Gardening

In the past I have mentioned my happy looking winter garden. I should have made a distinction between an Northern winter garden and my Southern California garden. My mind retains the impression of winter gardens in the North, sad and forlorn. That impression is from having been raised in the most northern of the states. Minnesota being the furthest north because of the chimney on its north boarder. I was pleased yesterday to be planting some sweet peas.

Breakfasts

Sunday's breakfast consists of four hotcakes, two soft boiled eggs, a grapefruit and two cups of coffee. One day a week I eat a breakfast of bacon and eggs at St John's cafeteria. The other days it is oatmeal one day and raisin bran the next. I like a good breakfast each day.

Happy Birthday and Anniversary

Today is the start of Norma’s 79th year and I wish her a Happy Birthday!

Today is a 58th wedding anniversary. We can say that we are still married so we can say that it is our 58th wedding anniversary. For me it has been: Twenty six years of a good life, then married, forty eight years of a very good life, then seperated and nine years of a good life. This leaves little to complain about. Most people would envy such blessings

UU's and Beach

Attending with the UU’s and a trip to the beach at the end of Ocean Avenue to read, drink coffee and look was about all that went on Sunday.

Charley Rose Show

It has been mentioned by me on a number of occasions that the Charley Rose Show is well worth listening to. It is on TV but the visual content is, except to see the people, is not so important. The past week their were prime ministers, foreign secretaries, and ex-dignitaries . These were from Singapore, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and India, and maybe some I am not recalling. It is non-political, just informing. It also covers the entertainment, sports, business and culture topics. With a back ground of information it is easier to know how the align oneself with the right choices, far better than the stump speeches and tv/radio sound bites. I VHS it as is broadcast and play it back for breakfast or during the day.

Norma's 79th

Norma,s 79th time to celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, so many things to recall. Wishing her a happy time. I think is still correct to mention that is also a 58th anniversary, so many things and happy times to recall.

Today will be a low activity day. Will stay close to home with, some housework, grocery shopping, out for coffee, reading, gardening. Nothing pressing.

Friday September 24[

Look at the bottom of each posting and click on the envelope symbol to send an e-mail to me. I don't think you have to be a bloger member to do that.

My maid, Anna, did not show up today and so will do the cleaning myself this time and then go to LePetit for lunch with some of the money that I will save. I will feel better about the housework after a pleasant lunch.

Thursday September 23

The focus group of 12 people, all owners, including two women meet last evening for 6 to 9 to discuss a some Segway issues. They were: when and how long have you had your Segway, how much time for pleasure and usefulness, its good features, they had several renderings of new features, new designs and innovations. It was a well facilitated meeting conducted by a marketing group. The last questions related to its short comings and the presentation a check of $75.00 to each of us. It was a lovely evening in downtown Los Angles.

Wednesday September 22

If you have not already read this list, you should enjoy the humor and seriousness of it.

Kerry's "Top 10 Bush Tax Proposals" are:
10. No estate tax for families with at least two U.S. presidents.
9. W-2 Form is now Dubya-2 Form.
8. Under the simplified tax code, your refund check goes directly to
Halliburton.
7. The reduced earned income tax credit is so unfair, it just makes me want to
tear out my lustrous, finely groomed hair.
6. Attorney General (John) Ashcroft gets to write off the entire U.S.
Constitution.
5. Texas Rangers can take a business loss for trading Sammy Sosa.
4. Eliminate all income taxes; just ask Teresa (Heinz Kerry) to cover the
whole damn thing.
3. Cheney can claim Bush as a dependent.
2. Hundred-dollar penalty if you pronounce it "nuclear" instead of "nucular."
1. George W. Bush gets a deduction for mortgaging our entire future.

Tuesday September 21

Segway has invited me to participate in a focus group at the Los Angles Hyatt Regency. Their will be 12 owners of Segways with a moderator to direct the discussion. It is this Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Their will also be a light dinner and refreshments before the sessions start. This is not a sales presentation. As promised, at the end of the focus group, Segway will be giving me a check for $75 for assisting them with their research project.
The purpose of the discussion is gain a better understanding of the desired features and the designs of the Segway HT.
I will let you know Thursday all about the above adventure.

Monday September 20

No problem on the return from Sacramento. The flight left an hour behind schedule due to some trouble with the plane and ground equipment, brought back memories from my United days in maintenance while in Denver. The weekend was such a pleasant time visiting and partying.

