Polar Bear Swim

If you missed it this year, mark your calendar for next year's Annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim at One Mile in Bidwell Park. It's a blast! I took along my handy little Flip Videocam this year; CLICK HERE to check out the fun video (complete with pre- and post-swim interviews of the brave swimmers!). In the 26 years I've lived in Chico, I can honestly say I've never once been tempted to take the plunge. But it sure is fun to watch (as evidenced by the throngs of cheering, towel-bearing fans waiting on the other side of the pool). Hmmmm... maybe 2010? Which reminds me, do you think we'll be saying "Two Thousand Ten" or shorten it to the simpler "Twenty-Ten"?

Down Under

The gnome and I (along with Mom, sis Nancy and her husband Jim from Portland) returned from two weeks "down under" just in time to spend the holidays with the family. (In Nancy & Jim's case, there was an unexpected 3-day visit in Healdsburg with Becky and Steve, as their flight to Portland was canceled due to snow!)

While it wasn't nearly as warm as we had expected (after packing all those summer clothes), it was beautiful and a great trip overall. We mostly visited the port cities as we cruised from Australia to New Zealand and then all around the north and south islands. What struck me most was the architecture--both old and new. I hadn't expected the lacey ironwork on the old buildings (like what you'd see in New Orleans), nor the vibrant colors and ultra-contemporary designs of many of the newer buildings. We had lunch in the "Sky Tower" in Auckland (looked like Seattle's Space Needle) with a perfect view of not only the city, but the "jumpers" right outside our window. Believe it or not, they actually have a controlled-cable-type jump for $200 NZ--none of us opted for it, but it was fun to watch.

Click here to view some of (the zillion) photos I took along the way. What a "lovely" (said with attempted Kiwi accent) place to visit--I highly recommend it. Hope you're enjoying your holidays!

Run for Food

Because I was in Healdsburg enjoying our annual family "Thanksmas" (combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas) celebration at the lovely home of our gracious hosts sister Becky and her handsome hubby Steve (talk about FOOD!), I missed the 3rd annual "Run for Food" event held in Bidwell Park. How proud I was of our generous Chicoans when I read an online article in the Chico E-R about the success of the run! More than 2,600 runners pre-paid the $25 to $30 fee to make the five-kilometer run, and apparently about twice that number ended up participating, resulting in over $65,000 raised to help the Jesus Center in their ongoing efforts to feed those in need. Over the years, my fellow Soroptimist of Chico members and I have taken turns volunteering to serve meals at the Jesus Center, sometimes enlisting the help of our children (which I felt was a very valuable few hours spent with mine), and I have always come away feeling a renewed gratitude for my family, friends, home and the many gifts I enjoy in life. And isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about anyway? Happy holiday season to you and yours!

Selfless, Cold & Composed

Kiel & Melissa

Click here to hear the fabulous Sacramento State Jazz Singers performing "Selfless, Cold & Composed" by Ben Folds. I'm enthralled by this jazz ensemble and am so proud of Melissa (son Kiel's g/f); she is such a talented and delightful young woman. (So clever of Kiel to hire her to give him singing lessons two years ago!) Here is a 1997 video of Ben Folds performing the same song. There sure are some artistic and accomplished people in this here world.

Delightful Dogs

Speaking of critters, my friend Bejay just shared this very fun video with me (click here to view). Reminds me of our sweet Sarah, the Australian Shepherd who was a cherished family member when my boys were young. If you're yearning for a little canine companionship but aren't in a position to give a home to one, do what my friend Barb does: volunteer to take one from the Butte Humane Society to Obedience School or for a walk in our lovely Bidwell Park or one of the parades held in Chico throughout the year. I guarantee it will make the doggie's (and maybe your) day! (Call 530-343-7917 ext 167 or email volunteer@buttehumane.org for more info.)

For Animal Lovers...

If you're an animal lover (like I am), you might consider logging onto the web site ZooToo and becoming a member. Once you're a member, you can affiliate yourself with your local animal shelter. Then each time you upload a photo or video, you score points toward a "makeover" or other prizes for your shelter. After joining ZooToo, I affiliated with the Butte Humane Society. My friend Barb (who is a real hero to our local animal community), says the Humane Society is always in need of certain supplies. So if you have extra towels, blankets, soft fabric, tarps, carpet, dog houses (especially getting into the cold winter months) critter supplies, office supplies, etc., consider donating them. Please click here for a list of items needed. And, of course, if you're looking for a new best friend and can provide a good home, check this site out. They even have a "Two-For-One" special going on for kitties! : ) (Click here to view my ZooToo site and watch a couple of funny videos of the lovely-but-crazy "BK," pictured above.)

I'll take a Spoonful!

What a great night of music! John Sebastian and David Grisman at Laxson Auditorium. Talk about a daydream! The combination of Dave Grisman's fine mandolin and banjo picking and John Sebastian's crazy-good guitar and harmonic playing was enough to make me want to go home after the show and pick up my old guitar (which is, in fact, just what I did). They paid tribute to some old "jug band" players I've never heard of, played some folk tunes (both instrumentals and featuring John's raspy -but-sweet voice). And, of course, took us all on a walk down memory lane with some of the old Lovin' Spoonful favorites ("Daydream" and "Deep Purple" among them). I couldn't resist doing the major-fan thing and buying a CD after the show, waiting in line to have them autograph it (managed not to gush, though--just a simple "thank you"). As I always say, life in Chico is the best of both worlds--small town atmosphere with opportunities to experience great talent. Thanks, CSUC and Chico Performances! (Click here for your own little stroll down "Daydream Lane" or click here for a cover of the song by young Scottish sensation Paolo Nutini -- very fun!)

Full Moon Float

(Photo, left to right: sis Jamie, Merryl, Lechia, me, Bejay, and bro John.)

Floating down the Sacramento River is always a treat, but going for a full moon float is extra special! Thanks to the good folks at the Sacramento River Preservation Trust (who organize these river tours as one of many efforts to educate the public and promote the health of the river) and CSUC Associated Students Adventure Outings (who provide the rafts and muscle), several friends, family and I enjoyed the beauty and tranquility of the river while learning a bit about the flora and fauna. As the moon--surrealistically huge and luminous-- rose above the treetops, our guides found a stretch of shore where they built a fire for us to sit around while we enjoyed our picnic dinners. A few "floatees" were fortunate enough to see a spectacular shooting star. We had such a great time, I hope to make this an annual event. If you'd like to try a daytime float, the Trust and AO are co-sponsoring their final Sac River float of the season on Sun., Nov. 9th from 8 - 5. The float covers 9 miles between Jellys Ferry and Bend, just north of Red Bluff. (For more info, contact Liz at (530) 345-1865; email liz@sacrivertrust.org or visit the Trust website at www.sacrivertrust.org)

MOMIX at CSUC!

MOMIX is coming to Laxson Auditorium Tues. Oct. 28th! I've seen this talented troupe twice at Chico State, and each time I'm in awe of their creativity and physical feats. Definitely a show worth checking out, and appropriate for any age level. According to their promo, "For 20 years Momix has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up a world of surrealist images, using props, light, shadow, humor and the human body." I just called the CSUC Box Office (530-898-6333), and there are still tickets available for this visual/sensory delight. I think Chico Performances has done a fabulous job bringing cutting-edge entertainment to Chico! Click here to view a sample video (which doesn't do justice to watching the show live, naturally).

Memory Walk

MANY THANKS for everyone who supported my mom (Margaret) and me and our Soroptimist International of Chico Team in last weekend's 2008 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in Bidwell Park. It was a great event and such a worthy cause. Click here to see more photos of this annual event, which gets bigger and better every year!