A Woman's Journey: Ages and Stages

Celebrating Barack Obama's Inauguration

2009-01-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

There is an overwhelming sense of excitement, anticipation, relief and hope as President-Elect Barack H. Obama presents himself to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. An ocean of people have swarmed the inauguration site. People, although very cold, are smiling from ear to ear.

The more I have learned about this man, the more I marvel that he is certainly a man for our times. Born of both white and black parents, educated in Hawaii and Indonesia as a boy. Married to a black woman who descends from both American slaves and American slave owners. Educated at Harvard, related by blood to Kenya in Africa. Tall, lean, energetic, charismatic, articulate, visionary, humorous, loving, the list goes on. It occurs to me that indeed he could not exist as we know him if it had not also been for the last eight years of George W. Bush's abominable and despicable presidency. We would not be as "alert and awake" had it not been for the past eight years.

I look forward to working with President Obama's vision for a renewed commitment to integrity.

Lexie Leigh

2008-09-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Miracles Do Happen

2008-07-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

We have a new family member. Miss Lexie Lee was born yesterday afternoon, July 22, to my cousin's daughter, Mallorie. We are all very excited that she has arrived. I'm told that she has soft brown, close-cropped curly hair and blue eyes and that she is quite alert. Good job Mallorie! You did it!

Some of you don't know why this is so amazing. In January of 2007, Mallorie was diagnosed with a Hodgkins type lymphoma the size of a large grapefruit that had taken up residence in her chest. Now, you have to understand that Mallorie is an itty bitty thing of 22 years. She stands about 5'1 and is small. So to have a large growth in her chest caused her lungs and heart to be pushed into her abdomen. After months of therapy that included radiation and chemotherapy the tumor had not decreased significantly in size. Doctors had advised Mallorie that with the amount of treatment she had endured it was unlikely that she could become pregnant. Surprise! Miracles do happen. Although Mallorie is still fighting this disease she has remarkably carried little Lexie to term and both Mallorie and baby are doing very well.

Cute as a button, Mallorie, has consistently maintained a positive outlook and that apparently has carried the day. So, welcome Lexie Lee and congratulations to Mom and Dad!

For more information about Lexie Lee or to order baby gear go to: http://www.MotheringGuide.com

Jewelry on Ebay

2008-07-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

I've been adding some jewelry to my ebay website. It is a process what with providing an interesting description, taking the picture, determining the shipping costs and formating the listing. Here are a couple of the items just listed:

Check it out at: http://stores.ebay.com/Junction-56

San Diego Bonfires

2008-07-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

I arrived at La Jolla Shores today at 10:00am. The parking lot was already full of "parking lot vultures" of which I soon became one. I found the perfect spot and unloaded my gear for the day. Carefully searching for "just the right fire pit" I wandered the sandy shore, my wheeled bag in tow. One smoldering pit seemed available and I approached the people nearby. Indeed they had been using it to keep warm in the foggy morning hours but no longer needed it. Success! I had secured a pit and set up my umbrella for my day-long vigil. You see, I was saving the fire pit for my daughter and her friends. They were all ticket-takers at the San Diego Fair and wanted to celebrate their "last day of the fair" with a bonfire at the beach. Now, doesn't that sound like fun? Of course! The only challenge was that they all had to work until 10:00pm and had no way of saving a fire pit. That's where I came in. I was delighted to do it for them and marked the pit in bright yellow duct tape "Saved For San Diego Fair Ticket Takers." The day was warm, sunny, relaxing and enjoyable. I read for hours, made acquaintance with my fellow beach bums, shared stories and sang some songs before the "gang" arrived. After teaching them how to make S'mores (the young Irish men had never heard of them, can you believe that?) I high-tailed it home for a much needed rest from the elements. The fair workers were very appreciative and enjoyed their bonfire until 1:00am. You just gotta love San Diego!

Family Gatherings and Remembrances

2008-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

We have received many emails of condolences from long-time friends and family, thank you. We all have special memories of Anna.

Here is the obituary notice for Anna:

Anna Achtner Breite, 81, of Anaheim, passed away May 31, 2008. Born March 5, 1927 in New York, she was the third child of Joseph Achtner and Elsie Hajovsky.

Anna, or Anne as she was known by many, was married for over thirty years to Edward M. Breite who preceded her in death in 1983. They lived in East Meadow, New York until 1966 when they decided to get out of the snow and make the big move to Anaheim, CA.

Anna enjoyed many diverse activities. She began her longtime love of baseball as a New York Mets fan, and after moving to Anaheim became an avid Anaheim Angels fan serving as an usher at Anaheim Stadium. She served the Anaheim Union High School District for over 20 years in many capacities starting as a “currier” then becoming a school bus driver and eventually working in the accounting department. She was most fond of driving the bus full of band students or her special education students.

She was an active member of The Garden Grove Emblem Club #279, the Orange County Orchid Society, the Anaheim Circle of Friends, the Phoenix Club (where you would often see her kicking up her heels while tripping the light fantastic with her friend Kirby Gastellum), and the Anaheim Senior Citizens Club where she chaperoned on many of their Las Vegas excursions.

Not one to sit around, Anna was always making plans to visit a Northern California Jazz Festival, or to see a stage production or Broadway show. She loved dogs and missed her Scottish Terrier, Angus. Always amazed and fond of gadgets, Anna, would bring the "latest, greatest gizmo" home from the most recent county fair or home show. She enjoyed painting porcelain, collecting dolls, coins, stamps, Faberge eggs; listening to jazz and classic crooners like Mel Torme or Mario Lanza and watching James Garner movies. Anna loved raising indoor African Violets along with her orchids and successfully competed in local shows. She also created a full-sized aviary at home to house her finches, parakeets, cockatiels and doves.

Anna's feisty personality endeared her to everyone, gathering friends like a honeybee gathers nectar. A dear and loyal friend, she remembered special occasions, rejoiced in their joys and shared in their sorrows.

Anna is predeceased by her spouse, Edward M. Breite, September 1983; her sister, Ella Achtner Bosc, Oct 2004; her brother-in-law, Fred Breite; her sister-in-law, Francis Breite; and her nephew, Alan Achtner, November 2007.

She is survived by her son, Lawrence Breite and his wife, Laura, of San Diego, CA; her daughter, Valerie Joerger and her husband, John, of Portland, OR. Her seven grandchildren: Ethan Breite of San Diego; Whitney Breite of Seattle, WA; Cara Breite and Jenna Breite of San Diego, CA; Nicholas, Christopher and D.J. Joerger of Portland, OR. Her brother, Edward Achtner and his wife, Kathy, of Clarksburg, MD; nephew James (Sonny) Chase of Paysen, AZ; niece, Joyce Bosc of Maryland; Steven Achtner and his wife, Vivian, of New York; nephew, E.J. Achtner and his wife, Ilse, of Maryland and niece, Veronica Null and her husband, Craig, of Florida.

A viewing and Rosary was be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Pierce Bros. Mortuary, 2425 W. Lincoln, Anaheim, CA 92801.

A longtime member of St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church, 2050 W. Ball Rd., Anaheim, CA, Mass was held in her memory on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. A graveside ceremony followed at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 2845 Santiago Canyon Rd., Orange, CA 92869.

Thanks goes to Coventry Court of Anaheim and to Admiral Hospice Care, Inc. who lovingly cared for Anna during the past few years and days.

The family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers. For more information please contact Larry Breite at 858-213-9538 or 858-484-9538.

Late Night Call

2008-05-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally got the late night call we were dreading. Just after 12:00am May 31, 2008, Coventry Court called to say that my mother-in-law, Anna Breite, had passed away a little over an hour sooner. She had been ill for some time so it was not a surprise but the final call is always difficult. What made it even stranger was that they requested that we come to Anaheim immediately so that her body could be released to the mortuary. My husband, Larry, questioned the necessity of coming in the middle of the night (especially since we had already given explicit instructions in this regard). But, up and dressed we got only to discover that indeed we would not need to make the two hour drive until morning.

We will be spending the next few days in funeral and burial preparation. I'll keep you posted.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

The Breite Family

DNA or Nurture...Ummmm

2008-05-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Whether we are crafted by our DNA or our environment has been a longstanding discussion among educators, sociologists, scientists and the like. Any parent will tell you that "they come how they come." We, as parents, are there to guide, train, educate, love and basically let them grow into the adult humans they are meant to be. How much we have to do with that still is a mystery. But, Edward O. Wilson, esteemed biologist suggests that much of our "behavior" is pre-designed into our DNA. How does he come to that conclusion? Well, of all things, through his study of ants and other species.

It is an interesting premise and not without merit. Of course, there are those who shy away from such a notion as they fear it will lead to genocide of the "undesirable" humans who exhibit particular behavioral traits. To be sure, caution must be taken in this regard. What I find most interesting about Edward Wilson's claims is his complete , all-incompassing view of the world and how humanity fits into it. Somehow he is able to see the minutia and the global implications all at the same time.

His particular understanding of eco-systems and what they can or cannot tolerate is, I believe, critical in our survival on this planet (oops, did I say "green"). His studies have helped scientists understand the "load bearing" capacity of our home and we are indeed to be concerned.

