Friday And Our “To-Do/Must-Do” List Is Empty!

Posted on Friday, June 26, 2026 by Paul

We were lazy this morning and didn’t rise and shine until almost 8:00 am!!!  We can’t stay up past midnight anymore!

I did make one additional watercolor of Robin and Mary in the kitchen.

We walked around the house for a few minutes, and then I took Mary to her toe store, time for some special care for her tootsies.

We returned home and did nothing the rest of the day!  Mary’s cold has returned, so she stayed relatively quiet, and since the weather was nice, she spent most of the time on the patio.   I did some minor gardening around the house and took care of her.

We watched four episodes of The Last Ship, which is pretty good.  Summary:  A devastating virus wipes out roughly 80% of the world’s population.  The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Nathan James, which has been at sea and isolated from the outbreak, suddenly becomes one of humanity’s last functioning military assets.

The crew discovers that one of their passengers, Dr. Rachel Scott, has been secretly researching the virus in hopes of developing a cure.  Captain Tom Chandler and his crew must protect her as they navigate a world where governments have collapsed, warlords have emerged, and civilization is unraveling.

We crashed just before 10:30 pm (we had to see the last two episodes before season two started).

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On The Go Again!

Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2026 by Paul

We got up a little late since we do not have anything going on until 9:30 am, a doctor’s appointment for Dr. Mary.  After the appointment, we dropped by the furrier to pick up Mary’s two fox stoles, which were being cleaned/revitalized.  We had no idea what they were worth, but the furrier offered Mary $ 5,000,000 on the spot to take them off her hands.

Here’s some trivia about Art Deco fox stoles:

• Peak popularity: Fox stoles were especially fashionable in the 1920s–1930s, the same era as the Art Deco movement.

• Flapper glamour: They were often worn with beaded evening dresses, cloche hats, silk gowns, and opera coats, adding drama to the sleek Art Deco silhouette.

• Whole-fox design: Many vintage fox stoles used the entire pelt, often including the head, legs, and tail.  Glass eyes and a clasp hidden in the mouth or paws were common.

• Status symbol: A fox stole signaled luxury and social status, since fur was expensive and associated with Hollywood-style elegance.

• Popular colors: Silver fox, red fox, white fox, and blue fox were especially prized.  Silver fox became a major high-fashion fur in the early 20th century.

• Hollywood influence: Film stars helped popularize fur stoles, wearing them in publicity portraits and on-screen as symbols of wealth and sophistication.

Mary!!!  It’s looking at me!

From the furrier, we went to Girls’ Night Out at the Elks and had a delightful lunch with the gang.  We arrived at 11:00 am, which was about an hour early, so we enjoyed a glass of wine for breakfast and spent time on our iPhones reading emails and watching “doggy reels”.

On the way back home, we stopped at the market to get some goodies, since we expected Zack and the gang to come over around 5:30 for a swim.  They got here, and we had so much fun watching the kids and sharing the recent events that I forgot to take pictures!!  Duh, massive photographer failure.

After the kids were out of the water, Mary brought out her s’mores kit, complete with pink marshmallows, just for Lilly.

Mary made some of her World-Famous Bruschetta, and we devoured it in a heartbeat.  We told Zack and Becca about last night’s adventure in the pool with Vicky.

Zack, Becca, and the crew departed around 7:15 pm, and we decided to settle in and watch some TV.  That plan lasted about as long as a paper umbrella in a thunderstorm, because when I woke up at midnight, I found Mary fast asleep.

Mary got ready for bed while I worked on today’s daily diary.  I also absolutely could NOT resist making a watercolor of her nibs from a visit to the Queen Mary a few years ago—because clearly what the world needed was more artistic evidence of my questionable self-control.

Dang!  She gets prettier every year!

Good night, all!

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Hump Day Has Arrived!!

Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 by Paul

We were up and ready to go to the House of Pain, also known as Peak Performance.  We had our coffee mixed with 30 grams of protein courtesy of the Enure Max Protein drink!

We arrived at Peak Performance right on time and did our usual five-mile bike ride before our resident painmaker summoned us to the first “exercise” — a word I’m convinced is just Latin for “legal torture.”

Everything was going along just fine until I got to the leg press and thought, “Wow, this feels a little heavier than usual today.”

After two sets of 15 reps and some light soul-searching, I finally looked at the weights.
I was pushing 200 pounds.

Apparently, my legs had accidentally enrolled in an advanced class without telling the rest of me.

I looked over toward Mary, and there she was, working with pound weights like they were made of feathers, another good reason I do not argue with her!!

“I don’t always lift heavy, but when I do, I make sure everyone hears about it.”

From the gym, we went home and got the house ready for our cleaning staff!  Yes, we cleaned the house.  It was warm and quite humid outside, so I stayed inside until about 3:00 pm.

