Off We Go Into The Wild Grey Yonder

Posted on Friday, May 15, 2026 by Paul

The temperature was in the mid-60s when we woke up, so the first thing I did was rush the trash cans to the curb like I was entering them in a last-minute parade—because, naturally, I forgot to do it last night.

We unwrapped Jeff’s “Malibu Lights” timer/power supply and carted it across the street.  I am going to wait until Saturday and have Zack assist me with installing it.  The box weighs 50 pounds and is hard to mount on the wall!

It was errand time!  We went to the tailors to pick up Mary’s 50s Poodle Skirt, which got its elastic replaced!  From there, we were off to Goodwill in our Grey Ghost (the Honda Van), which was stuffed with giveaways!

101,000 miles and it purrs like a kitten!

Since we were close to Benjie’s, we stopped for lunch, and I ate one-half of a corned beef sandwich and ALL of the root beer float!   We stopped at the Laguna nursery after lunch to pick up an 18″ plastic saucer for the patio plants before going home.

That was one BIG salad!

Back home, we collapsed like overdramatic houseplants, rallied just enough to make ourselves presentable, then headed to Laguna for dinner—and finally to the Laguna Playhouse to see the Linda Ronstadt story.  Robin joined us for dinner and the show!

Before we departed, Mary did some “inking” on her recent artwork!  She added the clock pointing to 5:00 pm!!

Mary did some inking on the artwork!

Here are some quick trivia/fun facts about The Lumberyard Restaurant in Laguna Beach:

• Location: It’s on Forest Avenue in downtown Laguna Beach, close to galleries, shops, and the beach.

• Name origin: The name reflects Laguna’s historic lumberyard area/building roots.

• Vibe: It’s known for a casual-upscale, coastal Laguna feel—good for locals, tourists, and pre-/post-show dining.

• Cuisine: Classic American comfort food with seafood, steaks, burgers, salads, cocktails, and wine.

• Local arts connection: It’s conveniently located near Laguna’s arts scene, including the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters area.

• Popular use: Often chosen for group dinners, date nights, happy hour, and visitors exploring downtown Laguna.

The Lumberyard is quite cozy, and I was so relaxed that I wandered next door to the Cracker Barrel to see what was happening.

Oops!

We had a wonderful dinner with Robin, Mary, and I going off roading while Jim and Vviky settled for the more mundane “Fish and Chips”.

Mary made a scientific selection for dinner

I went for the eclectic!

Apicy indeed!!!

Robin went to Europe!

The playhouse was only two blocks away, so off we went!  The show began right on time, and it was quite good.  “Linda” had a magnificent voice, and the five of us really enjoyed the show!

Linda Ronstadt is a legendary American singer known for her powerful voice and genre-crossing career—rock, country, folk, pop, Latin, and Broadway.  She rose to fame in the 1970s with hits like “You’re No Good,” “Blue Bayou,” and “When Will I Be Loved.” Later, she celebrated her Mexican heritage with Spanish-language albums, including Canciones de Mi Padre.  She retired from singing after Parkinson’ s-related illness affected her voice, but remains one of the most influential female vocalists in music history.

The original Linda in 1976.

Today’s “Linda” was looking pretty good!

The new “Linda.”

They played two sets, including many old favorites.

We had great seats.

We got a group picture courtesy of the security guard.

Just us!

As viewed with Vicjy’s comments!

Vicky got her picture with Linda!

We departed for home, and upon arrival, we all crashed!  I thought I heard a noise in the kitchen, something like wine being poured into a glass.  Mary’s Guardian Angel was imbibing!

We got our daily security report, complete with short videos of each event.  Thank you, Google!

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Thursday Was A Shocker For Mary!

Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2026 by Paul

This morning I woke up the roosters!  At 5:00 am, I was up, by myself, moving rapidly about the house collecting my electronic children, the tablet, the iPhone, and my eBook.   I was off to the Lexus dealer for a 65,000-mile checkup!  On the way there, I should have asked for an 83,000-mile checkup on myself!

The Silver Fox and I arrived at 6:30 am for a 7:00 am appointment, so we listened to the news.  That was a mistake; the “news” makes me MAD and SAD.  The utter incompetence of our government, augmented by the socialists, is ruining a great country.  If we don’t rise, we will be the next Venezuela!  God Bless Donald Trump for stepping up and confronting this cancer!

For example:

Some politicians are lining their pockets!!!

