Google Workshop for Educators

Attended the Google Workshop for Educators today at Chapparal High. Learned bunches and bunches of stuff. It will take me quite a few days to assimilate all the info. But it was fun!

Laughing at Lawry's

Tim was in town a couple of weeks ago and we went to Lawry's for dinner, my FAVORITE restaurant! Service and food were both perfect, not to mention the decor.....very Art Deco! We missed Ben, but we did get to say hi.....Tim gave him a wake-up call during dinner.

The Omelet House / 50's Diner

Went to the 50's Diner after church this morning with Steve, Brett and Kelly. This is actually what I had...the healthy choice breakfast! 8-) Always nice to go to a restaurant where everyone knows your name. There is a song there somewhere. Plus they are close to Desert Springs Hospital.....just saying!

Rain, rain go away!

OK, we have had enough rain in Vegas for one week. Some neighborhoods got over 2 inches, which is about half of our yearly rainfall amount. Not a lot of damage though. We have a leak at Lamping in the multi-purpose room, but no big deal. Looking forward to a good weekend. Dinner and a movie with Danna and Denis. That should be fun. I finished all of my Tech plan evals for CCSD today. Hopefully Steve has finished all of his employee evaluations too. They were due today. Brett is getting KFC for dinner so life is pretty good.

Shirley Temple - I Love To Walk In The Rain

Everytime it rains in Vegas, I think of this song. Thank goodness it doesn't rain very much here!

Larry's Happy Dance

This was the video response to last Thursday's bowling upset. Did I say upset? The only one who was upset was Jim. (Is that mean?)

Tales of Glory at the Gold Coast!

Wow, what a night at bowling! Last night was the half-way point for the season. The first and second place teams have a bowl-off to see who will be crowned first place for the first half. We were in first place and TLC was is second place. We had to win one game in order to keep our first-place status. Game one - We lost by 9 pins. Game 2- We lost by 70 pins, one of the bowlers on the other team missed a perfect game by 1 pin, got a 289. Game 3 - Neck and neck all the way to the end. Last frame - I got a split. Jim on the other team, didn't get a mark either. Ingrid on my team, who has a 90 average, got 3 strikes and we won by 7 pins. I did a big old happy dance that Danna caught on video. I will try to post it later. I have never been on a first-place team, so I am VERY excited.

CES

Went to CES today in Las Vegas for a few hours today. Lots of stuff to see. Most impressed with the 3D TV's and Samsung's booth. Both very dramatic! Not sure if I can get into wearing 3D glasses over my own. Steve thought it would be a good idea for someone to invent 3D perscrition glasses. Could be the coming thing!

The Pez Song

I am in a PEZ mood. Found this video. Way cool.

Went to the dentist today.....painful tooth. It was one that had a crown, so he just ground down the crown to fix my bite. So far so good. I hope this eliminates the pain!

Got 4 more tickets for Bette Midler. We are taking Danna and Denis. Tuesday night. Should be fun. This is her last month in Vegas. We had seen the show before, but thought we would see it again.

Life is Good

Since Brett and Kelly have moved in, life has been pretty good. Brett has been doing a lot of the cooking and a lot of the cleaning. I am a happy pappy!

Maggiano's Manga!

Had a nice topper to the holidays last night. Had dinner at Maggiano's Italian Restraunt on the strip with Tim, Rachel and their two kids. Food was really good but service was poor. It was almost like the waiter was pissed with us. We did get some great leaftovers! Yum.

Happy New Year!

Well, Happy New Year everybody. I have attached 2 pix from lunch on New Year's Eve. We ate at BJ's on Eastern and had a lot of laughs. Judy. Judy. Rick. and I. The evening was spent sitting around the fire pit in the back yard with Steve and Brett and our old friend Jim (Beam). Watched the fire works from the street and then hit the sack.

New Year's Eve Eve

Well, the year is really winding down now! Lunch with Judy, Judy, Rick, Kay, Gina and maybe Marge tomorrow at BJ's on Eastern. Should be fun!

Tuesday in Paradise

Enjoying the quiet week. Brett got a truck yesterday and I made a pot roast for dinner. Going to get a tri-tip for tonight and a corned beef for New Years, paired with black-eyed peas and cabbage...gotta be lucky for the new year. We were talking about camping at Big Bend of the Colorado this weekend, but I don't think it is going to work out. Click title to get totheir website. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

Aussie Burgers

Brett made Aussie burgers for us last night after our marathon commute from Sylmar. They are regular cheese burgers with pineapple slices and pickled beets. They also can include bacon and a fried egg. Some say that I have a big mouth, but not that big!

While I was is LA, I drove by our old house in Northridge, Ca. The birth place of Laurence Strannix. I couldn't find the plaque! Maybe it takes time to declare a site a national monument.

Christmas at Stephen's new house!

Spent Christmas week in Sylmar with Stephen at his new house. Picked up Brett and his son Kelly at LAX on Monday afternoon, sent them on their way Tuesday morning after a late night of talking and laughing (and drinking!) Spent the rest of the time shopping and tooling around in a little rental. Steve came in Thursday afternoon, then I was off to church with Debbie, a coworker and friend of Stephen's. Christmas Day hit with Steve doing all the cooking, ham with all the trimmings! Debbie came for dinner along with Jim and Matt. Saturday, Steve, Mike and I went to see "Avatar" in Pasadena. I was very proud of myself....I didn't have to pee and kept awake for all of the movie...almost three hours. Had drinks and appetizers with Mike then it was off to Al Read's for surf and turf. Lots of good food and laughs! Drove home Sunday. Mike told us to leave early, I guess noon wasn't early enough. Took us almost 8 hours!!! We will listen to you next time, Mike!

Jim's 20th AA Birthday Party

Forgot to post about Jim's 20th AA birthday party in Laguna Beach on

November 15th. Matt, Jim's partner, organized the entire party which included food, entertainment, and many speakers letting Jim know just how proud they are of him. I am very proud of him too!

Thanksgiving in Ohio

Just got back from Ohio after a great Thanksgiving weekend. Steve and I spent the weekend at his mother's house in Owensville OH. Betty, Steve's mom, had lots to eat, some treats from an Amish bakery, along with all of the normal Thanksgiving foods. Steve's brother Bill made a visit from Atlanta along with his wife, Sherry, and son, Brandon. Michael, a friend of Betty's, also visited from Kentucky. This is a snapshot of Steve, MaryLou (Steve's sister), and Bill at the kitchen counter. Next stop Christmas at Stephen's house in Sylmar, CA.

Spent Halloween in Sylmar, California at my brother Stephen's new house. Went to Disneyland on Friday with Jim, Matt, and Don. Hallowen party at Stephen's on Saturday. Guests included Danna, Denis, his 2 girls, Mike S., Jim, Matt, Don, and others. Took a midnight walk to the graveyard that was right nextdoor. Saw my ghoul friend, notice picture, among the tombstones. Actually that is Steve at the party. We did hear bells tolling at the graveyard! 8-)

Brett's Back!

Just found out the Brett and his family are returning to Las Vegas. I am happy to see them back, but upset that things did not turn out the way they had planned. Brett and Kelly will be staying with us beginning November.

The Screaming Skull (Part 1)

Another Halloween treat!

House On Haunted Hill 2/14 (1959)

Let Halloween begin!