Run Paul Run!

Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 by Paul

Another early day.  Alexa went off at 6:15 am, giving us slightly over an hour to get ready again!  In Mary’s case, it is easy; Paul requires a lot of work to look presentable.  We visited Dr. Cobb’s building, located adjacent to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, specifically the Cardiac Center, where we met with Dr. Tyson Cobb, who was present “in case?” It’s only a pharmacological stress test!

Did You Know?  A chemically induced heart stress test is also known as a pharmacological stress test or a pharmacologic nuclear stress test.  It’s used when a patient cannot exercise on a treadmill, and involves using medications to simulate the effects of exercise on the heart.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Purpose: This test helps diagnose coronary artery disease, determine the risk of heart attack, and assess heart function under stress.

How it works: Medications like Lexiscan (regadenoson) or Adenoscan (adenosine) are injected to dilate the coronary arteries, mimicking the effect of exercise on the heart.  (I suggested they use Chardonnay, but Dr. Cobb nixed that plan)

Procedure: A radioactive tracer is injected, and images of the heart are taken at rest and after the medication is administered to visualize blood flow.

Monitoring: Patients are closely monitored during the test, with vital signs checked and potential symptoms reported to medical staff.

Medication and Imaging: Depending on the type of test (nuclear or echocardiogram), either a radioactive tracer or a contrast agent is used for imaging

Thank goodness St. Joseph’s Pavilion is so close.  Without traffic, we can get there in a matter of minutes.

The freeway is the easiest method!

Did You Know?  Since its founding by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange in 1929, St. Joseph Hospital has welcomed generations of babies, treated serious injuries and illnesses, performed unprecedented procedures, and invested in cutting-edge facilities, technology, research, and clinical trials to ensure our patients receive superior care.

Their nationally recognized programs in cancer treatment, kidney transplant, heart and vascular care, women’s services, spine and neurology, orthopedics, and more, paired with our four-time Magnet Designation as a Nursing Center of Excellence, make St. Joseph Hospital one of the most-trusted hospitals in the region.

The test went well, and the doctor didn’t seem worried.  He did agree that cancelling the trip to the Antarctic was a good idea.  They brought my heart rate to 140 for a couple of minutes so they could get some ultrasound views of what is going on.

Did You Know?  A heart ultrasound, also known as an echocardiogram, is a non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart.  It helps doctors evaluate the heart’s structure and function, including the heart chambers, valves, and blood vessels.  Echocardiograms can help diagnose various heart conditions, such as heart failure, valve problems, and congenital heart defects.

Mary loves this building because she gets to visit the gift shop!

The stockroom boy will bring the eight boxes to the car for her.

On the way home, we stopped by the Original Pancake House for an excellent breakfast before going home.

At 3:00 pm, we again visited St. Joseph’s, this time to see the urologist.  My PSA blood test came back indicating approximately 0.02, which is considered insignificant.  I do not have to go back for a year!  Good news!

We returned home via the Orange Traffic Circle and found the “new” Italian restaurant, which we have been looking to try out.  Now we can go there next week without getting lost.

We visited our friend and neighbor, Jeff.  We try to see each other every day.  We shared stories and made sure he was ready for the evening.  We often laugh and giggle.

Visiting Jeff and swapping stories is always a fun experience!

Today, the high temperature was 91, but we always have a slight breeze coming through the hills on either side of us, so it was pleasant.   The pool was inviting, as it was 92 degrees, so we could stay in it for a long time without getting cold.

The pool was inviting.

We entered the pool with a plastic glass of vino, and Scout, the Wonder Dog, came to check in on us!  He heard the splashing and wanted to make sure we were OK!

Scout was eyeballing the pool!

Scout is such a happy baby.  The poor thing is losing his hearing, and his hind legs are getting weak.  He is 105 in dog years, but he never complains and is always smiling.   I hope I age as gracefully as Scout.

He decided it was too wet.

We spent almost two hours in the pool, talking to Bob Z, Bill C., Mike A., and Vicky, and made calls to Becky and Hans (neither was at home).   We extended an invitation to several to join us tomorrow around 7:00 pm for a dip in the warm waters of Casa Valencia.

Mary saw she was becoming a prune and decided it was time to get out of the water and sit by the fire and howl at the full Moon!

Mary gets out of the pool!

Once the water settled down, the reflections were great, and the Moon was slowly moving across the nighttime sky!

We had a full moon!

