48 Hours of Fun & 48 Hours of Work

Rob's brother Scott and my sister Kim were here for four full days on the weekend of the fund raiser at Casa De La Guerra. Friday we worked but it was shoulder to shoulder, fun, family. Not really work. Live music, the company of hundreds of supportive members of our community and topping it off later with laughter in our new back yard until 2am with friends. We felt lucky again.

Saturday morning we woke up to early June Gloom. Cloudy but warm, Scott, Kim and I met up with Pete & Adi at the last Sambo's known to man. Here you will find the best Eggs Benedict in town. Kim & I split it. Yum.













Now a monthly tradition, Adi & I had standing appointments for spa treatments that day at DiVine Spa in Los Olivos. We were so happy to have Kim with us. Not knowing what Rob, Scott and Pete would get up to, the girls drove north for a little well deserved relaxation. We arrived early for our afternoon treatments so we enjoyed a wine tasting at Vixen Wines. Lovely stuff - try it.






















At the spa - facials for Adi & I, a body scrub for Kim.













We stopped in at The Hitching Post for snacks before we headed back home to Santa Barbara.
The boys had been experimenting with grilling ribs on the barbecue all day. Scott sliced the first of the summer watermelon and whipped up sides for our dinner. Jean, Matt, Mike & Darian showed up and we enjoyed another late night. It got chilly outside. Scott made do with his blanky. He's so cute.











Sunday we really got down to the business of rebuilding. When I grow up I want to be like my sister & my brother in law: energetic, generous, unfailing, thoughtful, kind, loyal.
Pete made all of us custom omelettes before he and Adi left for Westlake. Fuel for the day. Thank you!

Scott, Kim, Rob & I drove from store to store with a notebook filled with measurements. Window measurements, room measurements, wish list, realistic what-we-really-need list and room for ideas that struck us along the way.
How do you rebuild a home?
How do you feel at home when everything is new? None of your memories around you as proof of where you've been.
I'll tell you how - you build new memories in the process of making yourself functional and comfortable in the company of the people who love you. Not sure yet how we'll thank the two of you for everything you have done for us. We are better since you were here.































Monday morning, Rob returned to work. I took the day off to lean on Kim & Scott's energy for one more day. We walked State Street looking for good bits for the house. Met Rob at Kai Sushi for lunch then said goodbye to Scott who had a flight to catch to Seattle that afternoon.

Kim left on Tuesday morning.
Coming home the first day after work without the two of them here - it was interesting.
Left to ourselves we walked around our now furnished house like cats in a new room. It is still strange but it is better. I feel safer. We have a place to put our house keys down. We have a table to sit at. We are back on the track to normal.

Thank you both.

Ginger Birthday Vegas Family Fund Raiser Rebuild

It has been a very busy few weeks. Let's jump right in...

Ginger's 40th Birthday in Las Vegas
It's official - James hates everything, especially Las Vegas. Not enough to spoil his lovely wife's 40th birthday celebration in a salon suite high up at the Wynn Resort and Casino though.
Their friend Jan braved the bumpy flight from London to Palm Springs to Las Vegas to be there to celebrate. Let it be known - you will always win on your first trip to Las Vegas. Jan was the last to sit down at a black jack table and the one who walked away with her money.
Rob and I flew in for the one night trip, having planned it weeks before. It was good to stay in a posh room that was clean and spacious and well, furnished.
Pete decided to come on the trip at the last minute so ended up at the Frontier across the street. So glad he made it.
A manicure with Ginger, dinner at Daniel Boulud (my favorite), one night in the casino, some teasing of a guy who passed out at a slot machine, breakfast, goodbyes and a flight back to Santa Barbara.

Fancy hands for Ginger and I









James and Jan at Daniel Boulud









Signature 'come hither' look for Rob...












Maroof, our friend from Seattle we hadn't seen in 5 years!









Um, yum. Steak Frites at Daniel Boulud...












Ginger wish












At the Wynn casino later that night. This guy fell asleep at a slot machine. And then another slot machine, until security finally woke him up. Ha ha












After three hours of sleep, an over-priced pot of coffee can be your best friend









We spent the next six hours getting home via Phoenix. U.S. Airways...why do you have to be so mean?









Rob had to unpack then repack that same night for a week long trip to Orlando for work. I was uncomfortable in the house alone to put it mildly. I'm slowly getting used to the ground floor and no longer imagine the worst case scenarios of someone breaking in and what my escape route will be.


