Carl's visit

Joan, Aidan, Carl and Amber in Hawiia, 2007

Carl and Aidan are planning to visit with me here on The Presidents’ Day weekend, February 10, 11 and 12. They will be fling an using the Companion Tickets. These tickets should work out well between San Francisco and Los Angles on this particular weekend. There are numerous flights and maybe less fliers on this seasonal weekend. The Companion Tickets are about the same system the family has used for the past 40 years.

Little Miss Sunshine

This DVD had been recommended by a few of you. Little Miss Sunshine was most enjoyable, so much so that I viewed it twice and enjoyed the second time as well as the first. I hope that Abigail gets good recognition in the Oscar Awards.

Rainfall

Saturday evening I started out on the Segway for dinner at the Santa Monica UCLA cafeteria. It was misting. I had they umbrella with me. I had never used an umbrella with the Segway. I am sure that I would look silly. I did the right thing and returned and walked to The Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant. A thin fine rain was gathering. On the way home a soft rain fell. I would imagine it was something like they would have in Seattle. Southern California has showers with a real rain coming down and then a break and then more rain. We are 4 Inches short of our normal rainfall. This rainy spell has not helped much. We still have time for more.

Philadelphia

Listened to Prairie Home Companion. They were broadcasting from Philadelphia and commenting on the people and the city. That brought back many pleasant memories. I arrived there in January of 1946 and we left in the fall of 1952, for me almost seven years. The area and the people treated me well and it was enjoyable. Met Norma, got married and after about four years, Steven was born. We left for a job in Denver where I helped get the second TV channel on the air--KBTV. Steven was about to turn two years old that fall. I remember that he was just starting to be potty trained. Whenever he hinted he had to go, we stopped along the Pennsylvania Turnpike or any road and he would demonstrate how far he could pee. If any of you men have not already noticed that that ability to squirt a long way demises with age.

Beauty

We need more time and skill to enjoy beauty were we look.

Snow Peas

The weather here has been worming and the days are slightly longer. It is noticeable enough so as to make one think about the next step for the garden. Today I harvested the last picking of the snow peas. During this winter garden I have harvested, from the small garden, enough peas for about six servings. Today I stemmed them and they were the highlight of my dinner at The Santa Johns Medical Center. I am thinking about a replanting. So far they have been about the most successful vegetable for the small patch of ground.

The eyes

The Beverly Hills Age Related Macular Degeneration Support Group meets on most 4th Thursdays of each month. This is the 1st time that I have been with them at the Beverly Hill Library. I had been with them at Cider Sinai Medical Center an couple of times. You learn a little from by going to the meetings. Their were about 30 of us. One of the ladies, in memory of her husband who was a active member, provided a nice lunch in is honor.

I don’t expect to get so that I can read with the defective left eye. A number of the support group have had it in only one eye for quite a few years, there is always hope. I could function okay with it in both eyes but I dread thinking of giving up the ability to read and therefore maybe the loss of the use of the computer.

New Moon

Our New Moon

The Best Method

Sometimes I watch Masterpiece Theatre on National Public Radio. Sunday evening the program was Jane Eyre. I started looking at listening and found that I was missing some of the language. That is not unusual for me and some TV programs. Jane Eyre was downloaded as printed text and also as an e-audiobook from the World Wide Web. I started reading and listening to the book. After a few chapters I found that I enjoyed it more by listening to Jane Eyre being read to me by a skilled reader, from viewing on TV or in a the copy of a printed book.

What is remarkable about the above paragraph is that in the matter of a 15 or 20 minutes, in my own room, I was able to start watching a TV program, download from the World Wide Web, a complete book and an audio recording of the book and make the decision which suited me best. The advantage of a printed books and e-audiobooks is that you can read or listen when the time suits you the best.

Dinner

Yesterday turned out a bit better than expected. Instead of dinner at the Santa Monica UCLA Medical center I had dinner at Café Escobar, a few blocks away. Their dinners have always suited me. I do not go there more than one in two or three months. Why it all seemed better last evening was that I ordered a margarita. Tequila changes ones attitude and causes food to be more enjoyable. The food was $7.00 and the margarita $6.50. It was worth it.

A fine day.

A fine day to look forward to, bright and sunny. Breakfast with Nick and Jim at Rea’s. I will miss being with the UU’s. They have a sermon every Sunday so I can miss one now and then. I can look forward to a dinner at Santa Monica Medical Center. Nothing great but it will be an okay day.

All is well.

The photo "Looking At You" is enough for today to let you know that all is well.

January 19th

As I typed today’s date, it struck me again. On this, date 61 years ago, Norma I met for the 1st time. It was like our life together wonderful, exciting and almost unbelievable. One evening that will never be forgotten. A meeting that changed the world for many of us and the family. I checked the weather for Philadelphia for this evening and find the it is windy, 36 high and 25 low. I do remember the inclement weather for that night, long ago and the memory is still fresh, but we got together and that is what is important.

Coffee Grounds

It was sometime ago that I was informed that Starbucks would supply coffee grounds for use on gardens. Today I acted on the suggestion and asked a local outlet if they had any for me. They let me know that if they knew when a wished to pick them up they would have some for me. I about an hour I had more then 5 pounds of grounds. Starbucks are only too pleased to provide them.

Coffee by-products that can be used in the garden.

Sprinkle you grounds around plants before rain or watering, for a slow release nitrogen.

Add to compost piles to increase nitrogen balance. Coffee filters and tea bags breakdown readily during composting.

Dilute with water for a gentle, fast acting liquid fertilizer. Use about half-pound can of wet grounds in a 5 gallon bucket of water, let sit outdoors to achieve ambient temperature.

Mix into soil for houseplants or new vegetable beds.

Encircle the base of the plant with coffee and eggshell barrier to repel pests.