I sat in the car dealership for about three+ hours, but with my electronic companions, I was in good company!

The Silver Fox was being treated like royalty!

Around 9:00 am, I got a panic call from Mary.

Apparently, she had completely forgotten I had a car appointment.  When she got up and made the coffee, she noticed the bathroom light was on and naturally assumed I was inside conducting important morning business.

Thirty minutes later, she knocked.

No Paul.

Then she began what can only be described as a full-scale husband-search-and-rescue operation.  She scampered around outside, thinking maybe I had wandered off to do some gardening.  Then she searched every room in the house again, probably checking closets, corners, and any place a confused husband might hide.

She was just about ready to call the police and file a “Missing Husband” report when she finally decided to try my iPhone.

And there I was—safe and sound in the Lexus waiting room, sipping bad coffee and completely unaware I had been declared missing in action.

We made it home by 10:30 am, just in time to jump in the shower and get ready to go to the Elks!  The gang began to arrive just after us,

Our reserved table was almost full!

George was in rare form.

Sandy did NOT know what a “Slap Coin” was, so we gave her instructions and sent her to Ronnie.  It was fun to watch!

Getting a “Slap Coin” lesson from Ronnie.

We headed home, and we invited Geri to join us for cocktails on the patio.  She paints with Mary, and they live about a block away.  Mary prepared stuffed mushrooms, onion dip,  a cheese platter with crackers, baby pickles, and a veggie tray.  We popped open a bottle of wine and sat down to visit for a couple of hours.

It’s nice to have friends!

Dinner with Geri at home

During the visit, I received a text from Amy showing that Charlie had formally accepted his selection at Cal Poly Pomona.

Here’s some Cal Poly Pomona trivia:

• Full name: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

• Nickname: Cal Poly Pomona or CPP

• Mascot: Billy Bronco

• School colors: Green, gold, and blue

• Athletics teams: The Broncos

• Motto/approach: “Learn by Doing,” shared with other Cal Poly campuses

• Campus roots: The campus sits on land once owned by cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg

• Horse legacy: CPP is known for its Arabian Horse Center, tied to Kellogg’s famous Arabian horse ranch

• CSU distinction: It is one of the polytechnic universities in the California State University system

• Rose Float tradition: CPP works with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the famous Cal Poly University’s Rose Float, one of the only student-built floats in the Rose Parade

• Hospitality program: The Collins College of Hospitality Management is one of the best-known hospitality schools in the country

• Campus size: CPP has one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, with lots of agricultural land and open space

• Famous landmark: The old CLA Building was one of CPP’s most recognizable buildings before its demolition

• Farm Store: The Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch sells produce and products connected to CPP’s agricultural programs

Grandson Charlie made his choice!

We watched “The Children Were All There”.   We finally hit the hay at 11:00 pm.

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Wednesday Was Busy!

Posted on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 by Paul

We were up and ready to go, but since we stayed away from the gym, we had to work out at home.

After getting dressed and planning the day, Mary was confused.  I assisted her!

Did I say that?  YUP, Then I ran for the backyard!

Mary made an appointment with Dr. Bill for 11:00 am.  Dr. Bill took care of my toes, and now I can walk much more easily.

Since we were already in Newport Beach, we figured it would be practically irresponsible not to swing by the American Legion on Balboa Island—home of a turkey club so good it deserves its own membership card. Mary upgraded her meal with a bowl of vegetable chicken soup while I dove headfirst into their clam chowder. And naturally, to keep things classy (or at least hydrated), we wet our whistles with a little wine.

Sipping wine and watching the boats go by!

It was a bit cool, so we sat inside, but the large windows made it easy to see what was going on.  The wind was making all the flags wave wildly!

Another month and sitting outside will be more popular.

Returning home, we headed to the garden to do some serious harvesting for our dinner.  Peas, squash, green beans, and berries were in abundance.  We sent a big bag of veggies home with Domi and her crew, who came to clean today.

I stopped to have a brew… You know, a Diet Coke.

Part of the visit to the garden was to untangle the string beans from the whirlygigs.   The green beans grow so fast that within a day or so, they encircle and stop the whirlgigs unless you keep them pulled away and trimmed.

Spin baby spin, keep those pesky birds away!!

Our resident peapicker was hard at work filling her hat with peas.  In the U.S., especially during the 1930s Dust Bowl era, “peapicker” was slang for migrant laborers who traveled to harvest crops such as peas and other vegetables in places such as California.  It’s strongly associated with the workers depicted in The Grapes of Wrath.

