Yesterday I went out to dinner at the famous BBQ place on Sports Arena Blvd with the guy I picked up as a duty driver on 32nd street. It was really good ribs and chicken, but I wouldn't want it too often. Very rich food. Went to the library afterwords to drop off the movie from Sunday... then picked up a disc of Jeeves & Wooster at the same time. Watched one episode that night, then another one this evening. Pretty funny; and silly to see Dr. House so young and running around so cheerfully. :)
I did make it to the car wash tonight and put the brand new car cover on.
And I talked with mom and dad for an hour! Mom's nearly done with the dress, and dad needed some info for renewing my car tabs. So good to chat again!
Long weekend coming up!
Jp
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday...
So after all this, I lay down and read a bit of "I Will Repay", the first Scarlet Pimpernel book. Lying down made me relax from all that crazy driving. I felt a bit frazzled. I was going to PT today, but all I ended up doing was a few (very few) push-ups. I was worn out.
After that I watched the movie I brought home from the library yesterday, Young Victoria. It was an interesting little film focused on the time just before and just after she became queen. A very pretty period piece.
Then I decided to call Julie, since I haven't talked to her since last Sunday! She's loving her teaching job, being in charge of 4th graders, and high school PE and health. But she really loves living on her own for the first time! I'm so happy for her! We talked for nearly 45 minutes!
Then I spoke with Meg for a good half-hour. She had a question about me taking wedding pictures for a friend of ours... if it works out. And it was good to chat, as always.
But all this talking ran me out of time for dinner at the galley (darn... heh), so I had a burger at Five Guys, and now I'm having iced tea and a scone at Panera. What a shame... lol
Jp
After that I watched the movie I brought home from the library yesterday, Young Victoria. It was an interesting little film focused on the time just before and just after she became queen. A very pretty period piece.
Then I decided to call Julie, since I haven't talked to her since last Sunday! She's loving her teaching job, being in charge of 4th graders, and high school PE and health. But she really loves living on her own for the first time! I'm so happy for her! We talked for nearly 45 minutes!
Then I spoke with Meg for a good half-hour. She had a question about me taking wedding pictures for a friend of ours... if it works out. And it was good to chat, as always.
But all this talking ran me out of time for dinner at the galley (darn... heh), so I had a burger at Five Guys, and now I'm having iced tea and a scone at Panera. What a shame... lol
Jp
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A Sunday To Remember
Well, I woke up very early... 5:15 to be exact. It's because of that 4 hour nap...
I was hungry, so I decided to go have my usual at Denny's. Except I had yogurt instead of sausage, along with the eggs, toast & oatmeal (unfortunately, they were out of brown sugar, so I used regular sugar). I slept a bit more when I got back to my room, woke up before it was time to go to church, so I started sewing the NAVY patch onto my new coveralls.
Church was wonderful: the pastor was back, he gave a good little sermon about the woman at the well, and then there was a massive feast of spaghetti, pizza, salad & garlic bread afterwords. Apparently, they have a big spread once every few months. I got to visit with a few ladies before I headed back to base.
Finished the NAVY patch, then went volunteering for 3 hours at the library, only doing videos and audio books. From there I had some Chinese for an early dinner, and then went to try and get tickets for Breakfast at Tiffany's at the outdoor theater. But they were sold out... Still in the mood for a movie, I decided to check out Hillcrest Cinemas (where my parents and I saw Jane Eyre) for anything interesting. Midnight in Paris sounded good, but it didn't start for another hour. I went exploring, and found 5th Ave Books... a great used book store that I had noticed while getting to the cinema. It was so organized! And what selection! I used my entire hour there... found a book called Swamp Fox about Gen. Francis Marion, and another book about Narnia... "A Field Guide to Narnia", published in England, and very interesting.
