Sunday, August 29, 2010

Lost 80's

B won tickets to the 4th & B for Lost 80's.  We had dinner at the Studio Diner.  http://www.studiodiner.com/
It was delicoius.  I ate too much again.  Need to run more. 

Drove downtown to the concert.  It started 1 hour and 40 minutes late.  The good part was they had Stop Making Sense, the concert from the Talking Heads playing.  I love that show.  I have it in VHS if that tells you something. 

I got a girlfriend thats better than this
And you don’t remember at all
As we get older and stop making sense
You won’t find her waiting long
Stop making sense, stop making sense...stop
making sense, making sense
I got a girlfriend that’s better than that
And nothing is better that this
                      Talking Heads

Why is it when we get older we stop making sense and when we are young we don't make sense.  William Wordworth. 

The first band was When in Rome.  Known for The Promise.  After the concert the lead singer John Ceravolo walked around the venue.  Watching the shows and talking to fans.

I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say. (I promise)
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be. (I promise)
But if you wait around a while, I'll make you fall for me,
I promise, I promise you I will.
                     When in Rome



Next up was Gene Loves Jezebel.  I want to be like him.  An aging rocker with long hair, bad habits and a great gig.  I know of them but knew only a few of the songs.  B thought he was creapy.

What you get is what you seek.
Desire.
What you get is what you seek
Desire.
              Gene Loves Jezebel



Martha Davis and the Motels were next.  Only her from the original band,  They did play some new music but the old hits were most popular with the crowd.  The crowd was from younger people probably born in the the 80's to those of us that came of age in the 80's.  She walked by us on her way to sigh autographs.

It happened one summer
It happened one time
It happened forever
For a short time
A place for a moment
An end to dream
Forever I loved you
Forever it seemed
             The Motels


Next up was Dramarama, but we were exhausted so after a few songs we left.  I wanted to hear Anything Anything but it was going to be later and not worth the wait.  Aging rockers are not that pretty to see.  Haha.  Plus they are from New Jersey & the lead singer kept walking around with his hat on and sunglasses and trying to strike a pose.  Creapy.  Out of here.

Okay, what is it tonight?
please just tell me what the hell is wrong!
Do you want to eat?
Do you want to sleep?
Do you want to drown?
Just settle down, settle down, settle down!
I'll give you candy
Give you diamonds
Give you pills
Give you anything you want
Hundred-dollar bills
I'll even let you watch the shows you want to see
Just marry me, marry me, marry me
                            Dramarama

Home after midnight and movies to watch to watch on cable.  A good night out.

Winner

August 8/28/10


The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny
                 ABBA

I finally won something.  You will find out in a few weeks but we went to a radio promotion and I spun the wheel and won.  Concert Tickets.   Whoo Hoo.

Weekend Getaway

8/20/10

However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you
                      The Cure



I asked for the day off and we decided to go to Solvang for our anniversary.  34 Years.  We started later as I ran in the morning.  We took the 15 to the 78 to the 5 to the 405.  Unforunately, we lost the carpool lane just after the 10 on the 405 and had traffic the rest of the day.  Stopped at Thousand Oaks to have lunch at Five Guys.  It is definiately different than In-N-Out.  I ordered the bacon hamburger with everything and B ordered the little hamburger with all.  We also got an order of fries.  It was very good.  Well worth the effort.  None by us in SD, about 20 miles away.  In-N-Out less than 3 miles from home.

We continued on our trip and hit big traffic in Santa Barbara.  We made it to Solvang at 5pm and checked in to the Village at Peterson Inn.  We had a nice room with a king size bed.  We had not made any plans for dinner so we looked through the magazines in the room. B found a place called the Red Barn.  It was great.  We sat outside in their patio,  B had a Top Sirloin and I had a New York Steak.  I had them put on the outdoor heaters towards the end of our meal as it was getting cool. 

