tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111079532024-03-06T23:03:42.467-08:00OCBoyz BlogEverything you want in a blog and less.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.comBlogger477125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-41140781109732397862016-01-11T23:41:00.000-08:002016-01-11T23:41:01.039-08:00A night in 1990 with David BowieMay 28, 1990. My best friend at the time Ron and I made the 40-mile drive to the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. We were there to see the one and only David Bowie.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/24248372871/in/dateposted-public/" title="20160111_222455"><img alt="20160111_222455" height="360" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1504/24248372871_cc1ddec9fb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>It was the Sound + Vision tour, where he famously said he was retiring his old catalogue. It would be the last tour where people would see him perform his classic hits.<br />
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We didn’t have tickets. Just cash in our pockets. As was common at the time, we bought two tickets from people who had extras to sell. Lawn seats. $15 a piece. The price probably seemed a lot at the time for 21-year-old James. Today it sounds like the bargain of the century.<br />
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We made our way to the lawn area, spying for empty seats in the more expensive seating areas. We walked by legendary music promoter Bill Graham who was talking with someone.<br />
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A short while later, the lights went down and Bowie appeared. He was small, illuminated on a dark stage, behind a transparent screen, upon which they were projecting imagery. He was wearing a simple black suit, white shirt and was playing an acoustic guitar. The song was <i>Space Oddity</i>.<br />
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That was our chance. We slipped into two empty box seats off to the side. Miraculously, the people who were supposed to sit there never showed up. At one point I felt a tap on my shoulder. Fearing it was an usher ready to send us back to the lawn, I turned around. It was a cocktail waitress asking if we wanted a drink.<br />
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As I commonly did at the time, I had a small notebook and pen with me so I can jot down the set list. From <i>Space Oddity</i>, he went right into another classic guitar song: <i>Changes</i>. It was spectacular.<br />
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He put down the guitar and then broke into the high-energy <i>TVC 15</i>. From there he went through an amazing string of songs, each one a gem. <i>Rebel Rebel</i>. <i>Ashes to Ashes</i>. <i>Fashion</i>. <i>Life on Mars</i>.<br />
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Next up: One of the ‘80s hits I was quite familiar with: <i>Blue Jean</i>. Then he surprisingly jumped right in to one of his top 2 1980s hits: <i>Let’s Dance</i>.<br />
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Now, I know there are many David Bowie fans who discount his ‘80s period. I don’t because that’s what opened the door for me to David Bowie. Yes, it was <i>Let’s Dance</i>, <i>Modern Love</i> and <i>China Girl</i> that got me hooked initially. But once I was hooked, I began to explore more of his earlier music and grew to love it too.<br />
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He closed the set with <i>Pretty Pink Rose</i> and <i>Stay</i>, before the show stopped for a surprising intermission.<br />
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When Bowie came out again, he was wearing the same pants, no jacket, a frillier white shirt and more make-up. I loved watching him. In fact, twice during the show, during some extended guitar solos, I was able to see him sitting off to the side. He smoked a cigarette, drank something and swayed to the music before rejoining the band.<br />
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He opened the second set with <i>Sound + Vision</i>, then went right into a string of even more seminal hits: <i>Ziggy Stardust</i>, <i>China Girl</i>, <i>Station to Station</i>, <i>Young Americans</i> and <i>Suffragette City</i>.<br />
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By the time he started singing <i>Fame</i>, the audience had gone crazy. He closed his second set with <i>Heroes</i>. I have no words for what I felt at that moment. Just so lucky to be there.<br />
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At that point he disappeared. The audience simply wasn’t having it. There would be more. MUST be more.<br />
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He didn’t disappoint, coming out for an extended encore that consisted of <i>Panic in Detroit</i>, <i>Jean Genie</i>, and finally, <i>Modern Love</i>. The night was magical.<br />
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It wouldn’t be the last time I saw Bowie. It would happen again October 28, 1995 at the Great Western Forum in L.A. — a double billing with Nine Inch Nails. But it was that night in 1990 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre that I’ll remember most.<br />
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Rest in peace David Bowie. I won’t forget you.<br />
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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-25134743172621179022013-12-31T16:24:00.004-08:002013-12-31T16:29:15.377-08:00James' New Mazda CX-5So, I bought a new car! A 2014 Mazda CX-5 — only the second new car I've purchased in my life (the last time was almost nine years ago <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2005/02/james-new-car.html" target="_blank">when I bought my 2005 Saab 9-3</a>). After 140,000+ miles, my poor 9-3 (named Birgitta) had seen her share of life, and she was starting to cost too much to maintain. And hence began the new car search.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/11676793223/" title="Untitled"><img alt="We took Eydie on her maiden voyage to Arizona. (12/23/2013)" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/11676793223_7cd71cfd35.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/11676793223/">We took Eydie on her maiden voyage to Arizona. (12/23/2013)</a></span></div>
Why a Mazda CX-5? Well, earlier this year, when Tim traded in his 2002 GMC Envoy SUV for his much smaller 2013 Mercedes E350 coupe, we realized we needed more storage capacity than our two small cars could handle. I wasn't really looking for a big SUV, so I ended up looking into something smaller: crossovers.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/11676525995/" title="Untitled"><img alt="It was only the second time in my life I drove a new car off the lot. (12/20/2013)" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/11676525995_1a0a32a9e4.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/11676525995/">It was only the second time in my life I drove a new car off the lot. (12/20/2013)</a></span></div>
I considered many crossover models. In addition to the Mazda CX-5, I test drove the Chevy Equinox, Nissan Rogue, Buick Encore, Honda CRV, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Ford Escape (and boy, we met quite a few horrible sales people in the process ... go figure). I picked my top three (Equinox, Escape, CX-5), considered the price and features on all of them, and after my analysis, the road seemed to point directly to the CX-5. It was my Christmas gift to myself!
