We were supposed to go to the Elks for Salsa Dance lessons, but mid-morning we decided to stay home and get the house ready for Halloween. So we worked at a leisurely pace all day and got everything up; all that remains is replacing some batteries and a few light bulbs. Mary was a real hero all day!
The first thing I did was bring in the five boxes of Halloween decor and set them on a table so it wouldn’t kill our backs!
The sun came up and so did we! At 10:30 am, Robin and Bob dropped by, and we went to the Elks Lodge for an orientation meeting with Alvaro, a friend from Boeing. He is in the process of being inducted into the Elks, sponsored by the Dudas and Liles.
Prior to Bob and Robin’s arrival. We worked in the office doing what we do best, fighting with the computer!
Off we went, arriving just in time to meet up with Alvard, his wife, Liz, and daughter Sophia.
We decided to grab some breakfast before the orientation, so we went to the lounge.
We sat around the table and jabbered for a good hour before Alvaro and his wife were called for the orientation.
While they were being introduced to this specific lodge and all of its activities, we went about harassing Sophia, and, as expected, she was gracious and stayed right up with us (once she determined we did not bite).
After the orientation, Alvaro and Liz returned to the table where they were greeted with dessert. Liz was confronted with a cheesecake slightly bigger than Detroit!
We always enjoy being with Bob and Robin, and this morning was no different!
We all spent another 3o minutes devouring dessert and talking. The morning was fun!
After leaving the lodge, the four of us went to look at a home for sale back in the hood. Since it was so warm, I decided to let Mary, Bob, and Robin go inside while I managed the car’s air conditioning, making sure it stayed cool.
The kids departed, and Mary and I took a short nap (about three hours), waking up just before pool time, or what we thought would be pool time. We got all ready, but when we tried to get into the pool, it was 86 degrees, and our bodies rebelled.
Hello, hot tub, where it was a cool 94 degrees. We remembered the day the hot tub/swim spa came to visit and decided to stay.
We came in after 2 1/2 cycles, meaning about 40 minutes, and we attempted to watch TV. I lasted about an hour, and then the Sandman called; I waddled off to bed. Mary came in about 11:00 pm and crashed. I think this recent spurt of hot weather has done us in!
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
It was a somber morning as we listened to several radio programs while traversing SoCal on our never-ending errands. We recalled where we were 25 years ago on this fateful day in history and thought about the crazy changes those crazy religious fanatics caused. I hope they are rotting in hell!
Errands, you say! Yes! The first stop was the El Pachuco Zoot Suit Shop in Fullerton.
In Spanish, “pachuco” refers to a Mexican or Mexican-American youth subculture, especially from the 1930s–1940s, often associated with zoot suits, slang, and a distinctive rebellious style.
Depending on context, pachuco can mean:
- A young Mexican/Mexican-American man with flashy style, especially a zoot suit
- Someone who speaks or uses Caló, a Mexican-American slang
- Sometimes, informally or negatively, a streetwise guy, troublemaker, or gang-associated youth
It’s strongly tied to Chicano history and culture, especially in places like Los Angeles and the U.S.–Mexico border region.
We had an 11:00 am appointment and arrived early, so we did the proper thing: we went to the donut store down the block and celebrated with donuts and a drink! We awaited the owner’s arrival and read the signage around the building.
Once inside, the owners, along with help from Mary, transformed me from an old white guy into a Chicano in a matter of minutes. One look in the mirror, and I swear I could have been speaking Spanish right along with Vicky!
Msry had a ball looking at the “add-ons,” including ties, hats, shoes, and chains.
So I had everything I needed, and conveniently there was a tailor next door. The owner said, “Just go next door, and he will mark it up.” I started out the door when she yelled at me! “Gringo! There are laws in this city about indecent exposure!” I had no idea what she meant until she asked me to take my jeans with me, or otherwise I would be coming back in my undies, a sight no one driving a car should see! We all had a good laugh!
After returning to the shop and getting dressed (i.e., putting on my shirt and shoes), I spotted another suit which may be more my style. I may change my name to “Flame”.
