"Burning Down The Mtn" Happy Birthday Judi

Well here it is people, my 500th post, and I am honored to make this post dedicated to my Blog sponsor, Judi----and help commemorate her 50th year, and her Great Birthday Party. (you might want to click on the pics to make em bigger as you go)

As you all have read on Judi's blog, something over 55 people RSVP'ed, and then there were a few others who also decided to come, at one point I counted over 60 people, (not including the band) in attendance. The weather was clear and sunny, but with the wind twas a touch on the cool side, but it sure didn't cool down the party none.

The party was held at Pete and Judi's beautiful home on top of Shogo Mtn, and if one looks past the activities in the pics, you can get an idea of the views available from their house. Here's a pic taken early in the Party, the band has arrived and is setting up-----

This is the front of Judi's home, notice the wide cross-hatching inlaid stone of their front deck----faboulous! (one is looking north in the pic)

---and here we have the Host of the party getting into the swing of things, and oooh there's Judi, with a long time friend from back in school days (I was introduced but have forgotten all the names, met to many last night)

In the above pic, as you can see the band has started to play, and here we have my lovely niece Tish, (Pete's Sister), being twirled around the floor by Big Dave Shelton, (Tish Pete, and my other nieces and nephews all grew up with Dave, and his younger brother Roger)

Food was served in the big open garage, and I neglected to get the information on who catered the party, but I can tell you the food was most tasty, and I considered myself lucky to leave the party with a plate to take home (Thanks Judi).

Looking West, we have those that were not dancing,but enjoying the food and drink and the portable fire pit on the other end of the front of the house., and then finally, in closing,  I just had to include a pic of Me and my Nephew Eric's wife Jennifer, who was wishing me a happy birthday (which is the day after Judi's).

I finally faded fromn the party some four hours of partying, and am pleased to report tha old blue got the old dude home in one piece.  I will let Judi give you all the neat details of the party------especially her surprise to find JOYCE (her mom) there for the party.  I am hoping to get together with Joyce and Judi and Pete, later and perhaps check out the casino action down they're way.    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDI!!  (AND I MEAN IT TOO)

A NICE TUESDAY THING (and this is post 499)

Perhaps maybe it was the start I was born under, you know the one, yeah that lil dim one, about three klicks to the left and down a bit from THAT bright one---yeah that one----anyway good things seem to happen to me on Tuesday's----today for example. Lo and behold, about mid morning, I get interrupted from watching my money grow (its Tuesday and yes it is growing), by the doorbell, and lo and behold its the Apartment complex's repair crew, here to fix my Patio door and mesh screen------something I have been waiting for for some number of weeks. Anyway, now I got me a whisper quiet patio door that slides open and closed with just one finger, and I am pleased to report that the day on the Market was most comforting as well.----now as the sun slowly sinks in the west (as it is prone to do), I find myself in eager anticipation of perusing the on-line cable guide to see what is on for entertainment for this Tuesday night. (lol)

This as it turns out is my 499th post since I first started blogging, in April 2008---tomorrow will be my first blogging anniversary-----but not sure just when I will make the momentous post, lets see I, maybe I will save that and post about Judi's big birthday bash being held this coming Sunday------after all it twas she who turned me on to blogging, so would be kind of fitting----time will tell.

LIVE BY PROCRASTINATION----die by Procrastination---NO WAITTTT!!

Where does the time go, I mean like I knew my license had to be renewed by my birthday, knew that when I first moved here to Temecula, (did the legal change of address via the Autoclub), but had plenty of time to find and do the DMV thing, so no hurry on that-----well hello, yesterday (04/20), decided I had procrastinated long enough, and best to call and make an appointment at the Local DMV, and get my license renewed-----only one problem with that----the earliest appointment I could get would  have been May 4th, about a week after my current licensed expired----(NOT GOOD!!)  I had put it off for to long----so-o-o, I had only one choice---drive to the DMV, and get in line and DO IT!!

To make this long story short (I know to late again---sigh), it only took just under two hours,  the first 30 minutes was inching up the line to get into the DMV proper, 40 more minutes waiting to be called to one of the 16 windows to  initiate getting my license extended,  and of course they took my money right there and then----and over the next 50 minutes, I got my new pic taken (in my panic to get to the DMV I had forgotten I had forgotten to shave that morning---so gonna have that pic to look at for the next five years ).  also got fingerprinted (electronically, so no  dirty ink to wipe off) and of course had to take the written test----18 questions that would determine if I got my license  renewed, ---18 questions that would determine if old blue would get to roam, or be  padlocked in his stall for gowd knows how long----PRESSURE!!

I havn't read the DMV drivers manual for gosh, maybe 30plus years,  -----I went through the questions and made checkmarks where I thought it was proper------and then waited for five minutes, as my test sheet was scored------as it was being tallied, I in a low, but tense voice  told they young lady doing the tallying, that I was about to start bleeding around my eyes, waiting to know if Ihad passed or failed-----she gave a kinda grunt (my heart sank), but then she cooly remarked, "no  problem you only missed two, and your allowed to miss three---you passed, your new license will be in the mail in acouple three weeks----OOOOH Yeah!!! LIFE IS GOOD.

