Hello friends and family members.
I'll catch you up on some of the happenings in the previous two weeks of my life:
I did a couple of personal interviews to help my friends out. Suesan's son, Morgan, was ill and I gave him a "stress location and release" interview and found what had precipitated the sickness and he's now doing great. Then Suesan herself was under some stress and had not fully realized the source of it so an interview located that for her and although she is working long hours now she is doing very well.
I have been staying after hours at the college to help the Qualifications Executive with some "word clearing" to help her locate and clear words that she had some missing definitions for. She is very appreciative.
I've also stayed a couple of extra nights to help some of my students as they were a bit behind in their study quotas and they seem to move very fast under my direct help. They also were very appreciative and caught up their quotas and completed and passed their tests to show they can actually apply the data they learned.
I completed my "Basic Staff Hat" at the college so that I am fully trained on all the state and federal laws that we must continually be in compliance with.
I also completed the "Learning Accelerator Course" and its apprentiship. The Learning Accelerator is a patented meter that the students can connect to for help, as it detects the mental energy that accumulates around misunderstood words. I can now use it as an additional tool to help my students. During the apprentiship one of the students was amazed when I kept indicating "there", "there", "what's that word?" - "there", "there" - as the meter needle kept slashing when the student passed his attention by the word. He located the word that was reading on the Learning Accelerator and discovered he had a wrong definition for it - and was very, very happy to get that cleaned up.
You can check some of my students successes on their blogs on the college website at
http://www.HubbardCollege.org Click on the Blog tab at the top.
My good friend, Joe, had his parents arrive from New York to stay for the Summer. They are staying at his apartment as he has now fully moved to his new condominium.
I managed to get off Season' s Greetings cards and emails to friends and family members in New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Italy, Argentine, Brazil, Peru, Taiwan, Japan, etc.
On this last Friday, the executives at Hubbard College of Administration International put on an amazing Holiday Season lunch for all the staff, faculty and students. It was really, really enjoyable and greatly appreciated by all.
This weekend I worked at the college Saturday morning as usual and then have had a very easy weekend at home. I felt the start of sickness coming on so immediately applied all the technology I know including taking even bigger doses than normal of vitamin D3 - and I have defeated it before it occurs - so am ready for work tomorrow. (It would probably have been a bad flu otherwise.)
That's about it sor this time - more soon.
Love,
Barry
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Party Weekend, December 2009
Hi all my friends and family members!
On Friday, December 4, 2009 I went for dinner at my friend Suesan W's place. I took along some wine and snacks to contribute. Suesan's two daughters and their husbands - Wendy and David (proud parents of young Logan) and Gracie and Scott were there as was Suesan's son Morgan and his wife Kyla. It was a super family evening with lots of very funny personal stories and good food.
On Saturday after work at the college I made fast tracks to "Kid's Castle" in Burbank and joined the birthday party of Suesan grandson, Logan., who was 3 years old. The other family members above were there as was Kyla's sister, Star and her husband and other family friends as well. Logan had the time of his life with all the games and I got some great photos of him.
After Kid's Castle we went back to Suesan's place for Logan to open his birthday gifts. I gave him a kids guitar (push button) and a santa hat and he seemed to like the hat more than the guitar. I helped Suesan prepare food and didn't stay to eat much as I had to head off to Glendale for the monthly outing with my other course supervisor/teacher friends.
I met up with Marie A, Christine M, and my good buddy Joe L, and the four of us went for a great meal at Outback Steak House. We shared a "Flowering Onion snack and then had Shrimp Fry and shared a big chocolate desert - had tea, coffee etc. and were quite full by the time we left.
We then headed over to the "Americana on Brand" and watched the musical, dancing fountains and explored some pretty amazing stores and then said our goodbyes until next month and headed off our separate ways.
Sunday I had a day at home catching up on incomplete chores and things I had been intending to do for some time. I also wrote all my overseas greetings cards and got them ready for postage stamps.
I got the stamps this morning, Monday, and got them all off in the mail. Then off for another weeks teaching at Hubbard College.
Talk to you all later.
Love,
Barry
On Friday, December 4, 2009 I went for dinner at my friend Suesan W's place. I took along some wine and snacks to contribute. Suesan's two daughters and their husbands - Wendy and David (proud parents of young Logan) and Gracie and Scott were there as was Suesan's son Morgan and his wife Kyla. It was a super family evening with lots of very funny personal stories and good food.
On Saturday after work at the college I made fast tracks to "Kid's Castle" in Burbank and joined the birthday party of Suesan grandson, Logan., who was 3 years old. The other family members above were there as was Kyla's sister, Star and her husband and other family friends as well. Logan had the time of his life with all the games and I got some great photos of him.
After Kid's Castle we went back to Suesan's place for Logan to open his birthday gifts. I gave him a kids guitar (push button) and a santa hat and he seemed to like the hat more than the guitar. I helped Suesan prepare food and didn't stay to eat much as I had to head off to Glendale for the monthly outing with my other course supervisor/teacher friends.
I met up with Marie A, Christine M, and my good buddy Joe L, and the four of us went for a great meal at Outback Steak House. We shared a "Flowering Onion snack and then had Shrimp Fry and shared a big chocolate desert - had tea, coffee etc. and were quite full by the time we left.
We then headed over to the "Americana on Brand" and watched the musical, dancing fountains and explored some pretty amazing stores and then said our goodbyes until next month and headed off our separate ways.
Sunday I had a day at home catching up on incomplete chores and things I had been intending to do for some time. I also wrote all my overseas greetings cards and got them ready for postage stamps.
I got the stamps this morning, Monday, and got them all off in the mail. Then off for another weeks teaching at Hubbard College.
Talk to you all later.
Love,
Barry
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009 and Weekend
What a time!
On the Wednesday, November 25, 2009, Thanksgiving eve, I purchased and prepared all the food for a Thanksgiving feast and on the Thursday morning got up early and put it on to cook.
All organic - a turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, potatoes, yams, squash, green beans, carrots, broccoli, onion, apple and sugar-snap peas.
Deserts would be pumpkin pie, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, Greek style yogurt, full cream and whipped cream.
Drinks would be green tea, berry yogurt drink, Pina Colada juice and orange juice.
It was a lot of food for just the two of us - myself and my best friend, Joe, who has been a close neighbor and such a good friend for so many years.
It was cooked perfectly by noon and when he arrived I set out the table with all this wonderful goodness and we stuffed ourselves full.
Then we went of to see the movie "2012" at a local theater. It was a very dramatic film about that would have been the end of the human race but for some very modern and very, very large and strong "arcs" that saved thousands of people and animals.
Then Joe and I drove to Burbank and watched "New Moon" the sequel Vampire/Werewolf movie. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it!
Home again we were ready to tackle another huge meal from the prepared food. I heated it and we ate until we could eat no more.
Next day, Friday November 27, Joe and I both had to work.
Saturday was the NESI (New Era Seniors, International) "Thanks for the Giving" awards dinner for all our NESI senior volunteers. I prepared a huge spinach salad and arrived at 3:00 pm to help my friend Suesan with the set ups.
Twenty seniors arrived by 7:00 pm and the food spread (planned by Carolyn and brought by the attendees) was almost unbelievable! - Turkey, roast beef, gravies, vegetables of every type, salads, trimmings, and a dozen types of desert.
Awards from the President of the USA were distributed to those who regularly volunteer their services to others. (Suesan, Carolyn, Sandra and I received Lifetime awards. I have this same Lifetime award from two different Presidents now.)
Then, there was a great entertainment game and presents and of course the big clean up when all the others went home.
Sunday, Joe came over for dinner again and we got to work on some more of that Thanksgiving food. Another huge meal and Joe's wonderful company once more.
Monday it was back to work and back to normal schedule - though I will still be having turkey for a couple of days.
OK! Time to start thinking about Christmas!
Love,
Barry
On the Wednesday, November 25, 2009, Thanksgiving eve, I purchased and prepared all the food for a Thanksgiving feast and on the Thursday morning got up early and put it on to cook.
All organic - a turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, potatoes, yams, squash, green beans, carrots, broccoli, onion, apple and sugar-snap peas.
Deserts would be pumpkin pie, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, Greek style yogurt, full cream and whipped cream.
Drinks would be green tea, berry yogurt drink, Pina Colada juice and orange juice.
It was a lot of food for just the two of us - myself and my best friend, Joe, who has been a close neighbor and such a good friend for so many years.
It was cooked perfectly by noon and when he arrived I set out the table with all this wonderful goodness and we stuffed ourselves full.
Then we went of to see the movie "2012" at a local theater. It was a very dramatic film about that would have been the end of the human race but for some very modern and very, very large and strong "arcs" that saved thousands of people and animals.
Then Joe and I drove to Burbank and watched "New Moon" the sequel Vampire/Werewolf movie. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it!
Home again we were ready to tackle another huge meal from the prepared food. I heated it and we ate until we could eat no more.
Next day, Friday November 27, Joe and I both had to work.
Saturday was the NESI (New Era Seniors, International) "Thanks for the Giving" awards dinner for all our NESI senior volunteers. I prepared a huge spinach salad and arrived at 3:00 pm to help my friend Suesan with the set ups.
Twenty seniors arrived by 7:00 pm and the food spread (planned by Carolyn and brought by the attendees) was almost unbelievable! - Turkey, roast beef, gravies, vegetables of every type, salads, trimmings, and a dozen types of desert.
Awards from the President of the USA were distributed to those who regularly volunteer their services to others. (Suesan, Carolyn, Sandra and I received Lifetime awards. I have this same Lifetime award from two different Presidents now.)
Then, there was a great entertainment game and presents and of course the big clean up when all the others went home.
Sunday, Joe came over for dinner again and we got to work on some more of that Thanksgiving food. Another huge meal and Joe's wonderful company once more.
Monday it was back to work and back to normal schedule - though I will still be having turkey for a couple of days.
OK! Time to start thinking about Christmas!
Love,
Barry
Monday, November 23, 2009
Update to November 23, 2009
Hi friends and family members,
I had a wonderful reunion last week with my wonderful ex-room mate Marcelo Nasif (now Dr. Nasif) originally from Argentine. He now lives in Arizona with his wife Maria and their 5 year old son Roman.
Marcelo was in Los Angeles to get a visa to travel back to Argentine for the holidays and called and made arrangements to come by and see the apartment he shared with me 15 years ago. My apartment has been upgraded considerably since he lived here but there were many familiar things that he said brough back fond memories.
He took me out to lunch and we caught up on each other's lives. He is such a wonderful genuine guy.
Last Thursday I went out to dinner with Sue Z before she went of for two months with her oldest daughter on the East Coast.
Then on Friday night I went to dinner at Suesan W's place and we had a nice relaxing time.
I'm continuing to enjoy daily emails from my ex-student and friend, Elena, in Russia.
This Sunday I again went for a bike ride along the Los Angeles river and then spant a couple of pleasant hours in the warm sun - not bad for a late November day!
Thanksgiving is coming up this week on Thursday so there will be more adventures to tell soon.
Love,
Barry
I had a wonderful reunion last week with my wonderful ex-room mate Marcelo Nasif (now Dr. Nasif) originally from Argentine. He now lives in Arizona with his wife Maria and their 5 year old son Roman.
Marcelo was in Los Angeles to get a visa to travel back to Argentine for the holidays and called and made arrangements to come by and see the apartment he shared with me 15 years ago. My apartment has been upgraded considerably since he lived here but there were many familiar things that he said brough back fond memories.
He took me out to lunch and we caught up on each other's lives. He is such a wonderful genuine guy.
