Happy Halloween

Really, it's only a coincidence that this photo appears today.

click to enlarge

Yup!
That's our trunk.
There was music, too.
Those props were mine.
The talent is MB's

more tomorrow

So . . . who's gonna fill in while you're gone?

Last Friday evening was Trunk or Treat.
It is a simple concept.
find a parking lot.
Line up a bunch of cars, trucks, or SUVs with spaces in between them.
Decorate the vehicles for Halloween [or not].
Then invite folks to bring their kids in costume to parade from vehicle to vehicle collecting treats.
Also, if you happen to operate a school, set up games and other activities for kids and parents on the playground.

Oh!
And get a fire engine, too.
It was lots of fun and really well attended.
The above are only sampling.
Come back tomorrow for more.

MB and I are off in the Upper Midwest where it's been snowing lightly for the past few days [don't ask me why].
We have a direct flight . . .   after we fly to LA!
There may be photos.

the adventures continue

Oh, something else about last weekend

For one thing it started on Wednesday.
All of the really good weekends have extra days.
The only real drawback is catching things up before leaving and catching up even more when returning [YMMV].
A neighbor drove us to the airport.

That's one, maybe one of the best, advantages of my moving from Anderson.
I am two hours closer to a real airport [as opposed to an airport where planes fly you to the airport you want to fly from   . . . or not].
This family does a lot of flying.

But I digress.

Nonstop flights are only a dream for those flying from here.
To get a nonstop to Milwaukee we had to fly to LA.
Yeah, I know.
It isn't nonstop when you fly and change planes.
A tuna sandwich at LAX is $9.00 + tax.
Two sandwiches and a back of Doritos was $23.00.

Yeah, I know.
We're still off topic.

We arrived at Milwaukee Wednesday afternoon and were picked up by MB's first born.
We missed the rush hour traffic and were at his home in time to relax and enjoy conversation before dinner.
It was nice enough to sit outside until after dark, which arrives at an earlier hour there than it does here.
In fact we enjoyed really nice weather for almost all of the entire weekend.

Thursday was a kick back and goof off day.
We were trusted with the keys to the SUV and entrusted to get the two girls to and from school.
I now know where the Mall and the Outlets are.

Friday was why we were there.
The older of the two youngest granddaughters [there is also an adult granddaughter] is going to high school next year, so it' was her last grandparents day.
It's one of those occasions where one shadows the child through the entire day.
We split it up.
Shadowing one girl in the morning.
We ate lunch with both.
That was when I acquired the pumpkin.
Then we followed the other girl in the afternoon.
It was fun and informative.
Then it was back home for the girls to get ready for Friday night's activities.

The older one is on the school volleyball team.
They were playing in a tournament about an hour away.
So off we went to a middle school multi-purpose building in West Bend, Wisconsin.
We only stayed for the one match.
They played three games.
The team won the first game, but the opponents came back to win the next two.
It meant the consolation bracket.
We drove back home and stopped at Culver's for something to eat.

Saturday was more sports . . .   lot's more sports.
First up was the youngest's soccer game.
That was the about only time the weather was crappy.
Well, it was windy and overcast.
The game was well played, with the only score coming from a penalty shot early in the second half.
We were with the winning team.

From there it was back to West Bend, where we got to see the team's third match.
They won and placed seventh in the tourney.

We then headed back home, two groups in two cars.
Our vehicle somehow got sidetracked and MB, her daughter in law, and I found ourselves browsing through Cabela's.
It is only the second time, ever, I have been to a Cabela's [last time was 2010 in Sydney, Nebraska].

Then home for dinner and off again for a journey to downtown Milwaukee for the Milwaukee Buck vs. Portland Trailblazers basketball game.
MB's brother is a coach for the Bucks.
He provided us with really nice seats.
They were more comfortable than those at the volleyball match.
We'd had to bring our own to the soccer match.
And we had another winner . . .   although it did come down to the final seconds and depend upon a steal by the Bucks.

They didn't leave the score up,
nor waste any time announcing the next home game

We stayed awhile afterward to visit with MB's brother, then made out way home.

Sunday was travel day  . . . again!
Our flight was later in the morning so we were able to attend church before riding to the airport.
As we arrived at the departure gate, after visiting the TSA torture chamber, it started raining.
Maybe it really is autumn?
Once more we were flying to LA before continuing to our final destination.
We skipped the Doritos this time because MB still had the original bag in her carry-on.

Then we were home and it was time to fix Sunday dinner.

trunk or treat is coming over

It's Saturday again

I may have mentioned MB and I were away last week.
I probably forgot to mention we'll be away again.
Yes, once more we'll be boarding an aircraft and traveling to a time zone two hours away.
We have it on good authority that the precursor to winter has already arrived there.
We are still suffering through 80 degree weather here.
Poor me.
This means that since February, when we were married, there hasn't been an any month we've been home for the entire time.
In fact, upon further investigation, it appears last September may have been the only month where one of us was home all month.

Sadly we shall miss the door to door trick-or-treaters Tuesday night.
However last night it was Trunk or Treat in the back of the church parking lot.
So we weren't shut out entirely.
On the plus side there won't be any interruptions during the dinner hour.

