Paul & Sue's Daily Diary

Golf And Happy Hour With Connor

Golf is like a love affair. If you don’t take it seriously, it’s no fun; if you do take it seriously, it breaks your heart. ~Arthur Daley

We played eighteen holes with James and it was a rough day for all.  But the day was brightened up because we met with Connor for Taco Tuesday!  Connor is our grandson! How nice that he is growing up and has a plan for the future.  We hope he can stay in our circle and join our group.  Rocky and Bullwinkle (Wayne) joined us for the HAppy Hour.

The babies get their num nums

We headed for home about 7:00 and then watched a movie, did the treadmill, and hit the sack!

Birthday Month – Laguna Canyon Here We Come

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.Abraham Lincoln 

Birthday month? Yep! At our age, we celebrate for a month instead of a day!. We went to Laguna Canyon for a day amongst the arts and a long walk to the beach!  Please join the fun.

Simply a great afternoon!

We went to Tantaluns for a drink with Gregor before heading for home and the treadmill/movies.

Tantalums in Seal Beach

Greg joins the fray

Ah… Wine!

A great day!

Slow Day – Adult Movies And Happy Hour

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon. – Doug Larson

We worked in the garden an put Irene to work making tomato sauce.  We got four quarts from today’s efforts.

Between the tomato and Irene we did good

We  freshened up and went to Old Ranch for cocktails with the gang.  The Cathey’s, Ward’s, Bunnaford, Irene and us sat around the laughed and giggled for a couple of hours.  Irene and Paul dined from the bar menu.  Great ribs!  We then went home and watched an old movie.

Irene Came To Stay So… We Went Dancing

Friends and good manners will carry you where money won’t go. – Margaret Walker

Irene came to stay with us for a couple of days. We went to lunch at Patty’s Place and had another great breakfast there! The Cathey’s joined us and we had Irene staying with us! We then went to the adult movies (Oops! The ADULTS went to the movies). We say “Training Your Dragon II” and it was excellent!

Simply fun with friends

After the movie we stopped at Old Ranch for a drink before getting gussied up and headed for the Garden Grove Elks for an evening of dancing.

Just chillin’

We were also saying goodbye to Brian and Jan who were returning to the UK for a short while.   Join the fun!

Tomato Sauce And A Bad-Good Story

We made tomato sauce today and had a load of fun doing it! Please visit us!

We then went to our every year event at the Boathouse in Seal Beach!  All went well until the manager asked us to leave the table we had reserved a year ago and put us in a terrible location.  We were lied to and treated pretty poorly.  We left.  Sorry Boathouse… Customers for years spending a lot of money there.  You are history!

So we went home, changed clothes and went dancing at the Phoenix Club with our friends.

Golf And Happy Hour

We played eighteen with James and then joined Linda for some serious Happy Hours!!

Golf And Family Get Together

Collen joined us for a round of golf with James and we had a load of fun!

Killer at work!

We invited everyone over for Taco Tuesday and say goodbye to Colleen, Cassie, and Jackie as they are leaving tomorrow for New Hampshire.  Join the fun!

Great to get the family together with our special friends

We Cooked And Went To The Boathouse!

Relaxing day!  To the eye doctor and then we dined at Preveza!  We then came home to pick vegetables and cook!  We went to the Boathouse with the Finch’s and Greg.  Upon returning home we watch an old movie, did the treadmill, and crashed!

Ain’t it the truth!

Newport Harbor

A  conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

We went to the Newport Harbor Elks for an afternoon of dancing and giggling! Please join us!

A great afternoon with friends

Wonder if there is good money in it??

Great Day With Dining, Play, Visits, And The Gang

“What is that unforgettable line?” -  Samuel Beckett

Typical for us… On the go!  We began at 10:30 with Sue’s hair appointment and then went VFR to Seasons 52 where we had a fantastic meal!  The entrees are all less than 475 calories so we are safe.  Perhaps the desserts and wine may have upped the caloric intake a bit?  We drove across the street to the OCPAC to see “Jersey Boys”.

Sue checks out the menu

The roasted corn was fabulous!!

Paul needed a coffee before the play

Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is presented in a documentary-style format that dramatizes the formation, success and eventual break-up of the 1960s rock ‘n roll group The Four Seasons. The musical is structured as four “seasons”, each narrated by a different member of the band who gives his own perspective on its history and music. Songs include “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Sherry”, “December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)”, “My Eyes Adored You”, “Stay”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “Working My Way Back to You” and “Rag Doll”, among others. The title refers to the fact that the members of The Four Seasons are from New Jersey.

