Oak view

Hello world! I am still on this planet so here is an update from Oak View. We are settling in very nicely here. It is hot during the day but very nice in the evening. I have met my neighbors and feel very lucky. I have so much left to do but have given myself a year to complete everything. That is sort of my patent time frame for most things....learning a new job....catching a halibut.....losing 10 pounds....ya. Today I said goodby to the last truck load of junk. There have been 5 dumpsters and one truck load to get rid of the shit left by the old owners. Yesterday some men came by to sell me fertilizer, grass seed and "vitamins". Instead I talked them into hauling junk. They said they would be here 6:30 to 7:00 (ish) so when Dani and I drove up at 7:39, I was very embarrassed and made some lame excuse why we were late. At any rate, down the road it went. So that was the one thing that I did today toward my goal...(each day I do one thing to improve the house). Soon I will announce a house warming party and hope everyone can come. For now I will sign off with my new address to follow:
131 Olive Street
Oak View, Ca 93022
Love to all....

Mammoth

On our way to Mammoth for a half day. We took the shuttle for the first time in 13 years of going to Mammoth. So easy! The boys had never snowboarded before and took to it instantly. Day two we went to June for an amazing day. Only five other people on the mountain all day (slightly more, but not much). Great snow and the boys were on all the intermediate runs so we had great fun skiing together. The sun was out and probably about 35 degrees. Perfect!
Friday morning we woke up to beautiful snow floating it's way to the ground only to be interrupted by a mama and baby bear scavenging for food. She must have known exactly where to find it because she went right over to the trash and opened the "bear proof" lid. She threw a bag of trash on the ground for junior then found pay dirt...a Cliff bar! She had it in her mouth with the label out like it was set up for a commercial. Very funny.

Watching Junior from the living room.
Definitely one of my favorite ski trips. Thank you God!

Pvt Mendoza
C co. 187 ord.
Bldg 2253/class #45
Ft Jackson, SC 29207

Finally! Matt is in a phase that is much like basic training so the only communication he has are letters. Any encouragement from home is really appreciated. BTW, his new specialty is diesel mechanic and he is the platoon leader.

Mammoth and Vegas

Katie and I were sorting out snow clothes because we are going to Mammoth on the second. She put her hand in a pocket and pulled out a old dollar, so she put her hand in another pocket a pulled out another dollar. She was so thrilled to find free money. Next she checked another pocket and found a set of condo keys (oops), then she checked another pocket and found a twenty, a five and a one dollar bill (no lie). Then later Dani came home and was trying on her old snoboard pants and while I was telling her about Katie finding money she checked her pockets and found 8 more dollars. True story! So that should pay for a tank of gas anyway. We are very excited to ski June. It's been three years. Jacuzzi, pool, Grumpy's poker....can't wait. Then off to Vegas for Kate's twenty first. It's a Mendoza tradition and I have never gone but Katie really wants me to go so Dani decided she would go, then Casey and Gordon made reservations too! I have heard some really wild stories about these trips. Some involving Matt. Hmmm!

Lastest fishing trip

Fishy kisses
Catch before filleting
Nice red!
Deckhand biting off a fish eye

Deckhand eating a fish eye. Some party trick! Weather was good. Fishing was great. We went to the backside of San Miguel, Santa Rosa. Love those islands especially from the back. Gorgeous sand dunes between olive green cliffs and plateaus. Huge population of elephant seals. Good times...

FYI

Matt is supposedly going to a different base, which is why I have procrastinated getting his address out. However, it has been much longer than I thought. When he gets to his next post, he'll need support from family so I''ll let you know....when I know! Thanks

One fish, two fish...

Early morning on the "Mirage". Back side of Santa Rosa.

Poocup Teadle

I want to blog, really I do. I just don't know what to say. I could talk about my life but truthfully I'm really bored with that so no doubt you will be too. I could impart wisdom.....uh huh. Right now I am having a glass of wine and listening to Jeremy Camp. Oh wait, now it's the David Crowder Band....gotta love Pandora. Oh I know.....I am writing a paper in my philosophy class...maybe someone out there can help me. I could cite my own blog! This is cool. Now I'm really excited. So ok, my paper is on moral relativity vs. moral absolutism but here's the twist, I want to prove moral relativity using the Bible. Sometime I am just such a rebel. The only guideline my Professor told us was to teach him something. Really, what can I teach a Doctor of Philosophy in modern religion. FROM Berkley. At any rate if anyone can throw me something really great to include in my paper, I'll.......give you a fish (not in the Godfather kind of way)! Also (here's a segue) does anyone think I don't deserve good things in my future? I'm trying to buy this house that I really want and even though I will be fine by myself, I sort want (in the future) someone to walk through the rest of my life with. Someone who actually likes me, even when I am ugly and mean! What do ya think? (I just love Shawn McDonald, don't you?)