Merry Christmas 2017 into Happy New Year 2018

Hiya Pat (as Jimmy always says to me when we bump into each other) -

How are you?   Were your ears ringing recently cause we were talking about you and laughing as usual.   Sure miss you but as I always say, there's always something to smile about when we think of you.

It was a balmy Christmas Day in Ojai while the east coast is literally freezing over.   Good year to be here in California.   Just like you always used to say - when the people getting snowed in watch the Rose Bowl and see us all in shorts, they'll be packing their bags and moving here.  

Only thing here is we've had some really terrible fires.   One that is still not out is up near Ojai.  Mom evacuated for a few days - Ojai was mostly saved but it was right up against many people's yards and some were not as lucky as Mom's neighborhood.    There's still smoke and ash in the air but it's getting better and hopefully fire will be out soon.

So it's been a great year I'd say overall.   Lots of things have happened, positive things.

I've been working all year long, that's been good.   Also been trying to get my documentary edited, not a speedy process and depending on others is challenging but it'll get done.   I have some more filming to do but that will happen once I get this cut together.    I've been on three different shows - Agents of SHIELD, A.P. Bio and Angie Tribeca - all different and totally different people and experiences.    I realized I didn't travel anywhere this year except 3 days to Toledo, Ohio for A.P. Bio!   I used to be the traveler and really need to get back into that again.  

Otherwise, there's been celebrations, summer parties, friends all around and the hope of great things coming in the new year.

Mom is great, always positive, aches and pains, but she gets along as best as she can.   We've had various holidays at her house with family and friends.   We laugh a lot!

Ramsey, your little buddy, was a big loss this year.   He was such a wonderful pal to you and then mom and held out to a ripe old age.     Not long after he was gone, Harry also lost his battle with all of his illnesses.    Both crossed over the rainbow bridge and mom is sure they are happy and will be waiting.  Perhaps they are hanging out with you, taking walks everyday.

Patrick got married!   And with the marriage to Nina, also has an 8 year old son and will very soon be meeting their new baby.   Everyone is excited and happy to have new members of the family.  Laurie is a grandma!   Also, she's working and always checking in and taking care of anything Mom needs.

Brittany, Bill and Tyler are happily living in Seattle, building onto the house, taking vacations  but working hard for them.    I haven't been up there yet but perhaps that'll happen with my plan to travel this new year.

Tanya, Tom and Connor are holding down the east coast.   All working, all doing well.   Tanya and Britt visited us in June, was fun as always to all be together.

As I write I realize there was always something going on throughout the year!

I miss you.   It's been almost 9 years since I saw you on Skype as we chatted about like and that new year of 2009.   Wish I had you around to talk to about it all.

Lots of love to you,

Xochi

Happy Father's Day - June 18, 2017

Happy Father's Day Pat!

It's not quite summer but it sure is hot here.   I'll bet you'd be sitting out in the sun by the pool for a bit reading.   I did for a few minutes until it was too much!    This picture is one of my favorites of your time in Ajijic.    Those were the days, walking around the town, shopping around, lunches, laughs.  

Mom is up in Ojai trying not to melt too.   :)   Yesterday was her 83rd Birthday!  

Miss you more on this day.    I see so many pictures of others who have lost their dads and so many new dads.  I guess that's life and one thing we all share in common.     Doesn't make it any easier when you want to pick up the phone and call.    I've got a few things I need you to walk on for me.   Decisions!

Anyway, life is moving along.    You are talked about all the time.    I hope Ramsey has found you and you two are taking a nice long walk today, solving the worlds problems.   Send the word down.

Love you lots,  

Xochi

Happy Birthday Pat. May 20, 2017

Happy Birthday Pat!   

I’ve been thinking about you a lot.   As usual!  When I need to figure something out I say “What would Pat do?”   You’d walk on it.   Well, I sometimes spin instead.   J   

But really, life is good.    Finished up another season of “Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD” and now I’m back to working on “Red Dog & Bates”.    I sure am learning a lot making this documentary…mostly that’s it’s much more challenging!

 My vines at my house are going crazy…I could really use “Duutz Vineguider” to stop by.   

