Location, Home, CA
I think we have enough rain to float the “Ark” now. Since Friday morning we have had 12.15 inches of rain in my backyard gauge. It has rained almost continuously during that time. Today the sun did make a brief appearance but we also had a rain shower during that time so had a nice rainbow.
I finished wrapping my last present today so that is done. Mostly I laid around all day while checking the internet and watching TV as Clyda had a couple of long time high school friends for lunch.
Yesterday I scanned old family photos which came from my mother. I had brought them back from Wisconsin in September. It is a slow process but one I need to get done. It will clear up some of the clutter in my computer room.
I just checked the RV Blogs and everyone was bragging about the great weather in Arizona. However, they did get rain today and expect as much as 1.5 inches which in the desert is a “gully washer” for sure. We encountered some of that kind of weather last year while in Quartzsite.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Help Wanted!
Location, Home, CA
I’m not kidding; we may need one if this rain keeps up. Since early Friday morning we have had over 8 inches of rain in my rain gauge. So far it has been a gentle but continuous rain. The ground is now soaked up enough that water is standing in places like the back yard.
From the weather reports and NOAA weather it will continue into Wednesday with the heaviest rain expected on Tuesday.
With sadness I note the passing of a neighbor and brother Elk. Jim, better known to us as JJ passed away on December 9th. His memorial service was held on Friday at the Elks Club. I and Budd (ex next door neighbor) were asked to speak. It was a brief but meaningful service.
I am still working on my Christmas shopping. The rain has put a damper on that. I hate to go out in it.
The new twins continue to do well in the hospital. Chelsea has come home to rest up and become strong to take care of the newborns when they eventually come home.
Help wanted!
Carpenter skills required to build an Ark.
Must be able to covert Cubits to feet.
I’m not kidding; we may need one if this rain keeps up. Since early Friday morning we have had over 8 inches of rain in my rain gauge. So far it has been a gentle but continuous rain. The ground is now soaked up enough that water is standing in places like the back yard.
From the weather reports and NOAA weather it will continue into Wednesday with the heaviest rain expected on Tuesday.
With sadness I note the passing of a neighbor and brother Elk. Jim, better known to us as JJ passed away on December 9th. His memorial service was held on Friday at the Elks Club. I and Budd (ex next door neighbor) were asked to speak. It was a brief but meaningful service.
I am still working on my Christmas shopping. The rain has put a damper on that. I hate to go out in it.
The new twins continue to do well in the hospital. Chelsea has come home to rest up and become strong to take care of the newborns when they eventually come home.
Monday, December 13, 2010
A momentous day!
Location, Home, CA
What a momentous day!!
Our niece Chelsea and husband Steve had been expecting twins after the first of the year but the babies decided to come early, as in yesterday afternoon. We had gotten a call that Chelsea was on the way to the hospital but thought it was just a false alarm as many first babies are. No false alarm this time. They were delivered by C-section about 3 PM.
Of course, Clyda couldn’t wait to see Chelsea and the babies so this morning we drove down to Tarzana to the hospital. Chelsea looked great and Steve is a proud but slightly shocked new daddy.
Steve took us to the neo-natal unit where we had to scrub, as in doctor scrub, as you see on TV. Elbows to finger tips with a throw away soap pad imbedded scrubber then wash off with water and dry with paper towels. Steve has to do this each time he enters the unit so his arms are raw already.
Clyda went in first and later I went in with Steve. Stella is breathing on her own even though she is the smallest at 3 lbs 2 oz’s while Braeden is on a ventilator and weighs 3 lbs 10 oz’s. The babies looked really good and healthy but small. Both babies were born breathing on their own and crying so that bodes well for them. They both will need to gain weight before they can be released from the hospital. It may be as much as a month before that happens.
After we left the hospital we stopped for lunch before coming home. The temperature in the San Fernando Valley was 80 degrees when we left the restaurant but dropped to 64 when we arrived in Ventura. It also was foggy coming up the coast. What a change in a few hours. I can hear the fog horn tonight as I write this.
What a momentous day!!
Our niece Chelsea and husband Steve had been expecting twins after the first of the year but the babies decided to come early, as in yesterday afternoon. We had gotten a call that Chelsea was on the way to the hospital but thought it was just a false alarm as many first babies are. No false alarm this time. They were delivered by C-section about 3 PM.
Of course, Clyda couldn’t wait to see Chelsea and the babies so this morning we drove down to Tarzana to the hospital. Chelsea looked great and Steve is a proud but slightly shocked new daddy.
Steve took us to the neo-natal unit where we had to scrub, as in doctor scrub, as you see on TV. Elbows to finger tips with a throw away soap pad imbedded scrubber then wash off with water and dry with paper towels. Steve has to do this each time he enters the unit so his arms are raw already.
