It's gonna take awhile

I know some of you are looking for a continuation of the story from Sunday.
Patience is a virtue [somebody said that].
Yesterday I was actually someplace else [Sacramento]. I had to get my grandson fix and see my favorite daughter and son-in-law. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been if GS had gone with me. Unfortunately, she is suffering from what appears to be an upper respiratory thing brought on by the oak crap. What I mean is, the high winds earlier in the week blew a bunch of stuff [pollen, mold, whatever] into the air from the oak trees and now she's got an awful cough. I was about that close to staying home, but she insisted I go. That relieved a little of the guilt.

Hey! It was a beautiful day. I even stopped alongside the freeway [I pulled up an offramp] a couple of mile south of here to take a picture.



A minute later the cattle had all but moved out of the picture, which, if you click on, should enlarge.

We'll get back to the story I was telling ...maybe even soon. Heck, it would be here now if I hadn't stopped to cut the grass.

Add-on at 10:00am
The hover in this link is dead on.

I'm away today

We're visiting some of my most favorite people in the whole wide world. So I will leave you with a brief story...

...about me:

When I got out of the Navy I attended the College of San Mateo, a community college (they used to call them junior colleges) on the San Francisco Peninsula. At the time there was no G.I. Bill, so, if we didn't live at home with parents, veterans had to have jobs to pay the room and board. I went to work at a local pizza parlor. I started out pouring beer and washing dishes pizza pans and beer mugs. Eventually I was allowed in the kitchen to actually make pizza. I was slow. It wasn't until months later, when I was as proficient as everyone else, that we realized the two other guys teaching me were left handed and I was mimicking their every move.
Everyone should learn to do something with their non-dominant hand.
The longer I worked in the pizza parlor, the more responsibility I was given and college soon fell by the wayside because working night shifts (that ended at 3:00am) precluded attending morning classes and they didn't teach the classes I needed in the afternoon.
Soon I was Night Manager, then Assistant Manager of an extremely busy pizza parlor in downtown Palo Alto. We had a lunchtime business that some restaurants can only dream about. There was a tremendous family dinner business. Then, after the movies got out or the library at Stanford University closed, we had a late evening rush. It was almost like working three different places.
We were also the flagship shop for what was, at that time, a small franchising outfit. We did the in-store training for the new franchisees. That soon became my responsibility. The first thing I'd do is find out if they were left or right handed.
After a time an opportunity arose to manage a store in Santa Clara for a franchisee. Since it was a step up and seemed like an adventure I took it. I actually lasted a year before I went back to the first place.
The company was in expansion mode. I found myself managing a smaller shop and enjoying it immensely. Then the company's franchise locations began to grow exponentially and they needed a full-time training supervisor back at the number one location. It was my job to see that the employees who were doing the hands-on training were doing it properly and not just taking advantage of "free"labor.
As I watched the new franchisees come through on a continual basis, a thought was planted in my head. I could do that. All I needed was some funds and a place to open my own franchise. A good friend and I went looking for a location. We went to Fresno, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and who know where else. We were only limited in that the space had to be a minimum of 2400 square feet and suitable for a restaurant. That sounds easy. The trouble was that landlords don't necessarily see things the same as potential tenants and the most desirable (meaning the places I would have leased) locations were few and far between, besides being in great demand.
Meanwhile my domestic arrangement changed. That also meant the partnership arrangement in any business would be changed. After some more fits and starts, it was suggested that we just take a couple of days away from the search, which by this time had been going on for about three years. So we drove north. This was in the days while California was still in the process of completing the Interstate Highway system and speed on that were limited to 55mph (for fuel economy). It is a long, long 250 miles to Redding from the South Peninsula. It turns out we were making the trip a couple of times a month because without even trying, we found an empty 3200 square foot, free-standing former restaurant for lease at $800 per month (compare that with the going rate for most leases of $1.00 per sq. ft.).
It was a dream come true. After almost ten years of working for someone else and learning the operational side of the pizza business to the point of it being instinctive, I was gonna be my own boss. Financing wasn't an issue. It had been arranged a couple of years earlier. We signed the lease in November and the following April opened the doors to the fifth pizza parlor in Redding. The only comments we heard were that the town would be hard pressed to support that many pizza places.
The restaurant business is notoriously fickle and it is well known that about 90% of them fail in the first year, that it takes sometimes a year and a half before they start to break even. Ours was showing a profit by the middle of May. It didn't hurt that the location was on the street with the highest traffic count in town.
A couple of years passed and we expanded to a second location, in Anderson, then a another in Redding. They both took a little longer to find the break even point and I was learning a lot about marketing, advertising, and accounting. I was also finding less time to spend with my growing family.
After twenty years I found myself unemployed. I was single again, too.

