Still in Pomona!

On Sunday we did go to the movies, saw Star Trek. We both thought it was entertaining. Kind of interesting that they went back to the beginning like they did in Star Wars.

Yesterday we took the truck to the Ford Dealer. They will probably keep for a "couple of days". They have 10 diesel mechanics so it is the largest service dept. we have been to so far. Maybe that will be a good thing! Let's hope!

Did get laundry done yesterday and Max was happy to have us home for a change.

We'll keep you posted and..."Ain't Life Grand"!

Marooned!

Yesterday we were supposed to leave here and start back north with the guys. They will turn in their RV on Sunday. Sadly we have enough truck trouble that we decided we need to stay here and get it fixed (again)! Did NOT want to be towed again! They went to the beach and were then going to head north toward home.

After I phoned 3 Ford dealers (looking for one that could possibly fix the problem once and for all) that were in close proximity, one of the dealers referred me to one that is about 20 miles away but they have 10 diesel mechanics. We went by yesterday and talked to the service manager. He took a look at the history and had some ideas so we have an appointment for Monday! Wish us luck!

It's pretty warm here in Pomona (HOT!) so I think we are going to go see a movie this afternoon. Max will stay in the cool RV so he'll be fine too!

Hope all is well with you our friends, and...

"Ain't Marooned Life Grand"?...Most of the time!

And the trip goes on...

Today we met friends Jeri and Stach (from San Diego) at Downtown Disney! We gabbed, had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, gabbed some more, did some shopping, gabbed some more and then went to the movies to see "UP" in 3D and gabbed some more! It was a cute movie and a fun time was had by all!

Ted, Susan, Jeri & Stach!

This morning the guys took off for Knott's Berry Farm. As of this posting they are still out having fun!

Yesterday we sadly left the beach and headed inland. We are staying in a campground at the L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pomona. We decided to rent a car for the guys because we were going to meet some friends while fairly close to home. After checking the cars on the internet for which car would hold 6, I called and made a reservation. When Ted and Craig went to pick up the car, it would only hold 5! So they had to go to another place and of course pay more money and get a pick up truck! They have wheels so they are happy!

The guys took off to go shopping (yes ladies, guys that wanted to go shopping)! Had dinner at Medieval Times where you pay a lot of money for food that you eat with your hands while watching knights on horses swordfight! It's actually very impressive.

Ted and I met up with a former co-worker of mine (Donna) and her husband (Virgil) that I worked with in the 70's! They live in Fullerton so we went by and visited and went out to dinner, a very enjoyable evening. When we get together, it's like no time has passed since we saw them last!

Ted, Donna & Virgil!

Donna, Virgil & Susan!

One last note for this posting, our darn truck is really getting bad again. Tomorrow we are leaving here to head back north. Looks like we are going to have some down time with the truck in the shop again...wish us luck!

Great friends, good food & Disneyland..."Ain't life grand"!

Our Day in Malibu!

This morning we left Santa Clarita and headed to Malibu. Our campground is on Pacific Coast Highway on top of the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has turned out to be a sunny beautiful day. The guys left at 4:15 this morning (on very little sleep) for the Price is Right! They made it to the audience but never got picked as a contestant. They all had bright red shirts that said "WILL WRESTLE FOR DREW"! (They were all on the wrestling team at the high school).

Ted and I got up much later and got to the campground in time to go to Dukes for lunch. It is right on the ocean. Food was great and the view terrific! The guys pulled in around 3pm and took off to the beach to go swimming. Said water was great but warmed up in the hot tub before showering and taking off for dinner! Stephan said he and his friends are really having a great time!

The only problems on the "grad trip" so far: Our truck is bellowing black smoke again when towing the RV and Craig's had a couple of problems with the rental RV. But we keep on going so far...

Sun and surf on Malibu beach..."ain't life grand"!

Meeting up with the grads!

