off they go

Mel & I took Dad & Clare to the airport last night :( Their flight was delayed a couple hours because of the weather in London but they still got to go home, unlike some other holiday travelers :/

It sure was fun having them in town & glad they got to stay with us! :) Miss you already! Come back soon :)

momma

Wishing my Mom the happiest of

Happy Birthdays!!!!!!

Huge hugs & love momma! =)

xoxoxooxoxox

melster a paris

Mel is having a total hoot in Paris, as she always does =)

I wish I were there too!

michelle

Michelle won 3rd place in her age group for the day. Yea!!

encino

Yesterday the Hills came up to our area to race at the Encino
velodrome. This is an outdoor one & I'm thinking I got a wee bit too
much sun! Oops :)

Becky, Rich & Michelle all raced a few races each. Again way fun. Alex
might come out & try the track on one of it's open nights.

blur

This blur is Becky zooming by. We have some good pix from the real
camera but this is what we got with the phone :)

bikes!

(this is Becky warming up)

We went down to Carson on saturday to meet up w/alex's brother &
family at the velodrome down there. We didn't even know it existed but
it's a totally fun place. They had done some fun riding the night
before but Becky was the only one racing. It was so much fun to watch
& to see it all. Who knew. :)

bon voyage

We all took Mel to the airport today. She's off to Paris for a week
then on to Israel for a few months to set up a digital studio there.
What ever will I do without her down (up?) the road! Yikes!!

Have fun Mel. Hugs & squeezes. Can't wait to read your blog :p

lounge

Dad & Alex relaxing at the house on the "staged" patio. They should have had it like this years ago!

hanging

Alex & Dashi hanging out in our office. :)

home

Alex & the kitty happy to see each other again. Yea!

growing up

This week is a year since our kitty, Dashi, was born. This is what we figured out from how old they said he was when we got him from the shelter. We decided his birthday should be around the 16th of march. Yea! Happy Birthday little one! He's such a cutie & we are so happy to have him in our lives. Someday we'll have a house that he can run around & most importantly, more than one window!

Omi

My grandmother passed away last weekend after Thanksgiving. It was not sudden as she hadn't been too healthy this past month, but that doesn't make it any easier. I had been thinking about what to say on my blog about it but hadn't gotten anything "on paper" when my sister sent her email to her friends & family about it. What she says is so eloquent and rings so true I asked her if I could post it. She graciously said yes so here it is.

Love you Omi!

Begin forwarded message:

From: Melissa Kurtz

Date: December 2, 2008 12:40:24 AM PST>

Subject: In Loving Memory of my Grandmother

My grandmother, Sara Briar Kurtz (I called her Omie, the German name for grandmother), has passed away. At the grand age of 95, she had lived a long and fabulous life and had enjoyed many adventures all over the world. We are very sad to lose her love, energy, companionship and guidance and she will be greatly missed...

From Omie I learned the enrichment of artistic expression, the power of determination, the love of travel and new adventures, the reward of pursuing knowledge and learning, the value of hard work, the joy of cooking, and the wonderful model of deep loyalty and love she shared with her husband, Eldo (Opa to me), to whom she was married for 66 years. She was an amazing woman and I have enjoyed the significant time I have been able to spend with her throughout my life, and especially over these past few years.

She died peacefully in her sleep after enjoying a lovely Thanksgiving weekend. I wish her well on her transition to a place where her spirit will soar and dance without limits.

With love and light,

Melissa

(photo of Omie and me at her surprise 95th birthday party)

mishka!

Mel & Alex went to the movies tonight (I was working) and she just left our place. At midnight we took this picture & I got to be the FIRST to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! LOVE YA Mel! Huge hugs & squeezes xoxoxox

dinner date

From a few weeks ago.

We met up with Alex's (ex)cousin Hannah and her friends when they came up to Pasadena from San Diego. We hadn't seen her in a while. It was really great to see her. She's such a good egg. We need to go down & visit her!

palm springs

lazy weekend

Just us & the cat on the couch =) I wish you could see Dashi better but he blends in!

lunchables

Before Dad left town he came over to my office for lunch. Mel met us there too! It's kinda funny cause there are quite a few people at my office who want to meet Dad but every time he comes by no one is there! They are out that day or having a long birthday lunch or whatever. Oh well. Their loss :) It's fun to spend any time with him that I can.

missing the kid

It's been a year since cousin Zoe appeared on our door step for an all-too-short summer visit. I really can't believe it's been that long. Although, at the same time it feels ages (too long) since she left. We had so much fun! And although we were all working we did so much. The WB tour was one of my favorites, but Venice might have been the best. But then there was Santa Barbara, the Hollywood Bowl, the photography place, pirate adventure...!! My only question is... When is she coming back? We miss her!

happy howard day

Today is Alex's Dad's birthday & we are so bummed we aren't in England to share the day with him & Jan. Boooooooo. So we are sending love & hugs from here and hope today is the best!!!

I saw this & thought it was way cute. This is for you Howard. Happy day!

mother's day!

Today we came to Omi's home to spend mother's day with her and Mom.
Meis, Alex & I brought some fixing and made waffles! Yum. Before we
left home Alex got to talk with his parents, so that was fun :)

Happy day to all mothers and mother types in our life!

home away from home

Alex's parents are off again to the boat in the UK. They've arrived
safely (yea!) and are visiting friends on the way from London to the
boat. Can't wait to hear about the adventures this season!

I also am totally jealous & want to visit as soon as possible. :)

on the town

family

We had dinner at Omie's with Dad, Clare & her sons & grand kids. Mel was a trooper as a host and Dad & Clare made yummy yummy food. We played & talked for a long while after. Alex was so tired, as was I, but as D&C were leaving in the morning I stayed as long as I could.

