A Couple of Things…

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Road trip to Portland, Oregon

The last time I saw my daughter, Sydney Rose, was last summer when she brought her new beau, Nate, to visit here in Ventura. They stayed a week and it was fabulous. As you may remember, my daughter earned her Masters degree in Food Science earlier this year from Oregon State, and she recently landed a new job up in Portland (where said beau also lives). She invited me to visit her new place before other roommates moved in. She didn’t have to ask twice.

With a lot of time on my hands, I decided to road trip it and take my time. Also I learned it is much cheaper to fly than drive…but you live and learn and I got to visit several friends and check out new places.

Redding, California: Sundial Bridge

I left on a Thursday with a schedule overnight stay in Redding, California. I was told by my good friend Maggie, that the Sundial Bridge is worthy of a visit and it was! Apparently the giant sundial is set for the Summer Solstice when its shadow moves 1 foot per minute between 11 am and 3pm. Otherwise, it’s non functional, but pretty to look at. That pylon at the end (the sundial) is 217 feet high and requires a red, aircraft-warning light. The floor is translucent, but not see-through. It allows light to reach the water to protect salmon during spawning season.

Shasta Caverns

The next day I planned to leave Redding for Medford but it was only a two and half hour drive and I had four hours between check out time in Redding (11 am) and check in time in Medford (3 pm). While I was driving through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, I kept seeing signs for the Shasta Caverns, so I thought I’d check that out. Now while it’s a national natural landmark, it’s privately owned and the crew were all super friendly. I asked how long the tour was and I was told two hours which included a thirty minute boat ride across the lake and a shuttle ride up the mountain to the entrance. I was sold.

Caverns shuttle bus

The tour inside was fascinating but a bit grueling as at one point you had to climb over 85 steps, none of which were standard sized stairs. But with the weather outside almost 100 degrees, the coolness inside was a welcomed reprieve. The caverns are constantly 58 degrees Fahrenheit with a high humidity level of 90 to 95% which raises the temperature to about 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. I super appreciative that I don’t get claustrophobic because there were some tight quarters at times. But it was very educational (I took geology at Ventura Collage ten years ago, and put what little knowledge I retained to good use) and the folks on my tour were very nice. I chatted up several couples (from Seattle, Nevada and Colorado) and I met a single young man who was scouting property nearby to purchase. He ended up grasping my hand and helping me up the final stairs after returning to home base. I was sincerely grateful.

Medford, Oregon

With the caverns behind, I arrived in Medford around 4 pm and scheduled dinner with Sydney’s best friend Eli. I took a rideshare to the restaurant knowing wine would be involved. At one point, another waitress came by and set an appetizer on our table and left. We looked at each other knowing we didn’t order it. So I caught the waitress’s eye and motioned her back to the table and told her we didn’t order the deep friend mozzarella sticks. She apologized and picked them up, so I quickly told her Eli already licked them. We all laughed and she asked if we wanted them because regardless of whether they were licked or not, they would have to throw them away. So we opted for the free appetizer.
A little over three hours and a bottle and a half of wine, we said our goodbyes. Sorry to say I forgot to get a photo of us…perhaps the wine played a hand in that.

Side note: There was a fire about 15 miles from my hotel. Looked scary, but the wind dissipated overnight and it wasn’t a threat.

Portland, Oregon

On Saturday, I arrived at the house Sydney is renting early afternoon and we quickly caught up. We decided to catch a movie (not Toy Story 5) and Sydney thought I would enjoy Backrooms. It’s received a lot of online chatter and has had a long run in theaters because of it. It’s a small production indie film which came from a viral creepypasta which expanded on a web series. And yes, “creepypasta” is a real word defined as a genre of short horror stories shared online.
That being said, I still don’t quite know what happened. I don’t know if anyone can clearly explain it. IMDB says, “The film blends psychological horror with science fiction, emphasizing atmosphere and the feeling of being trapped in a nonsensical space.”

The film leaves you with an ambiguous understanding at the ending and from I understand, one can spend hours going down the rabbit hole of fan theories. #I’mGood

Portland with Sydney and Nate

We caught up with Nate on Sunday and got lunch then spent hours thrift shopping, one of Nate’s favorite past times. Sydney needed a TV stand and after a handful of stores we finally found one she absolutely loved. Nate then brought up the subject of a spa he is a member of and which Sydney goes with him several times a week and asked if I would be interested in visiting it. He also said it’s clothing optional and promised both he and Sydney would be in swimsuits (which normally they are “in the buff”). We did and it was quite relaxing between the wet sauna, dry sauna, lounging spaces, jacuzzi and ice plunge tubs. I did not opt for the latter, but everything else was great.
We then headed out for Wings, beer and fries. Nate is wonderful and the two of them are cute as buttons.

