Today I did not even touch my camera! We just worked around the house and got things ready for the upcoming adventure. We watched some TV, walked the garden, and straightened things up for tomorrow’s visit with David, Mary’s son, and his family! Some days can be just for relaxing; after all, we are retired.
Since the little boys are coming over tomorrow, Mary decided to make “spider eggs,” but she forgot how she did them. The Daily Diary to the rescue. Guess who gets to chop up the black olives??
Before going to bed, I checked my email and messages, and Colleen found a good picture of my father somewhere on my website (the site has almost 10,000 pages; sometimes I forget where I put things). Happy birthday, Dad; you look pretty darn good for 120 years old!
I have fond memories of Dad and I traveling all over central Europe in the summer of 1961. Dad liked to travel, Mom stayed home, and Dad and I saw the world!
On the SS Vulcaniacrossing fromm New York to Italy, about to go to dinner!
Here is some trivia about the MSS or SS Vulcania:
SS Vulcania was an Italian ocean liner built for Cosulich Line.
She was launched in 1926 and entered service in 1928.
Her sister ship was the SS Saturnia.
Vulcania operated mainly on routes between Italy and the Americas, including transatlantic passenger service.
She was built by Cantiere Navale Triestino in Monfalcone, Italy.
The ship was powered by diesel engines, so despite often being called a “steamship,” she was technically a motor ship, sometimes styled MS Vulcania.
During World War II, she was used in wartime service and later returned to civilian passenger operations.
After the war, Vulcania helped transport many emigrants and displaced persons from Europe to North and South America.
She remained in service for decades before being scrapped in the 1970s.
We were up and moving before 7:00 a.m., heading to the office for our daily cage match with the digital world. On the bright side, I learned several colorful new words that apparently can be used to describe a computer — none of which are listed in the owner’s manual.
After peeling Mary off the wall and administering emergency treatment — three strong coffees and a stern look at the monitor — she slowly returned to normal.
Okay, okay… it wasn’t that bad.
There was no wine involved.
It was coffee.
Lots of coffee.
The computer, however, may never be the same. It got so scared that it panicked, froze, made a weird noise, and spilled 1’s and 0’s over the floor.
Poor thing had a digital accident.
Strike one!!!
After beating the computer to death and yelling incantations not heard since the Vikings landed in the New World, we went for a walk in the garden. Many of the vegetables went into hiding from Dr. Mary!
We spotted some pumpkins brave enough not to hide, and they soon severed their relationship with their vines! In a few weeks, they may become Mary’s world-renowned homemade pumpkin pie!
Directly from the garden
We walked around the garden pulling the last of the tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. When we return from our trip, everything else will be decapitated, and we will be ready to plant the winter garden! Of course, that means we will have to turn the soil, pick some weeds, and put in a round of fertilizer!
When we get to work, Mary will put on her farming duds and call the pig to help!
On the farm!
Our basic plants are doing well because of the forest this year, with several of the plants growing four feet tall!
The Basil Forest
Basil is a fragrant herb commonly used in dishes such as pesto, pasta, salads, soups, and Thai dishes. It can be a healthy addition to meals, though it is usually eaten in small amounts.
Potential health benefits of basil:
Rich in antioxidants: Basil contains plant compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols that may help protect cells from oxidative stress.
Anti-inflammatory properties: Some compounds in basil may help reduce inflammation, especially when part of an overall healthy diet.
Supports heart health: Basil contains small amounts of magnesium and potassium, and replacing salt-heavy flavorings with herbs like basil may help lower sodium intake.
May support digestion: Basil has traditionally been used to ease mild digestive discomfort, though evidence is limited.
Contains vitamins and minerals: Basil provides vitamin K, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and manganese in small amounts.
At noon-ish, we went back inside, and Mary prepared the daily vittles, consisting of a homemade pastrami sandwich and ta-bool-la, complete with our cucumbers and hummus. Mary keeps us well-fed and well-nourished.
Lunch is served!
Her sandwich creation was fantastic! The English muffins are a treat, and the lettuce and tomatoes were freshly picked from our garden! The pastrami was from Monday’s lunch. This beats a hamburger any day!
A healthy lunch
Around 2:00 pm, Joe arrived and heroically completed the Great Flagpole Relocation Project of Casa Valencia.
Previously, the flagpole stood in the garden outside the fence, which meant that every time I wanted to raise or lower the flags, I had to embark on an expedition through bushes, dirt, and rose bushes—basically a patriotic obstacle course with thorns. Joe, being a man of both wisdom and self-preservation, suggested we move the pole inside the fence onto the concrete front patio slab, where flag duty would no longer require jungle survival skills.
