Oh. My. Goodness.

Did I mention we were going to the big city? I believe I did. And Los Angeles is a big city, no question. Tuesday, bright and early (read: slightly blurry,) we made our way to the L.A. Convention Center. Geoff met us on Figueroa and he took William and Alex with him in to The Conference, SIGGRAPH2008. This is the same cutting edge, mind blowing computer graphics conference that Geoff has been attending since the 80's, when he would come home with VHS tapes of computer generated graphics, rumors of feature length CGI movies, and other seemingly fantastic developments. Maybe you remember the first time you saw "Luxo Jr?" Computer graphics have so seamlessly seeped in to our media, our entertainment, news, our everyday, I think we forget how new it all is... well, new in geologic time. The pioneers of computer animation have been hard at work since the seventies. And since this year SIGGRAPH is in California, we thought the timing was right for William and Alex to have an introduction into the professional, academic, scientific and artistic frontier of computer generated animation.


SIGGRAPH is an adults only conference. La Brea Tar Pits is not. La Brea Tar Pits, Page Museum, is a destination for all ages, and it's the best place I know of to introduce children to the ice age. Max, Maria and I headed west on Wilshire and pulled in to the George C. Page Museum parking lot, and that is where the fun began. La brea is Spanish for the tar, so it's redundant, but there is so much tar, everywhere, maybe it's appropriate to say it twice. Small sections of the parking lot have been fenced off, to protect people from falling prey to the black, sticky ooze that is still seeping up, just as it did 40,000 years ago. But nature has a way of getting out of hand, and cannot always be contained.


Max and I slipped over to a remote section where we found lots of exposed and unfenced tar pools. "Can I poke it with a stick?"
Oh, yeah. I definitely let him "poke it with a stick." He poked it, and pulled it. It came up slow and thick like cold molasses. It smelled like hot, steaming tarmac. Every day about 8 -12 gallons (32 - 48 liters) of tar ooze and bubble to the surface, and apparently animals, including dogs, lizards, rabbits and humans still get entrapped in the tar.


We were very careful. I didn't fear entrapment, but cleaning tar off of hands, shoes and clothes? Yeah, that would be scary!


But, you know, sometimes you have to get up close and personal to learn, to experience and understand. So we got as close as we safely could. And it was really cool.


If you have not been, and you can... Go! It's not a huge museum or particularly expensive. It provides a unique history of Los Angeles, the Ice Age, and a first-hand view of paleontology in action. It is an active museum, where research, and digs are ongoing. And there are creative, interactive displays that make the experience more meaningful. Max remembered 4 years ago, when we were last here, and how he and his brothers tried pulling up the metal bars submerged in tar. It's such an effective way of demonstrating the struggle and strength it would take to try to get out of a tar pit, and probably the futility... it's really hard to pull the rod up, and I am sure it would be worse still with both legs in that heavy muck.


My mom brought me and my brothers here, when we were children. This was the first visit when we were able to visit an open pit, in the process of being excavated. Pit 91 is huge and deep and Maria will tell you "It's stinky." Max thinks he would like the job of being in the lab and cleaning off fossil pieces. This place is where they pull the stuff up... things like the extinct camel, giant sloths, the Dire wolf, saber toothed cats or Smilodon.


La Brea Tar Pits and Los Angeles County Museum of Art are adjacent to each other in the same city block of Hancock Park. Before going in to the LACMA we visited the climbing trees. Max loves a good climbing tree.


By the way, children and their accompanying adult can enjoy free admission to the Art Museum on the second Tuesday of the month. We visited the gallery hosting "The Age of Imagination: Japanese Art, 1615–1868, from the Price Collection." It was beautiful. Max recognized particular Samurai pieces, including armor and katana, favorite subjects of Alex's. I loved this day. We had a relaxed excursion, full of sights and insights. It was a lot of fun.


