Reconnecting with Dear Friends

I hope everyone had a great Christmas or Holiday season as this family had. It was truly delightful. Our Niece Karen Tucker came for a short but wonderful visit. Then promptly went back to her home in Colorado and broke her arm in a tumble down the stairs. Hope you are doing well Karen and all our Love, sorry you missed Christmas back east, with your family and hope Jeramy was there with you.

Had a wonderful letter from Jim Rodoni, a great friend we had lost contact with over the years. Joyce and My kids were born about the time as his children. They lived directly across from our first Duplex in the other duplex owned by the same couple. It was our first home and I believe it was theirs also. Cute little places with attached garages separating the units. We did so very many things together. It was the age of Aquarius, and there was very little that we did not experience together, and it's truly a wonder that we were not jailed doing the things we did. It was wonderful hearing Jim's words from the pages he wrote. He and his wife now live in Custer, South Dakota. I, as a Venturian, can not imagine living in that harsh environment. I know I spent 3 years in Germany where it snowed, but I was young and dumb.Now below 60 is intolerable, as is anything above 80. I know we will stay in touch considerably better than we have. A Big shout out to you Jim and Michele

Another wonderful reconnection happened with a friend from way back. Grammer School back. Dyer-Kelly Elementary School and Mrs. Pipers Kindergarten Class. Darryl Robert Schoon. He lived down (up) the street from me. He lived on the cornor of Bell St. and Ralston Rd. While I lived on Ralston, about 6 or 7 houses away. His was a stately Cement block home on a cornor lot that kept his Dad (Ham) very busy. a lot of yard to mow in those days. Darry's Mom, May, was a very neat housekeeper and a stay at home Mom, I believe they all were then. For some unknown reason Darryl and I were best friends right off, all through grammer school, although he had to practice the Piano about a million hours a day We still seemed to be able to get together to play. Learned Ping-Pong from his Dad and Bette Yeast. We went through Scouts together both Cub and Boy What a childhood.
In High School we were friends but Darryl had a decided advantage. He was smart, while I was lazy. We drifted to different groups, We were still friends just didn't see each other as often. Darryl has an incredible life story, as do we all, but his is a little different than you might imagine. You can read one of his books "Light in a Dark Place" to gather some insight into this friend of mine. His poetry is music to the soul, and warmth to a cold spirit. I will get to see Darrly and his Bride Martha this coming January.

Peace on Earth in 2009

Thanksgiving What a Wonderful Day

Another year has past. Hard to believe how quickly they fly by, and great it is to live during these trying times for our Country. This day brings it all together with the very best of this Nation. You can see it in all the Volunteerism throughout the land, and the coming together of families for merely food and conversation, maybe a board game or work on a jig-saw puzzle. Some people we only see a few times a year others we see regularly, but it is all good and gives me warm feeling in my heart and soul. Why we can't have these feelings every day is beyond me, we don't have to work hard to feel this well about our fellow man.
This year once again, I prepared the onions, celery (home grown), and bread for the stuffing in the bird and out of the bird. I have had this task for years and I really enjoy doing it. I never remember the amounts for each ingredient, 10 cups of cubed bread, 6 cups each of diced celery and onions. Oh well it always seems to come out all right.
This year I did have a bit of saddening realization for myself. After the last piece of pumpkin pie was eaten and all the family and friends had headed home I realized that I may never be able to enjoy those tastes of my favorite meals again. The turkey dinner is right up there at the top of those favorites, along with Joyce's fried chicken, liver and onions, chili and potato salad, fruit pies of any kind,an ice cold Guiness and many more. This should not have been a big shock to me, but it was. I have been going to speech and swallowing therapy for almost a year, with some advancement in my speech but really none in the swallowing department. I thought that is alright I enjoy the aromas and the colors of the various dishes, as well as the incredible conversation that goes around the table. I decided tonight not to be depressed over this missing enjoyment and focus more on what I do have. A warm loving family and friends who care deeply about me, as I do about them. In this light my inability to eat seems rather insignificant. So I'm very Thankful.

