My brain is so buzzing with ideas on these two numerology books I am wrting for the Japanese publishers, I had to get up at 5 am this morning.

I can't believe how quickly June is moving along.  Robert and I cancelled our vacation to Mexico for next week.  He's not really well enough to travel to such an incredibly hot temperature!  What were we thinking?  Actually, though I was disappointed not to have some time off, I think I need to be here writing anyway.

Our neighborhood had a little "block party" yesterday on the next street over.  I made a plate of Greek lamb dolmas--one of my favorite recipes I learned years ago from my friend,author and chef, Joyce Goldstein.  They are so garlicky, lemony, and delicious.

Back to writing.

I feel a change in the air. 

I spent the weekend in Studio  City with Sigrid, Jim, Trevor and Chloe. Trevor turned six on the 13th.  I arrived in time to drive over to Chloe's nursery school graduation ceremony. Parents and cameras, cookies, and a blue dress.

Then we drove to Trevor's kindergarten class for a picnic on the grass in front of the school.  Green cupcakes, hula hoops, ring-toss, and face-painting.

Saturday we took the Los Angeles subway--the Metro--downtown to have lunch and browse at Olvera Street.  It was very fun.  I didn't realize the new Metro system runs on the honor system!

Afterwards we went swimming at Grandma Gina's house, and then home for dinner outside in the cool evening air.

Sunday, we took the kids to the Natural History Museum, and then I flew home.  A busy, happy weekend. The kids showed me all their school art work, and I watched them do various yoga postures.

MONOPOLY 

I had a very fun time showing them how to play a simple version of Monopoly.  The game gave me an opportunity to teach them about denominations of money, how to add and recognize numbers and letters.  When to buy and sell! 

Charles Darrow is the official developer of the game--but it had been around before he played it.  The game instructions said that he lost his job after the Stock Market Crash in 1929.  Tired of feeling poor all the time, he started playing this game and then he and his family made some sets of their own.  He looked to sell his sets, but was turned down by Parker Brothers. However, after he started selling some sets through department stores, they bought his patent.  He was the first millionaire game developer. 

This story struck me in that Darrow was having a hard time financially, but used an actual game to visualize wealth, and wound up manifesting his own millions!

His numerology is interesting, too (Charles Brace Darrow August 10, 1889)

Birthpath of 8 --the Executive, persevering, authority, problem solver, financially astute

Day of Birth 1 --a leader, inventive, original

Destiny       3 --Creative, playful, communicative, things to do with games,

Realization  11/2--the Inspirer--showing people possibilities

Hearts Desire 19/1--desire to put forth one's ideas and dare to be different (a karmic element of realizing his potential after perhaps failing in past life times)

When Darrow lost his job, he was under the influence of number 4 (restrictions, building) and then went into a 1 (encouraging him to be original, inventive, independent.)  

When he hit it big, he was under the expansive number 9 for many years. Numerologically, he would be considered an Old Soul, and came here to make a spiritual contribution to many people through using playfulness, creativity, and imagination. 

The things I gained from playing Monopoly with Trevor and Chloe!

Yesterday was a beautiful day.

Perfect weather for the barbeque--sausage, chicken skewers, grilled marinated vegetables, salad, bruschetta,  bread cheese, radishes, and homemade berry cobbler and cheesecake, California wines and beers.

We had 22 adults and 6 children.  A mix of Japanese-English speakers, so it worked out very well.  The weather was warm enough to stay outside until about 6:30, so we had a good chance to talk and mingle.  Today, all my friends from Japan will go to Mt. Shasta, while I stay here and work and write!

But first, this morning, a walk. 

Sunny morning!

Forty-six years ago I was preparing to get married tomorrow.

This morning--Yoga class--invigorating twists and stretches

Farmer's market--big strawberries, basil, green onions, lettuce, blueberries

Weeding--the succulent patch, trimming the Mexican sage, clearing ivy in the Lilies of the Nile

Preparing for the big barbeque tomorrow with my Japanese friends, and welcoming

author Banana Yoshimoto and her family,

Rainey is making me a fresh summer berry cobbler and her famous cheesecake.

Still sunny in the afternoon 

Gunther brought over his big bargeque--a glass of wine on the pation to discuss the party, his earlier picnic in Tilden Park, various neighborhood goings-on

Anders and Auggie came over to ice and decorate the cupcakes I made

Robert and I cutting up the squid while the kids watched--thrilled, but not daring to touch the guts and slime

Dinner, and a video,  Lorenzo's Oil.  A true story set in 1984 of two parents with a boy who suffered from a then-incurable degenerative genetic disease, ALD, that hits only young boys.   On their own, they researched the biochemistry of fatty acids and found what scientists couldn't--an oil combination that can cure the disease in little boys if taken early enough.  I am humbled by people's love and tenacity.  Robert knew about a lot of it by his own study of fatty acids.

A day to treasure 

Yesterday was Sunday--overcast and very un-California, but very El Cerrito weather!  I had a barbeque with Gunther and Eliza and the boys and Marion and Stephen and Claire and Luc.  We had to stay inside and I turned on the gas fireplace!  The grilled chicken and corn and bruschetta came out well, so we had fun.

I showed them the intriquing newspaper article and photo about an 11-year old boy, Jamison Stone, who killed a 1,050 lb wild boar in Alabama with a handgun.  Wow, I had so many questions about this story.  The boar, nine feet long, was the size of a rhinoceros.  Are these normal in the South?  Was the boy with his father?  Did he shoot the boar head on in the eye or forehead?  How did they weigh such a large dead animal?  What did the boy's mother think?  Did she know he was hunting?  When did he learn to shoot?

We talked about different kinds of fatty acids that Robert is researching.  we are both taking hemp oil for the omega 3's and 6's.  He's also taking macadamia nut oil.  Marion talked about her migraines.  She's part of a study at UCSF, and trying certain new drugs.

I told them about Tony Horwitz's book, Blue Latitudes.  He researched the 3 voyages of discovery of Captain James Cook.  It's a fascinating look at the horrible conditions sailors had to live with on ships--before the discovery of vitamin C--hygiene, extreme cold, threatening natives, a broken hull with no hope of rescue.  Facing death. It's a good read, and Marion wants to borrow it.

We had a good time.  

Today, Monday, the sun is out.  Time for a walk.