Throughout the day Geoff was calling me and giving me updates. William and Alex were enjoying the Computer Animation Festival, and Alex got to have a chance to use exoskeletal robot arms; he used the handles to manipulate the robot arms into picking up balloon animals. We made plans to meet, so Geoff could spend time with Max and Maria, while I had my first ever SIGGRAPH experience. My loving husband got me a pass to attend the Competition Screenings. This is a screening of animated short features, special effects, art and scientific visualizations and a preliminary awards competition that selects pieces for Academy Award nominations.


Are you still with me? I am shaking with giddyness. Geeky, geeky giddyness. After the screenings Alex, William and I were sitting front and center in the Nokia Theater to see John Lasseter. Joining him was 2 time Academy Award winning animator Frédéric Back. (Please visit his website.) I was so excited to be seeing and hearing John Lasseter speak, I cannot tell you. What an inspiring, dedicated and talented man, and the funny thing was he was there to introduce a man he is inspired by. Frédéric Back hand illustrated every frame of "The Man Who Planted Trees," inspired by the story of the same name. If you have not seen this movie, I hope you can find it... we were mesmerized.


Frédérick Back is in his eighties. He has planted, with his own 2 hands, the same hands that illustrate such ethereal and poignant images, 30,000 trees. He spoke about the need to steward the Earth and as an advocate of the environment he was moved to hand draw thousands of pictures to tell French writer Jean Giono's story of a man who transforms a barren wasteland into a vibrant, forest, restored and alive because of 1 man planting trees. Mr. Back was grateful to John Lasseter and PIXAR and SIGGRAPH for supporting him and screening his movie, and John Lasseter was as grateful to Frédéric Back for his perspective, his skills in 2-D animation and for being a major influence at PIXAR.

Have you seen "Wall-E?"

Some people, and I know who you are, dismiss animation as trivial, trite, insignificant time-wasters.

Excuse me. I need to step up on this soap box:

Animation, computer graphics, storytelling, graphics software, artists, innovators of an industry that is revolutionizing communication in media, science, sports and medicine... these applications and products and the people of this industry, like Geoff, are amazing and skilled. PIXAR is more than a cartoon studio. It is more than a commercial industry. PIXAR is an exemplary component of a creative force. And SIGGRAPH is an amazing forum for presenting the best of all the applications and frontiers of computer animation. When animation is good, and PIXAR is good, it should be understood that this is because of a merging of decades of effort, study, craftsmanship in many different disciplines, so that "Wall-E" and "A Bug's Life" are more than cartoons. Those stories reflect an incredible history of art, story telling, innovations in technology and developments, and people that work hard, passionately. Those cartoons are a collaboration across industries and across time, and they are pioneers in a field that will redefine the very same disciplines that shared in their creation. And if you think you can blow-off video games too, and you know who you are, you gotta another think coming.

Many years ago Geoff was drawn to a field that was in its infancy. He applied himself, heart and mind, to the scientific, computational and artistic study of computer graphics. Success aside, it has been a journey of love and passion, a quest to make one image better than the last and to keep moving forward. He has worked in business, academia, science, medicine, geology, education and entertainment, and I have a powerful pride about his work. I love people that work, people that can make something, who are curious and creative and willing to get messy, make mistakes, try again and share the knowledge. It's about curiosity, interest and wonder. Those people are awesome. I felt privileged to be in that audience and witnessing the past, present and future of computer animation, and I am, and always will be, grateful to Geoff for making it accessible to me, for sharing his passion.


OKay. Next week: Ub Iwerks: "The Hand Behind the Mouse" and more PIXAR love after the viewing the Leslie Iwerk documentary "The PIXAR Story."

And now, I am going to make dinner, shower, kill ants, feed chickens, unpack, and recover from a day in the big city.

Last Night We Went For a Walk

Thank you for the support and kindness. Abuelo's passing is sad mostly because it brings to mind distancia... how far away I feel from family, from feeling at home and connected. And my heart aches for my Abuela... she lost a husband of 70 years. Thank God for her faith. I think it will sustain her.

