Sunday, August 31, 2008
Blast From the Past
This photo goes back to June 1996. Three weeks after it was taken, 80,000 tons of rock fell off a cliff in Yosemite Valley, burying the snack shack visible behind Lorie. The Happy Isles rockfall is pictured here and here.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Medieval Times
Today, we caught the 3:30 PM show at Medieval Times. What is it? From their site:
We arrived nice and early. The first thing they do is take your picture so they can sell it to you later. The guests are assigned one of the six knights to root for -- we were in the yellow section -- and we each received a crown denoting our allegiance.
Here are some of the characters lined so the king can go past.
After getting our picture taken, we went inside where there wasn't much to do.
So I took pictures.
Very expensive soft drinks while we waited.
Finally we were let into the arena. Perhaps because we were first in line we were given seats in the first row!
The menu was on the napkin. The only choices were between beer and Pepsi. I was driving, so I opted for the Pepsi.
Here is our knight, the Yellow Knight.
There were six knights.
They fought until only the evil Green Knight was left.
Then the Prince showed up, vanquished the Green Knight, and they lived happily ever after. The tournament was interrupted with displays of dressage. The horses were beautiful and very well trained. I didn't take many pictures because I was watching the show, but the Medieval Times web site above has pictures and explanations.
Medieval Times is an exciting, family-friendly dinner attraction inspired by an 11th century feast and tournament. Guests are served a four-course banquet and cheer for one of 6 Knights as they compete in the joust and other tests of skill.
We arrived nice and early. The first thing they do is take your picture so they can sell it to you later. The guests are assigned one of the six knights to root for -- we were in the yellow section -- and we each received a crown denoting our allegiance.
Here are some of the characters lined so the king can go past.
After getting our picture taken, we went inside where there wasn't much to do.
So I took pictures.
Very expensive soft drinks while we waited.
Finally we were let into the arena. Perhaps because we were first in line we were given seats in the first row!
The menu was on the napkin. The only choices were between beer and Pepsi. I was driving, so I opted for the Pepsi.
Here is our knight, the Yellow Knight.
There were six knights. 
They fought until only the evil Green Knight was left.
Then the Prince showed up, vanquished the Green Knight, and they lived happily ever after. The tournament was interrupted with displays of dressage. The horses were beautiful and very well trained. I didn't take many pictures because I was watching the show, but the Medieval Times web site above has pictures and explanations.
Griffith Observatory
Thursday evening, we went to the Griffith Observatory. Here is Claire with the Hollywood Sign barely visible on the hill to the rear, to the left of the antenna.
The observatory was renovated starting in 2002 and reopened in 2006.
This signage made us laugh.
One of the exhibits is a Tesla coil. As the docent said, "What does it have to do with astronomy? Absolutely nothing, but it is really cool!"
We went inside and saw the planetarium show. Afterward we climbed back up to the roof terrace to enjoy the lights of the city.
The observatory was renovated starting in 2002 and reopened in 2006.
This signage made us laugh.
One of the exhibits is a Tesla coil. As the docent said, "What does it have to do with astronomy? Absolutely nothing, but it is really cool!"
We went inside and saw the planetarium show. Afterward we climbed back up to the roof terrace to enjoy the lights of the city.
Monday, August 25, 2008
San Diego Weekend
We spent Saturday and Sunday in San Diego. We left early Saturday. The last time we tried to leave on Friday, it took five hours to drive down there. This time it only took three hours. We stopped in Old Town San Diego. It's supposed to be historic, but it's mostly shops selling cheap things. We bought Ashleigh a parasol at this place for $8.95. There are a lot of Mexican Restaurants, but we were hungry for lunch and went into the Acapulco that was closest to the parking spot we found.
This store sold minerals and gems.
I always thought stagecoaches were pulled by horses.
These performers didn't seem to have anything to do with history, but the guy did eventually juggle some knives while the girl stood on his shoulders.
Then we went to our hotel, the Embassy Suites in downtown San Diego. It had a nice atrium.
Which we got to enjoy for a while as we had trouble unlocking the door.
Then we took a walk through the shops at Seaport Village and then to the gas lamp quarter where Lorie checked out the Shorelines Gallery where she previously purchased the fish sculpture that hangs in our new family room.
Here is the USS Midway, a museum ship visible from our window. Lorie and I toured it back in October.
Sunday, we checked out and went to SeaWorld. We arrived just in time for the Dolphin show. This guy playing the guitar and singing was pretty annoying.
Still, it is fun to watch the dolphins perform.
I caught this guy jumping over the rope.
We stopped and fed the flamingos.