The owners were both there and very helpful in guiding Mary in picking out ties, chains, suspenders, switchblades, etc. We walked out of the establishment with bags of goodies. Mary has been wanting me to do this for three years, and I finally succumbed!
OK, now we head south with a quick stop at the house or apartment at 1:00 in Baja California, near a place Mary wanted to visit, sometimes called Irvine. That appointment was fairly quick, and we realized we had time to spare, but NOT for long.
Mary has been wanting to stop at a specific jewelry store in Huntington Beach, so off we went in a cloud of dust! Mary did her business, and then we headed home for a few minutes before going to dinner at Dru’s lovely home. We stopped at Ralph’s and got some fresh flowers, and I added some champagne and some two-buck-chuck, now known as four-buck-chuck.
When we saw Dru on Thursday night, we mentioned that my longtime friend and golf buddy, James, would be joining us with Carol. I was looking forward to seeing him again and getting the latest scoop on him and Miss Carol! 5:10 pm, it was off to Dru’s home, just up the street.
When Mary and Paul arrived at Dru’s house for what she called “serious Southern cooking,” they found her friend Harry guarding the stove like a tiny sheriff. James and Carol were already at the table, fanning themselves with napkins and whispering prayers over the smells.
We learned how to love Opossum Grits! We also found out the Okra was fresh as Dru shot them this morning.
Then Dru carried out the pork chop. It was not a pork chop so much as a delicious doorstop. Paul stared at it and said, “Was the pig named Big Tex?” Mary claimed it had its own zip code. Harry tried to measure it with a ruler, gave up, and suggested a yardstick.
The fried okra came next, golden and crackly and piled so high it looked like a vegetable avalanche. Carol took one bite and announced she had heard angels wearing cowboy boots. James said he would marry the okra if Carol didn’t object. Carol said she might object, but only because she wanted custody.
Meanwhile, the wine flowed politely at first, then enthusiastically. Soon everyone was laughing too loudly, passing plates and posing for ChatGPT images. They asked for Paul as a Southern senator, Mary riding a giant okra, Dru as Queen of Gravy, Harry as a biscuit cowboy, and James and Carol wrestling the pork chop in formalwear.
By dessert, everyone was stuffed, silly, and slightly glazed. Dru raised her glass and declared, “That’s how we cook down here.” Paul nodded, patted the chop, and said, “Good meal. Great architecture.” Mary laughed so hard she nearly snorted okra into her wine glass.
He said he was framed!
Speaking of being framed!
We all jabbered for a while before dinner was served. Harry joined us, making our dinner a party of six! Any and every topic under the sun was dealt with in a professional, although slightly inebriated, fashion thanks to Dru’s bottomless wine cabinet!
Dru is known for being an excellent cook, and it’s amazing how she stays so slim! She brought our fried okra as a starter, followed by a pork chop the size of Detroit, along with green beans and potatoes! Wow, after a few bites, I was speaking Spanish with a Southern accent.
We talked about the military, as both James and Harry served (Mary was in the kitchen helping Dru). James was a radio man, and to this day he can effortlessly play AM, FM, and FM stereo using both the tuning and volume controls. Harry was a grunt with great stories!
James and I caught up on all the latest Old Ranch gossip! Who is still there, who has moved on, etc. We talked about our mutual girlfriend, Charlotte.
We shared stories of growing up, and James told the best one, especially about riding the freight trains up and down the line and getting caught by the Railway Cops!
Caroll and James are getting along well and, in fact, are going to join us at the Elks Halloween Party on October 31st. James could be a golfer, a Beast, or a jailbird since he already has the costumes.
Carol can go as Belle!
Carole told James that if he didn’t go, she would have a bone to pick with him! We were NOT sure what that meant, but after careful reflection, James better go!
We had a fantastic time and left with several “action items,” which is corporate-speak for “things we’ll remember right before they’re due.”
Then we departed for home, a grueling six-minute journey that tested our endurance, navigation skills, and ability to stay awake after amazing food.
Once home, we promptly collapsed like overfed royalty, because tomorrow we’re back on the move again!
We were up at 0dark-thirty this fine morning, and the day is chock-full of activities, beginning with paperwork in the office and a load of telephone calls to make!
