Sunday Was A Busy Day!

Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2025 by Paul

P-s-s-s-s-s-s-t, that’s me on the left! Mary is the cute one!

It’s morning, and our walking hooves are on and ready to take on the day!  We played the waiting game for about an hour until the outside temperature hit a toasty 65 degrees—because stepping outside in anything less would be like launching ourselves into a meat locker!  Who knew we’d become temperature sommeliers to avoid frostbite?

The new route was relatively flat, and we moved along at a staggering rate of one mile per hour, leaving a trail of dust and debris behind us!  The important thing is that we are moving!!

We have a new path now!

On our way, we discover things that were previously unknown to us!  We saw a 1940s clothes dryer, solar-powered, no less, still being used!

Works like a champ!!

We note new flora and fauna as we progress through the trail.  The little cactus seems to be saying, “Look at me!” We know that if we get close, it will jump out and bite you with a poison quill!

Cactus spines, often mistaken for thorns, are actually modified leaves that help the plant survive in harsh environments.  They serve multiple purposes: protection from animals, shading to reduce water loss, and even potentially propagating new plants.  These spines are designed to be difficult to remove, further deterring herbivores.

 

It was quite a standout.

A little farther down the path, Mother Nature provided a rather innocent-looking trumpet vine for us to examine.

Trumpet vines are native to North America and are known for their showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds.  They are woody, clinging vines that attach to structures using aerial rootlets and can become invasive outside of their native range.  The scientific name Campsis comes from the Greek word “Kampe,” meaning “bent,” referring to branches bending under the weight of flowers.

Mother Nature’s colors are amazing.

Yesterday, I washed off a nest that had formed under the garage’s eaves, and to my surprise, I washed away three baby birds.  Well, I was sad about the birds, but they are messy.

After our walk, we heard chirping and saw the mother bird flying around as we approached the front of the house.  We looked carefully and there were three baby birds in our rubber tree.  They had somehow managed to get into the rubber tree for safety, and Moma was feeding them.

Watcha doing, birdie??

We rested and did chores around the house before getting ready for the Starlighters’ bi-monthly dance, this time themed “Apple Blossom Time.” It was held at the Elks, and we were prepared for a great evening of dancing and visiting.

We were the greeters this time.  We were surprised that Vicky had displayed one of Mary’s paintings— an apple blossom painting!

Mary was recognized.

We do the photography and are the club’s secretary (plus we do odd jobs).  We got an early picture of ourselves before all the guests and members arrived.  We had 87 people here this evening.

Just us!  Yes, I am wearing pink!

We were the last ones to leave after helping Bob with the iron couch and other equipment.  During the evening, we ordered one glass of “good wine” and then opened a bottle of the really good stuff, Two Buck Chuck.  We find it amazing that we are both so alike.  So we find solace in the $75/bottle stuff, no!  We enjoy Trader Joe’s wine offering, Charles Schwab’s “two buck chuck,” which is now $3.25 when on sale!

We drove home om about seventeen minutes and then watched two episodes of The Blacklist before visiting the Sandman!

The end of another romantic evening with my bride!!!

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Saturday Has Arrived Full Of Clouds And Drizzle!

Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2025 by Paul

Robin was up early; she went to the kitchen.  I was up early; I went to the office.  When Mary arose, we all got together.  We chatted and talked to Colleen to check up on Calhan’s progress.

So what do we have here?  This image is a genuine two-story outhouse attached to a two-story hotel.  Until I read the details, I did NOT want to be on the first floor (for obvious reasons).   I feel this way sometimes, especially when the password fairy sprinkles her dust on my computer!

Oh my!!  Look out below!!!

To bring it up to date, I colored the old outhouse, revealing some additional details.  The second-story “two-holer” is on the back of the building, so the droppings miss the folks downstairs!  This is a great idea!!

Oops!!

So, back to the main story.  We all decided to walk, and tried a new route to pass Linda’s wonderful garden.  Her garden is located about half a block from our place, and it was spectacular, as usual!!

The pink flowers were everywhere!  The image shows Alstroemeria, also known as Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas.

Flowers everywhere!