We went inside around 9:00 pm and attempted to watch a movie, but we both fell asleep in the TV room.  Finally, at 10:30 pm, we crashed.  Tomorrow we’re going to see another doctor, this time the vascular surgeon.  We will get her recommendation on whether or not I need a carotid endarterectomy.

A carotid endarterectomy is the most common surgical procedure to clear a blocked carotid artery, which is often caused by plaque buildup (atherosclerosis).  This procedure involves opening the artery and removing the plaque to restore blood flow to the brain, reducing the risk of stroke.

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The Week Begins!

Posted on Monday, July 7, 2025 by Paul

At the crack of dawn, we were up and moving.  The crack of dawn today was 6:30 am.  We exited the house at 7:15 am and headed to Laguna for an eye check with our favorite eye doctor, the one who did the cataract surgery two years ago.

We got there with time to spare, so we had a latte at the coffee shop!

The coffee shop is built inside a steel shipping container!

The exam results were great 20-30 in both eyes, pressures were spot on, and the X-ray vision is operational!

I proposed to take Mary to breakfast, but she decided we ought to eat at home, visit Scout, and then go to the next appointment.  She fixed a delightful breakfast, my favorite, bacon and eggs, complete with applesauce and a banana on toasted bread.  Yum!

Her bacon is so good, it’ll make you squeal with delight.

Paul is on the left and Mary is on the right (in case you wondered).

Now we’re off again, heading to Quest Labs for a pre-heart-stress-test baseline blood test and urine test.  It is impressive as the blood was drawn at 1:45 pm, and at 8:30 pm, I got a message from Quest with the results, which I printed out for Dr. Mary.

A Philbo wattamist?

Leaving Quest, we returned home, and then we were off to an appointment at UCI for Mary.  While Mary was doing her thing, I went to Wendy’s and drank a large lemonade because it was cool inside and 87 outside.

On the way home, we stopped at CVS and picked up more medication (I think we’re keeping the pharmaceutical companies alive).

Around 9:00 pm, we got the test results back. Dr. Mary examined the results and ran across the room to see if I was still alive!  There was a note from the test agency that I should stop drinking so much.   The urine sample contained three olives.

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We Are Still Recouperating!

Posted on Monday, July 7, 2025 by Paul

We were up and moving fairly early, and after our coffee, we went to the garden and finally planted the new corn.  We have twenty-four stalks in the ground and are beginning to grow.  After cutting the corn from the stalks, the stalks have many uses.  Corn stalks and their byproducts are utilized in more than 3,500 products, ranging from food to non-food items, including glue, paint, plastics, and even fireworks.

Mary prepared a delightful breakfast on the patio, and Scout the Wonder Dog had to pay a visit.  When he saw the strawberries, his nose twitched, and he went into begging mode.

Note: It is seldom that we have the entire day with nothing on the schedule except being together.

“Watcha got, Mommy?  What you go,t Daddy?  Would you like me to taste it first to ensure it’s okay?

We got the Scout seal of approval; he has an odd sense of humor!

At Scout’s ripe old age of 15, we have decided to feed him whatever his heart desires.  He gets his expensive health food, but we throw in hamburger, chicken, turkey, spaghetti, and meatballs, and other goodies.

“This is my sad and ravenous look!”

The rest of the day we fiddled in the garden, planting some lettuce and doing some weeding.  We have to keep after the grapes to ensure the grapes get sun and all the energy the plant can produce.

Key Steps for Summer Grape Trimming

• Target Excess Growth: Use garden snips or pruners to cut back shoots that are growing too long, especially those leaning over the top of your trellis or arbor. Aim to keep shoots about 3 to 4 feet long with 15 to 22 mature leaves. Cut these shoots back to about 6 to 8 inches long if they’re excessively vigorous.

• Thin the Canopy: Remove non-productive shoots and thin out dense areas to increase sunlight penetration and airflow. This helps reduce the risk of diseases like powdery mildew and bunch rot, and encourages the development of larger, healthier fruit.

• Remove Suckers and Watershoots: Trim away any shoots that emerge from the base of the vine or along the trunk that do not contribute to the main structure or fruit production.

• Cluster Thinning: In midsummer, reduce the number of grape clusters per shoot to ensure the remaining grapes develop better size and quality. On each fruiting side shoot, keep just one or two clusters, and thin each cluster so that the grapes are not crowded or touching.

When it got hot, we went into the air conditioning and watched movies on TV.  Mary and I enjoy the same type os crazy action/adventure movies.

We visited Jeff and brought him our foot massage system, which we won at an Elks event three years ago.  It was never used, so we were happy to have him put it to use.

