The Late Season Vacation

A little over a month ago, we took our late season vacation. It seems we've gotten into doing an early season and a late season vacation. We vacationed again in Catalina. I think the first Catalina vacation we went on was just a bit after Labor Day, and I think we've been going over there right around the same time since!!! Since I haven't been there in summer, I'm just guessing, but I think it's less crowded.

I'm starting this post off with a couple of what I consider my prize winners, the first is was of something I didn't even know was a thing, a red rainbow!!! Apparently when the sun is low to the horizon, it'll filter all the other colors out.

Next up is a pelican perched on a rock on land's end. It wasn't really the end, but it was it a point to the north of Descanso Beach.

It seems like we end up doing a lot of the same stuff, but we enjoy it. To change things up a little, when we arrived, we went to a restaurant that we've passed by for years, but had never been to, the Bluewater Grill. It's literally on the opposite side of Antonio's that we go to pretty regularly, also with outdoor seating overlooking the harbor. We sat outside, and it was a little overcast and gray. By the time our food was arriving, it was drizzling just a little, that's why I have my glasses off!!! They had retractable canvas for the patio area, and we asked if they could roll it out, and they said they would but never did. It pretty much stopped not long after, and it wasn't bad, and we enjoyed the seafood there.

Last time we'd gone, I'd seen the flying fish boat tours advertised, but the day we tried, they were sold out. The next day (first full day) we headed out the pier to see about booking tickets before they again sold out, but they weren't running weekdays, so we once again missed out.

I've always threatened to take the boy on a snorkeling expedition, but that's another thing for another time, I guess, since we didn't get to it this time, either. Instead of the flying fish or snorkeling, the boy and I went on a semi-submarine tour. Lots of fish, and we practically had the sub to ourselves, there was only one other couple and their baby!!!

Last time, we'd gone to Jack's Country Kitchen for the first time, and it was really good. In the interest of hitting another new place, we went to Pancake Cottage that's right along Crescent Street. It was also really good.

Another place we nearly always go is Buffalo Nickel, a ways out Pebbly Beach Road. It's a standout, so we made the trip out there. There was leftover Mexican pizza that ended up going to waste.

I'd taken a picture of this little archway under the benches along the waterfront on one of our first trips. It's fallen into a bit of disrepair.

Of course, the last couple of times the boy and I have been playing Pokemon GO, and it's a great place for it, lots of stops and gyms centralized in about the most pedestrian friendly area I frequent. Last year, they were having Fashion Week while we were there, and the boy got one of his coolest, Cherry Jam!!! We'd go out on walks in the evenings. They've added in routes, but there were only two there. One goes along the waterfront to the Casino, and the other went from the waterfront to the back of the town, close to the place we'd stayed the first couple of family trips. I tired to submit a route of my own, it's still pending approval.

Another place we've been frequently is Descanso Beach. A big part of it is the place we've stayed the last three times gives you a daily credit for a few places, and Descanso Beach Club is one of them. There's a little coffee place right next to the place we stay, too, and we had coffees and boba teas and various breakfast foods from there quite a bit. These pictures are from there, the shore north of the beach, where I got the pelican shot, was a little hike over some rocks, and there were several little tide pools.

The farthest north cabana had this tunnel under it. Might have been from when the old Descanso hotel, which had a salt water pool with a channel from the ocean to it.

The boy and I also hiked up to the Chime Tower again, it's a pretty scenic hike. I was thinking next time we might try hiking up to Mount Ada.

On the way down, we met a big chonker of a cat, one of the cats you're glad to meet while you're out and about, who is super friendly and loves the pets!!!

Also featured in these shots is the shirt the boy got while we were there, it's pretty cool and one of his favorites. I also got an Aloha shirt, it's pretty understated, white with outlines on the shape of Catalina, the Casino, and the Via Casino archway. Here we were having dinner on the last night. As I said, Antonio's on the waterfront has been one of our go-tos (also it was on the short list of places to use our room credit on), but it seems like they've shortened their hours quite a bit, and scaled the menu down too, so we didn't go there. However, there's another Antonio's that was right across from where we were staying. They don't take the room credit, but that's OK. It was another place we'd never been, and it was pretty good!!! The boy had gotten a meatball sandwich from the other one last year, and that's what he ordered from this place, but it's quite different, almost not even a sandwich, but still really good!!!

