The Elfin Forest

The Morning After

2010-06-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

A big thank you, hug and a Kiss to everyone who came and even those who could not make it. We really had a great time, and will always remember the time on the Lake and in Yosemite. I think everything worked out perfectly, the Weather, and the accommodations were just about perfect. We all contributed something to make the trip go smoothly, and it worked out Great. Uncle James, thanks for the cooking! Thank you to the Daniels and White Family for the Boat on Saturday! Thanks to all the Kids for being Great! I could go on and On. I knew it was going to be good when within a hour of our arrival, we saw two deer near our a cabin. A good sign for sure.

It really was wonderful. My family took a drive over to Monterrey and spent the night there on Monday, and then went to the Aquarium on Tuesday and the drove home. I hate that it is all over, but that is the way it goes. We look forward to the next trip eagerly, when we can all be together again. Love Ya!

"I only went out for a walk and finally decided to stay until sundown, for going out I discovered was actually going in."
- John Muir

"Without the Energy to lift mountains, how am I to live?"
-Mirabai

Ranger Rick Signing out......for good

Weather Forecast

2010-06-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, almost a week away! We can not wait! Weather is always a concern, so I have a link here to the forecast for our stay here it is:

Weather 6/23-6/29

Looking very nice! Pack accordingly.

Family Reunion Article

2010-05-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here is a link to a great article on Family Reunions. It has some nice tips we should try. Let me know what you think, and which ideas you think would work.

Ask Trip Coach: Family Reunions - Budget Travel

Yosemite Video

2010-04-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I found this cool introduction video to Yosemite, It will give you an Idea of what to see in the park. Yosemite Intro Video

FYI we will be entering the park from the 41 highway. The entrance from our cabins to the park is about 30 minutes. We can drive up from our cabins as we please because the Park entrance fee ($20 per car) is valid for 7 days.

Of course we will also be staying at Bass Lake, so we will have plenty to do on the other days. I will most likely be renting a pontoon boat for the duration of our trip.

We can cruise, fish, swim, do midnight booze cruises! I mean, romantic moonlight cruises, with wine of course. The boats have a BBQ on board which is cool. I will see if they will throw in a few kayaks also, anyone Kayak? Its a lot of fun, and good exercise.

This trip really is for all of us to have fun together, so if you have any suggestions let me know. I am going to put together a loose itinerary, which I am sure will get throw away, but it will at least give us some idea of what to do. Its a privilege to have family member's and friends all serving Jehovah together, and even though we live far apart and are separated by States, it is important that we get together, especially now that we have small children in the family. This trip will create memories for all of us, but most importantly for them. We cant wait to see everybody!

If anyone has any logistical questions let me know. Airport, directions, ammenities, etc. Let me know and I will try and answer any questions.

Thanks for all the support. Can you believe it has been a year and a half since plans got underway!Now, less than 8 weeks to go!

Feeling good

2010-03-28T16:16:00.001-07:00

Its beautiful day at the beach today.We had the kids out in the pool this morning and it was great! Things have been hectic latley with assembly last weekend and the memorial next week it is nice to stop and just watch the kids play in the sunshine. Sharon is visiting and its been nice, Evan really missed her. We are on our way to get dinner at joes crab shack! What a great Sunday.

End Game- Bass Lake

2010-02-27T08:59:00.000-08:00

Alrighty troopers, we are getting close to go time for our big Bass Lake Family Trip, almost 2 years in the making!

First thing to know is that final payment is due 3/20/2010. So please get me your payment before that so I can send it on in. We do have 2 cabins booked.

Here is a breakdown of who owes what:

Sharon: $198
Sheila:$298
Scott Family: $496
Lena Stuart: $0.00 (paid)
White Family: $496
Sales(Jay):$138.40
Daniels Family( Sera and Lawerence)$357.60

Unfortunately as we all know Jay and Family could not make the trip, but Seraphina and Lawrence are taking their place for 3 of the 5 nights. The balance for Jay is the difference for the 2 nights he booked already.

We are getting excited! Only a few months away!

Ranger Rick signing out!

Overflow

2010-01-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

Ranger Rick here, checking in with a Family Vacation update!

Since we booked our cabins last year there is not a lot of wiggle room in taking other guests. But there is a great resort across the lake from where we are staying and it is very close, only a 10-15 minute drive form Millers Landing.

So if anyone else would like to join us, please check out The Pines

It is a very nice resort that I actually visited when I was there in 2008. Hopefully you will be able to find accommodations. I also sent an email to Millers Landing regarding the possibility of another cabin rental, if they do have one I will let you know.

Ranger Rick- Signing out

Crazy Cube Illusion

2010-01-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

This is way Cool!
http://www.break.com/index/insane-cube-illusion.html
But sadly Alysa will not let me do this to our house : (

Hati Earthquake

2010-01-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

Please see the JW-Media Feed on the tool bar to get the latest information.

Our prayers go out to all affected, and for our brothers and sisters. Thank goodness the Missionaries and Branch are all fine.

Hopefully we will be able to talk to Brother Rashaud Ware soon, and get an update from him.

The Road Book Review

2010-01-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road was a easy read, by that I mean its not a 2000 page book with small type. It a book that could be read in a day if you wanted to. I took a few days, a hour here and there to finish. In that sense it is easy. That is the only sense. The story is dank, dark, morose and downright depressing. Literally.

The story takes place in a Post apocalyptic America, I gather it is somewhere is the south east. The skies are all grey and full of ash and soot. Trees are charred, animals are scarce. Paragraph upon paragraph describing bitter cold nights, dark skies and a charred landscape. Often I read a paragraph only to think to myself that the exact idea was already expressed a dozen times using different words.

