A CAMBRIA LOCAL-A HOME TOWN PARADE

PINEDORADO ON MAIN STREET

    A disclaimer here.  This is purely hometown and there are many images in this post.  It is a "documentation" of the 2011 Pinedorado Parade-a Cambria tradition. You'll see parade units here, you'll never see elsewhere.  Either skip this post or enjoy a unique experience.  
     Have a great labor day.

The first and last unit of the parade.

First year announcer, Mike Griffin

doing a superb job.

Yep, that's a piece of kelp, turned

into a horn.

If you are still with me, I trust
you've never seen a parade like this.
See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) A CHEESE ROLL?

NOT SURE THIS WOULD 

CATCH ON HERE

Labor Day Weekend is summer's final fling-

a time to enjoy.  Barbecue, picnic, party, parade, bike

race, ball game, whatever it is probably

won't include this.

Thanks to Moto for finding this one.
Be safe.

See you down the trail.

FOLLOWING THE SURF & "FANCY" TABLES

SUPER SWELLS

       (Cambria, CA)  Good breaks and unusual swells have brought surfers to the waters of the north coast of San Luis Obispo County.

        "Some of these guys have been following these swells

from the South Pacific," a lip coated and hoodie wearing surfer from South Africa said.

         "These are super swells!"

       A crowd of surfers were in the water near Leffingwell Landing on the north end of Moonstone Beach.  It can be a

tricky spot to work the waves.

      Skill was evident as they worked the crowded waters.
  Aside from the breaks and swells more surfers maybe working the north coast, because a great white was spotted
near the pier at Pismo Beach.  

DRESSING IT UP

      Since the Friday Lunch Flash Mob has overgrown the deck and moved to the picnic area, we've started to dress

up the picnic tables with table cloths.

       Most Cambrians always travel with "wardrobes"-vests, jackets, sweaters, caps and shorts because you often need more or less clothing.  Now the Flash mob is traveling with table cloths.  You know, you just need to be ready for a party or meal to break out.

See you down the trail.

NAW-SHOULDN'T HAPPEN

CAN WE TALK?

   Now do you really think AT&T wants T-Mobile so they 

make customers happy and do a better job?  

   This time the government intervention is a good thing for all of us. T-Mobile forces more competition, meaning better pricing. AT&T's swallowing of T-Mobile would do one thing for certain with fewer options-drive up service costs? 

    Maybe there is a little Teddy Roosevelt DNA still pulsing through the federal government. 

OH YEA?

SAYS WHO?

      I heard a former intelligence chief, who served in the George W. Bush administration say it well. According to the criminal pictured above, the only person who was right was him.  Exploding heads he said.  Well he tried that before didn't he?  Powell, Tenet, and even the challenged W himself had it wrong.  Only uncle grumpy here was right, according to the charming war criminal himself.  

      Military officers and intelligence operatives have said

this man's actions put American personnel at greater risk.

That he lied only adds ignominy to his pathetic attempt at 

image control with his book.

      A friend did work on the audit that found at least 

$60 Billion in war dollars were wasted on fraud.  He told me a couple of years ago that though he didn't want to believe it, the more he saw, the more it became apparent that 

this Vice President was a kind of "air boss for corruption" employing tactics of no bid contracts to old cronies and business partners.  And then looking the other way when price gouging and over billing, under stocking and other larceny took place. I hope this man lives long enough to be

charged with either war crimes or just old fashioned 

corruption.   

     Hey Dr. Evil, maybe we should re-cycle the idea of one of your long ago enemies-Abbie Hoffman.  Remember his 

admonition "STEAL THIS BOOK?"

DAY BOOK

 "Naw. Forget about it. We've got company.

We'll talk later."

See you down the trail.

EASY DOES IT

END OF SUMMER?

REALLY?

Where did it go?  And when did it leave? 

Years ago a commentator, I think it was

Harry Reasoner, said Labor Day is like

the first New Years day.  Summer

is over.  School starts again. It's time

to get serious and busy, before the holidays

start and we loose momentum until

the next New Years day, January 1.

So, enjoy these last couple of days

of "good old summer time" before 

it gets serious and busy again.

A personal confession here.

  The end of August means

the weather on the Central California Coast

should get even better and since I'm no longer

in school, nor expected in the office

everyday, the end of summer

is almost a non event.

Though we do have the local Pinedorado parade 

weekend party.

Comedian Lewis Black, in San Luis Obispo last week

said, "Those of you who live out here in Xanadu,

don't know what weather is." 

But we remember, those of us who

are from elsewhere. 

September is when you also 

start thinking about falling leaves and what follows- gray skies, cold rain, sleet, snow, ice storms, stuffy

offices, heavy coats, boots, shoveling, dangerous roads.

OK, enough already!  Enjoy these last few days of 

Summer.  

Be laid back. This really is Xanadu.
See you down the trail.

