2015 - 365 Project. Day 237, August 25

365 Project. Day 237, August 25: We had a triumphantly successful day getting things squared away at El Camino! Jen attended and then officially added her second class, got her student ID (shown here, with her making the face she WANTED to make but talked herself out of), got her books, bing bang boom. People we needed stuff from were informed, empowered, polite and - wait for it - helpful. She even ran into two friends there and six friends yesterday. Yay! — with Jennifer Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 236, August 24

365 Project. Day 236, August 24: I literally deleted every picture from my camera folder on my phone today. By accident. As I do with so many things. So often. Gah. Thank goodness I did a picture dump to my computer last week, so I didn't lose anything devastating. And it is soooo late tonight for my daily pic. So here's my eye.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 235, August 23

365 Project. Day 235, August 23: Jennifer and I spent the afternoon helping serve lunch for Watts Powerhouse Church. Our church does this once a month, largely due to the initial interest and hard work of Shannon Hamilton. Russ is the amazing quarterback, who scores deals on the food we serve and much of the equipment we use. While the work itself isn't too hard, standing face to face with people living in poverty, whose day to day lives are so much different and more difficult than mine, is very hard for me. I'm always glad I went, but it's hard. — with Doug Cotton.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 234, August 22

365 Project. Day 234: August 22: Lots happening in this picture:

- A fun morning at the movies. Saw "Inside Out" and was glad for advance notice from my friend Steve Bloom (Pixar editor) that he wasn't going to be in the credits. Down side: no Philbin Phamily game of "Where's Waldo?" to find him

- Coolest (relatively) new drink dispensers EVER. They would have tickled my dad so much. 

- Jennifer sporting her Gryffindor hoodie, which drew an inquiry from a little European lady at Trader Joe's the other day, who asked her without irony if that was her school. It took her by surprise, but she has a better answer ready for next time.

- The cool bag Jennifer got in Chinatown. I have a similar one that Susan just altered for me to shorten the strap (THANK YOU!!!!!).

2015 - 365 Project. Day 233, August 21

365 Project. Day 233, August 21: Spotted on my morning walk -- Front Yard Tire Swing. Level: Expert

2015 - 365 Project. Day 232, August 20

365 Project. Day 232, August 20. Well, this is the worst quality pic ever. I'll replace it with an actual scanned copy later, but it's past my bedtime, and it's TBT, AND I can count the pics I have of myself as a child on maybe two hands with fingers left over. So here's today's offering. Caption on back says "May 1968 - the Butlers on our way to the beach." Thanks Diana Barber for sharing!!! — with William Butler, Diana Barber and Debbie Lenn.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 231, August 19

365 Project. Day 231, August 19: Giant box. Best plaything ever. #Lolapalooza #TeamLola — with Jennifer Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 230, August 18

365 Project. Day 230, August 18: First driving lesson in the books. Stick shift, no less! Everything still works and that guy walking across the big parking lot only looked back over his shoulder nervously a couple times! Way to go, Jennifer Philbin!! ♡ — with Jennifer Philbin at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Ctr.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 229, August 17

365 Project. Day 229, August 17: Boom. — with Jennifer Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 228, August 16

365 Project. Day 228, August 16: Fun afternoon/evening playing games with friends and celebrating Dot's birthday! — with Haley Deanna Terzian, Peggy Terzian, Karen Laderman, Judy Gordonand Kathy Laderman Wright.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 227, August 15

365 Project. Day 227, August 15. You guys. I can't begin to describe what a badass my husband is. I'm serious. He installed our new water heater today. And he single-handedly muscled out the old and in the new. I have so much respect for all boy things today. He was all torching stuff and sawing stuff and whipping out power tools I'd never even seen before (insert dirty joke here). He'd send me to the hardware store and tell me to ask for a 3/8" krelbenfarnum gas intake fernyshmern. And the guy at the hardware store be all like, "Yep. Right over here." And he'd hand me one and it'd only be, like, 3 dollars. Boys are so useful! He saved us TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS today. My offering to the project was this totally ghetto sun shade. I used duct tape, yo.

