Keeping Cool in California

Several of our friends and family have contacted us recently to inquire about the proximity of the Sierra Madre fire. We're safe and sound, though the fire did extensive damage to the hillside above our community of Sierra Madre (the town in which Jesse works and we previously lived). It was a jarring experience to exit the mall last Saturday to the scorching temperatures of the top of the parking structure, only to look over the valley at leaping flames of crimson and pink beginning to consume the hills. Due to the extensive smoke, Bethany church and school were closed down on Monday and part of Tuesday. The city of Sierra Madre used the church's ministry center to provide showers for some of the evacuees. Luckily, the fire is now almost contained and (as far as I know) no structures were damaged.

The temperature in recent days has been maxing out over 100 degrees here in the San Gabriel Valley - a fact that our dog Jack doesn't appreciate as the smoke and heat have seriously curtailed his play time. To help him cope, we thought we'd take a little trip to Kmart and buy him a plastic kiddypool, thinking that as a labrador he'd like to soak in it. Oh, no. This dog thinks it's time to splash. Especially in our direction. At least Gavin enjoyed sitting in the pool for a bit. Enjoy!

More Pics of Gavin and Family

I've uploaded more photos of our little family! Go to http://www.gavinarrives.shutterfly.com/ and use the password "peanut". The new album is "Gavin is Growing." Enjoy!

Don't Get off the Train

While my parents were here a couple weeks ago, I learned an important life lesson: When you're on the right train, don't get off. My mom flew into the Burbank airport on a Thursday, while my dad took the train up from San Diego (where he'd been working for a few weeks) on Friday. We decided to give Gavin his first taste of public transportation, taking the Gold Line down to Union Station to meet my dad. So Gavin (in his stroller), Jesse, my mom and I loaded on to the train at the Sierra Madre stop. We arrived, entered the train (which had been sitting at the stop for some time), and sat down. Unfortunately, the section we were seated in was facing backwards, and my mom gets quite motion sick. Looking down the train car, we could see that seats further on were facing forward, but the aisle was blocked by someone else with a large stroller. At the next stop, we determined to move down the car and sit where my mom would be more comfortable. I suggested that Jesse, who was pushing the stroller, exit at the door near us and reenter the traincar further along. Jess and Gavin moved outside and my mom and I began walking down the traincar's aisle. At that moment, a mechanical voice said "The Doors Are Closing" - and they did. With Jesse and Gavin outside. And then the train pulled away. With Jesse and Gavin outside! I'm sure my face was quite a picture. I called Jesse on his cell phone and we just burst out laughing. Mom and I exited the train at the next stop and waited for the next train to bring my husband and son along. The ten minutes we sat waiting at the Lake Avenue stop, on a little concrete island in the middle of the 210 freeway brought home the life lesson: when you're on the right train, don't get off. It's a bit like Red Riding Hood - don't be distracted from the path, no matter how pretty the flowers or, in this case, how tempting the seats appear. Stick to what you have. No matter what!