We cleaned out a hole the cement-driller guys had made in the pad, positioned the flagpole foundation tube, leveled it with the precision of NASA engineers, and filled the hole with rapid-set concrete. By tomorrow afternoon, the flags will once again fly proudly over Casa Valencia—without anyone needing a machete or a tetanus shot.
Afterward, Joe came inside and enjoyed some of Mary’s homemade tookies while making work calls, proving he can multitask at an elite level: business in one hand, cookie in the other.
And best of all, I got two great pictures of him, which may or may not be used later for historical documentation, blackmail, or the Casa Valencia Hall of Fame.
Our own construction worker!
After Joe departed, we continued getting ready for the trip. Mary ironed my shirts, and I polished some shoes.
The nightly call to Robin occurred at 7:30 pm. We laughed and giggled with her and Bob for almost thirty minutes.
We then settled in and watched a Reacher spinoff, Neagley, until around 10:00 pm. Neagley is an American action crime television series created by Nick Santora and Nicholas Wootton for Amazon Prime Video. Based on the character created by Lee Child, it is a spin-off of the television series Reacher. It stars Maria Sten, who reprises her role as Frances Neagley from Reacher.
I had allergies last night and kept blowing my nose, sniffling, and coughing. It must have sounded like a Model-T just as it ran out of gas!
So, when I dozed off, “The Kleenex Fairy” apparently visited me.
Apparently, the Kleenex Fairy had reached her limit with my sniffling, sneezing, and Olympic-level nose-blowing.
Taking matters into her own tiny, tissue-powered hands, she staged an intervention while I was asleep — burying me under a mountain of Kleenex like some congested archaeological exhibit. Naturally, she also snapped a photo right as I was waking up, because even magical beings need evidence.
As I slowly came to, confused and partially mummified, I heard her make her escape — accompanied by a very distinctive cackling sound.
After finally digging myself out of Tissue Mountain, I did the only sensible thing left to do:
The clock read 6:00 am, and my eyes opened, ready to take on the day. Sleeping Beauty made some sounds but then fell back to sleep, as yesterday was very busy! Finally, at 7:08 am, I ran in and kissed her, and she awoke immediately… screaming and throwing things at me! She was expecting a handsome prince, not me!
Come with me, and I shall take you away… to Peak Performance!
And off we went in the carriage drawn by seven little dwarfs! At the gym, we rode our bicycles for miles and gleefully watched the staff and members dig into Antony’s birthday box of dates.
Dates were not really “discovered” by one person. They grow on date palm trees, native to the Middle East and North Africa. Ancient people likely found them growing naturally and realized they were sweet, nutritious, and easy to dry and store. Dates have been cultivated for thousands of years, especially in places like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Dates are one of the oldest cultivated fruits, grown for over 5,000 years.
They come from the date palm tree.
Dates are naturally very sweet and are often used as a natural sweetener.
A single date palm can produce hundreds of pounds of dates in a year.
Dates are important in Middle Eastern and North African cultures.
They are commonly eaten to break the fast during Ramadan.
Dates contain fiber, potassium, magnesium, and natural sugars.
Popular types include Medjool, Deglet Noor, and Barhi.
On our way home, we decided not to eat breakfast since we were heading to the lodge for lunch; it’s Girl’s Night Out!
Lunch at the Elks was fun, as always, and I got the tickets for other friends who are joining us on Halloween. We have finally figured out our costumes for Halloween!
After returning home, we both took our beauty naps. Mary’s worked; mine did not!
Mary decided dinner needed to be light and healthy, so she tried her homemade Tabbouleh.
Tabbouleh, also transcribed as tabouleh, tabbouli, tabouli, or taboulah, is a Levantine salad of finely chopped parsley, soaked bulgur, tomatoes, mint, and onion, seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and sweet pepper.
Tabbouleh is a traditional Levantine salad with deep roots in the eastern Mediterranean, especially in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan.
Its history is closely tied to the mountain regions of Lebanon and Syria, where fresh herbs, wheat, olive oil, and citrus were common ingredients. The dish likely developed as a simple rural food made from what was readily available: parsley, mint, tomatoes, onions, bulgur wheat, lemon juice, and olive oil.