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/11676898724/" title="Untitled"><img alt="It was an exciting moment when I got the key to my new CX-5. (12/20/2013)" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3729/11676898724_90c9808124.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/11676898724/">It was an exciting moment when I got the key to my new CX-5. (12/20/2013)</a></span></div>
I ended up selecting the color meteor gray (perfect for a space geek like me). I decided to name my new car Eydie, after the late great Eydie Gorme, an amazing vocalist who we lost earlier this year. So the next time you see a meteor gray CX-5 zipping by, take a look at the driver. It may be me! :)Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-38874862268176795932012-09-05T23:28:00.000-07:002012-09-06T10:09:46.105-07:00Andy Warhol-Inspired Pop Art and Lunch, $3<br />
Call me crazy, but I'm a sucker for limited-edition marketing promos. There was <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2007/07/have-cuke-and-smile.html" target="_blank">Pepsi Ice Cucumber</a> soda. The <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2008/06/just-what-dr-seuss-ordered.html" target="_blank">IHOP Horton Hears a Who breakfasts</a>. The <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2007/07/one-chutney-squishee-please.html" target="_blank">7-11 Simpsons-inspired Kwik-E-Mart</a> rebranding. So when I heard the <a href="http://www.campbellsoup.com/" target="_blank">Campbell Soup Company</a> was releasing four Andy Warhol-inspired tomato soup cans, I was ready to spoon it up! (Literally).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/7941914602/" title="I finally got the Andy Warhol-inspired Campbell's Soup cans.(09/05/2012)"><img alt="I finally got the Andy Warhol-inspired Campbell's Soup cans.(09/05/2012)" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/7941914602_ccb155ed04.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/7941914602/">I finally got the Andy Warhol-inspired Campbell's Soup cans.(09/05/2012)</a></span><br />
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These cans celebrate the 50th anniversary of Andy Warhol's seminal pop art display, <i><a href="http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=79809" target="_blank">32 Campbell's Soup Cans</a></i>. The can designs are licensed by <a href="http://www.warholfoundation.org/" target="_blank">The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts</a> and are sold exclusively at Target for 75 cents each. So for a whopping investment of $3, you can get cool Andy Warhol art (and lunch).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/7941913302/" title="Pop art has never been so affordable! (09/04/2012)"><img alt="Pop art has never been so affordable! (09/04/2012)" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/7941913302_680c110054.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/7941913302/">Pop art has never been so affordable! (09/04/2012)</a></span></div>
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I had to canvas three local Target stores to find them, but I finally did. And that's M'm! M'm! Good!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-28020605932053717022011-09-11T22:57:00.000-07:002011-09-11T23:01:03.969-07:00The Pentagon 9/11 MemorialI love Washington DC. Being a history nut, I always enjoy visiting historical sites and monuments. But on my last trip, there was one memorial I wish wasn't needed at all: The Pentagon Memorial honoring the 184 people who lost their lives on 9/11.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5194379522/" title="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)"><img alt="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5194379522_781e41ccb7.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5194379522/">The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)</a></span></div>We finally got to see it last October. It was our last day of our trip and it was raining pretty heavily. But I didn't even consider skipping it. It's something we needed to see.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5193785137/" title="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)"><img alt="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5193785137_bdb10fcbf7.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5193785137/">The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)</a></span></div>It's surprisingly tranquil there considering that it's set against the epicenter of our nation's military. And even though there are roads and freeways nearby, you don't seem to hear anything else other than your feet walking on the gravel.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5193787625/" title="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)"><img alt="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5193787625_af3b771446.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5193787625/">The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)</a></span></div>Each bench represents one of the victims. If the bench is facing towards the Pentagon, it represents one of the victims on the plane. If the bench faces outward from the Pentagon, it represents one of the victims on the ground.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5193788433/" title="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)"><img alt="The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5193788433_0d80608162.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5193788433/">The Pentagon Memorial. (10/14/10)</a></span></div>I think the saddest benches were those dedicated to Zoe and Dana Falkenberg, ages 9 and 3 respectively. The Falkenberg sisters were among the youngest of the victims, having been on the plane with their mom and dad.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5194388590/" title="The bench dedicated to Dana Falkenberg, age 3. (10/14/10)"><img alt="The bench dedicated to Dana Falkenberg, age 3. (10/14/10)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5194388590_5d01468580.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5194388590/">The bench dedicated to Dana Falkenberg, age 3. (10/14/10)</a></span></div>May all the victims rest in peace.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-17419539539041587142011-09-11T21:52:00.000-07:002011-09-11T21:52:01.992-07:00Remembering 9/11/01I'll never forget that morning. Like any other work day, my alarm went off to news radio. I quickly realized it was no ordinary work day when I heard the somber announcement that one of the World Trade Center towers had collapsed after a terrorist attack. It couldn't be true, so we dashed off to the living room to see the horrifying reality before our very eyes. A few moments later, tower #2 went down.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6139330270/" title="New Jersey - 06-19960001"><img alt="James and the World Trade Center. (1996)" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6139330270_31b08c67fc.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6139330270/">James and the World Trade Center. (1996)</a></span></div>Like everyone else that day, I was shocked. I was horrified. I was scared. Hearing that the attackers also crashed a plane into the Pentagon, it made me wonder, what targets on the west coast were going to be hit? Was L.A. to be targeted as well? Surely we wouldn't escape this tragedy. In the end, we all felt the loss.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6139330490/" title="New Jersey - 06-19960002"><img alt="James near the World Trade Center. (1996)" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6139330490_05b3d630dc.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6139330490/">James near the World Trade Center. (1996)</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">More than anything, the biggest loss that day was the nearly 3,000 people that died in the World Trade Center, the four planes and the Pentagon. But when I came across these old slides of a visit to New Jersey in 1996, it made me realize how much I miss seeing the World Trade Center. May it always be remembered.</span></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-23519085219279963762011-08-07T21:18:00.000-07:002011-08-07T21:18:07.553-07:00I Finally Reached Six DigitsI finally reached six digits! No, I'm not talking about the six-figure number most working stiffs hope to reach. In this case, I'm talking about my car's odometer. Yes, after six-and-a-half years of dedicated service, my 2005 Saab 9-3 ("Birgitta") has officially reached 100,000 miles.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6020837324/" title="The last time my odometer displays five digits. (08/06/2011)"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/6020837324_8af0178b7b.jpg" alt="The last time my odometer displays five digits. (08/06/2011)" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6020837324/">The last time my odometer displays five digits. (08/06/2011)</a></span></div><br />
Of course it's not as exciting as it was in the old days of analog odometers, when you would see all five of the wheels turn over at once. But still, it's something worth taking a picture of and blogging about (and yes, I stopped the car to take the pictures). <br />