Last Thursday I went out to dinner with Sue Z before she went of for two months with her oldest daughter on the East Coast.
Then on Friday night I went to dinner at Suesan W's place and we had a nice relaxing time.
I'm continuing to enjoy daily emails from my ex-student and friend, Elena, in Russia.
This Sunday I again went for a bike ride along the Los Angeles river and then spant a couple of pleasant hours in the warm sun - not bad for a late November day!
Thanksgiving is coming up this week on Thursday so there will be more adventures to tell soon.
Love,
Barry
Monday, November 9, 2009
Week ending Sunday November 8, 2009.
It was a good week at Hubbard College of Administration International. I worked Saturday until 3:30 pm as usual and in the evening went to a wonderful party with friends: Joe L., Marie A., and Christine M., and some other friends. Met more new people too - a very pleasant crowd and a wonderful warm and enjoyable time with an amazing spread of good food.
(Marie, Christine, Joe and I had decided to institute monthly dinners together on the first Saturday of each month. We always have such a wild fun time when we get together and want to enjoy that more often.)
Sunday I went for a bike ride and took in some sun for a couple of hours before handling chores around the apartment.
It's Monday night now and I just watched my favorite TV show - "Dancing with the Stars".
More next week.
Love,
Barry
(Marie, Christine, Joe and I had decided to institute monthly dinners together on the first Saturday of each month. We always have such a wild fun time when we get together and want to enjoy that more often.)
Sunday I went for a bike ride and took in some sun for a couple of hours before handling chores around the apartment.
It's Monday night now and I just watched my favorite TV show - "Dancing with the Stars".
More next week.
Love,
Barry
Monday, November 2, 2009
Four Days of Birthday Celebration 2009
Wow! I'm still recovering!! Four days of birthday celebration.
Friday, October 30, the staff at Hubbard College surprised me with a big early birthday chocolate cake and that night my friend Sue Z. took me to delicious dinner at Outback Steakhouse. We had a very enjoyable time.
The next day was Halloween, 31 October, I set out at 10:30 pm to the huge Halloween block-party on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. By 11:30 I had found parking and made my way to the huge celebration - Santa Monica Blvd from La Cieniga Blvd to Robertson was closed to traffic and filled with thousands of people in amazing costumes. I walked down one side of the divided Boulevard and as I turned to walk back the other way it turned midnight and became my birthday - November 1st (all Saints Day) - so there I was at a huge costume party for my birthday!!!
Later on that day of Nov 1st, my friend Suesan W. had me over to her place for a wonderful birthday brunch. It was so enjoyable.
Still later in the day I went for an energetic bike ride and then soaked in some sunshine.
The following night, tonight, Monday November 2nd, my friend Joe L. returned from a business trip and took me for a great dinner at Mimi's. Another very enjoyable time.
I had emails and phone calls from family in New Zealand and Australia, a lovely e-card from a friend in Russia, a call from my ex-room mate and his family in Arizona (originally Argentina - he has a 5 year old son now) and from other local friends here in Los Angeles and near-by areas.
Got nice cards and gifts - a really wonderful birthday and wonderful friends and family members. Thanks so much to all!
Love,
Barry
Friday, October 30, the staff at Hubbard College surprised me with a big early birthday chocolate cake and that night my friend Sue Z. took me to delicious dinner at Outback Steakhouse. We had a very enjoyable time.
The next day was Halloween, 31 October, I set out at 10:30 pm to the huge Halloween block-party on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. By 11:30 I had found parking and made my way to the huge celebration - Santa Monica Blvd from La Cieniga Blvd to Robertson was closed to traffic and filled with thousands of people in amazing costumes. I walked down one side of the divided Boulevard and as I turned to walk back the other way it turned midnight and became my birthday - November 1st (all Saints Day) - so there I was at a huge costume party for my birthday!!!
Later on that day of Nov 1st, my friend Suesan W. had me over to her place for a wonderful birthday brunch. It was so enjoyable.
Still later in the day I went for an energetic bike ride and then soaked in some sunshine.
The following night, tonight, Monday November 2nd, my friend Joe L. returned from a business trip and took me for a great dinner at Mimi's. Another very enjoyable time.
I had emails and phone calls from family in New Zealand and Australia, a lovely e-card from a friend in Russia, a call from my ex-room mate and his family in Arizona (originally Argentina - he has a 5 year old son now) and from other local friends here in Los Angeles and near-by areas.
Got nice cards and gifts - a really wonderful birthday and wonderful friends and family members. Thanks so much to all!
Love,
Barry
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
24 and 25 October 2009
Saturday night, 24 October, 2009 was the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) and the celebration at the famous Shrine Auditorium was spectacular.
We got more wonderful news of religious recognition in all 47 countries of the European Council (see http://www.scientologytoday.org/ ) and the countries of Columbia and Rwanda virtually salvaged by our social betterment campaigns.
And new high-tech churches are active in Brussles for the European Communities, in Washington DC for the USA, and in Rome. (Over 8,000 churches and missions in 165 countries now.)
There was tons more good news making it a night to remember.
Sunday morning I set out up the Northern California coast to the seaside city of Morrow Bay and traveled down the coast to the beach-side city of Santa Barbara to complete the last part of my coastal travels between the Mexican boarder and San Francisco. That's a goal accomplished!
The weekend trip was 500 miles in one day and brough opportunities for more great photographs.
In the last week I also passed the required smog test with my can and registered it for another year and renewed my driving license for an extended period.
More news of my adventures soon.
Love,
Barry
We got more wonderful news of religious recognition in all 47 countries of the European Council (see http://www.scientologytoday.org/ ) and the countries of Columbia and Rwanda virtually salvaged by our social betterment campaigns.
And new high-tech churches are active in Brussles for the European Communities, in Washington DC for the USA, and in Rome. (Over 8,000 churches and missions in 165 countries now.)
There was tons more good news making it a night to remember.
Sunday morning I set out up the Northern California coast to the seaside city of Morrow Bay and traveled down the coast to the beach-side city of Santa Barbara to complete the last part of my coastal travels between the Mexican boarder and San Francisco. That's a goal accomplished!
The weekend trip was 500 miles in one day and brough opportunities for more great photographs.
In the last week I also passed the required smog test with my can and registered it for another year and renewed my driving license for an extended period.
More news of my adventures soon.
Love,
Barry
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Through week ending October 18, 2009
Hi All,
It's been weeks since I posted.
I've had dental work (root canal) for an exceedingly painful tooth ache.
I flunked a smog check on my car (some new added test about fuel evaporation).
I had that fixed and got my car registration renewed.
Now I have to renew my license (in person this time - no mail in for me!).
I've worked long hours at the college. We have many student arriving from all over the planet.
I'm working lots on my website and will be able to tell you all about it soon.
My off time has been long bicycle rides along the Los Angeles river bike trail.
I hope there will be more exciting things to report soon.
Love,
Barry
It's been weeks since I posted.
I've had dental work (root canal) for an exceedingly painful tooth ache.
I flunked a smog check on my car (some new added test about fuel evaporation).
I had that fixed and got my car registration renewed.
Now I have to renew my license (in person this time - no mail in for me!).
I've worked long hours at the college. We have many student arriving from all over the planet.
I'm working lots on my website and will be able to tell you all about it soon.
My off time has been long bicycle rides along the Los Angeles river bike trail.
I hope there will be more exciting things to report soon.
Love,
Barry
Monday, September 21, 2009
Catch up to weeekend of Sept 19 / 20, 2009
No trips for the last couple of weekends.
The most exciting thing that has happened is that my good friend Joe Lin has purchased a condominium in Tarzana. That moves him 30 minutes away to another city instead of the usual 3 minutes away to another block so I will have to get used to that change.
My friend Elena in Russia has secured a great job with a consulting company that uses the Hubbard Administrative Technologies that I helped train her on at Hubbard college. She stays in regular communication with me vie email which is a real joy.
Things are very busy at the college and I'm staying later each night to help the Quality Control Executive with some specialized study actions.
My youngest New Zealand nephew, Ben, is in a band which is competing for top place in a national contest and I'm waiting to hear the results of that.
First day of fall and the weather is exceedingly hot.
More next time.
Love,
Barry
The most exciting thing that has happened is that my good friend Joe Lin has purchased a condominium in Tarzana. That moves him 30 minutes away to another city instead of the usual 3 minutes away to another block so I will have to get used to that change.
My friend Elena in Russia has secured a great job with a consulting company that uses the Hubbard Administrative Technologies that I helped train her on at Hubbard college. She stays in regular communication with me vie email which is a real joy.
Things are very busy at the college and I'm staying later each night to help the Quality Control Executive with some specialized study actions.
My youngest New Zealand nephew, Ben, is in a band which is competing for top place in a national contest and I'm waiting to hear the results of that.
First day of fall and the weather is exceedingly hot.
More next time.
Love,
Barry
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Labor weekend 2009 - Big Adventure
Phew! Just over 1,330 miles driven there and back!!!
I had some concern about my friend Sue Z this week and almost didn't go away but she assured me I should go.
Friday night I had a great meal at Suesan W's place with her, her daughter Wendy and grandson Logan.
(I unexpectedly had to supervise students at the College on Saturday so didn't get away Friday night as planned. However I was on the road heading north by 4:30 Saturday afternoon.)
I headed north on the 101 freeway and decided to get as close to San Francisco as I could on the first night to make up for the lost day. I drove 333 miles to the city of Salinas and arrived at about 10:45pm, drove around a bit to get the layout of the city, got a meal and found a good place to park and sleep in the back of my wagon. I dropped off to sleep about 1:30am parked safely in the well-lit parking lot of a large strip mall next to a Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds.
Next morning I cleaned up and was on my way north on the 101 towards San Francisco arriving there after 45 miles at about 9:45am and having done a total of 378 miles since leaving home. I drove down Mission street and by the wonderful harbor waterfront with all its attractions - then drove over the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge for the first time and continued on north. - Yes! I had decided to go further north even than San Francisco - to a special destination.
I stopped at a tiny place called Petaluma for gas for the car, went past Napa and many vineyards, through Santa Rosa and finally arrived at Leggett 182 miles north of San Francisco where the Pacific Coast Highway (#1) ends. I left the 101 freeway and headed south-west to the coast on the fabulous Coast Highway.
However, right there as I was leaving Leggett and heading southward again, was an item of great interest. The giant living Redwood tree that has an arch through its trunk big enough to drive a car through - so of course I paid the $5 and drove on through and got a photograph of my wagon going into the tree-arch! Cool!
The drive south-west to the coast on the #1 was through a beautiful forest of magnificent Redwoods and other great California trees. It wound up and down the mountains as it made its way to the coast that gave it its famous name and reputation.
Suddenly there it was! The magnificent northern California coast! The first view was breathtaking! I made very slow progress on my way down the coast to San Francisco again as I kept stopping every few miles to take more photographs. There were dramatic shots shrouded in mist and bright sunny shots and exciting powerful shots of angry seas. Unfortunately I took so long that it got dark and I didn't see the last 30 miles of the cost immediately north of San Francisco.
Having done a total of 880 miles I arrived back at San Francisco and had a good look around the city. Beautiful buildings, quaint cute houses, incredibly hilly streets. However it is a terribly frustrating city for a stranger to drive in as there is no clearly discernible patten to the way one can easily get around - so many "no left turns", one-way streets and dead-end streets without needed "no outlet" signs.
