Lillies in the Garden

Love Doves Return

It's that time of the year when our fine feathered friends start to appear. The unusually warm weather is probably giving them a boost.

West Point Congratulations

Okay! I just have to let the whole world know that I am the proud Grandfather of Brady Mosk who has been accepted into the West Point Military Academy.

Congratulations to all of his family, and especially to his Father and Mother Linden Mosk and Cindy Bridges Mosk

You have a lot to be proud of!

Brady has been recruited to swim for West Point.

January is for the Birds

Hamas and SDEROT

Indy Pics from Far Away

Each week the Indy (Laguna Beach Independent) publishes travelers around the world holding up the Indy paper. The most current edition had 2 couples from Laguna Beach at Easter Island. I guess that is like 2 degrees of separation.

Here is the Publisher of the paper showing his travel holiday from Jean Paul Goodies Bakery (also known as the Coffee Nazi). Stu is a regular, as you can tell from his knit Beanie.... which also shows it does get cold even in Laguna Beach!

East Coast Flying High

You can tell this is not Laguna Beach.
Matter of fact, it is on the East Coast where getting High has a totally different meaning!

Definitely have to have some big ones to fly around in what looks like a converted golf cart.

The view from the "Red Baron"

Dolphins and Menoras

Lights at Main Beach on a really cold night!

Now this is definitely artsy!

Getting Rocks Off!

I was taking my usual daily walk on the beach when my eye caught a change in the rock formation. I thought some rocks had been added. My mistake!

Fire on Mystic

It was all over in about 90 minutes. Good thing it had just rained or we could have had a bad situation.

The property sits just above City hall

I am told this house was originally lost in the 1993 fires

Compliments from the one of the workers at Laguna Beach PD

It never Rains in California

Must be too cold to rain!

End of Car Pursuit - North Laguna

This nervous teenager thought the Police Car heading in the opposite direction on the Coast Hwy, was going to chase him (for no apparent reason) and so he took a quick turn up a side street and indeed got the officers attention. That started the pursuit. Once stopped, the standard procedures began for getting the driver out of the car in a way that was safe for everyone.

Date at San Clemente Pier

While the days were still somewhat long, we would go to San Clemente Pier for a Friday Night Sunset Dinner at the Fisherman's. Great value! Good food! Most excellent view.

The area surrounding the pier is right out of old California complete with railroad (you have to walk across the tracks to get to the beach and pier), surfers, and funky eateries.

Definitely worth checking out!

Pistol Packing Grandma

I thought it was time for Janet to know what I was doing when I left for the shooting range. It was time she learned how to pack heat.

I gave her a quick lesson in the kitchen on how to use the sight. It is a little tricky.

She did great! Actually.... better than great. After getting hit in the head by spent cartridges.... she put on the protective hood and actually looked intimidating.

No One Around

Actually, there was one lone surfer nearby.... and then there was me..... quite wet from not paying attention to a small rogue wave!

Horse Racing and Belly Dancers

We went to the races at Del Mar on Sunday, which is an annual event for us. On the way back, we drove up the coast and stopped at our favorite Armenian Restaurant in Carlsbad.

They usually have a musician playing Armenian and European music as they did this day. However, we got the bonus of a 'Belly Dancer'

Sailing Home

Sunday was a great day for a walk around Dana Point Harbor. Maybe because of the limited parking, it just never seems crowded.


We walked to the Harbor entrance and watched the sailboats returning.

Loving a Bandit and Hiding in a Pouch

The Sawdust Festival had a "Wild Animal" day and there was some fun stuff going on.

Joey the Red Kangaroo is just 6 months old and wants to hang with Mommy!

This bandit looks cute.... but it got uptight from the crowd reaction and scratched the nice lady showing it off.

KeyBoard Car for Nerds

On the way to dinner, my wife spotted the "Keyboard Car"!

Most different for sure. The car is almost totally covered with computer keys (from keyboards) resulting in various patterns and messages.

Pageant of Masters Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The Pageant of the Masters is celebrating it's 75th Anniversary.

A parade including many of the cast (Last Supper, Can Can....) paraded downtown from the Laguna Art Museum snaking through downtown and ending up at the Festival Grounds.

The cast of the "Last Supper' takes their positions.

Crossing Coast Highway heading to Festival grounds.

The Town of Armeno

My friend Armeno, has a town named after him in Northern Italy.

I guess the population is 50!

Must be just inhabited by Artists...

Mustang Rally in Dana Point

On the way home from coffee, I noticed a bunch of cars stopped at the side of the road in Dana Point on the Coast Highway. I pulled over and took some video and pics. Here is the video.

My Garden

Okay! I know this is boring stuff to most..... but I spend 3-6 hours each weekend working in the garden. Here are a few of my babies:

Singing Umbrella Lady

Cindy (the Umbrella Lady) appears here in one of her many outfits singing an "Oldie but Goodie". Cindy can be seen most days around town in a different outfit and umbrella.

The Hand!

For several years this thing has been growing on the back of my hand. Several friends suggested I use the standard method of smashing it with a book.

I was told the Bible was best. Since, I am Jewish, I thought I should use the Old Testament.

Then my Police friend suggested I whack it with her baton.

