End of Thursday Night Surfing Season

Captured after Sunset

This was the end of the Cymer surf team Thursday night surfing season, due to the daylight savings time change.  We might continue to meet at Pizza Port for a pint but jumping into the Rockpile surf after work will have to wait until March 2019.

From left:  me, Bob, Graham, Dave, James, ???, Michael, Valentina, and Chris.

Happy Halloween!

Bat Wings are only 5 cents!

I am not really into Halloween but I do like how this Little Library has been blinged out.

Lamborghini Auto Show in Little Italy

I try to get to Little Italy for this event since I am always joking it seems so far away.

I got to Little Italy early enough to have a parking spot then have a Ballast Point pint and nosh.  Little Italy has quite a bustling crowd.

The autos, mainly Lamborghinis, were parked on a blocked off side street.  Everyone was taking pictures.  One proud Lamborghini owner was letting kids sit in his car while parents took pictures.

Lamborghinis seem too over-the-top for me with their styling.  But then among the autos I spotted a Ferrari.  Timeless beauty.

Hobie 50th Anniversary Regatta

The first Hobie 14 sailboat was produced 50 years ago.  A regatta was scheduled as part of the celebration.  I counted about 25 boats (but no 14s!) that were to leave Dana Point beach then sail an out and back race.

I saw a number of faces I couldn’t put a name to but did find Steve Leo and his wife/crew Jan.  We did some catching up then they had to final prep for the race.

A touching moment was when Wayne Shafer’s boat left the beach as a commemorative single boat start.  Wayne contributed to the Hobie 14 design.

Wayne, Standing on the Hobie

Leah and Damon’s Wedding Reception

What a great idea to have the reception not immediately following the wedding!  Their wedding was a few weeks earlier and they had a Mexico honeymoon before returning for the reception.  The reception was Friday evening and a Leah House Party was Saturday evening.

Of course, I had little time with Leah and Damon at the reception since they were working the crowd.  My time was spent socializing with people I hadn’t seen since, well, the last Leah House Party.  The dining was traditional Chinese with m-a-n-y servings.  Did I count maybe 9 servings?

Leah Working the Crowd While Looking Radiant

I had a room at the local Hilton so I walked the 1.1 mile home after the reception.  Beautiful evening.

I ubered to the Leah House Party.  Once there, I was able to spend some time with Leah, Damon, Mr. and Mrs. Tang, and various others.  I had an in-depth conversation with Brian, on his battle with autoimmune deficiency syndrome.  He is making progress and I hope he continues to get well.

I finally met Leah’s brother Chris.  Chris and his family live in NYC.

Mrs. Tang, Chris, Mrs. Tang's college roommate, and Leah

Mary Scholz at Lestat’s

Great set tonight from Mary Scholz.

I was standing outside the venue (Lestat's) when Mary approached me before her set.  She was obviously promoting her time slot with a card indicating her time to take the stage.  I said, "Thanks but don't need the card.  I am here for your set".  Then she recognized me from her opening set in June.  I think Mary was flattered that I remembered her set and returned for more.

Justin Haywood @ Belly Up

I got a ticket and the extra $$ VIP package.  This VIP package included a tour shirt, tote bag, signed poster, and 'a seat in the first 2 rows’.  I only cared about the seating and the shirt (obligatory).

Then 2 days before the concert I got an email saying ‘VIPs can enter the Belly Up at 6:45’ – normal entrance is at 7 pm.  So I guessed the first 2 rows were not really reserved for VIPs you just had to get there ahead of time.  Belly Up needs to get its message consistent.

I got in the VIP line about 6:25, and did my usual of asking ‘have you seen Justin before?’, ‘How many times?’.  Seems I almost a rookie seeing him 3 times before.  E-v-e-r-y-o-n-e had seen him 50+ times.  Upon the Belly Up entry, I got a second row just off dead center seat.  Off dead center so that the microphone isn’t in the direct view.

As with previous Justin Haywood shows, the accompanist and opening act was Mike Dawes.  Mike is an incredible acoustic guitarist.  And with this show Mike was much more animated than in previous shows.

Justin’s set was similar to the previous 2 times I have seen him.  The stories were essentially the same.  The highlight was about midway through the show, with Justin singing ‘One Day, Someday’.