Great music… Great fun… Great story

We then headed to Downtown Disney to visit Catal and have a couple of drinks plus pick up some “Disney Dollars” for an upcoming birthday.

Then back to Garden Grove Elks for hours of dancing to Marge Kell! Join us!

To The San Diego Fair

We drove 80 minutes to San Diego’s Del Mar Racetrack to join the San Diego Fair.  We had a ball seeing the sights, eating the food, and sampling the wine! Please join us!

Fun and more fun!

We went VFR to Garden Grove and danced with the gang until about 11:00!  Then time to crash! Join the fun!

Fun with friends

Home by 11:00 and time to crash!

Another Day… Another Million Dollars

“A million miles from nowhere, is better than going nowhere, a million times.” ? Anthony Liccione

Just a golf day after lunch with James!  We met up with Angie and Bunnaford on the pation and enjoyed a glass of wine or so.

We watched the original “Brewsters Millions” .  Brewster’s Millions (1945) is one of a number of adaptations of the novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. In the original Brewster’s Millions, the hero was a stockbroker; in this 1945 version, Brewster is a returning GI. The seventh and most recent adaptation of Brewster’s Millions in 1985 starred Richard Pryor as a minor league baseball player.

Great movie!!!

We crashed… It was a long day!

Easy Day And Graduation Day

“Mistakes are part of the game. It’s how well you recover from them, that’s the mark of a great player.” – Alice Cooper

We played 18 holes with James and then went to Happy Hour with Rocky and Bullwinkle.  Robin made it a special Happy Hour as she brightens up the day!

Connor graduated from High School today.  We got the pictures through mutual friends.

Graduated!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a 1968 British musical film loosely based on Ian Fleming’s novel Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car. The film’s script is by Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes and its songs by the Sherman Brothers It stars Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts and Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious.

A very enjoyable movie

Wow! No Time To Recover!

We began the day with the heart doctor where all news was good!  We departed quickly and headed to South Coast Plaza to have lunch with Greg and Maryjo at Seasons 52.

The afternoon was for chores and the treadmill and then off to dinner with xon Joe and daughter Colleen and their families! Join the fun!

Enjoying a family dinner

To The North Young Man

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln

We drove to the north to visit Aunt Kaye and Tom on Saturday afternoon and stay at Diane’s overnight for Pat’s 60th birthday party.

At the Greek restaurant

That evening we did a two hour ride to Saratoga California  to prepare for the birthday party on Sunday afternoon the 22nd. Join the fun!

Golf, Wine Tasting, And Dancing

“Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.” ? John Keats

We played eighteen holes with James and for Paul it was a terrible day. Tuesday he could drive the ball 200 years and toyal, total disaster! We cannot figure it out except to say “It is golf!”

Wine tasting in the Olive Garden

Well, the music was excellent at the Elks so we danced until we dropped. Tomorrow is a big day!

Dancing at Santa Ana Elks

Golf, Wine Tasting, And Santa Ana Elks

We played eighteen holes with James and for Paul it was a terrible day. Tuesday he could drive the ball 200 years and toyal, total disaster! We cannot figure it out except to say “It is golf!”

Wine tasting in the Olive Garden

Well, the music was excellent at the Elks so we danced until we dropped.  Tomorrow is a big day!

Dancing at Santa Ana Elks

Chores & Dancing

We danced at the Phoenix Club this evening.

The Birthday Girl

A Simple Day… Yeah!

“Wine is bottled poetry.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

We stayed at home and did not go to our golf lesson.  We picked strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries from the yard and had a fantastic brunch!  We then headed to Old Ranch for a round of golf before Happy Hour.  Greg Leach joined us and regaled us about his two week trip to London where we saw two theater productions each day!

We headed for home and did the treadmill before hitting the sack!  We did watch a terrible move with Rodney Dangerfield dealing with the mob.  It was so bad it was almost funny.

Time For Golf And A Visit With Lilliana

I play with my grandchildren. I tend to my garden, which I love. Of course, I love to read, and family is really what it’s all about. – Julie Andrews

We played eighteen with James and nine with Bunnaford!  John Passanissi joined for a few holes on the back nine. Good day and the weather was perfect!  We headed to Taco Tuesday where we had a great visit with our great granddaughter, Lilliana.

