Visiting The Elks Twice!!

Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2026 by Paul

GM

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Good Night

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We Are Having A Mid-Week Crisis!

Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 by Paul

GM

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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.

Good Night

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A Busy Day It Is

Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 by Paul

GM


Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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.”

All in all, today was a good day.

See all the pictures here!

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.

A docent rushed over, laughing. “Relax, ladies. That’s Otto, our animatronic mascot.”

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.”

See the octopus pictures here!  

Oh my!  It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Otto!!!

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.

Remember to visit all the pictures here!

Good Night

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Dang, The Week Started Early!

Posted on Monday, August 10, 2026 by Paul
Good Morning

We were up bright and painfully early this morning because it was that sacred time of the week: our bi-weekly flagellation session at Peak Performance — otherwise known as “paying professionals to turn us into damp laundry.”

We walked in wearing clean, freshly pressed workout outfits, looking like two responsible adults with goals.  We walked out looking like we had been dragged behind a 10,000-pound garbage truck, hosed down with regret, and left in the sun to reconsider our life choices.

But apparently it works!  After all, we do not look like we are a combined 156 years old.  Maybe 149 on a humid day, but certainly not 156.

After our morning appointment with pain and perspiration, the Silver Fox headed to the doctor to get his passenger-side airbag recall taken care of.  It definitely needed fixing because every time I pull the “EJECT PASSENGER” lever, absolutely nothing happens!  Mary stays in her seat!

Very disappointing, but now that the eject button is fixed, Mary still has to be nice to me the old-fashioned way.

Since we were already down in southern Tustin, we decided to reward ourselves with lunch at the American Legion of Balboa Island.  Mary has been a proud member of the American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 near Balboa Island/Newport Harbor for 25 years — which means she has seniority, history, and probably the legal authority to have me removed from the premises if I misbehave.

Naturally, I behaved… mostly.

Here are some fun trivia-style facts:

• It’s not technically on Balboa Island — Post 291 is in Newport Beach on the harbor, near the Balboa Peninsula area, with views across Newport Harbor.

• One of the biggest American Legion posts: Newport Harbor Post 291 is often noted as one of the largest and most active American Legion posts in the country, boasting 10,000 members.

• Waterfront Legion hall: Unlike many American Legion posts, this one has a prime bayfront location, docks, and a strong boating culture.

• It has its own yacht club: The post is closely associated with the American Legion Yacht Club, which is a big part of Newport Harbor’s boating community.

• Old Glory Boat Parade: The American Legion Yacht Club helps put on the Old Glory Boat Parade, a patriotic Newport Harbor tradition around the Fourth of July.

• Veterans + boating culture: The place blends two very Newport things: military/veterans history and harbor life.

• Popular local hangout: For members and guests, it’s known as a great spot for drinks, food, bay views, and watching boats go by.

• Close to Balboa Island Ferry: It’s in the same general harbor area as the famous Balboa Island Ferry, which has been running for over a century.

• Post number 291: The official name is usually American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291.

• Community role: Beyond being a social club, it supports veterans, youth programs, patriotic events, and local civic activities.

We had lunch and watched the youngsters take a sailing lesson from the Legion’s Yacht Club staff!  They were having fun, and we were having fun watching them have fun!

All the kids were having fun!

We sat on the patio and watched the boats go by, happy not to have a boat, which is defined as a hole in the water to which you pour your money into.

Mary ordered the turkey club sandwich, which is always excellent — stacked so perfectly it looked like it had been engineered by NASA, only with no bacon.

The Legion’s chef does an OUTSTANDING job.  Honestly, everything that comes out of that kitchen is just right.  Hot things are hot, crispy things are crispy, and nothing arrives looking like it lost a bar fight in the fryer.

A few months ago, we came in for lunch, and the place was almost empty — maybe we were early, or maybe everyone else had been warned we were coming.  So we asked the bartender if the chef could come out for a moment.

The poor chef emerged looking a little nervous, clearly thinking, “Oh no… what did I do?  Too much mayo?  Not enough fries?  Did someone find parsley?”

But instead, everyone applauded him and thanked him for working so hard and making every meal so consistently wonderful.

You could see the relief wash over his face.  He went from “I’m about to be yelled at” to “I may be the mayor of lunch.”

Yummy

I was going to share with her until the waiter mentioned today’s special was lobster tacos!  How could I not turn that down?  They were terrific and the prime reason that I had no dinner this evening!!!

