03/26/07

    Welcome!

Here's some more, older news:

 
   

Remodeling on Blair Avenue:

On September 17, 2007, work began on my living room.  The major goals are:  double paned windows to replace the single paned ones, new gas fireplace and vaulted ceilings.  After putting the project out for bid, I selected the company which did my last job (deck/sun room).  Click here to see the rapid progress.
Steven C. Randel, AIA Architect
1775 E Palm Canyon Dr, H302
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760 904-7078 		SF Bay Construction, Inc
Brian Kenny
236 West Portal Ave
San Francisco, CA 94127
415-841-1008

Robert Gorman, Engineer
PO Box 95
Moraga, CA 94556
925-376-7230

Richard C. Najera, Owner
Trinity Electrical Contractor
1277 Linda Mar S.C., No 117
Pacifica, CA 94044
650-557-0199
The Floor Show
Wood Flooring: Refinish, repair and more
2547 Eighth St
Berkeley, CA 94710
510-845-4633 		Saul Espinoza Painting
Exterior - Interior
2876 - 18th St
San Pablo, CA 94806
510-233-3690

Turkey, Germany and The Netherlands:

Click here to read about my 5-week trip to Turkey, Germany and Holland, April/May 2007.   Click here for Amsterdam.

Hillary (Case) Ake

On January 20, 2007, my sister Barbara, brother Jim and Cousins Nancy and Diane and I flew to Reno, Nevada.  We joined other family and friends in a celebration of the life of my cousin Hillary (Case) Ake.  For more information and pictures, please click here.

In Korea - Sept 28 - Oct 12, 2006!

Click here to read about my trip and see some pictures I took.

Bay Bombers at Kezar Pavillion!

On July 29, 2006, Jon and I were part of a group which went to Kezar Pavillion in SF to see the Bay Bombers play against the Los Angeles T-Birds.  It was a lot of fun.  The home team was way behind but in the last 44 seconds, miraculously pulled ahead.  Scoring is very complicated (IMHO) and it wasn't until half-time I learned the players with an "X" painted on their helmets and they are the ones who score the points.  Oh well.  Click on this thumbnail to enlarge:

Hadley Rose Kersens!

Click here to see pictures of my new little grand-niece, born to Beth and Ben Kersens, June 7, 2006.

Asia Cruise - Sep, Oct, Nov 2005

I'm currently on a cruise.  We departed from Seattle and stop in Alaska, Russia, Korea before ending in Osaka, Japan.  Some of us including me will stay in Asia for many weeks.  Click here to find out more about this trip.

Oregon - July/August 2005:

I drove up to Oregon at the end of July for family reunions.  At the beginning of May, I joined my brother and cousin for a car trip from Portland to New Mexico.  Click here to see pictures and read about it.

Tom's new car - July 2005:

When I talked to Randy on the phone, I couldn't bring myself to tell him about my new car.  It is so totally unlike me.  But I've been thinking about it for some time.  I bought a 2003 Lexus SC430.  Jon took me to the dealer where I'd looked at it the day before.  I was able to negotiate a little and drive it off the lot the same day. 

It's a dark blue called Indigo and it is a convertible with a hard top.  It has 2 rear seats but they are essentially unusable because there is no place for your legs.

So now you know my secret.

New Mexico - May 2005:

At the beginning of May, I joined my brother and cousin for a car trip from Portland to New Mexico.  Click here to see pictures and read about it.

Mexico - March 2005:

Four days after I got back from Costa Rica, I left for Mexico:  Ixtapa (1 week) and Puerto Vallarta (1 week).  Click here to see pictures and read about it.

Costa Rica - February 2005:

I joined friends Randy, Bob and Ruben on an excursion to Costa Rica.  We stayed a little over a week at the resort area of Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Ocean.  Click here to see some of the things we did.

Hawaii - January 2005:

I'm off to Honolulu for some fun in the sun.  I arrived 12/30/04 in time to join friends for a cruise around the Islands.  Click here to learn a little more about this trip. 

Oregon:  Ashland and home

On Labor Day, TomO, Ron, Carl and I drove up to Ashland to see 4 plays:  Comedy of Errors, Oedipus Complex, The Royal Family and Raisin in the Sun.  All were in the Angus Bomer Theater.  I liked Comedy of Errors and Raisin in the Sun the best.

Ron and TomO returned to the Bay Area and Carl and I drove up home for the remainder of the next 2 weeks.  We celebrated Mother's 91st birthday on September 17 and 18th.  Click here to see some pictures.