My Little Peapicker is hard at work!

My hat runneth over!  The corn and cucumber plants shaded us, so we used our hats to collect the veggies.

The ten-gallon hat was full to overflowing!

“If you pick ’em, you shell ’em”—apparently that’s not just a saying, it’s a legally binding farm contract. Mary and I spent 45 minutes popping peas like two green-thumbed assembly-line workers… and somehow ended up with one large bowl of peas and a newfound respect for frozen vegetables. Tonight’s reward: steamed peas alongside steak and sweet potatoes—because after that much labor, dinner better feel earned.

We had fun shelling the peas and trying to keep them from popping out onto the ground.

Shelling the peas reminded me of the past when I would shell peas, and Micky Mouse, our daddy Chihuahua, would wait on the floor for the occasional pea to fall.  He would chase them and pounce on them.

“You can drop all the peas you want!”

After my fingers started to get numb, I went to Amazon and located an automated pea sheller, but Mary asked where we would put it.  It seemed like a good idea!

An automatic pea sheller is basically a tiny farm machine that does what your thumbs were doing—just faster and with fewer complaints.

Here’s the basic process:

You feed the pea pods in: Fresh pods go into a hopper or tray at the top.

Rollers grab the pods: Inside, there are usually two rubber or textured rollers spinning toward each other. They pull the pods through while squeezing them just enough.

The pod pops open: The pressure splits the seam of the pod, and the peas get pushed out—without crushing them (assuming the peas are ripe and the machine is adjusted right).

Peas and shells separate: The peas fall into a collection tray, while the empty pods/hulls are pushed out the other side or into a separate bin. Some larger commercial machines use screens, airflow, or rotating drums to separate everything more efficiently.

The pea pod is on one side, and ready to eat peas from the other!

We called Dianne and asked her to join us for dinner as we had a LARGE steak, loads of peas, and two beautiful sweet potatoes.  She accepted, and we went to work setting up the patio for an al fresco dinner.

When she arrived, the girls did a garden tour.

Following the red brick road!

While they were visiting the garden, I finished the table and got the steak ready to go!

The flowers are courtesy of Bonnie!

I tried something new with the steak.  I patted it dry and then poured kosher salt on both sides.  Salting a steak before cooking enhances flavor, improves texture, and ensures a superior crust.  It acts as a “dry brine” when applied 40–60 minutes in advance: salt draws out moisture, creates a brine, breaks down muscle proteins, and is then reabsorbed, resulting in a more tender, evenly seasoned steak.

The pan was 550 degrees when the steak was added!  It gave us a great crust!!

We had our evening wine and then a great dinner.  As the Sun went down, the temperature dropped, so I went inside and got “bankies” for the girls.  We stayed outside for another 30 minutes!

Friendship, a wonderful thing!

Mary spotted two ducks in the pool, and Dianne wanted to know what we do about that.  I demonstrated by jumping up, running toward them, and quacking like a mentally deranged Daffy Duck, with my arm flapping.  Dianne about fell over laughing, and fortunately, she did NOT have her camera ready!

Go away, no pooping in the pool!!!

Then it got dark, so we went inside because we were going to have vanilla ice cream and strawberries topped with whipped cream!  It was too cold to eat dessert outside.

Dianne departed, and we cleaned up and then headed to the TV room, where we watched “Mother’s Day.”   The movie kept us in stitches, laughing.

At 11:00 pm, we headed to bed!  Today was outstanding.

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It’s Tuesday, Artist At Work!

Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 by Paul

Where did the sun go?  Yesterday it was 85 degrees, and today we woke up to cold, fog, and the kind of weather that makes you question every life choice before coffee.

We were up at 5:00 am because we had to head to Long Beach for a surgical procedure to remove some nasty cancer from my neck.  Nothing says “good morning” quite like fog, freeway traffic, and a medical team with sharp instruments.

We made it to Long Beach without any traffic, arriving just in time to go through the McDonald’s drive-thru about a mile past the doctor’s office/

The procedure went well, and I got wrapped up like a mummy.  I was waiting for someone to ask, and I was going to tell them Mary grabbed me by the throat, but alas, no one asked.

We headed home so Mary could get ready for her painting class.

