I am still reeling from the phone call yesterday with my college roomie! That was sixty years ago, and he is doing just fine living in Encinitas.
In college, on fraternity row, we had a “Chariot Race.” All the fraternities built their chariots and were to run two blocks down 28th Street. Joe and I had another idea! We rented a REAL chariot from the Ben-Hur movie and trucked it down to the fraternity house. We are talking about a 200-pound vehicle! Our girlfriends decorated it up with flowers, and we entered. Being the “nerd,” everyone laughed at us!
We had eight guys pulling this thing!
The race started; the other fraternities were off like rocket ships. Our group started moving this beast, with Joe riding in the chariot, yelling directions. Once we got up to speed, nothing stopped us. Joe was wearing a wreath and a rather flimsy toga, which the ladies seemed to like for some reason.
The wooden steel-rimmed wheels made an amazing sound, something like a stagecoach coming down the blacktop-paved street!! While the other fraternity’s vehicles (they were made of old bicycles, red wagons, baby strollers, etc.) came apart at the seams, tipping over, losing wheels, crashing into the sidewalk, etc., our trusty behemoth rattled to the finish line, leaving a trail of broken dreams behind us! It took us 200′ to slow the thing down! The “jocks” were destroyed by us “nerds”. Brains over brawn wins again!!
A bunch of us took the chariot over to 28th Street Market and got two kegs of beer to celebrate! The chariot became a beer wagon! Oh, the simplicities of life in college.
We had a lot of fun post-college, and I remember him coming to my new house to help me put up ham radio antennas and redesign the patio.
Oh my! We started with the gym, headed to the doctor’s office, went to Girls’ Night Out, and then off to who knows where!
No gym today, as we planned to take Dianne to the doctor for an eye checkup after her operation. We moved gym day to Thursday. Well, around 9:15, Dianne called and asked where we were. We had a puzzled look on our faces. Her appointment was at 10:00 am, NOT 11:00 am. Our first mistake in five years!
So we continued working in the office, waiting for Dianne’s phone call, because she plans to stop by and yell at us. Really? No, Dianne joined us at a Lebanese/Mediterrean restaurant in Anaheim.
I, as the man, took charge! It was OK because I asked Mary and Dianne if it was OK! They allowed me 15 minutes with unfettered control.
Why did the hummus break up with the pita? Because it felt like it was being spread too thin.
He He He!!! What evil lurks in the heart of man???
We began with some hummus. It is healthy! Hummus typically has about 2–3 grams of protein per 2-tablespoon serving. Here’s some hummus trivia:
• “Hummus” means “chickpea” in Arabic. The full name is often hummus bi tahini, meaning chickpeas with tahini.
• Its exact origin is debated among several Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures, including Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, Egyptian, Israeli, and Turkish food traditions.
• Classic hummus has only a few core ingredients: chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and salt.
• Tahini is made from sesame seeds, and it gives hummus much of its creamy texture and nutty flavor.
• Chickpeas are ancient — they’ve been cultivated in the Middle East for thousands of years.
• Hummus is naturally vegan when made traditionally.
• It’s high in plant-based protein and fiber, thanks to the chickpeas.
• Warm hummus is common in some regions; it’s not always served cold.
• There have been “hummus wars” over who makes the largest plate of hummus. Lebanon and Israel have both competed for world records.
• The biggest hummus dish ever made weighed over 10,000 kg.
• Hummus can be ultra-smooth if the chickpeas are peeled or cooked with a little baking soda.
• Common toppings include olive oil, paprika, parsley, whole chickpeas, pine nuts, cumin, or minced meat.
• In many places, hummus is eaten as a meal, not just a dip.
• Chocolate hummus exists, though traditionalists may have strong opinions about it.
• May 13 is International Hummus Day.
Dianne almost flipped when the family platter arrived! We took half of it home with us!
Oh my!!
Mary and I dove into the feast like it was our last meal! I get all of her bell peppers and onions, which is good! No smooching tonight! Mediterranean cuisine spans three continents and is anchored by the classic “Mediterranean triad” of wheat, olives, and grapes. This regional style of eating emphasizes fresh produce, healthy fats, and shared meals.
Yummy!!!
We looked at all that food and nearly passed out. We ordered the family plate, which is one Filet Mignon Shish Kebab, one Salmon, one Juicy Chicken, one skewer of Beef Koobideh, one skewer of Chicken Koobideh, served with Basmati rice and salad. We attacked it with vigor but could only finish about half of the meal.
Food EverywhereWe tried!!
Then came dessert! Oh my! We had:
Roche, a vanilla hazelnut mousse with praline and soft caramel filling, covered with milk chocolate and roasted almonds
Exotic, which was Caribbean mousse (pineapple, coconut, passion fruit, banana, lemon) with Mango and passion fruit filling and pistachio sponge cake.