And, right across the street, there was this cool looking cloud. Come to find out, it was a rocket launch from Vandenburg!!!

Dream Machine

Finally did it!!! About a year ago, my company did a mid-year cash profit sharing, and I was thinking I'd use it to buy some sort of convertible. At the top of my list was the sexy and brand appropriate Saturn Sky. I have been off and on scanning the ads for various convertibles, but hadn't gotten farther than just looking.

Then this came up for sale. Sounded good, and the price is right in the fair range. I've seen them down to the $5,000 range, but those are usually pretty beat, and up to and over $10,000 for nicer examples, but even those often will have up to 100,000 miles.

Of course, one of my main criteria was an automatic transmission, so that eliminates quite a few of them, being a sports car, several came with manuals. Another thing I would like if I could find one at a decent price would be the Redline model, which has a smaller engine, but has an intercooled turbocharger.

This one came in right in the middle of the price range, with 80,000 miles, the right transmission, and the preferred engine!!! The interior and top are in good shape, and it's got a great color. A previous owner had added coilovers, which have it set dropped pretty low, but they ride real nice, and I can jack the height back up from where it is. Where it's at is too low for a car that was pretty low to begin with, and where it is, it wants to scrape everywhere in the neighborhood!!! It has a carbon fiber look wrap on the hood that I'm not crazy about, but shouldn't be too bad to remove. There was even carbon fiber look wrap over the emblem between the seats!!! I was able to remove it with no difficulty at all. The chrome grille bar has been painted black, and I don't like that at all. Hopefully that paint and the wrap aren't hiding damage, and both can be fairly easily removed. The side and back windows are heavily tinted. I don't mind it too much, but it makes night driving with the windows up a bit difficult, so I'll be removing that, maybe I'll put a very light tint on them. Possibly more difficult, a lot of the lights have been “upgraded”. The front turn signal and running lights had been changed out to LED ones, and... they don't work at all. I picked up replacement conventional bulbs and put them in, but only the one sides' running light is working, neither of the turn signals in the front are working yet. The headlights have been changed to LED bulbs, too, and the low beams seem fine (they have a heat sink with a fan on the back of them!!!) but the high beams are weird colors, I think the drivers' side is green, and the passengers' changes colors from blue to red, which I'm sure is illegal. The driving lights have been “upgraded” to what I think are xenon bulbs that have some sort of control box wired in before them. One is burned out, or I probably wouldn't mess with them, but I'll probably see if they, as well as the high beam bulbs, can be switched back to factory units. The rims I'm pretty sure are larger than stock, with skinny tires. I don't hate them, but when tire time comes, I'll probably see if I can get some with a bit more sidewall. The rims have a yellow stripe on the edge, which I like the look of, but which look like they need repainted. Oh, and the muffler is completely absent. It doesn't sound terrible with straight pipes, but I think I'm going to get something there, I don't know if it'll be a full system, or just a couple of glass packs or what, but I'm already seeing dollar signs. Ah well.

It had black and yellow vanity plates when I got it, which of course had to be returned to the DMV, but the color went well with the car. I asked the previous owner what it meant (I can't remember exactly what it was) and he told me it was Vietnamese for “happy”, which goes with it, too!!! The plates I got have the same last digits as the ones on Scruffy!!!

I haven't driven it a whole lot, but it's a great drive!!! Gets right with the program, it does!!! I got on one of the dead-stop entrances to the northern portion of the 110, and that's the car you want for that sort of thing!!! It got a little loose on the turn, but the traction control took care of that in short order!!! I've got my in-office days coming up, so I'll get a few days of driving it into work. Something to look forward to!!!

Legen - Wait for It - Dary!!!

A while ago they released daily incense in Pokemon GO. Every day, you get an incense that lasts for 15 minutes, and is most effective while you're walking, and it gives you a summary of what you've caught with it at the end. Most of the Pokemon that spawn are rather pedestrian, but they have introduced the Galarian forms of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres!!!

These will sometimes appear while using your daily incense. While I've been using the daily incense, I've had probably a dozen or more encounters with these legendary birds, but hadn't caught a one, as they have a near 100% flee rate. My son, however, has gone months without a single sighting!!!

Another even more recent introduction is Master Balls, that have a guaranteed catch, and as it turns out, a rather intricate animation when you use it. Towards the beginning of this month, after I had attained one of these Master Balls, I get a Galarian Moltres while using my daily incense, and used it to catch it. Predictably, it has a most unimpressive rating, but finally got one!!!