Our first stop was the Elks for Girls’ Night Out, but today, it was us plus Iris & Will. Everybody else sent in the excuse written by someone else. George is recovering from his fall, Capps is at home doing repairs, and Bob is gallivanting around the country picking up things for the house! We felt deserted.
After lunch, we went to Huntington Beach so Mary could get her hair done and I could get my ears lowered. While Mary was finishing up, I scooted over to the Black Trumpet, where the staff recognized me, and imbibed a glass of vino and read my book.
It was 3:45 pm, which meant it was officially time to abandon all responsibilities and hightail it home to meet Dru and Robin for the evening’s soirée. Naturally, traffic took one look at our plans and said, “Absolutely not,” so we rolled in at 4:30 pm like weary travelers returning from battle.
Robin was in the shower, bravely scrubbing off the sand from her company beach party — because nothing says “corporate bonding” like bringing half the beach home in your shoes.
Dru arrived at 5:00 pm sharp, punctual enough to make the rest of us look suspicious. By 5:15 pm, we were packed, polished, and pretending we had everything under control.
Fullerton, ready or not, here we come!
We saw Matt Mauser and the Big Band this evening.
Inspired by the golden age of swing, The Matt Hauser Big Band channels the timeless charm of a young Frank Sinatra at the height of his career—singing with The Count Basie Orchestra at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas —while also paying tribute to legendary artists like Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and other acts from that iconic era. With a unique ability to infuse classic songs with a fresh, modern flair, Matt brings his own signature style to the stage, entertaining audiences while also offering insight into the rich musical history behind each timeless tune.
When we arrived, Vicky had already staked out three tables for us, including one for Yolie, who came separately.
Vicky was thinking 1950s and what it was like so…
The guys were doing their “sound checks,” so we got a little extra music before dinner.
Mary fixed an amazing amount of food, enough to feed four of us! We had tablecloths, sandwiches, fruit, energy bars, cookies, etc. If there were ants around, they would have had a holiday!!
We are finally settled in and await the entertainment!
Mary finally got a minute to rest after emptying her magic basket of goodies.
We took a leap in time and went back to the 1950s.
I had a few minutes to spare, so I went to work using ChatGPT! A little hairdo change, then transported back to the 1980s!
The show began, and we went wild as the music was wonderful! Matt was on track this evening!
I continued with ChatGPT a bit. The girls looked great!!!
The music continued, and we were all bee-bopping to the tunes!
Some of us (some???) really got into it, moving to the music and singing! It was a bit frightening!
We departed the Muck at 9:30 pm after the two-hour show and arrived home at 10:00 pm via the 91 freeway. Dru headed home, and the rest of us headed to bed. It was a wonderful show. Thanks to Vicky!!! You did it again!
Today it was 102 degrees in Orange, and all I can think about is Christmas! The weather is crazy!
So on this HOT day, what is the first thing we do? Go to the gym, ride for thirty minutes, and then get our poor little bones crushed by the big bad trainers! We were off the bikes at 9:00 am and on the floor at 9:01 am, being twisted into indescribable shapes. By 10:00 am, we shot out the door like rockets, aiming for the nice, soon-to-be-cool car. It was already 97 degrees!
We came home, messed around for a while, and then got ready to go to the dentist. Mary went to the patio, and the thermometer indicated 108 degrees IN THE SHADE. Inside the house, it was 74! Mary got ready to go, and I took a quick shower before braving the heat!
On the way to the dentist, the car was registering 104 degrees. It was nice to be inside the office, where it was a nice 72!
The dental checkouts were perfect; we now have clean teeth and zero cavities!
To celebrate, we headed home via the Elks Lodge for a quick dinner and a drink! Tonight was trivia night, but we just had dinner at 4:00 pm at their amazing pasta bar!
We departed the Elks at 5:30 pm and made it home in slow traffic. The temperatures were kinda hot for SoCal.
When we finally got home, Mary crashed,d and I worked on the Daily Diary. We were exhausted, and today is a slow day; tomorrow will bring more activity!
We hit the ground running! Well… maybe not running. More like crawling with ambition.