The word “tabbouleh” is generally believed to come from the Arabic root related to seasoning or spicing, reflecting the dish’s bright, herb-heavy flavor. Unlike many modern versions outside the Middle East, traditional tabbouleh is primarily a parsley salad, with only a small amount of bulgur added.
Tabbouleh became a central part of mezze, the spread of small dishes served across the Levant. Over time, migration helped spread it around the world, especially to Europe, the Americas, and Australia. In many Western adaptations, the bulgur or couscous portion became larger, but in classic Lebanese-style tabbouleh, the herbs remain the main ingredient.
Today, tabbouleh is strongly associated with Lebanese cuisine, though it is enjoyed throughout the Levant and beyond as a symbol of fresh, seasonal Mediterranean cooking.
Delicious!
Again, I am blessed with a partner in life who loves trying new things and is fearless in the kitchen.
By the by, my next recipe is banana bacon. Say what? Yes, banana bacon! Great in sandwiches, burgers, breakfast plates, or chopped over salads.
Ingredients
Peels from 2 ripe bananas, washed
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp oil
Optional: a few drops liquid smoke
Instructions
Prepare the peels – Wash bananas well. Peel them, then scrape the white inside of the peel lightly with a spoon.
Cut into strips – Slice the peels into long bacon-like strips.
Make marinade – Mix soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, oil, and liquid smoke if available.
Marinate – Coat the banana peels in the marinade. Let sit for 10–20 minutes.
Cook – Heat a pan over medium heat. Fry the strips for 2–3 minutes per side until dark, sticky, and slightly crispy.
Serve – Let them cool for a minute — they crisp up more as they cool.
The rest of the day we piddled. Mary did her packing list for the trip; I put together the roll-around cart. We made our daily phone calls. I worked on our Apple Picking Website and updated our Halloween 2026 Website.
After dinner, we watched Reacher again. Mary decided to check for light leaks (her eyes closed and she took a nap). I ended up staying awake until 1:00 am when the Sandman sent a nasty text demanding I get horizontal.
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Remembering my father, Paul William Liles, on his birthday. Paul William Liles, born in McRae, Arkansas, in 1906, would have been 120 years old today, but alas, God called him home 56 years ago; his life and legacy remain deeply meaningful.
He came from humble beginnings in rural Arkansas at the dawn of the 20th century. With limited formal education (9th grade), but with determination, character, and uncommon perseverance, he made his way to California and built a remarkable life. Through hard work and true grit, he rose to become General Manager of a medium-sized dime store chain that would eventually grow into “The 99 Cent Store.”
He was an extraordinary man, and I remember him today with gratitude, respect, and love. He was kind and generous, had an amazing sense of humor (you can blame him for my actions), and a fantastic mind for mathematics (he was a human calculator). He left this world much too early, and I often imagine how he would have taken to Mary.
Paul William Liles 1961 In Italy!
I always heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away! Did you know?
The saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” comes from a 19th-century Welsh proverb.
One of the earliest recorded versions appeared in 1866 in Notes and Queries, a British periodical. It was reported as a Pembrokeshire saying:
“Eat an apple on going to bed, And you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”
Over time, the wording became shorter and catchier. By the early 1900s, it had evolved into:
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
The idea behind it is that apples were seen as a simple, healthy food, and eating fruit regularly was associated with good health. It’s not literally true that apples prevent all doctor visits, of course, but the phrase became popular as a general reminder that good diet helps maintain health.
So we tried eating a lot of apples, but we still had to see the doctors!
Chomp chomp chomp!
Well, the old saying isn’t entirely true, because we have been eating apples like there is no tomorrow. Today, Mary and I have doctor’s appointments across town at the same time due to scheduling conflicts!
I offered to delay my appointment and take a crash course on YouTube and save a lot of money butt Mary turned me down!
They all call me “Painless Paul”!
Mary is going to a colonoscopy in Yorba Linda while I am getting my lungs checked in Orange. Dianne is taking Mary to the procedure, and if I get out near the same time, we will all go to lunch!
Mary was ready to go!
“Bring it on! I fear not the camera nor the 20-foot-long hose!”
She looked pretty brave in advance, but then there was recovery! Instead of anesthesia, they gave her two glasses of wine! Hey, it worked!! She is a real Sleeping Beauty!
“Did anyone get the license plate of that truck that hit me???”
Dianne, Mary, and I met at Benji’s and relived this morning’s moments. We laughed and giggled and told ghost stories (we were in the dark bar and Halloween is near).
