Wow! The time has gone fast and lots has happened.
We had such great sunny, warm, winter days here in Southern California that I did lots of bike riding and lying in the sun and got an awesome tan in the middle of winter!
I've continued supervising staff on the business management courses at the medical and dental offices on a weekly basis.
I got to "dog sit" my boss, Fabian's dog for a day. Chino is a Pomeranian and the cutest most friendly dog you can imagine. He loved riding in the car with me to the dog groomer for a bath and haircut and then an energetic walk along the LA river bank and back.
I also helped Fabian house hunt for a new apartment for he and his wife, Monica, and they finally found a place they really like and got moved in - away from their old crabby landlord.
I continue to have very enjoyable breakfasts or dinners with my friend, Jackie K. She had moved the company she is Executive Director of, to North Hollywood and lives there now too.
Suesan W. came down from Henderson, Nevada for an eye operation and before she went in for that we went out to dinner with Sue Z. on Saturday February 5 and had a fun time.
The next day, Sunday 6 February was one of the occasional "Four Stooges" outings with me and Marie H., and Joe L., and Christine M. We had our usual fun time with a meal and walk around "The Grove" where we had ice cream while we watched the musical fountains.
Suesan went in for her eye operation the next day, Monday, Feb 7 and it went very well. I picked her up from the hospital and drove her to her hotel. She has since discovered that she has excellent sight back in that eye with the new plastic lens - (but now needs to get the other one done per the doctor).
While she was her in Los Angeles recovering, her married son, Morgan had a life threatening asthma attack and I went in to the emergency room and gave him a battery of assists and an interview for suppression in his life and that helped pull him out of it.
Then while she was there in the hospital with him, his wife, Kyla became very ill so I went in and brough her back to my place and did an interview to locate suppression in her life with the good result of improvement in her illness.
It was eventually determined that they had Swine Flue so my assists really helped these folk - they are recovered now.
Before Suesan went back, her oldest daughter, Wendy and husband, David, 4 year old son, Logan, and 10 month old daughter, Lilly, came down to Los Angeles to take her back to Nevada. I went to visit them all at "Kid's Castle" in Burbank where they were having a family dinner. That was great to see them all again.
I recently spoke on the phone to my sister, Maureen in New Zealand. She is home from hospital and out of danger now and will have a replacement knee put in as soon as fully recovered from the serious infection caused by the old one.
Today I put on a graduation lunch and certificate presentation for the students at the Los Angeles Medical Center where I supervive in down town Los Angeles. We had six student completions and it all went off very well - (before the rain started and ended Los Angele's sunny, warm, winter days).
I continue to work on my website and have sold a few more eBooks at the new lower price. The monthly statistics of the site continue to rise.
I keep getting more and more friends on Face Book though I don't really know how to make much use of this social media network.
I continue to hear from my good friend Lena in Russia.
I'm not going back to consult at the Radisson hotel in Lubbock, Texas this month but have heard that I may be required again in March.
That's about it for this entry - cheery bye until next time.
Love,
Barry
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
First Post for 2011
So much has happened since my last post!
I did my usual business training activities for the first two weeks of December and then I learned that I would be spending Christmas and New Years Eve in Texas, so I had dinners with my special friends Joe L. then Sue Z, Suesan W and Jackie K, got away all my Christmas cards and prepared for my trip.
Fabian, the wonderful young guy I work with has been in Lubbock, Texas for about six months with only a weekend home with his wife every 3 weeks or so. He has been consultant and business trainer for the downtown Radisson hotel in Lubbock and wanted to spend Christmas and New Year with his wife back here in Los Angeles. He asked me to take his place in Lubbock for a couple of weeks and I agreed.
I left for Lubbock on South West Airlines on Sunday December 19, 2010 and arrived that evening. It was very cold yet very dry on my arrival. Fabian met me at the little International Airport and drove me to the Raddison in the hotel mini-van that I would have use of while there.
I learned to say the name of the city correctly - Lubbock is pronounced Lub-bic with the emphasis on the Lub and the "u" sounded like in "up".
I met the night hotel staff and got assigned a great suite and get some sleep in an amazingly comfortable bed.
Next day I was introduced to the day staff and right away I got some of them onto their study courses. Over the next couple of days Fabian trained me up on what my duties would be as consultant to the hotel and then I drove him to the airport and he left for Los Angeles - leaving the hotel in my hands and those of the regular staff.
Lubbock is a small city in the middle of the desert. It is flat as a billiard table out there for as far as the eye can see and the grass is all dry and yellow/beige giving the impression of clay ground. It is very cold at this time of year but it is not wet like it has been recently in Los Angeles.
The city is prominent for agriculture, particularly cotton, and for its university which has the biggest campus in the USA (other than the millitary training school which is only bigger bacause the plane runways are included in its area). Football is also a huge draw in Lubbock and theit team had a major seasonal win while I was there.
In exchange for my consulting and business training duties I got pay plus a great suite to stay in plus meals at the hotel restaurant. I also got to drive the mini van around the city - to the bank for change for the restaurant, bar and front desk and for other hotel chores - and to use it for my own discovery of town layout etc., plus I also had some of my own personal expenses paid.
The cook is great and put on a wonderful Christmas buffet and cooked me special meals for my organic diet.
Over New Year the general manager went on vacation leaving me as the only executive and I made all the decisions regarding the running of the hotel.
Fabian returned from Los Angeles on Monday, 3 January 2011 and I turned things back over to him and had a couple of days to look around and then left Lubbock on Wednesday, 5 January 2011 for Los Angeles.
The flight was delayed for one and a half hours from leaving Lubbock as, on landing, it struck a Canadian goose and we had to wait for maintanance to be located somewhere off the airport, to come and inspect and clear the plane to leave. The plane was only about quarter full leaving Lubbock but we stopped in Austin, Texas, and it filled to a full flight for the three hour trip to Los Angeles, California. After waiting for a shuttle at LA airport I got home to my apartment at 11:30 pm last night and unpacked, went through my mail and got some sleep - the adventure over - for now!
Today, Thursday, 6 January 2011, I shopped for food and a new bigger and more-easily-wheeled suitcase, as Fabian wants me back there in a couple of weeks for two more weeks at the Radisoon while he comes back here to Los Angeles again.
I have arranged students for business training for tomorrow, Friday, - and for Monday - so I am getting back in the groove again fast.
Until next post...
Lots of love to all.
Barry
I did my usual business training activities for the first two weeks of December and then I learned that I would be spending Christmas and New Years Eve in Texas, so I had dinners with my special friends Joe L. then Sue Z, Suesan W and Jackie K, got away all my Christmas cards and prepared for my trip.
Fabian, the wonderful young guy I work with has been in Lubbock, Texas for about six months with only a weekend home with his wife every 3 weeks or so. He has been consultant and business trainer for the downtown Radisson hotel in Lubbock and wanted to spend Christmas and New Year with his wife back here in Los Angeles. He asked me to take his place in Lubbock for a couple of weeks and I agreed.
I left for Lubbock on South West Airlines on Sunday December 19, 2010 and arrived that evening. It was very cold yet very dry on my arrival. Fabian met me at the little International Airport and drove me to the Raddison in the hotel mini-van that I would have use of while there.