VIP Dollars Gets You Close To The Stage

What a voice.  What a class act.

Syracuse Visit

I had skipped my usual upstate NY summer trip the past 2 years due to at least one work obligation.  Not this year.

I took the usual red-eye trip to arrive during a NY heatwave.  Normally NY heat does not bother me but this year was oppressive.  Bill and I managed only 2 rounds of 9-hole golf with both of us wilting by the 6th hole.  Bill trounced me- obviously, he has secretly been working on his game and I haven’t.

We did the usual walk in Onondaga Park, lunch at The Retreat, Dinner at Borio’s, and walk around Syracuse University campus.  We didn’t get to Coleman’s for a pint which was unusual.

Syracuse University Campus

A trip bonus was that John Conkling was taking 2 of 4 kids to college over 2 trips.  Bill and I traveled to Rochester for lunch at the Dinosaur and then walk the High-Falls Trail along the Genesee River in downtown Rochester.

Genesee River, with downtown Rochester.

Then on to Brockport to see John and Christina.  Christina is beginning her senior year.  I did not recognize a-n-y of the Brockport (class of 1983) campus.  Guess it has been awhile.  The 4 of us had dinner near the Canal Side in downtown Brockport, then Bill and I traveled back to Liverpool.

John stopped into Liverpool for lunch the next day since he was traveling to New Hampshire to pick up another kid from camp.  Tina was able to join us for lunch.  Bonus!

Initial plans were to travel to Maine and visit Stan Moore and his family.  Plans were also extended to see Boston, and to have dinner with Adam Del Rosso who was working a Lowell, MA internship.  But after speaking with Stan our trip was abandoned.  Stan was leaving within a week for Italy to work as Head Coach for SV Caldaro/Kaltern.  Stan volunteered to drive 2 hours to a meet point for lunch but I nixed the idea; he needs to spend quality family time now.  So we agreed Stan would email info once settled into Italy, and we would meet there since Bill and I were traveling in March 2019 to Budapest/Prague.

We ran into Nicole on my first day in Syracuse while walking off the red-eye jet-lag at the park.  Great to see her and catch up.  And a few days later, I got a text from Wendy (Nicole's ex-roommate) saying "you think you can be in town and we won't know?".  Busted.  Then Wendy gave me a guilt-trip saying the kids would be disappointed if we didn't get together.  So we arranged a fabulous dinner at Wendy and Gordon's of Elvis burgers (lettuce, tomato, peanut butter, bacon, and cheese).  I got to see the kids (Ben, Christopher, and Mesi) are becoming fine young adults.  Ben is off to his first year of college at Kingston CA.  Gordon's new interest is fly fishing and I had to ask, 'Do you tie your own lures?'.  OF COURSE, Gordon does.  Quite an impressive tie selection and rods.

I failed to get a group pic, but isn't Wendy's garden awesome???

John and Courtney stopped in for lunch the following week as John was taking Courtney to SUNY Potsdam.  And Courtney delivered a hug from Karen.  Thanks!

Bill and I made several trips to the New York State Fair.  It was different than the Del Mar San Diego Fair, with a smaller woodworking and photography exhibit.  However, we discovered an air-conditioned stage that local acts were presenting on.

And we discovered seating, music, A/C and beers!

We started work on Plan B, to visit Montreal in place of Stan and Boston.  But we checked the Montreal forecast (rain, followed by more rain) and canceled that idea.  Plan C was a day trip to Ithaca to walk about Cornell campus and see their waterfalls.  We got into watching some women’s volleyball (very good!) and then snuck into the Cornell bell tower for stunning views.

View From the Cornell Bell Tower.  Awesome!

We found our way back to Syracuse through Skaneateles Lake.  Ah yea, a stop at the Sherlock Inn for a refreshing drink overlooking the lake then to Doug’s Fish Fry to split a lobster roll.  This is Living Well.

At Skaneateles Lake, pre Doug's Fish Fry

Tina had arranged a dinner/drinks for several people to introduce Mark, her fiancé.  It was good to catch up with Kathy, Kim and Ethan, and Debbie and Dick.  And Adam showed up from Lowell.

Vancouver with Patricia

Patricia had texted, “Hey, what are you doing?”.  My usual response was ‘not much’.  So she countered ‘come up to Vancouver’.  So I poked around for flights and said ‘how about this weekend?’.  OK!