Goodness, the movie was fun! The latest from Woody Allen, and the first movie I really liked Owen Wilson in. :) It was all about nostalgia... a modern-day writer who was in love with the 1920's. It had good things to say about people like that, and was fun to watch. Half-way through I guessed all the plot lines, but that didn't bother me very much at all. The movie opened with a few minutes of classic jazz music and scenes of Paris; I thought, "I'm gonna love this movie." And I did.
The popcorn and lemonade were very good too. :)
Jp
I was hungry, so I decided to go have my usual at Denny's. Except I had yogurt instead of sausage, along with the eggs, toast & oatmeal (unfortunately, they were out of brown sugar, so I used regular sugar). I slept a bit more when I got back to my room, woke up before it was time to go to church, so I started sewing the NAVY patch onto my new coveralls.
Church was wonderful: the pastor was back, he gave a good little sermon about the woman at the well, and then there was a massive feast of spaghetti, pizza, salad & garlic bread afterwords. Apparently, they have a big spread once every few months. I got to visit with a few ladies before I headed back to base.
Finished the NAVY patch, then went volunteering for 3 hours at the library, only doing videos and audio books. From there I had some Chinese for an early dinner, and then went to try and get tickets for Breakfast at Tiffany's at the outdoor theater. But they were sold out... Still in the mood for a movie, I decided to check out Hillcrest Cinemas (where my parents and I saw Jane Eyre) for anything interesting. Midnight in Paris sounded good, but it didn't start for another hour. I went exploring, and found 5th Ave Books... a great used book store that I had noticed while getting to the cinema. It was so organized! And what selection! I used my entire hour there... found a book called Swamp Fox about Gen. Francis Marion, and another book about Narnia... "A Field Guide to Narnia", published in England, and very interesting.
Goodness, the movie was fun! The latest from Woody Allen, and the first movie I really liked Owen Wilson in. :) It was all about nostalgia... a modern-day writer who was in love with the 1920's. It had good things to say about people like that, and was fun to watch. Half-way through I guessed all the plot lines, but that didn't bother me very much at all. The movie opened with a few minutes of classic jazz music and scenes of Paris; I thought, "I'm gonna love this movie." And I did.
The popcorn and lemonade were very good too. :)
Jp
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Evenings This Week
Wednesday, 24th: Duty Day... talked to Andrea Hawkins for a half-hour!!! Wow! And then I finished writing the the thank-you cards for the shower, shined my boots, and something else... too long ago.
Thursday, 25th: went out to Rosecrans to visit "Point Loma Books". Got Winne the Pooh, to read during dinner, and a very nice copy of Virgil's works. Tons of books in there; I'll have to go back, since I didn't get much time before it closed. Had dinner at Miguel's Mexican on Scott Street... I had pollo asado, and liked it better than the same dish at Santa Fe, our favorite back home. Decided I'd like some ice cream, so I stopped in at Cold Stone in Liberty Station for a small of half strawberry, half chocolate cake mix (so thick and good!). From there I thought I'd stop off along the waterway... gosh, was it beautiful! I missed not having a camera! Clouds towered up behind the low-lying, long arched bridge (Harbor Dr.), nearly in a pyramid. The inlet was light turquoise on the ripples and lavender on the calmer parts. The top of the pyramid was lit up with the golden, evening sun, and was reflected in the water. sigh.
Friday, 26th: When I finally got let go from the base, I headed out for dinner. Couldn't stand five more minutes in the galley. I had Georgia's Greek Cuisine, except I tried their chicken & rice soup, and a small Greek salad as well as the gyro sandwich. When I got back to base, the sunset had ignited the western sky, so I decided to drive out to Ocean Beach to watch it go down. Got there just at the end of it, but got a front row seat. Sat in my car and saw the sun melt into the ocean... a few silhouettes of surfers, lovers, and visitors made it particularly nice to look at. Stopped at Stump's Market on the way home; picked up wheat bread and baloney for snacks. I was also able to finish all my laundry... so that was nice.