I found a safe place to park my wagon and sleep in the well-lit parking lot of a huge "Best Buy" electronics outlet and got to sleep about 1:30am again. In the morning I found a gas station to refill the car, got a drive-through breakfast, had more of a look around the city and then back to the "Best Buy" when it opened - to fully clean up for the new day and buy additional camera batteries.
I made my way to the San Francisco Pacific coast and headed south marveling at the beautiful unique coastal views and enjoying the cities and towns I passed through. Fort Bragg / Mendo was delightful with its old-world look and arty buildings in bright colors. Then Mendocino was equally bright, unique and colorful. Traffic (which had been light my entire trip) suddenly became heavy as I approached Mendocino. Everyone from anywhere around was headed there to enjoy Sunday in the friendly, arty, family atmosphere. I had a nice walk around the place before continuing south along the coast. I didn't stay on the #1 Coast Highway where it went inland and where there were smaller streets at the water's edge. I chose those streets instead and saw every bit of the coast that I could.
However, occasionally the #1 Highway left the coast for a bit and there were no other streets at the coast. At these times I drove through miles and miles of pumpkin farms, cabbage farms, strawberry farms and farms of every green vegetable imaginable. Quite amazing!
Then the road wound back to the very edge of the coast again and here was a really exciting and alive view - a beautiful long beach with huge surf and dozens of wind-surfers with the clear sails on their surf boards whisking them along the surf at high speed - and dozens more para-surfers with their bright para-sails, on long chords like kites, pulling them along at a screaming pace. I got great photographs.
I continued on and what a delight I discovered - the city of Santa Cruz! This beach-front city is a joyful playground with a delightful drive past all manner of beach-front restaurants, fun stores and permanent fair-attractions including a number of great roller-coasters. There was such an air of fun about the place and it felt so good to be there.
Continuing on I reached Monterey - the furthermost point north I had been on my previous trips. It was starting to get dark by now so I made my way back Salinas (where I'd slept the first night) and got a great meal then back to the 101 freeway and headed for home past San Luis Obispo where I'd stayed overnight on the last trip (I didn't yet get to see the coast between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara but can do that on a normal 2 day weekend).
I made one stop for gas at the 76 Gonzales Food Mart. The traffic home was amazingly fast up and down hills and round amazing bends that seemed to turn forever. I eventually made it home at 1:45am this morning.
After a great nights sleep in my own comfortable bed and a wonderful shower I was ready for another day with all my staff and student friends at Hubbard College of Administration.
Whew! What a weekend! Exciting! Strenuous! An unforgettable 1,330 miles!
Love,
Barry
I had some concern about my friend Sue Z this week and almost didn't go away but she assured me I should go.
Friday night I had a great meal at Suesan W's place with her, her daughter Wendy and grandson Logan.
(I unexpectedly had to supervise students at the College on Saturday so didn't get away Friday night as planned. However I was on the road heading north by 4:30 Saturday afternoon.)
I headed north on the 101 freeway and decided to get as close to San Francisco as I could on the first night to make up for the lost day. I drove 333 miles to the city of Salinas and arrived at about 10:45pm, drove around a bit to get the layout of the city, got a meal and found a good place to park and sleep in the back of my wagon. I dropped off to sleep about 1:30am parked safely in the well-lit parking lot of a large strip mall next to a Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds.
Next morning I cleaned up and was on my way north on the 101 towards San Francisco arriving there after 45 miles at about 9:45am and having done a total of 378 miles since leaving home. I drove down Mission street and by the wonderful harbor waterfront with all its attractions - then drove over the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge for the first time and continued on north. - Yes! I had decided to go further north even than San Francisco - to a special destination.
I stopped at a tiny place called Petaluma for gas for the car, went past Napa and many vineyards, through Santa Rosa and finally arrived at Leggett 182 miles north of San Francisco where the Pacific Coast Highway (#1) ends. I left the 101 freeway and headed south-west to the coast on the fabulous Coast Highway.
However, right there as I was leaving Leggett and heading southward again, was an item of great interest. The giant living Redwood tree that has an arch through its trunk big enough to drive a car through - so of course I paid the $5 and drove on through and got a photograph of my wagon going into the tree-arch! Cool!
The drive south-west to the coast on the #1 was through a beautiful forest of magnificent Redwoods and other great California trees. It wound up and down the mountains as it made its way to the coast that gave it its famous name and reputation.
Suddenly there it was! The magnificent northern California coast! The first view was breathtaking! I made very slow progress on my way down the coast to San Francisco again as I kept stopping every few miles to take more photographs. There were dramatic shots shrouded in mist and bright sunny shots and exciting powerful shots of angry seas. Unfortunately I took so long that it got dark and I didn't see the last 30 miles of the cost immediately north of San Francisco.
Having done a total of 880 miles I arrived back at San Francisco and had a good look around the city. Beautiful buildings, quaint cute houses, incredibly hilly streets. However it is a terribly frustrating city for a stranger to drive in as there is no clearly discernible patten to the way one can easily get around - so many "no left turns", one-way streets and dead-end streets without needed "no outlet" signs.
I found a safe place to park my wagon and sleep in the well-lit parking lot of a huge "Best Buy" electronics outlet and got to sleep about 1:30am again. In the morning I found a gas station to refill the car, got a drive-through breakfast, had more of a look around the city and then back to the "Best Buy" when it opened - to fully clean up for the new day and buy additional camera batteries.
I made my way to the San Francisco Pacific coast and headed south marveling at the beautiful unique coastal views and enjoying the cities and towns I passed through. Fort Bragg / Mendo was delightful with its old-world look and arty buildings in bright colors. Then Mendocino was equally bright, unique and colorful. Traffic (which had been light my entire trip) suddenly became heavy as I approached Mendocino. Everyone from anywhere around was headed there to enjoy Sunday in the friendly, arty, family atmosphere. I had a nice walk around the place before continuing south along the coast. I didn't stay on the #1 Coast Highway where it went inland and where there were smaller streets at the water's edge. I chose those streets instead and saw every bit of the coast that I could.
However, occasionally the #1 Highway left the coast for a bit and there were no other streets at the coast. At these times I drove through miles and miles of pumpkin farms, cabbage farms, strawberry farms and farms of every green vegetable imaginable. Quite amazing!
Then the road wound back to the very edge of the coast again and here was a really exciting and alive view - a beautiful long beach with huge surf and dozens of wind-surfers with the clear sails on their surf boards whisking them along the surf at high speed - and dozens more para-surfers with their bright para-sails, on long chords like kites, pulling them along at a screaming pace. I got great photographs.
I continued on and what a delight I discovered - the city of Santa Cruz! This beach-front city is a joyful playground with a delightful drive past all manner of beach-front restaurants, fun stores and permanent fair-attractions including a number of great roller-coasters. There was such an air of fun about the place and it felt so good to be there.
Continuing on I reached Monterey - the furthermost point north I had been on my previous trips. It was starting to get dark by now so I made my way back Salinas (where I'd slept the first night) and got a great meal then back to the 101 freeway and headed for home past San Luis Obispo where I'd stayed overnight on the last trip (I didn't yet get to see the coast between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara but can do that on a normal 2 day weekend).
I made one stop for gas at the 76 Gonzales Food Mart. The traffic home was amazingly fast up and down hills and round amazing bends that seemed to turn forever. I eventually made it home at 1:45am this morning.
After a great nights sleep in my own comfortable bed and a wonderful shower I was ready for another day with all my staff and student friends at Hubbard College of Administration.
Whew! What a weekend! Exciting! Strenuous! An unforgettable 1,330 miles!
Love,
Barry
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Last weekend in August 2009
Hello again to all my friends and family members.
This weekend I did not go on a trip but had a wonderful time.
I'm in regular email communication with friends Sue, Suesan and Joe and my ex-student and friend, Elena, in Moscow, my friend Lynnaire in New Zealand - and now my friend Marie is back in town after visiting family on the East coast for a month.
It was Joe's 37th birthday so Saturday after supervising students at the college, I took him out to a movie and dinner in Burbank. We saw "GI Joe." Wow! It was great - a futuristic goodies and baddies movie with a wonderful plot, forbidden love, and both Moscow and Washington DC saved from destruction. There was violence but it was all part of the story and not just for the sake of violence.
Then we went to The Granville organic restaurant and had a great meal - sweet potato fries, lobster bisque, and Joe had seared tuna while I had rainbow trout. It was a truly delicious meal.
Today, Sunday, Joe persuaded me to go bike riding with him. I got my bike several weeks ago but had not been on it since buying it. We put both bikes in the back of my Volvo wagon and drove to Santa Monica beach, found free parking in town, and rode the short distance to the Santa Monica pier where we could get the bikes down to the bike trail.
The concrete bike trail runs along in the center of the sand for miles. It's two lanes, each wide enough for 2 bikes abreast going in each direction - and is shared by roller-bladers belting along on their in-line skates.
We rode along for miles - all the way to Venice beach and back to the pier again and then in the other direction from the pier and back again. Lovely to have the sand on each side and the waves breaking a short distance away.
It was very hot and I drank two full bottles of Smart Water during the ride.
We made our way back to the car and loaded the bikes again and drove home. We had done 15 miles on our bikes - not bad for me for the first time on a bike in many, many years. Joe confessed that it was the longest ride he has done also - so I guess I did pretty good.
On the way home in the car, Joe asked me if I had a bird cage I wasn't using. I did have one and told him he could have it.
After we got home I was exhausted and hot so had a sleep. I woke up just before Joe called. He asked if he could come over and get the bird cage and arrived at my place shortly afterward with two baby parakeets (budgies) in a cardboard carton. He'd been to the store and purchased then right before calling me.
We got the birds set up and he decided to call them by the names of two of his early girl friends!
Hmm!?
As he also brought his bike to my place when he brought the birds along, I had to walk his bike the short distance to his place while he carried his new "family members". They are very cute!
It's going to be an early night for me tonight so I'll catch up with you all next week.
Love,
Barry
This weekend I did not go on a trip but had a wonderful time.
I'm in regular email communication with friends Sue, Suesan and Joe and my ex-student and friend, Elena, in Moscow, my friend Lynnaire in New Zealand - and now my friend Marie is back in town after visiting family on the East coast for a month.
It was Joe's 37th birthday so Saturday after supervising students at the college, I took him out to a movie and dinner in Burbank. We saw "GI Joe." Wow! It was great - a futuristic goodies and baddies movie with a wonderful plot, forbidden love, and both Moscow and Washington DC saved from destruction. There was violence but it was all part of the story and not just for the sake of violence.
Then we went to The Granville organic restaurant and had a great meal - sweet potato fries, lobster bisque, and Joe had seared tuna while I had rainbow trout. It was a truly delicious meal.
Today, Sunday, Joe persuaded me to go bike riding with him. I got my bike several weeks ago but had not been on it since buying it. We put both bikes in the back of my Volvo wagon and drove to Santa Monica beach, found free parking in town, and rode the short distance to the Santa Monica pier where we could get the bikes down to the bike trail.
The concrete bike trail runs along in the center of the sand for miles. It's two lanes, each wide enough for 2 bikes abreast going in each direction - and is shared by roller-bladers belting along on their in-line skates.
We rode along for miles - all the way to Venice beach and back to the pier again and then in the other direction from the pier and back again. Lovely to have the sand on each side and the waves breaking a short distance away.
It was very hot and I drank two full bottles of Smart Water during the ride.
We made our way back to the car and loaded the bikes again and drove home. We had done 15 miles on our bikes - not bad for me for the first time on a bike in many, many years. Joe confessed that it was the longest ride he has done also - so I guess I did pretty good.
On the way home in the car, Joe asked me if I had a bird cage I wasn't using. I did have one and told him he could have it.