Valentino, which is Dark Chocolate mousse, raspberry insert, coconut sponge cake
Dianne almost passed out!!
We loved the desserts, some more than others!
The Calorie Monster at work!!
I explained to Mary that these are calorie-free!
One for you and two for me!!!
We returned home to the sound of our cleaning people, and while working in the office, Mary came across a phone number for Joseph Egan Tracy, my colleague/roommate, which Joe (our son) had given us. We had tried the number several times over the last month, but to no avail. I thought I would try it again, and voila, he answered. We jabbered for thirty minutes. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him for almost 50 years!
Needless to say, I was ecstatic about the call!! To this day, I remember Joe dressed up in a toga while we all pulled a full-sized Roman chariot down 28th Street at USC during Greek Week with Joe riding and whipping us mercilessly!
Quickly, I went to a group of OLD pictures, and I have displayed below a 50+-year-old picture of Joe and me at my La Mirada home, tearing out part of a patio cover and breaking up a concrete patio to make room for a room addition. The addition was almost 800 square feet and consisted of a family room and a bed room/office.
Dang, I looked pretty good back then!!! The little girl whose name I shall not mention is now 58 years old!!
As the cleaners departed, we continued cleaning our desks and got ready for a dip in the pool! Our stack of paper is being reduced inch by inch! No longer are we fearful of an earthquake burying us alive under reams of paper! We kept working in the office until 8:00 pm, when it was time for our daily swim!
Time to relax!
We were back inside the house at 10:00 pm and decided it was time to crash. We have a long day ahead tomorrow, starting with the gym, the Girls Night Out, and the kidney doctor.
Tuesday, and we’re already off to the races because: a) Mary has her painting class, and b) I had to wait for Home Depot to deliver a new refrigerator.
While I was working in the garage, I had some time to think — always dangerous — and today my thoughts wandered to my sons and grandsons. And you know what? I’m really proud of those guys. They may not keep the refrigerator running, but they’ve turned out pretty cool anyway.
I am proud of my kids and grandkids; they are good boys!
Mary went off to school, and I worked in the garage, adding many items to the donation box and getting the old fridge ready to be moved out and replaced! The garage shop is looking pretty good, but I still have a ways to go!
When Mary returned, she gave me a rose! She has been wanting to paint a rose for months now, ever since Dianne got her Christmas presents, five roses for her new flower bed.
Mary has not named it yet!
Fun facts about the beautiful art of watercolor painting
Watercolor is one of the oldest painting methods, with roots in ancient cave paintings and Egyptian manuscript art.
Traditional watercolor paint is made from pigment mixed with a binder, usually gum arabic.
The white in watercolor paintings often comes from the paper itself, rather than white paint.
Watercolor became especially popular in Europe during the Renaissance for botanical and scientific illustrations.
Famous artists who used watercolor include J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and Paul Cézanne.
Watercolor is known for being difficult to control because it relies heavily on water flow, paper absorbency, and timing.
The technique of painting wet paint onto wet paper is called “wet-on-wet.”
Painting onto dry paper is called “wet-on-dry,” and it usually creates sharper edges.
Watercolor paper is often made from cotton because it absorbs water well and resists warping.
Many watercolorists use masking fluid to preserve white areas before painting over them.
Transparent watercolor allows light to pass through layers of pigment and reflect off the paper, giving it a luminous effect.
Some historic watercolor pigments were made from unusual materials, including minerals, plants, and even insects.
Gouache is related to watercolor but is more opaque because it contains larger pigment particles or added white pigment.
Watercolor paints are available in pans, tubes, and liquid form.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, watercolor was often used by travelers to quickly record landscapes before photography became common.
I of course instantly framed it using my handy dandy ImageFramer software,
I need to teach Mary how to use the software; she would make MUCH better frames than I!
As she rolled in from her painting adventure, I was still out there putting things away and pretending I had everything under control. Naturally, she took one look at the situation, changed into work clothes, and came to assist me—because apparently “standing around looking confused” is not a recognized home-improvement strategy.
We be a team! A slightly sweaty, mildly disorganized, but highly effective team.
Later in the day, we celebrated our productivity with a gourmet feast: homemade cucumber salad, corn on the cob picked DIRECTLY from the garden—so fresh it was probably still gossiping with the stalk—and the old reliable classic: wieners and sauerkraut. Fine dining, backyard edition.
And the reduced-calorie meals must be working, because I have once again dropped below 196! That means I’m officially lighter, healthier, and still emotionally dependent on hot dogs.
While Mary got ready to go into the pool, I pranced around the yard with my camera ready to shoot the next Academy Award-winning still life.
Old Gray, Bambi, and Foxy told me they would stay still. Not for me, but to assure Mary’s wet paint would not be affected. I got them just in time before they all scampered off to their usual resting places.
