Don, April, Enola and Jett came down for a fast weekend visit. Friday they came down with Jeff and his clan to spend a day on the Santa Monica Pier. Here are some pics from the day.
April taking a picture of Jeff taking a picture of me....
We finished with dinner at Mariasol, the Mexican restaraunt at the end of the pier.
I Love Where I live
As you may know from the news, SoCal has been hot, hot, hot. Have I mentioned it's been hot? Not a condition conducive to hard workouts. I'm had company all weekend, was tired and generally didn't feel well. Decided a sunset walk was my best option. There's a pod of dolphins that live in the Santa Monica Bay that I'm told is very playful. I've only seen this once before but tonight as I got to the Venice breakwall they gave us a show. The were jumping out of the water and surfing the waves. I saw one only as a dark silhouette in the wave as it raced parallel to the shore. The crowds were wowed and I must admit it's exciting to witness live. The picture isn't my pod but it's similar to what I saw. L-O-V-E- I-T!
Little Men, Big Muscles
I'm going to meet up with a friend of mine from my BYU days. It's been 27 years since we've seen each other. In anticipation I went through a photo album from "the day" to find pictures of him and I at the time. Becky and John were living up in Provo at the same time so I got close to their kids, mostly Jacob and Ben. Rheanna was just born and Chelsea wasn't even a thought yet. These are two of the pictures from the album.
In the bottom photo, my boyfriend at the time is reading the boys a story. What does Ben have on his ears you ask? This shows the early creative mind of Ben. They are the barrel halves from the game, A Barrel Full of Monkeys. When I asked Ben why he had them on his ears he told me he was playing helicopter pilot, these were his makeshift headphones. Clever. If you couldn't figure it out, that's Jacob on his lap and in the bottom left corner, Jenni's head.
In the top photo, well... that's just self- explanatory... look at Ben's shirt and the colors he's wearing. Jacob, I'm sure was superboy to Ben's superman. So precious and let me say it again to all of my younger kin... IT GOES FAST!!!!! Appreciate every day!
Otto Von Risser and his Easter Bone
Easter dinner with Jeff and Michele was fun as usual. I have pictures to post but need to turn my attention to wrapping up my taxes instead. Soon.
Until then, here's a picture of Otto and his ham bone. Jeff caught him as he was trying to sneak upstairs to their bedroom. The bone is almost as big as him. Sorry for the poor quality but what do you expect from a cell phone camera and a moving dog?!?
More of the Olvera Street trip
Well, Syd is much faster on the blog than I am. She posted some of the best shots and told the stories so I'll fill in a few more pictures. I took 96 pictures and 4 videos, but the videos aren't that good. I may post one or two later. We took the Metrolink to downtown LA Union Station, which is right across the street from Olvera Street. I had wanted to do this several months ago, but the girls got sick at different times so we had to postpone it, then Syd suggested we wait for Easter and see the annual Blessing of the Animals on the Saturday before Easter, so we did. The train took about an hour to get downtown, so we had time to sit and talk and enjoy the scenery. You know, Old Newhall, Sylmar, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Atwater, the train yards. Actually it was interesting, especially when we went through the three-mile long, 150-year old train tunnel connecting Santa Clarita with the San Fernando Valley. Chinese laborers dig it by hand from both sides of the mountain and the engineering was so good they met in the middle only a foot or two off target. The tunnel is a favorite hang out for teenagers, and suicidal people, and was built for older trains so it's a little tight and we had to slow way down to get through. You'd look out the window and couldn't really see much, but when you could you realized the wall was only inches from the window.
We hung out in LA for about 3 1/2 hours. The girls, all three of them, were good as gold and the trip was just great.
Getting on the train in Santa Clarita
Grandma and the girls enjoying the view.
Getting off at Union Station 
Walking out of Union Station; I'd never been there before and I was surprised how stylized it was. They must have been restoring it for some time now. It was as good as anything I've seen back east. 
We got to the street just before Sydney made it. Standing in front of the fountain.
Syd made it shortly after we got there. The girls have a way of making you feel like you're the most important person there. 
The traditional Easter Bunny shot. Sade doesn't look very excited here, but she really did enjoy it.
Cardinal Mahoney proceeding to the blessing stand. I didn't know he was the one to do the blessing, but he was recognizable right away. He's looking right at me!
The Mariachi band that led the parade.
Cardinal Mahoney blessing the animals. They actually had a large group of various people go through before the public. I gathered from what they were saying that these groups go through every year. There was a family all riding horses, a group of Aztec warriors, various unusual animals (see Syd's photos), and guests, then the public went through. All kinds of dogs were the most prevalent (mostly chihuahuas. What a surprise in LA), but there were turtles, snakes, cats, lamas, rabbits, sheep, goats, you name it, it was there. The Cardinal had a tub of water and used what looked like an ostrich feather duster that he would dip into the water, then sprinkle (more like shower) the people as they passed by.
One of the Aztec warriors. There were about 8 of them. Click on the shot to see the details of the costume. I wish I had his shield in the picture too. This is all bead work and feathers.
The street was crowded, as usual and all the stuff they sell is the same junk as when I was a kid. We forgot to stop at the taquito stand at the north end of the street. It's about as famous as Tito's Tacos. We did eat at one of the restaurants on the patio where the birds were so used to people some of them came right up to Nayah's hand for food.
