Another Busy Day!

Posted on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 by Paul

Chef Paul at work!

I was up at o’dark thirty and decided to work on the HeShed even before m’lady rose to greet the day!  I have made great progress since we decided to give Vicky 150 feet of unopened outdoor LED string lights that had been stored in the shed for years!  I also decided to remove all the pots that we have been saving, as our yard is already full enough.  We plan to transport them to Miss Vicky so she can add them to her collection!   The HeShed is starting to look pretty good now.

Almost clean… Another hour is needed to sort through the small cans/liquids!

Today is that day when tequila and beer reign supreme!  It’s Cinco De Mayo, this is the most celebrated non-holiday ever!  American beer companies did help popularize the “holiday” in the United States, especially in the late 20th century.  In the 1980s and 1990s, American beer, tequila, and restaurant companies heavily marketed Cinco de Mayo as a festive “Mexican” celebration, which made it much bigger commercially in the U.S.

So the short version is: Started by history, amplified by marketing.

Mary decided we should celebrate Sinko-Da-Mayo!

This year, we did NOT revert to our holiday garb; we stayed in our work clothes until it was time to go to Mary’s art class!

Our “normal” Cinco de Mayo outfits!

All was going according to plan until the phone rang, and it was the doctor’s office!  They scheduled the angiogram/angioplasty for Thursday at noon (no Elks this week), but also wanted a pre-operation EKG, blood test, and chest x-ray today.

SO, at noon, we went our separate ways.  Mary went to class, and I went to St. Joseph’s Medical Center to get poked and prodded by OC’s finest!

I passed the test with flying colors and got home about 20 minutes after Mary had arrived.  We had planned to see Vicky today, so we called and suggested we have dinner together.  All we had to say was “Fish Company,” and we could hear Vicky’s car start up!

Before we started over, Mary showed me her pictures, mounted on the wall, for the art contest coming up later this week.

Mary presented me with her rendition of  “Picasso Dines On Donuts” or “Picasso Joins The Police Force”:

Don’t ask, don’t tell (p.s. Mary added the coffee cup)

Here are some funny/witty quotes commonly attributed to Pablo Picasso:

• “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”
• “Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.”
• “Everything you can imagine is real.”
• “The chief enemy of creativity is good sense.”
• “Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.”
• “Bad artists copy. Good artists steal.”
• “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”
• “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
• “Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.”
• “Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness.”

Mary is the Captain of Our Ship, so on the way to Vicky’s, she decided we would stay home this weekend and skip Phoenix because of the operation scheduled for Thursday.  We were looking forward to visiting Becky and Dan, as well as the Thedens, over Mother’s Day Weekend.

I was, along with Mary, very disappointed, but during the phone call with Becky, she invited us again to see her after the medical condition calms down.

Aye-Aye, My Captain!!

We bid for a game called Route66Opoly and could NOT wait to have it for Vicky.  When we got to Rossmooor, she had already procured a booth and was waiting for us.  We gave her the game (she and her family love board games), and she went berserk, opening the box and looking at the board and all the pieces.  We are happy to see her so happy!

Someone is a happy girl!

We left the Fish Company, went to see the finished patio at Vicky’s, and unloaded all the lights and other goodies we had brought for her.  We visited for a while, and I got a chance to rest up after four margaritas (hey, it is Cinco de Mayo after all).

We departed Vicky’s at dusk and arrived home 20 miles later.  Into our jammies and then to the TV room, we watched Lost In Space until 11:00 am (some of us did!) before going to bed.

Posted in Dining Out, Doctor, Friends, Working Around House | Comments Off on Another Busy Day!

Posted on Monday, May 4, 2026 by Paul

Yah, right!  Today we are off to the “place of no return”!  The dreaded Peak Performance workout center, where the trainers take personal delight in torturing their victims.  Last week, as we walked out, a movie studio sound truck was in the parking lot, getting ready to record the earsplitting cacophony from the workout center for their next horror movie.

They even had special microphones to capture the low-frequency sounds of bones being crushed and limbs being torn from the victim’s bodies.

After the beating, we went to Home Depot to get some planting mix, some flowers, and two pepper plants.  Mary and I spent some time researching the flowers and how to plant them after getting home.