Family + Fund Raising Fun
My brother in law Scott flew in from Seattle at the end of my week alone in the house. He installed a security system that is flawless and I feel much safer now. Thanks for taking your crazy sister in law seriously. A few hours later my sister Kim flew in from Atlanta (via Memphis and surprise - Phoenix! Again, damn you U.S. Airways).
They both came to help us get back on the track to normal.
I thought it would be a good networking opportunity for the fund raiser as well as a local event to show my family so I bought tickets to the Nights event at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. It was jam packed with beautiful people who all wanted to try one of the signature tequila martinis being served at the bar. Fire eaters, Ninette on trapeze for hours and people packed into the outdoor area like sardines.










Fire eater letting anybody feed her












Scott in the best shirt...ever









Kim looking gorgeous as usual









We saw David and Christi and met some nice people who said they would surely attend the fund raiser the next night. We got hungry after a while and headed to Epiphany for fancy grilled cheese, fancier potato chips and something else that I can't remember what it was. It was fancy though.

Kim was a trooper and walked all over in her high heels. Those last few blocks home were just too much and she had to give in...










Friday finally arrived. At last the week without Rob was over. The three of us picked him up at Santa Barbara Airport and I think I hugged him all the way home.
Scott and Kim worked hard to get ready for the fund raiser that night. Scott organized and staffed the entrance + exit with volunteers (aka Rob, Kim, Scott + I). Rob and I picked up the donated food from Epiphany, Elements and Couchez. David coordinated all the moving pieces at Casa De La Guerra. Spencer the Gardener set up the band space. Cases of wine were uncorked, kegs were tapped, Scott Topper our DJ and MC for the night set up and before we knew it we were stamping people's wrists at the door. The Frameworks Fund Raiser was a great success.




















































After the fund raiser some of us went to Paradise Cafe for 10:57pm burgers. The kitchen closed at 11pm. Adi discovered she could make anyone look like Donald Trump. It is truly uncanny.



















Thank you to everyone who attended and showed your support. Starting Saturday, a month after the fire happened, we are no longer quick to recount the story. We want to move on, we want to feel better, we want to have a great summer with all of you.
Next entry, get a peek into an important monthly tradition...

After The Fire

It has been two and a half weeks since the fire.
We still have to make lists daily to remember to do a hundred little things. After talking with David and Christi, owners of the Frameworks gallery who lost their business, we realize that this is a common practice after such an event. They have to do the same thing. Lists, lists, lists.
I sent an email to Adi last week that summed it up:

Hi, rough morning after a very rough and sleepless night. I've already cried at work once today. It is just too much right now. But then if I go home I'll have to face all that smoky stuff. Not sure which is worse. Feeling like I'm getting nothing done at either location.
I wish I drove today. I'd scan craigslist for the past few days and just drive around picking up furniture so there was somewhere to sit on besides the bed, at the end of the day.
Sorry, I know I sound negative today. Bad dreams and not feeling safe in our ground level house. Weird huh? I've always lived upstairs off of street level. I was totally paranoid last night and Rob suffered for it by having to get up and turn on all the lights and look outside. In all fairness, there was a raccoon back there in the yard the second time. Kim wants me to spend time putting together a wish list on Target and I don't think I can concentrate long enough to do it. I love that she is trying to help me from far away. She wants to come out to help now but I have nowhere to put her. But I need help. I don't know what to do right now. There seems too much to do and I worry about our wet photo albums sitting in the garage because I don't have the space to take them apart and see which photos can be saved. I know they are eroding but it seems like too big of a task. By the end of the day I just don't want to think about any of this.
None of my pants fit right.
Bad day.

She left work that day and drove up all the way from Westlake. We spent hours saving what photos we could from waterlogged, gritty albums. Every surface in the garage was covered with wet photos. The results were greater than I'd hoped for. Lots of people ask us what we need. We need photo albums. Thanks for being there Adi.
















































Last weekend The Great Clean Up happened in our new rental house. Everyone pitched in and got us started in a new home. Cleaning, scrubbing off the smoke from pots and pans, painting... we can't thank you all enough. The house is very cute with a lot of light and color. There's even a sunny little room off the kitchen we agreed would become my writing room. Rob gets the man shack off the garage. We both think we can be happy here.







































































































































































We are optimistic that what we pulled out of the VIP Room will eventually air out enough to be able to keep. Our backyard and garage look like a yard sale. We'll see how it goes.


1st Thursday

David and Christi hosted this 1st Thursday not far from the fire site at Casa De La Guerra. The community turned out to show their support. I was overwhelmed when we first arrived. Pete, Adi, Bill, Anna and Mike turned out as they would have any other 1st Thursday. It was great to have them all there.






























































A month to the day, a fund raiser for David and Christi will be held at Casa De La Guerra on Friday, May 18 from 5pm to 10pm. Rob's brother and hopefully my sister Kim will be making the trip out to support us. Spencer the Gardener (with Nate Birkey coming back from New York for the show) will play. By then, I think we will all be ready to do some dancing.
We hope you will come and support an important local business and two very special people.