If you have a chance to listen to anything this remarkable scientist has to say, please make time to do it. He is a delightful, dynamic, life-loving, life-affirming, brilliant person. I hope you have a chance to view Lord of the Ants on KPBS (I know, what can I say, it was a long night).

Later,
Laura

OMG, Need Hosting or Domain Names...now is the time

2008-05-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

MidPhase is having the most amazing sale now...don't delay another moment. Order now and save tons on your hosting and domain name acquisitions.

Order by clicking on the title above.

TTFN,
Laura

Memorial Day and the Cold War

2008-05-26T11:24:00.001-07:00

As a young girl in the late 50's and early 60's I had often heard the term "The Cold War." I never really understood what that meant. I never really understood what "war" meant. I knew that there was on overriding sense of dread and fear around but did not understand from whence it came. I was just a kid.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to watch a KPBS special (alright, I couldn't sleep but hey it was a good show anyway) about the Cold War and suddenly it all made sense. They interviewed several people who lived through the end of World War II and were present during the transition to the Cold War. A pilot, a Nazi work-camp survivor, and several others. What they described both shocked and amazed me. They shared how the allied forces moved into Germany and discovered various machines (specifically, remarkably designed rocket propelled aircraft and other high technology). They explained how those machines had been built using starving, decimated camp workers. And, how the race was on between Russia and particularly the United States to obtain those machines and their plans before the other could.

The pilot had the opportunity to fly one of the aircraft and reported that it was always a step ahead of him. He was amazed. Ultimately, that design was implemented in future aircraft and is still used today.

The camp worker was saddened, maddened and disgusted with the United States as it hailed the German scientists as "heroes" for developing these machines. The scientists had been able to avoid war crime prosecution for their abuse of Nazi prisoners because of their "contributions" to these technologies.

They saw the end of World War II transform into the Cold War, the race for control over these advanced technologies. As for myself, I clearly remember the sense of dread as the realities of living in a world of nuclear weapons and advanced killing machines weighed on our daily lives. At last I understood what had created this thing called "the Cold War" and in my little-girl mind wish the men of the time could have been wiser in their greed and ambition to conquer the technology.

This is Hilarious...Review of 2007

2008-05-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Try JibJab Sendables!

Home At Last with Be Biz

2008-05-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a 10 day business trip to Vancouver, British Columbia by way of Seattle. I used so many different modes of transportation that it will feel odd to drive again: airplane, shuttle, train, skytrain, bus, taxi and walking! Wow!

I had never been to Vancouver before. It is a beautiful city. Vancouver proper was active with dark-suited business people hustling and bustling all over the city. There I was in my travel clothes dragging my 75 pounds of luggage around the city. I was meeting with The Internet Marketing Center which is based in Vancouver so decided to stop by. I have been using their material and software for years and thought it time to meet in person. They have a fantastic new product called Be Biz. If you have ever wanted to start up an online business you can't go wrong with this option. It walks you through the entire process step by step and you end up with your own online website promoting your product or idea. Check it out!

After meeting with Peter Banicevic of The Internet Marketing Center I once again found myself walking the streets of Vancouver looking for a bus to the airport (more on that later.) By this time I was feeling the need for something to eat. One restaurant owner took very good care of me. Shout out to Goodfellas on Pender Street who served up a seat, water, and then the most delicious spaghetti I have ever had. Thick sauce, rich in onions and herbs and a delightfully crisp oversized cracker (I'm sure it has a name) that was the perfect complement.

I'll share more as I unravel my brain, wash my travel clothes and get back to the business of internet marketing and home living.

TTFN, (ta ta for now, to those of you who don't know that phrase)
Laura

I'm Lovin' It

2008-05-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm loving this new blog format that Blogger has in place. If you are not already using it, give it a try. Go to http://draft.blogger.com for more information.

I'm going to be "all over the board" for awhile while I figure out exactly what this particular blog will become. Stay tuned for greatness.

Laura

Journey to Completion

2008-05-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

It occurs to me that I am at a crossroads. I am done with a chapter of my life and I stand beside my adult children in a new and wonderful way. On the other hand, I am faced with what will be the remainder of my life, be it long or short, and I find that I have a mountain of things to complete.

Basically, I am completing ME. That's right, me. And in that process I am making decisions, small and large, that lead me toward that completion. I am scared. However, if I am to complete the ME that started out on this journey 54 years ago, I must be brave. Brave beyond my ability at times. Brave beyond my ability right now.

I breathe in deeply and release that vital force into the universe. I know, that sounds very metaphysical...oooooooo. But, how else do you explain the larger than myself feeling that comes over me during these times of great thought? I sit now with my eyes closed pecking away at the keyboard trying to get in touch with my next steps. A sense of well-being comes over me, a calmness. Breathe again. Yes, it is calmness. I sense that my forehead is tense. I scrunch my face, perhaps I just need lotion. LOL. No, it's tension. I wiggle my brows, up down, up down. Any difference? no, Adjust my glasses on my nose. Ah, it wasn't my forehead, my head is hanging forward; it feels like it's a foot in front of my body and my shoulders are tight. There it goes, crackle, crackle, dizziness as I rotate my neck. Calm again.

Anyway, enough of that, back to completion. Joe Stumpf of By Referral Only talks about "incompletions" and how it is important to get them out of the way and finished so that you can move on to the important stuff. I can see the wisdom of that . The incompletions in my life are always in the back of my mind, calling out, begging for attention, scrambling my good intentions, jumbling my brain. The guy on Oprah and Friends who talks about ending "clutter" also explains that clutter can come from those little times of incompletion. When I don't complete a task as simple as the dishes because I get distracted with something else. It seems that completing things, anything, is high on my list to moving forward in my life. I'm thinking of making a list of all of those incompletions or actions that I leave incomplete that cause more chaos. Then the Nike slogan, Just Do It, comes to mind. That's right, Just Do It, because it is very easy for my mind to think ad nauseam about doing something but never get it done. Enough! Just Do It! Seems like sound advice.

I still sit with my eyes closed. It is like when I just become aware of the morning and my mind is free and active. I am always very lucid and clear at that point. Everything makes sense. I lie in bed enjoying my orderliness and creativeness. But alas, the moment I open my eyes and start to move my body, blood coursing through my veins the thoughts dissipate and I cannot grab them again as clearly as they presented themselves during my "pre-awake" time.

I am a very visual person. Maybe that is why the minute I open my eyes the world invades and disrupts my thoughts. Anyway, I ramble. Back to the Journey to Completion.

What will it take to complete my life journey. What do I need to learn? How will I go about it? I have been focusing on the aspect of incompletion as it relates to business. I have stopped many projects at critical times. There is a major block about this and I am exploring what that block could be and trying to move through it. Note that I am "trying." You know, it's like the same old story of picking up a pencil. You can "try" to pick up the pencil or you can just do it, pick it up. Just Do It!

Embarrassment comes to mind, like I won't be able to do something that I should know how to do. That I will be inadequate at the task and need more help than anyone will be able to give me. I will be "too needy." Where have I heard that before? Of course, mom and dad. Too needy, when you have three other children to care for. Too needy, when your own cup is not full. Too needy, when they don't have the resources to answer your questions. Too needy, when you need help doing something. Too needy.

Of course, it is not all of their fault, but it is a starting place for why I have that recording programmed in my head. That little hardwire that comes up when it is least wanted or needed. Time to rewire the circuits and get on with it.

I'll come back to this later as I feel it will be an ongoing commitment to learning and understanding the steps to my completion.

Naked Travel

2008-04-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys, I just have to rant a tad!

Traveling naked sounds like it might be in the wind. The airlines are now charging for more than one checked bag (at $25 a pop!) So, that means one checked bag and one carry on bag. Oh, and don't forget the purse (what do the guys do or those people with the itty bitty traveling dogs?) Taking all that combined and we don't have much room for clothing. Besides that, we are asked to remove shoes, belts, watches, jewelry, and anything else that might set off the security alarms as we are all herded through security checkpoints. I think the bluefly.com commercials may have it right. Naked is how to travel.

So, my clothes are going to have to be very thin, flat, easy to wear, coordinated and
re-wearable. Maybe disposable clothing is the ticket. Um, paper clothing that washes off when you get in the shower (better stay out of the rain.) No laundry, their easy to pack, who cares if you stain it; sounds like a possible idea to me.

And, as long as I am ranting, why can't we have some chairs to sit on so we can reassemble ourselves? In some cases, a dressing room would be appropriate. Buy hey, if we all travel naked we won't even need those!

Well, thanks for letting me rant a little.

Until next time.

Keep on Keeping On,
Laura

Great New Free Web Tool

2008-04-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! Jonathan Leger has done it again! You simply have to
see this new f.r.e.e. Web Tool that cuts your search engine
time in half.

Here's the info directly from the "horse's mouth" (so to speak.)
Please check it out, then tell Jonathan what you think. Would
love your comments also...go to www.breitesd.blogspot.com to comment.

It's a multi-document summarizer. What that means is that it
creates a (remarkably readable) summary of the top search results
returned for any query you give it.

This saves you a HUGE amount of time, because instead of having
to read 10, 20 or 30 full pages, you need only read the summary.
Its algorithm extracts the important information and cuts the
fluff out.

