Long Time - No Post

Well, I hope you weren't holding your breath awaiting reports on our trip to Laguna Beach.  I'm gonna blame the really awful internet connection at the resort (which reportedly is being upgraded, but I'm not expecting it before our January trip).  Probably the worst connections ever, could not even get email reliably.  Anyway, didn't make me want to bother blogging much.

So now that we have been back a week, I will summarize: Eat, sleep listen to the ocean, have a cocktail at sunset. Repeat daily.  We were joined for four days by Tom's sister Gigi and her husband Bob.  Did the usual wander around town, check out the shops, the galleries, do some more eating and drinking.  Had an absolutely lovely relaxing time and got to visit with Dad three times, too.

Here are a few pictures:

I smell chiles, it must be fall

The kitchen is smelling of roasting chiles!  Just have to share the video from Tom

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=384221361728053&id=100004205765129

There really isn't anything quite like the smell of roasting chiles in NM, what a wonderful harbinger of the coming fall season.

I know, I know, I promised I would try and post a bit more regularly here now that we are back at home.  This is going to have to suffice, about once a week or so.  Time just seems to fly by.  I know ALL lof you understand that feeling.  I have little story to illustrate what I mean:

While we were at Tailhook in Reno the beginning of this month, several of us sat around a table doing the "whatever became of so-and-so...." exercise.  And a few of us decided to try and find one of the old friends with whom we had lost contact.  I am proud to report that I managed to find mine!  (Thank you FaceBook). These are folks that we spent a lot of time with while In El Toro, and I am happy to announce we found Tim and Jean Dineen still hanging around in Mission Viejo.  I had tried to find them a few years ago, but the mail to their old address never found its way to their new home.

So here they are, then and now:

Great people, and we are going to reconnect and have dinner on our next trip to Laguna Beach.  I don't know about you, but I love it when things like this happen!

It's Barely over a Hundred....

.....degrees here in Phoenix, AZ.  We stopped by for a short visit with Caitlin and Thomas Nichols.  

Thomas just completed his F-16 training and will soon be on his way to Korea for his first assignment.  We were graciously welcomed by their extended families this afternoon and will be on our way HOME tomorrow.  While we have loved this trip, we are both ready to get off the road for a while.

That means the blog will go to a less frequent update schedule, just enough to keep you reminded that there even is a blog, I guess.  Not quite a winter hiatus....but close.

Thank you to all who have commented or read our posts on this trip.  It has been fun to write, and I hope somewhat interesting to read.  If you had a favorite place or post, do let me know.  As we do with every trip, we ask ourselves if we've seen a place we liked more than Corrales; the answer is still no.

Family

We have had a fun couple of days visiting with family; first with my cousin Sandy and her husband Ken in Sherman Oaks, and then with Dad and Ilene in Tustin.

Ken and Sandy's pond (especially for you Betty!)

The Birthday Boy.

And now, for candid photos of the nightly movie watchers, who do not know I am taking pictures while typing.  We are watching "Land of the Pharoahs"...directed by Howard Hawkes and co-written by William Faulkner (yes, that Faulkner from American Lit class). Starring Joan Collins in some oddly dark makeup. And the largest cast of thousands known to Internet Movie Data Base - 9,487.

Lastly, coming home from shopping this morning (Nordstrom Rack, two Eileen Fisher linen sweaters for 60% off--yay!) we saw what we initially thought was a car fire, until it started growing larger and is now a 1300 acre brush fire in the local canyons.  Apparently, it was reported just about the time we first saw it.  No danger here at the house, just a scary thing for those fighting it or living nearby.  Just heard there are now evacuations for the Silverado Canyon homes. Temps are in the 90's, going over 100 tomorrow.  And Colorado Springs, where we started this adventure a month ago, had snow flurries this morning.  Sigh, I hope nobody loses their home and that the fire is contained soon.

Friends and Fun

We have been fortunate the past few days to see our friends from years past; the Ewings last Thursday, the Frommelts and Hedins over the weekend at Tailhook, the Steadman family yesterday in Palo Alto and the Sheehans today in Moss Landing (near Monterrey).

As with most gatherings of friends, there is not nearly enough time to discuss all that warrants discussion, but it is and was a wonderful time with everyone.  We sorely miss their daily presence, but are so glad we have been able to meet up on our travels.

Tailhook Tidbit

We had a very fun evening with the pilots, groupies, family and friends last night.

Typical conversation:

Now here is a quiz for you....examine the picture below

Tell me, who do you think is the ace fighter pilot and who is the multimillionaire ?

Waiting....

The older gentleman on the left is Diz Laird, WWII Ace and the only one known to have shot down both German and Japanese planes in that war.

The 32 year old on the right is Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Draken Industries and United Bank Card.

It was that kind of a night.

Tailhook

We are here in Sparks, NV at the Tailhook convention.  Yes, it still exists, albeit in milder and less public form than the scandalous Las Vegas excess of the 90's.   Tom's comment was "you know, when I was a young guy at these things I used to wonder who all these old guys were.  Now I AM one of the old guys."   And the biggest hoo-haw is who can fly the simulator better than the other.  Of course, there is still Vendor's Row, with all the 'necessary' souvenirs for sale and give away.

Tom, so far, has two shirts, one hat, a bottle of some sort of after-burner style hot sauce and a beloved A-4 bumper sticker and at least one pen.

I earlier promised you a few more photos of Glass Beach from Tom's camera, so here they are