Portable DVD Player

Here's a picture of the portable DVD player I got from a friend in Maine for Christmas.

The 3 Day Notice

It was Thursday and she was on her way home from work. She thought to herself, thank God tomorrow is Friday. She climbed the stairs to her apartment, and saw a notice on her door. "Now what" she thought to herself. She entered her apartment and opened the envelope. It was a 3 day notice to pay rent or get out. What?? I paid my rent she said out loud. She went to her computer and logged on to her bank website and saw that her rent check was cashed on 12/5. She called the rental office and told them about the notice and about the cashed check. They said the manager would call her back. A few minutes later her phone rang, it was the manager.The manager said, " I see where you paid your rent, and I didn't give you a notice for your rent, I gave you a notice for $30.00" She asked, what is the $30.00 for?? The manager said "I don't know, but you've been paying it every month" She replied " I only give you my rent check, I've never paid $30.00 a month and I've been here for almost 16 years". The manager said is this one of your check numbers and she read off a 3 digit check number. She replied, "No my check numbers are 4 digits" "Oh my" the manager said. "I'm new here and I'll have to send this to corporate to have them figure it out". She then asked the manager if she had to make an appointment to renew her lease, as she had received a notice that she had until 12/31 to renew. The manager said," I'm too stressed to deal with lease renewals, you'll have to come in after Christmas, as I will have someone from corporate here to help me" Too stressed!! Did this person know how much stressed she inflicted on the person she gave a 3 day notice to???

Friday came and went without incident.

Bears and Blankets Drive

Thses are pictures from the Bears and Blankets Drive at St. Timothy's church in Mountain View CA. We will collect them tomorrow and find out how many we received.

A Tuesday story

t was a cold rainy Tuesday morning, but she decided to go to work anyway. It was very dark outside as the outside lights in the complex were noton. She stumbled to get the key in the car door, yes it opened. She put the key in the ignition and nothing happened. WHAT !!! She had just spent$500.00 yesterday to get the battery and alternator fixed. Now what. She walked back to her apartment in the cold windy rain, and called AAA. Avery nice woman took her call and told her not to wait outside because it was so cold and rainy, but to wait inside and they would call when they were5 minutes away. She waited in her apartment. The phone rang, AAA was 5 minutes away. She put on her coat and went back outside where it was
raining so hard she could hardly see. She waited and waited and waited until she could wait no more. 40 minutes went by and no AAA. She walked backto her apartment, her shoes were soaking wet, there was a message on her phone. It was AAA. They had been waiting at the rental office and since shewasn't there they left. She thought to herself, we never agreed to meet at the rental office. She called AAA again. This time she spoke with an extremelyrude woman, who yelled at her, she yelled back and said she would be at the rental office. How long would it take for AAA to get there. 30 minutes.
She decided not to wait. She put on her coat and walked in the cold rain to the rental office. The AAA truck came in 5 minutes. She climbed into thetruck and showed the driver where her car was. He looked at the battery. The battery had a bad connection and had not been bolted back down when theyfixed it the day before. The AAA guy got the car started and drove away. The AAA knight in the bright yellow truck had saved her. Now she wasgoing to go back to the bad Sears store and give them a piece of her mind. She arrived at the Sears store and told them her plight. They said it would take
45 minutes, she said she would be in the waiting room. 45 minutes later she decided to go see if the car was ready. She noticed it hadn't been moved.She was not happy. She asked about the status of the car and was told. Oh, it's done !!!!! Sorry the guy said. We should have noticed this yesterday.She got in her car and drove away. She went to Starbucks and got a nice hot cup of coffee and then went to work. Who knows what will happen tonightwhen she gets back in her car. Will it start, or won't it. Stay tuned...................

New Guitar

New Guitar

The Guitar

Raku Rattle

Here's my new toy. It's a Raku Rattle. American Indians have long used rattles during ceremonies to ensure blessings upon their crops. You can use this rattle to help rattle some rain into your life, some rain out of your life or to help rattle your worries away. Or maybe it can be used as a sound effect in a song...

Mi Power Flower

CD Cover

It was difficult to get a good picture without any glare, but I think when you see the real thing you'll like it.

