NO WATER PRESSURE

Four about a month we have had very poor water pressure. We couldn't have the sprinklers on and do a load of laundry at the same time.

We couldn't take a shower and have the dishwasher running.

Two people couldn't use the facilities at the same time...

Well, you get the picture... :)

Yesterday I came home and looked over my poor little front yard that has been turning brown because the sprinklers didn't work. So I turned on the hose and hand watered the planters and the grass. While I was in the middle of watering the front Victor came home and immediately began to investigate the water pressure problem.

He thought that he may have gotten rocks in the pipes when he had done some sprinkler maintenance a couple months ago. So he went and got a shovel and proceeded to dig up the planter under the girls room. When he could not find anything wrong there he decided to check the water hook up out at the street.

The little housing unit was full of water. WHAT?!?!?!?!

Victor proceeded to empty the water out by scooping up and tossing it out onto the street. When the water level was low enough he discovered that there was a slow leak at the street hook-up. He also noticed that concrete had been poured to make the housing unit more stable... :) In addition, whoever did the concrete work also turned the water all the way down to a slow trickle.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Victor spent about an hour in the front fixing the leak and turned the water back on. My sprinklers work in the front and back. It's amazing.

I even did a load of laundry while Victor took a shower.

Victor reported the problem to the President of the Water Board - our friend Theodore. Theodore stated that he knew nothing about the concrete - more repairs that have not been approved by the water board (that is a whole other story). Theodore was not happy - but was happy that Victor was handy enough to repair the slow leak and get our water running the way it should.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I hope all you mom's had a wonderful mother's day!

My nephew, Rogelio, came over with his family and made dinner. He is 16 years old and is an excellent cook.

He made roast chicken; some type for white fish with a mango salsa; a fruit salad; mashed potatos and I provided the rolls and the desert.

I asked him what he was going to be when he grew up. He stated in his very serious voice: "I am going to be a lawyer". I knew that from previous conversations and thought that his decision might change since his cooking skills have become exceptional. He is extremely intelligent and is more driven than any other 16 year old I know. I said: "So, you will be a lawyer who is also an excellent cook." He said: "Yeah, sure." Typical teenage response... :)

Victor gave me, his sister and his mother very nice bouquets and I arranged them in vases and we had them displayed on the dining room table. The whole house spelled of flowers... :)

Devlyn made an appearance for a couple of hours.

All in all, my Mother's Day was good.

EARTH QUAKE - OJAI

Yep. We had an earthquake - 4.2

It was really exciting - NOT!!!!!!! Made me sick.

http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/ci10406593.htm

CHAPTER 5

Mairsile and A'dhamh had spent the past three months waiting and watching over their son, Rourke. There was no explaination for his illness or the fever that had taken him. The physicians and nurses just continued to administer to him - never finding the cause.

Rourke spent those long days laying in his hospital bed staring out the window; never allowed to leave the bed or his room. When he was alone at night he would cry himself to sleep. Every time a medical person came into his room his heart would race and the shadow of fear would cross over his face. When his parents came to be with him he would beg and plead to go home. The longer he was there his pleas became demands. His mother would just turn away from him to hide her tears and his father would just stand with no comment.

Mairsile and A'dhamh arrived this morning as they had all other mornings, but this time the physician that had been caring for Rourke was waiting for them in the room.

"Mairsile and A'dhamh your son seems to have recovered from what ever it was that ailed him," the physician stated matter of factly. "You can take him home."

Mairsile glanced over at her son to see a huge grin.

"Are you sure?" Mairsile asked. "He has been here so long and he has been so sick. He looks so frail and weak."

"Mairsile, Rourke can go home. He is weak and he will have to learn to walk again."

Rourke frowned. He was so excited about going home and being able to play outside with his brother and sister. This sounded like more confinement to him.

"Well, I guess we'll have to drag him outside every day then." A'Dhamh's voice boomed causing everyone to jump.

"I will have one of the nurses come in to describe some excersises that will help Rourke regain his strength. Being outside will do him a lot of good as well." As the physician left the room Rourke began to plan in his mind all the things that he was going to do as soon as he got home.

The nurse came in a few moments later and showed Mairsile the excercises that Rourke would need help with and she also provided a list of foods that would be good for him to eat. Mairsile gathered the few items that Rourke had in his room and put them in a satchel. A'dhamh picked up his son and carried him out to the carriage that was waiting outside the hospital doors.

The ride home was a couple of hours and while they travelled Rourke fell asleep and dreamed.

*********************

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS - OH MY!

As I was driving to work this morning I spotted the tell tale blue and yellow heliocopter circling in the sky near work. The office building I work out of is at the major cross streets of FLYNN and MISSON OAKS BLVD in CAMARILLO.

