Here We Go Again!

Posted on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 by Paul

I’m going to get in trouble over this image!!

5:45 am and my eyes slapped open wider than a quarter; it was time to get up or lay there and study the ceiling!   I went to the office and worked on the picture from Sunday night’s dance at the Elks, plus putting together a year’s summary of our garden for 2026 (so far).

Mama Mary arose from the bedroom around 7:00 am and brought me a cup of coffee!  We planned out the day and began executing the plan in earnest!  First, we got ready to travel as I had an appintment wuth the urologist to validate the cancer is still gone and by golly, the PSA test revealed a 0.02% level meaning no cancer.

From there, we went to  In-N-Out and grabed burgers because Mary had only 45 minutes to get to the first of her summer session watercolor class.  I drop her off and then came home to putter for a while!

 

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On The Road Again!

Posted on Monday, July 20, 2026 by Paul

Just us!!

We were on the road from 8:15 am until 0-Dark-Thirty, beginning with the gym, where we were apparently sentenced to hard labor for the crime of missing last week.

After surviving that, we went home, hosed ourselves off, and headed to Newport Beach for Amy’s doctor appointment.  Then came the text: Amycouldn’tt make it.  So naturally, after completing our scenic freeway tour for absolutely no reason, we returned home around 1:00 pm and collapsed briefly.

But the day wasn’t done with us yet.  We later re-entered the freeway gladiator arena, this time bound for Los Alamitos and Spaghettini—because nothing says”relaxing day” like cardio, canceled appointments, and multiple rounds of Southern California traffic.

Paris Chansons is French Music with a Global Twist.  Featuring favorites from Charles Aznavour, Joe Dassin, Edith Piaf, Macias, Adamo, Dalida, Patricia Kaas to Zaz PLUS some of the most beloved Italian & Eastern European gypsy classics and more!  Three multilingual singers bring an unparalleled diversity to their shows.  Julia Kantor, originally from the Ukraine, lived and studied in France, where she discovered in French music a soul connection that still imbues every performance.  She entrances from the stage with a sultry voice and dynamic presence.  Together with her husband, Jacob, a Russian-born singer/songwriter, they launched Paris Chansons.  Max Cohen grew up in Morocco steeped in French music, particularly the songs of Enrico Macias.  Max’s rich, velvety tone delivers beautifully nuanced renditions of his favorites, complete with a signature North African lilt.
Superb musicianship anchors the ensemble, effortlessly moving from jazzy improvisation to slow-burning balladry to blistering gypsy fervor.   All seasoned pros, the musicians are Jeff Lams on piano, Adam Cohen on upright bass, Endre Balogh on violin, Sinclair Lott on drums, and Jacob Kantor on guitar.   Paris Chansons takes you on a journey without leaving your seat (except, of course, to dance!), a spectacular celebration of French and international music that brings the world that much closer.

Vicky found this group, and it was playing about a mile from her house, so she got the tickets, and the rest is history!!

Vicky provided the Bidets!

Vicky and Jim jumped up just before the show began and ran toward a phone booth,h and the rest is history!

We had the best seats in the house, one table back from the stage, meaning the noise level was right on, and our field of view was perfect!

PAul is half in the bag!!

They played and sang,g and the whole audience began a conga line which I participated in!!

Great music

As the singer made the rounds, he stopped and shared a moment with the prettiest girl in the crowd, Dr. Mary.

Sometimes I wish I had taken singing lessons!!

We headed home around 9:00 pm and watched a little TV before going to bed.  Today was a full day!

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Work, Swim, Partee!

Posted on Sunday, July 19, 2026 by Paul

We were up early and attacked the garden like highly motivated farmers with questionable life choices!

We had to get an early start because the forecast called for 89 degrees, which at our place means roughly 92 degrees, plus a complimentary side of “why do we live here?”

We also noticed that the corn is starting to tassel, so we should see cobs form in the next couple of weeks.  In other words, the corn has officially entered its awkward teenage phase and is getting ready to produce.