So, your Little Buddy, Ramsey, is ready to head up to you.   He’s actually  16 years old now.   I’m not sure but I feel like he was such a good buddy, he held on to keep watch on all of us, especially Mom, for as long as he could.   Mom hopes he’ll cross over the rainbow bridge on his own.    We will miss him.  Let us know when you see him, he’ll sure be happy to be teamed up with you again.    

Anyway, another year, so many laughs we have when we tell silly stories about you.     Miss you a lot.   I will raise my glass to you and be happy that you were in my life for so long.

Lots of love,

Xochi


Ramsey was a great help when we painted Mom's house a few years ago.  :)

January 4, 2017 - Miss you Pat.

Dear Pat,

Another year.   Time flies.   Remember how Obama had just been elected President?   His 8 years are over, you would have enjoyed he and his family.  

It's been a good year, everyone is basically healthy and happy - with some aches and pains and this and that throughout the family.    But all good.  

Remember this wonderful party that they had for you in Eaton/Snowville?   Going away party when you and Mom left for Mexico?   It was a fun, fun night.   You still have so many friends there in Eaton.   Colleen keeps your bench looking festive there.  

I wish you and mom were still in Ajijic...I've been working on a documentary and have been traveling through Mexico with some amazing people - you'd love them.    Who knew after all these years I'd end up learning so much about the Mexican people.  We've gotten close to Ajijic but haven't had the chance to visit there again...but if you guys were there, I'd definitely go off the trail.  :)   I think you'd like what I've been doing, creating this movie, one day I hope it to be a great adventure to watch.   But making it has been an adventure that has been the best times I could ask for.   Mom has had a map of our travels as she follows along from Ojai.   Good thing for Facebook, I can take everyone on my travels with pictures and notes.  

Anyway, life is good.   It really is.   Your little buddy Ramsey is a bit slower but as lovable as ever.   Mom has a few other four legged buddies too.  

We do miss you, never stop thinking of you, there's always something that reminds us of you.  

Will be toasting you today with so much love.  

Xochi

Happy Birthday Pat! May 20th!

Ajijic

Maine?

Snowville, New Hamsphire

Carlsbad, California

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!   

Wonder what you'd be doing for your birthday this year...

I was thinking of how you used to try to get us to remember where we were on past holidays as we  celebrated that year - which made me pick these pictures out...they weren't on your birthday but just different stages of our lives together.     No matter where we were in the world, we always managed to find each other, family adventures.

So I have a funny story for you...as always, things you did carry on.   I had jury duty a couple weeks ago...they give us all a badge to wear with a number...when we get to the courtroom hallway the court clerk announces that she will be calling us by number, not name, easier for them to keep track of us.   I was standing with a few ladies and introduced myself as 4 0 0 3...one of the others was 53 50...I told them the story of you always renaming us and we laughed.   Later after lunch, three of us ended up in the jury box - so I now became 13 and the others were 5 (I had said 7 but 5 reminded me she was 5 not 7, the old guy was 7 :) ) and 14...and through the next day, I called them by their numbers. So silly, yet fun to remember and include the others.

Life is good. I'm on hiatus so continuing the adventure of my documentary making - I'll be making a trip to Mexico next month - perhaps I'll be able to pass through Ajijic and see where we last saw you enjoying life.

Everyone else is doing well too...aches and pains come and go but the laughs continue and always new adventures big and small.   

I wish you were here but there is always something to remind me of you. I know I've said that before but it's true.   Just when I doubt, someone or something shows up to bring you up.  Love it.

Love you lots...Happy, Happy Birthday Pat.  xxoo

Xochi

Happy New Year...2016 - 7 Years.

The Family

Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

Top Hat Anytime Works

Ramsey (Little Buddy) & Pat

Dear Pat,

Well, it’ll have been 7 years this January 5^th, 2016.    Amazing how time goes by.    And each and every day there is always a reason to think of you.   

This Christmas was in Ojai at Mom’s house…11 humans and 8 dogs.   I think you would have loved it.    Heard a great story from Norman Lang that I hadn’t remembered.  

He remembers a time that you were on a scout and there was a blank wall on one of the sets.   You called the art director over and told him you needed him to put a nail up on the wall, pointing to a specific spot.    The next time you both were on the set, he showed you the nail right where you wanted and asked what it was for thinking it was some lighting thing or something to do with the show but then… you stopped, unzipped your jacket and hung it up on the nail.    Small silly things like that you thought of all the time.   