Geoff has been gone since Thursday, and today we pick him up at the airport. He was going to shuttle directly to work, but I cannot resist seeing him, even if it's only to drop him off at the office. Thanks to our cell phones, I think we talked more while he was away than when he is home. Sometimes we didn't talk at all, but having him on the phone helped me get through the day.


Going to the car wash is one of my favorite... activities? Events? Pastimes? Something. I just get a big kick out of sitting in the car, and riding through dirty and coming out clean. No brakes. Put it in neutral. I turn around and watch the children's faces as water and suds and big rollers splash and spin. We wait for the 3 color foam soap and multi-tentacles of the dryer cloths.


And this time? Oh this time was awesome, because the triple foam failed to perform and we almost drove away crest fallen and rainbowless, but they hailed us back! They said, "Go through again. You didn't get the color foam." Sweet. Like finding $20 in an old coat pocket. It's your $20, but it feels like found treasure.


After the car wash we went on an evening walk. It was a good idea to get out of the house.

Another good idea was finally celebrating Alex's 14th birthday. We invited Adam and Jacob over for a double feature, on our big screen, with gooey cheese nachos, stove popped popcorn, cold grapes, lemonade and pizza. We set out all of the good eats, dimmed the lights and let the films roll. And Adam and Jacob brought Alex a huge Lego set. People are amused to learn that Legos are still at the top of Alex's wish list. Trust me, those Legos were a huge hit with all of the children living here.


As many of you know, I have been a rebel, an outlaw. I cannot deny my ranchera roots, my cowgirl spirit, and that is why in this manicured-Garage Mahal neighborhood, living in the landlord's columned rental palace, I have snuck-in chickens. First there were 2... Lola and Betty.
When we realized we wanted needed 3, we brought home Pip.
We thought this was our final line-up, but then sweet little Lola died.
Still committed to the idea of having 3 hens, we introduced Amelia.
And for a while we got to just sit back and enjoy the sight of our 3 chicas, Betty, Pip and Amelia.
And wow! did they start to grow fast!
And make us happy!
They have even inspired great works of art.


It was during our visit to Oregon, that my mind proved to my heart that we had a rooster in our midst. I could not be sure about Amelia/o, but it was painfully obvious that our dear Pip was growing proud tail feathers and a cocky stride. If we were in another kind of neighborhood, if our yard were wider, deeper and our own, then this might not have to be a problem. Some roosters are nice and capable of being fine pets, stately additions to a family farm.

I took all 3 chicas to the feed store where they came from and asked Martin to come to the car and see what he could tell me about our situation. Martin could see what I saw and confirmed that Pip is a rooster. He also admired his pretty plumage and unique appearance and he invited Pip to stay there, either as a permanent resident or possibly to be adopted. Some farmers want roosters, and he assured me Pip was destined for a good home. Sigh. You don't think this was a *the dog is living on a farm now* kind of story, do you? Don't tell me. I don't want to know.

All the way home, Maria sang "Pip don't be a rooster. Come home Pip. Pip don't be a rooster. Come home Pip. Pip don't be a rooster. Come home Pip. Pip don't be a rooster. Come home Pip. Pip don't be a rooster. Come home Pip." It was a very sad song. Thinking of it generates endless wishful thinking.

Naturally I called Geoff from the parking lot of the feed store. I had to tell him the sad news, and promote myself... the responsible cowgirl, who can make the tough decisions. And I was ready to drive home, move forward, take my losses, but it was Geoff who said, "But we need more than 2 chickens. There's no sense putting it off, if there are chicks available now we should just go for it." That's the honest truth. See? I'm not the only outlaw in the family.


We will have to raise these day old chicks separately from the teenage chicas, but I think they will catch-up and adjust soon enough. This dark chocolate baby is a Dark Bantam, and the boys were awestruck with the breed name and immediately and simultaneously declared: "Her name has to be Fantam the Bantam!"


And this little Buttercup is a is a Golden Wyandotte. Considered a friendly breed and certainly very pretty... she and Fantam look like peanut butter and chocolate together.