Old Gray, Bambi, and Foxy love their new paint jobs!!
The new batch of apples is coming along well, and in a couple of months we will have fresh apples to pick!
Fun Trivia Facts About Apples
There are 7,500+ varieties of apples grown around the world.
Apples are part of the rose family, along with pears, peaches, cherries, and strawberries.
The science of apple growing is called pomology.
Apples float because they are about 25% air.
The crabapple is the only apple native to North America.
Apple trees can take 4–10 years to produce fruit, depending on the variety.
The world’s largest apple-producing country is China.
A medium apple has about 95 calories and is a good source of fiber.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” first appeared in a similar form in 19th-century Wales.
Apples come in many colors, including red, green, yellow, pink, and even nearly black-purple varieties.
The seeds contain tiny amounts of amygdalin, which can release cyanide, but you’d have to chew and eat a large number of seeds for it to be dangerous.
The famous “forbidden fruit” in the Garden of Eden is often shown as an apple, but the Bible doesn’t actually name the fruit.
They are just babies now.
The whirlygigs are still spinning, and these old timers have turned four years old! Mary may have to get her paints out again and spruce him up a bit.
Turn turn turn
The Sun is setting, revealing pink clouds to the West of us! Venus will be visible in about 30 minutes.
It was still in the 80s at 8:00 pm!
High above Fred’s house, the pink clouds seem to be floating around, enjoying life!
Sunset was at 9:58 pm today!
As I swung the camera, the Moon seemed to grow larger!
I felt like breaking into song, but I was strongly encouraged not to!
As I departed the pool, Mary was reeling in the creepy-crawly so it would pick up some leaves on the bottom of the pool.
The water was nice and warm and felt wonderful after a hard day of piddling around.
After drying off, we headed to the office where Mary shelled a mess of dried green beans and added them to our collection of emergency beans. I played with the computer, cleaning up some oldies and goodies from days gone by.
We were up and moving early because today we had a scheduled beatdown — and yes, we actually paid for it. Truly a brilliant business model: “Please hurt me, here’s my credit card.”
We escaped the punishment right at 10:00 a.m. because we had an 11:00 a.m. funeral in Newport Beach to attend. Nothing says “balanced day” like paying to get beaten up in the morning and then rushing off to be solemn by lunch. Somehow, we made it with minutes to spare.
We went to the service and then to the hillside burial but skipped the post-service get-together.
Nothing like a view!
Pat was like an Aunt to Mary over the years.
We decided to go to Daria’s for lunch and see about getting set up for the upcoming pool party on the 6th.
Beauty and the Beast took the picture!
All was going well until we found out that Persian food and Lebanese food have some differences! Persian and Lebanese cuisines are both Middle Eastern, but they’re quite different in flavor, ingredients, and style.
1. Flavor profile
• Persian food is often more subtle, aromatic, and slightly sweet-sour. It uses saffron, dried limes, rosewater, pomegranate, barberries, herbs, and slow-cooked flavors.
• Lebanese food is brighter, fresher, and more lemony/garlicky. It uses lots of lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, parsley, mint, tahini, and sumac.
2. Rice vs. bread
• Persian meals often center around rice, especially fluffy saffron rice with crispy tahdig.
• Lebanese meals often center around flatbread/pita, used with dips, grilled meats, and mezze.
3. Appetizers and sharing
• Lebanese food is famous for mezze: hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, fattoush, labneh, stuffed grape leaves, falafel.
• Persian food has appetizers too, but meals are usually more focused on rice, stews, and kebabs.
4. Stews
• Persian cuisine has many rich stews called khoresh, such as:
? Ghormeh sabzi: herb stew with beans and dried lime
? Fesenjan: walnut and pomegranate stew
? Gheimeh: split pea and tomato stew
• Lebanese cuisine has stews too, but they’re usually simpler and often served with rice or bread, like bean, okra, or yogurt-based stews.
5. Herbs
• Persian food uses herbs heavily in cooked dishes and as fresh herb platters.
• Lebanese food uses fresh herbs a lot in salads, dips, and garnishes, especially parsley and mint.
Quick summary: Persian food is more rice-based, saffron-scented, herb-rich, and often slow-cooked with sweet-sour flavors. Lebanese food is more bread-based, mezze-focused, lemony, garlicky, and fresh with lots of dips and salads.
We celebrate old cars at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge!
Yes, today is the day we go shopping for a car we can’t afford! A new Cadillac or a new Lexus? Perhaps a Mercedes? Nope, we are looking for a 1955 Packhard Caribbean!
1955 rag top! It’s on my bucket list!
The 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible was one of Packard’s top luxury performance cars and is now a highly collectible American classic.