She took her car today, leaving me home alone with the house and the backyard—both of which immediately filed complaints.  While Mary was off creating art, I stayed behind, creating slightly less mess, doing some straightening up outside, and pretending I had a clear plan.

Wine and cheese?  What a wonderful combination.

When Mary got home, we did what any responsible adults would do after a long day: we immediately fled to the Tartan Room for Happy Hour.

Mary ordered sliders because, apparently, tiny burgers make you feel like you’re making sensible life choices.  I went with shrimp-stuffed avocados, which is basically my way of saying, “I want to be healthy, but also dramatic.”

The Tartan Room is a laid-back lounge with steaks, cocktails, prime rib, and live music—basically everything you need to convince yourself you’re just “grabbing a quick bite” while accidentally turning dinner into an event.

We got access to the jukebox, and everyone enjoyed our selections.

We had a great booth right near the bar.  Finally, I connected the jukebox, and we played our favorites.

We got the best table, being early is a good thing!

They were going to have country music this evening, BUT since we got there at 3:30 pm and it didn’t start until 7:00 pm, we opted to go home.

Enjoying life!

After arriving home, we watched some TV and crashed about 9:00 pm, a good time for us oldies but goodies!!

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The Week Begins… Again!

Posted on Monday, May 11, 2026 by Paul

We are up early and listened to the weather report, it’s going to be 84 degrees!  We will have time to do some gardening.

But first, we are going to race to Los Alamitos to see our dear friend Vicky and check on the progress she is making with her new patio replanting.  It was a 22-mile ride with open freeways.

We took Vicky to our car, opened the trunk, and her eyes got really wide!  We have three crates of pots for her garden.  We have no more room, so we brought them into her backyard, and we could see the wheels turning.

We visited for about an hour before heading back home.

I suggested to Mary that I might do another Garden Naked Day, but after examining my suggested outfit, she said that if I did, people would be calling me “Shorty” from now on.

“Shorty??”

Mary assisted me in getting the moved plants set up with a drip line.  I had to be on a ladder to route the hoses around the gazebo, and she did not want me doing it alone.   She is a good helper!

Mary always sticks around when I am up on a ladder or stepstool.

It was getting hot, so I started cleaning up my mess and heading inside when she told me Santa had visited.  She opened everything, and to her surprise, “Little Women” was finally here; she was a happy girl.

Better late than never!

Bonnie’s flowers exploded this morning, and they were in full bloom when we went inside.

Magnificent!

We sat outside for almost two hours, enjoying the view and deciding what to do in the yard tomorrow.  After some TV, we crashed.  The heat does us in!

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Mother’s Day 2026

Posted on Sunday, May 10, 2026 by Paul

We were up at O-dark-thirty, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to spend a wonderful day together.  We had no plans until 6:00 pm, so the day was open to work together in the yard, a task we both enjoy.

Mary received lots of calls, messages, and cards, which made her very happy—and kept her phone buzzing like it was trying to launch into orbit.

I had planned to have a special surprise waiting for her this morning, but Amazon failed me. Apparently, “two-day shipping” now means “whenever we feel emotionally ready.” Her surprise won’t arrive until Wednesday!

Mary mentioned to me she wanted to re-read “Little Women” but she had to give her book away back in the 90s when she moved into a small home.  So, I went online immediately and ordered a beautiful unabridged 150th Anniversary Edition with 200 original illustrations and a Foreword by Alice L. George entitled ‘Why Little Women Endures 150 Years Later.’ Alas, Amazon notified me they had to delay shipment until Wednesday!

After our caffeine fix, we hit up Home Depot for garden gadgets, then swung by the market to snag some “real” champagne for the kids when they arrive this afternoon—because nothing says “party” like pretending we’re fancy.

While at Home Depot, we ran into Mr. Strawberry, a young man who sells strawberries by the flat.  This year, his price was $25/flat—five dollars more than last year—yet they looked so good, we couldn’t resist.

Not only did they look good, but they were also delicious!

On the way home, we dropped off baskets of strawberries to Geri and then to Fred, our neighbors, because there was no way we could eat them all before they went bad—unless we wanted to turn into strawberries ourselves.

The doorbell rang, and Mary’s friend Bonnie* sent her flowers and a chocolate bar.  Thank you, Bonnie—the flowers are beautiful.  As for the chocolate bar, Mary has hidden it from me, which I can only assume means it was very expensive and needs protection.

*Bonnie is Mary’s college roommate’s daughter.

Dr. Mary enjoyed her gifts from Bonnie!