Take a look at a few examples to really see the power of this new
tool to save you time when researching just about any subject:

Article Marketing
http://gistweb.com/web.php?action=search&source=google&q=article+marketing&sumsize=2

Canon PowerShot A520
http://gistweb.com/web.php?action=search&source=google&q=Canon+PowerShot+A520&sumsize=2

SEO Elite
http://gistweb.com/web.php?action=search&source=google&q=SEO+elite&sumsize=2

Leopard Geckos
http://gistweb.com/web.php?action=search&source=google&q=leopard+geckos&sumsize=1

This powerful new tool also lets you select how long you want the
summary to be (Short, Medium or Long). Need a brief overview of a
subject? Use short. More detail required? Medium. As much
detail as possible? Select Long.

Why not give it a try right now and see what you think? Here's the
link:

http://gistweb.com/web.php

After giving it a try, please let me know what you think in a
comment on the blog:

http://gistweb.com/blog/?p=8

To Your Life,

Laura Breite

Just Starting Out...No Problem

2008-04-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

I think the hardest part of starting any internet business is deciding what kind of business you want to get involved with. There are millions of options. The questions you must ask yourself are these:

What am I interested in?
What am I passionate about?
What do I enjoy?

The answers to these questions will point you in the right direction.

I spent two weeks doing this specific exercise (actually I've done it several times over the past couple of years.) Anyway, after the two weeks here is my partial list:

Postage Stamps
Stamp Collecting
Women's and Girl's Basketball
Internet Marketing
Creative Writing
Genealogy
Camping
Arts and Crafts
Personal Motivation and Development
Geriatric Care
Passages: life changes as children leave and elders demise
Color and Design
Scrapbooking

As you can see, it is very diverse and covers many subjects I currently am
dealing with. We'll discuss what I did with this list after you have some time to create your own.

So, take the next 48 hours to think about the questions. Keep paper and pencil handy and write down everything that comes to mind. Don't censor yourself, this is a brain dump exercise. Get it all out, you might surprise yourself.

I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Talk to you tomorrow,

Laura

Job Crusher Amazing Opening

2008-04-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! As some of you know, I have been a member of the Job Crusher community for awhile now. It has been one of the best decisions I have made in my online career. Job Crusher offers a unique opportunity to spy on the pros while they tackle niche markets. There are detailed training programs, a vital community forum and fabulous products.

Now, what is truly amazing is that over the next two weeks they are opening their doors for new members at just $1.00!!!!!

So don't delay, head on over and get your membership today. Amazing things are happening at Job Crusher and I don't want you to miss out.

Here's my affiliate link: http://www.myonlineshoppingcart.com/app/?af=761431

Sign up today and you can have your own affiliate link to promote this one time opportunity.

To Your Success,

Laura Breite

Scrapbooking

2008-04-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hey you scrapbookers out there, and I know there are some of you. My husband, Larry and I have been scrapbooking for 30 years. Yes, that's right, remember those "magnetic photo albums?" I don't know why they called them magnetc because they were actually just some sticky paper. Paper by the way that will ruin your pictures so get them out of those books as soon as you can! More on that later.

If you are looking for a way to turn your passion for scrapbooking into some money here is the perfect guide for you:

Click Here!

Top Product Opens Its Doors Tomorrow

2008-04-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hey,

There’s something new and hot off the press that’s stirring up quite a
bit of excitement in the internet marketing community. It’s called Job
Crusher and is equipping people like you (of any skill level in
internet marketing) with the real “nitty gritty” of what you need to
fire your boss and reclaim your own personal independence.

Now you may think you’ve heard this before but let me reveal to you
what makes Job Crusher different. Here are just some of the tremendous
benefits I found inside Job Crusher

You get to look over the shoulders of the Job Crusher staff as they
move into various niches on the internet, plant their flags, and
generate job crushing revenues from each over-looked niche.

This allows you to copy their every action in your own niches so
you can ensure your own profitability.

Plus, you get to follow the step-by-step Blue Print to get yourself
to $4,000 per month in far less time than you may have thought possible…
so you can quit your job and claim back your personal independence.

There’s just so much more including forums, networking, copywriting tips,
tons of technical know-how revealed, and the list goes on.

Now, hands on coaching like this usually will cost several hundred,
if not thousands of dollars (believe me, I know).

But the founders of Job Crusher wanted to make this program affordable.
So right now you can get locked in at a huge discount.

Go here to check out the details and the latest offer.

http://www.myonlineshoppingcart.com/app/?af=761431

I’d hurry though, this won’t
last…

http://www.myonlineshoppingcart.com/app/?af=761431

Get in on the ground floor today.

Happy Marketing,

Laura

Spinning on the "Net"

2008-04-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you too have been "spinning on the Net." If you have been looking to create an internet business then it is very likely that you have had that "spinning" sensation.

I began my internet journey in 1998 when the internet was very new. I was so excited and totally convinced that this was the wave of the future. I knew I just had to be a part of it. I diligently looked for internet opportunities, devoured everything I could about website building, learned about writing copy, discovered how to use autoresponders, the list goes on. I signed up for every new and "better" program that came out. Attended seminars put on by the current "gurus" of the internet. Of course, they were just learning too.

What I discovered was that I was very good at developing creative marketing ideas that were well beyond the technology. I had my clients thinking about how great it would be to personalize the internet experience for their customers long before they were convinced that they needed a website. It was crazy!!

I continued my struggle to internet business success but the models were always changing. In addition, I suffered from "girl/woman interruptous" meaning that although my mind and heart wanted to go down this path, my family situation was wrapped up in raising four rambunctious children and that seemed to be all I could handle at the time.

Now it's 2008. My children are leading their own lives. My mind and time are my own. And, amazingly, the internet technology has become what I envisioned ten years ago. I find that I am still dazzled by what the internet has to offer. Yes, I still "spin" sometimes with all of the different "opportunities" out there. The difference is that I have discovered ways to stay focused on the goal and little-by-little am re-discovering my passion for the "Net."

During the next few weeks I will be sharing with you what has worked and what is possible for you on the "Net." So, stay tuned.

Time Flies: No Kidding!

2008-04-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

It's April, 2008, I'm 54 (until August) and spinning and swimming, so to speak. I continue to study and learn about internet businesses and marketing. Sometimes I go in circles and sometimes I'm laser-focused. I don't think it's age, I think it's how I am; I just hadn't taken the time while I was raising our family to realize it. Recognizing this, I am in a watershed year. As Nike says it: "Just Do It!" And that's my plan. So watch out blogosphere; you will be hearing about my journey in the coming months. Enjoy the ride!

Jenna Gets Into It with Poway Player

2006-04-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

Up to Speed

2006-04-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, I hadn't realized how much time had passed since I last updated this blog. No apolgies. Just on a whirlwind ride since November 9th. I'll try to bring you all "up to speed" in chunks so as not to overwhelm you.

Well, Larry survived the hurricanes and being at home for a time. That can be just as tricky as surviving a hurricane at times with three hormonal females in the house. He's still working in Ft Lauderdale and will probably continue to do so until June 2006.

November was filled with band tournaments in Chula Vista, Vista, Chino, and Arcadia. The marching sundevils were truly amazing (as always). If you haven't had a chance to actually see a band fieldshow you really must try to get to a good show some time. Once I figure out how to upload a DVD I'll do that and then you can watch it on the internet.

November 23rd marked the first Mt Carmel Girl's Basketball game of the 2005-06 season. They were invited to participate in the San Diego Tip-Off Classic against Montgomery. The game ended in a loss but it did get us started for the season.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving with Larry's Mom, Anne, who has had a very rough time this year and is now cared for at Coventry Court in Anaheim.

December was marked with two to three basketball games per week and band rehearsals for the Rose Parade and BandFest Competitions. The weather almost did us in throughout the Rose Parade experience. We were more than soaked but the band played on (drenched and waterlogged). They also played and marched down Disneyland's Main Street on New Year's Eve. Cara and I traveled between Rose Parade events in Pasadena and San Marcos, CA for the Excalibur Basketball Tournament of which they placed second after having placed first in the Above the Rim Tournament in La Jolla earlier in the month.

I'll tell you more about the basketball season in a second post.

January was filled with practice, games, and schoolwork.
February followed suit as did March.
April saw us starting up club basketball, Mt Carmel Lacrosse, Junior Papers, rain, college visits, trips to Vegas with band and basketball.

What will May bring...we'll see.

Larry Evacuated From Florida

2005-11-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

Many of you know that Larry has been working a job in Ft. Lauderdale. Well, as a result of the most
recent hurricane, he was evacuated and spent the last two weeks working out of our home in San Diego.
(A wonderful place to be.) He is back in Ft. Lauderdale as of Sunday and reports that electricity is still
out, debris is everywhere and the main part of the hurricane whipped through his area full force. He is
able to get some work and his client is getting back to normal. It turned out to be a good thing that he
was evacuated in a timely manner.

Cara's Design Selected

2005-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Cara's design was selected out of a group of 5 submission to be this year's logo and shirt design for the 29th Mt. Carmel Band Tournament. Shirts and pins are available. Please email me if you are interested in ordering one. Congratulations Cara!