Overview: The 1955 Caribbean was Packard’s flagship convertible, aimed at buyers who wanted a stylish, powerful, limited-production luxury car. It competed with high-end Cadillacs, Lincolns, and Chrysler Imperials of the era.
Engine and performance: The 1955 Caribbean used Packard’s new V8 engine. For 1955, this was a strong performer, especially for a large luxury convertible:
We can sit together instead of today’s pesky bucket seats!
Styling: It was meant to look special and exclusive, not like a regular Packard convertible. The Caribbean had flashy 1950s styling, including:
• distinctive two-tone or three-tone paint schemes
• chrome side trim
• full leather interior
• power-operated convertible top
• wire wheels or wheel covers depending on equipment
• a very upscale dashboard and trim
Suspension: One of its most notable features was Packard’s Torsion-Level suspension, an advanced system for the time. It used long torsion bars and an electric leveling system to keep the car riding smoothly and sitting level.
Production: The 1955 Caribbean Convertible was rare, with only about 500 produced. That low production number makes it desirable today.
Collectibility: Today, a 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible is considered one of the most important late Packards. Value depends heavily on originality, condition, color combination, and whether it has its correct engine and trim. Restored examples can bring strong prices at classic car auctions.
In short, the 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible was Packard’s glamorous, limited-production luxury convertible with big V8 power, advanced suspension, and dramatic 1950s styling.
We arrived around 11:00 am to the rousing music and full parking lot!
We drove to the Santa Ana Elks Lodge in our tiny old Lexus, which I insisted was “practically a classic” because the radio only played one station, it had white sidewall tires, it had no safety belts, and the glove box opened during left turns.
At the car show, shiny Chevys, Fords, and Cadillacs sparkled under the Sun.
Mary admired a cherry-red ’57 Chevy. “This baby has original chrome,” said an owner proudly. Paul nodded and replied, “My car has original tires, and the tires are only flat on one side!”
I admired the hot dog stand.
Then the lodge announcer called for contestants in the “Best Engine Roar” contest. Before anyone could stop me, I sprinted to our Lexus, turned the key, and it produced a sad cough, two squeaks, and a noise like a kazoo falling down stairs.
The crowd went silent. Then Mary clapped. “Very rare sound package!” she shouted.
Everyone burst out laughing, and the judges awarded us a special trophy: “Most Likely to Need a Ride Home.”
We admired the owner’s ingenuity! The radiator needed an overflow container, and what better to use?
The radiator water looked just like the real thing!!!
When I saw my new ride, I thought of giving up my Packard Caribbean for a few minutes. I went to the picture to Joe and Zack, telling them I just bought this red speedster, and the replies were hilarious, ranging from :It will fit my trailer” to “I get to drive it first!”
Decisions decisions!
These two items were made the same year! Which one is in better shape? Consider your answer before you say or think anything. How do I know? Check the license plate (on the car)! Mary’s license plate is well hidden!
Nice tan!
We continued our journey, and Mary stopped at George’s car, giving it the Vanna White move. We walked with George for a while before going inside.
It turns out George was the classic; the car was merely his transportation!
Inside, we went for the breakfast burrito, and it was pretty good. Said hello to the three ladies and struck up a conversation.
They were all ex-Rockwell people who worked together at Rockwell’s Newport Beach facility in the 1970s. Rockwell’s Newport Beach facility was primarily a semiconductor and microelectronics operation. They made silicon chips and integrated circuits, including components used in:
• modems and telecommunications equipment
• microprocessors and microcontrollers — including Rockwell versions of the 6502-family chips
• consumer electronics
• industrial and aerospace/defense electronics
That operation later became associated with Rockwell Semiconductor Systems and eventually Conexant.
They all knew Sue Miller as the director of software development for the GPS Manpack, an early military hand-carried GPS system. Sue Miller was my wife’s previous name! They spoke highly of her! That was 52 years ago!
Paula, Linda, and Laurie—ex-Rockwell employees.
We finished our burritos and said goodbye, departing the facility in our classic car! As we left our of the facility, the glove box popped open, launching napkins everywhere. “See?” I told Mary. The real classics had “Air conditioning.” Mary sighed. “Next year, we’re bringing a real classic car.”
Off to home we went! Next stop, the swimming pool.
We had our coffee, listened to the news, and planned the day! The day turned out to be a nada!
In other words, the day was going to be a little thing, a nothing, blank clean slate, dud, space, goose egg, mere nothing, minor matter, naught, nebbish, nil, nonentity, nothing at all, nothing in particular, nothingness, naught, scarcely anything, vacuum, void, zero, and zilch.
I didn’t even take a picture today except for the pre-dunk in the pool sky shots!
We worked around the house; Mary continued painting the outdoor figurines while I pounded the keys, attempting to make sense of my newly built JavaScript code!
We did, however, have a nice lunch and then later in the day jump into the hot water of our pool-sized sauna!