Santa Barbara Tea Fire

It is finally 100% contained, Monticeto fire, that is. What an incredible week of loss once again in California. A fire started by rambucious kids at an old place in the Monticito area of Santa Barbara. We have family up there and were very concerned about their well being as well as their properties. Fortunately they are fine as is their property. It did come very close, far too close for comfort. This is a view the fire from George and Susan's Home, as are all the others here. Taken by Susan, shortly before they had to evacuate. They went down to some friends house in Santa Barbara, where they had a view of their home. While sitting , watching the advancing fire near their home the saw an aircraft make a direct drop on the edge of their property stopping the fire in it's tracks.
Hard to imagine the pain all those people that lost all their vauables, as well as, and more importantly their invaluables. Now we hear their was a water shortage at some of the hydrants further south. How can that be??? We can understand the fierceness of the fire that overwhelmed the fireman in the mobile home park. Orange county seems to have played roulette with the fire prepardness after the previous fires we have suffered thru. How can we allow poloticians do this to us again, and again.

Help with Picasa The Google Photo Tool

Well Folks Halloween has passed and it was wonderful!! I think we had the most children ever. We also decorated the most we have ever done. We almost ran out of candy. We had friends over to play cards while the kids knocked at the door we took turns answering the door.I took pictures of the gremlins and goblins they were pretty cute.
Now to my question if any one knows, Why, when using Picasa( Google's Photo editing program) I can bring up photos to e-mail but , Picasa does not recognize my contacts list from google. Any Ideas will be greatly appreciated.
We did not get to see our Dakota as she was up visiting Grandma ChaCha in Ojai. Fair is fair We did get to have her all day Saturday and some of Sunday morning, a little over 24 hours I think the longest she has ever been apart from her Mom. She was ready to go home when her Mom showed up this am. Dakota was Princess Auroara and a lovely one I must say. Her candy was a treasure and she had no problem sharing with her Gaugee.

Canning The Tell-Tale Signs Of a Depression/ Reccession or Down turn in the Economy.

It must be true, the sky is falling , all things are coming to a quick and dire end. It's obvious just look to the kitchen. The woman folk have taken to the ramparts and are preparing foods for the oncoming tide of misfortunes headed all of our ways. It seems to be happening here almost every weekend the fruits of this summers fields fill our kitchen with smells and aromas of pending doom.
The ripe pungent aroma of Italian Tomato Sauce, The tangy zest of red grape jelly. The tart sugary scent of appricot preseves. and let us not forget the heated tang of Jalapeno Jelly. This just names a few of the canned delights that came out of my kitchen in the past few months. I guess I should not say my kitchen as it primarily is Joyce's , Kristen,Tisha, Debby, Judiths kitchen than it is mine. I'm allowed in there at times and do relish those moments. I know it is tough for Joyce to cook for one, and she loves to cook and is a great cook.
As a matter of fact I've always been surrounded by incredible cooks. My Mom was awesome with pure home foods; fried chicken, mashed potatoe's, gravies of all sorts. Vegtables cooked were great and abundant and mostly from our backyard, as were the chickens and ducks and turkey's, I raised rabbit's, slaughtered them, packed them up and took them to our local Mom and Pop Grocery Store. Mom would also cook the rabbit;s, like fried chicken, and it was very good. Then I marrried my wife who's family is filled with good cooks.
Anyway back to the point of this missel the old tyme art of canning is still alive and well on 4723 Mascagni St. Pickles, Tomatoes, Jellies, Jam's we have frozen corn and string beans so we must be having a down turn in the economy the only thing we have not done is put wax on top of jelly and jam. I still love to cook , even when I can't eat and it is amazing how the smell of a paricular food can trigger a barrage of memorires. or the hint of a spice can make you recall a place or a person.
So the down side of not being able to eat or drink is not so down really it ia just another way of enjoying those senses in a different manner.