I learned to say the name of the city correctly - Lubbock is pronounced Lub-bic with the emphasis on the Lub and the "u" sounded like in "up".
I met the night hotel staff and got assigned a great suite and get some sleep in an amazingly comfortable bed.
Next day I was introduced to the day staff and right away I got some of them onto their study courses. Over the next couple of days Fabian trained me up on what my duties would be as consultant to the hotel and then I drove him to the airport and he left for Los Angeles - leaving the hotel in my hands and those of the regular staff.
Lubbock is a small city in the middle of the desert. It is flat as a billiard table out there for as far as the eye can see and the grass is all dry and yellow/beige giving the impression of clay ground. It is very cold at this time of year but it is not wet like it has been recently in Los Angeles.
The city is prominent for agriculture, particularly cotton, and for its university which has the biggest campus in the USA (other than the millitary training school which is only bigger bacause the plane runways are included in its area). Football is also a huge draw in Lubbock and theit team had a major seasonal win while I was there.
In exchange for my consulting and business training duties I got pay plus a great suite to stay in plus meals at the hotel restaurant. I also got to drive the mini van around the city - to the bank for change for the restaurant, bar and front desk and for other hotel chores - and to use it for my own discovery of town layout etc., plus I also had some of my own personal expenses paid.
The cook is great and put on a wonderful Christmas buffet and cooked me special meals for my organic diet.
Over New Year the general manager went on vacation leaving me as the only executive and I made all the decisions regarding the running of the hotel.
Fabian returned from Los Angeles on Monday, 3 January 2011 and I turned things back over to him and had a couple of days to look around and then left Lubbock on Wednesday, 5 January 2011 for Los Angeles.
The flight was delayed for one and a half hours from leaving Lubbock as, on landing, it struck a Canadian goose and we had to wait for maintanance to be located somewhere off the airport, to come and inspect and clear the plane to leave. The plane was only about quarter full leaving Lubbock but we stopped in Austin, Texas, and it filled to a full flight for the three hour trip to Los Angeles, California. After waiting for a shuttle at LA airport I got home to my apartment at 11:30 pm last night and unpacked, went through my mail and got some sleep - the adventure over - for now!
Today, Thursday, 6 January 2011, I shopped for food and a new bigger and more-easily-wheeled suitcase, as Fabian wants me back there in a couple of weeks for two more weeks at the Radisoon while he comes back here to Los Angeles again.
I have arranged students for business training for tomorrow, Friday, - and for Monday - so I am getting back in the groove again fast.
Until next post...
Lots of love to all.
Barry
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Australian Trip and Thanksgiving 2010
The week through 14 November 2010 I spent as usual with the added tasks of getting everything arranged for my trip to Australia for a sibling reunion with my older sister, Maureen and younger brother, Warren coming from New Zealand, to meet me at my older brother, Des'ss home, an hour out of Melbourne in Australia.
Just before leaving I got the disturbing news that Maureen was rushed into hospital, very ill with a life threatening infection from a knee implant done 5 years earlier. I determined to catch my intended flight to Australia and arrange to go to New Zealand from there so I got a shuttle to the airport on Sunday 14th November for an 11:40 pm flight. We were supposed to go in one of Qantas's big new Airbuses but Qantas was having uncertainties concerning the Rolls Royce engines and we were switched to the usual 747 - to my relief! Our flight was delayed as one of the passengers got ill after boarding and medics determined it was unsafe for him to fly so he and his luggage had to be taken off the plane - allowing us to finally get away at midnight.
I sat next to a young dad from Melbourne who was a security person at Melbourne University and who had been to the USA for seminars on University security. He was pleasant and we chatted from time to time between movies (the New Zealand film "Boy", "Centurion" and "Dinner for Idiots")
We touched down at Melbourne airport after a 15 hour (a bit bumpy) flight at 10:00 am Tuesday 16th November, having skipped Monday 15th altogether due to the international date line, and I was met by older brother, Des's youngest child - daughter, Fleur, and her two-year old daughter, Hope who I was meeting for the very first time - she is a real little darling (five-year old son, Finn, was at school). It was so great to see Fleur again. Fleur's husband, Martyne was away on business so I was still not going to get to meet him but Fleur drove me to their home in Melbourne for a meal and rest and to determine if I'd stay two days with them before going to Des's place - at Clifton Springs, an hour away on the huge (about 100 mile around) Port Phillip Bay that Port Phillip and Melbourne city are on the inland coast of. We decided that due to Maureen's condition I should go directly to Des and June's place. (It meant that I would not get to meet Finn until Sunday when Fleur came back to Clifton Springs.) Fleur drove me there - a bit over an hour's drive. All the way, Hope sang and talked happily to the little stuffed animal that I had brought from Los Angeles for her. We arrived there about 2:30 pm local time.
It was so great to see Des and June again - it had been far too long. They settled me in and Junie gave me a tour of their wonderful house and large grounds and gardens with a great view of the huge bay - we caught up on things a bit and had a late, 9:00 pm dinner, got the latest update from younger brother, Warren in New Zealand on Maureen's condition and I asked advice on whether I should fly there as soon as a flight was available. Warren said that Maureen was in a medically induced coma and that she wouldn't know that I was there so there was no point in going. I considered the idea of going to just give her the unconscious person assists but realized that she was supposed to stay in the coma to heal and it would be counter-productive to pull her out of it as is done for an accident-injury coma where the person can't wake up. Warren and Lyn were definitely staying in New Zealand to be near Maureen. We all determined I should stay in Australia and monitor the situation from there. Unfortunately this meant that I would not be seeing Warren and Lyn and Maureen's family at all this trip but of all the family members I had seen them most recently so I had to be satisfied with that. After getting the news from New Zealand I got some long delayed sleep.
Wednesday, 17th November after a wonderful comfortable sleep I was up and showered and out for breakfast and further chatting and catching up with my big brother and my wonderful sister-in-law. We had a pleasant lunch and then set out on a drive to show me round the parameter of the large peninsula called "The Bellarine", that Clifton Springs is part of and that juts obliquely into huge Port Phillip Bay (creating its own smaller St Leonard's Bay - a bay within a bay). We saw Portarlington, Indented Head and went all the way to Point Londsdale where we could look out to the open sea of Bass Straight and see the opposite peninsular that helped create the huge bay. Then we were off home again. It was a very pleasant drive and a great look around a very lovely area. We watched the news on TV and had dinner and then updated the news on Maureen's progress in intensive care at the hospital in New Zealand. Things were still a bit uncertain - the doctors originally had not expected her to survive but she is tough and was busily proving them wrong so that things looked more positive now. So off we went to bed.
Thursday, 18th November - up, showered and breakfast and we set off before lunch for a day trip. This time we went directly across The Bellarine peninsular through Drysdale and Wallington to the beautiful open ocean coast and Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads (where we stopped for a very enjoyable lunch) There was a beautiful surf beach and it was quite windy, with wind-surfers and kite-surfers and a short walk to a lookout and a little further on was the lighthouse. Then we drove on as far as Torquay still on the coast before we made our way home across the peninsula with several stops to look for garden things that Des and June were wanting. It was a wonderful day of new discoveries for me. We watched the TV news and had a super dinner again thanks to June's great cooking skills. After getting the update on Maureen's very slow improvement Des went off to bed to read and June and I watched the movie "Moe's Last Dancer" and then I checked my email and off to bed.