Our grand plan was to work in the garden, but at 9:30 a.m. the sky looked at our schedule and said, “Absolutely not,” and it started raining. We waited a few minutes for the rain to stop, then bravely marched off to the south forty—armed with tools, optimism, and a complete misunderstanding of the weather.
We lasted about thirty minutes before surrendering. By 10:00 a.m., the temperature was already in the 90s, the humidity was trying to steam-clean us, and we were guzzling water as if we’d just crossed the Sahara in flip-flops.
Gardening: 1. Us: 0.
Some of our growers like the temperature and humidity!
We decided to retreat indoors and do paperwork in the office until it was time to go see the heart doctor—because nothing says “fun afternoon” like forms, files, and a discussion about my old ticker.
Mary decided not to go to her painting class because she wanted to be with me when the doctor talked about my heart. Very sweet of her… until she immediately ratted me out.
She told him all about the little “episodes” I’d been having with the ticker and how I’d been using the nitroglycerin pills. I sat there looking innocent, which fooled absolutely no one.
The doctor wasn’t too concerned, but he did offer a few suggestions—mostly about the timing of certain pills before I go moving heavy objects, like the trash cans. Apparently, trash duty now requires medical clearance and strategic planning.
We arrived at his office at 1:45 p.m. and only waited a few minutes before my 2:00 appointment, which is practically a medical miracle. Mary brought him a box of vegetables—the last of the summer crop—so I’m pretty sure we paid part of the bill in produce.
We talked, he listened, and he typed like he was writing the next great American novel. He’s my age and quite funny, which makes doctor visits a little less scary and a lot more entertaining.
After we left the doctor’s office, we walked over to the Ten-Ten building so Mary could “just look” at the Halloween goodies she’d spotted on her last visit.
And by “just look,” of course, I mean she marched into that gift shop and came out with a big bag of spooky treasures for the house.
Apparently, our home was suffering from a serious shortage of Halloween décor, and Mary bravely took action.
Finally, we head out, but wait, there’s more….
We stopped by Zena’s Lebanese Restaurant, and Mary returned a large basket of unopened pita bread, which was left over from the party. We did not want to toss it. Michael happily received the offer.
Then we headed farther out on Tustin Blvd. to The Tartan Room, arriving at 3:45 pm—perfectly timed for the kitchen to open, and perfectly mistimed for our stomachs, which had apparently filed an urgent complaint.
So we did the responsible thing and ordered sliders and a quesadilla from the bar menu to prevent a full-scale hunger emergency.
And speaking of the bar, I had a gin and tonic because it was hot and I’m basically a delicate flower. Dr. Mary, maintaining her usual level of class and medical authority, prescribed herself a glass of Chardonnay.
Here are some fun Gin and Tonic trivia facts:
- Medicinal origins: The gin and tonic became popular because tonic water contained quinine, which was used to help prevent malaria.
- British Empire connection: British officers in India mixed bitter quinine tonic with gin, sugar, and lime to make it more drinkable.
- The “perfect ratio” varies: Common ratios are 1 part gin to 2 or 3 parts tonic, depending on how strong you like it.
- Tonic glows under UV light: Because of quinine, tonic water can glow blue under blacklight.
- Classic garnish: A slice of lime is the traditional garnish, though cucumber, lemon, grapefruit, rosemary, or peppercorns are also popular.
- Gin styles matter: A London Dry gin makes a crisp, juniper-forward G&T, while floral or citrus gins create a softer, more aromatic drink.
- Spain helped reinvent it: The Spanish “gin-tonic” trend popularized serving it in large balloon glasses with lots of ice and elaborate garnishes.
- Ice is important: Large, solid ice cubes melt slower, keeping the drink colder and less diluted.
- Not all tonic is the same: Premium tonics can dramatically change the flavor because they vary in bitterness, sweetness, carbonation, and botanicals.
- Juniper is essential: For a spirit to be called gin, juniper must be one of its main flavors.
We met some of the locals and jabbered with them for quite a while. We also met bartender Mary, whom we knew from Aces; it was good to see her.
Mary (the bartender) told us some bad news: our friend Skyler from Aces passed away in February from drinking. He was 31 and a high school/club baseball coach, but the booze got the better of him.