Wow!  Complete with some heat!!!

We sat outside even though it was a little warm; the sea/bay breeze was comfortable.  We watched the dredge still at work in the bay.  It’s been working for several months now.

We enjoy each other’s company!!

We were in no hurry as Mary had followed me to the Lexus facility and we had to wait for the phone call saying everything was ready.  The recall work and some minor updates were completed right on time.  As the last drip of wine departed from the glasses, the iPhone went off, saying the Silver Fox was ready!!

As we finished our meal and the last drop of vino, the car dealership call came in; the Silver Fox was ready!

I drove to the dealership in Mary’s car, and she waited for me to pay the bill, and then she followed me home.

As good as new!

It was in the 90s, so we stayed inside and worked in the office.  Mary went to watch TV and take a small nap!  I finished off the Elks Lodge part of the website, updating events and cleaning up things.

When I joined Mary, she was ready for dinner, and I was so stuffed from lunch that I passed.  I did join her in the kitchen and snitched one forkful of coleslaw!  We called Robin, and by that time it was 7:50 pm, so we headed to the pool and floated around for a couple of hours.

Two hours of floating is a relaxing way to finish the day!!

Since we were planning to go to The Pageant Of The Masters tomorrow, we crashed at 10:00 pm.   Dianne is going with us, and we plan to stop at the Sawdust Festival before dinner and the show.  A good night’s sleep is mandatory for this adventure.

Good Night
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Sunday Has Arrived! A High Of 91 Is Expected!

Posted on Sunday, August 9, 2026 by Paul
Good Morning

Morning arrived, and the three of us shuffled into the kitchen in search of coffee—also known as liquid eye-opener, heart starter, and the only reason we don’t communicate exclusively in grunts before 9 am.

Robin had to head out early to visit her sister, since she’s her caretaker and resident superhero.  While getting ready to leave, she spotted Miss Grace quietly watching all the morning commotion from a distance—looking innocent, of course, which usually means she was either judging us or finalizing the blueprints for her next great escape.

“Yes, I am in charge!”

When Robin got in the car, she noticed the tire-pressure-low light was on—which is never the car’s way of saying, “Have a great day!”

We took a look and, sure enough, her rear passenger tire was flatter than a pancake.  On the bright side, it was only flat on the bottom, so technically it was still trying.

Robin pulled into the driveway so I could save the day with my trusty air compressor—because every hero needs a cape, and mine apparently has a hose attachment. As I inspected the tire, I spotted a suspicious little silver dot in the tread. Using my highly advanced diagnostic tool—also known as my fingernail—I discovered a nail had punctured the tire.

Thankfully, Robin was able to drive it to the local service station, where they patched it for $20.  Not bad.  Around here, that’s basically a miracle with air pressure.

A tire shop will usually:

1 Find the leak – They may spray soapy water on the tire and look for bubbles.
2 Remove the tire from the wheel – This lets them inspect the inside for hidden damage.
3 Remove the object – Nail, screw, etc.
4 Prepare the hole – They clean and slightly ream the puncture channel.
5 Buff the inside surface  – The inside of the tire around the puncture is roughened so the patch sticks.
6 Apply rubber cement/vulcanizing adhesive
7 Install a plug-patch – This is a one-piece repair: a rubber stem fills the hole, and a patch seals the inside.
8 Trim the plug – The part sticking out of the tread is cut flush.
9 Remount, inflate, and leak-test – They check it again with water/soapy water.

Oops

We went inside and walked the garden, but after determining it was already 86 degrees, we went back inside.  Mary painted whilst I worked on Bob’s birthday video.  At day’s end, the movie was 140 images long, or about 13 minutes!

Mary’s watercolor painting will be a present to Bob at his upcoming birthday party, and it will be a surprise.

Busy Bee!

Mary was happy about her recent procurement of a set of thin brushes.  Brush sizing is not fully standardized, so a 000 from one brand may be slightly different from a 000 from another brand.  For very tiny details, look for brushes labeled ” detail,” “miniature,” “spotter,” or “liner.”

It’s in the details.

By 5:00 pm we were both hungry, and someone was listening to us!  Geri, Mary’s watercolor partner and our neighbor, called and came over bringing homemade German potato salad and homemade coleslaw!   We had a glass of wine with Geri, and when she departed, we slipped outside and grabbed two ears of corn from the garden.  Marys said it was the best corn of the entire summer.  Another two degrees and it would have been popcorn!!