A Letter To My Granddaughters from Grandma Greiner

2005-09-20T22:37:00.000-07:00

Letter to Granddaughter's (Jenna and Cara) Girl Scout Troop dated Jan 31, 2000:

Dear Girl Scout Troop #8234,

I am so pleased that Jenna & Cara gave me this opportunity to tell you girls about my life. I hope what I have to say will show you how times have changed.

On October 15th, 1932 (can you figure out how old I am, using your math skillss?) in Covina, California, I entered this world with a slap on my little bottom, crying just like all of you did. I was very lucky to have a loving Mother and Dad. In fact, my mother, Jenna & Cara's Great Grandmother, is now 91 years old and lives in Carlsbad, with my sister, Linda. Linda is my little sister and I have an older brother who lives in Connecticut.

When I was a little girl, I remember playing dolls, which I had a lot of, with my girl friends, who lived in my neightborhood. We would play for hours, dressing, feeding, and taking care of our "babies". I had a playhouse out in the back yard, which doubled as a club house as I got older. We would spend many hours skating and bicycling around the neighborhood. We didn't have a swimming pool in our yard, so we went to the public plunge, (that was the word used for a public pool) in the city park.

Mandy, you asked if we had television, the answer is no, (not until I was in High School) se we played lots of games, like Monopoly, jacks, cards, Chinese checkers, etc. and we listened to the radio a lot. We had a badminton court in our backyard, which we used quite often. It also doubled as a basketball and volleyball court. My first name is Barbara, but I like yours better. I am married to a great man named Hank. I have 4 children, Laura, Nancy, Danny & Diana, who are all married. I also have two step-daughters, Peg & Diane, who too are married. We now have 10 grandchildren with two new babies arriving in the near future.

Caitlin, your question was, did we have drive thrus? Well, we had drive-ins. You parked your car and a car-hop, some on skates, would take your order and bring it to you, and you would eat in your car. This was great for parents with young children. We didn't have Disneyl.andk, but we did have roller coasters. At the Los Angeles County Fair, the Santa Monica Pier and the Long Beach Pike. Our family used to go to the Pike quite often during the summer. We were able to ride the roller coaster, ferris wheel (a double), tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars, merry-go-round and many more rides.

Roxanne, yes, I played Red Rover, Red Rover, I dare you to come over. I really hadn't thought about that game for a long time. I do like to plant flowers, but I can onlyl plant a few as they have to be planted in pots, as I have no yard. I live in a townhouse with only a patio, but we are happy here.

Carly, sorry to disappoint you, but I wasn't around for the 1900 millenium. Yes, the cars were a little different, mainly they didn't have air conditioning, and most of them had a stick shift, which changes the gears. Some of them had radios, but no CD or cassette player. I can't remember what the price was for a pair of shoes, but I'm sure it was less than $10.00. As for clothes, fashion is always changing, they say if you keep your clothes long enough, they will come back into style. You might like to know that we had to wear dresses every day to school. No jeans, shorts, slacks, etc. l unless it was a special day like "Play Day," when we were allowed to wear different things. The only thing I can think of that I have now, that I had as a kid is a silver identification medallion that I had to wear around my neck, during World War II. Oh, I do have my bronzed baby shoes.

Alexandra, you wanted to know what we have now that we didn't have when I was little. Well, no TV, dishwashers, electric can openers, micro-wave ovens, freezers, CD's, audio cassettes, VCR's, computers, electric blankets, plus a lot more that would fill this page. I'm so happy to hear that you are learning to play the violin, music is one of the basics everyone should try and learn. I took piano lessons for five years, so my afternoons were always filled with at least one hour of practicing, before I could do anything else. I am happy that my folds gave me this wonderful opportunity. When I was growing up we had a little terrier, her name was "Dutchess." She was really a sweet dog. When I was raising my family we had a dog named "Prince," a few cats, and some goldfish. My favorite foods are cheeseburgers, french fries, steak, fried chicken and chocolate cake. I know these aren't the greatest fro my body, but they are OK in moderation.

Alex, you asked if I was ever a Girl Scout. Yes, I was a Girl Scout until I was in 9th grade. Every summer, I was able to go to Girl Scout Camp at Camp Arbolado in the San Bernardino Mountains. Boy, that was fun, riding horseback, swimming, sitting around the campfire, singing and all the other good things you get to do. In fact, I was a Girl Scout Leader for Jenna & Cara's mother when she was in Scouts. When I was 13 I was able to join Job's Daughters, which is affiliated with the Masons and Eastern Star, it is another organization for young girls.. I was Honored Queen when I was a senior in high school. This organization really helped enrich my life. Besides the ritual teachings we went on many day trips, like to Chinatown, in Los Angeles; seeing a radio show while broadcasting, ice skating, and taking a boat to Catalina Island for the day. One of my hobbies was collecting stamps, my brother got me started in collecting. I also collected Story Book Dolls and miniature glass dogs.

When I was four years old my parents gave me tap dancing and ballet lessons, that too was fun. In the eighth grade a group of parents got together and formed a ballroom dancing class for eight boys and eight girls. That is where I really learned to dance with boys.

We didn't have "middle school" like you have now. Wwe had K-6, elementary school. 7th & 8th was Jr. High. 9th-12th grade was high school. In Jr. High, we learned how to cook and to sew. I liked both of those classes. I still like to cook but I don't do much sewing anymore. I did sew a lot when I was raising my four children. I used to make a lot of costumes for them, as well as clothing. In high school, I took baton and tennis lessons. I was also a flag twirler in high school.

Sundays were usually spent going to Sunday school and church, then going to visit one of my grandmothers. One of my grandmothers lived in Pasadena, so on New Years, I was lucky that I got to go and spend the night with her and walk down to Colorado Blvd, a block away, and watch the Rose Parade. This was always a thrill.

Working was one of the pastimes that I endured during the time that I was married and raising a family. I worked as a waitress, bank teller and accounts payable supervisor for a large company. I am also a cancer survivor, I had breast cancer in 1993. So far everything is looking good and I'm doing great. I was able to retire Christmas Eve 1993. Since that time I have been playing golf three to four times a week. This is something that I really enjoy. I am on the Women's Golf Association Board and keep busy with my duties there. My husband and I like to take weekend golfing trips and spend our vacations golfing in other parts of the U.S., like Alabama, South Carolina and any place they will let us play. Luckily, at this time I have good health and go to the gym three times a week to keep in shape.

Girls, I hope I haven't rattled on too long, but I was so pleased that all of you wrote your own letters to me, that I hope I have answered all your questions to your satisfaction.

I have had a good life and wish each and every one of you a wonderful, healthy and happy future.

Barbara Greiner
Cara and Jenna's grandmother

MCHS Band Tournament 2005 Shirt Submission

2005-09-08T23:19:00.000-07:00

HER DESIGN WAS SELECTED...ALL RIGHT, HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO ORDER SHIRTS OR PINS?

Cara has submitted this design for consideration as this year's band tournament shirt. Good luck, Cara !

Labor Day Fun and Worry

2005-09-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

Spectating, playing, tailgating, firewatching, laughing, fighting, grumbling, mumbling, scrapbooking, organizing, teasing, jabbing, moping...you name it we ran the gammut of emotions and activity these past few days. Larry was home from a two week stint in Ft. Lauderdale (tired and glad to be home). Cara and Jenna worked on homework. Laura was busy solving geneological puzzles. Larry made a few more scrapbook pages (aaahhhh, that Freshman year).

In between that we managed to attend the UCLA vs SDSU football game (UCLA won!). The picture of Cara (L) and Jenna (R) was taken there. It was great to hear both the SDSU marching band (13 tubas!) and UCLA's pep band perform.

We hit the miniature golf course on Sunday. Cara won our first round (3 hole in ones certainly helped her score) and Jenna took honors on the second round. Twenty-plus laps around the go kart track and we were off on other adventures.

Unfortunately, a fire erupted just east of the girl's high school (literally on the open brush field just by the stadium). Emergency Personel had evacuated approximately 200 homes near our neighborhood. We were never in any danger but the flames burned over 150 acres of our beautiful hillsides. Mt. Carmel HS was set up as an evacuation center. There are shots of the firefighters and air support on the link below.

Enjoy all of our pictures by clicking on the link below.

Jenna & Whitney Breite

2005-09-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Jenna & Whitney Breite
Originally uploaded by Breite.

Check out all of our fun pictures from our recent day at Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, CA.

Jenna, Whitney, Cara, Patrick and Laura had a great day!

To see all of the pictures in this set just click on the Photo button on the right hand column of this blog.

Tubas in the Living Room

2005-09-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

PICT0092
Originally uploaded by Breite.

You haven't lived until you have had 10 tubas in your living room playing classical music....WOW! And it's only the beginning of the season!

Cara is acting Section Leader this year and is rising to the challenge. It will be an exciting season of tournaments and parades not to mention the Rose Parade and Holiday Bowl Exhibition

The Day That Changed America by Jenna Breite

2005-09-01T18:03:00.001-07:00

Just came upon this school assignment Jenna did one year after 9/11/01, she was 13 years old and in 8th grade. I thought you might find it interesting.

