Appa Love

Before and After

This is an old dog, who still thinks he's young, at the beach.

This is an old dog, who is completely worn out, the next day.

A lot like us I suppose. We never think we're too old for anything until the next day.

My Drive

This is the Malibu Canyon Road. This is my drive everyday. It is so breathtakingly beautiful. It's 9 miles from Calabasas to Pepperdine and about 6 of it is just like this picture. When the road reaches the coast, Pepperdine is directly on the right. Not only is it a piece of heaven on earth, it's a blast to drive. Sort of like playing Mario Kart on Wii. Rick and I had to drive up Piuma Road to get this shot. There are some incredible views from Piuma Road but not many places to pull over and take pictures. Apparently Will Smith lives on Piuma Road. And so do a lot of other very wealthy people, judging from the houses.

I've had a few requests for pictures of the apartment. Not much to see. Take special note of the awesome kitchen. I can't believe this is what I'm cooking in. It's what I call a "one thing at a time" kitchen. And that overhead light? Really? It's as big as the kitchen itself. Sometimes when I'm in there for a long time I feel like I'm going to be sucked up by the alien spacecraft above me! Very claustrophobic.

Calabasas Apartment

Lauren had a good check up at the doctor this week. It appears the calcaneous (heel) bone is growing nicely around the plate and 10 screws holding it together. She will have a CAT scan in three weeks to get a closer look. Dr. Virkus (Rush Hospital) and Dr. Thordarson (USC Hospital) will then confer and maybe, just maybe, she will be able to start putting some weight on the foot. A big maybe but we are all hopeful. That would be about 3 weeks ahead of the original schedule so we are cautiously optimistic. Her physical therapy continues to progress nicely.

Finally got the big man to play hooky with me on Friday. We drove up Piuma Road, then down to PCH and north to the dog beach with Ozzy. We just chilled on the beach all afternoon watching the surfers and wind surfers. We got another great recommendation from Jeanne for dinner. Neptune's Net. I've linked it here on the blog. Great place for seafood and sunsets and beer. Totally local and totally casual. Definitely taking Nancy and Colleen there when they visit at the end of the month.

Today we're off to a festival for Audrey and Henry's school. Well, future school. Maybe Appa can win some obnoxious stuffed animals for the kids. He's pretty good at that stuff.

If Only

If only the NFL donated the monies spent for pink gear to breast cancer research. Now that would be something. We all know someone. Someone's mom, friend, sister, aunt, cousin, daughter, co-worker. I am pretty certain that if I were to ask my few friends that have survived breast cancer what their take on this is, they would agree with me wholeheartedly. That being said, there was much less pink garb this year than last year. Do you think they actually read my email? Seriously. I did not email them last year but I so wanted to. I'll stop now because this could get ugly.

The Bears had a great game today. Matt Forte was on fire and Devin Hester is simply unbelievable at punt returning. Not being able to go to the games this year has been so hard. While we miss our families and friends, we miss the Bears games. Tailgate, champagne, good food, my family and a W, now that's the perfect fall day. We watched the Bears from a sports bar nearby and proudly sang the fight song with each score. Loudly. It was awesome. The bar had a special: all you can drink mimosas for $15. Sign me up. I ordered mine without orange juice. I'm confident that I drank my $15 worth and then some. So there.

And a shout out to the Fighting Illini on their big win over Northwestern yesterday. Always a contentious game in our house since Justin went to Northwestern and Lauren went to U. of I. But it was a nail biter to the end. The Illini won it in the last minute after coming from way behind. Man I love football. Especially when my teams are winning. That's the key.

Lauren goes to see the doctor at USC tomorrow for the first time. He will take X-rays and send them back to her doctor at Rush. Her physical therapy is progressing nicely and she is able to move her foot/ankle a little more with each session. With any luck, tomorrow she will get the okay to go in the pool. Nice to be in California with this great weather, not so nice if you can't go in the pool.

We had to skip the farmer's market this weekend because I cannot possibly eat all the fruits and vegetables I am buying. I really need to get a grip and the first step in doing that is to stay away for one Saturday. Going just for the flowers might have been a good idea but I know that I could not go there and only buy flowers. I just stayed away and I'm proud of myself for not caving.

Saturday was instead spent with Audrey and Henry. Those kids are so special. I know everyone says that about their grandkids, but you've never met Aud and Henry. Audrey is still smitten with her Appa but I got her attention most of yesterday. Nothing compares to the deep belly laugh of a toddler. The kind where they can't even control themselves and sometimes end up with hiccups from. I witnessed a lot of that yesterday. And big Hank, he has lots to say but you can't understand a thing. He will come up to you and look you in the eye and go on and on about something that is apparently very important to him. Not understanding all but two words you respond with, "really?" then he looks at you so seriously and says, "BRGNT!" And he continues about his business. Awesome.

On this week's agenda:

Dr. David Thordarson

Malibu Seafood for whole lobsters

Dog beach with Ozzy, but only once. He is getting too old for twice in one week.

And maybe a massage

Life is good in Southern California.

