Thursday, July 15, 2010

"Vacation" Day #2

This is where we went today. Hubby went with daughter and her family a week ago and knew I would love it (I had to work that day). So we went and I loved it!!! 170+ photos worth!
Haven't seen nasturtiums in a long long time!



Another photo for Katie -

I know there is no way to prove it was the same one - but it just seemed like this same grey Harbor Seal kept watching me watch him!


Didnt plan for two postings, but blogspot froze up on me and wouldnt let me post any more photos.
We had lunch at a cute little coffee shop that hubby has told me about for years. It was empty - but apparently it is SRO for breakfast. Very very very good clam chowder. If you are ever in Pacifica - eat at Kerri's Coffee Shop in the mall that has Hallmark and RadioShack.

"Vacation" Day #2



Isn't he cute - him watching me watch him?






Almost a sunflower for Katie...

Have no idea what it is - starting to fossilize?





Day One of Summer "Vacation"


Because I was out so long last year, I didnt get my vacation requests turned in in a timely manner. Therefore I ended up being totally unable to get any summer vacation this year - EXCEPT - I did take my birthday weekend off...

I just came off a 4 days stretch - mostly good except for one especially grueling day - something I usually never do - but it enabled me to have a 6 day stretch off. And that has enabled me to have a 'vacation', or, as they are calling them these days, a 'staycation'.
So yesterday started out with going back and picking out another frame for my new glasses - since the original pair had been discontinued - the color I chose - even tho they kept it on their website.
Then we stopped by and picked up my 3 fair entries - 1 an honorable mention and 1 a second place - and a check! Made back my entry fee + some which along with my free ticket makes it all worthwhile!
Then we climbed aboard BART and headed for the city. Did very little shopping and had a slice of pizz at Blondies - love their pizza AND the place always reminds me of when my son first became aware of homosexuals!!! The look on his 10 year old face was priceless (maybe he was 11).
Then to the theater to see Young Frankenstein. It was as silly as the movie - and the 2 main actresses had the prettiest voices ever! Some really great special effects - and we enjoyed it very much.
Then hop on the bus and over to North Beach Restuarant. Now - we started going to this place years and years ago. They are way over priced and their attitude sucks.....I mean, c'mon, charging for REFILLS of ice tea???? But they have one dish that we really enjoy and have been trying to copy. So we went back to try again....
We were both hungry so we ate what we were served - but it wasnt what we ordered. And when we asked the waiter when and why they changed the recipe - I must admit - he was very quick with his comeback.
You see, we always order SPAGHETTINI (which, according to Wikipedia and other dictionaries, is very thin spaghetti which can be called angel hair in English) LORENZO - a simple dish - garlic, oil, tomatoes, and basil.
Well this time it came in a very small serving ... it is usually a large serving which I always say I can't finish but I always manage to finish ... with oil, very little garlic, one basil leaf, and a strange, almost marinara sauce. Not bad - but not good.
Anyway, the waiter told us it always comes SPAGHETTI but you can order it with any type of pasta. And we disaggreed with him - but he told us the other waiters must just order it differently. HA! (You can read my review on www.yelp.com and I am going to be complaining to the restuarant).
None of the usual waiters, bartender (this woman poured a very light handed glass of wine - which is already over priced - you can almost buy a bottle of wine for what they charger per glass) so I am wondering if they are new owners?
The service was worse than usual ... hubby was almost done with his (again very over priced) salad (truth in advertising - mixed greens and that is all it is - nothing else added) .... and they didnt bother to clean the table between courses either.
Wonder if the waiter realized why he got a poor-ish tip?
Even the cannoli across the street wasnt as good as usual!
Oh well, the day in SF was beautiful and the play was fun!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

FRUSTRATION

On June 5 we ordered 2 chairs. Then 1.5 weeks later, we ordered a couch (same company, different store).

The chairs were due 6/24. The couch was due 6/30.

We got rid of our broken chair. Took our couch to our daughter on 6/18.

We got our couch the week after Father's Day.

We were told our chairs would arrive 6/30.

Then we were told July.

Then we tried calling the store manager - who was on vacation. So we emailed the company and got back a blah blah blah email.

Finally spoke with the store manager who said she would look into it and get back to us.

Still have never heard from her.

Then we were told they would be here 7/9.

So on Wednesday we called to check - and were told that delivery was still expected 7/9.

So with this Mehserle Verdict coming in - and the need for our babysitting services - I cancelled my MD appt for 7/9 and we called to see if we could find out if it would be AM or PM.