Another Day at UCLA Westwood

Another trip to UCLA Westwood for Surgery, I was very apprehensive about this time. Mainly after my last surgery at Community Memorial in Ventura. My wife was very concerned about me being intabated as I can not swallow and her concern was that I may vomit and aspirate on that. During that surgery they gave me a High Epidermal so no problem. That was not an option in this surgery. They had to knock me out.

Well I came through in flying colors and no nausea. however there is a great deal of pain. It started hurting on the drive home, and has gotten worse. Joyce gave a good dose of vicadin and that has taken the edge off along with an aspirin. Bone pain very deep and constant. I will be ok in a few days so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I had my moral crew Joyce,Kristen, and Dakota with me Kris drove both ways Mom entertained Dakota, and Dakota entertained all the staff. Dr. Blackwell came in with an almost completely shaved head, I let him know it was not my favorite. It turns out it his ritual when he travels to Fiji to surf the big waves once a year. 20' waves so he said and he had a great time. Joyce was a rock as usual. Derek and Tisha will be over tomorrow. Derek would have come down also but I told him not to use a day off I would be fine. Great Hospital, Great Staff, #3 in the Nation and they are working hard to be #1 so they say. My fears are all behind me as they didn't say they saw anything new or to be concerned about. Knock on wood.

This pat weekend the Canning fools went at it again. They,being Joyce, Kristen,and Judith. The three of them knocked tomato's of various styles, a jalapeno jelly and grape jam. The home smelled terrific all day.

We have a new Driveway and Guess What Else ???

We finally made up our minds last month to go ahead and redo our driveway, porch, and North side walkway. We had been quoted way back in 2000, for this very project, and at the time the cost was way beyond what we were willing to afford. At this time it seems they are a considerably more eager to make a sale. We had received a discout mailer that we sent in. In short order we had a call and an in home appoitment. The salesman did his stick, and we said no at the price. He asked what it would take to sign up at this appointment,( there was the proverbial contest to win a trip to Cancun). Well I wrote a number on a piece of paper, which I was sure he would not accept. He said he had to make a call. When he came back and much to our surprise he said YES. It was less than a third of what we were quoted in 2000. Now we have a very pretty front. Joyce is dissatisfied with the curve on the north side, and the company is going to take care of her concerns.System Pavers did a great job, we had a few glitches, but they were handeled quickley and professionaly. So alls well that ends well. I would certainly recomend this company. They started at 3:30 pm on Thursday and they were done at 4:30 on Friday. The left overs were hauled off saturday morning. I even got to keep the left over pavers and have a nifty project out of the front planter bed and south side entrance.

Absolutely Nothing new is happening in my or My wife's life I was just kidding about that so there you are. What I did do is create a border around the front flower bed and a little entrance to the south side gate, with left over paver's from the driveway. It has been a great fun project over the past few days actually almost a week

Dakota's 6th Sleep Over and Great News !!!!!!!!!!!!

Well well Here we are again watching " Curly Top " not a bad movie. Our little Angel is sitting with Gaugee watching, after dinner and a bath. She is a pretty tired little girl. I knew she would love the pile of sand and dirt in the street which she did indeed. She raced up and down the pile. The pile was left after the paving job, it will be gone tomorrow but Dakota sure loved it today. My Word what a great afternoon and evening. We are all pretty yawnie tonight. I know that's not a word, but it describes us perfectly this evening, it has been a very fast week or so it seems to me.

We did have one near emergency right before dinner in her zeal to play Dakota rushed out of the kitchen into the garage, and pulled the door shut on her fingers, owwwweeeeee that hurt big time. Both Gaugee and I leapt to our feet and rushed to see what was the matter, with Dakota in Gaugee's arms she let Papa take a look at those hurt fingers, Whew all seemed ok and the crying had become sniffle's, and in another moment she wanted to see what something was on the key hooks. All was well, and dinner was served. After dinner there was a bath and then the movie and then she fell fast asleep right after the Movie, well almost. A couple trips to the kitchen and it was over for the night.

