I spent my lunchtime in San Diego visiting my friend, Keri, at her new incredible job, ResMed... We are a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative medical products for the treatment and management of respiratory disorders, with a focus on sleep-disordered breathing.

Keri was my mentor with the Temecula Sister City Association and when she decided to return to the workforce, she really researched companies.  This one seems like a dream job and the environment was certainly impressive.  It was a great afternoon to catch up.

What better way to send me off, to Italy, than a day at Disneyland... one of my favorite places of all time.  My friend, Philippe, treated Kegan, me, Lori and Judi to an unforgettable day in the Magic Kingdom.  We did everything we wanted:  our favorite rides, meeting characters, people watching and just having a blast.  It could not have been a more delightful day.

We spent the second half of our day in California Adventure.  We rode our favorite rides and dined in style at Ariel's Grotto where we "Descended the spiral staircase to enter Ariel's Grotto, and attended a royal banquet.  From the themed décor to the view of Paradise Bay through the windows, you're surrounded by imagery from under the sea."  It was a first time for Kegan and me... the service was exceptional and the food sumptous.

We then experience Disney's new show, The World of Color, a nighttime water spectacular weaves water, color, fire and light into a kaleidoscope of fantasy and imagination. More than 1,000 jets of water form incredible shapes in time to the music as Disney characters come to life on a shimmering veil of mist.  We were immersed in this dazzling new dimension of magic at Disney's California Adventure Park.  Truly worth seeing and we were all thoroughly impressed!

What a fabulous day Philippe arranged for us as my send off to Italy.  I'm grateful for his generosity and friendship!  What a day!

As birthday gifts for the folks and Steve's brother and his wife, we bought tickets to this year's Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach.  We brought delicious picnic foods and dined amongst the art while listen to a fantastic jazz band and then delighted in this year's, "Eat, Drink & Be Merry" production.  The night could not have been more idyllic!

Well, we are now the proud owners of Elective Residence Visas for Italia.  Our departure is set and we are now scrambling to pack.  We will ship the "taxi" next week and it will serve as a large, yellow suitcase for a great deal of our possessions.

After our Los Angeles visit, we stopped at Knott's Berry Farm for Chicken Pot Pie comfort food.  We are truly excited about next month's huge adventure.  Meraviglioso!

 

Ciao for now...

We spent a delightful afternoon at Marina's home.  She was our fantastic Italian teacher and is our fabulous friend.  We thoroughly enjoyed sitting and chatting.  It made us even more eager to be in Italy.

Italian to English Translation: It is around the table that friends understand best the warmth of being together.

My dear friend, Brady, got married yesterday, in an unforgettable celebration.  The location, The Beach House, could not have been more perfect.

I have never seen Fred and Brady so happy and everyone there, witnessing the event, loved every moment of the day.  Actually, at the end no one was ready to leave.

Every detail was attended to.  Everything was beautiful.  A day to remember.

My toast:  "While I am not part of either family, I am a firm believer that "Friends are the Family we make along the way" and I have always thought of you, Brady, as the little sister I never had but always wanted. I am so happy you chose Fred to be my little brother-in-law.

My favorite quote about marriage is, "Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction."  I know your sights are on an amazing horizon and we wish you the happily-ever-after we know you both deserve!"

The six ladies of the wedding party, Brady, sisters Marla and Raya, me, Jessica, and Megamu spent a very entertaining, and productive night at Cardiff by the Sea Lodge.  Not only was the hotel amazing, but all of us had just so much fun attending to the last minute wedding details.

Yesterday morning, Brady brought in hairdressers and makeup artists.  For several hours, we were treated like movie stars.  This was the first time that I've had this done and it was indescribably luxurious!  What a fantastic treat.