I could feel at the time
There was no way of knowing
Fallen leaves in the night
Who can say where they're blowing
As free as the wind
And hopefully learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning
More than this - there is nothing
More than this - tell me one thing
More than this - there is nothin
                     Roxy Music


8/21/10 Anniversary

We woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel.  European continental breakfast.  We then went out and walked throught the town.  It had been awhile since we have been there.  It is really a cool place to visit and the weather was great.  We ate lunch at the Heidelburg Inn.  http://www.theheidelberginn.com/.  The food was good.  We also tasted Italian style wine form a local winey, Mandolina.   For dinner we went to the Hitching Post II.  Maya was a waitress there.  For reference watch Sideways.   http://www.hitchingpost2.com/  The food was great and we ate too much.

August 22, 2010


You're just like crosstown traffic
So hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I don't need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And I'm tryin' to get on the other side of town
                                  Jimi Hendrix


We got up early and ate breakfast and got on the road to head for home.  Got out of Santa Barbara before the traffic.  Stopped in La Mirada at one of our favorite places to eat.  Northwoods Inn.  http://www.clearmansrestaurants.com/
Two Salads and Cheese bread.  Yummy. 

Solvang Lutheran Church



Solvang






Sunday, August 15, 2010

Coronado

8/14/10

Our daughter, J and her husband, BB came down Friday night to visit.  BB has not seen much of San Diego so J thought we would go to Coronado.  We got started at mid day and the sun was out at home.  It got cloudy by La Jolla, but was perfect in Coronado.  Our first stop was the Coronado Ferry Landing, restaurants and shops where the old ferry operated before the bridge.  J and BB bought some cupcakes for later.  Next we cruised through the city looking at the houses and looking for a place to park down by the Hotel Del Coronado.

We found a place and walked down the main section toward the hotel.  We all were starving so we ate lunch at the Sun Deck there at the hotel.  A three piece band was playing soft rock and roll hits and there were some couples dancing.  The view was fantastic of the beach and pool area.  After lunch we walked around the hotel and the beach area.  Back to the car and since we took the bridge over we took the Silver Strand home.  Saw the communication station where my Dad was stationed and showed them IB, CV, and then the three of them fell asleep while I drove home.

It was fun and yes they ate the cupcakes when we got home.  J's blog will probably have pictures of them soon.



Harbor Cruise & Music

August 13, 2010

B received an email from a local radio station to take a Harbor Cruise while a new band was performing on the top deck.  She responded and receieved an email back. That was our ticket to the event.  I met her in Mission Valley and we drove downtown to Harbor Drive.  We had a little problem finding a place to park that was close.  Finally found a lot and walked over to the Hornblower facilities.  The line was long and we were not sure how many people would get on the boat.  They started the boarding process and I was sure hoping someone was keeping track of the number of people getting on board.  We made it on but it was very crowded and yes there was someone with a clicker tracking the number of passengers.  We went in the main room and found some chairs and sat and watched as more people boarded.  We finally left the dock so we went out to look at the city.

                                                This was our boat.  Stage back right side on top.







After cruising a little while, The Rescues took the small stage on the top deck.  Their debut CD is now released and they are in town for a North Park Music Thing.  We got to listen first.  The band was good and we kept walking around looking at all the sights.  It was not even too cold unless you went to the front of the boat with the wind.  We went up to the top a couple of times to watch but it was very packed.  You could hear the music all through the boat.  They played about an hour and the cruise and music ended at the same time.

http://www.therescues.com/



It was a fantastic evening and yes we stopped at In-N-Out for dinner for the second consecutive Friday late night.   









 

All About the FOOD

August 10, 2010

We had a nice dinner out on Sunday, but we were also looking forward to dinner Monday night at the Brigantine.  For two Mondays in August they were offering a 1 1/2 pound whole grilled Maine lobster plus 2 sides for $25.  How can you pass that up?  It was so good and we got some exercise getting the meat out of the shell..

Okay so Tuesday we decide to go to Carvers for their prime rib special.  Center cut prime rib (12oz) plus 2 sides for $12.00. 

Back to workouts and eating home cooked meals.  Three nights in a row, not something we do, but it was so worth in. 

Family and Food

August 8, 2010

My sister, C and her husband, R were in town over the weekend.  Every year for as long as I remember they make a weekend trip to the Del Mar Racetrack with friends.  This was the weekend.  I texted C on Saturday and placed a $5.00 bet on Zenyatta to win.  She was going for 18 wins in a row.  She won but the odds were 1 to 5.  I won fifty cents.