We invited Vicky over for a swim, and she made her grand entrance right around 5:30 pm, just as Domilita and the crew were making their grand exit.

We chatted for a bit while Mary whipped up some garden-fresh bruschetta like she was auditioning for a cooking show.  I handled the dangerous work—chopping garlic, tomatoes, and basil—while Mary toasted the bread to golden perfection.

Then I shouted, “Last one in is a rotten egg!”

Apparently, these ladies had been waiting their whole lives for that moment.  They shot out the door at near-light speed, and before I could even process what happened, I heard two massive splashes and saw a tidal wave rise from the pool.

So yes, after all my big talk, I was officially today’s rotten egg.

Right after the splash, I heard them screaming something about a fish?

I heard them singing a duet, “Splish splash, I was taking a bath… along about a Wednesday night!!  Rubba-dub-dub, we’re in the tub, and everything is going to be alright!”   Bobby Darin, eat your heart out!!

The three (four, including the fish)  of us just talked, told stories, and enjoyed each other’s company.  Finally, around 8:00 pm, we dragged ourselves out of the pool, Mary made one more round of bruschetta, and she brought out the heavy artillery, the s’mores!  Marshmallows never tasted so good!!

Here’s some fun s’mores trivia:

• Name origin: “S’mores” is short for “some more” — as in, “I want some more.”

• First known recipe: The earliest published recipe appeared in a 1927 Girl Scouts guidebook called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.

• Classic ingredients: Traditional s’mores use graham crackers, chocolate, and toasted marshmallows.

• Campfire icon: S’mores became popular because they’re easy to make outdoors and perfect for camping trips.

• National day: National S’mores Day is celebrated in the U.S. on August 10.

• Marshmallow magic: Toasting a marshmallow caramelizes the sugar on the outside, giving it that golden-brown flavor.

• World record: Giant s’mores have been made weighing hundreds of pounds.

• Variations: People swap in peanut butter cups, cookies, caramel, Nutella, fruit, or different chocolates.

• Graham cracker history: Graham crackers were created in the 1800s as part of a health-focused diet.

• Debate: The biggest s’mores argument?  Lightly golden vs. completely charred marshmallows.

We played in the fire until 9:00 pm, and then Vicky headed west into what was once the sunset!

The little guy was lonely.y

During our discussions, we talked about kids today NOT wanting anything old (including us).  I remember my dear Aunt Edith offering me her fine china because our daughter, Claudia, did not want it.

I took it home in the early 1990s, and to this day, it sits in our dining room, with several pieces used almost daily.  I treasure that gift and think of happy times at Aunt Edith’s home when I was growing up (before you say it, I am still growing up!!).

Just a note: Aunt Edit bought that pattern in the 1920s, and it is still available to buy today!

The kids do not seem to care!

After hours in the pool and a couple of glasses of wine, Mary and I attempted the long, dangerous expedition to the bedroom—wobbling like two newborn giraffes on a cruise ship.

Mary hit the pillow and immediately powered down like someone pulled the plug.  I, on the other hand, heroically stayed awake another 30 minutes to complete the daily diary, because apparently even mildly pickled historians have responsibilities.

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Toosday And We Are Busy!!

Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 by Paul

We are getting old because now we add Ensure Protein Max to our coffee instead of milk!

We had our coffee, then changed into our official “working clothes,” which are just regular clothes with a higher chance of dirt, sweat, and regret.

First stop: Orange Farming Supply for additional veggies, because apparently our garden looked at us and said, “Is that all you’ve got?”

Then it was off to Trader Joe’s for some processed grapes… read: wine—very important agricultural research.

Finally, we returned home.  Mary headed to the kitchen to make lunch, while I unloaded the car like a one-man produce-and-wine distribution center.  The cases of wine went into the garage for “storage,” and the vegetables — two wheelbarrow loads — went to the garden, because today we plant!

We picked up more corn and replacements for four tomato plants that had completed their life’s mission and gone to the great salsa bowl in the sky.  We also planted another watermelon and a giant pumpkin, which we’ll be watching carefully, because Halloween is just around the corner, and we expect results.

The trunk was loaded with veggies!

Mary stayed inside for a while, turning our grapes into raisins — because apparently the grapes weren’t feeling old enough yet — and putting away the Trader Joe’s groceries, which is basically a light workout with snacks.

I headed out to the garden and started planting at 10:00 am because nothing says “good decision” like beginning yard work right as the sun starts acting like it’s personally offended by your existence.

After wisely staying inside during “the heat of the day,” Mary eventually joined me in the yard.  While I re-laid the soaker hoses — also known as garden spaghetti — she planted several nursery plants and cleaned up the garbage area like a woman on a mission.