Roseburg, Oregon

I left Sydney early Monday and headed to Roseburg for a visit with Loree Pryce. We met a number of years ago when she worked at City Hall in the same Engineering division as me. She’s a big lover of live music so we had that in common right away. She bought property off the beaten path in Roseburg. I was put up in her RV parked outside.

We took about a mile walk to the Umpqua River and took a quick dip as temperatures were in the 90s. I thought the water would be freezing, but it was very comfortable.
After dinner, we had some wine and relaxed in her hot tub in the back.
Next time I hope to spend more time to explore Roseburg.

Sacramento, California

It was boiling hot by the time I arrived in the state capital on Tuesday. Flags were at half staff in honor of the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, a big proponent of “he who shall not be named.” I ventured out long enough to walk up the street to get dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. One of my long-standing rules is to eat local cuisine rather than chain restaurants like Applebees. I do have to admit several of the ones I choose smelt of septic tanks.

I got a good enough night’s rest and left for home. Google Maps said six hours, but it turned out to be a bit more because there was a crash on the Tejon Pass adding an hour delay. Signs recommended turning off air conditioning because of the high grade and 100+ temperature. To add insult to injury, Google Maps gave me the warning of a crash ahead after the last place to stop for water and/or a bathroom break.

But I made it home with lots of happy memories, but next time I’m flying!


A Couple of Things…

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1. A few blogs ago I shared about how I detach my camera from my desktop computer and that I would cover the lens on my laptop to avoid any possible malware spying called camfecting or camhacking. I was checking my texts recently when I broke out in a cold sweat and realized my phone also has a camera, and after a quick search, yes, the commie rat bastards can also spy via your phone’s len.
And while Norton wants to sell you their anti-virus software, they do provide tips on what to look for on their blog (click here).
My tip, never leave the camera in “selfie” mode.

2. Sunday, June 28, one of the Big Bear eaglets, Sandy, accidentally fell from the nest. I saw a video showing the fall where the eaglet landed on a lower branch and then one of the parents quickly arrived to monitor the situation to make sure she is protected and fed. It was reported Sandy took flight to a nearby tree so she is fine.

The next day, the second eaglet, Luna, took flight to a nearby branch, where one of the parents kept tabs.

The eaglets return to the nest nightly for now. See story: https://youtu.be/6sKl7bQ_JNc?si=pvl3qw3yXW9UBq9N

Nature is brilliant!

3. As I’m sure with everyone who saw the report, I’m extremely sad to learn that actor Danny Glover was given an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. If you check out his resume of films and television, you can’t deny he had a full life and has been one of our most prolific actors with over 200 credited roles. Some of my favorites are Death at a Funeral, the Royal Tenenbaums, Angels in the Outfield, the Color Purple, and of course the Lethal Weapon series. IMDB.com has a career retrospective you can watch. I was surprised to see he was in the movie Saw. Too scary for me.

I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone.

photo from City of Ventura FB page

4. The Fourth of July was a hoot. The City of Ventura held a fireworks show on Friday, July 3 atop the downtown parking garage. The actual holiday featured their annual Pushem/Pullen parade which I contend is the only parade with more people in it than watching it, followed by the Downtown Holiday Street Fair. Both days brought thousands of people downtown.

5. I went kayaking in the Channel Islands Harbor with Maggie. Saw a dozen or so sea lions lounging in the sun, tons of birds including a Blue Heron and a very large pelican whom I called you’re majesty as we paddled by.

6. I’ll admit I caught a bit of the World Cup fever until “He who won’t be named” intervened. I thought it would have been classy for the red tagged USA player, Balogun, to still not play even though FIFA overturned the penalty. But alas, he did. Some call it Karma, others say USA just didn’t play with heart; regardless, they lost to Belgium.

Side note: the FIFA World Cup trophy is made of solid gold and is kept at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, Switzerland but leaves for special occasions. Wikipedia states, “Only a selected few are officially allowed to touch the trophy with bare hands, including players and managers who have won the competition, heads of state, and FIFA officials.”

7. I’m excited to see The Odyssey when it comes out which I’ll try to see on an IMAX screen. Meanwhile I guess I’ll take in Toy Story 5. #CravingPopcorn

8. I’ll be visiting my daughter in Portland soon. Stories to follow!

9. From my favorite quotes file: “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Couple of Things…

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Make a wish artwork

1. Why do people make wishes at 11:11? They have two chances every single day, 365 days a year.
Google says:
* Cultural Significance: Many cultures associate 11:11 with good luck and positive energy.
* Numerology: The number 11 is often seen as a master number, symbolizing intuition and enlightenment.
* Mindfulness Moment: Wishing at 11:11 serves as a reminder to pause and reflect on one’s desires.
* Collective Belief: The shared practice creates a sense of community among those who participate.
* Spiritual Connection: Some believe it’s a time when the universe is more receptive to their intentions.
* Habitual Ritual: For many, it has become a fun and lighthearted tradition to make a wish at this time.