After Olvera Street we walked to China Town a couple of blocks away where grandma bought the girls some oriental fans. Not as much to see, but Sade and Nyah were kind of fascinated with some of the seafood. Extra tentacles anyone?
Waiting for the return train ride home at Union Station. Check out the old 1940's style seats.
The inside of Union Station. The art deco is fantastic. This is just one section, closed off to the public while they do some restoration work.
Check out the art work in each of the ceiling sections. I haven't seen anything like this since we went to the Salt Lake visitor's center last Christmas with Eddie and Carline. That was much better, but you don't see this around LA much at all.
These are precious. Cali is responding to Jeremy and trying to talk with him.
We had a great time and I don't think I'll ever forget this trip together. Blessing of the Animals 2009
This year Gordon organized the outing for for the Blessing of the Animals on Olvera Street. Gordon, Mom, Jeremy, Kristy and the girls boarded the train in Santa Clarita and rode to Union Station downtown where I met them. We strolled, ate, petted, bought and watched our way through the pueblo. A quick stroll through Chinatown then back to the train. It was a pleasure having them join me.
One scary moment occurred while we were sitting on the curb waiting for Cardinal Mahoney to make his procession down to the staging area. A path was cordoned off with police tape from the merchant area to the stage so the Cardinal can walk down. Out of nowhere a spooked and riderless horse came charging up the path toward the crowd. It ran past us and we could hear people screaming and see some scattering of people. I was sure I was going to have to pull out some of my first aide skills but to my relief no one was hurt and someone was able to grab the horses reins.
On a side note... Gordon seemed obsessed with Mexican Wrestling masks and whips.... I won't tell you the theme he kept returning to when asked ;-0
All-in-all another fine day in L.A.
Buckling up for her first pony ride... EVER!!!
Making a friend at the petting zoo...
Has anyone seen my chariot?
A very happy Grandpa (or Poppy as I believe the girls call him)
Wearing their finest are some of the daughters from Olvera Street Merchent families; they lead the procession....
Here are just a few of the guests of honor...
How can you resist that face????
This little colt was just 17 days old.
Wearing her finest bunny ears... Miss Piglet.
Wearing her finest bunny ears... Miss Piglet.
And finally, a little video of what the girls bought on Olvera Street. For those of you who can't tell, Sade bought a snapping parrot head.
All in all a pretty nice Easter Eve day....
Easter Eve
On my evening stroll I came across this Easter Bush. Just thought it was sweet. Nothing else.
HAPPY 59TH ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD
So, as usual, I get my days mixed up thinking today was the day, but actually it was Saturday the 4th. As I was driving to work this morning I thought about these two people we call mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and a song began to play on the CD I was listening to. It was 'Love At Home'. I don't know what the rest of my siblings recall, but I remember how often in Family Home Evening mom would want to sing that song and we would all usually groan (out loud, of course). [I'm not sure, but I think I got the same response from my children.] Anyway, I thought about some of the words: there is beauty all around, joy in every sound, peace and plenty, kindly heaven smiles on high and all the world is filled with love. I know - unrealistic home life. But when we really stop and think about it - there were moments like that, however brief they may have seemed. The older I get and the more I see in the lives of so many people, the more my gratitude grows for the Love At Home we really, truly had and just didn't always recognize. What wonderful, albeit fallible, parents we have been blessed with. Who did their best and persevered above all else. Dysfunctional Family? No where near it. Not if you've seen what I've seen. Syd said once, "The Addams Family has nothing on us." I love it. I love telling friends and colleagues the stories of our childhood and the absolute fun, crazy, outrageous adventures we had. Even the fights. Oh what a life! Whip cream across the ceiling (mom), water fights being brought in the house with the hose (dad), cotton in the dumplings (mom), hide and seek in the dark house when mom & dad were gone, pansy & the dirt baths, using the couch hide-a-bed as a trampoline and snapping the bar in half and on and on. Oh there was love at home alright - in spite of the fights / arguments. We always knew that there would be someone to catch us if we fell, someone with a shoulder to cry on, someone to blame or take the blame for, someone who would come to our aide. It was a good life. Thank you, mom and dad. You were, and are, the best. And Thank You for the Love At Home.
Dad's Bronze Star
I was Googling our name and found this, the "United States Coast Guard Book of Valor". It lists all the CG medal winners during WW II. It appears to be done in chronological order and sub divided by states. If you scroll about 4/5 the way down dad is listed with the official statement of the award. Also listed in the same group are his buddies Scoles, Hopper, Beck and Nikolenko, all of whom, if memory serves, are shown in the newspaper photo where dad is getting his medal. Come to think of it, I think every one but Hoppr is with dad in that picture John found in the book, Iwo Jima Recon.
By the way, William Hopper was the son of Hedda Hopper, the famous, or infamous, depending on which end of the gun you were, Hollywood Gossip columnist of the 40's. He was also the district attorney who went up against Perry Mason in the television series. I remember dad saying that his hair turned white in a few weeks after a particularly bad fight.
Check it out. I know it's a long link, but when I tried to shorten it, it went nowhere.
**EDIT** I made a permanent short link for you Dad.
An easier way to help find the name would be to press control F (command F for Syd), type Gordon Risser in the search box and hit enter. -Eddie
http://tinyurl.com/d99jq5
