January 25th, 2012

My husband Bill (a.k.a. "Handsome")

We knew we were soul mates the first night we had dinner and we've been together for 25 years! Our lives have changed so much and every year has been better than the last. I always say if I could stop time, I would, and that's more true now than ever because my handsome husband has finally decided to semi-retire. As of December 31st, 2011, he's stepping down as Asia Pacific Executive VP and Managing Director for his company, Clover Technologies Group. He's staying on with Clover as EVP Business Development in a limited capacity which will no doubt require some travel but not to Asia anymore. It's pretty hard to believe because for the last 6 years he's been home a month, in Asia a month, home a month, in Asia month... meaning he's been away from home for 3 of the last 6 years. Now we're starting on a new adventure though without any air travel for awhile. At the moment, I think Bill's going to be very content to clean the pool, hit little white balls around big grass fields, work out at the gym, and hone up on his skills as a photographer.






I'm the luckiest person in the world to have a really special guy on both sides of my heart . . . my husband and my dad. My dad, and my mom who passed away in 1997, were the best parents any child could ever have and they made my childhood, and my brother's and my sister's, even better than "Father Knows Best." I'm really fortunate that Dad lives close by in San Diego so we see each other as often as we can. What a great photo this is of him!


My dad, his sisters Irene and Helene, me, and his sister Darlene
April 28, 2010


Dad with little Andi who was only 3 months old
May 8, 2009






Our son Dave
Dad's on one side of my heart, Bill's on the other side, and Dave's arms are wrapped around it! He lives in a suburb of Dallas so don't get to see him nearly often enough. Now that we have a motorhome though, I fully intend to make a trek to Texas at least twice a year. What fun it'll be to see Dave more often and what fun it'll be getting there.


Dave had been working out and had gotten very fit and was enjoying how he looked and felt. I think he looks grrrreat!
September 6, 2011


Dave and his Dad
July 10, 2010


Dave and me
July 10, 2010






Sharon, my ex-daughter-in-law but always my daughter. She's one of the sweetest people I've ever known in my entire life. Unfortunately (for me), she lives in Houston but I'd beam her over to California in a heartbeat if I could.





My brother Jeff
If you know him, you know there's only one Jeff and I'm glad he's mine.


Jeff at one of his favorite B&Bs in the Finger Lakes of New York
October 2006


Jeff and his plane, a Piper Super Cruiser. He and Julia fly up from San Diego to the Camarillo airport for lunch every few months, and last November 2011, he took me up for a spin. It was the first time in all the years he's owned this plane. Wow! This is really what flying's all about. Jeff's a first officer for US Airways and I can't help but think how different this is from the A-380's he flies to Europe and the Middle East. Must be about like the difference between a Dick and Jane first grade reader (remember See Spot Run?) and Tolstoy's War and Peace which I never did get through .






My sister-in-law Julia at her birthday party. She's the most upbeat, fun-loving person in this whole world and just like these candles, she lights up the room the minute she walks in it. Her personality is infectious and she can make a gloomy day sunny. Julia's also the most thoughtful, giving person in this whole world — she tucks little details about people in the back of her head and then surprises them with the most touching cards and gifts. She laughs when I say it but I call her "Saint Julia" and it fits!


Julia and her friend holding the 1st place trophy in the 2009 chili cookoff in their town of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Julia's chili is lickin' the bottom of the bowl great, and if you'd like to make it, you can either   or find it in the Recipes section of my website.
February 21, 2009


Julia and Friendly — my very favorite photo of her
November 2000






My sister Carol and her very special guy, Murphy. Carol and I are 6 years apart so she was still a kid when I left home and went off to college. We never lived in the same city after that so we didn't really grow up to be adults together but it's truly amazing how much alike we are. We could be twins. We marvel at how we've both become computer nerds, truly techno-geeks, and how much we love to cook, and how we're both so visually design-oriented, and the list goes on and on. We'd both love to take a vacation together with our dogs and now that I have a motorhome, I'm hoping we can make this happen.


Carol and her sons Barry on the left and Jesse in the middle
Christmas 2010


Carol and Barry . . . a great cruise photo!
November 2007






My family at Dad's house — Christmas 2010
From front to back: Bill, me, Jeff, Julia on the left and Carol on the right
Barry on the left behind Julia, Dad in the middle, and Jesse holding Andi


Mom and Dad, me, my sister Carol, and my brother Jeff
Christmas 1956

  

I've always loved my first photo with Santa taken when I was three years old, so you can imagine my surprise and delight to discover Bill's photo taken with Santa when he was three. Look back and forth between the two photographs and you'll be amazed at how alike they are. Bill and I both have the same wonder and innocence in our eyes, Santa's the same kindly old soul, and for some reason, Santa's license plate is on display for all to see.  Santa must have gotten a new sleigh by the time he came around to see me though — note the new license plate!

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