Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell. – Ena St. Vincent Millay
We began going to the OC Fair in 1986 and went every year including last July. Thirty-three years we strolled the corridors of the fair searching for the lastest gimmicks and gadgets, the cutest animals, and the scariest rides. We munched on the “fair food” knowing it was. perhaps, not the best choice but, once a year, it was OK. I will miss Sue’s eyes lighting up at the pig races, her grin went she dragged me onto the death-defying Ferris wheel, and the utter delight dining on “ten-pound buns”. The fair will never be the same and I am a tiny bit glad it was cancelled this year thus allowing me to go a year without vividly remembering the many memories so soon. My best friend is gone and I am very sad.
Captivating!
The day started with a bang! Well, perhaps not a “bang” but definitely a fizzle. I woke up at 3:30 AM because my radio went off, Alexa did not respond to my commands (she does that sometimes anyway), and I noticed the night-light was off. After my eyes focused and I wandered around the house, I realized that one-half of the power to the house was DEAD!
Of course, I assumed the whole neighborhood was also affected so I called SCE anyway. By 5:30 AM, the power was back on. All is good!
Bartending is something I may try later this summer?
As I sat having my morning coffee, I noticed the kitchen was becoming “cluttered” and I remembered Sue did NOT like cluttered counters. It was not exactly “clutter”, it was more like I had out on the counter the things I used most of the time (since I now cook almost every meal). OK, it did look cluttered.
So I started at the back of the kitchen and worked forward. I tossed out our air-popcorn maker, two food processors, a hand mixer, several pans/cooking items which we never used, and a bunch of other “stuff”. I did find, in the back of the top shelf, a wok which I will use. So, I put away the items that were sitting on the counter, and now the kitchen is ready for a “Sue Inspection”. Honestly, it does look better.
I may have to reconsider!
The ducks were already visiting the pool when I was doing the kitchen. I have no idea what they are up to, but they’ve been here several days in a row. I plan to rename them Mr. and Mrs. Poopy based upon their dropping! I am glad the water pressure in the back yard is very high! After they depart for the evening, I give their new home a quick high-pressure bath!
Mr * Mrs. Duck were up bright and early this morning.
Around 1:00 PM, I called Bob Zee and told him I would come down and bring is Wine from South Coast winery. He said come on down and will have a glass of champagne while Donna gardens. Donna poured the champagne into the glasses and proceeded to place the glasses in a cardboard carrying device thinking this would be a great way to transport the champagne to the patio.
Well as Bob grabbed the container two of the champagne glasses turned over and spilled all over the counter and then onto the floor. Donna got kind of upset and said this is how you do it let me demonstrate. As she grabbed the container, the last glass of champagne took a dump. Being smart, I grabbed a rag and headed for the floor. Scrub a dub dub. The champagne finally made it outside and we all had a good laugh.
I apparently had to earn my champagne!
We visited for an hour sitting in their patio by the pool. One more bottle of champagne has bitten the dust!
When I returned home, those doggone ducks were still here. I think they’re planning to homestead the place. I didn’t want to chase him off because you’re kind of cute so I just ignored him. They, in turn, ignored me.
They were still in the yard at 3:00 PM.
At 3:15 PM, I got a text from Zachary. He was working on the electrical in the bedroom remodel and he sent a picture of what a screwdriver looked like when it crosses 110 V line by accident. I’m glad he didn’t get hurt but I bet his hair might be curled.
Zack got a lesson in fiddling with the power box when it was powered on!
On the way home from Bob and Donna’s, I got a call from Miss Charlotte. She was at Old Ranch and was about to play golf but didn’t want to do it alone. Charlotte invited me to join her on the back nine at 4:30 PM. I hurried and changed into my golf costume jumped in the Grey Ghost and headed to Old Ranch.
All the silly rules, they would not give me a cart (powered or otherwise) so I had to carry my clubs. John, who always liked me, found a carrying bag and suggested they only carry five clubs today. That was an excellent idea. I carried a driver, 3-hybrid, 7-iron, pitching wedge, and a putter. I was good to go!