Bob and Robin spent the morning with the Dudas in Whittier and planned to visit us around 4:00 pm to enjoy champagne before heading to dinner at Renata’s Italian Restaurant at the Orange Traffic Circle.

Robin and Bob brought flowers, a card, and a near lantern!  When they showed up, we were on the bat phone with Colleen, followed by a quick bat phone call to Pete (Lisa was on her way home from work, so we missed her).

Mary got an amazing frog that lights up and displays patterns all around; it was a lantern, which I am sure will be used often!

Then it was off to Renata’s, where we arrived at 5:58 pm—precisely on time, because apparently we are now the kind of people who respect clocks.  Bob and Donna were already there, bravely leading the charge with a glass of vino in hand, proving once again that punctuality is important, but priorities are sacred.

Ready to chow down!

Donna and Bob brought Mary a ceramic “frog planter” already stuffed with plants from Donna’s garden.  This will be a beautiful addition to our patio.

Wine is poured, and stories are swapped.   Having Mother’s Day with these people is a long-standing tradition that we totally look forward to and enjoy!

We sat and giggled for hours, enjoying a delightful dinner and sharing the latest gossip!

Bob and I thought it was a Christmas celebration with our red-and-green shirts!

Hey, at least we wore shirts!

We had a wonderful dinner, and it was dark when we left for home, which is only four miles away, straight up Chapman to the mountain and a left turn at Cannon.  Bob drove as the Silver Fox was still airing out after carrying bags of fertilizer and soil home from Home Depot.  I’ll bet Lexus didn’t know they built pickup sedans!

When the kids departed for home, we went VFR to bed.  No TV, and we did not pass “Go” nor did we collect $200.  We were tired from this day’s work and just crashed.

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Satruday Was A Work Day!

Posted on Saturday, May 9, 2026 by Paul

We examined Mary’s Book of Knowledge and determined that we had nothing scheduled except work around the house, mostly in the backyard.  We began with a trip to our favorite store, Home Depot, where we loaded up on new storage boxes for our two potting stations in the back yard, and then we got three new Mandevilla plants.  They are red, white, and pink and will grow fast, covering the patio supports.

Mandevilla is a fast-growing tropical vine known for its glossy foliage and trumpet-shaped flowers, often called “Rocktrumpet”.  Named after British diplomat Henry Mandeville, these sun-loving plants can reach 20 feet, thrive in warm climates (USDA Zones 10–11), and are highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.

They belong to the Apocynaceae family (which includes oleander and periwinkle) and are often called rocktrumpets.

We unloaded The Silver Fox, who was deeply offended at being treated like a pickup truck and made sure we knew it.  Then we hauled everything to the backyard like two contestants on a home-improvement survival show.

We worked from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm with no breaks—unless you count the very important one-hour emergency lunch intervention when son Joe and his bride Amy came over bearing food.  Naturally, all productivity stopped immediately.

We gathered around the patio table, ate, laughed, giggled, and caught up on the latest family and friend gossip—because no hard day of labor is complete without poké and vegetable sushi and a full news briefing.

Key Poké Trivia Facts Origin:  It originated from Hawaiian fishermen seasoning raw, cut-off fish bits as a snack, often using seaweed (limu), soy sauce, and sea salt.

The “Fish” Types: The most traditional fish used are Ahi (yellowfin/bigeye tuna) and Aku (skipjack tuna).

Modern Twist: While traditionally just raw fish and seasonings, modern bowls frequently include toppings like sesame oil, sweet Maui onions, and avocado.

The Name: While commonly thought of as a 2010s trend, it has been a staple in Hawaii for centuries, with the name formally used for the dish since the 1960s.

Not Sushi: It is distinct from Japanese sashimi because the fish is marinated and cubed rather than sliced thin.

The rest of the day was a mix of working and relaxing.  We stayed outside until dusk, sipping on wine and enjoying the backyard.  We watched a little TV and then hit the sack at 10:00 pm.

 

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I Woke Up!

Posted on Friday, May 8, 2026 by Paul

After yesterday’s procedure, I was very happy to wake up and return to my regularly scheduled programming: one normal cup of coffee and pretending I’m a fully functioning adult.

Robin, meanwhile, was already wide awake in the kitchen, operating at full travel-agent mode and planning our trip to New Hampshire this fall.  This will be our third trip, so at this point, we’re basically seasonal residents with commitment issues.

