A little over six months now.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A few shots from my Father's Day weekend.
We had the opportunity to visit Pismo Beach, my Mom, sisters, niece, son, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and brother-in-law (hope I didn't leave anyone out) this past Father's Day weekend. This time, we stayed two nights rather than the one night whirlwind trip. Although time was short (as always), Loretta and I managed to fit everything, and everyone, into the two days on the coast.
The annual Pismo Car Show was going on, and though we had hoped to stroll the streets of Pismo gawking at all the cool cars, that didn't happen. It was just too darned busy and crowded to make the attempt.
A little barbeque Saturday at my sister's and a self-cooked Father's Day breakfast at my Mom's with Jimmy, Jen, Roth, and the baby highlighted the weekend.
Brother-in-law, Mark, and niece, Kassie (home from UC Santa Cruz). Sister Kris and Kassie.
I handled most of the cooking honors at the barbeque: Foil roasted salmon, grilled zucchini and portabellos, Italian sausage, and a "96-ouncer" sliced up for everyone to enjoy a slice or two of beef. Kassie, by the way, is a vegetarian. A few beers, a couple of cocktails, a game or two of croquet, and excellent chow...and it was over almost before it began. But, the short length of time spent was coveted and we all had fun. Our Sunday morning breakfast was similar in time. A few hours with Jimmy, Jen, Roth, Rowan, Mom...and, of course, Loretta. Jen, Roth, and Rowan flew back to Seattle on Monday morning. Jen's perspective chronicled on her blog.
The 500+ mile drive there and back is always near excruciatingly painful, ie, Highway 5...ecch!!! But, is always worth the effort. Hopefully, we can make the jaunt again sometime this summer or fall when I have some vacation time.
Check out 80 year Betty and granddaughter Kassie playing croquet.
You can't beat times like this!
The annual Pismo Car Show was going on, and though we had hoped to stroll the streets of Pismo gawking at all the cool cars, that didn't happen. It was just too darned busy and crowded to make the attempt.
A little barbeque Saturday at my sister's and a self-cooked Father's Day breakfast at my Mom's with Jimmy, Jen, Roth, and the baby highlighted the weekend.
Brother-in-law, Mark, and niece, Kassie (home from UC Santa Cruz). Sister Kris and Kassie.
I handled most of the cooking honors at the barbeque: Foil roasted salmon, grilled zucchini and portabellos, Italian sausage, and a "96-ouncer" sliced up for everyone to enjoy a slice or two of beef. Kassie, by the way, is a vegetarian. A few beers, a couple of cocktails, a game or two of croquet, and excellent chow...and it was over almost before it began. But, the short length of time spent was coveted and we all had fun. Our Sunday morning breakfast was similar in time. A few hours with Jimmy, Jen, Roth, Rowan, Mom...and, of course, Loretta. Jen, Roth, and Rowan flew back to Seattle on Monday morning. Jen's perspective chronicled on her blog.
The 500+ mile drive there and back is always near excruciatingly painful, ie, Highway 5...ecch!!! But, is always worth the effort. Hopefully, we can make the jaunt again sometime this summer or fall when I have some vacation time.
Check out 80 year Betty and granddaughter Kassie playing croquet.
You can't beat times like this!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Modesto: Where American Graffiti all began.
"Where we you in '62?" That was the catch phrase from George Lucas' 1973 film about a group of teenagers' last night of the summer after graduation. Modesto, California was Lucas' hometown and the setting for this enigmatic movie, a macro-chronicle of post pubescent passage.
We've lived in Modesto for close to eleven years now. And echoing my own bitching and complaining in past blogs, "We hate it here!" Sorry, Modesto lovers everywhere. Yes, it was our choice. No lectures, please.
Despite this aversion for our current location, Modesto does hold that one claim to fame for us fans of American Graffiti. No, it wasn't filmed here (Petaluma and San Rafael were chosen). It was based on George Lucas' actual teenage experiences in the town where he lived for quite a while including attending high school. Many of the street names and other geographical references remained in the script, ie, Paradise Road (where the climatic car race scene was suppose to have taken place).
A few years ago, the American Graffiti Car Show was resurrected. And, it is going on this weekend at Modesto Junior College (one of Lucas' alma maters before heading south to USC film school). Loretta and I managed to spend a few hours there yesterday. It has gotten quite huge. Hundreds of people from all over California and the U.S. converge here with their hot rods and classic cars of all shapes and sizes. There is also the usual contigent of nasty, tomane-potential, fair food peddlers and vendor booths selling almost everything except car-related products. We did buy a bag of fresh-popped pop corn and a couple soft serve ice cream cones. We passed on the polish sausages on a stick, chicken skewers and fried rice plates (the best chance for acquiring a three day case of the runs), and other dangerous, though great smelling barbequed animal flesh concoctions. We were there to gawk at and me to envy the cars! And there were lots to look at.
My favorites: the 60's and 70's muscle cars not customized much beyond their original showroom appearance. Chevelle Super Sports, Pontiac GTO's, and '69 Mustangs tickle my fancy the most. The older, completely-restored-to-original 50's Buicks and Chevys are also sights to behold. I did bring the camera and a new lens. I forgot to bring my wide angle lens, so all the shots are closeups from the telephoto.
As usual, I couldn't help snapping a few self portraits in the shiny chrome bumpers and paint jobs!
The weather was perfect. We ran into a few old friends. And, we had a great time. What else is there? Well, next weekend: The Pismo Car Show.
We've lived in Modesto for close to eleven years now. And echoing my own bitching and complaining in past blogs, "We hate it here!" Sorry, Modesto lovers everywhere. Yes, it was our choice. No lectures, please.