I finally decided to let the Doctor do it.

Spring brings the Baby Birds!

I love Spring. The Birds love each other and sure enough..... babies!


This one is the 'Big Mouth' of the 4. Three of the others are nearby trying to figure out what all the racket is. The nest is in a chandelier outside of my office.


This is a Mommy Humming Bird sitting on her 3 eggs in a nest she made in our Avocado tree.

Early Morning with JP

On the way to the airport real early (5:30 AM) to head to Virginia for a graduation.... needed to stop at the Coffee Nazi to get some Caffeine before he raises his prices. Sounds like he lost his voice.

Pool Shark

Okay! looks like Janet is getting ready to play Minnesota Fats!

Gibralter Ape to Drive

This guy (I think) is pondering driving this car. However, he is confused that this is British territory and yet the steering wheel is on the 'American' side. How strange.

Probably is an automatic to boot.

Suits him! Portugese Styles

I was wandering around the port town of Portimao when I came across one of the locals.

I guess the Portuguese taste in suits differs from mine.

Oh well... different strokes for different folks.

Found the people!

They were around the corner....

April in Paris

Well.... actually this is May 1st... but close enough.

I guess the Parisians don't think as much about Paris in April as we do.

I couldn't find anyone around!

Cedar Creek - Ivy House Closes

This weekend was the final role call for the daily drinking group at Cedar Creek.... lovingly remembered as the 'Ivy House'

People came from all over.... including 'Howard' who made great burgers and is now living in luxurious style somewhere in Arizona.

Some of the regulars have long moved to the bar in the sky. The remaining group is looking for a new watering hole somewhere in town.

At the present.... nothing has been selected.

B U M M E R !

DUI Checkpoint - Nystagmus

Ever wonder why the Police hold their pen or finger in front of your face going back and forth? It's called nystagmus and it a test to see how your eyes track.

So even though you tell the officer "I only had one drink".... he (or she) can tell if that was a really big drink by the way your eyes track.

You cannot control your eyes.... unless you close them and don't look.

Making the Height

For years I have tried to grow tall enough to make the height mark which designated a 'record' among photographers.

Now I know how it feels to be a record breaker.

Just like the New York Giants!

Terrible in Newport

I was drifting through the Newport Harbor when I noticed this Terrible boat. Turns out this boat is so afraid of getting wet... it refuses to go into the water.

That is Terrible!

Coffee Nazi allows Bikers

Biker Pluto Woolsey smiles as he becomes the first biker served coffee at the infamous 'Coffee Nazi' hangout. This has been a long sought after hangout by many of the bad biker Grandpa's!

Surfing Wrong Direction - Salt Creek

I'm no expert. But it sure looks like this guy is surfing in the wrong direction.

Sucker for the French

There is something about the French I really like.

Frenchie "Fletcher" had a sleepover with us to celebrate the New Years. He brought his companion to keep him company at night.

Fletcher is partial to Bears.

Turks and Caicos

I got this call from the travel agent informing me that our Windstar Cruise in the Caribbean had been canceled as a result of hydraulic problems.

My wife looked on the Internet and suggested we go instead to Turks and Caicos. I said I was not in the mood to eat out.... and besides, I never heard of that restaurant.

'Hey Doe Doe' she said. That's not a restaurant. It's an island.

'Okay' I said. Let's go check it out.

Checks out okay.

Chess Anyone?

I tried teaching my wife chess..... but she complained it hurt her back too much.

Back to the drawing board!

A long way for coffee!

A friend of mine was trying to get to the 'Coffee Nazi" in North Laguna Beach. I think he got lost!

Chateau du Sureau - Yosemite

I never visited Yosemite and thought it was time to check it out. As usual, my boss insisted on selecting the place to lodge at.

Now I know why she is the boss! She booked us into the Chateaus du Sureau where we were treated like royalty.

Oh yes.... Yosemite was great.... but I could hardly wait to get back to the Chateau and experience the 6 course dinner with matching wines.

How much???? Priceless!

Flying Lobster Escape Stopped

JP caught this lobster trying to escape by flying out of the kitchen. The lobster was no match for JP's lightening fast reflexes.

Yum Yum!

Luxury Living in a Water Tower

California has lots to offer that you just can't find anyplace else.

I was driving up to my Guru's place in Naples the other day and was wondering what it would be like to rent this place for a week.

It definitely has a great view.... but climbing those steps on the way back from the market must be a pain!

I wonder if they charge extra for water??

Caught in the act!

Just when I thought this Frenchie hung around me because he thought I was "the man"!

Surfer Trail - Salt Creek

Surfer Trail............

Escape to Pigna

My buddy AG is waiting for me to arrive and join him for a smoke and a drink.

This will take a while to get there, since he lives in Pigna Italy, a remote 13th century village. However, it is not that remote as to not contain the necessities of life!

Beach Traffic

Every day around 5:30 I walk on the beach. I find it relaxing. Especially after the rush hour traffic has stopped.

Butterfly Legs

It always amazes me how beautiful butterflies are.... and how not so beautiful the caterpillars they came from look.... not to mention what they do to my vegetable garden.

But .... they do have really skinny legs.