After we got home I was exhausted and hot so had a sleep. I woke up just before Joe called. He asked if he could come over and get the bird cage and arrived at my place shortly afterward with two baby parakeets (budgies) in a cardboard carton. He'd been to the store and purchased then right before calling me.
We got the birds set up and he decided to call them by the names of two of his early girl friends!
Hmm!?
As he also brought his bike to my place when he brought the birds along, I had to walk his bike the short distance to his place while he carried his new "family members". They are very cute!
It's going to be an early night for me tonight so I'll catch up with you all next week.
Love,
Barry
Monday, August 24, 2009
Weekend of August 22 & 23, 2009
It was a good week. Things went well at Hubbard College. Two weeks in a row now we have had a student complete the full degree program (and another will complete this coming week).
I am also in email communication with Elena (our completion last week who returned to Russia) and with Weber from Taiwan (where he had to return due to the visa situation).
On Thursday evening I met my friend Sue Z. at the Tea Leaf and Coffee Bean for an enjoyable hot chocolate and talk - and on Friday evening I went to dinner at my friend Suesan W's place and we helped each other out with some matters that each of us have some expertise in. I haven't seen anything of my friend Joe L. this week as he is on an 18 day straight work project.
I decided to be really energetic this weekend and leave on my trip Saturday after work at the College and to get as far north as Big Sur, far up the California coast.
Although it is 3:30 the College closes on Saturday, it was 5:00 pm before I was on the road north. At that time of day traffic on the 101 Hollywood/Ventura Freeway was heavy and slow so I turned off to the 170 to Interstat 5 (Hollywood/Sacramento Freeway) going a bit further inland and then turned onto the 118 Freeway west to the coast (through huge vegetable and orchard plantations). It was a fast run and I joined the 101 again much farther north at Oxnard where the traffic was lighter and much faster.
I crossed from Ventura County into San Luis Obispo county and Saturday night about 8:30 pm, just as it started to get dark, I reached the city of San Luis Obispo.
By 9:00 pm I had found a parking spot by the down-town certer and located the central movie huse and bought a ticket to "District 9" science fiction movie. I found a great little restaurant that made the most delicious chicken burritos and satisfied my hunger then went and watched that crazy movie. I can't figure out why they always think aliens with such highly sophistocated equipment would be such unsophisticated and crude creatures.
The movie finished about midnight and by 1:00 am I had located a safe place in the brightly lit parking lot of a Union Bank and was falling asleep in the comfortable bed in the back of my waggon.
I woke after a good sleep, found a place to clean up and discovered the beautiful coast-line I had planned to travel was completely fogged in. I would not see any of the beauty if I continued with my plan to travel the coast northward. So I made the decision to barrel up the freeway and get as far north as I could and then go over to the coast and come down the coast instead of going up coast - hoping that by then the fog would have cleared.
On the way I took a detour to see the little old-west style town of Santa Margarita and went on to see Lake Santa Margarita and take some nice photos there before continuing north again.
I made it all the way to Monterey County and the Monterey Peninsula highway, so from there I went west and reached the city of Monterey on the coast (about 100 miles further than Big Sur where I had originally planned to reach).
I had a good look around Monterey, went out on the huge (smelly - comercial fisherman) "Fisherman's Warf", drove through Cannery Row with its old quaint buildings and then started south along the incredibly beautiful but rather angry Monterey Coast towards Big Sur.
As I had hoped, the fog had cleared and it took me a very long time to get 100 miles south to Big Sur - as I kept stopping the car every few miles to take photos of the magnificent coastal views.
Big Sur was a total contrast! Not quite on the coastline due to the extremely ruggard nature of the coast at that point, Big Sur is a little town set amongst magnificent, tall, tall, green trees. In bright strong sunshine, I drove the road cut through this immense forest of ancient living beauty and was enthralled by the feeling of life that it emanated.
The road joined the coast again and I made detours here and there to check out beaches and views and take photographs and eventually made it back to San Luis Obispo after visiting the beautiful beach at the city of Morrow Bay.
At San Luis Obispo I immediately found the same restaurant and once again enjoyed their wonderful chicken burritos.
By now it was dark so there was no more sightseeing and I started the 200 mile drive back to Los Angeles on the 101 Freeway. I'll have to sightsee the coast between San Luis Obispo and south to Santa Barbara (the previous northern most point reached last trip) on another trip.
I got home at 10:45 pm having traveled 735 miled since I left on Saturday evening. (As San Francisco is only another 136 miles from Monterey I know I could easily do that trip on a 3-day holliday weekend).
I had a very good nights sleep after a rather exhausting but very satisfying trip.
I'll talk to you again soon.
Love,
Barry
I am also in email communication with Elena (our completion last week who returned to Russia) and with Weber from Taiwan (where he had to return due to the visa situation).
On Thursday evening I met my friend Sue Z. at the Tea Leaf and Coffee Bean for an enjoyable hot chocolate and talk - and on Friday evening I went to dinner at my friend Suesan W's place and we helped each other out with some matters that each of us have some expertise in. I haven't seen anything of my friend Joe L. this week as he is on an 18 day straight work project.
I decided to be really energetic this weekend and leave on my trip Saturday after work at the College and to get as far north as Big Sur, far up the California coast.
Although it is 3:30 the College closes on Saturday, it was 5:00 pm before I was on the road north. At that time of day traffic on the 101 Hollywood/Ventura Freeway was heavy and slow so I turned off to the 170 to Interstat 5 (Hollywood/Sacramento Freeway) going a bit further inland and then turned onto the 118 Freeway west to the coast (through huge vegetable and orchard plantations). It was a fast run and I joined the 101 again much farther north at Oxnard where the traffic was lighter and much faster.
I crossed from Ventura County into San Luis Obispo county and Saturday night about 8:30 pm, just as it started to get dark, I reached the city of San Luis Obispo.
By 9:00 pm I had found a parking spot by the down-town certer and located the central movie huse and bought a ticket to "District 9" science fiction movie. I found a great little restaurant that made the most delicious chicken burritos and satisfied my hunger then went and watched that crazy movie. I can't figure out why they always think aliens with such highly sophistocated equipment would be such unsophisticated and crude creatures.
The movie finished about midnight and by 1:00 am I had located a safe place in the brightly lit parking lot of a Union Bank and was falling asleep in the comfortable bed in the back of my waggon.
I woke after a good sleep, found a place to clean up and discovered the beautiful coast-line I had planned to travel was completely fogged in. I would not see any of the beauty if I continued with my plan to travel the coast northward. So I made the decision to barrel up the freeway and get as far north as I could and then go over to the coast and come down the coast instead of going up coast - hoping that by then the fog would have cleared.
On the way I took a detour to see the little old-west style town of Santa Margarita and went on to see Lake Santa Margarita and take some nice photos there before continuing north again.
I made it all the way to Monterey County and the Monterey Peninsula highway, so from there I went west and reached the city of Monterey on the coast (about 100 miles further than Big Sur where I had originally planned to reach).
I had a good look around Monterey, went out on the huge (smelly - comercial fisherman) "Fisherman's Warf", drove through Cannery Row with its old quaint buildings and then started south along the incredibly beautiful but rather angry Monterey Coast towards Big Sur.
As I had hoped, the fog had cleared and it took me a very long time to get 100 miles south to Big Sur - as I kept stopping the car every few miles to take photos of the magnificent coastal views.
Big Sur was a total contrast! Not quite on the coastline due to the extremely ruggard nature of the coast at that point, Big Sur is a little town set amongst magnificent, tall, tall, green trees. In bright strong sunshine, I drove the road cut through this immense forest of ancient living beauty and was enthralled by the feeling of life that it emanated.
The road joined the coast again and I made detours here and there to check out beaches and views and take photographs and eventually made it back to San Luis Obispo after visiting the beautiful beach at the city of Morrow Bay.
At San Luis Obispo I immediately found the same restaurant and once again enjoyed their wonderful chicken burritos.
By now it was dark so there was no more sightseeing and I started the 200 mile drive back to Los Angeles on the 101 Freeway. I'll have to sightsee the coast between San Luis Obispo and south to Santa Barbara (the previous northern most point reached last trip) on another trip.
I got home at 10:45 pm having traveled 735 miled since I left on Saturday evening. (As San Francisco is only another 136 miles from Monterey I know I could easily do that trip on a 3-day holliday weekend).
I had a very good nights sleep after a rather exhausting but very satisfying trip.
I'll talk to you again soon.
Love,
Barry
Monday, August 17, 2009
Another Sunday outing at last
Hi y'all,
I didn't get away anywhere for a couple of weekends due to a long study cycle required of all staff at the College - and other deadlines of my own for my future business preparations.
I did however get a couple of very enjoyable Saturday dinners and great communication and business help at Suesan's place and I did get in a visit to Katie at Kingsley Manor.
At the College, our beautiful Russian trainee, Elena, has completed all her training and returned to Russia. She gave me a lovely thank-you card for all I'd done to help her and included her email address so we can stay in touch. I will miss her a lot.
Sadly, one of my young Tiawanese students who I also have a high affinity for, had his visa-extension request refused and had to return home to Taiwan. Weber is a very playful being and as he is only 18 he risks being pulled into a year's military service in his own country before he can reapply for another visa to come and complete his studies. That would be unfortunate.
This Saturday my friend Sue Z came back from a month away visiting her daughters on the East Coast and as it happened, Saturday was also her birthday. We went out to dinner at Out-Back Steak House and had an enjoyable time. Sue got to open her present from me and as I had arrived before her and let them know it was her birthday, they presented her with a yummy birthday desert - which I got to help her eat!
On Sunday I set on on the Hollywood/Ventura freeway north and went direstly to Carpintaria where I had left off my trip north last time. From Carpintaria I headed north again along the coast roads and found a small secluded beach to get an hour's sun and listen to the niose of the surf. There were only about 8 other people passed by the entire time I was there.
Then I headed north again past orchards and berry fields and then along a beautiful, almost deserted coast road with amazing mansions with big grounds and lush trees. They were all seaside properties and were the only thing between the sea and the road I drove on. How wonderful it would be to stay at one of those places for a while. I think it is the most tranquil place I have yet encountered on my coastal trips. Huge lush trees overhung both sides of this lovely, long country-style road and filled the yards of those amazing homes.
I continued on and soon made it to Santa Barbra - famous California beach-front city. There was a huge arts bazar all along the shore line so I parked and walked the entire distance one way and then back again - and then walked on to the huge pier and went all the way out to the end. There is traffic and parking and shops on the pier itself.
I got photos of a man making a sand sculpture of a dragon and its young and also of graceful pelicans gliding slowly just overhead.
Then I went back to the car and drove around the harbor and parts of the city before heading back south. The freeway was packed and crawling along so I took the coast roads again and got along much faster.
At one point I took a wrong turn and and found I was on the way inland to some place called Ojia. I almost turned around but then decided, "what the heck, I'll check it out". I drove for a long time along this twisting and turning mountain road going inland from the coast and up the mountains and down again and then to my surprise I came upon the view of a beautiful large lake, Lake Casitas. I stopped at rather risky places for great scenic photographs and headed down to the lake itself. At the reacreation area I asked the best way back to Los Angeles and the young guy in the camping grounds entry-booth was very helpful with simple directions.
It turned out that it was a different road from the one that lead to Ojia so I didn't actually see Ojia and headen on until I reached the freeway again. At this point it was dark but the freeway was moving fast and I had a fast hour-and-a-bit run back home, reaching here at 9:00 pm. I was tired out but with a feeling of accomplishment.