We crashed around 10:30 pm because we have an 8:00 am appointment down in Orange County to have my eyes checked, a follow-up after the eye surgery two years ago.

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The Day After Independence Day Was For R&R

Posted on Saturday, July 5, 2025 by Paul

We were glad that Joe wore shoes instead of sandals last night!

The 4th is now history, meaning it’s only 172 days until Christmas!  Shocking!

We took it easy today as yesterday was quite tiring.  When it came time for brunch, we decided leftovers were the name of the game.  We will be eating leftovers for the next week.

Hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, and corn on the cob for breakfast/lunch?  Yes indeed!  The weather was so lovely that we dined on the patio!  We had tea and just sat back, enjoying each other and the yard.

Mary is so straightforward to be with; we can spend hours just talking (which results in a lot of giggling).

Yummy!!

We had planned to go out for a while, but we received a call from Jeff, our neighbor, and he told us Dr. Bill was coming to see him.  Dr. Bill is a long-time friend and a podiatrist.  We hurried out for a short visit to the nursery to get corn and lettuce.

We picked up the lettuce and arrived back home before 1:30 pm.  We had planned to plant, but the temperature was in the mid-80s, so we decided against that idea.  There is always a tomorrow.

I needed to clean up a little before visiting Jeff and Dr. Bill, but things always take longer than expected anymore.

Mary assisted me!

We visited with Dr. Bill for a few minutes as he was on his way to see another patient.

We walked back home and took the rest of the day off, doing nothing.  We had dinner on the patio, but we were so tired from the previous day that we didn’t even go in the pool.  We watched a movie on TV and finally crashed at about 11:00 pm.

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Happy Birthday America!

Posted on Friday, July 4, 2025 by Paul

Sending a dose of patriotism from our family to yours this Independence Day.

We hit the floor running today as we are expecting 15 family and friends over for a celebration of Independence Day between 1 and 5 pm.

Becky texted us with a photo of their matching Old Navy shirts.

It was 115 degrees in Phoenix today!

What did the colonists wear to the Boston Tea Party?  Tea-shirts.

We were almost ready when the first people arrived, and we were so glad it was Robion, Bob, and Nick.

With their assistance, we were ready by 1:15 pm when Vicky and Jim joined the celebration.

Everyone visited the island to see what goodies were in store for them!

We had a variety of appetizers, including a homemade avocado dip.  Zachary, Becca, and the kids joined us around 1:30 pm on their way to Peanut and Gary’s home (Becca’s parents who live in Garden Grove).

What did Luke Skywalker say on the 4th of July?  “May the 4th be with you!”

Vicky and Jim told stories all afternoon long.

Mary found the chef’s hat, and our resident chef was now in his full regalia.  Bob is a bbq-ologist and cooks anything on the grill, including peas.

Get to work, Bob!!”

The great-grandkids, Remy and Lilly, were amazed at the garden, so we sent them out to find strawberries, and they were pretty successful.  Even though I do not use chemicals, I taught them to wash the strawberries off.

Robin and the great-grandkids talked for quite a while.

Meanwhile, at the BBQ, Nick was getting lessons from the ól Master.  We heard them chanting, “Burn, baby, burn!”   The aroma of hamburgers and hot dogs wafted around the patio, and Scout was going a little nuts.

The Master Chef and his accomplice at work!

Meanwhile, inside, Vicky and Greg share stories!

“Well, Greg, do you remember…………?”

Fast Eddie and Dianne were a welcome addition to the gang.   Dianne brought a flag cake for dessert, which was gobbled down in a hurry.

They were in line to get the first of the burgers and hot dogs!

The kitchen seems to be the place everyone congregates.

Vicky and Dru are about to attack lunch!

We were pleased to have Bill Capps and his wife, Sandee, as “first timers” at the annual get-together.  We missed the Zaitz and Irene.  Bob and Donna were in Oregon visiting Cyndy, while Irene was not feeling well.  She did have a good celebration because from her perch on the 11th floor of he new home, she could see the fireworks from Palos Verdes to Malibu!

Bill was hearing the story of the “Montebello Girls Club raffle,” when Vicky was president AND the only member.  It was Vicky’s first crime spree.

Mary and Sandee have become good friends, and Mary provided Sandee with a plastic bag and some clippers and sent her to the garden to go shopping.

Everyone had a wonderful time!

When our family and friends gather, it’s a happy time.

Beautiful smiles!

