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!

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.