Cherry Blossom Candy Leaf

Over the weekend, Ben and I headed out to my mom's to celebrate Babs' birthday. She's 31 now. My mom reminded me that she was only 32 when they made the long voyage to America, which is crazy to think about. We had my favorite, fried cauliflower and boiled potatoes with salt and butter. Delicious!

On Monday night, Lia and I went to an Italian restaurant in the Valley. It was really great to see her and hear about her adventures as a film buyer and new bride. She goes to film festivals like Sundance and Cannes to shop for films and gets to stay at the nicest hotels and mingle with celebrities and such who kiss her ass so she'll buy their movies. Her husband Mat is currently working in Montreal as a writer for T.V. It's all so very exciting.

At Fabrocini, the bus boy, or man I should say, kept looking at me and Lia was convinced that he was in love with me. He finally decided to talk to me. He told me that I look just like his cousin who lives in Mexico. That despite her Latina status, she is blond and blue-eyed. "And beautiful, obviously," I added. We laughed. He went on to ask me if I was Lia's mom. Uh, Lia is actually older than me by a month and a half. We were both stunned and insulted. Lia does look younger than me, but come on, her mother??? I tried to explain that he probably thought I was a teenage mother and that I was with my 15 year old daughter, which didn't really help Lia's cause and didn't convince me that I look my actual age. But it was good for a few laughs.

This week I have also been taking a "Teacher As Writer" class that is paid for by my school district. I've been doing a lot of creative writing, using techniques that would suit an upper grade, middle school, or even high school classroom. It has been a real treat. Because it was paid for by the district, I didn't know what to expect. I tried to prepare myself for the worst: response to literature essays, summary writing, persuasive, and other forms of writing that kill the idea of writing for pleasure in a classroom. But the class was far from that. Aside from having to share our work in this nine person class, I enjoyed myself very much and didn't mind driving out to Ventura every morning. I really noticed how my process is so much different than other people's. I write, and then add descriptive language in my first revision. Some people have a gift for doing that as they write, playing with the language as they go. It's easier for me to get to the point first and then adjust later. This varying process is really something to think about in class of 30+ students.

One of the assignments today was to read an excerpt from Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, where setting is established. You could either use the first line of the excerpt, a variation of it, or begin anyway that set you into the motion of writing. Here is Lee's:

Maycomb was an old town. but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day, bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'-clock naps, and by sweet nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.

Here's my version...

Grandma's Westlake townhouse was a tired old house, but it is older and more tired than when I first knew it. In hot weather, the fans buzz as the "girls" sit around a square table playing Pan and Mah Jong, talking about their sons and missed colonoscopy appointments. The rooms are cluttered with an array of mismatched furniture, framed needlepoint made by a relative who is no longer with us, and fuzzy squirrel figurines and glass owls from trips to God knows where and God knows when. Grandma's carefree days are long gone. Her vision is fading fast, mistaking a pile of newspapers to be recycled for her purse. Grandma is older and much more tired now that she's "90 and slowing down".

You should try it, too. Think about a place you have been, a town you have loved or hated, or a house with many memories. The images are in your mind, but hardly ever spoken or written.




Today I had to leave my class early because the Teacher of the Year luncheon that I told you about earlier. Ben met me at the Country Club where we had lunch and I was a bit confused by the variety of forks that made me wish I had gone to cotillion as a kid. Then it was time to announce the awards. My boss, Dave Becker, and my classroom volunteer, Mark Jaffe, who also happens to be the Rotary Club's new president, said a lot of nice things about me as I stood there with them. Of course I was embarrassed. They presented me with a certificate and a check for $250. I'm still trying to figure out if I need to use the money in my classroom, or if I can buy the out-of-stock Missoni Acqua perfume that I've been thinking about. (Kari, maybe you can clarify, since you are the reigning Teacher of the Year). I had to say a few words as I accepted my award. Then I sat back down, thinking I could relax a little bit. BUT NOOOOOOO! They went on to present me with the Paul Harris Fellow Award which is the highest honor received by non-Rotarians! This award is given to people who are "advocate[s] of ... world peace and international understanding." The audience oooohed and ahhhhed when they called my name and I remember Ben saying, "Good job, Doll!" My boss whispered, "This is a big one, Romy." I was absolutely shocked. I received a certificate, a medal, and a pin. In addition, the Rotary Club donated $1,000 in my name (along with $23,000 donated by the club itself) to the building of a community center in Zambia (that's Africa). This community center will focus on AIDS education and prevention. Isn't that awesome? When the luncheon ended, members of the group congratulated me and said to Ben, "You must be so proud." It was great.


