Thursday, December 17, 2009

Fwd: Happy Birthday






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Verna J. Avarell, LCSW (License No. 25104)
Clinical Director
Direct line:  909-337-3366




Above it All is a structured 12-step residential facility located in beautiful Lake Arrowhead.  We offer clients a safe place to find recovery and work through core issues with our dedicated and highly qualified staff.  We have individual and group therapy by a licensed therapist and "back to basics" 12-step groups and assignments with counselors. We have treatment in a gorgeous lakefront setting as well as detox and housing in beautiful custom lakeview and lakefront locations.  We are able to integrate nature and experiential activities in our daily schedule.  Above it All is committed to keeping our program affordable and accessible to all addicts and alcoholics in need of help.  Please call our Intake office for further information and to schedule a tour.



Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Most Fun, Interesting People!





We spent much of the day (and last evening) with some of the most talented and delightful people I have ever met.  I'll post some pictures here, if I remember, before I finish the post.

Last night was the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival's Friday Night Gala.  I knew we would be sitting with the director and two lead actors of Jackson (amazing, amazing film).  What we didn't know is that two people would come and join our table (before the Jackson people arrived).  Those two people were Audrey Kovacs and her boyfriend, Michael (whose last name escapes me at the moment).  Audrey sat next to me and we just instantly hit it off -- all four of us.  Audrey is the widow of Laszlo Kovacs, the late great cinematographer who was one of the two cinematographers being honored last evening and the subject of the documentary shown today entitled "No Subtitles Required".  The other cinematographer honored was Vilmos Szigmond, Laszlo's lifelong friend. Both escaped Hungary after the revolution ended. They risked their lives filming it before they left, so the world could see what was happening to the people in Hungary.  

Anyway, this afternoon we had the privilege of taking Audrey and Michael and Vilmos, along with the wife and daughter of the director of the documentary, around the lake.  It was so fun to share our beautiful lake and its history with them.  Audrey invited us to Beverly Hills for dinner, and that is an invitation we will gladly accept.  Just the most wonderful people.

There's a lot more to it, but I'm so worn out from all this activity, that I have to take a nap before the big film tonight (Reach For Me, directed by LeVar Burton).  

Here are some pictures of the group I'm talking about.


Saturday, March 28, 2009

Fabulous Saturday

Well I just plain give up on keeping up with the blogging thing.  So there.

Today was wonderful.  Saw my Saturday-morning couple, and that went well.  Then watched a movie with Kory.  Then took a nap.  Then went for a walk with Kory and Pluto.  It was gorgeous outside.  Shirtsleeve weather, blue skies, green everywhere.  Awesome.

Back home for dinner and relaxation.  

Oh, this is funny.... Kelly just called and asked if we know anyone with our last name who is in Las Vegas right now.  Well, yes, we do.  Kirk and Faye.  It's Kirk's birthday today.  Kelly and friends went to check into their hotel in Vegas and the hotel staff said people were there with the same last name.  Guess who?  Small world!

Time for a nice hot bubble bath and a good night's sleep.  Tomorrow afternoon is the last Board meeting before the Film Festival starts on Thursday.  We're going to do a "walk-through" to work out logistics, etc.  Should be fun!


Saturday, March 21, 2009

Blogging and Exercise

Hmmm.  I just saw that it's been a week since I "blogged."  The intervals between blogs is getting a little bit like the intervals between my trips to the treadmill.  They're getting bigger (and so am I, undoubtedly.)

We've had a wonderfully busy week with Kollin, BreAn, Kourtney and Kayla here. There's been too much to write about really.  The weather has been perfect, allowing outdoor activity. Thursday, we got the boat put on the lake.  That's the good news.  We had to jumpstart the boat's battery, since it had been sitting all winter.  Kory and Pluto and I drove it around the lake for 15-20 minutes to charge it up.  It was so nice to be back on the lake, especially when it's just six inches from being full again.

Yesterday, BreAn, Kourtney, Kayla, Kory, Pluto and I went down to the boat to ride around in it and to go over to the Village to shop with Kayla's one-year birthday gift certificate.  (Kollin had a training/workout at the karate studio to attend and said he'd meet up with us later.) Everyone got in the boat and got their lifejackets on.  Kourtney had been saying all morning, "I wanna go on the boat! I wanna go on the boat!"  (so cute)  Papakory got the boat untied after talking with a neighbor for a few minutes. Kourtney said, "Let's go!"  It was too cute.  Kayla was not quite as happy in her lifejacket -- we think it was a little too tight.  Anyway, Kory climbed into the Captain's chair and turned the key and.... shucks!  Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.  Not enough battery to start the motor.  Try explaining THAT to a two-year-old sometime!  Kourtney was awfully good about it, though. 

Now we had to load up our gear and climb all those steps up to the car.  I huffed and puffed and tried to get Pluto to pull me.  Now if we're on level ground, like walking around the Village, he'll pull me like a whole team of horses!  But on the steps going up to the street, it's another story.  He has to stop and smell the... well, actually I don't know what it is he's smelling.  I had to stop a few times for air; but BreAn and Kourtney (with BreAn carrying Kayla) just kept on going.  (Kory was covering the boat and tying it up and everything.)  Kourtney climbed and climbed and climbed.  She was such a trooper!  I was impressed, and so was BreAn.  Pluto didn't seem to notice, he just kept sniffing, except of course when he saw Kory coming. Then he was at a dead stop, waiting.

We went to the Village and had lunch at the next place that will go out of business where Del Lago's used to be.  Good food, seriously friendly service, fabulous floor-to-ceiling lake view windows, and we were the only customers in there. That's why Kory said he picked it -- he knew the girls could run around.  More shopping after that, at Tattle Tales.  SOOO cute.  Kourtney wasn't feeling well (cold, aggravated by allergies, we think) and Papakory took her to the car for a while.  We got something adorable for Kierstyn and had it shipped, and BreAn picked out some darling outfits for Kayla.  

Kollin didn't catch up with us until after we got home.  It was amazing to see how Kourtney's mood changed when he got here. She got all lively and animated.  It was sweet.  We were set up to babysit while K&B went on a date to Mandarin Garden, so they put Kayla down and left us with just Kourtney to watch.  I think they were gone 20 minutes when we first heard Kayla crying.  Anyway, she got up for about 30 minutes and then we each took a girl and kept her entertained.  Then Kory put Kayla back down while Kourtney and I read a few books.  It was a nice, nice evening.

Today, I'm hoping we can try the boat again. Kory's probably just going to replace the battery.  It'd be nice to go out on the lake before K&B leave tomorrow.  

That's about all the news from Paradise.  Oh yeah, new client started Wednesday.  Fascinating.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Happy Birthday, Kurt & Kayla!

It's not every day your stepson AND your granddaughter have a birthday.  Kurt is almost 30 today, but not quite.  And Kayla is ONE!  We get to see Kayla in two more days -- that'll be so fun. Can't wait.  

Things have been busy here with getting ready for the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival in just over two weeks (April 2-5).  I'm hoping to get to enjoy the films rather than be crazy running all over trying to accommodate everyone and everything. Although, they did tell me if any of the Board Members miss any of the films, we can see them afterward (on DVD).  Happy to hear that.

That's about it from here! 


Sunday, March 8, 2009

Is this getting old?

I love my life.  Is it getting old to hear that?  I love where I live. I love the man I'm married to. I love the work I do. I love our family. I love our pets.  I love our friends.  I love our country. I love being of service. And I love the God that makes all this possible.