It’s almost that time of year again. Fall is approaching. The leaves have not begun to change color nor have they started piling up on the sidewalks, but the weather is cooling down. It actually felt chilly tonight—a welcome change, I would say.

Kids are back in school. College has started as well. We approach the tail end of a calendar year, but it is the beginning of a new year for the students. Yet my sense of time is no longer tied to a school calendar. I measure time now by how long I’ve been at Apple. I measure time by how long Michael and I have been married. I measure time by how much longer I have before it is inevitable that I must have children. I seem to be running out of time. The biological clock keeps ticking away although my emotional and mental clock are not in sync with it. Where did the time go?

Create your own M&M character athttp://www.becomeanmm.com.

Here’s mine, based on a photo of mine.

These are all photos of the Hyacinth “model”, but if gives you a good idea of what our home will look like.

Here is the patio area. Our particular unit actually has a larger patio area than the model which will be great to put a large bar-b-que grill and some patio furniture.

The front entrance. Each unit is painted differently on the outside, and the external structure all looks a bit different, so they are very clearly distinguishable between the end of one unit and the beginning of the next. There are only four attached units, and ours is an end unit.

Here you see the two car garage. It will be awesome to finally have covered parking for both of our cars and to provide a little more thermal control from the outside temperature.

The other two models have a third car garage (pictured here). Ours is a storage unit instead which has a door and is not as high. You have to duck somewhat, but it’s an extra 304 sq ft that is NOT included in the 1740 sq ft of the living space of the house.

Here is the living room with a vaulted ceiling and lots of windows to bring in natural light. I’m so excited about the fireplace! I’ver always wanted one. I have fond memories of my family and I sitting by the fireplace during the winter…having family conversations.

The downtairs half bath.

The kitchen (with center island) and family room.

Here is the rest of the kitchen with stainless steel appliances and the center island used as a breakfast nook.

The rest of the family room and wet bar. The dining room is around the corner to the left, but unfortunately, I didn’t snap a photo of it.

Here is the master bedroom.

The master bedroom…showing the walk-in closet.

The master bedroom showing the second closet and the entrance to the master bath.

The master bathroom has a jacuzzi spa and a separate standing shower. We’re planning on having 12×12 tiles that go all the way up to the ceiling for the jacuzzi spa, not just part way like pictured here.

The master bath shower and toilet which you can’t see.

The laundry area which is on the same floor as all of the bedrooms. We will be purchasing our own washer and dryer which will be LG front-loading machines with pedestals.

The second bedroom will be my office.

And the third bedroom will be Michael’s office.

Lastly, this is the second full bath on the upstairs level. We will be putting in nicer 6×6 tile on the walls of the shower and the same tile but 12×12 on the bathroom floor.

Michael and I just put down a deposit on a brand new town home in Sunnyvale in a development called the Parkside Villas. This is our first home, so obviously, we’re very excited!

I’m sure you’re curious as to what it looks like, so I’ll include an illustration and a link to the floor plan.

I’ll try to post up photos we took of the model home soon.

Take this fun quiz to find out which superhero you are.

Here are my results.

Here are Michael’s results.

“Carol Lynn Chapman
a.k.a. CatMom
Beloved Mother, Grandmother, and protector of defenseless animals, Carol Chapman passed away Monday, 12/18/06 as she struggled to save the animals she loved from a devastating fire at her home.
Carol was born 4/22/40 in Reno, NV and was a dear friend to many. She will be deeply missed.
Carol genuinely enjoyed people and was a retired AIDS Advocate for the Social Services Department of the County of Santa Clara.
Due to her compassion and respect for animals, she protected and saved the lives of thousands of the Bay Area’s homeless animals for over 20 years. Carol rescued, fostered, and socialized homeless cats. She coordinated adoptions for several rescue groups as well as helped organize the City of San Jose’s Spay/Neuter Voucher Program. She held a position on the Santa Clara County’s Animal Advisory Commission for several years, speaking out and advocating for what she believed.
Last year she became ill and took on the fight of ovarian cancer. Her many friends and family supported her through a rough year, and before her death, the cancer went into remission. As she had for many years, she continued volunteering with the Humane Society Silicon Valley and other rescue groups, fostering special needs kittens until they were old enough for adoption.
It is a special privilege and gift to have had Carol as a mother, grandmother, friend, and advocate for animals. She will be remembered for her cheerful, determined, feisty, vibrant, resilient, and truly beautiful spirit.
She is survived by her two sons, Russell Goodrich and Michael Ulloa (Terri), and grandchildren Allison, Rebecca, Jessica, Jonathan, and Joshua.
A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at the Foothill Club at 2 p.m. on Thursday, 12/28/06 at 20399 Park Place, Saratoga, CA.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Carol Fund for Animals (info on www.kfox.com).”