I wrapped up the day by removing weeds and debris from under the grape plants, because after making raisins, it only seemed fair to give the grapes a cleaner retirement community.

Come one, come all… It’s cheaper than the gym!!

It was 6:30 pm, and we decided it was time to quit!

I surprised Mary when I said, “Let’s go swimming.” She looked at me like I’d officially lost my mind.  Because around here, we do not do 75-degree water.  That’s not swimming—that’s a cry for help.  She was not aware that I turned on the pool heater yesterday, so when she checked the duck (our thermometer that floats in the pool), Mr. Duck said it was 94 degrees!

We donned our swimming outfits, which, by the way, saves wear and tear on our bathing suits, and jumped in the water.

Mary has such a way with words!

But when I got in, the pool was really 94 degrees… basically our hot tub wearing a pool costume.  We splashed around for a solid hour like two retirees at a luxury resort with questionable impulse control.

Today was the first time this year we took the cover off the fire pit, and apparently, we had been running an unauthorized reptile-and-cricket Airbnb all winter.

The moment the cover came off, crickets and lizards started evacuating like someone had pulled the fire alarm at a tiny wildlife hotel.  Then, when I lit the fire, a couple more lizards shot out from the rocks with their little tootsies sizzling, clearly filing complaints about the sudden change in amenities.

Burn baby burn!

Mary used the small net to capture floating debris, such as leaves and some honeybees that came for a drink, and frowned.  When she was done, the pool was as clean as when the pool maintenance guy finished!

I learned something new!  Yesterday, when I tried to turn on the pool, it would not work!  I fiddled with the mechanical timer and determined it was dead.  So, I called the pool maintenance man, and to my surprise, I found out that last year he installed a fancy new variable-speed pool pump with a built-in electronic timer and many other features.  What will they think of next?

The old mechanical timer is no longer in the circuit!  I got the name off the motor and went to the trusty internet and printed out the eight-page instruction on how to program the pump, oh my!  I finally got it on and working.

The clouds and the sun put on an incredible sunset show for us — the kind where the sky looks like a stairway to heaven, with sunbeams blasting through the heavy clouds like God had just opened the VIP entrance.

I got out to “test” the firepit, which is husband code for standing near flames and pretending it’s an important technical procedure.

Meanwhile, Mary kept swimming laps, giggling like a teenage girl who had just discovered summer vacation.  She was absolutely thrilled with the surprise pool visit — and honestly, at 94 degrees, the pool was less “refreshing swim” and more “luxury soup with exercise.”

Just before I got out, we called Vicky to invite her over this week, and then Diane Porter (my sister-in-law) called, and we jabbered for fifteen minutes.

Life is good!!

Tonight we did NOT do marshmallows!  We had planned to have dinner, but it was 9:00 pm by the time we finally went inside, so we headed for bed!   It had been a good day!

The fire pit was a perfect way to end the day!

We could see the last of the day disappearing in the west!

We finished off our bottle of Two Buck Chuck (now called Three Buck Chuck).

The Moon was shining brightly even through the scattered clouds.  We sat and talked and decided we would invite people over for the July Fourth celebration instead of going to the Elks.   While the Elk is OK, we thought several hours of visiting with family and friends without the background noise would be a good thing.

We turned off the lights, the fire, and went inside.  The day was officially done!

Good night, hot tub!

We tried to watch TV, but it didn’t last very long!   Mary covered me with a bankie until I finally woke up.  The day was done, but we were not.  Time for a good old pillow fight!  We crashed like two little school kids giggling and laughing!  I love being married to my best friend!

There was still some life in us yet!!  Good night, Gracie!  Good night, George.

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The Day After…

Posted on Monday, June 22, 2026 by Paul

Mary and I headed to the gym for our twice-weekly workouts.  After all the dancing we did yesterday, we needed some time to get readjusted.  After the workout, we went to CVS, where Mary got some cold medicine.  While she was inside, I asked Colleen how she had made the Father’s Day posters.

Thanks to my daughter, Clever Colleen, I learned how to make collages/posters using ChatGPT!

Same pictures, but I stated, “Make it funny!”

For the rest of the day, we rested!   In the afternoon, we worked in the office.  Mary worked on her diamond artwork while I worked on Bob Z’s birthday images.

After dinner, we decided to use the poor hot tub, which we have neglected for the past two months due to my continuing cancer surgeries.  After 45 minutes of hot water, we are feeling pretty good!

After watching some TV, we finally crashed!

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The Longest Day Of The Year!!

Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2026 by Paul

In Los Angeles, the 2026 summer solstice occurs on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 1:24 am PDT, and since I began today’s Daily Diary entry at 5:30 am, it is already the longest day of the year.