If you are into vermi-posting, feed a little to your worms.

For more information then you wanted to know :
Google gardening coffee grounds

Netfkux

All things do not turn out as expected. No big problem. Neflix shipped the wrong DVD in the right envelope, Iron Man . The stars are may rating. I am sure that Neflix will make it right and send The Lake House. I spend very little time watching movies. I am signed up to get two a month.

Bird feeder

I think it is okay just to show a photo of one of the appreciative friends that visit the feeder each day. At this time of the year there is not a great deal of variety of birds. I am thankful that some stay with us all year. It is a white topped sparrow. They eat almost any type of food. That is why they do well with their living close to us.

Cold weather.

The near record cold spell is effecting all of the families here in Southern and Northern California. Wayne’s may see the greatest losses as avocados do not only loss their fruit but the tree do not usually survive the freezing. Carl has some garden crops that he thought might make it through the winter, but it has been colder than they might stand. The rest of us just use the cold weather to make conversation.

Eating out.

Yesterday morning Nick, Jim and I had breakfast at Rae’s, as usual. Last evening was a BBQ at Mark’s to give a send off to Gunther, his father, who is returning to his home in Niagara Falls. To day I will be at Cliffton’s Cafeteria , reported to be the largest in the USA, for lunch. Sounds like lot, but one needs to eat regular anyway.

A good day.

If I were to report on anything it would be the weather and that doesn’t amount to much either, so will just wish you, a good day!

Waves

Their isn't enough ordinary news to report, so I will not make any waves--thses are good enough..

Wayne's family visit

Wayne, taken during the family visit to Disney Land earl this year. He, Cynthia, Andrew. Matthew and Susan had a good time. Disney Land continues to be a popular recreation spot.

Men's shirts

Sometimes when I am having a cup of coffee and reading while at the Water Gardens, a multi-block office development. I observe the men and their attire. Of course, I look at the women. The observation is that men who ware tailored shirts, 90% of them ware them outside of the pants with the tails showing. I have done something similar for a number of years and for me it so much more practical and comfortable not to have to try to keep the tails tucked in.

Why did it ever start that men wore their shirts in their pants?

This is my speculation on the future: Men will ware their shirts about as in length as long as some women now ware short dresses. Men and women dress has been changing for years. Women more like men and men more like women. I wonder it men will then be able to be as discrete as women. The future may be a challenge.

The Cold

The cold that has been with me since last Saturday is about ran it’s course. The throat and head is fairly clear and so far it has not shown much signs of it giving trouble in the chest. I am thankful for the minimum amount of discomfort that it has cased.

A bridge

I included this photo of a bridge in Eastern Sewden in place of no new news.

A cold

One week of this new year is about to come an end. Things have been going along just fine until …. Yesterday Benjamin and his girl friend Nicola wanted to visit and it all seemed as if we were going to have a good time together and find a nice place to eat. Late last evening the slight sore throat went into its next stage and yesterday morning not many people would know it was me who was talking. Their has been only a very slight discomfort but I is not a good idea to spread colds around, so our visit was canceled. Benjamin and Nicola may have been able to connect with Andrew and spend some time together before they ended up back at the university in Santa Barbara.

Chowder

Today it seemed cool here in Santa Monica because the temperature a bit lower than we a acclimated to and with a strong wind blowing out of the north.

With my warmest jacket, that is seldom used, and a light pair of gloves I made for the few blocks to Earth Wind and Flower for some of their very good clam chowder, warm rolls and coffee. Not much else has been happening--computer glitches, which seem to happen.

Saurerkraut

It has been a family tradition to have sauerkraut and pork on the 1st day of the New Year. I ran a bit late this year and had it yesterday. It is supposed to bring good luck for the coming year. I am not sure it will work as I am three days late. Since I don’t believe in luck anyway--I expect a good another good year.

No new news

Just a picture as today their isn't any new news worth reporting.

Buttons

When I started in television broadcasting at KBTV in Philadelphia it was necessary to select a TV channel and then carefully fine tune to get a good picture. Norma’s aunt Peggy was considered the best turner we knew. After some years the turret tuner was perfected and that made change channel practical for everyone. When I was in the business of repairing TV, my recommendation was don’t buy a remote TV--too many things to go wrong. Now, I have,--just counted and find that I have 286 buttons on control devices. The telephone/answering machine has 20, this computer keyboard has 122, the audio remote control has 44, DVD 47, TV only 16, and the VCR 37. That adds up to 286 button. If you know where each button is, why you should use it and when ---- who needs crossword and Sudoku to exercise the brain?

The above demonstrates how wrong I was about remote controls. Should anyone trust my judgment of what is good for future?

New Year.

The New Years Eve celebration was about as it way planned. The evening got underway about 11:00 with some tea, butter, peanut butter, strawberry jam and Ritz crackers. I put on the white shirt and blue blazer and walked to and got settled on a bar stool at The Pacific Dinner Car, ordered a Guinness ale and watched 2006 fade and 2007 arrive. I was suppressed by their being only few there. The good bar tenders wanted people to try their chocolate martini and made up some for us--on the house. They were wonderful, better than a chocolate milk. I was in bed by 1:15 and off to a good start on an other good year.

Steak

I always have a taste for a good steak. Last Saturday evening it was decided that I would have one. After thinking about all the places where one might be found, The Sizzler was chosen. The best of the house was their filet mignon. They severed a 6 oz steak--about the size of a large goose egg with a piece of toast and baked potato. The steak was very good. On my way home I passed a Jack-in-Box and since I was short of a dessert had a milk shack. Adding it all up it was steak $17.99 and milk shack $2.70. That means that the evening meal came to about $20.00--no salad., vegetable or coffee. I was pleased, in that I enjoyed everything. It is good that their isn’t any inflation.