Thanksgiving Reunion 2012

Friday, November 23 was our appointed day at Clubhouse #3 in Laguna Woods. Mom couldn't capture the very Thanksgiving day so she opted for second best. It was the same banquet room we used for Dad's 90th birthday and one other Thanksgiving a while back. It had the big restaurant size kitchen and all the tables and chairs. We settled for the room.

We also decided to do a reunion with Aunt Sara and Uncle Charley's side of the family who we love and cannot gather with unless there is a wedding or funeral, so we had extra joy to celebrate about. Food was over-plentiful and desserts glared back. A tipsy of wine and appetizers and alot of standing around. By the time we settled into our chairs we piled on obscene amounts of turkey, potato puff, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams, vegetables, sausage and peppers, pasta ( two kinds), salad. butternut squash and extras. If I were to rate the best of the best on the main food line I would say potato puff, my gourmet stuffing ( Bobby Flay I bow to you), and the salads. I loved the yam casserole as well. Mom's caponata was the main event at the appetizer table and a famous artichoke dip. Mare's carrot soup in the crockpot was a humongous hit.

The event pulled off by Mare was an event. She decorated in harvest colors and the kitchen was swarming with hands washing and preparing. I counted 34 people but I could be missing some. Not all could be present.
Some of the pics below:

I plant Mary Ellen's smiling face first since she was the creator and coordinator of the event. She was a veteran for decades serving the Szabo clan in their huge events. Natch. She was the one.

Mom, our matriarch was shuttled over to the clubhouse to oversee the family. Here she is cuddling to her son, Frank, our Bro.

The next wise and wonderful is Aunt Conny, who lives in our lives. My Larry, the honorable Dr. Larry, sits close.

Dr. Phil, our Bro arrived with wine in hand. He is 59 yrs young. I stare at his youthful appearance and know he received the genes we all wished for.

Time to honor the generations in this picture. Uncle Charley, in the middle, who is now inching towards 86 yrs old, still culturally and musically in the zone, an avid enthusiast of critical thinking, and the arts. His constant love of painting keep him forever young and we bow to his genius. To the right, my old and constant cyber friend and brother in laughable crime is Jack Tulanian, cousin Sandy's spouse. Yes, the story goes I knew Jack before Sandy did. They brought forth a precious daughter Amari, bright and beautiful. To the left, is Donna, my baby sis who is forever dancing and on stage whether in a theater or not. Her youthful appearance says there is hope for a Convertino after 50.

Nice pic of three generations. Aunt Sara to the right is the last of the sisters trio. She is into life and all it can offer saying her social calendar is full to the brim! Maria her middle daughter, my cousin stands behind her graciously beautiful daughter Sara. Sara is married with two gorgeous children, Michael (6) and Maddy ( 4). Both children eagerly came to all of us, unknowingly and hugged us. That speaks volumes of how family is prioritized in her parental teachings. Sara announced she is pregnant with her third baby. Yea!

Nadine, a consummate Mom and wife, is recovering from her October back surgery. She is doing well and her son, Tim standing here is making sure she does not overdo. Beautiful boy. Tall like his Dad. Nadine is our precious gem in our family.

The boys, er, uhm, the Men. Attorney Tim Peabody is center, Nadine's hubby, and to the right, Jay Bagnall, Rosanne's sweetheart. Mike Navarro to the left, still surfing and working out and getting younger with Dr. Larry's help.

Here is our Ro. Aunt Sara's daughter, Jay's wife and mother to three of the kids who could not make the event, Erica, Jamie and family and Bren. Rosanne is one of those people who can do anything and make it look easy. She was Mare's right hand in the kitchen.

Cathy my sis center and to the right Appelusa, Jason's longtime GF and Jason , my son, to the left. Appelusa teaches skating and does photography (head shots for young actors) and Jason well, you name it. Artistic endeavors, directing, editing, scriptwriting and recently, architectural renderings for a huge sculpture. All of his aspirations are shooting stars.