Back from 6 weeks in Europe:

I'm in Europe:  Germany, France, Luxembourg, Italy ... leading up to a Mediterranean cruise to Turkey, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Spain and England.  Click here to see some of the pictures we took.

A month-long car trip:

From April 25 to May 24, 2004, TomO, Carl and I drove 8,500 miles, across 16 states.  Click here to read about it and see some of the pictures we took.

John Kurtich - 1935 - 2004:

In Chicago, we were going to stay with John Kurtich.  John was a roommate of Joe's at UCLA and we've been friends since I've known Joe.  He was a dean and professor at the Chicago Art Institute.  John had come to visit Joe and me one time when Mother and Dad were also visiting.  I remember that John was practicing some complicated Listz compositions on my piano.

I tried to get in touch with John to tell him we would be in Chicago a day earlier.  On his answering machine was the name Troy.  I left a message.

The morning before we were to arrive in Chicago, Troy called.  John died at the end of March!  He had a heart attack.  He was 68 and had been in seemingly good health up until then.  There was a memorial service for him at the Art Institute.  They plan to turn his house into a graduate research center.

Click here to see the full page tribute to John in the school newspaper.
 

My new Sunroom (under construction) Completed!:

My new sunroom is complete.  The final inspection was Thursday, April 8th.  It came in on budget and on schedule.  I really liked my contractor, his crew and and sub-contractors.    My contractor was Brian Kenny of Euro-Tech Construction (now S.F. BAY  CONSTRUCTION at www.sfbayconstruction.com) of San Francisco.  My designer was Steven Randel of California Home Plans, Inc., San Francisco/Palm Springs.  Click here to see pictures during construction and at completion.  I have a landscaping and painting project ahead of me.

Cousin Mark comes to visit:

Mark drove down on Friday evening, March 19th, the start of his Spring vacation.  I was not a very good host, but Mark is very independent and took care of himself!

2nd story deck project has begun (March 2004)

While I was in Oregon, the old cement in front of my garage was removed and replaced with an concrete area twice as wide.  Forms are being build for the foundation to a 2nd story deck that will be built to the left of my garage

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Winter 2003/2004 - "Back to School"

I'm in the middle of the Winter 2004 session at The Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning, at the University of San Francisco campus.  I'm taking these classes (along with Tom O and Carl):
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The Religious Legacy of India, Part II
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The Fifties:  Decade of 'Normalcy' or 'Age of Anxiety'?
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Multi-Cultural Theatre in America
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The Wonders of Science Series
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Bioethics

You can learn more about the Institute at www.usfca.edu/fromm.  There is a major fund raising drive to remodel an existing building to house the new "Fromm Hall".

 

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January 2003 in Tucson:

I flew to Tucson on January 12th.  I met up with my brother Joel, his wife Elaine, my cousin Levonne, her her husband Rick and my nephew Philip's wife Barbara.  These pictures show you some of the things we did:


Tom, Joel, Elaine, Levonne, Rick


Phoenix


Pima Air and Space Museum

Sonoran Desert Museum

Titan Missile Museum

 

 

 

Christmas 2003:

This year I spent Christmas at friends in Southern California.  Jon and Charlie drove me down to Oceanside.  We stopped for lunch with Jon's sisters Irene and Jane in the Orange County area.  We arrived at Greg's at 5 pm and spent the rest of the evening talking and eating.  The next morning I drove Jon and Charlie to San Diego to board their cruise on the Mexican Riviera.

Greg's major remodel project is nearly complete.  The tile floor went in last week and flows from the living room out onto the patio.

Randy and Bob hosted us for Christmas Eve dinner.  Renato and David came over too.  Oh, by the way, it rains in Southern California!

These photos are from my Christmas trip to southern California.

 

 

Greg's kitchen

View from Greg's living room

Greg's living room

Greg's house from the beach

Greg and Tom

Randy

Bob

Thanksgiving 2003:

Carl stopped by Rossmoor and picked up Jim.  On our way to Jon and Charlie's, we dropped by Steve and Tim's to wish them a happy holiday.  They were putting the finishing touches on their turkey feast.

Jim F. and Dan G were already at J & C's when we got there.  Jon and Charlie served an incredible dinner:  Turkey, mashed potatoes, 2 kinds of dressing, squash, green beans, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, creamed onions, creamed corn (my favorite!).  Pumpkin/peach pie for dessert.

Joel sent some pictures from Thanksgiving 2003 in Oregon:

Kim, Richard & Barbara

Roberta & Lucia

Yum!