 — feeling amazing with Brian Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 226, August 14

365 Project. Day 226, August 14: Again reaching the end of a day (and it should be hilarious or sad that I view 6 p.m. as the end of my day) without having taken a picture. So it was either a selfie of my new Marisol Ramirez haircut, a picture of the bottle of wine I'm drinking (no idea where I got it but I think it was a gift) or a picture of the last dog I'll ever own being sad because Jennifer locked him in my room while friends are over. And I am not good at selfies. And Bingley has never had a photo that was unfairly unflattering. And if I show the wine and it was you who gave it to me, you'll find me thoughtless and cruel. So all around, this was the best choice.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 225, August 13

365 Project. Day 225, August 13: Hey Del Taco! It's pretty cool that you invested in quotation marks for your sign, but I'm not sure this is really what you're really trying to say. Because now I think you're lying. Or sarcastic. Or that you really should have studied harder in school. I'm sure your "avocado" is super "fresh".

2015 - 365 Project. Day 224, August 12

365 Project. Day 224, August 12: Once upon a time, a shar pei dog at a rental house lunged over the top of the rickety fence as I walked past with Charlie (the next-to-last dog I ever owned) ((and we were completely ignoring this dog, not picking a fight)), and it bit me on the arm, drawing blood. Now, years later, the dog is gone and the house is being torn down. I find this strangely satisfying.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 223, August 11

365 Project. Day 223, August 11: These little beauties grow on a giant plant at a rental house I walk past on Tuesdays with the last dog I'll ever own. They never get picked, and late every summer they are sweet and juicy. One year, I finally brought along a pair of scissors and plastic bag and I helped myself to a few bunches. I found out when I got home why no one harvests them. There were more spiders than grapes in each bunch! Granted, they were harmless spiders, but the sheer volume was daunting. So I'll stick to good old store-bought, pesticide-laced grapes, thanks.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 222, August 10

365 Project. Day 222, August 10: So I found this big giant snake on the driveway this morning. I thought it was a worm. Now what do I do with it?? Anyone want a giant snake?

2015 - 365 Project. Day 221, August 9

365 Project. Day 221, August 9: When you're driving and you pass your phone back to your daughter and later you find, like, 20 weird selfies in your pictures. — with Jennifer Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 220, August 8

365 Project. Day 220, August 8: Champinellies command performance of "Jazz Ladies" for Nancy Bergman in the hotel lobby. I love these girls. — with Melanie Halvorson, Sara Christine Littlefield, Courtney Crowe and Jennifer Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 219, August 7

365 Project. Day 219, August 7. Here for the weekend. Jennifer's quartet, the Champinellies, will compete tomorrow night with 13 other young women's quartets. I'm going to attend classes and sing in one of two choruses put together for the weekend, directed by the talented Lori Lyford. Brian will schmooze and enjoy the air-conditioned room during what my dad used to call the "hen party". Brian'll be there, of course, to squeeze hands and hold breaths during the contest. smile emoticon#R21SummerFun — at Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 218, August 6

365 Project. Day 218, August 6: Poor Lola has had a nagging fever. At least it has given her two extra days with her mommy. I swung by yesterday and today to say hi because I missed that face. We hung out in the shade for a while, and I gave Lola a ball and she gave me hugs. So I'm better now. Oh yeah... she's doing better, too! — with Jenna Wolfyfingers.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 217, August 5

365 Project. Day 217, August 5: I dropped Jennifer off at Courtney's house for an early start to the big Champinellies weekend. Then I got gas, because it's cheaper in Orange County. And because it was hot and I was sleepy, I got a caffeinated soda. I refuse to do the math to find out if I ACTUALLY saved any money, after paying $.35 for using my debit card and $2 for a soda. But I bet there aren't many of you who can fill a 13 gallon tank for 44 bucks. So I got that going for me.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 216, August 4

365 Project. Day 216, August 4:
Haikuesday:
Quartet rehearsal.
Post-dinner phone catch-up time.
See the photo bomb? — with Melanie Halvorson, Sara Christine Littlefield, Jennifer Philbin, Courtney Croweand Brian Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 215, August 3

365 Project. Day 215, August 3: Forgot to post this yesterday. My neighbors' cat wants to kill me when I go to feed her. She sneaks up on me like a ninja, but her catfight yowling usually gives her away. #stalker#amateur #comeatmebro

2015 - 365 Project. Day 214, August 2

365 Project. Day 214, August 2: It was time for Maxwell Jones to be schooled in the Philbin way. If you have never seen any of my family members in action, just ask. — with Jennifer Philbin, Becky Philbin and Brian Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 213, August 1

Day 213, August 1: The last dog I'll ever own stepped on a bee during a pee break on our walk, necessitating a car rescue by Brian. Gulped down a Benadryl and his breakfast. Sheesh.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 212, July 31

365 Project. Day 212, July 31: Tonight at paddle, Julia broke out a 1977 cabernet they've had for ages. The cork was a mess so it had to be decanted, but it was delicious! — with Julia Morgan.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 211, July 30

