Monday Has Arrived And We Are Ready!

Posted on Monday, July 6, 2026 by Paul

I slept until 7:00 am this morning to make up for the hour I spent working on the Daily Diary, July 4th Edition, at 3:30 am.

We went to the gym and got the first of our weekly dose of pain and suffering.  I tore up the stationary bike, riding more than five miles up and down hills all the way!

We went home immediately as we had a meeting with our friend, the termite guy.  He inspected what we thought were termite problems, and he came downstairs with a smile.  What we saw were the remains of damage before he sprayed last year.  Termite poo stays in the wood, and when the house settles, it often falls out.  We dodged another bullet.

Decision One!!   Our dear friend and neighbor passed away recently, and he was also a HAM Radio operator, so I mentioned to his daughter that I would like to buy some of his equipment and perhaps set up a station upstairs in Mary’s Loft.

Below is a photo of me in the mid-1970s operating my equipment, consisting of three boat anchors, a National NC-303 receiver, a Gonset GSB-100 transmitter, and a Collins 75A4 receiver.  These guys all weighed in at 75+ pounds each!

I know, a handsome devil!!

I plan to buy Jeff’s old Icom IC-7300 transceiver, which weighs in at about 15 pounds and does everything and more than the old boat anchors could even dream about!

To get started, I plan to run an antenna from the second floor out to the garden OR run the dipole inside the attic.

The Icom IC-7300 is a popular, compact 100W HF/50 MHz amateur radio transceiver.  Revolutionizing the market as one of the first mainstream, mass-produced radios to use an RF direct sampling system, it includes a built-in auto-antenna tuner and an intuitive 4.3-inch color touchscreen with a real-time waterfall display.

The radio revolutionized entry- to mid-level amateur radio by replacing traditional, more complex superheterodyne receiver architectures with modern software-defined radio (SDR) architectures.

Here is a summary of its core features:

    • Core Features: RF Direct Sampling: Instead of passing through intermediate stages, RF signals are converted directly to digital data, reducing inherent noise and delivering excellentphase-noisee characteristics.
    • Real-Time Spectrum Scope: Features a high-resolution display that lets operators visually identify band activity and signals, along with a highly customizable waterfall.
    • Touchscreen Interface: The 4.3-inch color TFT touchscreen provides quick access to band selection, modes, digital filters, and menu adjustments without cluttering the front panel.
    • Built-in Antenna Tuner: Covers a wide tuning range, making it easy to match various antennas in the field or at home quickly.
    • Integrated Sound Card: Built-in USB connection enables seamless digital-mode operation (such as FT8, PSK31, and RTTY) without an external interface.

Decision Two!  We are no longer alone.

We have adopted a pooty-tat named Grace.  She will be delivered tomorrow!  Her previous mommy had to move to a care facility that, tragically, does not accept pets—apparently they have strict rules about admitting tiny furry dictators.

Being soft-headed—oops, soft-hearted—we volunteered to give Grace a new home, based on our prior knowledge that she is, in fact, a kitty of good character and excellent whiskers.

Grace is six years old and officially moved in today.  To help her adjust to her new kingdom, we have set her up in the guest bedroom with her toys, bed, food, and water.

In other words, she already has better accommodations than most hotel guests.

We will visit her periodically to pay our respects, offer snacks, and await approval.

Once she has completed her inspection of the guest suite and deemed us acceptable staff, we will open up the rest of the house to her.

At that point, it will no longer be our house.  It will be Grace’s house.

We will live here.

After dinner, we jumped in the pool and floated around for a while before watching TV.

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Time To Unlax!

Posted on Sunday, July 5, 2026 by Paul

We did nada today!  I really did NOT go to the sporting goods store!

We totally relaxed and didn’t even leave the house.  The party was a load of fun, and we sure appreciate Robin and Bob’s assistance getting everything ready and helping with the cleanup!

We thought about going out to dinner, but when we looked into the center of the fridge, a voice piped up, “Eat, please eat!!”  So we did, and we enjoyed two leftover burgers, some hot dogs with sour kraut, and an assortment of salads and fruit.

We hit the pool around 7:30 pm and soaked for an hour and a half, reliving yesterday!

