Arianna and Olivia are in a great mood. They are off to having breakfast now. May did call Kiri and Betsy to let them know the flight was delayed for a few minutes, but apparently no big deal.
*************
Boarded By 12:40 P.M. -- Minor Delay
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Day 24: July 21, 2015
May called from the Los Angeles airport. They arrived safely about 8:00 a.m. for a 11:00 a.m. departure. Everything went very smoothly. May casually asked a flight attendant if they were in the right line for getting to their gate. She said "yes," but the line was so long, they would never get to their gate on time. The flight attendant took them to their gate. Interestingly enough, the plane departs out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Apparently there are few international flights taking off this time of day, and the other gates are so full, some domestic American Airlines flights are leaving from the international terminal. Obviously American Airlines has a number of gates in the international terminal.
Arianna and Olivia are in a great mood. They are off to having breakfast now. May did call Kiri and Betsy to let them know the flight was delayed for a few minutes, but apparently no big deal.
Arianna and Olivia are in a great mood. They are off to having breakfast now. May did call Kiri and Betsy to let them know the flight was delayed for a few minutes, but apparently no big deal.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Day 21: July 18, 2015
Saturday.
Crafts day at home.
Storms coming in; ocean will be rough. Plans to go to the beach will be postponed, perhaps until next summer. The granddaughters fly out on Tuesday.
Crafts day at home.
Storms coming in; ocean will be rough. Plans to go to the beach will be postponed, perhaps until next summer. The granddaughters fly out on Tuesday.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Day 19: July 16, 2015
May, Arianna, and Olivia went to the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
My first data back in Grapevine, TX. I arrived back at 5:00 a.m. this morning.
My first data back in Grapevine, TX. I arrived back at 5:00 a.m. this morning.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Day 18: July 16, 2015
May, Arianna, and Olivia went to the Los Angeles Zoo.
I drove to Amarillo, Texas, to see the armadillos. Haven't seen any yet.
Data points for the trip back from San Pedro to Grapevine:
Gallons of gasoline: 175
Mileage (mpg): 27 mpg
Cost of gasoline: $175
Lowest price: $2.44 in Wichita Falls, TX (in Amarillo, I saw lowest price to be $2.39/gallon)
Highest price: $4.30 on I-210, northeast of Los Angeles; more expensive in Needles, though I did not get any gas there
I drove to Amarillo, Texas, to see the armadillos. Haven't seen any yet.
Data points for the trip back from San Pedro to Grapevine:
Gallons of gasoline: 175
Mileage (mpg): 27 mpg
Cost of gasoline: $175
Lowest price: $2.44 in Wichita Falls, TX (in Amarillo, I saw lowest price to be $2.39/gallon)
Highest price: $4.30 on I-210, northeast of Los Angeles; more expensive in Needles, though I did not get any gas there
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Day 17: July 14, 2015
May's minivan had some routine maintenance done.
Then, she and the granddaughters headed up to Little Tokyo, having arrived safely a few minutes ago. They visited the Japanese American National Museum and sent some nice photo from the tea restaurant. Arianna knows her teas and enjoys tea. Olivia tried tea for the first time (?).
Meanwhile, I will be starting my trip back towards Grapevine, TX, or Williston, North Dakota, depending on updates from Williston.
Then, she and the granddaughters headed up to Little Tokyo, having arrived safely a few minutes ago. They visited the Japanese American National Museum and sent some nice photo from the tea restaurant. Arianna knows her teas and enjoys tea. Olivia tried tea for the first time (?).
Meanwhile, I will be starting my trip back towards Grapevine, TX, or Williston, North Dakota, depending on updates from Williston.
Day 16: July 13, 2015
Cindy's birthday celebration.
May brought Arianna to urgent care clinic because her throat was still bothering her after 7 or 8 days. The throat swab was negative for strep and the Monospot (a finger prick for blood) was also negative. Diagnosis: viral pharyngitis, resolving.
