Category Archive: Family

Mandy's jump

My friend Mandy went skydiving on the day before her birthday. Carole took her out to California City — 118 miles north of Pasadena &mdash in the early morning hours of Friday for the pre-jump training, and I rode my bike out for the actual jump.

Here's an album and slide show of the pictures that Carole and I took, before, during, and after the jump. It was very cool.

SURF luncheon

Today was my second visit to the annual SURF appreciation luncheon. Last year's event at Smittie's on Lake was good fun - with LOTS of good conversation. This year was at the Tolman House, on the CalTech campus.

Tolman House was built in 1923, and given to the Beckman Institute some years later for use by visiting scholars and dignitaries. It also gets occasional use for small receptions like the SURF luncheon. My sister and I agreed that it's construction, decor, and especially smell reminded us of Grandma Casey's house in Alhambra.

We had a nice buffet, with chicken skewers, crab cakes, a great salad, and really good dessert items. I had a chance to talk with seven or eight people, and had a very pleasant stay. At the end, I helped pack the leftover food, and walked with Carol to the Ath to check out some rooms she's considering for an upcoming event (wink, wink). It was a nice afternoon, all around.

First time this season using the heater

I started up the heater for the first time this season. You know that funny smell you get as the heater burns off the dust that's been collecting since last spring? It came in spades.

We just ran it a little last night, then set the thermostat to 64. Most of the new-heater smell passed unnoticed in the middle of the night, but that first wisp brought back memories...