Venus and the Moon were vying for attention this evening.
All the pool lights were burning bright. The LED lights run all night long and are still bright at 5:00 am!
We got out of the pool and headed to the TV room to watch another episode of “Extinct”.
The series “Extinct” is a science-fiction drama about the last remnants of humanity being brought back to life 400 years after humans were wiped out.
The story follows a small group of people who are resurrected by mysterious alien beings called the Drones. They wake up in a future Earth where humanity is gone, and they have to figure out:
Why they were revived,
What happened to the human race,
whether the aliens helping them can be trusted,
And how to survive against another hostile alien force called the Skin Riders.
The show mixes post-apocalyptic survival, alien mystery, and human drama. It originally aired in 2017 and was created by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston.
We rose before the sun, heroic and slightly confused. We marched to the office, where we gulped the coffee with a dramatic wheeze. “Perfect,” Mary said, sipping bravery.
Paul opened the email inbox and discovered 147 emails, each apparently urgent since yesterday. We began replying, deleting, and pretending to understand spreadsheets.
Then Grace, the cat, arrived for quality control. She sat on Paul’s keyboard, sent “mmmmmmmm” to Bob Z, and approved three bills with her tail.
Mary offered her a treat, and with great aplomb, Grace gobbled it down!
Mary laughed so hard she snorted coffee. I declared Grace promoted to Chief Meowperations Officer.
We finished our coffee, then got dressed and headed to the doctor’s office, where I had ultrasounds of both the left and right carotid arteries. Right to make sure the operation is still good and the left to see more about the inner carotid blockage. We will know more next week when we return for the reading!
When we got home, Joe was already on his way over to relocate our flagpole from outside the wall—where it had been living its best life in the bushes and mud—to inside the wall on the concrete patio. Brilliant idea!
Now I can raise and lower the flags without wrestling shrubbery, sinking into the garden, or looking like I lost a fight with Mother Nature. Progress!
So the work commenced with Charlie providing assistance. I moved the patio chair into the shade and supervised!
We (Joe) drilled through about four inches of concrete.
While Joe worked, I sang to him from the musical Show Boat. With the drill running, I sang at the top of my lungs, “Tote that barge, lift that bale, drill me a hole, or land in jail!” I am sure Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II were rolling over in their graves.
Hearing protection was required, not because of the sound, but because of the choice of words about the hardness of the concrete AND my singing.
All was going smoothly until we tried to put the plastic sleeve on the flagpole and discovered it was 1.5 inches too small. Apparently, our flagpole sleeve has been hitting the gym. Dang!
Joe called the flagpole people and arranged for a properly sized sleeve to be sent ASAP. Until then, the pole will be resting dramatically on the front patio, contemplating its future.
Joe and Charlie went home disgusted, Mary continued her nap, and I cleaned the workbench and worked on the Daily Diary!! BTW, we did get several calls from neighbors asking me to stop singing!
Later, I was in the garage and attempted to rename the Amazon device called Flagpole. To my amazement, I discovered the electronic plug was malfunctioning, and the flagpole light had been stuck on for a long time. I ordered replacement parts that will be installed in the system tomorrow. Now I can have the flagpole light come on at sunset and off at sunrise.
Four for $25! The prices have dropped!!
At 5:30 pm, we were ready for dinner and headed to Vitorio’s in Huntington Beach. Tonight, Ken (the regular piano player) planned to have a trio, and he did, but to our surprise, we knew the drummer and bass player! We have danced to their music for years and years!
The girls were tickled! What could be better than live music from old friends and a menu filled with delectable Italian dishes!
Good friends are wonderful to have!
We had three singers this evening, and they all had great voices. We attempted to get our singer, Jim, up, but he decided not to make them look bad!
Kenon on the piano, Frank on bass, and Shelly on drums!
Vicky got a load of pictures, and she even captured Mary and me when we got up to dance!!
Vicky loves her new iPhone, and she’s now teaching us tricks she uses!
The music was so good we had no choice but to dance. The room was packed, though, so we switched to our signature “minimum-movement” style—tiny steps, polite elbows, and the occasional strategic shuffle toward the wall for safety.
Just as we were perfecting our crowd-avoidance choreography, the server appeared… because apparently even our two-inch dance moves still qualified as being in the way.
We kinda put on a show, but the band enjoyed our moves!
While Mary returned to the table, I asked Sandee to dance, and we did so with the entire table (the other ten people) looking on!
I am about to tell a story, but then I remembered it is mixed company, so I stopped before I got started.
Mary and I have fun, and at our age, that is quite alright.
At the end of dinner came dessert time, which we both specialize in. Mary went for the spumoni ice cream while I trounced on a cannoli, turning the beautiful cannoli into a twisted mess of unrecognizable ingredients. Italian cannoli are a traditional Sicilian dessert.
