I’m not one to point out the obvious but you may have noticed that a certain yours truly has been out of commission. This is on account that my daughter’s been home for a visit, and you know what that means.
Everything else falls by the wayside!
I tried to write the next installment of my camp story. No dice.
We shopped until we dropped with Patrice, our favorite personal stylist.
Paid my bills? Uh, no.
Walked the dogs? Barely.
Stayed up-to-date on your blogs? Ugh, I’m so embarrassed.
Yep, during my daughter’s all-too-brief visit everything else literally flew out the window.
Except, of course, for the stack of dishes still sitting in my kitchen sink. No comment about that.
So what have I been doing instead? Well, for starters I’ve been trying to squeeze in as much So Cal fun as possible into a very short visit.* That’s what. And thankfully, my son, who lives a few miles down the road from me, joined us for some of the action.
Action that included shopping, eating out like there’s no tomorrow, spending the Fourth of July at the San Diego County Fair, where we ate some more, noshing on deep fried Klondike ice cream bars (yes, you heard right) and funnel cakes with strawberries and whip cream, while “ooh-ing” and “ah-ing” at the amazing fireworks display.
We also took in a feel-good movie, “Chef,” and danced in the aisles while enjoying the snappy songs of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in the Broadway musical, “Jersey Boys” which we saw at a rather tony theater in the O.C. (That’s Orange County to you). Then, we wrapped things up in the usual way–with an eye exam!
We visited our neighborhood bookstore one last time before it closes for good (thanks to a grumpy landlord who doesn’t see it in the shopping center’s future). That’s my son & daughter standing out front.
Because sometimes making time for practical stuff cannot be avoided.
I probably won’t see my daughter again until, sniff, Thanksgiving. But heck, that’s only four months away, right?
Scenes from the San Diego County Fair.
Plenty of trinkets and souvenirs to buy at the fair.
The theme of this year’s County Fair was the “Fab Fair,” in honor of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Beatles and, along with it, the British Invasion. I was in total bliss touring the special exhibit.
Anything you can imagine fried and them some (Oreo’s, Twinkies, pickles, etc). My daughter loved the fried Klondike ice cream bar.
I just love fireworks on the Fourth of July, don’t you?
Farm animals run hog wild at the fair! Except when eating.
So there you have it in a nutshell. It’s good to be be back in the blogosphere, where the next order of business will be catching up on your blogs.
In the meantime, please bear with me as I get back into the swing of things!
Henry gave me the stink eye every time he and Oliver got left at home. Sigh.
(*Note: anything under a month I qualify as a very short visit. In this case, she was home for five days. Sheesh.)
Monica's Tangled Web 
Fab Fair – Beatles forever !!!
You have your priorities straight, Monica. Daughter first, everything else can come later. And the pictures of the fair make me salivate. I love a good fair!! Enjoy your time.
Thanks, Renee. We had a blast. Sadly it went too fast. Until next time!
Now, that’s slacking with a cause!
You know it, Totsy!
I think this is way more fun and far more important than anything else. Hanging with your daughter or hanging with us, don’t know Monica though I miss you I would pick the girl child over us any day of the week. It looked like a special and wonderful time.
Oh, I know, I know. And if she showed up tomorrow to spend an entire week, I’d be once again out of commission. Our time together is much to precious. We always have fun when we’re together.
Oh I know only too well that serenade you’re singing . . . Compressed time is the way I think of it when my daughter comes in for a long weekend — i.e., packing as much as I can in with her. But you’re right — it feels as if a whirlwind has passed through the house once she’s come 🙂 and gone. 😦 Your photos are a delight, btw.
Thank you, Deborah. It’s hard having kids that live so far, isn’t it? What a trooper my own mother was. I left New York and moved all the way to Seattle and she never said a word about it. She accepted it and let me be me. I’d visit once a year. But now I understand what it must’ve been like for her. Now I feel her pain. Sigh.