You always know something is up when the blue and yellow heliocopter is sited.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/bear-sighting.html

In the last several years I have spotted some amazing things in the area where we live.

I saw a Coyote in one of the strawberry fields off of CENTRAL.

Red Tale Hawks perched on our fence in the back yard.

Just this year a pure white crane taking a stroll in the back yard.

Just another exciting day in the neighborhood

More of Chapter 4

Although the emotional burden and the physical exhaustion had not lifted, Alana felt at ease. Soft harmonic tones still playing in her mind as she moved towards the darkened horizon. From time to time thunderous booms interrupted the melody. Clash of metal against metal soon joined. As Alana drew closer to the blackness she realized it was not a shadow, but rather dust and smoke rising up from the earth. A great battle lay before her. She heard the cries of men at war and the clashing and thundering continued to grow louder.

Fear pierced her heart; still driven from within she pressed forward.

This was madness. She was sure of it.

Explosive thundering shook the ground as the she continued. Her ears began to ring with metal against metal. Enraged battle cries echoed through the desert valley and the sky grew darker.

In short time she was within paces of the edge of the battle field. She inhaled deeply and held her breath - waiting - wondering - what was next.

Alana closed her eyes tightly and then let out a long slow breath emptying her lungs. She could hear her own breath as it smoothly passed through her lips. She opened her eyes and there before her lay an open path between the two groups of warriors. Not a sound was heard but her breath and her heart beating hard and fast. Every man gazed upon her as she began to move between.

She met each gaze with wonderment and awe until she came upon a face that she did not know but recognized. His golden brown skin was framed by long black tresses that reflected back glints of red. His brow slightly furrowed shadowed his deep set chestnut colored eyes. Although this man was built for war she sensed kindness behind his eyes. She memorized the chisled jaw and high cheek bones and the straight narrow nose that pointed like an arrow to the deep divet in his chin. She could not deflect her gaze upon him as she continued to move forward and his gaze did not leave hers.

Once she had completely passed him she again looked forward and saw her goal just before her. The mountain and its paved road to the top.

Silence continued almost to the second she stepped beyond the fringes of the battle field. Clashing and banging rang through the valley along with the angry battle cries. She did not look back for war was not in her nature.

Chapter 4 Continued

Alana collapsed to her knees; sobbing uncontrollably. Her skin itchy and burning - an added torment to her despair born the night before.

She could feel darkness closing in; even though the sun shown brightly above.

Pain. Anguish. Loss. Emptiness - words to describe her existence. No hope. No future. No life. Alana's emotions and state of mind continued to swirl deeper and deeper into the deepest darkest pits of despair.

Tormented she began to give in to the darkness. No desire to fight and free herself.

"Alana, get up." A voice echoed in her mind. Alana completely drained both physically and mentally ignored the plea.

"Alana, get up!" more urgency in these words. Alana annoyed only stirred - mentally shrugging off the voice - hoping that it would go away.

"Alana!"

Alana, face down; raised herself up on her hands. Eyes clinched shut.

"Alana, you must get up," the voice rang through her mind.

Even though she had no desire to obey, Alana found strength in the depths of her soul. She stood, trembling with her eyes closed tight.

"Alana, you must continue," the voice softer than before "This is not the end."

Alana opened her tear brimmed eyes; the sun reflecting off the white sands. She slowly stepped forward - eyes fixed on the goal - the mountain just ahead, beyond the firey desert.

The first step; the hardest to take seemed to thunder below her. The heavy weight of her legs iron balls pressing deep into the freely moving grains of sand. Eyes fixed ahead she forged one more step; and with this foot fall she exhaled deeply. The next step a hesitation - the pain and the despair not worth the effort to move forward. Alana could feel her knees begin to buckle and her ankles relax. She fell to her hands and knees again.

"not worth it..." her voice weakly trailed off.

A different voice began in a low soft whisper. The words not clear. Each syllable rung in time to an unheard melody. Alana felt something stir within her. Something that she had not ever experienced before. Like the sun rising on a new day; Alana felt that she was waking up. Truth flashed across her face. Realization a liborator. A warm peace settled upon her. She had another chance...

She stood more resolute; eyes turned to her goal. The top of the mountain reflected back to her a brilliant light. Her gaze lowered to the base of the mountain and then closer to her where she could see the end of the desert scape. Between her and the base of the mountain, Alana could see a dark shadow that seemed to rise up from the ground with it's edges changing like water flowing through a river bed. She began to walk toward this dark mass. She was not afraid. She only knew that she had to continue forward.