As It Comes To a Close

My son's track season has ended. As it comes to a close and we head into football season, I wanted to share his end of the year accomplishments. His main goal was to get that CIF patch for his letterman's jacket (3 year Letterman in Football & Track.)

CIF Prelims Race (he's handing off in the green)

He was the only sophomore on the Varsity 4x100 meter relay team to qualify for CIF. I'm so proud of him! Here are a few pictures from his awards banquet.

the 4 x 100 Meter Relay Team

His dad was so proud he was squashing him!



I'm so proud of him! Congratulations Elijah on an AMAZING season!

Girl Fight

photo by: Lou Ponsi-The Orange County Register

We received tickets from a friend to the OC Fight Club (front row.) It features local boxer's and MMA (mixed martial arts-think UFC) fighters.

It was a pretty good night, but the most interesting for me was the girl boxers. I don't know what would ever possess a girl to have the desire to box.

A short, muscular girl, (Sindi Amador) entered the ring first...jumping around, smiling at the crowd, raising her gloves, looking very confident, with a record of 2-0. Next, a tall, lanky girl, (Jessica Penne) calmly stood waiting to begin, she was making her boxing debut. The moment the bell rang, the little one was like a pit bull. She stalked, and attacked...never backing off. The poor girl making her debut looked like her nose was broken after a couple of blows to her face. She looked so scared, and totally unprepared. I felt bad for her.

She spent most of the time trying to run away from the relentless, pit-bull. By the third round, she had the lanky girl up against the ropes, utterly defenseless, pounding on her face & body. Her corner finally threw in the towel...thank goodness, it was getting really hard to watch!

I wonder if that will be not only her debut, but also her retirement?

Not sure I'd want to see another girl fight in person...and this coming from a tomboy. There's just something un-natural about girls beating on each other.

How do you feel about girl boxers?

Unnecessary Words

When beauty abounds I struggle to find words profound.

Copyrighted Photos by: Lisa Petrarca
Please ask permission to use

Take Me Out To The Ball Game-Tiffany & Co. Style!

Yesterday my boss (owner of company) took us for a "paid" work outing to the Angels Baseball game (an early one-12:30 p.m. ) We had awesome seats (Diamond Club) which gives you VIP treatment (plush seats/personal waiters) while you watch the game. We were directly behind home plate/field level!

Everyone knows that when you go to a game, you do as much people watching, as watching the game.

So here's my best Paparazzi impression via my cell phone:

This guy's working the "Bald Patch Napkin Over" without much success (ouch-major sunburn!) He continued trying to tuck the napkin into his visor, but the wind blew & it flapped off! (tip: hey buddy-buy a baseball hat!)lol!

Then I spotted this guy-He was a Scout for the 2010 World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants.

He had a full set up going on, timing each pitcher-Angels & Oakland A's (with his handy radar gun) then recorded it onto his official forms.

But it was his incredible, World Series Championship ring, that had my attention, it was huge, blinding, full of diamonds that were glistening in the sun!

The girls next to him got him to take it off & they passed it around trying it on. I sat a few rows up trying to get a good picture with my cell phone...didn't do very good, but you get the idea.

Since I wasn't able to get a very good shot of it, I pulled a close-up picture off the internet-turns out this baby was designed by Tiffany & Co. The story behind the design is that it was inspired by the Giants 1933 World Series ring, with a modern touch.

If I were bolder...I would have leaned over & asked to try it on too, but I'm not, so I settled for picture stalking, LOL!

We left after the 7th inning stretch..we (the Angels) were losing 4-0.UGH!

Great day at the ball park with my AMAZING bosses!
Steve (company owner) Marsha (manager)

and...back to work (front of our office building)

NOW THAT'S MY KIND OF WORK DAY!!

I Found a New Creative Outlet!

I wanted to share my very first floral arrangements with you. I have to tell ya...I totally enjoyed doing it. It's a whole new side of getting to be creative. You all know I write & take pictures, but now I can add, floral arrangements to my (learn as I go Resume.)

I'm very good at finding deals, so of course my first stop was the Goodwill. I was able to find these blue tinted glasses (perfect for floral table centerpieces-$1.50 each.)

