Monday October 26: Weekend Play Time

We're quickly remembering the downside of Southern California: everyone in the world lives here and all are driving on the 5! This is actually a good traffic day ....

So Becky joined us again this weekend. It seems weird with her living so close (relatively) - 2 1/2 hours north in LA.

The Amtrak train saves the long drive in traffic (north and south on the 5) and gives her time to finish up some work on the way. Power and wifi (well, most of the time) so it works well.

First stop on Saturday was a trip to 99 Ranch Market - one of the biggest Asian markets around. It's a chain - maybe there's one in your area!

Of course it's prime shopping time for everyone who lives in the area but we were after just one thing: seafood.

Lobsters and clams ....

Steve asked the guy behind the counter to pick out a couple of smaller ones. This is what we got:

Two lobsters - both just a bit shy of 4 lbs each!

Talk about crazy big - thought we'd have to cook one at a time!



But Steve did a perfect job - as usual. Dinner was perfect - as is the sign in the kitchen of our place.

The dinner was well earned as both Steve and Becky spent an hour boogy boarding in the surf. No worries - I made sure they were safe :-)  (That water is "warm" so they say - I'm not having any part of it! The currents in the Pacific flow clockwise - that means the water flowing down the coast of California is coming from Alaska. Enough said.)

El Nino is actually producing warmer than usual waters - which is why the great white sharks have been seen more often this fall ..... another reason why I'll be found on shore!

Wednesday October 21: Getting Settled!

We've spent the past week getting settled. That means searching craigslist for a couple of bikes since this is a perfect place to ride. Limited cars and designated bike paths/lanes.

Fortunately the back seat of our car (from Dirt Cheap Rentals :-) ) folds all the way down. That and Steve's belt to hold the trunk down made it easy to bring one bike at a time back to our place.

Stitches from the Mohs surgery are out (Steve finally consented to take the ones on the top of my head out :-)  ) and healing is under way.

So I go to physical therapy on MWF (to regain muscle loss from rhabdomyolsis from 4 years ago) which means Steve has TTH to go fishing!!

And yesterday was a GREAT day!! He caught a 30 lb yellowtail and a 2 lb red snapper - I see a fish on the grill this weekend :-)

It's a long day to fish though. Up at 3:30, drive to San Diego (about 45 minutes) to be there for the 5:30 departure of the Malihini.

Then off to Mexican waters (larger, more fish??) to fish for the day - moving around to find the fish. And it seems to avoid the sea lions who are experts on removing bait!

Then back to the dock and the off to Oceanside. Home by 7 if the traffic is good. Talk about fresh fish for dinner ....

So the sunsets rival those at Banana Bay. The Green Flash is alive and well here as Steve had a great view of it last night and from the beach here it is also visible.

Becky came Friday night and spent the weekend. Amtrak is a great thing!

She won the hand and foot card game but there is always this coming weekend :-)

Friday October 16: A Change of View - California

It was an enjoyable two weeks in Ohio. The weather was almost perfect for October - leaves changing every day.

By the time we were getting ready to leave, the days were becoming cooler - going to snow there one of these days!

Time to move on after seeing family and friends - and even being able to take in a bit of the Loudonville Street Fair which we've missed seeing for quite a few years.

The view here is very different - we're not quite on the beach here in Oceanside CA but pretty darn close.

Becky is due down this evening from LA. The Amtrak station is only about 4 blocks from where we are staying.

Looking forward to an enjoyable time as the weather here is once again to our liking - in the 70's and low 80's day and 60's at night.

What's not to like about southern California?!

Funnest picture in a while? This picture taken at my nephew Peter's reception at the Union Club in Cleveland. Left to right: Niece Amanda, my brothers Dick and Warren, nephew Josh, Steve and my brother Tom. It was a great wedding and reception!