rainy days are no excuse

Last night. Long Beach experienced a very dramatic and intense storm, with reports of downed trees, wrecked cars, flooding and the such, being the norm. However, at about 11 a.m., the skies stopped the pouring water routine and it seemed safe to venture out, so out I ventured. After some steak & eggs for bkfst, got some gas, went to the Y and did my working out thing. It was damned crowded, the most I've seen in the machine room, men, women and me...sharing these machines, getting fit and...well, at least tired, for New Year's. Outside the men's locker room was another scene altogether. Not a soul in the pool. The only humans were the lifeguards. Jacuzzi was under open skies, so it would not have been close to suitable just minutes before, but it was great this time. Thursday is my Dec. finale. Waiting for our evening rain.

Christmas

Despite all the work-out activity associated with my new Y visits, I'm still carrying around about 40 lbs of unattractive blubber, a whale of a problem. On the 23rd, the final day before Christmas that the Y is open, I put myself on the machines, and came up short on a few of them. Discouraged, we went to the Beachcomber party at the Fish Tale...the final one there...because, as of next week, the paper'll be in the Beachcomber tower at PCH and Anaheim. Can't wait to see it...actually, I think I can.

Booze, canapes, wine and conversation flowed like...well, booze, etc. There was Jay, a Les Robbins, a Liz, a Stacey, a Marchelle, and all the baggage associated with these good folks. Good conversation, good time.

On Christmas Eve, I figured something out. My previous Atkins experience paid off, so again, to Atkins, all meat, etc., we go once again. That's why at the Cropps on Christmas dinner, I ate ham, a tiny bit of salad and a few beans, and ham, like the pig took a detour on my plate. It piled on like a scrum in rugby, like USC playing Long Beach State, like a piledriver was in the driveway, and for all I know, it could've been. But that's a bit ahead in the story.

Friday, I took my usual, bww (before workout walk) with Dorothy the dog for the usual hour, from out house to Palo Verde...and this time, the walk in the park was no walk in hte park. I was pooped, and she did too, which I promptly and properly picked up and disposed of, oh yeah. Something's gotta give, if this is tiring, when it wasn't before. Gym's not open today or tomorrow.

Christmas morning, just Sylvia, Santa and me...and a rather low-keyed Christmas exchange, but some dynamite gifts, a call to DK. Paulette Stark called and invited us on the New Year's boat on which Mike will be working and Barb invited us to New Year's at her house...which I think we'll accept...too many unknowns with the boat with Sylvia's walking limitations.

Today, bacon and eggs, onions and cheese for bk, salami, cheese, nuts, asparagus, salad and ham for lunch and who knows what for din din, tho I think we'll be munching on beef ribs at some pt.

At 3, I went to the Y. Football games had slowed down, and I knew I had just so many more chances in the tryout, so there I went. I was improving on all of the 8 machines, legs, arms, more arms, and stomach...50 reps at 40 lbs, pretty good for an old guy. Passed on the sauna, baby it's cold outside, waiting for a week o'rain, at least that's what the TV experts predicts.

I've tried all forms of exercise, excluding boxing, rock climbing, para sailing and rodeo riding...well, there's also most forms of wrestling, pole vaulting too, iron man, decathalon, marathon...and don't forget bungi jumping, parachuting, almost every form of jumping, except to conclusions, surfing, snorkling, water skiing, snow skiing, lacrosse, any form of football...in fact, all sports, except for bike riding, backyard weighlifting and good old walking. So maybe, these machines and a dose of good old red meat might tighten me up and slim me down...then again, I could stop drinking.

It Was Just Before Christmas

On Sunday, worked out at a mostly empty Y, tho people began showing short of 2 p.m. Didn't do the jacuzzi or sauna thing, but had good exercise, enough that I could visit Ron & Mary Petke - Sylvia stayed home, had reaction to her flu shot - had a couple glasses of wine, did a gift exchange: he promised records, gave them 3 Christmas books, owes me 45s...gave me a 78 and a video.
Went to Lakewood Village home of Nancy who sold me some pretty good records for $30...I was head happy on wine.

Monday, ah, Monday. What happened? Robert Blake trial for one, went shopping on a productive jaunt, wrote a pretty damned good article for the Beachcomber on aggressive fundraisers...if I say so myself, a clinic on writing under deadline. Oh yeah, Nancy called back, found more 45s and LPs, spent another $20...that's a total of $50, more than I like to spend.