The lilies lined the front fence, revealing a manicured lawn complete with bird feeders in the ees.  Lilies are a flowering plant that is known for their large, colorful, and often fragrant blooms.  They grow from bulbs, are native to the northern hemisphere, and are commonly found in Asia, Europe, and North America.  Lilies are popular in weddings, bouquets, and other regal ceremonies.  They are also poisonous to cats, so it’s important to keep them out of reach of your furry friends.

The lilies were magnificent.

I planned to have lunch there, but Mary reminded me it was someone else’s lawn!  Phooey, I had a plan!!

We love their front yard.

We looked at Lind’s roses and wondered if they were climbers.

Do you climb?

They are definitely climbers, and they have hundreds of flowers.  We are going to the plant store to find a couple of these for the front yard so they can overhang the entranceway!

Silly question!!

Linda planted Evening Primrose, which will take over the place unless she is careful.

Mexican poppies!

The red lantana looked like a charcoal fire.  Lantana is a popular ornamental shrub known for its vibrant, long-lasting blooms that attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.  It’s a heat-tolerant plant that can be used in containers, landscaping, and hanging baskets.  Lantana is also part of the Verbenaceae family, with the most common ornamental species being Lantana camara.

A bed of red!!

Oh my, a rock varnmit!

We are being watched.

We have a new route that is not hilly, yet provides a mile’s worth of effort.

I started the GPS a little late, but only about 400 feet!

After our walk, we were starved, so I suggested the Original Pancake House.  This way, Mary did not have to cook, and we could share the breakfast (their portions are amazing).

The Original Pancake House for breakfast!

Our eyes were bigger than our tummies!

We loaded up!!

Returning home, Robin wanted to try the trike, so she zoomed down the street!

Robin tries the trike!!

We rested for a while and then got ready for the Fullerton Elks Saturday night event, the local high school jazz band.  They were terrific!

We are at the Jazz Club High School Band at the Fullerton Elks!

We sat with George and Beverly, longtime friends and fellow dancers.

Beverly and George are a great couple and good friends.

The event lasted from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and included a fantastic Italian dinner.  We had a glass of wine and then danced several dances.

The lodge had a 50/50 drawing, so Mary and I brought five tickets for each kid (and their instrument).  We hoped one of them would win, but an adult won the drawing.

 

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The Week She Is Gone!

Posted on Friday, May 16, 2025 by Paul

We got up early and got ready to go for a walk right after paying bills!  I got so mad at the damned computer that I turned off the power and didn’t touch it until late in the evening.  Those GD passwords are enough to make a guy crazy.

We talked to Colleen this morning, and poor Calhan was admitted to the hospital with an abscessed tooth.

We walked 1.29 miles this morning, and I ran the GPS to track us.    We did OK for two old geezers, considering there were hills involved.

Coming down the hill, we saw the cactus blooms and decided to clip off a couple and cook them up next time.  Cactus flowers, particularly those of edible cactus varieties like prickly pear, have a subtle, slightly sweet flavor often compared to a melon or watermelon.  The taste can also be mild, bland, or a bit of a berry-like taste.  The flavor can vary depending on the species and how it’s prepared.

They are almost too pretty to eat!!

After our walk, we worked in the garden for a couple of hours.  There, I met Mr. Lizzard, who was sunbathing on the top of the fence.  We had a charming conversation.

What do you call a lizard that sings?  A reptile dysfunction! 

Just sitting!

This afternoon, we cooked a three-pound corned beef, and Mary made a wonderful salad from the garden!  We watched TV until Robin popped by.  She stayed the night with us, and we always enjoyed her visits!  After dinner, we went to the garden and picked some goodies for Robin.  Then we went to the TV room and started season six of The Blacklist!

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A Typical Thursday!

Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2025 by Paul

There were no big plans today except for Girls Night Out.  We did take our morning walk, and I made it 0.7 miles, only sitting down once, a new record.  We snapped a couple of shots of our front yard.

We are decorated for the next holiday as soon as I change out the flag.

The front yard flowers are doing quite well and are making the front of the house look great!  The gladiolus has roots in the ground and in ancient history.  Named for their shape and appearance, the term gladiolus stems from the diminutive form of gladius, which means “sword” in Latin.  Translated literally, a gladiolus is “a little sword.” Gladioli are also called xiphium, which comes from the Greek word xiphios, which means sword.  In addition to the name gladiolus, the flowers have been referred to as sword or corn lilies.