We watched TB for a while, and at 11:00 pm we crashed, mostly rested!

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Time To Party! Happy Birthday America!!

Posted on Sunday, July 5, 2026 by Paul

We scampered around the house getting the last-minute things ready to go, including a trip to the market for ice.  This year there was no shortage of ice!

Robin and Bob came a little early to help us, and we do not know what we would do without them!  The party got underway around 1:00 pm, and then it was 6:00 pm as if by my magic.

Come and visit the details of the day!

Our group had a great time!

The corn man at work!

We decorated the strawberries

Technology moves on!

Which one is the shark??

Hello girls!

We captured Greg!

We keep falling more and more in love!

Someone is partying!

We had a visitor. Starving people surround the food!

The kids went to Disneyland after the party ended.

High up on the side of Mount Reity, we could see 100s of fireworks displays going on all over LA and OC.

The properly attired crew!!

After a visit with Dianne, we got home around 10:30 pm!  We were too pooped to pop so we crashed!

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T-1 And Our Country Will Be 250 Years Old!

Posted on Friday, July 3, 2026 by Paul

We are working together to get ready to CELEBRATE!

We were up early and visited with Robin, who had been up since 4:00 am; she is always on her daily work schedule.  Robin and Mary worked inside for a while, and I was relegated to the patio to open up the BBQ after being in lockdown for almost a year.

Run-a-dub-dub, here comes the scrub!  I brushed his teeth, removed plaque (grase and rust) from everywhere inside, and checked his gas level.  All is A-OK.  I fired him up and let it run on high until the inside temperature read 650 degrees!  One more toothbrush and all the nasty old grease was burnt up and left the building.  The old vegetable oil was applied to the grill, and it “almost” looked brand new.

Come clean!

With a fresh coating of vegetable oil, we are ready to go!

Spotless

We continued decorating most of the day, and the last item was the gazebo.   We had to clean the table and the chair (even though they had been under cover for the past several months).

The gazebo is now ready for tomorrow.

After a quick dinner of leftovers (we needed space in the fridge), we headed to the pool for a couple of hours of splishing and splashing.

Mary loves to keep busy, so she uses the net to get whatever might be floating.  Today, she did not have to work too hard.  If we are in the pool in the evening, the pool lights seem to attract some pesky critters.

The bug lady at work

While floating around, I noticed our artichokes went to flower!  We have to watch them better next year.

Here’s some artichoke trivia:

    • Artichokes are flower buds — if not harvested, they bloom into large purple thistle-like flowers.
    • The edible artichoke is a cultivated variety of thistle.
    • The part people call the “heart” is the tender base of the flower bud.
    • California produces most U.S. artichokes, especially around Castroville, which calls itself the “Artichoke Center of the World.”
    • Marilyn Monroe was crowned the first honorary “Artichoke Queen” of Castroville in 1948.
    • Ancient Greeks and Romans ate artichokes and considered them a delicacy.
    • Artichokes contain cynarin, a compound that can make water taste oddly sweet after eating them.
    • The name “artichoke” likely comes from Arabic via Italian: al-kharsh?f ? articiocco ? artichoke.
    • There’s also a plant called the Jerusalem artichoke, but it’s not an artichoke at all — it’s a type of sunflower tuber.
    • Artichokes are rich in fiber, antioxidants, folate, and vitamin C.

We let the artichokes go too long!

Around 8:00 pm, the Sun set to rest for the day, and Ol Sol left the sky in beautiful condition!

The Sun setting.

The darker it got, the more stars appeared.  Venus was the first light in the nighttime sky!

Venus is out again tonight.

All the lights came on, and that means time for us to climb out of the water and enjoy the fire pit!

9:00 pm, time to go inside!

We crashed almost instantly.  A day of work and then swimming for an hour or so pooped us out!

 

 

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Thursday And We Are Off Again!

Posted on Thursday, July 2, 2026 by Paul

Push harder; I still cannot see the scale!!  Mary is always there to assist me!

Another busy day began!  After coffee and our high-level morning strategy meeting—also known as”figuring out what we forgot to do yesterday”—Mary headed to the showers to prepare for Girls Night Out.

