2010 La Cañada Fiesta Days Parade

Posted on 31. May, 2010 by kchristieh in local news

I love this town, where:

• There are more people in the parade than watching it
• Participants finish the parade with one group, then drive back to the beginning of the route to ride with another
• Girl Scouts get to ride on fire trucks
• Preschoolers decorate their trikes/bikes/strollers, etc.
• I can walk up to the corner 10 minutes before the parade starts and get a perfect seat
• Local businesses hand out drinks and coupons
• A Rose Princess is scootering in front of the entry for a Mexican restaurant aptly-named “Los Gringos Locos”, which is towing a band called “Misplaced Priorities”
• Every year we get to see miniature trucks and Smokey the Bear

Check out these pictures and be happy.  :)

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Happy Memorial Day!!

Looking back at my wedding 23 years ago today

Posted on 30. May, 2010 by kchristieh in my life

On a hot spring morning 23 years ago today, I married a wonderful man, surrounded by the love and support of our amazing friends and family.

Because this was the pre-digital age, our primary records of the day include a VHS tape and a wedding album that’s starting to get sticky and degrade on the outside. My stepfather converted the VHS tape to a DVD, which we plan on watching today. I scanned representative pictures from the photo album, and hope that you enjoy them below.

Here’s a picture of me, my younger sister, and my two stepbrothers. My sister was my Maid of Honor. She’s best remembered that day for fainting from the heat in the un-air conditioned church. My stepbrothers were too young to be ushers, so they were our videographers. They called themselves Chico and Kabul in the video. We’re not sure why. The best line was when they asked my husband if he had any words for the groom, and he said, “I am the groom.” Classic, and probably better than any pro could have done.

My husband grew up in Kansas City and Wichita, so the only relatives he had in attendance were those in his immediate family. I was afraid that my outgoing family might put them off, but I think they enjoyed themselves.

My parents got divorced when I was in junior high and re-married when I was in high school, so I get the love of four parents. Here’s a picture of us with my father and stepmother:

And here’s one with my mother and stepfather. My stepfather’s name is also Don, so my mother and I refer to the Dons as “my Don” and “your Don.” My mother was 45 at the time.

Here we are at the altar of The First Presbyterian Church at Tower Hill in Red Bank, NJ. It’s the church I grew up in. Soon after we were married, I believe the pastor quit to become a travel agent.

Our wedding party consisted of the siblings old enough to be in a wedding party and friends from school. I’m sorry for the pink dresses, and laughed when I’m sure that I saw one of them at Aardvark’s second-hand store in Pasadena. But, they were standard for 1987.

After the wedding ceremony, the photographer took pictures of Don and I at the little park by the Navesink River. I’ll never ever have hair that short again. Two years later, my sister used the same wedding dress, minus the sleeves. Before my mother and stepfather moved to California, my mom had a friend cut up the dress and use the fabric to make christening gowns and two little wedding purses. I’m 100% sure my daughter will be thrilled that she’ll have a small purse for her wedding instead of a used 80’s gown. I still have the veil. Maybe she’ll use that?

Our reception was awesome. I had nearly nothing to do with the planning, thanks to the generous cooperation of my parents and stepparents. The band was incredible, and we had fun imitating the PeeWee Herman “Tequila” dance. Don and I saw “PeeWee’s Great Adventure” on our first date. I’m not sure what dance we were doing below, but we were having lots of fun.

I’ve been blessed with wonderful grandparents and stepgrandparents. Here are my father’s parents. You can see THEIR wedding video here.

Here are my step-grandparents. They were known as Grandma & Grandpa D.

Here’s a picture of my mom’s family. It’s rare to get them all in one picture like this, and I’m not sure it’s happened since.

Too bad the photographer didn’t get a picture of us driving off in my sister’s beaten-up old Subaru. I had to squish my dress into it before the door closed. It was the one detail we’d overlooked on our perfect day, but it made for a great story for years later.

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

This is what 47 looks like…

Posted on 28. May, 2010 by kchristieh in health, my life

For me, 47 is…when I buy a pill box to help me remember to take my vitamins. And then forget anyway.

Picture taken on Friday. Note the pill in the Thursday slot. The problem is I’m supposed to have them with meals, not any time.

At least they’re vitamins, and nothing more serious.

Panera Bread coming to La Cañada!

Posted on 27. May, 2010 by kchristieh in local news

After years of rumors, there’s finally physical evidence that Panera Bread is moving into the Sport Chalet shopping center at the corner of Foothill Blvd. and Angeles Crest Highway. We can’t wait!

Here’s the sign that’s posted on the fence on Angeles Crest:

Does anyone know when it’s expected to open?

Missing Glendale woman found

Posted on 13. May, 2010 by kchristieh in local news

I found this flyer taped to a street sign in front of my house today. I haven’t blogged in awhile, since I owe so many things to clients and potential clients, but I thought this was worth posting.

It turns out that Nancy Salas entered at a store in Merced this morning and said she wanted to call 911. According to the KTLA.com,

A 22-year-old woman reported missing by her parents now says she was abducted at knife point and taken to Central California.

……

She told her parents she was going for her usual morning run up Chevy Chase Canyon.

When she didn’t return, her parents contacted police.

Salas had initially been been described as third-year UCLA student.

But as it turns out, Salas hadn’t been attending school in years.

“Our records show that she was a fourth-year sociology student last enrolled in 2008,” said UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.

According to Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz, Salas had been deceiving her parents and her friends.

“There’s obviously a deception,” Lorenz said. “I don’t want to go so far as to call it a double life.”

Her mother and father had been planning a graduation party for her when she disappeared.

Lorenz also says Salas’ brother is being questioned.

How sad. But, thankfully, not worse. I was going to put the sign back after I blogged about it, but I guess I don’t need to now. That’s good.