A week ago, on my new weekday day off (I'm back on a weekend shift!!!) we're having Birthday get together at my mom's house for my sister and I. After we've eaten and had lush (a few years ago my wife found a recipe of lush, which everyone agrees is better than cake) my younger boy and I decide to go on a walk at the park by the house. As we go, naturally we've got our daily incense going. As we go along, my son has his first Legendary bird encounter, Articuno!!! He's heard a method, where you throw 20 ultra balls, and it'll increase your odds of getting a successful catch. I've tried a few times, and it hasn't helped. He tries, and the first one he throws after the 20 (along with a golden razz) it breaks out, and flees. As expected. He's not especially disappointed, the one he wanted is Zapdos. We proceed on. A couple minutes later, he gets another Articuno!!! We've never heard of two on a single incense, this seems like a glitch, but he tries the 20 baller again, with the same results. A minute later, he gets a third Articuno!!! Certainly unprecedented at this point!!! Again, it flees.

A few minutes later, the unbelievable occurs, he gets his fourth legendary, this time the coveted Zapdos!!! No escape this time, he uses his Master Ball, and he's got his Galarian Zapdos!!!

My son has named several of his favorite 'mons after foods. Naturally, he's named his Zapdos Orange Chicken, because it really looks like one!!! In honor of his Zapdos, we got Panda Express the next day!!!

Cat Tale

We had been out and about shopping and such today. We bought a big frozen pizza at the store for lunch, and put it in when we got home. Just a little after, my wife gets a call. A friend had been out, and came across a kitten!!!

It followed her, and she couldn't locate the mother. She has a dog, so there's no way she could keep it. She knew we had lost our cat at the beginning of the year, and had fostered a little ginger. We agreed to take it. We went over and got it.

We think it's another tom cat, but we've been wrong before!!! Anyway, it's a good looking kitten, with no eye gloop, and no sneezing. He's eating and drinking well.

It mostly slept when we got it home. It climbed up on my son's neck and slept. It climbed my wife's neck and slept. It climbed my neck and slept.

It seems to like being a shoulder cat. I like the idea of a cat that rides your shoulder like a parrot.

It's tentatively named Sidney, a good name that can go for either gender. When it gets rowdy while playing, we can call it Sid Vicious!!!

Sidney. Sidney HowsYerPie.

Big Mac Birthday

McDonald's has recently been engaging in some revisionist history. For years, Grimace has been something of an oddball background character. I've heard he's supposed to be a giant, anthropomorphic taste bud, and when he was introduced, he was somewhat analogous to the Hamburglar, where he'd steal people's shakes.

This year, for whatever reason, McDonald's has come up with the story that Grimace is huge on birthdays, and June 12th was declared his birthday. In celebration, they came up with Grimace Birthday Meals, featuring either a Big Mac or 10 nuggs, medium fries, and the special signature item, the Grimace Birthday Shake.

Don't know if I've made mention here, but a couple years back they built a Wingstop not far from our home. On Mondays and Tuesdays, they started off with $.50 wing night, sold in either 10 or 15 packs, with 2 flavor choices. We like their flavors, and it's a pretty good deal, so we've made Tuesday Wing Night. The price has gone up, first to $.60, then to it's current $.70, but it's still a pretty good deal. A couple weeks ago, I was out, first to the store for a couple items, then to Wingstop to pick up our order. In the same lot as the store, there's a McDonald's, so, being curious about the Grimace Birthday Shake, I stopped in to pick up some for the family to try. Got there, and there's a guy waiting at the counter, but no one helping him. I step up to kiosk to try and order one there, but it's either not there, or it's impossible to find, so I get in line, now grown to two, and now with a worker. As I'm waiting, the guy at the head of the line attempts to order a shake, and it met with the classic McDonald's reply, “Our ice cream machine isn't working”. Made my wait shorther.

The next weekend, we decide to again head to McDonald's for a second attempt. McDonald's is one of those where we rarely go there. I like the sausage biscuit with egg, but almost never make it out for any breakfast, and my son is a fan of the Shamrock Shake, so that's the one thing we end up going there for a couple time a year for. There's one it the area we're in that we've never been to, so we head there. We're able to order the whole Grimace Birthday Meal from the kiosk. The place it pretty nice, and for a change, it has restrooms where you don't need a key or code to use it!!! The workers bring out our chow, and they're friendly and on the ball with ketchup for the fry dippin'. Big Mac is a classic, and I ordered mine with the right extras.