From Benji’s, we headed to Suit Zone to get my zoot-suit shirt altered. Apparently, a shirt with a 19½-inch neck is designed for someone built like a refrigerator with cufflinks. I’m a size 46 with the same neck, so the tailor is removing enough fabric to make a second shirt—or possibly a fitted car cover for the neighbor’s VW.
Suit Zone – Suits, Tuxedos & Jackets for Men
Then it happened: I was shanghaied by Dr. Mary.
She’s been trying to get me into new clothes for years, and I finally surrendered—partly because she’d spent the morning in extreme pain, and partly because I was tired of trying to button an 18-inch neck shirt like I was defusing a bomb with my throat.
Every time I got one fastened, my face turned bright red, my eyes bulged, and I spent the evening looking like a well-dressed tomato fighting for oxygen.
After buying two new suits, a new tuxedo, and five new dress shirts (my size), I have no idea what else we walked out with! Then Mary thought about how I looked, and she asked for a refund! In my case, clothes do NOT make the man; a large plastic trash bag hides the man!
The owner of the store is Lebanese and got to jabbering about food, and he suggested a Lebanese market close by!. So, what did we do? We then shopped at Fresh Choice Marketplace. We had fun going up and down each aisle, and our basket filled up with goodies, including four pounds of candied dates, YUMMY!!!!
One could spend an hour just looking at all the goodies!
We finally made it home, but not without some interesting pictures! I had a nightmare about the fish heads!
n Lebanese cooking, the dish most associated with using fish heads is sayadieh / sayyadieh — a spiced fish-and-rice dish.
The fish heads and bones are often simmered to make a rich stock, which flavors the rice and the sauce. The finished dish is usually served with fried or baked fish, caramelized onions, and sometimes a tahini-based sauce.
Frozen anything!Fish heads??
From the market, we went to CVS to get some meds and other “supplies”.
Finally, we got home at 7:30 om and realized we had been on the go since 8:30 am this morning, eleven hours straight. We called Robin and did our nightly bat-phone hookup and coordination session. A week from tomorrow, we head to New Hampshire to visit Colleen and family! Robin sounded like it was a trip to see Santa Claus; she was very excited about it!
We tried to watch TV, but alas, I could not keep my eyes open, so I headed to bed a little early. Mary took a short afternoon nap after lunch and had slightly more energy than I did.
A quick tribute to my ex-father-in-law, whose birthday was yesterday. Charles H. Feltz was a wonderful man whom I enjoyed knowing for twenty years. He rose through the ranks at North American Aviation and Rockwell to become a division president, where he worked on many amazing space programs!
1916-2003: A Key Figure in the X-15 and Apollo Program.
We were up fairly early and worked in the office. I went through the bills and nearly passed out because we had several surprises this month! The rental property had to be refurbished; I needed a second 20 TB hard drive; the fridge went on the fritz, so we needed a new one, etc. Unplanned!!
I poured over the books and determined I was broke; well, maybe not!
1 + 1 = 3, right one!!!
Yesterday I decided to make a small “improvement” to the AvalonBall website.
And by “improvement,” I mean I used my four thumbs, clicked a few things with great confidence, and promptly blew the whole thing up.
Naturally, I went looking for my backups. And alas, much like my dignity, they were nowhere to be found.
I was only slightly upset — in the calm, measured way a person is upset when their website has vanished into the digital witness protection program. But then I remembered: I pay my ISP to back things up too. So I sent in a support ticket, and within a couple of hours, everything was restored.
Suddenly, that $90-a-month “insurance policy” felt less like an expense and more like a tiny tech miracle wrapped in a monthly bill.
At noon, Mary was ready for her painting class, so I chauffeured her over like the supportive husband/part-time Uber driver that I am. Then I came back home to resume computer work, along with some laundry, folding, and KP duty — because I like to help! Also, it seems only fair to assist Dr. Mary, since she does so much around here to turn this house into an actual home instead of a building where I occasionally misplace tools and break websites.
When I picked Mary up, she showed me her latest painting — and wow, she really is amazing.
She had not finished by 3:00 pm, though, so the painting didn’t have a background yet. Fortunately, I still had access to AI, which I had not managed to destroy earlier in the day, so I generated a temporary background for her.
Honestly, after what happened to the website, I’m just glad the painting didn’t end up with a spaceship, three raccoons, and a volcano in the background.
The Monarch has arrived!
Here are some funny and surprising trivia bits about the Monarch butterfly:
They taste awful on purpose. Monarch caterpillars eat milkweed, which contains toxins. This makes adult Monarchs taste bad to predators. Basically, they are flying warning labels.