I'll talk to you again soon.
Love,
Barry
I didn't get away anywhere for a couple of weekends due to a long study cycle required of all staff at the College - and other deadlines of my own for my future business preparations.
I did however get a couple of very enjoyable Saturday dinners and great communication and business help at Suesan's place and I did get in a visit to Katie at Kingsley Manor.
At the College, our beautiful Russian trainee, Elena, has completed all her training and returned to Russia. She gave me a lovely thank-you card for all I'd done to help her and included her email address so we can stay in touch. I will miss her a lot.
Sadly, one of my young Tiawanese students who I also have a high affinity for, had his visa-extension request refused and had to return home to Taiwan. Weber is a very playful being and as he is only 18 he risks being pulled into a year's military service in his own country before he can reapply for another visa to come and complete his studies. That would be unfortunate.
This Saturday my friend Sue Z came back from a month away visiting her daughters on the East Coast and as it happened, Saturday was also her birthday. We went out to dinner at Out-Back Steak House and had an enjoyable time. Sue got to open her present from me and as I had arrived before her and let them know it was her birthday, they presented her with a yummy birthday desert - which I got to help her eat!
On Sunday I set on on the Hollywood/Ventura freeway north and went direstly to Carpintaria where I had left off my trip north last time. From Carpintaria I headed north again along the coast roads and found a small secluded beach to get an hour's sun and listen to the niose of the surf. There were only about 8 other people passed by the entire time I was there.
Then I headed north again past orchards and berry fields and then along a beautiful, almost deserted coast road with amazing mansions with big grounds and lush trees. They were all seaside properties and were the only thing between the sea and the road I drove on. How wonderful it would be to stay at one of those places for a while. I think it is the most tranquil place I have yet encountered on my coastal trips. Huge lush trees overhung both sides of this lovely, long country-style road and filled the yards of those amazing homes.
I continued on and soon made it to Santa Barbra - famous California beach-front city. There was a huge arts bazar all along the shore line so I parked and walked the entire distance one way and then back again - and then walked on to the huge pier and went all the way out to the end. There is traffic and parking and shops on the pier itself.
I got photos of a man making a sand sculpture of a dragon and its young and also of graceful pelicans gliding slowly just overhead.
Then I went back to the car and drove around the harbor and parts of the city before heading back south. The freeway was packed and crawling along so I took the coast roads again and got along much faster.
At one point I took a wrong turn and and found I was on the way inland to some place called Ojia. I almost turned around but then decided, "what the heck, I'll check it out". I drove for a long time along this twisting and turning mountain road going inland from the coast and up the mountains and down again and then to my surprise I came upon the view of a beautiful large lake, Lake Casitas. I stopped at rather risky places for great scenic photographs and headed down to the lake itself. At the reacreation area I asked the best way back to Los Angeles and the young guy in the camping grounds entry-booth was very helpful with simple directions.
It turned out that it was a different road from the one that lead to Ojia so I didn't actually see Ojia and headen on until I reached the freeway again. At this point it was dark but the freeway was moving fast and I had a fast hour-and-a-bit run back home, reaching here at 9:00 pm. I was tired out but with a feeling of accomplishment.
I'll talk to you again soon.
Love,
Barry
Sunday, July 26, 2009
North to Carpentaria
Here we are and it's Sunday again so off I went north by the 101 Hollywood/Ventura Freeway as far as Oxnard where I had ended up last Sunday. I headed off the Freeway for the Pacific Coast Highway and made my way further north past more State Beaches and the Channel Islands National Park to Ventura. I spent a good amount of time at the interesting Ventura Harbor Village and Ventura Beach and quickly checked out the State Beach, racetrack and fairgrounds before continuing further north past more State Beaches (State Beaches are the property of the State of California and have a entrance fee if you drive in) and crossed over into Santa Barbara County before making my planned destination of Carpentaria. It's been about 20 years since I have been this far north and Carpentaria Beach is a really nice beach as I remembered it. I soaked up some late sun there and then headed back all the way via the freeway rather than the Coast Highway to Oxnard - so the trip home only took 1 hour 45 minutes.
By the way I bought a bike! My good buddy, Joe, talked me into it so I can go bike riding with him. He told me I could get a new bike for $135 including tax but I was determined to pay under $100. I found a great new bike for $70 with a 10% discount for first purchase at that store - so it cost me only $63 plus tax - I walked out with a brand new bike having paid just under $70 including tax.
There are some future adventures to tell you about there!
Love,
Barry
By the way I bought a bike! My good buddy, Joe, talked me into it so I can go bike riding with him. He told me I could get a new bike for $135 including tax but I was determined to pay under $100. I found a great new bike for $70 with a 10% discount for first purchase at that store - so it cost me only $63 plus tax - I walked out with a brand new bike having paid just under $70 including tax.
There are some future adventures to tell you about there!
Love,
Barry
Monday, July 20, 2009
Coastal adventuring north of Los Angeles
Here we go and another week is over.
I routed in as a full staff member of Hubbard College this week and that was very exciting. I'm no longer just a hire-in.
The annual summer events held the 3rd Saturday night event - all about the adventures of L. Ron Hubbard in his search for "life force" - a wonderful event!
Sunday I set off about lunch time and headed directly by freeway to Santa Monica beach where I left off my coastal adventure last Sunday. From Santa Manica I headed north on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and visited the following places: Will Rogers State Beach, Malibu Beach with all its wonderful seaside seafood restaurants and "27 miles of scenic beauty", Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Malibu Cove, Paradise Cove, Zuma Beach, Point Dume State Beach, El Matadore State Beach, La Piedra State Beach, El Pescadore State Beach, Nicholas Canyon County Beach and Leo Carrillo State Beach.
These beaches north of Santa Monica tend to be different than those further south on the California coast. They are smaller beaches between rocky outcrops that seperate them and are much narrower. The beaches south go on and on unbroken and have huge widths of sand between sea and civilization.
At this point on my trip I crossed out of Los Angeles County and into Ventura County and came to Yerba, Deer Creek Road Beach, Sycamore Cove, Thornhill Broome Beach, Point Mugu Naval Base (I stopped to get photos of a wonderful display of Naval planes and rockets), Hueneme Beach where the Hueneme area is filled with miles and miles of vegetable farms, and finally Oxnard Beach in the city of Oxnard. There is a wonderful marina and harbor here on a big U-shaped shoreline.
(Along the way north - about half way to Oxnard, I was amazed at a huge sand dune on the opposite side of the coast road from the sea. It was a mountain of sand so big that people who had braved the sliding-climb to the top looked like little dots.)
After a good look around Oxnard I made my way back to Santa Monica and the freeway back home - feeling once again extroverted and ready for another week.
Love,
Barry
I routed in as a full staff member of Hubbard College this week and that was very exciting. I'm no longer just a hire-in.
The annual summer events held the 3rd Saturday night event - all about the adventures of L. Ron Hubbard in his search for "life force" - a wonderful event!
Sunday I set off about lunch time and headed directly by freeway to Santa Monica beach where I left off my coastal adventure last Sunday. From Santa Manica I headed north on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and visited the following places: Will Rogers State Beach, Malibu Beach with all its wonderful seaside seafood restaurants and "27 miles of scenic beauty", Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Malibu Cove, Paradise Cove, Zuma Beach, Point Dume State Beach, El Matadore State Beach, La Piedra State Beach, El Pescadore State Beach, Nicholas Canyon County Beach and Leo Carrillo State Beach.
These beaches north of Santa Monica tend to be different than those further south on the California coast. They are smaller beaches between rocky outcrops that seperate them and are much narrower. The beaches south go on and on unbroken and have huge widths of sand between sea and civilization.
At this point on my trip I crossed out of Los Angeles County and into Ventura County and came to Yerba, Deer Creek Road Beach, Sycamore Cove, Thornhill Broome Beach, Point Mugu Naval Base (I stopped to get photos of a wonderful display of Naval planes and rockets), Hueneme Beach where the Hueneme area is filled with miles and miles of vegetable farms, and finally Oxnard Beach in the city of Oxnard. There is a wonderful marina and harbor here on a big U-shaped shoreline.
(Along the way north - about half way to Oxnard, I was amazed at a huge sand dune on the opposite side of the coast road from the sea. It was a mountain of sand so big that people who had braved the sliding-climb to the top looked like little dots.)
After a good look around Oxnard I made my way back to Santa Monica and the freeway back home - feeling once again extroverted and ready for another week.
Love,
Barry
Monday, July 13, 2009
Starting north on the California Coast
Another week has gone by and things went well at the college.
I visited my friend Katie and stayed in email communication with other friends.
I also did my Sunday trip away, heading north from the Palis Verde Peninsula (where I first enjoyed two hours in the sun on an almost deserted beach).
I went by the beach city of Redondo Beach, the city of Huntington Beach with its popular pier, the city of Hermosa Beach and enjoyed its pier, city of Manhattan Beach and pier, then another big State beach and nature reserve wetlands. Then El Segundo, Playa Del Ray with its amazing and enjoyable walk along the very long breakwater, Marina Del Ray with its amazing multitude of VERY expensive yachts and boats, Venice Beach and finally to the city of Santa Monics and famous Santa Monica beach.
I headed back past the famous Santa Monica Third Street Promenade and then onto the freeway for a quick trip home and a late (8:30 pm) dinner.
I'm sun-browned and happy and ready for another weeks work - both at the college and at home writing the articles and doing the illustrations for my upcoming website. My production on this will suffer for a month as unfortunately I'm needed to do additional hours at the college.
Next trip will take me up past Malibu as I head further north on the California Coast taking photographs all the way (also for use on the website).
Until next post.
Love,
Barry
I visited my friend Katie and stayed in email communication with other friends.
I also did my Sunday trip away, heading north from the Palis Verde Peninsula (where I first enjoyed two hours in the sun on an almost deserted beach).
I went by the beach city of Redondo Beach, the city of Huntington Beach with its popular pier, the city of Hermosa Beach and enjoyed its pier, city of Manhattan Beach and pier, then another big State beach and nature reserve wetlands. Then El Segundo, Playa Del Ray with its amazing and enjoyable walk along the very long breakwater, Marina Del Ray with its amazing multitude of VERY expensive yachts and boats, Venice Beach and finally to the city of Santa Monics and famous Santa Monica beach.
I headed back past the famous Santa Monica Third Street Promenade and then onto the freeway for a quick trip home and a late (8:30 pm) dinner.
I'm sun-browned and happy and ready for another weeks work - both at the college and at home writing the articles and doing the illustrations for my upcoming website. My production on this will suffer for a month as unfortunately I'm needed to do additional hours at the college.
Next trip will take me up past Malibu as I head further north on the California Coast taking photographs all the way (also for use on the website).
Until next post.
Love,
Barry
Monday, July 6, 2009
Day after Independence day.
Hi again all,
I just posted yesterday and included the data on the New Era Seniors Inc (NESI) Independence Day BBQ at Sandra and Bill Baikie's home in Torrence - (what a great feast - amazing amounts of wonderful food of all varieties - thanks so much Sandra and Bill!) and I included the wonderful evening meal at Suesan Walker's place with the fireworks watching afterward.
The next day, Sunday 5th July 2009 was another beautiful day so I set out south on the I-5 Freeway and made it to Dana Point, where I had last left off my journey up the California coast.
I had a great look around Capistrano Beach and Dana Point and then headed north up the coast through beautiful State beaches to Laguna Beach (beautiful place - lots of great photographs) and the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and eventually arrived at Corona del Mar (Crown of the Sea) where I had ended my journey southward several months ago.