Gary Player ( The Golfer) Infamous Quote

While being interviewed on air, after winning a Senior Tournament he was asked what he thought of his putting performance over the Tournament. "Well if I had to choose between my Wife and my putter, well I would miss her. " I don't know why that struck me so funny today, but it did while working out back I would find myself chuckling out loud over it. It really isn't very nice, but there are a whole genre of male chauvinist jokes out there, much to the disgrace of my liberated soul I still find them funny.
The driveway/ Porch/ sidewalk is almost done another 2 hours or so the super. says. After a somewhat shaky start the project is zipping right along, and I really like the look, Now it must pass Joyce s eagle eyes. I think it will. I should have new pictures in a few hours of the finished product, as well as some of the during construction phase. Well as usual I'm wrong the curve on the right side is not as big an S as she had wanted. Oh well--------------- It's done and I do like it .

Speaking of things I like, today was one of those days that I have every few months. That is I think of food and my missing one of life's great pleasures. I think about the favorite meals I've had in my life. I used to love going out to dinner as well as Breakfast and Lunch, for that matter. Some of my favorite restaurants are "The Bruckenkeller" in Frankfurt Germany; start at 6:30 pm and finish around 11:00 pm What a meal a nice wait between courses time to talk and reflect on the past wine etc. The Western Rib House in Rancho Cordova incredible BBQ: Tony's in Ventura with the old staff , great everything and then apple pie ala mode with a warmed snifter of Grand Mairne, and Linda Fey on the keyboards; There were several restaurants in Sacramento; La Salles, Wolf's The Firehouse, The Herford House, to name a few. Here in Venura, the old Charthouse, The Sportsman, now The Aloaha. Santa Barbara Buchon's and the Mexican restaurant in the open air mall. Breakfast at the Deer Lodge, The Biltmore for Easter Brunch in Santa Barbara. Lunch at once was Tommy;s in Camarillo and then moved and became Jimmy's in Camarillo, as well as Chili Peppers, and The Crab House. Thats just a few of the many , but my point here is really what I miss, and that is Home cooking and Baking I love going out , but I really LOVE eating at home Here are a few of my favorites Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimings, Christmas Dinner with a Prime Rib, New Years with a Pork Roast, Black-eyed pas, and collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy. Other Fav's Meat loaf, English eggs, Tuna on toast, Chipped beef on toast, Mom.s fried chicken My potato salad, and Chili, Liver and Onions,Pork chops,Beef stew, Navy bean soup, French Onion soup.

My Heart is Proud

My heart is proud, my soul is full. My Son sees me in a different light than I had thought. He strives and learns, by doing. I love him dearly.
My heart is proud, my soul is full. My daughter and her wonderful Husband have created a new life Dakota Lillie Moore.
How very fortunate I am My Daughter Tisha is expanding and growing. Trying lifes offerings with a real zeal. I'm going to quote a poem from my son to me. It truly touched my soul and moved me deeply. It is written from a time in our family's life that was both adventurous and turbulent. Idealic, and devastating. We as a family were living on our 30' sailboat the IRENICON in the Park Marina at Morro Bay California.

Slide the hatch back
but keep the 3 wood slats in,
stand on the top stepand pop my head out...
The cold pushes through me,
The storms darkness looms overhead,
the wind screams its presence,
the wet drapes itself over everything,
the sea sprayhits like tiny steel splinters.
The ocean roars in chorus with the wind,
The Irenicon chops into each swell,

A thick full beard,
a tan wool cap,
bright orange rain pants,
a heavy gray wool fleece,
the sleeves rolled up, like , always, no matter the weather,
blue and yellow rubber boots,

Both hands on the helm,
one leg up on the bench,
eyes squinted behind blurred glasses,
and a inner calmthat always made me calm,
Man against Nature
This is you from my etes... Dad Father, Friend

Our Country

Our Country is between a rock and a hard place right now but I know we will endure, and come out on top again.
I. as about a billion other people, have a blog. It's aptly titled Dakota's Papa, if anyone is interested in looking at some photos of Kevin Tucker's wedding to Stephanie Peterson, feel free to take a peek and let me know what you think, Someone please forward this to Rhett as I seem to have lost his e-mail address in my latest organization effort, while watching football on TV. I do not recomend, this practice.