Quick Quiz Questions for this special Father’s Day:

  1.  What is the longest day of the year called?
  2.  What famous prehistoric monument is aligned with the summer solstice sunrise?
  3.  Does Earth sit closer to or farther from the Sun during Northern Hemisphere summer?
  4.  What does the word “solstice” mean?

Answers: 1) Summer Solstice, 2) Stonehenge, 3) Farther, 4) Sun standing still

We worked in the garden until noon, and then it was inside to get ready for Bob & Robin, who are coming at 1:30 pm for a pre-celebration, which means champagne!  The Elks are having a shindig, and we are going to be joining them!

We got two messages from Colleen: one to go to the mailbox, and the other was an amazing picture!  The mailbox contained an amazing gift, a T-shirt naming the GREAT Grandchildren!  You will see it in the coming days!

My New Hampshire Family!  Kids, Grandkids, and GREAT grandkids… Oh My!

…and the local family with kids, grandkids, and GREAT grandkids…. I’m prolific!

Two years ago on my birthday!

I remember my father every day, but especially today!  Dad was born poor,r and he always wanted to travel and see the world.  Finally, in 1961, we headed for Europe.  Mom didn’t like traveling.  We spend three weeks seeing sights.

Robin and Bob came over around 1:30 pm, and we killed off a bottle of champagne and walked in the garden before leaving for the Elks.

The Elks are cooking up a BBQ for all!!

We all arrived right on time and had great tables off to the side of the stage, meaning we did NOT get blasted by the speakers!

Dianne and Fast Eddie are ready to rumble.

Mary always goes for the handsome guys and wouldn’t you know they would be my prodigy!!

Surrounded by family, son Joe, and grandson Zack!

Peanut is retiring this week, and we plan to get her and Gary some dance lessons.  We also invited them to join us for lunch on Thursdays at the Elks.

I got Peanut on the floor despite her saying she could not dance!

Greg and Robert joined the family today, and they fit right in with this crazy group of people.  Greg and I have been friends for coming up on 40 years!!

Rober and Crazy Greg joined the gang!

Love is in the air.  Mary always makes Father’s Day special for me, and it is quite easy; all she has to do is be herself.  I am a blessed man!

Just us!

Donna and Bob fit right into this crazy family.  We finally got a chance to dance for the first time in a few weeks, and we enjoyed dancing to the Beach Boys!

Bob and Donna are sitting down.  The music must have stopped!

Yolie (Vicky’s sister) joined the fray today, and we were very happy to have her participation!

Yolie is thinking about dancing!!

Mary helps the old man off the floor after two dances in a row.  We are all dressed up for the beach, and we are collecting more and more his/hers outfits as we continue through life.

Mary and I terrorized the dance floor many times!

We had the whole corner of the room!  It was a secret plan because it was closest to the food, and I am sure many, many trips were made.   In fact, Joe is missing, so we know where he is!

The gang is all here!

Alex came along and is now the only son since Charlie is in the woods this summer working as a camp counselor.

The new “Only Child”!  Alex with Mom and Dad!

Robin popped in to make sure the old man was doing ok!  I assured her I was feeling no pain, no pain at all.  My plan worked; Robin and Bob rode with us to the Elks, and I drove.  Robin and Bob will drive home with us, and Bob will drive.

Just checking in!

Get the cameras out, notify the local TV station!  Yolie is on the floor dancing to the Beach Boys!

Yolie said, “Let’s go Big Boy!!”

The magic occurs, Fast Eddie hits the timbers, demonstrating how he can boogie with the best of them!!

Even Fast Eddie was on the floor!

We stayed until closing time at 7:00 pm.  We danced and danced and danced.  Bob and I took some total strangers out on the floor (we looked for a table of ladies, went over, and got them up and moving).

The Beach Boys sounded great!

I was in rare form by the time I got home!  We were talking about seeing The Sound Of Music last week, and I decided I would sing much to the dismay of my immediate family.  As I was singing, it became necessary for me to find the gentlemen’s lounge and Mary, though it would be best if she used a means other than me walking to get there.

I attempted to open a bottle of champagne upon my return but alas, the cork would NOT cooperate!  Perhaps

Time to hit the sack.  It’s been a wonderful Father’s Day!!!

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Today Is The Day Before Tomorrow!

Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2026 by Paul

This morning, we celebrated a successful visit with Becky!  Mary’s magic in the kitchen was on full display!  Recipes from 30 years ago came to life and were recreated with flair!

When checking the messages, I got the picture of the grandsons, Jon and Sarah, after they visited New York and the Empire State Building.

Jon and Sarah sent their latest AI effort.

Mary and I worked in the office for a while, and then I decided to reward her patience — and my questionable productivity — with a steak-and-egg breakfast.  So off I went on a brave expedition to the fridge, where the thin-sliced New York strips were sitting right up front, practically waving tiny meat flags and begging for a hot pan.

