Warning! A political statement (rare on my blog) to follow ...
If things do not change soon in the country, this is how the dwindling middle class of the United States is going to be living in the not too distant future.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Ruby's Diner, our late "Linner" spot yesterday out on the end of the long Oceanside Pier.
After more than a half-hour wait along with dozens of others outside on the pier, we were shown to a tiny booth for two in the corner while many booths all around us remained empty. What's up with that?
The selection was sparce and typical greasy diner fare. We had cheese burgers and fries and the food was just okay in our opinion.
Definately a "tourist trap" and a one time event.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
SALUTATIONS ON A SUNNY SUNDAY!
We are parked in the tiny (8 spaces) RV area of the Simi Valley Elks Lodge in Simi Valley, CA. Most sites have full hookups and they charge $15 a night. Lots of trees but our Data Storm (Internet) found the correct satellite and Phil managed to line up the Dish TV without any problems. When we arrived, we over shot the turn into the lodge driveway because the property sits back off the road and it is not very well marked (unless you know where to look) and the driveway is narrow. A phone call to the lodge redirected us and we made a U-turn with Penny the Pace and The Lone Ranger … fortunately there was a wide place to do it.
Simi Valley weather report: Cool nights and warm days. It was only 40’ this morning when I got up so I plugged in the little electric heater to take off the chill inside Penny. That only lasted an hour or so because the sun came out and it takes just a few minutes for solar power to warm up the whole coach after that happens. The outside air warms up quickly as well and the days are topping out in the mid to high 70s and up to the low 80s. It isn’t clear to us whether wind is a normal phenomenon here in the Valley but we have had quite of bit of it almost every day. Maybe we are protected by the hills around us or maybe they are the cause of the wild and wooly gusts we have experienced but then after blowing like crazy for up to an hour or longer, it stops—just like someone flips a switch.
If you look to the right in the Backroad Chronicle’s sidebar you will find a new “gadget” as these accessories are called in “Blogger language” (Geek Speak). It is a place to acknowledge the people who on a regular basis read my blog and where my readers can link to these other blogs. I have named it “Frequent Followers” and if you are kind enough to examine my Sunday compositions and if you also have a blog of your own, please add yourself to the list. I’m not sure whether it works for those who do not have a blog but you can give it a try by clicking on Follow this Blog and see what happens. Please let me know if it doesn’t work for my blog-less readers! Also, I want to mention that the “comments” have dwindled down to nothing lately. I’m not sure what that means … either every word I write is completely benign (oh yeah, I believe that) and non-controversial so no one has anything to add OR the old adage applies … “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” Be sure, affable or adverse I want to hear from you! One note: all comments are e-mailed to me first (I made that decision after being spammed big time) and then it is my choice whether to publish or not. Consequently, (because contrary to popular belief I am not on the computer 24/7), there may be a bit of lag time between your post and my publishing. However, I promise you that unless your opinions are conspicuously in bad taste, all comments will be posted. I look forward to learning from my readers!
Phil and I have been on the go pretty much every day. Our Carmen Garmin (GPS) has taken us on some pretty exciting back roads in and over the surrounding canyons as we traveled to Santa Clarita to Wal*Mart on Thursday, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Friday then yesterday down the coast as far as Redondo Beach. The topography around here comes as a big surprise after traveling north and south on I-5 for so many years where with the exception of the infamous “grapevine”, we have seen mostly flatland along the way to San Diego. Narrow two lane roads that twist and turn around blind hairpin curves after dark are enough to get the old heart pumping but the views we have seen are beyond spectacular and my camera has not done them justice. For some reason, (Could it be we’re retired and seriously laid back?)we just have a hard time getting in gear early enough to find our way home before dark. Oh well, no harm done and lots of exciting memories … I’ll let the pictures tell the story.
Simi Valley weather report: Cool nights and warm days. It was only 40’ this morning when I got up so I plugged in the little electric heater to take off the chill inside Penny. That only lasted an hour or so because the sun came out and it takes just a few minutes for solar power to warm up the whole coach after that happens. The outside air warms up quickly as well and the days are topping out in the mid to high 70s and up to the low 80s. It isn’t clear to us whether wind is a normal phenomenon here in the Valley but we have had quite of bit of it almost every day. Maybe we are protected by the hills around us or maybe they are the cause of the wild and wooly gusts we have experienced but then after blowing like crazy for up to an hour or longer, it stops—just like someone flips a switch.
If you look to the right in the Backroad Chronicle’s sidebar you will find a new “gadget” as these accessories are called in “Blogger language” (Geek Speak). It is a place to acknowledge the people who on a regular basis read my blog and where my readers can link to these other blogs. I have named it “Frequent Followers” and if you are kind enough to examine my Sunday compositions and if you also have a blog of your own, please add yourself to the list. I’m not sure whether it works for those who do not have a blog but you can give it a try by clicking on Follow this Blog and see what happens. Please let me know if it doesn’t work for my blog-less readers! Also, I want to mention that the “comments” have dwindled down to nothing lately. I’m not sure what that means … either every word I write is completely benign (oh yeah, I believe that) and non-controversial so no one has anything to add OR the old adage applies … “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” Be sure, affable or adverse I want to hear from you! One note: all comments are e-mailed to me first (I made that decision after being spammed big time) and then it is my choice whether to publish or not. Consequently, (because contrary to popular belief I am not on the computer 24/7), there may be a bit of lag time between your post and my publishing. However, I promise you that unless your opinions are conspicuously in bad taste, all comments will be posted. I look forward to learning from my readers!
Phil and I have been on the go pretty much every day. Our Carmen Garmin (GPS) has taken us on some pretty exciting back roads in and over the surrounding canyons as we traveled to Santa Clarita to Wal*Mart on Thursday, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Friday then yesterday down the coast as far as Redondo Beach. The topography around here comes as a big surprise after traveling north and south on I-5 for so many years where with the exception of the infamous “grapevine”, we have seen mostly flatland along the way to San Diego. Narrow two lane roads that twist and turn around blind hairpin curves after dark are enough to get the old heart pumping but the views we have seen are beyond spectacular and my camera has not done them justice. For some reason, (Could it be we’re retired and seriously laid back?)we just have a hard time getting in gear early enough to find our way home before dark. Oh well, no harm done and lots of exciting memories … I’ll let the pictures tell the story.
On May 2nd in 1984, President and Nancy Reagan visited Fairbanks Alaska. They met with Pope John Paul II at the Fairbanks International Airport. Later, local republicans hosted a luncheon at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the campus center. At the time I was the Food Service Director for ARA, at the Anchorage Pioneer Home who just happened to be the contract food provider for the university as well. As management I was offered the opportunity to go; cleared by the president's security staff then flew to Fairbanks to help serve the lunch. I worked the right side of the head table where Nancy Reagan sat and my friend and co-worker, Sharon worked the left side where the president sat. Although I am not a republican, it was an exciting day for me with all the tight secret service activity not to mention getting so up close and personal to the commander in chief and his wife.
Oh yes, the president's food was the same as the food served everyone else but it was cooked by his own chef in a small portable kitchen right behind the curtains on stage.
Oh yes, the president's food was the same as the food served everyone else but it was cooked by his own chef in a small portable kitchen right behind the curtains on stage.
Leading into the style exhibit that chronicles her life using the gowns and ensembles she wore over the past 80 years is the official life-size portrait of Nancy Reagan from 1988. She is wearing a striking red gown known to be her signature color. Each ticket holder received an impressive 9" X 11" commemorative soft cover book about this exhibit.
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