Pam says:
* It’s poppycock
* It’s bull puckey
* It’s malarkey
* It’s bullcrap
* But then again…It’s better safe than sorry

Photo of Linda, JR Richards and Pam

2. This week, JR Richards (original lead singer for Dishwalla) played an intimate show at an Italian restaurant in Moorpark, CA, called Carrara’s. It was a solo acoustic on either guitar or keyboards and he absolutely nailed it! He has such a beautiful voice, so well preserved after all these years.
I interviewed JR in 2002 for Buzzine Magazine. The interview was conducted after a photo shoot in Santa Barbara in JR’s car. He remembered the interview when I asked him to sign my copy.

3. I try to keep my opinion to myself when it comes to art whether it be in the form of paintings, music, jewelry, etc… But while walking past a booth at an Arts and Crafts fair recently, I really had to bear down and work on keeping my face composed (showing no opinion whatsoever) as the paintings were truly…”not my cup of tea.” I couldn’t help but glance around to see if others had the same opinion, but as the booth was devoid of shoppers, I guess I wasn’t the only one.

I still believe putting down an artist is evil. So I keep my opinions to myself…or to a close network of friends 😉

4. In one of my recent posts, I wrote about an article regarding women over a certain age should stop doing or wearing. Well I found one entitled, “10 Outdated Things That People Over 60 Should NEVER Have in their Homes.” Yes the “never” was in all caps. It was a blog written by Julia Guerra.
A few of the items were a matter of opinion, but others make sense for our aging community such as
* Bathroom tripping hazards
* Stairs without proper handrails
* Low-slung sofas sectionals
But other items regarding bulking entertainment centers, or formal dining spaces or holding on to relics from your children’s bedroom should continue to be a matter of choice.

5. May I make a recommendation if you subscribe to HBO Max? The series is called Rooster staring Steve Carell. HBO says, “…the new comedy series focuses on the complicated relationship between a successful author and his daughter.” So cleverly written, directed and the actors are spot on. I can’t praise it enough!
See more…

6. While on a recent phone call with a close friend, I told her to guess what I was doing, specifying it was something I really hated. She guessed group texting. I laughed and said, something I hate almost as much…clothes shopping.

Oscar Mayer weinermobile

7. Have you ever seen the Weiniemobile out in the wild? I did once in the late 80s driving down the Conejo grade in Camarillo, CA.

I spotted it, took a double take, and thought, “Am I trippin’?” I wondered if this was finally the flashback I was warned about over fifty years ago.

According to the Oscar Mayer official website, you can track it, and even invite it to your next party though they don’t specify how much that would be.

It seems that every January, Heinz (parent company) offers applications to recent college graduations for a one-year employment to drive one of their six Weiniemobiles on cross-country road trips attending hundreds of events. Saddens me that it’s open to only recent college grads and not to recent retirees because that sounds like a bucket list item to me.

8. I saw that comedian, Anthony Jeselnik, was performing at a nearby comedy club in the Collection in Oxnard, so I snagged a couple of tickets and we took in an early show. No topic was off limits though I cringed at a lot of his off-color humor. I mean it was reeeally REALLY dark. It kinda delights me he hasn’t been “Cancelled” yet! Good for him!!

Dutch oven advertisement

9. While doing research for a new dutch oven for my sourdough baking journey, the image above was one of the several photos advertising the product. Just who do you think is their target audience? It has to be either straight male sourdough bakers, or lesbians. Am I wrong? Or just maybe…the ad suggests if you buy this product you will be as attractive as the woman shaping the sourdough. #FoodForThought

10. From my favorite quotes file: “I love a Hebrew National hot dog with an ice cold Corona – no lime. If the phone rings, I won’t answer until I’m done.” – Maya Angelou

A Couple of Things…

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  1. So…I started a “A Couple of Things” Facebook page. Please follow!
    https://www.facebook.com/ACoupleofThings

And if you’re on Instagram, I’m there too, but guess what? You can’t add a clickable link on the posts…so that sucks. But follow anyways: @acoupleofthings.us

2. As you may, or may not know, I adopted two senior pups about six months before the pandemic hit. It was perfect timing. I did my best to give them their best lives thinking I’d have one maybe two years with each of them. Barnie lived three years longer and Missy nearly six years, I called her my super senior pup. I won’t lie, while I miss them something terrible, it’s nice to not have to be home to feed and/or walk them a couple times a day. They only thing I have to rush home to feed is my sourdough starter.