While she was busy becoming even more beautiful, I reported to the patio for my own transformation: from an ordinary husband to an amateur irrigation specialist.  I juggled two hanging plants, wrestled a drip line up the patio post, and somehow convinced water to travel into baskets on purpose.

At this rate, I’m basically becoming a plumber—just without the license, the truck, or any idea what I’m doing.

We moved the table inside the house and set up for Saturday’s main event before taking off to the Elks.  The whole time I was working, I was thinking about how much I enjoy my life.

After careful consideration, I have decided to keep Mary around!

The Elks were only six of us today.  Iris and Will, George, and Bob Z!  We enjoyed lunch, and I even went off the reservation and tried their teriyaki chicken bowl with veggies, a nice change!

On the way home, we stopped by Manchurro Farms on Newport Blvd and grabbed twenty pieces of fresh corn.  Now, except for the ice, we are ready for Saturday’s cooking fest!

We also got a flat of strawberries,s which will disappear quickly!!

We headed home and spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for Saturday.  And by”getting ready,” I mean Mary worked while I conducted a very important two-hour field study on the patio chair, testing the effects of beautiful weather on a tired man.

The results were conclusive: sunshine, fresh air, and a comfortable chair will knock me out faster than a lullaby and a warm blanket.

Around 5:30 pm, we saw Robin coming into the backyard from the side of the house.  Apparently our Ring Doorbell’s battery went flat!

We talked for a while, and Mary showed off her latest diamond paintings.  We then headed to Rogrido’s Mexican Restaurant, where we delighted in sampling their menu.  I was not fooling around; I went for the chili verde.

Here’s some chile verde trivia:

• “Chile verde” means “green chile” in Spanish, but it usually refers to a stew made with pork and green chiles.

• The green color typically comes from tomatillos, green chiles, cilantro, and sometimes lime.

• It’s especially popular in the American Southwest, particularly New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and California.

• Traditional versions often use pork shoulder, because it becomes tender after slow cooking.

• Tomatillos aren’t green tomatoes—they’re a different fruit, related to the gooseberry, with a tart flavor.

• Common chiles used include Anaheim, Hatch, poblano, jalapeño, and serrano.

• Hatch green chile is famous because it comes from the Hatch Valley region of New Mexico.

• Chile verde can be served as a stew, in burritos, over rice, with eggs, or smothered on enchiladas.

• The heat level can vary a lot depending on the peppers—some versions are mild, others are very spicy.

• In New Mexico, people often ask “red or green?” when ordering chile sauce.  If you want both, you say “Christmas.”

We got a lot of comments about our outfits being patriotic!

Just us, decorated for the season!

After dinner, we called Nick and Layla, and Mary showed them how to download some paperwork, convert it to .pdf format, and upload it to another online application.  The kids are moving to a larger, less expensive apartment closer to their work, and they had to provide some information in .pdf format.

Then it was time for the pool because it was a balmy 93 degrees—also known as Florida preheat.”

Robin had forgotten her swimsuit, so naturally, being the thoughtful gentleman I am, I offered her one of mine.

She turned me down flat, and honestly, I have NO idea why.  I mean, whowouldn’tt want to spend the evening in a slightly stretched pair of men’s trunks with questionable elastic and a mysterious sunscreen stain from 2017?

What the heck is that in our pool?

Robin got a close-up, and here we are singing “Splish Splash”.

45 minutes of floating is really relaxing.

After the dunk, the three of us sat by the fire and proceeded to solve all the world’s problems.  Unfortunately, no one from the world was there taking notes, so they remain unsolved.

We looked up at the sky and could see exactly one star, which felt a little stingy.  Curiosity got the better of us, so Robin grabbed my iPhone and opened an app called SkyView.  I pointed it at the lone bright object, and the app immediately informed us that our “star” was actually Venus.

So not only did we fail to solve the world’s problems, but we also misidentified a planet—a big night for science.

Sitting there by the fire, I thought a lot about my dad, who would have been 120 years old.  I found myself wishing he could see me now—82 years old, happy, healthy, surrounded by people I love, and still learning the difference between a star and a planet.

Not bad for a guy who just got dunked and lived to tell about it.

Dad is sitting in my Aunt Opal’s house, and an old picture of his parents is on the wall behind him!