Daddy Zack

Sue and Lilliana while Becca gets a rest

Sound to sleep!

We then headed for home and a treadmill run!

Taverna Tony And Malibu Winery Here We Come

Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. – Archimedes

It’s time to go north young people!  Off we go to Malibu for a great Greek meal under the guidance of Irene Kosmetatos! Taverna Tony is best Greek restaurant this side of Athens! Join the fun!

Up the coast for a delightful afternoon with friends

After a great meal we headed farther north and inland to get to Malibu Winery!  Great fun! Join us!

Time to drink!

We returned home and went to The Boathouse for cocktails before returning home and watching some TV.

Father Day Was A Full Day

We began with brunch with Joe, Amy, Alex and Charllie with Michele and Tony Villari.  We ate too much and laughed ourselves silly,

We then headed south to Newport Harbor Elks and danced from 1:30 – 4:30 with Hans and Kerstin.

To complete the day we joined up with Robin and Bob and the Mongels and Zaitz at the Santa Ana Jam Session

Work And Fun… Good Mix

“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” – Voltaire

We worked around the house completing some of this weeks chores including an outside security light and replacement of the toilet innards!  By afternoon it was time to relax a little before heading to LAX for a Nightlighter’s Dance entitled “Cruizin’ Into Summer”.  Join the fun!

Gold, Wine Tasting, And Dancing… Yes

You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job. ~Laurence J. Peter

We had a great day and played nine holes with James and then Angie & Bunny joined us for the last nine!  We did a short Happy Hour but had to leave to go freshen up before returning to Old Ranch for the Summer Wine Tasting event which was super.

The Old Ranch flowers were perfect

The babies had to be fed and Sue was in-charge.  We think she is naming all of them now!

Sue made sure the babies got fed

Bunnaford was sporting her new glasses at Happy Hour

They said “heavy hors’deuvers” and they were right

In our official wine costumes

The lodge was so full we had to sit outside and the music was so loud we decided to go home.  Street Corner Symphony is just not out cup of tea!

What happens at the Elks stays at the Elks

We headed for home early and watched some TV before crashing.

Chores & Dancing… That’s OK!

I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home…. I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby. ~Nancie J. Carmody

It’s Thursday and JAmes wanted to stay home so we decided to do the same.  We took the Avalon in to get the air conditioning repaired and worked in the garden, cooked, went to the grocery store and the hardware store and worked on “projects” such as outside lights and ugh… toilets!  We finally decided to go dancing and headed to the Phoenix Club!  We had a full house with the Kuhn’s, Roberts, Zaitz, Marianne & Craig, the Adamson’s and the Sebern’s!   The more the merrier!

Leaving the Phoenix Club!

Golf And Happy Hour… A Slow Day!

The real problem of leisure time is how to keep others from using yours.  ~Arthur Lacey

We had a nice leisurely day! We did our golf lesson at El Dorado and then had lunch at Old Ranch.

We played eighteen with James before going to happy hour. The ducks were out and about today showing off their broods. We saw four groups of babies from new-borns to teens.

The bird keeps and eye on James

Mommy duck and her four teens

A new mommy takes the little ones for a swim!

Great Day In Nature

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” -?Aristotle

We had a another great day!  We visited the garden,  played golf with James, did Taco Tuesday before going home to watch a movie and some NCIS!  We crashed around midnight.

Before we departed for golf, we visited the garden and Sue snapped a picture of Paul next to the little sun flowers!  If Paul is six feet, how tall are they??

Can you find Paul??

On the 18th hole we saw the evening fog begin to roll in.  It’s like magic!  The fog below, the blue sky and the clouds of the day!

Rolling right along!

We headed for home after visiting with Rocky and Bullwinkle and we got a free dinner!  Thanks R & B!  We watched a movie and then some NCIS before crashing for the evening.

Chores And Gardening

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. ~Author Unknown

We pretty much stayed at home after doing some errands early in the day.

First things first, we went to pick up Flower and bring her home to be with the rest of the babies.  That was difficult for us but she is with us now. We miss that baby so very much!  It’s difficult to be without a dog since we have had one for the last 20+ years!

We then headed for Cerritos Performing Arts Center and placed our $7,000 order for this seasons tickets!  We have a gaggle of folks joining us this year!  Yeah!

Cerritos Tickets… We are first in line!