On Sunday evening they stopped by the house and we had dinner reservations (B's choice) at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens, a 300+ seat restaurant which features a large outdoor patio and 1-acre of gardens. The restaurant serves a rotating menu of food—concentrating on organic, free-range and local ingredients—and of course beer.  It is located in an industrial section of Escondido with no signage.  They were quite busy when we got there with tastings and a store for their merchandise.  We sat inside and watched them add ingredients to the vats.    



http://www.stonebrew.com/

R and I ordered the pale ale.  For dinner we all had something a little bit different.  C had Chicken Schnitzel,  B had Chicken Tikka Masala, R had Australian Wagyu Top Sirloin Steak and I had Artisanal Sausage Platter.  The cheese soup was pretty good too.  The food and atmosphere was great.  It was good to catch up and laugh.

Definitely a place we will go back.  Good job B. 

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Ponies and Tin Roof Rusted

August 6, 2010

I left work early and picked up B and headed toward Del Mar.



Where the turf meets the surf
down at old Del Mar
take a plane
take a train
take a car.
There is a smile on every face
and a winner in each race
where the turf meets the surf
at Del Mar.
            Bing Cosby

Who doesn't love the ponies.  I don't bet large money or even the fancy bets, but $2.00 on a horse is fun.  We got there at the 5th race of the day.  On Friday's the post time is 4pm not 2pm.  So we missed 4 races.  It started off bad with several 4th places.  It got better with B winning more than me.  Then on to the concert of the night.

The B-52's.  Fred, Kate, Cindy & Keith.  It was a good show on the infield at the race track.  They still sound pretty good and played all the favorites, Private Idaho, Planet Claire, Deadbeat Club, Love Shack and Rock Lobster. I have had a major crush on Kate and her red hair forever.  It was funny to see the younger crowd embracing the music.  Funny how that works. 

We were at the beach
Everybody had matching towels
Somebody went under a dock
And there they saw a rock
It wasn't a rock
It was a rock lobster!
Rock Lobster!!!
Rock Lobster!!!
Rock Lobster!!!
            The B-52's




Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo
You're living in your own Private Idaho
Living in your own Private Idaho
Underground like a wild potato.
Don't go on the patio.
Beware of the pool,
blue bottomless pool.
It leads you straight
right throught the gate
that opens on the pool.
You're living in your own Private Idaho.
You're living in your own Private Idaho.
                        The B-52's


http://theb52s.com/

It was a fun evening topped off with In-N-Out.  So Cal.

TAIKO!!!

7/31/10

Taiko.

Bon Odori at the San Diego Buddhist Temple.

It has been many years since I was at at the Buddhist Temple.  A student at USD required 3 classes in relegion.  I met the requirement and then transfer to USC which was a private university with no religious requirements.  Oh well the knowledge I learned and then forget.  I have always been interested in Buddhism and have several books, but I enjoy the Taiko more.

 I don’t want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don’t want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day
                            Todd Rundgred
 

Obon or just Bon  is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.

Most everyone who are closest to me knows I lived in Okinawa and had a Japanese Nanny.  I have Japanese items throught my house honoring my time there.  I like Japanese culture and food.  When I found out this was happening I just had to go.  Plus I really miss my mom and dad.

I have a cd of Kodo that I play often, just found it again.  I love the sound of the drums.  I want one!









Temecula

July 30, 2010

I took the day off from work and we decided to go to Temecula for some wine tasting. We got up there around 11:30 a 40 minute trip and had lunch at Wilson Creek Winery. Their Creekside Grille was wonderful. I had a Reuben Sandwich and B had a chicken panini. We thought it best to eat before wine tasting. While we were eating we saw the faminly Golden Retreiver wondering around. Love those Goldens. After lunch we went in the tasting room. Sampled 4 wines and bought 3 wines, The Golden Jubilee, the Golden Medley and Almond Champagne. I usually like red wine but bought all white?? I think it was because it was warm & the cold white wines tasted so good.

http://www.temeculawines.org/

Red, red wine
Go to my head
Make me forget that
I Still need her so
Niel Diamond

Off to the next stop. My sister, C, bought us a Tempranillo from Filsinger's Winery several years ago so we decided to go there. Dr. Filsinger sold his winery so the new owners named it Danza del Sol. It was off the main street so there were less people there. We tasted 5 wines there and bought 3 bottles, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurztrainer.