I wish D&C could have stayed longer but I guess we'll just have to go see them, eh?
Safe travels & look forward to the next visit.

lunchables

Dad & Mel came over to have lunch with me. We went to eat downstairs from my office. That was fun. I showed them around the office & our space & new space (moving rooms over the holidays). It's kinda funny, for days people have been excited Dad was coming cause they all want to meet him (a lot of SW fans here) but when he came they were all out for a 3 hour birthday lunch. oh well. they loose & he got a calmer visit =)

Thanks for coming guys. That was fun. More please.

camp with the hills

Around the fire. What a fun place. It's fun to see Alex's family. We figured out that the Hills have been coming here for about 35 years. This is the best part of the trip, the camping. None of us were very impressed with the dinner last night so we're not sure what will happen next year. This year the weather is beautiful! Clear & crisp, but still warm enough when playing frisbee in the meadow. Way cold at night though! Eek. It does make me want to go camping in the spring/summer when I don't have to be totally bundled all night.

We brought enough wood to keep the fire going for days!

t-giving dinner

We are back at the yearly haunt of the St. George in Volcano. We got to the camp site in time to pitch the tent & have a short chat before coming down the hill.

mdk

Happy Happy Birthday Melster. you are truly the world's greatest sister. I hope you are having fun w/Mr. Monks & the gang & Bunny at her home. We miss you down here but will take you out when you get back.

Huge hugs & love!!!!

no cal

This weekend we are in Northern California. The North Bay part, where I spent part of my childhood, not South Bay, where Alex grew up.

We left LA late last night (10pm) and A was a trooper & drove the whole way. We got to Bunny's around 4am & A went to bed. Bunny & I stayed up another hour.

We got up late & I helped Bun with some computer stuff & A taught her about subscribing to podcasts. She made us yummy french toast & we left very late to our next stop. How great to see Bunny! It's been too long.

podcast lessons

oops

Last night my grandmoter (Dad's mom whom I call Omie) took a fall daon some of her stairs at home. Mom got her to the hospital & apparently she fractured her shoulder. Bummer. We went by today to visit her. I guess it hurt quite a lot last night but she's a lot better today. She might get to go home tomorrow. Alex came as well & even Zoe was a trooper to visit & talk with Omie. So we all send her huge hugs & love & wishes for a speedy recovery.xoxoxox

17 today!!!

Today (since it's after midnight) is Zoe's 17th birthday. Yea! We had some cake, candles & baloons. Happy Birthday kiddo. We're so glad you are sharing it with us. :)

dinner and a show!

For Dylan's birthay (which is next month, but he won't still be here) we all trooped down south to the "O.C." to go to Medievil Times "dinner & tournement". I really thought I would make it through life never having been to it, but here we are. It was actually fun in the end. I'll have to write more later (when I'm not writing on my treo palm) but once you're in there you have a knight to root for, so that's cool. And you're fed a meal to eat with your hands. We figure, if nothing else, we could show Zoe a cliche american entertainment event.

38

Today I had an international birthday. AJH got me breakfast from our fave sunday place, Portos, which is Cuban, and he gave me a beautiful b-day present of a necklace that is kind of Tibetan-ish (so pretty-Thank you!!). After an afternoon of fun home projects Mel & Mom came over & we went to Pasadena for dinner/movie. We ate at a great Indian place we like, All India Cafe. Mom hadn't really had Indian food before so that was fun to introduce her to. Then we went to see "Paris, Je t'aime" which is a bunch of 3 minute (or so) shorts that take place in Paris (more later). It was much fun and felt like we were in Paris. All in all a fun day. Not a big deal, but really very lovely.

today...

Is my birthday. Today I am officially in my "late" 30s. It's a weird year for me. I usually love birthdays & like to get together with friends 7 have some laughs. This year a quiet time seems in order.

Our 2 week trip to the east coast was a sort of birthday present for me and we did so much and had such adventures that it seems as if the "big day" has already passed. It will be nice to have a quiet SUnday routene & spend the day with my husband. That's my idea of a good time. This evening with him, my mother & sister.

Here's to another year on the planet. I hope I can do as much for it as it's done for me.

Cheers!!

jolly good greetings

We're sending out huge hugs & love to our Dads on this father's day. They are both in England so we can't see them but we are thinking of them lots. :)

birthday's all round

I want to send out birthday wishes to the slew of family & friends celebrating their birth this week.

Mom Hill yesterday, may 28th.
Kaye today, may 29th
Ty & Russ both tomorrow, may 30th
Venecia on Saturday, jun 2nd
and Bret on monday, jun 4th.

Phew! I'm sure there's more I'm not remembering.

Huge hugs to you all!!!!!!!!

parental switch

A commented that it's funny that right now my Dad is in California, while his Dad is in England. It's usually the other way round.

The Hills left last week to head back to their boat which has been docked in the South-West of England for a few months while they were home in NoCal. I'm still so proud of them, and quite frankly in awe, that they made the trip across the Atlantic in their fun boat, Lapwing. I'm also grateful that we got to meet them as they sailed into England after all these years of travel. What a great day that was.

Right now they've rented a cottage whilst they get the boat fixed up & "ship shape" (hee hee). Then we'll see where they head next.

I'm hoping (& I'm not alone) that they start a blog of some sort so we can keep up with their adventures in the British Isles. And some uploaded photos maybe. I so love to read their update e-mails from the boat.

Another great adventure team!!!

(more on my dad in a future post)