No one is sure what happened to me, but seizure and stroke seem to come up a lot in conversation. I have a couple masses on the right side of the brain that could be cancer, or infection. So at this point it’s a wait and see. I am comfortable and only short on jokes.
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- The road to Yoga Farm
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- At the Yoga Farm
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- At the Yoga Farm
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- Syds home for the next Month
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- At the Yoga Farm
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- Syds home for the next Month
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- Our B&B
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- Our B & B
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- Living Room of B&B
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- Dining room
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- Living Room
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- View from living room
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- From our dock
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- Dock on the lake
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- Judy on dock
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- me
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- Lake Tahoe
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- Winner
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- First course for Breakfast
We left L.A. to drop our Granddaughter off at the Sivananda Yoga Farm for a 30 day course to secure her yoga teaching credentials.
The trip up was a nightmare. What was to be a 5 hours ride up to a hotel to spend the night before finishing up in Grass Valley, ended up taking a tad over 11 hours. 11 hours to go 409 miles….. you do the math. The main freeway to Northern California was closed due to a mud slide. So everyone in Southern California who wanted/needed to go north was on the Coast Highway. We were stopped sometimes for ten minutes at a time, only to speed up to almost 10 miles an hour before stopping again. We dropped her off, wished her well and drove up to Lake Tahoe. We stayed at the Cheney House at 4725 West lake Blvd, Homewood, CA 96141. I can’t endorse this place enough. The best description I can use is “WOW“. The pictures don’t do it justice.
We ate at the local places, and drove around the lake. Stopping here and there. We did hit a casino on the Nevada side. I donated a small amount toward their overhead, and Judy made a small profit. After two days in the forest….we had enough of the trees and headed home.
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- close to a before pic
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- drywall
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- if it doesn’t move paint it
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- Lots for primer
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- The beginning of new floor
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- halfway point on the floor
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- almost halfway with new ceiling.
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- Beginning new ceiling
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- work in progress
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- almost done
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- almost done with door shut
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- ta da
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- finished 99%
Those of you who have visited where I live, know it’s a little out of the norm. That being said, we have always had this very back bedroom that has served as our garage. It’s been known as the costco room, the bunny room (our daughter left us with her pet rabbit, when she moved), and zac’s bedroom. Once about 20 years ago it was cute and my grandson lived in for a short while. He also lived in it for a while not that very long ago as an adult. The room was a mess and very much neglected, but good enough to store toilet paper and camping gear. Now I am retired, bored and have a new hobby. I didn’t want to spend to much time in an ugly, depressing room. So I invested in some tools, watched some utube videos and got to work. Opened up the wall and put in a pocket door, installed a planked beadboard ceiling, repaired the walls, and installed a new wood floor. None of this was easy as not one wall in this house is at a 45 degree. The joy of living in a triangle. The coolest tool ever was the compressor and the nail gun. I did install a 45 watt solar panel and a battery bank to run a ham radio I have yet to purchase.
The last two days I got sick so I just laid low. The trip was not about all the things we saw, or did. It was about the family and friends we interacted with. Without exception I would give Judy’s family (and mine by marriage) and her friends since childhood (me a little less) and A+. We laughed and compared stories everywhere we went. The trip home was the hardest part. Little plane from Tweed airport in Connecticut to a 4 hours layover in Philadelphia. While sitting in the waiting area I see 8 or so Marine Corp Opspey airplanes come in. Soon after that comes Air Force One. Really cool to watch all this. We finally board the longest plane I have ever seen (airbus) and taxi to the runway. OOPS….airport shut down for security for the President….hour and a half later we get the green light. Meanwhile I am coughing my brains out. If the ebola scare was still on I would not have been allowed on the plane. While at Judy’s brothers house we watched a Yankee game…..I am now a Yankee fan. Click on the trip photos (blue) and see a bunch of photos. Any questions on any of them email me ar srfbuda@gmail.com
trip photos
Hanging out in Connecticut is very cool. We had a choice of going to dinner at a very fancy restaurant that had been established in 1776, or Bills. Well let’s see…..The fancy place is very cool, historic, sophisticated and just plain “grown up”. Bill’s on the other hand was just good food, and live music…. no contest.
Bills
Judy fired her first gun. Al set up a target in the side yard and we shot some hole in it. We sat around the stream and watched the fish. I forgot the name of the fish that is common, but the other fish is trout. They do fish off the dock, but we didn’t on this visit. Rabbits run across the lawn, as do squirrels. Ducks show up as well as the red cardinal.
Cindy walks around the lake every day. I went yesterday, but today I have a cold or cooties so Judy went. Cindy and I went to get something at the store and it’s a good 10 minute drive in her “go quick” BMW convertible.
It rained this morning and I feel awful so today was a low key day. I tried to get some shots of the roads and foilage, but they just don’t so it justice. I can’t put to words the serenity the woods instill as you look at them.