When we got home Paul picked apples, carrots, squash, and blueberries.  We had a late breakfast before doing some serious cooking. We made apple sauce, roasted the squash and carrots, cooked the string beans that we had picked yesterday, and Sue did some other magic tricks in the kitchen.  See the garden grow.

Twelve feet and rising

After all that work we headed to the Boathouse for a cocktail before going home and crashing.  The “June Gloom: was busy so no nice sunset!  We watched “Auntie Mame”… Great movie!

Working Around The House And Dinner Dancing

Friends are kisses blown to us by angels. ~Author Unknown

We stayed home today and did some chores.  This time of the year the garden requires a lot of attention!  We picked green beans, squash, and some tomatoes.  Sue did the treadmill and we both watched “Ghostbusters”…  Loads of relaxing!

We got the latest picture of Lillianna, our great granddaughter.

Already knows how to work Dad, Granddad, and Great Granddad

At 4:00 we got all cleaned up and headed to Old Ranch to do dinner dancing with many of our friends.  Fun for all! Join the fun!

An evening of fun and friends…. Life is good!

We headed home afterwords and watched a movie to get ready for Monday!

One Full Day!

Babies are such a nice way to start people. ~Don Herrold

We began the day at our neighbors baby shower at the Newport Country Club.  They are expecting in July and are getting prepared!

Partying with friends

We then headed to Los Alamitos Race Track to watch the Belmont Stakes race and hoped fro a California Chrome win… Alas, we came in fourth.  However, the guys all came in first place!  We be hansom devils!

A Day at the races

The weather was magnificent and the wine was cold… What else can one ask for?

Long way down to place a bet!

We watched for the private club called Vessels and the O’s arranged for great seats at the top of the enclosed stands.  The only thing bad… It was a journey to place a bet!

A good glass of wine made the race loss go down

Watching intently

Linda won!  Well, she bet on everything!

The gang was there

We then headed to the Garden Grove Elks to complete the day and dancing with the Zaitz and Branders!.

Enjoying the dance… NO, not with each other!

We were pooped this evening and hit the sack around 11:00…. Early by our standards!

Normal Day – Golf, Happy Hour, And Dancing

If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt. ~Dean Martin

We had breakfast with James and that’s where the day starts giggling.  We had a fairly good day with golf and the weather was fantastic.  The temperature was mid-seventies and a slight breeze. We played in three hours forty-five minutes.

The ducks can sense Grandma Sue is coming their direction

Mommy Duck shows off her brood and they get special treats

We did some happy hour with several folks.  Rocky and Bullwinkle joined us which always livens up the party!

We then headed for the Garden Grove Elks where Donna is still enjoying here picture of the teeth!

Marcia is her first victim

Donna checks out the teeth herself

The Woolston’s have identical smiles

We headed for home about 10:30 and crashed!  Ready for another busy day tomorrow!

Work And Fun… A Nice Mix

Gardening requires lots of water — most of it in the form of perspiration. ~Lou Erickson

We stayed at home today and worked around the house.  Plenty of gardening today and garage cleanup!  We picked fresh potatoes, some tomatoes, odles of strawberries and blueberries.  Sue did the treadmill and we both ended up in the spa before going dancing at the Phoenix Club!

Nine Carat Gold played a wonderful mix of dance music this evening

Jan attempted to lead the band!

A Graduation And An Adventure

There is a good reason they call these ceremonies “commencement exercises.”  Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning. ~Orrin Hatch

Another full day for us.  We began by joining our family with a kindergarten graduation!  Charlie has now made it to the first grade!

He has his diploma!

Proud Mom and Dad and Brother

Proud Grandparents!

After the graduation we went to the Himalayan Grille for lunch but sadly found out that Panda Palace is closed!  So sad!  The lunch was great and we then dropped by home to put away the “left-overs”.  Then off to the adventure!  We decided to try the Long Beach Water Taxi… It was a blast. Join the fun!

We had an hour ride and stopped three different places

The Belmont Brewery was a pleasant surprise

After getting home we got freshened up and headed to our Starlighters Board Meeting.

Bob runs a tight meeting!

A view from the patio at Millie’s beautiful home

We returned home to watch TV for a few minutes before crashing!

Golf & Celebrations

We played with James today and it was magnificent!  Charlotte joined us on the back nine!

The little guys are growing up

We went to dinner with our neighbors as it was their 36th anniversary!  We went to Patty’s Place in Seal Beach!