Dianne’s dessert is now on display.  It’s almost too beautiful to cut, but we managed to do so!  The cake was magical, and it disappeared when no one was looking.

Oops, there are only 49 blueberries!

After 5:00 pm, everyone headed home except Robin, Bob, and Nick.  They stayed with us, and Bob drove his car to Joe’s house (our son) for a fireworks demonstration, par excellence!

No, more food!  We were busting at the seams.  We brought dessert, but we also managed to sample some of the goodies.  This group has some amazing cooking talents.

The tent shielded us from the sun’s rays!

Joe managed to obtain a “Gumby lighter”.   Remember Gumby?

Gumby, the bendable clay animation icon, debuted in 1955 on “The Howdy Doody Show”.  His series, “The Gumby Show,” began in 1957.  Key trivia points include his flexible plasticine material (requiring multiple figures per scene), his iconic green color, and his loyal sidekick, Pokey the horse.

He was available on eBay.

Gumby saves the day!!

Joe checks out Gumby to make sure his flames are long enough to set off the fireworks.

Gumby is the green one!
Brave son, lighting fireworks in sandals.

Joe changed shoes, the sun disappeared, and the work began!  Opening, sorting, and organizing get underway seriously.

Getting ready to begin requires a BIG bucket of water and homes at the ready!

We had a large crowd, including family and friends.  Amy’s (our daughter-in-law) Mom and Dad were here, along with the grandkids.  Robin managed to find some patriotic music and played it during the fireworks.  I was ready to get up and march around the fireworks table.

All eyes were on the fireworks!

Ka-Boom!  The entertainment begins.

Why did the duck say bang?  Because he was a firequacker.

Flames shot 500 feet into the air!  OM, maybe five feet!

Live action tells a better story!

More Ka-Booms!

More live action!

After the display, we all headed home, and this was the first time I could see all the fireworks on the way home, as Bob did the driving.  Amazing.

We also saw drones searching for the people who were firing off the “non-safe-and-sane” fireworks.  There were drones everywhere.  More than 8,000 pounds of illegal fireworks were captured last year in Orange.

We arrived home safely and proceeded to take out the trash cans for a Saturday pickup!

The pool was too inviting, and besides, the fireworks noise wasn’t great for sleeping.  We wandered around the pool for two hours before going to bed.  Our wrinkles had wrinkles!

A bathing beauty I am not!!

It was almost 1 am when we hit the hay!  Just before lights out, we had a serious conversation (no, really!!).

Posted in Cooking, Fun, Holidays, Vegetable Garden | Leave a comment

It’s The Turd Of July And We Are Beyond Busy!

Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2025 by Paul

First things first, we must take Luidi (also known as Scout) to the groomers, as he wants to look his best for the holiday weekend.  He wanted his fur dyed red, while, and blue, but we convinced him otherwise.

Just before we departed for the Elks, I lost a button on my shirt, and Mary decided to fix it on the spot!

When I asked her why she didn’t use a needle and thread, she laughed!

When I finished my shower, I saw Mary in the garden doing her favorite thing… picking vegetable gifts for our friends.  We would be buried alive under tons of vegetables if we didn’t give them away!

The Amazon Boxes are perfect to deliver the veggies.  The box below is going to Scout’s groomers.  I also added an armful of plums to the box.

The recipients are always pleased with their gifts!

At 10:30, we departed in the van for the groomers.  Scout knew precisely what was going on, and he was happy to visit his friends at the groomers; they had fallen in love with Scout.

After the addition of about ten Santa Rosa plums, this box was ready to go to the Elks.

We finally departed the house at 10:30 pm so we could drop Scout off at his groomers.

The Elks session was, as always, a fun experience.  Gail and her daughter, Danika, joined the group today.  We were missing George (he fell and injured himself) and Bob Z (he is still in Oregon with his daughter).

We stayed a little longer than usual so we could pick up Scout on the way home.  We called, and he wasn’t quite ready, so we went to the Orange Farmers Market, a few miles away.  We got Mary her sugar-free beef jerky, and we picked up twenty ears of fresh corn!

On the way home from the market, Scout’s groomer called and said he was ready.  We got Scout after he paraded himself around the van three times to show off the hairdo.  He is a handsome devil!

Mary took a quick nap, and I worked feverishly to fix her favorite curling iron; the plastic tip had come off.   After thirty minutes, I finally went to Amazon and bought a replacement.  The plastic in the old iron was so brittle that I could not get the previous glue job cleaned up.

Mary will be surprised in the morning.