And finally to add to an already delightful day, I received word today that my awesome cousin Tomas and his lovely fiancee, Amy, have set a date for their wedding. June 28, 2008 in Negril, Jamaica. They have a cute website with pictures and an explanation of how they met and where they are from. Check it out.

On Ben's lunch break we were skimming today's Daily News, when we came across this article...

Monday July 9, 2007

Wookiee sought in Marilyn sex incident

Police were searching Sunday for a Chewbacca impersonator who had reportedly sexually assaulted a Marilyn Monroe look-alike in front of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood a month ago.

The Chewbacca impersonator was wanted on suspicion of grabbing the Monroe impersonator's hand and placing it on his groin about four weeks ago, said Sgt. David Torres, spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division.

The Monroe look-alike called police on Sunday after complaining of a separate incident that day between the two impersonators, Torres said.

The brown, hairy Wookiee fled just as police arrived at about 12:30 p.m. on Hollywood and Highland boulevards.

"The area is very active with summer tourists, traffic, the premiere of Harry Potter and the impersonators," Torres said. "This is not a typical incident, but the impersonators do compete for tourists, and there have been other conflicts."

The investigation is ongoing.

The Chewbacca impersonator was arrested in February in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre after allegedly head-butting a tour guide operator who said the outfitted Wookiee was upsetting tourists.

-Daily News

If you read my sister's blog, then you know that on June 30th, we attended the Sound of Music Sing-Along at the Hollywood Bowl. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed and because we parked at the L.A. Zoo and took the shuttle over, I didn't want to risk not having a place to store it and being forced to leave it in a bush like the chain on my wallet at a No Doubt concert at the Pond 10 years ago (BTW, Gwen Stefani had on her chain wallet, but I have since retired mine, thank you very much), so I did not bring my camera with me. However, my sister put her camera in her bra and because the Sound of Music doesn't have a great appeal to terrorists and drug mongers, she got in without a hitch. I have learned my lesson and will take the risk next time a camera is in question.

Aside from the 2 hour costume parade that forced my sister, Gina and I into alcoholism, we had a great time. Did I mention that every "singer" who dressed in movie garb was welcomed on to the stage and talked to by the host, Barbara Jean from the WB's Reba? Yeah, that blew after the 14th Maria, 36th Gretel, and 50th nun. Besides that, I liked booing Rolf and hissing at the Baroness. She wasn't all bad, people. She did eventually see the love for Maria in the Captain's eyes and dismiss herself from the von Trapp home. (Sorry, if you've never seen the movie. And if you haven't, where have you been?)


On the 4th of July, well actually it was the 3rd, we went to our old haunt, Moorpark (kraproom backwards) to see the fireworks. We visited our old neighbor and friend Jerry who is recently single again and just trying to be a dad to his two little girls, Paige and Brooke.








On the 4th, we went to see Keith and Danny for grilled burgers. We brought Bula so he could play with his best friend, Co Co. I think they are strictly platonic as I have not seen any action to indicate otherwise.






Afterwards we went to the cemetery. From Marilyn's grave, we watched a pink sunset.




On Thursday the 5th, we celebrated some friends' 30th birthdays with sushi. I swear we had more than Saki, Asahi and Sapporo.









The following Friday, I went to work apparently for the sole purpose of becoming overwhelmed, but at least I saw Kari.