gee, this is such a good story I'll continue it later

So, now what

The package has been changed. What're we gonna do about the content?
If you've been coming here long enough, you know that it won't ever get too serious or remain that way for long. So all that's left is the mystery of what's next.

keep comin' back

Sometimes

It is best just to post a link.

it's a must for cat lovers

Breezy

The view from my desk





Probably created by this...















...of which this is part.

Sure Happy It's Thursday

Yes, I know. That's why I posted it.

weather's still weird

Things are just a little sluggish

It takes awhile for everything to get back to normal after living out of a suitcase for a few days. First off there was a lot of email to catch up on. There was a Lions Club meeting to prepare for (and the monthly reports to prepare) and some club banking to do. Now, we might be caught up for a few days. The operative word is might. That because there is still the Senior Center's thrift store bookkeeping to attend.
Those are not even the main priority. This weekend we're off to the south again to visit with my daughter and family [I'd come right out and say Hugh, but if he sees this he might think it was all about him.].

Weather turned kinda sucky again, but that's not so unusual for this time of year.

I was going to get some gas for the lawn wrecker mower, but when I looked at the gas can, I found a six inch split down the back seam. Now I will have to try to find the other gas can and hope it isn't damaged. Meanwhile the grass continues to grow.

would rather blog than cut grass

Thanks!

Through the efforts of Innominatus, Ivan Toblog, and Suldog (please read his post because he thinks I'm a genius) I have the old interface back (for awhile anyway).

So if you find yourself with the new interface and want to revert (I like that word), just look for your username in the upper right of the dashboard screen. Next to it is an icon that looks like a gear. Click on that. On the drop-down list that appears you can choose "Old Interface (yeah I know it sounds like some kind of sourmash from Kentucky)."

It's a terrible thing, I know, but I have to thank both the Sharks and the Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors first, because they're not even going to make it into the NBA playoffs, which will probably end just before the next season starts. I do want to thank them for their efforts in keeping so many games close and actually winning some games nobody had any right to expect them to win.

And, the San Jose Sharks next, because they managed to get eliminated early in the first round of the NHL playoffs that they almost didn't even get into. If I wasn't so goshdarn parochial, I could probably remain interested enough to follow scores or even possibly cheer on another team.

Instead I have another source for sports entertainment. Actually more than one source ...Gabe's in Little League and then there's the Giants, who catch my attention every year at this time. I give thanks that there is little else to distract me from baseball until sometime late in summer when the NFL gears up (GO 'NINERS). My affinity to baseball and the NFL is mostly because they are played outdoors (I even watch the Premier League, partly because I understand the game [soccer] and mostly because it is played outside). That is probably also why I enjoy golf.

Sorry for the delay* in finishing this post. Company arrived.
My brother and sister-in-law stopped by on their return home from Portland (they were supposed to be here yesterday, but they're retired, too). You can pick your nose; pick your teeth; pick your seat; but, you can't pick family.

Now go read Craig's post.

attitude is everything

*The title was posted at 11:21am, the rest at 1:31pm

Just a thought

I'm seriously considering combining consolidating the two blogs. That, of course, will mean more pictures on this blog ...and probably less drivel.

more on that later

More catch up

I did not lose any money in the casino. I didn't have time to lose any money ...nor the inclination to try.
When I see the continued improvements and remodeling being done at the facility we visited for the convention, I know who is ultimately going to win. That takes away the suspense ...and, in the end, the fun.