Del found Frogs LEgs for dinner

HAppy Anniversary dear friends!

We got the news that Lilliana was heading for her new home!  Yeah!

Hey! I am going home!

I am dressed for the journey… Let’s go home!

Lookout Temecula, Here We Come

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun. – Charles R. Swindoll

We spent the day in Temecula with the Zaitz, the Duda’s and Cyndy!  We had a great time! Join the fun!

A full day of laughing and giggling

We returned home and watched a TV Movie and then crashed.

Visiting, A Play, And Happy Hour!

Having a baby is one of the most wonderful things in your life, as well as the hardest thing in your life. – Nuno Bettencourt

We stopped by the hospital for a visit with Becca, Zack and Lilliana. All are doing well!

Daddy takes care of Lilliana

Zack is a natural stepping right up to the situation!

Great Grandma Sue holds the baby for quite a while

Sue and Lilliana had a long conversation about the meaning of life and other topics!

Proud Great Grandparents

Great Grandpa Paul took the opportunity to do some serious feet tickling!  We then headed for Seasons 52 for lunch before the play!

Lunch at Seasons 52

Great flatbreads!  Great way to start lunch!

Nummy nummy

We get to select our own dessert!

Our favorite restaurant

We went to South Coast Repertory to see Tartuffe.  Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664. Almost immediately following its first performance that same year at the Versailles fêtes, it was censored by King Louis XIV, probably due to the influence of the archbishop of Paris, Paul Philippe Hardouin de Beaumont de Péréfixe, who was the King’s confessor and had been his tutor.[1] While the king had little personal interest in suppressing the play, he did so because, as stated in the official account of the fête:

“…although it was found to be extremely diverting, the king recognized so much conformity between those that a true devotion leads on the path to heaven and those that a vain ostentation of some good works does not prevent from committing some bad ones, that his extreme delicacy to religious matters can not suffer this resemblance of vice to virtue, which could be mistaken for each other; although one does not doubt the good intentions of the author, even so he forbids it in public, and deprived himself of this pleasure, in order not to allow it to be abused by others, less capable of making a just discernment of it.”

As a result of Molière’s play, contemporary French and English both use the word “tartuffe” to designate a hypocrite who ostensibly and exaggeratedly feigns virtue, especially religious virtue. The play is written entirely in 1,962 twelve-syllable lines (alexandrines) of rhyming couplets

James at Happy Hour at Old Ranch

We headed for home and the treadmill!

Hospital Visit & Dancing

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one. ~Leo J. Burke

We popped by the hospital  to visit Lilliana before going to San Clemente. She was doing well and told us to dance up a storm! We did!!

In her radiant glory!

Then off to San Clemente for a USO dance! A great evening with friends dancing to the music of the 1930′s and 1940′s… Join the fun!

Golf And Great Grandparents Day!

A child needs a great grandparent, anybodies great grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world. Author: Charles and Ann Morse

We started the day with breakfast and a round of golf. We knew that the first baby takes longer! We even had some Happy Hour before the call to be at the hospital at 7:00 PM

To the hospital at 7:00

Great hospital… Sue had the back surgery here many years ago. When we arrived, we had just delivered so we went into the hallway to see Zack and Lilliana go by!

Welcome to the world!

The hospital was pretty smart… Having the baby viewing area OUTSIDE meant there was no limit to the viewers. We had many visitors all watching the baby’s first bath!

Someone was happy

Happy great grandma! Baby and Becca are safe and sound… Zack is in recovery.

Hey! I am Lilliana Elizabeth Lind and I am about 45 minutes old!

Zack gets his finger held.

“Like holding your hand Dad!”

Can’t believe our grandson is a daddy! Wow! Time sure moves right along.

Our grandson is a Dad!

All smiles!

We departed about 9:00 for the Elks

We went to the Garden Grove Elks and visited the the gang.. and shared pictures of course!

Golf Day

Golf is a good walk spoiled. – Mark Twain

We played golf today so we could get in our five and half mile walk!

Great weather today!

Fresh berries… Great way to start the day

We caught them watering the green!

The babies were hungry

The little guys know no fear

James got his soft-frfeeze

Happy 43rd anniversary

Sancing the night away

A Relaxing Day With Emotions

“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” – Vicki Harrison

We had a great breakfast this morning and a special dessert!  We picked fresh blueberries and strawberries and then Sue added the “Hans Thedens Special Sauce” plus a splash of champagne!  Voila… The way to start the day!

