Tuesday, September 13, 2011

High School Friends Reuniting

John, Teresa, and Joe

While I was down in LA some high school friends and I got together and went out to dinner in Long Beach.  Later we went to John's house to shoot the breeze.  We stayed up until 1:30 in the morning talking.  I spent the night on John's couch.

There are five of us who still keep in touch after all these years.  John, Joe, Oscar, Marcy, and me.  Marcy couldn't join us this time.  He was in the hospital getting a new heart valve.  We went to see him and his wife Martha in the hospital after the operation.  It was great to hear him laugh again.  It was good to see him.  He is recovering well but slowly.

John, Teresa, Oscar, David, and Joe

It was a great time.  We keep in touch and we try to get together every few years.
Here is a blast from the past.


 
 John, Oscar, and Joe in there prime.

Pictures are from our high school year book.

Courtesy of Joe Yasuhara.

     


Marcy and David

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Redondo Beach Vintage Cars


Every Friday during the summer the locals from far and near gather in this parking lot and have a grand old time.  There is a 50's / 60's style diner nearby and the rocking music of the times playing.  The car owners are showing off their cars and commiserating with the other car owners and all the gawkers that come by to check out their rides.  Here is just a few of them.






I remember those radiator water bags.  They sure saved my butt a few times.


There was that familiar exhaust smell from these cars that I had forgotten about.  That smell is long gone.
That's a good thing.


These "young boys" saw me taking pictures and decided to liven it up.



It was a good time.  It was the best of times.  I've heard that before.  It sounds good and it feels good.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Drive down to visit Fred in LA


I rented a car for the day to drive down to LA.  I considered Amtrak, but I didn't want to spend 12 to 15 hours riding the train and a Greyhound bus.  I wanted to rent an exciting car but nothing was available in Hollister but a small compact car from China, Japan, or Korea I'm not sure what it was.  It was good enough and it gave me the independence of stopping whenever and wherever I wanted.



The drive down on Hwy 101 was great.  It brought back many good memories.


I even caught a glimpse of an Amtrak train going north.


I got to Fred's house just as he got home from work.  It was a nice house.  It was the first time I had seen it.  It was Fred's first house.  A big event in Fred's life.  He has been spending a lot of time fixing it up and enjoying the time doing it.  It was good to see Fred and spend time with him in his "New House".

Fred couldn't take time off for work because he had an urgent deadline to meet.  So I borrowed Annika's bike and rode to Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach over the next couple of days.


The Pelicans were very comfortable with all the people on the pier.

They were like prehistoric flying reptiles.

They are vicious and nearly ate this little girls friend.

The weather was great and many people were out enjoying themselves.



Fred and I went out to dinner by the beach and took some long walks enjoying our time after he was off work.



It was great just hanging out with Fred.  While I was there I happened upon a gathering of vintage cars at Redondo Beach.  Fred says they gather every Friday during the summer.  More on that later.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Rock


What makes this rock so special?  I am not sure.  Neta and I often take Ralle for a walk on a hill behind our house called Svedberga.  Every time I walk past this rock I am intrigued by it.  I am not sure why?  But this time I was compelled to take a picture of it and make its presence known to my world in cyberspace.

I now realize that I should have had something by it to give it some perspective.  The rock is about 4'x2'x2'.

What is it about this rock?  Should I name it?  Does it hold some kind of significance that I will some day realize?  Time will tell.  The imagination could go wild here.  What stories could be told.  What happened here?  Or what will happen?  I hope I have awakened whatever it is to give me more clues.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Reflextions and the Ever Changing Wind


This is a BIG weekend in our circle of family and friends.
Labor Day in America is one thing, many people get an extra day to play, BBQ, go to the State Fair or perhaps all of those things.  Kanako and "Mariposa Mud" as well as Pam with her jewelry will be at the Mariposa Fair showing their wears.  Cannot but remember when our grandchildren would come for the event.  Ride the rides, eat Cotton Candy, Corn Dogs and Indian Tacos until we all were stuffed and sometimes sick from the combination.

This week end Ryan turns twenty! A new era waiting.

Kellie has made the transition from Almaden to Seattle.  New job starting next week.  She will be closer to her boy friend who is attending law school nearby.

Linnea is in Rhode Island ready and eager to get started at Jonsson and Wales University where she will study culinary science.


Maria and Ray will be "empty nesters".

Gary is back home attending DeAnza University instead of New Mexico Tech where life became close to unbearable being stuck in the "boonies".  The combination of  an extremely demanding curriculum and NEVER any fun just had to give way to more balance.  He is also working as a "grunt" at a local veterinary office cleaning cages.  Maria did that too a long time ago.

So the family dynamic at Leslie and Carl changed too with one child gone and another child back.


At John's and Maria Victoria's too,  where Kellie will reside for a while,  C J will have another girl in the house.  Kevin did decide (together with some other family members) to stay in Seattle to go to a local college rather than go back to the University in Northern Arizona.  So there is a full house.

Amy and Robert are moving to Paris.  Yes, Paris France, on Tuesday!  Adventures await.  We wish them well.  It will be great for them of that I am sure.

One of our dear neighbors is having surgery tomorrow so we send good thoughts for a speedy recovery.  It will be a reason to cook some chicken soup and deliver that to their doorstep.

There is nothing like long walks with "Ralle Raringen" to clear the mind, straighten the head, and the thoughts.  It is a great time for reflection and enjoying nature.

How lucky we are to be here.  We can walk ANYWHERE for one thing.  Try THAT in California!  No "No Trespassing" or "Protected by Smith & Wesson" signs here.


The farmers around here have pretty well finished the grain harvest now.  They are continuing with the cabbage.  The potato harvest was supposed to have been extremely good this year until all the rain started.  Now there are many fields that have been too wet to get into and the potatoes are rotting.  Prices will sky rocket, yea you know how it goes.


What I reflect on more however,  is the fact that yet another growing season is coming to an end.  Fields are being plowed and will be allowed to "rest",  getting ready for another round!  Boy, where does the time go?  We are heading into autumn.  Yikes!  Again!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

Oh what a beautiful day.

I have a wonderful feeling,

every thing's going our way!

Jonstorp Walk
Jonstorp by the Sea
Höganäs Hamn
Höganäs Hamn
Viken Strand
Svedberga Butterfly moment
Svedberga Skog
Field by Svedberga
View of Mölle from the top of  Kullaberg
View from near the Lighthouse on Kullaberg
The Lighthouse on Kullagerg
Taking a pleasant moment
Facing the Wind
View from the Mill
Rainbow over Sverdberga
Just a few great moments from this past week.  Ralle sure knows where to take us.