Thursday, 25th: went out to Rosecrans to visit "Point Loma Books". Got Winne the Pooh, to read during dinner, and a very nice copy of Virgil's works. Tons of books in there; I'll have to go back, since I didn't get much time before it closed. Had dinner at Miguel's Mexican on Scott Street... I had pollo asado, and liked it better than the same dish at Santa Fe, our favorite back home. Decided I'd like some ice cream, so I stopped in at Cold Stone in Liberty Station for a small of half strawberry, half chocolate cake mix (so thick and good!). From there I thought I'd stop off along the waterway... gosh, was it beautiful! I missed not having a camera! Clouds towered up behind the low-lying, long arched bridge (Harbor Dr.), nearly in a pyramid. The inlet was light turquoise on the ripples and lavender on the calmer parts. The top of the pyramid was lit up with the golden, evening sun, and was reflected in the water. sigh.
Friday, 26th: When I finally got let go from the base, I headed out for dinner. Couldn't stand five more minutes in the galley. I had Georgia's Greek Cuisine, except I tried their chicken & rice soup, and a small Greek salad as well as the gyro sandwich. When I got back to base, the sunset had ignited the western sky, so I decided to drive out to Ocean Beach to watch it go down. Got there just at the end of it, but got a front row seat. Sat in my car and saw the sun melt into the ocean... a few silhouettes of surfers, lovers, and visitors made it particularly nice to look at. Stopped at Stump's Market on the way home; picked up wheat bread and baloney for snacks. I was also able to finish all my laundry... so that was nice.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Cars & Keys
Today I did things that I was too slow to do Monday night... when all I could do was sit and watch a bit of Thor and a Bears/Giants game on TV in Lib Hall, besides start the reading in the book A Hole in Our Gospel for the fall study group at the Presbyterian church, starting the 2nd.
I deposited my money in the bank (now I know how much I have!), stopped for treats for dinner at The Tin Fish and Con Pane in Liberty Station (shrimp taco, then a raisin scone and shortbread cookie). I locked my keys in my car back on base when I was getting out to look at my oil; then, thank the Lord, my roommate was still in the room so I could get the backup key without any issue. Decided after that to take it to Jiffy Lube, and they took care of everything while I watched a bit of Hidalgo in their office. Gassed it up at the NEX on my way back to base, then decided to break down and get the car cover online after that (that will help with all the dust, seagulls and sunshine it gets so much of every day).
Yay!
Jp
I deposited my money in the bank (now I know how much I have!), stopped for treats for dinner at The Tin Fish and Con Pane in Liberty Station (shrimp taco, then a raisin scone and shortbread cookie). I locked my keys in my car back on base when I was getting out to look at my oil; then, thank the Lord, my roommate was still in the room so I could get the backup key without any issue. Decided after that to take it to Jiffy Lube, and they took care of everything while I watched a bit of Hidalgo in their office. Gassed it up at the NEX on my way back to base, then decided to break down and get the car cover online after that (that will help with all the dust, seagulls and sunshine it gets so much of every day).
Yay!
Jp
Touch-down, Washington!
It was so good! 15 full days of leave, along with the evening of Friday, August 5th, and the very early morning of Sunday, August 21st. And it was free leave!
My flight on Friday afternoon was a bit delayed leaving San Diego... by an hour or so... so I got cold and wore my sweatshirt until it got a little too warm on the drive home from the airport. Even though delayed, I still was able to transfer to the next plane in San Francisco with just time to use the bathroom and then board with a couple people behind me.
Coming in to Seattle was such a joy! There was a thick layer of clouds surrounding the entire region, and nothing could make me happier! I told myself, "There goes the sun, Little Darling." as we descended into the grey. Such a relief.