From Home Depot, we dropped by Ralph’s for a “fly-by,” meaning eggs, milk, and butter.   From there,e we went home to have a brunch before hitting the garden again.

The weatherman said it would probably rain today, and we assumed it was our fault for getting the windows washed — because everyone knows freshly cleaned windows are basically a rain dance.

The clouds looked dark and dramatic, as if they were about to ruin our good decisions, but apparently, the moisture stayed upstairs.  Not a single drop fell.  Just a full day of weather threats and emotional manipulation.

Looking North from our garage.

Of course, we had to look West also, and the clouds looked heavy with moisture, but they stayed afloat.  Clouds can weigh a lot — even though they float.

A typical cumulus cloud can weigh around 1 million pounds — about 500 tons.  That’s because clouds are made of countless tiny water droplets spread out over a huge volume of air.  The droplets are so small and dispersed that the cloud can remain suspended, even though the water as a whole is very heavy.

There was a fair breeze, and that made for a 65-degree day, perfect for working.

The flags were flapping in the breeze and looked great against the blue patches of sky that passed by.

The flapping sound was quite loud.

The sunlight really made the garden look pretty good!

The Spring flowers are doing well, and we can see more seedlings emerging each day!

Our new avocado tree is really doing well, and we are hoping they do not get picked before it is ready; we have a lot of kids walking by on their way to school.

The tree is loaded.

We worked in the backyard for a couple of hours, but we had to cut it short as it got cold and very windy!  So, we went inside, hung up the keys, and got ready to watch TV.

Mary crashed quickly, but I managed to see two episodes of Lost In Space before retiring at 10:00 pm.

 

Posted in Gym, Working Around House | Comments Off on

We Are Glad WGND Was Yesterday, The High Today Is Only 69!

Posted on Sunday, May 3, 2026 by Paul

Mary was suspiciously quiet this morning!

We were up and had coffee by 8:00 am, then recounted yesterday’s activities.  Mary reviewed the pictures to make sure they were not overexposed (if you catch my drift)!

I forgot to mention that in college, I had a job waiting tables in a local nudist colony!  I was the only one who could deliver a dozen donuts and two cups of coffee at one time!

Today, the plan is to do chores around the house, including water-blasting the HeShed and SheShed.  I am limited in what I can do until the next medical procedure, so I plan to make a list of the difficult items and pass them off to my handypersons, Joe, Charlie, and Alex.

While the grandkids are “visiting,” I plan to tell them about how it used to be!  Do you remember?

I was the remote control for many years!!

We worked for several hours doing tasks we had put off for various reasons.  Power washing the storage sheds, also known as the HeShed and the SheShed, spiffed them up, and while we were at it, we washed their windows and cleaned out the rain gutters!

We plan to paint them this summer (the grandkids will do the work).  The HeShed will be a baby-blue paint job while the SheShed will get a baby-pink coating; that way, we can tell them apart!

Mary planted sweet potatoes, and I worked on the drip lines, making sure everybody was getting their fair share of H20.  Mary polished the outdoor roll-around and bar, and I replaced some worn chair covers.

Mary and I work together VERY WELL and enjoy each other’s company all day long.

The garden is coming on strong; everything is producing!

Around 4:30 pm, we stopped and got cleaned up as the kids, Robin and Bob, were coming over to go to Dyria Persian Restaurant with us.  We had a great time trying new drinks.  Robin and Bob shared a Dyria #2, which was more than two people could eat.

Persian food is the traditional cuisine of Iran.  It’s known for fragrant rice, slow-cooked stews, grilled meats, fresh herbs, nuts, dried fruits, and spices such as saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Common Persian dishes include:

• Chelo kebab — grilled meat served with fluffy saffron rice
• Ghormeh sabzi — herb stew with beans and meat
• Fesenjan — rich walnut and pomegranate stew, often with chicken
• Tahdig — crispy golden rice from the bottom of the pot
• Zereshk polo — rice with barberries, often served with chicken
• Ash reshteh — thick herb, bean, and noodle soup

Persian food is usually flavorful but not very spicy-hot.  It often balances sweet, sour, savory, and aromatic flavors.

The Darya #2 is Filet mignon Shish Kabob, Chicken Shish Kabob, and one skewer of Beef Koobideh, served with white rice, garden salad, and a grilled tomato.

