Author Archives: cherethomas

Happy Birthday to Jen!

Above – Throwback photo from Maya’s 2nd Birthday. I figured throwing back would be a good idea on this BIG birthday! I hope you have a great day, Jen.

There was a big happening on my Monday morning walk at the foot of Orchard. I couldn’t find anything online as to why three news crews, one police car and two City workers were hanging around, so I did some sleuthing of my own. 

I found this interesting article on the OB Rag website from September 2, 2015 that might explain why one of the City workers was digging around on the side of the bluff. He was probably attempting to block the cave so some derelict doesn’t go getting him- or herself killed. Click on link or cut and paste into your browser: http://obrag.org/?p=98592#.ViVKMdZX9FI

Bear and I quickly became bored and moved on to our favorite private beach to take advantage of some photo ops. That is, after she rolled in a pile of dirty, stinky seaweed covered with flies near an old washed up lobster trap. Yuck!

I love the clouds and ocean contrast in this first photo.

Bear didn’t seem to mind the smell. In fact, I think she was quite proud of herself!
  

Later, after meeting up with Bruce … A bird’s eye view.

Trying to catch the photo during mid spray was tricky until I decided to hold my finger down on the button. See, I’m smarter than the camera!
  

The Martian – Thumbs up.

Matt Damon – Thumbs up.

Cinepolos Luxury Theater Del Mar – Thumbs up. Big, roomy, cozy recliners & good customer service, delivering our XL, extra buttery popcorn directly to our seats.

It’s been a long time since we’ve gone to a movie. I don’t even remember when or what movie we last went to last. I read the book (great read!) so I was interested in how this could be made into a movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

 Blogged in collaboration with Amma’s MacBook and iPhone with LOVE!

 

Oktober Medley

Note to Robb & Akuch – Keep those photos coming!

Oktoberfest tractor.

Oktoberfest sausage …

Thursday – Two of the newest batiked OBYoga t-shirts I got in India at work on the mat (Merle & Kim). 

Saturday – Three headstand modifications. L-R: using the headstand stool (soft block to keep feet active and from moving around), upside down through the ropes, & using a bench for sacrum support and lifted sternum (Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana in Sirsasana).

This afternoon we’re heading to Cineplex in Del Mar to watch The Martian in 3-D with Evan and Jill. Evan and I both read the book a while back and it was really good. Let’s hope for everyone’s sake I’m able to keep the coughing to a minimum :-/

Blogged using Amma’s iPhone & Macbook with LOVE!

Nate’s Butt Farm

Above – the OBYoga Water Bottle found its way to Copenhagen! Yes, it’s true. My good friend, former boss, current estate plan attorney and Billi Trust advisor Ralph Hughes sent me this photo.

Or is it Bate’s Nut Farm? I just can’t seem to remember …

Ron & Jen took the kids yesterday …

Pony rides!


Stunt rider … 

The slide!

  
  

Also yesterday, Kando makes friends at OctoberFest – courtesy of Akuch.

  

When we were at the pumpkin patch in Martinez last month, Alo and I took the slide. Here are two videos Bruce took of the same ride. The first one we’re climbing the stairs (you can hear Alo giggling along the way) & the second we slide down for the first time. I was a little worried about my back coming down but it was really a gentle drop.

Me – I slept last night! Finally! I made it into the doctor again Friday and found my “peak flow” was down to 210. Peak flow is the velocity of air on a hard exhalation. 210 is in my dangerous zone (acute asthma) so I guess it’s a good thing I was at the doctor. The acute asthma combined with an upper respiratory infection makes it really difficult to breath and to clear out any congestion in the chest. The doctor said he’s seeing a lot of asthmatics due to what he believes El Nino. Anyway, he prescribed prednisone (a steroid) in a heavy dose, tapering down over ten days. After two days of taking the heavy dose of prednisone, I finally got a good night’s sleep. Finally beginning to feel better, and it’s about time!

Go Chargers!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Cookies!

Happiness is making peanut butter cookies with Peanut Butter M&Ms and sprinkles, and eating all the ingredients before the cookies are baked!

   
    

  
Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

 

Yellowstone, Toddler Nudist Camp & New Digs

Above – Alo, Kando, Burt & Ernie, all content and happy.

Below – the OBYoga water bottle’s latest adventure to Yellowstone Park, courtesy of my student Natalia.

  

Where has YOUR OBYoga water bottle been?

Alo and Lily – Toddler nudest camp! 

Bill’s new digs. He moved in Saturday, set up with all his things, photos and, of course, best friend Blake!

  
  

Blogged on Amma’s iMac with LOVE!

 

That fish was THIS big!

Above – Kando & Amma during a rare occasion of Kando being awake. He is such a good baby! Very happy & content.