I mentioned the change on blogger awhile back, and how I ended up with the new interface by accident.
So... now that it seems everyone has been changed over, does anyone know if anyone outside of the folks in Mountain View like this new interface?

My biggest complaint is that it is no longer as simple as it once was and takes much longer to create a post the way I want it to look. I hate that the tabs are no longer available while I'm writing a post ...heck! I hate that the tabs are gone. Maybe the old format was going to break and that's why the folks in Mountain View "fixed" it? Don't you think it would've been nice if they'd told us instead of cramming this thing down our throats. 

I slept in this morning ...until 7:30.

...and hope you don't like it

Catching up

Today we wind it up. But first things first ...it's breakfast, followed by supervising the district election, which means hauling a bunch of papers and other things from one hotel to the conference closet room in another.

Update:
Breakfast not nearly as enjoyable as the previous two mornings.
Now a mad rush to get election set up.

Further update:
Now we are home and this never looked better (even though Friday's wind covered the driveway with leaves from the oak.

Evidently there was some kind of change in the weather while we were inside for the last three days. I actually had to turn on the A/C when we got home. I was aware of the wind Friday morning and even commented I was glad I wasn't playing in the golf tournament. But it seems temps are now in the 90s and high 80s.

not an easy transition

Time flies

It's funny. Neither GS, nor I have had much time to evn check our email so far this weekend, let alone write.

no time for the casino, either

In case there's no more posts until Monday

This is where GS and I are for the rest of the weekend

can't remember if the wi-fi is free or not

Why does that happen every time

Wouldn't you know it. I spent a couple of days last week running around the local countryside looking for an opportunity to get a photograph of a redbud (Cercis occidentalis).
So this week on our little excursion south to the SF Peninsula, on three different occasions, I spied fine examples and had no opportunity because we were on the freeway and the camera was inaccessible.

there is a plan

Guess what was served for breakfast

we're back

until tomorrow afternoon

Trumpets, grass or otherwise

So maybe we can belabor the list from Saturday a little more
It took some time but we figured out what grass trumpets are
They are not ...as some might imagine ...a miscue by the left forefinger on the keyboard [although it might happen occasionally here. If you're looking for an explanation you'll want to look into the origins of this blog]
The G and the B are adjacent to each other and the flying fickle finger of misfortune could wander
Anyway, it turns out I have made a grass trumpet ...didn't get a lick of sound out of it ...but that wasn't at issue
On the other hand, I have had a lot more experience with a brass trumpet

In 1953 Willow Elementary School had an instrumental music teacher two or three days each week
He gave lessons to students who provided their own instruments
Conveniently, there was a shop that rented instruments in town
Not so convenient was the room where the lessons were given
It wasn't much bigger than a closet so only one student at a time could get a lesson
Thus lesson time was limited to about a half hour per session
Practice time was at home
The sounds emanating from the practice facility were not music
It didn't bother my family
It did bother the neighbors

By 1954 I ceased music lessons

the neighbors were delighted

Monday

So I am sitting here doing this instead of getting ready for convention
Oh, sure, I did get the tux, dress socks, bow tie cummerbund, studs and cufflinks ready to pack, but most of the rest of the preparations are still to be done
Thank goodness we don't have to be ready until Thursday afternoon

Then there's a little issue of a short ...in time, not necessarily distance ...trip to [we will say S.F. even though it's about 20 miles further] San Francisco for out Lions Club President (aka GS) to meet the Lions Clubs International President on Wednesday morning (we're busting out of here tomorrow afternoon and spending the night)
Another Lion is going with us and I absolutely insist we all have fun