That being said, I can’t help but linger over posts about dogs needing adoption. I prefer smaller dogs under 15 pounds for a number of reasons such as easy to carry up and down the stairs if necessary (and it was necessary for both the senior pups at one point), plus they eat less which means less poop to clean up. After Barnie and Missy, I thought I would continue to adopt seniors…but I’m allowed to change my mind as long as they’re scrappy. All four of the dogs below are available for adoption, all under 15 pounds. All are potty trained (Fonzi is working on it), they all are social with other dogs, cats and people, and they all walk well on a leash. I kinda feel like Piper is in the lead.
Thoughts???

photo of dog
Piper – 2 1/2 years old.
Yorkie Poodle mix
photo of dog
Fonzi – 6 months old – Pom Poo Chi
photo of dog
Sherman – 1 year old – Poodle Terrier
photo of dog
Flower – 2 years old l- Poodle Terrier

I did get to spend some time with this little fluffball at a music event last night. She’s just a couple of months old and she would soon fall asleep inside my jacket. #NotMyDog

3. Recently I caught Steven Spielberg’s latest film, Disclosure Day. Emily Blunt was amazing. My friend Steve declared Blunt a national treasure, and when I reminded him that she’s British, we agreed to upgrade her as a global treasure. I read an article that Blunt turned down Spielberg’s offer to use AI for that weird clicky noise she makes while doing a weather broadcast. No spoil alert needed, it’s in all the advertisements and previews for the movie. #Props4Emily

Regarding AI and specifically ChatGPT for writers, Microsoft’s Copilot has this to say, “ChatGPT is not recommended for writing because it lacks true creativity, personal voice, and nuanced understanding, often producing formulaic or robotic content.

So trust me, I will never use ChatGPT for my writing, but I do research a lot using Google and it’s generated answers now called Copilot search. I like to give credit where credit is deserved, and I link to the original source when possible.

4. I’ve always enjoyed watching the camaraderie between the Obamas and George W. Bush and his wife Laura. (See People Magazine article) I never realized Bush had such a great sense of humor until I saw the viral memo below. Conservatives do have a sense of humor! #WhoKnew

5. And on that note…Congratulations to our former president, Barrack Obama on the opening of his new presidential center which opened this week in Chicago. It seems my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Regardless, if I ever do visit the windy city, I will not miss visiting this one.

6. To cover or not to cover, that is the question. Do you cover the camera on your computer when you’re not using it? I use to when I worked on a laptop, but I now use my desktop and it’s an attachable camera that remains in the drawer when not in use.
The webcam cyberattack is known as “camfecting” which is a person maliciously gains access to your device. It’s real and it does happen. One article explains why attackers target webcams: “The motivations for these attacks are varied and alarming. They range from corporate espionage, where competitors seek to steal proprietary information discussed in meetings, to blackmail schemes where attackers record compromising footage. In many cases, it is simply invasive voyeurism.” (website)

Hence, my public service announcement: “Cover your camera!”

7. Does everyone have a “The one who got away” story?

8. It’s Father’s Day weekend, 2026, and of course I can’t help but think of my dad. All those hours spent flying homemade kites, playing in the water at Huntington Beach and building sand castles together, Daddy Daughter dances, racing slot cars, vacations, giving me my first car (1967 VW bug), and of course listening to music at home, in the car, at concerts and at jazz clubs. His love for music and his favorite pets were only surpassed by his love for friends and especially family.
I created a blog in his honor leading up to his passing so he could reminisce with me over what a great life he had. Gilbert R Sanchez |
Happy Father’s Day Dad!!! Miss you so much!

9. From my favorite quotes file, “Any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.” – Barack Obama

A Couple of Things…

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  1. I may have hit a nerve on my last post regarding my Public Service Announcement message about talking at concerts. A few friends were concerned with my “sassiness” because I’m usually well-mannered (LOL!!!), and others because they may have been the target for my rant. Rest assured, I keep all conversations to a minimum at concerts, so no, my friends are not the target and perhaps I should rephrase? So instead of “So please take your conversation elsewhere or just shut the fuck up!” I should say, “Please take your conversation elsewhere so others may continue to enjoy the show” (Yawn, Eyeroll). #SorryNotSorry
girl holding sign saying sorry

2. I go back and forth with my hate/love relationship with GoDaddy. On one hand, the company continues to nickle and dime us small businesses, but on the other hand, 80% of their tech help are remarkable! The other 20%, not so much.

3. I don’t go back and forth with my hate/hate relationship with Ticketmaster. I hope someday there is a class action suit against them. They do not allow single tickets to be purchased up near the stage! I’m happy to go to a concert solo and pay that price! I’ve looked into traveling to see one of my favorite bands, but again, I don’t want to sit solo in the nosebleed seats. Turns out, I’m not the only one with disdain for this conglomerate. #HateTicketmaster

4. I have on occasion been sucked into reading articles with intriguing headlines. One had to do with clothes women should no longer wear after a certain age according to a fashion expert. Apparently I already break most rules, though “Avoid massive makeup” is strictly adhered to as is “Opt for comfortable footwear.”

5. I tend to keep rudeness by others filed “closely” away. Like elephants, I rarely forget. I do try to understand those random acts of impolite/insulting/vulgar non-kindness…but then I get bored and file it away for future profiling.

Wiki definition of “Offender Profiling: Investigative tool used by law enforcement agencies to identify likely suspects and analyze patterns that may predict future offenses and/or victims.”