Yesterday we met up with the grads at the Tachi Casino in Le Moore California. I know, where the heck is Le Moore you ask? It is south of Fresno between Hwy's 99 and 5, farm land area. Out in the middle of nowhere is a hotel and casino! The guys were all playing black jack and having a good time. We left a deposit at the casino and headed south for Santa Clarita (home of Magic Mountain) for the campground. They met up with some friends in Bakersfield and finally got to the campground around 12:30 a.m. Oh to be young again, NOT!

This morning they took off for Magic Mountain for the day. Ma & Pa are just staying home to do laundry, besides we loaned them our truck so they didn't have to take their RV!


They seem to be having fun..."ain't life grand"!

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers!

Yesterday was a stay around campground day, just enjoying the river and alllllll the people coming out for Father's Day Weekend. The river was lively with people.

Today we headed south again and are at a campground in Coalinga, about a 200 mile trek. We are about 35 miles from where we will meet the college kids tomorrow. Craig will pick up a 31' motor home and 5 college students and meet us at the Tachi Casino. After a bit of gambling the two RV's will head south to Santa Clarita. On Tuesday they will spend the day at Magic Mountain! Ted and I are thinking about going to Magic Mountain but poor Ted will have to go on the loop de loop and speedy roller coasters by himself (unless one of the kid's take pity on him) because I'm not getting on the scary rides!

We'll keep you posted on traveling with the graduates and "ain't life grand"!

Wine Tasting!

Today we decided to look for the County Fair again and this time we found it! It looked pretty small and it was pretty hot so decided to go:

Yep we decided to go wine tasting. We went to Terre Rouge/Easton and tasted some wine. We brought home a Barbera, a Zin, a late harvest Zin and a Syrah. In 1999 when we were wine tasting with a group, we had one of their Syrah's and really liked it. We think it was a 96 or older (we can't remember yesterday why do we think we can remember what year the wine was)! We really enjoyed it so we bought a 2005 Syrah which wasn't available for tasting but thought we'd take a chance and try it.

Then we went down the road to another winery called Toscano's where we had a bistro lunch of tri-tip steak sandwiches (very yummy). Didn't try any wine but looked around a bit and enjoyed our lunch.

We took a nice drive through Amador county. The countryside is full of rolling hills, pine trees and grape vines. We passed at least 20 wineries. We're thinking we'll come back with friends Jim & Della some time and do some serious wine tasting!

Wine tasting in the countryside..."ain't life grand"!

Making lemonade out of lemons!

Today we started out to go to the El Dorado County Fair in Placerville! But guess what, we couldn't find it! So we did the next best thing:

Yep, we found a casino! It was hot outside (in the mid 90's) and it was time for lunch, seemed like a good idea. Believe it or not we were both lucky today and doubled our meager amount of gambling money! We also had a great lunch. I had a crab hash and egg croissant sandwich (yummy) and Ted an Italian Panini. It was a lot of fun. Next we stopped at Costco for some supplies and came home to rescue Max from his boredom!

Winning a little money at the casino "ain't life grand"!

Friends Joel & La'le of Sacramento

Today we visited Ted's former co-worker from the County of San Diego, Joel, and his wife La'le. They live in Sacramento. We had a good visit and then they took us to a favorite Italian restaurant for lunch. La'le enjoys her two cats and the little squirrel that shows up every afternoon for some walnuts. She wasn't paying attention so it sort of knocks on the patio door! It sits on her patio chair while it eats nuts but when I went out to take a picture, the squirrel took off for the trees! But that's okay, the cats liked me!

Visiting friends in Sacramento, "Ain't Life Grand"!

The Gold Country!

Today we took a drive through history on State Road 49. We drove through Sutters Mill where the first gold was discovered in 1848. The old mill is still there. Then we got to Placerville. New is mixing with old but the road through downtown is still pretty narrow (especially for our big truck)! We kept going on SR 49 through many small towns, tall pines and other trees and rolling hills. We went through Amador City and Sutter's Creek where we visited years ago on one of our wine tasting trips. We had lunch in Plymouth at Marlene and Glen's 50's diner. I don't think they have changed a thing in the past 50 years except for adding customer's pictures. Had an enjoyable lunch.

