya? what's his name? what is his number?" then the Dad says "Nevermind" and Kameron rides off... well he does send his kid after Kameron... who gets the better of the kid on the track - won't let him pass - etc...

We were thinking WTH? Trying to piece all of this stuff together...

After the practices were over.... one of the officials comes over and asks if we raced there 2 weeks ago when so and so was taken out in a turn... No!!! Remember I had a bad feeling and we didnt race that day...  Anyway, after all was said and done the official said "If there are any more problems with 97 and his Dad, I will disqualify them from the race... you all are obviously not at fault and they shouldn't be mouthing off"

 

Long story short... case of mistaken identity... but what a bunch of bullshit! 

 

Must be a PENIS thing...

 

Sam and Kendra's excellent adventure ;)

 

 

Sam and I are back from the beach...

Whew.. we had an adventure... 

You know what... 

I have the best time with him...

I would follow that man anywhere! 

 

We took off yesterday morning, went to the Newport house and made a final to do list. Then we headed to Redondo and walked it with some subcontractors... I should have taken a picture of the new kitchen there... Wow, so beautiful... I am SO DAMN JEALOUS.. I NEVER GET TO LIVE IN THE REMODELED HOUSE! We move and then remodel it... Grrrrrrrr.....

Anyway... then Sam and I checked into the Sea Sprite Motel [on the beach at Hermosa Beach] we got the best room because the guy who made the reservations with me was so fun the night before!  The conversation went like this...

"Sea Sprite Motel"

"Do you have any openings?"

"Any openings?" he laughs "Like for a cocktail waitress?"

then I laughed

"OK, I had a blonde moment... Do have any rooms available for the 16th"

"Yes, I do...  name on the reservation?"

"Samuel"

"As in Samantha"

"No, as in Samuel, my husband"

"Uh... now I had a blonde moment"

 

We went back and forth... it was a lot of fun... I like people who are like that!

 

So anyway... we checked in and then rented beach cruiser bikes for the strand and rode to a favorite place...

Sam says to the owner "We would like a table with a good view"  [which was a joke] the guy looks at me and says "Looks like you have a good view already"  so I wagged my finger at him  "You... are my new best friend" and he laughed...

 

Wow... I was having a good day...!! I am in the best mood by now!  So Sam and I had a Corona and some appetizers... then we left and turned in the beach cruisers... we walked back to our hotel and read the local papers [trying to figure out how much rent to charge for the newly remodeled Redondo property b/c the last tenants were there for 8 years and we never raised the rent] about 8pm we walked back down to the pier area and decided to have drinks at a place called FAT FACE FENNERS - the local Irish saloon...

Well, wouldn't you know it...the place is busy with Boston Red Sock Fans... but they are NOT happy with the score 0-7 in the 5th inning... 

 

Sam finds a table and I went to the rest room... I decided to play with him when I got back...

 

"Hi... handsome... Is this seat taken...?"

"No not at all, have a seat!"

"Wow, thanks..."

"Can I buy you a drink?"

"Sure!"

 

[As you can tell he started playing right back...]

 

"Are you married?" I ask

"Yes I am"

"O...hmmmm... Your so handsome... is she pretty?"

"Yes, she's pretty.... pretty far away..."

I laughed

"Oh good!" and I snuggledup next to him...

 

[When Candice reads this she will say

"I swear Mom, your paying for my therapy"]

 

Anyway... we had a great time... walked back to the motel after a GREAT dinner and drinks at FFFF....

 

Today we went to visit Grampa and pick up some trailer side panels to fix our trailer...

 

I had so much fun with Sam... even if I had a slight hangover today! 

Plastic People - warning kieff's arm story

 

Where shall I begin... Hmmmm.... woke up this morning and went to workout with the boys [Kam and Kieff] ...

 

My trainer says "Did you get my message I left last night?" 

 

"No?" 

 

 "I can't work with you until 9:45am today"

 

"I can't do it because of Kieffer's Dr. appt... I have to leave at 10am"

 

Jeepers!  He is getting flaky since his wife left him... 

 

So, I walked on the treadmill and then on the bicycle for a while...

 

At 10 we left, changed and then Kieffer and I drove to Indio for his Dr. appt... [20 minutes away] Dr. McLennan is a really good Dr....

 

[he fixed Kieffers broken leg and has tried everything to help with his osteomyalits in his left shoulder]

 

Wait I have to tell you about the ad I wanted to run in the football program last year but Kieff wouldn't let me...

 

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Kieffer joined him when tackled this fall

All the Kings horses, and Dr McLennan

used a rod and 3 screws...He's back together again     

 

I thought it was funny... Kieffer did not...

 

So... ANYWAY...

 

Kieffer's arm has been leaking for 4 years now... UGH!  We have done everything as you all know... 

 

So...  

 

 Kieffer will be having surgery the week after Thanksgiving...

 

The Dr. says... "He will need to do another MRI and I will consult with the plastic people"

 

my mind went to 'weebles wobble but they dont fall down'

dont ask me why... Im strange... 

 

but I also think he is strange to call the Plastic Surgeons - Plastic People -

 

Don't you?

 

 

Note for Mary...

 [THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP with that medical bill!!!  Im leaving town again - Newport and Redondo- then Ill send the paperwork]

 

Kieffer's arm today below - WARNING

 

 

You be the judge...

Sam and I went to the Lake and packed everything up this week,,, We left on Tuesday and came home yesterday... The weather was PERFECT, 95 degrees no wind, the lake was glass... I LOVE that, feels like riding through soft butter...