CD Cover

It was difficult to get a good picture without any glare, but I think when you see the real thing you'll like it.

Sylvan Music Store - Santa Cruz, CA

Drove to Santa Cruz today and put a deposit on this Miguel Company Flamenco guitar with friction pegs.

Fay by candlelight

This is a 1998 Stags Leap Fay wine. It is the best

How do you write about yourself

Today I received a request from my church to write a column about myself and my faith journey. I have no idea how to do this. I'm just not good at talking or writing about myself, especially about my faith. Lately I feel disconected with God. So how do I write something that will inspire people? I don't know. I said I would do it for one reason only. They will help me do a drive for Bears and Blankets. And I would do anything to help us get donations for this project.

So I'll post the column that I write in the next couple of weeks.

Peanut's word for PH

This is what Peanut has to say about PH's policies.

Peanut singing

Peanut singing "the Dusty Road". She loves that song.

Festivus Tree

Here it is, the Festivus tree. Festivus is for the rest of us. It is a time when you get your friends and family together to tell them how much they have disappointed you throughout the year.

Cold weather

The one thing I really enjoy when the weather gets cold, is lighting candles in the apartment. This is my favorite candle holder. I think Saturday night, I'll light candles, maybe turn on the purple power flower lamp and have some nice red wine and relax.

A stressful week

This week was stressful. Even though I took 2 days off from work and spent some time at the ocean, it was when I returned home that the stress began. A good friend of mine called me on Tuesday and she was in the hospital. She was told she had to have a quadrupal bi-pass surgery the next day. I was in shock. I've known her for 15 years and she's been a good friend at work and shes someone who will always make you smile.
My reaction was anger. I didn't want her to go through this. People at work kept asking me questions, and I didn't want to talk about it. I guess I felt if we didn't talk about it, then maybe it wasn't real. Today her husband stopped by work to pick up insurance forms and I met him in the parking lot and we talked. He was in tears as he talked about her and how strong she was through the whole process. I'm happy to say she is better today and hopefully she'll be home early next week. I still don't want to talk to people about it. I don't understand that part of me, but it is what it is.

Pismo Beach and Solvang

Famous Amos Cookie Song

Kathy's Lasagna

Decanting some wine

Victor and Kathy on the Beach

Possible CD cover

Victor Playing on the Golf Course - Bodega Bay

Possible CD cover

Recording at the Zone

Victor recorded 4 songs at the Zone in Cotati. Here are some pictures of the session.

Driving up the Sonoma Coast

Victor, Kathy and I spent Friday driving up the Sonoma Coast. It was a wonderful day.

Victor and Kathy's Wedding

Victor entering church

Victor and Kathy's Wedding

Victor waiting for Kathy

Purple Power Flower Lightbulb

i got the Purple Power Flower lightbulb and this is what it looks like. It's a very relaxing light.

Mr and Mrs. Victor V. Tarassov

Well the wedding of the century took place on Sept 23, 2006 in Paoli, PA. It was a beautiful wedding. I am so grateful that I was there to celebrate my best friend's wedding. Victor you ARE the brother I never had and always wanted. You're someone I can talk to, laugh with, drink wine, and you showed me how to enjoy life. And Kathy, because you married my brother Victor, this weekend I feel like I have a new sister-in-law. During the ceremony, when you were both reciting your vows, I felt God's presence in a way that I've never experienced before, and it brought tears to my eyes. God was smiling down on you and he was saying "This is good". I never experienced God in that way before, and its something that will stay with me forever.

I loved meeting all your friends and family. I felt so welcomed and comfortable with everyone. I had an awesome time. Kathy I loved meeting your parents. Your dad reminded me of my dad. He has a twinkle in his eye, just like my dad had. And I could tell right away that he has a wonderful sense of humor, something that my dad also had. Your mom is just the sweetest lady. I know they are very proud of you. Victor, I enjoyed spending time talking with your dad and meeting your mom and your brother and Christina. I felt like I was part of the family, and I thank you for that.

The following is an American indian Wedding Prayer that I really like. I hope you like it as well.

WEDDING PRAYER

Now you will feel no pain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now you will feel no more loneliness,
For each of you will be a constant companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life ahead of you.

Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter your days of togetherness.