(That joined up my southerly trips with my northerly trips and completed my entire journey up the California coast from the Mexican border all the way to the Palas Verde Peninsula, just south of LAX, the Los Angeles International Airport.)
I continued on north from Corona del Mar through Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach all of which I had explored earlier on my trips south. I stopped off for a bit of sunbathing at Alamitos beach in the city of Long Beach and then packed up the trusty Volvo wagon and headed home across the two big bridges over Long Beach harbor and in 30 minutes on the 110 Freeway I was back here - home.
(Future coastal trips will be north from Los Angeles towards Canada rather than south of Los Angeles towards Mexico.)
I cleaned up, made a dinner of New Zealand, wild caught hoki fish with vegetables followed by fresh fruit salad and then I made my weekly call on my friend Katie Botha - what a delight!
Until next post...
Love,
Barry
I just posted yesterday and included the data on the New Era Seniors Inc (NESI) Independence Day BBQ at Sandra and Bill Baikie's home in Torrence - (what a great feast - amazing amounts of wonderful food of all varieties - thanks so much Sandra and Bill!) and I included the wonderful evening meal at Suesan Walker's place with the fireworks watching afterward.
The next day, Sunday 5th July 2009 was another beautiful day so I set out south on the I-5 Freeway and made it to Dana Point, where I had last left off my journey up the California coast.
I had a great look around Capistrano Beach and Dana Point and then headed north up the coast through beautiful State beaches to Laguna Beach (beautiful place - lots of great photographs) and the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and eventually arrived at Corona del Mar (Crown of the Sea) where I had ended my journey southward several months ago.
(That joined up my southerly trips with my northerly trips and completed my entire journey up the California coast from the Mexican border all the way to the Palas Verde Peninsula, just south of LAX, the Los Angeles International Airport.)
I continued on north from Corona del Mar through Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach all of which I had explored earlier on my trips south. I stopped off for a bit of sunbathing at Alamitos beach in the city of Long Beach and then packed up the trusty Volvo wagon and headed home across the two big bridges over Long Beach harbor and in 30 minutes on the 110 Freeway I was back here - home.
(Future coastal trips will be north from Los Angeles towards Canada rather than south of Los Angeles towards Mexico.)
I cleaned up, made a dinner of New Zealand, wild caught hoki fish with vegetables followed by fresh fruit salad and then I made my weekly call on my friend Katie Botha - what a delight!
Until next post...
Love,
Barry
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Catching Up to 4th of July.
Things have been happening pretty fast and I haven't posted for a while.
I had a week away from my job at the College and worked for four of those days at Survival Strategies where my good friend, Joe Lin, works permanently as a consultant. (They consult physical therapists and help them expand their practices.) The business is owned and run by Craig Fererra who I worked with many years ago when we were both in the Apollo Troupe, Craig as a musician in the Apollo Stars and myself as a Apollo Show Dancer to the fabulous music of the Apollo Stars. I had forgotten what a really pleasant person Craig is. I worked as a trainer to cover a special situation for him for four days.
Back at the College again I found that I had really been missed by my students and the other staff and they made it clear they were very happy that I was back.
I managed to help my dear friend Katie Botha get her laptop computer playing videos successfully again and she was very grateful for that.
I had a very enjoyable dinner with my good friend Sue Zenger at Outback Steakhouse and went to dinner at another good friend's place, Suesan Walker. I also did a very effective assist on Suesan's daughter-in-law, Kyla, after she badly injured her neck.
We had yesterday, Friday and today, Saturday 4th July, off from the College so yesterday, July 3, I spent a few hours at the beach and then last night was the first of the four weekly-celebrations of the Anniversary of the launching of our beautiful ship, Freewinds. I went with my special friend, Joe Lin, and it was a wonderful celebration event.
Today 4th July, the anniversary of the founding of this wonderful country, I went for a 2 hour walk along the Los Angeles river bank and then to a 4th of July BBQ for members of New Era Seniors Inc (NESI) - great food and fun company. Then tonight I went to dinner again at Suesan's place with her and her son, Morgan and his wife Kyla - we watched the 4th July fireworks display by Burbank City from a high balcony at her apartment building - a very nice meal and company and evening.
That brings things right up to the present.
Love,
Barry
I had a week away from my job at the College and worked for four of those days at Survival Strategies where my good friend, Joe Lin, works permanently as a consultant. (They consult physical therapists and help them expand their practices.) The business is owned and run by Craig Fererra who I worked with many years ago when we were both in the Apollo Troupe, Craig as a musician in the Apollo Stars and myself as a Apollo Show Dancer to the fabulous music of the Apollo Stars. I had forgotten what a really pleasant person Craig is. I worked as a trainer to cover a special situation for him for four days.
Back at the College again I found that I had really been missed by my students and the other staff and they made it clear they were very happy that I was back.
I managed to help my dear friend Katie Botha get her laptop computer playing videos successfully again and she was very grateful for that.
I had a very enjoyable dinner with my good friend Sue Zenger at Outback Steakhouse and went to dinner at another good friend's place, Suesan Walker. I also did a very effective assist on Suesan's daughter-in-law, Kyla, after she badly injured her neck.
We had yesterday, Friday and today, Saturday 4th July, off from the College so yesterday, July 3, I spent a few hours at the beach and then last night was the first of the four weekly-celebrations of the Anniversary of the launching of our beautiful ship, Freewinds. I went with my special friend, Joe Lin, and it was a wonderful celebration event.
Today 4th July, the anniversary of the founding of this wonderful country, I went for a 2 hour walk along the Los Angeles river bank and then to a 4th of July BBQ for members of New Era Seniors Inc (NESI) - great food and fun company. Then tonight I went to dinner again at Suesan's place with her and her son, Morgan and his wife Kyla - we watched the 4th July fireworks display by Burbank City from a high balcony at her apartment building - a very nice meal and company and evening.
That brings things right up to the present.
Love,
Barry
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Two-year study program done!
Yesterday at 12-30am I completed an almost two-year study program concerning the history of the spiritual universe, the composition and creation of the physical universe and the history of all of us spiritual beings in this physical universe.
These were the research writings of L. Ron Hubbard - in the form of 12 books (with correspondence lessons) and 275 hours of lectures on CD's - all known as THE BASICS. I read and listened to these materials in chronological sequence from beginning to end.
I completed this big task by being absolutely determined to hear a lecture or do one correspondence book-lesson every single day no matter what.
This is one of the most rewarding and valuable actions that I have ever done. It distinguished what is generally accepted to be the case from what is actually the case in relation to matter, energy, space and time - and it exposed the surprising, creative relationship we spiritual personalities have to each of these things.
In addition to this amazing data, it gave solutions to all the problems that mankind has - as individuals and as a species.
I recommend L. Ron Hubbard's BASICS very strongly. Just reading the 12 books (starting with either "Scientology: The Fundamental of Thought" or "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health") will totally change your life.
Love,
Barry
These were the research writings of L. Ron Hubbard - in the form of 12 books (with correspondence lessons) and 275 hours of lectures on CD's - all known as THE BASICS. I read and listened to these materials in chronological sequence from beginning to end.
I completed this big task by being absolutely determined to hear a lecture or do one correspondence book-lesson every single day no matter what.
This is one of the most rewarding and valuable actions that I have ever done. It distinguished what is generally accepted to be the case from what is actually the case in relation to matter, energy, space and time - and it exposed the surprising, creative relationship we spiritual personalities have to each of these things.
In addition to this amazing data, it gave solutions to all the problems that mankind has - as individuals and as a species.
I recommend L. Ron Hubbard's BASICS very strongly. Just reading the 12 books (starting with either "Scientology: The Fundamental of Thought" or "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health") will totally change your life.
Love,
Barry
Monday, June 15, 2009
Change to digital TV mess
Hi y'all,
Another week has gone by and it was a good one work-wise at the college with 11 student completions this week - so that's 35 completions in the last three weeks. Pretty cool! We also have another student from Taiwan and one from Iran.
I made my weekly shopping trip for, and visit to my dear friend Katie Botha at Kingsley Manor on Friday after work. Katie is a joy.
I didn't go on a trip this Sunday as we are having overcast weather here in LA - and it's only a week until Summer officially begins - very strange!
This week was the big change to digital TV. I don't watch much TV but do insist on having a workable TV set and I simply couldn't get my existing TV to work with the converter-box that was supposed to switch it smoothly over to be able to receive the new digital transmissions.
So I ended up buying a new TV - a nice 22 inch flat-screen with a built in DVD player in the side of the screen. That of course required a new antenna to pick up the digital broadcasts and the lot cost me more than I wanted to pay. I got it up and running and have a beautiful clear picture on 3 x the number of channels that I could pick up on the old set.
Then I moved the old set into my bedroom and persisted until I got it working with the converter box and I get beautiful clear reception there now too from as many stations as the new set gets.
Sunday afternoon I spent some time with my good buddy Joe Lin - we went food shopping at Whole Foods and then I rushed him home to watch the Los Angeles Lakers win the basket ball championship and I grabbed a quick meal and Sunday night went to a seminar on screen writing - which was really dynamite. Amazing good data from someone who has sold major motion picture scripts and has written for TV too. Boy - is he ever a funny guy - had us in fits of laughter.
More next week.
Love,
Barry
Another week has gone by and it was a good one work-wise at the college with 11 student completions this week - so that's 35 completions in the last three weeks. Pretty cool! We also have another student from Taiwan and one from Iran.
I made my weekly shopping trip for, and visit to my dear friend Katie Botha at Kingsley Manor on Friday after work. Katie is a joy.
I didn't go on a trip this Sunday as we are having overcast weather here in LA - and it's only a week until Summer officially begins - very strange!
This week was the big change to digital TV. I don't watch much TV but do insist on having a workable TV set and I simply couldn't get my existing TV to work with the converter-box that was supposed to switch it smoothly over to be able to receive the new digital transmissions.
So I ended up buying a new TV - a nice 22 inch flat-screen with a built in DVD player in the side of the screen. That of course required a new antenna to pick up the digital broadcasts and the lot cost me more than I wanted to pay. I got it up and running and have a beautiful clear picture on 3 x the number of channels that I could pick up on the old set.
Then I moved the old set into my bedroom and persisted until I got it working with the converter box and I get beautiful clear reception there now too from as many stations as the new set gets.
Sunday afternoon I spent some time with my good buddy Joe Lin - we went food shopping at Whole Foods and then I rushed him home to watch the Los Angeles Lakers win the basket ball championship and I grabbed a quick meal and Sunday night went to a seminar on screen writing - which was really dynamite. Amazing good data from someone who has sold major motion picture scripts and has written for TV too. Boy - is he ever a funny guy - had us in fits of laughter.
More next week.
Love,
Barry
Sunday, June 7, 2009
A great start to June 2009
Hi again all!
I had another great week teaching at the college and we had 12 student course-completions again - for the second week in a row!
Thursday night was a bit exciting as my car stopped on the way home from work and I just managed to pull in to an Auto-Zone store as it spluttered dead. I asked them to check the battery and it was totally flat. The guy noticed that the alternator belt was off the pulley-wheel! I had them recharge the battery and I drove it right to my mechanic and parked it outside his shop and put the keys through the door-slot and walked home. He put a new belt on first thing Friday morning and I was in time for work. Phew!
Friday night I did shopping for my friend Katie at the Kingsley home and then had a very pleasant visit with her. Katie helped me as much as I helped her!
