Whirlwind Trip to Southern California

In the News...

Dad and Rudy’s Opinion on Anna Nicole Smith, Valerie Plame, John and Elizabeth Edwards, Hillary, Obama, McCain, Algore and Mythical Global Warming, Carbon Footprints, etc. etc.


Click on the Picture for the Shutterfly Link to Whirlwind Weekend Pictures

Rose Update--Bloom Time!

Friday, March 23rd

Sunday, March 25th!

Happy Birthday!

James--
I can't believe how quickly the years go by....from my wee little boy....



to my handsome young man.

Enjoy your day, and a new year of being 13! We're so proud of you!

Beannachtai Na Féile Pádraig

I have to confess—this St. Pat’s has been a bit difficult for me this year—a bit nostalgic and melancholy. Normally this time of year is very busy—our dancers would be dashing around dancing at St. Patrick’s Day shows, dinners and weddings—but this year, nothing, due to the closure of the studio. Today reminds me that I miss our students, the dancing, my friends and the excitement of this time of year for Irish dancers. But then, all the green and Irish decorations remind me how I am looking forward to seeing Ireland again in December, and marrying my beloved there. So it is bittersweet for me. So on this day in honor of St. Patrick, I thought I'd share this lovely prayer from St. Patrick himself, which never fails to bring me
back to center.

St. Patrick's Breastplate

Christ ever with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ to my right side, Christ to my left side
Christ in his breadth, Christ in his length, Christ in depth
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.

P.S. For those who have asked, no, I haven't started dancing again. I've looked at two local studios, but haven't felt the pull to join in yet--I've found nothing like the camaraderie we had at the old studio. Life has, as it is wont to do, filled in the empty spaces and I find myself taking long walks in the lakebed and spending time with James in the evenings. And it has been good for both of us. I don't think I'll be gone from it long, I'm just not ready to jump in yet. I'll keep you posted.

~L

Rose Update--8 weeks since pruning

Where did St. Francis go?

Ahhh, there he is! Roses within the week, I'd say!

This is our newest addition--Pope John Paul II. Lovely scent!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

James dressed in green for St. Paddy's Day

Name That Palm Tree?

Anyone? (The boy is good at this game....but he's at drill!)

Completed Travel Room

The Travel Room is Complete With Safari Boarders

Backyard in March

Backyard Pictures in March

Click HERE to see the latest pictures (ten pictures total)

UC, CSU Leaders Consider Raising Fees

Well, here it goes again (Please see the LA Times article below). Read carefully. Look at the cumulative sum of the increases since around 2002 (within last five years). Now ask yourself, what was the rate of inflation over that time that would justify an increase? Has your personal income gone up that much over five years? Has the Federal Government raised the amount of the subsidized Stafford and unsubsidized Stafford loans by any reasonable percentage to match the fee increases?

I think the predictions that the state of California is going to have to withdraw all subsidies for higher education is going to come true in the next 5-8 years. The state is bankrupt still, has a credit rating worse than a poorly run business, no one in Sacramento seems to care and K-12 advocates are far more vocal and get the largest share of the ever shrinking, and starving for money pie. The state will have no choice but to exit the higher education business and any tax increases, veiled or not, to keep it running have a snowball chance in *%$#@. When the subsidy is gone, it would not suprise me if UC is at least 85% of the cost of a private college and CSU is about 70%-75%. If you think the below is bad and or what has happened over the last five years is bad, wait until for D-Day when the subsify goes and the fees double or triple. I sure as *%$#@ would not want to be in college in CA now and nor would I want kids and have to look forward to paying their college bill. *%#@, even a tax deferred college account is not going to get you anywhere- the interest rate cannot even get close to the rate the fees are going up at the colleges.

CA- what a joke.
Regards Danny

UC, CSU Leaders Consider Raising Fees
School Officials to Vote Today
LOS ANGELES, Mar. 14, 2007 (CNS) - The cost of going to college at California universities could go up Wednesday when both the California State University Board of Trustees and University of California Board of Regents vote on proposed tuition hikes.

Undergraduates attending UC schools face a $435 fee increase for the 2007-2008 academic year, a bump of about 7 percent. That's in addition to a new $60 surcharge all undergraduate and graduate students will pay, bringing annual undergraduate fees to $7,347. Critics say the fee hikes are excessive since undergraduate fees in the UC system have gone up nearly 80 percent in five years, and the proposed increase would be the fifth in six years.

The UC Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the proposal during its meeting at UCLA. The CSU Board of Trustees, meanwhile, will consider a 10 percent hike in university fees, raising annual undergraduate by $252 to $2,772 next academic year, and graduate fees by $312 to $3,414. In addition to tuition, students also pay campus-based fees that average $679. The CSU fee proposal would also be the fifth fee hike in six years. That hike has come under heavy fire from the California Faculty Association and some state lawmakers.

Opponents of the hike argue that student fees have increased 94 percent for CSU students since 2002 and, they say, CSU executives have received 23 percent pay hikes over that time while faculty have received raises of just 3.5 percent.

Members of the faculty association have been voting at CSU campuses across the state to authorize a possible strike if negotiations on a new four- year contract break down. The CFA wants a 4 percent raise for this year, retroactive to July 2006, plus a 2.65 percent increase for all faculty members now eligible for step raises.

