It's fairly unbelieveable that it is April 10, already, for I'm still trying to remember that we're in 2006, not 2004. As proof, I totally blew my poor father's 60th birthday two weeks ago by assuming it was his 59th, and that is an irresponsible, inexcusable mistake. How can he be 60? I think this feeling of shock must be similar to how parents feel when they see their kid start driving, or graduate from high school - like, wasn't he just a pup yesterday? The passage of time really does get faster, warp speed-faster, seriously.

Life is full of ups and downs, so maybe this means the downs pass more quickly - in that case, fine by me. Heather visited post-business trip last week and we were able to indulge in a spirits-lifting weekend jaunt to Santa Barbara with Kendra, who left Dylan at home with John for an overnight with the "girls" -- nothing too crazy, just dinner and margaritas, a beachy hotel and day of shopping and fruit stands along the 126 out through Santa Rosa. Yet another part of SoCal I'd never seen - so far the farms remain out there - with plenty of roadside fruits and veggies! It was great to see that since the 101 through Camarillo is getting scary looking - condo complexes galore.

As Akhil and I try to get our game back on, including tennis, may we recommend a restaurant that's given us comfort in the last month in the form of giant, fattening, delicious Italian food: Greco's on Union Street in Pasadena - try it, it's crazy good, and expect leftovers. We ate ours from our first trip for 3 consecutive nights.

One more thing: Happy Birthday Carolyn Read!