Practice makes perfect . . .

Today was an absolutely spectacular Day! Not too hot, not too cold . . . but just "right"!

Stayed in town over the long Memorial Day Weekend and enjoyed the sun, music and food at the Hermosa Beach Festival ! The weather was a little cool on Saturday but it was nearly perfect yesterday and today. A great day for a ride and then chilling at the beach listening to "free" entertainment!

For some reason today's fun activities, reminded me of the fun time my friend and I had while hiking the very beautiful Cinque Terre in Italy. So this evening, I was suddenly motivated to create that video I've been wanting to make of our hike experience. I must warn you that I made some gigantic mispronunciations of the towns. But since practice makes perfect . . . I intend to return to Italy again and again and again until I can get it right! After all, it's the only right thing to do! :) (Note: Video is quite long!)

Have you heard of the Expression . . .

Did you ever think that some of the expressions that we use today may have originated centuries ago way before we were ever born?

I've been skimming through a guidebook on the history of Spain and have been learning a lot about this country's rich diversity. For example, I read that in the town of Toledo (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), there is a mix of Christian, Jewish and Moorish influences. It is said that this historic city is packed with a diverse and unique number of religious sites making it a very "Holy City" and so goes the speculation for the origins of the expression "Holy Toledo"!

I thought this was an interesting and cute speculation and more importantly in an odd kind of way it really put Toledo on my radar as a possible day trip from Madrid in my travel plans to Spain.

So I wonder? 10,000 years from now, do you suppose that people will speculate about how some of their expressions may have originated? If they traced them back to our present day generation, what do you suppose it will reveal and say about us?

I hope it will reveal our strengths as well as our weaknesses. I hope that it will reveal that when things are at it's worst, we somehow pull together and that is when we are at our best. I hope that it will reveal that even despite our flaws we try to learn from our mistakes and make the best of things for the future . . . I hope that is what it will reveal and say about us!

In remembrance to those who gave so much, I want to wish everyone a fun, happy and safe Memorial Weekend!

AI Rocked this season . . .

Tonight David A went to his strengths and was flawless! David C's performance was outstanding as usual, but I think he fell short in his song selections.

No matter who wins AI this season, I think both Davids will go on to have brilliant careers in music!

Once again, here are my stand outs for the season: David A, David C, Brooke, Carley, Michael Johns and Rocker Nurse Amanda!

And that's my final recap! Keep on rocking AI and see you all next season . . .

Cool Reminders . . .

It was sizzling hot yesterday in Southern California and it will probably reach triple digits again today. Yikes! It's days like these that I really find myself missing that great tasting Italian dessert creation called Gelato. Sure I could get a scoop of Dreyers or Baskins & Robins ice cream . . . but it just isn't the same.

So to have a pleasant visual while riding in today's "heat", I found this photo of a gelato that I enjoyed eating while visiting Venice, Italy last November (2007). My favorite flavors are Coco, Pistachio and Vanilla . . . Yum! Oh, and by the way . . . I did manage to finish the whole thing! :)


Stay COOL everyone!

Dueling Davids are in . . . .

David C's first song was by far the best performance of the night. Second best was David A's first song. And so it goes . . . dueling Davids in the final two!

I was a bit surprised that all three contestants made really bad song selections. The producers did no better. The winners for best song selection of the night goes to . . . Randy, Paula and Simon. :)

And that's my recap for tonight's AI performances! Keep on rocking AI!

Walking in the footsteps of a Rose . . .

Here's what I remember the most about my mom . . . .

She loved music and had a great sense of adventure, which made her fearless about going out of her comfort zone. She had a really good sense of humor and was an incredibly generous person who gave more than she took in life. She was a wonderful mom and a great role model and and I try to live each day of my life following in her footsteps . . .

So to my Mom (Rose) and to all you Mothers out there . . . Happy Mother's Day!

Standing by David A . . .

David A Rocked tonight! Not once but twice! I loved both his performances but most especially his first song, Stand by Me! David C also did very well tonight. Did't care for his first song that much, but really enjoyed his second performance a lot!

And Randy, what's up with you? Dude! I thought Seyesha's second performance was not only better than her first but it was probably one of her best performances in the competition. She sang that song with real feelings behind the lyrics rather than singing it just for the performance. Good for you Seyesha! I think Randy felt really bad after the tears started to flow! Poor guy!

And as I type this post, I'm hitting the redial on my phone over and over and over again to keep my top three in the game. I think it's best that I not say their names as I really don't want to jinx myself.

Okay, back to my redial . . .

And that's my recap for tonight! Keep on Rocking AI!

Back in the saddle again . . .

Well, yesterday I hopped back on my bike after two weeks of nursing this flu and it felt great!

Here's an interesting threesome lolly gagging in the path of cyclists speeding down this famous stretch along Marina Del Rey. I'm thinking they're going to get creamed, so I stop to try to shoo them off the path. Within seconds their sixth sense kicks in and they prepare for a successful take off!





Sometimes in life you have to trust your instincts . . . A loud belting "SHOO" doesn't hurt either! He, he!

My little Venice . . .

I was recently telling Slow Travel Blogger, AnnieNC, about my Giovanni Moro Miniature souvenirs that I purchased on my Venice trip (This post is for you Annie).

Here is a photo of the five beautiful pieces plus a little stand alone bridge and gondola. You can see the bridge connecting two of my buildings and the little gondola in the front.


Here is a photo that I took of the Palazzo Ca' D'Oro.
And here is a photo of my Moro Miniature of the Palazzo Ca' D'Oro . . .


I just love my Moro Miniatures! It is a constant reminder to me of how beautiful Venice is and how much fun I had during my two weeks there.


Venice is truly a magnificent city. And purchasing my moro miniatures I'm able to bring a little bit of Venice back home to Southern California.


I can't wait to return to Venice so I can add to my hopefully growing collection!:)