Please join me in congratulating Aaron Ortiz for claiming the highly coveted UlloaSullivan.com Reader of the Year award for 2009. The presentation of the certificate was made at the end of dinner at Cattlemen's restaurant last night.
Aaron's daily commitment to not only checking the site on a daily basis but regularly commenting and participating in the UlloaSullivan.com community are what put him over the top and provided the boost he needed to win the award above all the other nominees. Learning that he often feels disappointed on those occasions when the site isn't updated for a few days also contributed to his win - we felt a little sorry for him, but also satisfied that our tactics to engender devotion (and addiction) to the site had worked out so well.
Aaron was joined at the celebratory dinner by his wife Christina, daughter Ava, and the lovely Meleena.
Congratulations Aaron!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Tip for a successful Valentine's Day
DON'T WAIT UNTIL VALENTINE'S DAY TO LET THEM KNOW YOU LOVE THEM!
We Are The World 25
I don't think it matters whether you like the song or not - it's an easy way to give just a little to help those in need.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Lost and Found
I spent all of Saturday worrying about not being able to find my wallet.
I know I had it when we went out for dinner at Salazar's with Meleena after picking M up from FHS - where they were wrapping up preparations for winning their division in the AcaDec competition - because I used it to pay for dinner. Well, not actually the wallet, but the ATM card in there.
I was pretty sure it was in my pocket when we stopped at Valero to pick up something for dessert and helped the lady who needed directions to Redding and who had been given completely the wrong advice by her brother or some other relative.
But after that I had no memory of what I did with it when I got home. The most common places I leave it are in the laundry room - where we have a little compartment thingy for that very purpose - on the dining table or in the office. It wasn't there. Nor was it on the coffee table, under the sofas, in the kitchen drawers, by the bath tub, under (or in) the cars in the garage, in the living room, in the guest bedroom, under our bed, in the dirty laundry basket, in the recycles bag or anywhere else. I looked in places both obvious and not. I even called Salazar's - and then stopped by there - to see if they had found it, to no avail.
It's a strange thing losing your wallet. Happily, it's not something that happens to me very often at all. But when it does I get an overwhelming sense of helplessness. More so than if I were to lose just about anything else. Without my wallet I was forced to abandon my plan to take my car to the carwash. Without my wallet I had to scratch borrow a couple of dollars from M in order to get my coffee at Starbucks - and I didn't have my gold club card so couldn't get my 10% discount! And I had to scratch around the house to get a few bucks together in order to go to Subway and get my $3.50 6" Tuna Sub sandwich.
But it's more than that. I felt like I hadn't only last wallet, but that part of my identity was missing too - my lucky dollar from my very first trip to the US, my 10th haircut is free card from Shear (get it?) Magic that I'm always self-concious about using, the business card of the last limo driver we used in Vegas (who said she could get us a deal at some more 'adult' establishments off-strip), my Costco membership card (simultaneously the bringer of so much join at Xmas and other celebratory occasions and the bearer of stress over just how much will we have to spend and whether M will play the 'put 3 things back' game when we get to the checkout), or the phone number of the waitress... er, sorry, didn't mean to mention that. Not to mention that my drivers license - my proof of identity, and that I'm over 21 for the purposes of buying alcohol and gambling (sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth to look so youthful) - was literally missing.
You see, it wasn't just that I am leaving on a business trip today and losing my bank and credit cards would have been extremely inconvenient. And it wasn't just the immense frustration of losing something important that is either always extremely close at hand or in a known place where I know it's safe. It wasn't even the embarrassment of losing something that is usually what I make fun of other people about. It was that so much of your life, of the mark you make in the world, of your interactions with others - economically and socially - tend to pass through your wallet, making it so much more than a cool, eye-catching silver duct tape holder of plastic cards and bits of paper. Somehow it becomes a part of you.
And for 18 hours on Saturday - while all the excitement of the Fresno County Academic Decathlon competition was unfolding, and until Meleena came back to our place and found it in the most clearly visible location imaginable (on top of Cornflake's scratching post by the stone pillar in our Family room) - it felt like that part of me was missing.
Thank you Meleena. I'm only sorry that there were only 4 dollars in there for you to claim as your reward. Please know that I'm very grateful indeed.
I know I had it when we went out for dinner at Salazar's with Meleena after picking M up from FHS - where they were wrapping up preparations for winning their division in the AcaDec competition - because I used it to pay for dinner. Well, not actually the wallet, but the ATM card in there.
I was pretty sure it was in my pocket when we stopped at Valero to pick up something for dessert and helped the lady who needed directions to Redding and who had been given completely the wrong advice by her brother or some other relative.
But after that I had no memory of what I did with it when I got home. The most common places I leave it are in the laundry room - where we have a little compartment thingy for that very purpose - on the dining table or in the office. It wasn't there. Nor was it on the coffee table, under the sofas, in the kitchen drawers, by the bath tub, under (or in) the cars in the garage, in the living room, in the guest bedroom, under our bed, in the dirty laundry basket, in the recycles bag or anywhere else. I looked in places both obvious and not. I even called Salazar's - and then stopped by there - to see if they had found it, to no avail.
It's a strange thing losing your wallet. Happily, it's not something that happens to me very often at all. But when it does I get an overwhelming sense of helplessness. More so than if I were to lose just about anything else. Without my wallet I was forced to abandon my plan to take my car to the carwash. Without my wallet I had to scratch borrow a couple of dollars from M in order to get my coffee at Starbucks - and I didn't have my gold club card so couldn't get my 10% discount! And I had to scratch around the house to get a few bucks together in order to go to Subway and get my $3.50 6" Tuna Sub sandwich.
