Observations

[Ms Bear]

Two things about life.  It is always nice to know that you are needed and that you will be missed.

[larryJ]

We recently took some old movies from the sixties and seventies down to a woman who put them on disc for us.  Today, we are going down to pick them up and bring her some more that we found in the garage. 

We were up very late last night after I had "McGyver'd" a projector and got it to work.  Many great memories and just sitting around racking our brains to determine the date if it wasn't obvious.  We eliminated many reels considered not worth it.

Our two oldest granddaughters spent the night and will go with us today.  After picking up the discs, we will go on to the beach to visit with our son and wife and other granddaughter. 

Observation:  We are preserving these movies in hopes our children and grandchildren will someday enjoy them.  However, in our viewing films last night, some of the ones we tossed were taken by my father-in-law in the sixties.  He must have thought at the time that he was preserving memories for his children and grandchildren to enjoy some day.  It was sorta sad to make the decision not to transfer these, but most were void of people or movies of his second wife which doesn't sit well around here.  I wonder if someday a grandchild or great-grandchild will look at these discs and say, "Boring........throw it out."

Oh well, all you can do is record and preserve what is happening and who it is happening to and let the future take care of itself.

Larryj

[larryJ]

Watching the NBA All-Star game.................

Add to the list of singers who can't sing the National Anthem like it is supposed to be sung..........

Mary J. Blige.

Larryj

[larryJ]

I have lived in Southern California for 46 years.  I have enjoyed the balmy weather in the colder months........I have seen years of no rain, little rain and too much rain.............I have been through at least 6 or 7 large earthquakes............I have seen temperatures range from below freezing to 110+ degrees.............I have experienced winds blowing at almost hurricane speed.............I have seen mudslides on TV in the Los Angeles and Orange counties area..................I have seen major brush fires, both up close and personal and on TV.............I have enjoyed many trips to the mountains to hike and many trips to the beach to enjoy the ocean............I've been to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, the old Marineland in San Pedro, the Santa Monica pier with all the rides, the now defunct Long Beach Naval Base going on board an aircraft carrier, the old now long gone Pike in Long Beach............... I have experienced it all.

Today, I experienced.................





HAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I remember it hailing once before some 20 plus years ago, but not like today.  I think we got about a half of an inch of hail in a hurry along with the lightning and thunder (another rarity.)

Larryj

[larryJ]

Followup on this phenomenon............

Both R.A.M.B.O and Sir Charles headed for the bunker.  Sir Charles was poking his head out and barking at the thunder, but being pelted with hailstones, had to take cover.  Sir Charles has never seen this before, in fact, neither has R.A.M.B.O.  My wife was taking a nap and sleeps with earplugs.  I went to holler at her, but she didn't wake up, so I just took some pictures for her to see later.  When she did wake up, she was amazed.  I sent the photos to both my kids which prompted a phone call from one and several text messages from the other and then he called. 

If you wish to "friend" me on FB, I am listed under Lawrence Jordan in Covina, CA.  There are three pictures of the hail on there.

Larryj

[larryJ]

I have noticed over the years and on this forum, that sometimes when one person posts something about somebody, they say, "I believe he lived over by the (insert name) place, just down the road from (insert name)'s farm.  I used to think this was just one of those things that people from Elk County, as well as other small towns, say....which makes sense to those who have lived there for a long time and that is how they reference where someone lives or some event is going to take place. 

I found it quaint.

Then, while sitting here, I began to realize I do the same thing!  Examples:  "Shirley's" house is up for sale. (Shirley moved 30 years ago and there have been two owners since she left.)  Or, it looks like someone has bought "Josephine and Sal's house" and are moving in.  (Sal died about six years ago and Josephine moved on about two years ago, so this is not so bad.)  Or, the people in "Louie and Sharon's house" are painting the outside.  (Louie and Sharon moved about 15 years ago.)  And really sad.......the young lady who lives in "Roger and Debbie's house" is pretty cute.  (Roger and Debbie moved to the desert 27 years ago and got divorced. There have been four different owners of that house since, but it is still "Roger and Debbie's house") 

So I am just as guilty as any of the rest of you............I guess that makes me.............quaint.

Larryj

[Diane Amberg]

Yup, we all do it. Among my friends I'm likely to tell them to "turn where the old red barn used to be."  When we moved in 1948 to the house  out in the country where I grew up, it used to be "the old doc Thompson place."  It was sold, after Mom died, and people still call it "the old Amberg place, even now when the owners, now of 10 years, the Hertlers, tell people where they live.  I wonder how long it will be before it becomes "The old Hertler place."

[Ms Bear]

I have lived in my home for over 30 years and it is still the Myrtle Carnes place.

I am involved with our local museum and when people come in they talk about where the Western Auto was, referring to the first one, there have been three.  On the 1930 census there were only two named streets with a street sign, for the ones who left here in the early 30's we have to explain by how far from the school and in which direction.

That is what makes learning the history of a town interesting.

[larryJ]

As previously mentioned, I have been to all the major attractions in this area, some many times.  And, as I posted sometime last year, my son had taken us to the Great Park, site of the old El Toro Marine Air Base, which I did not know was there.  It is still in development and will be an even more fascinating place to visit.  That said........

Yesterday, granddaughter #3 turned 18 months old.  I don't know too many people that would make a big deal out of that occasion.

Enter my beautiful, wonderful Chinese daughter-in-law.............

She invited us, meaning my wife and our other two granddaughters, down to a place in Orange, CA., where there is a park known as the Irvine Train Park.  Another one I didn't know existed.  This is part of the old and famous Irvine ranch from the 1800's and is owned by two gentlemen who are developing the park mostly as a hobby, I think.  It is a large place with many trees, including six Australian Eucalyptus trees, very rare in this country.  There are picnic areas where we had a light lunch and then the kids went on an Easter Egg hunt.  There was a jumper and my DIL and the kids went inside and bounced around.  It was supposed to be for ten minutes, but there were few people there on a week-day and the young lady just let them jump a long time.  She came over to me and told me the history of the park and all the activities that go on.  Like many places around here, this place is "seasonal" such as the Easter egg hunt, pumpkin patch shows at Halloween, Santa Claus at Christmas, and so on.  They also have school groups go through on tours and show them the many different flora and fauna and a history lesson of the Irvine Ranch.

There was also a small train, similar to ones at other parks, which took you on a tour through the park, going back around a lake which is two-tiered, the upper part going over a ten-foot waterfall into the lower one.  You can rent paddle boats.  By the lake there is a monument which has a cannon retrieved from the USS Maine which was sunk in Havana Harbor. 

Observation:  If I were exceedingly wealthy, I would like to build something similar where people can just come and relax and learn about the varieties of birds and plants as well as the history of the area.  I think that would be a great thing to do. 

The other grandmother, DIL's mother, and one of her cousins came also.  I don't get to see her too much as she travels back and forth to China a lot, but she is a very nice lady and she is always happy to see us. 

The kids had a lot of fun, even the baby, although she probably didn't realize the significance of the celebration.  The park closed at 5 PM and we had to return home as it was a "school night."  Our daughter and her husband enjoyed a nice dinner out sans kids and were highly appreciative of that.

Final observation:  Our oldest granddaughter, a first-grader, received an award for Superior Achievement in Reading yesterday.  Her mom told her how proud she was and that the young lady could pick anywhere she wanted to go for dinner.  As we had planned this outing in advance, the dinner she gets to choose was postponed until tonight. 

All is good.

Larryj

[Mom70x7]

So where has she picked to eat dinner? Inquiring minds want to know.