It's impossible (and a little undesired) to remember each day with detail. I spent a bunch of time during the second week packing up the things in my room. Since I'm getting married, it seems rather unlikely that I'll want or need my tiny, cute, cluttered (or busily organized) room anymore. I started with taking the patches off my closet curtain and putting them into binders that can be looked at easily. Dad bought a bunch of small Home Depot boxes and those got pretty much filled. I weeded out a bunch of books (I still have 13 boxes of them), and even more junk that I really didn't want. I got $20 cash for the books, and another $20 for a 1943 mortar quadrant at the surplus store (someone had found it somewhere and given it to me). Meg and I went to Half Price Books twice... I found CS Lewis's Abolition of Man, and the WWII story In Harm's Way; the second time I picked up The Rescuers Down Under... which I think I saw in the theater (back in 1990). It was a favorite of mine, since it was all about an eagle.
There were also lots of games of Phase 10 and Backgammon. I went 3 for 9 against Meg in the former. I think my average was better in the latter. And I heartily enjoyed self-cooked breakfasts. There is nothing that can beat scrambled eggs at home, especially when enjoyed along with oatmeal, non-fat milk and fresh, hot toast with butter.
I tried on the wedding dress on Saturday the 6th... Mom only needed to make a few minor adjustments for it to fit perfectly. And Sunday was the Wedding Shower. Julie and Jackie were there first, and Chaya and Andrea also came... making it the first time I had my three best friends from childhood together since I was about 10 or 11 years old. It was a lovely time; Meg and Mom planned the food and games very well. It was snack foods from chips & dip to shrimp & cocktail sauce... and on the question game (Meg asked Mike some questions about himself, and I was supposed to answer correctly during the party - or eat something every time I got one wrong) and I did pretty well, considering the difficulty of the questions. My Aunt Penny and Gramma Payne also came, and I tried on Penny's wedding dress from around 1990... it was fun, but the one Mom made looks so much better on me. I showed off that one too, and I think even Penny agreed.
The biggest surprise, however, was Monday afternoon, the 8th. Mom wasn't feeling good... stomach cramps that could be appendicitis. Meg and Jason picked me up from the recruiter's, and we called the doctor when we found mom worse and lying in bed awake. They suggested coming in, so we drove her to the clinic in Bellevue, just off the freeway. After a few hours (and pain meds, thankfully) they found it was her gallbladder... and that it needed to come out that night. By the time they took her to get ready for surgery, it was time to go pick up Zac from the airport. He had ten days of leave, and that's why I picked these days for mine. Meg, Jason and I got him and continued to downtown Bellevue for the ritualistic "first dinner at Chipotle". Andie, Nathan, the kids and a few of his friends met us there, and it was very good.
Mom's surgery took a little longer than they thought because the gallbladder was so bad. She was still in when we arrived with Zac, Andie & family in tow... but soon in recovery. We eventually did see her for a moment and got her back home the next afternoon.
Since she needed to rest and recover, I and the others got to be more domestic than we'd otherwise be. Dishes and dinners every day! One lunch (Tuesday, when Meg's car broke down when coming to get me from recruiting) I picked up her favorite, almond fried chicken, from Chan's Place (near the shop we dropped her car off at). That was great! Not only that, but that was the day Julie came over again (for about 8 hours!) to talk and play games.
By Friday the 12th, Mom felt good enough to go with me to Fred's to pick out a wedding ring. We went very slow, and it was a good thing they had chairs to sit down on at the counter of the jeweler's. It was Mom's idea (I have no idea about this sort of thing)... a larger ring to exactly match my smaller engagement ring! :)
I went and got take-out from Santa Fe Mexican Grill once, and we ate there again the night before I left. Also had an Outback Steakhouse night with Mom, Dad & Zac the night before he left.
It was simply wonderful to be back at ease and at home. Even though there was lots of craziness, we all enjoyed our time very much. I packed up much of my room and saw my wonderful family for a good, long time.
My flight on Friday afternoon was a bit delayed leaving San Diego... by an hour or so... so I got cold and wore my sweatshirt until it got a little too warm on the drive home from the airport. Even though delayed, I still was able to transfer to the next plane in San Francisco with just time to use the bathroom and then board with a couple people behind me.