We had planned to go to the beach today but May decided it was best not to go swimming in the ocean. If the finger prick opened up in the ocean, the blood might attract sharks. Yes, that is true; that's what we did not go to the beach today but instead went to swim in Flavio's and Cindy's pool.
Bruce has made the decision to start driving home in the next 12 - 24 hours in case he needs to go to Williston to see his father who was recently ill.
May brought Arianna to urgent care clinic because her throat was still bothering her after 7 or 8 days. The throat swab was negative for strep and the Monospot (a finger prick for blood) was also negative. Diagnosis: viral pharyngitis, resolving.
We had planned to go to the beach today but May decided it was best not to go swimming in the ocean. If the finger prick opened up in the ocean, the blood might attract sharks. Yes, that is true; that's what we did not go to the beach today but instead went to swim in Flavio's and Cindy's pool.
Bruce has made the decision to start driving home in the next 12 - 24 hours in case he needs to go to Williston to see his father who was recently ill.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Day 14: July 11, 2015
Today, while out
shopping with Grammy May, Olivia told Arianna
that from now on, Olivia needs to be involved in all
clothing purchases by Arianna since Olivia will eventually
get them as hand-me-downs.
For dinner beer can chicken and pasta.
May reminded us at 7:15 p.m. that 7-11 stores offered FREE Slurpees on July 11. We walked down to the 7-11 in our neighborhood only to find that the offer ended at 7:00 p.m. I bought Olivia a Slurpee for $1.73. The cashier threw in two bags of Doritos for free and one pair of really cool sunglasses, also for free, which Olivia forbade me to wear on the walk home.
For dinner beer can chicken and pasta.
****************************
May reminded us at 7:15 p.m. that 7-11 stores offered FREE Slurpees on July 11. We walked down to the 7-11 in our neighborhood only to find that the offer ended at 7:00 p.m. I bought Olivia a Slurpee for $1.73. The cashier threw in two bags of Doritos for free and one pair of really cool sunglasses, also for free, which Olivia forbade me to wear on the walk home.
Day 13: July 10, 2015
More tomorrow.
Preparation for birthday party later in the evening.
Swimming over at Flavio and Cindy's.
Dinner at Ruby's. Arianna, Olivia, and Dakota each got a free root beer float.
Dessert and party at Flavio and Cindy's.
Preparation for birthday party later in the evening.
Swimming over at Flavio and Cindy's.
Dinner at Ruby's. Arianna, Olivia, and Dakota each got a free root beer float.
Dessert and party at Flavio and Cindy's.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Day 12: July 9, 2015
Getty Museum in west Los Angeles today.
Looking south from The Getty Museum, you can barely see downtown Los Angeles way off in the distance. The buildings in the foreground are West Los Angeles, not downtown LA:
Looking south from The Getty Museum, you can barely see downtown Los Angeles way off in the distance. The buildings in the foreground are West Los Angeles, not downtown LA:
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Day 11: July 8, 2015
We spent the day at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific:
For the archives. May has already sent these photos to everyone, but I'm including them here for archival purposes.
First: Arianna's English Trifle from her Harry Potter Cookbook:
For the archives. May has already sent these photos to everyone, but I'm including them here for archival purposes.
First: Arianna's English Trifle from her Harry Potter Cookbook:
Then two creations from Olivia. The first is the present she made for Arianna for her birthday; it is a hedgehog house. They've gotten more mileage out of those hedgehogs than Barbie dolls. Quite remarkable all the things they've done with and for their hedgehogs.
The second Olivia creation is a hedgehog catapult. LOL:
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Day 11: July 7, 2015
A most delightful day; a long stroll along the coast.
I rode my bike to Huntington Beach today. It's a 20-mile trip one way; I turned around at Bolsa Beach.
Along the way, I picked up some tools and an air pump to carry with me.
It took me about 2 hours 30 minutes to get to my end point in Bolsa Beach, Huntington Beach.
On the way home I had a front flat tire, a slow leak, due to a thorn. The pump helped: 60 pumps filled the tire and it lasted about 20 city blocks. I first noted the flat just as I was leaving Seal Beach and entering Long Beach, I suppose about 12 miles from home.