But because the depressing, bland world McCarthy creates sets up the reader in a sort of funk, it also makes for engrossing reading when something does happen. And it does get intense. The story itself is rather small, with a narrative folowing a father and son as they are basically Hobo's traveling along a dangerous road, following a creased map, trying to get to the coast. They have to scrounge for food and shelter along the way, all the while trying to avoid humanity. It seems the surviving humans have taken to survival by any means necessary, including cannibalism.

During the books narrative you just know the pay off is going to be bad and heart wrenching, and to a point it is. I will not spoil the ending but I will say that if you hang into the end, McCarthy allows the sun to poke through the clouds for a moment or two.

Rating 3/5

Family Reunion: Time to Get HYPED UP!

2010-01-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

Ok I know, I know I have been extremely lax in my Blog updates! So sorry. We have been pretty busy this last year with everything! The kids tend to take up a lot of Time!Plus work etc., I know you all have been busy as well.

But we are getting excited for our trip! In Just about 6 months we will all be together, all at a beautiful Freshwater Lake in the high Sierras.

So Its time to get excited. By the way they announced our district Assembly last night. We have had our Assembly in late summer, August or September for the last 5 years or so, but go figure this year it is in JUNE! But it is a few weeks before our trip so we are good.

Here is a link to some info on some easy hikes in Yosemite that we can do. There will so be boat rentals available at the lake as the Cabins have a private dock just for guests. I will try to book a pontoon boat for a few days that way we do not have to worry about renting for a few hours only.

On to some housekeeping- Final payment is due on March 20, 2010. I know I failed to mention this, but I looked at the paperwork from the resort and I missed that part also. If you can send it great, if not I will put the balance on my credit card and we can square it up later.

Remember the cost per adult is $297.45. Minus what the $50 deposit if you have paid it. I will put up a revised spreadsheet soon.

Ok that is all for now!

Family Vacation Update 4.0

2009-08-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

Mission Accomplished!

Today We booked the Cabins at Millers landing. We got Cabins 12a and 12b, so they are right next to each other, they are newer cabins, and these ones have a washer and dryer, which the others do not. They also have a fire pit close by, for BBQ and marshmallow roasting!

I called to book as discussed, for Mid August. I was pretty crestfallen when I was told that August was booked and those dates were not available. I asked what was available, and was told that June was wide open.

So I booked the last week in June. So the new dates are:

Wednesday June 23rd - Sunday June 27th. Put it in your calendar.

Grandma and Grandpa decided not to go so we have two cabins.

So this is for real now! No turning back now. Cant wait.

Naomi Girl

2009-07-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

We had a great time today at Underwood farms in Moor park. Evan had a blast seeing all the tractors and animals, and we picked lots of raspberries( Evan ate most of the ones he picked). Alysa made some shortcake with the berries we picked. Very cool, and fun. Here are some great pictures I took today:

You cant touch Vader!

2009-07-17T23:06:00.000-07:00

MC Hammer Vader Busts a Move - Watch more Funny Videos

Family Vacation Version 3.0

2009-07-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys-

Final details here. We are starting to get deposit money coming in so that is great. I will be making reservations for July 13-18 2010.

Alysa made a great spreadsheet that has great details like over all cost and breakdown of cabin assignments. Click on the spreadsheet picture to see a full size version.

Of course the cabin assignments are not set in stone, we just put it together that way so we can figure out how much cabins we need. Speaking of, we realize that cost is always a issue, and we have tried to make this as economical as possible. We live about 5 hours away, so we will be driving up. However everyone else has to rent a car, and get plane tickets. That is part of the reason why we decided to plan this thing so far out in advance so we have time to budget and save money.

Originally we were thinking 3 big cabins. But after running the numbers we can get by with 2 big cabins and one small one. The plus side is that it has brought the cost down about $50 dollars a person.

So the total cost per adult is about $300. That is it for accommodations for 5 days.
We wanted to make sure we were not crammed in too tight, but at the same time not waste anyone's money. With the smaller cabin we have some extra space to spread out, and if some one else decides last minute they want to come, we can fit them in ( and lower the cost of everyone in the process.)

Alright guys - have a good night- and please sign up and respond to my blog in the comments section if you have any questions, or just to let me know you have read it : )

Family Trip Update 2.0

2009-07-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

I talked with Jay today about the trip! After doing a head count I came up with 19(13 adults and 6 kids.)

At this point we will need 3 cabins to keep everyone comfortable.

We also decided on a Mid July trip. Looking at the calendar July 13-18th 2010 would be a good date in the middle of the month. That is Wednesday through Sunday.

They take reservations 11 months out, so I will have to call in August to reserve the cabins. Hopefully we get this booked with no problems.

One thing to keep in mind is transportation from the airport to the Lake. The biggest city is Fresno which is about a hour away.

Click Here
For info on the closest airports. You will need to rent a car to get from the airport to the Lake. Maybe a group can rent a van? Just a thought.

Here is a link to some info on Yosemite Valley.

Ok, I'll post more info as I get it. Over and out.

Family Trip- 2010 Update

2009-06-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a while, but info is trickling in regarding how the trip is shaping up.

So far we have intelligence that the following parties are interested in going:

Espinosa Family
White Family
Scott Family
Sheila
Sharon

That is a party of 12.

In question?

Granny, Gramp
Jay's family, and Matt and Kim

That would add 8 more people.

Booking is done 11 months out. Since it seems like mid June would work for most, I have to call and book on July 15th. Let me know if mid June 2010 is good for everyone.