The tassels are beginning to show!

I spent a solid hour on the vertical planters because the onions had grown in there like they were paying rent and refusing to leave.  Extracting them basically required minor surgery and possibly a court order.

The old strawberries were evicted, and then I brought out the electric drill with the auger attachment to loosen the remaining dirt — because apparently gardening now involves power tools.

We filled the empty holes with several new plants, and one brave flower was relocated from the vertical planter to the ground.  We’ll see if it adjusts well to its new neighborhood or files a complaint.

We worked on the vertical planters.

Did I say onions?  We transplanted them to the big garden in spots where tomatoes had once been.

Iy yool care buit er extracted 30 onions.

The “East Coast” family celebrated Jackie’s 30th birthday in a new adventure.

“Beyond Escape” primarily refers to interactive media and entertainment experiences, though its meaning shifts depending on the context:

Choose Your Own Adventure: It is the title of a classic sci-fi interactive fiction book (Book #15 in the original series) by R. A. Montgomery, in which the reader takes on the role of a spy in an alternate-universe future.

Escape Rooms: a real-world entertainment brand.  For example, you can visit Beyond Escape in Durham, New Hampshire, which features private physical- and virtual-reality (VR) puzzle rooms.

Jackie’s 30th BD PArty was fun!

While resting between gardening activities, I was reminded of what happened six years ago a few feet fgeet from us.  The foundation for the swim spa was being poured.

Six years ago our backyard was under construction.

Before getting in the shower, we sat in the pool for an hour and sipped a glass of vino to celebrate our busy workday.  It was indeed 90 degrees outside and a cool 92 degrees inside, which made it easy to get in and out of the pool!

We relaxed, swam, and sat under the gazebo.

We decided to save money on our laundry bill,l so we both wore smiles while paddling around

She was wearing a big smile.

The tassels are beginning to show!

We stopped early because we had a dance to go to at the Lodge.  Starlighters was having a Mediterranean Magic.

On our way to the lodge entrance, Mary decided to be so helpful to her fellow Elks and the environment.

Mary is so helpful

The dance was a load of fun,n and you can see the details here!

We drove Donna home early as she was not feeling well,l and Bob needed to stay to close things out.

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Saturday, Time To Relax!

Posted on Saturday, July 18, 2026 by Paul

Robin, Mary, and I were up fairly early, chatting away because apparently we enjoy each other’s company enough to do it before coffee had fully taken effect.  Around 9:00 am., Robin headed out to visit and take care of her older sister, who has been in a care facility for years.  Robin is truly an amazing woman — she always finds the time and energy to see her sister, take her shopping, out to eat, or to the movies.  Basically, she’s running a one-woman family support department, while some of the other sisters seem to have taken early retirement from being useful.

Mary and I worked in the garden and replaced two hanging plants with new ones, transplanting the older plants into new ground-level homes.   Mary did the heavy lifting this morning as I lounged around reading the California Post; it’s nice to have a newspaper that seems to be unbiased, and I am tired of listening to the “talking heads” on the radio and TV.

Robin returned around noon, and the three of us headed to the Orange Elks Lodge so Robin could see it.  The joint was jumping, as apparently they had a pool tournament going on.  We had a drink and a teriyaki chicken bowl and watched all the hubbub!

From the Elks we went to visit Michele, Franklyn, and Theo.  Michele was hosting a “Half Birthday Party” because Franklyn’s birthday is right around Christmas and everyone is too pooped out to do any more celebrating.  We stayed quite a while visiting their friends and neighbors.   It was fun!

We then headed home so Robin could collect her things and go home to the peace of her abode.  Bob was in route home from a gig up near Los Altos, California.

The weather was hot, well into the high 80s, so I turned on the air, and Mary played Rip Van Winkle.  He is a character from a story by Washington Irving who falls asleep in the mountains and wakes up 20 years later.  Mary, however, lasted only about an hour.   I played on the computer and finally went to the TV room to watch FLASH Gordon, who was, as usual, battling Ming the Merciless, the main villain.