This is the way to start the day!

We then got ready to go to the doctors office and we collected much of the babies bedding and dishes so we could give them to the Seal Beach Animal Shelter.  We had large trash bags filled with quilts, baby blankets, and other blankets.  Of course we kept several items like their baby dishes and the blankets they came home in.  Very sad and emotional.

We decided to go to the Boathouse and have a drink or two to wind down.

Going full speed down the bay

We both keep staring at the cell phone for the message to head to the hospital

We returned home about 5:00 and headed to the treadmill and an evening in front of the boob tube!

Golf, Taco Tuesday And Almost?

Grandchildren don’t stay young forever, which is good because Pop-pops have only so many horsey rides in them. ~Gene Perret

We played golf today with James and then met up with Robin, Gregor, Becca, and Zack afterwords for Taco Tuesday.  Rocky and Bullwinkle also joined us!

It’s amazing but we are going to be Great Grandparents to Lillianne Elizabeth Lind within the next few days!  Wow!

Mom and Dad

To young to be a Great Grand Aunt

Sue, Zack, Becca, Paul & Greg!

Working on it now

We headed for home to watch an old black and white movie… Great Grandparents??? Wow!

Memorial Day Was Relaxing… Time To Ponder

“A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and woods, it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.” — George William Curtis

We worked in the garden and relaxed around the house.We watered and fertilized everything and were amazed that in 60 days the sunflowers went crazy.  From ten inches to ten feet in sixty days!  Our tomatoes are beginning to produce. See the garden.

My my… The garden do grow

Sue went for a swim and then we both hit the hot tub before going to The Boathouse for cocktails and sushi!

The Red Dragon!

We then headed for home and the treadmill and TV.

Sunday Was Relaxing…

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” ? Elbert Hubbard

We went to the Newport Harbor Elks and danced for four hours with Hans/Kerstin and Bob/Sandy before going home and joining the Ward’s bar-b-que.  Sue has a new friend… Cody just wants to be touched by a human!  We had a lot of fun but left a little early as we are still on a downer because of our recent loss.

Cody & Sue at the bar-b-que

We went home and watched a move before crashing.

Saturday Had It’s Up And Downs

No Quotes Today – The Lousy “Play” Didn’t Warrant Anything To Say

We went to Season’s 52 and had a great lunch and to the OC Performing Arts Center to see “Book Of Mormon”.

We both hated it… No redeeming value, no message, vulgar, zip, nadda.  We came close to walking out.  We were amaze that people stood up and applauded afterwords!  Paul really wanted a bag full of rotten tomatoes!  What a waste of $200!

We decided to go get a drink after the debacle!  Sue suggested Tantalum’s.

Inside the theater before the lousy thing started

Looking onto the bay at Tantalum’s

Garden Grove Elks

FANTASTIC Music!

We Had To Start Moving

The language of friendship is not words but meanings. ~Henry David Thoreau

We really miss our baby but we had to get moving again and being away from the house was necessary!  To golf with James after a leisurely breakfast at Old Ranch

We ended up at Santa Ana Elks for an evening of dancing and celebration!

Happy Hour is an interesting term!

We headed for home before going to Santa Ana Elks to dance.

It was Gail’s birthday!

Celebration is her middle name

Iris joined right in!

We departed for our empty house at about 10:15 to get ready for another busy day!

Today Was Tough…

“Dogs…do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain the objects they have not. There is nothing of value they have to bequeath except their love and their faith.” – Eugene O’Neill

We took Flower to the vet to be cremated and join her brothers, sisters, and Mom and Dad!  The vets were fantastic and they had known Flower all of her life (and their family). Gino was almost in tears!

We did not want to go directly home so we stopped at Panda Palace to have lunch.  Paul drowned his sorrow in food!  We stayed home the rest of the day and moved things around a bit.

Flower had twelve beds in the house and two “dining stations” so we washed everything up and packed it away hoping we can pass it to the local animal shelter.  It was a difficult day for us.

We decided we had to get away and we always want to support the Phoenix Club so we headed south!

We forced ourselves to go to the Phoenix Club

The eyes were red, the hearts sad, but we managed to dance a bit and try to settle down.

Bob brought a friend from work who is a champion ballroom dancer… She was excellent

Bob and Donna were a relief.  They have us a nice car, lots of hugs and we talked about our babies!  It’s nice to have dear friends in times of need.