How's everyone feel about our Govt. spending Billions of dollars that we had nothing to do with. Why not give the money needed to the people in foreclosure ( approx. 10% of all home buyers, from thet media ) to cover their bad debt. That number will be far less than the amount this govt is going to spend. Of course this has nothing to do with the housing market, so what does it really have to do with???? You tell me in simple english how in 8 years we can go from then to now. Why is every bureaucrat not responsible as well as all CEOs,CFOs, on,and on adnausium. I'm beyond words as to why we are allowing a very well handled Alaskan Govenor with a Downs syndrom 5 month old, and a pregnant 17 yr old daughter to not be called to task. She is in no postion to copilot this nation than I am. How on earth can she exspouse a lifesyle that she obviously does not live. Am I the only one out there that questions these people. I don't want either McCain or Obama, but my vote is lost if I vote for 3rd party as I have for years ( the exceptions There being I did vote for Carter's 2nd term. I Did vote for Bush Sr. 2nd term ) I'm sick or where our govt has gone Senators caight in public bathrooms soliciting, and he can't say oops ya got me.

Thank God I have a very close family or I might just run and jump some where. I can't believe 700 BILLION DOLLARS with out a vote Our Forefathers and FATHERS And MOTHERS are rolling over in their graves

The New Driveway, Porch, and Walkway

Well the start of our bib project will begin on Thursday Oct. 2, 2008. What we have been told is the demo and prep crew will show up about 7 am and will be done with that end by of Thurs. Friday the pavers will be delivered along with the install crew, again around 7 am. No sleeping in around Here. I took a few shots of the house and driveway before Mom and I used hoses to deliniate the new boundries. We are very excited about the change, and have long thought about it, actually we had this company out right after we moved in. At that time the price was in our mind astrinomical and dropped it right away. Well I received an ad for some % off and no finance charge or payments until Sept 2009. We had the salesman out and he made the pitch. We were given the bottom line price, and we said no way, so he called some one and came back with another number, still out of our ballpark. He then used "The We have a contest going on for this week" and added What price would it take to have you sign tonight. My opportunity arrived I wrote a number far below his last counter. Once again he had to make a call outside and to our surprise he said yes as did we. When they were out in 2000 the price for the same job was 22K , this time less than a third of that. It's still a big number, hell anything over $100.00 to me is big money. So we are very anxious and I will move the plants off the porch tomorrow.

Dakota's 5th Full Night Sleep Over with Gaugee and Papa

It's hard for me to put into words how quickly this little girl is growing up. I can recall the first times we were going to have her for the night. All seemed well on those nights up until the bedtime hour and then it was another story, the bathroom, a sip of milk, and on until she would get sad and want her Mommy. We would then call Kris and Randy with the news. One or the other would don the slippers and trek over to pick her up.

On 6/27 of this year we had our first successful overnighter. It was wonderful we watched a movie, Heidi (with Shirley Temple) that was really my 1st time seeing it also. It was really more of an adult story, but Dakota loved it. She got sleepy before the end so we paused the VCR (?) and watch the end in the am. Joyce (Gaugee for those in the know) slept with her downstairs. She was up bright and early, well before me but I did get the end of the movie as they had breakfast. I think blueberry pancakes and eggs with bacon, and milk.

It was the third of July for the second overnighter that one did not go near as well, as a matter of fact it was real hard. Our little Angel went from wanting to go home to exhaustion , and back again several times before she crashed. I play with her, but she tires of me pretty quick. not really Gaugee is more fun.