Below – more photos from the Martinez marina. Kando was sleeping in the stroller.

  
    

This lady caught this big striped bass.
  

Alo kept his distance. 

At the Holiday Inn sports pub before our departure. Selfie with Alo. Note the saved up food in Alo’s cheek. I think he was a chipmunk in a former life …
  

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Pumpkin Patch & Martinez

Above – Alo and Akuch at the Martinez dock.

Below – photos of Alo at the pumpkin patch last Monday.

   
 
After the pumpkin patch we drove to the marina. I had no idea the bay came so far inland and was so close to where Robb & Akuch live. It’s beautiful there.

   
    
 
I have more photos, & I’m sorry to be so late in posting these. I’ve been sick with yet another upper respiratory infection, winding up in the emergency room Wednesday. I’m still coughing quite a bit but feel I’m on the road to recovery. Today will be a day of rest for me.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

North SF Field Trip – Part 2

Above – Group photo from the point during our walk to the lighthouse.

Below, view from the parking lot of the miles of beaches to the north of the point. 

Along our walk, you’ll see a small deer in brush in the middle of the photo.

Half way up the walk to the lighthouse photo op.

Side of the bluff.

A look down the north side of the cliffs from the lookout.
Another view of the beaches. This one from the lookout.

Someone said 300 stairs. I don’t know because the gate was locked and I didn’t walk down there, but at the bottom is the existing lighthouse. I wasn’t sure if this photo would turn out because I took it looking into the sun. Not bad …

Grassy moss growing out of the rock.

On the ride back, a hawk sitting on a post on the side of the road. I was about 10′ away from it sitting in the car when I took this photo.  

Today after we checked out, Bruce and I met up with Akuch and the boys for another outing. Looks like you’ll need to wait another day for those photos.

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook with LOVE!

North SF Field Trip – Part 1

Above – Alo’s “silly face” at home before our field trip.

Below, Kando doing what he did most of the day yesterday. He is such a good baby. We were out driving and doing things from about 9:30am until 9:30pm. He slept most of the time and only cried when he was hungry. While he was awake and not hungry he was content and happy.

This stuffed bear was Jamie’s when she was a baby. When Robb was  born, Janni doctored it up quite a bit, sewing new feet, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and of course a heart. I saved it and now it’s Alo’s (& maybe Kando’s too). It was nice to see Alo with him (or her). Lots of sentimental value here.

We headed on a road trip for about an hour (although we drove much of the day) to Pt. Reyes, an absolutely beautiful coastline community north of San Francisco. According to Wikipedia, “Point Reyes National Seashore is a 71,028-acre park preserve located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, California, USA. As a national seashore, it is maintained by the US National Park Service as an important nature preserve.” This is a very large area consisting of pine trees (Bishop Pine, Douglas Fur and Coastal Redwood) in the inland area and miles and miles along the coast on the peninsula of still-operating historic cattle ranches established in the mid- to late 1800s. We saw a lot of cattle, deer and elk and a possible mountain lion sighting on a far hillside. Also, many birds of prey, a couple of which sat atop simple barbed wire fence posts just next to the road. According to one of the informational signs we saw, the area of water surrounding this peninsula is the home of the largest population of great white shark, and with that said, not surprisingly also one of the largest populations of sea lions in the world.

Before heading to the coast, we stopped at this park just outside the town of Pt. Reyes. The weather was perfect, and there weren’t a lot of people there.

Time for a selfie.

At this park is the Morgan Horse Ranch. The Morgan horse is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States. Here Robb and Alo admire a big pile of horse poop.

This horse was very friendly. Alo actually touched it … one time. 

Selfie. I think it liked me because I felt it nibbling on my shoulder.

Selfie. Alo wasn’t going to take his eyes off the horse.
  
  

Bug on a bench outside the restaurant where we stopped and had lunch. 

The bay just along the restaurant

We didn’t eat here, but this was worthy of a photo. Tons of oyster shells. They raise and farm oysters here.

Alo at lunch.

Selfie – me and Kando at lunch. He had already eaten and was very content.

At Drake’s Beach – Akuch and Kando enjoying the beach and weather. Kando was awake and just chillin.

Selfie at the beach. 

Robb and Alo enjoy the water. Sort of … as long as Robb didn’t put Alo down.

The beaches here are beautiful and go on for miles. Here we are on the south side of the peninsula – view of coast to the north.   

View of coast to the south.

We left here and drove to the lighthouse. I have more photos I’ll post tomorrow.

 

Robb has to work today, so we’re meeting up with Akuch around 10am and probably going to a pumpkin patch. We’re expecting more of the same good weather here today.

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook with LOVE!