A STAIRWAY TO WHERE? & AN UPDATE FROM BOB

MORE THAN NOWHERE

One afternoon as a group of us gathered, a friend

looked at our back hill steps and said-

"Where do those steps go?  No where?"

It may be a fair question.

 They do appear to lead to nothing in particular,

with the exception of this small set

that leads to the bee hive-

remember those golden Italian bees from Glenn?

Actually, the steps have helped the contour of a

steep slope, provide planting spaces and they lead to views of the Santa Lucia range.

 They also provide an interesting view

 of a conversation space.

In fact it was here, the friend asked about the steps.

So, "no where" is not the right answer. And

keeping them swept, gives me exercise and great views.

While on steps-

I liked the light and shadow play on another set of steps.

A NOTE FROM BOB

You may recall that I have been posting notes

from my friend and former radio partner-Bob Foster.

Bob is preparing for a Bone Marrow Transplant.

Here is his latest note.

My Dear Friends, 

For some reason, one which I have yet to understand, God is connecting me with people who had near death experiences. I have met them at Mayo and the Gift of Life Transplant House. Neither of them are currently patients. One of them is a staff member. When Jim was 6-years-old, he was run over by a school bus. He still has an indentation in his forehead from the bus's bumper. He had me feel it, so I would believe him. Jim was in a coma for several days. When he regained consciousness, Jim's mother was at his bedside. She told him what had happened. As she began to talk about the ride in the ambulance, little "Jimmy" interrupted her, "I know. You were wearing your blue dress and holding my hand."  His mother insisted he was unconscious. Jimmy then described seeing his mother, seated next to him in the ambulance, from an upper corner of the inside of the ambulance. It was like a diagonal ceiling shot from a movie. His spirit had left his body and was hovering above.  

Today was a rough day for me. I got little sleep last night. The medication induced dreams were so vivid. I am afraid to take sleep medication every night for fear of addiction. I awoke at 1:45 with chills which morphed into a fever. This has been happening a lot lately. My doctor ordered extensive blood cultures. Infection, with my immune system about 10% of a normal person, would not be a good thing.I do not know the name of the tech who drew my blood. I started to tell her why we were doing this and she said, "I will pray for you." That opened the door to talk about faith. We were going to be there for awhile, about 8 ounces worth. She dropped a bomb, "I died in this department. My heart simply stopped. They brought me back. I now have a pacemaker. I was 6 1/2 months pregnant. My baby died. But I saw the light. I didn't hear angels singing, but I definitely saw the light. The next thing I knew, the doctors had brought me back to life. Some people think I should be angry at God for losing my baby. I know my son is in heaven and I will see him someday. I have a 12 year old daughter and I love her very much.""Have you read the book 'Heaven is For Real," I asked.  (The story of a 4-year-old's visit to Heaven.)"Yes! I'm reading it now.  I can hardly put it down."In the book, Colton Burpo spends three minutes in Heaven. Over the next two years, he relates his scripturally accurate experience, much to his parent's amazement. One chapter has Colton telling of a rainbow beyond human description. Friends, last night, in one of my dreams, I saw Colton's rainbow. It was beyond description. I don't know if God is preparing me for witness, mission, a rougher road ahead or my own death. Only He knows. But He is doing something. Why else would I meet a man from Janesville, WI, or get this particular lab tech, out of dozens, this morning? We'll get the blood culture results sometime Tuesday. Two more chemo treatments remain. Bone marrow biopsy 9/6. Doctor with report on 9/12. Foster.  

See you down the trail

A FOOD LOVERS NOTE

BUILDING YOUR APPETITE
Today's post is all about food
with a little humor and scenery on the side.
REEL THOUGHTS

THE TRIP
I've been telling friends the scenes of the English countryside
are worth the price of admission alone.  But then you
add the charm of the English Inns, cinemagraphically 
luscious. Then Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are terrific as not so compatible traveling companions who conduct
a running duel as to who does the best Michael Caine
or Sean Connery impression. And of course there is 
food.  The creative cuisine of the country inns becomes an uncredited star of the movie. 
It is an enjoyable ride, with plenty of laughs, breathtaking beauty and a love affair with food that will probably
have you leaving the theatre, looking for a great 
restaurant or speeding home so you can get to
work creating a dish, fit for the movies.
THE TRIP is worth taking.
FRIENDS AND FOOD
ANOTHER GATHERING
Over the last year, a Cambria group has gathered
11 times for what we call a Moveable Feast.
A gathering of friends, preparing food.
Each evening features a different nationality
or food.
Here's a record of most recent delicious evening.

BTW, those were Taco Works chips, 

from San Luis Obispo.

Mexican Gazpacho

Home style hominy topped with chorizo sausage

 Mole Poblano-Chicken

Fish Veracruz

Chiles En Nogada
(a rare dish)

Mexican Wedding Cakes

Pineapple rum pudding with fresh whipped cream

the evening's libation- margarita

It was a great festive evening

with friends.
See you down the trail.
I've got a few calories to burn.