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Saw products I helped design annouced and featured at MacWorld.
Took a swim class to officially learn how to swim.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t really have official New Year’s resolutions. I am constantly setting goals and refining them or settings new ones as I accomplish them. My on-going goals are to continue to maintain a happy marriage, exercise, lose weight, and learn new things.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Zachary (Zack for short. With a “k”. Go figure.) was born in October. He is the son of my manager Tim and his wife Alison.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Carol Chapman died this week…a wonderful lady who cared about all the animals of the world and did all she could to rescue them, nurse them back to health, and find them good homes.

5. What countries did you visit?
No travels out of country this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A house with 3 bedrooms, more space, no shared walls to our neighbors, and a garage.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I won’t remember the exact day, but December 18, 2006 was when Carol Chapman tragically died.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not losing weight.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
None so far. *knock on wood*

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new Intel-based MacPro desktop with dual 20″ monitors.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Carol Chapman for her everyday kindness, constantly cheerful nature, her rescue efforts, passion for life, and her love of animals.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I don’t know.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying off my school loans and into Savings.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting an office at work.
The possibility of owning a house by this time next year.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

• happier or sadder?: sadder
• thinner or fatter?: same
• richer or poorer?: richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Taking more dance classes, cooking and eating at home more, exercising, spending more time with friends and family, doing something more to help animals get adopted to good homes.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating, wasting time or not using my time efficiently.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Going to Tucson to visit Michael’s family like we do every Christmas.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fell in love with my husband back in 1999. Every day he shows me why I love him so much.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey’s Anatomy

23. Do you dislike anyone now that you liked this time last year?
Not that I can think of.

24. What was the best book you read?
Freakonomics

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
“How to Save a Life” by the Fray

26. What did you want and get?
A new desktop and laptop. An office at work.

27. What did you want and not get?
For there to be no homeless animals in the world.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I know it came out at the end of 2005, but I didn’t watch it until summer 2006.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31. Blah. I think we went to Alexander’s Steak House to be different this year instead of going to our usual La Fondue.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year…owning a house.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Mainly wearing what feels comfortable.

32. What kept you sane?
My belief that people are inherently good and that things happen for a reason. And having Michael and my furry babies—Fitz and Mia—in my life.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Bill and Melinda Gates for their foundation and what they’re trying to do to help find cures for diseases.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Any issue that infringes on the equality of rights for all people and animals.

35. Who did you miss?
I miss Carol because her passing was so recent.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Carol Chapman.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
That you should appreciate everyone you have in your life and let them know how much you love them and appreciate them often because you don’t know when you will never see them again.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
And these are the moments I thank God that I’m alive
and these are the moments I’ll remember all my life
I’ve got all I’ve waited for yeah
And I could not ask for more

Five things that 2006 taught me:

• That every person you meet can have a BIG impact in your life
• That saving money just a bit at a time can really add up
• That time really flies
• That being recognized for your efforts or contributions requires being more assertive and stating your ideas and opinions and less about silently working hard when no one’s looking
• That keeping in touch with people takes effort, but it’s worth it

Five personally significant events of 2006:

• Carol Chapman’s passing
• My little sister Karen graduated from UC Berkeley
• My cousin Heather and her husband Eugene got married
• Attending Stanford’s Waltz Week with Michael
• Our summer camping trips with friends and family

Five things I want to do in 2007:

• Continue helping others who cannot help themselves, particularly animals and the elderly.
• Buy a house
• Go on our 10-day Alaskan cruise with our mutual friends
• Read through all of the design books I’ve bought over the years
• Learn how to Lindy Hop as well as I can waltz

Five things I don’t want to do in 2007:

• Regret anything I do or say
• Lose a loved one or grow apart from someone I care about
• Hurt others or make someone unhappy
• Be unproductive or procrastinate
• Lose my job

Five people who I’d like to know better in 2007:

• Myself
• Michael (my husband)
• My familly
• My friends
• My co-workers

Taken from KFOX.com

“On December 18th, 2006 our good friend Carol Chapman was killed in a house fire. Carol was animal activist, frequent guest on the KFOX Pet-O-Rama, and good friend to many of the KFOX staff members. Carol saved hundreds of special needs cats and dogs that were due to be euthanized. She nursed them to health, fostered them, and found them good loving homes.

In special memory of Carol, KFOX along with Lisa Lotti from Unconditional Love Rescue have set up the Carol Fund. Rescue organizations will be able to draw from this fund to to help special needs cats, kittens, puppies, and dogs w/ a max of $1,000 per year for each organization. Please help these animals by donating to Carol Fund.”

Please make out checks to “CAROL FUND” and send to:

98.5 KFOX
attn. Laurie Roberts/the Carol Fund
1420 Koll Circle, Suite A
San Jose, CA 95112

From the San Jose Mercury

Herhold: Animal lover dies trying to save pets

By Scott Herhold
Mercury News

“Dec. 19: House fire kills woman who rescued animals
Carol Chapman loved cats. There’s no other way to put it. In her home near Piedmont High school on San Jose’s northeast side, she sometimes had as many as 30 or 40 of them, not to mention Buddy, her German shepherd mix, or her two other beloved mutts, Lacy and little Zoey.