The spring flowers were in full bloom as evidenced by this beautiful tree bush loaded with purple flowers. The entire course what magnificent and since it had been out of use for two-plus weeks, it was divit-less!
Old Ranch was beautiful this afternoon.
My partner, Ol’ Eagle Eyes Charlotte, was looking around and pointed out the monarch like butterfly was sitting on the top of the tree. I grabbed the trustee iPhone, and aimed it in the approximate direction, and snapped a few shots. The picture came out much better than I expected it would.
Did You Know? Many years ago butterflies were sometimes called flutterbys! A group of butterflies is officially called a kaleidoscope. Butterflies are considered great luck when seen. … Universally the butterfly is symbolic of metamorphosis, rebirth and renewal, beauty, and the transitory nature of beauty itself. There are various superstitions around butterflies. However, the most common one is that they are an indication of good luck.
Charlotte pointed out the butterfly. Perhaps my game will get better now!
We went to the 14th hole and we got a very pleasant surprise. Mr. and Mrs. goose we’re taking their goslings for a walk. They were keeping an eye on us to make sure we were going to do any harm to their babies. The little guys were very very cute.
The first time either of us had seen geese and goslings at the ranch.
We walked very slowly around the family and headed to the tee. I was holding the camera ready to take a picture of daddy-goose chasing Charlotte down the pathway but alas, no such image occurred. That would have been one for the books. I wonder if geese understand Danish?
Charlotte was very excited about being able to see the family so close up and it was her first time seeing baby geese on the golf course. Normally there’s a lot a baby ducks, but no baby geese.
Did You Know? Young geese before they get their feathers are called goslings. When they get their first feathers, they are called fledglings (or teenagers). The collective noun for a group of geese on the ground is a gaggle; when in flight, they are called a skein, a team, or a wedge; when flying close together, they are called a plump.
Charlotte was pretty close!
I no longer speak fluent goose but I think the gander mumbled to himself something like, “That old boy has a bad case of ugly going on”.
Ta dah! I present the ORCC mini-zoo.
The 17th hole is a very long at old Ranch so we had plenty of time to practice our swings. Charlotte is just about to move the ball another 200 yards down the fairway with a mighty swing. You know she is swinging when you hear the “whoooooosh” of the air pushed out the way and the loud “pop” as the clubhead breaks the sound barrier.
When I hit the ball, it’s more like the air being let out a small balloon.
Whack and the ball zooms down the fairway at speeds only superman could reach!
We finished playing about 6:30 PM, and walked a little over 2 miles. It was a lot of fun to be out there this time of the evening when it wasn’t too hot in the ocean breeze had just begun. As an added benefit we got to see the zoo!
After arriving home I enjoyed a cup of coffee and then it happened, half the house went dark! Oh boy, here we go again.
I called up Vicky and she said all was OK at her place. The look of puzzlement began to run across my face; how could this be? I called SCE again and they sent out three trucks. Before they arrived I decided to troubleshoot the situation. I got my volt-meter from the garage and did some poking around in the power panel. There was no power coming into the house from the pole! Yeah! It was not my breaker box.
So, the guys show up and I attempted to assist them but alas, they were not interested in the ramblings of an old geezer. While showing them to the power panel, I heard a sizzling sound and smelled something burning. It was the connection from the power pole to the house which was failing! They knew instantly what to do!
Two minutes later they were on my roof with large insulated crimping tools and remade the connection. Let there be light!
In the picture below, it was the left-hand wire just before entering the pipe. You could see the smoke when a flashlight was pointing at it! Oops!
Burn Baby Burn – The wire was slowly becoming a Crispy-Critter!
Now it’s almost 11:00 PM, too late to make my evening Bat Phone calls so I headed to bed and watched a new series. Finally, at 1:30 AM I went to sleep.
As my kitchen counter becomes more and more cluttered with lotions and potions as well as kitchen items you gave me the momentum to get in there today and declutter–thanks Paul. Also I felt your fond memories of the O.C. fair. It has seemed so overly crowded the past few years that I am glad it is cancelled this year. Or maybe the fair couldn’t continue without you and Sue.