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It's only the second time I've personally witnessed a six-figure arrival on my car. The first car I've had that reached that milestone was my first car, the 1981 Honda Civic. But as luck would have it, I inadvertently loaned it to a friend the day it crossed over. I was heartbroken. When my 1989 Plymouth Reliant crossed over, however, I made sure I saw it. <br />
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<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6020284161/" title="My new six-digit odometer reading. (08/06/2011)"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/6020284161_cee0c099fd.jpg" alt="My new six-digit odometer reading. (08/06/2011)" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/6020284161/">My new six-digit odometer reading. (08/06/2011)</a></span></div><br />
This time it's different though. Why? Because this was the first car I bought brand new — I drove it off the lot myself. So these 100,000 miles were mostly driven by me. Which is why I've not let anyone else drive my car these past couple of days. So here's to you Birgitta for 100,000 great miles, with many more to come!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-7361494562754174742011-04-12T23:34:00.000-07:002011-04-12T23:58:00.042-07:00Space Shuttle Endeavour to Retire in Southern CaliforniaToday NASA announced the museums that were selected as recipients of the three operating space shuttles in its fleet. And I'm happy to report that the Space Shuttle Endeavour is slated to have a permanent home right here in Southern California.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5077462332/" title="James and the Space Shuttle Enterprise. (10/12/2010)"><img alt="James and the Space Shuttle Enterprise. (10/12/2010)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/5077462332_bfdf824fa3.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5077462332/">James and the Space Shuttle Enterprise. (10/12/2010)</a></span></div><br />
The announcement was made on the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle program's first flight (the Columbia, which was destroyed during re-entry in 2003) and the 50th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight (Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's famous 1961 mission). More than 20 locations around the country submitted bids to give a home to one of the retired shuttles.<br />
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The Endeavour, which was awarded to Los Angeles' California Science Center, has been used on 24 missions. It has orbited the earth 4,429 times and traveled 103,149,636 miles. It will take its final flight on April 29 (when it will be flown by Mark Kelly, husband of Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who was shot and critically wounded outside of a grocery store last January).<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5077462216/" title="Tim and the Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Smithsonian. (10/12/2010)"><img alt="Tim and the Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Smithsonian. (10/12/2010)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/5077462216_bfc46f14c3.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5077462216/">Tim and the Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Smithsonian. (10/12/2010)</a></span></div><br />
Endeavour's return to Southern California is a homecoming, since all five space shuttle orbiters were fabricated in Downey, and assembled in Palmdale. And all shuttles were tested at Edwards Air Force Base just outside Palmdale, where 53 of NASA's 133 shuttle missions landed. I'm just glad there's one close enough to visit easily.<br />
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As for the others, the Atlantis, which will fly the last planned shuttle mission in June, will be displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. And the Discovery, which flew its final mission last month, will be displayed at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantily, Virginia, which Tim and I visited when we were in Washington last October.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5076867967/" title="The Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Smithsonian. (10/12/2010)"><img alt="The Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Smithsonian. (10/12/2010)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/5076867967_8fa0cf60bf.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5076867967/">The Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Smithsonian. (10/12/2010)</a></span></div><br />
While there, we saw the Space Shuttle Enterprise, a full-scale test vehicle used for flights in the atmosphere (it was not equipped with a propulsion system, and therefore not ready for spaceflight). Although Enterprise never flew in space, it introduced a new era in space transportation and was the flagship for a fleet of reusable shuttles.<br />
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To make room for the Discovery, NASA will be moving the Enterprise test vehicle to the Intrepid museum in New York. But I'm glad I got to see it at the Smithsonian last year before it makes its move to its final home. Yay for California for getting a shuttle!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-8039387167989529832011-03-29T22:55:00.000-07:002011-03-29T22:55:47.695-07:00Got a Wartime Nickel from a Vending MachineI got a 1944 wartime nickel as change from the soda machine today. You can tell by the tarnished color and the large D over Monticello.<br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5573005685/" title="I got this 1944 wartime nickel from a vending machine today. (03/29/2011)"><img alt="I got this 1944 wartime nickel from a vending machine today. (03/29/2011)" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/5573005685_a6184e9bd2.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5573005685/">I got this 1944 wartime nickel from a vending machine today. (03/29/2011)</a></span></div>Unlike other Jefferson nickels, which are made up of 75% copper and 25% nickel, these nickels don't actually have any nickel in them. Wartime nickels were instead made up of 56% copper, 9 % manganese, and 35% silver. <br />
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At today's silver price of $37.02 an ounce, I calculated this nickel's value to be worth $2.09 on silver value alone. It's like I got paid to drink a Diet Dr. Pepper! :)Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-52985723106533169742011-03-27T09:45:00.000-07:002011-03-27T09:46:11.970-07:00My Sassy New HeadshotsAs some of you know, I've been expressing interest in auditioning for some local musical theater productions after a 20-year hiatus from the stage. And to really be taken seriously, you need to bring a headshot to the audition — even for the tiny local theater productions I'm aiming for. So I am happy to debut my sassy new headshots.<br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5562279678/" title="James' smiling look #1"><img alt="James' smiling look #1" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5562279678_84868eee6c.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5562279678/">James' smiling look #1</a></span></div><br />
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I researched some headshot photographers, but ended up approaching my photographer friend <a href="http://ryanromerophoto.com/">Ryan Romero</a>. Although shooting actor headshots are not his usual thing — his work consists of gritty portraiture and moody landscapes — he offered to help me out.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5561702995/" title="James' smiling look #2"><img alt="James' smiling look #2" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5561702995_86c9a488cf.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5561702995/">James' smiling look #2</a></span></div><br />
<div>We set up a shoot last weekend, and although I'm not usually comfortable in front of the camera, Ryan totally put me at ease. Plus he kept making me laugh with his stories. The lighting Ryan set up was amazing. It kind of makes we wish I had a personal lighting team with me any time I was photographed, like Michael Jackson did.</div><br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5562278658/" title="James' serious look"><img alt="James' serious look" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5562278658_16aaef4c95.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5562278658/">James' serious look</a></span></div><br />
<div>Anyway, I'm looking forward to handing directors these headshots as I audition. You should have seen the ghetto headshot I crafted myself for my first audition. I think that alone was why I didn't make callbacks (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). :)</div><br />
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If you get a chance, check out Ryan's awesome work at <a href="http://ryanromerophoto.com/">ryanromerophoto.com</a>.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-31282499963193950242011-03-24T01:36:00.000-07:002011-03-27T08:44:11.722-07:00Brush With Greatness: Elizabeth TaylorI was saddened to hear about the passing of the great Elizabeth Taylor. She was the last of a generation of movie stars, and a stalwart supporter in the fight against AIDS, even when it wasn't popular. But I most remember her from an encounter I had with her almost 20 years ago.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280021733/" title="Liz Taylor at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/3280021733_df7692cf1a.jpg" alt="Liz Taylor at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280021733/">Liz Taylor at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)</a></span></div><p></p><br />