Dad was an amazing man!

The three of us headed to the TV room and watched the last three episodes of  The Last Ship before toddling off to night night.

Another good day!

 

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Six Months Until Christmas!

Posted on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 by Paul

OK, you got me!  It’s 177 days until Christmas!

Today marks the official launch of our highly classified, deeply serious, borderline Olympic-level preparations for the soirée celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.

Before voluntarily submitting ourselves to Peak Performance and their cheerful squad of fitness goblins, we gathered like true patriots: clutching coffee, inhaling our early-morning protein, and plotting our Saturday readiness strategy with the intensity of generals planning a beach landing.

There were schedules.  There were snacks.  There was mild panic.  The republic may or may not be ready, but we are caffeinated.

We are invincible!!    Mary whispered, “Watch those hands there, big boy!!”

The plan includes:

  • Cleaning the BBQ
  • Setting up the tables
  • Bringing in and cleaning off the patio chairs
  • Finishing decorating.
  • Doing the marketing
  • Setting up the ice chest/getting ice
  • Setting the tables
  • Trip to the liquor store
  • Making the garden ready to visit and pick
  • Getting the pool ready
  • Straightening up the patio

It was time to go get beat up—also known as “working out”—, and as I turned the corner toward the garage, there stood Mary, ready for battle.

“I am ready!” she announced.

I had to gently explain that she was, in fact, three days early for whatever event she thought we were attending—and that for today’s punishment, she needed to go back inside and put on the official uniform of suffering: the warm-up suit.

MARY!  That is not your exercise outfit!

We got to the gym right on time, sprinting toward the stationary bikes like the Tour de France had called and said, “We’re desperate.”

We mounted those bikes like professional cowgirls and cowboys, and I immediately yelled, “Giddy-up, old steed!  Let’s ride the range and catch those no-good rustlers!” at the exact moment a group of high school kids walked by.

There was a long silence.

So naturally, I pointed at Mary and shrugged, as if to say, “She’s been like this all morning.”

After riding five whole miles to absolutely nowhere, we then endured sixty grueling minutes of being pushed, pulled, stretched, twisted, and folded by the staff and their impressive collection of medieval torture devices disguised as exercise equipment.
And that’s why, on Mondays and Wednesdays, I never eat Rice Krispies for breakfast.  I want to be certain that any snaps, crackles, or pops are coming from me—and not my cereal.

After the workout, we went to the market and filled a basket with goodies for Saturday.  We were excited just thinking about Saturday!  One year ago we were all dressed for the event!!

Remember last year!  Robin, Dianne, and Dr. Mary from last year!

OK!  Groceries are put away—well, at least the cold stuff, because we’re responsible adults up to a point.

Then we changed clothes and headed to Huntington Beach for the every-two-month ear-lowering ceremony, also known to civilians as a haircut.

And today, in honor of this glamorous occasion, we took Precious… because nothing says “fresh trim” like arriving in a fire-engine-red car that looks like it’s either headed to a parade or fleeing one.

We arrived at about 12:30 pm, so we have about 90 minutes to indulge in their specials, since their happy hour runs all day!  We decided to sit at the bar and watch all the activities from our perch.

It is located next to our hair salon!

We, being simple folks, settled for a glass of wine to enjoy with all our goodies.  We shared stuffed mushrooms, spicy meatballs, a caprese salad, and something with veal!

The Black Trumpet has quite a selection of drinks!

After the meal, we were tempted by the dessert tray as the waitress passed it under our noses.  My palate went for the chocolate cake, and Mary shared it with me.

We could NOT pass up dessert!

Then the alarm went off, and we went next door to get clipped.

Just us! I need longer arms when we do a selfie!

I went first, then made the highly strategic decision to return to the Black Trumpet for one more glass of wine and a comfortable chair—because after a haircut, a man needs recovery time.

I spent the next hour with my head buried in my electronic book, serving alongside a Navy team on a missile cruiser somewhere near Central America.  We were fighting insurgents, which seemed like a productive use of time compared to, say, folding laundry.

By 3:30 pm, it was time to head home and get ready to go out again.  Today was officially a go-go day.  We freshened up, performed a record-setting eight-minute turnaround, and headed off to the Elks Lodge, where the Elks would investigate Lee for membership.