The Day That Changed America

September 11, 2001, changed every American's life. If you don't think it changed your life--you're wrong! I know it has changed my view of the world. I see policemen, firemen and emergency medical personnel through different eyes than before 9/11. Americans are being more patriotic. More families are embracing their friends and neighbors. Our nation has changed and become more loving and understanding.

Ever since September 11th, Americans have had more respect for policemen, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Our nation has realized that firefighters are willing to risk their very lives to save you or your loved ones. We know this because on September 11th they were the ones to rush into a building that was on fire, knowing that they might not come back alive. They went into the building anyway to help those they could.

There was one team of firefighters that were in World Trade Center Tower One when the second tower got hit and collapsed. The group was helping people out down a stairwell that was filled with debris from the first collapse. They moved the people to another stairwell and continued down. When they got to the other stairwell they heard their own building shudder and start to collapse. It only took eight seconds for World Trade Center Tower One to come down around them. The firefighters and the people they were helping were literally buried alive. It was black as night and they couldn't see. They had radios and were trying to call for help but were unsuccessful. They still didn't know exactly what had happened. They didn't know that Tower Two was down, that hundreds of fellow firefighters were missing or even if they would get out alive. They lay under the rubble, unable to move for fear of debris crushing them. They were in that condition for two to three hours before the chief saw a stream of light coming from a shaft above him. He managed to get up through the shaft and to the outside where he could radio for help. When help arrived they started to walk back over the fallen towers. Slowly, carefully, covering the area to safety, step by step over fire-hot debris. It took them three more hours to get to safety.

I personally feel a great deal of respect towards these brave men and the other firefighters. Those men got lucky. Who knows why they were saved when many firefighters didn't make it out along with many civilians. The emergency personnel must have been very busy with all of the people getting injured. They had to take care of many burn victims. People who had all of their clothes burned off of them, people with injured eyes because of the dust cloud, people with injuries because of falling debris; all needed care. They also had to deal with the many dead bodies that were recovered. Not only did they have to care for the injured they had to be on top of things and not break down under tremendous pressure. The New York police department helped by directing traffic and guiding people to safety. They helped many people out of the towers. As a result of the events of September 11th it became very apparent how much these brave people love their jobs and their country.

Americans have become more patriotic since September 11th. I have noticed that many people are hanging flags and putting things on their cars to show their national pride. We have united together more as a nation than in recent memory. People throughout the country raised flags and mounted flags on their cars. People started displaying the United States flag to show their pride of our nation and to show that they were not afraid to show their love for this great nation.

I know that ever since September 11th my mother has read everything she could about the events of 9/11. She says that it is because she wants to get a better understanding of what people experienced and how they responded to those events. It is also because she still can't believe that it happened. We have recently added a flag to our car also to show our pride and unity. As she shares information she has read, our family has learned more about other culltures and has a somewhat greater understanding of the tragic events of September 11th.

In fact, we went ot Ground Zero last Thanksgiving; just two months after the attack. When we got there it was very quiet and all you could hear was the workers moving large pieces of metal. The reactions of the people standing around us were sadness, shock and disbelief. A memorial wall was set up nearby for people who had died or who were missing. There were many candles, flowers, pictures of loved ones, notes, and banners from all around the world showing love and support for the people of New York and the United States.

Families throughout the country have come together and have a better understanding of each other. We have embraced our families and reached out more just to talk. When we are done talking we say "love you," more often. We do this because we realize that that could have been us on that plane or in those buildings. We were lucky that it wasn't.

We have also been nicer to our neightbors and friends. We understand that this didn't just affect us, it affected the whole nation. Even though you are only one person you can make a difference in someone's life simply by being kind. If you made that one person feel special, then maybe you will influence them to be kind to someone else. Families and relationships are stronger and as a result America has come together more as a nation.

We are now a more loving and understanding country. We, as a nation, are seeing how a tragic terrorist act can affect us, even when you are so far away. The world has gotten much smaller. We understand what the firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel had to go through. This nation won't let this affect our daily life. So, we hang our American flags high and hold our heads high and stay strong. We continue to live our lives in freedom and without fear. We have come together as a nation and our hearts go out to all the people who lost their lives as well as to their families on the day no one in America will forget, September 11, 2001.

----------------------------

As I copied this into the blog I had many thoughts and emotions churned up. I sit here shaking my head at the state of affairs President Bush's administration has caused us to be in. I am filled with dismay about the victims of Hurricane Katrina and wonder why he hasn't made them a higher priority. I puzzle over his misguided and misleading information about the situation in Iraq. Never, in my lifetime, has my country been so divided with it's people hesitant to speak their hearts and minds. It is very patriotic and "American" to question our leadership. Not only is it patriotic, it is required as a citizen of this great country. For those who label citizens who ask questions "unpatriotic" I would say, "Where is your patriotism when you do not speak up at injustice and falsehoods?" But, I digress. Indeed, Jenna captured the spirit of the time just after September 11, 2001. Would that it was still that way. ~Laura Breite

Reflections at Fifty-two...

2005-08-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, today's my 52nd birthday and I find myself in a rather reflective mood. I am reminded of all of the people who have helped to shape who I am today. I see my children maturing into beautiful young adults and look on them with great pride. They are a blast to be with! I wonder where the time has gone? The day to day musings and busy-ness seems to have filled my life. I laugh at the little wonderous things: "Telling Ethan not to bounce the ball on Cara's head while I'm trying to talk on the phone;" "Watching Jenna scamper up the doorjambs and sit there like a monkey talking to us;" "Amazed as Whitney gathered her craft materials (again) to create one of her masterpieces (could be a myriad of clock faces, rubber stamps made from rubber bands, or even paper hair wigs for modeling!)" I remember when she was three she came downstairs with two-inch long/quarter inch wide paper fringe taped all along her arms and legs and informed me that she would be going to pre-school today as an indian... Or, how about the time she spread refrigerator ice cubes all over the family room carpet so that she could "ice skate." (I never could get the stains out of that hunter green rug.)

So many things. Taking Ethan canoeing down the Colorado River when he was four and watching him delight as he dragged the hand-carved wooden fish that his Dad had made him in the water behind the canoe. And of course backpacking with his six small stuffed animals stuck into his waistband for company. Thank God for the tic-tacs we used to bribe him to get to the next tree. Or, how about the day we spent at Disneyland allowing him to walk (one foot at a time) along every one of the iron grass rails...forget the rides...this is what he wanted to do and we had no reason to hurry him along. Precious times.

I remember Whitney "helping" me in the garden when we lived in Mira Mesa. That girl could crawl or walk on anything. She would scare everyone else half to death but I knew that if I just let her be and didn't startle her she would be all right. She and Ethan spent many hours "pretending." I was looking at some pictures last night and have them playing "doctor" with stethoscope and all, dressed up as indians and flying in airplanes. He really enjoyed her company (even if she was a girl)!

Having Jenna and Cara brought many new and challenging changes to our growing family. How could I accommodate the needs of two infants, a three year old and a growing nine year old boy. Very different requirements! We would all traipse up to the soccer field for Ethan's games and then drive everywhere to see him perform with the Mt. Carmel High School Band. And we mustn't forget our newspaper recycling days! We would fill up that old VW bus from front to back and top to bottom with newspapers from his assigned route and then unload them into the semi-truck at campus. Larry and I were never so tired!!!!

Trying to help with daily homework, feeding schedules, emotional needs, and throw in a little fun was the order of the day.

There was no way to go to the park with two toddlers running in two different directions at once. I couldn't keep them safe
and let them properly explore. We needed two adults who could help and then we could manage quite nicely. Of course, Jenna was always "done" with something before everyone else. It didn't matter if it was shopping, playing or just hanging out, she was always on the move and would often leave a store alone. I really had to keep an eye on her.

She and Cara loved to play "Bumper Bellies" after bathtime. They would run to their room naked, jump on the bed and bump belliles, fall down and giggle uncontrollably. Too funny! And Jenna was always trying to escape to "streak" through the neighborhood! Vigilance was mandatory unless I wanted to go on a neighborhood " Jenna Hunt." And of course, what one baby can't do alone, two can do very well. One learned to open the door and the other to close it. Through cooperation they discovered that if they both leaned on an object it would move....help!!!!

Jenna and Cara looked up to both their brother and sister. They wanted to be like them and dress like them. Cara even went dressed as Whitney one Halloween (that is when she wasn't being a clown; which was almost every year--5 at least). Jenna tried out different personas (bride, Peter Pan, harem girl, space being, pumpkin, and a witch). We were never too sure what Whitney would come up with but that first clown costume I made for Ethan when he was one sure did make the rounds!

It seems that I have been to thousands of sporting events between archery, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and basketball tournaments to say nothing of the practices and games over the course of 20 years. And perhaps hundreds of concerts and special performances (let's see: violin, flute, trumpet, baritone horn, chorus, tuba and sousaphone). Between lessons, practices I read hundreds of books and increased my vocabulary.

I'll share more as things come to mind but those are my thoughts this sunny August afternoon in San Diego.

~Laura

Mt Carmel Fall Band Tournament Schedule

2005-08-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Mt. Carmel Band Tournaments--Fall 2005
The Marching Sundevils will start practicing this year's field show during band camp that starts tomorrow. Here is the schedule of tournaments. I hope many of you can see them perform throughout the season. Of course, their performances improve throughout the season culminating with their field show and parade review in Arcadia. They will also be marching in the 2006 Rose Parade on January 2, 2006...get ready for a GREAT season of music, pageantry and fun!