They couldnt find our order.

When they did - they told us they had no idea when the chairs were expected in. But they would look into it and call us back by 5 PM.

Yep, you got it. NO phone call.

So - emails to: cbs5.com Consumer Advice; the company; Better Business Bureau; posting on Facebook and Yelp.com. And this.

My advice: DONT BUY FROM ASHLEY FURNITURE!!!

AND NEVER EVER NEVER PAY CASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hubby is convinced it is because they realized they sold them to us too cheaply and then threw in free delivery.....

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Slacking Off

I have been slacking - or ignoring this blog. But it has been a busy month!

Spent Father's Day weekend in Nevada with DD #2 - DD#1 and her family came up too!

Friday we celebrated Grandson #2's birthday a week late. They played - we went out to dinner - then back to the house for cake and a pinata. And then the 2 older boys from the CA family had a sleepover with the Nevada grands.

On Saturday we rode the steam train from Carson City to Virginia City - and back again. Most of us had fun!

No, I did not leave my bra - none of us did - mid day, no drinking, no wish to go braless on the rest of a hot day!
Yard deco....not sure about the Acme Bomb Co - did it make this deco? Or are they wishing it would blow up and take it all away?

How would you like to climb all those stairs just to bring the groceries in?


Photo op in the middle of the train ride....

June 19, 2010.....and yes, that is snow on them thar hills....


4 of the cousins....funny how they divided themselves for this photo...not sure how happy Jack is in his choice! This was just before the train ride. Since the two CA boys stayed over night with the Nevada grands, we drove them in our car to Carson Ciry cause we stayed in Fallon while DD#1 and family stayed in Fernley.













Guess they are not train lovers? Or maybe they are picture shy? But they sure were beautiful!






Lesson #1, how to embarrass your kids....go shopping at Walmart and buy matching shirts to wear...too bad it back fired and none of them were embarrassed! And too bad we didnt know that the next day was Hippy Days in Virginia City or we would have saved them to wear then!






I know I am prejudiced - but arent they beautiful!!!!!!!!








Sunday we went to a Wildlife Preserve outside of Reno called Animal Ark which was a lot of fun. Then we drove home from there since I had to work the next evening. We had a lot of fun - and it was so wonderful to have all of them together!
But the best news is....we then cancelled our plans to go to Jamestown the next weekend because we had a chance to babysit the Nevada grands! More photos to follow....

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Who to be furious with? The company or the government?

A rant against the horror of the oil 'accident' in the Gulf of Mexico.....bits and pieces gathered from the Internet:

Mother Jones named BP as one of the 10 worst companies in both 2001 and 2005 based on environmental and human rights records. In 1991 it was cited as the most polluting company in the USA.

It is the hundredth largest political contributor in the US having contributed more than $5 million to both Republicans and Democrats since 1991and the company has lobbied to be exempt from US corporate law reforms.

Historical issues associated with BP include, but are not limited to:

1993 - 1995 Hazardous Substance Dumping
2005 Texas City Refinery Explosion
2006 - 2007 Prudhoe Bay
2006 - 2008 Texas City refinary fatalities
2007 Propane Gas price manipulations
2008 Oil price manipulations
2009 North Sea helicopter accident
2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan pipeline
Columbian pipeline
Mist Mountain project
Canadian oil sands
Refinery safety violations

Some of the names of the companies that BP owns and runs in the US:

BP
Castrol
Arco
AMPM

Memorial Day weekend Finds

It was not a great weekend for finds. Even Coarsegold Peddler's Fair was smaller than usual...
But we did find a few things.

Found the Mickey for grandkids. Not a good shot of the find I got - not sure what it is. A dough bowl on a stand....maybe a yarn bowl??? Very 50's.
Longaberger pottery for $1!!!

This was supposed to be a 2 pc set but could not find the 2d piece. It is pretty - those are black grapes and all on the little glass. This, and the mug, were from a Rummage Sale. Also got a daughter a wonderful French bread knife for 50 cents!!!


Great colander! And the bowl - I love this Fire King color. And most of the bowls I saw were $8 - $12 - smaller - and in worse shape. I got this one for $4!!!!



Homemade jams that are delicious. And I love this combo cake/pie carrier!
I also got a great vintage Cherry Ames book!!!
But none of the tools hubby was looking for.




Hello?? Knock knock...Anyone Out There?

 Wow - I did not post ANYTHING for over a year?  But I have thought about it! And so much has happened! I came here to tell a funny little s...