I met Patricia some years ago at a Leah party.  I wish I knew when that was but could not find it in my blog but it had to have been before April 2013.  Patricia and I have had deep conversations at every Leah party since then.  Patricia has wanderlust travel DNA that I envy.

We met at the airport and traveled to Granville Island for a great view (a common theme in Vancouver).

Great view.

Then we walked about the shopping area in an outdoor market.  Beautiful.

Saturday, Patricia already had a planned afternoon event so she dropped me off at the entrance to Stanley Park.  I think I can handle it from here.

On the left, my next home.

The first block to the park had 4 bike rental shops.  I see a pattern here.  I rented a bike, walked it to the park, and took off.

Vancouver view from Stanley Park

Wow.  Perfect day, perfect weather.  I stopped to watch a cricket game (don’t understand it) on the island.  Vancouver is beautiful from Stanley Park.  For lunch I stopped at one of the many Asian restaurants and somehow worked my way through the menu.  Delicious.

Patricia picked me up and we went to another walkway/view spot to Vancouver and walked and talked for hours.  Her afternoon meeting had been intense.

That evening we watched the fireworks from her balcony.  Vancouver has fireworks completion every year.

The view from Patricia's place, pre fireworks.

Patricia suggested we go to Whistler.  Yes!  Whistler has a very nice base village (I compare it to Vail) with several lifts to the top.

Patricia at the Base.

And what a view from the top.  Incredible!

Patricia and me on the suspension bridge.

And the view down from the suspension bridge.  Yikes!

  We saw some active glaciers while walking down to the lower gondola.

On the flight home, I noticed an Orange County fire from the port side of the aircraft.  Welcome to SoCal.

From the return flight, an Orange County fire.

Leah Visits San Diego

Leah had a wedding reception in San Diego so she stretched the visit over a weekend to add in a visit with me.  It’s always great to see her.

View from Encinitas Meditation Gardens 

Being silly at an obscure park in Orange County office complex

Leah's turn at being silly

And the requisite backyard dining

Del Mar Horse Racing Opening Day

I decided to attend the racetrack opening day since I have a newfound free schedule.  The racing is a moot point; it’s the people watching and the scene that’s entertaining.  I saw outrageous suits, too small miniskirts matched with 5+ inch stiletto heels, fat cigars, and general bad behavior.

Steve Sherman was working and paying the price for having to wear a coat and tie.  He opened his jacket showing he was sweat-soaked in the upper 80's temperature

Sherm was working that day

And that's "The Hoff" making an appearance

Toad the Wet Sprocket @ Belly Up

Gotta love the ‘90’s music.

Last Day at Cymer/ASML

It was a great ride while it lasted.

Having started in October 1997, I worked as a contractor for 2 years before Joe Conway hired me in November 1999.  Many roles, many applications, many go-lives, and too many application retirements later I felt I needed to do something else.  So I told Alberto Avila in early May I was moving on and we settled on this date.

Somehow, having the last day of Friday the 13th seemed appropriate

Maureen and Elaine Visit

Maureen texted me saying that she and Elaine were visiting San Diego, and we decided we should get together somewhere for a drink.  Not knowing where they were staying (turns out to be Vista) or where they had dinner plans, I tried to work out an agreeable location and minimize Friday traffic impact.  It turns out they had dinner reservations at Jakes Del Mar.  Excellent choice, so I hopped on the beach cruiser and met them there.

We walked up to La Fornia for a glass of wine.  The sunset was awesome as we did some catching up on what has happened over the past 43+ years.  And it seems I have led a boring life, comparatively speaking.

Maureen, me, and Elaine.  They haven't changed since high school

Maureen and me going to the high school prom

Nicole Atkins @ Belly Up

Nicole was the opening act for ???? but I was there for her.  Nicole covers David Bowie’s Heroes with Postmodern Jukebox and that’s what got me to get a ticket.

She played with ace guitarist Steven Cooper. 

Wow.  What a voice.  Goodnight Rhonda Lee.

Switchfoot Bro-Am

Every year I bike to the Switchfoot Bro-Am and leave before Switchfoot takes the stage.  Too many people and the beach isn’t really a great concert venue. 