Their orange color is a threat. That bright orange-and-black pattern is like a neon sign saying, “Eat me and regret it.”
Birds learn the hard way. Some birds that eat Monarchs vomit afterward and remember not to try again. Monarchs are tiny teachers of bad decisions.
They go on a road trip without GPS. Monarchs can migrate thousands of miles to Mexico, even though the individuals making the trip have never been there before.
One generation does the marathon. Most Monarchs live only a few weeks, but the “super generation” born before migration can live around 8 months.
They use the sun like a compass. Monarchs navigate partly by the sun, with an internal clock helping them adjust for time of day.
They can smell with their feet. Like many butterflies, Monarchs taste plants by standing on them. Imagine deciding dinner by walking on it.
Male Monarchs have little black spots. Males have black scent glands on their hind wings that look like tiny dots. It is one way to tell males from females.
Their caterpillars are eating machines. A Monarch caterpillar can increase its body mass thousands of times before becoming a chrysalis.
They hang upside down to transform. Before becoming a chrysalis, the caterpillar hangs in a “J” shape, looking like it is dramatically rethinking its life choices.
At 5:30 pm, Mary began her prep for a colonoscopy, which is always fun to watch if you are NOT the one doing the prep. Since she likes to watch TV, I moved a chair into her bathroom and got her the supplies she needs for the next few hours!
Mary called the creator of Giggleguts, Dan Gibson, and asked for some advice!
We watched TV, and that was the end of the evening. Mary watched TV in the bathroom, and I ran errands back and forth to the Ladies Lounge!
Yes, the day of torture has arrived. We put on our gym clothes and headed to Peak Performance for our meeting with The Torture Team. We were dressed in our finest retro gear.
After the workout, we did our normal thing! We sat, breathed in two bottles of the finest oxygen from matching oxygen bottles, and relaxed, allowing our muscles to contract to normal size.
The rest of the day we piddled around except for a brief visit to Mary’s doctor in Fountain Valley. She went inside to the potatoes. And I waited in the car. Nice with the nice breeze, it was comfortable, and I read several chapters in my latest Clive Cussler adventure series.
After returning home, we turned into couch potatoes and watched Bruce Willis in action. Mary crashed on the couch, and I finished off the adventure movie.
Tears of the Sun is a 2003 American war-drama action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua. It depicts a fictional U.S. Navy SEAL team rescue mission set amid a 21st-century version of the Nigerian Civil War. Lieutenant A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis) commands the team sent to rescue U.S. citizen Dr. Lena Fiore Kendricks (Monica Bellucci) before the approaching rebels reach her jungle hospital. Willis produced Tears of the Sun through his production company, Cheyenne Enterprises.
At 10:30 p,m I poked the bear and led her to the bedroom.
We were supposed to go to the Elks for Salsa Dance lessons, but mid-morning we decided to stay home and get the house ready for Halloween.
We decorated our home from five LARGE containers of goodies, each one containing memories dating back years and years. Each decoration has its own story.
Paul and Mary decided October deserved “a little atmosphere,” which was how they ended up dragging five enormous containers of Halloween decorations into the living room.
The first bin produced skull wine glasses, which Paul arranged on the bar “for classy vampires.” The second held champagne flutes clutched by skeleton hands; Mary filled one with wine and toasted “to tasteful terror,” just as Paul grabbed the glass and drank it.
By bin three, spider webs covered the staircase, the sofa, and most of Paul. “I’m helping,” he said, blinking through gauze.
Bin four unleashed pumpkin lights, which blinked happily around the mantle until Mary realized she had spelled BOO backward. Paul insisted “OOB” sounded scarier. Secretly he hoped it was spelled “BOOB”. The fifth container was the troublemaker. Black spiders crawled over lamps, a motion-sensor ghost screamed whenever anyone breathed, and a severed hand kept saying, “Nice try!” from under the coffee table. Exhausted, we stepped back to admire our work.
Here are some funny trivia bits about Halloween decorations:
Jack-o’-lanterns were originally made from turnips, not pumpkins. Early versions looked way creepier — like haunted vegetables with dental problems.
Fake cobwebs are basically Halloween glitter: you put them up “lightly,” and somehow they’re still stuck in your bushes in February.
The giant yard skeleton craze really took off thanks to a 12-foot skeleton sold by Home Depot. It became so popular people started naming them and decorating them for other holidays too.
Black cats became Halloween symbols partly because of old superstitions, but today most black cats are just confused why everyone suddenly wants themed merch of them.