Our gladiolas get new homes every time we depart; Mary likes to give flowers to our friends.

The second set of Hollyhocks had emerged to the left of the front gate.  They are seven feet tall already and show no signs of slowing down.

The blossoms will be stuffed this week.

After the walk, we prepared to depart for the Elks Lodge for our weekly Girls Night Out.

We stopped on the way so I could take another blood test.  This time, I fooled them.  I studied for several hours before the test, and I passed it with flying colors.  One Sponge Bob Square Pants band-aid later, I was out the door and on our way to the lodge!

We were pleased to see Ed Roberts and Betty at the lodge this fine day.  The regulars were also there, so nine of us celebrated and drank wildly (isn’t water and Diet Coke wild??).

After lunch, we stopped by the cleaners and deposited several dress shirts that needed TLC.

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier go to a Dry Cleaner.  The owner says, “Can I help you?”
They say, “How much to wash an old pair of boxers?”

In the afternoon, Mary took a short nap, and I attacked the flower bed, digging up a celery plant.  The pants always look good, but the taste is not!  So, I looked up why and got the following answers:

Here’s a more detailed explanation of why celery might taste bitter:

1.  Insufficient Nutrients: Celery requires a rich, nutrient-rich soil to thrive.  If the soil lacks essential nutrients, the celery plants might become stressed and taste bitter.

2.  Excessive Heat: Celery prefers cooler temperatures and can become bitter if exposed to prolonged heat stress.

3.  Water Deficiency: Celery needs consistent moisture.  If it’s not adequately watered, the stalks can become stringy and bitter.

4.  Over-maturity: Overly mature celery plants can have a bitter taste.

5.  Lack of Blanching: Blanching, the process of covering the stalks with soil or paper to prevent sunlight exposure, can help reduce bitterness.  Blanching encourages the celery to develop a sweeter, milder flavor.

6.  Improper Storage: Celery can become bitter if stored incorrectly or for too long.

7.  Growing Conditions: Celery thrives in soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.8 and requires well-drained, moisture-retentive soil.

8.  Plant Age and Maturity: Harvesting celery when it’s young and tender can also help prevent bitterness.

We watched some TV and finally hit the sack around midnight!

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Theater Day #2; The Staircase

Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 by Paul

I finally finished the Mother’s Day website for 2025. It takes one or two days to select from the 110 images I took with the camera and prepare some of the overheard chatter into captions. It’s fun to go back and see the images years later.

Today was Wednesday, and that means bodily punishment complete with whips and chains. This morning, we got there a little early, and I rode 4.89 miles, losing about 150 calories along the way!  We are happy to report that no bones were broken, nor were any tendons snapped; we made it out alive.

We stumbled back home, and Mary whipped up a breakfast/lunch so delicious it could win a Michelin star! I half-expected the Egg McMommys to start doing the cha-cha.  Out new toaster does an amazing job and it even handles bagels!

A new type of Egg-McMommy was served along with a fruit salad.

The cleaning staff rolled in around 1:30 p.m., so we had to channel our inner tornado and clean the house before they showed up! It was like a race against time—who knew dust bunnies could move so fast when you’re trying to shoo them away?

They even dress up around our house.

In the afternoon, my resident artist took to her perch and worked on Binx the Cat.  I took the opportunity to sit with her and we watched more “The Blacklist”; we are now half way through the 288 episodes.

QUIET PLEASE: Artist at work!

We are off to the Silver Trumpet again tonight, and I plan to have my one martini and then eat light so I will stay awake during the play.  We had an amazing dinner, and I managed to order small portions!  The lamb lollipops were fantastic.

BTW: The nursery rhyme was first published by the Boston publishing firm Marsh, Capen & Lyon, as a poem by Sarah Josepha Hale on May 24, 1830, and was possibly inspired by an actual incident

Oh My!!!! Out of this world!!

I was going to do my secret rendition of chopsticks but alas, we ran out of time!

The player piano was doing its thing!!

Dinner was delightful, the martini has bid us farewell, and we’ve got 20 minutes to waddle—yes, waddle—across the street to the theater! If we don’t make it in time, we might just end up starring in our own comedy show right here!