Coming in to Seattle was such a joy! There was a thick layer of clouds surrounding the entire region, and nothing could make me happier! I told myself, "There goes the sun, Little Darling." as we descended into the grey. Such a relief.
It's impossible (and a little undesired) to remember each day with detail. I spent a bunch of time during the second week packing up the things in my room. Since I'm getting married, it seems rather unlikely that I'll want or need my tiny, cute, cluttered (or busily organized) room anymore. I started with taking the patches off my closet curtain and putting them into binders that can be looked at easily. Dad bought a bunch of small Home Depot boxes and those got pretty much filled. I weeded out a bunch of books (I still have 13 boxes of them), and even more junk that I really didn't want. I got $20 cash for the books, and another $20 for a 1943 mortar quadrant at the surplus store (someone had found it somewhere and given it to me). Meg and I went to Half Price Books twice... I found CS Lewis's Abolition of Man, and the WWII story In Harm's Way; the second time I picked up The Rescuers Down Under... which I think I saw in the theater (back in 1990). It was a favorite of mine, since it was all about an eagle.
There were also lots of games of Phase 10 and Backgammon. I went 3 for 9 against Meg in the former. I think my average was better in the latter. And I heartily enjoyed self-cooked breakfasts. There is nothing that can beat scrambled eggs at home, especially when enjoyed along with oatmeal, non-fat milk and fresh, hot toast with butter.
I tried on the wedding dress on Saturday the 6th... Mom only needed to make a few minor adjustments for it to fit perfectly. And Sunday was the Wedding Shower. Julie and Jackie were there first, and Chaya and Andrea also came... making it the first time I had my three best friends from childhood together since I was about 10 or 11 years old. It was a lovely time; Meg and Mom planned the food and games very well. It was snack foods from chips & dip to shrimp & cocktail sauce... and on the question game (Meg asked Mike some questions about himself, and I was supposed to answer correctly during the party - or eat something every time I got one wrong) and I did pretty well, considering the difficulty of the questions. My Aunt Penny and Gramma Payne also came, and I tried on Penny's wedding dress from around 1990... it was fun, but the one Mom made looks so much better on me. I showed off that one too, and I think even Penny agreed.
The biggest surprise, however, was Monday afternoon, the 8th. Mom wasn't feeling good... stomach cramps that could be appendicitis. Meg and Jason picked me up from the recruiter's, and we called the doctor when we found mom worse and lying in bed awake. They suggested coming in, so we drove her to the clinic in Bellevue, just off the freeway. After a few hours (and pain meds, thankfully) they found it was her gallbladder... and that it needed to come out that night. By the time they took her to get ready for surgery, it was time to go pick up Zac from the airport. He had ten days of leave, and that's why I picked these days for mine. Meg, Jason and I got him and continued to downtown Bellevue for the ritualistic "first dinner at Chipotle". Andie, Nathan, the kids and a few of his friends met us there, and it was very good.
Mom's surgery took a little longer than they thought because the gallbladder was so bad. She was still in when we arrived with Zac, Andie & family in tow... but soon in recovery. We eventually did see her for a moment and got her back home the next afternoon.
Since she needed to rest and recover, I and the others got to be more domestic than we'd otherwise be. Dishes and dinners every day! One lunch (Tuesday, when Meg's car broke down when coming to get me from recruiting) I picked up her favorite, almond fried chicken, from Chan's Place (near the shop we dropped her car off at). That was great! Not only that, but that was the day Julie came over again (for about 8 hours!) to talk and play games.
By Friday the 12th, Mom felt good enough to go with me to Fred's to pick out a wedding ring. We went very slow, and it was a good thing they had chairs to sit down on at the counter of the jeweler's. It was Mom's idea (I have no idea about this sort of thing)... a larger ring to exactly match my smaller engagement ring! :)
I went and got take-out from Santa Fe Mexican Grill once, and we ate there again the night before I left. Also had an Outback Steakhouse night with Mom, Dad & Zac the night before he left.