He is the tyrannical ruler of the planet Mongo, often portrayed as a cruel, power-hungry emperor intent on conquering Earth and dominating the universe.  Ming is known for his intimidating appearance, elaborate royal costumes, and ruthless personality.

In the classic story, Flash Gordon, along with Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, travels to Mongo and becomes Ming’s enemy.  Ming often tries to destroy Flash, force Dale to marry him, and crush any rebellion against his rule.

In the evening, we vegged out and watched war movies until 11:00 pm, then crashed.

 

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Friday Was A Hot One!

Posted on Friday, July 17, 2026 by Paul

We were up and getting ready to spend the day in the Sun!

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Robin arrived at 10:10 am, and we headed to the Fair on opening day.  We thought traffic would be a mess, but we ended up parking about 50 feet from the entrance!  Robin purchased the ticket online earlier, so we walked right inside.

This is the 136th year and the 39th for Paul!

Mary kept thinking about turkey legs and all of a sudden she was surrounded by lunch.

Check out the name of the sand in the background!

“Our Buns Are Out Of This World”, yep, I would agree.

Control yourselves, girls!!!

We went into the buildings to cool off and do some serious shopping.  We met up with the shirt guy at High Seas Trading Company and got two new shirts.  We also got replacement shirts for the ones we bought last year that were never delivered.

The girls tried almost everything!

Then it happened: Mary’s nose began to twitch, and she spoke in tongues…yes, she spotted the famous Turkey Leg Grill!!  We immediately stopped and found a spot to sit under the shade of a tree whilst Mary showed us how to demolish a BBQ’d 11-pound turkey leg.

Mary had visions of me getting a leg as well, so she would nibble on it while I was not looking.

PLEASE don’t hit me!

Mary is thinking about going back to work as a Professional Turkey Leg Taste Tester!  (PTLTT)

The chomping noises were so intense that the small children walking by clutched their juice boxes in fear.  But Mary was unstoppable.  She kept gnawing with the focus of a raccoon in a trash can, determined to reach the bone.

And what a bone it was—white as something left in the desert for 50 years, white as a cloud, white as a ghost who had seen Mary eat.

It was, quite literally, a bone-chilling experience.

When Mary finally finished her prehistoric feast, Robin and I carefully removed our raincoats—which we had wisely worn as splatter guards—and sat down to enjoy our meal, grateful to still have all our fingers.

The CHOMP heard around the world.

We knew she was done when we saw her plate!

She removed 54% more meat than the average buzzard!

The most fascinating facts about these giant portable feasts include:

They are largely a modern invention: Despite their medieval reputation, giant smoked turkey legs were not eaten at historical feasts.  The massive turkey breeds we know today are native to North America.  The popularity of walking around gnawing on a drumstick is actually a trend that started at Renaissance fairs and theme parks in the latter half of the 20th century.

They get their flavor (and pink color) from curing: If you’ve ever thought your turkey leg tasted like ham, you weren’t imagining things.  Most of the large-scale smoked turkey legs sold at fairs and theme parks are wet-cured in a saltwater, sugar, and sodium nitrite solution (similar to ham or corned beef) before they are smoked.  This curing process firms the texture and gives the meat that distinct rosy color.

They are from “Tom” turkeys: the drumsticks you buy at theme parks are noticeably larger than those on a standard Thanksgiving bird.  They are sourced almost exclusively from male turkeys (“Toms”), which are larger and heavier.

They are packed with tendons: Because turkeys walk a lot, their legs contain a dense network of thick, chewy tendons.  Commercial preparation and slow-smoking low-and-slow help break them down, but anyone cooking them from scratch at home often pulls them out with pliers before cooking.