Andrew & Helen

Helen & Barbara

Andrew, Helen, Barbara, Ben

Marina

Helen, Marina, Ben, Andrew

Terry's Thanksgiving in Palm Springs!

Howard Clausen 1913 - 2003

On October 13th in Vienna, when I dialed in to get email, I learned that dear friend Howard Clausen had passed away peacefully in his sleep during the night of Thursday October 9, 2003.  He would have been 90 on December 11th.  He is survived by his partner James St. Clair who turned 90 in July.  They had been together since 1941.

He was born Charles Howard Irving Clausen in Minnesota, the youngest child in a large family.  Howard was a tiny baby and talks about being kept warm in a tiny box near the stove.  His next oldest sibling was a sister who was old enough to leave home.  Later on the family moved to the Seattle area.

After the war, Howard and Jim lived in Paris where Jim worked for the American Embassy as a translator and Howard worked as a liaison for American movie making companies and at times worked as a personal assistant for actor Burt Lancaster.

The pair retired early and settled into a relaxed lifestyle in Southern France.  Later on, when their circle of friends thinned and concerns for health care coverage increased, they relocated back to the Bay Area in the early 1980s.  For the past dozen or more years they lived in Rossmoor near Walnut Creek.
 

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Off to Vienna:

Click here to read about my trip to Vienna and see some travel "Postcards"

September- October 16, 2003, I traveled to Austria and London with Martha.  Click here to see pictures and a description of this trip.

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My Mother's 90th Birthday Party:

The weekend of 9/13/03, I'm back in Oregon to help celebrate my mother's 90th birthday.  I drove up in 9 hours on Tuesday.  My main project was to get photos ready to mount on 7 pieces of foam board.  My sister-in-law Elaine was a great help ... she knows how to lay them out to make them look interesting.  We took snapshots which we either mounted directly or I scanned and enlarged.

The party was Saturday at Smyrna's social hall.  Many people came ... Terry and my grade school classmate Linda whom we hadn't seen since 1962! ... aunts, cousins, friends ... it was a wonderful, sunny day.  Click on Birthday Pictures to see some photos of the celebration.

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Labor Day in Redlands, CA:

I'm spending the Labor Day week and weekend at Randy and Bob's in Southern California. Click on the pool to see some pictures from the pool party:

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Niece Beth gets Married:

Niece Beth and Ben got married.  Come and see pictures of the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.

 

 

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Sailing on the ALMA:

On August 8th, Carl invited Joel, Elaine and me to join him and TomO on a sailing trip across the Bay.  The Sailing Ship Alma was temporarily docked in Martinez.  It had been part of a camp experience for children and was being returned to its berth at Hyde Pier near Fisherman's Wharf. 

Click on the picture to the left to see some more pictures.  More pictures from the Alma that TomO took.  Click on:    to see more pictures aboard the antique bay sail boat.

 

 

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Steve's Birthday Party:

Steve celebrated an auspicious birthday on Saturday, August 9, 2003.  Crowds from all over the Bay Area attended.  Click on the picture to the right to see pictures.  It was a catered affair in the Steve and Tim's backyard.  The temperature was in the mid-80's but everyone remained cool in the shade.  Friend Don D flew down from Seattle and Don B drove up from Gilroy.  Guests celebrated late into the night.

 

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Christina and Christoph:

Christina and Christoph drove in from Santa Cruz on Friday, August, 1, 203.  They live near Stuttgart, Germany.  Just after they arrived, I took off for the Oakland Airport to pick up Niece Kate and her friend Sarah who came down for a short visit.

On Saturday, we took the Blue and Gold Ferry to Alcatraz to tour the old prison there.  Click on the snapshot at the right to see more pictures.

 

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Visit from N. Carolina Friends:

At the end of July, I'm hosting friends and family.  On July 31, 2003, Jim and Dean arrived from North Carolina.  Jon, Charlie and I took them to a German restaurant in Alameda called "Speisekammer"  (spice room).

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Greg's Oceanside Villa:

On July 20, 2003 Tom O. and I drove to Oceanside Calif.  We really enjoyed staying at Greg's beach home!  Here are two "postcards" that give you an idea of what he's done to it!  Read about our road trip here!

You can see other California Costal images at http://www.californiacoastline.org/

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After 16 yrs, on July 12, 2003 I got a new car:

 

I have a new car!  It happened so fast (for me, that is.  I've been thinking about this for almost 2 years!)  I got a 2004, Toyota Sienna XLE-Limited van.  It's light silver blue. 