Oh My!  A meal fit for royalty!!!

I ordered the filet mignon shish kabab and gave Mary my salad.  I also ordered a vegetable shish kabab, which I really enjoyed.  When Mary spotted the filet mignon, it was all over!  We took enough food home to feed us dinner tomorrow!

We really enjoy each other’s company, with teasing being a major part of the fun!

The Persian dish with yellow rice and sour cherries is called Albaloo Polo.  This traditional dish is a fragrant mixture of steamed basmati rice, pitted sour cherries, and saffron, often topped with toasted almonds or pistachios.

Yummy!!!

Bob drove us home, and as soon as we walked in, the Batphone rang.
It was Kayla and Nick calling from Texas — exactly as planned, because apparently we now schedule our gossip drops like covert operations.

We all talked for 45 minutes, catching up on every breaking development, shocking update, and “you didn’t hear this from me” headline.

Fox News wishes it had our sources.

After working all day, Mary and I decided it was time for bed… but first, we somehow ended up spending 45 minutes in the new “Library” watching Lost in Space.

I brought in throw blankets from the living room, we set the TV timer, and fully committed to “just one episode.”

When the TV shut off, we made it from the chairs to bed in 14 seconds flat.

NASA called, apparently, that’s the fastest re-entry from “Lost in Space” ever recorded.

Good night, y’all!

Posted in Dining Out, Family, Gardening, Working Around House | Comments Off on We Are Glad WGND Was Yesterday, The High Today Is Only 69!

Yeah Yeah, It’s The “First Saturday In May”!

Posted on Saturday, May 2, 2026 by Paul

What is the significance of the first Saturday in May, you ask?  It’s Worldwide Naked Gardening Day, yes, it is a real thing!!

World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD) is an annual, international event held on the first Saturday of May that encourages people to garden in their “birthday suit”.  Mary’s and my birthday suits have collected 155 candles between us.  It promotes body positivity, self-acceptance, and a deeper, more natural connection to the environment, allowing gardeners to experience the sun and soil directly.

NOTE:  That’s exactly what I am going to tell the cops should they show up!

We had to wait until the outside temperature got into the 70s before joining the fun!

Finally, we managed to sneak outside and snap a few photos!  I went first, just in case the veggies were so startled they’d drop their fruit out of pure panic.

I did mention to Mary, DO NOT HARVEST ANYTHING BUT GREEN CUCUMBERS!

This activity reminds me of the 1960s, when I was a Flower Child!  Mary mentioned that we  DO NOT NEED TO BUY A SCARCROW now.  It was an interesting observation!

Thinking to myself: “Life’s too short for tight clothes.”

The flowers were magnificent!  I strutted my stuff, dropping a few petals along the way.

Some people are rooted in tradition.  I’m rooted in absurdity.

Short, I hope there are no bees inside!

Then Mary, today’s photographer, came out into the vegetable garden looking for some tall tomatoes.  Our approach to gardening is rather minimal, in every sense.

I buzzed right over!

Using the telephoto lenses has its advantages.

I explained the proper use of grape leaves, and Mary acted like the mystery of the century had been solved.  Note to self: plant grapes later in the year so the leaves will be smaller!

Out came the camera, and I found a grape leaf, which seemed to do the trick.

Speaking about “tricks,” I posed for another picture, which amazed Mary because she couldn’t figure out what was holding the hat up, since it obviously wasn’t my arms.

How is this accomplished?  Ask me when you see me!

On the way inside, Mary stopped to pick some flowers for the kitchen.

We had to cease the exploits because our window washer, John Maldonado,  was coming to clean all the windows, which were needed after the painting activities.   John has been doing our windows for over 20 years, and he is OUTSTANDING.  We didn’t want him falling off the roof after spotting the animals in their wild habitat.

The windows around the house are now spotless!

After the window washer departed, Robin popped over for a visit.  Robin stayed while the Spectrum technician was troubleshooting the network.  He replaced the modem, and after some rebooting, we are now back to 400 Mbps download speed instead of 2.5 Mbps.

Robin and Bob are joining us tomorrow for an early dinner at Darya in Orange.  We enjoy this restaurant especially early in the afternoon, when it is quiet, and we have time to dine, enjoy a glass of wine, and tell stories about things that never happened!