Saturday september 18

I am off for the buses to LAX to catch the 8:45 flight to Sacramento. The report is that the chance for stand-by is very good. The fight is due to arrive at 10:04. I will call Lisa’s to pick me up at the United’s baggage claim area. Wayne’s and I are planning to staying over night at Rachel’s. It will be good to be able to spent some time at her place. Norma and Nicholas should be at Lisa and Gary’s. A great day it will be.

Friday September 17

Saturday at Ryan’s is taking shape. Wayne, Susan and her girlfriend, Carl’s, Steven’s and myself should be there. Paul’s will be in Santa Barbara in order to get Benjamin settled for his year of schooling. Wayne will be at San Bruno on Friday evening and will bring Norma. I will fly to Sacramento on Saturday morning and fly back on Sunday. I should be a great party for Dylan’s 1st birthday.

Friday September 17

Saturday at Ryan’s is taking shape. Wayne, Susan and her girlfriend, Carl’s, Steven’s and myself should be there. Paul’s will be in Santa Barbara in order to get Benjamin settled for his year of schooling. Wayne will be at San Bruno on Friday evening and will bring Norma. I will fly to Sacramento on Saturday morning and fly back on Sunday. I should be a great party for Dylan’s 1st birthday.

Friday September 17

Saturday at Ryan’s is taking shape. Wayne, Susan and her girlfriend, Carl’s, Steven’s and myself should be there. Paul’s will be in Santa Barbara in order to get Benjamin settled for his year of schooling. Wayne will be at San Bruno on Friday evening and will bring Norma. I will fly to Sacramento on Saturday morning and fly back on Sunday. I should be a great party for Dylan’s 1st birthday.

Thursday September 16

The garden is one of the best looking one of the ten in the plot, their are many reasons. Most gardeners use their plot for production, I usually eat out, so not much need for produce. They have all planted and finished harvesting and not started anything for the winter garden. Mine is mostly for the pleasure of it, exercise, bird watching and reading in a garden. During this year I have not removed any vegetable material from it. After it has finished producing the plant is cut in short length and used as ground cover. That material is better left there being than added to a land fill. The top of soil also looks better with a covering of organic material. Next year their should be an abundance of strawberries and Ogalola berries. Paige does not have time to do much there, but I keep both sides looking interesting.

Wednesday September 15

I have the following books from the library: Stella In Heaven by Art Buchwald, Woodcuts Of Women by Dagoberto Gilb, Benjamin Franklin by Edmund S. Morgan, DVD The Sheltering Sky, DVD Sophie’s Choicewith. I am well provided with material for any free moments.

Tuesday September 14

This Saturday will be the BBQ for Dylan’s 1st birthday. I will fly to Sacramento on Saturday and expect to fly out again Sunday. It should be a good chance to see a some of the family and some of Ryan and Eliza’s friends. Paul’s will be missed as they will be Santa Barbara with Benjamin. It is a long drive for Wayne’s and so would not be surprised if they did not make it. We will be thinking of those that do not make it and we will have enjoy ourselves.

Monday September 12

A slow news day, so a quote.

We do not change as we grow older, we just become more clearly ourselves.
Lynn Hall, from “Where Have All The Tigers gone?"

I will be off for the volunteering at Saint John's in an hour or so.

Sunday September 12

The Woman In The Dunes” by Kobo Abe. After reading and getting interested in the book I found the VHS tape at the library. The book has been translated from the Japanese and the movie is in Japanese with English sub titles. The technique is to read and watch the movie, but not let the movie get further with the plot that you have already read. You get more from the reading and more from the movie.

Novels let you know what people have in their mind and what they think about. Their isn’t another way of knowing what is thinking, even then it is only fiction.
Two thoughts from the book.

Joan and Carl are teacher so this is primarily for them.
Year after year students tumble along like the water of a river. They flow away and their teacher is left behind, like some deeply buried rock to the bottom of the current.

This for the most all of us.

It is recognized that no man can get along without some sort of plaything, and if he as satisfied with that one, it suited the wife.

Saturday Sepember 11

Ryan has been accepted for a job in Loomis, Thinking … In the past we would say that we had accepted a job now it is the they have accepted us. The job market is so different.

Gary steered me to the web site so that I could view their RV from the inside and outside. It is a wonderful piece of equipment. They will get so much pleasure from it.

Tomorrow is 9-11. Don’t remind me about it. I have heard enough and experienced enough of it. It has be given the credit for too many things that lead in the wrong directions. If we can, we should solve the cause. Punishment has not been the right way.

Frrday September 10

Grapefruit is one enjoyable fruit. For years it was eaten by halving it and using a grapefruit spoon, then for some time cutting it into slices and eating it out of the peel. That method worked okay but better when you are eating alone. Now I am cutting off enough of the end down to the fruit, slicing down and curving to remove the peel, then cutting it in half so that you can separate the sections. This let you enjoy all the juice, the texture and goodness.