It was simply wonderful to be back at ease and at home. Even though there was lots of craziness, we all enjoyed our time very much. I packed up much of my room and saw my wonderful family for a good, long time.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A Dinner To Remember
On the way home from snorkeling this weekend I saw a sign for "All-you-can-eat Crab" for $29. The idea struck me as a wonderful one... so yesterday I looked it up online, found they had bad reviews. But I found another place with the same price, just across the inlet of the bay from the base!
So I made reservations. I got there right on time, and they gave me the best seat in the house... a horseshoe booth on the far wall, up a bit to look over the people dining at the windows, facing the bay, looking right at downtown San Diego. I had a unique Caesar salad to start... it came out in wedge style, with a slice of Parmesan cheese, a slice of bread (for croutons) and two filleted sardines.
It was Snow crab that took up most of my time. They gave me a huge hunk of very hot sourdough bread, and a cup of sliced potatoes, but I got that to go at the end of the evening. I had three orders of Snow and one of Dungeness. I took about an hour to eat everything... crab cracking taking so long. :) Because this was so good and so crazy, I had peach cobbler to finish it off. LOL! What a night. I won't do this again for a long while!
Jp
So I made reservations. I got there right on time, and they gave me the best seat in the house... a horseshoe booth on the far wall, up a bit to look over the people dining at the windows, facing the bay, looking right at downtown San Diego. I had a unique Caesar salad to start... it came out in wedge style, with a slice of Parmesan cheese, a slice of bread (for croutons) and two filleted sardines.
It was Snow crab that took up most of my time. They gave me a huge hunk of very hot sourdough bread, and a cup of sliced potatoes, but I got that to go at the end of the evening. I had three orders of Snow and one of Dungeness. I took about an hour to eat everything... crab cracking taking so long. :) Because this was so good and so crazy, I had peach cobbler to finish it off. LOL! What a night. I won't do this again for a long while!
Jp
Sunday, July 31, 2011
At the End of a Wonderful Weekend
Friday, the weekend started immediately after the afternoon muster. I had met somebody from my barracks back in Great Lakes on Thursday evening in Lib Hall. We were on our computers across from each other. He's an FC, here for C school, and has only been here three weeks. Not being around yet, I offered to show him Balboa Park and possibly a play as well. He said sure, and we met across the street at the sushi place. Never been there before, and it was excellent!
At Balboa we saw the Air & Space Museum (rode a WWII fighter simulator) and the Zoo (first riding across it in the gondola)... both of which were free for us active duty folks! About five o'clock we went downtown for Italian at a Bucca de Beppo (had a coupon from volunteering at the library) and we shared their mammoth lasagna and fried mozzarella! Yum! And then we returned to Balboa for the romantic comedy "Engaging Shaw", which opened that night (and was very clever and fun). In the big crowd they had for the opening of their annual gala event before the show started, I saw Ms. Naughton when her husband walked past us to join her. Didn't feel I should say hello, as they were talking and I was with someone who had no idea who she was. She was very elegant, in a simple black evening dress with a v neckline. I so wished I could, but I went right into the theater instead.
Saturday was very restful by contrast... we did so much walking the day before. Got up at 11:30! That's the longest sleep-in time ever, I think. I suppose I needed it, because I didn't feel like I over-slept either! I went right to the Library, forgetting that I wanted breakfast at Denny's... they needed lots of help, so I stayed until the 2:30 closing, shelving 3 and a half carts of popular fiction. I had my breakfast on the way back... boy was that good! Just my regular, but I hadn't had it in a while. Back in my room I watched "The Family Way" (1966, Hayley Mills... the first adult film I've seen her in!) and enjoyed it a bunch. The rest of the evening I spent going through the stuff in my closet, before I realized I was late for chat. And then the connection didn't work again (I think I shall try registering my nick).