Clyda went in first and later I went in with Steve. Stella is breathing on her own even though she is the smallest at 3 lbs 2 oz’s while Braeden is on a ventilator and weighs 3 lbs 10 oz’s. The babies looked really good and healthy but small. Both babies were born breathing on their own and crying so that bodes well for them. They both will need to gain weight before they can be released from the hospital. It may be as much as a month before that happens.
After we left the hospital we stopped for lunch before coming home. The temperature in the San Fernando Valley was 80 degrees when we left the restaurant but dropped to 64 when we arrived in Ventura. It also was foggy coming up the coast. What a change in a few hours. I can hear the fog horn tonight as I write this.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Counting the Days.
Location, Home, CA
The weather has warmed up into the high 60’s during the day. It may get to the low 70’s tomorrow. Even the evenings have not been too bad. Very nice!
I finished the Christmas letter this week and also made a web version to email. I don’t like to send a Microsoft Word document as many people don’t have that software installed on their computers. We send some letters with Christmas cards and some folks just get the email version.
Clyda has been busy wrapping presents with the goal of getting them all to the post office on Monday. As usual, I haven’t started my shopping yet. I do have some ideas however.
I have been modifying some small LED path lights I picked up at a local hardware. I have added an on/off switch to each light. I found the lights to be handy while camping to light the entry to the RV and to mark objects such as rocks in the campground. The lights usually need to be put in the sunlight each day to charge the battery and then placed each evening. The switch allows them to be stored with out removing the battery.
The weather has warmed up into the high 60’s during the day. It may get to the low 70’s tomorrow. Even the evenings have not been too bad. Very nice!
I finished the Christmas letter this week and also made a web version to email. I don’t like to send a Microsoft Word document as many people don’t have that software installed on their computers. We send some letters with Christmas cards and some folks just get the email version.
Clyda has been busy wrapping presents with the goal of getting them all to the post office on Monday. As usual, I haven’t started my shopping yet. I do have some ideas however.
I have been modifying some small LED path lights I picked up at a local hardware. I have added an on/off switch to each light. I found the lights to be handy while camping to light the entry to the RV and to mark objects such as rocks in the campground. The lights usually need to be put in the sunlight each day to charge the battery and then placed each evening. The switch allows them to be stored with out removing the battery.
The switch is really tiny but is visible above the label.
Monday, December 6, 2010
First Christmas Party of the month.
Location, Home, CA
The tree is up and decorated and most all of the other decorations are done. As usual, we have more decorations than room to display them. It is time to “weed out” some of the old stuff I think.
Last night was our first Christmas party of the month and a good time was had by all except I returned with the “white elephant” gift from the gift exchange that I took to the party. It happens almost every year. I guess I should take something nice that I want if I am going to end up with it anyway.
I have been wading through a stack of paper work that has piled up while we were gone for 10 days. Tomorrow I have multiple errands to run which will take me most of the day.
We had rain last evening and there was about .6 inch in the rain gauge this morning. It is still cold but supposed to warm up over the next few days.
The tree is up and decorated and most all of the other decorations are done. As usual, we have more decorations than room to display them. It is time to “weed out” some of the old stuff I think.
Last night was our first Christmas party of the month and a good time was had by all except I returned with the “white elephant” gift from the gift exchange that I took to the party. It happens almost every year. I guess I should take something nice that I want if I am going to end up with it anyway.
I have been wading through a stack of paper work that has piled up while we were gone for 10 days. Tomorrow I have multiple errands to run which will take me most of the day.
We had rain last evening and there was about .6 inch in the rain gauge this morning. It is still cold but supposed to warm up over the next few days.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Catching up.
Location, Home, CA
I am rusty. It has been so long since I posted that I am out of practice.
We did a long trip over Thanksgiving. We drove to Walnut Creek to spend the holiday with Cindy and Gary. On Wednesday night we drove into Berkeley and attended an evening of Irish music at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse. http://www.thefreight.org. We heard 3 bands which covered traditional Irish music with the last band doing some Cajun and a little Zydeco. Great fiddle playing and a great evening out.
On Friday, the ladies left very early for some “Black Friday” shopping. The guys watched football.
On Sunday afternoon we drove into San Francisco to Clement Street which is in the Richmond district and mostly Asian with a ton of restaurants. We ate at Java Restaurant and had a very good Satay with peanut sauce and shrimp chips.
After driving along the coast we drove to San Francisco Airport and dropped Cindy and Gary off so they could catch a flight to South Africa. They are on Safari. This is Cindy’s dream trip.
On Monday morning we drove to Tehachapi and spent 3 days with Budd and Brenda. It was COLD with snow and ice on the ground. We had several good card games and tried to figure out the TV remote which wouldn’t control the sound amplifier. Never did get it fixed.
Thursday morning we drove home. Temperatures here were a little milder than Tehachapi in fact it was 79 degrees in Fillmore as we came through.