The union also asked for a $5 million equity pay pool to address what it calls "salary inversion" -- the effect of new hires being brought in at starting salaries substantially higher than what is being paid to faculty with several years' experience in the CSU system. The administration offered a 4 percent raise and no step increase, or a 3 percent general pay raise plus the 2.65 percent step increases. The equity pay pool wasn't part of the CSU offer.

Further irritating the faculty union and legislators is another item on the CSU board's agenda -- a $103,000 payment to James Lyons, who stepped down in February as president Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"The idea that the trustees would vote for yet another sweetheart severance package, irrespective of all the public pressure against these practices, is unbelievable," said Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge. Portantino recently introduced a bill that would eliminate so-called "ghost professorships," in which executives are paid as professors but do not teach classes. The bill also would require the CSU board to change its current practice of omitting from its public meetings discussion of compensation beyond salary and housing that is included in executive contracts.

The Orange Box Lays Off Mystery Shopper

Central Valley, CA – Today, 1:07 P.M. after being an Orange Box Mystery Shopper for over five months, Sean’s lucrative job as a Mystery Shopper has been downsized, states the large orange corporation this afternoon. Management at the Orange Box has decided that Sean’s employment will no longer be necessary and they thanked him for his invaluable service to the company.

“A going-away party will be held in his honor,” said one of his peers. “He will be surely missed as he strolls down the plumbing aisle looking for PVC, and in lighting glowing over new ceiling fans.”

“Sean’s main job was to better understand the Box’s customers and refine the business. He reported on the customer service skills of our employees, as to how helpful they were and their cheerfulness in the workplace. He also made recommendations in regards to customer service improvements. He also evaluated prices and products between other hardware institutions. He was talented and used to his full potential," said the head administrator at the Central Valley District Office.

Joe, Store Manager at the Central Valley store commented in a meeting with the media today about the layoff, “A mystery shopper (also called a 'secret shopper') is someone who is hired to pose as a regular customer at a store or restaurant, so that they can report back what the average customer experience is for that establishment. Sean was given a specific assignment to shop at a specific store, reports on exactly what happened when he visited, and was then paid for shopping. He was a great asset to the company.”

Bob, Sean’s boss said, “His services were invaluable and a new customer service program is being adopted to replace the aging mystery shopper program. Therefore, we no longer need his talented service. He is still welcome to shop with us and we look forward to seeing him on the weekends.”

In many ways, mystery shopping is the perfect job. Mystery shoppers can be virtually any age or gender. It is the perfect opportunity for stay-at-home moms, for example, but there are also of plenty of mystery shoppers who are men. Unfortunately, companies are going to internal shopping and customer service academies for their customer service information, which is not good for the professional mystery shopper like Sean.

When asked what he was going to do next, Sean stated that he starts a new Land Planning career in Modesto next week. He is excited about the new opportunity and is sad that the mystery shopping career has come to an end.

“I love the Box,” Sean stated, giggling. “I'll miss going there with the limited crowds during the day, I will miss the people, and I look forward to seeing my old pals on the weekends when the lawn mower breaks or when I need fertilizer. All is not lost, just time for a change.”

Sean is looking forward to starting his new job next week. A congratulations is in order to a happy ending and a new beginning.

Thank you!

Thank you to all of you who have posted and sent such sweet emails of congratulations.

We are thrilled that you share our happiness!

Roses and Palms

True Love

Is giving your beloved the last spoonful of Pizookie!

Click on the treat for a taste of BJ's

Obituaries

In Memoriam, Dell Latitude Junior

Thursday, March 1, 2007 11:03 PM PST

March 28, 2003 – Mar. 1, 2007

Dell Latitude Junior, age 4 of Austin, Texas passed away on March 1, 2007 at St. Joseph's Hospital Intensive Care Unit, Yorba Linda, CA.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Anaheim, CA, with Pastor Ned Flanders officiating. Flanders’s Funeral Service is assisting the family with arrangements. The public is welcome to attend. Drinks and horse devours will be served.

Latitude was born March 28, 2003 in Austin, TX the son of Latitude C341 and Inspiron CS 550. He grew up in the Austin area and attended area schools. After receiving his Windows Diploma, he worked out west for a short time and then entered the private school system at the end of 2003 in Yorba Linda, CA. He began his training with a young and beautiful teacher. He was a master and his specialty was computer information and management. Latitude loved his teacher very much, was inspired with new facts and information, but often despised the workload and harsh conditions of the classroom. He loved music, taking pictures, sending mail, old western movies and a number of communication tasks. He loved teaching and holding on to useful information, a true workhorse. He was a great communicator until the end. Latitude Junior will be sadly missed.

Latitude is survived by his wife Inspiron of Chicago and three children: Inspiron 300, of Garden Grove, CA, Inspiron 2500 XP of Minneapolis MN, and Latitude D233DT of Dhaka, Bangladesh and his 45 children.

Yorba Linda residents hold bright memories of Dell Latitude's long and useful life.

Kosmo Expresses His Opinion

Kosmo Expresses His Opinion on Man-Made Global Warming

Can You See Our New House Guests?