We danced a bit before going home. Mary looked like a million dollars this afternoon (as she always does), so dancing with this beauty anywhere was mandatory.
We got home just in time to go into the pool and splash around. Today was busy, and tomorrow will be the same,e except it will be a high of 103 degrees! OUCH!
We were up early because our gym was open and waiting for us! My trainer put me through the hoops! In addition to the five-mile bike ride, I got to sit on a big rubber ball and do the twist! Then I pushed and pulled various ropes connected to pulleys with 1,000-pound weights (well, they felt that way!). My fearless trainer today was Najla.
In Persian usage, Najla is generally borrowed from Arabic and means:
“wide-eyed,” “large-eyed,” or “one with beautiful expressive eyes.”
It’s associated with beauty and charm, especially referring to lovely eyes.
After getting home, we picked up Sydney and Robin and went to Rodrigo’s Mexican restaurant. I, of course, got a “large margarita” to wash down the fajitas.
We laughed and giggled our way through lunch!
I gave a demo on the proper way to dine on tortillas! I have passed on my artistic skill to my kids and grandkids.
I was challenged to see if I could tie a knot in the cherry stem with my tongue. I should have bet money!
After lunch, we went home, and the girls departed for their individual destinations. Mary and I piddled around the house as it was too muggy to go outside.
We are now watching NYDP, Blue, which I enjoyed years ago. Series for fourteen years from 2010 through 2024. Tom Selleck. The Reagan family dinners are a signature part of the show. Nearly every episode includes a Sunday dinner scene, in which the family debates moral, legal, and personal issues. Tom Selleck played Frank Reagan, the New York City Police Commissioner and patriarch of the Reagan family.
We jumped into the pool about 15 minutes before sunset and watched the sky put on its dramatic little color show while the Sun slowly fell into the western ocean as it had just clocked out for the day. It was a good day!
Tomorrow’s agenda: visit my heart doctor, then do some chores around the house—because apparently nothing says “take care of your health” like working in high-90s heat. Hydration and questionable decisions, here we come!
We planned an outdoor swim party for our friends at Peak Performance, but alas, Mother Nature had other ideas! It was not raining hard, just enough to keep everything wet. We planned for this possibility and set up tables and chairs inside, but if the rain stays at this level, we can also sit outside on the patios or under the gazebo!
A quick check of the weather report says the rain will cease at 1:00 pm, and since it is 82 degrees, everything ought to be dry by the time everyone arrives.
Whatever comes, we will always be ready!
It’s 1:00 pm, and the rain has stopped, and things are drying up! The party got underway on time, and Mother Nature was nice; everything was dry except for a few dribbles here and there!
Join the fun!! We had 18 friends and family join us for the fête. We gorged on delicacies from Verta. We got to rest for a bit before everyone arrived.
The food was ready to go, and everybody dug into all the goodies.
After dinner, people headed for the nice, warm 93-degree pool. Everyone departed around 7:00 pm, and Sydney, Robin, Mary, and I jumped in the pool and rested and jabbered for another hour.
It was a wonderful day with friends,
We were up early and dressed to get ready for tomorrow’s party, come rain or shine! We are still talking about last night’s Beatles show!
We worked on the front and back patios, plus did some trimming and working with the plants until noon! When it got hot, we came inside and did some “cleanup,” meaning we changed the house air filter, hung a clock on the wall, and air-cleaned some silk flowers.
Mary fixed a nice lunch, and then we continued working around the house! For some reason, I really like it when Mary gets into a cleaning mood! I wonder why?
We continued getting ready all afternoon, and then at about 7:00 pm we strolled around the yard.
All the flowers are doing well. The hibiscus is about to grow out of its pot.
Here’s some hibiscus trivia:
- Hibiscus flowers are edible and are often used in teas, jams, syrups, and desserts.
- Hibiscus tea is popular around the world and is known for its tart, cranberry-like flavor.
- The hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia, where it’s called Bunga Raya.
- In Hawaii, hibiscus flowers are often associated with beauty, hospitality, and island culture.
- A hibiscus flower typically lasts only one day, but the plant can produce many blooms.
- There are hundreds of hibiscus species, ranging from tropical shrubs to hardy garden plants.
