Lockdown Week 1

Week 1 of the lockdown is winding down and so far all is good in the suite, I even won $15 on a scratcher this morning. I'm lucky enough to work for a large, financially stable company who has promised to pay all employees through May 1st so I haven't had much more added stress. It really feels like a "Staycation" to me other than Michelle having to go to work. I just pray that God protects and watches over her when I can't.

There are no shortage of projects in the suite so mommy and me have stayed busy in the garden and around the house. Michelle has been a huge help picking up groceries and supplies since she is already out of the house but I'm hoping that we'll need some essentials from Home Depot because I need a few supplies for projects.

Mommy and I love working in the yard but the last couple of days have been freezing if the sun is behind a cloud so we've had to come up with a few indoor projects and activities. I started painting Tootie and touching up Tuco the Turtle while continuing to work on my cookbook. Since I have ADD and loose focus fast, the cookbook usually goes 1 recipe at a time and usually when I am watching Diners, Drive ins and Dives. I'm watching as much Huell Howser as I can and I'm thinking of painting with Bob Ross. I've always wanted to follow along with him and see if it is as easy as he makes it look. I hope I can paint some "Happy Trees" and not make any "Happy Accidents".

Other than trying to stay creative and productive it's really just been a lot of TV and eating. I suppose I can add blogging to the list but after this exciting week I'm not sure I will have much left to blog about.

Prayers for a quick end to this virus and for protection for all during this pandemic.

Don't tell my homies from the OC that I am reppin the IE now 

 

I took down the shade sail because it started ripping and I think I may leave it down until Summer



How cute is mommies strawberry patch

Mommy loves this Dragon plant. I don't especially care for it but I did learn why it is called a Dragon plant...the SOB bit me like 5 times while I was working on the fence.

Mommies birdcage planters

Letting my hair grow. I'll probably have a fro when this is all over

I looked over at the fridge and saw this picture from Sophie's play and had to post it. Sophia was so good as the "Singing telegram girl" and "Agent #1" in the thrilling murder mystery, Clue. 

Sophie looks so cool in her agent costume. Look, the other kid doesn't even know how to hold a gun right. She also knows her gun safety and keeps her finger off the trigger until she is ready to bust a cap.

Happy Spring 2020!

Today is the first official day of spring and it's raining. With all the craziness going on right now I'm just looking forward to working in my yard and it's freakin raining. I know I can't blame COVID-19 for the rain but something has to take the fall and I'm tired of blaming everything on Hawaii. Speaking of Hawaii my nephew came over for dinner last night and I honestly think that Danny is officially funnier than his dad. He had me laughing all night but he did make me miss my brother because they have identical senses of humor.

The suite is on lockdown like everyone else but since the girls are practically home schooled already it hasn't changed our life too much. Andrew has been staying away because he lives in LA and works on Rodeo Dr. so he doesn't want to risk bringing it home to us. I love watching him facetime with Lola. She recognizes his voice but then looks around for him, it's adorable! I also worry about Michelle working at Grocery Outlet for both exposure and assholes looking for toilet paper. (HILARIOUS! I just noticed how funny that sounds while proof reading. Definitely no pun intended) it's the figurative assholes that I'm worried about not the literal ones.

This madness has actually made my life a little easier at work as our company has moved all auctions to online only so we don't have to set up the arena or deal with our D-Bag clients, I just have to deal with the D-Bags that work here. I should probably stop talking crap about the used car industry because I just got a FAT bonus and treated myself to a new tattoo.

We are not big partiers or travelers so I don't see this big lockdown or social distancing making life too terrible in the suite but I am concerned with what lies ahead. Although this is my first post this year, the extra time spent on lockdown should give me more time to keep up on the suite. I've even started writing a cookbook with all the recipes from my daddy dinners. Ok so it's just a bunch of recipes I copied from the internet, added bacon and gave it a silly name but I had to do something because we were all getting tired of my meatloaf and spaghetti. I am hand writing them so I hopefully won't get sued and I plan to hand it down to Andrew for him to cook daddy dinners for his family someday and hopefully pass it down to his son as well.

Anyhow, time will tell how all this virus crap turns out but for now just stop the rain so I can work in my yard and I'll be happy. Until next time...

 

Me and mommy at the Mission Inn. Daddy surprised mommy with a romantic Valentine's weekend complete with dinner at the nice Italian restaurant and a couples massage in the spa. The robe and slippers they gave me were like 3 sizes too small but I rocked them anyway (cuz I was drunk), it was comedy. 

 

 Daddy bossing people around from the same chair 8 presidents have sat in.

 

Look how cute our garden is!

 

 Andrew brought home "Tuco the Turtle" from New Mexico as a gift for mommy when he went on vacation there. I named him Tuco after the character from Breaking Bad. Andrew also saw Walt's house while he was there.



 

 

Petunia "Tootie" is still waiting for her paint job and hopefully daddy will get to pick the next dog we get and go from pug to bulldog. 