Friday, 19th November, 2010 - up and showered and breakfast. I helped hang out the washing to dry and went shopping with June. I tried to get some US dollars changed at the small local bank and they wouldn't change them as none of my notes were "perfect enough"!!! After lunch we set off on another outing to Queenscliff on a small peninsula at the end of the large peninsula we had been exploring each day. It is a wonderful place with great old hotel buildings, old homes, a fort and ferry berth for the large vehicular ferry that goes across the bay to the peninsula on the other side of the bay opening. I changes US dollars there without them giving it a second thought. We stopped for garden things for their amazing garden again on the way home and had another delicious dinner after watching the news on TV. We caught up on the family news from New Zealand and Maureen's slowly improving condition and then June and I set about watching another movie - about the history of a Hungarian family from the late 1800's through to current times. It was a bit of a slog and June went to sleep part way through and then went off to bed. I checked my email and hit the bed myself.
Saturday 20th, November - up showered and breakfast. I washed June's car for her and then I sat out in the garden and did a pastel drawing of one of the garden areas. As we were sitting down to lunch, Des and June's oldest child, Dean arrived with his wife, Vicki and their 15 year old twins, Phoebe and Liam - who I had not seen since I held them in my arms when they were a few months old! It was so great to see them all again! We all had a great catch up and a pleasant afternoon. Phoebe helped me downloading my eBooks onto Des's computer so June could have a read of them and Des and Dean with Liam's help, cooked a great BBQ dinner with chops, sausages, chicken-skewers and seafood. Vicki had brought some very nice Italian starter-snacks before dinner and after dinner June presented a fabulous pavlova desert - the favorite for both me and Liam. June said it was for my birthday, which had been a couple of weeks earlier and for Liam. It was a really big meal and I got away with a glass of wine without any adverse effects. We got an update on Maureen's slowly improving condition in New Zealand and then we had fun until midnight with Dean being the life of the party due to having just a little more wine that the others present. Great fun! They all stayed over-night.
Sunday 21st November 2010 - up and showered and breakfast before most of the others were up - except for Des who is always up first. Soon we were all up and about sitting in the sun in the garden where I totally neglected a hat an started a pretty good sunburn on my face. We had a chatty morning tea and Fleur arrived from Melbourne with young Finn and Hope. I finally got to know Finn, a very in-communication and bright little lad who made friends very fast. We all had a pleasant lunch and then a pleasant afternoon tea - still out on the lawn in the sun - and finally I had to say goodbye to Dean, Vicki and the twins as they went off on their faily long drive home. This was going to be my last day at Des and June's place as I was going to go back and spend my last full day in Australia exploring Melbourne city from Fleur and Martyn's place where I would spend two nights and then catch my plane back to the USA. I got packed up and after Fleur bathed and fed the kids I gave my appreciation for a wonderful stay and said goodbye for now to my big brother, Des and his wife, June - then Fleur, me and the kids set off for Melbourne city. When we arrived the kids went off to bed and Fleur made a great dinner for the two of us and then while she prepared for an important interview with an architect the next day I watched the movie "Moulin Rouge" and then we were off to bed.
Monday, 22nd November - up and showered and breakfast and prepare for a day in the city. We all got in the car and got the kids started on their day - we dropped Hope off at her "pre-pre-school" and I got to take Finn in to his school while Fleur did a quick trip to the doctor to get her injured toe dressed. Then Fleur made the time to drop me off at the main square down town before going off to her appointment with the rather famous architect. It was 10:00 am and she arranged to pick me up at 4:30 pm so I'd have six and a half hours to wander around and get to know the city. I did just that - going to the tourist center and getting gifts for friends, visiting the art gallery and the arts center, Albert Park, the memorial shrine, the botanical gardens (where I had a pleasant lunch), a river walk, the South Gate area with riverside restaurants and shops, and the main down-tone shopping area. I got souvenirs and some goodies for our dinner and then went to our pre-determined meeting place where Fleur arrived promptly and collected me. We picked up the kids and were off home to their place for play, kids dinner and bath and bed - TV news and salmon and salad dinner with strawberries and cream and chie tea for us adults. Fleur prepared for her trip. She is going to be taking the kids right across the continent to their other grandma's place so she can meet Martyn in New York to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and she is leaving the day after she gets me off to the USA. I watched the movie "Up In The Air" and then packed for an early departure to the airport in the morning and went to bed.
Tuesday 23, November 2010 - up showered and breakfast. We got the kids and my bags into the car and I took Finn into school and said goodbye to him while Fleur stopped by the library and then we dropped Hope at her play-school. Fleur dropped me at the airport where we said our goodbyes. It was about 9:30 I think and my plane went at 12:00 noon so I had comfortable time to change my Australian money back to US dollars, get through immigration and customs, grab a little snack and get on the flight without a mad rush. I had an isle seat next to a very pleasant your man from Melbourne who is currently living in Vancouver, Canada and was returning there after being home for his sister's wedding. He had a high affinity and great smile and we chatted away for quite a bit of the flight. I watched more movies - "The Other Guys" and an animation one, "Madagascar". Meals were fair and we landed about 6:45 am local LA time after about 14 hours in the air and no real sleep. I got a shuttle home and started unpacking and catching up on communications - e-mail to Suesan in Las Vegas - Sue let me know she was off to her sister's in San Francisco for Thanksgiving - (Jackie having Thanksgiving with her kids) - Joe's girlfriend, Vivian off to her family for Thanksgiving - Joe having Thanksgiving with me per our long tradition. So off I went without any sleep and did all the shopping to cook a Thanksgiving turkey dinner! Finally I got some sleep - I don't know why but it wasn't enough!
Wednesday 24, November I was back to work training staff at the medical center down town Los Angeles and then went to lunch with my boss and the son of the owner of the Texas hotel where my boss is being resident consultant. When I got home I prepared all the turkey and trimmings ready to go in the oven the next day.
Thursday 25th November 2010 - Thanksgiving day. I got the oven going early and by the time Joe arrived at noon everything was cooked and ready to go - turkey and stuffing, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkin, spinach, broccoli, onion, gravy, cranberry sauce, fruit juices, pumpkin pie, ice cream. cream - the works. We ate until we could eat no more and then watched a couple of movies on TV and chatted to catch up on each others news. We repeated the meal again at dinner time and then Joe went off having to work the following day, which I was not required to do.
Friday 26th November my trip with the stress about Maureen's condition and lack of sleep from the point I left Australia to return home, seemed to catch up on me and I felt a slight cold coming on so I dosed up with vitamins and spent most of the day catching up on sleep.
Saturday 27th, November 2010 was a lazy day watching TV and catching up on things that needed to be done - including writing this blog entry. I continue to get daily news on Maureen's condition in New Zealand and happily she is continuing to improve so we are planning on having our sibling reunion at some future date.
More next time.
Love to all,
Barry
Just before leaving I got the disturbing news that Maureen was rushed into hospital, very ill with a life threatening infection from a knee implant done 5 years earlier. I determined to catch my intended flight to Australia and arrange to go to New Zealand from there so I got a shuttle to the airport on Sunday 14th November for an 11:40 pm flight. We were supposed to go in one of Qantas's big new Airbuses but Qantas was having uncertainties concerning the Rolls Royce engines and we were switched to the usual 747 - to my relief! Our flight was delayed as one of the passengers got ill after boarding and medics determined it was unsafe for him to fly so he and his luggage had to be taken off the plane - allowing us to finally get away at midnight.