Inflatable decorations are modern Halloween royalty — nothing says spooky like a 9-foot ghost gently collapsing because someone unplugged the extension cord.
Orange and black are Halloween colors for a reason: orange represents autumn harvest, and black represents death, darkness, and the inside of your candy bag after you eat everything good.
Some people decorate for Halloween before September is over, proving that Halloween is less of a holiday and more of a lifestyle choice.
Plastic skeletons are anatomically questionable, which means somewhere a doctor is silently judging your porch.
The “witch crashed into a tree” decoration became popular because apparently Halloween comedy peaks at poor broomstick navigation.
Pumpkins are technically fruit, so carving them into screaming faces is basically extreme fruit salad.
We tore into the boxes and died to our early-onset Alzheimer’s; it was like Christmas for us. Everything seemed new, even though many of the decorations were forty years old.
At Halloween, we enjoy our wine in vintage skull glasses!
Poor Robin inherited my rather questionable sense of humor, and during her wanderings around town, she spotted the perfect kitchen towel for us.
Naturally, it now hangs in the place of honor on our wall oven, where no guest can possibly miss it.
It got several comments at our last party — which, in our family, means it was either a big hit or we’ve once again made people question our upbringing.
We both decorated together — technically. I provided the manual labor, and Mary provided the talent, vision, and the ability to stop me from making it look like a hardware store exploded.
We finished up around 6:00 p.m. and headed to the pool, where we quickly discovered it was about five degrees colder than our delicate little bodies are willing to tolerate at this stage of life.
So we turned off the heat, admitted defeat, and retreated to “Ol’ Trusty” — our swim spa. It was 94 degrees, also known as “the correct temperature for civilized humans.”
We watched a TV series called Best Doctor. It’s a 2025 medical comedy-drama about a talented surgeon who leaves his high-level surgical career and moves to a small town in Maine to work as a local doctor. The story follows his transition from elite surgery to small-town medicine as he navigates quirky residents, personal setbacks, and the challenges of being a brilliant but socially awkward doctor. It’s based on the British series “Doc Martin.”
We crashed around 10:30 pm.
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The sun came up and so did we! At 10:30 am, Robin and Bob dropped by, and we went to the Elks Lodge for an orientation meeting with Alvaro, a friend from Boeing. He is in the process of being inducted into the Elks, sponsored by the Dudas and Liles.
Prior to Bob and Robin’s arrival. We worked in the office doing what we do best, fighting with the computer!
Off we went, arriving just in time to meet up with Alvard, his wife, Liz, and daughter Sophia.
We decided to grab some breakfast before the orientation, so we went to the lounge.
Being a teen, we knew she was after a burger and fries!
We sat around the table and jabbered for a good hour before Alvaro and his wife were called for the orientation.
While they were being introduced to this specific lodge and all of its activities, we went about harassing Sophia, and, as expected, she was gracious and stayed right up with us (once she determined we did not bite).
After the orientation, Alvaro and Liz returned to the table where they were greeted with dessert. Liz was confronted with a cheesecake slightly bigger than Detroit!
We always enjoy being with Bob and Robin, and this morning was no different!
We all spent another 3o minutes devouring dessert and talking. The morning was fun!
Some of the desserts went home!
After leaving the lodge, the four of us went to look at a home for sale back in the hood. Since it was so warm, I decided to let Mary, Bob, and Robin go inside while I managed the car’s air conditioning, making sure it stayed cool.
The kids departed, and Mary and I took a short nap (about three hours), waking up just before pool time, or what we thought would be pool time. We got all ready, but when we tried to get into the pool, it was 86 degrees, and our bodies rebelled.
Hello, hot tub, where it was a cool 94 degrees. We remembered the day the hot tub/swim spa came to visit and decided to stay.
We came in after 2 1/2 cycles, meaning about 40 minutes, and we attempted to watch TV. I lasted about an hour, and then the Sandman called; I waddled off to bed. Mary came in about 11:00 pm and crashed. I think this recent spurt of hot weather has done us in!
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It was a somber morning as we listened to several radio programs while traversing SoCal on our never-ending errands. We recalled where we were 25 years ago on this fateful day in history and thought about the crazy changes those crazy religious fanatics caused. I hope they are rotting in hell!
In Spanish, “pachuco” refers to a Mexican or Mexican-American youth subculture, especially from the 1930s–1940s, often associated with zoot suits, slang, and a distinctive rebellious style.