Sat., October 1 Poway Preview at Poway HS early evening

Sat., October 15 Westview Tournament in Penasquitos late afternoon and early evening

Sat., October 29 Mt. Carmel Tournament ALL DAY--30 bands, parade review and field shows. Mt. Carmel will perform last at approx. 9:00pm. Any school performing after 6:00pm is well worth watching. Located at MCHS Stadium. Parade starts at 12:00noon

Sat., November 5 Chino Tournament Chino, CA Parade and Field Show Parade: 12:00noon, Field show 6:00pm to end.

Sat., November 12 Chula Vista Parade Review in the morning
Sat., November 12 Vista Field Show Tournament in the afternoon and evening. Probably will perform some time between 8:00 and 9:00pm

Sat., November 19 Arcadia Tournament of Bands ALL DAY Parade review and field show...more info as we get closer to this fantastic performance!

Monday., January 2, 2006 Tournament of Roses Parade Pasedena, CA

Check back for updates.

Pacific Coast Shootout in Irvine

2005-07-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

Jenna and Cara play on a club team (FBC SAN DIEGO). They are playing in the Pacific Coast Shootout; an NCAA sanctioned tournament in Irvine, CA. Today they played Riverside Swift Blue with a WIN 60 to 43. Some stats: Cara: 19 points, 1 block, 4 steals, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 7 of 10 2pt shots, 1 of 4 three-point shots, 2 fouls. Jenna:17 points, 2 blocks, 4 steals, 3 assists, 19 rebounds, 8 out of 16 2pt shots, 1 out of 3 free throw shots, 5 fouls (6 allowed in this tournament) Other teammates of note: Tiffany Hunter had 18 points, 2 steals, 1 assist, 7 rebounds, 5/12 2pt shots, 10/11 free throws; Brittany Parks: 3 points, 1 steal, 2 assists; Natasha Pierce: 2 points; Kellie Brull: 7 points.

CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT GAME! Game #2: Thursday, 7/28/05 3:30pm at Irvine JCC. Will keep you all posted.

GAME 2 RESULTS: FBC 43--IEBL 54
Jenna:12 points, 2 blocks, 3 steals, 1 assist, 9 rebounds, 3 2pt shots, 2-3pt shots, 2 fouls.
Cara:4 points, 2 blocks, 3 steals, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 2-2pt shots, 2 fouls.

GAME 3 RESULTS: FBC 62--TSIN 35
Jenna:8 points, 1 block, 1 steal, 5 assists, 12 rebounds, 4-2 pt shots, 2 fouls.
Cara:18 points, 1 block, 1 assist, 3 rebounds, 8-2pt shots, 3-free throws.

GAME 4 RESULTS:FBC 58--SALT LAKE CITY METRO 69
Jenna:: 21 points, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 1 assist, 9 rebounds, 9-2pt shots, 1-3pt shot.
Cara:: 0 points (what's up with that?) 1 block, 1 steal, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 foul.
Other players of note: Kellie Brull: 18 points, 1 steal, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, 8-2pt shots, 2 free throws, 3 fouls.

LAST GAME TODAY AT 1:40 IN IRVINE. WILL POST AN UPDATE LATER.

PICTURES OF THE GAMES: http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2123115207&code=17459169&mode=invite&DCMP=isc-email-AlbumInvite

San Diego Classic

2005-07-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

San Diego Classic a great success. Jenna and Cara played for their high school varsity team--Cara as point guard and Jenna as a power forward or post player. Here are some of the stats:

Game 1: Mt Carmel 39 San Marcos Santa Barbara 20
Jenna: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 5/10 2pt shots, 2/2 free throw shots, 4 steals
Cara: 9 points, 1 steal, 1 assist, 2 rebounds, 3/4 2pt shots, 1/4 three point shots

Game 2: Mt Carmel 61 Charter Oak 23
Jenna: 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 assists, 4/7 2 pt shots, 1/2 free throw shots, 0/1 three point shots
Cara: 12 points, 3 blocks, 3 steals, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 5/8 2pt shots, 2/3 free throw shots, 0/1 three point shots

Game 3: Mt Carmel 48 Northridge Irvine 31
Jenna: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 steals, 3/6 2pt shots, 0/1 free throw shots, 5 fouls (fouled out 4th qtr)
Cara: 5 points, 1 block, 2 steals, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 2/3 2pt shots, 1/2 free throw shots, 0/1 three point shots, 4 fouls

PUT THEM FIRST IN THEIR POOL, now on to other teams:

Game 4: Mt Carmel 36 Edison Stockton 60 OUCH!
Cara: 3 points, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 1 assist, 1 rebound, 0/2 2pt shots, 3/4 free throw shots, 0/2 three point shots, 3 fouls---legs gave out after so many games and camp
Jenna: 19 points, 2 blocks, 6 steals, 2 assists, 9 rebounds, 8/11 2pt shots, 3/3 free throw shots, 0/0 three point shots

Game 5: Mt Carmel 49 Fairview Colorado 36
Cara: 9 points, 5 blocks, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 2/3 2pt shots, 2/2 free throw shots, 1/2 three point shots, 2 fouls
Jenna: 3 points, 1 block, 2 rebounds, 1/3 2pt shots, 1/2 free throw shots, 0/1 three point shots, 5 fouls (fould out 3rd qtr)

Game 6: Mt Carmel 31 Seton Catholic (Arizona) 27
Cara: 4 points, 2 blocks, 3 steals, 5 assists, 1 rebound, 2/2 2pt shots, 0/0 free throw shots, 0/4 three point shots, 1 foul
Jenna: 15 points, 1 block, 9 rebounds, 6/9 2pt shots, 3/5 free throw shots, 1 foul

College scouts were there in abundance. Of course, under NCAA rules no one can speak to them while they are at the tournament. We saw scouts from ASU, UCLA, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Vanguard, Pt. Loma Nazarene, Portland, Fresno State, New Mexico State, Loyola Marymount, Georgia, Gonzaga, USC, Long Beach State, BYU, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara University, SDSU, UCSD, UCSB, and many others. Some schools had 2-3 coaches present to cover the games.

Tall Women's Basketball Camp

2005-07-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

Jenna and Cara returned last Wednesday from an intense four days at Pete Newell's Tall Women's Basketball Camp held at CSU Monterey. They drilled from early morning until late at night and came home with tired bodies. They attended with 60 "tall" high school girls from throughout the United States. (You must be over 6' to attend). They learned some new post moves and were selected to demonstrate moves on a training video. On to SD Classic!

Cara and Patrick

2005-06-24T00:25:00.000-07:00

Cara and Patrick 2
Originally uploaded by Breite.

Cara and Patrick (Swann) enjoy the band banquet, plaid converse tennis shoes and all.

Aunt Margie Visits

2005-06-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

Aunt Margie Visits
Originally uploaded by Breite.

Aunt Margie Bennett flew down from Reno to visit her sister Ora. Meanwhile, Alexa hitched a ride with cousin Whitney to visit for an overnight. Lucky us!

More Complete thoughts about Family

2005-06-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

We just finished our school year yesterday. Jenna is taking advantage of sleeping in and Cara is back at school for a band section leader meeting. They will have a basketball game later…it doesn’t really ever stop until they are out of school. They will be juniors in September. I can’t believe how quickly their high school years are going by. Here’s an update:

Beautiful Jenna at 6’1”, 16 years old, has a wonderfully dry sense of humor and impeccable timing delivery. She keeps us in stitches. She has such a high work ethic that she just about drove her classmates crazy this year. She expects a lot of herself and just as much from everyone around her. As such, she received the most outstanding Sophomore English student. She hates to be late, is constantly rushing Cara (always a little behind) and is very organized. She makes it look very easy but I know she works very hard at “keeping it all together.”

Jenna just received her tri-athlete honor. She played field hockey, lacrosse and basketball at the varsity level this year. (Field Hockey: Most Valuable defender; Lacrosse: Most Aggressive; Basketball: Most Valuable Post player) All in all, a great year! She also participated in the Bel Canto women’s choir performing in their Madrigal Dinner (a full-fledged medieval feast and show), festivals, concerts and small show choir numbers. As she said, "It got her over her fear of dancing in public." She is also playing for several club basketball teams. Several because she has been finishing up with our old club and trying out some new teams (none of which are fantastic). Anyway, we spend most of our weekends at basketball tournaments throughout the country. Next stops: Oregon, Seattle and Atlanta. She has improved her game tremendously and was one of the lead rebounders in San Diego County last season. She was scouted by a national recruiting agency for Field Hockey but then I informed him that she had a twin and that they both played basketball he shifted to that sport and we haven’t looked back.

Both Jenna and Cara are driving now so it frees me up from the carpool thing. I do miss our opportunities to chat to and from activities. There’s nothing like getting them when they have just finished something. You really get a sense of the reality of things.