Syd's starter
Syd teaching me about sourdough bread making
sourdough bread
An early attempt at sourdough bread

6. Have I mentioned I went down the rabbit hole of sourdough bread baking? It all started when my evil daughter sent me home with a Christmas present of her sourdough starter. I’m embarrassed to say, I promptly, but accidentally killed it. I would soon learn that chlorine in our water was the culprit, so I only use bottled spring water and my starter is 100% homemade…her name is Betty Boop. I still haven’t nailed the process of baking the sourdough which is a two-three day ordeal, but I’m incredibly close. So yeah, it’s been six months and I’m still learning.

photo of Otzi mumified body
A trove of prehistoric microbes have been found in the mummified body of Ötzi the Iceman.

7. On a related note. The website, AllThatsInteresting.com had an article called, “Scientists Just Used Yeast From Otzi, The Iceman’s 5,300-Year-Old Corpse to Make Sourdough Bread.”
Otzi was discovered in 1991 in Italy’s Otzal Alps and scientists have been studying him ever since. In 2019 a team from Eurac Research Institute began studying Otzi’s microbiome and discovered yeast along with various types of bacteria, so why not make sourdough bread?
My question, “Who was brave enough to try it?” Next they hope to make beer from the yeast….which seems more realistic.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/otzi-the-iceman-yeast

8. Eagle watch update: The eaglets, Luna and Sandy, are now fledglings. They earned the new title once they developed feathers necessary for flight…which I have not witnessed yet. But they look ready to go! It has been noted that both youngsters “branched” for the first time earlier this month, which is to say they hopped/flew to a nearby branch outside their nest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE #FlyLikeAnEagle

9. If you love me, then do me a hard favor when introducing me to a friend. Use their name at least five times. I suck at remembering names. Example: This is my friend Joe. I’ve known Joe for years. Joe is a Fireman. I understand that Joe thinks you’re hot and Joe wants to date you. This I would remember. #BadAtNames

From my favorite quotes file: “I fall in love just a little, oh a little bit every day with someone new” – Hozier, Someone New

Thanks for listening!

A Couple of Things…

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  1. Here now, a Public Service Announcement: When you are at a live music event such as a concert or listening room and you’re talking to a friend, I am telling you under no uncertain terms that those around you CAN hear you and you are 100% ruining their experience. So please take your conversation elsewhere or just shut the fuck up!
    Bars, wineries and breweries are the exception to the rule. Though at least you could lower your voice.
    Thank you.
Strawberry Festival with Carlos

2. The California Strawberry Festival was fun. Took the shuttle which was located just around the corner from me and spent a few hours looking at a bunch of crap…I mean arts and crafts from all the vendors. We listened to live music from Jayden Secor and a Queen tribute band, the Kings of Queen. Left without eating a single strawberry whether it be in the form of a strawberry shortcake, or a strawberry margarita.

3. It’s been decided, the meerkat is my spirit animal. They’re highly social living in cooperative groups which are called (wait for it)…mobs. Luckily for me, it is illegal to own them as pets. One blogger said, “…meerkats belong digging tunnels under the sun with their clan, not stuck in a human home.” I get it, but damn, how cute are they?

4. My first paying job was via a high school work permit at another school’s remittance office. This was back when typewriters were barely electric (I believe they were IBM Selectric), and the filing system was extremely low tech. But the upside was you really became proficient at alphabetizing.

Bike riders in front of Ventura City Hall.

5. Transportation photo op from 14 years ago in front of City Hall promoting and validating those who ride their bikes to work. It’s the best ride ever…up the coast, right hand turn at California Street and you’re there! For me it was less than 3 miles.

6. If I were on the committee to select the next James Bond, Jacob Elordi would be at the top of my 007 list. I’ve heard the candidate needs to be young, fit, convey lethality, charm and vulnerability and should be British. Elordi is Australian, but is that a big stretch to the American ear? Unfortunately, I’m sure it is to Brits. #FingersCrossed

7. This story posted on social media by the local highway patrol and it caught my eye because it happened around the block from where I live:
“While patrolling the area of US-101 and Seaward Avenue, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration. Upon closer inspection, officers discovered the driver had taken a very “creative” approach to the vehicle’s registration tabs. Unfortunately, artistic ability does not replace valid registration. The vehicle was impounded.”
#Creative #A4Effort #TrueStory

License plate

8. My friend Steve has an undying love of all things Grateful Dead. I’m a newbie, and can’t quite say I’m a fan yet, but I’m recognizing more and more of their deeper cuts. We attended the three-day It Must Be the Roses festival this past weekend here in town. The opening act was Jackson Gillies band,Jax Plays Dead. It was a great way to start the event, I’ve been a fan of Jackson for some time catching several of his gigs up in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria.He was also a contestant on American Idol…I believe Season 18.