I just love the markings on these 2. They are very sweet together and we are enjoying their smallness... now that we are so *experienced,* we have a greater appreciation for how quickly this little chicky phase passes.

It's hard to get good pictures of chicks. They move so fast. Peck, scurry, peck, peck, peck. The camera captures dozens of fuzzy blurs, little feathery somethings, lost in the big picture.


Amelia can be almost as hard to capture. She and Betty are on the move and big! Amelia fancies herself a parrot. She loves to perch on shoulders, and she has no trouble flying up or down.


"Ooh arggh, Amelia!" She's setting a course for a patch of green grass.


The best times of this week have been in the garden, watching Joe and Amelia and Betty free range, while we keep very watchful eyes on the new chicas. The weather has been pleasant, comfortable. We have no big plans or commitments. Our carrots and tomatoes are getting full and plump. Lola's garden is abundant with blooms.


Even with a good camera, I cannot always get the picture I want, but these fuzzy farm photos are a happy reminder that we have had some good days, some enjoyable times... amusing and tranquil.


There are plenty of cold grapes and crisp nectarines to feed us the flavors of summer. I talk to my mom almost daily and she is making some progress, managing as best she can, and I am glad that her Mommy is with her this week. I finished 2 blocks worth of hand quilting on Ruth's quilt. One day at a time, recognizing the pleasures and blessings, appreciating what is good. I look forward to more evening walks and double features.

It's almost time to head to the airport. More joy ahead!

In Case of Fire...


Happy Birthday Alex!

That's not what Alex woke to this morning. No, what he and everyone else woke to was me calling, "Geoff! There's a fire in the kitchen! Help!"*
My thoughts were immersed in a phone conversation with my grandmother, as she gave me the details and discussed her concerns about my mom's condition, when the pre-heat bell on the oven sounded, I turned to see huge flames coming from the oven. "Uh. Grandma, I have to go. There seems to be a fire."

Alex's single wish and specification for his birthday was croissants for breakfast. Sweet boy. Easy request. But the proofing croissants dripped butter, apparently, and the butter pooled on the bottom of the oven, and that is what caught on fire. The house filled with smoke... interesting to note we do not have smoke detectors. Stinky, stinky smoke and the croissants, that had looked so puffy and ready to bake, collapsed in a dejected heap... they looked sad, but not as sad as Alex.

Everyone put on shoes, drag a comb across your head. We are going to the French bakery. Thank goodness we have a French bakery to go to.

I cannot shelter them from the sad news, the series of unfortunate events. I cannot hide my anxiety and gloss over the setbacks, though I do try. Believe it or not, I do spare even Chickenblog all of the tragedies and gory details. But life is an uneven journey and in case of fire, gather your loved ones and make a new plan. Never give up. Never surrender!

*Geoff said, "You should have taken a picture of the flames for Chickenblog."
I laughed and said, "Oh, yes. That would say so much about me: I didn't have the wherewithal to throw baking soda on the fire, but here's a cool picture I took!"

Party Knights and Father's Day

The fun lasted 6 hours. We made memories for a lifetime. Alex's 13th birthday celebration was a day full of great friends, play and laughter, lots of food and a castle cake. What an event. See this crowd? This is a fun bunch of people. Let's add enthusiastic, generous, loving, energetic, and really cool. They came ready to participate in the whole medieval scene. Holly brought her ample store of crowns and weapons. Gene and Carol were in full Renaissance garb, and they looked spectacular. Everyone found a way to play, like playing softball, launching foam tipped arrows, constructing knights and dragons to populate the castle and even tossing around some water balloons.


Alex's king of the castle was soon joined by his loyal subjects each drawn and assembled by friends and family. We made good use of tin cans, glue and glitter.


Max helped set up the kingdom, complete with its secret stash of castle treasure; the dungeon was full of chocolates and poppers!


Here is the catapult Geoff and Alex designed and constructed last week. It worked awesomely... really, it was launching hundreds of orbs and never once failed or caused injury. I think we could rent it out for corporate events and unconventional weddings.