 



Mommy has become an expert succulent gardener

 

 

 We brought this home from great grandmas house. I can't wait until it fills in and looks like a real teddy bear

 

 

 Our "Pink Lemonade" tree has already started giving us fruit. They are delicious and really are pink inside

 

 

 Tuco's little homie

 

 

 This is a bloom from our almond tree. I can't wait to make my "Roasted Almond Caveman Couscous" with fresh almonds from my own tree.

Daddy trying to take a selfie with a poppy and got photo bombed by mommy

Yeah it hurt! There is still a lot more to go but that was all I could take in 1 session. It's pretty much healed now but it is crazy itchy and not from the healing, it's from having to shave my back. I know I don't look at my back very much but I had no clue it was so hairy. I should have saved it, I could have made myself a fro wig

Happy Birthday Nino

We took a trip down to my old neighborhood in Anaheim a few weeks ago to visit Nino for his birthday. We grew up in the same neighborhood so it was fun reminiscing on the streets I grew up. He had a party and invited a bunch of old friends and since I don't do any social media it was the first time I have seen a lot of them in years. Michelle brought her boyfriend Edward and Nino got drunk and tried to intimidate him but just ended up talked his ear off as he tends to do. The girls went home early with Edward but mommy and I stayed up until 3am catching up with old friends. We haven't been up that late in years. We moved the party over to Lupe's house after Nino passed out since he lives down the street and I was so impressed by Lupe and Shelly's house. They bought an old house that was built back before WW1 and remodeled it and it looks absolutely beautiful. I really love our house but I would love to move back to the neighborhood I grew up in.

Nino with his SC cake (Nino just a little buzzed)



Lupe, me, Sonny, Travis and Nino (Nino still standing)

Me, mommy and Nino (I think mommy is holding Nino up at this point)



EXTREME Grandma

No not because Grandma is into extreme sports or anything but because she is moving from Bullhead City Arizona, one of the HOTTEST places in the world to Brooklyn Center Minnesota, one of the coldest places in the world. I don't think this was a bucket list item either, grandma moved to be closer to family. She found a cute little apartment on a lake in Minnesota 2 doors down from my uncles Ken and Erik and the best part is that she will spend the winters here in California with us. She will stay with Mom mostly but with Andrew planning on moving out soon we may have a guest room she can stay in too. The girls think they will have a chance at Andrews room but there is no way in hell I am letting any of my teenage daughters have a room with a private entrance. I was planning on making it into a Man cave and maybe grandma won't mind looking at all my high school accolades but the neon beer sign might keep her up at night. I am really excited for this new chapter in my grandmas life and am proud of her for taking such a big leap of faith. I know it was hard for her to leave her home of so many years but as we kept reminding her as we moved, her memories will always be with her and all the pictures and even this blog will always be there for her to reminisce. It also doesn't hurt that my brother Eric bought her house to have a house at the river so she could always go back and visit if she misses the blistering heat or the fast paced lifestyle of Bullhead City (That's sarcasm in case you didn't catch it)

Selfie in front of grandmas house after we finished loading the truck for Minnesota

 

 Andrew looking as sharp as ever before his interview. I don't know why mommy cropped herself out of the photo, she is the reason he is so handsome. I wish I could take credit for his stunning looks, even his beard is better than mine. I did let him borrow that tie though, I think I tied it for him too.

 

On the way home the girls and I stopped at the cemetery to see papa. It was so fun telling stories about papa almost the entire ride home. Papa would have absolutely adored my family and would have constantly bragged to anyone who would listen about them. He would brag about how beautiful Isella is and what an excellent cook and wonderful mom and wife she is. He would tell people how brave his great granddaughter Sarah is and how she is always looking for an adventure. He would be so proud that Andrew became a Graham and that would be the real reason he is so handsome. He would say how Michelle is gorgeous and sings like an angel. He would be so proud of Sophia in Air Force JROTC and would break out his old uniform to take pictures with her and he would tell everyone how Mia will be the first female president of the United States. I miss you so much papa and hope I've made you proud by trying to be the dad and papa you were.

 

We have so many more pictures to go through but how cute is papa dressing up in his suit for grandparents day in uncle Dan's class. And how cute is uncle Dan sipping his milk!

 

I love it when she calls me BIG PAPA! Part 2

My heart just melted a few days ago when Sarah sent me the video below of Lexi finally saying "PAPA". I've been trying to get it out of her for a while now and finally it came! She's looking at Isella's phone with a picture of me when Sarah asks her "Who is that" and the video says the rest.

 

 

 

Papa loves you Lexi!