At 5:15 pm, we headed to Garden Grove in The Silver Fox for dinner and a show with Dianne and Fast Eddie.  We ate at Azteca and had delicious tacos.

We laughed and giggled for ninety minutes.  The girls were wearing their “Pink Ladies” jackets!

As advertised, the place was loaded with 1950s memorabilia.  One could study the walls and ceilings for hours.

We had margaritas to get ready for the show, which was a block away.

We just enjoyed dinner with Fast Eddie, and I was doing our thing; we keep the girls on their toes.  The girls just giggled.

I heard Mary say, “I placed a small picture of America in a locket this 4th of July. Now, it is truly in-da-pendant.”

After dinner, we walked to the GEM Theater and saw a live performance of “Grease”.  The performers were pretty good, and the music was right on mark.

In the lobby, they had set up the front of a small car so people could get inside and have their picture taken.  Mary and Dianne got in old Grease Lightning and took a stroll down memory lane.  Mary honked, and Dianne made hot rod engine sounds (the Mexican dinner helped).

Go Greased Lightning.

Get ready for one of America’s favorite movie musicals live on stage at The GEM Theatre—Grease!  This electrifying production brings the fun, flair, and unforgettable energy of the 1950s to life.  Join the Pink Ladies with their playful, bold, and sexy style, and the goofy, brash Burger Palace Boys as they tear up the stage with their antics.  At the heart of it all is the timeless romance between sweet Sandy and rebellious Danny, whose summer love faces the ultimate test of high school, with its catchy songs, iconic dance numbers, and vibrant characters.

Of course, the Pink Ladies were present for the performance.   I was going to wear tight jeans and a T-shirt, but I could not get them on anymore.

The play gets underway, and we are ready!

The theater is small, creating an intimate and up-close experience.

I was sent back to my high school days!

We left around 10:45 pm and headed home.  It was a fabulous evening, filled with fun and camaraderie!  Tomorrow we have work to do; we are having fourteen friends and family over to celebrate Independence Day.

Last year, all of my fingers were injured in the 4th of July fireworks. My closest friends say they can no longer count on me.

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Prep Day! No, It’s Ready Pre-Prep Day!

Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 by Paul

We were up early, as it’s gym day!  To get started, I looked at my “To Do List”!   After recovering from my fainting spell, I wandered to the backyard and picked some grape leaves for our gym staff.

Historical & Cultural Trivia:

Ancient Origins: The concept of wrapping or stuffing food in edible leaves likely dates back to antiquity, with some suggesting a possible origin in ancient Persia.

A “Shared Heritage”: Stuffed grape leaves are a beloved dish across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, reflecting a shared culinary heritage influenced by various empires and cultures.

The Ottoman Empire’s Role: The Ottoman Empire played a significant role in spreading the dish throughout its territories, standardizing the technique, and contributing to the wide variety of regional variations found today.

Etymology of “Dolma”: The word “dolma” comes from the Turkish word “dolmak,” which means “to fill”.

Different Names, Same Dish: While commonly known as “dolma,” the dish is also called “sarma” (Turkish for “wrap”), “warak enab” (Arabic for “grape leaves”), “dolmades” in Greece, “tolma” in Armenia, and “dolmeh barg-e mo” in Iran.

Armenian Claim: Some historians and sources, such as The Oxford Companion to Food, suggest that dolma likely originated in Armenian culinary traditions before being adopted by Turkish cuisine.

Greek Legend: A popular, though legendary, story attributes the invention of dolmades to the Thebans during Alexander the Great’s siege, who, facing food shortages, mixed meat with rice and wrapped it in grape leaves.

 

The ToDo List was mine, NOT Mary’s.  Her To-Do List, for me, comes in three volumes, and that is with small print.

At the greeting counter, they had pictures of the owner and his staff.  These are old pictures, but some people are still there.

Mary and I liked these puppies.

Before the workout begins, we do between 30 and 45 minutes on the stationary bike.  Mary got me going over the speed limit.  Luckily, she didn’t capture me when my tongue was hanging out!

When I get up to speed, I am always worried about a potential blowout.  Not the tire; me!!

Zoom!  Next week, I plan to put playing cards on the spokes using close-line clips (remember that?).

Mary was doing the leg exercises.  She is on the 101st push!  She pushes eighty pounds and does one hundred cycles.   At 102, Mary declared victory.

“Help!!  Get me off this thing!!”

We bolted from the gym at precisely 10:00 am and headed for Dunkin’ Donuts for a latte and a bite of breakfast.