Based on who is going so far we will need 2 cabins. The Cabins are $300 per night. We are going to book a Wed - Sunday stay. So here is an example of the cost. Let's say in cabin 1 we have Espinosa Family & White Family, then it's $150 per night for each family. If in cabin 2 we have Scott Family, Sharon, & Sheila, then it will be $150 per night for James & Sonnie, but $75 per night for Sharon & Sheila each.

Obviously if Granny & Gramp decide to go, we can put them in cabin 2 and the cost for that cabin would go down. And if Jay & Diane, or Matt & Kim come as well, we can book a smaller 3rd cabin.

So here's the bottom line. We need to know who's going for sure, and if those going agree to mid June 2010. Post any comments or questions. But if you are in, please call me or post your confirmation, and please send your deposit by July 10 (that gives us all a month). Deposits for families are $100. Deposits for singles are $50.

Cant wait Guys, a year is a long time, but if we set this up we will something to look forward to next summer!

Family Reunion- Summer 2010

2009-03-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the info for the family renuion we are trying to put together. I will be posting info here and updating information as need be.

How to reply: Just sign up and post your comments, if you already have a Google account then you already know your pass and username. If not sign up and then post your comments, I will check in daily so we can keep info moving- of course you all can communicate to each other as well. And of course we can always call each other. But if we try and communicate on my blog, it will save a lot of time on the phone.

Ok now- the Place:

Bass Lake Ca,:

Its about 20 minutes south of Yosemite National Forest-
Late last year I stayed here

Millers Landing
Look at the Cabins page- We stayed in one of the premier cabins - 9b-
I figure depending on who is going we will need at least 2 of the big cabins. They can each sleep 8 no problem. The go for $300 a night- so if we split that between 2 families for each cabin then we will be at $150 a night for each family.

Millers Landing itslef is not really a resort, it has a dock with boats to rent, but not much else, I believe there is a general store, but we went off season and so they were closed. But there is a lot to do including Boating, Fishing, water skiing, hiking,swimming etc. Not to mention visiting Yosemite- Which is a must.

There is a resort called the Pines

I didnt stay there, but did visit and it was nice, it definatley has a lot more ammneities like a pool, etc, but is more expensive. We can look into it if you guys want too.

Speaking of ammenities, do not worry about grocries etc., there is a small town a few miles away with a grocerey store, resturaunts etc.

Ok, lastly ( for now) after speaking with Jay, and thinking it over we decided to go sometime in Summer 2010- May-July. Anytime when the kids are out of school.

Please share this post with Grandma,and Granndpa as well as Matt and Kim. I'll try and get in touch with you all and let you know about this post, so you can participate in the planning.

Please sign up and give me your input. As soon as we know how many are going we can start the reservation process!

Lastly- If you guys wish to make all of this private I can set it up that way- I would just need evreyones email adress and then it can be completly private - and only those who's email adress I have selected will be allowed to view and comment.

I dont think its neccessary, since there really will not be any private information like addresses and telephone numbers posted. But evreyone is different so if thats what evreyone wants I can set it up that way! Just let me know!

Looking forward to this!

R.I.P. 2008- Good Riddance -mostly

2009-01-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

Well with a heavy sigh and and a upturned smile I salute 2008.

2008 you were surly not kind to many of us. I need not speak of the economic turmoil the nation as a whole is going through, 2008 brought one of my nightmares to a reality.

In 2008 I received the dreaded Pink slip. Yes, my employer who is a Luxury home builder laid me off. Not too surprising considering the state of the economy, home building is in the can. My employer did take care of me, and I am grateful for that.

Unfortunately for me, a home building professional, and contractor, this is a bad time to be in construction. The lack of jobs is outstanding. City and state Jobs seem to be few and far between, and when available you cant shake the feeling that the position was already filled before it was posted.

I am concentrating on my Flooring business but keeping busy full time is hard.

2008 also brought the death of 2 dear friends, and several other associates. Of course my best four legged friend Maynard had to be put down.

Although much of 2008 is best left forgotten there were 2 bright spots. My brother got married to a wonderful person. And my beautiful daughter Naomi Juliette was born!

So with a swift kick in the pants I salute 2008, and look forward to a better, more successful 2009!

R.I.P. Maynard 11/97 - 10/28/08

2008-10-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Brophy Brothers Review

2008-08-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

A lot of hype and a lot of wait but I finally made it over to Brophy Bros. in the Ventura Harbor, ironically its right across from Andreas Seafood which has the Best Fish and Chips in the county( some would argue anywhere).
I have attempted a few times with to no avail. The wait has always been impossibly long. We even got seated once about 5 ft. from the bar, but couldn't take the noise.
The space is very nicely appointed, with great black and white local beach pictures about the walls.
We sat outside and the view from the deck is awesome, with views of Topa Topa Bluffs and the water. I had the cold combinations which had 2 oysters, 2 clams, Ceveiche, peel and eat shrimp, and crab.
I am not big on the Oysters and Clams, but when in Rome. With enough Tabasco, lemon salt and pepper you really cant tell what your eating.
The Ceviche was great, but they didn't serve me any crackers or chips which you usually pile the Ceviche on to. The Crab was Ok, and the Peel and Eat shrimp was peel and eat shrimp.
Maybe it was the company, maybe it was the 2 Fat Tire Ales I had, but I had a good time. Everyone one else was generally happy with what they had as well. By the way we avoided the wait by getting there at 5:30. We only had a 10 minute wait.

Micheal and Laurens Wedding

2008-08-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

Mark your calander. My little brother is marrying a very sweet girl named Lauren . The date is November 8, 2008. We have been having fun talking about all the arrangements and all the planning.

Congrats Guys!

http://www.brides.com/weddingwebsite/bigglesandmichael/

2008-07-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

http://dharmawantsyou.com/

Is everyone ready for the new Lost ARG( Alternate Reality Game)?