I sat next to a young dad from Melbourne who was a security person at Melbourne University and who had been to the USA for seminars on University security. He was pleasant and we chatted from time to time between movies (the New Zealand film "Boy", "Centurion" and "Dinner for Idiots")
We touched down at Melbourne airport after a 15 hour (a bit bumpy) flight at 10:00 am Tuesday 16th November, having skipped Monday 15th altogether due to the international date line, and I was met by older brother, Des's youngest child - daughter, Fleur, and her two-year old daughter, Hope who I was meeting for the very first time - she is a real little darling (five-year old son, Finn, was at school). It was so great to see Fleur again. Fleur's husband, Martyne was away on business so I was still not going to get to meet him but Fleur drove me to their home in Melbourne for a meal and rest and to determine if I'd stay two days with them before going to Des's place - at Clifton Springs, an hour away on the huge (about 100 mile around) Port Phillip Bay that Port Phillip and Melbourne city are on the inland coast of. We decided that due to Maureen's condition I should go directly to Des and June's place. (It meant that I would not get to meet Finn until Sunday when Fleur came back to Clifton Springs.) Fleur drove me there - a bit over an hour's drive. All the way, Hope sang and talked happily to the little stuffed animal that I had brought from Los Angeles for her. We arrived there about 2:30 pm local time.
It was so great to see Des and June again - it had been far too long. They settled me in and Junie gave me a tour of their wonderful house and large grounds and gardens with a great view of the huge bay - we caught up on things a bit and had a late, 9:00 pm dinner, got the latest update from younger brother, Warren in New Zealand on Maureen's condition and I asked advice on whether I should fly there as soon as a flight was available. Warren said that Maureen was in a medically induced coma and that she wouldn't know that I was there so there was no point in going. I considered the idea of going to just give her the unconscious person assists but realized that she was supposed to stay in the coma to heal and it would be counter-productive to pull her out of it as is done for an accident-injury coma where the person can't wake up. Warren and Lyn were definitely staying in New Zealand to be near Maureen. We all determined I should stay in Australia and monitor the situation from there. Unfortunately this meant that I would not be seeing Warren and Lyn and Maureen's family at all this trip but of all the family members I had seen them most recently so I had to be satisfied with that. After getting the news from New Zealand I got some long delayed sleep.
Wednesday, 17th November after a wonderful comfortable sleep I was up and showered and out for breakfast and further chatting and catching up with my big brother and my wonderful sister-in-law. We had a pleasant lunch and then set out on a drive to show me round the parameter of the large peninsula called "The Bellarine", that Clifton Springs is part of and that juts obliquely into huge Port Phillip Bay (creating its own smaller St Leonard's Bay - a bay within a bay). We saw Portarlington, Indented Head and went all the way to Point Londsdale where we could look out to the open sea of Bass Straight and see the opposite peninsular that helped create the huge bay. Then we were off home again. It was a very pleasant drive and a great look around a very lovely area. We watched the news on TV and had dinner and then updated the news on Maureen's progress in intensive care at the hospital in New Zealand. Things were still a bit uncertain - the doctors originally had not expected her to survive but she is tough and was busily proving them wrong so that things looked more positive now. So off we went to bed.
Thursday, 18th November - up, showered and breakfast and we set off before lunch for a day trip. This time we went directly across The Bellarine peninsular through Drysdale and Wallington to the beautiful open ocean coast and Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads (where we stopped for a very enjoyable lunch) There was a beautiful surf beach and it was quite windy, with wind-surfers and kite-surfers and a short walk to a lookout and a little further on was the lighthouse. Then we drove on as far as Torquay still on the coast before we made our way home across the peninsula with several stops to look for garden things that Des and June were wanting. It was a wonderful day of new discoveries for me. We watched the TV news and had a super dinner again thanks to June's great cooking skills. After getting the update on Maureen's very slow improvement Des went off to bed to read and June and I watched the movie "Moe's Last Dancer" and then I checked my email and off to bed.
Friday, 19th November, 2010 - up and showered and breakfast. I helped hang out the washing to dry and went shopping with June. I tried to get some US dollars changed at the small local bank and they wouldn't change them as none of my notes were "perfect enough"!!! After lunch we set off on another outing to Queenscliff on a small peninsula at the end of the large peninsula we had been exploring each day. It is a wonderful place with great old hotel buildings, old homes, a fort and ferry berth for the large vehicular ferry that goes across the bay to the peninsula on the other side of the bay opening. I changes US dollars there without them giving it a second thought. We stopped for garden things for their amazing garden again on the way home and had another delicious dinner after watching the news on TV. We caught up on the family news from New Zealand and Maureen's slowly improving condition and then June and I set about watching another movie - about the history of a Hungarian family from the late 1800's through to current times. It was a bit of a slog and June went to sleep part way through and then went off to bed. I checked my email and hit the bed myself.
Saturday 20th, November - up showered and breakfast. I washed June's car for her and then I sat out in the garden and did a pastel drawing of one of the garden areas. As we were sitting down to lunch, Des and June's oldest child, Dean arrived with his wife, Vicki and their 15 year old twins, Phoebe and Liam - who I had not seen since I held them in my arms when they were a few months old! It was so great to see them all again! We all had a great catch up and a pleasant afternoon. Phoebe helped me downloading my eBooks onto Des's computer so June could have a read of them and Des and Dean with Liam's help, cooked a great BBQ dinner with chops, sausages, chicken-skewers and seafood. Vicki had brought some very nice Italian starter-snacks before dinner and after dinner June presented a fabulous pavlova desert - the favorite for both me and Liam. June said it was for my birthday, which had been a couple of weeks earlier and for Liam. It was a really big meal and I got away with a glass of wine without any adverse effects. We got an update on Maureen's slowly improving condition in New Zealand and then we had fun until midnight with Dean being the life of the party due to having just a little more wine that the others present. Great fun! They all stayed over-night.
Sunday 21st November 2010 - up and showered and breakfast before most of the others were up - except for Des who is always up first. Soon we were all up and about sitting in the sun in the garden where I totally neglected a hat an started a pretty good sunburn on my face. We had a chatty morning tea and Fleur arrived from Melbourne with young Finn and Hope. I finally got to know Finn, a very in-communication and bright little lad who made friends very fast. We all had a pleasant lunch and then a pleasant afternoon tea - still out on the lawn in the sun - and finally I had to say goodbye to Dean, Vicki and the twins as they went off on their faily long drive home. This was going to be my last day at Des and June's place as I was going to go back and spend my last full day in Australia exploring Melbourne city from Fleur and Martyn's place where I would spend two nights and then catch my plane back to the USA. I got packed up and after Fleur bathed and fed the kids I gave my appreciation for a wonderful stay and said goodbye for now to my big brother, Des and his wife, June - then Fleur, me and the kids set off for Melbourne city. When we arrived the kids went off to bed and Fleur made a great dinner for the two of us and then while she prepared for an important interview with an architect the next day I watched the movie "Moulin Rouge" and then we were off to bed.