But it's more than that. I felt like I hadn't only last wallet, but that part of my identity was missing too - my lucky dollar from my very first trip to the US, my 10th haircut is free card from Shear (get it?) Magic that I'm always self-concious about using, the business card of the last limo driver we used in Vegas (who said she could get us a deal at some more 'adult' establishments off-strip), my Costco membership card (simultaneously the bringer of so much join at Xmas and other celebratory occasions and the bearer of stress over just how much will we have to spend and whether M will play the 'put 3 things back' game when we get to the checkout), or the phone number of the waitress... er, sorry, didn't mean to mention that. Not to mention that my drivers license - my proof of identity, and that I'm over 21 for the purposes of buying alcohol and gambling (sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth to look so youthful) - was literally missing.
You see, it wasn't just that I am leaving on a business trip today and losing my bank and credit cards would have been extremely inconvenient. And it wasn't just the immense frustration of losing something important that is either always extremely close at hand or in a known place where I know it's safe. It wasn't even the embarrassment of losing something that is usually what I make fun of other people about. It was that so much of your life, of the mark you make in the world, of your interactions with others - economically and socially - tend to pass through your wallet, making it so much more than a cool, eye-catching silver duct tape holder of plastic cards and bits of paper. Somehow it becomes a part of you.
And for 18 hours on Saturday - while all the excitement of the Fresno County Academic Decathlon competition was unfolding, and until Meleena came back to our place and found it in the most clearly visible location imaginable (on top of Cornflake's scratching post by the stone pillar in our Family room) - it felt like that part of me was missing.
Thank you Meleena. I'm only sorry that there were only 4 dollars in there for you to claim as your reward. Please know that I'm very grateful indeed.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
HotP : FHS Division 2 Aca Dec Champs
Just a quick note to let you know that the Fowler High School Academic Decathlon team walked away with 1st place in Division 2 at this year's competition.
Congratulations to Ms. U and the team on their success in their first (and possibly only) year in Division 2.
Go Redcats!
Congratulations to Ms. U and the team on their success in their first (and possibly only) year in Division 2.
Go Redcats!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Note to our neighbor's cat(s)
Please, while we appreciate your generosity and good intentions, we'd prefer it if you didn't bring us gifts of dead birds. Especially large ones.
Note to Cornflake - if this is actually from you and it's what you've been trying to tell me about for the past couple of days, how would you like it prepared?
Note to Cornflake - if this is actually from you and it's what you've been trying to tell me about for the past couple of days, how would you like it prepared?
Introducing Coby
I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to Coby.
Coby is a 2006 Porsche Cayman S that I spotted on eBay a few weeks ago and, spurred on by M's statement of 'If you're going to get one you better get one before your 40th birthday so people don't think you're having a mid-life crisis' and the fact that I was able to get a really good deal on her, I pressed the 'Buy Now' button.
She is a gorgeous Cobalt Blue color and has been driven less than 12000 miles by a single owner before me.
Oh, and she arrived here in Kingsburg (after being transported all the way from New York) yesterday morning. It was a surprise to me too how many trips I had to make into town yesterday. ;)
Coby is a 2006 Porsche Cayman S that I spotted on eBay a few weeks ago and, spurred on by M's statement of 'If you're going to get one you better get one before your 40th birthday so people don't think you're having a mid-life crisis' and the fact that I was able to get a really good deal on her, I pressed the 'Buy Now' button.
She is a gorgeous Cobalt Blue color and has been driven less than 12000 miles by a single owner before me.
Oh, and she arrived here in Kingsburg (after being transported all the way from New York) yesterday morning. It was a surprise to me too how many trips I had to make into town yesterday. ;)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
UlloaSullivan Citrus
We are pleased to announce, in spite of some very cold temperatures in the past couple of months, that the UlloaSullivan Citrus Orange yield is up a full 100% this year verses last year. Given the abundance of produce this year we are duly concerned about flooding the market and reducing the overall selling price on the Orange markets - we will therefore be consuming at least half of our bumper crop ourselves so as to avoid spoiling the incomes of other citrus farmers in the region.
We put this down to some extra love (and watering) and a move to more hospitable climate (just outside of Kingsburg) over the summer.
Our lemons didn't fare so well, however.
We are looking forward to what a full year in our new location, direct in-ground planting and the addition of some new tree stock will do to our yield for the 2010-2011 season. You can be sure that we'll keep you posted right here on UlloaSullivan.com (whether you're interested or not).
We put this down to some extra love (and watering) and a move to more hospitable climate (just outside of Kingsburg) over the summer.
Our lemons didn't fare so well, however.
We are looking forward to what a full year in our new location, direct in-ground planting and the addition of some new tree stock will do to our yield for the 2010-2011 season. You can be sure that we'll keep you posted right here on UlloaSullivan.com (whether you're interested or not).
Car Keys Found
This is Mr Lopez - the Corvette-owning, Carpet cleaning business entrepreneur and Fowler High School Custodian - who stopped by yesterday to give our Family Room a going over.
While he was at it, he discovered my car keys buried in one of the couches where M had obviously hidden them as a devious plot to try and prevent me turning the car back into BMW later this month.
Well M, your wicked plot has clearly been foiled this time. You'll have to come up with some other devious plan to try and prevent the inevitable replacement of the BMW. Time is running short - only a couple more days until Cobalt Blue Day will be upon us.
While he was at it, he discovered my car keys buried in one of the couches where M had obviously hidden them as a devious plot to try and prevent me turning the car back into BMW later this month.
Well M, your wicked plot has clearly been foiled this time. You'll have to come up with some other devious plan to try and prevent the inevitable replacement of the BMW. Time is running short - only a couple more days until Cobalt Blue Day will be upon us.