Mary and I both vouched for Lee as an excellent candidate, which was brave of us, considering we’ve known her long enough to have evidence both for and against her. Then Lee was taken aside for a private interview with the investigator, while Mary and I did what any supportive sponsors would do: we went to the bar.

There we ran into Bill Capps, who was also sponsoring a new member.  We found a table for six and settled in for a fine Elks meal. Lee had steak and a baked potato, while Mary and I split one meal between us—apparently under the mistaken belief that Elks portions are designed for humans and not a small construction crew. We took plenty home.

Lee and I go way back.  We were high school friends, and in fact, we went to the prom together sixty-three years ago!  At this point, the Elks weren’t just investigating her membership—they were practically dealing with historical archives.

Hello ladies!

Lee and I have kept in touch all this time.  Sue and Lee became good friends.  Lee joined us at the Elks for many dances.  After Sue passed, I introduced Lee to Mary, and that has been fun ever since.

At the Elks!

It was dark when we headed home, and upon arrival, we found the TV room and almost finished the series entitled The Last Ship.  At 11:00 pm, we had only three episodes left, but the Sandman won the battle.

What a day!  We were on the go continuously for twelve hours straight.

 

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It’s Almost July And It’s Overcast And Cool???

Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 by Paul

I always wondered how she kept her coffee warm!

Our collective carcasses became operational a little before 6:00 am, which is deeply suspicious behavior for retired people.  We’ll be sending our internal timers to the shop for immediate repair.  Retired and awake at 6:00 am?  What is this nonsense??

Before cleaning up and pretending to be presentable for the day, I made a few modifications to the dripline.  Since we moved six stalks of corn to the patio, the planter needed some additional irrigation—although, given the circumstances, “irritation” may also be accurate.

While Mary trimmed, I wrestled with the drip system until everything was properly balanced and no plant could accuse us of favoritism.  We worked until about 10:00 am., at which point it was time to stop looking like garden gremlins and get ready to go.

Before going inside, I checked the berry patch!

The berries are ripening faster than we can eat them!

Here’s some blackberry trivia:

• Blackberries are not true berries botanically—they’re aggregate fruits, made of many tiny drupelets.

• Each little bump on a blackberry is called a drupelet, and each contains a seed.

• Blackberries are related to roses, apples, raspberries, and strawberries.

• Wild blackberry bushes are often called brambles.

• A blackberry plant’s thorny canes can create nearly impenetrable thickets.

• Blackberries have been eaten for thousands of years and were used in folk medicine for sore throats and digestive issues.

• They are rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and antioxidants.

• Blackberries turn from green to red to deep purple-black as they ripen.

• In folklore, it was sometimes considered unlucky to pick blackberries after a certain autumn date because they were said to be “spoiled” by the devil.

We go out morning and night to do our picking.

I had to stop picking and eating because we had errands to do!

First, we are off to see the vampire!  Yes, I needed another blood test for a doctor’s appointment next week.   I like visiting my phlebotomy technician sometimes known as Elvira!

Be gentle, dear!  Because Doc Cote is watching!!

After the bloodletting, we went to Benjie’s for lunch since it was right up the street!!  Benjie’s was as expected, wonderful.  I was a good boy and decided NOT to have my normal root beer float since I have gone over my sweet 190 pounds.

Leaving Benjie’s, we went to Staples to get a 2027 calendar because some of our upcoming events are not in 2027.

Next stop was Home Depot, where we picked up some patio hanging baskets and extra potting soil!

The Silver Fox became a pickup truck again!

Home again, home again, home again, all!   Since we are having a party on Saturday, we did some decorating, and I spent an hour separating about 1,000 “diamonds” that were accidentally mixed up yesterday.

Mary decided to decorate me in the process!

While Mary decorated for the 4th, I sorted through 1,000 “diamonds” that had gotten mixed up.

We sat in the kitchen so a) Mary would have a chair that supports sitting up, b) a place where the lighting would not make one go blind, and c) a hard surface to hold the tools and supplies, making it handy!  Oh, I forgot, a place to see the latest episode of “The Last Ship”!

Hard at work in the kitchen.