I've attached a picture of a Ponderosa Pine. Most people ask Jeeves or search the Internet, I just asked my friend Peggy! She described the tree I was looking at to a T! Unfortunately the one I was looking at isn't very straight but still very stately! There are tons of them around the campground.

Today we had a beautiful drive, fond remembrances and "ain't life grand"!

Where the heck is Lotus CA????

Yesterday we left Fresno and drove north to Sacramento and east to Lotus, CA. We are in the Ponderosa Resort Campground. I can sit in my chair and look out the window and see the river. There are kyaks, tubes, rafts and canoes going right past us. The water feels about 50 degrees to me but everyone seems to be enjoying their ride! There are also big beautiful trees in the campground. Hmmm wonder if they are Ponderosa pines because I can't think of any other reason the campground would be called the Ponderosa Resort!

Today we ran some errands, got Max a shave, nails for me and a nice lunch out! Just relaxing by the river this afternoon!

Ahhhh "ain't life grand"!

Heading to Lotus California

Last night met Craig and Chip for dinner. We went to a nice pasta restaurant. We enjoy the guys company and had a fun time.

We are getting ready to go north to Lotus, California, east of Sacramento! Ted has some friends there that we will visit and do some sightseeing. We'll keep you posted!

Sad to leave the guys but "Ain't Life Grand"!

Graduation Day!

Stephen's Graduation was great! His high school really did a nice organized job. The only problem at all was at the end when you were trying to find your graduate, they took awhile to open the gate so everyone had crowded into a small area and then had to rush in (like they were going anywhere)! The graduates were wearing red, white and blue robes which spelled out 2009! Their jazz band was great and played while waiting for graduation to begin. The school orchestra played Star Wars and then the Pomp and Circumstance and the procession began. The speakers were good and loud (and not too long)! And as you can see, Stephen looked very handsome!

I took a few other pictures before the ceremony began:

Chip "the middle brother"

Ceremony grounds where the jazz band set up.

Older brother Craig and Ted!

Brother Chip (kidding around) and Stephen's girlfriend Marissa!

2009 class motto!

They had a "sober after graduation party" at a pizza parlor similar to a Dave & Busters. It was open to senior graduates only and once you came in you couldn't leave until morning. Stephen said he had a good time.

Video interview with Stephen Meredith, graduate!

Today Ted and I drove up to Coarsegold (south of Yosemite) to the Chukchansi Casino. We met some friends Judy & Clem (from Ted's high school) that live in Coarsegold for lunch and of course played a few machines. I think we broke even and had at least that much fun!

Last High School Graduate: "Ain't Life Grand"!

Craig's new office

Yesterday Ted and I stopped by Craig's law firm to see his new office. It isn't finished yet, but has been painted, new carpet and new desk. Great view from his window! Then we went to lunch with Craig, had a great visit, sent him back to work and did some shopping! After shopping I got my hair cut and colored - color is much better, no red!

We have been excited because the truck has been doing so well until yesterday! Got to a stop light and when I took off there was no power and a huge puff of smoke. We hope it was just a hiccup because it was better after it burped! When they worked on it last, they found carbon pebbles in the valve. They tried to get them all out so we hope maybe there was one left which has now been dissolved. We've been using a diesel fuel additive and it seems to have helped (we thought anyway)! The big test will be when we leave here on Sunday! It always is worse when we have a load (the RV) on the engine.

Cute nephew in his new office, "ain't life grand"!

At the Dog House!

Not THAT kind of dog house! The dog house is a restaurant across the street from Fresno State University, frequented by the Fresno State college kids or Bulldogs (the FSU mascot)! We had dinner with Craig, Chip and Stephen and watched the end of the Laker game! Great tri-tip steak sandwiches and the company was the best of all!