We left Bob and Kathy in New York. It was a very nice visit with feelings of comfort and family. Al Picked us up and we drove to Connecticut. Cindy and Al’s house is on a stream and surrounded by woods. Birds singing, fish jumping and perfect weather. The house is bitchin beyond cool and the wifi is banging in at 30 Mbps. It’s not the sticks, but it is rural. Cindy and I went for a walk along the river/lake this morning, then we all piled in the car and drove to Newport, Rhode Island. That was not the most fun trip I have ever taken, but we got to see a lot of the countryside. When we came back I ducked out and parked my ass in a chair on the dock next to the stream and read my book (Killer angels) while the water babbled bye, and the birds sang. They have some very cool birds here. I had never seen a cardinal before. I could live here in a heart beat, but…..winter is less than friendly so maybe I’ll stick to Southern California.
After dinner we went out and built a fire next to the steam and enjoyed the stars while sitting around the crackling fire. LIFE is GOOD.
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- Family
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- Leaving NY
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- the view from the dock
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- Back Yard
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- View from porch
Flew up from Virginia to New York. Weather is misty and gray, but warm. Bob and Kathy met us at the airport. Not an easy thing, as the airport is under construction and getting around is not easy. We get to the house and the stories begin. Liz comes over and Judy and I go to a local store that has become a tradition between Judy and liz. I tag along to keep the retail therapy down to minimum….I don’t succeed. Later that night Liz treated us to a light show created out of recycled bottles, cups and other plastic containers. Mothers Day: Grace (Kathy’s sister), Yuri and Robert and their two kids, David, and Liz come over for a BBQ. It was no less than a feast. The next day we do more relaxing (getting good at this by now), then Judy and I take the train into THE CITY. We meet Eileen at Grand Central Station. What a place. A pulse of it’s own. Just being there was an experience unique enough I can’t put into words. It seemed to be a life form and the people the blood flow. Walked through Manhattan getting a feel for the city. I keep saying this is so different from California, but saying it again still doesn’t seem to get the feeling across. I LOVE NY.
Eileen treated us to dinner at “eatily” and a walk through the city and park. The cab ride was a hoot, and I was wondering how long I could survive if I was driving….I don’t think more than 20 minutes. It’s nuts driving in the city.
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- Leaving Virginia on way to New York
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- Liz took us all to the recycle light show
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- Recycle light show
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- Empire State Building
Travel is not easy. I have no idea how sitting down being shot through the air can be so fatiguing. We stayed with Bill and Dixie (Judy’s cousins) in Virginia. If this was a hotel we couldn’t afford it. 5 star would be not be enough. Great people with interesting stories. Bill shared with me his story of being shot down over enemy territory and his capture and internment during the Vietnam war. I am so glad I missed adventures like his. Judy and Dixie went to exercise, and Bill and I went to the Manassas (Bull Run to you Yankees) battlefield. Two battles were fought here. The first was a definite confederate victory, the second was more or less a tie.
I have learned not to refer to confederates as traitors or treasonous bastards, as the Civil War is very much alive and well in Virginia. Coming from this age and California, States Rights, Slavery…etc is nothing I can fully understand. Being on the battlefield was a feeling be being on hallowed ground.
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- POW uniform and shoes.
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- POW hair comb
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- Gifts Dixie made to humor a sick friend
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- in Bill & Dixie’s back yard
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- this is the spot where T. Jackson received the title “Stonewall”
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- Leaving Virginia on way to New York
Into the city of Baltimore. Judy went for a Spa treatment and Toni had to attend a work meeting, so I just wondered around the back bay area for a couple hours. Baltimore is sooooo different than Southern California. The weather is a warm 85 with 68% humidity. The thing I like about the state of Maryland, is the many creeks, rivers and waterways. I wish I could just jump in a kayak and paddle away.
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- Maryland is a kayakers dream. Rivers and streams everywhere you look
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- single family house
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- all I can say is…wow
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- home sweet home
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- Pods to lock your bike.
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- trying to keep cool on the terrace. I am looking out over the woods hoping to spot Bambi
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- The ship in the foreground is Coast Guard ship from the 1920’s, factory in back is Hard Rock Cafe
Off to visit friends of Toni’s. We were given a private tour from her friend a alumni of the Navel Academy at Annapolis a Retired Navy pilot, and retired member of the administration of the Academy. The stories were eye openers to another world. The building were beautiful and spotless. It was exam time, so many tired young faces. Walked our asses of again today, but it was so interesting. The little gazebo was once in a lake before the lake was filled in. The Navy song “anchors away” was written in that gazebo. Maryland is very pretty. Woods and water everywhere.
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- Note the date of est.
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- Jean, Toni, PPJ, and Perry – Perry is also known as Capt. Martini a retired Navy pilot and Administrator of the Naval Academy.
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- The Academy is the depository of several of these …….
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- Hailed as the founder of the U.S. Navy. John Paul Jones is inturned here.
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- this is the Chapel on the “campus” it is not referred to as a campus, but I forgot what it is called.
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- This is the most fun monument in the Academy. Click on it for info.