Saturday after work at the college I went to dinner and a pleasant evening with my friend Suesan Walker, her son, Morgan, his wife, Kyla and Suesan's daughter, Wendy, down from Las Vegas with her husband, David and their son Logan. I took some wine and we had delicious ribs, vegetables, salad and corn-bread muffins, followed my mixed berries and chocolate-covered cream puffs. It was very yummy! Logan is a delight and we had a lot of fun with him.
Today, Sunday, I took off in my car in the morning and headed south on Interstate Freeway 5 and made for Carlsbad - the place I'd reached the previous trip traveling up the California coast from the Mexican boarder. I spent two hours in the sun on the beach at Carlsbad then checked out the pier and headed north again - to explore more of the coast.
I explored the lovely beach city of Oceanside, checked out San Clemente, toured all around the giant military base at Camp Pendleton and Del Mar Beach, Capistrano, San Onfre and made it as far as Dana Point.
I got lots of shots of flowers and birds (and a couple of trains) and some nice sunset shots. I'll start my next outing at Dana Point and work north further from there.
I'm looking forward to having lunch in the next day or so with my good friend Jackie who is here in Los Angeles for a while - from Florida.
Love,
Barry
I had another great week teaching at the college and we had 12 student course-completions again - for the second week in a row!
Thursday night was a bit exciting as my car stopped on the way home from work and I just managed to pull in to an Auto-Zone store as it spluttered dead. I asked them to check the battery and it was totally flat. The guy noticed that the alternator belt was off the pulley-wheel! I had them recharge the battery and I drove it right to my mechanic and parked it outside his shop and put the keys through the door-slot and walked home. He put a new belt on first thing Friday morning and I was in time for work. Phew!
Friday night I did shopping for my friend Katie at the Kingsley home and then had a very pleasant visit with her. Katie helped me as much as I helped her!
Saturday after work at the college I went to dinner and a pleasant evening with my friend Suesan Walker, her son, Morgan, his wife, Kyla and Suesan's daughter, Wendy, down from Las Vegas with her husband, David and their son Logan. I took some wine and we had delicious ribs, vegetables, salad and corn-bread muffins, followed my mixed berries and chocolate-covered cream puffs. It was very yummy! Logan is a delight and we had a lot of fun with him.
Today, Sunday, I took off in my car in the morning and headed south on Interstate Freeway 5 and made for Carlsbad - the place I'd reached the previous trip traveling up the California coast from the Mexican boarder. I spent two hours in the sun on the beach at Carlsbad then checked out the pier and headed north again - to explore more of the coast.
I explored the lovely beach city of Oceanside, checked out San Clemente, toured all around the giant military base at Camp Pendleton and Del Mar Beach, Capistrano, San Onfre and made it as far as Dana Point.
I got lots of shots of flowers and birds (and a couple of trains) and some nice sunset shots. I'll start my next outing at Dana Point and work north further from there.
I'm looking forward to having lunch in the next day or so with my good friend Jackie who is here in Los Angeles for a while - from Florida.
Love,
Barry
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Another Week
I had a great week last week.
Teaching at the college was very rewarding and we had our highest number of students completing courses since I began teaching there. ( We call it supervising students who are learning, rather than teaching them.) We are getting more and more students on almost a weekly basis now, which is a very good sign about the quality of the attention the students are getting. Julio from Columbia has completed all of his studies (we call it training) and is heading back to his home in Columbia, South America. He is a great guy and I will miss him - but hopefully he will stay in touch.
During the evenings I was sprucing up my apartment as my good friend, Jackie Kelly, from Florida is coming to California for a month to help her daughter here get a business going. I invited her to stay with me while here - however her son and daughter have claimed her instead. But I will be seeing her early next week and catching up on news. Her husband, Dan is keeping things going back in Florida while she is here. They are wonderful friends.
Saturday afternoon after work at the college I shopped for, and then visited, my wonderful friend, Katie Botha, in her pleasant room at Kingsley Manor. She is such a dear friend and we have such fun together. I took her the shopping and returned her ClearSound CD player which was being fixed and she was very happy about that. Now I need to help her get her DVD player repaired or replaced.
Sunday it was overcast and not worth a long trip away, so I stayed home and had a leisurely, enjoyable time and did some creative things - drawing and writing and reading and prepared for a new week.
Love,
Barry
Teaching at the college was very rewarding and we had our highest number of students completing courses since I began teaching there. ( We call it supervising students who are learning, rather than teaching them.) We are getting more and more students on almost a weekly basis now, which is a very good sign about the quality of the attention the students are getting. Julio from Columbia has completed all of his studies (we call it training) and is heading back to his home in Columbia, South America. He is a great guy and I will miss him - but hopefully he will stay in touch.
During the evenings I was sprucing up my apartment as my good friend, Jackie Kelly, from Florida is coming to California for a month to help her daughter here get a business going. I invited her to stay with me while here - however her son and daughter have claimed her instead. But I will be seeing her early next week and catching up on news. Her husband, Dan is keeping things going back in Florida while she is here. They are wonderful friends.
Saturday afternoon after work at the college I shopped for, and then visited, my wonderful friend, Katie Botha, in her pleasant room at Kingsley Manor. She is such a dear friend and we have such fun together. I took her the shopping and returned her ClearSound CD player which was being fixed and she was very happy about that. Now I need to help her get her DVD player repaired or replaced.
Sunday it was overcast and not worth a long trip away, so I stayed home and had a leisurely, enjoyable time and did some creative things - drawing and writing and reading and prepared for a new week.
Love,
Barry
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Weekend
After a great week teaching (supervising) at Hubbard College, on Friday night I had a pleasant and relaxing visit with my friend Katie Botha at Kingsley Manor.
Saturday morning I had to turn down an invitation for breakfast from friend Suesan Walker (and her family visiting from Las Vegas) as I work Saturday mornings at the college.
Saturday night I went with my friend Sue Zenger, to the 59th Anniversary of the release of the book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. This book has now sold over 21 million copies and due to all his other books as well, the author, L. Ron Hubbard, was declared the most reviewed author in the world in 2009 and now has just been declared the most published author on Earth by Guinness World Records.
As it was a long weekend I came home from the event and got right to bed. I got up early and left town for a two day adventure.
I drove south on Interstate Freeway 5 all the way to the Mexican border - but turned off on the last USA exit before crossing the border and had a quick look at the huge modern America Mall, where Mexicans, crossing over the boarder by foot can shop.
Then I made my way to the coast to continue my plan of seeing the entirety of the California coast. I was stopped by border security from going on my planned route (right along the USA side of the boarder) to the coast - they told me it was too dangerous due to drug smuggling and I should go back to the next Freeway exit. Not being one who is easily stopped, I found another route and went to the coast as planned. It was blocked off to vehicles the last half mile so I had an energetic walk, stepping round a brown snake (photos of course) and reached the miles-long white sand Border Beach - totally deserted of anyone but myself - and I could see Mexico in the not too far distance. Back to the car I made my way north up the beautiful California coast.
The first real city I encountered was Coronado with its beautiful white sand beach, pier, shops, parks, and one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen - huge, in immaculate shape, in the colonial style with towers, a lighthouse structured restaurant and lots of adjoining cottages - and all of it right on the beautiful beach. I got two hours of sun on the beach there.
Traveling on, I reached the magnificent city of San Diego with it's beautiful skyline and high, long, harbor bridge across a magnificent harbor where there were two wonderful sailing ships and the aircraft carrier Midway as an memorial museum. There, also, is San Diego's awesome, huge, convention center.
On up the coast to Harbor Island where it became to dark to see much, so I got on the Freeway and went back north a short way to La Jolla, got myself a meal, went to a movie (X-Men Wolverine), and set up to sleep in the back of my Volvo wagon in the parking lot of a 24 hour Ralph's store with good bathrooms - and where it was safe! With the back seats folded down I have 8 inches of foam rubber on the floor and a sleeping bag, pillow, comforter and curtains for privacy.
After a good nights sleep I was up and south a short distance to Harbor Island (where I ended the previous day). Then up the coast past mile upon mile of beautiful, long, wide, white sand beaches.
I reached Cabrillo National Monument and Sunset Cliffs National Park and discovered that the Monument is a memorial and there are tens upon tens of thousands of military graves with white markers in perfect lines on perfect green grass. Coincidentally, I was there right on Memorial Day - I couldn't have planned it better. I heard a gut-wrenching address by "the American Flag" spoken by a man with a magnificent voice. Looking at all those graves (and as many memorial plaques on walls) I couldn't help but feel anger at idiot leaders who are so incompetent they can't solve problems by communication and have to resort to the barbarity of war - and even more anger at those who feel war is necessary as a form of population control.
I traveled on north up the beautiful coast - beach city after beach city. Pacific Beach has a very unique hotel - right on the pier with little bungalow rooms along each side of the wide pier out over the water.
I visited Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and went for an hour and a half walk at Torres Pines State Reserve - beach and nature trails - and finally made the city of Carlsbad before it became too dark to see much and I got back on the Freeway for home.
What a magnificent state this southern coastal state, California, is! Beautiful beaches, marinas, yachting, bike trails, walking tracks, sports fields, sports courts, fishing piers, beach stores, picnic areas, statues, fountains, restaurants, hotels, amusement parks, skating parks, surfing, hang gliding, para sailing, kite flying, swimming, hot-air balloons and huge varieties of flowers and trees - dominated by the tall, tall, California palm and the bougainvillea in a great variety of colors.
I arrived home after 10:30 pm and sat down to make this entry while it was all fresh in my mind. Now it's time to catch up on my emails - which I have not seen since Friday.
Love,
Barry
Saturday morning I had to turn down an invitation for breakfast from friend Suesan Walker (and her family visiting from Las Vegas) as I work Saturday mornings at the college.
Saturday night I went with my friend Sue Zenger, to the 59th Anniversary of the release of the book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. This book has now sold over 21 million copies and due to all his other books as well, the author, L. Ron Hubbard, was declared the most reviewed author in the world in 2009 and now has just been declared the most published author on Earth by Guinness World Records.
As it was a long weekend I came home from the event and got right to bed. I got up early and left town for a two day adventure.
I drove south on Interstate Freeway 5 all the way to the Mexican border - but turned off on the last USA exit before crossing the border and had a quick look at the huge modern America Mall, where Mexicans, crossing over the boarder by foot can shop.
Then I made my way to the coast to continue my plan of seeing the entirety of the California coast. I was stopped by border security from going on my planned route (right along the USA side of the boarder) to the coast - they told me it was too dangerous due to drug smuggling and I should go back to the next Freeway exit. Not being one who is easily stopped, I found another route and went to the coast as planned. It was blocked off to vehicles the last half mile so I had an energetic walk, stepping round a brown snake (photos of course) and reached the miles-long white sand Border Beach - totally deserted of anyone but myself - and I could see Mexico in the not too far distance. Back to the car I made my way north up the beautiful California coast.
The first real city I encountered was Coronado with its beautiful white sand beach, pier, shops, parks, and one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen - huge, in immaculate shape, in the colonial style with towers, a lighthouse structured restaurant and lots of adjoining cottages - and all of it right on the beautiful beach. I got two hours of sun on the beach there.
Traveling on, I reached the magnificent city of San Diego with it's beautiful skyline and high, long, harbor bridge across a magnificent harbor where there were two wonderful sailing ships and the aircraft carrier Midway as an memorial museum. There, also, is San Diego's awesome, huge, convention center.
On up the coast to Harbor Island where it became to dark to see much, so I got on the Freeway and went back north a short way to La Jolla, got myself a meal, went to a movie (X-Men Wolverine), and set up to sleep in the back of my Volvo wagon in the parking lot of a 24 hour Ralph's store with good bathrooms - and where it was safe! With the back seats folded down I have 8 inches of foam rubber on the floor and a sleeping bag, pillow, comforter and curtains for privacy.
