Halloween!

Emma was Snow White on Halloween. Emma has owned the dress up costume since she was two years old and thankfully it still fits.

This year was great fun going door to door. We went out with some of our neighbors and her classmates.






The kids got a bonus candy bar as seen in the picture below at a kind neighbors house. Lucky kids!



Clark was suppose to stay home and pass out candy. He got sick and was unable. So the trick or treater trophy will more than likely go to dad; but we will see it is not 9pm yet!

Emma was Ariel for her Pre K Halloween Carnival a few days before.

Let's Games Begin

Whose going to get the the most trick or treaters this year? San Ramon (Dad's house) or Livermore (our house)? A tradition and a trophy we have passed (along with line graphs of peak times of treat or treaters) since 1998.

Emma's Pre K Halloween Carnival

8 hours of Hope for the Library

So while I was able to briefly attend the City Council meeting last night, the City Council did approve to keep the Springtown Library open for 8 hours a week. We are grateful and hopeful that this does not mean complete closure in the future.

I offered during my speaking time to read during story time every few months. I even recommended have Civic library programs come to the lawn area of Springtown library in warmer weather and the Mayor said I was pushing it.

The Mayor's behavior and comments to the speakers were deplorable in my opinion. Instead of just listening, sometimes it was a battlefield and it did not need to be. To be honest, if City Council had done the right thing to begin with, the back peddling and repositioning by City Council and Staff would not have had to occur.

I have seen this happen on more than one occasion with City Council when it comes to North Livermore and ask how many times will it take the City Council to learn a lesson?

We, in North Livermore care, we care about our community. More importantly, we are voters. We vote in and we can vote out.

So thank you City Council. I am grateful. Perhaps the lesson in this for you as the seated council is do the right thing for North Livermore in the first place.

The Library, the Springtown library

the library that the Livermore City Council has chosen to close because of budget cuts even though it represents only 4% of the annual operating budget for the Livermore Library system.

It boils my blood to think that City Council (or those present that night, the Mayor and John Marchand who were the majority on the vote and Doug Horner) made a decision to close a library.

I have heard that it was not just a budget decision but also a political payback for those of us in North Livermore who not always been in support of the City Council Plans. I truly hope that is not the case. However, after hearing from multiple parties from past city council and city librarians, I think there is just a little truth to this.

I also know that all John Marchand has a good heart and one of the first to reach out to our family when Clark got cancer, however if he runs for Mayor (and there seems to be some common consensus here), this vote might have just sunk him for me. If John and others find an option, however, to bring library services back to North Livermore that could change my voting position.

As a former council member said to me, just because John runs, does not mean you have to vote for him.

And let’s not even think about the Mayor going back on City Council as rumors have speculated when his current term ends.


The whole political game in North Livermore is so dynamic. In the last few weeks, I have told by people on how to run a political campaign to try and bring viable library options to North Livermore. As if I were to stop everything and plan a complete door to door rally (and if I could I would), but in reality the City has been told over and over again that the people did not want fire, police or library services cut in budget meetings all summer long. The City knows what the people want and did not listen.

According to the libraries own mission statement,

“Mission Statement: The Livermore Public Library encourages the development of a lifelong interest in reading and learning by youth and adults, provides materials and services of popular interest, supports the educational needs of the community, furnishes timely, accurate information and builds cultural awareness and enrichment.”

How is this possible once Springtown Library is closed to North Livermore? So by closing the library the City has gone against its own libraries mission statement. Going to Civic Center or Rincon libraries will be a burden to some who are physically or financially unable not counting the young, old and middle aged who loved the Springtown Library.

The Civic Center and Rincon are two sites that are not easy to get to from North Livermore. There is an 8 lane freeway and 2 overpasses where biking and walking is ill advised. With the closure of this library, the City Council left a bad legacy behind.

Pumpkin Patches 2010

Sunol Chili Cook off and Bed Races

Clark, Papa, Emma and I went to the Sunol Chili Cook off and Bed Races. Well really we go for the bed races. We had a really good time even in the rain!

Emma and I have been rained on twice in one week-today and last Sunday in Oahu and it feels/felt so good. Welcome Fall!









This was Emma hamming it up for the camera Saturday night at home.

A day at Lake Del Valle

Over the weekend, Clark, Emma and I went on a canoe together at Del Valle. It was a fantastic day and we are already planning on when we can do it again.

The Trip

The Trip. The trip to see my only older brother get married for the first and he says only time. The trip that will not leave my memory for many years to come for so many reasons. I love the fact my brother is happy and in love. I love he has found someone to share his heart with. As his sister I can only pray for the best.

I love my brother as only a sister can and of course, Emma loves her uncle as only a niece can.

On the day of the wedding Emma hid in my dress. So much unlike her. So many unfamiliar faces and unfamiliar people was much for a 4 year old to take in. My brother asked her to carry the ring but she was so afraid of dropping it in front of everyone and being embarrassed in front of people who she did not know (or so Emma told me later).

Right after the ceremony, my little one had to go the bathroom so no kidding Emma nor I are not in any of the family pictures post ceremony because she had to pee.

There were was a picnic after the wedding and the following day there was a reception at a luau.

In between, Emma and I found lots to do on the island and kept busy. Really it was Oahu, how can you not have a good time?

I had tried to reach out on the day we arrived to the new family but they kept to themselves. We stayed in the same resort and as Emma called it they would pass us in the lobby and would, "Smile and wave".

My brother says they are nice and I will take his word. It is funny that Rob married into a family where a distant cousin is someone I have known since 3rd grade. My new cousin called while I was in Oahu and welcomed me into the family.

I learned a few things this trip about staying in Oahu. We staying at a 4.5 star resort. Not because we had the money but because we were able to book a trip on Priceline for a king bedroom condo for very little money a night. The key was we booked it as a room. So no condo tax and no condo sales pitch. Within walking distance were likes of Prada, Gucci, etc. Not our shopping taste buds of the ABC stores but it was safe for Emma and I.

In the end, I would do it again, for my brother. However, I will not go back to Hawaii without my husband.

One day we will go back as a family, Clark and I to teach Emma of her heritage.