Cathy's kids. Dean to the left, home from Chapman University and had just finished his soccer season. Gina, home from freshman year at San Diego State as a coxsain on Crew. She is loving college but can't wait to cook again with Aunt Bettye. Marc, the man is following the same track as Dad, Mike. He is involved with Commercial real estate work. Warms all of our hearts to have them with us together. We are loving their company so much.

Okay, okay. Someone else took this picture of me, Jason and Appel.  Here I am flushed from the heat, hair curling infinitum.

The kids table. Nika, my niece on the left, Amari, my cousin next to her ( Sandy and Jack's child) and the far two on the right, Kelly and Matt, Nadine and Tim's kids. Adorable! Nika has a serious bond with Amari and they so love each other.

Marc and Lea. Lea is Mare and Phil's oldest daughter. Jenna could not make it but Councilman-to-be-Matt stopped in for some dinner. I am remiss with a picture of him but check out my past blogs to see him.

Newcomers to my blog! Chris on the left, who is the love of cousin Maria's life, a good man and happy to have him in our family. Jesse on the right is the proud Papa of Maddy, Michael and baby X, Sara's ( Maria's daughter) hubby.

Cousins in a row. Phil Szabo in the background, Mare's husband, then Ro, Mare and Cathy at the stove preparing the food.


Now we are faced with digestive enzymes, naps and slow moving activities to help counter the meal. Maybe the idea of a Black Friday is, lights out! Blackout! However, in its final hour, we gave thanks to all of us with the glorious prayerful words of Phil, those here and departed, especially for JoLynn's Dad passing and Tim's Dad passing, oddly on the same day. I missed a picture with JoLynn, but here is one from a month ago.

JoLynn, Frank's wife is a blessed one in our family. Her compassion, love and courage is exemplary. Frank and Jo came alone as Joey and Katie, Katie and Drew were in Tennessee starting their life and Christy, pregnant with twins, and Tim had another commitment to Tim's Mom.



Distract the Mind: Go to Fashion!

Some fashion trends last such a short time you begin to wonder if your purchase will ever be worn again. I look at the styles that abhore me, like the shortened skirts and blouses in front while the back hangs like a poor construction. Or the short jackets with underneath blouses lagging below. The shoes that are dangerously high to create a splintering bones lest they trip and fall. The raucous colors that urge everyone to buy. ( I have Mediterranean skin that casts a glow that orange and yellow simply do not aesthetically enhance.)

Then I look at the traditional styles that stay forever. I recall those with Princess Diana and now I am renewed looking at Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Her style warms me and for such a young woman can restore the hope in young women everywhere.

So please tell me what happened to hats? We gloried in hats, both men and women pre-war and post war days then nothing. Now we have the sloppy look not just to keep warm but to remain hip. Part of clubbing or groupies. It does not synch up with the kind of clothing you want to remember. It is simply a statement of this is who I am today and don't mess with me. Rather, Kate portrays a look of this is who I am as a statement of dignity, formality, design. She is Project Runway with an aire of respectability. Yet, Kate can look fetching in zara jeans and Le Chameau boots in the outdoor wild as well as wearing English designed outfits with waist cinching belts and arresting jewelry and accessorizing impeccably. Is she leading by example? Maybe not in our nation, but in European circles she does. We westerners have dialed in to the age be it pioneer, western, change of century, challenging runway art. We move in the circles of what "others" trail and on occasion, we do see some wild, crazy, non-harmonious outfits in our day.

Kate goes to formal events. She celebrates others victories. She goes to tea.
We pick up our kids, go to work, have weekend BBQ parties in the backyard, slouch on the sofa watching reality television. We don't have a stylist pampering us and choosing outfits that enhance our figures or hats that hide our gray hair. LOL. It's an interesting idea to take on English culture. After all, they have an investment in our territory. Didn't they start the idea of taxation during the American Revolution? Ah, yes. Well. Money makes the world go round and it buys beautiful clothes.

Now I should think about Men's fashion. Where shall I begin?