365 Project. Day 211, July 30: I realized early this morning that I missed posting a photo yesterday! Gah. I did not take a single photo all day. I'll have to settle for this photo from a marvelous documentary we watched on Netflix last night - "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" - about Ice Age cave paintings in France. Totally worth watching. While much prehistoric art reminds me of a child's pottery project (that's Debbie's theory -- all the stuff we find and believe to be ancient fertility symbols were just crappy art projects their kids brought home from school - haha!), the art drawn in this perfectly preserved cave are breathtaking and complex and beautiful.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 210, July 29

365 Project. Day 210, July 29: How can I NOT use this picture for today's offering?? Those shoulderblades. That suntan. I cannot even. #Lolapalooza #TeamLola— with Jenna Wolfyfingers.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 209, July 28

365 Project. Day 209, July 28: There is nothing in the fridge. I drove to Taco Bell in my jammies. Don't judge. Even if you hear banjo music in your head.

Wait. It's Haikuesday.
Killing two birds with one stone.
Love "edit" option.

2015 - 365 Project. 208, Day July 27

365 Project. 208, Day July 27: Remember that thing about Brian's alleged banana allergy? He claimed it applied to avocados as well. Throwing caution to the wind, he gave guacamole a whirl at this seaside pub we stopped at on our San Francisco walkng tour. Nothin'. I'm pretty sure he's been lying to me for 23 years. wink emoticon — with Jennifer Philbin, Neil Philbin and Brian Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 207, July 26

365 Project. Day 207, July 26: Fun day in San Francisco began with breakfast of leftover sourdough from my soup breadbowl last night!

2015 - 365 Project. Day 206, July 25

365 Project. Day 206, July 25: Dinner on the wharf with my brother-in-law Neil and his sweetheart Emilia. They are amazingly still awake after flying from Paris. Must be our witty repartee. — with Jennifer Philbin and Brian Philbin at Bistro Boudin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 205, July 24

365 Project. Day 205, July 24: One of my favorite musicals, shared with a treasured homeschool friend!— with Anna Alexander Yori at Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 204, July 23

365 Project. Day 204, July 23: This is the face of the last dog I'll ever own, hoping I'll take him with me to pick up Jennifer from Kate's grandma's house WAY past our bedtime. I'm actually surprised he hadn't already put himself to bed. He must have noticed Jen wasn't home yet. If this shows any intelligence, it does not counter-balance the fact that he almost chewed up a second toy of Lola's and stole some of her goldfish crackers off the coffee table. Balance. It's all about balance.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 203, July 22

365 Project. Day 203, July 22: Haven't posted a picture from Lolapalooza in a while. Had to choose this saucy shot of her at the park today with a stylish Audrey Hepburn hat.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 202, July 21

365 Project. Day 202, July 21: Soul food. — with Jennifer Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 201, July 20

365 Project. Day 201, July 20: Sunflowers are Jennifer's favorite! I saw these on my walk this morning and Jen's spending the night with the Champinellies, so this is for her! ♡

2015 - 365 Project. Day 200, July 19

365 Project. Day 200, July 19: Wow. So many things happening in this picture! First, it's my TWO-HUNDREDTH photo of this project! 165 to go. Second, it's apparently National Ice Cream Day, so we just got back from Baskin Robbins. Thank God for all these ridiculous national holidays to spice up my daily pictures. Third, today is literally the first time since before Becky was born that Brian has eaten a banana. He developed an allergy to them as an adult that (so he claims) makes him throw up as soon as he has one. I've been goading him for years to eat one, just once, so I can see this reaction (yes, as a matter of fact, there apparently IS something seriously wrong with me). Anyway, he just tried one, I recorded it, and so far -- nothin'. Anti-climactic, for sure. But amusing and definitely worthy of today's offering. You wouldn't know from this picture, but he actually loves bananas. This is simply the face of dread...

2015 - 365 Project. Day 199, July 18

365 Project. Day 199, July 18. Yes, I'm dressed for a wedding. Between two grown-ups. Including Dickson Chen. And yes, as a matter of fact, that IS a TARDIS on my necklace. #nerdalert #thanksjen — with Brian Philbin.

2015 - 365 Project. Day 198, July 17

365 Project. Day 198, July 17: I took Jennifer to breakfast today in appreciation for all the help she provides with Lolapalooza. She'd never been here before so we got beachy. The service was terrible, but it gave us lots of time to chat.