Day 49,50 &51

Smoke from the station fire on Friday 

Strange smoke glow in the day Friday

So you know that saying God doesn't give you more than you can handle...why do I have to be so strong! Like I need to deal with a fire right now. 

So the fire is moving in on Santa Clarita I can see it in the distance burning the hills.  The area about 20 minutes drive away in the city is now evacuated.  I have packed up the important paper and the rest I just don't care about right now - in the past I would have been packing my shoes and clothes.  

The sad news is that the Gala I was going to attend with my parents now has evacuated all the animals on the farm and are looking for a new place to have the gala.  I really wanted to be dressed up on a farm full of animals darn it. 

Here is some info from the web on the fire.  If I don't blog for a while it maybe cause I'm evacuated to my cousins in the OC. 

The 35,000-acre fire threatened over 10,000 homes, 500 commercial properties and 2,000 other structures and rained ash on cars as far away as downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, spreading in all directions in hot, dry conditions.

day 48

Yesterday was my kind of weather.  At one point it was 108 degrees with no humidity.  My crazy dog was lay outside on the patio in the sun.  I haven't told her yet we are moving back to Minneapolis soon, I'm afraid she would run away.  

Just dealt with the automatic payment to the mortgage company to get that stopped since there is no money in that account and it is to long of a story to tell you about right now. 

Have a good weekend everyone.  I have Jilaine coming to visit again for a couple day them my parents arrive for a jam packed schedule which includes a gala event with a bunch of celebrities which I will blog about later lets just say I'm really looking forward to it and the host is lets just say some one with a daily talk show where she dances and I have been there before and going again to see her on the 17th.  I'm afraid my dad is going to be chatting with all of these people and not know who they all are, which will lead to good blog stories.  

day 47

So last night I went to my first grief sharing meeting.  I have avoided it for 6 weeks and finally last week when the lady called me to see if I was going to attend I told her yes.  I really didn't want to go, I was afraid it was full of people just crying and I'm sorry but that is not what I want or need.  

Well I was half right or almost completely right.  I don't think it is for me but I will give it a try again next week.  And there were alot of people crying through the video we watched about Heaven and then afterwards when  people where asking questions. 

  You know all the things you think about when people die and how they it makes you feel better to know some of them...well last night they told us the myths of heaven.  Basically everything I have though about and felt comfort in know is wrong according to the this certain group.  For example there is no marriage in Heaven.  Joe will recognize me but we are no longer married.  You read that right we will not be together he will have a life and recognize me but we are not married.  Well this set off one lady into hysterical crying saying I want my husband to recognize me, and I don't blame her.  Then there was a question about peace at dying...well that same lady said it was terrible to watch her husband take his last breath and the pastor was telling her that is his favorite part of death and now so this poor lady is upset about not being with her husband and feeling guilty that she wasn't experiencing his death as a  beautiful thing.  I think I'm more confused now after group than just thinking Joe is enjoying heaven and I will be with him again some day.  

I also read and had to sign a rules page...some of the rules were you have to have had a death in your life to be there not just there for the sake of it.  I can't remember what movie it was where people  just went to groups to share and took part but really didn't belong there but I laughed at that rule.  The other rule was no dating member in the group.  That one I think I laughed out loud at.  

  

day 46

funny tidbit for you all...yesterday I was in whole foods getting a couple items and I was again hit with an urge to cook a dinner.  I say again because I haven't been able to cook every night like I use to because I don't have anyone else to eat it with me. 

How this is funny because before Joe went to grad school I never really cooked.  I had to learn how to cook fast when he started school and now I actually enjoy it however I don't like to clean up after wards and I don't eat left overs.    So when I move back to Minneapolis some of you will have to come over for dinner so I can cook. 

 

Day 45

This year the number 40 means a lot of different things for example I turned 40 in May, I have now been with out Joe for 40+ days and I learned that I can get 40% of the income from the guy who killed Joe for the rest of his life. (when he is convicted) 

Not that I'm a sue happy person, it is the principal of the matter.  Really if you think about it 40% of nothing is really nothing that would help me in any way except for the fact that when he opens his check in jail and sees that 40% of his money is gone he will think of Joe and be reminded why he has no money to buy things in jail.  If he ever get out I am aware that he can work for cash under the table and will not get anything.  

 

day 41,42,43 & 44

They say laughter is the best medicine, I had lot of it last week when Karen and I attended 2 funny tapings. 