Sunday it was another good sermon to follow up last week's. Charly and David met up with me there, and afterwords we took off together for an afternoon of snorkeling. Rented from a place on Mission Bay this time, and it was a few dollars cheaper for more time. Had Subway on the way, then saw a bunch of fishies in the cold water. We switched beaches half-way through, and at the second I felt like staying on solid ground. But I had brought my camera, so I was fully engaged the entire time. :) Had Chipotle on the way home, and that was it.
After all was said and done, I figured out I spent $100 on everything this weekend... I think I shall try to limit myself a bit more in the future with a budget.
At Balboa we saw the Air & Space Museum (rode a WWII fighter simulator) and the Zoo (first riding across it in the gondola)... both of which were free for us active duty folks! About five o'clock we went downtown for Italian at a Bucca de Beppo (had a coupon from volunteering at the library) and we shared their mammoth lasagna and fried mozzarella! Yum! And then we returned to Balboa for the romantic comedy "Engaging Shaw", which opened that night (and was very clever and fun). In the big crowd they had for the opening of their annual gala event before the show started, I saw Ms. Naughton when her husband walked past us to join her. Didn't feel I should say hello, as they were talking and I was with someone who had no idea who she was. She was very elegant, in a simple black evening dress with a v neckline. I so wished I could, but I went right into the theater instead.
Saturday was very restful by contrast... we did so much walking the day before. Got up at 11:30! That's the longest sleep-in time ever, I think. I suppose I needed it, because I didn't feel like I over-slept either! I went right to the Library, forgetting that I wanted breakfast at Denny's... they needed lots of help, so I stayed until the 2:30 closing, shelving 3 and a half carts of popular fiction. I had my breakfast on the way back... boy was that good! Just my regular, but I hadn't had it in a while. Back in my room I watched "The Family Way" (1966, Hayley Mills... the first adult film I've seen her in!) and enjoyed it a bunch. The rest of the evening I spent going through the stuff in my closet, before I realized I was late for chat. And then the connection didn't work again (I think I shall try registering my nick).
Sunday it was another good sermon to follow up last week's. Charly and David met up with me there, and afterwords we took off together for an afternoon of snorkeling. Rented from a place on Mission Bay this time, and it was a few dollars cheaper for more time. Had Subway on the way, then saw a bunch of fishies in the cold water. We switched beaches half-way through, and at the second I felt like staying on solid ground. But I had brought my camera, so I was fully engaged the entire time. :) Had Chipotle on the way home, and that was it.
After all was said and done, I figured out I spent $100 on everything this weekend... I think I shall try to limit myself a bit more in the future with a budget.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
"In View of Mercy"
It was an outstanding service this morning. The youth pastor (the young, skinny guy with curly blond hair), who had lead worship my first two Sundays at Mission Village, preached on the gospel. He called it Gospel 101, or something like that. He threw tons of passages at us, some of them famous, all outlining the simple news of salvation by faith (that the entire world cannot fully come to grips with - yes, even me). It was a duh moment for me when he talked about scriptures that seem to contradict this... he used Matthew 6, the sermon on the mount... anyone who doesn't forgive will not be forgiven. I guess I haven't thought about it much, but yes, this seems to invalidate what Paul preached over and over. Faith alone. But... And... Nope! It really is that simple.
He talked about the coming of the new covenant. How Jesus says at the last supper that his blood is the beginning of it. That clearly means that the sermon on the mount (and I really feel I should slap my forehead here) was given to illustrate the old covenant. Jesus was showing us that even though we may think we keep the 10 commandments, we don't. Stuff like, "Anyone who ever says "you fool" to anyone is in danger of hell fire... anyone who hates someone is guilty of murder". That's impossible to keep... and that's the point.