Also saw another movie yesterday, Night at the Museum at the Imax. Lots of fun, enjoyed it as much as the first Night at the Museum movie! Next door to the theater was a little shop and we went in to buy a birthday card. When I saw them...red lip flip flops! Kid you not. They are black flip flops with a red strap and a white button with a big old red lip right in the middle! Of course they didn't have my size so had to be ordered! They are soooo cute. They are switchflops. You switch the strap and the button so they can be any color you'd like them to be.

Next stop was to get Stephen's laptop. For graduation each nephew has gotten a laptop. Stephen wanted a Mac and we were able to get one for him. Meanwhile, our old truck that we gave to the boys broke down :( right down the street from Best Buy. Craig had to have it towed. We are hoping it is just a thermostat. They have terrible luck with their vehicles. Craig has 6 tows a calendar year with his insurance and he thinks that was number 6 last night! Sometimes they just can't get a break.

It was great fun spending time with them and "ain't life grand"!

Pizza & a movie!

Ted and I went to see the movie Angels and Demons today. I really enjoyed the movie and was exhausted when it was over! Ted read the book and enjoyed both the movie and the book.

After the movie we met Chip, Stephen & his girlfriend Marissa for pizza. Had a good dinner and enjoyed being with the kids. Craig drove a couple friends to San Francisco and will be back tomorrow.

A good time with family "ain't life grand"!

Nephews!

We are in Fresno! We got in on Friday. The guys have been busy so I went to Dream Dinners and got loaded up on dinners. They had wine pairings so I just happened to buy a couple bottles of wine to go with our dinners!

Craig (oldest nephew) has rented a 31' Class C RV and is taking Stephen (youngest nephew - the soon to be graduate) and 4 friends on a one week RV trip. Today they came over (middle nephew Chip also) for a planning session. We were helping him make campground reservations. They invited us to go along so the oldest one can hang out with us while the "graduates" do "their thing"!

They have planned time at Magic Mountain, they have tickets to Price is Right, they want some beach time and then down to Anaheim for Knotts, Medieval Times (dinner with medieval knights show) and more beach time. Only problem is that there are not a lot of campgrounds where they want to go and they are all very expensive! Should be a lot of fun for them if we can find campgrounds!

I forced them into a quick picture as they were leaving this afternoon. It is Chip (22), Craig (25) and Stephen (18).

It's great to be with the guys and "ain't life grand"!

Hello from Bakersfield

We are in the process of heading to Fresno for our nephew Stephen's graduation from high school. We are spending a couple of days here in beautiful Bakersfield getting laundry done and will arrive in Fresno on Friday afternoon.

Our three nephews are pretty busy with work and school so we let them know they don't need to babysit us! We will try and see some movies such as the new "Night at the Museum" and "Angels and Demons". I'd love to hear comments if anyone has seen these movies! I think I have the comment section on the blog fixed (hopefully) in case anyone would like to let us know what they thought of the movies.

I also made an appointment for Dream Dinners to prep meals for the month. I need to make a hair appointment to get cut and color done! Hair and nails for me have been trials and tribulations at best! My hair (usually dishwater blonde) is a VERY strawberry blonde right now!

Pretty boring blog tonight but "Ain't Life Grand" anyway!

Still in Vegas - still have some $$$$!

We are getting ready to leave Las Vegas and I still have some gambling money because we didn't make time to go to the casino! Save some for next time!

Yesterday we visited with David and Debbie at their home in Red Rock. We had a great dinner and great conversation. Max was invited and he made himself right at home snooping around everywhere! He was especially happy with all the goodies Debbie gave him!

And...as we all know "Ain't Life Grand!"

Viva Las Vegas Day II

Yesterday was a fun day visiting with David and Debbie and getting caught up on what's been going on in our lives. We had lunch/dinner at the Red Rock Station casino and I didn't even put a penny in a slot machine! I noticed Ted kept watching me as we were leaving. I think he was sure I would try to break away and run to a machine!

Today we are going to run some errands and I think just possibly we may stop by one of the casinos (especially if I'm driving)!

Wish me luck and "ain't life grand"!