Before she became sick with cervical cancer, she served as a foster mother for her brood, rescuing hundreds of cats that would otherwise be killed and placing them — after rigorous screening — with new owners.

“I always said it was harder to adopt a cat from her than a child from a child welfare agency,'’ said her ex-husband, Sam Chapman.

All that loving care came to an abrupt and tragic end shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday, when flames engulfed her single-story home on Proud Drive, fatally burning Chapman and killing 12 of her cats. (Two dogs survived, while the smallest, Zoey, died.)

Allergic scribe

I’ll confess my prejudice right at the start. I’m not fond of cats. I’m terribly allergic to them, so sensitive that my nose can tell if a cat has been in a carpeted house in the last year.

But you can’t help but mourn the passing — and admire the passion — of someone like Carol Chapman, who often stood outside a local Petco to interest people in taking on an unloved animal. Every other week on the Greg Kihn show on KFOX radio, she gave a short blurb offering a cat or dog to a good home.

A tall, white-haired woman who worked for the county’s social services before retiring, Chapman, 66, walked her dogs on Proud Drive and worked with a clutch of animal rescue groups, most recently with Furry Friends Rescue.

“She was very bubbly, very affable,'’ said KFOX producer Chris Jackson. “If I had a problem in my life, I’d talk to her. She’d put her arm around me and say, `You’ll get through this.’ ‘’

Not that Carol Chapman compromised on principles, particularly when it came to potential cat adopters. Were your windows unscreened? Sorry, that didn’t cut it. Were you planning to declaw your cats? Cruel treatment. If you had a pet before, you could count on Carol calling your vet for a vote of confidence.

“She was as friendly as a big old shepherd dog,'’ said her ex-husband, Sam. “But she was hard-headed about things. She wanted things done her way.'’

Up late

On the night of the fire, Chapman was up late, cleaning out the spacious cages where she kept five or six of her cats. (The others had the run of the house.) Her neighbor, Max Mora, heard her banging a garbage pail about 11:45 or midnight.

Then, at 3:52 a.m. Tuesday, a couple passing by on nearby Pinnacle Drive saw flames and called the fire department. When firefighters arrived, they found Chapman unconscious in the hallway. Paramedics revived her and took her to Regional Medical Center in San Jose. With burns over half her body, she died that night.

Firefighters have not released a cause for the blaze, though her ex-husband thinks it was an electrical fire. Sam Chapman says his ex-wife apparently went outside to get the garden hose, hoping to extinguish the fire herself. He says that when she came back in the house, she fell, breaking her nose and her neck.

Neighbor Mora thinks she was trying to save her cats when she was overcome. That’s the thought that sticks with her friends. They’ve set up the “Carol Fund'’ to help animal rescue groups. You can make donations by sending checks care of Laurie Roberts at KFOX, 1420-A Koll Circle, San Jose, Calif. 95112.”

About 4 a.m. yesterday morning, a passerby drove by and saw Carol Chapman’s house in East San Jose on fire at which point they called 911. When the San Jose Fire Department arrived, they found Carol unconscious near her back door. She had life-threatening burns and was admitted to the Regional Medical Center. It took the firefighters 90 minutes to put out the fire, and the cause of the fire is still unknown. It is assumed that all twelve of her cats died in the fire. Two of her dogs were outdoor dogs. They survived and were rescued. One dog who slept with her, Zoey, is still missing.

Cathy and I arrived at the hospital yesterday evening around 5:45pm, but we were too late. Carol had passed away only 20 minutes before our arrival.

Her son Russell was at the hospital when she passed. It is still a guess as to what may have happened inside the house or how Carol landed unconscious near her back door. Russell thinks that Carol may have tried to put out the fire with a hose in order to rescue her beloved babies. She may have tripped and fell, rendering her unconscious. When the rescuers arrived at her house, they had to perform CPR on her. She may have been unconscious and not breathing for approximately 20 minutes.

Carol Chapman was renowned for her animal rescue efforts. She was a woman with a fantastically sunny disposition, even though she was battling ovarian cancer. Carol was always a bright light in this world. She wore a wide smile wherever she went, and her presence just made you feel warm and happy. Even though I only ever volunteered with Carol about a dozen times, her sparkling personality, passion for life and love of her animals makes such a permanent impression on those who meet her.

This is the third person in two weeks of who I’ve known that has passed away, and yet Carol’s passing seems to have had the most affect on me. You don’t have to know Carol for long for her to have touched your life in such a significant way. I think that was her gift to her animals and those who were fortunate enough to have met her.

I am so sad to see her go and in such a tragic way. She will be terribly missed by all of her family, friends, fellow volunteers, and by all of the animals she has rescued during her time alive.

We love you Carol, and we hope you and your babies are “together” and in a better place.

UPDATE: The San Jose Mercury will be doing an update story on Carol. I will post it when I see it. Fellow volunteers are planning a candlelight vigil for Carol at her home tonight.