Summary:  A Mother and Son spend their evenings playing cards and retelling stories of Hawaiian legend. Better those than their own, which lurk below the surface. When Son’s former sweetheart resurfaces, both he and Mother must choose how they will embrace the future. A mysterious tale about holding on, letting go and the curious force that pulls us back home.

We all enjoyed the play, albeit quite different from what we expected.  The dialogue was funny yet serious.

We ventured back to the restaurant to rescue our cars from the parking lot prison, then zoomed home like we were in a high-speed chase—minus the cool car stunts, of course. Overall, it was a delightful evening filled with laughter, good food, and the strange realization thatwe will be back on the 21st to see Tom Jones!

Paula and Dan are Mary’s financial advisors and keep her in cash!

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Theater Day #1; Mamma Mia!

Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 by Paul

I woke up tired and had my coffee, but that didn’t even work.  I enjoyed the morning just sitting in the office, looking at the myriad of pill boxes Dr. Mary goes through to make the morning concoction for me.   Her medical expertise keeps my BP right on 120/80, which is good!

We talked about our morning walk and did an abbreviated version of it.  Mary wanted to try the trike, so she donned her black leather jacket, motorcycle boots, and motorcycle hat and was off.

I stayed well behind her because she was practicing making motorcycle sounds as she peddled along.  They were rather amusing and quite unexplainable!  The backfires were alarming.  All the dogs in the neighborhood were barking their heads off.

Hot Rod Mary is throwing caution to the wind!!

There she goes, leaving a trail of audible motorcycle sounds which should require ear protection for those within fifty feet. Note to self: Get Mary a flashing red light to add to the trike to warn the neighbors she is coming so they can cage their animals and protect the small children.

Wait until you see the skid marks!

Mary departed for watercolor school, and I got busy doing chores around the house.  Then came the call, that dreaded call: “Paul, sweetie, I forgot my _________.” Anyone can fill in the blank.  I dropped everything and went to her rescue.  This time,  it was her half-finished “Binx the Cat” watercolor.

I returned home after measuring the times to and from the Senior Center in Tustin; taking the side streets takes 15 minutes, and taking the freeway takes 12 minutes.  So, the choice does not seem to matter.

Mary made it home around 3:30 p.m., and I thought there was something fishy!  My well-honed instincts proved to be correct again!

When I confronted her with my suspicions, she became very coy!

We got ready to have dinner with the Capps at the Silver Trumpet in the afternoon.  They will see the play tomorrow evening, but wanted to dine with us tonight anyway.  We had a terrific meal and enjoyed the company!

Food and service fit for a king!!

We went to the theater, a one-block walk from the restaurant.  By the way, we bought next year’s Broadway Series 2025-26 subscription.  We will be seeing:

  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  • Shucked
  • The Wiz
  • Some Like It Hot
  • Moulin Rouge!  The Musical
  • The Notebook
  • Monty Python’s Spamalot
  • SIX
  • The Sound of Music
  • The Phantom of the Opera

Tonight’s performance of Mamma Mia was terrific.  A mother.  A daughter,  3 possible dads and a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA.  On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago.

For nearly 25 years, people worldwide have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA!  the ultimate feel-good show.  I have seen the show four times, and each time it gets better.  This was Mary’s first experience.    She can hardly wait for next season to begin!!

High energy and plenty of music!!

We walked back to the restaurant and did not stop for a drink as we had a gym class in the morning.  We crashed pretty quickly and are getting ready to return to the scene of the crime tomorrow; we are seeing “The Staircase” at Southcoast Repertory Theater and, of course, having dinner at the trumpet!

Our next visit to the Seagerstrom is to see “The Life of Pi”.  I originally thought it was “pie” and got all excited!!

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Monday Again? Oh No!

Posted on Monday, May 12, 2025 by Paul

Time to get up and start moving!!

We had an appointment with the bone crushers this morning, so we departed at 8:20 am, arriving at the gym six minutes later.  We jumped on the exercise bikes and took off like a scalded hound.   Those wheels were turning and velocities approaching the speed of light!  The smell of burnt rubber wafted through the parking lot!