Cannoli is made of:
A crispy fried pastry shell, usually tube-shaped
A sweet creamy filling, typically ricotta cheese
Often flavored with vanilla, citrus zest, chocolate chips, pistachios, or candied fruit
Sometimes dusted with powdered sugar
“Cannoli” is plural; one is technically called a cannolo in Italian. (Daily Diary Italian lessons come free with the reading).
Watch Mary make the contents disappear! Poof! Once it is served, it lasts about 34 milliseconds!
The smile tells all!
Vicky and Jim made the evening even more delightful. Jim had the best seat in the house, sitting at the end of the table, looking directly at the band!
Having fun!
We departed for home after telling the owner how great the trio was. We hope they do this again! The freeway was wide open, and we made it home in about 20 minutes! It was time to hit the sack, so we did!
We were up early this morning after yesterday’s rest! Today we visited the Elks twice, once for lunch and then again for dinner dancing.
At 9:45 am, we headed to Michaels to get a watercolor picture framed for Bob’s birthday (it’s a surprise).
On the way to the Elks Girls Night Out, we picked up and dropped off some dry cleaning, then went to the vampire’s office so she could draw some blood (with Mary’s help , and finally went to the Elks for lunch.
Mary found her phlebotomist costume and put it on just before we entered the office.
25 cents??? The alcohol that comes along with my blood is worth at least $1.00
We showed up to the Elks for Girls’ Night in our matching Elks shirts from Hawaii, which reminded us of our recent Hawaiian adventure and of our many times at the Elks Lodge on Waikiki.
We sat on the patio, and we were warned about the waves. We were back from the edge just far enough to keep from getting soaked!
Look out, or you will be wet!!
Sandee joined us for lunch today, and Bill was still talking about the Pageant of the Masters adventure. Sandee is becoming a regular, which is good!
Sandee and Bill, great friends whom we will see tonight and tomorrow night for dinner.
George and Bob are always fun to be with!!
We dined, joked, and ribbed each other for 90 minutes.
Will and Iris always bring the table to life! Iris brought along her own halo! For being 99 years old, she is sharper than a tack!
Iris, as normal, has a halo!!
“Someone” was still tired from Tuesday, so we put her down for an hour or so before we go out and about again… Biting into the apple was helpful!
At 4:00 pm, I bent over and kissed her, and she woke up screaming in terror! On the bright side, she was ready to go! We are like the Energizer Bunnies!
Fill in the blank: “Sleeping ____________”
At lunch, we found out that Ronnie was playing this evening, so we turned around and, after dropping off a San Disk to Bob at his house, we went to the Elks again! We were joined by Danika and her mother Gail, along with Bill and Sandee. Let the party begin!
The Elks always have good food, and tonight they had artichokes, Mary’s favorite. I went off my diet and had a hamburger, so I’ll hide the bathroom scale tonight so I cannot find it in the morning! Delaying the bad news is a good approach!
Mary got her artichoke!
How did people figure out how to eat artichokes? It was probably the result of a long process of trial, hunger, and observation.
Artichokes are domesticated thistles, related to wild cardoons, and people in the Mediterranean were eating those kinds of plants thousands of years ago. The likely path went something like this:
People first ate the tender parts of wild thistles. Many thistles have edible young stems, leaf ribs, and flower bases if you remove the tough or spiny parts. Early foragers would have learned which parts were usable.
They noticed the flower bud had a soft center. An artichoke is basically an unopened flower bud. If you peel away the tough outer bracts, the base of each bract has a bit of soft flesh, and the “heart” at the center is substantial and tasty.
Cooking made it easier and safer. Boiling or roasting would soften the bud and make the edible parts more obvious. Many plants that seem too tough or bitter raw become useful when cooked.
Selective cultivation improved it. Ancient Greeks and Romans knew artichoke-like plants. Over generations, farmers selected plants with larger, fleshier buds and fewer nasty spines, eventually producing the artichoke we know today.
So the answer is: humans probably didn’t “figure it out” all at once. They were already experimenting with edible thistles, discovered the tender bud parts, and then bred the plant into a bigger, tastier version. Also, someone very patient must have been involved.
We knew that Sandee was coming, but Bill got his business taken care of early and came along! It’s always a treat to have these two join the party!
Bill and Sandee joined us this evening.
At the Santa Ana Elks, Bill and Sandee hit the floor like champions, waltzing wildly to a run-mama tune no one could quite identify. Sandee twirled with grace; Bill twirled like a shopping cart with a bad wheel. “Stay vertical!” he whispered as his shoes skated across the polished floor.
Ronnie, watching all this commotion, sped up—or maybe Bill’s panic did.
Sandee spun under his arm, and Bill saluted the Elk head for balance. Around they went, elegant, chaotic, unforgettable.
