Early this morning we said farewell @ LAX as they departed for three days of skiing.
Saturday evening we spent @ Casey and John's, highlighted by a superb dinner,which was concluded with a shortcake triumph by Casey.
Sunday morning we had a huge breakfast @ Gladstone's, where we were entertained by dolphins who had been aroused by our waiter, when he "pushed the button"! The caramel sticky, and messy bun is HUGE.
We parted with C&J and K&A who went for a hike in the clouds. We went for a beach and boardwalk hike on Venice Beach. We regrouped @ #322 to watch the Palmer Open on TV.
Accolades were expressed for Tiger as he won with a 16-foot birdie putt on the last hole. We celebrated with dinner @ California Pizza Kitchen, after which we returned to #322 for discussion and cleaning up of our ice cream supply.
Today is packing day but we will interrupt long enough for a beach walk @ Playa del Rey and a farewell lunch with Casey and John.
March has flown by.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Kate and Anne
We picked them up at the time they were due in and returned to #322. After lunch....BLTA's [the A is for avacado] we went to the beach @ Playa del Rey for a walk and a sit. We were entertained by two dolphins. After a brief visit to the pier @ Manhatten Beach we met Casey and John @ Baby Blue Ribs, followed by sunset @ Venice Beach.
Friday we drove with Casey and John to Long Beach for whale watching aboard the Caroline. Success with many sightings of a huge fin whale [Fin whales are the second largest..only smaller than blue whales]. But disappointingly we sighted no dolphins.
Today John and I started the day playing the back nine @ the Santa Anita Golf Course with Mike Stangl and his friend Tom. Mike, John and I met Casey, Janet, Kate and Anne @ the Huntington where we were treated to a tour of the cactus gardens by Olga Stangl who has been a docent there for the passed seven years. Late lunch in Pasedina's old town @ Villa Sorriso followed by ice cream [of course].
Tonight we are off to dinner @ Casey and John's.
Friday we drove with Casey and John to Long Beach for whale watching aboard the Caroline. Success with many sightings of a huge fin whale [Fin whales are the second largest..only smaller than blue whales]. But disappointingly we sighted no dolphins.
Today John and I started the day playing the back nine @ the Santa Anita Golf Course with Mike Stangl and his friend Tom. Mike, John and I met Casey, Janet, Kate and Anne @ the Huntington where we were treated to a tour of the cactus gardens by Olga Stangl who has been a docent there for the passed seven years. Late lunch in Pasedina's old town @ Villa Sorriso followed by ice cream [of course].
Tonight we are off to dinner @ Casey and John's.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Quiet time
Laundry done we went north in the afternoon. After a brief walk on Topanga Beach we drove north through Topanga Canyon which ends with an awesome view of the valley north of L.A.
Tuesday was another leisurely day. In the morning we had an hour walk along the beach @Playa del Rey. Then south to Manhatten Beach for lunch at Beaches which overlooks the pier. And we did find some fabulous ice cream @ The Creamery on the main street.
After nap we had some time in the adult pool.
Yesterday we hooked up with Casey and John for breakfast @ Teddy's, a first for us and a first for them. The review: excellent and now on our list of recommendations. In the afternoon we returned to the beach @ Playa del Rey......parking limited due to street washing day!
And now the arrival of Kate and Anne, who are due in almost a half hour before schedule.
Tuesday was another leisurely day. In the morning we had an hour walk along the beach @Playa del Rey. Then south to Manhatten Beach for lunch at Beaches which overlooks the pier. And we did find some fabulous ice cream @ The Creamery on the main street.
After nap we had some time in the adult pool.
Yesterday we hooked up with Casey and John for breakfast @ Teddy's, a first for us and a first for them. The review: excellent and now on our list of recommendations. In the afternoon we returned to the beach @ Playa del Rey......parking limited due to street washing day!