It was October 11, 1991. I was a student at San Francisco State University, and I had heard Elizabeth Taylor was coming to Macy's in San Francisco's Union Square to promote her new fragrance, White Diamonds. Wild horses couldn't keep me away from this event. <br />
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She was appearing at 1:00pm, and I had to skip a class to be there (how often does one get the opportunity to see one of the grand dames of the screen, after all?). Making it an even bigger event was the fact that she had just gotten married with great fanfare. Remember the widely televised celebrity-studded wedding to Larry Fortensky at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch? That was just five days before this.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280842500/" title="Elizabeth Taylor promotes White Diamonds at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/3280842500_c513b9c2f4.jpg" alt="Elizabeth Taylor promotes White Diamonds at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280842500/">Elizabeth Taylor promotes White Diamonds at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)</a></span></div><p></p><br />
The store was packed, and even though I got there 1.5 hours early, I was still at least 100 feet away. But I was still electrified the moment she walked into the room. She spoke about White Diamonds for a while, and afterward she answered questions from the audience. <br />
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My favorite moment was when someone asked her what she and her new husband did on their wedding night. Liz responded not with any words, but instead with one of the biggest, loudest laughs ever. Seriously, this cackle would put Hillary Clinton to shame.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280842644/" title="Liz Taylor's Chair at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/3280842644_b2c1b6c0a0.jpg" alt="Liz Taylor's Chair at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280842644/">Liz Taylor's Chair at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)</a></span></div><p></p><br />
I too asked her a question (albeit a much less memorable one). I asked her which stars of today she liked the most. Her answer: Michelle Phillips (strangely) and Julia Roberts, who had just dazzled everyone in Pretty Woman the year prior.<br />
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After her much-too-short appearance, she left, and so did the crowds. I, on the other hand, beelined to the stage, where I took pictures of her chair and the table she was standing next to during her appearance. That's when I noticed that she had left her drinking straw in her glass of water. <br />
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Needless to say I swiped the straw as a souvenir. (Who wouldn't have?!) It even had her lipstick marks on it. In fact, the story of this lucky souvenir hunter made it into the pages of the San Francisco Chronicle, in the column of legendary San Francisco newsman Herb Caen, no less. <br />
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<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280842724/" title="Liz Taylor's Glass of Water at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)"><img alt="Liz Taylor's Glass of Water at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3280842724_89bcb88b40.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3280842724/">Liz Taylor's Glass of Water at Macy's San Francisco. (10/11/1991)</a></span></div><br />
I kept the straw for many years until I eventually donated it to my friend Tom, who I believe still has it somewhere. Makes me kind of wish I kept it. Oh well. I'll always have the memories. So here's to you Liz, your amazing career, your life well lived, and your drinking straw.</clear="all">Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-75763525837117285442010-12-25T06:58:00.000-08:002011-03-27T23:48:27.693-07:00Early Mexico Slides Gaining FansWhen I started scanning my dad's old slides from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, at first it was an effort to digitally preserve them for our family to see again. I don't think my dad has had a functioning slide projector for decades and was worried the slides would deteriorate. But I've been surprised about some of the attention other people have paid to his photography (like when some of his slides were <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-dads-photography-gets-published.html">published in a book</a>).<br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5320423564/" title="Mexico's Golden Age compilation by Gary Denness"><img alt="Mexico's Golden Age compilation by Gary Denness" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5320423564_69e5bdb737.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/5320423564/">Mexico's Golden Age compilation by Gary Denness</a></span></div>Most recently, his photos were highlighted in <a href="http://garydenness.co.uk/">The Mexile</a>, a blog written by Gary Denness, a Brit living in Mexico City who has a passion for photography. In his post, <a href="http://garydenness.co.uk/2010/12/24/mexicos-golden-age/">Mexico's Golden Age</a>, Dennis writes of how old color photos from this era offer a detail that black and white doesn't bring out, and thought they were too good not to share.<br />
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Check out the sets from my dad's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/sets/72157603818440284/">1957 trip to Mexico </a>and 1960 visits to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/sets/72157603827354801/">Mexico City</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/sets/72157603827380849/">Totatiche</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/sets/72157603827373411/">Acapulco</a>.</clear="all">Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-34578493161997025522010-06-29T21:37:00.000-07:002010-06-29T22:44:00.843-07:0038 Years of Disney's Main Street Electrical ParadeIt was 38 years ago this month that Disneyland debuted the Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade, the famous summertime classic featuring floats and performers covered in "thousands of sparkling lights." The parade is also known for its infectious song, which is nearly impossible to get out of your head after hearing it. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693469994/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4693469994_74b8c7aba1_m.jpg" alt="Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693469994/">Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Doing a little research, I discovered that the parade did not have a constant presence at the park. It disappeared after the 1974 season only to be brought back again in 1977. The parade also disappeared after the 1982 season, only to be brought back in 1985.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4692843403/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1272/4692843403_fd367506b1_m.jpg" alt="Alice in Wonderland in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4692843403/">Alice in Wonderland in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />In 1996 it was announced that after a 24-year run, the parade would leave Disneyland forever and move to the Florida park. Its last Disneyland season drew crowds like it never had before. Disneyland even extended the final season a month to meet the demand to see it. At the end of the run Disneyland sold all the individual light bulbs that were used on the floats. I still have one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693154125/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4693154125_bfde321388_m.jpg" alt="Big Ben in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693154125/">Big Ben in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />The claim that the parade would leave Disneyland forever turned out to be almost true. To boost attendance at Disneyland's sister park, the fledgling Disney's California Adventure, Disney brought it back in 2001. Only this time, since it wasn't on Main Street in Disneyland, they renamed it Disney's Electrical Parade. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693137719/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4693137719_16c5104905_m.jpg" alt="Pinocchio float in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693137719/">Pinocchio float in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />But it didn't matter that the Disney corporation used a loophole in their 1996 claim that the parade was leaving the park forever. People were just glad to have it back. It kept going until just this year, when Disneyland announced it would leave Disney's California Adventure to make room for the epic World of Color show that started earlier this month. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693777076/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4693777076_d58a619ee7_m.jpg" alt="Pete's Dragon in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4693777076/">Pete's Dragon in Disney's Electrical Parade. (04/17/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />I can't tell you the first time I saw the parade, but I can tell you the last. It was just over two months ago, and I was fortunate enough to be able to see it on its final weekend. Disneyland claims it won't return, but they've said that before, so you never know for sure.