We used GPS to find the way to the hairdresser, who is located in Huntington Beach.   I had always wondered how people in the past managed to find their way across the country, and then it dawned on me.

When we returned home, we cleaned the house so that the cleaning people could come in and do their job.  Don’t ask!  As soon as they arrived, we headed to the market to pick up goodies for Friday’s wild celebration and party!

We managed to fill the trunk of the car with bags and bags of goodies.  It wasn’t loading that was the trouble, but the fifteen laps to and from the kitchen when we got home that wasn’t easy.

Everything we needed!

We got cookies for the 4th, but we also made a batch for Jeff, as he likes these cookies.  Of course, Mary and I had to sample them to make sure they were not poisonous.

Coolies for Jeff and July 4th!

We departed Jeff’s just after dark and took a picture of our house with the lights on.  It doesn’t look too bad.  The house lights travel around at a very slow speed.  When we are in the front yard gardening, many passersby mention how they love seeing our home decorated for every holiday!

Lights on!!

After getting back, Mary emptied the dishwasher, put away the last of the groceries, folded clothes, and watched Chisum with John Wayne.  We were going to swim, but we were too far gone to lounge around in the pool, so we crashed.

Tomorrow, we’ll start preparing for the party by setting up the tables and chairs, arranging the food items, and getting the barbecue ready.  You must work to have fun!

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July 1st And Our Mouths Hurt!

Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 by Paul

You guessed it… Time for a dental checkup.  After today’s visit, I plan to mail my teeth in next time!

Before leaving for the dentist, Mary picked a mess of veggies for Dr. Annie.

She came back with a bag of goodies for Dr. Annie!

We arrived at Drs. Nagel’s office on time, and they were ready to perform the examination and cleaning.  I got a little worried when my dental hygienist brought in a package of Bar Keepers Friend, a wire brush, and a two-horsepower rotary grinder.  When my hygienist took the X-rays, I asked her to leave off the lead shield.  She was surprised that I knew there was no radiation with the new machines.  Few people are aware that today’s X-rays emit no radiation, but dentists still wear lead shields to make the unknowing more comfortable.

Modern digital X-ray technology and a deeper understanding of radiation exposure have led to updated recommendations from organizations such as the American Dental Association (ADA).  While some states may still have regulations requiring the use of lead aprons, the current trend is towards eliminating them.

We both passed the cleaning and exams with flying colors.  Zero cavities.  I asked my doctor if I could go to the toy box, and she smiled.  I asked again, “Can I go to the ADULT toys box?”  She giggled, Mary turned red, and I ran out the door to the car.   The devil makes me do it!

Dr. Annie and Dr. Cote have been friends for many years.  Dr. Annie is painless and does a magnificent job keeping our ancient teeth functioning.  She works alongside her father and uncle at Nagel Dentistry in Huntington Beach.

I was happy; no more visits until February 2026!

I did not recognize Dr. Annie without her mask on!

It’s like visiting family!

Did you know that we actually have 4 Nagels at Nagel Dentistry?! Dr. Chris, Dr. Vince, and Denise are siblings, and Dr. Annie is Dr. Vince’s daughter

We went VFR home as we had Chinese leftovers to eat.  Mary went on another quick trip to the backyard, returning with the fixings for a fantastic salad!

We called the Finchs, who are now living in England.  We spoke with Brian and Jan for about half an hour, reviewing with them everyone they knew here in the United States.  We offered them the opportunity to come to the US and spend a month with us, as we have a large house.  We hope they take us up on the offer.  They are lovely people.

We established an excellent relationship with Brian and Jan over the years!

We spent most of the day on Mary’s box-reduction activities, and during the day, Colleen called us and we talked for half an hour.  We sent Colleen a picture of a sweatshirt she might like!

Colleen loved this shirt.

Around 5:00 pm, we called it quits and came inside to prepare for our nightly visit with Jeff.  The patio was cleared of boxes and swept clean; it looked like a patio again!  We brought him a bag of plums freshly picked from our tree.

I also picked one up from the ground because it had just fallen but before getting down, I remembered!

Indeed!

We returned home and nibbled at the last of the Chinese leftovers before going to bed.  We opted not to jump in the pool tonight unless Dianne calls us and we join her for a dip!  By 9:30 pm, we assumed she wouldn’t join us, so we crashed.