Full disclosure…I danced more than I thought I would all weekend and, Item #1 above still applies.

9. From my favorite quotes file: “Music is life itself. What would this world be without good music? No Matter what kind it is.” – Louie Armstrong

Thanks for listening!

A Couple of Things…

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1. After a certain age, decisions should be made such as no more bacon, eliminate as much processed foods as possible, eat more veggies and fruits. And then I remember I’m a fan of the hot dog and my local Der Wienerschnitzel literally beckons me as it’s a mere .4 miles away (yeah, I google mapped it for accuracy). Then I quickly rationalize, “Eliminate as much processed foods as possible” could qualify as only once a month. Right? Love the mustard dog on a pretzel bun.

2. Speaking of dogs…I really try to restrain myself from waving to dogs (and cats) I see around town, whether it’s on a walk, in the car, hanging out, wherever. That being said, I still can’t help but nod when our eyes meet

angry woman reading text on mobile phone

3. May I please vent about texting? What happened to the art of conversing on one’s phone rather than tap tap tapping one’s message? I see the value in, “What time did we say?” Or “Are you up for lunch tomorrow?” If I can’t answer in five words or less, I’d prefer a phone call rather than a text.

Also…while we’re on the subject, WTF is up with group texts? I can tolerate 3-4 friends, but more than that and I’m out. Especially if some of those people are not in my contacts as that just might be by design! Every time someone responds, or acknowledges they saw someone’s text, my phone blows up with Ding! DING DING DING Ding! I try to delete, but the next time someone texts, it’s back! I think I’ve found a way to silence a group chat, but after while, the dings are back!

Am I the only one??? #PleaseDon’tSayItsSo

4. I saw a CNN article online last year reporting that a Whippet named Miuccia won Best in Show at Crufts, the world’s biggest dog show. While I thought, “Okay, Whippets are super adorable and worthy,” an ear worm developed almost instantly of Devo’s “Whip It” which lasted several days. Tell me if you have one too now #WhipItGood
See article and photo which is copyrighted: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/uk/crufts-dog-show-miuccia-whippet-intl-scli-gbr/index.html

5. Women: Looking back, have you ever found a drunk man attractive? I’d ask the same thing of men, but in my experience, it doesn’t matter.

6. Have you ever had an argument with Alexa? #Yes

7. Taylor Andrews broached the subject about parents having a favorite child. (https://www.popsugar.com/family/do-parents-have-favorite-kid-44116603).
Of course that got me thinking, YEAH!! But then I only have the only, but I’m pretty sure even if I had ten more, she would forever be my favorite!

8. I think I would dance more often in public if people would stop posting videos on social media. Give it a break!!! #Seriously

9. Have I mentioned I once interviewed Joe Perry of Aerosmith? You’d think it would be about the band and I’d have to bring up how much I loved Rocks from 1976. But NO! The subject was his new line of hot sauce called “Joe Perry’s Rock Your World” sauces. I never would have guessed in a million years that is what rock stars do in-between tour schedules.

10. I still miss my father like the dickens! Check out those shoes! He loved his jazz and loved the crew at Squashed Grapes. He didn’t live long enough to see their new venue, The Grape, but he would have loved it!

11: Books I wish I would have thought of first:
* Anyone Can be Cool…but Awesome Takes Practice (Lorraine Peterson)
* Who Cares About Elderly People? (Pam Adams)
* I Was Told There’d Be Cake (Sloane Crosley)
* My Sister The Serial Killer (Oyinkan Braithwaite)
* The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (Carolyn Mackler)
These are all real titles to real books! Of course I have no personal experience with any of these topics…except #3, and maybe #5.

12. From my favorite quotes file: “For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.”  – Eleanor Roosevelt

Thanks for listening!

A Couple of Things…

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  1. I’m going to just assume moving forward that photos of all beautiful people are either AI generated or airbrushed. #BetterForTheEgo

2. I changed Alexa’s voice from female to British male and ask him to give me a compliment.  He said I was sweet, like the corner piece of a brownie. #TrueStory

3. Who is a fan of the colonoscopy?  Everyone dreads them.  I dread the process leading up to it rather than the procedure itself. In fact, my last one, I was totally awake and watched the whole process on the monitor (I don’t think the anesthesiologist was checking on me).
In any case, I received a positive result from my Cologuard test and as a result I needed to do the dreaded colonoscopy. Now if I hadn’t done my routine every 10 year colonoscopy, then the precancerous polyps found, would most likely have evolved into cancer.  No telling how quickly, but still glad it was caught early. And just so you know, not all polpys are precancerous.  Some are beign, and some are cancer, and some have spread into the lining and to other parts of the body.

I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t put them off and …”Just do it.”

4. The biggest lesson the pandemic taught me is just how disgusting blowing out candles on one’s birthday cake really is. After spraying your spittle all over the icing, you then slice it up and serve it to others? This really needs to stop! Ew!!!