Today it was back to reality. I took the car in for an oil change as the “Change Oil” light kept coming on. It was time.
I also got the Christmas decorations down and the outside lights put up. The tree is up but not decorated. Maybe tomorrow.
I am rusty. It has been so long since I posted that I am out of practice.
We did a long trip over Thanksgiving. We drove to Walnut Creek to spend the holiday with Cindy and Gary. On Wednesday night we drove into Berkeley and attended an evening of Irish music at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse. http://www.thefreight.org. We heard 3 bands which covered traditional Irish music with the last band doing some Cajun and a little Zydeco. Great fiddle playing and a great evening out.
On Friday, the ladies left very early for some “Black Friday” shopping. The guys watched football.
On Sunday afternoon we drove into San Francisco to Clement Street which is in the Richmond district and mostly Asian with a ton of restaurants. We ate at Java Restaurant and had a very good Satay with peanut sauce and shrimp chips.
After driving along the coast we drove to San Francisco Airport and dropped Cindy and Gary off so they could catch a flight to South Africa. They are on Safari. This is Cindy’s dream trip.
On Monday morning we drove to Tehachapi and spent 3 days with Budd and Brenda. It was COLD with snow and ice on the ground. We had several good card games and tried to figure out the TV remote which wouldn’t control the sound amplifier. Never did get it fixed.
Thursday morning we drove home. Temperatures here were a little milder than Tehachapi in fact it was 79 degrees in Fillmore as we came through.
Today it was back to reality. I took the car in for an oil change as the “Change Oil” light kept coming on. It was time.
I also got the Christmas decorations down and the outside lights put up. The tree is up but not decorated. Maybe tomorrow.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Fall Trip Highlights.
Location, Home, CA
I knew it would be some time before I posted but this is ridiculous.
I did spend 4 days in Las Vegas in October. The new bridge over the Colorado River below Hoover Dam opened while we were there so we just had to pay it a visit. There is a visitor parking lot and lots of steps which eventually get you up to the bridge level. You can walk along a pedestrian walkway to the Arizona side but no further as it is blocked. Great views of the dam from this walkway.
My son Tim had not been to Hoover dam so we took the tour. After going through security, buying our tickets ($30), getting a photo taken (didn’t buy it), and watching a movie of the dam being built, we left the secure area and walked along the top of the dam until it was time for our tour.
Once again, we went through security and joined our tour. The tours are well organized and even though I had done this twice before, this tour was different. We saw more internal things in the dam than other times. Such as, the “Stairway to Heaven” which is the thousands of steps you would need to climb if the elevators quit working.
Leaving Las Vegas, we traveled to Tecopa, CA and camped in the BLM area for 5 days. Out of this area we did 4x4 trips, traveled along the Tonopah & Tidewater rail bed, soaked in Tecopa Hot Springs, and had a date shake at China Ranch.
We next moved into Death Valley for 2 weeks of 4x4 trips, pictographs, petroglyphs, old mines, music, and the 61st 49’er Encampment. The 10 days Tim was there went by fast. I took him to lunch at Mesa Grill (Bobby Flay’s restaurant) in Caesar’s Palace before taking him to the airport. What a great Lunch!!!!!
We ended our trip where we began it with an overnight stop at Baker behind the Mad Greek Restaurant.
We watched the International Space Station pass over us before we went to dinner. It was visible for 4 minutes.
I knew it would be some time before I posted but this is ridiculous.
I did spend 4 days in Las Vegas in October. The new bridge over the Colorado River below Hoover Dam opened while we were there so we just had to pay it a visit. There is a visitor parking lot and lots of steps which eventually get you up to the bridge level. You can walk along a pedestrian walkway to the Arizona side but no further as it is blocked. Great views of the dam from this walkway.
View of the bridge from the dam.
Once again, we went through security and joined our tour. The tours are well organized and even though I had done this twice before, this tour was different. We saw more internal things in the dam than other times. Such as, the “Stairway to Heaven” which is the thousands of steps you would need to climb if the elevators quit working.
Leaving Las Vegas, we traveled to Tecopa, CA and camped in the BLM area for 5 days. Out of this area we did 4x4 trips, traveled along the Tonopah & Tidewater rail bed, soaked in Tecopa Hot Springs, and had a date shake at China Ranch.
How the modern 4x4'er navigates.
Sunset at Tecopa BLM.
We next moved into Death Valley for 2 weeks of 4x4 trips, pictographs, petroglyphs, old mines, music, and the 61st 49’er Encampment. The 10 days Tim was there went by fast. I took him to lunch at Mesa Grill (Bobby Flay’s restaurant) in Caesar’s Palace before taking him to the airport. What a great Lunch!!!!!
We ended our trip where we began it with an overnight stop at Baker behind the Mad Greek Restaurant.
We watched the International Space Station pass over us before we went to dinner. It was visible for 4 minutes.
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