Looks like The Dharma Initiative wants us to be busy during the Lost Hiatus - and its a long one too, Lost probably will not be back until early 2009. I tried to register today but the site is crashing due to massive traffic.

I got through the pre qualification test, which was 17 physco analytical questions. Some ominous background music played while a lady speaking in Icelandic spoke a few lines. Translation was something about working with the DI will mean traveling far, and that your perception of time would be altered, but that any physical harm would be worth it for the greater cause. Creepy.

Let me know if anyone successfully registers and I will try later also.

The Salsa Festival 2008- Oxnard, Ca

2008-07-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Salsa Festival, Oxnard, Ca

Every year during the warm days of Summer, at the end of July, the City Of Oxnard hosts the Salsa Festival. Oxnard is better known for that other festival held in May known as the Strawberry Festival.

I have to say that The Salsa Festival in my opinion is the better Festival. It may not be as big or famous, but it sure seems to be getting that way. It’s still a small area, not nearly as big as College park, but that may be a good thing. Major props go to the event organizers. Crowded but not so much as to curse humanity and the Weather was perfect!

What do expect of a festival? I expect it to be well organized, and to have at least something to do with the name of the festival. How many of us have been to a “Festival” only to be paraded by numerous dubious vendors selling incense and garbage that has nothing to do with festival it claims to represent. (Cough* Citrus Festival in Santa Paula*cough)

Yes there is knick knackery of every type, but there is also Salsa, and lots of it! And there is Salsa Music, Live! And Salsa Dancing, ooh the Salsa festivities go on and on. Who can forget the crowd favorite Salsa Tent. For 5 bucks you get a bucket of chips and 10 tickets to try salsa from the vendors lining the tent. I actually did a shot of Habenero Salsa on a dare from one of the vendors! And yes I had the Obligatory roasted corn, and snow cone.

This is the festival of choice for me now. Now if I could just learn to Salsa I’d be in business.

Trek Website update

2008-07-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

FYI- on the link to the official Trek Movie Website( located under my Great Links) you will notice that they have added all the new posters for download. Also you can download any one as a icon for your messageboards.

Guess what one is my wallpaer now!

New Trek Poster at Comic Con

2008-07-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

Red Alert!

Paramount just released brand new posters that will be given out at Comic Con is San Diego. These look really good with Quinto's Spock looking awesome! I cannot wait!

Bana's charachter looks strange, with the tatoo's. He is supposed to be a Romulan, he looks like a Biker Romulan to me. Pine looks good as Kirk as well. We will see how his version of Kirk vibes. Zoe looks good as well. I wonder why they are showing Zoe instead of Urban. Very interesting. Here is the EW link:

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20213200_3,00.html
Enjoy-

Book Review- Death Comes For The Archbishop- Willa Cather

2008-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Book Review:

Death comes for the Archbishop-

Willa Cather

Father Valliant and Archbishop Jean Latour grew up together in a small French village. Both men as teenagers dedicated their lives to the Catholic Church, making a solemn vow to one another to dedicate their lives to the church. Foregoing the privileges of family and marriage, they sought a life of spirituality in service to their God. With this type of dedication it is really not surprising that they would volunteer for an assignment that would completely transform their lives and remove them from the comfort and filial comforts of their beloved France.

The American West and the Mission system established by the Spanish Fathers needed the benevolent oversight of Rome. The diocese founded by the Spaniards had been overtaken by Mexican fathers with loose renderings of the rites and lifestyle becoming of a men of the cloth.

Father Valliant and Bishop Latour were to establish a Roman presence in the New World, reforming and settling the west. The tale spun in Cathers epic is weaved from the lives of a real life Bishop from France, and experiences form other people of the period.

Reading Cather’s work is like stepping back in time. Her poetic style is soothing and mesmerizing. The work is told in a chronological fashion starting out in Rome then following the misadventures of these two men until both of their deaths. Throughout both of their experiences a sense of loneliness and isolation is revealed in both men’s lives. Valliant and Latour are two vastly different men in personality and style, yet their childhood bonds form an interdependent partnership.

The lives of the Indians and Mexican people are detailed in vivid language and sensitivity. You will not soon forget the imagery invoked by the snake worshiping rituals, or the run in with a serial killer in the mountains of New Mexico.

"He observed also that there was no longer any perspective in his memories...He was soon to have done with calendared time, and it had already ceased to count for him. He sat in the middle of his own consciousness; none of his former states of mind were lost or outgrown. They were all within reach of his hand, and all comprehensible.
Sometimes, when Magdalena or Bernard came in and asked him a question, it took him several seconds to bring himself back to the present. He could see they thought his mind was failing; but it was only extraordinarily active in some other part of the great picture of his life--some part of which they knew nothing.
When the occasion warranted he could return to the present. But there was not much present left; Father Joseph dead, the Olivares both dead, Kit Carson dead, only the minor characters of his life remained in the present time." pp 290-291
Death comes for the Archbishop is one of my favorite books due to its intimacy and the atmospheric scenery it invokes. It is majestic yet deeply personal, Grand, and small. It is about lives of purpose, and the sacrifices we all must make in order to fulfill spiritual endeavors and the loneliness that can sometimes necessitate.

Highly recommended.

5/5

Death by Sushi

2008-07-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday, January 5th, 2008, 7:45pm

The day and time that Sushi officially died for me. Its possible that this death may be reversed, but in a way, Sushi has been dying a little every day for me.

It started with a ill conceived Uni shooter. Needless to say I had food poisoning for a week. Thinking back to my history with Sushi, while doubled over in pain, alternating between sitting on the toilet and kneeling before it, it shouldn't come as surprise.