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Broken Bones; It’s Gym Day

Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 by Paul

We tried to sneak into the gym disguised as two people in perfect condition, thereby avoiding the need for staff assistance.   Alas, our plan failed miserably.  After thirty minutes on the upright torture bicycle, we were thrown to the ground and manipulated in such a manner as to come within 0.5 seconds of screaming in agony.  Our physical therapists are masters and bringing us to the edge of pitifulness.

By 10:00 am, we had escaped using our newly developed ability to grin and bear the maltreatment.   We often look at each other and say, “…and we are paying for this!”.

We changed plans this morning, we went directly home, and Mary began the process of deboxing the She Shed.  She worked hard, and thanks to the TV on the patio, she was able to work all day long.

Mary fixed an excellent breakfast, which we devoured with breakneck speed!  Now, it is time to work (and I thought we were retired).

The last episode of “Ginny & Georgia”

Summary: The series centers on Angsty and awkward fifteen-year-old Ginny Miller, who often feels more mature than her thirty-year-old mother, the irresistible and dynamic Georgia Miller.  After years on the run, Georgia desperately wants to put down roots in picturesque New England and give her family something they’ve never had… an everyday life.  But it’s not all carpool and Kombucha as Georgia’s past threatens her and her family’s new way of life… and Georgia will do anything to protect her family.

It was warm out, likely in the mid-80s, so I did odd tasks like moving filled boxes to their new homes, and I tried to clear the corn patch, but old age caught up with me.   I am about ready to plant the new corn.  I need to rake the area and determine where to put the eighteen corn plants.

Late in the afternoon, I surprised my bride by bringing her flowers and a drink.  She took one look at me after watching all the handsome men on TV and was agast!  What had she done?

I was in my gardening outfit!

I was equally surprised, as I had spent the last two days ordering items from Amazon.  When the doorbell rang, I rushed to see which treasures they had delivered.  One look and it’s “Oops Time”!

We had a quick bite to eat and then headed to Jeff’s house to visit and bring him information on a doctor.  We sat with him for 45 minutes before returning home, where Scout questioned us.  He asked, “How come you guys were gone for three days?” We told him it was only 45 minutes!

It was getting dark, meaning we could swim without wearing out our swimming uniforms.  I am still conscious of the fact that my magnificent unclothed physique does scare the occasional birds that fly over the house.  I also downed two drones, blinding their cameras with ease.  I guess I do have talents after all!

Mary’s first in-water task is to catch bugs and occasional leaves that manage to hit the water’s surface.  We get a couple of June bugs because they are attracted to the light.  My looks repel most bugs.  When I exit the pool in my “all together”, you can hear bugs drop to the ground, frozen in time, for one hundred square feet.  I should get a tattoo that says, “Black Flag”.

Mary, the bug catcher!

We bought two new pool noodles, and Mary is breaking them in.  It’s a battle of the wills, but Mary has the skills.  They usually give up after ten minutes.

Pool noodles, those colorful foam tubes we associate with summer fun, have a surprisingly fascinating history and trivia surrounding them.  They are often referred to as “water woggles” or “water logs” in different regions.  While their primary use is for recreational swimming, they also have surprising applications in construction and even physiotherapy.

Pool noodles are believed to have originated in Ontario, Canada, in the early 1980s.

 
They can be vicious!

Mary does battle with a noodle!

Scout is supposed to love water, but he is a strange dog.  The closest he gets to water is his water bowl!

Scout says, “No bath tonight, I’m going inside where it is safe!”

It was 9:30 pm when we departed from the fire and went inside.  We went VFR to bed right after my breathing treatment.  It has been a good day!

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It’s Magical!

Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2025 by Paul

Speaking of a magical day, we are off and running at 8:30 am to Los Angeles to join up with Ed & Betty, plus Vicky & Jim, to go to the Magic Castle for brunch and a couple of shows.

GPS said it would take an hour to get to Hollywood, but we left early anyway due to the potential for traffic.   As hoped, there was no traffic, and we arrived quickly!

The freeways were clear.

We used Google Earth to view the facility, which helped us locate the castle.  It is indeed a castle overlooking Hollywood.

It was indeed a castle!

We valet-parked the car, as we didn’t want to walk up the hill.

The facility was beautiful.

The facility has quite a history!

The Magic Castle is a châteauesque residence built in 1909 by Rollin B. Lane, a real estate investor, lawyer, banker, newspaper editor, and philanthropist. The house was designed by architects Lyman Farwell and Oliver Perry Dennis and constructed as a near mirror duplicate of the 1897 Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands, California, that the architects had designed over a decade earlier. The Lanes called their home “Holly Chateau”.  Rollin’s wife, Katherine, was involved in various civic volunteer communities aimed at improving Hollywood. She was college-educated and an author. Initially, the house included “seventeen rooms, including a roof garden and sun parlor”.