Thusday September 9

This is intended to be my domestic day, wash, vacuum and clean in moments when I cannot find anything else to do.

Life is like playing the violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
Samuel Butler

Wednesday September 8

.
It is time for another haircut. The barber’s location is near the Kaiser
West Los Angles Medical Center. While in the area I will pick up an
additional supply of prednisone pills. A couple of months ago I tried
doing away with the 1 mg per day that I was taking. It did not work as my
right shoulder gave too mush pain and pain pills did not help and my right
hand muscles were sore, stiff and jerky. On October 15th Dr. Bullpitt the
rheumatologist will give me advice and I will go on from there. With the
1mg I feel fine and the only concern is that the prednisone does
interferer the way the body uses calcium . I do take about 1500 units of
calcium a day. Maybe that is enough. The doctor will advise.

Tuesday September 7

The correct spelling of the good coffee is Tazza D’Oro. You may be tired of hearing about this good coffee. A few more words and I will quit. The coffee originated in a coffee house in Rome in 1938. It is now roasted and distributed from Sardina to Europe, England and getting started in the United States. Ralph’s super market has it in their gourmet coffee collection. Again I am fortunate.

Monday September 6

The warm weather has arrived yesterday, The official report was that the temperature should have reached 100 degrees. The temperature here at the condo was not that high. Fans were all that was needed. The temperature at this time of the year is caused by the action of Santa Anna’s.

Santa Anna Winds

The Santa Anna winds are caused by an atmospheric pressure pattern that
sometimes develops over the southwestern U.S. High pressure builds over the
intermountain region to the east of southern California, as low pressure
deepens off the coast. As the winds flow clockwise around the high towards
the area of low pressure to the west, they descend from higher altitudes
inland to near sea-level in Southern California. This descent causes
temperature warming in the air due to the pressure increase with the
descent. As the air warms during descent it becomes much drier, because no
moisture is added to the air mass at this time.
Depending on the pressure gradient between the high pressure center and the
low pressure off the Southern California coast, very strong winds with an easterly component can
develop...winds sometimes as strong as 100 mph. It is a very hot and dry
Wind,. The Santa Anna winds are a type of chinook winds
that occur in many parts of the world near mountain ranges.
Wendell Bechtold, Meteorologist

The Santa Anna winds occur in Autumn, when a
high pressure system forms over the Pacific northwest
and low pressure occurs over Mexico. The north-south
pressure gradient causes strong winds that spill over
the Sierra Nevada mountains from the northeast. Just
as with the Chinook winds that sometimes affect Colorado's
east slope, the air descends from the mountains and
compresses, causing it to warm and decrease in relative
humidity. Since the air is already fairly dry (in the
absolute sense) because of it's origin in the dry
desert of Nevada, the warming produces very
low relative humidities, downwards to single digits.
The Santa Anna has a great capacity to produce large
amounts of evaporation and vegetative transpiration
that can dessicate vegetation and dry the soil. This
often results in high fire dangers in California and
the resultant fires that we often see on the TV news.
Dr. Cook

Sunday September 5

Enjoy your day before Labor Day

Work is a game a very serious game.
M. C Escher

Sunday

Saturday September 4

There is less than the usual amount of traffic. More people must have have left this area than have arrived, unless they are arriving late. It should be a normal day for me. The beach will be a good place to be on Sunday or Monday, or both. The weather is never anything to be concerned with here. Enjoy your long weekend!

Friday September 3

Susan’s 13th birthday is on the 6th.
It is a good idea not add to the highway traffic and so will bus-it to the beach and enjoy the sand and people close to home. They are is the usual thoughts about the long Labor Day weekend.

Thusday September 2

It is not necessary to be Scotch, tight or close with money to be interested in certain figures. After discovering Tanzia D’Ore coffee and knowing it tastes better than the coffee at coffee houses and other places, I would liked it to have it when away from home. If coffee at most anyplace is more than $1.25 per cup, why not brew it at home and enjoy the Tanzia D’Ore while reading my book at coffee drinking spots in the shade of an umbrella or tree. The figures are: the coffee beans are $9.99 per lbs, so that in less than ten times of brewing coffee and taking with me., the rest of the coffee in the pound is free, even more pleasure.

Wednesday September 1

A slow news day.

If you have not read, consider reading “Galilei Galileo” By Sobel, library #921.

I do not feel obliged to believe that the same
God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and
intellect has intended us to forgo their use.
--Galileo Galilei