Diamond painting is a relaxing craft where you place thousands of tiny, faceted resin “diamonds” (drills) onto a pre-coded, adhesive canvas.  It combines the principles of cross-stitch and paint-by-numbers to create vibrant, shimmering mosaic-style artwork.

How It Works:

  • The Canvas: Features a printed design broken down into a grid of symbols and letters.  Each symbol corresponds to a specific diamond color.
  • The Tools: Using an applicator pen dipped in wax, you pick up individual diamonds and place them perfectly onto the sticky canvas.
  • The Diamonds: Usually 5D, meaning they feature 5 cut facets on each side to catch and refract light.  They are either round (easier to place) or square (create a tighter, tile-like mosaic fit).

It’s amazing being married to an MD who specializes in eye surgery.  She performs her artwork with a professional touch!

Today’s mission: finish the July 4th 250th celebration plaque in time for Saturday’s display — because nothing says “patriotic spirit” like racing a deadline with a chisel and mild panic.

Tedioous but somehow relazing.

Each little “diamond” reflects the light so the entire thing sparkles!

We love the results.

We sat there until 11:30 pm, watching “The Last Ship” and sipping Chardonnay mixed with Perrier water to dilute the wine but still enjoy the flavor.

Yesterday, a name came to mind: John P. Mattei.  He was one of my managers in the Shuttle Avionics Development Laboratory back in 1975.   He took care of test equipment, console design, and all the engineering drawings we needed to hook up to the Shuttle avionics boxes that flowed through our laboratory.  He was one of the six managers I had at the time.

I looked him up online today and tried to call the number, but it was no longer in service.  I found out a little later that he was also not in service.  John passed in 2014, almost twelve years ago.  I was nostalgic and a bit sorry his name didn’t come to me earlier.

We crashed at midnight after laughing and giggling all evening long.

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The Week Starts Again!

Posted on Monday, June 29, 2026 by Paul

Mary decided we might stay home today and avoid the gym since she did her exercises early.

After several highly serious, boardroom-level discussions, I finally convinced Dr. Mary that yes, we really should go to the gym and voluntarily subject ourselves to a 90-minute workout.

So off we went to Peak Performance, proudly wearing our latest disguises and hoping the trainers would be feeling sympathetic enough not to destroy us completely.

To improve our chances of survival, we also arrived bearing a boxload of tomatoes and basil for the gang — because nothing says “please go easy on us” like fresh produce.

We are still clowning around after being married five years!

We headed home immediately as Mary scheduled a massage for us at 11:00 am.  She does take care of me!

I went first today, and after an hour I was officially weak as a kitten.  After I managed to get up, I licked a little milk from a bowl Mary had thoughtfully placed on the kitchen floor, then crawled off to my happy spot to recover and reconsider my life choices.

Mary went next and escaped with only a few screams.  She did pretty well.  There were a couple of “ouchies,” a few dramatic “ohhhhs,” and maybe one sound usually heard in haunted houses — but other than that, completely normal.

After the massage, we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing until about 2:30, when we headed out to the garden for an hour or so to get things ready for this weekend’s celebrations.  Nothing says “party prep” like dirt, sweat, and pretending we still have energy.

At 8:00 pm, we jumped in the pool and floated around for a good hour, looking less like athletes and more like two retired pool toys.  Then it was off to the TV room, where we performed our final act of the day: sitting very still until bedtime.

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Sunday And We Are Going To Relax

Posted on Sunday, June 28, 2026 by Paul

We arrived at the office at the same time, checked our emails, and caught up on the news—because apparently that’s what responsible adults do before the real excitement begins.  We’re also looking forward to Hannah and her family visiting in August, so the countdown has officially started.

Around 10:00 am., I mysteriously vanished from the office.  No panic was necessary—I wasn’t abducted.  I had answered the irresistible call of the kitchen to start cooking breakfast.  Priorities!

Sweet bell peppers will soon get mushrooms and broccoli

I thought it would be an omelet, but after a few minutes, a scramble seemed in order.

I added an English muffin and canned peaches to the meal!

The meal ended up somewhere between a scramble and an omelet.