And this time, Robin is coming with us because she wants to visit Colleen and see all the kids and grandkids.  In other words, she heard there would be family, foliage, and possibly snacks, and immediately signed up.

After being in the OR, I thought a lot about being young again!  I can remember being lost in the woods in Culver City on the backlots of MGM Studios!

Mid-morning, we set out on what began as a simple mission: alterations, lunch, dry cleaning, and home.  Naturally, this turned into a full-scale suburban expedition.
First, we got some clothes altered because apparently, fabric has opinions.

Then we stopped at Benjie’s for a quick lunch, which is what adults call “fueling up for more errands.” After that, we dropped clothes at the cleaners, where they will hopefully return looking more responsible than when we left them.

Eventually, we escaped back home and spent the afternoon on the patio, admiring the flowers and garden like two people pretending they weren’t exhausted from accomplishing six small tasks.

At 6:30 pm, we headed to the Tustin Seniors Center to see Mary’s artwork, which the art contest sponsors had posted on the wall.

After returning home for the last time today, we finished off “Little Women” and watched part of another movie while devouring Benjie’s leftovers.

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OUCH! No Food, No Drink? Impossible!

Posted on Thursday, May 7, 2026 by Paul

I give thanks every day for my life with Dr. Mary; my “problems” are minuscule!

It’s NOT a great day when you wake up and cannot have coffee!  Not even a scone, a donut, or anything else.  I am fasting, which means looking at food and drink with deep emotional attachment but without any physical contact.

Fasting before a surgical operation is mainly to reduce the risk of aspiration.
When you’re under anesthesia or heavy sedation, your normal protective reflexes—like coughing, swallowing, and keeping stomach contents down—are reduced.  If there is food or liquid in your stomach, you could vomit or regurgitate it and accidentally breathe it into your lungs.  This can cause serious complications, such as aspiration pneumonia, airway blockage, or lung injury.  Fasting also helps:

• Reduce nausea and vomiting after anesthesia
• Make anesthesia safer and easier to manage
• Lower the chance of needing emergency airway interventions

Typical instructions often include no solid food for several hours before surgery, while some clear liquids may be allowed up to a shorter time beforehand—but the exact rules vary depending on the procedure, your health, and the type of anesthesia.

We worked in the office until 9:00 am, then got ready to go to the hospital.

I drove, knowing full well that Mary would be driving home!

Off we went at 11:15 am and arrived at 11:45 am, because apparently we were running a highly efficient medical shuttle service that day.  As we pulled into the parking lot, there was Robin—right on cue—ready to be Mary’s loyal sidekick, emotional support human, and all-day entertainment committee.

Within minutes, I was whisked into Pre-Op by the transportation officer, where I immediately began my important work: relentlessly teasing the nurse.

As we skidded down the hallway, I made automobile sounds and honked my horn at everything coming my way.  When she asked my name, she did not believe it was Clem Kadiddlehopper!  She may have thought she was there to prepare me for surgery, but surprise—she had unknowingly enrolled in my masterclass.

I am ready to go into the OR!

Then it was off to the OR, where I was technically “awake” the entire time—though I use that term loosely, since I was operating at about 12% battery and had no Wi-Fi.

I even chatted with the doctor while he examined me using the catheter, because apparently, I decided this was the perfect time for casual conversation.  Nothing says “small talk” quite like discussing your insides while someone is actively navigating them.

The procedure lasted about 30 minutes, and then I was moved to post-op recovery, where I enjoyed a luxurious 6-hour stay in what I can only describe as a very exclusive medical waiting room with terrible amenities.

Finally, around 7:30 pm, they decided I had behaved well enough to be released back into society.

I closed my eyes when the procedure began and saw an angel in the room watching over me!  I am a lucky man!

Keeping me from misbehaving — only an Angel can do that!

This procedure required entrance through the groin, and that entry point tends to leak after the operation.  The nursing staff checked in the groin many times and after a while I needed to put a sign up stating “Groin Peeks, 25¢”, I would have made a fortune.

After a while, I asked people walking by if they wanted to see my groin.  Mary put a stop to that activity, saying that when I offered a “groin peek” to a cafeteria worker, janitor, and another patient, that was too much!

Six hours flat on my back, only being disturbed by “peeping Toms”.

I had other thoughts also!

For hours, Robin and Mary were by my side in recovery; I never felt so loved and cared for.  I think I’m spoiled!