Temecula----WINE COUNTRY

This Sunday last, my niece Tish, stopped by for a visit. We did lunch at Texas Lil's, in "Old Town Temecula), and then on an unseasonably warm day (100 degrees plus), we drove old blue out to visit some of the many Wineries located just east of Temecula.

The wineries love hosting crowds, most all selling "Tasting tickets" for approximately $10.00, which entitles you to have a taste (one ounce servings) of any six wines that particular winery produces. All of them have nice garden, patio's, in which to enjoy your tastings, AND, you get to keep the winery engraved glass. In the late afternoons, many have live music, and its all quite enjoyable. I managed to take a few pictures during the day----am not noted for my photography but perhaps with practice---??-----will endeavor to get better at it!)

This first pic is of the sign in the public parking lot to the entrance to the Mount Palomar Winery, the vivacious women next to the sign is my Niece Tish (WARNING: she's a Taurean by nature and by birth)

Here is a pic of Tish, and Jennifer, the amiable, and knowledgable hostess that serves us our samples, (did I mention you get to keep your glass?)

Another shot of the the gift shop area of the Palomar Winery, sorry about it being so dark---we had a lovely time knocking back the six samples we each were allowed, and we opted to move on to the next Winery, just down the road about two miles, called Windsor Creek Winery and here is the entrance to the Winery.I think it was about then I kinda griped that I never ever got MY pic taken, so, ya see the three tiered fountain on the hill in the center of the pic----well Tish took my pic there----aint I gorgous?(lol)we did an  additional sampling of six more wines (each), ending with the Windsor Wineries well reknown  Almond Champagne (comes with a piece of chocolate) and is oooooooh sooooooooo goooooood!!).   There are at least another dozen or so wineries to visit, so its gonna be a busy summer.  OH I learned later that the Parking lot of the Windsor Winerery is where one goes to watch the launching of the Hot Air Balloons (thats an early morning 6:30am adventure)----it is on my list of things to do!!  Anyway we made it back to Margaritaville (aka my apartment) took us all of ten minutes----here below is a pic of the wine glasses we were given---

I MADE A BIG MISTAKE

Nobody warned me, but then I should have known-----well I know now!! My mistake was simple enough in hindsight, but still perhaps my telling the tale, will help some other soul avoid the nightmare.

The stock market closes here at 1Pm, and today the gods of finance were gentle with me and I felt a certain okay with the world. In this euphoric mood, I decided I should go to the grocery story, and stock up on victuals, seeing as I appeared to be able to afford them. So after doing my normal sum up of the days stock market, washed my coffee cup and cereal bowl, and fruit juice glass, spent some time making up a grocery list and headed out to the local market. It was 3PM, on a Friday-----as I entered the big grocery (its name is not relevant, as I am sure all supermarkets are the same in regards to the tale of horror I am about to relate.

I parked old blue in the back of the big parking lot hopefully to avoid any door dings, and hiked the quarter mile to the actual store, grabbing a cart, still not aware of what was to be, and pushed my way into the store proper, I got maybe 15 feet into the store, I remember hearing the automatic "in" doors whooshing closed behind me----as my eyes took in the fact that every other shopper in the store had at least two kids in tow, and a third either in their arms or in a stroller-----only then did it strike home----school was out, moms picking up their kids from school were now shopping for the dinner to be served at 5pm when the fathers came home!!!

As if to underline the hell I had unconsciously, voluntarily put myself in, a wall of sound hit me, the cacophony of tired, cranky mothers screaming at their kids, who in turn were doing their best bits at getting mom to buy them the candy, crackers, cookies and toys they just had to have. Some throwing hissy fits, others just plain loud caterwauling, yet others off their leashes had started an impromptu game of tag through the isles, others playing hide and go seek, (the store was huge enough to do that).

My reaction to finding myself in the 3rd level of Dante's inferno, was to make an immediate break for the "Out door", on the other side of the checkout counters----noting that there had to be between six and 10 tired cranky mothers and accompanying sticky fingered children in every line. A stubborn gene kicked alive in me and buddied up with a now blooming gene of Masochism, and I found myself trying to actually gather up my list of needed groceries, as wave after wave of screams from mothers, and resulting screams of protest echoed from the children, washed over me------thank god I had no need to buy crackers, cookies or candy, allowing me to avoid those areas of peak disaster.

It seemed liked days and days before my body shaking I was able to clear the checkout stand and in a daze hit the outside, only then horrified to find tears in my eyes, followed immediately with relief, it was only tears and not blood. I don't quite recall arriving back home, or putting the groceries away----I do know however that I failed to get three items that were on my list---and to the best of my knowledge, I didn't run over any kids with my shopping cart.

I have made a vow---I will never, never, ever go grocery shopping in the afternoons after school has been let out-----better yet, I will do my shopping between 7-9am on Sundays. If I can't get my shopping done then---will just have to pay the price of eating out.