The shake is... interesting. You can tell it's based on the vanilla shake, but with some berry flavoring. I'd read a review where they likened it to a cereal flavoring, along the lines of crunch berry or Fruity Pebbles.

Around the time I was almost done with the Big Mac, the worker came out again. Apparently, they'd made up a second Big Mac to my specifications, and since they couldn't give it to an unsuspecting customer, they gave it to me!!! Bonus Big Mac!!!

The Early Season Vacation

As appears to have become my custom, I took a week vacation in April. I didn't have anything in particular in mind when scheduling the time, but knew I'd find something. From a couple of years ago, my younger son had enjoyed the trip to Ventura, with the shot up to Solvang, so that's what we did for the first couple of days!!!

Once we got there, and checked into our lodging (also the same as last time, once again per my son's endorsement), we headed over to the restaurant we'd been past while walking around the harbor where they'd had the live music last time. I had called before we went, to see if they'd have a band during our time there. As I thought, nope, it's a weekend thing.

The place is called Margarita Villa (see what they did there???), and it's upstairs, with an indoor area, and outdoor patios to the front and back. We popped in, and the inside was pretty loud and echo-y, bad acoustics, so we opted to eat outside. Turns out, they're refurbishing the back patio where we'd heard the music last time, and for now when they do have the live band, they are inside. I can't imagine.

After we ate, the boy and I crossed the street to the beach, to check it out. I think the tide was out, and it had made a pretty dramatic, over 3 foot, drop off in the sand near the shore!!!

While we were walking along, we came across some shark or ray egg cases!!! (At least, I'm fairly sure that's what these were!!!)

We walked down a bit, to the breakwater area.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't the same area as where we had walked last time, and there were two rock jettys not far apart, which looked to have been designed to make a surfing area!!!

There were a lot of surfers out there. The surf wasn't huge, but it was OK, and better there than on the open beach. It was overcast most of the time we were in Ventura.

As we came back, and there was a shot of the calm harbor.

They added the new “I ♥ The Sea” illuminated selfie sign.

Last time we were there, the fire pit wasn't going, but it was this time!!! If we had been waiting long, it would have been a good place to hang out. Or, if we were sitting, listening to the live music, like last time!!!

The next day, we managed to get going in time to make it up to Solvang early enough to get in on the æbleskivers. First thing we did was find a place and get some.

They had an æbleskiver pan for their doorstop!!!

Afterwards, we wandered around, bought souvenirs and took in the sights. My son wanted to grow some tulips, and we were looking around for some, or some bulbs. We didn't find any, but we were near the visitors center, and they suggested going to the Ace Hardware, not far over, and checking there. They had them, and a bit after we got back, we picked up a couple of box planters and soil, and they're in there. Perhaps an update, if they come up. There seems to be a local critter that'll dig 'em up!!!

When my wife was talking to my mom prior to the trip, my mom told her about an ostrich farm in the area. I looked it up, and it was just a little past the main tourist area in Solvang, and an actual alternate way to get back to the 101 to head back!!!

We stopped in, and got bowls of ostrich chow, and fed those bad boys!!!

We didn't stay there that long at all, but it was something different, and pretty fun and cool!!!

Mid-week, the boy had a dentist's appointment that had been rescheduled twice already, with my wife's surgery and recovery, so we headed back for that, and a little breather in between.

The next day, the boy and I went to Knott's Berry Farm!!! They are having the Boysenberry Festival, but we didn't get in on any of that. It's been a while since I've been there, and there was a new coaster, Hang Time, that I've been wanting to go on.

It wasn't busy at all when we arrived, right after it opened, and we headed over and got on with almost no wait!!! It features a 95° first drop, and it takes you to the top of the hill, and holds you where you can't see the track for a few seconds, then drops you, and goes through several inversions. Great coaster!!! Oh, and there was my current Pokemon GO buddy, an Eevee with a flower crown, that I evolved into a Sylveon once he was to best buddy level.

We went on it twice, then the Coast Rider in the same area. One of the best there, the Accelerator, was closed, as was the classic log ride, and the entire Fiesta Village area. Got on the Silver Bullet and Ghost Rider before the lines started getting long.