Monday, 22nd November - up and showered and breakfast and prepare for a day in the city. We all got in the car and got the kids started on their day - we dropped Hope off at her "pre-pre-school" and I got to take Finn in to his school while Fleur did a quick trip to the doctor to get her injured toe dressed. Then Fleur made the time to drop me off at the main square down town before going off to her appointment with the rather famous architect. It was 10:00 am and she arranged to pick me up at 4:30 pm so I'd have six and a half hours to wander around and get to know the city. I did just that - going to the tourist center and getting gifts for friends, visiting the art gallery and the arts center, Albert Park, the memorial shrine, the botanical gardens (where I had a pleasant lunch), a river walk, the South Gate area with riverside restaurants and shops, and the main down-tone shopping area. I got souvenirs and some goodies for our dinner and then went to our pre-determined meeting place where Fleur arrived promptly and collected me. We picked up the kids and were off home to their place for play, kids dinner and bath and bed - TV news and salmon and salad dinner with strawberries and cream and chie tea for us adults. Fleur prepared for her trip. She is going to be taking the kids right across the continent to their other grandma's place so she can meet Martyn in New York to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and she is leaving the day after she gets me off to the USA. I watched the movie "Up In The Air" and then packed for an early departure to the airport in the morning and went to bed.
Tuesday 23, November 2010 - up showered and breakfast. We got the kids and my bags into the car and I took Finn into school and said goodbye to him while Fleur stopped by the library and then we dropped Hope at her play-school. Fleur dropped me at the airport where we said our goodbyes. It was about 9:30 I think and my plane went at 12:00 noon so I had comfortable time to change my Australian money back to US dollars, get through immigration and customs, grab a little snack and get on the flight without a mad rush. I had an isle seat next to a very pleasant your man from Melbourne who is currently living in Vancouver, Canada and was returning there after being home for his sister's wedding. He had a high affinity and great smile and we chatted away for quite a bit of the flight. I watched more movies - "The Other Guys" and an animation one, "Madagascar". Meals were fair and we landed about 6:45 am local LA time after about 14 hours in the air and no real sleep. I got a shuttle home and started unpacking and catching up on communications - e-mail to Suesan in Las Vegas - Sue let me know she was off to her sister's in San Francisco for Thanksgiving - (Jackie having Thanksgiving with her kids) - Joe's girlfriend, Vivian off to her family for Thanksgiving - Joe having Thanksgiving with me per our long tradition. So off I went without any sleep and did all the shopping to cook a Thanksgiving turkey dinner! Finally I got some sleep - I don't know why but it wasn't enough!
Wednesday 24, November I was back to work training staff at the medical center down town Los Angeles and then went to lunch with my boss and the son of the owner of the Texas hotel where my boss is being resident consultant. When I got home I prepared all the turkey and trimmings ready to go in the oven the next day.
Thursday 25th November 2010 - Thanksgiving day. I got the oven going early and by the time Joe arrived at noon everything was cooked and ready to go - turkey and stuffing, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkin, spinach, broccoli, onion, gravy, cranberry sauce, fruit juices, pumpkin pie, ice cream. cream - the works. We ate until we could eat no more and then watched a couple of movies on TV and chatted to catch up on each others news. We repeated the meal again at dinner time and then Joe went off having to work the following day, which I was not required to do.
Friday 26th November my trip with the stress about Maureen's condition and lack of sleep from the point I left Australia to return home, seemed to catch up on me and I felt a slight cold coming on so I dosed up with vitamins and spent most of the day catching up on sleep.
Saturday 27th, November 2010 was a lazy day watching TV and catching up on things that needed to be done - including writing this blog entry. I continue to get daily news on Maureen's condition in New Zealand and happily she is continuing to improve so we are planning on having our sibling reunion at some future date.
More next time.
Love to all,
Barry
Thursday, November 4, 2010
October 15th, 2010 through November 3 2010
Hello again folks!
The first week from 15th October 2010 went along routinely - supervising at the dental office in Artesia on Friday and then a bike ride and a couple hours of sun before having dinner with friend Jackie. No bike ride and sun on Saturday due to rain and on Sunday some pleasant hours and a meal with friend Joe. Monday I had no work but Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 I supervised at down town Los Angeles Media Medical Mall and then Friday 22 October at Artesia dental clinic again and dinner with Jackie.
Saturday I got in a bike ride and some sun and then in the evening went to the International Association of Scientologists 26th Anniversary Celebration. - (Amazing progress into society including two major drug companies abandoning all psychiatric drugs, dozens of psych facilities closed down and scores of psychs jailed for crimes against their patients.)
Sunday I had time with Joe again who was just back from Las Vegas with his girlfriend , Vivian.
No work Monday, October 25th so another bike ride, weight exercises and time in the sun. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were duplicate days of the previous week. Saturday was overcast so I worked at home on the new eBook for the website. Sunday was time with Joe who took me out to lunch for my birthday coming up the following day.
The Sunday, Oct 31 Halloween day - bike ride so at 10:00 pm I drove to the huge Hollywood Halloween block party and successfully postulated into existence a parking space amongst the thousands of cars and hundreds of others unsuccessfully searching for a place to park. I joined the tens of thousands of others there. I simply wore black trousers and a bright red jacket as Halloween colors but I was stopped on two occasions by two different pleasant young guys who wanted to know who I was dressed as. As it wasn't as anyone at all except myself I asked them who they thought I was being. The first one said, "Mr Rogers from the kids TV show" and the second one decided "Woolverine from the movie". I told each of them that they were correct and they went on, very happy with their skill at guessing! It was a wild, wild party with unbelievable costumes - some very beautiful and some really horrible as appropriate for Halloween.
I decided I would know when it was about to turn midnight and become my birthday and I "just happened" to glance at my watch at 11:59 pm on the last minute of October 2010 and saw the month turn over to November - and there I was at this huge party with thousands of people having fun for my birthday!!!!
I got home and to bed about 4:00 am and slept late and as it was a beautiful sunny day I did a bike ride and spent some time at the beach. When I checked my e-mail I had dozens of emails birthday greeting from family members and friends - I was quite amazed at the quantity of them. I had some special phone messages also from Romy and GAry (whoes birthday is the same day as mine, from my sister Maureen in New Zealand and from my dear friend and ex-room mate, Marcelo and his family. Very nice - thank you all so much.
Tuesday November 2 was a normal work day supervising students at the medical center and today Wednesday 3rd I held a graduation lunch for them. Lots of preparation time and a very enjoyable high-toned lunch and presentation of certificates to those who had completed courses.
Tonight I completed a difficult (for me) illustration for the Out-of-Body Experiences eBook and I have only one more to do now - the most difficult of all - and then I can start putting the book together and get it up on the website.
That brings us up to date so I'll get back to you all in a week or two.
Love,
Barry
The first week from 15th October 2010 went along routinely - supervising at the dental office in Artesia on Friday and then a bike ride and a couple hours of sun before having dinner with friend Jackie. No bike ride and sun on Saturday due to rain and on Sunday some pleasant hours and a meal with friend Joe. Monday I had no work but Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 I supervised at down town Los Angeles Media Medical Mall and then Friday 22 October at Artesia dental clinic again and dinner with Jackie.