Corn on the cob for dinner.

While we were out in the garden, we roamed for a few minutes and saw the pumpkin is beginning to turn orange!  We can see pumpkin pie in our future.  Pumpkin pie is usually made with sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins rather than large carving pumpkins.

Common types include:

• Sugar pumpkin/pie pumpkin — small, sweet, smooth-textured flesh
• Dickinson pumpkin — widely used in canned pumpkin purée
• Baby Pam — popular for baking
• New England Pie pumpkin — classic pie variety
• Long Island Cheese pumpkin — sweet, dense flesh, good for pies

Large jack-o’-lantern pumpkins are edible, but they tend to be watery, stringy, and less sweet, so they don’t make the best pie.

The pumpkin is turning.

Back inside, Mary cooked up the corn, and we dished out some potato salad and coleslaw.  It was a delightful dinner.  After dinner, Mary returned to painting, and I cleaned up the kitchen!

Mary worked for another hour and finally said she was done.  I told her to put up the painting and her equipment and let it dry because we needed to go into the pool and she needed to let her hands rest!  There was a LOT of detailing in this painting. Maryy needed to rest her eyes and see it fresh in the morning.

Hours later!

Returning from the water at 10:00 pm, we attempted to watch a new series called Extinct.  It’ss a 2017 sci-fi series created by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston.  The premise is that an alien invasion has wiped out humanity, and hundreds of years later, selected humans are reconstituted/regenerated and returned to Earth to try to rebuild civilization and uncover what happened.

We never made it through the first episode, and when we woke up to go to bed, it was on episode three.  Thank goodness for streaming; we’ll return to the series tomorrow.

Good Night
Posted in Art, Cooking, Family, Friends, Painting, Working Around House | Comments Off on Sunday Has Arrived! A High Of 91 Is Expected!

It Is Saturday And We Are At Work Bright And Early.

Posted on Saturday, August 8, 2026 by Paul
Good Morning

It’s 9:00 am, and we are outside working our little fingers to the bone!

I marched into the veggie garden at dawn (OK, 9 am) carrying a zucchini seedling like it was a royal baby.  Mary, meanwhile, stood beside her rose bushes with pruning shears, a leopard sunhat, and the expression of a woman prepared to negotiate with thorns.”

“We have until the thermometer hits ninety,” I announced.  “After that, we could turn into soup.”

At eighty-eight degrees, I finally planted the zucchini, patted the soil, and whispered, “Grow large, my green torpedo.”

We collected a load of green beans, some of which will be dinner tomorrow and some will be laid outside in the sun to dry out (more bean soup on the way!)

The string beans have reached too high; we needed a ladder to get them!

A bumblebee landed on Mary’s hat.  She froze.  “Don’t move,” I said.

The bee inspected her fake sunflower, judged it unworthy, and flew away.  Mary resumed trimming, but one thorn grabbed her sleeve.  She yanked free, stumbled backward, and sat directly in her wheelbarrow.

I stared.  Mary stared.  The zucchini, newly planted, seemed to stare.

Then the thermometer clicked to ninety.  “Inside,” Mary declared, water dripping from her forehead.  “Immediately.”  We were back inside at 10:14 am, door shut and AC on full blast!

Oh my, the temperature is climbing.

The remaining part of the afternoon we watched TV, and Mary made a light lunch since we were going to the Elks this evening.  Robin popped in about 4:30 pm, and we had a glass of vino before heading to the Elks at 5:20 pm.

The girls did their normal salads, but I went for the English Cut Prime Rib with a baked potato the size of Detroit, which, by the way, Mary finished off when I gave up!

The Elks menu was excellent this evening.

They had a special drink menu, and of course we tried so—the Lemon Drop Martini.   A Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet-tart vodka cocktail made with lemon juice and sugar.  It’s usually served chilled in a martini glass, often with a sugared rim.

Typical ingredients:

    • Vodka
    • Fresh lemon juice
    • Triple sec or Cointreau
    • Simple syrup or sugar

The Lemon Dop kid!

It looked so good I had to try it, so bottoms up (I am talking about the martini!)

Burp Slurp!

Mary went for the Blackberry Mule in the copper cup!  To make a drink a “mule,” you add ginger beer and lime, which are what generally make it a Mule.  She ordered it because it sounded like a sophisticated farm animal.

Mary took one sip, blinked twice, and whispered, “This tastes like a berry kicked me in the tongue.” Paul, meanwhile, was happily guarding his Lemon Drop like treasure.