Filet Mignon Shish Kabob

We got ready and again headed to The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Newport Beach for the awards dinner with the Packards Club of SoCal.

Dianne and Fast Eddie joined us for another rollicking evening of fun!

Dianne saved us a place at her table along with Fast Eddie and several folks we have grown to know over the years!

It was a fun evening, and my favorite Packard model won several prizes.

That vehicle is on my bucket list, so do NOT be surprised if I roll up into your driveway driving one of their amazing cars.
A 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible is a rare collector car so that prices can vary widely based on condition, originality, and documentation.

Rough price range

• Project / rough driver: about $40,000–$80,000
• Good driver / presentable: about $90,000–$150,000
• Excellent / fully restored: about $150,000–$250,000+

What affects the price most

• Originality: original engine, trim, and interior can add value
• Rust and body condition: These cars are expensive to restore
• Quality of restoration: concours-level work can push prices up a lot
• Rarity and provenance: history, ownership records, awards, or famous previous owners
• Mechanical condition: drivability matters, especially for a car this old

Important note

A 1955 Caribbean is not a cheap restoration candidate.  Even a “bargain” car can need six figures in parts and labor to bring it to top condition.

Tonight was 1950s night, so Mary found her 1950s semi-formal outfit.  I do NOT remember the 1950s looking so good!

Looking good!

All I can say is I am a very lucky man!!

Remember the 1950s???

Departing the hotel, we headed home, arriving at 10:00 pm.  At that time, we took a vote, and it was unanimous… head for the sack!

Posted in Food and Wine, Friends, Vegetable Garden, Working Around House | Comments Off on Yeah Yeah, It’s The “First Saturday In May”!

Friday Was Busy!

Posted on Friday, May 1, 2026 by Paul

 

Bust might be an understatement.  At 5:45 am, I jumped out of bed and headed to Los Alamitos to see the dermatologist.  He removed three samples from my delicate head/neck and will probably call us over the weekend.

As I entered the elevator to return to the car, I saw the Boeing Building in the distance.


Perhaps five miles away, as the Crow flies!

After the appointment, I raced home to help Mary get her artwork displayed at the seniors’ center.  We were there first and got to enter Mary’s paintings first.   She entered three paintings this time, and on one, she set a price of $100 to see what would happen.

While at the center, we got a call from the heart doctor, a) thanking us for the T-Shirt we got him, and b) telling us that the test results from yesterday show I have a blockage in the heart and NOT to do anything strenuous.  He would have someone from the hospital get with us to perform an angiogram and perhaps an angioplasty ASAP.

An angiogram is a medical imaging test that visualizes blood vessels—usually the arteries in the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, or legs.  If they find a blockage, they will do an angioplasty.  Angioplasty is a procedure used to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, usually an artery.  A doctor threads a thin catheter with a small balloon on the end into the blocked artery.  The balloon is inflated to widen the vessel and improve blood flow.

Angioplasty stretches the arterial walls to increase blood flow.

Often, a stent (a tiny mesh tube) is placed to keep the artery open.

We headed home right away because we had an appointment with the movers.  They relocated our stair stepper from a spare bedroom to the upstairs area, leaving us a nice new space to watch TV or read—basically, the room got promoted.

The machine weighs 450 pounds, but these two relatively small “kids” had it out of the bedroom in a flash and carried it upstairs like it was a lightweight bicycle.  Mary and I just stood there in awe, questioning our entire understanding of physics, gravity, and what exactly these guys had for breakfast.

We have a new TV room!

We had plenty of room upstairs.

It’s now adjacent to the stationary bike, so Mary and I can exercise together.

While upstairs, I captured a picture of our garden.

The rest of the day, we worked in the patio—trimming and talking and talking and trimming, our favorite cardio.  The weather was so perfect that it was basically showing off.

At 4:00 pm, we stopped and got ready to go to the Packards International Dinner Party/Fund Raiser at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Newport Beach.   The theme was Parkards On 66 (1926-2026).  We bid on a surprise for Vicky & Jim, who returned from a trip down 66 from Chicago to LA.   We do not know if we can wait until Christmas!