This upcoming week, I was scheduled to take a Teacher as Writer course paid for by the district, but it was cancelled and rescheduled for the following week. That week doesn't work as well for me. However, I need the professional development hours that I'd otherwise have to make up during the year. And I have a hard time teaching all day and going to two hour classes here and there to make that time up. I'm going to make a few calls and try to make this work to my advantage. Wish me luck.

From left to right: me, Sasha, Rick, Ryan, Jason K. and Jason B.


Sasha and I were soon on our own again. We explored the downtown shops.



Sasha polished silver.



We photographed the glacier.





We returned to Auke Bay.



I slept with a bear that wanted to eat me. Seriously, this is what I looked at when my head hit the pillow.



Our last night, Sasha and I had drinks with the Jasons at the Alaskan Bar. The next morning, we ate waffles and got matching tattoos at the same time. "The Alaskan I.P.A. was so good.."



I took in the Juneau sky for what may have been the last time.



Then Sasha and I went our separate ways. She to Anchorage, her new home in the very near future, and I to my sweet doll.

When we boarded the ferry to leave Sitka, we met up with the Jasons, friends of Sasha's friend, Ryan. They taught me to play rummy and we played a match for 4 hours. This ferry was super fancy, and it even had a wood inlay design of a compass on what could have been a dance floor. This was a fast ferry with no rooms.

When we arrived in Juneau, Ryan was there to meet us. His boyfriend Rick has some property off the coast of Juneau in a magical place called Shelter Island. So the boys had already arranged to go there. Sasha and I decided to tag-along. So before we dropped off our things at the B&B, we headed to Safeway to stock up on provisions, such as food for dinner and beer. Then we headed to the Bed and Breakfast in suburban Juneau, dropped off our bags, packed a few belongings and headed off to the unexpected.

We drove to the sea and waited for Ryan to row the raft to get the boat that would take us to Shelter Island. Below is a picture of me with the adorable Jasons from San Francisco.


As we waited, what I thought was a grizzly bear approached. But, luckily for us, it was just an enormous and friendly dog.



So we boarded the boat for a thirty minute ride to the cabin on Shelter Island. I had heard descriptions of the place. Our night was described as a luxury camping experience, but this does not say much. One man's luxury camping, is another man's night as a P.O.W. I had known these things: There was bedding, some sort of an organic garden and a hot tub heated by a wood burning stove. I also knew that I didn't need to worry about breakfast and that we would be back in the afternoon the following day because Ryan was preparing for his job at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp for children. So I thought even if it wasn't a good experience, it would be an adventure and it would be a short one.

Below is a picture of Sasha and Ryan with a "captain's expression" and another with Sasha and Jason as they talked in one end of the boat.




When we arrived at the beach on Shelter Island, it was beginning to get dark. We had to walk about half a mile or so to the property along a path paved in planks over muskeg, which is like a swamp or bog. The word "swamp" however sounds unappealing. Really, it's a clearing in the forest where water is found below a moss and plant covered ground. We arrived in time to eat sandwiches and enjoy some music and a campfire.

When everyone was getting ready for bed, Sasha and I decided to take advantage of the hot tub. Sasha got in her suit and I in my underwear and Sasha's long t-shirt. I was surprised at how hot it was (112 degrees!) and could only get into it up to my butt. I have never been in water so hot. Once we got our legs in, we couldn't move them because the burning hot sting would begin. It was so strange because the chilly air made me want to jump in, but the boiling water kept me from doing it. We hung out for an hour or so, hoping the Jasons would join us. They never did, but the hot tub experience was still a perfect end to a lovely evening.



We prepared to go to bed in the gnome home, where Ryan set up our beds. He was such a wonderful host and it was such a cute and cozy little space just for us.

As we laid down to go to sleep, we took some pictures that really demonstrate our joy and delight in the experience thus far on Shelter Island.





Because we arrived at dusk, I had no idea what this place even really looked like. It was amazing! The first photo is a sample of the wood plank path that started at the beach and continued beyond the cabin up to the tent on the hill where the boys slept.


The next photo shows you the gnome home where Sasha and I slept.