East Coast Traumatized

From my West Coast perspective it would seem New York is a bramble bush of bad karma. This time it radiated to surrounding areas and devastation that was painful to watch. This last decade was filled with pain and it has left its mark among us.

This was not an act of God. Who started that phrase? Do you know it is voiced in legal circles? What God would forge this upon its own? No God I would call Creator of all the heavens. We have birthed a conglomeration of gods here among our living. They play with science and switches and weaponry and the like. They fight among themselves singing a repetitious karaoke of global warming, yet what truth exists about our poles lies hidden in a nest of cavernous distortions. Our storms are getting bigger and more monstrous. Our floodings more treacherous. Our rebuilding much slower or not at all. Detroit stands as a monument to negligence and apathy. New Orleans stands as a cruel cruel joke with dismissiveness to have not corrected the waterways until it was too late; to even think to build upon a sea coast without armor or elevation. We all gloried in the idea that water next to residences was quaint and lovely. Yet, no one is prepared for the ghoulish activities that crush hopes and architecture. Where is the planning? Have we not learned from the countless hurricanes in Florida?

Now we face homeless and jobless individuals that may not be able to restore. Money will go to the most important areas of commerce. People cannot sustain a ray of hope for very long because the climatic change never stops. The parts of our nation that still weep over towns that were wiped out from tornadoes ( who talks about that anymore?), the damage from any kind of flooding that brings diseased sea creatures and mold to structures, weaking any kind of infrastructure for all time. All the mini Fukushima's. Will there be enough of a loan from banks to these people to rebuild? How many nuclear reactor's were in the path of this storm? Well, 14 plants were put on alert when Hurricane Irene blew through last August.

Funds? They found that 25% of the funding to Fukushima was spent on unrelated projects. This kind of greed and mismanagement and betrayal continues to exist whereever there is disastrous need. I fear for these folks. I fear for all citizens who believe they are safe. No one is safe and yet, we present a pose of being the umbrella for all those who come and want to be safe. The storm is not over. It is just the calm before the storm for us on the West wing of this country. We are not that naive to think only the midwest, the northeast, the south are the only victims of climatic change.



Underwater, fallen trees, piers demolished, boardwalks in pieces, no gasoline, shelters for homeless, unlivable homes, businesses destroyed, searching for food in a store with a flashlight, transportation either under a river of water or completely gone, fires from hot wires, cars stuck in sand, roads buckled from the force of a wave and undrivable. Debris and stagnant water with creeping disease, below freezing temperatures and more storms on the way.

My cousin Joe is in Syracuse and was free from the rage. My Uncle Mario only had clean up on his front lawn. Our family is safe.

We pray for these citizens who are only victims

of an unworthy assault.

Bragging about my Nieces and Nephews

 Johanah, my brother Phil's child, has matured into a beauty in her 20's. She is here very happy indeed with her boyfriend.

My nephew Joey, my brother Frank's child, and newly aquired niece Katie, just married. Joey is enrolled in Vanderbuilt in Tennessee on a scholarship to study Theology and teach. His goal is PhD.

My nephew Dean, my sister Cathy's second son, is on the soccer field at Chapman University, studying under a soccer scholarship. Dean is adored by all.

My Goddaughter, Nika, my sister Donna's child, is our angel. She is now enrolled in junior year high school at Dana Hills in Dana Point and is currently in chamber choir, always aspiring in musical productions on stage and preparing her mind for pre-med.

Cousin Johanah joins our other angel in this picture, Gina, my sister Cathy's girl. Gina has accomplished nerve wracking jaunts on the open sea with crew in Newport Beach and after those years enrolled in San Diego State University as a coxsain on the crew team with partial scholarship. Gina misses us all and we send cyber hugs.

There are the boys. Marc and Dean, sister Cathy's sons. Mark is working in the field of commercial real estate and still very much a part of our family gatherings. Dean is enrolled in Chapman University.

Jenna and Lea in background, my sister Mary Ellen's girls. Jenna is a creator of the most interesting and eye popping photography. Lea is a working girl, and an expert in organizing catering. Cathy my sis in the foreground.