Things were going along peachy keen until somewhere in Long Beach (in addition to taking a long round-about way to get through the city), my rear tire also went flat. Unfortunately that flat was too severe for the pump to do any good good. So I started walking.
I arrived at the corner of Western Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway about 5:47 p.m. I wasn't sure about the time so I checked the "World Clock" on the internet and yes, indeed, it was 5:47 when I got to this corner. I assume it's about three miles from this corner to home, so about another hour. I will be walking more slowly, so it might take ninety (90) minutes. [I arrived "home" at 8:15, tired but in excellent shape.]
I do not know what May and the granddaughters were up to today.
Sophia enjoying toast ...
.... and then relaxing:
Sophia may win the Nevin Award for Relaxation. Notice her legs/ feet up on the chair, completely relaxed.
I rode my bike to Huntington Beach today. It's a 20-mile trip one way; I turned around at Bolsa Beach.
Along the way, I picked up some tools and an air pump to carry with me.
It took me about 2 hours 30 minutes to get to my end point in Bolsa Beach, Huntington Beach.
On the way home I had a front flat tire, a slow leak, due to a thorn. The pump helped: 60 pumps filled the tire and it lasted about 20 city blocks. I first noted the flat just as I was leaving Seal Beach and entering Long Beach, I suppose about 12 miles from home.
Things were going along peachy keen until somewhere in Long Beach (in addition to taking a long round-about way to get through the city), my rear tire also went flat. Unfortunately that flat was too severe for the pump to do any good good. So I started walking.
I arrived at the corner of Western Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway about 5:47 p.m. I wasn't sure about the time so I checked the "World Clock" on the internet and yes, indeed, it was 5:47 when I got to this corner. I assume it's about three miles from this corner to home, so about another hour. I will be walking more slowly, so it might take ninety (90) minutes. [I arrived "home" at 8:15, tired but in excellent shape.]
I do not know what May and the granddaughters were up to today.
*******************************
Meanwhile, Back in Grapevine
Sophia enjoying toast ...
.... and then relaxing:
Sophia may win the Nevin Award for Relaxation. Notice her legs/ feet up on the chair, completely relaxed.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Day 10: July 6, 2015
Arianna's throat is feeling better. She wants to go to Mitsuwa's for lunch, and then shopping. Mitsuwa's was her great-grandmother's favorite restaurant after they retired in San Pedro.
In the photo below: May as an infant; May's mother (Mariko); Arianna's great-grandmother; and, Mariko's Aunt Yone who raised Mariko (in Japan).
The fourth "person" in the picture is a doll, not a real person.
Another photo of May's mother, Mariko:
In the photo below: May as an infant; May's mother (Mariko); Arianna's great-grandmother; and, Mariko's Aunt Yone who raised Mariko (in Japan).
The fourth "person" in the picture is a doll, not a real person.
Another photo of May's mother, Mariko:
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Day 9: July 5, 2015
We all survived the Fourth of July party on the patio at the back of the house; it went quite late. Arianna and Olivia went to bed immediately. I soon followed. May was up until 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. watching something on television; perhaps more fireworks, though our fireworks in the neighborhood continued well into the night.
This morning we are all up though Arianna is a bit tired and has a minor sore throat. I took a good look at her throat and it looks fine: no inflammation whatsoever, possibly a slight bit of irritation on the left tonsil, which I think is the side she said it hurts. She had breakfast, and is now having "warm/hot" tea and is in very good spirits.
May sent me this note, after overhearing them in the TV room:
This morning we are all up though Arianna is a bit tired and has a minor sore throat. I took a good look at her throat and it looks fine: no inflammation whatsoever, possibly a slight bit of irritation on the left tonsil, which I think is the side she said it hurts. She had breakfast, and is now having "warm/hot" tea and is in very good spirits.