Here are some sea turtles. I'm not sure what kind they were.
At the tide pool, you can touch the starfish. There is also a place where you can touch some Bat Rays.
They have a raft ride, Shipwreck Rapids. We didn't go on it because we didn't want to get wet and have to drive home in damp clothing. I like the Archimedes' screws.
We went up in the sky tower.
Here it is from the ground.
We visited the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Okay, that wasn't really a Clydesdale. The horses were inside and I didn't take any pictures because they were behind bars.
Lorie and Becca decided to ride the Journey to Atlantis ride. Since it gets you even wetter than Shipwreck Rapids, they bought overpriced ponchos. The ponchos are supposed to look like orcas, but I thought they looked like Jedi. Here they are in line, not noticing me with my camera.
I stood in the sun for about 20 minutes before they finally appeared. Up they go.
And down, down...
Down.
Safe until the elevator phase.
We saw the walrus eating a fish. For some reason he kept expelling the pieces and then sucking them back in.
This Snowy Egret was waiting for an extra piece to float up.
We left around 4:45 PM and drove home. It was a good drive and we made it home in three hours. Here is the Journey to Atlantis ride seen from the parking lot. The tower on the left is the top of the water drop. The big tower is the elevator that lifts the car/boat up a second time.
This store sold minerals and gems.
I always thought stagecoaches were pulled by horses.
These performers didn't seem to have anything to do with history, but the guy did eventually juggle some knives while the girl stood on his shoulders.
Then we went to our hotel, the Embassy Suites in downtown San Diego. It had a nice atrium.
Which we got to enjoy for a while as we had trouble unlocking the door.
Then we took a walk through the shops at Seaport Village and then to the gas lamp quarter where Lorie checked out the Shorelines Gallery where she previously purchased the fish sculpture that hangs in our new family room.
Here is the USS Midway, a museum ship visible from our window. Lorie and I toured it back in October.
Sunday, we checked out and went to SeaWorld. We arrived just in time for the Dolphin show. This guy playing the guitar and singing was pretty annoying.
Still, it is fun to watch the dolphins perform.
I caught this guy jumping over the rope.
We stopped and fed the flamingos.
Here are some sea turtles. I'm not sure what kind they were.
At the tide pool, you can touch the starfish. There is also a place where you can touch some Bat Rays.
They have a raft ride, Shipwreck Rapids. We didn't go on it because we didn't want to get wet and have to drive home in damp clothing. I like the Archimedes' screws.
We went up in the sky tower.
Here it is from the ground.
We visited the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Okay, that wasn't really a Clydesdale. The horses were inside and I didn't take any pictures because they were behind bars.Lorie and Becca decided to ride the Journey to Atlantis ride. Since it gets you even wetter than Shipwreck Rapids, they bought overpriced ponchos. The ponchos are supposed to look like orcas, but I thought they looked like Jedi. Here they are in line, not noticing me with my camera.
I stood in the sun for about 20 minutes before they finally appeared. Up they go.
And down, down...
Down.
Safe until the elevator phase.
We saw the walrus eating a fish. For some reason he kept expelling the pieces and then sucking them back in.
This Snowy Egret was waiting for an extra piece to float up.
We left around 4:45 PM and drove home. It was a good drive and we made it home in three hours. Here is the Journey to Atlantis ride seen from the parking lot. The tower on the left is the top of the water drop. The big tower is the elevator that lifts the car/boat up a second time.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wine Tasting
Sunday, we went to Los Olivos do do some wine tasting. Becca is too young, but Erin accompanied us. We stopped in Solvang for lunch, then visited the Foley Vineyards.
Then we went into Los Olivos. First we stopped at Rideau.
Then in Los Olivos itself, we went to Longoria, Alexander& Wayne, and Arthur Earl.
Never fear that Claire tasted too much wine.
Then we went into Los Olivos. First we stopped at Rideau.
Then in Los Olivos itself, we went to Longoria, Alexander& Wayne, and Arthur Earl.
Never fear that Claire tasted too much wine.
UCLA Football Scrimmage
Saturday evening, Becca and I went to the UCLA fall scrimmage. It was somewhat different than past scrimmages because they started right in with 11-on-11 football. It was pretty vanilla and not much was gleaned. Afterwards, they had a meet and greet with the players. Becca wanted to see Gavin Ketchum (number 10 below), but he didn't play and left before the practice was over. Just as well since he turned out to have mononucleosis and will be out for three weeks.
We sat next to the alumni band, which was more interesting than the action down on the field.
The Bruins won, of course.
We sat next to the alumni band, which was more interesting than the action down on the field.
The Bruins won, of course.
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