We sat with friends we have known for years.

The cars were in the parking lot, and tomorrow morning, they will be judged, and we will go to the awards banquet dressed in our 1950s clothes.

We love those old cars!

Mary made a large donation to the club when bidding on the Route 66 Monopoly Game, which we plan to give to Vicky as a surprise.

We know Vicky and her family love board games, so this will commemorate her recent trip!

By the time we got home, we were bushed, so we went VFR to be, not stopping at go, and NOT collecting $200.

 

 

Posted in Art, Friends, Working Around House | Comments Off on Friday Was Busy!

Thursday Was A Zip-Zip, We Were All Over The Map!

Posted on Thursday, April 30, 2026 by Paul

This morning, we were up at 5:15 am, getting ready for the trip to Long Beach to see the plastic surgeon who is scheduled to remove some cancer from behind my ear.    We always get a good time to visit him BECAUSE we give his surgical scheduler (Ginger) a bottle of Empress 1908 every few visits.

Some call it bribery.  I call it expedited decision-making.

I have a band-aid the size of Rhode Island on the side of my face, but it will come off in a few days.

After the surgical procedure, we dropped by Vicky’s home to see the progress on the new patio cover.  Wow, they were moving right along.

Party time!!!

We stayed and visited until about 11:00 am, then headed to the Elks for Girl’s Night Out, which is coming up on its sixth year.

We visited everyone until about 1:45 pm, when we headed down the freeway to pick up Mary’s robe from the tailor, then off to St. Joseph’s for my heart test.

A nuclear stress test shows how well your blood flows to your heart and whether any blockages exist in your heart’s arteries.  This helps diagnose coronary artery disease and show whether treatments are working.  A provider injects a small amount of radioactive tracer into your blood.  A special camera takes pictures of blood flow in and around your heart.

To me, it looked strangely like a sausage grinding machine!

After the test, which took about an hour, I needed caffeine (according to the technicians, a strong caffeine hit is a good thing).  So we went to Benji’s, where I downed two cups of regular coffee, a Greyhound, and a Coke float.  Oh yes, a HUGE half of a pastrami sandwich!

Oh m!  I needed a fork to eat half of the meat before I could get my mouth around it!

We came home, made some phone calls, and went VFR to the TV room where m’lady fell sound asleep (after all, we had been awake since about 4:45 am).

We crashed at 10:15 pm.

Posted in Doctor, Elks, Friends | Comments Off on Thursday Was A Zip-Zip, We Were All Over The Map!

Mid-Week And We Are Busy Again! Or Is It Still??

Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 by Paul

It’s Wednesday, which means we must go to the workout and be torn to itty-bitty bits by the personal trainers.  We arrived at 8:30 am, a half hour early, and began today’s torture on the stationary bikes.  I was whizzing along at 34 RPM when my name was called.  For a moment, I thought my trainer would leave me alone because I was nearing six miles, but to no avail.

I could smell the burning rubber.r 

I drew the Pain Whisperer today.  She had a tough time getting me up from the floor exercises as I had two broken legs and a ruptured ego.  Finally, I made it up and headed to those barbaric machines that cause extreme pain.

After an hour of torment, we escaped and ran to the bagel store to show our disdain for the treatment.  We lollygagged around the front of the store, staring at the gym while munching on a deliciously calorie-filled bagel and latte.

The rest of the day, we worked around the house, making sure everything was clean for the house cleaners.  Don’t ask!

At 4:00 pm we departed for ththeater to t meet up with Marshall, my financial advisor, and his new lady.  We had dinner at the Silver Trumpet and then walked to the theater to see “Eat Me”.  Not my cup of tea but an excellent way to take a nap!

Fun with friends.

 

Posted in Gym, Theater | Comments Off on Mid-Week And We Are Busy Again! Or Is It Still??

Tuesday, A Time To Relax!

Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 by Paul

We checked the calendar and, to our shock, the only thing on it is Mary’s painting class — apparently, even our schedule needs a break.  We messed around the house in the morning, and Mary got ready to go to her painting class at noon.

While she was gone, I tried to fix the front yard sprinkler system, but school pickup traffic remained absolutely undefeated.  I didn’t finish the whole thing, but I did repair and adjust a bunch of drip lines.  So now the yard is happy, the neighbors are happy, and I’m somewhere between “cautiously confident” and “surprised I didn’t accidentally flood the block.