Saturday I got in a bike ride and some sun and then in the evening went to the International Association of Scientologists 26th Anniversary Celebration. - (Amazing progress into society including two major drug companies abandoning all psychiatric drugs, dozens of psych facilities closed down and scores of psychs jailed for crimes against their patients.)
Sunday I had time with Joe again who was just back from Las Vegas with his girlfriend , Vivian.
No work Monday, October 25th so another bike ride, weight exercises and time in the sun. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were duplicate days of the previous week. Saturday was overcast so I worked at home on the new eBook for the website. Sunday was time with Joe who took me out to lunch for my birthday coming up the following day.
The Sunday, Oct 31 Halloween day - bike ride so at 10:00 pm I drove to the huge Hollywood Halloween block party and successfully postulated into existence a parking space amongst the thousands of cars and hundreds of others unsuccessfully searching for a place to park. I joined the tens of thousands of others there. I simply wore black trousers and a bright red jacket as Halloween colors but I was stopped on two occasions by two different pleasant young guys who wanted to know who I was dressed as. As it wasn't as anyone at all except myself I asked them who they thought I was being. The first one said, "Mr Rogers from the kids TV show" and the second one decided "Woolverine from the movie". I told each of them that they were correct and they went on, very happy with their skill at guessing! It was a wild, wild party with unbelievable costumes - some very beautiful and some really horrible as appropriate for Halloween.
I decided I would know when it was about to turn midnight and become my birthday and I "just happened" to glance at my watch at 11:59 pm on the last minute of October 2010 and saw the month turn over to November - and there I was at this huge party with thousands of people having fun for my birthday!!!!
I got home and to bed about 4:00 am and slept late and as it was a beautiful sunny day I did a bike ride and spent some time at the beach. When I checked my e-mail I had dozens of emails birthday greeting from family members and friends - I was quite amazed at the quantity of them. I had some special phone messages also from Romy and GAry (whoes birthday is the same day as mine, from my sister Maureen in New Zealand and from my dear friend and ex-room mate, Marcelo and his family. Very nice - thank you all so much.
Tuesday November 2 was a normal work day supervising students at the medical center and today Wednesday 3rd I held a graduation lunch for them. Lots of preparation time and a very enjoyable high-toned lunch and presentation of certificates to those who had completed courses.
Tonight I completed a difficult (for me) illustration for the Out-of-Body Experiences eBook and I have only one more to do now - the most difficult of all - and then I can start putting the book together and get it up on the website.
That brings us up to date so I'll get back to you all in a week or two.
Love,
Barry
Friday, October 15, 2010
Update thru October 14, 2010
Hi again friends and family members!
Thursday, September 30, 2010, the day after my last post, I had the honor of being invited to Celebrity Center for a four-hour sitting in front of a movie camera with a very professional team from Golden Era Studios, to relate all my personal experiences directly with my wonderful friend, L. Ron Hubbard. It was quite an emotional time for me, reminiscing about the wonderful moments he shared with me. The Golden Area crew are interviewing all those who had personal relationships with him so these are preserved for all the future people who will want to learn more about this wonderful friend of all mankind.
Friday, October 1, 2010 I supervised at the dental office in Artesia and took my bike and gear with me so I could stop off at the Los Angeles river bike-track on the way home. There I went for a bike ride and got a couple of hours in the sun. That evening I had dinner with friend Jackie and that night went to bed very early and set the alarm clock for 4:00 am Saturday morning!
Saturday, October 2, I was up at 4:00 am and on the road at 5:10 am - on my way to Henderson, Nevada - next city right beside Las Vegas. The car performed beautifully and the traffic was light and I was able to pull off the freeway into the desert and get some wonderful photos of the beautiful red dawn sunrise. I had taken my breakfast with me and ate it as I enjoyed the beautiful morning sky.
I arrived at my friend Suesan's place some time after 10:30 am and she set me up with bed and bathroom for my two night stay. Soon the other family members began to arrive for a family lunch - Suesan's older daughter, Wendy and her husband, David with four-year-old son, Logan and three-month-old daughter, Lilly. I was introduced to Lilly for the firt time and got to hold and hug her. What a beautiful little being she is - so cheerful and happy. Then Suesan's younger daughter, Grace and her husband, Scott arrived and we all had a wonderful lunch together. After that, Suesan and I went to Wendy and David's place and I played with young Logan for quite some time while Suesan helped Wendy with Lilly. Logan is a great kid.
In the afternoon I did interviews on Wendy and Grace to help them out with some work and personal problems and then Grace and Scott took Suesan and I out to dinner that night.
Next morning, Sunday, October 3, 2010, I gave Suesan her interview to help her with a health problem she had been having and then Suesan and I went into Las Vegas to the "strip" and had breakfast at the Bellagio and had a great look around their indoor seasonal garden and stores. Then we caught the trolly to the new Las Vegas City Center with it's new towering skyscrapers and world famous stores. Two of the towers lean in opposite directions to each other. We walked back to the Bellagio and saw the fountains play to the music score of "The Pink Panther" and then went on home and to Wendy's place to help entertain Logan while Wendy handled Lilly.
We had dinner and I watched a nature program on TV while Suesan caught up on some work from her remote home office.
After breakfast in the morning, Monday, October, 4, I said goodbyes and headed home hitting rain when I got to Pasadena and getting in about 3:30 pm or so.
Tuesday 5th , Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th I supervised the staff courses at the Wilshire medical center and Friday 8th at the Artesia dental office - after which I went for another bike ride and sunning. Same biking and sunning again on Saturday, October 9th (after a good work out with weights).
On Sunday, 10th, Joe came by and we went for lunch and then he went off to spend the evening and night with his girlfriend, Vivian, at Universal Citywalk. It is so good to see him persisting and building a rewarding relationship.
I had Monday 11th off and did the bike ride, sunning routine (and worked a lot on the website www.past-life-test.com as well).
Tuesday 12th through today, Thursday 14th I supervised the medical and dental office staff - and that brings us up to present time once again.
Do good works and I'll talk again soon.
Love to all,
Barry
Thursday, September 30, 2010, the day after my last post, I had the honor of being invited to Celebrity Center for a four-hour sitting in front of a movie camera with a very professional team from Golden Era Studios, to relate all my personal experiences directly with my wonderful friend, L. Ron Hubbard. It was quite an emotional time for me, reminiscing about the wonderful moments he shared with me. The Golden Area crew are interviewing all those who had personal relationships with him so these are preserved for all the future people who will want to learn more about this wonderful friend of all mankind.
Friday, October 1, 2010 I supervised at the dental office in Artesia and took my bike and gear with me so I could stop off at the Los Angeles river bike-track on the way home. There I went for a bike ride and got a couple of hours in the sun. That evening I had dinner with friend Jackie and that night went to bed very early and set the alarm clock for 4:00 am Saturday morning!
Saturday, October 2, I was up at 4:00 am and on the road at 5:10 am - on my way to Henderson, Nevada - next city right beside Las Vegas. The car performed beautifully and the traffic was light and I was able to pull off the freeway into the desert and get some wonderful photos of the beautiful red dawn sunrise. I had taken my breakfast with me and ate it as I enjoyed the beautiful morning sky.
