04/04/07

Here's some more, older news:

July 25, 2003 - Laguna Beach: Stopped at the Ritz Carlton (just to see the public areas) and later on a place called the Montage Resort and Spa in or near South Laguna.  It's huge.  What was there before?!?!?  Interesting cottage/craftsman architecture from the turn of last century and very grand.  They have Greg's big window/doors off o the lobby to the terrace overlooking the ocean and pool and grounds.

July 24, 2003 - Carl Arrives: Drove to the San Diego Airport to pick up Carl.  He will join us for the rest of the weekend and ride home on Sunday.  We went over to the San Diego Zoo and spent the rest of the day there.  It was sunny and we enjoyed the long walks around the different loops ... seeing the animals that were foolish enough to be outside!

This evening we went to

July 23, 2003 - Back to Oceanside Returned to Greg's ... stopping at Fry's on the way.  What a trip that place is:  huge architectural elements that remind you of Indiana Jones ... glass obelisks and huge marble balls.  I bought a web-cam for my laptop. 

Later that evening we drove over to Carlsbad to the Weight Watchers there.  Tom O. had his little book so he could weigh in. 

For supper we went to the Armenia Cafe.  We had some dips and I had the falafel dinner.

July 22, 2003 - Redlands This morning we drove to  to visit Randy and Bob.  It took about 1.5 hours.  Before we got to their house, we stopped at Clarke's Nutritional Center so I could buy more vegetarian goods.  I especially like the dry chunks (think food for a large dog) of "Beef" and "Chicken".

Randy was working for home so we made ourselves at home ... fixed lunch, napped, surfed and before we knew it, Bob was home from work.  We drove to a Mayan restaurant for dinner ... meeting Renato and Ruben there.  Good food.

Afterwards we drove to the Redlands Bowl and saw act I of Guys and Dolls.  A nice, colorful, musical sensation.  The acting was good too.

July 21, 2003 - Exploring Oceanside:  We drove to Carlsbad for lunch at the Armenian cafe ... found out it is closed on Mondays (sigh, sob).  So we went across the street to the Fish Hut and had vegetarian burgers.  Tom O. is not a vegetarian but did not want to have protein twice in the same day.  We then ran some errands.  I wanted to get a replacement soap dish for my broken Grohe shower pole.  I found out there was a Grohe parts place in Oceanside. 

My car is so neat.  You just put the address into the navigation thing and this womans voice tells you where to go!   At the gas station we asked if there was a Costco nearby.  "No, the money-taker said.  Later on we found out there was one very near that gas station.

Before we came home, I said "Let's drive the length of Oceanside.  I found out the reptile store is closed (I guess out of business).  We were also looking for restaurants ... and when we got to the "end" we started to turn back and Tom O. said "Why don't we look a little further" and we found the Oceanside Marina/Yacht Harbor!  What a pleasant surprise.  Lots of seafood restaurants.  We ended up eating at the Monterey Cannery Restaurant.  Tom had Albacore and I had pasta.  The fish was a little overcooked (dry) and the pasta was a little over cooked (mushy), but we enjoyed it anyway.  We're busy calculating Weight Watcher points so we won't eat too much.

...  Having a ball.  Today is overcast.  There may be thundershowers inland.  And we are going to the Redlands Bowl tonight!  Memo to self:  Take an umbrella.  It's in the high 80's.
 

July 20,2003 - Drive to Oceanside.  Tom O. came over Sunday morning.  We loaded up and set up for the day's drive to Oceanside to stay in Greg's house for a week.  We purposefully chose a leisurely course to break in my new car at varying speeds.  Across the San Mateo Bridge, we drove West and picked up Skyline Blvd above Crystal Springs Reservoir.  This beautiful drive wound around the tops of the costal mountains, with glimpses of ocean and bay on the right and left, respectively.

Click here to see pictures of the trip to Oceanside.

We turned onto Highway 9 and headed for Santa Cruz, passing through Boulder Creek, Ben Lommand, Felton and other mountain towns before dropping into Santa Cruz and picking up Highway 1.

It was a beautiful day and the scenery at Monterey, Carmel and further south were breath-taking.  We stopped for lunch at Ventana (never been there before) which was next to Nepenthe in Big Sur.  We sat in the patio overlook the Pacific Ocean.

Spectacular view of the California Shoreline as we drove south along the edge of the steep coastal mountains.  Miles later we arrived at San Simeon (Hearst Castle), Morrow Bay and San Luis Obispo ("Slo Town") where we switched to from Highway 1 to Highway 101.  In Santa Barbara we encountered a traffic jam that lasted for miles and an hour or so, then mysteriously evaporated as we left Ventura and Oxnard.

We stopped at an El Torito off of "the 405" at the John Wayne Aiport at about 8:30 PM and finally made it to Greg's at 11:00 PM.  What a long day of driving!  And what a beautiful place to end the day!!!. 

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. 

Madison:

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Randy's Mother:

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

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.

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).

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:

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 tdaniels@tomdaniels.com