And now the arrival of Kate and Anne, who are due in almost a half hour before schedule.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Barbara, Peter and Timmy visit us
They arrive on Southwest from MCI on Friday, a tad after nine A.M. After acclimation time the six of us headed for the Getty Villa for a 2pm appointment after an intermediate stop in Santa Monica for a walk along the beach north of the pier.
Casey and John joined us for a wonderful dinner @ Casa Sanchez, which, in addition to a fine menu, provides outstanding entertainment of the mariachi variety by the Sanchez family members and talented friends.
The next day the sun was hiding BUT that didn't deter us from pool time in the adult pool. Then to Casey and John's, where Cassie had moved in, for playtime. The WII provided us with bowling and tennis.
Then a foot tour of the canals of Venice before returning to #322 for a pizza feast in midafternoon. Peter and Timmy then left us to go to Dodger Stadium for the World Baseball Championship game between South Korea and Venezuela. The former was victor 10 to 2.
The rest of us went to UCLA for a UCLALive concert by Monica Mancini and a very talented group of her musician friends....lots of Mancini and Johnny Mercer music, including Moon River.
Sunday morning Cassie departed for D.C. Her time with us had been wonderful but all too short.
The rest of us went to the Rose Cafe for a brunch with Olga and Mike Stangl as our guests. Mike reported on his golf of the day before.... a 38 on the back nine at Santa Anita Golf Course. His career round there has been a two-under-par 33!
We had a quick tour of the Santa Monica Farmers Market and then returned to #322 to watch the March madness of the NCAA playoffs.
Bowing to the weather we went to see Julia Roberts in "Duplicity", an entertainment, before ending our day at The Counter. To heck with calories.
We had one last family meal at IHOP this morning before Barb, Peter and Timmy departed LAX for MCI and Janet went into laundry formation. It's very quiet here.
Casey and John joined us for a wonderful dinner @ Casa Sanchez, which, in addition to a fine menu, provides outstanding entertainment of the mariachi variety by the Sanchez family members and talented friends.
The next day the sun was hiding BUT that didn't deter us from pool time in the adult pool. Then to Casey and John's, where Cassie had moved in, for playtime. The WII provided us with bowling and tennis.
Then a foot tour of the canals of Venice before returning to #322 for a pizza feast in midafternoon. Peter and Timmy then left us to go to Dodger Stadium for the World Baseball Championship game between South Korea and Venezuela. The former was victor 10 to 2.
The rest of us went to UCLA for a UCLALive concert by Monica Mancini and a very talented group of her musician friends....lots of Mancini and Johnny Mercer music, including Moon River.
Sunday morning Cassie departed for D.C. Her time with us had been wonderful but all too short.
The rest of us went to the Rose Cafe for a brunch with Olga and Mike Stangl as our guests. Mike reported on his golf of the day before.... a 38 on the back nine at Santa Anita Golf Course. His career round there has been a two-under-par 33!
We had a quick tour of the Santa Monica Farmers Market and then returned to #322 to watch the March madness of the NCAA playoffs.
Bowing to the weather we went to see Julia Roberts in "Duplicity", an entertainment, before ending our day at The Counter. To heck with calories.
We had one last family meal at IHOP this morning before Barb, Peter and Timmy departed LAX for MCI and Janet went into laundry formation. It's very quiet here.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday through Thursday
Monday: with Cassie we drove to Long Beach for a "whale watch". We were out for almost three hours and found many, many dolphins of all shapes and sizes in two different "herds". We had about given up on finding a whale when we spotted one and over the next twenty minutes had four sightings of the same whale, a fin whale, estimated at 75 feet long. Very exciting.
Tuesday: the Feast of Saint Patrick we spent in downtown L.A. Started at Paseo de La Plaza, a market place in the old city. Elevenses at Union Station. We then watched the start of the Parade before noontime mass @ The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Angeles. [The Cardinal was testifying in court!] Then a quick visit to Disney Hall but again no admission to the auditorium. On to Grand Central Market for lunch....each to their own taste!. The last stop was the Bradbury Building, which has been the backgound in many movies. And home in time for a swim. God blessed the feast day with beautiful weather.
