We celebrated Auggie's 3rd birthday this week.  What a little blessing he is!  So perky.  His favorite color is pink, so I picked out three pink candles from the box to put on the chocolate cake decorated with raspberries that Gunther made.

We went for dinner to a neighborhood Italian restaurant.  Anders was wearing his new brown army surplus military beret (who is the soldier that would have a head as small as a 5-year-old?)  and an orange shirt.  Auggie, sitting next to him on the banquette had on the blue flowered Hawaiian shirt that I gave him last year (now fits) and Gunther, Daddy, next to Auggie.  All lined up in front of a brilliant, orange and yellow graphic Italian Poster behind them!  A perfect picture.  And I forgot my camera!

A weekend spent writing 39 celebrity descriptions for my new Japanese numerology book.  Robert and I went out for awhile on a lovely sunny Sunday.  I bought 4 new green pots for the Dahlia cuttings I took from Ellie's garden.  My new front porch is all done and freshly painted, with green pots of succulents on the dark red steps.

Once again, I have cleaned out the garage and created order and tranquillity...

I'm still re-reading Paul Brunton's book, Hermit in the Himalayas (1937).  As I read in bed, I try to imagine myself in the cool, high calm, meditating on his deodar tree with him--sitting on a soft, clean cushion of forest leaves and needles.  To get away for awhile to soak in solitude, Brunton took up residence in a state-owned cottage occasionally used by travellers in the area. (I imagine it as a rock cottage with three pairs of French Doors, and I'm assuming it MUST have a fireplace.) 

He mentions having one servant with him.  I wish he would talk about how he interacts with a servant--just the two of them--sequestered in the Himalayan forest for months.  Do they talk socially? He mentions that the servant seems restless to get away as the sojourn wears on.

I really wish Brunton would mention what kind of food he eats every day.  Does he eat with the servant?  Alone?  It must be all "tinned food."  What is it!  Anyway, sad to realize that both these people, humble servant and author, have passed away by now.  Brunton writes from his deep and personal knowledge of Eastern mystics and mystical traditions and he has a very New Thought point of view.  It's interesting to hear him relate the type of letters he receives as an author--mail is delivered once in a while by a courier on foot to this lone destination.

We celebrated Robert's birthday yesterday by going to see the movied, Knocked Up.  It's very funny and we really enjoyed it.  The dialogue was so pitch-perfect.

We had dinner with my old friend, Penney Peirce, who always has such interesting stories!  Robert's choice for the restaurant was the Coriya Hot Pot restaurant not far from my house.  They have a full buffet of raw meats and seafood, noodles, vegetables, and condiments for making your own sauces, and cooking your food at the table yourself.  It was really fun.

This afternoon, Kathryn Leighton is coming over to celebrate with Robert, and I've also invited Gunther, Eliza, Auggie, and Anders for a barbeque.  Robert and I pre-cooked some pork spareribs yesterday. Yum!

We watched a documentary on oil last night, Crude Awakening.   It's a sobering look at the inevitable, when we will no longer have the luxury of cheap oil as reserves are depleted.  It's imperative that we get some leadership to start thinking ahead for what we are going to do to replace the single, most crucial material element in our modern life.  An even more crucial element is the combination of human ingenuity coupled with commitment and cooperation.

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!