Halloween Day 2017

 Mother was a professional clown and saleswoman. I can't help but think of her every day.

Belvedere Street and DMM look-alike!

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/San-Francisco-best-trick-or-treating-neighborhoods-12292403.php

Three nights and three days

I had the pleasure of being gramma with my twins. My plans for each day worked out great. Their little legs walked, ran and swam non-stop. No naps and 7 p.m. bedtime. They sat in high chairs on the kitchen chairs up against the table this time.

Day 1: Walk to pond with bread, tortillas and snacks for the ducks, geese and us. Play at pool park. Come home to get ready to swim and walk back to pool. I swam laps then they had their turn in the baby pool. Push cars, basketball and plastic eggs in the backyard. Weather was stunning. Breakfast, lunch and dinner together. Read Halloween books in the morning after My Turn on Earth. M calls the heavy musical balls "doorbells."

Day 2: Brand new Civic Center playground and two story times in the library. Their mama, T and M met us there for the second one, we all played together and then walked to Todos for Mexican and met them there. Then walked home stopping at Baldwin Park for more fun on the SS Concord and got ready to swim again. Breakfast, lunch and dinner together. Read books in the morning and finished My Turn on Earth.

Day 3: Several hours in the library reading books together and playing at the new playground. Home at 2 p.m. for lunch and got ready to swim. We were there two hours. Their mama came by as we were walking back home and packed them up to leave by 6:30 so we had breakfast and lunch together. Weather has been stunning and I told them to look for the full moon. Read The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night in the morning while J slept in to 9:30 a.m.!

J loves to walk around with a saber light in his diaper carrying the black stuffed dog and a toy. M will get on the indoor car and scoot himself around. The cat made tracks to the garage and wasn't seen for the duration. I especially loved it when both would hold my hands as we walked. J almost always did. M, not so much. We smelled the flowers and walked up to cats before they ran, petted dogs.

 Holding ZP, JD on bike, MM on right at story time.

 MM on left, JD on right, MB in middle.

 Holding ZP, JD on left, MM on right.

Goodbye for now my darlings.

Joe Nic laid to rest on Patriot Day, 9/11

Traffic was terrific both directions morning and mid-afternoon and without proper directions I had trouble finding the church. I arrived in time for the closing song and hurried to ask family members for a ride to Skylawn. I went with a nephew David and his son Andrew. It was unseasonably hot and humid overlooking the Pacific. I touched my fingers to my lips and then to his casket. I was dropped at the church so I could drive to the Nicoletti home nearby which Joe Nic designed himself and has lived since the 50s with Jo until her death after 65 years of marriage. Socializing and reminiscing was in a circle of chairs in the patio, moving a few times to avoid the hot sun. I enjoyed the pictures of the family, happy to meet the daughters and granddaughters. I was told more than once how glad they were I was there. There I was in the Nicoletti home, not having seen him in almost 40 years. I was even given a plate of food to take home. Leaving at 3:20 did not help one bit. The 114 miles I drove took me four hours. A sign on the freeway said 97*. I had a feeling it would be difficult but I wouldn't have missed the experience. What a good, kind man, my former boss at URS Blume.

Joe Nic obituary. I cried on the train when I saw it and rarely read the Chron regularly.

JOSEPH NICOLETTI

1921 - 2017 Obituary Condolences Flowers

Joseph Peter Nicoletti

Joseph Peter Nicoletti passed away peacefully in his home in Belmont, California, on September 3, 2017, at the age of 96. He was born in 1921 in Italy, and in 1927 moved to Daly City, California, with his family. Joseph studied civil engineering (structural) at U.C. Berkeley, graduating in 1943 He received his commission in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served on the USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) from 1944-1946. After active duty, Joseph remained in the Navy reserve.
Starting in 1947 he worked as a structural engineer and became C.E.O. for John A. Blume and Associates until his retirement in 1987. He contributed to the design of hundreds of buildings and infrastructure around the world. He served as chairman on the California Department of Transportation Seismic Advisory Board, the Toll Bridge Seismic Safety Peer Review Panel, and the Engineering Review Panel of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission for the design and construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span. His recognitions include the H.J. Brunnier Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Structural Engineering. Joseph was involved with many organizations relating to structural and seismic engineering, and he made an immense impact on the field over the course of more than 60 years.

Joseph was married for 65 years to Josephine, until her death in 2011. He is predeceased by his firstborn, Peter. Joseph will be deeply missed by his surviving children, Stephanie, David, and Mary Jo, and his granddaughters, Kerry Jo, Robin, Linden, and Brigitte; and his great grandsons, Kai and Teigue
Friends are invited to attend a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 8, 2017, at Crippen & Flynn Carlmont Chapel, in Belmont. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday September 11, 2017 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, in Belmont. Interment will follow at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo.

Published in San Francisco Chronicle from Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, 2017

I was there when San Francisco broke its heat record

The temperature was broken Friday, September 1, 2017, and I was out on the 14 Mission as temps soared to 106*. It's the hottest day in the city on record. I've been swimming a lot and soaking my head too. We've had more heat waves this summer than any I can remember. Concord was 110* last Saturday. I made sure to be in air-conditioned buildings like the temple and auditorium all day!

A week with my children and grandchildren

The arrival and blessing of my latest grandbaby brought the family together at my oldest son's home in Utah. It's the first time I've been with all my family since he was born though I did come for Mother's Day. But this time my daughter and her family came making it complete. Each day was a new adventure enjoying the grandchildren bouncing and sliding in the yard, playing bat and ball, taking turns driving and riding in the tiny car in the court, horses and stables, a visit at Liz's home and backyard fun of duck, duck, goose, an unexpected evening with R and E to see DWTS Live Tour at Kingsbury Hall at U of U, pizza at The Pie on the stone ledge under the full moon, driving by our old apartments, a beautiful baby blessing at church and delicious buffet with family and friends over, swimming laps 30 minutes and another hour playing in the pool and more duck, duck, goose, and hot tub together, two fast-pitch softball games A and P are in (the second one canceled due to wind, rain and lightning after 30 minutes), Mi Ranchito after the canceled game, reading books to my grandchildren, holding and feeding Z, Mt. Timpanogos temple Tuesday with my long-time friend Carolyn, morning diaper changes for the twins, Costco samples, D.I. shopping, visits together. I'm very grateful.

Note the left arm on M. It's often perched on his hip as he makes a point. It's very endearing.

Driver J just turned three last month!

D and MD and E