After the mildly upsetting lunch and sending Mary to the showers for a rinse, we continued walking.  At the end of the day, we had walked 6,000 steps, totaling 1.95 miles.

Someone has talent!!

We went to Centennial Farms and visited the veggies and flowers before seeing the baby pigs.

Here are some interesting facts about baby pigs:

• Baby pigs are called piglets.

• Piglets can recognize their mother’s voice shortly after birth.

• Newborn piglets often weigh around 2–3 pounds.

• They are very social and like to sleep close together for warmth and comfort.

• Piglets start learning to root around with their snouts at a young age.

• A mother pig is called a sow.

• Piglets often have a specific teat they prefer and return to during nursing.

• They can be surprisingly smart and can learn routines quickly.

• Piglets communicate with squeals, grunts, and other vocal sounds.

• They are born with tiny sharp teeth sometimes called needle teeth.

• Piglets grow very fast and can double their weight within their first week.

• Despite the phrase “sweating like a pig,” pigs don’t sweat much, so piglets need shade and cool areas in warm weather.

Dinner is served!

After walking in the heat, a power nap was required.  We sat in the shade of a cucumber bush, enjoying the occasional gust of wind.

I wore the shirt to make a statement about the heat!

Mary found her favorite clothes booth, selected some pants, and bought them.  At the same time, Robin and I sat in the Butterfly area, drinking cold water and visiting with an elderly Mexican lady who had been brought to the Fair by her two sons!

Guess who was there???  Evelyn, a good friend, was also shopping at the same place.

Off we go!

By the time we got home, it was clearly time for a glass of wine and a “short nap” — which is adult code for do not disturb unless something is on fire.

The girls settled themselves in the front room, while I heroically went to the bedroom to hold the bed down for 45 peaceful minutes. It was a tough job, but someone had to make sure it didn’t float away.

After that, we rallied just enough for a dive into the pool and a long soak, where we pretended to be energetic people for a little while.

Later, we attempted to watch TV, but it quickly turned into a group sleep rotation. One of us would wake up just long enough to ask, “What happened?” before immediately falling asleep again.

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The ride home was memorable!

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We Needed A Day To Relax Because Friday Is The OC FAIr

Posted on Thursday, July 16, 2026 by Paul

We got busy early, knowing that the weather would be hot!!  We planted the Disney Rose and several other items that had been collecting.  We worked until 9:00 am, then went inside and got ready for Girls Night Out.

The Lodge was busy today, but we had the regulars on hand and ready for verbal battle.  Bob, George, Iris, and Will joined us.

We went directly home after lunch and headed inside, where we watched TV in the office and did chores.  Mary took the time to redress her restrung doll and place it in the doll cabinet.

Mary’s doll was handmade by her aunt many, many moons ago, and the elastic bands that held her together were shot.  She is in great shape now, and her ceramic head looks so real!  She is now back home in the doll cabinet.

While Mary worked, I had a chance to think and work on the upcoming dance video!  The video was completed, including Mediterranean music.

I remember when I was about ten years old, I decided it was high time I entered the workforce.  So I landed my first big job: weeding Mrs. Jane’s front yard.

And when I say “yard,” I mean jungle.  The grass was about 18 inches tall, and I’m pretty sure animals were living in there that had never seen daylight.

I worked all day Saturday and all day Sunday, filling trash cans with grass, weeds, and possibly a few lost lawn ornaments.  I ran my lawnmower until it was out of gas!  By the time I finished, I was worn out, sunburned, and walking like a little old man.

Sunday morning I started early, around 6:00 am.  She had dead roses wound up in her picket fence, and that was a job unto itself.  On Sunday evening, as I started the long journey home — a full three doors up the street — Mrs. Jane proudly paid me for my hard labor.

Four dollars.

I was thrilled—rich, even—practically a businessman.

When I got home and told Mom about my big payday, she did not share my enthusiasm.   In fact, she got madder than a wet hen, shot out the front door, and headed straight for Mrs. Jane’s house like she’d been fired from a cannon.