Looking over the Catalina Adventure pictures

We returned home to the empty house and crashed!

We Lost Our Baby Flower This Evening

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened. ” – Anatole France

We knew the end was near so we stayed home today.  After nearly nineteen years we lost our beloved Flower this evening.  She went peacefully and will join her Mom and Dad and siblings!  She was a beautiful, albeit odd, sweetheart! She will be missed!

Flower guards our home October 2012

We Played Golf With James

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.

Tuesday was a bit blustery but we played anyway. The game was pretty good!

It was a cool and windy day

We are starting to see the baby ducks but quite late this year.

The lake on nine had babies!

The flowers are remarkable against the blue skies.

Flowers were beautiful

It’s odd but the Mommy and Daddy bring their kids to see Grandma Sue on the 15th hole. They know we will not hurt the kids and everybody gets fed good food! It was fun wi watch them herb the babies.

Mommy bring in the kids

Mom and Dad watch as we feed their kids!

Feed me they say

Look how close we can get to the babies and the babies are not scared at all.

Sue feeds the babies

We stayed for Taco Tuesday (although we did not eat anything) before heading for home to check the baby. Flower has not been doing well recently.

Returning Home Sunday! We Don’t Want To Go!

Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it. – Chuck Palahniuk

We departed for the United States on Sunday morning with a fresh set of memories to share with our friends! Great weekend with great friends!

Going home

Several of us stopped at the Yard House before heading for home!

One last drink before our next one!

We went home to check on baby Flower and she was fine!  We visited with her before heading to Santa Ana Elks for the Jam Session…. Yes, we dance for another four hours!

Saturday Was Busy Busy With The Gang

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.
Charles R. Swindoll

We are in Catalina and what a day!  Bob and Paul got up early and were captured by alien pirates and FORCED to go to breakfast at 6:30 and havint to eat large Denver Omelets.   We escaped and returned to the hotel meeting with our better halves when they decided it was time for breakfast…  What could we do?

We had another breakfast… It was two beers!  Bob and I are champions, we had beer for breakfast!

We then “played” golf with Hans, Ed and the Henke’s and Zaitz’… That there was a hoot!  Kerstin was Hans’s caddy!  She learned about “Swinging and Swearing”… Holly’s name for the game!  Join us for the morning/afternoon!

Now we get down to serious business… NOT!

We returned to the hotel to go through our metamorphosis… From grubbies to gowns!  We has a bit of wine before going to dinner… Glug glug burp! See the transformation take place!

Magic occurs!

To dinner at the Villa Portofino Ristorente and then off to the ball at the Casino for a great evening of dancing!

It;s magic at the ball! The cock moved back seventy years!

We Are Off To Catalina

It is the 12th Annual Avalon Ball and us and thirty-five others are joining us for a great dance and a lot of cavorting!  We departed Long Beach at noon arriving in Avalon about 1:15.  After checking we did a “Von’s Run” meaning we stocked up on essentials…. Wine!  Join the fun!

Let the party begin!

Something Different… We Stayed Home

Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to. ~John Ed Pearce

It was going to be 100 degrees again today so James had a great idea… Let’s go to lunch!  We went to Patty’s Place in Seal Beach and had a great lunch with James, Linda, and Bunny.

Pastrami open faced and loaded with Jalapenos!

An excellent sandwich IF you stay away from the bread and fries!  The pastrami and peppers were simply great!

The waiter was excellent

We was right on top of things!

James shows off his new purse

You know… Don’t ask… Don’t tell!

Linda was recovering from the grunge

Bunny was having car issues… We followed her out

We did some errands before heading to the Phoenix Club to go dancing!  Great evening it was indeed!

Flower seemed to be doing well although we have noticed her sleeping a lot more this week.

Hot! 101 And We Played Golf

I once dated a weather girl, we talked up a storm. – Jay London

We went to our golf lesson at 9:00 but had a fight getting to Old Ranch.  With the freeway construction and the work on Valley View we were about 20 minutes late for lunch!

We played eighteen with James today and the temperature got to 101 degrees about 3:30 in the afternoon.  The wind was quite nice so it really felt like only 95!  We did some Happy Hour before heading to home and a nice cool house!

Hotsey-Totsey!

We headed for home and watched some TV before crashing and preparing for another hot day tomorrow!