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-6670494025500017062010-06-28T22:28:00.001-07:002010-06-28T23:23:27.006-07:0040 Years of Disney Archivist Dave SmithLast Friday, I read in the L.A. Times that Dave Smith, the legendary Disney archivist, announced his retirement. It was exactly 40 years and 1 day from the day he first started working for the company.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741484748/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4741484748_68ccfc766d_m.jpg" alt="James and Disney lead archivist Dave Smith. (03/10/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741484748/">James and Disney lead archivist Dave Smith. (03/10/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Smith began working for the company in 1970, just four years after Walt Disney passed away. His first assignment: Archiving the items in Walt's office, which had been off limits to anyone for four years. <br /><br />This project led to a 40-year career archiving the storied history of the company. One of his most incredible finds was a small item found in the top drawer of the desk of Walt's brother. It was the very first ticket sold at Disneyland, which Roy Disney purchased for $1 in 1955. It was even marked with the number 001.<br /><br />I was fortunate to have met Dave Smith recently at a D23 party. Our meeting wasn't a long one, and I'm sure it would not be very memorable to him. But it was memorable for me because I have an incredible amount of respect for this man, who I believe is doing God's work. <br /><br />Best of luck to you in retirement Dave!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-26471728727114203262010-06-27T21:22:00.000-07:002010-06-27T23:28:53.283-07:00One Year Without FarrahJust over a year ago we lost one of Hollywood's brightest stars, and an icon of my youth, the late great Farrah Fawcett. I always felt a little bad about the news coverage of Farrah's passing (or lack thereof) being that she died the same day as Michael Jackson, whose death clearly stole the headlines. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741016745/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4741016745_39311567eb_m.jpg" alt="James with his childhood Farrah Fawcett poster. (06/25/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741016745/">James with his childhood Farrah Fawcett poster. (06/25/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />But when I read it was the one-year anniversary of Farrah's passing, I thought I would pay my small tribute. I'm not going to try to summarize her life. Many others have done that better than I ever could. Mostly I just want to share some of my Farrah memories.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741653174/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4741653174_e4e22f2a6c_m.jpg" alt="Close-up of my childhood Farrah Fawcett poster. (06/25/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741653174/">Close-up of my childhood Farrah Fawcett poster. (06/25/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Like any boy who grew up in the 1970s, I was fascinated by Farrah. Charlie's Angels was a cultural phenomenon. My favorite t-shirt at the time had a picture of all three of the original angels. My mom often spoke of the time at some cub scout awards event, I went up on stage and proudly showed off my Charlie's Angels shirt to the audience.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741017139/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4741017139_213481414a_m.jpg" alt="Farrah's signature on the iconic poster. (06/25/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4741017139/">Farrah's signature on the iconic poster. (06/25/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />And like every other boy of that period, I too had "The Poster," the iconic 1976 poster of Farrah. Believe it or not, 34 years later, I still have it. It was in the garage. So I dug it out on the anniversary to pay a small homage.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4695109506/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4695109506_fd70cd13fc_m.jpg" alt="I visited Farrah at Westwood Memorial Park. (04/27/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4695109506/">I visited Farrah at Westwood Memorial Park. (04/27/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Recently I went to the Westwood Memorial Park, where Farrah was layed to rest. It was sad to see her name written on her headstone. But one thing that made me happy was thinking back to how bright her star shone back in the day. Rest in peace our dear Farrah.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-60797059303747231752010-06-10T23:24:00.000-07:002010-06-10T23:58:14.488-07:00Truman's New Hood: Huntington Dog BeachIt's funny. Tim has been in Southern California since the 1980s. I've been here since 1992. And despite our proximity to the ocean, I bet you can count on five fingers the number of times per year we go to the beach. But that's no longer the case now that we've discovered the <a href="http://www.dogbeach.org/">Huntington Dog Beach</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4523499557/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4523499557_a906a63c98_m.jpg" alt="James & Truman at Huntington Dog Beach. (04/03/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4523499557/">James & Truman at Huntington Dog Beach. (04/03/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />I don't know why we don't go very often. Maybe it's the crowds, the traffic or the parking. It seems we only go to the beach when we have visitors from out of town. But now that we have Truman, we're always seeking dog-friendly places. And Huntington Dog Beach seemed a natural answer. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4483829893/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4483829893_9e56ae6a16_m.jpg" alt="Truman's first day at Huntington Dog Beach. (03/27/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4483829893/">Truman's first day at Huntington Dog Beach. (03/27/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Actually we've found that the parking at Huntington Dog Beach isn't too bad. The whole dog-friendly portion of the strip is metered for short-term, so if you don't find parking on your first pass, you'll surely find it on your second. And we've found that if you come from Golden West side, you avoid all the traffic surrounding the touristy part of Huntington Beach. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4689641747/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4689641747_ca7f5c645f_m.jpg" alt="Shelley from Calgary, Tim & Sergio at Huntington Dog Beach. (05/22/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4689641747/">Shelley from Calgary, Tim & Sergio at Huntington Dog Beach. (05/22/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />And Truman simply loves it. He loves walking up and down the dog section. He goes around sniffing all the other dogs, playing with some, ignoring others. Of course we always keep a few treats in our pocket so he comes back when we call him. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4484467442/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4484467442_0e5f940875_m.jpg" alt="Tim & Truman Get Splashed at the Dog Beach. (03/27/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4484467442/">Tim & Truman get splashed on Truman's first time at the dog beach. (03/27/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />But there is one thing Truman doesn't love: The water. He got splashed by a wave once, and that was it for him. Now he's always on the lookout for those waves. But there is one body of water he can't avoid: The bath we give him when we return home. Oh well Truman, you can't win 'em all!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-9923465339008260992010-06-09T23:31:00.000-07:002010-06-10T00:03:33.378-07:00Hearst Castle: Home Away From HomeOne of the best things about camping in San Simeon is that the campsite is literally five minutes away from the iconic Hearst Castle. I know, we've been there probably a half dozen times before, and we even <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2006/10/touring-hearst-castle.html">wrote a blog post about it in 2006</a>. And yet, each time we're in the area, I can't resist taking another tour.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4686975017/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4686975017_8679b65615_m.jpg" alt="Tim in front of Hearst Castle. (06/06/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4686975017/">Tim in front of Hearst Castle. (06/06/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />There are five tours in all, each covering a different section. I'm pretty sure we've been on all of them by now. So this time we started over with Tour 1. Plus, our pal Sergio had never been there before, so it was a good excuse. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4687607790/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4687607790_10ca52a10c_m.jpg" alt="James inside one of the guest houses. (06/06/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4687607790/">James inside one of the guest houses. (06/06/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />I think one of the main reasons I'm drawn to Hearst Castle was that it was so exclusive for so many years. In its heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, the only way to set foot on the grounds was to be invited by William Randolph Hearst himself. It's like getting invited to the 3rd floor of the White House, or Camp David, or Neverland Ranch. The only difference is now anybody can go for $24.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4686977385/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4686977385_ed8ab50649_m.jpg" alt="Sergio in the Hearst Castle billiards room. (06/06/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4686977385/">Sergio in the Hearst Castle billiards room. (06/06/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />The other reason I'm drawn to Hearst Castle is — let's face it — I was meant to live that lifestyle. Champagne taste and beer bottle pockets. Story of my life. But until I can build my own mountain-top compound, I'll just have to keep paying a visit to my home away from home every few years.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-86116194713998589472010-06-09T00:04:00.001-07:002010-06-09T00:29:35.370-07:00Four Years Later, SoCal and NoCal Meet AgainI can't believe it's been nearly four years since our last big family camping trip. Looking back, <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2006/10/nocalsocal-camping-trip-2006.html">our last big family camping trip </a>was in the fall of 2006. That's about as much time as it takes to complete high school. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684081409/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4684081409_0595cae2e7_m.jpg" alt="The NoCal / SoCal Camping Group. (06/07/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684081409/">The NoCal / SoCal Camping Group. (06/07/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Like our 2006 event, we selected coastal San Simeon as the middle ground, being approximately equidistant between us in Orange County, and my relatives from San Francisco. Plus it has the added benefit of being only five miles away from Hearst Castle, which I consider my home away from home.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684710660/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4684710660_4d9aee8afd_m.jpg" alt="James, Truman, Sergio and Tim with our new tent. (06/05/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684710660/">James, Truman, Sergio and Tim with our new tent. (06/05/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />This year's group consisted of Tim and I, our pal Sergio, our pup Truman, my cousin Michele, her partner Lisa, their daughter Liele, my cousin Ralphie, his dog Dozer, our friends Lynne and Anna and their daughter Colby, and friends Bridgett and Bob, who brought along their kids Phoebe and Tristan.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684080323/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4684080323_c2f4b3d80b_m.jpg" alt="Tim was like Dr. Doolittle for the ground squirrels. (06/06/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684080323/">Tim was like Dr. Doolittle for the ground squirrels. (06/06/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />We had the usual camping fun, with a few new twists, like the surprise trip to Target in Paso Robles to buy a new tent (apparently we didn't pack all the parts of our old one). I was also attacked by wildlife: A single bite from a ground squirrel. The little guy was trying to eat a nut from my fingers and got a little overzealous.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684079367/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4684079367_af668a90eb_m.jpg" alt="Who says Tim doesn't like kids? (06/06/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4684079367/">Who says Tim doesn't like kids? (06/06/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />I haven't started foaming at the mouth yet, so I think I'm okay. As always, we had a grand old time. Hopefully we won't wait another four years to do it again, a'ight?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-1720560280838437912010-03-31T23:30:00.000-07:002013-03-28T09:38:57.473-07:00Disneyland's Real World of ColorI went to Downtown Disney today to meet up with a couple of relatives from Nevada who were in town on a Disneyland trip. After lunch and shopping, they headed back to their hotel for a little R&R. Since I have nothing better to do these days, I whipped out my annual pass and headed into the park where I glimpsed a rare sighting... <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4481252222/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="Disneyland's Real World of Color. (03/31/2010)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4481252222_7c0efd22c2_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4481252222/">Disneyland's Real World of Color. (03/31/2010)"</a> </span><clear all=""><br /><br />In the Hub, near the iconic Partners statue, the four Pink Lapacho trees were in full bloom! The bright pink blossoms were absolutely stunning, and created an incredible backdrop for some of Disneyland's most photographed sights.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4481251744/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="Disneyland's Pink Lapacho trees were in full bloom. (03/31/2010)" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4481251744_268c8d74ce_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4481251744/">Disneyland's Pink Lapacho trees were in full bloom. (03/31/2010)</a> </span><clear all=""><br /><br />Most of the year, these trees are covered in average-looking green leaves. Sometimes there are no leaves at all. The Disneyland gardeners typically keep things looking cheery by hanging live floral displays. There was clearly no need for that today.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4481252514/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="Beautiful pink blossoms frame the Matterhorn. (03/31/2010)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4481252514_9d04e375c5_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4481252514/">Beautiful pink blossoms frame the Matterhorn. (03/31/2010)</a> </span><clear all=""><br /><br />It's funny to think that at Disney's California Adventure, they're currently putting the finishing touches on "The World of Color," a fountain water effects show that promises to be amazing. Today, however, it was Mother Nature's world of color that was truly amazing.</clear></clear></clear>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-6932514656899466882010-03-29T18:32:00.001-07:002010-03-29T19:06:02.531-07:00James Turns 15,000 Days Old TodayOkay, it appears I've come to the end of another long break in the James & Tim blog. I've been wanting to get back to blogging again, and now that I'm not working, I literally have no more excuses.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4475292224/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4475292224_a984898873_m.jpg" alt="James on his 15,000th birthday. (03/29/2010)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4475292224/">James on his 15,000th birthday. (03/29/2010)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />So what better way to kick-off my new blogging activity than with a blogpost celebrating my 15,000th birthday! Yep, according to the nifty <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/date/birthday.html" target="_blank">Alternative Birthday Calendar</a>, today marks my 15,000th day since I was born. <br /><br />What's the next milestone after this you ask? (Well, besides my 42nd birthday, obviously). Next up is my 400,000-hour birthday, which will be October 20, 2014. Keep an eye out for the invitations!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-36532278993378893752009-11-08T20:54:00.000-08:002009-11-30T21:23:37.353-08:00Livin' it Up in California City, CAThere are only 18 cities in all of the United States that have the same name as the state in which it resides. There's Oklahoma City, Kansas City and New York City to name a few. But in all my 40 years, I have never been to the namesake city in my own state. Until now. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140510880/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/4140510880_80265df961_m.jpg" alt="James at the California City maintenance yard. (11/07/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140510880/">James at the California City maintenance yard. (11/07/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />California City, population 12,659, is located in California's Mojave Desert, near the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It sits 109 miles north of Los Angeles, and about 70 miles Southeast of Bakersfield. The closest thing to California City that anyone has probably heard of is Edwards Air Force Base, which is where Chuck Yeager famously broke the sound barrier in 1947 and has been the site of several Space Shuttle landings.<br /><br />We were in town visiting our good friend Sergio, who currently lives and works in California City. Since we met Sergio earlier this year, he has always been the one to visit us. This was our first time visiting him.