Depending on context, pachuco can mean:
A young Mexican/Mexican-American man with flashy style, especially a zoot suit
Someone who speaks or uses Caló, a Mexican-American slang
Sometimes, informally or negatively, a streetwise guy, troublemaker, or gang-associated youth
It’s strongly tied to Chicano history and culture, especially in places like Los Angeles and the U.S.–Mexico border region.
I may go back and get four more colors!!!
We had an 11:00 am appointment and arrived early, so we did the proper thing: we went to the donut store down the block and celebrated with donuts and a drink! We awaited the owner’s arrival and read the signage around the building.
The signs tell of the Zoot Suits’ long history!
Once inside, the owners, along with help from Mary, transformed me from an old white guy into a Chicano in a matter of minutes. One look in the mirror, and I swear I could have been speaking Spanish right along with Vicky!
The coat fit perfectly, but alas, the trousers were about 18″ too long!
Msry had a ball looking at the “add-ons,” including ties, hats, shoes, and chains.
So I had everything I needed, and conveniently there was a tailor next door. The owner said, “Just go next door, and he will mark it up.” I started out the door when she yelled at me! “Gringo! There are laws in this city about indecent exposure!” I had no idea what she meant until she asked me to take my jeans with me, or otherwise I would be coming back in my undies, a sight no one driving a car should see! We all had a good laugh!
After returning to the shop and getting dressed (i.e., putting on my shirt and shoes), I spotted another suit which may be more my style. I may change my name to “Flame”.
I could be a Mexican Foreman in this outfit!!
The owners were both there and very helpful in guiding Mary in picking out ties, chains, suspenders, switchblades, etc. We walked out of the establishment with bags of goodies. Mary has been wanting me to do this for three years, and I finally succumbed!
OK, now we head south with a quick stop at the house or apartment at 1:00 in Baja California, near a place Mary wanted to visit, sometimes called Irvine. That appointment was fairly quick, and we realized we had time to spare, but NOT for long.
Mary has been wanting to stop at a specific jewelry store in Huntington Beach, so off we went in a cloud of dust! Mary did her business, and then we headed home for a few minutes before going to dinner at Dru’s lovely home. We stopped at Ralph’s and got some fresh flowers, and I added some champagne and some two-buck-chuck, now known as four-buck-chuck.
When we saw Dru on Thursday night, we mentioned that my longtime friend and golf buddy, James, would be joining us with Carol. I was looking forward to seeing him again and getting the latest scoop on him and Miss Carol! 5:10 pm, it was off to Dru’s home, just up the street.
When Mary and Paul arrived at Dru’s house for what she called “serious Southern cooking,” they found her friend Harry guarding the stove like a tiny sheriff. James and Carol were already at the table, fanning themselves with napkins and whispering prayers over the smells.
When Dru said, “Come and get it,” we did not know we had to chase dinner.
We learned how to love Opossum Grits! We also found out the Okra was fresh as Dru shot them this morning.
Then Dru carried out the pork chop. It was not a pork chop so much as a delicious doorstop. Paul stared at it and said, “Was the pig named Big Tex?” Mary claimed it had its own zip code. Harry tried to measure it with a ruler, gave up, and suggested a yardstick.
The fried okra came next, golden and crackly and piled so high it looked like a vegetable avalanche. Carol took one bite and announced she had heard angels wearing cowboy boots. James said he would marry the okra if Carol didn’t object. Carol said she might object, but only because she wanted custody.
We had to change clothes as we thought it was informal!
Meanwhile, the wine flowed politely at first, then enthusiastically. Soon everyone was laughing too loudly, passing plates and posing for ChatGPT images. They asked for Paul as a Southern senator, Mary riding a giant okra, Dru as Queen of Gravy, Harry as a biscuit cowboy, and James and Carol wrestling the pork chop in formalwear.
By dessert, everyone was stuffed, silly, and slightly glazed. Dru raised her glass and declared, “That’s how we cook down here.” Paul nodded, patted the chop, and said, “Good meal. Great architecture.” Mary laughed so hard she nearly snorted okra into her wine glass.
James is a handsome devil!!
He said he was framed!
Speaking of being framed!
James (Jim) and Carole
We all jabbered for a while before dinner was served. Harry joined us, making our dinner a party of six! Any and every topic under the sun was dealt with in a professional, although slightly inebriated, fashion thanks to Dru’s bottomless wine cabinet!
We were ready for a real Southern dinner!!