Tuesday. At the gym, another good exercise, tho on this day, plenty of young women, made me feel I was in the wrong quarters, but I wasn't. Maybe because of Xmas week, young teachers or college students are freed up to work the machines during the day. The jacuzzi proved the point, over 20 small, screaming kids in the pool area as I jacuzzied, with all the towels wrapped around the metal fence, it made me feel like I was at somebody's day camp...and you know what? I was. The sauna was much quieter. Nancy called back. Would I like the remaining records for $25? No.

Y not 4 and more

So this morning, we head over to the L.B. Health Dept. to innoc. up against the flu and when we get there...the line's about one deep, but Sylvia is afraid of the rubbing alcohol, so she goes to another counter to discover those shots cost $23...$2 at the rubbing alcohol clinic...which one to do? While she's gone, I get shot...and bring her back...they shoot her too...$4 for two instead of $46.

On way home, at Lakewood & Willow, I saw a Newport Beach PD car at the Holiday Inn, wondered why? Later found out, they arrested a L.B. Might Morph Ranger on money laundering charges in case of missing couple & their $400g boat. Weird.

Petke called about interviewing 3 Dog Night, wonder if it'll happen?

Then I head out to the Y where I get in one half hour of workout on about a half dozen machines, another 45 mins of jacuzzi and sauna. I've got it down to a sort of science, pants, shirt and sandals, bag for key and radio, trunks, which I put on, then doff in the locker room. Put on the unlocked clothes and I make like the wind.

In the jacuzzi, I begin talking L.B. history to Bob ---? who tells me his dad won a lot at Lakewood Village at the Belmont Theater in 1932, instead of plates or other crockery, but he really wanted the Cadillac which was the 1936 prize. As the lot of 20 percent of the value, they were able to get a loan, making payments of about $32 a month, but that was the depression...and so was I, thinking about those prices...as was the company that made the $32 loan, I'm quite positive.

dinner, KSURF and Y 3

Last night, as arranged, I met with Fred Bergendorf at a fine restaurant, and as promised, brought home a doggie bag of shrimp & pasta...delicious. Good stories, talk about his new MOR show on KCEO in Carlsbad and a generally good time. Was there until about 10...came home and watched the LB City Council approve the new Douglas Park development.

Before I went to bed, got an email from Mike Johnson, PD at KSURF talking about plans to do a "roots of R&R" show in 2005 and did I want to get involved. I thought it over, for a second, sure, why not?

Now comes day three at the Y. Went in there, positioned myself on all those unfriendly looking machines and did more exertion than I did last time. ..then to the jacuzzi & the sauna, all in about one hour plus. Good workout, I think I'm starting to progress, but I've got to find a way to keep Dorothy walking in the park too.

In the PM, I saw a report on flu shots and how the county health gives them out to all over 50, so I called LB Health, and they insisted their cutoff is 65...why the 15 year diff? Got a call back, and LB Health is dropping the age to 50 also, just didn't have a chance to get the word out...so Friday, Sylvia and I will head to LB Health...spend two bucks a shot...got investment.

Spent a whole bunch of time refiling records, recatagorizing, and doing a bunch o'busy work, and wrote an article about a police bomb dog. ..and the beat goes on...and on...

YMCA day II

Tonight was the WPMD Awards Dinner, went with Mike Stark, met up with Dennis Clare, John Potter, his co-host, Robbie Russell, Nurse Cheryl and others. Italian food and no wine, but fine time to dine.

Today, at 11 a.m., I had my first appt. to try the torture apparatus. Met up with Randy, a very good coach, for whom I did a whole 3 minutes on the treadmill type device, definitely not my thing. Retired to the sauna. Figured out I should bring car key, towel, trunks, ID and a pencil in a bag. Then I went into the jacuzzi with a loudmouth man and a rather husky blonde woman and were joined by an older guy. The big mouth guy could be heard inside the sauna, something I thought couldn't be done. Also, the woman in the sauna 2 days ago was Dennis Nesteby's wife, didn't realize that until I saw her again today. In my debriefing, I spoke with Audrey Echols, who suggested I get a before and after photo...but damn the luck, the camera lady was nowhere to be found...so the before shot of blubber is out.

Went through about one dozen devices, got them down pretty well, that part was fine. Did at least a dozen reps on each. Two days, more sweat. Interviewed the activities director, got my story going and I asked her about Alin Party store not really coming online as quick as most expected, well after Xmas.

Did a lot of record refiling in the past week or so, really whipping it and me into shape.