But this year I was invited to visit with Sara and Chris who live within walking distance to Moonlight Beach.  Others at the rental units were also socializing in the common veranda area.  And after a drink, we walked down to Moonlight to see the warmup bands.

Sara (with Amelia), Chris, and James

Chris Trapper at Lestat’s

I always enjoy a Chris Trapper concert.  And I am surprised he continues to come back since the crowd turnout is consistently small, like less than 40 (at the most).

The opening performers have been great.  Previously, Lisa Sanders opened for Chris and was in the crowd.  Mary Schotz was tonight’s opening act. 

Chris has witty banter between songs and it’s never the same.

Chris with Mary

Spyro Gyra at Humphreys Backstage

Chris told me that Spyro Gyra were playing at Humphreys Backstage.  I haven’t seen Spyro Gyra since college days and have never been to Humphreys Backstage so I got an online ticket.

I walked into Humphreys Backstage and saw the band at a table, signing autographs.  My ticket was for the late show and the band was pressing the flesh between shows.  I told Jay Bekenstein (founder, sax player) I haven’t seen Spyro Gyra in 43 years and Jay responded ‘We have some catching up to do!’.

The late show line was forming so I joined the queue.  Upon entry, I got a seat at the bar.  It was a seated show.  The club had tiered seating so line of sight viewing should not be an issue except for the support poles.  Good view from the bar.

Spyro Gyra took the stage.  Overall the music seemed more “smooooth jazzzzz” than 40+ years ago. 
I was disappointed when Jay said the band would play a melody of hits from the ‘Morning Dance’ album.  This was their biggest album and you condense it to a melody?

Carl Palmer

Carl Palmer, of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, played the Coach House.  I was somewhat late in getting a ticket but that was OK since is an extra 25 feet away from the stage.

Carl, being a drummer, had the drum set right at the stage edge.  Normally I want to be there but being right next to a rabid drummer - not good.

The 2 guitarists/bassist also on stage were excellent.  They played all of the ELP songs. 

But I wish I had earplugs.

Jim Messina

Jim Messina played at the Coach House.  I was lucky/smart enough to get a ticket early enough to be center stage about 5 deep for a seated show.

I had previously seen Jim at the Del Mar Fair, about 5-6 years earlier.  You forget how good some musicians are or how deep their catalog is.

Jim started with the big hits, Loggins and Messina stuff.  Wow.  I first saw him at Clarkson College, maybe 1977?

Cymer Nosara Surf Trip February 2018

I offered to lead a Cymer surf trip to Nosara.  Several of the usual Thursday surf crowd have heard of Nosara or been there themselves so I offered to arrange a trip.  After some back and forth, Roberto (& Kathy), Jefe (& Holly) and myself were committed for the first week in February.

We booked the same LAX to LIR Delta flight departing Friday, February 2, late evening.  I was to pick up a s-w-e-e-t swaggy wagon from Carlsbad airport Thursday night.  I got to the rental counter, got the key, then got to the parking lot.  I got in the car and could not find a key slot.  Hmmm.  Look, there’s a start button.  I pressed it and it said ‘use the key fob’.  The key fob didn’t have a button to start it.  Giving up, I flag down a lot worker.  Walking over to the auto he says, ‘well, that a Chrysler car and the key is a Toyota’.

Chrysler.  Didn't like the color anyway.

I’m sure that happens all the time.

S-w-a-g-g-y!!!!

Friday night we met at Roberto’s in Del Mar to load the swaggy wagon then we drive to LAX.

Travel time is about 2 hours.  Sweet when using the HOF lane!

Everyone is doing carry-on except for me so I tell them I will catch up to them after dealing with the luggage line.  The usual beer and nosh and we board for the red-eye.  Our Gypsy Cab was waiting for us at LIR, and we dropped off our luggage at Casa de Paz at 11:30am.  Then on the Kaya Sol for lunch.  Then time to pick up my surfboard, get Roberto/Jefe into rental surfboards, and a late afternoon surf session.

Daily surf sessions began at the crack of dawn.  Roberto and Jefe were out the door before dawn.  I would follow about half an hour later, after a small breakfast and hydration.  Sometimes there would be a later afternoon session but always ending so we had time for sunset with Kathy and Holly.

And Holly discovered that Gin-and-Tonics went well with sunsets!