I patted them dry, salted them as they had personally offended me, and prepared them for their glorious destiny.  I overachieved on the salting process!

This morning we are having steak and eggs!

Before the steaks made their dramatic entrance into the pan, I chopped up several mushrooms and sautéed them in a generous amount of butter until they turned golden brown and started acting like they paid rent.

The last of the mushrooms was used.

Everything is on its way.  I did the steaks while Mary did the eggs.  Mary also found some “steak fries” in the fridge, and she popped them into the air fryer for several minutes at 450 degrees to crisp them up!

Almost ready to go!

A breakfast fit for a king suddenly appeared.  When cold cranberry juice was added, breakfast became perfection!!!  This portion, like 4 oz steak + 1 egg, we each expect around 30-35 g of protein.  When we add that to our coffee (we use Ensure), we both already receive 60-65 g of protein before lunch or dinner!

Yummy

The garden called—apparently it had “just a few quick things” for me to do.  Two hours later, I had planted the last of the veggies, wrestled the soaker hoses into new positions, and tucked the tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, watermelon, and assorted melons into a cozy bed of straw mulch like they were checking into a vegetable spa.

By 12:30, the Sun had turned the yard into a convection oven, so I retreated indoors to spend time with Miss Sickley.  Her cold had made an unwelcome comeback, so she set up headquarters in the TV/living room, where she managed the important business of folding clothes, creating artwork, and looking pitiful enough to warrant sympathy.

Around 3:00, the doorbell rang.  Enter Nurse/Doctor Dianne, making a house call with her fully stocked medical kit: Italian Penicillin—also known as chicken, egg, and spinach soup—plus a generous container of angel hair pasta.  Because when modern medicine fails, pasta steps in and says, “I got this.”

Dianne presented me with tomato socks!  Look CAREFULLY at the picture below, and you might spot a pair of socks with tomatoes on them (underneath the tag I am holding).

I got a Father’s Day present early.

We all visited for a while, and then Dianne needed to go back home, so we went shopping in the garden first.  She filled two bags with tomatoes and other goodies.   Without our friends, we would be overrun with veggies.

Miss Dianne Nursee bought Italian Penicillin for Mary!

When Dianne departed, I fixed Mary and me a bowl of soup, and we settled down in the TV Room.  Mary wanted to watch a documentary about a crazy woman stealing a baby, so I decided to go back outside and work in the garden/patio.  I stayed out of the Sun and mostly piddled.

The first target was the rotary garden, as it was overgrown.  I trimmed back almost every level and pulled on those plants that were done.  We now have eight open spots for edible flowers and/or herbs.

Each of the little “compartments” eventually gets filled with roots, and I have to don a plumber’s outfit and perform a rootectamy using my power drill and auger bit.   60 seconds of the auger running loosens up everything, making the roots easy to extract,

Mary watched TV; I continued in the garden.

When it began to get dark, I returned inside and made round two of Mary’s medicine, this time including beans and the last of the jello-cake.  We finally hit the sack around 10:00 pm.

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Friday Has Arrived And We Expect A Special Visitor!

Posted on Friday, June 19, 2026 by Paul

Robin stayed over last night, and by the time I wandered into the family room at 6:30 a.m., she was already there—bright-eyed, alert, and apparently ready to start solving the world’s problems before my first sip of coffee.

We shared a cup of coffee and discussed the latest circus acts happening at Boeing. I honestly didn’t think things could get any stranger after I retired, but Boeing looked at that challenge and said, “Hold my wrench.”

Robin headed out around 9:00 a.m. after we talked to Colleen for a while. The Colleen phone call is one of the highlights of our day—right up there with coffee, naps, and discovering we still have cookies in the house.

Then Mary and I got down to business. Mary’s daughter is coming for dinner on her way to Newport Beach to spend time with friends, which of course means the house must look like a magazine photo shoot, the food must be perfect, and Mary and I must work like unpaid seasonal employees at a five-star resort. We worked our tushies off getting everything ready. If there were Olympic medals for last-minute tidying, we’d be on the podium.

We also did some early picking in the garden and sent Robin home with two bags of veggies, because nothing says “thanks for visiting” like making someone leave with produce homework.

The tomatoes are doing well, and we just planted seven more tomato plants where the corn used to be. Apparently, the garden has decided it’s going full Italian restaurant this year.

We have given away boxes and bags of tomatoes everywhere we go!

We have several  Mortgage Lifter tomato plants which are large, heirloom beefsteak tomatos known for its big size, meaty texture, and rich, sweet flavor.