Fun-loving Cara is also pushing 6’1” and turned 16 in March. She loves shoes, cars, basketball and band (just about in that order). She spends a lot of time evaluating/designing sport and casual shoes and letting me know which are her latest desires. She can also tell you anything you want to know about cars (models, features, advantages, disadvantages, colors, etc.) She cracks me up but truly if you want to know something she is definitely your resource. She has her eye on a new Tacoma (electric blue) and is chomping at the bit to get a job (yeah, right, in her spare time) so that she can buy one. With this kind of passion she has realized that she will need to earn a generous income to support her habit.

Cara is part of Mt Carmel High School’s Marching Sundevils (have we really been doing “band” for 15 years….yep!) As Sousaphone/tuba section leader this year she will have her hands full. She is also first chair in Wind Ensemble I (top band among 5 at our school) and Orchestra. They are hoping to travel to Indianapolis next spring for an elite competition. They still have to go through the audition process but as the 3rd ranked band program in the country they certainly have an excellent chance. She will march with the band at this year’s Rose Parade. Look for her as Mt. Carmel marches by; she will be the tallest tuba in the center of the band. (I know, they all look alike once they have their uniforms and shakos on). Late summer and fall will be filled with band camp, sectional rehearsals, evening rehearsals, private lessons, uniform fittings and tournaments throughout Southern California (Poway, Westview, Scripps Ranch, Mt. Carmel, Chino, Chula Vista, Vista, Arcadia). Their field shows are always fantastic. They were invited to perform at the Fiesta Bowl last year and ranked 2nd overall (a fine accomplishment).

As it happens, the band and choir both traveled to Hawaii over spring break this year. The girls saw each other once but then were off on their own adventures. Jenna got a great picture of herself underwater while snorkeling…too funny. In fact, all of Jenna’s Hawaii pictures have her in them (here’s Jenna on Diamond Head, here’s Jenna at the Polynesian Cultural Center…etc.) Too funny. Whereas Cara, who I think had her eye on other things, has many scenic pictures and a couple of her running away from the camera…ahhh, individuality. Those “other things” I spoke of are a redheaded, 6’, violin playing senior named, Patrick. No souvenirs came home with this girl except a new boyfriend. This is a first for my girls and certainly a surprise that it was Cara to break that ice. Patrick is very sweat, and they are very cute together. He will be attending SDSU as an engineering major in the fall. They are well suited and we will see how things go. So far, she has been able to stay focused on her priorities and he is very supportive of her efforts. I think it is because he is also very active in San Diego Youth Symphony and Orchestra and he understands the commitment it takes. I love that he challenges her to try new things and they are exploring outdoor activities together (rock climbing, tide pooling, etc.) All in all, it seems to be a good thing.

In regards to Cara and basketball, well, she was listed as a player to watch by the San Diego Union Tribune and was honored as an all-star team member for North County this year. She (and Jenna) both made the varsity team their freshman year but it wasn’t until this year that they really got a lot of playing time and were major contributors on the court. Where Jenna plays Center and a very strong Power Forward (post) position, Cara can play any position on the court. She is learning to play point guard (an unusual position for someone so tall, except for Nicole Powell of Stanford) and is doing very well. She has excellent ball handling skills, can really read the court and, according to her coaches, “has one of the best minds for basketball they have ever coached.” Time will tell. Whereas, Jenna, who has very quick feet, soft, sure hands and great post moves, loves to play very physical ball and you will see her slamming her opponents to the floor without a thought; Cara is more of a finesse player and prefers to use fakes, moves and ball handling to get the job done. Both of the girls were selected to participate in the Adidas/EBO Showcase and Cara was acknowledged as the most outstanding Sophomore player for the year; quite an honor out of all the sophomores in San Diego County. As I said, well see where it all leads and what Cara wants to do with it. They both play on the same club teams and will travel together this summer.

As far as school goes, they are both doing well. Cara has struggled this semester (could it be the boyfriend has affected things?) but she has also had very hard classes (AP European Civilization, Honors Humanities to name two). I can’t believe the amount of material she is held responsible for and she seems to take it in stride. It’s beyond anything I even had in college. Of course, she will get college credit for the AP course if she passed her AP test. That is a good thing for her. She is going to take a break next year from these advanced courses and come back to them her senior year so that the material will be fresh in her head as she heads off to college. Anyway, she has enjoyed Spanish 5-6, Wind Ensemble, Humanities, Algebra II, marching P.E., and European civilization and will come out with at least a 3.4 or better.

Jenna has excelled in her classes this year ending with a 4.0 GPA. As she has a different learning style she has needed to avoid the AP courses (although she misses having the challenge and the interesting material). She concentrated on Spanish 1-2 (had to get a language in somewhere, not her forte), Geometry, Bel Canto choir, World History, English, and Geo-science. She has been lauded by all of her teachers as their best student (some of them in 30 years)…responsible, contributory, conscientious, pleasure to have in class and with unlimited potential. (I don’t make this stuff up, I’m just reporting.)

With all of that going on we still have our upsets and challenges. The girls bicker over who drives when, where and how much. They still argue over the bathroom and shower time. They still need space away from each other as they drive each other crazy. Cara still doesn’t want to have to wear a dress and Jenna likes to wear skirts to school. They still lose papers, don’t get clothes washed that they need “right now,” leave school assignments on the printer at home, forget a schoolbook they need for homework tonight, freak out over their workload, get tired and cranky, lose a sock before a game, forget their lunch money and all of the other things that go along with being a teenager. That said they also are remarkable as they move through their teenage years with fun, humor, laughter, and frustration. I think the biggest thing is the “tone of voice.” They don’t realize how they sound and perhaps don’t mean it the way it comes out. I have taught them to say, “this is what I heard you say, is that what you meant?” and to count to ten before they respond because they really don’t realize how they are coming across. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. What can I say; we are all a “work in progress.”

On to my “force of nature.” Whitney at almost 20 is as Whitney’er as ever. She just completed her sophomore year a CSU Chico. An active theater major she furthered her skills at stage management, costuming, make-up, lighting and sound, in addition to tackling some actual acting classes so that she has a better understanding of what the actors are doing. She excels in every area of this field. More than once I would get a picture on my cell phone and wonder who it was. Lenny Cravits, a raccoon, a classic roman…she tried all of the makeup out on herself and of course sent me a picture. The Lenny one really frightened me as I couldn’t find Whitney in and among all of the bearded stubble and Afro…amazing. Her professors “have plans” for her next year. I think they will be making her stage manager for many of their productions. She has managed to stay on the honor roll for four semesters, which gives her priority class placement (a perk she really enjoys).

She lives in a cute 1920’s home we purchased last year that is three blocks from campus, along with three roommates. It has worked out well and we know that she has a safe, wonderful home for her college years. Although she walks to school, she still needed a car for other small errands, so she bips around in her cute blue Chevy Aveo. Much to my chagrin she has trekked from Chico to San Diego twice now; a long journey for a young woman by herself but she doesn’t seem to understand the dangers (ahhh, youth). She is home now and will be working at the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters as part of their stage crew this summer. It is a great networking opportunity for her and she is wonderful at it. She stays with my sister Nancy and her family when she is up there as they live close by in Irvine.

Whitney’s most recent exploration is to try being a blonde. I’m trying hard not to freak out as she is such a gorgeous brunette but that’s how it is. She is very handy in the kitchen (a good thing since I have ceased cooking all together) and we enjoy her creative efforts when she is home.

Not much to share about Ethan these days. He lives in North Park, a downtown section of San Diego. He has a cute little one bedroom 1930’s home that sits behind another complex. He and his girlfriend, Meredith, just broke up so he is in transition. He has been working at FedEx ground for several years while moonlighting at a print shop. He starts a new job this week for some kind of print shop supplier of sweatshirts, tee shirts, and papers. He seems to be excited about the prospect and for that I am thankful. At 25 (yes, he’s 25), he’s still finding his way. I wish he would go back to school but that is for him to discover at this point.

Ah, Larry, wonderful Larry. Bless his heart; he has done a great job. After being let go from Advanced Tissue Sciences 8 years ago, he opened his own consulting business, Breite Consulting Associates. I’m so proud of him. He is an expert in his field and sought after throughout the industry. He travels a lot (mostly to the east coast but occasionally to Chicago, Denver and even Puerto Rico). I’m not sure if I can describe what he does, but I’ll have a go. He helps biotech and medical device companies get into compliance with FDA standards of practice. He also does trainings and writes operating procedures for his clients. His easy manner, and ability to state problems in terms that everyone can understand make him a favorite among these companies. His travels and income have allowed our family to do extensive travel ourselves and for that I am very grateful.

When he’s not consulting you will usually find him with a camera in hand. As historian for band, field hockey, lacrosse and basketball he is kept very busy taking pictures, telling the stories, downloading them online, visiting practices, parties, events, games…you name it, he is keeping a wonderful record of the girls and their organizations. And of course, at the end of the season he is creating memorable slide shows. Wow, what a gift to everyone. Jenna uses many of his photos preparing scrapbooks for the graduating seniors, which keeps her mind and hands busy (like she really needs to be “kept off of the street” … ha!)

As for myself, I’m just trying to keep up. The past year and a half has been more difficult. I had a serious fall in April 2004 that has kept me less active. Some days are better than others. I still struggle with depression and have the knees of an eighty year old. Other than that, I’m doing well. Busy with a real estate business and always looking for new and interesting online business ideas. I have a promising one in the works as I write this but am not able to share more at this time.

