This is my maternal grandmother in 1936 or thereabouts. This picture was taken by my Papa during a date they were on at the San Fernando Mission. She was twenty-six when they got married, which is crazy old to be single in 1936, but it was not due to a lack of hotness, as you can see.

When her father came over from Norway in the early 1900's, he bought himself a train ticket from New York to Seattle, Washington where he could continue his career as a fisherman. He began to talk to a man while waiting for his departure time who was desperate to get home to his family in Washington, but had only enough money to get as far as South Dakota. My great grandpa Wieberg felt for the guy (never knowing if his sad, sad story was true), and he traded tickets with him. South Dakota is no place for a fisherman, so he became a farmer and raised his family in the Black Hills.

April 21st in Southern California

Feeling a little too "L.A." for your own good?

Have you recently moved from a city with a population of over 186,000 to one in which the green and white sign reads: 2,200? Do you sometimes feel stifled by the lack of shopping malls, restaurants and movie theaters? Does it sadden you to have to drive forty five minutes to get to Target? Well then, just visit your mom's house and go through some of the picture boxes and you'll be reminded that even though you were born in L.A. county, it was on a farm, and there's a lot more hick in you than urbanite, and you like it.

Maybe it's because of the snow,

...but I went a little crazy at church today. When we were passing the peace, and Dan introduced himself to me again, I said "hey Dan, it's nice to see you again." I waited for my face to register in his brain. Nothing. "I'm Lisa Richard, you know, from Camp Maranatha? We met at the conference in Big Bear, and then again at Camp two..weeks..ago? I've been coming to this church for eight months, people!"

I saw a few feeble blinks of recognition, then he introduced me to his wife...again.

Sarah's Birthday in the Park

Tuesday

On my way to Sarah's birthday celebration I planned on grabbing a quick lunch with my friend Gina at BJ's. She was still coaching volleyball when I first got into town, so I hit Chili's for a "few minutes" to say hello to my old co-workers. It turned into a full-fledged reunion of staff and old regulars, then eight hours later we said our goodbyes. Thanks for the fun store 391.

Nearing Oxnard

I miss this drive.

So what'stha-what'stha-what'stha scenario?

I supply the quote (or paraphrase), you supply the context.

"Did you just roll your eyes at her?! Because if anyone should be rolling their eyes here, it's me, at her, about you!"

"The next one is one hundred, Auntie Lisa, and it's yellow, so keep your eyes peeled really good."

For Kelly-

here is a vacant chair (that is difficult to see). You know, if you want to rework your thesis.

I took only three pictures

on Easter.

I come from a family of notorious pack rats who are quite content to store huge cashes of junk at my mom's house without ever using or thinking of using this junk again. My mom asked me to come up a little early for Easter to sort through a few bags of stuffed animals that she had come across. Knowing that my current apartment is tiny, she didn't ask me to take any of it home, just to let her know if any of it could be tossed. This was still, somehow, daunting. I sat there on the floor of my old bedroom-turned-library, among piles of dirty, worn, and matted hair and fluff. My gut reaction? Keep all of it.




As I sat there though, I realized that even if I had kids to pass these on to, I would never in a million years hand a child my dirty Holly Hobbie with her chewed-off foot. Strawberry Shortcake, once rosy-cheeked and sweet-smelling, was now lying in the pile disheveled, naked and confused. Why would I want to keep any of this when I have pictures, cute pictures, of my five year old self receiving these dolls as gifts when they, and I, were in much better shape? I took a series of cathartic pictures, and laughed at my own silliness; then I bagged them for the dump.

I did keep Rainbow Bright who was in good condition, and Baby- a sad looking doll that I received from my great grandmother, Nana Sigrid, on my first Christmas.

This scary-looking machine is a Hermes Engravograph. It was very generously donated to camp by Mr. Dobbs. Our nature trail is coming quickly along, and our next step is making signs describing the local foliage and how to differentiate between it. This machine will allow us to make the signs ourselves, which is really exciting.

It has has all kinds of brass templates so that you can engrave anything that you want.

I loaded it with a piece of brown plastic. Where should I start? Ah, yes with the beginning. The letter "A". What better way to practice than by engraving maranatha?

I didn't realize that I wasn't lifting the bit as I was moving on to the next letter. Give me a break; I'm new at this.

Ta da!

I botched the "T", but you get the idea. The templates even include a United States Navy emblem (I still in no way endorse enlistment, but I couldn't resist).

Seinfeld Trivia- medium

-What is my name?

-Who is my publisher?

-Where are my glasses from?

-How did I pick up on Elaine?

-Why did we break up?

Eureka!

Rancho Mirage has adopted the big horn sheep as its mascot. Its image is cast all over town in brick walls and such because they live in the neighboring desert hills. They are uncannily camouflaged against the rocks and sand. We were able to spot these only because they were so close to the road. We saw the head of one, then turned the car around in time to see them bound back into the beige. It was very cool.

April