Mary smiled sweetly, swapped glasses while Paul was not looking, and took a victorious gulp.  “Hey!” Paul cried.  “That’s mine!” Mary shrugged.   Consider it a public service.  Your drink needed rescuing.” Paul tasted her Mule, coughed, and nodded.  Fine.  But next time, rescue me first.” Robin laughed and admired Mary’s quick actions!

Just us having fun!

Mary’s selection of drinks gave me a chance to try new things.  Tonight’s Mule could also be used as paint remover!  I finished it off anyway!

Mary tried the Blackberry Mule.

Ronnie took the stage, and the dance music began.  Ronnie always plays a couple of waltzes just for us, so we made a few laps around the dance floor, letting our meals settle!

Then Ronnie announced that “Paul will now lead the Hokey Pokey”.  What could I do but, with the help of my trusty sidekick Mary, go to every table and enlist participants for the dance of the evening.

Ronnie had me do the Hokey Pokey this evening.

Off we went with a group of 25 “older adults” putting things in and then putting things out and then shaking them all about, followed by hands in the air, fingers shaking, and turning ourselves around.

The history of the Hokey Pokey—also known in the UK and some Commonwealth countries as the Hokey Cokey—is a little tangled, because several people and traditions claim a role in its creation.

The basic idea is simple: dancers stand in a circle, put body parts “in” and “out,” shake them, and turn around.  Similar participatory circle dances existed before the modern song, but the familiar version became popular in the mid-20th century.

In the United States, the song is often associated with Larry LaPrise, who said he helped create it in the 1940s as entertainment for skiers in Idaho.  He later recorded it with the Ram Trio, helping spread it widely.  However, other American songwriters also claimed earlier versions, and there were copyright disputes over who truly wrote it.

In the United Kingdom, the dance is usually called the Hokey Cokey.  A well-known British version was published around the 1940s and is associated with songwriter Jimmy Kennedy, though the phrase and dance may have circulated informally before that.
As for the phrase itself, its origin is uncertain.  Some have suggested links to old magic words like “hocus pocus,” while others see it as nonsense language meant to sound playful and rhythmic.

By the 1950s, the Hokey Pokey/Hokey Cokey had become a staple at children’s parties, weddings, school events, skating rinks, and community dances.  Its popularity comes from being easy, silly, and inclusive: anyone can join in, and no real dance skill is required.

So, in short: the Hokey Pokey likely grew out of older circle-dance traditions, took recognizable form in the 1940s, and became internationally popular through recordings, parties, and group events.

After a few dances, we headed home to float around in the pool under the stars and continue solving the world’s problems.

A dip in the pool was required.

After the swim, we headed to the TV Room and attempted to watch the movie “Arthur,” but alas, none of us made it without falling off to sleep.  It was a good day!  Robin was able to capture an image of Miss Grace, who graced us with her presence;  apparently she liked the movie also!

Grace is lying on the floor watching us watch TV!

Good Night
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Happy 21st Anniversary Amy & Joe!! We Will Catch Up!

Posted on Friday, August 7, 2026 by Paul
Good Morning

Today is empty!  I was out and about at 8:00 am, delivering a kitty-poo-poo to the vet and then to Home Depot to get some odds and ends.g

By the time I got home, Mary’s beans were ready to go.  These beans are special as they came right from our backyard last year.  Mary and I shelled them from several bean plants, so the beans are a good mix.

It’s a lot of work, but very satisfying to dine on your own food!

I ate my beans as my father taught me, warm on a nice piece of bread.  To make matters better, Mary brought out orange jello complete with mandarin orange slices inside.  YUMMY!!

After breakfast, Mary went into a movie that was not quite my cup of tea, so I mossied into the office and set up a small program that will randomly select a “Good Morning” image from a set of 400 that I have collected.  Now I have to put a small piece of code on every daily diary entry, and voilà, a random image pops up!

It was warm outside, so we stayed inside after 10:30 am.  Before that, we did some minor gardening activities.

Inside, we did some work with Mary going upstairs and straightening up the storage closet with my assistance.  Miss Grace wanted to go into the closet, but we shooed her away!

GO, get’um girl!

We worked until about 3:00 pm and then got ready for tonight’s dinner with the Liles, celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary!

Joe, Amy, and Alex popped in around 5:30 pm, and we visited for a bit before embarking on the long and arduous 1.5-mile journey up the mountain to the Orange County Mining Company.