7/20/2008 saw Dakota with Papa and Gaugee we thought we were well prepaired. We had a couple different movies and planned a walk to the park after dinner. A little exercise aids the sleep me thinks. Unfortunately the Movie. she picked "The Jungle Book" was a prtty scary movie if you want know so by the time we got another movie going we had missed the window of opportunity for sleep to fall peacefully. Dakota had been forwarned that there would be no calling home for rescue ( of course we would if.......) It took a long time but Joyce peservered and Dakota was fine in the am not recalling any of the previous nights antics. Joyce was pooped.

August 29th, the day after our 37th Anniversay, We had Dakota and guess what. It was a pretty great evening and not much of a fight in her when bedtime rolled around. I think the girls had the Habit for dinner with fries and a shake and then watched Riverdanc for the Millionth time( I hope that tape breaks real soon, so I don't have to be the cause of it's failure) After all this time she feels like this is her home, which she should, her room upstairs has never been slept in by her. I'm sure she will eventually, maybe when she is six or so. She knows all that stuff up there is hers and she rules her realm with a stearn but benevolent hand. All her babies are well taken care of, and upon arrival here she has to check on all her stuff. I love it.

Nine twenty-six was the last overnighter and it was perfect finally We had dinner that Kristen had prepared Mac and Cheese plus a steak Gaugge and Dakota wanted with a small salad. It smelled great and then we walked to the mailbox doing our usual things. Next was a movie. The thriller Clock Work Orange HaHa, It was Robin Hood the disney animated edition and wasn't half bad. Dakota was really enjoying it, with a Mickey Mouse Lollypop. she had to brush her teeth and the movie came to a great place to pause We hit the pause and by the time she finished that task she was ready for bed, and that was at a little after nine pm . We all had our breakfast in the morning and Mom and Dad showed up a little before noon to take their jeel up to visit Randy's Grandparents in Ojai .

Brooks Institute of Photography Weekend Workshop

What a wonderful experience I had this past weekend. I enrolled some months back for a workshop presented by The Brooks Institute in Monticeto and put on by Joyce Wilson, a world renowned Portrait Photographer. The weekend kinda of snuck (I know that isn't a word, but I like it anyway) up on me with the wedding the prior weekend and that major road trip.
Saturday I was off at a little after 8am with my laptop and my almost new hot top of the line Sony Cyber Shot Digital camera. Addmittedly I was a bit nervous and got even more so as I entered the Campus. An old Mansion perched in the hills above the sea. The House(?) is enormous and very ornate hard to imagine living there, but I guess I could get used to it. The parking lot had a handfull of vehicles and I could see a sign on one of the lower doors. The sign directed me upstairs to room M5 , there I found a group of about 13 other students, as I was one of the last to arrive I took one of the remaing seats in the rear of the room.
Joyce Wilson introduced herself and then asked for quick bio's from everyone. Two of the men were here from Norway,and both professionals in their country. Two from Japan also professionals in the "bis" . There was a Cardioligist from New York. An Advertisment female excutive. Several more from other States , two retired ladies and I. When Joyce got to me she explained that I was unable to talk, I had fowarned the proctor when I enrolled in the workshop.
Joyce lectured first about goals and the opportunities (or lack of due to the digital camera and the internet) we set in our lives both professionaly and spiritually. We then went thru different types of natural light. Next came a mother and 5 month old boy that modeled for Joyce to demonstrate her Techniques in portraiture, very interesting and fun. Back to the room for a review of the shots she had just taken, along with a critique of herself ,she is very down to earth, approachable, a mix between Will Rogers and Wily Post, and a joy to listen to stories It was almost time for lunch when she announced that we would be paired up with our models after lunch. That we were NOT to do any nudes as these girls all were 16 except for one. Kirsten had come a bit early and did some poses for Joyce.
I nad my lunch(Tube) in the car and afterwards one of the Norwigean men came out to smoke I approached him and attempted to introduce myself again He was very nice and we chatted for a moment, and then it was time to return to the classroom.
We broke into groups of 2 and 3 I was paired with a retired woman Arleen. This is when I realized I was totally out gunned in the equipment department. my hot new little camera was exactly that. Almost all of these people had at least 2 DSLR cameras 1 had 4 different cameras, no one was shooting film. There were Cannons, Nikons, Leica's, Hasselblad, all DSLR;s with multiple lenses. The Hasselblad I recall seeing at Sammys Cameras web site at around 22K without a lens. Oh well I'm here and I'm proud hear me roar. Actually my spiel was that I'm still undecided as to what 5K camera I was going to purchase.
The models were assigned to each group and off we went. The model's were far more Prepared than my partner or I Kirsten clothes, shoes, jewelry, shawls, hats, etc. At first Arleen and I stumbled around , but in a short time we were directing the action. Numerous sites for posing a beautiful raven haired girl. A sunlite hallway, the womens mirrored bathroom, outside all over the grounds. We were told to regroup around 2:30pm which we did and switched groups and models. So off to explore new ideas with a very sweet 16 year old Emily, who in my opinion, you could not take a bad picture of. Kirsten was 21 a student at Brooks and a model. Emily had never done any modeling and now that we all had one model behind us we led her thru various poses and then it was time for a family shoot Demonstration and the End of the day one. Joyce told us to go home read her hand outs and put 6 or 7 of our best shots on a flasah drive .
Saturday nite I found my 6 favorite shots and entered hem into my flash drive. Sunday we turned our flash drives and then had a demonstration of studio lighting set ups and various poses useing us as models I hope we get those they were fun. Joyce's T.A. told me my flash drive only had one picture so he put the rest on for me. Next was lunch and back to the classroom where we reviewed our work. I was shocked when Joyce critiqued my submissions and she was very surprised with my results from a little camera, I was up there with the big boys. I think they had more consistent results than I did
Not much more to say other than I will go back as soon as possible for another workshop. I doubt that I will buy a slick new DSLR for the moment I am happy with my hot almost new Sony Cybershot .