The front yard is arrayed with flowers.

Mary returned at 3:15 pm with artwork in hand.  I should’ve known something was up—she rolled into the garage honking the horn, waving banners, and revving the engine like she was leading a tiny victory parade.

I saw her latest work of art and was amazed by the detail in the picture.  The Birches looked so good, I was ready to plant them!   Another amazing job; that girl has talent!

Here are some birch tree trivia facts:

  • Birch bark is famously papery and often peels in thin layers, especially on younger trees.
  • Many birches have white bark because of a substance called betulin, which helps protect the tree.
  • Birch trees are pioneer species — they’re often among the first trees to grow in disturbed or open areas.
  • Their seeds are tiny and wind-dispersed, so that birches can spread over large areas pretty easily.
  • Birch wood is strong and fine-grained, which makes it useful for furniture, plywood, and even tools.
  • Some birch species can live surprisingly long, though many are relatively short-lived compared with oaks or pines.
  • Birch sap can be tapped in spring in some regions and used for drinks or syrup.

The Birch Tree was perfect!

We took a tour of the garden around 4:00 pm, and Mary decided it was stir-fry o’clock.  She picked and bagged the veggies while I hauled the goodies inside for their evening bath.  Little did they know, they hadn’t been harvested—they’d been drafted for dinner.

Me?  I stood at the sink and prepared the carrots, kale, Swiss Chard, and onions!  I gave them a bath in salty water and then removed the veins, leaving a large pile of greens.

I get the great jobs, cleaning and scrubbing the ingredients from the backyard.

The carrots got a proper spa treatment first, and Mary dispatched them in no time.  The zucchini was so perfect it was practically showing off—sweet, smug, and delicious.  And the eye surgeon?  Let’s say that knife was in the hands of a true professional: razor-sharp prowess, zero room for error, and a deeply unsettling amount of confidence.

Time for stir-fry!

The chicken, zucchini, and onions come first, then the greens.  I was sure they would not fit, but after just a few seconds in the heat, they wilted down into a manageable size.

MARY!  It will not fit into that pan!

She kept stuffing the greens into that tiny pan, and I was there waiting with an overflow container.

She keeps putting the greens into the pan with the chicken.

I was only slightly incorrect—okay, I was spectacularly wrong.  Mary had this under control the whole time.  The mountain of greens vanished so fast it looked like they’d been enrolled in a witness protection program and reappeared as a delicious stir-fry.

Here are some stir-fry trivia facts:

  • Stir-frying is a cooking technique that originated in China and became widely used because it cooks food quickly.
  • A traditional wok is ideal for stir-frying because its shape allows heat to spread quickly and evenly.
  • The term “stir-fry” became popular in English in the 20th century.
  • High heat and constant movement are key to keeping food from burning.
  • Stir-frying helps vegetables stay colorful and crisp.
  • Many cuisines beyond Chinese cooking use stir-fry methods, including Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese.
  • The technique works well because small pieces of food cook faster and absorb sauces well.

I’ll be darned, it all shrank down and fit.

From frying pan to the plate!  We are ready for a magnificent meal fresh from our garden!

Another wonderful dinner, with everything from our yard, save the chicken!

After dinner, we cannonballed into the swim spa and spent 45 blissful minutes being gently kneaded by our own personal soup at a toasty 95 degrees.  After our amphibious spa session, we retreated to the TV room and continued our highly serious mission of watching Lost in Space.

After a delicious meal, a glass of wine, and a nice soak in the hot water, we all conked out for a bit.  Then, at 11:00 pm, I rallied the troop, gently herded Mary to the bedroom, and we all officially called it a night.

After some TV, we crashed.

Posted in Art, Cooking, Just Us | Comments Off on Tuesday, A Time To Relax!

On The Go!

Posted on Monday, April 27, 2026 by Paul

We were up and going early because we had to be at Amy’s doctor’s office in Newport Beach for an eye checkup.  We went down via the backroads and had it in less than an hour.  We were about 15 minutes early, and Amy and her Mom were already in the waiting room.