- Red hibiscus is commonly used to make roselle tea, also known as sorrel, agua de jamaica, or karkadé.
- Hibiscus has been used in traditional medicine in many cultures, especially for cooling drinks and herbal infusions.
- The flower attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
- In Victorian flower symbolism, hibiscus represented delicate beauty.
Now it was time to go into the nice, warm pool, but Mary said she had gone to the pet store and got something to keep the pool clean. I thought perhaps goldfish? Nope, they were NOT goldfish!
We watched a little TV before hitting the sack around 10:00 pm; tomorrow will be a big day!
We woke up still snapping our fingers and singing songs from last night! There will never be music like that again. The songs were 75 years old and going strong. We both felt like we were back in high school! I graduated from high school in 1962, while Mary graduated in 1969. In both cases, the music was still good then, not like the “music” of today!
Hit the small arrow on the left to hear the guys sing “Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay!”. “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay” was sung by Danny & the Juniors. It was released in 1958 and became one of their signature songs. I was in junior high, and Mary was only six!
Back to work! Mary wrangled the bills while I went toe-to-toe with the computer goblins! I now have both iMacs on my desk, and they actually talk to each other!
The website has officially been haunted—I mean configured—for Halloween and is now ready to receive all your spooky Halloween images! We have already been to Roger’s Gardens once to visit spooky things!
In the afternoon, we did some prep for the upcoming party, while the weatherman continued his favorite hobby: keeping us confused. Apparently it’s supposed to rain Sunday?! With fifteen people coming, we can easily move the festivities indoors—because nothing says “party” like casually pretending we planned it that way all along. And since it’ll still be warm, the pool remains an option for anyone brave enough to combine swimming with possible weather drama.
The shindig is being catered by Zena’s Lebanese Cuisine in Orange, so at least the food situation is under control. Robin is coming over to provide assistance, moral support, and possibly help us stare at the sky with concern.
At 3:00 pm, we headed for the showers to get ready for a 4:45 pm departure to Franco’s Italian Restaurant and a pre-show dining extravaganza.
Franco’s was, as expected, absolutely wonderful.
Unfortunately, at the next table were two families whose small children had apparently been raised by wolves, air horns, and Red Bull. There was yelling, shrieking, running, table-to-table chaos — the kind of behavior that makes you wonder if the parents had entered the restaurant under witness protection and were hoping not to be identified.
Honestly, I was less shocked by the kids than by the parental “supervision,” which appeared to consist mainly of staring into the middle distance and pretending the circus belonged to someone else.
And people wonder why society is full of irresponsible adults. In my day, if I had behaved like that in public, my parents would have removed me from the restaurant so fast I’d have left a cartoon-shaped hole in the door. At the very least, I’d still be writing apology notes to the waiter. When we departed, my ears said, “Thank you.” The Cerritos Performing Arts Center was only 2.3 miles away.
Again, thanks to Vicky, we had great seating just above the sound and light boards. I was fascinated by the electronics and the $35,000 sound board!
Tonight we saw The Beatles: The Touring Years — the early years, when the hair was black, the suits were sharp, and nobody had yet discovered kale smoothies.
Sorry about the lighting in the photos, but the stage lights were flashing, changing colors, and generally bullying my old iPhone into surrender. It was completely overwhelmed — much like the audience’s knees during the fast songs.
These guys really did have black hair! The show went on for two solid hours, and all the old folks in the audience were bee-bopping along like it was 1964 again… just with more sensible shoes and a few extra hip replacements.
Unlike other Beatles tribute acts, “1964” concentrates on only the “touring years” of the Beatles. Since this period is one of the most well-documented(pictures, films, and eyewitness accounts) in the Beatles’ career, there is much to compare. “1964” has accomplished what many other acts could only dream of: An astonishingly accurate re-creation of the energy and the magic of those touring years.
Over three decades of researching and performing have made “1964” masters of their craft. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute show in the world.
We escaped at 10:00 pm and headed the Silver Fox down the 91 towards home arriving at 10:21 pm, just in time to crash! The house was 77 degrees,but with the help of the whole-house fan the temperature was at a comfortable 70 degrees within a few minutes!