I arrived at my friend Suesan's place some time after 10:30 am and she set me up with bed and bathroom for my two night stay. Soon the other family members began to arrive for a family lunch - Suesan's older daughter, Wendy and her husband, David with four-year-old son, Logan and three-month-old daughter, Lilly. I was introduced to Lilly for the firt time and got to hold and hug her. What a beautiful little being she is - so cheerful and happy. Then Suesan's younger daughter, Grace and her husband, Scott arrived and we all had a wonderful lunch together. After that, Suesan and I went to Wendy and David's place and I played with young Logan for quite some time while Suesan helped Wendy with Lilly. Logan is a great kid.
In the afternoon I did interviews on Wendy and Grace to help them out with some work and personal problems and then Grace and Scott took Suesan and I out to dinner that night.
Next morning, Sunday, October 3, 2010, I gave Suesan her interview to help her with a health problem she had been having and then Suesan and I went into Las Vegas to the "strip" and had breakfast at the Bellagio and had a great look around their indoor seasonal garden and stores. Then we caught the trolly to the new Las Vegas City Center with it's new towering skyscrapers and world famous stores. Two of the towers lean in opposite directions to each other. We walked back to the Bellagio and saw the fountains play to the music score of "The Pink Panther" and then went on home and to Wendy's place to help entertain Logan while Wendy handled Lilly.
We had dinner and I watched a nature program on TV while Suesan caught up on some work from her remote home office.
After breakfast in the morning, Monday, October, 4, I said goodbyes and headed home hitting rain when I got to Pasadena and getting in about 3:30 pm or so.
Tuesday 5th , Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th I supervised the staff courses at the Wilshire medical center and Friday 8th at the Artesia dental office - after which I went for another bike ride and sunning. Same biking and sunning again on Saturday, October 9th (after a good work out with weights).
On Sunday, 10th, Joe came by and we went for lunch and then he went off to spend the evening and night with his girlfriend, Vivian, at Universal Citywalk. It is so good to see him persisting and building a rewarding relationship.
I had Monday 11th off and did the bike ride, sunning routine (and worked a lot on the website www.past-life-test.com as well).
Tuesday 12th through today, Thursday 14th I supervised the medical and dental office staff - and that brings us up to present time once again.
Do good works and I'll talk again soon.
Love to all,
Barry
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
September 6th to 29th 2010
Well here we are again with the month all but gone. It's October in two days!
Starting Tuesday the seventh September - and eighth and ninth I supervised staff training at the Media Medical Mall in downtown Los Angeles. Friday I supervised a dentist to completion of his course in Artesia and went to dinner with friend Jackie. Saturday was a bike ride and catching some sun. On Sunday 12 th my very good buddy, Joe Lin came over and we hung out and then went to lunch and for a hike up Griffith Park to the observatory. The last part was blocked off for filming of some kind.
Monday 13th I supervised staff at Media Medical Mall and Tuesday 14 September I toured a denatal client and his staff through a Ideal Dental Practise in Pasadena. Wed 15th and Thurs 16th it was the Medical Mall again and Friday 17th was dinner with friend Jackie and her daughter and Saturday 18th was a bike ride and then a Metro-Rail outing with good friend Sue Z - to Pasadena for the annual Auditor's Day Event (we both wished we had gone to the larger event in downtown Los Angeles instead). Sunday 19th Joe came by again and we spent time shopping for food and getting a meal.
Monday 20th I had the day off so it was bike ride and sun again. Tuesday through Thursday 23rd I supervised staff training at the Medical Mall and had dinner with Jackie and her daughter as they really needed someone to talk to. Friday 24th September I supervised the Office Manager at the Artesia dental office to completion of her course - and again had the usual Friday dinner with Jackie and Kara.
Saturday 25th was exercise, bike ride, sunning (and lots of work on the website - as I do every day). Sunday 26th, Joe dropped in again - we went to lunch and came back haome fast due to the overpowering heat. Joe fell asleep on the couch watching a ball game so I let him sleep while I worked on the website.
Monday 27th I had off for exercise and sunning but it was just too hot - 113 degrees - so I got back to the air-conditioned car fast and home and fell asleep with the heat.
Tuesday 28th I was in Artesia in the morning, training the dentist and his office manager and in the afternoon at Media Medical Mall training staff. Today is the 29th and I'm off there again today - and tomorrow.
Friday I have off work and have something very different potentially lined up. Same for this coming weekend - I'll tell you all about it next post - which will be more exciting than this one.
Love to all,
Barry
Starting Tuesday the seventh September - and eighth and ninth I supervised staff training at the Media Medical Mall in downtown Los Angeles. Friday I supervised a dentist to completion of his course in Artesia and went to dinner with friend Jackie. Saturday was a bike ride and catching some sun. On Sunday 12 th my very good buddy, Joe Lin came over and we hung out and then went to lunch and for a hike up Griffith Park to the observatory. The last part was blocked off for filming of some kind.
Monday 13th I supervised staff at Media Medical Mall and Tuesday 14 September I toured a denatal client and his staff through a Ideal Dental Practise in Pasadena. Wed 15th and Thurs 16th it was the Medical Mall again and Friday 17th was dinner with friend Jackie and her daughter and Saturday 18th was a bike ride and then a Metro-Rail outing with good friend Sue Z - to Pasadena for the annual Auditor's Day Event (we both wished we had gone to the larger event in downtown Los Angeles instead). Sunday 19th Joe came by again and we spent time shopping for food and getting a meal.
Monday 20th I had the day off so it was bike ride and sun again. Tuesday through Thursday 23rd I supervised staff training at the Medical Mall and had dinner with Jackie and her daughter as they really needed someone to talk to. Friday 24th September I supervised the Office Manager at the Artesia dental office to completion of her course - and again had the usual Friday dinner with Jackie and Kara.
Saturday 25th was exercise, bike ride, sunning (and lots of work on the website - as I do every day). Sunday 26th, Joe dropped in again - we went to lunch and came back haome fast due to the overpowering heat. Joe fell asleep on the couch watching a ball game so I let him sleep while I worked on the website.
Monday 27th I had off for exercise and sunning but it was just too hot - 113 degrees - so I got back to the air-conditioned car fast and home and fell asleep with the heat.
Tuesday 28th I was in Artesia in the morning, training the dentist and his office manager and in the afternoon at Media Medical Mall training staff. Today is the 29th and I'm off there again today - and tomorrow.
Friday I have off work and have something very different potentially lined up. Same for this coming weekend - I'll tell you all about it next post - which will be more exciting than this one.
Love to all,
Barry
Monday, September 6, 2010
Through Labor Day - Sep 6, 2010
Thursday, August 26, was my good friend, Joe L's birthday - we agreed to celebrate on the weekend.
Friday, August 27, I did a bike ride and got some sun while I did some writing.
Saturday I went out to a birthday meal with Joe and another friend, Wayne.
The next day, Sunday 29, I fixed the screen sliding door on my patio and in the evening went to the movie, "Inception" with Joe. I had decided not to see this one but it was Joe's birthday choice and I ended up really enjoying it - though as Joe said, "It was a bit of a visual overwhelm."
Monday I supervised my students in the medical clinic in downtown Los Angeles and on Tuesday, August 31, I had to drive out to Artesia to consult a dental doctor on his clinic. He was just back from a trip home to Bulgaria.