Joe drove the van, which made it easy for everyone to fit comfortably and, more importantly, gave the van a rare opportunity to get out of the house and see what the rest of the world has been up to.  It seemed to appreciate the change of scenery, although it declined to comment.

After being seated, I pointed the camera toward Amy and got the “Amy Look”!  That is one order less severe than the “Mom Look!”

Amy

Joe was Joe, always fun to be with and always a story to tell!!  We talked about the past, and those things that NEVER REALLY HAPPENED were sure a lot of fun!!!

Alex was with us this evening, always a joy to be around.  Charlie is still at work at the summer camp but will return Sunday evening.  We tried to get Alex to order a tomahawk steak again, but he decided on something smaller, a baby elephant.

Alex

Alex did go for the Mud Slide dessert and polished it off with ease.  Mary and I shared the Mud Slide, but alas, we could not finish it off.

The Mud Slide could bury a small car with ease!

We enjoyed being with each other (and talking about Colleen, Robin, and Michele).  They put us at the back of the restaurant when they saw us come in.  Next time we will disguise Joe so we can get better seats!

The whole fam damily!

Time to dress up!

We dined and looked out the window, seeing the Sun slowly set in the west.  Palos Verdes is in the distance, and on a clear day, one can see downtown Los Angeles.

The Mining Company has a great spot on the hill!!

The kids headed home after a short visit, claiming they had chores to do to get ready for tomorrow — which sounded suspiciously responsible.  Amy still has some extra work to do getting her classroom ready for the first day of school on Monday, because apparently classroomsdon’tt magically organize themselves over the summer.  Rude.

92 degrees, the world’s best sleeping pill!!!

May and I, however, chose a more advanced strategy: we went VFR direct to the pool and spent a couple of hours floating around like highly qualified aquatic retirees.  At one point, I caught myself yawning mid-float, which seemed like a clear signal from my body that I had reached peak relaxation and should proceed immediately to bed before I accidentally fell asleep and became a pool noodle.

Good Night
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Hello Garden, Here We Come!!

Posted on Thursday, August 6, 2026 by Paul

We got up early and headed to the Vet because it was time for Grace’s checkup, nail trim, and a precautionary de-fleaing—just in case she’d picked up any tiny freeloaders during her two-week “outdoor retreat.”

Getting her into the carrier was less of a task and more of a full-contact Olympic event.  Grace had approximately 14 legs, no bones, and the strength of a panicked raccoon.  It took both of us, several strategic maneuvers, and possibly a small violation of the Geneva Convention.

After surviving that adventure, we came home.  We headed to the garden to plant our seven new tomato plants.  I dug the holes, added fertilizer, and planted them with the confidence of a man who knows someone else will handle the aftermath.  Mary followed behind,  cleaning up after me—which, judging by the dirt trail, scattered tools, and general crime scene appearance, was not a small assignment.

My gardening uniform that day consisted mostly of loose-fitting skin — I was apparently in training for World Naked Gardening Day and had taken the “uniform optional” policy very seriously.

Thankfully, with the strategic assistance of a tomato plant, the whole scene remained technically “G-rated.” Think National Geographic, but with more mulch.

Naturally, this was the exact moment our neighbor — who had been home for the first time in six months — decided to look over the fence and ask about watering his orange trees.  I immediately dove behind a much larger tomato bush like a startled garden gnome with legal concerns.

Mary was laughing so hard she could barely hold the camera steady. Out of nine photos, only one wasn’t blurry — and even that one may need to be sealed in a government archive.

Thank you, Mr. Tomato!

At 11:00, we were off to the Elks for the weekly “Girls’ Night Out” activity.  Great fun with the gang!  As the afternoon progressed, Mary assisted Sandee so Sandee would see, speak, or hear any evil!!

The “three wise monkeys” — see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil — are a famous symbol of moral conduct and self-discipline.

They are usually shown as:

• Mizaru — covering his eyes: see no evil
• Kikazaru — covering his ears: hear no evil
• Iwazaru — covering his mouth: speak no evil

The most famous version comes from Japan, especially a 17th-century carving at the Japanese Shrine in Nik, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu.  The monkeys are part of a larger set of carvings meant to teach life lessons.

The phrase is often linked to a Japanese proverb.

“Mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru”?  Do not see evil, do not hear evil, do not speak evil.”

Not to be outdone, Mary and Sandee recreated the image “one no at timeme”!