I don’t know exactly what was said over there, but a few minutes later Mom came back with forty dollars.

That’s when I learned two important lessons:

1.  Hard work pays off.
2. Mom was a much better negotiator than I was.

Earlier this morning, I picked a mess of green beans, and when Mary began making dinner, I offered to wash and cook them.   When the green beans had been steamed for about five minutes, I put them into a bowl and dropped a mess of butter on them, DELICIOUS!!  Mary found some frozen corned beef and cabbage, so we had a delightful dinner with our favorite foods!

Nothing better than fresh green beans right from the garden!!

After dinner, we headed out to the “large hot tub,” which most people would probably call a swimming pool.  The water was 93 degrees—basically soup temperature—so we floated around for an hour, discussinglife’ss big questions while slowly being poached.

We enjoyed a classy plastic glass of vino. At the same time, Mary spun around the pool like a determined aquatic ninja, using her pool screen to scoop up bugs that had made the tragic decision to go swimming without reservations.

After our swim, we were both exhausted from all the floating, sipping, and insect rescue operations, so we retired to the TV/living room and watched television until about 11:00 pm. We needed our rest, of course.  Tomorrow was another big day of doing whatever it is retired people do when they’re “busy.”

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Out And About!

Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 by Paul

Today was again fairly busy!   Before getting ready to go, Mary finished off her latest puzzle!

Only a few more to go!

Of course it would be doggies!!

We were off and running at 10:00 am, and we picked up Dianne for her post-op checkup at UCI in Irvine.  On the way, we stopped at a private house where the ladies deposited their favorite dolls to get “restrung”

To restring a baby doll means replacing or repairing the elastic cords inside the doll that hold its body parts together.

Many older dolls, especially collectible composition, hard plastic, or bisque dolls, have:

A head
Two arms
Two legs

These parts are connected to the torso with strong elastic cord.  Over time, the elastic stretches, dries out, or breaks, causing the doll’s limbs to become loose or fall off.

When someone restrings a doll, they:

Remove the old elastic.
Thread new elastic cord through the head, arms, legs, and torso.
Pull the elastic to the proper tension.
Tie it securely so the doll can sit, stand, and pose correctly again.

Think of it as giving the doll a new “skeleton” made of elastic.  Once restrung, the doll’s limbs stay firmly attached and move properly rather than dangle loosely.

Collectors often restring antique dolls because it:

Restores the doll’s original poseability.
Prevents limbs from falling off.
Increases the doll’s display quality and, in many cases, its value.

We had some time, so we went to The Pancake House and introduced her to the five-pound omelet!  None of us could finish our meal, so we boxed up the remains and headed home to put them away.  For Dianne, we packed hers in one of our waterproof bags and filled it with solid chunks of “ice” to keep it cool while we continued today’s adventure.

We were dressed in our chauffeur’s uniforms!

The limo ride was about 25 minutes from breakfast, and I turned on the meter and let it run!

Dianne had a 1:30 pm appointment for the checkup,p and she was right on time.  The doctor was impressed that Dianne brought her own private eye surgeon along!

After the exam, which she passed with flying colors, we took Dianne home, and we, in turn, went home.

As we drove up, we realized Domi and crew were already inside working away, so we went in, said hello, and had dinner at Rogrigo’s Mexican Restaurant!

We thought we would stop only at the bar, but… we saw friends already dining, so we went to the dining room.

Mary did a quick change into her Mexican dinner outfit.

Who is this strange lady?

Larry and Sandy Collier, old friends and members of Starlighters, were at an adjacent table, so we had a long conversation with them

Larry, as it turns out, is also a quick-change artist!

After three jokes, I needed a drink!

  • Why did the taco go to therapy?
    Because it was falling apart.
  • What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?
    Nacho cheese.
  • Why don’t burritos ever get cold?
    Because they’re always wrapped up.

The four of us had a party!

I would NOT be left out of the quick change activity!