It’s famous for producing huge pinkish-red tomatoes, often around 1–2 pounds each, and sometimes even larger. They’re great for:

• Slicing for sandwiches
• Burgers
• Caprese-style plates
• Fresh eating
• Tomato salads

The name comes from a man often credited with popularizing it, M.C. “Radiator Charlie” Byles of West Virginia, who supposedly sold the plants in the 1930s and used the proceeds to pay off his mortgage—hence “Mortgage Lifter.”

It’s an indeterminate tomato, meaning the plant keeps growing and producing until frost, so it usually needs strong staking or caging.

I see more tomato pie in the near future.

Robin’s husband Bob and I traded AI images all morning long.  Bob is quite a talented photographer in his own right, and with AI, he is working magic!

Move over, Bonnie and Clyde, there are new bosses in town!

After working all morning, I felt like a hard-working cowboy who needed a drink.  So, I dressed up and came to visit the  Miss Kitty Côté who ranthe Short Branch Saloon.   I ordered a bottle of the finest Sass-Pa-Rilla!

Sarsaparilla is a sweet, old-time soft drink originally flavored with the root of the sarsaparilla plant. It’s similar to root beer, often with a slightly herbal, vanilla-like, or licorice-like taste.

Would you like a Sass-Pa-Rilla little girl?

Becky arrived right on time, which was perfect because we had almost everything ready for a lovely dinner at home—and by “almost,” I mean we were only mildly panicking.

The menu featured several of Becky’s favorites, all made gluten-free, because nothing says “celebration” like carefully interrogating every ingredient. We started with a small tomato salad, followed by a baked potato and Mary’s famous spinach-cottage cheese delight—a dish so fancy it sounds like it should have its own theme music. Mary, as usual, proved she is quite an accomplished chef, and the rest of us proved we are quite accomplished eaters.

After dinner, we exchanged cards with Becky and got to open some birthday cards and presents a little early, which is always the best kind of early. I received a wonderful Father’s Day card with a very nice note inside—just sentimental enough to make me smile, but thankfully not enough to make me cry into the baked potato.

Laugh and giggle time.

The greeting card industry did well tonight.

In the U.S., greeting card companies generate roughly $6–8 billion per year in retail sales of physical greeting cards, depending on which categories are included.

A few useful benchmarks:

• Annual U.S. greeting card sales: about $6–8 billion
• Number of cards sold each year: roughly 5–6.5 billion cards
• Average card price: often around $4–6, with premium cards higher
• Largest card-buying occasions: birthdays, Christmas/holiday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, sympathy, weddings, and graduations
• Major companies: Hallmark, American Greetings, Papyrus-style premium brands, plus many independent and online card companies

The industry has been under pressure from texting, social media, and e-cards.  However, physical cards remain a multi-billion-dollar business in the U.S., especially for birthdays, holidays, sympathy, and emotionally important occasions.

Happy Birthday, Becky!

The phrase pièce de résistance (pronounced pee-ES-duh-ruh-ZEE-stahn(t)s) is a French loan expression used to describe the most outstanding, important, or impressive feature of an event, collection, or meal.  Lime Jello cake!

Another smashing success brought to you from the kitchen of Chef Côté!

After dinner, we again walked the garden and bagged some goodies for Becky to take to her friends this weekend.  We added a mess of table grapes from the vineyard.

It was a wonderful time for a photo-op!

Too bad they were all dressed up, I was going to put them to work!

It was getting to be 8:00 pm, and Becky had to head for Newport to stay with an old friend, so we departed the garden and headed to the car.  She was off and running and we returned to the empty nest.  MAry scurried off to get her jammies while the cleanup crew (me) did the heavy lifting.  The dishwasher is full, the food is put away, and the last wine glass was carefully refilled so we could watch TV.

See you again soon!

Mary and I watched some TV before calling it a day!.

 

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Thursday Has Arrived And We Are Facing It Together!

Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2026 by Paul

Today, we stayed busy from the moment the coffee kicked in.  We decided to tackle the front yard first.  Somewhere along the way, I apparently confused Mary when I said we should do the gardening before getting ready for a dance later that day.

A little while later, I looked up and found Mary enthusiastically trimming away in her dance clothes.  At that point, I had to call a timeout and send her back inside for a wardrobe change.  The flowers may have been impressed, but I wasn’t taking any chances with dirt stains on the dance outfit!

Oh dear!!!

Now that she has changed into her official yard-work uniform, the real work can begin!
We filled an entire trash can with trimmings, which means the plants either got a haircut or we committed a leafy crime scene.  We also had to replace the flowers in the pots because last week’s heat fried them like botanical French fries.

Mary marched into the outside flower garden like a woman on a mission, pulled a mountain of weeds, and cut off the flowers that had already had their big moment in the spotlight.

The front yard looks super now — neat, fresh, and no longer like it gave up on life!

Looking good!

Mary noticed our Mother-In-Law’s tongue was in bloom.  We are keeping our eye on the plant.