In the late 1990's Sushi became Hip, trendy and exotic again. As its popularity surged, sushi shops opened with reckless abandon, and you can bet I was at every single one of them. Roll after roll, bite after bite, Sapporo after Kirin, a little bit of me died each time.

Looking at the Sushi menu at Harbor Sushi, the fatal blow seemed eminent. $18.00 for a Jalapeno/cream cheese/shrimp/tuna conglomeration roll thingy. At what point did we look at something that cost maybe $2.00 to produce, and agree that's spending $18.00 was OK?

Maybe its the economy that's is making me grumpy, with the continuing cratering of the housing market, pocket's are not so line with cash as they used to. With a $90.00 trip to the gas station every week, how long will we be wiling to pay these prices? Cost of one roll, one Sapporo, and one entree of Shortribds and tempura:$54.00.

The service was just there, not great, it took a long time to get what we ordered, and even longer to get her to come back to check on us. And the food, was very average.

So Sushi is dead, I want it to be resuscitated, I really do. Someone please call an ambulance.....

The LA Zoo!

2008-07-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

They Got Reggie! For those who don’t know Reggie is a American Alligator that some guy bought as a pet, but Reggie got to big for him in so he dumped him in a lake. Then Reggie started terrorizing the locals until Animal Control caught him and there is now at the LA Zoo. Take a picture with a local celebrity.

The family went up from Ventura County on the July 4th weekend. Although warm, there was a decent breeze. It is kind of hard to complain about Zoos but unfortunately I have a few beefs. First is the Lay out is way wacky. You will be walking a country mile, which I know is what you do at a zoo, but the layout is weird. Signage I found confusing with lots of walking until you realize that you entered a service road, and have to turn back. The main walkway is uphill with roundabouts primarily on the left side.

Second beef is with Zoo food in general. Man the food was bad. Fried Garbage, a grey hot dog and lines out the door, need I say more. I know the Zoos make a lot of money off of concessions, and you have a captive audience so you could serve up a shoe on a plate and we would have to eat it. Please a little quality! The animals eat better than your guests, at least there food is fresh.

Ok, so that’s it. We basically had fun, and would return. The Gorillas were awesome, as were the giraffes, and Chimps. Next time we will pack a lunch. If you go, say Hi to Reggie for me.

Wood Ranch Review

2008-06-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

Wood Ranch-

Some will tell you that Wood Ranch is an upscale Claim Jumper. Some will tell you that it’s an overrated rib joint. I will tell you that it is delicious with a capital D.

I’ve been to Wood Ranch a bunch of time since its inception. It’s a local chain based in So Cal, (I believe Ventura County even). Remember when Black Angus was good? Maybe not, but Wood Ranch is like what Black Angus should be, or maybe was at one point in the distant past.

Wood Ranch is Upscale BBQ, served up real clean, and tasty. Décor, very woodsy, but not Kitschy, like Claim Jumper. Real clean lines, and modern, yet western. The food has always been great, and I have never had a bad meal. I had the Tri-Tip sandwich this week for lunch, and boy that was good. Sliced perfectly (not too thin, but not too thick) served on French roll, with BBQ sauce and a side of Fries.

Going to Wood ranch? Count me in.

Scenes from an Italian Resturaunt

2008-06-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

Armando’s Italian Restaurant-
641 S. Ventura Road
Oxnard, Ca

"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"

Me: Son what do you want to eat, beans and rice or Pasta?
Evan( 2 years old) : Pasta!

5 minutes later, after an hour playing in the park, we arrive at Armando’s. I alone will attempt to eat Spaghetti with a 2 year old at a sit down restaurant.

This would not even be possible if it were not for an extremely patient waitress. Thankfully she though to ask me if I wanted the sauce on the side- genius. The pasta with the sauce on the side allows for perfect sauce management- You do not- I repeat- Do Not want a bowl of pasta drowning in sauce with a 2 year old. I regulated the sauce into the pasta allowing enough flavors, without making a complete mess.

Amazingly the meal went pretty well with prompt service, Of course the table looked like Chernobyl, but we got through it. I had the Lasagna with meatballs on the side. Very hearty and homey. Classic flavors prepared in a family atmosphere.

At the end of the meal HAZ-MAT arrived to clean our table and the kid- we made it out in one piece!

Book Review: The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

2008-06-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

In the era of “green “ living, Timothy Egans’s depression era epic “The Worst Hard Time” seems eerily relative. Who doesn’t recall the opening moments of Steinbeck’s screen adaptation of “Grapes of Wrath”? A barren wasteland is depicted with rolling clouds blackening the sky, Bored out barns and weathered fences paint a bleak landscape in which Steinbeck’s characters head west.

We have all heard of the Dust Bowl era of the 1930’s but most of are unaware of the cause of the disaster. Most assumed this was a natural occurrence, however Egan chronicles the heartbreaking circumstances, which caused the earth to turn on its stewards.

What is most maddening is the fact that the pain and suffering could have been avoided. Ignorance, Hubris and greed were the plainspeople’s undoing. Not to detail the exact circumstance but to give you an idea, imagine the following:

Flat land covered by verdant native grasses, tilled up and destroyed. Underneath only the rich soil remain. Then after over harvesting the soil becomes unproductive. A drought then causes the soil to dry up, and become a fine dust. Then, as the winds drive across the plains, the exposed soil, no longer held in place by the native grass, becomes airborne and deadly. This scenario was repeated over millions of miles of Plains Land in the Midwest.

Egan tells in great detail how the above scenario came to pass. He follows several families, and details their struggle, including Russian Germans, sold on a dream. Egans style is a little choppy and abrupt, and I found myself stopping mid paragraph, due to the uneven flow of the narrative. Many sentences are short and simple. While this is fine in some instances I found the style to be a bit jarring.

