Dancing

Anyone who knows me understands that I love to dance. As a teenager I won a dance contest with Bernie Caruso. With the right partner I am unbeatable.....even won a tango contest at one time as an adult.

Friends have been addicted to "Dancing with the Stars" but I am not much of a tv viewer so I have only caught glimpses of it over the years. This year I watched the first show of the season and became addicted. I will not repeat that addiction for the next season. The "voting" public committed a travesty which culminated in the elimination of the only possible contender for the top spot. Ridiculous!

Crank Mail

After three letters came from a bank in Delaware saying I had an inactive account, I called their 800 number. Turns out that a "zillion" years ago Frank and I opened a secured credit card account. The woman who answered the 800 number asked if I wanted to deactivate the account and receive a check for the balance in it. I asked her what the balance was. Shockingly it was NOT chump change so I said sure, send it to me. Received yesterday a check for $XXXX.xx! Paying off my only current credit card with this unforeseen windfall!

Summer away from Arizona

I started my summer away from Arizona with 2 1/2 weeks in Michigan. It was sublime: first, time with my friend Bonnie at her son's home (he is in Iraq) on a beautiful lake. Her company and time on the lake were very relaxing. I then drove to visit cousins in the Detroit area: Mary in Saginaw where I met many of her wonderful friends, Grosse Pointe and a small reunion with cousins and time with my lovely cousin Anne and her husband Ed, finally a couple of days with Julie and her husband Mark.......all in all delightful!

July found me in Boston with my dear friend Allyson. Three weeks there where I met many of her friends in the North End, as well as a couple of days in Maine where she met my friend Holly. Great weather for the most part but as Boston became muggy and hot (it was July after all!), I headed to California.

This is my third August in California. My rental in Marina del Rey in 2007 had a great location but the unit had no cross ventilation which was annoying at best. Last year the location was good except the beach was not so close. However I did discover the wonders of Abbott Kinney with my now favorite restaurant Primitivo. The unit offered not only cross ventilation but a nice deck for morning coffee. This year I have not been so lucky. The unit I rented is very very small. It's location is good, closish to the beach and restaurants, but parking is on the street which means moving each Monday and Tuesday which is annoying and the laundry facilities are within the complex but I have to pay extra.

I am already scoping out locations for next year. The price must be right but it must include parking and laundry so I will take my time.

I know you are wondering why I am complaining since I do not have to be in blazing Arizona and I have the luxury of being retired so I can travel, but I am still searching for the perfect location to rent next summer in California.

Celebrate the 4th of July!

I am in Southern California visiting my son Adam and his family. Tomorrow I will pick up my son Jonathan who will fly down from San Francisco. We will have the traditional barbecue with hot dogs for the kids, brats for the "grown ups," potato salad, corn on the cob and watermelon. To celebrate two birthdays there will be a cake. To top it off we will troop to the beach where Esme will experience her first fireworks. All in all a celebration of our nation's independence in a very traditional way.

Couldn't happen to a nicer couple

The Madoffs