From the gym, we went to see Dr. Bill, whose office is in Newport Beach.  He quickly treated my ingrown toenail with some very nice numbing juice.  He ripped out a piece of nail that was buried quite deeply, and it was 1/4″ x 1/8″ and sharp; no wonder it hurt.  My toe finally came back to life around 6:00 pm.

Getting fixed!

Since we were near Balboa Island, we decided to go to the American Legion for lunch.  They have an absolutely terrific turkey sandwich, which we shared.  Mary had her wine, and I filled up on Diet Coke.

Dr. Bill is a veteran, and we tried to have him join us, but he has a busy afternoon.  He makes many “house calls,” caring for the elderly who cannot make it into the office due to problems with their feet.  He is an unsung hero and a really nice man!

We talked to him about Becky’s visit (Dr. Bill took Becky’s Girl Scout Troop out for a navigation class years back).

We always feel welcome!  Sometimes, Mary wears her US Army cap, and we hear the Veterans say, “We never had a Captain look like that!”

The meal was so good that we asked the bartender to get the chef.  The chef was Spanish and probably in his late 20s.  He looked worried as he came to the door.  He was met with applause, and Mary spoke Spanish to him, telling him what a good job he was doing.  He seemed very pleased.

Balboa Island American Legion for lunch!

The Legion represents all the services!  The new Space Force emblem was placed alongside the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force.

Captain Mary, USA, has been a member for thirty years.

The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an organization of US war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It comprises state, US territory, and overseas departments, each made up of local posts.  The Legion was established in March 1919 in Paris, France, by officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.).  The 66th US Congress subsequently chartered it on September 16, 1919.

The Legion played a leading role in drafting and passing the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the “G.I. Bill.” In addition to organizing commemorative events, members assist at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics.  The Legion is active in issue-oriented US politics.  Its primary political activity is lobbying for veterans and service members, including benefits such as pensions and the Veterans Health Administration.

Everyone was represented.

Mary sat outside for a bit, observing all the boating activity.   The wind provided a bit of cooling, and we were happy to get inside a nice warm car.  The American Flag flies all over the Legion property, which is located on Balboa Island.  Newport Harbor Post 291 of the American Legion is one of the largest American Legion Posts in the United States and is the only Post with its own Yacht Club.

The day was cool but nice.

The view from the Post is amazing, no matter the weather.

The bay is always busy!

Returning home, we worked in the yard with Mary, trimming roses, and I cleaned up the pool pump area.  Mary made some cookies that will will take to Jeff tomorrow.

We talked to Colleen, and she sent some Mother’s Day pictures of her son and his wife, who came over and cooked a magnificent dinner for her.

Love the shirt, Jon!!!

Colleen, Jon, and Sarah

We went in the swim spa for almost an hour, which was very relaxing.  My toe finally woke up and was quite happy.

We watched TV until 10:30 pm and then crashed.  I’m not addicted to TV, we’re just in a committed relationship.

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Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2025 by Paul

I had my marching orders.  At 8:15 am, I was off to the flower store to get roses for all the ladies joining us today, thirteen, I think!  I succeeded in my assignment, and I rewarded myself with a donut from the bakery.  I shall not get close to the bathroom scale for two more days!  I hung a sign on the scale:

When it stops lying, I will remove the sign!

We were all getting ready to depart, and at 10:00 am, I unleashed The Silver Fox and with a mighty lurch, we sped forward to the 55 and down to the Lodge.   I dropped off the girls at the front door and carried the 14 vases of roses myself.  As I got them out of the car, I realized I bit off more than I could chew.  To the rescue came Zachary and Gary.  They grabbed the roses just before I would have dropped the whole shebang.

We have arrived, and the table was ready!

After supervising the delivery of the roses, courtesy of Dr. Mary, I had to sit down!

Excellent job, Elks!

Our table held thirty people, and it was interesting to see where they sat.  It was a very happy group!

Our table went on for miles.

We had five grandsons in this gaggle of humanity!  They are the funny ones!  We also have three great-grandchildren, but they are not babies anymore!  Lilly is almost eleven!

All of our family know each other and get along so well!

Mary’s roses went the length of the table, a veritable forest of red standing tall.

The bees were buzzing.

There was so much food available that several went for seconds.  Today, I stayed with the tried-and-true Mexican spicy.  The champagne was being poured into the bottomless glasses for all the mothers, so I settled for a bottle of wine.