Golf And A Birthday

You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely. ~Ogden Nash

We played eighteen holes with James in the 95 degree heat which was fine because we had warm wind until 3:00 and cool wind from the beach after 3:00. Look at the forecast below!

It was 94 degrees today but the wind saved us!

It was like magic… Around 3:00 the wind changes from blowing heat from the east to getting the on-shore sea breeze from the west.  It is still “hot” but the wind makes it quite nice to play! Tomorrow it is supposed to be 100 degrees and the same wind!

Look at 3:00!

Sue knows all the ducks and this little mommy was showing her new brood off.  She had them hidden in the lakeside grass until Sue came by and she quacked them out! When Sue left, they went back into hiding.

Mommy duck showed off her brood to Grandma Sue

Tom celebrated his 70th birthday so we all did some Happy Hour around the pit!  We were all shocked to see Susie as she lives back east!  Great celebration with the Pit Crew!

Susie flew in from Minnesota to be with her father on his 70th birthday

We departed around 7:00 and the sunset was magnificent.

A beautiful sunset greeted us

On our way out the Old Ranch parking lot this was our view.

The Moon was peeking out when we departed for home

We headed home and caught back on our serials… NCIS, etc.

Temecula For Wine Tasting

We decided to go to Temecula just by ourselves.

Mother’s Day At Disneyland

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Tradition!

It’s our tradition… Going to Disneyland on Mothers Day. We have been going to Catal for brunch since they opened ten years ago and our family come along for the laughs and giggles.  We had two other families with us… The Zaitz and the Graham’s making it very special!  Join the fun!

JR and Karen joined tghe happy troup!

We were so happy to have Irene join the gang!

Three generations!

Donna, Cyndy and Kerstin propose a toast

We had another opportunity to show off Nick’s award from his ROTC unit!

Nick is looking good!

The gang is all here

Do you see Albert? He is the General Manager of Catal!

Off to California Adventure

We went back to Catal for an “Evening Cap” before going home and met up with Renee and Valerie

Chores & Dancing

There is a lot more juice in grapefruit than meets the eye. ~Author Unknown

We went to Sue’s hairdresser around 10:00 and then headed to Preveza for lunch! Great food and fantastic service! Out pizza was super!

We then returned home to do some gardening and treadmill work before heading back to Garden Grove for an evening on dancing and fooling around.

Paul sun flowers have taken off… Just a month ago they were babies!

Having ribs for dinner requires a bib!

Bob was behaving… Somehting new!

Donna… Not so much!

We danced until 10:30 and then headed for home!  The band was fantastic!

Happy Hour & Dancing

 Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired. – Jules Renard

We had a long night so we decided to rest today before going dancing.  We finally got enough energy to go to the Elks and meet up with friends.

Garden Grove Elks here we come

Nice relaxing evening with great Salmon dinner!

Ed tells a whopper… Kathy may have heard it before?

Drinking white wine this evening??

Lee Barachman joined us… She was Paul’s High School girl friend! Great to have her with us

Lee is now in Orange County and does not have to fly back and forth to Utah.

Who are these strange people???

Nice evening.  Marcia and Leon was also here but alas, our camera focus was NOT working!  We will snap them tonight!

Golf, Dancing, And Excitement Day

Being born in a duck yard does not matter, if only you are hatched from a swan’s egg.
Hans Christian Andersen

We played eighteen with James today.  The weather was perfect with only a little wind.  Sue feeds babies on the 6th hole and also on the 10th.  “Broken Wing” was back today!

When we got to the 15th hole, Mommy Duck knew Sue so well she brought out her babies to do a “meet and greet”  and have a snack!

Mommy Duck allows Grandma Sue to feed her babies

When the snack was complete we heard Mommy Duck tell the kids “Back into the water”.  We also heard one of the kids say “Mommy, do we have to?”  Kids will be kids

“OK little guys…. Back to the water… Lunch is over!”

We did some Happy Hour with James and Linda.  We then headed home to get changed before going to the Phoenix Club.

We danced the evening away and left about 10:30.  We had a slight detour on the way home stopping by Los Alamitos Medical Center for a little visit with friends.

San Diego Here We Come

The traveler sees what he sees.  The tourist sees what he has come to see.  ~G.K. Chesterton

We decided to go to San Diego for the day because our golf course was closed. We had a great day. Please join the fun!

Day trip to San Diego via the Surfliner

When we got home we hot the treadmill and watched some TV.  It was a great day!