Yes, my friends, I downed the famous house drink called “Adios Muchachos”, a 48-ounce margarita!

Before we departed, Sandy and Mary talked about the upcoming dance.

Long-time friends!

When we got home, it was starting to get dark, so we jumped in the pool and floated around for an hour before going to the TV room.  We watched the third remake of “Inherit the Wind,” which starred Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, and Beau Bridges.

Inherit the Wind is based on the famous 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial in Dayton, Tennessee, where a high school teacher was prosecuted for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.  However, it is a dramatized adaptation that alters names and fictionalizes details to make a broader point about freedom of speech.

We began another film called Phenomenon (1996), a romantic fantasy drama.  The Sandman interrupted us about halfway through.  It was about George Malley (played by John Travolta), an ordinary auto mechanic.  On his 37th birthday, he sees a mysterious bright light in the sky and collapses.  Afterward, he suddenly develops extraordinary intelligence, learns at an incredible rate, and even gains telekinetic abilities.

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Tuesday Was A Relaxing Day

Posted on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 by Paul

My Tu-Tu is large; I call it a Three-Three

In the morning, we just did chores around the house, and most of them were inside since it was 90 degrees outside.  Summer has finally arrived!

We got ready to go to Harry Potter at the Segerstrom Theater and departed at 4:30 pm for a 5:00 dinner reservation at the Silver Trumpet.  Dinner was outstanding, and AJ joined us this time (AJ sits next to us at the theater).

We met up with Robin and Bob at the Silver Trumpet.

We changed into our “go-to-the-theater costumes” before heading for the play!

One tap of the wand and the wine glass refills itself!

After dinner, it was a short broom ride to the theater (maybe 2000 feet).  After a rough landing, we went inside and enjoyed THREE HOURS of magic with song and dance, including dancing ghosts!

Summary:  When Harry Potter’s headstrong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever.  Prepare for a mind-blowing race through time, spectacular spells, and an epic battle, all brought to life with the most astonishing theatrical magic ever seen on stage.

Beware, we have our magic wands, and they are loaded!!

By the time we got home, it was 11:20 pm, and we went VFR to the bedroom and crashed!!

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Calling Doctor Mary! Calling Doctor Mary!

Posted on Monday, July 13, 2026 by Paul

Today we are on a mission.  Dianne, Mary’s sister by another mother, went in for eye surgery, and we took her.   The surgery took place at the UCI medical facility on the UC Irvine campus.  We picked up Dianne at 8:30 am and arrived about 30 minutes later.  The ladies wanted to be a little early, so we arrived two hours ahead of schedule.

I used the extra time to read a software instruction manual that I should have read three years ago.  The manual was so large that I had it printed in two sections, every 170 pages!

Dianne was called into the surgery area at 11:30 am and was out for about 45 minutes.  She was getting cataract surgery.

Cataract surgery is a common procedure to remove a cloudy natural lens from the eye and replace it with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens, or IOL.

In summary:

  • Preparation: The eye is numbed with drops or local anesthesia, and the patient is usually awake but relaxed.
  • Small incision: The surgeon makes a tiny cut in the eye.
  • Lens removal: The cloudy cataract lens is broken up, often using ultrasound, and gently removed.
  • Lens implant: A clear artificial lens is inserted to restore vision.
  • Recovery: The incision often heals on its own without stitches.  Patients use eye drops and avoid rubbing the eye or heavy activity for a short time.

The surgery usually takes about 10–30 minutes, is often done as an outpatient procedure, and most people notice improved vision within a few days, though full healing can take several weeks.

Mary went into the pre-op area with Dianne, and the doctor turned out to be one of Mary’s students from when Mary was teaching eye surgery at UCI.

She was well taken care of!!

Dianne was ready to go to lunch, so we went VFR to Benjie’s, where the girls had Jewish penicillin (chicken soup) while I indulged in a pastrami burger.

