My Never-Ending Birthday Celebrations!

More Celebrations.

The day began on a motorcycle tack, James Wilbourn came over and we started on the assembly of the Yamaha engine.

A beautiful late fall day in SoCal.

 

Norman with the "Ealth and Safety" hat on!

Don't point the air hose at any part of your body!

 

 

 

Later a buddy of James came over to help out!

As you can see he has his biker tee shirt, ready to go.

 

 

 

Later in the day we went to Costa Mesa to Scotts Restaurant for dinner.

 

 

Here I am with my birthday treat.

 

A great place.

 

 

As a gift for my birthday, Anne had arranged tickets for the Orange County Performing Arts Center to see a performance by a young pianist named Joyce Yang,

The orchestra opened with the overture from Glinka's Russlan and Ludmilla, a wonderful piece.
Then the virtuoso came on and played Tchaikovsky's Piano concerto Number 1 in B flat minor.
I know, technical stuff.
 It really makes no difference to me what key it is played in as I am tone deaf, and couldn't play God Save The King on a penny whistle.
But this young lady gave an absolutely stunning performance.

Joyce Yang

Check out her website from the link above.

Intermission.

We clean up real good!
It's amazing what you can pick up at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.


Then came the second half, Bella Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.

As far as I'm concerned he need not have bothered writing it. It's too jumpy and discordant to listen too and too loud to sleep through.

Nonetheless, a wonderful evening.

Here endeth the celebrations of my monumental 65th birthday.

Ciao Bella

 

Man this Christmas thing is coming up fast!

More preparations for the "Festive Season"

Santa came early this year, look at the tool box he has been storing at the plant for me!
Yeah, dream on. One of the guys in the shop bought it for himself.
Craftsman brand too. That used to really mean something back in the days when there were nine planets.

We got the Christmas tree set up in the house, so I thought OK I'll get Anne's gifts wrapped and put them under the tree.
I started looking for gift wrap and came up with the perfect plan.
Gift Bags.
My gift wrapping is atrocious, as my Dad used to say, "Everything you wrap looks like a ham shank"
Oh well, gift bags are OK especially when you get the correct design.

Now this tree is a little more eclectic than the pure leopard tree in the gazebo.

This one has Harley stuff, motorcycles, dogs and who knows whet else on it.

In preparation for a couple of little soirees we have planned over holidays, I have been making a few appetizers, just practice quantities until I see how they work.

 

I've been trying my hand at baking, and so far it has worked out well.

That is to say, we have eaten a couple of samples and we are not dead yet so they must be OK.

I must admit I felt a bit like Paula Dean when I was buying some of the ingredients, it seemed that butter was very high on the list.

 

Can't wait to go to the store without having Jingle Bells playing in the produce section.

 

Yeah, I know I'm just an old curmudgeon.

 

And don't you forget it!

 

More soon,

Ciao Bella,

 

Norm

 

 

 

 

Getting Ready for The Holidays

It must be a sign that you are getting old when you receive four pieces of mail and they are, one from Forest Lawn Mortuary and three from Medicare Part B provider.

Oh! well just carry on as normal until one or the other of those services is required.

We started decorating the gazebo with the Christmas stuff in very unseasonal weather.

However, the decorating went ahead and turned out well.
Madame decorated the Christmas tree, but had a hard time coming up with a theme.

 

NAW!

 

 

 

 

Anne also came up with the idea for the lights,

All I had to do was install them.

 

 

We went out and stayed with friends on Friday 12/6 and we went out for dinner where I ran into this strange woman.

 

 

I think that she was either French or from Blackpool!

 

This morning when I went out to the backyard the temperature was very seasonal, in fact a bit too much so.

 

 

35 degrees F and 96% RH.

BRRRRRRRR!

This was a surprise birthday gift from our neighbor Jim, looks like it's for brown baggin' it.

But really it is a very good red wine from Paso Robles.

 I'm not sure where the biker bit comes from, but that is the perceived connection.

 

 

More soon,

 

Ciao Bella!

2014 Travels

Planning For 2014

We have started our trip plans for 2014, the first six months are already in the book.

January, Las Vegas, Norman with James Wilbourn to look at motorcycles.

 

 

February,  Surprise Az, we both go to visit Barb and Leon.

March, UK, we both go to hang with the homies.

April, Laughlin, Norman with Jeff Lidwin.

 

 

May, Idyllwild Ca, we both go with Brent and our four legged friends to chill for the weekend.

 

June, Italy, we are both going to the Amalfi coast for a reprise of our 40th anniversary.

Who knows what's next and we still have three weeks of this year left for more planning.

This and That

It's been a funny old year, we've had lots of guests and done all kinds of stuff.
Now that the year is entering the final phase, Anne and I both have our birthdays.
We got a bit out of sync and we celebrated my birthday first even though it is almost a month after Anne has her birthday.
As Barb and Leon were in town for a brief visit, Anne set up my birthday celebration at the Grill in Seal Beach.
She was aided and abetted by the very able conspirator Nicole, if the CIA need help with covert ops then these are the two go to guys(gals). I was completely hornswoggled by the event and had no clue that it was going to happen.

As I was the king for a day she even had a picture of two of my best friends set up for everyone to see!
Lots of the regular crowd were on hand to celebrate my passage into "Old Fartdom"
Barb and Leon, Randy, Kim, Heather, Eric, and Chris,  Ron, Mark, Gary, Kevin and Miriam, Steve Goode, and Girvan and Fiona. 
    Of course my brother Jimmy was there with his friend Mary just to put the tin hat on it.