The Winter people are starting to come... There are two types of people at the Lake -

 

The Winter people and the Summer people -

 

Summer people come in April and leave around September 

The Winter people come in October and leave around March...

 

Summer people are mostly families, or young adults... we have fast boats, lots of toys, [wakeboards, jet skis, etc...] and like to wallow in the water in the high summer heat...

 

Winter people are snowbirds from cold climates - usually 60 to 80 years old they like to bring their pontoon/fishing boats, have each other over for  cocktails at 4pm daily and try to out do each other with decorations outside their trailer site...

 

As you can tell we are polar opposites... The park begins to change for the Winter people also... The arcade games are hauled away from the rec room to make way for the bingo and crafts... and while we were there they resurfaced the concrete with new blacktop...  that delayed us a day because we couldn't drive the boat out of the dry dock area...

 

Guess which people keep the park up and running... who do they make the most money on.... The Summer people... we spend the most money... I guess because the Winter people are on fixed incomes...

 

anyway...

 

The whole point of this story is...

 

The Winter people have a whole different set of rules on the Lake as well...

 

Let me ask you a question... was this rude or am I wrong... you be the judge...

 

Sam and I are on the Lake enjoying the beautiful sunny weather... We drive up to the island and look around at some other parks to move to in the future [Ill get into that later]... 

 

Its Wednesday... hardly anyone on the Lake except for the World Jet Ski Championships being set up 4 miles away...

 

A few Bass boats around practicing for an upcoming tournament....

 

Sam and I find a perfect little beach, behind a little mountain point... very nice, very secluded...  I am wearing my ittsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny, only for my honey bikini... I am laying on the swimboard on the back of the boat and my honey is putting sunscreen on my back when all of a sudden a bass fisherman starts fishing by us...

 

[if this was a Summer person they would see us and think "Oh this cove is taken" and drive off...]

 

not this guy... he decides to fish our entire cove... he gets within 30 feet of our boat and fishes away... I swear to you he was there a good 20 minutes... I was getting really irritated!

 

Sam thought it was funny...

 

Ok... you be the judge... was that rude or not?

Sunday cont...

Alarm went off at 5:15am this morning to go to a CMC race at
Starwest MX park... I made coffee and jumped in the shower...

I couldn't shake this bad feeling tho... Something inside me was screaming "Don't go racing today"... that has only happened one other time...

When Kieffer broke his arm and leg almost 4 years ago... I begged Sam not to race that day...

"I have a bad feeling"

"You always have a bad feeling"

"Maybe, but I have NEVER asked you NOT to race"

and off they went ignoring my feeling...

Well today I said "I have a bad feeling... we shouldn't race today"

and they listened to me...  Thankfully...

So we went back to bed... Ahhhhh....

After I woke up, I ran to my grocery store Albertsons...  I know that store like the back of my hand... I know where everything is in it... I know most of the employees too... The bakers, deli, and produce people always helped me out when I fed the football team for 5 years...  The GM always ran an ad in the football program too...

They are closing in November... I can't believe it... I am SO bummed...

Guess what is moving in? 

A Carneceria...

[A Mexican market]

I am telling you my neighborhood is going to hell!

Palm Springs is 2 hours from the border of Mexico...

 Let me tell you something... the border is moving North faster than anyone is letting on... and not in a GOOD way either... UGH...

I would LOVE to move out of here...

Sam says 2-3 years...

We'll see :)

 

Zippity Do Dah, Zippity A,

Update on Friday: Kieffer passed his behind the wheel driving test! Kameron had his ticket reduced but not throw out - because he did not stop for the turn... [it was 12am and nobody was around but that is no excuse... so he gets to fork over $230 instead of $380... hope that is a lesson learned! He has until November to pay it]

 

On to Saturday - we did not go racing because Sam was really tired and needed a break... that was fine with me because I wanted to watch the Notre Dame game - they played UCLA - Normally I am a UCLA fan but NOT against Notre Dame - N.D. was 0-5 going into this game and UCLA was 4-1...

 

The game started and they were matched up so well - the score was 3-3 then it was 6-6 - I was getting SO frustrated - finally I couldn't take it anymore and yelled "ARTIE! Quit playing around with Frank [Sinatra] and go help Notre Dame"

 

[Artie was the trainer at ND before becoming the trainer for the Packers during the Lombardi years]

 

I know he must have been listening because they scored 2 touchdowns in 6 minutes - I was so happy - and just when I didn't think I could be more excited.... I learned USC lost to Stanford!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!

 

I am making spaghetti right now so I will be back to finish this entry later...

 

Zippity Do Dah, Zippity A,

My O My what wonderful day....

Plenty of sunshine headed my way -

 

all because USC lost yesterday...

 

Come on everyone sing along with me - C'mon Phil  ....

Behind the wheel driving test...

Im leaving in 10 minutes to take Kieffer to the DMV for his behind the wheel driving test...

He should pass he is a good driver... best one yet anyway...

or maybe I have become use to training them...

[this is my 5th kid to teach driving to... how crazy is that!]

Kameron on the other hand will be in traffic court fighting a
"running a red light" ticket... They should throw it out... its one of those picture tickets and it is obvious he is NOT running the red light, he is in fact making a left turn...

Opps gotta go... wish us all luck ;) 

 

Phil the Thrill

Phil the Thrill is THE Sexiest Man Alive...

[besides my hubby of course]

and that is shaven or unshaven too!

Phil sure can pick the best Football Team that is going to win on a Monday Night Football Game too!!!

Go USC Trojans...

[Phil, that last line hurt killed me!]

Just wait till next Monday Mr....