While we were dining, we received a note from Vicky, who said she was at her motorcycle club meeting and forwarded her picture.

Lookout, Hell’s Angels, here comes Vicky!

We dropped off Dianne at her home and then went to our home to rest up but after a while, Mary called Dianne and informed her we were returning with dinner.  Mary brought her spaghetti squash dish, and on the way to Dianne’s, we stopped to get garlic bread and some other necessities of life.

The three of us had a super meal and continued visiting until about 7:00 pm when we returned home.  We watched the new Karate Kid and finally hit the sack at 11:00 pm.

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Another FULL Day Of Activities!

Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2026 by Paul

Today was like any other day, except we were on the go from the time we woke up until midnight.

Robin and Bob gave me their planned Father’s Day gift, which was NOT available until this week.  A Disneyland Rose is a colorful floribunda rose variety named in honor of Disneyland.

It’s known for its bright, changing colors—usually a blend of orange, pink, apricot, and coral, often with yellow tones.  The flowers grow in clusters and have a mild to moderate fragrance.

Key traits:

• Type: Floribunda rose
• Colors: Orange, pink, apricot, coral, yellow blends
• Blooming: Repeat bloomer through the growing season
• Size: Usually about 3–4 feet tall
• Use: Garden beds, borders, containers, and landscape planting
• Named for: Disneyland Resort

It’s popular because it has a cheerful, “sunset-like” look that fits the Disney theme well.

The rose comes with one stipulation: you must purchase it well ahead of time, AND you must pick it up at Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, a twenty-minute ride from our home straight down the 55/73 freeway.

That means we’re dining at The Farmhouse, so we made reservations about two months ago.  The kids came by our house at 10:30 am, met the new addition, and then we were off.

We had a five-minute wait!

While we were waiting, the kids had a little drinkie-poo before being seated at the table, and here is the result!

Kids will be kids!

We had the perfect table overlooking the surrounding gardens — very elegant, very scenic, very “please don’t let me spill anything.”

Dinner was an eclectic culinary adventure: Bob bravely tackled the pizza, I made the bold and completely dinner-appropriate decision to order French Toast, Robin went healthy with a salad and their special white bean soup, and Mary went mysterious with the special of the day — because apparently she enjoys living on the edge.

Perfect spot to begin a perfect day!

Each of the centerpieces on every table came right from the garden, and today they featured the hummingbird favorites.  We could not guess what they were, but they were fragrant and pretty.

The display did make a lot of noise; we must tell Charlotte about this event at Roger’s.

When I ordered French Toast, I pictured the usual: two humble slices of bread taking a quick egg bath and hitting the frying pan.

Little did I know I was about to receive French Toast: The Broadway Musical.

Out came four stacked cinnamon rolls, absolutely drenched in a rich, sweet sauce, dressed up with peaches, strawberries, and sliced almonds like they were headed to a gala.  Then, as if that wasn’t dramatic enough, freshly made whipped cream was placed on top like the crown jewel.

Wow.  This wasn’t breakfast — it was dessert wearing a breakfast disguise.

Mary shared her selection with me, and I begrudgingly shared my French Toast with her.

Tummies full, we walked the gardens before picking up the rose.  Both Robin and Mary stuffed our cart with “must-haves”.  We spotted several butterflies as we traversed the garden.

Here are some fun monarch butterfly trivia facts:

• Monarchs migrate thousands of miles — some travel up to 3,000 miles from Canada and the U.S. to central Mexico.

• They use the Sun as a compass and can adjust for time of day using an internal biological clock.

• Only one generation makes the full migration south in fall; their descendants make the return trip north in stages.

• Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed, which makes them toxic to many predators.

• Their bright orange-and-black wings are a warning sign that they taste bad or may be poisonous.

• A monarch’s wings flap about 5 to 12 times per second.

• Most adult monarchs live only 2 to 6 weeks, but the migratory generation can live up to 8 months.