May sent me this note, after overhearing them in the TV room:
Olivia saying to Arianna, as they negotiate the trading of rocks they bought at the Grand Canyon, "I want to put this out there, but you're not going to get much for your pyrite shards. They're just shards; I don't know why you got them; they're not worth much."I don't know about that. Arianna might make a tidy profit for her fool's gold if she finds some fools on the beach. Shouldn't be too difficult.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Day 8: July 4, 2015
We spent the better part of the day preparing for the July 4th celebration this evening.
And my signature beer can chicken:
It was a great, great evening.
And yes, fireworks are "generally" illegal in Los Angeles County. I'm not sure what the laws are and apparently no one else is either. Whatever.
A second clip of the fireworks:
Left to right: Jennie Jing (back to camera), Ray Jing, WPP, Arianna, Flavio (up front), Cindy (in the back).
My favorite brother-in law, Flavio; my favorite sister-in-law, Cindy.
And my signature beer can chicken:
It was a great, great evening.
And yes, fireworks are "generally" illegal in Los Angeles County. I'm not sure what the laws are and apparently no one else is either. Whatever.
A second clip of the fireworks:
Friday, July 3, 2015
Day 7: July 3, 2015
We are getting ready for May's 4th of July party today, doing some errands.
Olivia wanted to go to the neighborhood park this afternoon:
When we came home Olivia set up shop at the end of the driveway to start selling her latest craft: small airplanes which she will customize with art when you buy one.
Before you laugh, Olivia just came into the house (4:40 p.m.) to tell me she just sold two airplanes, each for $3.00 for a total of $6.00. Not counting cost of labor, her profit margin is close to 95%.
Before you laugh again, Olivia just came into the house (5:30 p.m.) to tell us she just sole four more airplanes, for $2.00 each, for another $8.00.
She only has one plane left, but if you place an order she can make as many as you want. Now you can laugh.
Last note: while writing the last update, Olivia sold the last plane. At 5:49 p.m. she sold the last plane. Here is a photo of Olivia with her $15 for her 7 planes:
Olivia wanted to go to the neighborhood park this afternoon:
When we came home Olivia set up shop at the end of the driveway to start selling her latest craft: small airplanes which she will customize with art when you buy one.
Before you laugh, Olivia just came into the house (4:40 p.m.) to tell me she just sold two airplanes, each for $3.00 for a total of $6.00. Not counting cost of labor, her profit margin is close to 95%.
Before you laugh again, Olivia just came into the house (5:30 p.m.) to tell us she just sole four more airplanes, for $2.00 each, for another $8.00.
She only has one plane left, but if you place an order she can make as many as you want. Now you can laugh.
Last note: while writing the last update, Olivia sold the last plane. At 5:49 p.m. she sold the last plane. Here is a photo of Olivia with her $15 for her 7 planes:
Day 6: July 2, 2015
A quiet day in southern California. Arianna and Olivia wanted to stay "home" and work on their various projects.
May went shopping to prepare for "4th of July."
In the afternoon, Arianna and I picked up sandwiches at Subway and had a picnic overlooking the Pacific Ocean, looking for whales. We did not see any. It was getting cool by 5:00 p.m. along the coast, and we wished we had brought light jackets.
A quiet evening at home, working on their "coding" projects:
May went shopping to prepare for "4th of July."
In the afternoon, Arianna and I picked up sandwiches at Subway and had a picnic overlooking the Pacific Ocean, looking for whales. We did not see any. It was getting cool by 5:00 p.m. along the coast, and we wished we had brought light jackets.
A quiet evening at home, working on their "coding" projects:
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Fifth 24-Hour Period: July 1, 2015 -- July 2, 2015
Another great day, Wednesday, July 1, 2015.
We spent the afternoon at Cindy and Flavio's house swimming in their pool. Pizza party after swimming.
Arianna, Olivia, and Dakota.
Arianna, Olivia, Dakota, Flavio, and Bruce.
We spent the afternoon at Cindy and Flavio's house swimming in their pool. Pizza party after swimming.
Arianna, Olivia, and Dakota.
Arianna, Olivia, Dakota, Flavio, and Bruce.
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