Omelet Trivia:

  • The words “omelet” and “omelet” are both correct.  Omelet is the preferred American spelling, while omelet is more common in British English and French.
  • The world’s largest omelet was made in 2012 in Ferreira do Zêzere using 145,000 eggs and weighed over 6.4 tons (14,000 pounds).
  • A classic French omelet contains just eggs, butter, and salt—no cheese, vegetables, or meat.  The filling, if any, is added just before folding.
  • The French word omelet dates back to the 16th century.
  • An average large egg contains about 6 grams of protein, so a three-egg omelet provides roughly 18 grams before adding fillings.

We added cheese to the mix and it was soooooooo very good!

We spent the rest of the day in the TV room, and in fact, we never got out of our jammies!  We binged on “The Last Ship”.  We did plan to go to the Elks for some Line Dancing, but between the last of Mary’s cold and my face looking like burnt hamburger, we decided to stay home.

Around dinner time, Mary fixed us some sandwiches, which Vicky brought from Philippe’s Restaurant in downtown LA.

In 1918, while making a policeman a sandwich, Mathieu accidentally dropped the sliced French roll into the roasting pan, which was filled with hot juices from the oven.  The policeman said he’d still take the sandwich and left.  The next day, the same policeman returned with some friends, asking for more dipped sandwiches.  The rest, they say, is history.

It is the same as I remember 75 years ago!!!

Did You Know?  Philippe’s is still in the same location they were in 1951, at a machine shop with a hotel on the second floor.   I remember driving all the way from West Los Angeles every few weeks and getting sandwiches with my Mom and Dad!  In the 1980s and 1990s, I would go there for lunch alone and bring back a dozen of their sandwiches for my Aunts who lived in Downey.

As you walk through the doors, you’ll see their unique setup.  Philippe’s has 10 servers that it refers to as “carvers.” The carvers are stationed at a long display counter with 10 lines.  Once you reach your carver, everything else is done from there.  Your carver has everything needed to take your order, make your order, and give it to you right there on the spot.

Whether your choice is one of our famous French dip sandwiches, a bowl of chili, or a hot cup of coffee, Philippe’s setup is part of the tradition that has carried on.  With the restaurant being family-owned, you’ll find an atmosphere and a menu that are always just like the original.

We watched TV until 11:00 pm and called it quits!

 

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A Day To Remember

Posted on Saturday, June 27, 2026 by Paul

We had a successful morning.  We got up and were off and running!  Of course, coffee was the official kickoff to the day because it gets our hearts beating.  After spending some time in the office pounding away on the keyboard, we relocated to the kitchen for a quick breakfast.

We checked the RSVP list and, sure enough, the guest list for the Fourth of July keeps growing.  Dianne and Fast Eddie, Vicky and Fast Eddie, and Robin and Bob are all joining us for the celebration.  It’s shaping up to be a wonderful day filled with family, friends, great food, and plenty of patriotic fun!

“I will fly in just after 1:00 pm!”

The get together was very nice and we enjoyed remeeting many of his friends and our nniehbors.

Today we went across the street to say goodbye to our dear friend who passed away.  His daughter, Pam, is hosting an “open house” and has invited many of his friends to a celebration of life.

Few people knew, but he and I were pretty close, and we had a lot in common!  Our spouses passed away within a few weeks of each other.  He and I were longtime ham radio operators; we both had multiple bypass heart surgeries; we were avid readers; we were about a year apart in age; and we both loved technology.  Mary and I would visit him almost every day and generally bring him some of Mary’s cooking or something from the Elks Lodge.  We are sorely missed!

RIP Dear Friend

Pam had two image boards set up.

Returning home around 4:00 pm, we resumed our important national duty of binge-watching The Last Ship.  Five episodes later, we figured we’d earned a break from saving the fictional world, so we sailed ourselves over to the ol’ swimmin’ hole… otherwise known as the oversized hot tub.

For the next hour, we floated around like two retired manatees, soaking away the day’s aches while conducting highly scientific experiments on just how relaxed two people can become.

After drying off, we bravely returned to the TV room where The Last Ship called us back to active duty.  Episode after episode rolled by until the clock finally surrendered at 10:30 pm.  With our mission accomplished, we navigated the long voyage to the bedroom, dropped anchor, and were asleep faster than a submarine diving beneath the waves.

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