Wednesday, September 1, I had no students but Thursday I supervised at the medical clinic downtown again and on Friday drove out to Artisia again to supervise the dentist through the final part of his course - he had not quite been able to complete the course before going to Bulgaria.
That evening, Friday Sept. 3, I packed my wagon and took off up north on the 101 Freeway for Ventura where I had a pleasant dinner and went to see the movie, "The American". Don't bother to see it. It was pointless. Other audience members came out asking, "What was that all about?"
After the movie I drove down to Oxnard's Channel Island Harbor, where there is safe parking, and set up camp in the back of my wagon and had a good night sleep.
Saturday, September 4, I had breakfast, cleaned up and took off further north for Santa Barbara and checked out the roadside/shore-side art swap meet and got some good ideas for art projects (if I ever have the time and inclination). I went out on the pier and than drove around for a bit, took lunch with me and set off back a bit south to Loons Beach where I spent an enjoyable couple of hours baking on the sandy beach in the sun and investigating the rocks.
Then back further south to Ventura again for dinner at "Nature's Grill" (great grilled chicken Cesar salad) and another movie - "Going The Distance". It was quite fun but rather raunchy.
After the movie, back further south again to Channel Islands Harbor and set up camp and another night's sleep. Although the days are sunny and hot, the sea mist comes in for the evening and it gets really cold outside. I had stopped at McDonald's for a hot chocolate to warm me up before bed and although it warmed me up nicely, the sugar and caffeine kept waking me up every 2 hours through the night. No matter I still got plenty of sleep.
Sunday I was up, breakfasted and cleaned up and I then determined to go into Oxnard city and find the "happening" area which I had not previously been able to do due to the huge widely- spread nature of the place. I went to the California Visitor Center and the lady there knew what I was talking about and drew me a map of how to get there. It was very nice but small compared with the equivalent places in Ventura (and San Louis Obispo, which I did not visit this trip) but the movie "Avatar" was showing in 3D. As it is my favorite movie of all time and I hadn't seen it in 3D, I bought a ticket for the 8:00 pm show and then took off for other places in the meantime.
I went to Ventura Harbor and had another good walk around there amongst all the tourist shops and boat-cruise centers and enjoyed the crowds with the little kids having an exciting time. Then I went across the sand duns to see the beach and sea but the sea fog was on its way in and it was getting too cold.
Off I went to Ventura city for dinner at Nature's Grill and then back to Oxnard center for the movie. There are 10 movie auditoriums in the big theater building but until 30 seconds before the movie started I was the only one it the Avatar auditorium and I was afraid they might cancel the showing. Then two ladies turned up and they played the movie for just the three of us.
I put on the 3D glasses and emerged myself into that fantasy world of great beauty and danger (and only ducked once as a canister came hurling at me). It was even more magical in 3D than the first time I had seen it on flat screen.
After the movie I decided not to stay away for Monday September 6, Labor Day, but took off south on the 101 Freeway for home at 11:30 pm. I was quite surprised that the trip took slightly under an hour - glad I missed the Monday night rush home as that would have been a long slow trip.
Today, Labor Day, I went for a bike ride, and got some sun while I did some more writing. Then I went to Trader Joe's for some supplements and when I got home crashed on the bed for a couple of hours sleep, after which I caught up on my email, watered my plants, put away my travel stuff and watched a bit of TV before catching up on this blog for you.
I'll talk to you all again soon.
Love,
Barry
Friday, August 27, I did a bike ride and got some sun while I did some writing.
Saturday I went out to a birthday meal with Joe and another friend, Wayne.
The next day, Sunday 29, I fixed the screen sliding door on my patio and in the evening went to the movie, "Inception" with Joe. I had decided not to see this one but it was Joe's birthday choice and I ended up really enjoying it - though as Joe said, "It was a bit of a visual overwhelm."
Monday I supervised my students in the medical clinic in downtown Los Angeles and on Tuesday, August 31, I had to drive out to Artesia to consult a dental doctor on his clinic. He was just back from a trip home to Bulgaria.
Wednesday, September 1, I had no students but Thursday I supervised at the medical clinic downtown again and on Friday drove out to Artisia again to supervise the dentist through the final part of his course - he had not quite been able to complete the course before going to Bulgaria.
That evening, Friday Sept. 3, I packed my wagon and took off up north on the 101 Freeway for Ventura where I had a pleasant dinner and went to see the movie, "The American". Don't bother to see it. It was pointless. Other audience members came out asking, "What was that all about?"
After the movie I drove down to Oxnard's Channel Island Harbor, where there is safe parking, and set up camp in the back of my wagon and had a good night sleep.
Saturday, September 4, I had breakfast, cleaned up and took off further north for Santa Barbara and checked out the roadside/shore-side art swap meet and got some good ideas for art projects (if I ever have the time and inclination). I went out on the pier and than drove around for a bit, took lunch with me and set off back a bit south to Loons Beach where I spent an enjoyable couple of hours baking on the sandy beach in the sun and investigating the rocks.
Then back further south to Ventura again for dinner at "Nature's Grill" (great grilled chicken Cesar salad) and another movie - "Going The Distance". It was quite fun but rather raunchy.
After the movie, back further south again to Channel Islands Harbor and set up camp and another night's sleep. Although the days are sunny and hot, the sea mist comes in for the evening and it gets really cold outside. I had stopped at McDonald's for a hot chocolate to warm me up before bed and although it warmed me up nicely, the sugar and caffeine kept waking me up every 2 hours through the night. No matter I still got plenty of sleep.
Sunday I was up, breakfasted and cleaned up and I then determined to go into Oxnard city and find the "happening" area which I had not previously been able to do due to the huge widely- spread nature of the place. I went to the California Visitor Center and the lady there knew what I was talking about and drew me a map of how to get there. It was very nice but small compared with the equivalent places in Ventura (and San Louis Obispo, which I did not visit this trip) but the movie "Avatar" was showing in 3D. As it is my favorite movie of all time and I hadn't seen it in 3D, I bought a ticket for the 8:00 pm show and then took off for other places in the meantime.
I went to Ventura Harbor and had another good walk around there amongst all the tourist shops and boat-cruise centers and enjoyed the crowds with the little kids having an exciting time. Then I went across the sand duns to see the beach and sea but the sea fog was on its way in and it was getting too cold.
Off I went to Ventura city for dinner at Nature's Grill and then back to Oxnard center for the movie. There are 10 movie auditoriums in the big theater building but until 30 seconds before the movie started I was the only one it the Avatar auditorium and I was afraid they might cancel the showing. Then two ladies turned up and they played the movie for just the three of us.
I put on the 3D glasses and emerged myself into that fantasy world of great beauty and danger (and only ducked once as a canister came hurling at me). It was even more magical in 3D than the first time I had seen it on flat screen.
After the movie I decided not to stay away for Monday September 6, Labor Day, but took off south on the 101 Freeway for home at 11:30 pm. I was quite surprised that the trip took slightly under an hour - glad I missed the Monday night rush home as that would have been a long slow trip.
Today, Labor Day, I went for a bike ride, and got some sun while I did some more writing. Then I went to Trader Joe's for some supplements and when I got home crashed on the bed for a couple of hours sleep, after which I caught up on my email, watered my plants, put away my travel stuff and watched a bit of TV before catching up on this blog for you.
I'll talk to you all again soon.
Love,
Barry
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