March 17th - St. Patrick's Day Romp.

Disclaimer: No green beer was drunk here.

We took a drive into San Diego with the primary purpose being to get some corned beef and cabbage for the holiday.  Friday night we played Magic: the Gathering.  always fun and even one of John's cats got into the game.

On Saturday afternoon, we had picked Hooleys Irish Pub for our early dinner.  The pub was changing into an event mode, where they were going to not wait tables, but put out a buffet and got ready for a live band and dance night.  A couple of very nice people waited on us and made sure we were happy.  The food was good and we enjoyed it.

Later that night, we made a visit to BNS Brewing in Santee.  They were absolutley rocking with a live band.  The band had 9 members including a four person horn section.  R&B, rock, and disco.  They were a very tight band and we spoke to a couple of the members afterwards.

It was a mellow and fun night.  Erin Go Braugh!!!

Cat Playing Cards

Our waiter

Us

Nana got a wringer for her towel rack.

The Band at BNS

March 7th - A Day At The Fair

As most county and state fairs are held in the summer, The Imperial County fair is held in the end of winter.  It makes sense, who would go to the fair for a good time if it's 120 degrees?

It was a Tuesday near the end of the fair.  Just needed to get out and do something, so we went to see what it was like.  It's not a big fair, the fairgrounds are permanent buildings on the north side of El Centro by the airport and the beginning of the sister town of Imperial.  Entrance was pretty cheap.  There is a senior discount I qualify for, a couple of bucks, but we didn't see that until we had just gotten our tickets, and the girl said we were out of luck.  $2.00, oh well. 

We took Janie with us.  She was going to be moving on soon. 

We walked around and I tried to take some pictures.  There was an art exhibit and a law-enforcement exhibit.  Lots of crafts by local schools and colleges.  We came across an exhibit by the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association Branch 22.  Laurie knew most of the presenters there as it is a club her mom and dad have been associated with for a very long time. 

A couple of guys in bad superheroes costumes were going around on unicycles.  One was tall and the other normal size.  they juggled pins between them and told jokes and basically clowned around.  That was fun to watch.  There was a beer pavilion but the most exotic beer was Sam Adams.  We found the beer garden where the locals of Humble Farmer and Pentagonal as well as Mike Hess from San Diego had offerings.

We didn't try any of the rides, but had some of the food sample.  we had some great street tacos from one of the booths.

I haven't been to very many state or county fairs, but attended the San Diego County fair many, many times.  This was just another county fair.  A bit of diversion and fun.  Worth the meager cost.

Entering the boardwalk

This might have been a fun show, especially for the kiddies.  It wasn't happening while we were there.

One of the permanent buildings

Branch 22.  I've seen this guy many times at many shows.

Fun guys, but not mushrooms.

Beer Garden

October 19th - A visit to Concord and Worcester

"The thunderbolt falls on an inch of ground, but the light of it fills the horizon."

The four of us, Mom, Susan, Laurie, and I, took a day to visit Concord and their hometown of Worcester

Concord
Here in New England, we are constantly confronted with sites of such immense historical importance for a patriotic American.  Our visit to the memorial park of the original Battle of Concord where happened the shot heard 'round the world, was just such a place.  Many memorials and plaques describing and laying honor to those who shaped history here are to be found.  The place is beautiful and serene,much has it must have been just before the British army found themselves confronted by colonials on that morning in 1775.

There is a grave honoring the British soldiers who fell that day as well as the Colonial Soldiers.

After viewing the park, we went into Concord itself and walked around and located Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where the famous Author's Ridge holds the graves of authors such as Hawthorne, Thoreau, and Alcott.

A return to town and lunch at a wonderful little restaurant.

Worcester
We went to Worcester where we got the tour by Laurie's mom, who showed us the houses the family lived in, the church they attended, and War Memorial that Laurie's grandfather started.

This trip continues to be a journey of connection with Family and the history of our country.

On the sidewalk leading to the bridge.

Beautiful cool fall morning

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Author's Ridge

Hawthorne

One on the war memorials in Concord square

One of a few replicas of Michelangelo's Pieta made from the same type of marble as the original.

So much history

Concord, MA

Lunch. Fish and Chips, of course

Paul Revere relief

Worcester

WWII memorial

Harry W. Jenkins, a relative who served

Uncle Charlie's house

Next door, Mom's house

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