Of travels, visits and such

A couple of weeks back grandson Declan visited. I've been too busy - not getting the blog updated, not getting the web site updated. Got to get it under control.

Anyway, Scottie put Declan, a confirmed city boy, to work!

They did some trim work on my garden shed - which you may notice is STILL not painted - on Declan's first day.


The boy also got a major introduction to the weed eater! Poor kid didn't know what he was in for on this vacation. Since so many Californians have a gardener, usually Mexican, and rarely bother to learn their names, they all become "Juan". So, I've dubbed Declan "Two".

Yes, of course, I know it isn't politically correct, but here's the deal: PC stinks. It keeps us from communicating honestly and openly with one another. Last week Scottie and I ate at Colima's, my favorite local Mexican food haunt. The owners/managers - a super nice couple - along with the young guys who work there are trying to help me learn Spanish. The gentleman was talking about having insisted that his kids speak both Spanish and English, kids didn't want to, etc., but are now glad they do, can communicate easily with the grandparents. He commented something to the effect that all Mexicans should know Spanish. I commented on the fact that he said Mexican rather than Mexican-American, Hispanic, Latino, etc.

He feels, as I do, that it's become a big issue over nothing and said "we are Mexican". Yea! Go have that conversation when everyone is being PC.

Anyway, enough of my viewpoints, here's Declan hiking with Gumpy in the park. They had to hike 2 or 3 miles to get to Moro Rock (road is closed for repairs), then climb the rock, then hike back. I'm wondering if Two will want to visit again. . . .

Scottie is in San Diego visiting his Dad, gets back next week, then we have San Diego visitors arriving here for a few days, then Scottie starts his seasonal job in the park (in uniform no less). My friend Michelle will then fly up from SD, spend a couple of days and drive back down with me when I got visit my father-in-law. FIL will be alone for 2 weeks while my sister-in-law travels, so I'm going down about the middle to spend some time with him. FIL will be 97 in September. Wow.

I'll also visit Mae Lou, my friend in the nursing home. Meanwhile, I have enough projects to keep Two through Twenty busy for a month! Want to come help?