Then digging around the store, back and forth (I have a problem with making up my mind) I finally found the perfect vase for the main arrangement to go on the fire place at our church service (It's a cool style & plastic but looks like glass-$3.50.)

Then I headed off to Trader Joe's and grabbed four different bouquet's ($5.99 each.) I chose a main color theme of purple and white but added some yellow in too. Finally stopping at Jo-Ann's Fabric & Craft store to pick up some clear marbles (to put in the bottom of the vase) & silver small beads (to sprinkle around the centerpieces.)

by the the next day these flowers were in full bloom and gorgeous!

I began mixing and matching, chopping off stems & stressing a little that I may be ruining them. But the end result was better than I'd hoped for & I'm pretty proud of my newly found creative outlet.

(I even got tons of compliments on the centerpieces!yay!)

Summer, Waves & Surfing

Huntington Beach, CA Pier
(double click pictures for larger view)

this little guy was walking with his grandma
& wasn't too sure about the crab he found!


always so much to see at the beach

have to stretch...before surfing

Catalina Island in the background

Newport Beach, CA

While Jullien was here visiting/recuperating, he was finally healed up enough to go surfing. Unfortunately, the waves weren't cooperating, but when you're a surfer, you learn to make due...which is exactly what he did on this day. It took us a few stops (Newport Beach first & then finally ending up back where we started in Huntington Beach.)

Normally he likes to avoid the pier crowd & head down to the cliffs, but when the waves are small, the pier usually has the largest waves...so he battled the line-up (tons of surfers paddling for prime position) and caught a few.

Welcome to summer surfing in Southern California!

PRINCE CONCERT-Yes Finally!

yes, this is me screaming on our way...so excited!


Since I was in high school, I've been crazy for Prince (The Symbol, The Artist) or whatever you want to call him. Unfortunately I was never able to see him live in concert (but I did hang out w/ him at an LA night club, Bar One, in the 90's. I was dancing & he was sitting in a dark, private booth. He sent someone out to the dance floor to invite me & my friend to come sit w/ him...but he never said a word! Just kind of smirked and nodded his head when we tried to play it cool, and said "Hey Prince."LOL. After a while, we got tired of sitting & waiting for him to talk to us & said, "Thanks...we're going to dance.")

Oh back to my story, my dad was a policeman and VERY STRICT! All my friends were going but I wasn't allowed to. To say I was angry, is putting it mildly, especially as I stood by watching my friends get all dressed up in their best Prince, impersonation attire. Complete with tight black pants, ruffled low cut tops, or bustier (for that Wendy & Lisa look) tall high boots, thick heavy makeup, a long dangling earring and of course...the BIG 80's hair!

not sure if this is Wendy or Lisa? But it gives you an idea of the 80's look.

and the 80's Prince

Oh I was fuming! But I wasn't much of one to dis-obey...so I stayed home.

When I recently heard Prince was in town, I gave a subtle hint to my oldest son Josh & his gf Charmaine as they were sitting on the couch, "NO WAY, Prince is playing at the Forum tonight...that would be a PERFECT Mother's Day Present! You know how long I've loved Prince, I mean, I've made you listen to every one of his songs since you were little, AND I've NEVER been to his concert."

Yes, I'm very subtle, don't ya think?

So later that day, he came and handed me some money, "Get yourself a Prince ticket mom, Happy Mother's Day!" .............YAY!!!!!!!

I scrambled to get a ticket on TicketMaster & then informed my hubby 2 hrs. before showtime & Adam's Prom, "WE'RE GOING TO SEE PRINCE TONIGHT...WHOO HOO!!!" We got together our best, ~we can still look cool at a Prince concert-over 40 outfits on~

ya my hubby playing his air guitar (aka-my leg!)

Then rushed over to take prom pictures of Adam & his gf Carla & headed to LA.

It was absolutely everything I could have hoped for and more. HE WAS INCREDIBLE! He even pulled Gwen Stefani up onto the stage to sing & dance. AND Sheila E. was RIDICULOUS on the drums! We were on our feet the entire show, dancing, singing along, cheering...he is amazing. It was definitely worth the wait. I would go to every single show he had here in LA if I had the money (he promises a new show every night.)

the guy doesn't age at all!


If you get the chance be sure to check out a Prince concert in your area...you wont be disappointed! THANK YOU JOSHY!