However I did learn quite a bit, and gained an appreciation for the hardworking families that endured the painful period in American History. The lessons are grave, and poignant. While I remain skeptical as to the cause of Global Warming, this is a documented instance where man’s ignorance provided untold suffering to themselves and the environment. Caring for Gods Creation should be something all of us strive to be conscious of, and “The Worst Hard Time” provides the perfect motivation.

3 out of 5

Nordhoff Ridge Road- Ojai Valley, Ca

2008-05-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Ventura County has few a few Landmarks. Two Trees, the San BuenaVentura Mission and the Ventura Pier to name a few. One the most distinguished is the looming mountain range visible from all points north of the Grade, known as the Topa Topa Bluffs.

The granite cliffs mark pronounced diagonal etches across the mountains face. Often when one thinks of going to the mountains, these are the mountains one had in mind. Usually when venturing into the Los Padres National Forest the highest Mecca available is Reyes Peak atop Pine Mountain road, and that is where we often end up. Indeed Reyes Peak is a sight to behold, and arguably one of the best campsites in the tri counties.

But to truly reach “those mountains” the Topa Topa Bluffs, you have to do your homework. You cannot simply drive up the “33” and get there like you can with Reyes Peak. Access is available by permit only, through the Ojai Ranger station. The road to the bluffs is OHV access only; therefore a locked gate bars access from the general public. The ranger district only allows 15 vehicles up per day.

Unbelievably, after roaming these mountains for decades, I had never been to the Bluffs. But a year ago, I did some research and found the way to get to the Bluffs. Once I had my permit, and access code, I headed into the forest. Arriving at the gate, I felt like a kid with a backstage pass to Disneyland. As I unlocked the gate, headed thru and locked from behind, I felt the puzzled stares from other less fortunate campers. They didn’t have access! Huahhhh…Hauuhhhh! Only I did, I alone had domain over this sacred land! Sorry, back to reality.

I engaged four wheel drive, and proceeded to tear up the road. There are miles and miles of off road travel to be enjoyed, steep ascents, and uneven road abound. Off the main road it splits to the left or right. To the right the road leads to a old fire watchtower. Convivebly you could camp here, but there is one site with a fire ring and bench a few miles before you get to the tower. Taking the road to the left your journey hugs the mountain edge then dips into the valley for unspoiled views of Pierda Blancas, and Rose Valley Lake. Once on the mountain edge the road ends at a trail head that will take you directly to the Topa Topa Bluffs. A mile before the road ends there is the one singular campsite. From the site, you have clear views of the Oxnard Plain, the Ojai Valley, and the Bluffs themselves, so close you can make out the diagonal ruts visible form the city.

On May 23rd 2008 I visited the Bluffs for the second time. The weather did not cooperate and while we did stay the night, the temperature stayed at an icy 36f degree. Visibility was only 15-20 feet, so we did not get the views I have loved. I cannot wait to return. The solitude of the place inspires meditation, with only 2 campsites off the entire road, you can be assured privacy and silence. Just you and the bluffs.

Lost 4.11- Cabin Fever

2008-05-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

Cabin Fever-

Another stellar episode, I simply cannot give enough praise to the writers. The episode opens with a young Emily Locke, circa 1950 giving birth to one John Locke. Coincidently Emily is also the name of Ben’s mother.

The father is not revealed, but we do learn that he is 10 years older than Emily. Richard Alpert again rears his head as sort of a puppet master, trying to find out if a young John Locke is special. He appears at the hospital and then about 6 years later at his home in order to test John’s abilities. John fails and Alpert leaves disappointed.

Flash forward to John’s high school years we see that Alpert attempts to recruit John to Mittelos( anagram for LOST TIME) . John refuses to go.

In another flashback, John, post breaking his back, is visited by Matthew Abaddon, guised as an orderly. Abaddon strongly suggest that John goes to Australia for a Walkabout.

We see from theses flashbacks is that Alpert has attempted to manipulate John almost from his birth. We have to wonder why? Could the answer be related to finding the identity of John’s father?

Alpert’s influence was also alluded to when Locke told Hurley that Ben had killed the Dharma Initiative, which Ben responded that it wasn’t his idea. From “The man behind the curtain” we know that Richard Alpert was the instigator in the plot, and that Ben really was only responsible for his father’s death.

On the Island Ben, Hurley and Locke continue their quest to find the cabin, and through a interesting dream, Locke finds his way. During several exchanges between Ben and Locke it becomes apparent that Ben is a broken man. He does not feel compelled by the Island anymore and has given himself over to John for guidance.

When John finds the Cabin, Jacob is not to be found, but Christian Sheppard and his daughter Claire are waiting for him. Confused, John stammers a bit, and then finally asks the important question: How can I save the Island? The answer is quite simply: Move the Island.

On the boat Keamy”s brutality comes to the surface. Sayid with the help of the captain heads back to the Island in an inflatable. You know that Kemay is in for a slaughter when he gets back to the Island. I can’t wait for that as he is really unpleasant and deserves some Island justice.

Lost- The Shape of Thing to Come

2008-04-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

Wow. Lost usually manages to leave the viewer wanting more, but this episode just left me stunned and amazed.

So much was revealed. While staying mostly in Island and an awesome FF with Ben and Sayid, the episode brought the viewer back to the conflicts on Island.

We finally learn the reason Sayid and Ben are working together in the future. It makes perfect sense, as they both have had the person the love the most taken from them by agents of Charles Widmore. When Ben says "This is My War", he knows Sayid will join him in his war with Widmore.

