They grow up so fast
POSTED AT 03:17 PM

boogiesan

I can't believe how fast my grandkids are growing.  Ryan is now six and a half and Daniel is one and a half.  They are two cute boys full of life.  Sometimes I wish I could freeze time.  It would be nice if we lived closer so we could see them more, but they grow so fast anyway.  Soon they would not want the "old" grandparents hanging around.    Cold and rainy out today.  Good day to stay inside and post in Tabulas.  Now I'll see if I can include some photos.  This new format may throw me off. 

 

I'm alive
POSTED AT 10:01 AM

boogiesan

 

Just checking in to tell you I'm still alive.  I've finally stored my camper and finished winterizing the yard.  We are now experiencing the first signs of winter with nights in the 30 degree range.  Not my favorite time of year.  Way too cold.  Had an unusual bird show up in our yard recently.  It was a Pileated Woodpecker.  I could not get my camera fast enough, but I'll include a picture from the internet.  Biggest Woodpecker in North America.  Really surprised me.  Also here is a photo of Chiko preparing our final Yakitori meal of the summer - which we had when my son and his family came up from Reno for a visit.  Then a picture of Tidbit, my special friend. 

Happy Halloween all.

 

 

Currently feeling: busy

Back home
POSTED AT 10:25 AM

boogiesan

I have been remiss in posting. Partly because of vacation, partly because of nothing to write about, and also partly because I am having a problem with my back and it is affecting my sciatic nerve down my leg. I cannot sit at the computer very long without it causing me a lot of pain. Had an MRI yesterday and I am waiting for the results. Hopefully it is just a temporary muscle pull or something like that. Hate to have a major disk problem.

Well, the baby sitting with our grandson went great. He was so much fun. In the pictures below you will notice a slight bruise on his lip. That happened the first night we were there, before his parents had departed (thank God). He fell off the sofa and hit the coffee table (the same darn table that Ryan, our older grandson, hit last September). He got a cut under his nose and we had to rush him to emergency. Fortunately no stitches or scar. Chiko personally moved the table to another room the next morning so nothing would happen on our "shift."

A one year old is quite a challenge for two people in their 60's, but we managed. He is such a sweet boy and we got quite attached. The whole family is coming up to visit us on July 15th for a few days, so that will be nice.

Before we went to Reno to baby sit I spent a month with my family in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've included some pictures from there as well. It was while I was there that I think I pulled something in my back. Ouch.




My favorite. He was a little afraid of this musical toy


Chiko and Daniel enjoying the new playset


Chiko feeding Daniel. Looks like they just shared a joke from the expression on his face


Daniel and I. A proud grandpa. The dog is Lady. My son's dog. Real sweet.


End of a long day. They are so sweet looking when they sleep. Spiderman is his pillow.


The approach to the Golden Gate Bridge on a foggy morning


Me having my traditional fresh crab sandwich on a french roll at Fishermans' Wharf in San Francisco


The military cemetery at the Presidio in San Francisco. Went to visit a friend who died in Vietnam


My brother Jim's truck that he uses for his Bar-B-Q catering business. He makes the best Bar-B-Q in the area. Let me know if you need his number for a catering gig.


Chiko in my son's backyard in Reno.
Currently feeling: relaxed

I'm scared
POSTED AT 12:22 PM

boogiesan

Last time I saw my newest grandson, Daniel, he was only a couple of months old. Now he is almost one year old and Chiko and I are going to Reno to babysit for him while the rest of the family goes to Hawaii for a vacation. I thought it would be a piece of cake taking care of such a little, innocent baby. Then I received a picture the other day and my heart skipped a beat. It looks like Daniel is saying "Bring it on, Grandpa. I'll give you a run for your money." I'll have to get a lot of sleep before I go there, because I don't think we will get much with this little bundle of energy. Maybe we can do shifts. Chiko can have the 0600 to midnight shift, and I'll take the midnight to 0600.

Currently feeling: scared

Nuts
POSTED AT 06:04 PM

boogiesan

I was changing the air filter in my 98 Toyota sedan when I noticed something brown colored down inside the plastic shell under the filter. I removed the old filter and reached in to touch this odd looking substance and to my surprise I came up with a handful of peanuts! They were still in the shell, and it wasn't just a few. The entire cavity was full with what I estimate to be about 200 peanuts. Half filled an oil pan drain bucket. We put nuts out for the squirrels in our yard, and evidently some resident mice thought that would make great nesting material. I didn't know this, but the sneaky little critters can actually climb up through the air intakes and into the filter housing. I'll have to keep any eye out for that. I've also put out some mouse poison. Could have really damaged the car over the long run if I had not noticed it. Wonder what the mechanic would have said if I had taken it in for an oil change. Maybe he would have thought I had come up with a new way to increase the filtering of dirt. Peanuts. Wish I had taken a photo, but I was so surprised all I could think about was getting them out of there. Currently feeling: surprised