I definitely should get the “Bleacher Butt Award” for the number of games and tournaments I attend. I think it was something like 263 last summer alone. I take my “lamby” that seems to cushion the old derier a bit. People laugh, but you know what? They really are the best. I saw them in the cupboard, stored away from the girl’s infant-toddler years and thought they would be perfect. They have truly saved me. During the basketball season I keep score/stats for every game. I have books upon books as I have kept score since the girls started in third grade—every game. I started it so that I wouldn’t be yelling during the games…it seems to have worked.

During the lacrosse season I organize and train parents to do the scorekeeping and timing for all of the home games. Once band season rolls around I am the resident announcer for the field show and Mt. Carmel Band Tournament. I enjoy doing that and seem to be well received by the other parents. And of course, the fall wouldn’t be complete without the UCLA Bruins football games and season tickets literally on the 50-yard line with my friend, Bob. We always have a wonderful day. I still sing occasionally after having lost my voice for 18 months. But it’s coming back now and I continually get requests to perform. I’m fairly selective but venture out once in awhile. Other than that I spend time keeping up with the family and our fleet (literally, got the insurance fleet discount) of cars that keep this family mobile.

We still live in the house on Sawtooth Road although I had it remodeled in 2003. Hardwood floors, new fireplace facings, new kitchen, complete landscaping, etc. It feels much better. It has served us well since 1991, close to everything. The rooms have adjusted throughout the years from playrooms, music rooms, conversation nooks, computer rooms, game rooms, offices…you name it we have seen the transformations. But, always at the center is the family. Family game nights, movie nights, arguments, laughter, celebrations, and struggles, they all make up the family.

Athletic Honors Awarded

2005-06-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

Jenna received her Letterman's jacket patch for being a Varsity athlete in three (count them...three) sports (Field Hockey, Basketball and Lacrosse) this year. Congratulations Jenna! Go Sundevils!

Cara received her North County All Star patch for being part of the select few girls in all of north county to be on the all-star basketball team. Congratulations Cara!

The Full Picture

2005-06-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

Breite Sisters
Originally uploaded by Breite.

Jenna gets silly as Mom tries to get a full picture of the girls. Things of note: Jenna's classy look, Cara's color-coordinated plaid converse tennis shoes and Whitney's outrageous new blonde "do", green bag and myriad of necklaces (she is a "Force of Nature")...everyone had a great time.

Breite Girls Attend Choir Banquet

2005-06-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

Up close and personal
Originally uploaded by Breite.

Jenna celebrated with classmates at this year's choir banquet held at the Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club. It was a beautiful venue and very well coordinated by the band student leaders. Well Done! Jenna received a Certificate of Achievement for her 3 semesters in choir. She will miss being with the group next year as it conflicts with her sports schedule. Well, maybe her Senior year..

The full picture:

Alexa's Birthday Party

2005-06-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

Alexa Clayfield celebrated her 9th birthday with friends rock climbing. Uncle Larry took some great pictures that you may enjoy. Use the link above to see more.

Jenna Receives High School Award

2005-06-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

Tonight was Mt. Carmel High School's All School Awards Ceremony. Jenna was recognized as the most outstanding English student for the sophomore class. Congratulations! Her english teacher, Mr. Tretter, nominated her said, "he has never, in 30 years of teaching, had a student who is as concientous, always challenging the other students to perform at a higher level."

Family at Cara's Winter Concert 2004

2005-05-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

Family at Cara's Winter Concert 2004
Originally uploaded by Breite.

Front (LtoR)Kaylee, Alexa, Whitney
Row 2 (LtoR) Nancy, Garrett, Diana, Laura
Row 3 (LtoR)Peter, Collin, Bill, Bob Wuertz

Laura Breite

2005-05-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

LauraLow-8
Originally uploaded by Breite.

MCHS Lacrosse

2005-04-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

17 of our 23 member varsity LAX team from last year graduated. This year we have many new players that have moved up from JV. It is an exciting season.

MCHS Girl's Varsity Lacrosse had a very successful week. Here are the highlights:

Monday, April 25 vs Rancho Bernardo Loss (boo hoo!) MC 4/RB 14 Aaaaahhhh!

Wednesday, April 27 vs Westview WIN (yeah!) MC 7/Westview 6: Jenna scored 4 goals (WOW!), Shannon Dere, Laura Gonzalez and Courtney Webster contributed one goal each. Bravo!

Friday, April 29 vs Fallbrook WIN (double Yeah!) MC 8/Fallbrook 5: Courtney Webster with 5 goals, Jenna Breite, Lauren Moses and Shannon Dere with one goal each.

SEASON RECORD:

3/8/05 Loss MC 6 vs San Dieguito Academy 9 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (2), Laura Gonzalez (1), Lauren Moses (2), Carin Chung (1)

3/10/05 WIN MC 12 vs Scripps Ranch 5 (MC GOALS: Shannon Dere (3), Carin Chung (3), Lauren Moses (2), Laura Gonzalez 1), Mareena George (1), Courtney Webster (1), Maggie Carouthers (1)

3/15/05 Loss MC 8 vs Bishops 9 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (4), Shannon Dere (3), Lucia Nguyen (1)

League Play:
3/23/05 Loss MC 6 vs Rancho Bernardo 12 (MC GOALS: Shannon Dere (3), Laura Gonzalez (2), Carin Chung (1)

3/21/05 Loss MC 2 vs Poway 15 (ouch!) (MC GOALS: Shannon Dere (1), Courtney Webster (1)

3/25/05 Loss MC 5 vs San Dieguito Academy 10 (MC GOALS: Emily Gustafson (2), Shannon Dere (1), Maggie Carouthers (1), Courtney Webster (1)

3/28/05 WIN MC 10 vs Carlsbad 4 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (3), Laura Gonzalez (2), Jenna Breite (1), Emily Gustafson (1), Lauren Moses (1), Shannon Dere (1), Maggie Carouthers (1)

3/30/05 Loss MC 5 vs Poway 14 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (2), Emily Gustafson (1), Jenna Breite (1), Shannon Dere (1)

4/4/05 WIN MC 12 vs Westview 5 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (5), Emily Gustafson (2), Shannon Dere (2), Laura Gonzalez (2), Stephanie Van Sickel (1)

4/6/05 Loss MC 3 vs La Costa Canyon 12 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (1), Shannon Dere (1), Jenna Breite (1)

4/13/05 Loss MC 4 vs Torrey Pines 12 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (2), Jenna Breite (1), Shannon Dere (1)

4/25/05 Loss MC 4 vs Rancho Bernardo 14 (MC GOALS: Shannon Dere (2), Carin Chung (1), Maggie Carouthers (1)

4/27/05 WIN MC 7 vs Westview 6 (MC GOALS: Jenna Breite (4), Shannon Dere (1), Laura Gonzalez (1), Courtney Webster (1)

4/29/05 WIN MC 8 vs Fallbrook 5 (MC GOALS: Courtney Webster (5), Jenna Breite (1), Lauren Moses (1), Shannon Dere (1)

TEAM SCORING LEADERS as of April 30, 2005:

Courtney Webster (Senior) 28
Shannon Dere (Senior) 21
Laura Gonzalez (Sophomore) 9
Jenna Breite (Sophomore) 9
Emily Gustafson (Junior) 6
Carin Chung (Senior) 6
Lauren Moses (Junior) 6
Maggie Carouthers 4
Stephanie Van Sickel (Sophomore) 1
Mareena George (Senior) 1
Lucia Nguyen 1

Hawaii Trips

2005-04-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

Both Cara and Jenna are in Hawaii right now. Jenna with her school choir and Cara with her school band. Two different trips, two different itineraries. Have heard for both girls and they are having a great time. Cara was excited to see open water grey whales right next the their boat. Jenna spent Thursday snorkeling in Hanama Bay and reported seeing sea turtles and other wonderful creatures. She used her underwater camera so we are looking forward to seeing her pictures. Her group performs today at the Morman college on the big island for a choir festival. They also sang on the Missouri earlier in the week. Cara's group is not performing this trip...fun, fun, fun! They have spent time on the beach, at the international mart (actually the girls ran into each other there), hiking up Diamond Head, and attending luaus...life's a beach. More when they get home tomorrow night.

New Driver's On Road

2005-04-18T00:23:00.000-07:00

Jenna and Cara passed their "Behind the Wheel" drive test on Tuesday, April 12, 2005. It's official, they are free and on the road. Unteathered at last. Jenna is ecstatic! She has been wanting to drivec since she was ten...at last! Cara, although more subdued about the whole thing is excited to be able to drive all of the cars that she is so very passionate about. Ask her anything about cars...she probably knows the answer.

Hawaii Trips

2005-04-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Cara will be traveling to Hawaii with MCHS Band Sunday, April 17 to Sunday April 24.
Jenna will be traveling to Hawaii with MCHS Choir Tuesday, Apirl 19 to Sunday, April 24.

These are two separate trips with separate itineraries. Cara's group will not be performing as they could not afford to ship all of their instruments. Jenna will be performing with Bel Canto and the Advanced Choir at various locations throughout Hawaii.

Watch for more information on their trips.