The day I was in Oregon, Joel, Elaine and I went to see the caterer for Mother's September birthday.  This was in Milwaukee ... just beyond a lot of dealerships lining Hwy 99-E.  We'd both heard good reports on the new Toyota vans and wanted to see them.  We were able to see one and get a brochure.  They would even sell the van at sticker-price (other dealers are adding a markup!)

When I came back I went to Berkeley Toyota.  The salesman was reluctant to leave the floor.  When I said I wasted to see a "Limited", he said they didn't have any ... "Buh-bye"

Then I went to Oakland Toyota.  A very young sale man took me up to the parking lot roof where we looked at a Limited.  It wasn't the color I wanted (it was beige/beige), but I liked this color.  The problem was it came with a GPS navigation system and a DVD entertainment system.  I was emphatic about hot wanting this.  Back in his office, I was told the Limited is essentially not available without Navigation/DVD.

In the meantime I used the Internet to ask from special dealer relationships through Costco Auto (Dublin Toyota) and AutoBuyTel (Walnut Creek Toyota).  I talked to Dublin Toyota and they said they could order one for me and it could take up to a year to get one.

When I was talking to Walnut Creek Toyota, I found out they had exactly what I was looking for and at a price below sticker price.  Jon and rushed over there and I bought it!

(PS ... I did end up getting the NAV/DVD package ... love those gadgets!)

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July 1-8, 2003 - Fourth of July in Oregon:

Here are some pictures from this visit: 

I flew up to Oregon on Tuesday, July 1st to spend the Fourth with my family.  Joel and Elaine picked me up at the airport.  We stopped at Costco on the way home to add to picnic supplies.

Lots of projects at Mother's to get the garden, lawns, etc. ready for Beth's August Wedding.  I cleaned out the pool house and pump room.  The pool underwent a big repair from last winter.  Some of the cement was removed for access and that was replace and matched to the existing concrete.  New sidewalk and steps to the front door were poured.

I put up the 6 brightly colored Bali flags.  The red one has faded, but the others look pretty good.  This is their 3 year for flying.

On Thursday, Joel and Elaine installed 2 solar-tubes in their family room and adjoining kitchen.  The amount of light that these bring in is unbelievable.  In the afternoon we drove to Lake Oswego and boarded the Willamette Shore Trolley for a 7 mile ride from Lake Oswego to Portland (7 miles).  We went through a tunnel and across a 1,000 foot bridge (a little scary)

 

July 12, 2003 - My new car:   The day I was in Oregon, Joel, Elaine and I went to see the caterer for Mother's September birthday.  This was in Milwaukee ... just beyond a lot of dealerships lining Hwy 99-E.  We'd both heard good reports on the new Toyota vans and wanted to see them.  We were able to see one and get a brochure.  They would even sell the van at sticker-price (other dealers are adding a markup!)

When I came back I went to Berkeley Toyota.  The salesman was reluctant to leave the floor.  When I said I wasted to see a "Limited", he said they didn't have any ... "Buh-bye"

Then I went to Oakland Toyota.  A very young sale man took me up to the parking lot roof where we looked at a Limited.  It wasn't the color I wanted (it was beige/beige), but I liked this color.  The problem was it came with a GPS navigation system and a DVD entertainment system.  I was emphatic about hot wanting this.  Back in his office, I was told the Limited is essentially not available without Navigation/DVD.

In the meantime I used the Internet to ask from special dealer relationships through Costco Auto (Dublin Toyota) and AutoBuyTel (Walnut Creek Toyota).  I talked to Dublin Toyota and they said they could order one for me and it could take up to a year to get one.

When I was talking to Walnut Creek Toyota, I found out they had exactly what I was looking for and at a price below sticker price.  Jon and rushed over there and I bought it!

(PS ... I did end up getting the NAV/DVD package ... love those gadgets!)

July 1-8, 2003 - Fourth of July in Oregon.  I flew up to Oregon on Tuesday, July 1st to spend the Fourth with my family.  Joel and Elaine picked me up at the airport.  We stopped at Costco on the way home to add to picnic supplies.

Lots of projects at Mother's to get the garden, lawns, etc. ready for Beth's August Wedding.  I cleaned out the pool house and pump room.  The pool underwent a big repair from last winter.  Some of the cement was removed for access and that was replace and matched to the existing concrete.  New sidewalk and steps to the front door were poured.

I put up the 6 brightly colored Bali flags.  The red one has faded, but the others look pretty good.  This is their 3 year for flying.