All able bodied knights and ladies were welcome to operate the catapult. Objective: Take down the castle! Michelle made the first significant hit! Rich penetrated the castle gate.


Here's Nick checkin out the damage. Once we were satisfied that the king was willing to surrender we sent the children charging forth to plunder the contents. The castle went down. Its mighty curtain wall and formidable tower were shredded and the treasure was hauled away by the triumphant warriors.


Some of the castle loot included wrapped surprises for a game of gift stealing. Is there an official name for the stealing game? We each had a chance to pick a gift from the pile, and gifts could be lost to the next player. In the end everyone takes home something, like a kite, lotion, a bike horn, Altoids, a tape measure... good, good stuff. Tough choices.


Rich and Jeff, negotiating a swap?


Geoff worked hard setting up and then cleaning up, but in between he got to sit back and relax, take in a facial from these two lovely ladies.


Last night Alex laid his gifts out end to end and basked in their gloriousness. He was thrilled with all the fresh art supplies (which regularly run-out in this house) from Meera, Dhyana, Michelle. He invited Max to join him when he excavates medieval treasures from the gift that Rob gave him. He has new books to read, and some cool shirts to wear, thanks to Rachel, Tamsyn, Jeff, and Nick. Mitchell, Enrico, Naomi, Sydney and Chris gave him gift cards, so did Adam and Jacob... more fun to come! He has new Lego sets to construct thanks to James and Deanne, and Hans and Gretchen. There are lots of cool things we look forward to playing with, like the moon phases light and the new cake form. Wow! Wow... very generous.


Isn't it fun to watch someone open gifts? It's a little bit of magic. Pulling back the paper and revealing a secret, the reflection of someone's thoughtfulness. Alex wants to use his new paints and charcoals to make thank you cards for everyone.

Happy Father's Day
After a very busy week and a long day of reveling, I think we are all going to enjoy this quieter day. I made thick, cinnamon French toast and turkey bacon. Geoff watched a new SpongeBob DVD with the kids. I suppose we'll be cleaning some, and we plan on taking a long walk. We have some calls to make too. But mostly we are going to enjoy a calm, less hectic time together. It feels good to have time to reflect on how great life can be.

Happy Birthday Alex

We are still excited about our one afternoon on Lake New Melones; our first time tubing! What a blast.

I don't have a scanner, which I could use to upload dozens of baby pictures of my Alex. Cute. Oh my God, he was the cutest baby. He smiled all the time, like a curly topped cherub. His cheerful demeanor filled my heart... nothing's changed. This child, my son Alex, is good. He is kind and intelligent, he acts thoughtfully, in accordance with his convictions and beliefs. He has internalized values and morals that even some adults struggle to achieve. He is inventive and dedicated to learning. I am not straining to think of nice things to say about him. I am trying to not sound disingenuous, like I am overly proud. My children are my blessings, my dreams coming true and I hold them dear. They fill my days, my heart and my soul with reasons to rejoice and give thanks.

Alex, happy birthday. You are destined for greatness, the kind that fills your life with deep satisfaction, surrounds you with lasting friendships, caring family and comfort. Thank you mi'jo. Thank you for everything you do and are. We love you.

Sing "Happy Birthday" to Alex. He's 12 today.
He likes Lego bricks, robots, frogs, drawing, cooking, body surfing, riding his bicycle, reading, playing Oblivion, guavas, gardening, and camping. He lost two teeth this week. He wants to go to Monterey Bay this summer, see the movies "Cars" and "Pirates," and read more books like, Eragon, by Christopher Paolini and The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman. His favorite color is blue, like the ocean in Hawaii. His favorite food is still stuffed French toast, "It hasn't changed." He likes Legoland, building towers from blocks, and sleeping outside. He wants to take more cooking classes.

He's fun to be with; his attitude is bright and caring. He helps and inspires. He is dedicated, responsible and considerate. His humor is spontaneous and intelligent. We love this wonderful boy.