We went on to tell some more stories about you as we often do.    There are so many worth repeating.    And we laugh.   And laugh.   And we miss you but you’re always there.

The year continued for me working on the documentary, Red Dog & Bates, it’s a whole new world and challenging, lots to do and lot of people to find!    I started working on a show called Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD this summer…it’s been a great show to be on and you’d like the cast and crew.      That’s been what the year has been about with a few adventures along the way.

Mom is happy in Ojai with Ramsey, Belle, Harry, Brie, Johnny and now Natalie.   Laurie is there too and comes to town when she has a job to do.   

Brittany and Bill got married at Snowvillage Inn in September!    We all had the best time with the whole family together on Foss Mountain for the first time in such a long time with so many long time friends too.   Brittany had everything perfectly planned out and they created a most magical day and weekend for all of us.   Your little granddaughter was the most beautiful bride. 

Mom got to see so many of her friends, even got announced that she was coming in Nancy’s column so folks knew…it was a non stop stream of visitors up to the house and the inn.   It was wonderful.

Friends and family walked up to the top of Foss Mountain, it was a beautiful clear day that day.

I just can’t say enough of how much we all loved being up there and together just like the old days.    It was home and we felt you there.  

Brittany and Bill returned to Seattle, Tyler has joined them up there loving the hunting and fishing and he’s doing great.

Connor is a businessman now, starting a new job in January, doing really well.   Tanya and Tom are coming up with a plan to move West…hopefully sooner than later!

Patrick just got a Grip staff job at Fox plus he has so many other cool things he’s been doing, building furniture, photography. 

So the year was a good year…2015 had happy days, adventures and only a little bit of sadness.    We’re all okay.  

Miss you Pat.   I could use your insight on a couple things.   If only you were here to walk on a couple things for me. 

Love,

Xochi

Happy Father's Day 2015

Dear Pat,

Happy Father's Day!  

I hadn't watched this cotton dancing video lately and it made me laugh to see you laughing and dancing.   We sure had our laughs, didn't we?  

Thinking about you a lot.    I've been working on a documentary called "Red Dog & Bates".   A whole new world making one of these.   I'd be happy for some of our talks right about now.  

So many things to tell you - so many people to ask you about...what you'd think...

Mom is good...she's working on getting rid of this and that pain wise but doesn't stop her from much!

Brittany's wedding is coming up in September!   Can you believe it?    Snowvillage Inn, here we come.

Everyone is pretty good for the most part.  

Miss you,  love you lots...

Xochi

Happy Birthday Pat! May 20, 2015 Already.

Happy Birthday Pat!   

Thinking of you today.   Course think about you in one way or the other every day.  

I gotta say, no matter what, I continue to get new stories about you, about how you made your mark on someone and they’ve never forgotten.  

Just last week at the DGA Annual Meeting I met a woman who was an AD on Hard to Kill.   She says that the only way that movie with that actor was bearable for everyone was your positive energy being spread all over the set every day, stronger than the bad energy that was there too.    THAT was definitely a new story from long ago but she told it like it was yesterday.    You also came up in conversation by a producer who doesn't even know you but he knows me and said he knew that you were proud of me as he hoped his dad was of him.    I’m always amazed when people just say things like that out of nowhere, all I had done was say hello!

Also, not long ago Scott Keys reminded me again how much he respected you and of course Jimmy Keys liked to tell me how every day you would say “Hiya Jimmy!” and he in turn would say to me “Hiya Xochi” to carry on the tradition.  I'm sure glad we were in this show biz together.

We all agree that there’s always another story to tell, memory to laugh about and silly or serious thing about you to remember.  

As for me, I’m trying some new projects these days, in my free time – writing, making a documentary and more – wish you were here to walk on some questions I have for you, some challenges I’ve had.  Sure would be helpful. I wonder why wouldn't folks want to see all of us do what we love and succeed.  I try to think “What would Pat say?”   

Mom is furiously writing and busy with all the little buddies and her own bunch of projects.   Everyone else is doing great.   

Oh, and I hope Marge is up there now baking you some cookies and maybe playing some cards with you.  She made it to 99 ½!

Miss you a lot.     Love,   Xochi