Despite this aversion for our current location, Modesto does hold that one claim to fame for us fans of American Graffiti. No, it wasn't filmed here (Petaluma and San Rafael were chosen). It was based on George Lucas' actual teenage experiences in the town where he lived for quite a while including attending high school. Many of the street names and other geographical references remained in the script, ie, Paradise Road (where the climatic car race scene was suppose to have taken place).
A few years ago, the American Graffiti Car Show was resurrected. And, it is going on this weekend at Modesto Junior College (one of Lucas' alma maters before heading south to USC film school). Loretta and I managed to spend a few hours there yesterday. It has gotten quite huge. Hundreds of people from all over California and the U.S. converge here with their hot rods and classic cars of all shapes and sizes. There is also the usual contigent of nasty, tomane-potential, fair food peddlers and vendor booths selling almost everything except car-related products. We did buy a bag of fresh-popped pop corn and a couple soft serve ice cream cones. We passed on the polish sausages on a stick, chicken skewers and fried rice plates (the best chance for acquiring a three day case of the runs), and other dangerous, though great smelling barbequed animal flesh concoctions. We were there to gawk at and me to envy the cars! And there were lots to look at.
My favorites: the 60's and 70's muscle cars not customized much beyond their original showroom appearance. Chevelle Super Sports, Pontiac GTO's, and '69 Mustangs tickle my fancy the most. The older, completely-restored-to-original 50's Buicks and Chevys are also sights to behold. I did bring the camera and a new lens. I forgot to bring my wide angle lens, so all the shots are closeups from the telephoto.
As usual, I couldn't help snapping a few self portraits in the shiny chrome bumpers and paint jobs!
The weather was perfect. We ran into a few old friends. And, we had a great time. What else is there? Well, next weekend: The Pismo Car Show.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Good news from the vet the other day: "His testicles have definitely dropped...!"
Good news from the vet the other day: "His testicles have definitely dropped. He's an early riser!"
Loretta gleefully reported that news to me upon returning from Boo Boo's first vet appointment (and checkup) the other day. Besides getting his next round of shots (the 6-in-1 thing), the dog doc confirmed that his package is complete. You see, we had been concerned that "it" hadn't happened yet since his "package" seemed devoid of, well...nuts! I guess they just haven't yet grown to their full size. Whew! No big deal, it was just some sort of male, testosterone-concerned thought. "Damn it...I want our new little boy dog to have balls!" A side note, somewhat related: he squats to pee. Thank goodness...a non-alpha male dog!
And with the injection he got the other day, Boo Boo will be protected from bordatella, parvo, etc, and we can feel more secure about taking him to public places, ie, the park. Oh, and he weighs about 8 1/2 pounds, perfect for his age (5 months) and close to the 10-11 pounds a male mini doxie should top out at.
On another note, the young canine squire will be accompanying us on our Father's Day weekend trip to Pismo. He loves riding in the car and is fairly well-behaved to this point. We are still in mid-training in efforts to leash train the little shit. He is requiring a chest harness as still thinks that he is the boss. Practice, practice, practice. One of the things we are looking forward to: a walk with him on our old beach. He must experience the taste of sand, seawater, and old seaweed as part of his development...not to mention chasing the seagulls on the wet sand.
Daughter Jen, son-in-law Roth, and their young squire (my grandson), Rowan, will be visiting Pismo from Seattle that weekend as well, so, needless to say, we are very excited about our first little weekend away in quite a while. This time for two nights as I have three days off in a row! The annual (huge) Pismo car show is going on that weekend and hopefully we can see some of that. Visiting my mom, my son, and my sisters are also on the agenda for those days. A lot to do, but we always look forward to and savor our time on the central coast, our old stomping ground.
With new puppy and cameras in tow, we will leave this Saturday morning and return Monday. Should be a nice Father's Day, one of the first in years I haven't had to work in some silly restaurant on one of the most chaotic food service days of the year!
Loretta gleefully reported that news to me upon returning from Boo Boo's first vet appointment (and checkup) the other day. Besides getting his next round of shots (the 6-in-1 thing), the dog doc confirmed that his package is complete. You see, we had been concerned that "it" hadn't happened yet since his "package" seemed devoid of, well...nuts! I guess they just haven't yet grown to their full size. Whew! No big deal, it was just some sort of male, testosterone-concerned thought. "Damn it...I want our new little boy dog to have balls!" A side note, somewhat related: he squats to pee. Thank goodness...a non-alpha male dog!
And with the injection he got the other day, Boo Boo will be protected from bordatella, parvo, etc, and we can feel more secure about taking him to public places, ie, the park. Oh, and he weighs about 8 1/2 pounds, perfect for his age (5 months) and close to the 10-11 pounds a male mini doxie should top out at.
On another note, the young canine squire will be accompanying us on our Father's Day weekend trip to Pismo. He loves riding in the car and is fairly well-behaved to this point. We are still in mid-training in efforts to leash train the little shit. He is requiring a chest harness as still thinks that he is the boss. Practice, practice, practice. One of the things we are looking forward to: a walk with him on our old beach. He must experience the taste of sand, seawater, and old seaweed as part of his development...not to mention chasing the seagulls on the wet sand.
Daughter Jen, son-in-law Roth, and their young squire (my grandson), Rowan, will be visiting Pismo from Seattle that weekend as well, so, needless to say, we are very excited about our first little weekend away in quite a while. This time for two nights as I have three days off in a row! The annual (huge) Pismo car show is going on that weekend and hopefully we can see some of that. Visiting my mom, my son, and my sisters are also on the agenda for those days. A lot to do, but we always look forward to and savor our time on the central coast, our old stomping ground.
With new puppy and cameras in tow, we will leave this Saturday morning and return Monday. Should be a nice Father's Day, one of the first in years I haven't had to work in some silly restaurant on one of the most chaotic food service days of the year!
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