Then there's that list from yesterday
I forgot to thank Brian for starting the whole thing on Saturday
What I really want to thank him for is that he didn't make it some kind of challenge

just a chance to reflect

Things to Do

The Brighton Pensioner's gone and done it again He posted one of those lists You know, the kind that make you stop and think, "have I done that?" I had to Google some of them [language thing] I turns out I have a short list of yets I ma not have done all of the others before I was 11¾, but all that are left are:

9. Eat an apple straight from a tree (do crab apples count)
10. Play conkers (never even saw  a horse chestnut)
17. Set up a snail race
25. Make a grass trumpet (what's a grass trumpet)
29. Get behind a waterfall (on top, in front, and under, but never  behind)
49. Find a geocache
50. Canoe down a river (on a lake and in a pool)

Maybe I will get around to completing the list

maybe pass it along to my grandson

This morning

All the clouds are gone (except for a few up in the hills)

 the ski park at Mt Shasta

 extended the season

 for another week, though

About right

It is what it is

for the triskaidekaphobic

Unnnnnhhhhhh!

So now that I'm an unwitting convert to the new 'improved' Blogger interface, I'm going to be learning how to do this all over again
It seems like just about everything is in a different place and has a new appearance
The tabs are gone
I do like the preview goody more than the old one (it's not really new ...there was an early upgrade that I ignored)

Then there's the weather ...'nuff said

It kinda looks like we'll be road warriors next week
First - a short run to the Bay Area for a meet and greet with the President of Lions Clubs International for club presidents
GS is the Anderson Lions President and I get to tag along
Then - it's four days (three nights) in Corning for the district convention at Rolling Hills Casino
Then the following week...
Funny how as the days get longer more stuff happens

just sayin'

Oh, Fukudome*

Remember when I mentioned some 'improvements?'

That was yesterday

Well, as of now my blogs have been improved ...by accident

Out of curiosity, I right clicked and opened a link in a new tab, not entirely aware it was like Alice going down the rabbit hole

So here I am in a wonderland (Wonderland?) where everything is the same only in a different place with whistles where the bells were and bells where the whistles were

*refers to Kosuke Fukudome, formerly the right fielder for the Chicago Cubs, who hit a home run to give the Cubs a lead in a game attended by GS, my cousin, his wife, and I ...his name immediately became an expletive¹

¹Winnemucca is another

Odds 'n ends

Blogger's got it into their head that they have to make some more 'improvements.'

I can hardly wait. So hold on to your @$$es things will get interesting

The Sharks managed to squeak into the playoffs. I wonder if they'll manage to score enough against the Blues defense to move on

It's funny about the weather. There has been a system sitting off the coast for about three days (meaning it could theoretically have arrived Sunday morning). I finally moved east and we've had about a quarter inch of rain since 6:00am

We're hoping to hear our lights will be installed this week.

If that sounds ambiguous, it's because it is meant to. In a perfect world they'd be in already or we'd know when they'd be in. Instead, we may get a phone call telling when we may expect to see them up.

The Giants, after disappointing a few of their fans, finally managed to get (and hold) a lead to win their first game. It was a nice surprise that Zito pitched a complete game shutout [even more amazing that it was at Colorado].

Speaking of the Giants (and the Rockies), I wonder what the reasoning behind the day off in the middle of a series is?

So I wandered about the blogosphere and found a post by ABroad with a View going on about American politics

I was going to comment, then decided to post her instead

This thought arrived: Do the political wonks [izzat the word I want?] understand just how much folks are turned off by current system?

Then I had this thought: Of course they do. The plan is for only those who play full time at politics to participate and leave everyone else on the sidelines because they don't have time for the crap

Have you noticed that every time there's a political reform, it doesn't get better

...kinda like tweaking the tax code

The little ones are the most fun

Brush, Colorado has nothing on the Anderson Lions. There were about 400 attendees at the egg hunt this year

This picture's from the Toddlers group (under four years old). They are the most fun to watch (and the easiest for whom to hide eggs). The four and five year old kids are okay, too, beyond that, the parents become almost uncontrollable.

