the plan

I love Christmas, but it's also overwhelming. We are leaving town this year in hopes of toning it down a notch. We are road tripping to Southern California. We are going to camp in Malibu and fulfill my dream of the camper covered in Christmas lights card that I am drawn to year after year. (you've seen it...the photograph of the solitary ham can with a string of lights)

We'll see the sights, eat lots of exotic foods, picnic under the Hollywood sign, find the best used book stores and thrift shops, hike, play at the beach, and of course, hit a few funky toy stores.

We will move into fancier digs on Christmas Eve and find a loud and bustling Chinese restaurant in Chinatown and then go to the prettiest church we can find.

Santa will come in a low key kind of way.

Someone mentioned that Lego land is in southern cal. Hhhhmmmmm.

I want to go to a wrestling match in Tijuana.

And maybe we'll wetsuit up and do some baja surfing.

Eat some lobster in Ensenada.

Suggestions are welcome!

I hope all you people out there who read my ramblings have a wonderful season...and I'll keep you posted on our where abouts!

ps! Santa says I'm getting a camera so I will be uploading MY OWN pictures again soon!

Olba and Umcka

Sounds like two hairy chinned aunts from Latvia. But no. They are my friends. Especially Olba. Everyone should know Olba.

Do you remember the little blue glass jars of Vicks? Olba is similar, but much stronger. And she is a little more diverse. You can put her in your bath and soak your weary muscles or drop some in a bowl and inhale her. You can use her as a massage oil or do it my way....take a small dot of oil and put it on the tip of your nose. Aaaahhhh. Nasal bliss. And your whole house will smell like an old world steam room.

The jury is still out on Umcka, but I do love the name. I don't take cold medicine. I think it leaves you worse than you started. I also think that colds are something that we are meant to process. Umcka is a European herbal remedy that lessons bronchial symptoms in a tincture, tea or syrup. I chose the tea because it's cheaper and it forces you to drink more liquid. It's just the bark of some tree, no chemicals or anything, and it gives me the illusion of nurturing myself.

Sometimes that's all I need.

conversation overheard

Max was in the front seat rocking out to some Greenday. Making mini lassos above his head and grooving as much as you can with a seat belt on.

Della and Lewis were in the back seat very earnestly discussing their college choices.

"You should just come to Colorado with me. It's a long way away, but you can be a cheerleader."

"I don't have a suit for that." Della says

"They give them to you when you get there." because Lew is in the know.

"Mom and Dad will come up and take us out to dinner, too, with our girlfriends and boyfriends."

"What if I don't have a boyfriend?" she asks...

"You will. You're real cute."

"So are you, Lewis."