See no evil!

Hear no evil!

Speak no evil!

We headed home, and I took a two-hour nap, which was not so much “resting” as it was my body filing an official shutdown notice.

After I rejoined the living, we watched a little TV and then headed for the pool.  The water is still 92 degrees, even after we lowered it to 90—apparently the warm weather took that as a personal challenge.   At this point, the pool is less of a ” refreshing swim” and more of a “giant outdoorbathtub “

After getting out, we watched the rest of PanAm 108 and then went to bed.  Gracie was roaming around the house and headed upstairs when we came down the hallway.  Finally, I got a face-on photo!

During the night, I saw our hallway, family room, and living/TV room lights go on and off, which means Grace is on the prowl!  Nothing like a four-legged burglar alarm!  Who needs a random lighting timer when Grace is on duty?

“I am mad!!  You took me to the Vet this morning!!!”

At 11:00 pm, we were sound asleep!

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Mid Week Crisis Has Begun

Posted on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 by Paul

At 6:46 am, my eyelids flew open like someone had hit the garage door remote, and I launched out of bed with the grace of a startled squirrel.

Today is going to be busy—the kind of busy that makes your calendar sweat and your coffee file for overtime.  I get chills just thinking about it…  I thought about rolling over, going to sleep, and telling everyone that my electronic calendar committed hari kari!

  • Gym at 8:30 am – 10:00 am
  • Haircuts in Huntington Beach 11:30 am – 1:45 pm
  • Lunch with Mary’sfinancial advisor 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm
  • Mary has guests to go picking at 4:00 pm
  • Paul heads to Elks for an interview at 4:30 pm
  • Bob Z comes over for pre-board meeting activities at 5:30 pm
  • Starlighters Board Meeting 6:00 pm

After our workout (meaning bullied and pummeled), we managed to waddle out of the Peak Performance Palace of Horror and went to the grocery store to get some goodies for     tonight’s board meeting.  Then we went home to lick our wounds.  We had about 35 minutes to change clothes and head down the old Highway 55 to Huntington Beach for our six-week clipping.

Mary went in first, and then I followed.  My “ears lowered” took about 9 minutes, and I was declared handsome.  When Mary’s hair was under the dryer (yes, Mary was also),  I went next door to the Black Trumpet and devoured two happy hour items and a glass of wine.

Blow Gabriel Blow!!!

The Black Trumpet Bistro Tapas & Wine Bar is a family-run Mediterranean restaurant in Huntington Beach, California, located at 7041 W. Yorktown Avenue. Run by Chef Dino Ferraro, it offers French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, and Moroccan small plates, full entrees, and a curated wine list.

I was recognized immediately as I entered their establishment.  (They locked the safe and sent the women and children into the back room!)

Believe it or not, this is a stuffed jalapeño pepper — although at some point it clearly stopped being an appetizer and started applying for entrée status. The chef packed it with deer meat, cheese, and microgreens, and it was actually delicious. That said, any jalapeño that requires a knife and fork has officially gotten too big for its pepper pants.

The presentation was beautiful!

I was sitting at the bar when, all of a sudden, a beautiful young lady tapped me on the shoulder.  I was all prepared to say, “Sorry, ma’am, but I am very happily married!”  When I turned around, it was Paula.  She is beautiful, but I was safe!  Then 30 seconds later, Mary popped in from next door.

Ladies! Shall we order??

We found a table and placed our order.  I ordered tacos, and below was their answer.  It was amazingly good, but again, a tad difficult to eat since the taco shell was lettuce.

Tacos with a European flair!

Paula mentioned to the waiter that she saw some swimming attire he might like.  Without further ado, she pulled out her iPhone and showed him the image.  It frightened the guy so bad that he never returned to the table.

He never returned to our table (but I went home and bought three pairs from Amazon).

We departed the Black Trumpet at 3:05 pm and headed home, where I did a fly-by, meaning I dropped Mary off, and I headed to the Elks Lodge to attend the “investigation” of Alvaro Ruiz, whom I sponsored into the Elks.  I knew him 20 years ago, and now he works with Robin every day, so I know he is a good guy!!

Robin was going to follow me home but decided to go home directly;y, she had a long day at work!

We all dropped a few bucks into the donation center box to assist the wayward woman!!

As the Silver Fox and I were flying up Highway 55 attempting to get home before the board members arrived, we got a call from Mary saying Bob was already there.  I hit the Warp Drive Lever and further increased my chances of getting a speeding ticket.

