Join a New Club in Conejo Valley or Ventura County in 2009!

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Image: Courtesy of NASAIf you are looking to connect with other local residents with similar hobbies and interests, or just looking for something new to do, check out the Social, Hobby, Cultural Clubs section of Conejo Valley Guide!  There  is something for pretty much anyone in here.  These clubs usually meet monthly, some weekly, at a local venue.  Here is a sampling of what is out there:

  • Conejo Valley Fly Fishers
  • Ventura County Rose Society
  • Ventura County Japanese Citizens League
  • Red Line Corvettes Club (Thousand Oaks)
  • Gold Coast Modular Railroad Club
  • Conejo Valley Quilt Guild
  • Ventura County Astronomical Society
  • Toastmasters Clubs (over 40 in Ventura County alone)
  • California Kayak Friends Club
  • Hawaii Club of Ventura County
  • On the Rocks 4 Wheelers Club
  • Ventura County Dart Association
  • Go Fly a Kite in 2009!Ventura County Kite Flyers
  • Ventura Surf Club
  • Conejo Chinese Cultural Association
  • Conejo Valley Audubon Society
  • Conejo Valley Bonzai Society
  • Camarillo Quilters Association
  • Marine Aquarium Society of Ventura County
  • Ventura County Over the Hill Gang
  • Simi Settlers Amateur Radio Club
  • Watch and Clock Collectors - Ventura County
  • Gold Coast Treasure Hunters and Metal Detecting Club
  • Conejo Valley Garden Club
  • Conejo Gem and Mineral Club
  • Ventura County Chess Club
  • Thousand Oaks Personal Computer Club
  • Conejo Valley Historical Society
  • Conejo Valley Archers
  • Ventura County Philatelic Society
  • Ventura County Dog Fanciers Association

The list goes on....we have looked and looked but still have not found a local tiddly winks club.  Not yet at least.

So check out some of these clubs and start broadening your interests and horizons in 2009!  To add to this list, contact us here.

The Popular "Mom Song" Sung to William Tell Overture

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This is Anita Renfroe's popular summation of what a mom says in a 24 hour period into 2 minutes, 55 seconds, sung to the tune of the William Tell Overture. The lyrics are shown below after the video. Visit www.anitarenfroe.com to learn more about her.  (Is it my imagination or does she have a close resemblance to Sarah Palin?)

And here's another very nice rendition of the song by Patti Harshey:

"The Mom Song"

Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepyhead
Here's your clothes and your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now! Get up and make your bed
Are you hot? Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where's your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and gloves and your scarf and hat
Don't forget! You gotta feed the cat
Eat your breakfast, the experts tell us it's the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at 3 today
Don't forget your piano lesson is this afternoon so you must play
Don't shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside, don't play rough, will you just play fair?
Be polite, make a friend, don't forget to share
Work it out, wait your turn, never take a dare
Get along! Don't make me come down there
Clean your room, fold your clothes, put your stuff away
Make your bed, do it now, do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay?
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone! Get off the phone!
Don't sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table
No more computer time tonight!
Your iPod's my iPod if you don't listen up
Where are you going and with whom and what time do you think you're coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You'll appreciate my wisdom someday when you're older and you're grown
Can't wait till you have a couple little children of your own
You'll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now I thank you not to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew, would appreciate
Take a bite maybe two of the stuff you hate
Use your fork, do not burp or I'll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, get the door, don't get smart with me
Get a grip, get in here, I'll count to three
Get a job, get a life, get a PHD
Get a dose of,
"I don't care who started it!
You're grounded until you're 36"
Get your story straight and tell the truth for once, for heaven's sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump, too?
If I've said it once, I've said at least a thousand times before
That you're too old to act this way
It must be your father's DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything and everything must be in place
Stop crying or I'll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth, wash your face, put your PJs on
Get in bed, get a hug, say a prayer with mom
Don't forget, I love you
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom's work never ends
You don't need the reason why
Because, because, because, because
I said so, I said so, I said so, I said so
I'm the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom!!
Ta da!!!

Photos From Huangshan and Hongcun in China

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My talented photographer friend in China has supplied us with a fresh set of pictures from Huangshan (literally Yellow Mountain) and Hongcun, a village near the southwest slope of Huangshan.  Hongcun was made popular in 2000, with the release of Academy Award for Best Foreign Language winner (and Best Picture nominee) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon that was filmed there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Scenic Pictures...Can Anyone Guess the Location?

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The location of these pictures is Mount Huang (also known as Huangshan, which literally means "yellow mountain" in Chinese), located in eastern China.  This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, known for scenery, sunsets, granite peaks, pine trees and views of the clouds.  My friend who took the pictures tells me Huangshan is the Chinese equivalent of Yosemite.

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Dad, May I Please Borrow $25?

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We're all stressed out with this economic mess and worried about making ends meet as we watch our retirement funds evaporate. So we're all working hard. Here's something to help us keep some perspective during these trying times. This one hits home with me.

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'

DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.

SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the man said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

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Photos From the Islands of Langkawi

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A friend of mine who grew up in the Southland has lived in Asia for the last 15 years with his family.  His day job involves finance and accounting but his true passion and calling in my opinion is photography.  His family recently visited Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands off the coast of Malaysia.  Langkawi means "Eagle Island," as eagles are in abundance there as you will see below.  Enjoy the following or click here for a slideshow view.

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