At the final note, Bill dipped Sandee, then gently collapsed into a chair. “Perfect,” Sandee said. “After tonight’s demonstration, no one will ask to give them dance lessons.”
Sandee and Bill tear up the dance floor!!
Mary never misses an opportunity to check the future using her own personal walking talking crystal ball!
Here are some facts about crystal balls:
Crystal balls are usually made of glass or quartz, not always true crystal.
They are often used in fortune-telling, especially for “scrying,” which means gazing into a reflective surface to seek images or insight.
Clear quartz crystal balls are popular because quartz is naturally clear and sparkly.<
They have been used for centuries in different cultures for spiritual, mystical, or decorative purposes.
A crystal ball does not scientifically predict the future; its use is based on belief, intuition, and symbolism.
They can be dangerous in sunlight because they can focus light like a magnifying glass and possibly start a fire.
Many people use them for meditation, decoration, photography, or spiritual rituals.
Size varies a lot—some are tiny enough to hold in one hand, while others are large display pieces.
Perfectly clear natural quartz balls are rare and expensive because large, flawless quartz is hard to find.
In movies and stories, crystal balls are often shown as magical tools used by wizards, witches, or fortune-tellers.
“Let me see into the future! Maybe if I rub it!”
Ronnie came over to make sure “The Dancing Star” was OK after Bil’s last demonstration!
Ronnie popped by to visit—always fun!
Mary gave up on telling the future, so she decided to reflect the light off my head and make designs on the ceiling. After some practice, she was able to write her name on the ceiling. I was quite dizzy after this incident.
“There now, Paul, keep your head still, and the dizziness will soon go away!
Did you notice our matching shirts? The lodge now requires that we match for unexplained reasons. Can you guess why??
“A magnificent specimen of what, I do not know!”
Ronnie waved as we walked to the car. Now that our table is gone, he can speed up the music without worrying about Bill falling over!
We headed home and crashed. No swimming this evening, as we were tired.
We slept late because yesterday apparently tried to kill us.
We woke up with just enough time to throw on our “exercise costumes” and sprint out the door like two aging superheroes whose only power is being late. We arrived, climbed onto the bicycles, and pedaled for several miles before the real fun began: being flung to the ground and folded into human pretzels.
Even though we were about 100 feet apart on separate torture devices, we could still hear each other’s heroic yells, groans, and dramatic farewell speeches as pressure was applied to muscles we didn’t even know we owned.
After surviving that wellness-themed assault, we made a quick trip to the market for essentials: bananas, milk, and whatever dignity we had left. Then we returned home to the glorious sound of Domilita and her magical staff of cleaning elves transforming the house while we tried to look useful.
Finally, we made a quick run to the UPS Store to ship a “care package” to Bonnie and the kids—because nothing says love like a box full of surprises and a shipping label.
It was warm today but not HOT; we still stayed inside!
Mary fixed a great lunch consisting of newly invented things like turkey slices rolled up with cheese (i.e., a turkey sandwich without the calories). She also made a wonderful salad directly from the garden!
The weather was perfect today!
Mary’s better each time she goes to class, and with Geri’s assistance, she is learning new tricks, like using Q-Tips to remove excess water! I still need to give her a little class in perspectives.
Mary finished her painting from yesterday!
I worked in the office beside Mary all day getting the video ready for Bob’s Birthday party, which is coming up soon!
The evening dragged on, and after heroically exhausting ourselves by sitting in the office and pretending to be productive, we shuffled off to the pool, where 90-degree water waited to gently poach our tired little bodies like luxury dumplings.
The night WAS peaceful!
We fiddled around for a couple of hours before returning inside.
The gazebo provided just enough light!
We’re still recovering from the Pageant of the Masters, so we heroically collapsed into bed at 10:00 p.m. Everything was peaceful… until 2:22 a.m., when Miss Grace decided it was time to debut her one-cat opera.
For such a tiny feline, she can produce sounds usually reserved for rocket launches, emergency sirens, and haunted Victorian mansions.
I stumbled out of bed, gave her the required royal pets, shook her dry food like a servant summoning the queen’s breakfast, and crawled back under the covers. Thankfully, I didn’t wake again until 7:30 a.m.—alive, but emotionally altered.
It’s Tuesday, and we are off like a herd of turtles—slow, determined, and occasionally distracted by snacks.
We spent several hours working in the office, some of which involved attending to Her Majesty, Grace, who continues to rule the household with a firm paw and absolutely no concern for our schedules. Today, Mary headed off to her painting class, while I prepared myself for tonight’s grand soirée in the fine arts—because nothing says “cultured” like trying to stay awake after a full day of errands.