Monica, it sounds as if your time away from the Blogosphere was well worth it! Such a lovely visit with your kids — and how many wonderful, fun things you enjoyed. I, too, happen to enjoy county fairs (ours isn’t until the first week in August, just before school starts) — so many interesting things to see, do, and eat!! Glad you got to see your daughter and hope she’s enjoying her work. I haven’t seen Domer since Christmas (far too long, you know??)
Wow, I didn’t realize it’s been that long since you’ve seen Domer. I hope you get to see him soon. Life’s too short! I’m thankful that my son lives around here. I see him about twice a month and he helps me with the dogs when I’m out late. He does threaten to move out of the area, but I’m hoping, of course, that he doesn’t. We’ll see…
mom time is the best time!! 🙂
Absolutely, Ayesha! I agree 1,000%!
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
I smiled all the way thru this magical post.
Quality time w/ your daughter: Playing, Laughing, Eating, Dancing, Watching great flicks, Looking at PIGS!!!
PRICELESS)))) xxxx
Yes, Kim, you could say, we did it all! That pig was enormous!
Sounds like a great time, especially the food……
Beatles theme!!! I can’t say I was ever a fan to be honest, not my type of music.
Shame about the book shop closing, here they are closing because of sales lost to the Internet, they seem unable or unwilling to compete.
Yes, Ribert, I already knew you didn’t like the Beatles though for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. They are fabulous. They took America by storm and introduced us to a whole new style of music, playing R&B and helping to bridge the music with rock ‘n roll. I just finished reading a 900-page tome on them and it was only Part I of a three-part trilogy. There will never be another group like the Beatles, a band that paved the way for bringing more British music to the States. I’m glad I was there to witness it.
It is all I heard my mom tell her friends while I was visiting Sri Lanka – my daughter is here, so you won’t see me, my daughter is here, so we’re busy. My daughter is here, I’m cooking for my grand kids…
Five days is so short and yet you covered quite a bit. Waiting for Thanksgiving even if it is four months away is just hard. But it will be here before you know it.
I’m so happy you had such a fantastic time with your daughter and lovely that your son joined you as well. You look lovely Monica. I love the photo of you and the one with your daughter.
I’m very emotional these days. I miss my mom so so much.
Hugs
Thank you so much, MM. It felt like a whirlwind visit. We did pack a lot into a short period. In fact, there ended up being only one thing we had to cross off our list. My daughter really wanted to go to Disneyland. But alas, that proved too much. Maybe next time.
Sounds like a lovely visit! Great fair photos btw. We enjoyed our short trip to the Fab Fair and somehow managed not to eat fried anything. We did stop for ice cream on the way home, though.
🙂
P.S. I’m sure Henry and Oliver will forgive you eventually.
You know Shary, Henry and Oliver are such great kids. I couldn’t have asked for better. Henry’s got the patience of an old soul and Oliver greets me with great enthusiasm no matter how many times I leave him behind. Meanwhile, I’m riddled with immense guilt all the more, when I see the joy in his eyes that I’m home.
Looks like time very well spent with daughter!
It was. It truly was! What great memories we made.
Looks like a brilliant time! So happy for you! everyone deserves a break!
Thanks, Jodi. When they’re little you somehow think they’re going to stay that young forever. But before you know it, they’ve become young adults and frankly it’s just as fun hanging out with them and maybe even better. We can see R rated films, and I don’t have to deal with anyone getting cranky or needing a diaper change!
Quality time with the kids (grown up kids) is very special. The rest? It can wait!
You’re absolutely right, Gina. These opportunities are few and far between!
My daughter lives in town and I still feel that way every time she actually stops by. It looks like you had a blast! Fairs aren’t usually my thing, but with a “fab 4” theme I could be persuaded. Glad to have you back.
We’ve been going to this fair since we moved here when my daughter was a baby. It’s almost a tradition. It’s the same fair, same exhibits, same food offered, and I’ve skipped a year here and there. But my son had an exhibit in the hobby show once ad won third prize. And my daughter’s class one year performed there. So basically I have a soft spot for the fair. But yes, what attracted me this year was the these. I just love the Beatles!