The champagne flowed!

Michele, Irene, and Robin always make a party happen!

After all that champagne, and you are still standing???

Vicky is still spinning up about her recent European vacation, and Jim is taking it easy being the senior senior today!

Vicky and Jim are a fun couple.

Dianne joined us today, making it special for Dr. Mary.  Dianne and Becky haven’t seen each other for years, but they caught up quickly!

I like being surrounded!!

The boys are growing up quickly.  Charlie is driving cars, and Alex is driving everyone nuts—it seems fair!

Joe and the “boys”… young men!

Jow has a beautiful family, and thank goodness Amy is there to put the brakes on these three; otherwise, they would always be off the track!

Joe’s beautiful family!

Amy and her mother, Michele, are fun to be around!!

Amy and her mom, Michele.

Oh my, I still have a few pounds to go/  Poor Amy sees me in Alex, so she is terrified about the future.  Why, I wonder??

My Three Sons (OK, one son and two grandsons)

Miss Robin is always nearby to check that things are going well and is ready to make corrections if needed.  I love my oldest and wisest daughter.

We really missed Colleen today; it would have been perfect if she were here.

Robin came to check on the old man.

Some presents were exchanged, and Mary’s face lit up with the patriotic pin!

Presents were exchanged.

A friend and neighbor for 35 years, a party without Vicky is not a party.  She lights up the room!!!

Our dearest friend Vicky!!

Bob and Nick with Theo and Franklyn…a fun group.  Nick and Theo used to play computer games online for hours on end.

Son-in-Law with their young men.

Robin checks on Pops, ensuring my water glass is full and iced tea is topped off.

A pair to draw to!

Dang, what can I say?  Mary and Becky, along with Robin and Michele, surrounded me!  Am I a kept man?

Surrounded by a bevy of beauties.

We stayed at the Elks until about 2:30 pm as we needed to drop Becky off at the airport at 3:00 for her flight back to Phoenix.   Beck’s surprise was wonderful for Dr. Mary!

Everyone had a super time, and I am sure photos will be coming in for the next week!

We headed home, and after a short visit to Jeff’s, we attempted to watch TV, but I was done!  I barely made it to the bedroom before crashing and sleeping until 6:00 am he next morning.

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The Weekend Is Here In Full Force

Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2025 by Paul

What a magnificent day with an expected temperature of 97 degrees.   Our first piece of business was an appointment at UCI for some tests.  We departed the house at 7:30 am, arriving just 20 minutes later.  Mary got the tests done, and I stayed in the car and took a beauty nap, which was well needed!

After the appointment, we went home and cleaned up the house. Mary thought we had to go to the airport to pick up Cyndy, the Zaitz daughter! Little did she know that I had arranged for Mary’s daughter, Becky, to fly into Orange County from Phoenix and surprise her Mom for Mother’s Day!  Becky and I were in cahoots!

So we went to the airport with Mary, expecting to see Cyndy Zaitz.  As we pulled up in front of the Southwest Terminal and stopped, she saw Becky!  Shock!  I, of course, got the evil eye.

Mary knew I was up to no good!   Mary used some words that I had never heard of: I was aberrant, ambagious,  calculating, canny, circuitous, convoluted, cunning, deceitful, deceptive, dubious, duplicitous, fishy, fraudulent, furtive, guileful, insidious, , labyrinthian, misleading, multifarious, not kosher, plotting, questionable, scheming, secretive, shady, shameless, slick, slippery, sly, sneaky, surreptitious, tricky, unconscionable, unscrupulous, unstraightforward, without remorse, without shame, and a few others I could not spell!

In the end, I was allowed back in the house and did not have to share Scouts bed on the patio!

Mary was shocked and very pleased!!!

We drove to True Food Kitchen at Fashion Island for lunch!

Excellent food and a great visit!!

We had a load of fun and a lot of catching up to do.  I went off the wagon and had an Odessy Gin Martini with a whopping one large ice cube.  I nursed that drink for an entire hour!

We laughed and giggled for two hours!

The girls went for the health food while the old man went for the burger!

Delicious!!!