Mary returned from class early, and at 2:30 pm we met up with Dianne to depart for the Sawdust Festival. The Sawdust Art Festival has long helped cement Laguna Beach’s reputation as an artist colony and creative coastal community—also as a place where people can turn driftwood, glass, and mysterious metal objects into things you suddenly realize you cannot live without.
We wandered around, admired the displays, visited the artists, and—through sheer perseverance and refined cultural instincts—managed to locate a glass of wine. This, of course, elevated the entire art experience from “lovely afternoon” to “masterpiece.”
The weather was in the 70s, which is basically Mother Nature saying, “You’re welcome.”
The 2026 theme for the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach is “The Greatest of All Time”—or G.O.A.T., for those of us who prefer our fine art with a side of barnyard abbreviation. The show will explore history-defining art and artists through live-action “living pictures,” music, and theatrical storytelling. In other words, people stand perfectly still while the rest of us sit there wondering how they don’t sneeze.
We arrived at the Sawdust Festival, went through security, and headed straight to the wine booth!
Come on in, but behave!
The weather was outstanding! The sky was clear, there was a slight breeze, and the temperature was around 75 degrees!
We walked around for 90 minutes!
BUT… Before we walked, we drank some “Shopping Readiness Fluid,” commonly called wine! Mary loved my new look—windblown! She was actually shooting the fly away, warning the little guy that if he tried to land, he might slide off and break his neck! Mary is so thoughtful!
Starting fluid is being applied!
We heard dance music, so naturally we headed that direction and gave a demonstration on how to dance on a wooden deck with rubber tennis shoes!
Time to dance.
Mary spotted an octopus perched on top of a glittery stall sculpture at the Sawdust Festival. “Dianne, look! Modern art has gone marine!” she whispered. Dianne froze, clutching her red wine like a life preserver. “Is it real? Why is it judging me?”
The octopus waved one arm, accidentally flinging a paintbrush onto a nearby hat.
Dianne exhaled, then Otto blinked and sprayed water. Dianne shrieked, Mary snorted, and the hat’s owner said, “Honestly, my hat looks better after the thing with eight dramatic arms modified it.”
After strolling through the Sawdust Festival, we headed to the parking area adjacent to the festival grounds, and from there we drove to a new parking lot and waddled to the Lumber Yard for dinner with the gang!
Time To Eat!
The girls got there first! The Lumberyard Restaurant in Laguna Beach is a downtown American bistro named for Laguna’s early lumberyard history. The area around Forest Avenue once supported the town’s building boom, supplying wood and materials for cottages, shops, and artist studios as Laguna grew in the early 1900s.
The restaurant opened in the late 2000s in a renovated historic-style building on Forest Avenue, embracing that “old Laguna” lumberyard theme with warm wood interiors and a casual neighborhood feel. It became popular with locals and visitors for comfort food, cocktails, and its convenient location near the Festival of Arts, Pageant of the Masters, galleries, and downtown shops.
Today, it’s generally known as a relaxed gathering spot that reflects Laguna Beach’s mix of art-town history, coastal tourism, and small-town dining culture.
They were ready to go as they reviewed the menu online!
We found our table; it was the noisy one!
I ordered tinned fish and selected muscles. Note to self: never do that with Marshall around!
A lot of grunting and groaning was going on here!
Now it was off to the Festival grounds.
Iness fit right into this crazy group up, and she tried tinned fish along with me!!
Time to walk to the festival grounds.
The evening was perfect!!
The show is about to start!!
We had GREAT seats!! Thank you, Vicky!
Let the show begin!!!
Here’s some fun trivia about how they set up the “pictures” in the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach:
The scenes are called tableaux vivants, meaning “living pictures.” Real people pose to look exactly like famous paintings, sculptures, posters, or historical artworks.
The performers are painted with special makeup and body paint so their skin, clothing, and shadows match the original artwork.
A lot of the illusion comes from lighting. The lights are carefully aimed so people look flat, almost like they’re part of a canvas instead of standing on a stage.
The sets use forced perspective. Some props are larger or smaller than they seem, so from the audience’s viewpoint everything lines up like the original picture.
The actors often stand inside or behind painted frames, fake walls, and sculptural pieces that hide parts of their bodies and make the image look two-dimensional.
Performers have to stay completely still while the curtain is open. Even tiny movements can break the illusion.
The setup is extremely precise: positions are marked, costumes are matched to the artwork, and the stage crew checks details like hand placement, head angle, and facial expression.
Many scenes are built with layers: a painted backdrop, real props, and live people all combined so the audience sees one finished “painting.”
The Pageant often recreates not just paintings, but also statues, murals, movie posters, and historical scenes.
Part of the magic is that when the lights change or the curtain opens, the audience suddenly realizes: those are real people inside the artwork.
“Let me see into the future! Maybe if I rub it!”
We walked around for 90 minutes!
The show is about to start!!
