2015-06-06 - Saturday - Charlotte Squawks

Saturday night we went to see Charlotte Squawks XI with our friends, Tom and Lisa, and their sons, Christopher and Daniel. The show was amazing, as always and our faces hurt from laughing so much.

We started out at the Epicentre (yes, I know, we were probably the oldest ones there!) at Libretto's pizza for supper and then off to the show. When it was over the parking deck wasn't moving at all so we strolled back over to the Epicentre and hit Moe's Southwest Grill while the traffic dispersed.

It was a late night, but a fun one spent with good friends.

First row seats.

Apparently a lot of fingerprints on the lens.

Karen, Tom, Lisa, Daniel.

Tom, Daniel, Christopher, and Lisa.

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2015-02-14 - Saturday - Vases and dinner

Saturday I carved three vases and threw a foot on another one. After that I had to get home and change since we were meeting our friends for our long-delayed Christmas get-together. I know, it's Valentine's Day, but we're all so busy nowadays it's hard to schedule these things.

Vase carving.

Better view of all sides.

Front one is upright without an added foot while
the back one is upside down with a new foot.

Lisa, Tom, Karen, Pam, Chip, and me.
Tom does not normally smile like that, he's just not right.

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April 18 - Saturday - Around and about

Saturday I was out in the yard working on clearing some of the weeds from the neglected garden beds.  Some of that Johnson grass is so well-established it's like trying to pull out a clump of pampas grass.  I ended up cutting what I could with the hand clippers.

While I was manually harvesting the grass in (what was) the path between the beds I found a trail that the rabbits were using.  The under-grass was all hollowed out by rabbit traffic.  My fear was accidentally opening up another nest with infant rabbits as I did several years ago.  Saying I was cautious would be an understatement.  I was watchful with every move I made since I was worried about rabbits, mice, chipmunks and snakes.  When I got about seven feet into the twelve foot path an adult rabbit burst out of the far end of the path and ran around behind the garage.  That was my cue to quit.

I headed out to the front yard to pull weeds.  I weed the front almost daily.  I think they spring up while we're sleeping.  Since expanding the natural area to most of the front yard last Fall, the weeds are trying to have a party.  It's an uphill battle.

In the evening we got together with some friends for dinner at the Landmark Diner.  They have a HUGE menu and a killer dessert case.  I don't believe anyone left the table hungry.

I also tried using the panoramic function on my Android phone that I didn't know I had, until Karen showed it to me.  Being the gadget geek that I usually am, I'm embarrassed I didn't know about it.  Oh well.

I'm hoping chipmunks live in here.

Lady bug nymph (right) and
pupating relative (left) on my oregano.

On to the front yard...

The autumn ferns are doing quite well.

The hostas have exploded.

One of two oak leaf hydrangea.

On to supper...

My choppy panoramic shot.
Karen, Tom, Daniel, Lisa, Christopher, (me), Chip, and Pam.

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Friday - College move in day

We moved Stephanie and her roommate, Megan into the dorm on Friday.  It was a wild time with lines of cars, football players carrying everyone's things into dorms, and challenging parking.  Once we got everything into the rooms and reconfigured the beds into bunks we went to lunch with Megan's parents.  Later, we came back and set up their computers while they were in a freshman meeting.

It was a hectic day with lots of activity and a long drive home.

I think Stephanie will soar there.

Stephanie.

Megan.

Rosemary and Tom.

Tom at Megan's desk.

Stephanie's desk.

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Friday - San Francisco

Friday we drove to San Francisco and ended up at Fisherman's Wharf.  Once again it was (very) windy and chilly but we had some great views and a lot of fun with an old friend.

After we walked, snacked, and laughed, we went back to San Jose to pick up Tom for dinner.  We went to the Britannia Arms and had another fine meal.  After eating, we went back to the house and spent some time talking.

All too soon it was time for bed and off to the airport in the morning to head home.

That's a big boy.

Another big boy.

Fisherman's Wharf.

Crab sculpture.

City behind the wharf.

Alcatraz.
Look at those flags straight out.

A closer look at the island.

Hardy souls out on a day like this.

Pretzel break.

Leo.

An actual VW bus as a takeout window.

All these people getting into one cab?

Harry Potter's pier?

Apparently you shouldn't enter the diner.

Karen and Tom

Leo.

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Thursday - On to San Jose

On Thursday we had to get up at 3:00 am to catch the 4:20 am shuttle to the airport for our 6:20 am flight.  When we got there we found out our suitcase was 8 pounds over the 50 pound limit which would have cost us another $100 penalty (on top of the $25 we already paid to fly it).  We quickly opened it at the check-in counter and pulled out newly purchased t-shirts, candy and other items.  We felt like the Beverly Hillbillies carrying armfuls of t-shirts under our jackets.

We couldn't actually take off until 6:30 am since the planes have to fly over the city.  No flights are allowed after 11:30 pm or before 6:30 am and there is only one runway.

We arrived in San Jose and immediately went to by high school friend Leo's house.  After catching up with him and meeting Tom, one of his two other roommates, we went to get some breakfast.

After fueling up, we went to Santa Cruz and drove out on the pier to watch the sea lions and get some fish and chips.  Next we hit the Santa Cruz boardwalk and Leo and I rode the Giant Dipper, a wooden roller coaster built in 1924.  Riding the Giant Dipper is a tradition since the time I visited him when he lived in Santa Cruz.

After that, we went back to San Jose to pick up Tom and go out to dinner at --The Fish Market.  We found out it's a chain with a handful of locations.  We had another good meal and back to the house to relax and hit the sack.

Breakfast with Leo.

Sea lions under the Santa Cruz pier.

Another one.

One swimming in to the pier.

I spotted this sea otter having a snack
about 200 feet off the pier.
The seagull stuck close, hoping for leftovers.

Seagull sitting on a Mercedes.

Karen and Leo on the pier.

Ordering fish and chips.

And here it is.

The seagulls stayed close, hoping for snacks.

Pretty eyes.

Another diner fed one.

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