Ben became more of an antihero, yet heroic in his own right. He is human after all and truly loved his daughter. He must have believed that his daughter would not have been killed in order to put her in that position.

The Raid on the Dharma compound was the most action packed sequence this season. The release of the Smoke Monster was unexpected and breathtaking.

I also liked the fact that Jack is wising up to the games Faraday is playing.

Who else thought that Claire was going to die this episode? Thus explaining why Kate has Aaron in the future.

Mysteries-

Why was Ben so dirty after releasing the Smoke Monster?
Why is Hurley needed to find Jacob.
How did Ben transport to the Sahara? His facial expressions and him arriving on his back indicate some sort of teleportation, and not just time travel but physical traveling.
What are the “Rules” that Ben speaks of Widmore changing.
What is the relationship between Ben and Widmore.
What happened to the freighter doctor?

Easily 5/5

Get Shorty...Sales

2008-04-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

Being a little unsure as to how short sales work out for buyers, I started a converstaion on Zillow Discussions here:

http://www.zillow.com/forum/site/ViewThread.htm?tid=28964

There are some insightful replies......

Lost Returns

2008-04-24T15:28:00.001-07:00

Ok, its been a heck of a long month! But my fellow Losties, Lost returns tonight at a new time slot 10pm. Get your TIVO set, and your popcorn, and get ready to get Lost again.

Where did we leave off last? Oh Yeah, Ben's Daughter and Carl are dead(?), Michael is on the boat ready for some sabotage, and Sayid and Desmond have just turned him in to captain. Should be Fun-

I'll have a review up shortly afterwards....

Tom Cruise In Star Trek?

2008-04-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

In a interview with E Online Zacherey Quinto who plays a young Spock, and Leonard Nimoy are interviewed. The interviwer mentions that Tom Cruise was seen on set, and then asks point blank: "Is Tom Cruise in the movie?"

Zacherey and Leonord just look at each other rather uncomfortably and then Leonard says "Next question".

Sure sounds to me like Tom Cruise is in the film. Not a big deal for me, but will be a nice cameo I'm sure. Check the link below and watch the video at the bottom, and make your own call. I say he's in.

http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/17/quinto-and-nimoy-talk-old-school-and-new-trek/#more-1866

Book Review: Mayflower

2008-04-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

Nathaniel Philbrick is my favorite nonfiction writer. I have read every book of his including the gripping"In the Heart of the Sea" and "Sea of Glory". All of his subjects tend to be nautical related, however in his latest work" Mayflower" he takes a more land based approach.

If you think you have an idea of how America began, and the story of the first colonies, be prepared to cast aside old assumptions. The Story begins by chronicling the motivations for leaving Europe in the first place. Why would a small group of English exiles living in Holland venture to a unknown world?

Once the exiles land in what is today New England the gripping tale unfolds with drama akin to James Feinmore Coopers" The Last of the Mohichans". Philbrick manages to capture the grime and foreboding of the time, and creates a taut sense of uneasiness throughout. All along the reader will find themselves wishing for the better part of human nature to prevail, only to be dissapointed and suprised.

The Tale takes a multi generational approach that covers over a century, but at the end feels connected to the charachters introduced at the onset. In conclusion I would like to quote a few paragraphs from the last chapter as I think they sum up the whole sad affair nicley:

"By forcing the English to improvise, the Indians prevented Plymouth Colony from ossifying into a monolithic cult of religious extremeisim. For their part, the Indians were profoundly influenced by the English and quickly created a anew and dynamic culture full of Native and Western influences. For a nation that has come to recognize that one of its greatest strengths is its diversity, the first fifty years of Plymouth Colony stand as a model of what America might have been from the Beggining."

"By the midpoint of the seventeenth century, however, the attitudes of many of the Indians and English had begun to change. With only a fraction of their original homeland remaining , more and more young Pokanokets claimed it was time to rid themsleves of the English. The pilgrims children, on the other hand, coveted what territory the Pokanokets still possessed and were already anticipating the day when the Indians had, through the continued efforts of Disease and poverty , ceased to exist. Both sides had begun to envision a future that did not include the other."

4/5

Time Travel in Lost

2008-04-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

We know that Time Travel is in Play there is no doubt about it. The show has since day one used time Travel via flashbacks-then at the end of season 2 Desmond starts flashing forward in time, and starts seeing glimpses of the future.

Beggining with the end of season 3 Flash forwards and in season 4 we have seen a combination of F/F and F/B's. What is interseting is that Desomond clearly has the ability to travel back and forward in time, but he is not in control of his time travel. Something or someone is triggering his jumps.

Another observation is that Time Travel is not mechanical, but mental, and within ones mind.

Jacob or Ben in Control?

2008-03-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

What do we know?

1.We know that Jacob told Locke " Help Me"

2.This caused Ben to try to Kill Locke- indicating that Ben felt threatened that Locke had communicate with Jacob.

3. An appiartion of Walt appeared to Locke and siad"Get up John, you have work to do".

However since then, Ben seems very much in control, and Locke seems to have lost his purpose. He cant find Jacobs cabin again. He dosent know what to do with the Losties in his group. Ben is gaining the upper hand in the camp.Meanwhile, Ben has a Man on the Boat, has sent a signal to Juliet to stop Fararday from posioning the Island, and has succeded in killing/wounding Danille and Karl.

Whatever John had, he seems to have lost and power is slowly shifting back to Ben.