Dru is known for being an excellent cook, and it’s amazing how she stays so slim! She brought our fried okra as a starter, followed by a pork chop the size of Detroit, along with green beans and potatoes! Wow, after a few bites, I was speaking Spanish with a Southern accent.
The chef is in the house.
We talked about the military, as both James and Harry served (Mary was in the kitchen helping Dru). James was a radio man, and to this day he can effortlessly play AM, FM, and FM stereo using both the tuning and volume controls. Harry was a grunt with great stories!
Fact checking
James and I caught up on all the latest Old Ranch gossip! Who is still there, who has moved on, etc. We talked about our mutual girlfriend, Charlotte.
Harry was a hoot!! But something seems fishy!
We shared stories of growing up, and James told the best one, especially about riding the freight trains up and down the line and getting caught by the Railway Cops!
NO more riding the trains, James!
Caroll and James are getting along well and, in fact, are going to join us at the Elks Halloween Party on October 31st. James could be a golfer, a Beast, or a jailbird since he already has the costumes.
Carol can go as Belle!
Yep! Beauty and the Beast!
Carole told James that if he didn’t go, she would have a bone to pick with him! We were NOT sure what that meant, but after careful reflection, James better go!
We had a fantastic time and left with several “action items,” which is corporate-speak for “things we’ll remember right before they’re due.”
Then we departed for home, a grueling six-minute journey that tested our endurance, navigation skills, and ability to stay awake after amazing food.
Once home, we promptly collapsed like overfed royalty, because tomorrow we’re back on the move again!
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We were up at 0dark-thirty this fine morning, and the day is chock-full of activities, beginning with paperwork in the office and a load of telephone calls to make!
Our first stop was the Elks for Girls’ Night Out, but today, it was us plus Iris & Will. Everybody else sent in the excuse written by someone else. George is recovering from his fall, Capps is at home doing repairs, and Bob is gallivanting around the country picking up things for the house! We felt deserted.
After lunch, we went to Huntington Beach so Mary could get her hair done and I could get my ears lowered. While Mary was finishing up, I scooted over to the Black Trumpet, where the staff recognized me, and imbibed a glass of vino and read my book.
It was 3:45 pm, which meant it was officially time to abandon all responsibilities and hightail it home to meet Dru and Robin for the evening’s soirée. Naturally, traffic took one look at our plans and said, “Absolutely not,” so we rolled in at 4:30 pm like weary travelers returning from battle.
Robin was in the shower, bravely scrubbing off the sand from her company beach party — because nothing says “corporate bonding” like bringing half the beach home in your shoes.
Dru arrived at 5:00 pm sharp, punctual enough to make the rest of us look suspicious. By 5:15 pm, we were packed, polished, and pretending we had everything under control.
Fullerton, ready or not, here we come!
We saw Matt Mauser and the Big Band this evening.
Inspired by the golden age of swing, The Matt Hauser Big Band channels the timeless charm of a young Frank Sinatra at the height of his career—singing with The Count Basie Orchestra at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas —while also paying tribute to legendary artists like Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and other acts from that iconic era. With a unique ability to infuse classic songs with a fresh, modern flair, Matt brings his own signature style to the stage, entertaining audiences while also offering insight into the rich musical history behind each timeless tune.
When we arrived, Vicky had already staked out three tables for us, including one for Yolie, who came separately.
Do not worry, we have plenty of room!!
Vicky was thinking 1950s and what it was like so…
Ask and thee shall receive!!!!!
The guys were doing their “sound checks,” so we got a little extra music before dinner.
Mary fixed an amazing amount of food, enough to feed four of us! We had tablecloths, sandwiches, fruit, energy bars, cookies, etc. If there were ants around, they would have had a holiday!!
We are finally settled in and await the entertainment!
Mary finally got a minute to rest after emptying her magic basket of goodies.
We took a leap in time and went back to the 1950s.
I had a few minutes to spare, so I went to work using ChatGPT! A little hairdo change, then transported back to the 1980s!
The show began, and we went wild as the music was wonderful! Matt was on track this evening!
I continued with ChatGPT a bit. The girls looked great!!!
The music continued, and we were all bee-bopping to the tunes!
Some of us (some???) really got into it, moving to the music and singing! It was a bit frightening!
We departed the Muck at 9:30 pm after the two-hour show and arrived home at 10:00 pm via the 91 freeway. Dru headed home, and the rest of us headed to bed. It was a wonderful show. Thanks to Vicky!!! You did it again!
Posted inFriends, Theater|Comments Off on Another Busy Day!