A few fun facts about Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata, now classified as Dracaena trifasciata) :

It has many names: Besides “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue,” it’s commonly called the Snake Plant, thanks to its tall, patterned leaves.

It’s a champion survivor: This plant tolerates drought, low light, neglect, and irregular watering better than most houseplants.  It’s practically the camel of the plant world.

NASA made it famous: The Snake Plant was included in NASA’s Clean Air Study, which found it can help remove certain indoor air pollutants under controlled conditions.

It produces oxygen at night: Unlike many plants, it uses a process called CAM photosynthesis, allowing it to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during nighttime.  This makes it a popular bedroom plant.

It’s native to West Africa: Its natural range includes regions from Nigeria eastward through tropical Africa.

Its fibers were once used like hemp: the leaves contain strong fibers used to make rope, bowstrings, and baskets.  One nickname is Bowstring Hemp.

It can live for decades: With minimal care, a Snake Plant can become a long-term household companion, often passed from one generation to the next.

In the backyard, the melons are doing well.   We picked one of the melons that was inside a pair of pantyhose, and we will give it to Susie at the gym on Monday!

Just another few weeks!

We went to the Elks for the weekly Girls Night Out celebration.  All had fun!  Iris and Will will be with u

Bill, George, and Bob!

After lunch, we headed to Ralph’s Market to stock up for Becky’s visit tomorrow.  Mary is determined to recreate Becky’s childhood favorite meals, which turned our shopping trip into a gluten-free treasure hunt.  We spent the afternoon reading ingredient labels like detectives working a major case. By the time we finished, we felt qualified to earn honorary degrees in Gluten Studies.  Hopefully, Becky will enjoy the meals—and appreciate the effort it took to find ingredients that don’t secretly contain wheat, barley, or a chemistry experiment.

Robin popped over around 4:30 pm, and we sat and talked until 6:00 pm, after which we went to Rodrigo’s for dinner.

I would not let Robin share my 48-oz margarita, and she was sad!  I was trying to protect her!

Too bad, the drink is mine!!!

All of a sudden, she ran for the phone booth and re-emerged as…

Obviously, I have given her some of my margarita.

Once she got her drink, she ran back to the phone booth and returned to the table as her normal self!!

Back to normal

So what was all the fuss about?  The 46-ounce rum margarita.   This is a special drink!  Take a close look at the glass, towards the bottom.

The three of us returned home and watched “Evan Almighty”.    We wanted to watch a cowboy movie, so we got dressed up and everything, but we settled for “Evan Almighty”

Care for a sip of Sass-pa-rilly???

We were all crashed by 11:00 pm!

Posted in Family, Vegetable Garden, Working Around House | Comments Off on Thursday Has Arrived And We Are Facing It Together!

Wednesday Is Right On Schedule!

Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 by Paul

We are getting ready to do battle at the gym!

Another day of bone-crunching and muscle-stretching at Peak Performance!
The Ninja outfits have been washed, refreshed, and redeployed after Monday’s mission.
We’re suited up, ready to strike, and plotting our next sneak attack on aches, pains, and unsuspecting tight muscles!

With a snap of Dr. Mary’s finger, we were zapped into our Ninja attire.

We returned home this morning to clean the house because our house cleaners are coming today.  Yes, you read that correctly.  We pay professionals to clean, then frantically clean before they arrive.   It’s one of life’s great mysteries, right up there with missing socks and airline boarding procedures.

By noon, our pre-cleaning duties were complete, and we headed to CVS first, then for gas, and then off to lunch with the girls from Mary’s painting class.  While the ladies gather, I will assume my sacred responsibilities: tending the bar, guarding the flock, and maintaining order among the hens.

Red Robin, prepare yourself.  The caravan is on its way!

Wow, did I man the bar or what?  Buffalo wings, a large jalapeño burger topped off with a chocolate pretzel shake!  BURP!!  I ordered all my favorites because my guardian angel, Mary, could not see me!

Yummy (I hope my cardiologist does not see this!)

Then came the burger!  Decisions, decisions, the Red Robin menu is to die for, literally.  I selected the Jalapeño Heatwave Burder served with your choice of side.  In case Mary showed up, I ordered coleslaw and skipped the fries.

If you’ve checked the weather report today, you’ll see a heatwave is expected in your region – a Jalapeño Heatwave.  A very creative, inventive creation at Red Robin was a delicious combination of spicy and savory flavors.

The Jalapeño Heatwave Burger starts with a hot, juicy beef patty, piled high with melty pepper-jack cheese, fresh-grilled jalapeños, and caramelized onions.   Next, they slather on freshly smashed avocado and zesty green chili aioli before topping off this fiery creation with crispy fried jalapeño.  This is one heatwave I didn’t mind being in the middle of!