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- It’s good to have friends that have connections. Private tour from retired administrator, Marine and Navy pilot. Thank you Capt. Martini
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- Where the song “Anchors Away” was written here
Up early and off to church with Toni. No way out so off I go with low expectations, but as it turned out it was fun and a very thought provoking experience. Toni had a class in D.C. so while she was doing that Judy and I took the tour bus through D.C. After taking the entire tour we got back on and rode to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. I was looking for the plane my father flew during WW2, but it had been removed and sent out for a complete renovation. Turning to another section we come across the Lunar Lander (L.E.M.) that Judy’s father worked on, when he was an engineer with Grumman. From there we walked over to the garden across from the Botanical Garden. Then came the “oh shit” moment…..we now had to walk our asses off to get back to the car. 85 degrees with the humidity that gives the east coast another reason to fly west.
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- PPJ across from the Botanical Gardens
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- Air and Space – Spitfire and B-17
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- Can you image flying cross country in this?
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- Public housing
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- When they say “This will go on your permanent record”…it goes here
Traveling day Goodbyes to the family in Florida hello to a friend in Maryland.
The cousins saying goodbye
Da Girlz and a cannoli
Welcome to Maryland
Doing a little sight seeing. Later we had the family get together with Michael and Renne, Butchie, and Kristen.
The old family pictures came out and the stories began……..laughing all the way.
Down Memory Lane
1097 can you name names?
Floridia Gas
Family group shot
Family
Hanging with Cookie. Went to West Palm to checkout the shopping and the vibe. Talking in the car and over lunch finding out just how similar our families. Same nuts just don’t fall far from the tree. Judy and I went for a swim. Next to the pool is a long narrow lake filled with carp like fish and long neck turtles. Later in the evening we looked up the family tree, with little success but lots of enthusiasm.
West Palm. Doing some shopping
Hanging with Cookie. Went to lunch and walked around the town center. Did some shopping.
It was suppose to rain like hell so we didn’t venture too far away from home base.
It didn’t rain so it was warm with a hint of clouds in the distance. We went on a walk and it was uneventful for the local crowd, but we see rabbits, squished frogs and lizards smoothing the roadway. No bugs, but lots of critters. In the middle of the walk Rodie shows up to bring us back to the house as it was beginning to rain and Cookie was worried. The day before we arrived they were hit with a hail storm and a tornado, so was making sure we weren’t whisked off to Oz.
was once a frog…currently road art
3:25 am. Shuttle to LAX for a 5:30 flight to Texas. Not bad even though I am in middle seat. Great new book on kindle half hour into the flight kindle dies. Time to kill in Texas so grabbed a Texas size sandwich and watched the parade of rolling luggage pushed along by expressionless travelers. Next flight to Palm Beach Florida. Met at the airport by Cookie and Roddy holding signs. So glad to make a scene. We are staying with Cookie and found the pantry. Not gonna loose any weight here.
The J-38 key came and it needed a base. After much thought I came across the perfect stand.
Still learning the code and my DIY ossillator is not complete. All in good time.
VW Eurovan Full Camper Winnebago – 178k miles – Many extras $21,499
Many cool features. Call 310-625-2576
Vin# WV2EH2703XH007909
Standard features:
2.8 Liter VW 6 cylinder fuel injected engine
Automatic Transmission
Air Conditioned
Cruise Control
Tow Hitch (used for bike rack)
Power Mirrors
Dual Air Bags
Removable Second Row Seat to make seating for 6
Fold-Out Bed
Pop Top with additional sleeping for two
Sink with 7 gallon holding tank
Running Water with 15 gallon tank
Refrigerator runs on propane/elect
2 burner propane stove
Propane Thermostat Controlled Furnace
Rear Sprayer/Rinse
Hanging Closet
Lots of Storage
All original manuals
Shore plug in cord
Waste Dump tube
Additional Items:
Back up camera
Kenwood KVT Touch Screen Radio / DVD am/fm/Sirius plays: dvd, cd, mp3, iPod, usb
Kenwood Navigation GNA-G510
Kenwood Bluetooth Telephone Handsfree KCA-BT300
Uniden CB Radio
Marksman Security System Extreme Model X11
Official Factory Repair Manuals both volumes
Snow chains
New canvas (current canvas has very small hole. This came with the car when I bought it)
Work done in the last 10,000 miles:
Cooling system including heater core
Front end work including bearing
Brakes and Rotors
Tires Front (back are good)
Both Batteries (main and deep cycle camping)
New Spark Plugs and Ignition wires
New Breather and Coolant Tube
General Comments:
Interior was redone about 20,000 miles ago
Transmission serviced with complete flush, about 12,000 miles ago and new Throttle Body installed
The car runs great and get about 20 miles to the gallon on the highway
Passed California smog control with no issues, registered to 2015.
New replacement canvas included. Current one has small hole, but canvas was included when I bought the car.
The Bad News:
Gas Gauge not working properly
The car is 15 years old and the exterior is original.
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- Front view line drawing
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- Front View
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- Side View top up
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- Side view top down
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- Inside toward back
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- Kitchen area
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- Kitchen area refer open
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- Front view top up
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- Side view top up
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- Back view
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- Telephone screen
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- Dash area
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- 2’nd seat installed (removable)
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- Dash Cluster
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- Front view dash
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- rear closet area
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- 2’nd row seat – removable
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Srfbuda 