5. I still think about those first few months of the pandemic and following all the press conferences and being totally amazed about how closely the people behind the speaker where gathered, and how they all shared the same microphone.  WTF, right?
This one was held on March 11, 2020.

6. Fascinating fact. There are two items you can legally drop out of a car in California, according to the state’s vehicle code, 23114. A driver can technically spill clear water onto the roadway or feathers from birds; however, the law stipulates the birds have to be alive.

7. Great Blue Heron sightings take my breath away. I took this photo a quarter mile from where I live. It’s quite a thing when it becomes mating season. We use to have a dozen or so nests all in one tree two blocks away from the back of my house; they can be quite noisy. I’m sad to report the tree was cut down a few months ago after mating season ended. I will miss them dearly.

8. I found this image on Reddit of a nest here along Pierpont 2021:

9. As I get older, I’m a little surprised by how much I love birds. My dear friend Linda gifted me an owl release for my birthday this a few years back. Part of the package was being able to invited a few friends, so along with Linda, I brought Maggie and Steve & Sally Williams. It was one of those “I’ll-never-forget-this” moment.
Photo below with Kim from the Ojai Raptor Center.
This is a wonderful organization which rescues wild injured birds and rehabilitates them. Make a donation if you can: https://www.ojairaptorcenter.org/

10. Sticking with the bird theme for one more time…I am a huge fan of the Big Bear Lake Eagle Cam. If you haven’t checked it out, please do so! Jackie and Shadow have been nesting here for years and again this year they hatched two chicks who were recently named Sandy and Luna via a 3rd grade classroom competition. You can view via the official website: https://friendsofbigbearvalley.org/eagles/ or just click YouTube video below.

11. From my favorite quotes file:

“I don’t like country music, but I don’t mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means ‘put down’.”  – Bob Newhart

It’s been a hot minute since my last post. Hope to get back into the swing of posting more often.

Thanks for listening!

A Couple of Things…

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We made it to Italy!
(October 2021)

So…life happens and it’s been a few years since I posted a blog. I actually wrote this one a few years ago and never posted. So here you go…better late than never!!

While our 14 day trip to Italy was cut short by 3 days, those first 10 were the trip of a life time! Linda and I had been planing this trip for several years, we were suppose to be there the week after the pandemic shut everything down. So I didn’t hold my breath figuring it could all happen again. But after waiting nervously for our negative Covid-19 test results, having our ride at 5 am not show up to take us to the airport and narrowly almost missing our connection (yes, they paged us over the speaker in Atlanta, “Will Pam Baumgardner and Linda Lebrock please make your way to gate 20, your plane is getting ready to leave”), it wasn’t until wheels were up and we headed out over the Atlantic Ocean that I finally felt it was for real this time.

We landed in Venezia, make that Venice to you Americans, and took a water taxi to our hotel. As you may or may not know, there are no motorized vehicles on the streets of Venice. It’s water taxis, gondolas, any kind of boat really, bicycles, or walking. We did a lot of walking, you really can’t get lost when the City is an island. Turns out Venice was built on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. We crossed at least a dozen of them.

Sebastian our Gondola driver

The first night in Venezia we met up with John Chamberlain who made the trip specifically to see Linda, but it wasn’t long before we were steadfast friends as well. We had drinks, food, he treated us to a gondola ride, sang “Volare” and kept us in stitches most of our first two evenings in Italy. I love John! He and his partner moved to Italy earlier in the year so his Italian was far better than our ability to count to dieci (ten) or ask for wine, “per il vino.”
Right out of the gate he was ordering up Negronis which Linda partook (past tense of partake?) but I politely declined and embarked on what would be my introduction to really good red wines throughout our trip. Linda was quite taken with the Negronis so I gifted her a bottle of Campari for her birthday.

After three days in Venice of rooftop bars, pizzerias, churches, the Peggy Guggenheim museum, we were off to Florence via train.

(I did not take this photo of the Duomo)

Florence is a very large city. Lots of walking, with gorgeous views everywhere, amazing statues, centuries old buildings, and of course you’re in total awe the first time you come upon the Duomo (the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore). That being said, I must confess that our second night after having spent the day in Cinque Terra on a day tour, we got lost in Florence, and soon learned that apparently all roads lead to that fucking Duomo. We’d walk several blocks thinking we were heading back to our hotel, and bam! There it was AGAIN! We finally gave up and ended up taking a taxi back to the hotel totally exhausted.

But I have to say that one of the highlights, was our private tour when we saw the statue of David. Our tour guide was a sweet young art major whose enthusiasm was totally contagious. It really is quite remarkable.

By the way, on the day of our tour to Cinque Terre, it was pouring rain. My best investment I ever made was this damn plastic poncho. I figure I could use it in the future…yeah like it ever rains in California. But it kept me semi dry.

Our tour guide was Gabrielle who escorted us via train to all five towns, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza.