Tonight, no doubt, I'll go to the WPMD Awards Dinner at Cerritos College, munch Mexican, tho Italian was promised, sit at a table with Dr. Young, Dennis Clare, John Potter & his female black partner, Robbie Russell & Nurse Cheryl and Mike Stark and listen to Dr. Tina Tessina, at least I predict that's what will happen. Wonder what will come down, like the parking machine kicking back quarters to Mie.

why the Y - day one

I put in a hard morning of heavy lifting at WPMD and scooted immediately over to the YMCA on Carson at Woodruff for their 12 day course at becoming Vic Tanny...or is it Jack LaLanne? I filled out one info. form and got the standard walk-around-the-premises tour, beginning with these rooms of machines - aerobic, weight and torture - in as many rooms. Then of the gymnasium part of the facility with indoor soccer and basketball (not at the same time), men's locker, showers, sauna, jacuzzi and pool.

Having no towel with me, I had to adopt a strategy. I didn't bring my own lock and key, so I borrowed one from the desk. I didn't bring a towel - a must - so I showered and hit the pool. That was fine until I remembered I hadn't done something like this in literally years, and my skills have definitely not sharpened. It must have provided a good laugh for the female lifeguards on duty who watched me do my walrus like backstroke - except any walrus would drown using my flopping technique. Checked for my key and found it missing. Not a swift start for the budding healthy guy, so I scanned the pool until...there it was...and not in the ten feet section...more like five feet. I walked it over to the two feet section where I picked it up. I knew I needed it. This time I stuck the safety pin into two layers of trunks and imitated a bad swimmer for a couple of more of laps and jumped into the 'cuzzi where I talked to a lady about fees, her life, her husband's life and what's wrong with various elder health plans. Wearing out that subject, my next stop was the sauna which served to replace a towel...at 140 degrees, it better, and it did.

Then I went into the aerobic machines room. With no one available to make more than cursory suggestions ("try the treadmill" "try the bike"), I tried the treadmill, but got bored. So I went to several weight machines and had a ball. I watched a little old lady do her lifts and when she left, I took a turn at her machine. I couldn't let myself do less than she, so I did more...barely. Well, Monday's another day and I have an 11 am appt. with a trainer...so let's get down to the real heavy lifting.

granddaughter arrives the hard way

This morning, early, really late last night, we got the word. Our daughter Heather Buch delivered (as her husband Anders stated it) a 4.39 kg daughter - a girl! That's just under 10 lbs. U.S. We are thrilled and today, while we were out shopping, Heather called. She seems marvelously happy, almost, really, absolutely giddy.

The hard way, you ask? C-section. Never tried it, never want to, though it expedites good seating and posture, or so I'm told.

Next: a name! We will let you know when the naming occurs. Hope it's soon, with photos, of course. Later...

out of turkey

Thanks to the Cropps for a nice Thanksgiving. Their family, Ruth, Brian, Ryan and EC were there, very pleasant day, good food, conversation and nice chamber music recital by Daniel on bass and David on violin, while James is picking up the piano.

That Saturday, we got a last minute notice that Judy Flicker's mother had died, so we went to a wake at Joyce's that rainy afternoon, and though not really, really fun, we met some interesting people and got a good overview on Judy's life.

Sunday, I took a walk, while footballs all around me flew...on TV, that is.

Monday, met with Marchalle Hammack about the book we're thinking of writing, true crime, all that good stuff. We discussed a letter we rec'd from the true criminal who's in the pokey and wants to control the content...oh, yeah, right. I'll write him back, it's our way or we'll write it anyhow. Also called Cars & Causes, and arranged the donation of the Volvo...

Then Wednesday AM, I got a call from a woman who'd seen the Beachcomber ad and wanted to buy the car for her granddaughter. Meanwhile, I had to go to the Cable Commission meeting, so I arranged to meet her that PM. I called Cars For Causes and cancelled that afternoon's apt.

On the way back from Cable Commish, I stopped at Bagatelles, Tom Ventris was there and we talked like the 4 old guys we are. Then I stopped by Dizzy's and foudn 6 rare 45s...for $5...great deal! At home, the woman was waiting for me, felt like a stalking, but it went okay, and by dark I had sold the Volvo...no muss, no fuss.

Meanwhile, I had caused a city hall ruckus over Colonna's bulletproof glass, the PT pitched in, though they forgot to credit the Beachcomber. Jay told me that Colonna called him and threatened a lawsuit.

On Thursday, met with Jeremy Colonna in Jay's office for his side of the story. It was all very civil.

Friday was writing day...and Heather's still expecting, well past her due date.

Saturday and Sunday promise to be stormy & rainy...and out.