Son of Blog

I'm moving

The blog has a new home.  You can view it here.  Please update your bookmarks responsibly.  Thanks you your continued patronage.  See you on the other side.  

Jilly goes to Disney

2 boys, a dog, and Goofy

It's official

Look out SC High!

Have you met Josh?

Like Thanksgiving in July...

...and for the dogs too!!!

Rosarito Beach

South of the border, down Mexico way
That's where I fell in love, when the stars above came out to play
And now as I wander, my thoughts ever stray
South of the border, down Mexico way

The Homer Simpson

Loaded up The Beast (now formally renamed Verne) for a GoGoGreene sojourn.  The bulk of the trek was getting to San Diego, where we stocked up on last minute provisions:

ahh, I missed you my ol' amigo

We said farewell to civilization as we longingly passed the final McDonalds.  Ironically, as we made our run to the border, one of the last restaurants we eyed was a Taco Bell.  Breezed right into Mexico as we listened to the Mariachi playlist (sure, it's easy to leave the country...), where we were shortly greeted by a Mexican vision of golden arches - a McDonalds.  Thanks globalization.

Jesus, that's a good taco!  Pray for surf...

Took the scenic route along the sea, bypassing Tijuana, through Real Del Mar, and into the west coast version of South Padre Island:  Rosarito Beach.  For every fast food outlet (e.g. Little Caesar's and even Peter Piper Pizza), there was a shrimp cocktail lounge and twice as many farmacias (loaded up on antibioticas).  We headed to the world famous taco stand along km 38, known as Taco Surf.  It's across the street from a gigante statue of Jesus on a hill.  If you pass the statue, you've gone to far:  as in, "Jesus, you passed the tacos!!!"  Best street taco I have ever had.  Thank you Mexican Jesus.

Lobster especial

And then, we went to lunch.  A little further down the road there's a little village called Puerto Nuevo.  We made friends with the local vendors and then dined on succulent deep fried lobster carcasses as Josh discussed "manscaping."  Doesn't sound very appetizing, but it was.

U r the Juan dat I want

Back to town and strolled along the beach.  Partook of some freshly chopped frutas en la playa.  Getting back to the homeland took a bit longer, as we were dazzled by the metallic 3D Last Suppers and endless churros at the border crossing, chicklets, if you don't like these mini chairs perhaps you'd like these mini chairs, and ordering 2 cokes but getting Juan.

South of the border

Made the jumbotron

At the PTM/Grouplove concert.  Took Josh and his bud Gavin (aka Gabwano) to the Open Air Theater at SDSU to see a triple bill.  Tokyo Police Club opened.  Portgual the Man is still the man, but this show was a little less intimate than when we saw them at HOB. I've now seen PTM more than Sinatra.  Plus, they didn't play Got It All.  :(

Grouplove rocked the roof off, if there was one.  All the hits with some extra head banging.  They brought back PTM for an encore of Baba Au Riley!

#tja throwback Jilly art

Jilly's double date

The sole daughter went to the cinema with two of her boy friends, Will and Jacob (or nerd 1 and nerd 2).  They saw Guardians of the Galaxy.  Those boys will need more than Peter Quill, Groot, Gamora, Drax and the pesky raccoon if they mess with my daughter!

I saw 100 Foot Journey.  It was pretty fun.

Vegas baby

78 miles...

...for a sandwich.  Each way.  And not just any sandwich. A Godmother from Bay City Deli.  And realistically painted buildings along the drive. And meatball division. And bang bang, slash slash, tank tank...

Dog Beach Coronado

National Rootbeer Float Day

Halloween in August?

We were invaded last night.  It must have been aliens from the planet toilet paper, because both children maintain plausible deniability.  The kicker is:  it rained last night...making clean up not fun.  And where were the ferocious beasts last night?  They were too busy performing the Itchy & Scratchy show all night long.  

p.s.  As I write this, the sprinklers went off...

College planning

Josh met with his independent education consultant the other day.  It's to get a head start on the college planning and admission process.  Now that's planning ahead since he hasn't even started high school.  But she helps him plan his courses and timeline for the next 4 years, as well as assists with applications and essays.  Josh asked lots of pertinent questions like living in dorms vs apartments, which colleges have the best skim boarding, and is UCSD to close to home.

When asked by his Mom which college he'd like to attend, Josh jokingly (I hope!) responded Arizona State (his Mom's alma mater).  She commented, "Well, at least you'll be close to your grandparents."  Josh replied, "Yeah, I can always blow off a ranging kegger to play mah jong with them and Steve & Joy!"

August is among us

Reading rainbow

Not sure what is more shocking:  that she left the house or that she is reading (voluntarily)!  She's just finishing up Wonder and hopes to read at least 4 more books in August.  And her brother is reading To Kill a Mockingbird for his summer reading (plus doing some math).  Had another beautiful day at the beach - it's always beautiful when I win all the rummy cube matches!

Mo SLO

Class of '84 parties more!

Last night was my 30th high school reunion.  That's right - I'm old. I had pretty much been looking forward to going for about 10 years. Mostly because the "cool" kids keep getting balder and I haven't changed. Well, maybe a little. But then I realized that very few of the very few people that I cared about were actually attending. In fact, there were quite a few I didn't even remember going to school with.  See, I am getting old. But by passing on the reunion, I was able to partake in this rejuvenative weekend along the central coast with my wonderful family.

Where's Waldo?

SLO, I've missed you so...

After turning a 4 hour trip into a 9 hour marathon (although we did visit auntie Beth and take pups for an hour swim at Hendrys), we arrived at our domestic happy place and an upgraded room.  Beelined it to Dels for some za and honey buttered rolls.  

Took Josh on an adventurous trek to a local skim spot:  Thumpers. Steph and Jill visited the farm. Then we went to Justin's for some vino.  Checking out a new sushi spot tonight. 

Funny papers

See kids:  there used to be this thing called the comics.  We didn't have "memes."  And you could only read them is this antique thing called a newspaper - like the internet, but on paper.  My favorites were Calvin & Hobbes, Bloom County, and The Far Side.  Here is one of my favorites:

Weird Science

Bwahaha!

Happy 5th Birthday

Game of Domes

Dome of the Rock

AstroDome

Iron Dome

Cranial Dome

Dome on the Range

Dome sweet dome

Under the dome

Simpson's dome

SpongeBob Dome

Superdome

Thunderdome

Green Dome

Chrome dome