After a good nights sleep I was up and south a short distance to Harbor Island (where I ended the previous day). Then up the coast past mile upon mile of beautiful, long, wide, white sand beaches.
I reached Cabrillo National Monument and Sunset Cliffs National Park and discovered that the Monument is a memorial and there are tens upon tens of thousands of military graves with white markers in perfect lines on perfect green grass. Coincidentally, I was there right on Memorial Day - I couldn't have planned it better. I heard a gut-wrenching address by "the American Flag" spoken by a man with a magnificent voice. Looking at all those graves (and as many memorial plaques on walls) I couldn't help but feel anger at idiot leaders who are so incompetent they can't solve problems by communication and have to resort to the barbarity of war - and even more anger at those who feel war is necessary as a form of population control.
I traveled on north up the beautiful coast - beach city after beach city. Pacific Beach has a very unique hotel - right on the pier with little bungalow rooms along each side of the wide pier out over the water.
I visited Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and went for an hour and a half walk at Torres Pines State Reserve - beach and nature trails - and finally made the city of Carlsbad before it became too dark to see much and I got back on the Freeway for home.
What a magnificent state this southern coastal state, California, is! Beautiful beaches, marinas, yachting, bike trails, walking tracks, sports fields, sports courts, fishing piers, beach stores, picnic areas, statues, fountains, restaurants, hotels, amusement parks, skating parks, surfing, hang gliding, para sailing, kite flying, swimming, hot-air balloons and huge varieties of flowers and trees - dominated by the tall, tall, California palm and the bougainvillea in a great variety of colors.
I arrived home after 10:30 pm and sat down to make this entry while it was all fresh in my mind. Now it's time to catch up on my emails - which I have not seen since Friday.
Love,
Barry
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday is Play Day
I set off the morning of Sunday May 17, 2009, at 9:30 am - going on the Interstate 5 Freeway South, then took the 605 West to Seal Beach which is where I had left my coastal adventure the previous Sunday.
After I left the freeway, can you believe it, I drove by a park where there was a cricket game in progress - a very rare happening here in the USA - so of course I had to stop and take photographs.
Then I continued south on my tour of the Southern California Beach Cities - Seal Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sunset Beach, Balsa Roca and its State Beach (also walked the adjacent Balsa Roca Nature Reserve and saw a rattle snake), Huntington Beach, Balboa (and drove over to Balboa Island - crazy slow traffic), Newport Beach (very classy) and finally Corona Del Mar (Crown of the Sea) where there was another nature reserve at the beach and I took photos of nesting Pelicans.
It's interesting that it's almost like one huge, long, wide beach all the way down the coast and each city builds a rock breakwater out into the ocean to mark where their beach begins and then another to mark where it ends. It's almost unbelievable the huge expanse of beautiful quality sand - it just goes on and on and on for mile after mile after mile.
Beautiful beach homes back onto the beaches and almost all of these Beach Cities have a pier going out into the water with stores and restaurants etc and of course I had to stop and walk all the piers just in case I might have missed something interesting.
I walked around two arts and crafts fairs on the way down also.
I took a lot of photos of beautiful flowers and wonderful houses too.
I finally was so tired I turned towards home at 6:05 pm and found the I. 5 Freeway much further south and had a good fast run home and was back here by 7:40 pm last night.
I made dinner, did some study, had a happy talk on the phone with my friend Sue Zenger and went to bed.
So the cobwebs are blown and I'm ready for another week's work.
Love,
Barry
After I left the freeway, can you believe it, I drove by a park where there was a cricket game in progress - a very rare happening here in the USA - so of course I had to stop and take photographs.
Then I continued south on my tour of the Southern California Beach Cities - Seal Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sunset Beach, Balsa Roca and its State Beach (also walked the adjacent Balsa Roca Nature Reserve and saw a rattle snake), Huntington Beach, Balboa (and drove over to Balboa Island - crazy slow traffic), Newport Beach (very classy) and finally Corona Del Mar (Crown of the Sea) where there was another nature reserve at the beach and I took photos of nesting Pelicans.
It's interesting that it's almost like one huge, long, wide beach all the way down the coast and each city builds a rock breakwater out into the ocean to mark where their beach begins and then another to mark where it ends. It's almost unbelievable the huge expanse of beautiful quality sand - it just goes on and on and on for mile after mile after mile.
Beautiful beach homes back onto the beaches and almost all of these Beach Cities have a pier going out into the water with stores and restaurants etc and of course I had to stop and walk all the piers just in case I might have missed something interesting.
I walked around two arts and crafts fairs on the way down also.
I took a lot of photos of beautiful flowers and wonderful houses too.
I finally was so tired I turned towards home at 6:05 pm and found the I. 5 Freeway much further south and had a good fast run home and was back here by 7:40 pm last night.
I made dinner, did some study, had a happy talk on the phone with my friend Sue Zenger and went to bed.
So the cobwebs are blown and I'm ready for another week's work.
Love,
Barry
Sunday, May 17, 2009
End of the week
The three day communication course, May 13 through 15, went wonderfully well on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - with 30 brand new people now fully knowledgeable in the secrets on how to communicate without causing upsets, how to patch up upsets and how to accomplish what they want to accomplish with smooth, clear acceptable communication.
Yesterday morning, Saturday May 16, I was back with my students at Hubbard College of Administration from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, and then after work there I went to Kingsley Manor to visit my wonderful South African friend, Katie Botha. Katie had her 79th birthday on 4th of May and on the morning of that day I had emailed her a photograph of a birthday wish I had scratched in the wet beach sand, "Happy Birthday Katie". She loved it so much that she had me mount the photograph on a nice backing so she could hang it in her room. I took that and the shopping I had done for her at her request and had the usual very pleasant visit with her, ending off with a "touch assist" to help her physical condition.
Then at home I made a dinner of wild-caught New Zealand fish (which I get from "Whole Foods") and prepared a picknic luch for today.
Today Sunday is my day to play. I am just now setting of with my nap-sack and picnic lunch and my camara for a day exploring the California coast - going to some area I have not been before and hoping for lots of sun and lots of great photographs. I'll write about it tomorrow morning whan I am recovered!
Love - Barry
Yesterday morning, Saturday May 16, I was back with my students at Hubbard College of Administration from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, and then after work there I went to Kingsley Manor to visit my wonderful South African friend, Katie Botha. Katie had her 79th birthday on 4th of May and on the morning of that day I had emailed her a photograph of a birthday wish I had scratched in the wet beach sand, "Happy Birthday Katie". She loved it so much that she had me mount the photograph on a nice backing so she could hang it in her room. I took that and the shopping I had done for her at her request and had the usual very pleasant visit with her, ending off with a "touch assist" to help her physical condition.
Then at home I made a dinner of wild-caught New Zealand fish (which I get from "Whole Foods") and prepared a picknic luch for today.
Today Sunday is my day to play. I am just now setting of with my nap-sack and picnic lunch and my camara for a day exploring the California coast - going to some area I have not been before and hoping for lots of sun and lots of great photographs. I'll write about it tomorrow morning whan I am recovered!
Love - Barry
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Management Success!
Today I began the 3 days I take away from Hubbard College each month to help run the large Communications Course at a company called Management Success!
We started 30 new people on the Communications Course and it was a happy, high-action time as they learned and practiced the individual parts of the communications formula.
(Without a doubt, I am one of the most experienced people on this Earth at teaching the various aspects of communication - having personally delivered many hundreds of Communications Lectures and supervised thousands and thousands of students through the Communications Course.)
Management Success is a wonderful company that trains and consults the owners and staff of automotive repair shops and collision repair shops, using L. Ron Hubbard's amazing management and administration technologies. ( www.Management Success.com )
The Communications Course is a three day course, so I have two more joyous days to look forwards to at Management Success - and then I will be back to my wonderful daily job, teaching at Hubbard College of Administration. (I miss my wonderful students there already.)
( www.HubbardCollege.org )
Love,
Barry
We started 30 new people on the Communications Course and it was a happy, high-action time as they learned and practiced the individual parts of the communications formula.
(Without a doubt, I am one of the most experienced people on this Earth at teaching the various aspects of communication - having personally delivered many hundreds of Communications Lectures and supervised thousands and thousands of students through the Communications Course.)
Management Success is a wonderful company that trains and consults the owners and staff of automotive repair shops and collision repair shops, using L. Ron Hubbard's amazing management and administration technologies. ( www.Management Success.com )
The Communications Course is a three day course, so I have two more joyous days to look forwards to at Management Success - and then I will be back to my wonderful daily job, teaching at Hubbard College of Administration. (I miss my wonderful students there already.)
( www.HubbardCollege.org )
Love,
Barry
Monday, May 11, 2009
A day teaching at the College
Hi all,
Today was a normal, rewarding Monday working with my students at Hubbard College of Administration International here on Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California, USA.
I have students from: USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Holland, Taiwan, Lebanon, Russia and Albania.
They are wonderful young people working on obtaining their degrees before going back to their states or countries to apply the Hubbard Management and Administrative technologies and improve their family businesses and their states and countries.
There is nothing more wonderful than to watch a vital young mind light up with a new awareness that projects into the future the ability to change conditions for the better.
We have had two full college degree completions in the past two weeks.
I love my job.
Love,
Barry
Today was a normal, rewarding Monday working with my students at Hubbard College of Administration International here on Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California, USA.
I have students from: USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Holland, Taiwan, Lebanon, Russia and Albania.
They are wonderful young people working on obtaining their degrees before going back to their states or countries to apply the Hubbard Management and Administrative technologies and improve their family businesses and their states and countries.
There is nothing more wonderful than to watch a vital young mind light up with a new awareness that projects into the future the ability to change conditions for the better.
We have had two full college degree completions in the past two weeks.
I love my job.
Love,
Barry
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Star Trek
Today, Sunday, May 10, 2009, my good friend Joe Lin took me to see the movie, Star Trek (and then for a meal at the B&J Brewing Company in Burbank).
Wow! What an amazingly exciting movie Star Trek is. I just loved every moment of the fast paced action and wonderful special effects in space (and the triumph of good over evil of course).
It's a prequel to the earlier Star Trek movies, about earlier times than those, - but I think it's better than all of the others.
It was a great day.
Love,
Barry
Wow! What an amazingly exciting movie Star Trek is. I just loved every moment of the fast paced action and wonderful special effects in space (and the triumph of good over evil of course).
It's a prequel to the earlier Star Trek movies, about earlier times than those, - but I think it's better than all of the others.
It was a great day.
Love,
Barry
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Greetings!
Hello there!
I'm a Kiwi in the USA and thought it would be nice if friends and relatives in my homeland of New Zealand (and elsewhere) could stay up-to-date with my activities here in sunny California.
Consequently, I have decided to brave the new world of social networking and create this blog, so that one-and-all can access it to find out about my most recent activities.
By going to www.FunBarry@BlogSpot.com at any time you can check and see if there is anything new and exciting that I have been up to.
Lots of love to all,
Barry
I'm a Kiwi in the USA and thought it would be nice if friends and relatives in my homeland of New Zealand (and elsewhere) could stay up-to-date with my activities here in sunny California.
Consequently, I have decided to brave the new world of social networking and create this blog, so that one-and-all can access it to find out about my most recent activities.
By going to www.FunBarry@BlogSpot.com at any time you can check and see if there is anything new and exciting that I have been up to.
Lots of love to all,
Barry
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