Learning from the Pros

Brain cancer is...

 ...learning from people who do it right.

At breakfast this morning, we told Alex and Tiana about Chris Renne (above).  Chris and Andi went to graduate school simultaneously, earning our master's and doctoral degrees together. That means Chris and I met in 1988, before Alex was born. Chris and I remember Alex sitting in his carrier on the table, munching on a tortilla chip with us at some Riverside Mexican restaurant in 1989. 

(Blog readers know Chris, by the way.  She's the "Chris" of posts that include works from "Chris," as in here--the moonn-- and here--the pink footed penguin.)

After our commencement, Chris and I went separate directions until our paths brought us back together for great times at CSUF, and Chris retired from the Department of Elementary and Bilingual Education at CSUF five years ago. 

Chris is sleeping late when she wants to, weaving, taking her dogs for long walks, and seeing the world.  Literally...the world.  Chris, I think you've been on every continent, right?

You know you have a good friend when you can pick up where you left off after five years.

Thanks, Chris, for your friendship and support and for the advice on hiking in Sitka.  For sure you make retirement look good.

 Happy Thursday, everyone.  Let's call it quits for the day.

Father's Day: Act One

Brain cancer is...

...so happy to celebrate another Father's Day.

Act One.  More to come.

Photo credit:  Kathie. 

Throwing Rocks...Again

Brain cancer is..

...getting ready to throw more rocks.

We hope it's been long enough since we've posted about birds that a bird posting is acceptable today.

The park was just aflutter this morning.  Geoff, you know we love you, but it was not our love that kept us from posting about coots.  There have been no coots...

...until now!  Clearly this is a Coot Scout, the advance party.

Most importantly, we saw this bird for the first time all season:

It's a pin-tailed whydah, native to sub Saharan Africa. If you have never met a pin-tailed whydah, click here, and you'll see that they are striking little birds.

But that's not what's important.  What's important is that pin-tailed whydahs draw serious photographers with bulky, expensive cameras.

Readers from October 2, 2016 (click here) might recall that my husband is a hoodlum. Back then he envisioned a whole scene with the two of us running screaming toward the photographers, throwing rocks at them.  In Darrell's vision, the terrified photographers dropped their cameras and scrambled away.

Ah.  Some things never get old. 

Maybe this time we'll actually hit one.  (Just kidding.)

Science Side Note

We just learned that pin-tailed whydahs are problematic for California's native birds. (Click here for the article if you like.)  Whydahs are "brood parasites," which means they lay their eggs in the nests of native birds, and then go clubbing (probably).  The foster parents raise the little whydahs at the expense of their own babies.  Fortunately, the whydahs aren't great flyers, so their spread is likely to be contained.  Maybe we should throw rocks at the whydahs instead of at the photographers.  Kidding!!

Just Another Manic Monday

Brain cancer is...

...powering our way through Monday.

The song of the day:  Just Another Manic Monday, by the Bangles.

Andi started the day in a stressful meeting:

Ha ha. Lattes with a BFF (Best FERP Friend), Teresa.

The lunch meeting was equally tense:

Darrell felt pressured to meet so many clients' demands:

So stressful!  Sigh!  We would feel sorry for ourselves, but then LuAnn sent us a picture of her Monday evening:

Things are tough all over, it appears.
Congratulations, Team D, for making it through your Monday too.

Attention Young Guillaumes

Brain cancer is...

...giving a shout out to our younger selves.

In going through our family business notebooks, Darrell came across a message from 1997 Darrell and Andi (above).  As you see, it's addressed to the "old Guillaumes."

Imagine that!  We had time to go from young to old...together...in 21 years.  

Thanks, young Guillaumes, for thinking of us!

Adventures and Treasures

Brain cancer is...

...the treasure at the end of the adventure.

Denise and Andi fit in one more hiking adventure before other summer adventures take precedence.  

Check out our route at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park:

12 miles, 120 floors

Smiling at the summit.

 Want to see more of the adventure?  Check the video out at your choice of links:

• Animoto
• YouTube

At the end of the adventure rainbow?  The treasure, Darrell:

Yay!  Happy Saturday! 

Wait. What?
Some of you want practice on the concept of the day, protective coloration?
Can't you just go enjoy your evening? 
No? Sigh.  Here you go:

Two rabbits

One mule deer (We didn't catch the two fawns on camera.)

NOW can I put my feet up??

Here's to treasured adventures and the treasures at the end of adventures!

Sugar and Spice

Brain cancer is...

 ...everything nice.

Darrell has always had the sweetest habit of asking me out on a date in writing.  Today I chose the left-hand invitation:  Thai.  (Yes, yesterday was so long ago for a date!).

In addition to this sweetness, Darrell was full of spice and everything nice in his words.  Today I heard that:

• I am the best runner in the world.
• I am a good friend.
• I have beautiful eyes.

I heard more, but really, I'll stop here so that it doesn't go to my head.  The best thing ever?  He believes what he says.

Today is Darrell's 28-month diagnosis anniversary.  You go, Darrell!

Happy Friday, Team D.  Every good thing that people say about you is true.