My Nana died today.

But really, she died a long time ago. My grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease, that cruel thief that steals memories, relationships and, eventually, an entire life. I last saw my Nana in 1997, just before I moved to California. I’m not sure when she last saw me, because by that time, she didn’t know who I was. My husband, whose sharp-as-a-tack grandmother died unexpectedly a few years ago, has given me hugs and much sympathy today, but my grief is set at mere sadness, because I had already lost my grandmother.

Modesto's 4th of July celebrations certainly drew out lots of people yesterday, from the 5,000+ who went to the parade in the morning to the big crowd in Enslen Park for the Modesto Jaycees' laser show.

The mood was great with people curious about what they'd see. Illegal fireworks soared over the park a few times. And that turnout was stellar.

Way to go Jaycees, for bringing people together from the morning to the night.

Now, about those lasers ... What'd you think?

I saw quite a few people pack up their blankets and leave by the third song with the lasers shooting patriotic images at the projector screen. I also heard a few oohs and ahhs.

Your impressions?

- AA

I'm leaving Modesto and Stanislaus County to take note of some serious bad form in Los Banos.

Eugene Forte, a local government gadfly, reportedly used the "N-word" when speaking to Los Banos Mayor Tommy Jones at a City Council meeting last month. Here's an editorial from the Los Banos Enterprise on the exchange.

The paper has published some letters to the editor on both sides of the meeting. I'm not in Los Banos and I wasn't at the meeting. As an outsider, it's hard to imagine the other side. The letters appear to paint Forte as a loose cannon.

But, like in Riverbank, Los Banos appears to be experiencing a tumultuous period in local politics. There's an effort under way to recall Jones and two other council members.

I'm fighting the urge to spot a trend.

- AA

It's funny because it's true.

I miss Olive Snook. Sniff.

As a geek mom, little warms my heart as much as seeing my children, ages 9 and 11, fulfill their destinies as book nerds. A precocious reader myself, I expected to have early readers, but, as always, they were on their own time. They didn’t really like the reading-level offerings at school, with simplistic plots and cartoonish artwork, but I knew that pushing it would backfire. Working closely with their teachers, while continuing to read all the time at home, we bridged the gap with nonfiction for the fact-loving boy and rhyming, funny books for the nitpicky girl. For me, it was about trusting my instincts as a mom and trusting that children who grow up loving books will make that leap to loving to read books. And when they were ready, they did.

The state is seeking a new member for its Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board, according to a news release I got today. Yes, it struck me as funny at first glance (as do many things on the ag beat) but I can see how important this is. Buyers deserve to get what they pay for, whether it's a car or a bag of peaches or the fertilizer that the farmer used to grow the fruit.

The board "works to ensure that consumers receive fertilizing materials that are safe and effective and meet the quality guaranteed by the manufacturer," the release said.

Applicants must be licensed to handle fertilizer materials or represent licensed companies. There's no pay, but the members have the satisfaction of knowing that they are keeping the industry honest.

Spread the word.