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139750621/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4139750621_ce816d6989_m.jpg" alt="What California City looks like. (11/07/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139750621/">What California City looks like. (11/07/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />After months of hearing Sergio talk about California City (more specifically, the lack of things to do in California City), I was dying to see this exotic locale with my own two eyes. So Friday night Tim and I packed up the Envoy, threw in Truman, and embarked on the 3-hour trek to Cal City (as the locals call it).<br /><br />Our first glimpse of the town was not too exciting since we arrived at night (although we did stop at the city's one stoplight). But I was impressed to see that Cal City had its own McDonald's. The next morning Sergio gave us a city tour. We saw the city maintenance yard, the municipal airport and the Silver Saddle Ranch and Club, an 80-acre "resort oasis" (or as I would call it, a "campsite").<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140512204/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4140512204_8d0acb5714_m.jpg" alt="Sergio & James in California City. (11/07/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140512204/">Sergio & James in California City. (11/07/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Afterward, we decided to have some lunch and then go bowling. The nearest bowling alley, of course, was 42 miles away in Lancaster, CA. Despite the lack of a bowling alley and a decent grocery store, I thought Cal City had a lot going for it. <br /><br />It had a Quizno's sandwich shop. It had a Wimpy's 1950s-themed diner. It had a Sears (albeit in a strip mall), but it was nicer than some Sears stores I've seen. Plus, the take-out food we picked up from Green Tea Garden Chinese Restaurant was pretty darn good. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139752377/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/4139752377_837599966a_m.jpg" alt="The California City supermarket. (11/07/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139752377/">The California City supermarket. (11/07/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Another thing that California City has going for it is it's immense size. It has a total area of over 200 square miles, making it the third largest city in California (only beat by Los Angeles and San Diego) and 35th largest city in the United States. <br /><br />Although I can't argue that there's a lot to do in Cal City, one great thing I can say about the town is that it's affordable. During Truman's morning walk, I came across a sign that listed apartment rentals. I was amazed that you can find a 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment for as low as $550 a month (it would be $1,200 in Orange County). There was even a 4-bedroom, 2-bath place for rent at the amazingly low rate of $850 a month (unheard of in Orange County).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140514150/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/4140514150_53018a7001_m.jpg" alt="James at the California City Airport. (11/07/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140514150/">James at the California City Airport. (11/07/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />So if you don't like living anywhere near a large city, want an affordable place to live, and don't mind the lack of diversions, then check out California City.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-20704320297943269532009-11-02T07:30:00.000-08:002009-11-29T09:27:05.256-08:00Celebrating Day of the Dead / Dia de Los MuertosOnce again we had our semi-annual dinner celebrating Día de los Muertos (aka "Day of the Dead"), the annual tradition celebrated on All Saints' Day (Nov. 1) or All Soul's Day (Nov. 2). This festive Mexican holiday pays respect to friends and family who have passed away, while at the same time honoring the continuation of life.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139729177/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2516/4139729177_99c36728b2_m.jpg" alt="Our Dia de los Muertos altar. (11/01/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139729177/">Our Dia de los Muertos altar. (11/01/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />The holiday symbolizes the belief that our connection with friends and family does not end at death. To commemorate the impact they've had on our lives, a special meal is prepared to welcome the souls into your home for a day of rememberance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139730023/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/4139730023_9f04075692_m.jpg" alt="Johnny, Jon and Tim get ready to eat. (11/01/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139730023/">Johnny, Jon and Tim get ready to eat. (11/01/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Today's special meal was Mexican of course, and our pals Johnny and Jon joined us in the celebration. We had carne asada, pollo asado, carnitas, beans and tortillas. (We skipped the rice this year since we're doing South Beach). Of course I made my award-winning fresh guacamole. We also bought a pan de muerto, a Mexican bread sold this time of year that looks like bones. We also skipped the cupcakes and instead celebrated with skull-like cups of sugar-free pudding (another South Beach modification).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139728803/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/4139728803_28db317500_m.jpg" alt="Pan de Muerto. (11/01/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4139728803/">Pan de Muerto. (11/01/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />This was our first time celebrating Day of the Dead in two years. We skipped it in 2008 because Tim's Grandma Helen in Buffalo, NY passed away a few days before, and her passing was too recent to celebrate Day of the Dead in the joyful spirit in which it was meant to be celebrated (it's not intended to be a sad holiday).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140491032/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4140491032_29fe0496a0_m.jpg" alt="Dia de los Muertos pudding cups. (11/01/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4140491032/">Dia de los Muertos pudding cups. (11/01/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />One of the traditions is to display a Day of the Dead altar, where you place candles and photos or mementos of the special souls who have touched our lives. My mother, my grandparents, Tim's dear friend Judi and our beloved dog Simon had their appearance. This year we added photos of Tim's Grandma Helen and our friend Jack Pitts who passed away this year. Although we were saddened to have lost them since our last Day of the Dead celebration, we were honored to include them in our celebration this year.<br /><br /><a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2007/11/da-de-los-muertos-2007.html" target="_blank">James & Tim's 2007 Day of the Dead celebration.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2006/11/happy-day-of-dead.html" target="_blank">James & Tim's 2006 Day of the Dead celebration.</a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-84754010419980464002009-11-01T21:41:00.000-08:002009-11-27T22:09:16.218-08:00Halloween ImpromptuYou may think we had all sorts of plans for Halloween. Especially this year since it fell on a Saturday. Nope.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4068749934/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/4068749934_701b73c3ee_m.jpg" alt="James as Fidel Castro. (10/31/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4068749934/">James as Fidel Castro. (10/31/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />We had no plans. No party invitations. Nada. So our plan was to do what we do every year: Hand out candy to the kids. Our pal Amy also had no plans, so she came over for dinner (Tim made a great tilapia) and to hand out candy to the kids.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4068751140/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/4068751140_41411ef08e_m.jpg" alt="Tim as Coffee Matey Light. (10/31/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4068751140/">Tim as Coffee Matey Light. (10/31/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />We had maybe 35-40 kids drop by. By the time we shut down at 9pm, I was itchin' to go do something. I was already in my old Fidel Castro costume. So we quickly pulled out Tim's old Tigger costume for Amy, and Tim dusted off his old Coffee Matey costume. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4067998859/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4067998859_1d7f1040f6_m.jpg" alt="Amy as Tigger. (10/31/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4067998859/">Amy as Tigger. (10/31/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Looking for something to do, we called our friends Scott and Erika, who we learned had just moved into their new condo that very day. Amazingly, they were up for an adventure. Even more amazingly, with all of their belongings stuffed in boxes and clothes hapers, they were able to improvise two costumes in less than 5 minutes!