This is the hot tub during the day. There are snow capped mountains in the distance. Directly behind the tub, Rick is digging a pool for cold dips before or after the hot tub. The bench in the background is in the next picture. There is a gorgeous view.

Here are the boys enjoying the tub in the early afternoon at 94 degrees.

Here is a photo of the cabin that Ryan and Rick sleep in and live in during the summer. It is the newest and largest structure on the property. It is one room with a wood burning stove and, as you can see, is a work in progress. Because all of the structures are made from trees and lumber that come from the island, it must take quite a while to carry materials and supplies from place to place and prepare the raw materials for building.

The view from inside their cabin.


Rick is also proud of his organic garden. The vegetables they eat come from here.

Here is Rick in the green house in the garden.

Below are photos of the muskeg's beautiful plants and flowers.



The more common blue forget-me-nots along with the pink.


More muskeg-try not say the word. Muskeg, muskeg, muskeg...



Here is the bathroom they built. Rick encourages guests to go in the woods, but for those who feel comforted by a toilet seat, the bathroom is available.

Here is breakfast with delicious french toast. You can see the kitchen in the background. It even has running water for rinsing dishes via pipes connected to the ponds.

The Jasons slept in a large tent that was the first sleeping area at Shelter Island. When I walked up their in the morning I had no idea how they managed it at night. It was a steep climb. The path was cut down trees that lay against the mountainside with carefully cut notches to resemble a staircase. The view was unbelievable. You could see the ocean and the snowy mountains. The boys even saw a cruise ship go by in the dark.

Here is a picture of Jason taking the path down toward the kitchen area. It is much steeper than it looks.

Here is the view from their tent.



In the afternoon, we headed back to Juneau. Sasha and Ryan kayaked back and left much earlier, so we were lucky to get to stay on Shelter a bit longer. Below are pictures from the beach prior to our departure on a sunny, sparkling day.



We ended up on Auke Bay and it was so gorgeous that we returned there later on in the journey.



Shelter Island was one of my favorite parts of the trip!

If you would like to visit Shelter Island, Rick provides opportunities for people to stay on his property, providing food and shelter in exchange for 5 hours a day in labor of some kind. If the Alaskan muskeg is not your thing, other organic farmers around the world provide similar opportunities. For U.S. organic farms, go to http://www.wwoofusa.org/directory.html. For chances to do similar work around the world, go to http://www.wwoof.org/.

After spending 3 days in beautiful, rainy Ketchikan, Sasha and I boarded a ferry that would take us along the Marine Coast Highway to Sitka. Sasha arranged a room on the slow ferry for the 24+ hour ferry ride. We enjoyed glorious cloudy views of pristine forests and snow capped mountains.



We had a small room, the last one, actually, but it provided everything that we needed. Many people camp out on one of the decks, but we had bunk beds, a small closet, sink, and shower. I slept like a baby on the top bunk.



About 20 minutes into the trip, the ferry had to turn around to drop off a passenger who drank half a bottle of Everclear at a local Ketchikan hospital. The rest of the journey was smooth sailing, as they say. We enjoyed cocktails in the lounge, played Scrabble with honeymooners, and watched the moon make a golden circle on the sea.

Because of the Everclear incident, our stop in Wrangell was much shorter than expected. We were on the move. When we arrived at Sitka and began to look for the bus that would take us to our destination, Baranof car rentals, I heard someone call my name. It was Wendy Miller from high school! She was actually on her way to Anchorage with her husband and baby. They will be living in the same town as Sasha! It really is a small world!

After obtaining the rental car, we headed for our B&B, which should have been just a B because there was no food included. We had a cute little one bedroom apartment, kitchen and bathroom.



On the day we arrived, Sitka was sunny and warm, but we were told that this may not last. It didn't, but we still enjoyed ourselves. Below is a picture of families on the beach in front of a dormant volcano that looks a lot like Mount Fuji.



We had heard something about the Baranof hot springs which were only accessible by plane or boat. We spent a lot of our time trying to get there, but after many phone calls and conversations, we did not make it. So aside from these calls, we spent our first day in Sitka driving around making a mental map. Here are some photos from that first drive.


