Mom and Dad came to visit. We toured LA as tourists and as seasoned vets of the city; we wine tasted, hiked, saw the Hollywood sign, sat by the pool, drank jalapeno cocktails, went to the ocean, walked the Santa Monica Pier, smiled in front of the Rose Bowl, played soccer, and laughed, laughed, laughed. My parents are the coolest.
Thanks to Jeff for snapping so many great photos! There are more here. I can’t wait for them to come back! Thanks Mom and Dad, for such a lovely trip!
The title of this post is a quote from John Steinbeck, an author my dad and sister and I have been slowly reading through for the past nine years, ever since we headed to San Francisco on a family vacation.
I think it’s fitting for my dad, who turns 50 today. He’s the type of person that learns from everyone he meets, who is constantly looking for knowledge from people, places, classes, the Internet, and beyond.
I wrote about my dad recently when I was helping him raise money for his Heart Walk, so hopefully you already know all about him. He’s a delight to have as a father, a medical professional, and a friend who you can always call for a laugh, or advice, or just to talk. I am so lucky to have him around!
This is a picture of my dad and me, circa 2008, when he was in town for my college graduation.
So many of you know my dad. He’s loud, funny, loving, loud, makes a delicious pizza, and is pretty much the best dad ever. He’s walking the Heart Walk in Chicago, and he needs help raising his fundraising goal.
Many of you know my dad because you ask me to call him up for medical advice (he’s a nurse by trade) – a weird pain here, a cut that won’t heal, questions about whether or not walking pneumonia is contagious.
Some of you know my dad for our family’s pizza nights. Our favorites include bacon and onion, mushroom, and clam.
Others just know my dad through me, and you know that while intimidating sometimes, (“Girls, stop laughing and go to bed, it’s 1 am), he’s really just a guy with a big heart who loves his family, his work, and his country fiercely.
Did you know that heart disease claims the lives of more people than the next 3 leading causes of death combined? I am sure you probably know someone who has had heart disease, and it’s a scary thing to see someone go through. Research, education, and access to care can make a difference, and these walks help us to reduce the number of people lost to heart disease.
Do it for me. Do it for my dad. Do it in memory of my Uncle Tom, or your uncle or mother or grandfather or your neighbor or your husband or your wife. Do it for you!
Let’s help my dad reach his goal and maybe even double it — who knows, with a little help from us, we just might make the world go round.
Thanks, friends.
Hello folks! This week is about cleaning up my act, getting back in the swing of life, and unpacking my suitcase for long enough that I actually put it away and have to pull it back out. Some random things to tell you:
1. Last night Jeff and I made mozzarella sticks from scratch. Pictures to come, obviously.
2. There are a lot of birthdays coming up: Mary’s, Katie’s, Brittany’s, Liz’s, Jeff’s…you get the idea. Looks like I have some gifts to find.
3. My dad is graduating this weekend, which is why I went home last weekend in the first place! It was nice to celebrate with him and the rest of my family when I was home, and I am ever so proud of him.
4. When I was home, I went through a lot of my old stuff in an effort to help my parents downsize. Things I got rid of? Middle school notes, high school notes, books from classes, and random bottles of sand…
5. I saw a friend this past weekend I haven’t seen since 1999. We had a lovely breakfast in Chicago and chatted all the live long day (or for two hours, I’m not sure which.) Mary, as always, it was delightful to see you.
6. Also discovered? My CD collection, which means I have new jams on my computer, including but not limited to: TLC (Fanmail), Sheryl Crow (C’mon, C’mon), Linkin Park (Hybrid Theory), and Barenaked Ladies (Stunt.)
Looks like I have some listening to do.
As the week comes down off this Wednesday high, I have the following things to look forward to: laundry to clean, recipes to make, cakes to bake, parties to attend, children to coach. Here’s to the week being half-way done.
I was thinking about the up-and-coming holidays, and how I am going home for a bit, which is very exciting, and I realized that I haven’t been to Camp Waterloo in a year! A year, people! Ridiculous. Because of travels to Connecticut and Chicago, I’ve avoided the mitten for a full twelve months. Terrible! Despicable! Horrendous!
So I reminisced for a while, reminding myself of what I have to look forward to…
Crabs, and other delicious creatures of the sea…
These girls!
Family…
Hometown coffee places, and signs like this…
My home in general…
Family, and good eats.
This guy. 🙂
My momma and sister…
Of course, the whole Palluzzi clan.
I cannot wait. Family, I’m coming home! I am so excited.