On another note, I saw someone posted on koobecaf that Daylight Savings was ending this weekend.
Not so.
It's next weekend.
To compound the situation, somebody commented on the post how much they were gonna hate losing the hour of sleep.
My immediate thought was they were going to be doubly irritated.

oh, to be a fly on the wall 

Friday cat

Saw this the other day

. . . can't remember where.

fun stuff

What day is it?

The problem challenge is there are no Mondays when you're retired.
Wait . . .   that's not right.
Everyday is like Monday when you're retired.
That's not right, either.
There almost wasn't a post today because I just plain forgot that I hadn't queued anything up.
That happens a lot lately.

Another untitled post

I am not a prolific blog poster.
What I mean is I have a difficult time coming up with something for each day.
I DO try to post at least once each day.

Oh, by the way, MB and I were in Milwaukee for grandparents day last week.
But I digress.

Away from Wednesday to Sunday and I have nothing?
Seriously?

Okay, so I overpaid for a decent size pumpkin.
That's okay because ALL of the proceeds from the fundraiser were being sent to victims of the hurricane in Puerto Rico.

(I hope Tony Santos sees this in will cut me some slack)

After I carried the pumpkin, I did not personally select, around the building to the parking lot at the school, we found out they had wagons on which to haul the pumpkins.

We were quizzed on grandparents day.
We found out we're at least as smart as an eighth grader.

maybe more tomorrow

Evidence

Ducky and Eeyore can use just about anything to create a game.
Last week it was their version of Kick the Can (as evidenced by the dent in the equipment).
I failed to observe, but from the sounds of laughter it must have been great fun.

Zzzzz

Guess what

MB and I slipped out of town . . .   again.
It involved flying.
We are due home this afternoon.
I will let you know more when I can again sit down at the keyboard.

Golly, it does look pink

There were portraits done by professionals for the church directory.
MB works at the church.
It was almost mandatory she have hers done.
I can't remember the last time I sat for a portrait.

thought it was salmon, honest

Friday cat

In defense of

The other day Cranky Ol' Joe was a little exercised because someone had felt the need to correct his spelling.
The gist of his post is we can't all be perfect.
He asks why some folks feel the necessity to correct others.

Come on, Joe.
You know the answer.
They just have to prove how knowledgeable they are.
It is important for them to demonstrate it to others.

It's too bad.
By doing so they really only demonstrate the limits of their knowledge.
They miss an opportunity.

They could learn something.

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."

~Jimi Hendrix

Here's another quote that's a little more derogatory.

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

~Proverbs

gonna stop here

From the usual source

source

had another idea

 went with this

She says it better

Yeah, MB again.
She kinda posted about the same thing I did yesterday.
Only my take is she's more eloquent.
This, from koobecaf . . .

edited screen shot

Note: the seven year old is Eeyore and is the youngest in that Clan 

Kid's stuff

MB and I were away for the weekend.
I mean really away.
She was at Lake Tahoe.

That reminds me.
The picture of the spiral over Coit Tower I posted on Thursday is one she took with her smart phone.

But I digress.

Away as in away from one another.
Somewhere around 250 - 260 miles away.
In two different states.

Coincidentally, we departed within 15 minutes of each other.
We returned home within five minutes of each other.
Go figure.

It was about then I heard an interesting question asked by one of the grandkids of another.

"Where are the tan pawns?"

You have to listen carefully, lest you miss hear things.

Tan Pawns WBAGNFARB

From the usual source*

source: Townhall.com

*Buck's source, not mine.

No video, no pics

MB is at a Womens Retreat.
So yours truly is on a road trip visiting old haunts.
At one time that might have been a red flag.
Today it means I've been around long enough that I have old haunts that don't get me in trouble.

I even packed the laptop.
Yeah, I'm not doing much.
Went to watch a grandson's football game yesterday.
He played free safety and cornerback.
They won 48-16.
They were the visiting team.

This morning I fell right into the old Saturday routine of "coffee & donuts" at 8:30 in the Grange Hall.
It was fun to see old friends.
But I really miss MB.
She'll be home tomorrow.
So will I.

life's good

Friday cat

source: rhymes with orange

appropriate for this date

TBT . . . sort of

All the way back to Saturday.
MB found this photo from the Fleet Week stuff on her koobecaf timeline.

I found this one on mine.

© 2016 Mike Oria Photography

It could be called "Blues on Lombard."
The only thing missing is a cable car stopped at the top of Lombard Street.

". . . can't always get what you want . . ."

I was going to post this yesterday

From the Economist:

Richard Thaler won the Nobel prize for economics for his work on how human psychology affects decision-making. Mr Thaler, who teaches at the University of Chicago, laid out his ideas on behavioural economics and public policy in “Nudge”, a best-seller he co-authored in 2008. He said he would try to spend his $1.1m prize money “as irrationally as possible”.

the book's not on
the reading list

Did I mention

 . . . that while we were at Berkeley last Saturday I saw the UC baseball team working out?