We relaxed one day, waiting for calls on a possible hot springs trip and Sasha's housing prospects in Anchorage. That night, we hitchhiked into town in a mobile meth lab and threw back a couple cold ones. Sasha also fell in love for the night.





The following day, we went on a beautiful hike, having the trail mostly to ourselves.










When the trail ended at the road, we decided to take the coastal route back to the car. Even though we walked along the highway, we were impressed by the beauty of Sitka.








Now Alaska is cold, so I had no idea that it would have such beautiful flowers.



We took some time to shop and admire art by local artists.

On June 18th, I met my friend Sasha in Ketchikan, Alaska. Ketchikan is west of British Columbia, located on one of the southern most islands of Alaska. When I thought of Alaska in the past, I didn't really consider this region because it is so small in comparison to the rest of the state. But now, having been there, I will never forget Southeast Alaska.

We stayed at a little Bed and Breakfast on Thomas Street the first three nights of our adventure in Alaska. We had a small room, kitchen and bathroom in the house of a very nice couple. We rented a car as well, and although that is not necessary, it does make everything more convenient.

Our first day, we toured the town on foot.





The next day, Sasha arranged for a kayaking trip with Southeast Kayaks.





Our guide, Kali, showed us many things. For example, the purple and orange starfish you see in the photo are called pisaster ochratious. The purple ones are females and the orange one is a male.

The rest of the day, we explored by car. Along with waterfalls, we visited a favorite bar of Kali's, A Hole in the Wall. The bar is somewhat hidden on a small harbor (see photo). Inside the bar, among drunken banter, there is talk of fish, specifically salmon and halibut. I overheard a lot of fish conversations. We left our mark on the place.

Because Ben was unable to join me on this trip and I missed him so much, I sent him a "postcard" from the sea: 10 lbs. of crab legs. I wish I could have seen his face when he got them, but because he took the time to photograph them, I can guess that he was happy.



Kali told us about an old dump site, "Junk Beach," where some people go to find vintage treasures. Locating the beach was harder than we thought considering we were on a small island. But it gave Sasha plenty of opportunities to get people to say, "Doyon" (referring to the point at which we had gone too far, Doyon's Landing), which is a pretty funny word with numerous pronunciations. We finally found it and Sasha decided to make a mosaic of bottles and pottery shards. She even included a tooth that she found-Nasty! Can you find it in the photograph?



We also tried to find old bottles that weren't broken. I even found one from 1931, which I was very excited to take home until I broke it.



Sasha also took a rare opportunity to pose with bull kelp. Kali said that she recently had it in a sweet bread.




The next day, we also went on a beautiful hike that began at a campground with waterfalls and meandered through the rainforest.

Along our walk, we met a local artist who makes lamps, vases, and other decorative items from tree branches. Using a top secret process, the wood is polished using several steps. She invited us to her house so we could see the work she described for ourselves. Here we are with a branch that will become a jewelry hook. She will finish it at the end of the summer and send it to me.

Our last half day in Ketchikan was spent exploring near our B & B. We visited historic Creek Street, which is built on the creek that spills into the ocean.

We even had a short stop at Dolly's. She was a prostitute working from the time she was a teenager until she was well into her 70s. She was a clever business woman and even owned several other homes that she rented out to other prostitutes. According to our nasally tour guide, she didn't want them living with her.



Here is a picture of Dolly herself.



This is the inside of her house.




Dolly was multi-talented. She even made these flowers that accented her shower curtain using silk condoms. This lead Sasha and me to contemplate the effectiveness of silk condoms, but Dolly never had children.

Described as "the scariest thing you ever saw" by our "prostitute" tour guide, Sasha and I had to see it.
Because Alaska once belonged to Russia, there is still a Russian influence throughout the places we visited in Southeast Alaska. Mostly it is evident in the gift shops. Below is a picture of two pretty Russian girls that worked in one of the shops.



And nesting dolls up the wazoo.



As a close to part I, here is some Ketchikan humor as seen on the side of a garbage truck.