For those of you unfamiliar with my brother Jimmy, he explains it thus, "We just had different mothers and different fathers, I grew up in Texas and he didn't"
Get the picture?
Not a word of warning was issued.
I have to tell these guys "Paybacks are a bitch"
One day your time will come!

 

My brother Jimmy!

 

Some of the gang.

 

More of the gang.

 

65!  Wow where did those years go?

So now we move on to Anne's birthday.
Smart lady that she is, she arranged it herself.
We went to Harvey's Steak House for the celebration.
It was a big group, Girvan and Fiona, Parker and Edit, Paul, Brent, Jeanne, Christine, and because Karen and Rory sent their regrets, Anne invited two of Jeanne's friends who happened to be there on the night to join our party. Oh, and of course yours truly.
There was a tribute band playing, the front man being  "Rod Stewart" and would you Adam and Eve it Ronnie Woods ( or was it Mick Jagger?) showed up to help them out with a couple of numbers.
Of course Anne had a theme "All Wigged Out to be 64" .  Not happy with just wearing a wig herself, she - ahem! - "gently persuaded" (as in demanding, in her best prison guard voice,   " PUT THESE ON!") some of the guests to participate.

Again for the benefit of those of you who have not had the opportunity to meet some of our friends, here is a picture of Parker and Edit . Yes he is tall, his head is sticking through the light fixture!

 

 

.

 

 And, Here being typically British (NOT), is Christine.

How Anne talked her in to wearing the wig I don't know.

 

 

Could that be a Rasta with the blonde chick? He looks kind of familiar, even though he's purposely trying to deflect recognition by doing an Ozzie impersonation. I think that he might have played a gig at the Hotel AmeriCain, the name will come to me, Clint something or another.

So we are now moving toward the end of this year and looking forward to another, it is going to be pretty momentous for me.
I plan to retire at the end of December 2014, I'll be 66 and will have been working for 50 years, I think that it is time to let a younger guy take up the challenge.
Leon has bought some woodworking equipment, so I think that I'll have him build me a rocking chair.

NAW!

In January I'm headed off to Vegas with my friend and colleague James Wilbourn. We are going to a motorcycle auction in a casino.
How dangerous could that be!!!!!!
We do not plan to buy a bike.
But we are taking the truck and ramps just in case.

Last time we went somewhere together we came back with and ancient Yamaha RZ 350, no not the Kenny Roberts model but close. OK, I know for you non-bikers that's TMFI.


Most of you know that I'm a Bud guy, but here is a beer that I found in the local market that s worth trying. On the label it states that it KOLSCH type beer. I thought "Yes I bet it is"
Nonetheless I tried it and it is a passable KOLSCH.
If you see it, give it a try.

CIAO more soon,

Norm

Hotel Ameri-Cain Season Wrap Up

It has been a very busy season at the Hotel Ameri-Cain.

This year we have enjoyed having several sets of guests.
We started back in July with the Docherty family, Janet, Michael and Rhiannon.

It was Rhiannon's 16th birthday so a visit to Hollyweird was in order.

So off they went via limo with Brian at the helm.
Not sure how Dolly Partin got in on the act.

Later back at the ranch, we had a party for the gang.
Steven can just about be seen at the far end of the table.

Next up Susan McCall.

A first time visitor to the Hotel.

Of course the "de rigeur" trip to Hollywood, this time we went in the Cowboy Cadillac with you know who at the helm.

Following this, she and Madame took off for Vegas.

Susan flew home from Vegas and Anne came home completely worn out.
That is a first, I think, Susan is Anne on steroids!

Just dancin' and singin' with the band.

Next!

In September we had Teresa and Ronnie Ross, they arrived with about 57 other jumbo jets into LAX and it took a long time to get out.

Once they arrived at the hotel the welcome mat was out big time.

 

Anne thought that Tess and Ron did not like Champagne so she gave them the Champagne of Beers.

OK Leon you are right it is not Miller Highlife, it is just common or garden old Bud,

The King of Beers.

We took off on a one week road trip to Vegas and Reno.
Oh! and did I mention Hollywood.

If you ever have the notion to drive from Vegas to Reno, fly instead.

The final guest of the season (as far as we know)

Richard Bell

Richard was another first time guest at the hotel.
Of course Richard had a very pressing reason to come to California and Hollywood was not on his agenda.

Riding a Harley on Route 66 was the real deal.

Here we are in Redneck Junction!

AKA Oatman Arizona.

Did I say Redneck Junction?
Maybe I was wrong!
Me, wrong, NAW!

On his last full day in California, Richard and I went to the world famous Seaside Grill in Seal Beach.
Monday and Thursday afternoons are the best times to visit as that is when Nicole is in charge.

Richard sampled the Carne Asada Quesadilla,

As there was none left when he finished I think that it must have been OK.

We also got to taste Manny's home made potato chips (crisps to you guys on the other side of the pond). Some where between good and real good.

We would like to pass on our sincere best wishes to all of our guests from this year or previous years, we enjoy having you stay at the
Hotel Ameri-Cain.
I would explain the relationship between the guests have with Anne and me, but my knowledge of Canon Law is a bit rusty.
Apart from which the relationships are complex!



We would also like to thank all of our friends for joining in with celebrations when we have guests.
We know that their experience of the USA and in particular California is greatly enhanced by meeting our friends.

To Barb and Leon, Jeff and Kelly a special thanks for joining in on the Laughlin trip, it would not have been the same with out you.

Anne and I are looking forward to a quiet Fall / Winter just enjoying those cold frosty nights sitting by the fire with our mulled wine or egg nog.

Not!!!!!!

We will get out the scoot and tear up the neighborhood.

Ciao, keep watching the blog for our next travel plans.