Yeah there's a balcony at Haas Pavilion that overlooks the baseball stadium.
Just beyond the right field fence is Edwards Stadium, which until 1999 was the oldest track-only stadium in the United States.
Then it was reconfigured for soccer, too.
The trees in the background are redwood trees.
It was a beautiful day.

Over on the other side of the bay it was the Fleet Week celebration.
The US Navy's Blue Angels and the Canadian Snowbirds were both showing off their skills in the air.
Unfortunately we did not observe any of their antics.

not gonna discuss

 holidays here today

There's something in the air

This morning I was up extra early to take someone to the airport.
As soon as I stepped outside I could smell it.
Smoke!
The wind has been blowing and gusting since early Sunday.
Everything is dried out from the summer heat.
It's just plain nasty dangerous in the wildlands and transitional areas.
Yet, hardly a day goes by that I don't see some maroon flick ashes or a cigarette butt out their vehicle window.

SMH

Yeah . . . late gain

Sarge posted about fog yesterday.
It reminded me of numerous encounters, some of which I actually enjoyed.
Others not so much.

Having been raised in the SF Bay Area, I am quite familiar with the typical approach of the afternoon fog.
You could feel it because it brought with it a stiff breeze at it's front.
Sometimes, in the western part of the city it would linger, as overcast for days.

As cool and damp as that was, the six plus months I was in Radar School at Treasure Island in the Navy were even less pleasant.
We lived in barracks that had been built as temporary structures in the early 1940s.
They were uninsulated and extremely drafty.
The 'island' was fill that had been created for the 1939 World's Fair, was at sea level and flat, with nothing to obstruct the wind blowing in from the Golden Gate past Alcatraz, which, by the way, was still in use at the time.

But I digress.

One of the duties my classmates and I performed was external security at the Radar School.
Even clear weather could be unpleasant on that 'island.'

Fog at sea is pretty exciting for Radarmen.
The folks out on the bridge (the OOD, JOOD, Quartermaster, et al) of the ship act pretty independent when line of sight is to the horizon.
But a little fog makes them anxious and all kinds of dependent on the gang in CIC.
If they'd paid attention to us when there was no fog, they'd have known how good we were in low or no visibility.

Ground fog is a whole 'nother story.
My first experience was as a passenger in my grandparents car diving somewhere around Merced in the San Joaquin Valley.
Dense like a ball of cotton is how I'd describe it.
Back then U. S. Highway 99 [Interstates were still someone's dream] was the main north-south route on the West Coast.
Highway 101 was the scenic route (still is).
Both highways, along with I-5, are subject to what we call tule fog.
I have experienced the phenomenon as a driver on all three.
It is probably about the only thing that gives me white knuckles and hand cramps.
Ya just can't see.
What makes it worse is folks who drive past like they're the only car on the road when you can barely see 30 feet.
It's enough to make the language technicolor.

Whilst living in Anderson I actually went out and photographed fog scenes.
There may even be some posts of those photos on the blog.
I'll have to go look. 

bring chowdah

Late and in a hurry

If I hadn't spent the day playing golf at a fundraising tournament there might have been a post this morning.
(Don't ask me how I did)
Then this morning it was off to Berkeley . . .   the Cal campus to be specific . . .   for a gymnastics meet.

Ducky took a first in the vault and placed eighth overall (out of 36) in her age group.
I kinda wish more tournaments were held in such places.
I also wish it wasn't necessary to get up at 4:30am to drive to them.
Tonight we're celebrating Shark Bait's birthday at Outback.
There will be pie(s) after, both peach and lemon meringue.

it's a li'l tired here

Friday cat

I looked up and . . .

It's Thursday!
WTF!*

The only challenge that comes with that is catching up with all that is supposed to be done by now.
Someone said I should make a list.
That's not in the cards.
It would take a full day to list everything.
Then I could cross off about a third of the items on the list because it would be too late.
I have to get whatever I can done today.
Tomorrow is already spoken for and Saturday MB and I are off to see Ducky compete in a gymnastics tournament in Berkeley.
I may post something about tomorrow's doings later . . .   provided I have enough fun.

outdoor activity

*for the uninitiated, it means Well, that's fantastic!

And another

source: XKCD (10/4/17)

The caption reads, "And yet I have no trouble believing that the start of the 2016 election was several decades ago."

on a roll

Another untitled post

yeah, move along

nothin' here

Before the interruption (a Monday update)

I was going to tell the tale of the visit to Anderson for football game that didn't happen.
Then the news accidentally came on and the news from Las Vegas [just about my least favorite city anywhere] came on.
MB and I don't routinely turn on the radio (except in the car) or the tv most days.
For some reason Mumsie's tv was on and we were sucked in.

Then the wifi went out.

It gave me some time to think.
I've decided to just pray for those most affected.

Friday night lights

It was supposed to be Homecoming at West Valley High School.

source: iMessage

The grandson plays Free Safety on the JV team.
They're undefeated and have been pretty much annihilating their opponents.

MB and I had set aside Friday evening and Saturday to visit the stuff we still have stored at the house in Anderson and take in the game.
Then Thursday there was another announcement.

source: iMessage

There will possibly more information forthcoming about the weekend, but we will have to experience it first [yeah, this is one of those cheater posts that's queued ahead of time].

whatever