Birds, Wednesday Morning

 Above is a bird that sounds like a staccato air raid siren. It creates a loud sound like a peacock and it was in the tree beside our house. Below is, I think, a Mynah that is gorgeous with its bright yellow plumage. It barely stops, so taking a photo is hard to do.

Tuesday @ Sayulita

The long story: beach walk, lunch, swimming, walk to town, shopping for dinner, cooking, eating and to bed.

 One of six iguanas that sunbathe in the tree across from our balcony.

Huge amazing bird.

Dinner

Todd and Chris made dinner and I had brought some Thomas Hass chocolates for desert and champagne for a toast to the Humphrey/Jared clan for including me.

Oh my God… I am up early and the sun has just risen over the hill and I can see the glorious golden sun on the hills across the bay. Our bedrooms face the setting sun. We are in paradise and I couldn't be happier, especially after a great night sleep in a bedroom with wide open French doors that look out over the ocean. Bliss.

Vancouver - Sayulita

What a blast.

Chris and Frani arrived late Sunday afternoon to stay at my place. We went to the fabulous Banana Leaf for dinner and then to bed early. We got up at 3:00 am and were at the airport by four for a painless check-in. The flight went quickly and easily for all seven of us and when we arrived Marin, our driver was waiting.

Eight of us and all our luggage in the van to the grocery megastore to buy $270 worth of groceries and then we got here, to the incredible house we have here.

When you enter, you are on the main floor with the living room, dining room and kitchen. There is no wall on the side of the house facing the ocean. (We are a five minute walk up the hill from the beach.) Upstairs are two fabulous bedrooms, one for me, the other for Chris and Frani. And downstairs is a self-contained 2-bedroom suite.

Then there is the roof deck with bar-b-q and fridge and panorama view. We are in heaven. It could not be better for a 10-day holiday. (Click on images to enlarge.)

My room.

The main floor.

Us on the roof.

The roof.

What I Want For Christmas

I Loved Ethel

Click to enlarge.

Rare overhead shot of the complete I Love Lucy sound stage, as it existed in the studio when filming. 

Post Party Report

1. The fish tank was, I think, a hit.
2. I had three minor asthma attacks during the festivities.
3. People say they had a good time. What else can they say to my face though?
4. I know some people had a good time because they reconnected with long lost friends.
5. It was so weird to be so close to so many whom I love and yet unable to connect with anyone.
6. There was a shitload of food left over. I could not find anyone to take it so I hoofed it to the homeless camp in the lane behind my building. I woke the guys up and gave them about 60 sandwiches and a huge bag of apples, oranges and bananas. They were palpably grateful and I wept all the way home. I don't recall being called "sir" with more meaning, ever.
7. Cleaning up was exhausting and tool all day Sunday.
8. My friend Paula managed the phone, the door and greeting guests. What a huge gift to me that was. I have undying love for Paula.
9. My friend Nicola, an introvert whom I thought might abhor the event, came in a stunning dress and stopped the show.
10. My iMac hard drive crashed. I had to shlep it into the Apple store. They replaced the hard drive and installed the wrong software so that my backup drive could not be installed. I had to re-shlep to Apple again and now am going through the importing process. Another nightmare like cleaning up after a party.