Wednesday: Northrup Grumman Day for Cassie. We dropped her off and then went for a long walk on Manhatten Beach, north from the pier. In the afternoon we spent some time on the beach at Hermosa Beach before picking her up about four. She had a great day, caught up with a number of old friends; and was treated like royalty. We ended up at The Counter for dinner. Home in time to witness Obama going south in a helicopter, suitable escorted.
Today we started the day with breakfast @ Casey's and John's and then the five of us went to Newport Beach where we rented an electric boat for our own tour of the harbour and a picnic. Casey left us after the cruise for a meeting and the rest of us visited the Crystal Cathedral on our way home.
Tuesday: the Feast of Saint Patrick we spent in downtown L.A. Started at Paseo de La Plaza, a market place in the old city. Elevenses at Union Station. We then watched the start of the Parade before noontime mass @ The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Angeles. [The Cardinal was testifying in court!] Then a quick visit to Disney Hall but again no admission to the auditorium. On to Grand Central Market for lunch....each to their own taste!. The last stop was the Bradbury Building, which has been the backgound in many movies. And home in time for a swim. God blessed the feast day with beautiful weather.
Wednesday: Northrup Grumman Day for Cassie. We dropped her off and then went for a long walk on Manhatten Beach, north from the pier. In the afternoon we spent some time on the beach at Hermosa Beach before picking her up about four. She had a great day, caught up with a number of old friends; and was treated like royalty. We ended up at The Counter for dinner. Home in time to witness Obama going south in a helicopter, suitable escorted.
Today we started the day with breakfast @ Casey's and John's and then the five of us went to Newport Beach where we rented an electric boat for our own tour of the harbour and a picnic. Casey left us after the cruise for a meeting and the rest of us visited the Crystal Cathedral on our way home.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday and Sunday
I needed and alarm to get me up on Saturday morning to meet John @ 5AM. I was ready @ 4:45 and so was John.... he had arrived early to pick me up so that I wasn't waiting in the cold. And then off for golf @ the Santa Anita Course where we hooked up with Mike Stangl and Tom, who make up the regular Saturday group. Teed off before dawn on the back nine. Great greens but I couldn't read them....winter hiatus ended up with too many three-putts!
The party @ Casey and John's was a smash. Great food. Great friends. It was wonderful to meet so many of C&J's friends and associates and see how much they are loved and admired. Great time was had by all.
Sunday brunch @ Snug Harbor in Santa Monica and then Cassie went with C&J for a hike in the Santa Moica mountains. We headed for home and a leisurely day. C&J came over in mid-afternoon for swim time and stayed for the evening. Bananagram.
The party @ Casey and John's was a smash. Great food. Great friends. It was wonderful to meet so many of C&J's friends and associates and see how much they are loved and admired. Great time was had by all.
Sunday brunch @ Snug Harbor in Santa Monica and then Cassie went with C&J for a hike in the Santa Moica mountains. We headed for home and a leisurely day. C&J came over in mid-afternoon for swim time and stayed for the evening. Bananagram.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Cassie arrives
We went north yesterday morning through Santa Monica and up the Pacific Coast Highway. We stopped @ Zuma Beach for our morning ocean-side walk. And then north through Malibu which is for ever, a skinny town which is 27 miles from border to border. A lot of the terrain is "protected" and available for all kinds of animals....mountain lions, deer, wild sheep, hares, rabbits...non of which we saw.
Had a great lunch @ the Paradise Cove Cafe. We recommend. Stopped for ice cream at a shopping center near Pepperdine University, which has an extraordinary site.
Then Cassie finally arrived @ 5:30pm. We picked her up @ LAX and went straight to Casey and John's for dinner, whence early to bed.....time change!
Had a great lunch @ the Paradise Cove Cafe. We recommend. Stopped for ice cream at a shopping center near Pepperdine University, which has an extraordinary site.
Then Cassie finally arrived @ 5:30pm. We picked her up @ LAX and went straight to Casey and John's for dinner, whence early to bed.....time change!
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