" I'm a Sucker for YOU "

So the Jonas Brothers were in town this weekend and Mia got an early birthday present.....2 tickets to the Jo Bros at the Honda Center. Knowing how big a Jo Bros fan I am Mia invited me to go with her. Ok so that was part of the deal all along since there are so many crazies out there and I didn't want my baby there without me. We had an amazing time! We went to the Lazy Dog café for dinner then daddy found parking right next to the Honda center for only $10 which was just another highlight of the night. We didn't have the best seats but daddy did pay a little extra to make sure I had an aisle seat and not have to climb over a bunch of screaming teenage girls to get to my seat. Turns out that was the best money I ever spent because those seats are super tiny and even though I've lost weight I was still wedged in between the armrests. That part didn't really matter once the bros went on because we were on our feet for the remainder of the night. I didn't want to embarrass Mia so I had to hold back on dancing but my foot was tapping, hips were shaking and though I couldn't sing along with the 20,000 other fans (98% girls from 13-25) I screamed and whistled in between songs. There were a couple of times I clapped out of sync and I think I whistled thinking it was the end of the song but it was just a pause. Mia started helping me out by giving me signals when to start and stop clapping which helped. On the way out we got Mia a concert t shirt then we stopped to get an ice cream. I've been to a bunch of concerts as a fan and have worked hundreds of concerts doing security but The Jonas Brothers was the best concert I have ever been to. I wish I could have got better seats and back stage passes for you baby but I hope you had as much fun as I did. Happy Birthday Baby! I love you 

Selfie in our seats

 

 Selfie facing the stage. We had matching shirts BTW. How cute is that!

 

Selfie trying to get the Big A in the background

 

This video is the JoBros on the second stage that was on our side of the arena and the platform they were on went like 20 feet in the air. They were so close I could almost reach out grab them!

The Catalina Wine Mixer

Well we didn't go to Catalina for the wine mixer but we did take a trip over on my vacation and we had a great time. We were the first in line to get on the boat and got the best seats on the top level of the boat. We saw a lot of dolphins on the way out to sea and it was a little overcast but that burned off as soon as we got there. It was a beautiful day but the water was really choppy so we had to hold on. When we got to the dock we saw one of the crew trying to tie down the boat and a big swell came in and $&!#whipped the poor guy so bad they had to call the paramedics. After that excitement we took a look at the guided tours available and I about $&!# my pants when I heard the price so we decided to rent a golf cart and take our own guided tour. After the tour we had lunch at a cute little Mexican restaurant then headed to the beach. After my photo shoot for mommy in my new trunks that are 2 sizes too small (They were on the wrong hanger in the store and mommy already cut out the stupid mesh panties they put in trunks so I couldn't return them) Mia and I jumped in the water. I always thought that since Catalina was so close that the water would be as ugly as it is at the beach here but I was greatly mistaken. The water was so beautiful and clear that I opened my eyes under water forgetting that it was indeed sea water and it burned like hell.
After the Catalina adventure we set out on another adventure that we have been wanting to do since we moved to Riverside and that is to climb Mt. Rubidoux. It was actually a lot easier than I was expecting, though the picture of my sweat soaked shirt might say other wise. It was a little less clear than I was hoping but it was beautiful and we could almost see our house from the top.
Continuing on this action packed vacation we went to Laughlin to hang out with my cousins Kim and Forrest and pick up Great Grandma to bring her back home with us to catch a flight to Uncle Kens house in Minnesota. It was Grandmas birthday so we took her to dinner at the finest restaurant in Bullhead City.....Hibachi Grill. It was actually a terrible Chinese buffet (Because I know my Chinese buffets) but grandma loved it anyway. On the way out of town we stopped in Needles and had breakfast at the Giggling Cactus which was pretty good so that hopefully made up for the Chinese buffet. I really don't even like going to the river because it's freaking hot, I don't gamble and I'm not into water toys but the rest of my family is so we go just to spend time with them. I was a little worried about this year because we were just going with Kim and Forrest and they only have a boat that we usually have to swim out to and climb aboard. Isella wasn't too worried about it but I was not looking forward to looking like a sea lion trying to climb aboard while holding on to my trunks and sliding around because of all the sunscreen you have to wear when it is 113 degrees. Anyhow, it worked out great because Forrest is the man and was kind enough to pick us up on the dock in the marina then he found a nice cove that had sand instead of rocks so he was able to drive the boat right up on the shore and I could step right off the boat. So the crisis was averted and my trunks were not an issue after all (See the first paragraph, those trunks were going nowhere 😂)
Sounds like a lot of action for a short vacation but we actually went to Universal Studios, drive in movies and aside from the adventures I actually got a few projects done around the house. It was definitely too short but I'm thankful for every minute I get to spend with the family that God blessed me with. Sadly, Michelle had work and school so she wasn't able to go with us which was a bummer but I am glad that Andrew was home to keep an eye on her 😉. 
I hope we are able to squeeze in a few more adventures before the girls go back to school and with Sophie and Mia in high school now the time of them going on their own adventure without me is rapidly approaching 😢

Graham Clan in Catalina



Us taking our tour of the island

 

DAMN! mommy looks HOT! (Sorry girls but it could be worse....I could have posted my photo shoot in my speedos)

  

Graham Clan conquering Mt Rubidoux

 

Sophie's too old to hold daddy's hand anymore (Sad face emoji)

 

You still owe me $5 for losing this bet Mia