My nephew Matt, my sister Mary Ellen's son, has finished many years with LA City Hall, working as Deputy Chief of Staff for the LA mayor. Right now, he is campaigning for an LA City Council seat for District 13. Vote Matt in 2013!
http://www.voteszabo.com/

Christy (married to Tim) is my brother Frank's girl, now is pregnant with twins!



Katie (married to Drew) ( bro Frank's daughter) who recently married is living in Tennessee.

Let's just add one more. My kid. Jason will turn 37 this November( lives with longtime GF Appelusa) and in the throes of juggling independent photoshoots, small film gigs and screenwriting. His creativity is mind boggling. http://www.nooring.com/NOORING_PRODUCTIONS.html

Not Finished with Summer Yet

I remember living back East when September became my favorite time of the year, moving into the autumn months, colorful falling leaves, cool breezes, cold nights and an imminent smell of snow in the air. Since I have become a Californian all that is a past life. I need to rely on memory which is fading fast, however I try to upload autumn scenes from webshots so I can reminisce while staring at a computer desktop.

I have a new blog co-authored with Larry and we focus on health and nutrition and all the icky poisons we need to be aware of so we can live a few years longer.
http://nutritioncognition.blogspot.com and I welcome followers and comments.
Check us out.

In the meantime we are awaiting some kind of clue that autumn is here, really here and not on a wall calendar. We have endured countless heat wave days both in Orange County and LA County and no relief even at the edge of a bluff overlooking the ocean. The sea looks bleak, grey and moisty skies, humidity fills our pores. It causes all of us to wonder what in the world is going on?

AUGUST 2012

It's time for goodbyes and sayanara's to family members who are venturing into unknown territory. The list seems to be getting longer.

We celebrated our precious Joey and Katie's wedding and now they are moved lock stock and barrel to Nashville Tennessee. Joey will begin the School of Theology at Vanderbuilt and Katie will do what Katie always does, a million things ontop of work in her communications career.

Next we have Gina, our niece who is turning a grown up 18 this month and ready to move to the dorms at San Diego State where she will learn and grow and make tons of friends. Her energy will be shared with the Crew on the waters of Mission Bay and beyond as Coxswain. In case you do not know what a coxswain is, they sit at the stern of the boat, facing the bow, and in charge of navigation and steering , coordinating power and rhythm of the rowers. They are called the Master of the Vessel!

Nika, our soon to be 16 yr old niece, will enter Junior year in a new high school and spread her charm and wit and academic foresight across campus, while she is singing and performing in their choir/theater.

Katie and her groom, Andrew will wed on Sept 8th and venture into a marriage born out of love and anticipation. More news on that to follow.

Our nephew Matthew ( Matt to the public world) ends his reign as the right hand man of LA Mayor Villaraigosa as deputy chief of staff and begins a whole new adventure campaigning for the 12th seat as LA Councilman.

Summer is Here!

Its about time! We have been through May Gray, June Gloom and now its July! Finally the air is warming up and the whitecaps are showing up as the cool wind blows the surface. Everybody is out and about near the sea. Its like this. Even though you are strained from work, stressed from the many plates you are juggling, a walk on the beach cools your heels and refreshes your tired mind. I was worn down from all that and still, had the get up and go to feel the breeze and smell the ocean. I love watching the surfers and the kiddies jumping against the waves, the babies diddling with their buckets in the sand. What I did learn is to choose a day during the week and not the weekend when the crowds are full. We were so desert and valley bound for most of our married years that this enticement to just leave your worries behind and drive three minutes to the closest beach fills you up. Its like gas in the car, food in the oven, water down a thirsty mouth. We are mostly made up of water and so is our globe, so doesn't just seem right for most of us to find a place to live near water? Sure, there are some mountain goats and desert rats who would disagree but there is plenty of land, used and unused that calls us to shore. Camp out, eat out, live near the ocean. It will change your mood and your life.