While they were doing their thing, I stayed in the car until Mother Nature decided to stop hinting and start yelling, so I marched into the office and practically pleaded for the sacred key to the comfort station.  When I came back, Amy had finished her appointment, and we all crammed into the tiny elevator together like a very confused can of sardines.  Then we said our goodbyes and headed back toward home, each of us a little more dignified than a bathroom emergency deserves.

Mary and I could NOT pass up the pastry shop on the ground level called Wild Strawberry Cafe.  We each selected a pastry and got a latte to drink on our way home.

The Wild Strawberry Cafe!

Going home was really a series of errands, including dropping off Mary’s fancy bathrobe to be repaired, a visit to Michaels Art Supply, and finally a quick stop at CVS.

Home was warm and cozy as I left the heater on since today’s high was supposed to be 68 degrees.

After a brief respite, we again departed to pick up said bathrobe (which was NOT ready), so we stopped by the Polka Deli to get some necessary supplies: rye bread, sour cherries, and sauerkraut.

Everything is imported from Poland!

Back home, we put away the groceries and decided what to do for the rest of the day.  Then it hit me, we need a 48-oz margarita, which means Rodrigo’s Mexican Restaurant on Katella.

The Fraser Family opened their first Mexican food restaurant, Don Jose Mexican Restaurant, in Orange, California, on July 7, 1972.  The food was simple, fresh, and authentic, made by expert cooks from Jalisco, Mexico.

It all began with the founders, Roderick and Patricia Fraser.  Rod, a World War II veteran pilot from Oregon, and Patricia, a local girl from Orange, married in 1944 and joined the post-war boom.  Restaurants became the main family business in the late 1960s.  With the help of their oldest son, Rick, locations opened throughout Orange County and the Inland Empire.

In 2017, the family chose to bring all the Don Jose restaurants under their new existing brand, Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill.  Its name is a tribute to their late father, Rod.  Rodrigo takes pride in its employees, many of whom have worked their way up to top management positions.

Our employees are the heart of Rodrigo’s and part of our extended family.

Wonderful food and fantastic service!

Of course, when I think of Rodrigo’s, my mind (or what is left of it) immediately goes to the Adios Amigos!

Two people delivered the drink, and it blocked my view of m’lady, so I raised the camera!

Nummy nummy, good for the tummy!

Yes, we did eat!  Mary bravely chose the Chicken Enchiladas, while I went full commitment and ordered the Chili Colorado burrito — basically a delicious, portable food crisis.

Oh My! What did I do???

We can’t figure it out, but we enjoy each other’s company all day, from the first coffee to the last tea and everything in between.

Enjoying life.

Earlier in the day, I hooked up a small box called the Oticon TV Adapter 3.0, which is the primary device for streaming TV audio directly to Oticon hearing aids and is available on Amazon.  It supports digital stereo and Dolby Digital, allowing for personalized volume Control via the Oticon Companion app.   We get much better audio than the speakers, and we can individually control the volume via our phones.

We watched two episodes of Lost In Space.  The Netflix Lost in Space reboot (2018–2021) is a three-season series that reimagines the 1960s classic with a modern, dramatic, and visual-effects-heavy approach.  Following the Robinson family’s fight to survive on an alien planet and their journey to Alpha Centauri, the series concluded its third season on December 1, 2021.

We finally cashed at 10:00 pm.

Posted in Dining Out, Doctor, Family, Just Us | Comments Off on On The Go!

The Answer Was “Rain”

Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2026 by Paul

I tried, but someone beat me to it!!

At 2:00 am, the rain began, and it poured hard for quite a while.  By morning, when we got up, the rain had passed, and we had bright blue skies filled with cotton-candy clouds.

We had our coffee and watched the news, then Mary launched into her daily wrestling match with the computer.  At the same time, I cleaned the kitchen, folded clothes, and generally pitty-pattered around the house hunting for chores like a bored housekeeping detective.

We got a call from Amy, and her vision took a dramatic turn for the worse, so we went to the ER at Hoge Hospital in Newport Beach.  After checking, she got some meds and was sent home.  We stopped to have a bite to eat before going our separate ways.

Amy called, Mary texted the optometrist, and we will see her at 8:30 am.

We watched TV, and I crashed,

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Answer Was “Rain”