Oh my!  It comes with two quarts of ice cream; one to eat and one to sit on!

I could NOT resist the shake.  I ate the pretzels first!

Double yummy!!

This needs a close-up!!

Over the teeth and through the gums, lookout tonsils here it comes!

Yeah, yeah, the gang’s all here!  This group is part of Mary’s watercolor class, and we are celebrating the instructor’s birthday.  Lorry is 94 years old.

Everyone headed for the Reb Robin restaurant in  The District at Tustin Legacy in Orange County.  Here’s some trivia:

  1.  Location: The District is in Tustin, near the Irvine border.
  2.  Full name: It’s commonly called The District, but its full name is The District at Tustin Legacy.
  3.  Military history: The area was once part of the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin.
  4.  Famous blimp hangars: The nearby giant wooden hangars were built during World War II and are among the largest wooden structures of their kind.
  5.  Shopping center style: The District is an open-air lifestyle center, not a traditional enclosed mall.
  6.  Major stores: It has included big names like Costco, Target, Whole Foods Market, Lowe’s, TJ Maxx/HomeGoods, and AMC Theatres.
  7.  Entertainment: The AMC Tustin 14 theater is one of its main entertainment anchors.
  8. Tustin Legacy: The larger surrounding redevelopment area is called Tustin Legacy, created from former military land.
  9. Food destination: The District is known for its wide range of restaurants, quick-service spots, and dessert places.

Rubba Dub Dub, where is the grub???

Mary, neighbor Geri, and Lorry are ready to celebrate!!

Did I hear the words, “Clothes Optional”?

There are a ton of presents to open!

Bring on the balloons!

Then came the cake, which was loaded with ooey-gooey frosting!  Due to Fire Department regulations, the number of candles was limited!

The fire starter went to work under careful supervision.

Do not play with fire, especially after drinking three glasses of ice water!

The cake was a masterpiece, and it tasted like heaven!

We hardly wait until 95!!

But first, the candles must be blown out!

The tradition of blowing out birthday candles most likely comes from a mix of ancient customs, especially from ancient Greece and later German birthday traditions.

• Ancient Greece: People offered round cakes to Artemis, the goddess of the moon. They placed candles on the cakes so they glowed like the moon, and the smoke was believed to carry prayers or wishes up to the gods.

• Germany, 1700s: A more recognizable birthday-candle tradition appears in Kinderfeste, birthday celebrations for children. Candles were placed on a cake, often one for each year of life, sometimes with an extra candle for good luck or the “light of life.”

• Making a wish: The idea of silently making a wish before blowing out the candles likely comes from older beliefs that candle smoke could carry wishes, prayers, or intentions into the spiritual realm.

So, blowing out birthday candles probably evolved from religious offerings, symbolic light, and wish-making customs over time.

She is going to huff and puff!

Go girl!

She did it so hard that two candles fell off the cake and landed on a table nearby.

We departed around 2:45 pm and headed home for Mary’s necessary post-lunch nap and my entrance into the world of vegetable gardening!

Mary is ready for a nap!!

Mary took her nap when we got home, and I marched out to the garden like a man with a plan and absolutely no regard for his lower back.

I yanked out the remaining corn stalks, cleaned up the melon patch, evicted the old mulch, and started planting like I was on a reality show called So You Think You Can Farm?

About an hour later, Mary emerged from her nap refreshed and ready to help, while I was already covered in dirt, sweat, and regret.  The two of us worked until sundown, at which point the garden looked much better, and we looked like we had lost a wrestling match with Mother Nature.

The remaining cantaloupes and watermelons can now be seen and are off the ground, so those nasty little bugs can’t get to them.

We harvested several melons and placed the spaghetti squash in the He Shed.

We decided to plant some more corn, and this time we may have to fertilize them manually, since it is a 5-by-3 row, which may not be enough to ensure pollination!

An ear of corn gets fertilized through wind pollination.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Tassels make pollen?.  The tassel at the top of the corn plant produces pollen, which contains the male reproductive cells.
  2. Silks are the female parts.  Each strand of silk on an ear of corn is connected to one potential kernel on the cob.
  3. Pollen lands on the silks.  Wind blows pollen from the tassels onto the sticky silks.
  4. Pollen travels down the sil..  Once a pollen grain lands on a silk, it grows a tube down the silk to the ovule at the base.
  5. A kernel forms?.  If fertilization succeeds, that ovule becomes a corn kernel.

So, one silk = one kernel.  If some silks don’t receive pollen, the ear will have missing or undeveloped kernels.

We entered the house just as the sun set in the west!  We passed on dinner since we had a large lunch at the birthday party.

Posted in Friends, Fun, Painting | Comments Off on Wednesday Is Right On Schedule!