On Thursday, Joel and Elaine installed 2 solar-tubes in their family room and adjoining kitchen.  The amount of light that these bring in is unbelievable.  In the afternoon we drove to Lake Oswego and boarded the Willamette Shore Trolley for a 7 mile ride from Lake Oswego to Portland (7 miles).  We went through a tunnel and across a 1,000 foot bridge (a little scary)

Saturday June 21, the first day of summer:  I fixed the "FeedBack" page.  My web host requires that email addresses on the page match those in a file on their system so that your email address can't be hijacked or abused.  I don't know that I understand that, but it sounds good.  I had hear that several people had sent a feedback, but I hadn't gotten anything because I hadn't correctly customized it.

Friday the 13th in June:  I went to see the Rosinni Opera, Cenerentola.  I was the guest of Oakland friend Dick D.  We arrived early and were able to park about 1/2 block from the SF Opera House on Golden Gate Avenue.  After the performance, we returned to my car we found the small rear passenger-side window had been broken.  The glove compartment contents had been pulled out and were lying on the front seat.  Nothing seemed to have been taken.  For pictures, go to My Photo Gallery.

June 1-3, 2003

I continue to work on my landscaping (if you can even call it that)!  I've cleared all of the plantings to the left of the garage ... excluding the magnolia tree and wisteria.  I'd like to add some paved area for additional parking.  Charlie suggested making a turn-around!!  I hadn't thought of that.

May 18 - 25, 2003

Rode to Southern California with David to visit Bob and Randy in their new home near Riverside.  Their house was newly remodeled so there is not a lot of "big" things for them to do.  The weather was hot early in the week but cooled as the weekend approached.

Took side trips to Lake Arrowhead (a first for me), Palm Springs (saw Mark) and San Diego (saw Joe).

Saturday June 21, 2003 the first day of summer:  I fixed the "FeedBack" page.  My web host requires that email addresses on the page match those in a file on their system so that your email address can't be hijacked or abused.  I don't know that I understand that, but it sounds good.  I had heard that several people had sent a feedback, but I hadn't gotten anything because I hadn't correctly customized it. 

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Madison:

Jon's niece Madison is growing up.  Here are two pictures from her ballet recital: and 

 

 

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Mary's wedding:

Jon and I went to Mary and Arthur's Wedding ... go to Photo Gallery to see pictures.  You can read the charming story of how Mary met Arthur by going to their web site:  www.garmo-and-gold.com. 

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Friday the 13th in June:  I went to see the Rosinni Opera, Cenerentola.  I was the guest of Oakland friend Dick D.  We arrived early and were able to park about 1/2 block from the SF Opera House on Golden Gate Avenue.  After the performance, we returned to my car we found the small rear passenger-side window had been broken.  The glove compartment contents had been pulled out and were lying on the front seat.  Nothing seemed to have been taken.  For pictures, go to My Photo Gallery.

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David and Bisquick:

My neighbor David got a new Rotweiller mixed puppy which he named Bisquick.  Just as she was getting use to her new home, she came down with a virus and didn't survive.  Here's a picture of Bisquick.  I snapped some photos from a video tape and you can see them on my photo page.

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June 1-3, 2003

I continue to work on my landscaping (if you can even call it that)!  I've cleared all of the plantings to the left of the garage ... excluding the magnolia tree and wisteria.  I'd like to add some paved area for additional parking.  Charlie suggested making a turn-around!!  I hadn't thought of that.

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Randy's Mother:

Randy took some pictures when he visited his Mother, recently.

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Santa Fe, New Mexico:

My brother Joel, his wife Elaine and son Philip and family visited their other son Marcus in Santa Fe the second week of June.  See pictures of their activities at My Photo Gallery page.

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May 18 - 25, 2003:

Rode to Southern California with David to visit Bob and Randy in their new home near Riverside.  Their house was newly remodeled so there is not a lot of "big" things for them to do.  The weather was hot early in the week but cooled as the weekend approached.

Took side trips to Lake Arrowhead (a first for me), Palm Springs (saw Mark) and San Diego (saw Joe).

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My Garden:

The garden near my garage looks like a war zone.  After the redwood tree was cut down and hauled away, I took most of the fence down to open up this area.  I continued by removing cactus, aloe, bottle brush, crepe myrtle, citrus, acacia, ginger, etc.  My plan is to increase the area where friends can park when they come to visit me.  The architect is concerned about the slope, so I may have to level is off and put in a retaining wall.

Here are a couple of pictures of what I've just described:

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More Photos:

Check out my Photo Album for more pictures including "post cards" pictures from my vacations, activities, etc. 

Contact Me: 

You can send me e-mail me at Thomas@tomdaniels.com

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This site was last updated 03/26/07