Here's the first Soquel baby... baby George lives with Bill and Alison, and I have the feeling he'll be in for a rude awakening when his baby brother is born in September.


He looks like a big honey of a cat. I look forward to meeting him someday.

June is a birthday month. 3 birthdays were being celebrated this weekend, when Bill, Alison, Gretchen and Hans went to Oregon and saw Delia and Ron. Looks as though they had a good time. Happy birthdays Mom, Hans and Bill!

This morning on the phone:
Dave (prospective landlord): What can I tell you?
Me: Can we bring pets?
Dave: What do you have?
Me (lying): We have a rabbit and a cat.
Dave: No. No. A rabbit will eat all of my flowers. The whole garden will be destroyed.
Me: Actually, he's in a cage.
Dave: What else?
Me: The cat.
Dave: Are you interested in getting rid of it?
Me: No... I think we'll look elsewhere... thanks...
Dave: How about more rent?
Me: Raise the rent month to month for 1 cat?!
Dave: Yes.
Me: No. We'll find something else. Thank you. Good-bye.
Dave: Well, I have to tell you: You are not what we are looking for. You are not a good fit.

Alex may be growing up,
but none of us could ever be too big
for a hug from Grandma Nancy.



Alex's party was a full house event.
Full of family, friends and fun.



Speaking of growing up...
if I am no older than I was 5 years ago,
how can these little girls be growing up already?

Let's begin by wishing Alex a happy birthday: Happy Birthday 11 year old boy!

Last night Geoff's grandmother constructed a list describing all of the activities that have been going on in the last week. From Minnesota, Wisconsin and Tennessee we have been enjoying the company of family visitors: Nancy, Kayla, Laura, Gary and Sophie, Jane and Alison, and Lily and Phil. Nancy's list was elaborate and took a group effort to compile, because they have been doing a lot in one week. Some went to Tijuana, some went to Julian, at least 3 trips were made to beaches, and there was the beach volley ball tournament, Old Town, kayaking, surf lessons, the Zoo, antique shopping, birthday shopping, hanging out at Holly and Rich's and Friday we celebrated Alex's birthday with a volcano cake and more friends and family. And even though I didn't participate in half of these activities, I still managed to stay too busy to keep up on Chicken Blog.

A lot of family had early flights home this morning. ( I wonder if they took off before the quake?) I enjoyed their visit, but like most time spent with people you love, it was over too soon. We have two more days to visit with Nancy, Kayla, Sophie, Lily and Phil. I should give them a call and catch up with the plan of the day.

We've picked out a pie, and bought party favors. His friends are invited for a Friday night swim and sleepover. My little Alex, the smiler, the soft spoken one with the heart melting grin is 9 years old today. He's been planning this day since March and looking forward, the way children do, to being one year older. I'm not ready. Of course I am not ready to host a party; there's a bit of house work to do. But I am really not ready to watch my boys get older. Why are they so precious at every stage that I just want to preserve them and stop time? Baby Alex was incredibly cute and cuddley. Toddler Alex carried Beanie Babies in a basket and was always full affection. All through kindergarten he wore his boots; he could assemble the most advanced Lego set and puzzles, he could care for a flower seed until it blossomed. I may not be ready, but I am grateful. Alex is a boy to be proud of and it is comforting to see that, though I wish he were still a little boy, he is growing to be a very capable and responsible big boy with new skills and new ambitions and as much affection and sweetness as ever. Happy Birthday to Alex and happy growing too!

A special poem was in the email box this morning. It came all the way from Hawaii, with perceptive insight and deep aloha:



Alex has a twinkle in his eye,
sometimes he's a funny, tricky guy,
but his heart is kind, he gives us joy,
he'll always be our sunny boy.

Alex loves guavas, burgers and fries,
chickens and Legos and fireflies.
He's kind to plants, small children too,
a friend to all, a real true blue.
He can handle his money and can save a dime.
He likes Bionicles too, but I no can rhyme.

Happy Birthday to Alex, one of the best,
I love you true, you know the rest.

Your Tutu