We were in line for the Pony Express, and it broke down, so we crossed over to Calico River Rapids, formerly Bigfoot Rapids, which had probably the longest line of any ride we went on. I got fairly soaked, and the boy got slightly damp.

Went on Knott's Beary Tales, which has been redone yet again, and is a jelly-shooter 3D ride now, it was pretty low-key fun. Other low-key classics we went on were the Calico mine train, on the back side of the log ride mountain, and the train.

The train was changed up for the off season, instead of the steam locomotive with several cars, they had swapped in “The Galloping Goose”, an engine with the front end that looks like it's from a vintage car, followed by a single passenger car. Indeed, they said it's powered by a Cummings 4 cylinder diesel.

The last day, we went out for lunch to a sushi place that we've been frequenting, along with my son's friend. We got some ice cream afterwards, and then went to the movies.

We went to see Dungeons and Dragons, it was pretty good!!!

Ginger Foster

Last weekend was Memorial Day. On Monday we went to a picnic with a bunch of friends. Very shortly after we arrived, the sister of one of my son's friends calls us over, and bundled up in a blanket, she has this little ginger kitten!!!

There was a cargo storage container there, and apparently there was a litter of them under there, crying out. This was the only one they were able to get out, as it's eyes were gooped shut. She was able to get one cleaned and open. She also said that the others were spooky feral, but this one was glad to be rescued!!! When we first met him (she says he's a tomcat, but from previous experience, it can be tricky with kittens!!!) she had named him Frankincense, or Frank for short, which is also her brother's name. It was a rather cool day out, and the little guy was shivering. Later on, she'd changed his name to Colby. Colby Jack. I rather like that much better!!! Around the time everybody was getting ready to leave, she asks us if we could take him “for a few days, while I work on my mom”. I don't mind, even though, who knows, it could turn into a permanent situation.

He's a spooky little guy, but that's to be expected. We took him home wrapped in the blanket, and kept him like that for a while. We unwrapped him, and he pretty quick found the secluded area below the drawers on my desk. He did come out after a while for some food that we had laid out for him. The next day, he was still under there while I was working, and since he was somewhat trapped by me being there working, I eventually pulled the drawer out and extracted him, and put him in the kitchen. He's mostly taken up residence in the corner behind the refrigerator, but he's been getting out a little bit more as he's gotten used to it. I made up a box bed for him, and he got in it once. I left the blanket in the corner, thinking he may like it since he had some history with it. He logged on it, but has since figured out what a litter box is for. A couple of times (once, in the midst of writing this up), I've been able to get some pets in, and he does head snuggles, purrs, kneads a little, and rolls over on his back, I'm not sure if he's looking for belly rubs, or if he wants to play. Oh, and he's VERY vocal, especially when someone comes into the room. My wife and son have taken to calling him Gloopy, as his eyes still have some discharge, even though they are better. Now there's a unique name for a cat!!!

Looking Back: Ultra Beasts

Back in November, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, there was another Pokemon GO local event. We had gone to Stufful Community Day, and it was a great event, with tons of players, and had gone out to another, Litwick Community Day, that was also supposed to have brand ambassadors in attendance. There were no brand ambassadors, and it wasn't nearly as well attended, but it was good.

This was the Ultra Beasts Arrival event, and it was held in Hollywood, in the evening. The amount of people admitted was supposedly limited, I think to 1,500, so we showed up early to try and get in. We find the place and get in line. As we are waiting, a guy comes along with the Ultra Beasts newspapers! Pictured along with the newspaper was my current buddy, a shiny shadow Pineco, which I have named Shineco.

At 7 PM the line starts moving, and soon enough, we've been given cards with the promo code, a wristband, and a WiFi log in. After entering the code (and restarting GO) all these densely packed gyms appear!!!

They had a couple of actual physical representation of a stop there, with a line if you wanted to take a picture with it, and not much else. Around 15 minutes before 8, they began projecting the countdown on the arch, synchronized with raid countdowns on all the gyms.

Once it reaches zero, they project an ultra beast up on the arch, and the gyms all have that ultra beast. Of course, the place is fairly packed with trainers, so the raids fill up quick, and go pretty quick once they start.

The raids are shorter than usual, and every 10 minutes there's a new ultra beast!!!

We caught 'em all!!!