We'll post more photos at the ALC Blog

probably because the
weather was perfect

Easter humor

After the egg hunt on Easter Sunday, the young
farm boy decided to play a prank. He went to
the chicken coop and replaced every single egg
with a brightly colored one.

A few minutes later the rooster walked in saw all
the colored eggs, then stormed outside and killed
the peacock.

Happy Easter

Things look promising this morning for a dry egg hunt

only if it was warm

Halfway there

Last night was triple threat night for the Anderson Lions Club

1) It was the annual pizza party (an unofficial event)
2) The members colored the eggs for Sunday's egg hunt for about three and a half hours
3) The election of officers and board members for 2012-13 was held

The eggs are now waiting patiently in the walk-in refrigerator at the local 7-eleven store

Sunday morning, early, someone (me) will load them into his car and transfer the eggs to Anderson River Park, where members will scatter them carefully for the youngsters to find

It will take about an hour to "hide" the eggs

Then at 9:00am, rain or shine (right now it looks like maybe rain), the youngsters will turned loose and within ten minutes all of the eggs will be gone

Then it's time to rev things up for the Lions District Convention

It hasn't exactly been passive, but with both GS and I responsible for some of the activities, we can expect a lot more action

more on this later

...and I'm back

Actually I've been back for more than an hour, but I've been lining things up for egg coloring tonight and handling a couple of other things

In fact, if I'd come home directly after my appointment, I could have been here by about 10:15. Instead I was distracted. On the drive north, to Redding, I spied a herd of horses in a field. I lamented that I didn't have time to search out someplace to park and shoot some pictures. On the way back from the fastest eye appointment I've ever experienced, I took a chance that the horses were still available for a photo op. They were (and I'd bore everyone for awhile with the shots I took).

Then I made a side trip to the grocery store to restock the fridge (milk, cottage cheese, lunch meat and some fruit... GS will do the meal shopping), with hopes that the point total would bring me a gas discount. I'm still at the full price so my next gas purchase will be less than a tankful.

The Chubby Chatterbox asked if I hated the test where they blow air in the eye and tell you not to blink.

Let's say I like it about as much as a dog likes having someone blow in its face

The outcome of the appointment is that there has been little change in my vision and I will continue to wear the glasses I got in April 2007

good thing I like them

Oh boy!

I get to visit the eye doc for my annual this morning

getting my glasses cleaned

Oops

GS's laptop appears to be dying ...or at least it needs major surgery

gives me an idea

So, except for a few minutes surfing some blogs this morning, I have been out and about rounding up supplies for the Lions annual egg hunt. It's much simpler today than when I joined the club in 1982. Back then we would go out and seek donations of eggs from businesses in the community. Now we just buy them. That way there is more control over how many and what size. We then have some idea about how long it's going to take to color them.

One year, not long after I joined, the sitting President had an idea that more was better. He worked overtime getting donations of eggs and we ended up with 25 cases (there are 15 dozen eggs in a case). That was all well and good except for one minor detail... it took more than eight hours to finish boiling and coloring those eggs and since we color them on a week night, it meant that some members couldn't stay to finish the job because they hand to work the next morning. The ones who stayed were fairly tired. We were all aware that it was going to take some time to 'hide' those 4500 eggs.

There were also provisions needed for the Lions Club's booth for the Food Fair at the District Convention later this month. I found everything but a clear tablecloth

GS went to Bed Bath & Beyond again. We have to have a color coordinated waste basket to match the shower curtain that matches the comforter

I should clarify that. She had a hair appointment

I need a haircut, too

Tease II

I know everyone is anxiously awaiting a full pictorial look at the recent home improvement project. This image is of the same part of the house as in an earlier post. One thing about this image is fairly obvious.

guess the other

We have meals covered for the day

Once more it's off to a shift at the monthly community breakfast to raise funds for the Frontier Center

Then this afternoon north to almost Redding for Gabe's birthday (tomorrow's the actual day) celebration (ice cream and cake) with family (the kids are having their party next Saturday)

if you like dessert for dinner