• Monarchs cluster together in huge groups on trees in Mexico to stay warm during winter.

• They can fly as high as 10,000 feet in the air.

• The scientific name for the monarch butterfly is Danaus plexippus.

The gardens are loaded with bright colors, making for a delightful stroll.

Can you imagine seeing one of these pass by your window on your next airplane flight?

Bright reds were everywhere.

A painter’s palette!

On the other end of the spectrum, the blues are amazing.  The hydrangeas were putting on a show.  Most hydrangeas prefer morning Sun and afternoon shade.

Bob wanted one but needs to study his yard for this plant.

Finally, we get to the reason for our visit: the Disneyland Rose.  The kids got three, one for me, one for Bob’s Mom, and one for themselves.

It looked happy, just like Disneyland.

We headed for home and rolled in around 3:00 pm—just enough time to squeeze in a one-hour “power nap,” also known at our age as a critical system reboot before the next mission.

And what was this next activity, you might ask?  Were we training for a marathon?  Taking up skydiving?  Joining a secret society?

Nope.  Even better.

Dinner, followed by a trip to the Pacific Amphitheater—capacity 8,500 people—to see the one and only Willie Nelson. Willie, here we come! Please start on time; some of us already used our nap window.

We met up with Vicky and Jim at a fantastic Italian restaurant called Filomena’s, right next to the OC Fairgrounds.  The food was amazing—so good that for a brief moment, we considered skipping the concert and just asking Willie to sing to us at the table over dessert.

“OK, I am ready for this evening!”

Vicky casually mentioned that she made it from La Mirada to the OC Fair in under 15 minutes.

Naturally, I did the math — and suddenly Jim’s ghost-white face and death grip on his chair made perfect sense.

According to my calculations, Vicky — also known as Vicky Vroom, Bella Burnout, and Penny Pitstop — averaged approximately 93.23 miles per hour.

Jim then said that on the way to the restaurant, he remembered seeing many brown picket fences fly by.

That’s when I gently reminded him:

“Jim… those weren’t picket fences.  Those were telephone poles.”

And that’s when he started shaking all over again.

Oh My!!

Mary, being a bit of a leadfoot, also offered to ride shotgun with Vicky on our next adventure.  Jim and I will “follow them” in a small airplane!

Mary has her country music listening juice ready!

We got to the show at 8:15 pm.  Jim and Vicky rode with us since we knew parking would be a mess.  The Pacific Amphitheater at the OC Fair & Event Center seats about 8,500 people.

In general, the show was excellent, and it was truly special to see Willie perform at 94.  It reminded me a bit of seeing Frank Sinatra late in his career at the Santa Monica Auditorium, when he needed some help from a teleprompter and his voice wasn’t quite as strong as it once had been.

Willie seemed to get out of breath at times, and the backup singer helped support the performance, but that’s completely understandable given his age.  Honestly, I would have been just as happy to hear recordings of his songs while he shared the stories and memories behind them.  Overall, it was a meaningful experience, and he did remarkably well for being 94.

We had great seats!

On the way out after the performance, I suddenly wasn’t feeling so great.  I was hot, sweaty, a little queasy, and dizzy—which is usually my body’s way of saying, “We are no longer accepting new adventures at this time.”

I’m pretty sure I was having a reaction to all the “weed” being smoked around us.  Apparently, I can’t even attend a Willie Nelson concert without accidentally becoming part of the experience.

A medical person spotted me struggling and came over, which was both comforting and slightly embarrassing.  After a bit of fussing—and my dramatic attempt to look brave while clearly not looking brave—I agreed to a wheelchair ride to the car.

Twenty minutes in the air conditioning and I was back to normal.  So, in the end, I didn’t get high… but I did get chauffeured to the car.

We drove Vicky and Jim to their car and then headed home, arriving a little after 11:00 pm!  This was a long day.  We were still rocking out to Willie when we hit the sack!

Grace wondered where we had been; she probably smelled the weed!

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