an A ... B ... C... Day

An Aquarium day.  A Birthday.  A Car care Day....  kind o' Day.

So, leaving the car at the Car Spa we head off to Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  A first for us, after all these years.  Truly an amazing place.  This place was being built by David Packard,  while I still worked at Hewlett - Packard.  His daughter Julie studied oceanography and needed a place to work.  Don't we just love it!

The technology mind boggling.  Filtering systems.  Wave machines.  Water conditioners.  All this run by Hewlett - Packard computers.

We could not help reminiscing about the aquariums in our old store.... the effort and energy and care it took to  keep the fish happy and the tanks clean!  Imagine that  X a trillion!

Several divers can fit in these tanks feeding an array of fish.  Delighting the onlookers.  It boggles my mind.

A totally different world.

Beautiful strange creatures.

Mingled with the more "common" variety.

This fabulous Tuesday that happened to be my Birthday.

The kids just loved the BIG WAVE cove!

I did too.

Jellyfish close up and personal

in many various forms.

dancing

Wafting

Below an "Egg Yolk Jellyfish so aptly named.

Tentacles dancing.

Sardines

Anchovies

Glittering like jewels.

To everyones delight.

Then we go walking down Cannery Row

on this beautiful October day,

heading for a Mexican lunch at El Toritos.  Margaritas, Chicken Tacos and a Chile Relleno.  Pure heaven!

After lunch a stroll down to the old boat dock,

fishermen cleaning the days catch, feeding pelicans and gulls.

Seals basking in the sun already stuffed!

Heading down the walkway all the way to Seaside where we had left the Car as it was time for a tune up!

A fantastic day with a walk long enough to wear off at least some of those cheese calories?

Then  home finding this on our doorstep.  A reminder of friendship, memories and a long life.

a BIG Birthday Bash

an invitation

a party to honor one of the kindest

most generous men we know,
our Cousin Ken

turning a big six o
there were decorations
a perfect October day

in a beautiful back yard
they came from east and west
from far and near
and from next door

all were treated to a fantastic lunch
to good things to drink
to speeches

there was a tear or two

many bright and happy faces

we were entertained by Ken and Friends
we danced

a guest drummer had a chance to show off his "stuff"
the sun was bright

the day was great

and Rock and Roll will never die!

Between September And October

An entirely new life.
Different.
 Empty.
 Quiet.
 Lonely.
Mister Kitty waits..........
Yet, on it goes.
A good thing!

The last couple of weeks have been filled with medical check ups.  Lord knows that living in THIS country, for many, those are difficult to come by.  We are grateful for the privilege.  Looks like we will be around for a while, if those tests and exams are something one can rely on.  For Ralle, who looked so good after all his recent tests, that was not the case.

One might be here today,
Gone tomorrow.
Taking a chance, living full out, grateful to have had today and hopefully tomorrow.
Looking forward.
Anything IS possible!

Including a shutdown of the US government!
Today, October first, was my dear "Moster"Auntie Helmi's  99th birthday!  She has been a rock, a touchstone my entire life.
Her name HELMI is of Finish origin; I was told today.  It means pearl.  Perfect!  She truly is just that!  A pearl.

October is a month full of important dates.  Autumn is upon us, filling our sights with endless colour.
My favorite time of the year!