Kevin Tuckers Wedding

My nephew Kevin, a recent graduate of Humbolt State, is getting married to his High School Sweetheart. Their vows were exchanged at a wonderful old Inn in Foresthill, Ca. The Monte Verde Inn owned by a young couple that do the whole shabang. An almost one stop Wedding Shop, but they do just about everything; they provide the food (made on site) ; the Dj; the Bar service; the flowers (your colors ); The sign in book etc. All you need is a Minister, Rabbi, Priest, Shaman,etc. and the couple.
We started the trip with Dakota, Joyce, and I in the backseat of the Infiniti, while Kristen drove and Derek had the front passenger seat. It was 5:30 am so we all pretty much slept, while Kristen and Derek had the watch. I slept until our first stop about half way there. We bought gas and had a McDonalds breakfast. Dakota enjoyed that, and all the new sights and people passing by, espically the little children. I always forget how very boring the 5 freeway is, I guess its like pain you don't remember. Gaugee ( Dakota's word for my wife, her Grandmother) kept our little granddaughter busy for the rest of the trip; playing games; reading books. Dakota was a real trooper, not complaining about the long trip.
We arrive and check in to our hotel, the Lake Natoma Inn, nice but not fancy, and we found out that a major bicycle Race was happening the Sunday of the wedding. The small town of Folsom was overwhelmed with the rush of riders and spectators, and I think they all enjoyed the chaos. I know we did.
From the Inn to Joyces Brothers Condo was a short hop where we met all the wedding party somewhat hund over from the previous night. We chatted and got caught up on the plans, including the fact that my wife thought the wedding was at 6:30 pm while in reality at was at 3:30 pm. Wow would that have been a faus=pas. We returnes to our digs and rested before heading out to dinner.
We all walked up the hill to the old town center of Folsom finding a second floor balcony Bistro with outside dining. The ambiance was great although we scared away a few romantic couples, Dakota is not about to let you be unaware of her pressence, and she was getting tired. It was a long day. The meal was so so at best. Ralph and Trudi and all the family dropped by our table for a few moments, but they too were tired. We barely made it home Dakota was asleep on Gaugee;s back.