The first one was Chelsea Lately on E!. It was good and the guest was Marley Matlin. After the taping we went to Santa Monica then drove up the coast on hwy 1 to Ventura where we had dinner at this little fish and chips place on the beach that Joe and I loved to eat at.
Friday we went to the taping of “Accidently on purpose” at CBS studios in Studio City. The set is actually the old “Will & Grace”’ set according to the plaque on the wall outside the studio.
Never being to a sitcom taping before I didn’t know what to expect. Being I have only heard bad things about TV tapings but I wanted to tried it anyway. Both Karen and I were pleasantly surprised that we had a ball at the show.  

The other talk shows I have attended all have a guy that warms up the audience and keeps you entertained during breaks. At this particular show they were giving out signed cast photo for the person who laughs the hardest or most during each scenes. While Karen and I got one and you know I don’t fake laugh, we were really laughing at the scenes. I’m not sure if some of it will make it pass the FCC but it was funny stuff. The show is really funny and I hope it comes across that why when it airs.

The time I really lost it wasn’t during the show, it was just after the warm up guy balanced a folding ladder opened up on his chin. (Yes a 6ft ladder open up) Then the DJ started to play the song “Maniac” from the movie “Flash dance” and he started to dance like the scene from the movie then poured water on his head and spit it out and shook all over the public relations rep from Beverly Hills. (She basically thought she was hot shit because Grant show invited her and he would talk to her on the breaks) I was laughing so hard (can’t remember the last time I laughed like that) during this I was crying and couldn’t stop even when the director yelled “Action quiet on the set!” Thank god when I laugh so hard like that I don’t make any sounds cause that could have been a very bad thing, but on the other hand we might have met the cast and crew as they were throwing us off the set.  

During one of the many breaks we got served pizza not sure if this happens at every taping or just because it was a special press night. It was nice no matter what the occasion. If you attend a taping of a TV just know they are long, we got in line at 4:00 and the show wrapped at 10:00. Then who would have guess there would be a traffic jam on the 5 freeway on the way home.
All in all it was really fun and just interesting to watch all that goes on behind the camera.

one more thing...the actor Micheal Rapport was visiting the set, he is from Boston Public he also played Phoebe's boyfriend on a couple friends episodes.  

Here is a little clip about the new show that airs Sept. 21.

Day 40

Saturday was busy busy busy.  I know some people think I'm sitting in the house eating bon-bon's but I really have stuff to do.  After the couple of people looking at the house to see if they want to rent it the garage guy came. 

Our garage with no door on it.

Karen waiting in line to go to the movie - at Hollywood Cemetery. Yes I'm strange

All the the other strange people waiting in line too

They show the movie on the side of the mausoleum

The scenery

On the back side of the cemetery is the Paramount studios 

day 39

Yesterday was a long day, of course it was the only night I slept and then had to get up to go to court early.
If you ever need good people watching you should go to the San Fernando courthouse for an hour. I had a half-day of entertaining people watching. Karen and I stood out like you wouldn’t believe. I sure people were looking at us and wondering what crime we committed to be there.

So back to us standing out so much in the courtroom the bailiff actually asked us after a couple case what we were doing in the courtroom. I told him what were doing then he just had this heart felt look of I’m sorry on his face and then when we was bringing Valencia out of the courtroom the bailiff was looking directly at me.
I got to talk to the DA for a little bit to get some questions answered but he is pretty confidante that will all the evidence and witness that he will be convicted. How ever after sitting in the court for the morning watching all the people get off with less than a slap on the wrist I’m not to confident in our legal system. We saw at least 6 people walk into the courtroom for their case in handcuffs, including Valencia. They were in blue clothes not the orange you see on TV incase anyone was wondering what they were wearing. I guess orange is so last season.

So after the big build up of the day it was less than 2minutes because the other attorney needs more time before they set the date for the trial so I will have to do it all over on September 29th.

After that ordeal we decided that lunch at The Grove was needed, since I don’t drink or else I would have had one. Lunch was good as always, no celebrity sightings though.

When we got close to home I had a thought that I should go by the CHP to see if the police report is finished. Sure enough they just finished it and I got my copy, which states that Valencia doesn’t think he hit the cyclist he said he drove by the accident and they were already crashed. He did admit to being under the influence and drinking at a friend’s house. The DA said that Valencia really doesn’t show any remorse and really doesn’t think he hit them.

Not too much I can say about that…

day 36,37,38

Sorry for the late blog I just needed a break from everything for awhile.  

Tuesday (today) I'm heading to court.  I will keep you posted.  

Day 35- warning disturbing video

Here is a link I found on one of our news channels.  I am warning you it is not for the faint at heart to watch so watch at your own risk of getting upset.