We made it home and watched “Little Women”, the 2019 version.  We made it until 11:00 pm, and then our eyes began to close.  Time to go to bed!  Off we went, and we slept until almost 7:30 am!

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Wednesday Has Raised It’s Head!

Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 by Paul

Let’s start this day with a smile and some humor to share the good vibes with you all!

We began by levitating ourselves up from the nice, cozy bed and into an upright position, generally in front of the sink, where we wash the sleep from our eyes and are ready to face each other.  I ALWAYS have to comb what’s left of my hair, or I look like the pointy-haired Boss in the cartoon series.

I must admit, the Boss has more hair than I!

Then I looked at the wall clock, which had date/time/weather displayed, and it hit me, it hit him, it is workout day.   My body began to shake uncontrollably, and I realized I had put on three workout suits, one on top of the other.  Perhaps it was an unconscious way of protecting my body from the anticipated beatings at Peak Performance.

Who will I draw today as my trainer?  Could it be “Sweat Lord,” “Sir Reps-a-Lot,” or maybe “The Protein Prophet   Only a trip to the facility will tell.  Today, I shall not cry or whimper, but I may bawl, blubber, boohoo, break down, burst into tears, cry, dissolve in tears, groan, howl, moan, scream, shed tears, snivel, sob, weep, whine, yammer, yawp, or perhaps even yowl.

We cruise along at 50 mph, leaving everybody else in the dust!

We left the gym and began our errands.  First, we headed to John Wayne Airport to pick up our suitcase, which was being repaired.  We then headed back to Orange to have a dress repaired and to have lunch at Darya.  Alas, the tailor was gone, and Darya didn’t open for another half-hour.

We decided Benjie’s was the place to go because, apparently, we make excellent life choices when hungry.  We had the 1/2 sandwich and soup/salad combo, which was just the right amount of “responsible adult” for lunch.  Naturally, we washed it down with a glass of wine, because hydration is important.

I heroically refrained from ordering my usual root beer float, as I must preserve my girlish figure—or at least maintain the illusion that I’m trying.

The CVS to pick up some meds, including nitroglycerin for me!

Finally, we made it home and headed to the back yard, where I had a glimpse of happiness (other than seeing my beautiful wife), which was Mr. Red and friends cheering me on.

I headed to the backyard to finish off the HeShed, and with Mary’s help, we finished around 3:00 pm.  Our son Joe will be pleased (and surprised).  The Salvation Army will be happy with the results!

I received a message from Joe saying, “Well dang, I can see the floor.”

Late in the afternoon, Mary made us dinner using some of the remaining pastrami from lunch.  She is an expert sandwich maker and enjoys going into the garden to pick some of the ingredients!

The word “sandwich” is commonly linked to John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who supposedly wanted meat between bread so he could eat without stopping his card game.

Mary needs to open a chain of restaurants like Subway!

For dessert, Mary made cherry Jello and added a mess of Polish sour cherries.  The dessert was outstanding, but we had to watch out for the occasional cherry pit.

Here are some Polish sour cherry trivia facts:

• Poland is one of Europe’s major producers of sour cherries, especially varieties used for juices, preserves, desserts, and spirits.
• In Polish, sour cherries are called “wi’nie”, while sweet cherries are “czere’nie.”
• Sour cherries are a key ingredient in wi’niówka, a traditional Polish cherry liqueur made by steeping cherries in alcohol with sugar.
• Polish sour cherries are often used in kompot, a homemade fruit drink served warm or cold.
• They are popular in classic Polish baking, especially in cakes, yeast pastries, pierogi, and pierogi fillings.
• Sour cherries are prized because their tart flavor holds up well when cooked, unlike many sweeter fruits that can become bland.
• Many Polish households traditionally preserve sour cherries as jam, syrup, juice, or fruit in alcohol for winter.
• Cherry soup, or zupa’wi’Niwka, is a traditional sweet Polish fruit soup, sometimes served with noodles or cream.
• Sour cherries are commonly paired with poppy seed, chocolate, vanilla, and cream in Polish desserts.
• In folk medicine, cherry juice and syrup were sometimes used as a comforting remedy for colds or fever, thanks to their tart, refreshing quality.

Yummy!

We finished off the series “Lost in Space.”  We were hoping it would continue, but the series was planned as a trilogy, only three seasons!

We decided it was time to hit the sack after watching “Splash” from 1984!

Good night, all!

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