As I arrived, the gang began showing up.

Jim, Betty, and Ed listened intently to Bob Z spewing forth a wealth of knowledge!

Will, Iris, and Vicky also participated in the meeting!

Bob conducted the meeting with skill!!

The maestro of mischief at work!

As everyone was departing, I remembered I again did NOT get a picture of us, so Vicky did the honors!

I was half in the bag by the end of the meeting!

Mary challenged me to finish off the shrimp, so I accepted like a champion.  That curly little sucker never stood a chance—one gulp and he became seafood history.

NOW, I am ready for a small glass (or bottle) of wine!

When everyone finally left, we peeled ourselves out of our clothes and made a beeline for the oversized hot tub they call a pool, where the water was still a cozy 90 degrees.  Mary handled bug patrol while I drifted around like an abandoned barge with no cargo, no captain, and absolutely no ambition.  When we began to get pruney, we carefully extracted ourselves from the water and headed to bed.

9:00 pm, time to go inside!

The “Bug Lady” was worn out, as we had been on the move for the last thirteen hours without rest!

The Bug Lady is collecting specimens

I was so relaxed, I fell asleep on the way to the pillow!

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Today Was Painting Day!

Posted on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 by Paul

We were up and going around 6:00 am, as today is 1) get-ready-for-the-board-meeting day and 2) watercolor painting day!

I got on a roll and got out all my shoes, ALL 24 PAIRS.  Oh my, I might be a girl!   All I need is about five pairs!  I need formal dress shoes (tuxedo), dancing shoes, leather dress shoes, two pairs of tennis shoes, and that’s it!   Someone at the Salvation Army is going to be happy!!

We worked around the house until 11:00 am and then got ready for Mary’s weekly painting class.  I dropped her off at 12:30 pm and then headed home for a few minutes before doing my errands:

  1. Filled up the tank on the Silver Fox; it was running on fumes!
  2. Stopped at the bank and refilled my wallet, which was down to $3!
  3. Did a Del Taco run and got a taco and a small Diet Coke
  4. Stopped by the cleaners to drop off two of Mary’s blouses

Then it was off to pick up her nibs at the seniors center.  Mary was into swamps today!

Knowing that she loves frogs, I used my magic and added two additional friends to her painting.  Snoop Frogg and Captain Croak were added to the masterpiece.

On the way home, we made a strategic stop at the post office to mail a letter to the IRS, with whom we are currently engaged in a spirited game of financial dodgeball.  We dropped it in the slot and hoped it would find its way to the one person there having a good day.

Once home, we checked on the kitty—who, as usual, had been managing the household with complete indifference—then headed back out on an important expedition to Home Depot, also known as the place where”we only need one thing” goes to die.

We picked up a few more solar-powered LED walkway lights for the backyard, and now every planter has one.  At this point, the yard is better lit than some airport runways.  We also bought a new handle for Mary’s favorite rake, because apparently even garden tools get hip replacements, and seven new tomato plants, which will be going into the ground early tomorrow morning—assuming they don’t unionize overnight.

Then it was back home for the rest of the day.  Mary went VFR to the kitchen and successfully scrounged up a delightful dinner of corned beef and cabbage with a homemade cucumber salad.  Meanwhile, I performed the highly technical task of unloading the car and putting away our purchases without losing any receipts, tools, or dignity.

The new lamps were installed quickly so we could watch them come on as the sun set.  Sure enough, as darkness fell, the backyard began to glow proudly—like a tiny solar-powered Las Vegas, but with more tomatoes.

The west wall is now quite bright.

The center wall in the backyard is lit up like a Christmas tree!

We went into the pool for about two hours and watched the lights and the stars!

After drying off, we watched the rest of Comanche, a 1958 shoot ’em up.  Summary:  Released in March 1956 and directed by George Sherman, Comanche is a CinemaScope Western starring Dana Andrews as frontier scout Jim Read.  Read tries to broker a peaceful treaty between the U.S. government and Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, but renegade faction leaders and a bigoted government commissioner constantly sabotage their efforts.

Mary crashed directly after the movie while I stayed up and finished off the Daily Diary.  As I took pictures of my lighting handiwork, I found Grace in the Family Room contemplating a run for the back door.  I stopped her in her tracks!

“I will escape again, I will!!”

I returned to the office, powered down the computer, and went to bed at 11:30 pm.

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