The Academy of Magical Arts is a mutual-benefit nonprofit corporation organized and devoted to the promotion and development of the art of magic.

The Academy of Magical Arts was founded in 1952 by William Larsen, Sr., as a loose association of magicians. Although it was not officially incorporated and its organization formalized until 1962, when Larsen’s sons, Bill Jr. and Milt Larsen, expanded the Academy into an international organization. The Magic Castle has served as the headquarters for the Academy since 1963.

Since my last visit, a hotel has been added.

Sounds like a great idea if we come back for the evening show and dinner!

We arrived early and were the second group in line at the front door.     There are NO PICTURES INSIDE for obvious reasons, and we honored their request.  We met some lovely people who had a noon lunch scheduled.

Many famous people have walked through these doors.

We took pictures of ourselves just before going inside. The rest of the group arrived around 10:30 am, and Mary and I were already at the bar and doing some exploring around the house.

Meet the motley crew! Ed & Betty, Jim & Vicky, Dave & Hilda

Vicky’s new photographic talents were put to the test!

Quite a handsome couple!

In the lobby, we could take a photo, so Mary posed right in front of the secret door (located behind the bookcase).

Mary talked to the owl, and it let us in, right by the bar!

The bar was beautiful, and we tried a couple of drinks. The hostess helped us determine where to go. When I  said, “Where is the bar?” she pointed it out and followed that by, “I’ll have a drink also!!”

The bar was at the bottom of the staircase, which led to the dining area.

We fooled her by ordering her a virgin Bloody Mary. I notified the local management that we bought the hostess a drink because she was so lovely, and I made sure that management knew it was non-alcoholic.

Everyone got here to see the first show and NOT miss lunch!

Jim and Vicky

Ed & Betty

Dave & Hilda

We saw a quick show before lunch. Lunch was great, and we filled up on all the goodies.

Lunch was buffet style, and we all had a plate full of delicious food.  I opted for shrimp, and Mary went for the omelet.  Food was disappearing left and right!

The dining area walls were adorned with pictures and framed articles about the history of the castle.

After lunch, we attended two additional shows, which were quite impressive. We were ten feet away and have NO idea how they did the magic tricks.

Magicians often perform a trick where they seemingly join two pieces of string together to form one continuous piece. This illusion, sometimes called “String Fusion” or “String Restoration”, is achieved through a specific technique that creates the visual effect of the strings melting or pulling back together. The true secret of the trick lies in the precise preparation and handling of the string, combined with skillful misdirection, to create the illusion of a seamless join. It’s a classic example of how magic relies on clever techniques to deceive the eye and build a sense of wonder. 

On our way out, we stopped to see Irma, the Magic Piano. “Irma,  the Magic Piano” refers to an invisible, ghost-like figure at The Magic Castle, a private club in Hollywood. Irma plays the piano and takes song requests from guests in the music room. She is invisible and communicates solely through the piano. Irma has become a popular attraction at the Magic Castle, with many visitors requesting her musical talents.

Irma (played by Kate) was a load of fun!

She did an excellent job playing our requests including the Hokey Pokey!

Mary and I couldn’t help ourselves. Mary requested “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrews Sisters. Irma played, and we danced along with Vicky and Jim. The room was tiny, but we danced for two to three minutes without hitting the wall or the onlookers. After the dance, we got a standing ovation from the other visitors.

I requested the Hokey Pokey and had half the room dancing. I led the dance. The young kids had no idea their parents could dance. It was fun!

We took some outside shots while our cars were being fetched,

This is a haunting picture indeed!

None of us could figure out how the magic was accomplished.

Our carriage arrived, and we are an hour from home!

Thank you, Vicky, for arranging such a delightful day!!!!

We got home around 5:00 pm and began working on Mary’s storage boxes.   At 8:00 pm, we were pooped out and went inside to watch “The Bricklayer”, an action movie. Plot: A former CIA agent who left to become a bricklayer is asked to step in and help stop a criminal operation that is demanding a series of ransom payments.

At 10:15 pm, we declared victory and headed to bed. I stopped by the office to perform the nightly breathing treatment. Mary read her book, and at 11:00 pm, we were sound asleep!

Posted in Adventures, Dancing, Dining Out, Friends, Fun | Leave a comment