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4068000467/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4068000467_38e14c420b_m.jpg" alt="Our posse at TGIF. (10/31/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4068000467/">Our posse at TGIF. (10/31/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Our plans weren't huge. We went to T.G.I.Fridays at The Block for appetizers and drinks. But for an impromptu adventure, it sure was a fun Halloween.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-74174572608826114212009-10-31T17:02:00.000-07:002009-11-02T07:08:33.405-08:00Another Weekend ProjectYeah, it was Halloween and Day of the Dead this weekend. But despite these things, the joys of home ownership continue on. This week's project: Painting the front doors.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4067994831/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/4067994831_f38f9d1b5e_m.jpg" alt="James paints the door trim. (10/31/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4067994831/">James paints the door trim. (10/31/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />We've had the new doors for almost a year now. They came primed. But we never got around to painting them until now. (We wanted to do it before the wet rainy season kicks in).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4067995159/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2562/4067995159_7310563501_m.jpg" alt="James while painting the front doors. (10/31/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4067995159/">James while painting the front doors. (10/31/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />The door color: Whole Wheat, from Dunn Edwards. I did the majority of the doors themselves. Tim is taking on the white trim. You wouldn't think painting a front door would take very long, but it's time consuming. But they look great now, so we're happy.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-86010326470228503992009-10-25T22:14:00.000-07:002009-10-26T01:48:37.377-07:00From Mexican to Sexican - LOLFor the last year, I've been meaning to check out this barber shop that my co-worker Walter goes to. It's called <a href="http://www.hawleywoods.com/ourshops.cfm">Hawleywood's Barber Shop and Shaving Parlor</a>, and it's right here in the OC. I was in desperate need of a haircut, and since we had no major plans this weekend, I thought this will be the time I finally check it out.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4046121398/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2662/4046121398_20e8fff927_m.jpg" alt="New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4046121398/">New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Hawleywood's is a 1940s and 1950s era barbershop that specializes in straight razor shaves and high and tight old school haircuts. We're talking pompodours, duck tails, flat tops, crew cuts, etc. <br /><br />The place was awesome. The room was long and narrow, with a line of maybe eight or 10 old-time Naugahyde barber chairs — complete with ash trays in the arms. The walls were covered with vintage motorcycle pics and stuff like that. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4046121428/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3495/4046121428_d37ed3e9c2_m.jpg" alt="New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4046121428/">New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Unlike most typical old school barbershops, all the barbers there were under 40. Although most were pretty heavily tatted, they were all dressed to the nines, complete with perfectly-creased trousers, leather shoes and vests. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4045376877/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4045376877_89115987b1_m.jpg" alt="New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4045376877/">New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />No women are allowed in the shop, a fact clearly stated by the array of male-focused magazines to choose from, including a few tittie magazine titles. When you sit down, an attendant will bring you a beer if you so choose — Pabst Blue Ribbon in the can. It's definitely a man's place (accentuated by the fact that they will kick you out if you wear a fanny pack, tennis socks or Oakley sunglasses). <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4046121452/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2444/4046121452_6d15cb9ef8_m.jpg" alt="New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4046121452/">New Haircut, Before & After (10/24/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Cesar was my barber. I didn't have enough length on the top to pull some of the haircuts off, so I settled for what they call the "Business Man" ... a little long on top with a part. Cesar did a great job I thought. What do you think?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107953.post-88488818153772198082009-10-24T19:48:00.000-07:002009-11-27T22:13:38.015-08:00The Truman ShowIn a world filled with uncertainties, there are many unanswered questions. What is the meaning of life? Why can't the world's nations peacefully coexist? And most importantly, why haven't Tim and James updated their blog in months? <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4044900417/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4044900417_3b31487fd4_m.jpg" alt="James and Truman's first picture together. (03/14/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/4044900417/">James and Truman's first picture together. (03/14/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />We can't tell you bupkis about the first two questions. But the third question can be answered in a single word: Truman. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3400197603/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3400197603_2c2e1fdeb0_m.jpg" alt="Truman the day we brought him home. (03/14/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3400197603/">Truman the day we brought him home. (03/14/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Yes, for the last seven months, our lives have revolved around a cute little miniature schnauzer puppy we adopted in March. Since then you could say our lives could easily be called "The Truman Show." And it goes without saying, we spend much more time taking care of this little fella, which cut into our blogging time.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3401003948/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3401003948_513365963d_m.jpg" alt="Truman was so small when we first got him. (03/14/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3401003948/">Truman was so small when we first got him. (03/14/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />A birthday gift to me from Tim, Truman has been a welcome addition to our family. Most of the time anyway. It depends on if Truman is being the little angel that he sometimes is or the little devil that he sometimes is.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3413841058/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3413841058_711b11fe89_m.jpg" alt="Truman's first bath. (04/04/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3413841058/">Truman's first bath. (04/04/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />We were glad to have a dog again, since it had been almost a year-and-a-half since we had to put down our beloved <a href="http://jamesandtim.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-memoriam-best-dog-in-world.html">Simon</a>. Although frankly, we were a little leery of going through the puppy phase. It was hard for a couple of months, but now that he's nine months old, it's a lot easier than when he was three or four months.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3652270295/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/3652270295_84ba68b8cd_m.jpg" alt="Truman in the car. (05/30/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3652270295/">Truman in the car. (05/30/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />A lot of people ask me about his name. I wanted him to have a presidential sounding name, so I named him after president Harry S. Truman. As it turns out, our pup seems to share some of the traits of the former president. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3653062386/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/3653062386_970bd60a93_m.jpg" alt="Truman looking adorable. (06/18/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3653062386/">Truman looking adorable. (06/18/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />Harry S. Truman was a feisty little son-of-a-gun who was often referred to as "Give 'Em Hell Harry." Our pup — who we jokingly call "Harry Ass Truman" — is also a feisty little son-of-a-gun who gives us hell quite a bit. But then moments later, he can be an irresistable little angel.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3753548145/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3753548145_4f49f515d0_m.jpg" alt="Tim & Truman. (07/11/2009)" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11441631@N00/3753548145/">Tim & Truman. (07/11/2009)</a> </span><clear="all"><br /><br />We're still working on eradicating some of his bad habits (like his propensity to steal our socks). But despite his occasional behavior issues (and what puppy doesn't have them?) he is definitely a joy. Welcome to our family Truman!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17158628500277437964noreply@blogger.com2