Meet Kevin Johnson

2008-03-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a excellent installment, after being upset by the mind games of Ji Yeon, this episode rocked. SO rather than recap the entire episode I'll touch on what we learned:

1. Michael is not in a alternate reality, he is fully aware and exists in the same timeline as when he left.
2. Michael told Walt what he did ( killed Libby and Anna Lucia) and now is estranged from him.
3. The Island will not allow Michale to Kill himself ( this falls in line/confirms with some of the Predestination theories, Michael cannot choose his own fate).
4. Prior to Tom's death he recruits Michael to go covert and destroy the boat.
5. We got confirmation that Widmore is funding the boat, but also got contrary information regarding who planted the fake 815. The captain claimed Ben set it up, Tom says Widmore did.
6. Confirmation that indeed Widmore's group intends to kill the Islands population.
7. Last but most important, Tom is a Bear! Yikes! We didn't need to see that!

Mysteries:

1. If Widmore's group were sent to kill the Island population( confirmed also by Miles) why did Farrady disarm the gas device? Or did he?
2. Why cant Michale kill himself, course correction of time? Micheal has to complete his mission on the boat or X does not happen, if X does not happen the a massive disruption in time does not allow Michale to be born, or Walt or something drastically changes?
3. Who shot Roussoue? Who Shot Carl? Is this Ben's doing or are the others turning on Ben?
4. So far we have only seen one Helicopter, how did Naomi get to the Island? We saw her Helicopter crash into the ocean last season. 2 Helicopters?
5. Why is Tom Gay? Yikes!

Who Is supplying the Island?

2008-03-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

Since the Aireal Food drop we saw at the end of Season 2, we have learned a bit about approaches by air.Naomi's Helicopter Crashed when she tried to approach( were there 2 Helicopetrs on the boat?)Farraday and Co. had great difficulty getting to this Island by Helipcopter, and leaving seemed equally as difficult.So whoever did the food drop must be comfortable approaching the Island by Air, and we assume this is not the first food drop. We know Widmore is funding the Boaties, so they would not be the ones supplying the Island. Who's left? Dharma/Hanso. Well Dharma was purged on Island, either off Island knows about this yet are still supplying the Island, or they do not know due to Time displacement and still think things are Ok.

Jin Rummey

2008-03-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

So after visiting a few other sites I have some clarifications on Jin- From what evreyone is telling me Jin was in a Flashback, while Sun was in a FF.

So Jin was seeing someone completley diffrent in the Hospital. Basically the whole Jin FB was a boondoggle to mess with the viewer. I dont like that very much, and I do not think iy was necessary. I would like to find a screencap with a view from Jin's point of view into the Nursing room.

2008-03-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, this is N8, a guest blogger. Now first off I'd like to say that Benny is a good friend of mine! We go back a very long time. That being said, I disagree with his review of L & L Hawaiian BBQ.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/l-and-l-hawaiian-barbecue-ventura#hrid:1MHXIHfch0iq_lUlfAjeIg

His review was on maybe one or two items on the menu. He did not try my favorite item on the menu, the Loco Moco. Rice, hamburger patty, fried egg, gravy, I love it. He didn't try the Spam Musubi either. The rice is exactly how it should be, nice and sticky Japanese style! I was surprised that he didn't like the macaroni salad!

As regards his comments about the meals being on Styrofoam plates, lets face it, L and L is not a 5 star restaurant. If you want fancy plates, try the yellow house or someplace like that. L and L is island plate food brudda. We Hawaiians don't feel eat on no fancy plates. We eat the kind food that's the grind, shaka brudda!!! So I think you should try L and L, and maybe he should give it another try too! So until later, mahalo nui loa, and ALOHA!!!!

Michael's Return

2008-03-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Following up on my previous post, it seems Michael's sudden appearance and manner of, lend credence to the line of thought posted previously.

When Michale left the Island he entered his own life in a different timeline, one where he ends up working on this boat. Who could arrange for this? Benjamin Linus of course. Why? We don't know yet, but something about leaving the Island erased Jin's and now Michael's memory. I almost forgot about Desmond, once he left the Island he entered a timeline in the past, before he went to the Island, but he was not conscience of the memory carried over from the future.

Lost in Lost

2008-03-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

Since Episode 1. I have been a Lost addict. There may have been some slight wavering in the middle of Season 3, but it did not last long.

Sometime between the hiatus between Season 3 and Season 4, I read the following Theory:

http://darkufo.blogspot.com/2007/06/vozzek69s-theory-of-everything.html

Please take the time to read this if you have not already. Now several episodes into Season 4 it seems this theory is playing out. Not all of the theory will bear out, but the basic concept will.

In a Nut Shell, the Island is a Nexus of Time, a stable island sitting in a sea of intersecting time lines.

Imagine a Circle. In the middle on the circle is stable platform. The circle rotates around this platform, while the platform remains fixed. If you step onto the platform from the circle while it is spinning, you will find yourself stabilized. Leaving the platform will place you back on the circle, only in a different Place on the circle, not the same place as when you started.

The island is like that fixed platform among many circling timeliness. Anyone who steps onto the Island leaves their existing timeline. They exist while on the Island in a time Limbo. Is time moving forward outside of the Island? Yes. But time on the Island is not Constant, sometimes its slow, sometimes its fast.

What happens when one leaves the Island? The enter their life only in a different TIMELINE of their life. Maybe they can jump into a timeline very similar to their own, but slightly different. Maybe Not.

Take last nights Episode of Lost : Ji Yeon

http://lostpedia.com/wiki/Ji_Yeon

Sun and Jin, leave the Island apparently, however Jin enters in a different timeline, one where he never married Sun, one where he still works for Paik Automotive though.

Sun stays in her own timeline because she has a "Constant" Her unborn daughter. Jin and Sun obviously conceived while on Island, or before the crash, it docent matter really. Jin is now alone off Island in his own timeline, one different, yet similar.

Many Questions to be answered to be sure.......