After lunch, we walked over to the bookstore and ambled looking for a book we could not do without.  Halfway through, I spotted an empty chair, and to save it from others, I plopped into it, planted my flag, and proceeded to fall asleep. When the girls were done shopping, they went on a search-and-rescue mission to find me.  They said I was easy to find, they just listened for a sound somewhere between a raging bull elephant and a backfiring lawnmower; they knew I would be there!

From Fashion Island, we drove home and visited for a while with Mary, showing off the garden and her “Loft”.

It had been two hours since we had eaten, so it was time to do it again. We departed for Verde, owned by one of Becky’s friends. Guests can look forward to a menu inspired by seasonally sourced ingredients, complemented by inventive cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere. This collaboration promises to bring a new level of excellence to Costa Mesa’s dining scene, creating a place where every visit becomes a cherished memory.

It was easy to keep Becky and Mary in stitches during dinner; I just told the truth about things!

What did I say???

We had a fantastic dinner that was so good I almost proposed to the chef, and then we kept chatting like we were trying to win a gold medal in conversation!

Becky and Mom, what a team!

The house provided us with a camera person, and she captured the event perfectly.  We are not sure who the old geezer is who photo bombed us on the lefthand side but at least it did not crack the lense!

Just us!

We headed home, bringing Scout a brand-new meatball dinner! He could smell the goodies, and he went after his dinner with a vengeance. Scout rewarded us with one of his witticisms: “Why did the cowboy adopt a dachshund? He always wanted to get a long little doggie.”

We have a long day tomorrow, beginning with Mother’s Day Brunch at the Elks at 10:30 am so we crashed.

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Mother’s Day Minus Two!

Posted on Friday, May 9, 2025 by Paul

I scared Mary!!!

The temperature is supposed to be 93 degrees, which is perfect for working in the garden, as we get an afternoon breeze every day around 2:00 p.m. We walked through the garden and noticed the boys were showing. Yes, the male part of the corn is just starting to form, meaning in two weeks or so, we ought to see the girls’ parts (the corn fruit) begin to form.

OK, boys, get ready!!!

Naps are vital at my age!!

Before leaving, Mary got tickets for the Father’s Day event at the Elks, which is coming soon!

My day started great!

We dawdled around for a while and then got ready to go to the Apple store. Looks like it’s time for our three Apple watches to get a little TLC! They’ve been ticking away, but I think they’ve developed a serious case of “watch burnout.” I mean, who knew a smartwatch could be so dramatic? So, we have an appointment at noon for their pampering session—because even watches need their spa day! Let’s hope they don’t start requesting cucumber slices for their faces!

One of my watches was reset and came out OK.  The newer one had to be sent to the Apple Doctor so it will not be back for a week.

When we showed Mary’s non-bright watch to the Genius, we punched the “Theater Mode Switch” off, and the watch was back to normal!  Mary finds the most interesting buttons to press.

Waiting at the Apple Store.

We returned home to recharge our batteries (a.k.a. take a nap) and tackle a few chores that had started their own rebellion. After a brief showdown with the laundry monster, we finally headed to the Tustin Senior Center for the grand unveiling of the artwork! I can’t wait to see if it’s Picasso or just a bunch of finger painting—either way, there is bound to be a masterpiece selected this evenong.

The gallery is ready for judging.

When they announced the winners, Mary almost fell off the chair. It was totally unexpected, but she got second place in the watercolor department. Not too bad for a first-time entry in the contest.

On the way home, she sat in the backseat and made me the chauffeur.   Her head was hard to get inside the car.

The prize!! Someone was happy!

She mentioned something about my adding this to the flagpole tomorrow so it could wave over the neighborhood.

Second place was pretty darn good!!!

Dianne knew Mary would win, so she brought flowers like those given to a prima ballerina after the dance.

Dianne even brought flowers!

Mary brought her own rooting sections.  The Ashes, long-time friends and fellow dancers, came all the way from La Habra to see her works!

The Ash’s came to root Mary on!!

Iris and Will came to the showing and Iris (turning 99 this year) enjoyed the show!

Iris got a kick out of the event!

Everyone brought something to eat.  Mary and I loved the wine and several of the homemade dishes.

It was a wonderful party!

We returned home about 8:00 pm and decided to go in the spa but alas, The Blacklist was too good this evening.

See you tomorrow.

 

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