There were a couple of food facts I learned:
1. After three days, I no longer wanted pizza.
2. Not all bread is delicious.
3. I love Italian olive oil.
4. Chianti can actually be really really good.

The following day I took another day trip, left Linda behind to further investigate Florence, and I headed out to the leaning tower of Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena and Chianti stopping here and there to walk about, take pictures and stopping for lunch at Poggio ai Laghi. I teamed up with a couple of other single women and had wonderful time!

Then we left Florence and headed deeper into Tuscany where we stayed a few days at Villa Bordoni in Greve, Chianti Classico region. Our sweet little inn was an actual working kitchen where chefs came to learn.

The young man at the front desk gave us advice on how to spend the second day. he mapped out where to walk for lunch, and then the road which would take us to a wine tasting we had scheduled. I can’t emphasize enough how much I wanted to hurt him as we walked uphill, mile after mile. I can honestly say the thing that kept me going was how I would work out tripping him “accidentally” in the hallway. It seemed to us that we had walked so far, and so high, that the landscape was changing on us. we could have been delusional, but we did make it to our destination where a handsome young man, did a fabulous job of telling us about his vineyard, and winemaking, and olive oil, and as he’s serving us a platter of cheeses and just offhandedly mention his daughter has Covid while he walked out of the room. Linda and I jerked out heads at each other and we were, “What the Fuck!!” But there was nothing that could be done about it at that point, so we enjoyed our wine, ordered up some to be shipped home, and then made our way back to our inn.

We left via a private car to Arrezo where we stayed one night. We walked the streets, had a delightful dinner, and the next day we took the train to Rome.

We arrived at the station where I’m sure there were a number of young men ready to pickpocket. but we both were on to them. We stayed next to each other, making eye contact so they knew we weren’t easy targets. We took a cab to our hotel, left our bags in the room and ventured out to get a lay of the land. We walked, I shopped a little bit (boots and a new coat), and then made it back to our room…

…it was then that Linda got a call from her sister letting her know that their father had just passed away.

Of course it was an emotionally stressful time as we worked with our travel agent to get us back home as soon as possible. They got us booked for the first flight out the next morning. Everything was cancelled, our evening tour of the Coliseum where we were going to be able to walk around on the ground floor, and of course the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Then I had a bright idea, I got us a cab and asked him to drive us around and show us Rome. Our driver was a sweetie and drove us around, let us jump out of the cab, take pictures, and he even ducked into a novelty store and bought us each mini statues of the fountain.

It was a bittersweet ending. But we had the most wonderful time while it lasted, and I know we’ll go back and pick up where we left off with Rome, and then head back to more small towns in Tuscany, because it kinda feels like home there.

A Couple of Things…

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  1. Take II – I was supposed to be in Italy mid March 2020 when the pandemic hit and closed everything down. A little over a year and a half later, we’re going to give it another try. Hopefully my next blog will be all about wine, cheese, and awesome photos.

  2. Not to get all threatening or anything, but those who post spoilers on social media will get unfollowed immediately. This happened recently with a movie just released the day before. The movie was still good, but would have been better had I not known the outcome. #Unfollowed

  3. In my opinion, the only bad french fry is a cold french fry.
  4. I love using the term, “Spitballing.”
  5. I feel weird saying “thank you” to Alexa, but I feel rude when I don’t.



  6. While looking through my spice cabinet recently, I realized the one stable item I’ve always had on hand since Sydney Rose was born was Ipecac. I picked it up probably for the first time ever to actually look at it and discovered it expired 2001.

  7. It hurts my heart whenever I hear one of my senior pups having what appears to be a nightmare while snoozing next to me. As they get older, I find myself doing what I did when Sydney Rose was a baby, I’d watch her sleep, and watch her chest rise and fall to ensure she was still breathing. 



  8. My heart hurts a little less after finding the senior pups had gotten into my toilet paper stash. #NoShame #NoRemorse

  9. When watching women on their weight loss journey, I can’t help but debate internally, is it better to lose weight and be healthy and look older, or is it better to have a little extra weight to enhance the softness and reduce the wrinkles and look younger? #VanityAtWork

  10. The phrase WTF is clearly warranted when one learns that President James Garfield (1831-1881) was not only ambidextrous, but he had the unique talent of simultaneously writing in Greek with one hand and in Latin with the other.



  11. One of the ways to manipulate Facebook is to just look up things you wouldn’t mind seeing ads about when scrolling through their news feed, just go to Google and other search engines and search for “learn how to cook” or “popcorn” or “kittens to adopt.”



  12. And staying with the topic of cats for a moment more, a headline I saw that made me laugh out loud: Cats Recognize their own names – even if they choose to Ignore them. https://getpocket.com/explore/item/cats-recognize-their-own-names-even-if-they-choose-to-ignore-them

  13. From my favorite quotes file: “To travel is to live” – Hans Christian Anderson

Thanks for listening!