Farmer's Market Bounty

Incredible. That is the only way to describe the Farmer's Markets here. The couple of times we've been to Italy I was always amazed at the open air markets and the produce they had to offer. Why can't we get produce like that in the states? Well, we can. You just have to go to California to get it. The produce in the midwest sucks. Plain and simple. In Chicago we wait all year for July and August for the chance, and I do mean chance, to perhaps get a good tomato or ear of corn. And then nothing is guaranteed. If you are lucky enough to get a good tomato, don't worry, you won't next time. It is so hit or miss in Chicago. But in Cali it is a totally different story. The local Farmer's Market in Calabasas is every Saturday. There are about 100 booths with about 85% of them selling produce. The other booths sell everything from fresh cut flowers to nuts and spices to fresh fish. Unbelievable. They have produce that I've never heard of. These markets are every non-meat eater's fantasy. I'm not sure how much Rick appreciates all the veggies I've been cooking lately. But I'm taking care to make sure he gets lots of meat. Lauren too. She needs the protein for her bones to heal. This past week I made the most delicious Eggplant Gratin courtesy of Ina Garten. I just love her and her cookbooks. Always looking for new recipes. This week is zucchini fritters, sausage and peppers, plum salad, some kind of squash (the big orange thing in the photo), tomato bread, chicken Caesar salad and we'll see what else.

I may have to move here just for the produce. Hmmm.

Another Beach Day

My new routine is drop Lauren off at school and head to the beach. Yesterday it was Leo Carillo State Beach, the only dog friendly beach in Malibu. Simply gorgeous. I wanted to take more pictures but something happened to my camera after I took this one of Ozzy. My camera is completely fried. I think I bought the replacement policy for it but of course that would be back home in Illinois. DOH! Today I will head to Best Buy to see what they can do for me. How do you think that will turn out? I'm not holding out much hope either. Anyway, the beach was gorgeous but then again, I haven't seen a beach that isn't gorgeous. There were exactly 4 people and three dogs including me and Ozzy. So nice not to have to work and be able to go to the beach on a Tuesday afternoon. Ozzy didn't last long. After about 20 minutes he just laid down in the sand next to his water bowl. He did not want anything to do with those big waves. He was a scaredy cat. Every time a wave would come crashing in he would flinch and back away. Very different from the only other beach he has ever been to, the beach at Lake Barkley. No big waves there.

Lauren has started physical therapy for her foot. The first day she was able to move her foot up and down and rotate the ankle in both directions. Not very big moves but certainly a good sign. She said it wasn't really painful, it just felt tight, probably because there is still some swelling. This weekend she heads to San Francisco with the debate team. That means me and the big guy get a whole weekend to ourselves. That has not happened since the dreaded accident in mid July. Totally going to make the most of that. Perhaps a little beach action on Friday, sunset dinner on Malibu beach Friday night, and maybe a drive up to Santa Barbara on Saturday. The drive north on PCH is so breathtaking. I can't wait to show Rick. Hopefully I will have a new camera by then so I can post some pictures.

Our California Adventure

We're one week in and things are finally coming together. Lauren is all settled into her townhouse with her two roomies and their dog Kingston. We are almost settled into out tiny, tiny, 900 square foot apartment. Talk about a lifestyle change. The biggest adjustment would have to be watching people walk within 5 feet of our window. Certainly not something we're used to. I looked at this temporary move as a trial period to see if Rick and I could actually downsize to a smaller place and not kill each other. This past week we've spent a great deal of time asking one another to move out of the way. While I think we could live in a smaller place, not this one. Too, too small. Maybe 1500-2000 square feet. And definitely a better kitchen. The kitchen here is a one person kitchen. If you're standing in the kitchen, the fridge is on the left, the stove and microwave just in front of you, and the sink and dishwasher on the right. That's it, no room for anyone else. That being said, the appliances are all new, new vertical blinds throughout (my personal favorite), new carpet in the bedrooms (the cheapest carpet ever!) and new fake hardwood floors. I will not complain since I am only 15 minutes from beautiful Malibu Beach. Yesterday I dropped Lauren off at Pepperdine for class and headed to the beach. This beach. Cranked up the ipod and walked the beach for 90 minutes. The best 90 minutes I've had in about 2 months. Maybe I'll lose a few pounds while I'm here. That's a big maybe! The restaurants are amazing, seafood up the wazoo. My fav. I'm a little worried about the pizza but I haven't craved any yet so it's been a non-issue. I may have to make my own when the time comes.

Pros and cons of our new temporary life:

pro-all new kitchen appliances

con-kitchen is exactly 3 feet square

pro-pool and playground outside our balcony

con-all the kids are driving Ozzy crazy

pro-all new furniture

con (pro for Lauren)-Lauren gets it all next year

pro-cheap to live here

con-expensive to move

pro-Calabasas is incredible

con-I haven't run into the Kardashians yet ):

pro-don't have to take the trash to the street

con-the dumpster is kind of far away

pro-new carpet in bedrooms

con-cheapest carpet ever

pro-we live about 30 min. from Audrey and Henry

con-we can't see them every day

pro-the most incredible fruits and veggies at the local Farmer's Market

con-someday I will have to return to Chicago and the shitty produce at Jewel

pro-I get to be with my honey all day, every day

con-my honey still has to work. BOO

All in all, we're adjusting. There are worse things in life than wintering in Southern California.