We needed to pace ourselves so we went looking for the Pechanga Casino. We had never been there so needed to make a visit. The Casino is hugh compared to Valley View and Harrah's in our area. Walked all around and tried some slots but no luck. It was nice inside other than the smoke and a change so on to the next winery.

http://www.pechanga.com/


They tried to make me go to rehab
I said no, no, no.
Yes I been black, but when I come back
You wont know, know, know.
I ain’t got the time
And if my daddy thinks im fine
He’s tried to make me go to rehab
I won't go, go, go.
Amy Winehouse

The next winery we went to was the Inn At Churon Winery. It also is a small Bed and Breakfast place. We tasted the wine and bought 4 bottles and paid for 3 plus a nickel. Such a deal. We bought 4 white wines , 2 Muscat Canelli and 2 Gold Nectar. They close early for their guests so it was just good timing.

Next stop Thornton's. No tasting, B wanted to see the facilities since they host concerts, but of course they had some wine discounted so you can never have enough wine around.

I took Jean Pierre from France to Callaway's Winery back in the 1980's so that was the last time I had been wine tasting in Temecula. It was a good trip and more wineries to try in the future.

We headed over to Temecula's old town. A stage stop in the olden days. We walked around looking at antiques. The funny thing was most of the antiques for sale was stuff we owned. What's up with that?

We had dinner at Texas Lil's Mesquite Grill. I had Santa Maria Tri Tip and B had the Trail Boss Steak.

http://www.texaslilsmesquitegrill.com/

Headed toward home and hit the bed running.

Friday, August 6, 2010

JAZZ

July 29, 2010

We went to a CD release party at The Rancho Bernardo Inn.    Right in our neighborhood.  B of course got the tickets.  It was held at the Veranda, outside overlooking the golf course.  It was a teriffic Southern California evening.

The music artist was Jackiem Joyner, a  sax player.  This is his 4th CD.  There was a brief introduction, some songs, a question and answer session and then some more songs.  It was a great setting with excellent music.   

Country Concert

7/28/10

B scored some tickets to Viejas DreamCatcher.  Viejas is an Indian Casino.  She met me at my work and we drove up to Alpine.  Gambled a little before the concert, no we did not win the big money.

First up was Jaron and the Long Road to Love.  He was very funny and it was just him playing guitar.  You might know him by his one song.

I Pray for You
I haven’t been to church since I don’t remember when

Things were going great til they fell apart again
So I listened to the preacher as he told me what to do
He said you can’t go hatin’ others who have done wrong to you
Sometimes we get angry but we must not condemn
Let the good Lord do his job, you just pray for them
I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill
I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill
And knocks you in the head like I’d like to
I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls
I pray you’re flyin’ high when your engine stalls
I pray all your dreams never come true
Just know wherever you are, honey, I pray for you
I’m really glad I found my way to church
Cause I’m already feelin’ better and I thank God for the words
Yeah, I’m gonna take the high road and do what the preacher told me to do
You keep messin’ up, and I’ll keep prayin’ for you
I pray your tire goes out at 110
I pray you pass out drunk with your best friend
And wake up with his and her tattoos…
I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill
I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill
And knocks you in the head like I’d like to
I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls
I pray you’re flyin’ high when your engine stalls
I pray all your dreams never come true
Just know wherever you are, near or far
In your house or in your car
Wherever you are, honey, I pray for you
I pray for you



Next up was The Band Perry.  One sister and two brothers.  They were really good.  Up and coming group.  It reminded me of when we saw Lady Antebellum before they really broke out.  The music was good and they were great performers.  Mandolin and an acordian sounded good.  They played songs from their soon to be released album plus some rock songs.  It is always good when it seems like the performers are really having a good time. 

If I die young bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
oh oh oh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I’ll shine down on my mother
She'll know I’m safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time
                              The Band Perry



http://www.thebandperry.com/

It was a fun enjoyable evening with good country music.