And then he moved on to 1 John 1:9... and sort of shocked me with saying John wasn't talking to believers when he wrote it. If we are saved, we "forgive just as Christ forgave you" (Ephesians). Yes, we ask for forgiveness when we sin; but we are already saved. We don't have to... we want to. Because as John says, the light doesn't have anything to do with the darkness.
This has been the first time in a long time I've been made to think when I've attended church. It was so good.
And not only did they make me think, but they also served a brunch afterwords. Cheese, spinach & bacon quiche, sausage & potato soup, bread, lemon & chocolate cakes, and unsweetened iced tea! A feast!
I went directly to Balboa Park after this, to enjoy more free museums. Air & Space Museum first (James... you really need to go sometime!). I went back in 2009, and it was fun again. Paid attention to some of the things I overlooked in a hurry then. The portraits of people in the Flying Hall of Fame throughout... the new display on naval aviation... the detail of the Dauntless, the Hellcat and the Wildcat they have on a created deck of a carrier (with a zero flying overhead). I loved seeing it all again. They had "Flyboys" playing in the very good WWI exhibit, and "Tora,Tora,Tora" playing under the makeshift ready-room of the carrier.
Okay... and for the first time I saw the houses of Pacific relations... the title confused me, as most of them were European countries. Little huts with tid-bits of that specific country displayed in each, along with traditional treats and travel books. I was impressed.
Also for the first time, the Hall of Sports Champions from San Diego... including a live large mouth bass in a tank by the pictures of sports fishermen. I stopped in the Museum of Photography again for a new exhibit on portraits, and again to the San Diego History Museum for a look at the paintings. But they also had a new permanent exhibit... a big collection of photographs was donated by the family of a local studio for black people back in the 1960's. Interesting to look at!
And for the first time the Model Railroad Museum. This I paid $2.50 for, but I didn't mind. :) They had several models of downtown San Diego and the surrounding country from different periods... first the 1930's, then moving on through the 60's or so. The even had a couple different models of El Centro... one with a working drive-in theater, playing Laurel and Hardy. lol
Dinner was a modest half sandwich and a lemon bar at the cafe near these last three things. And as I was leaving the park I thought again how I wished I had my camera, with all the interesting clouds and lovely light... and while driving back I decided to come back with them. I loaded the best onto Facebook as I talked with Mike back on base.
What a day.
Jp
He talked about the coming of the new covenant. How Jesus says at the last supper that his blood is the beginning of it. That clearly means that the sermon on the mount (and I really feel I should slap my forehead here) was given to illustrate the old covenant. Jesus was showing us that even though we may think we keep the 10 commandments, we don't. Stuff like, "Anyone who ever says "you fool" to anyone is in danger of hell fire... anyone who hates someone is guilty of murder". That's impossible to keep... and that's the point.
And then he moved on to 1 John 1:9... and sort of shocked me with saying John wasn't talking to believers when he wrote it. If we are saved, we "forgive just as Christ forgave you" (Ephesians). Yes, we ask for forgiveness when we sin; but we are already saved. We don't have to... we want to. Because as John says, the light doesn't have anything to do with the darkness.
This has been the first time in a long time I've been made to think when I've attended church. It was so good.
And not only did they make me think, but they also served a brunch afterwords. Cheese, spinach & bacon quiche, sausage & potato soup, bread, lemon & chocolate cakes, and unsweetened iced tea! A feast!
I went directly to Balboa Park after this, to enjoy more free museums. Air & Space Museum first (James... you really need to go sometime!). I went back in 2009, and it was fun again. Paid attention to some of the things I overlooked in a hurry then. The portraits of people in the Flying Hall of Fame throughout... the new display on naval aviation... the detail of the Dauntless, the Hellcat and the Wildcat they have on a created deck of a carrier (with a zero flying overhead). I loved seeing it all again. They had "Flyboys" playing in the very good WWI exhibit, and "Tora,Tora,Tora" playing under the makeshift ready-room of the carrier.
Okay... and for the first time I saw the houses of Pacific relations... the title confused me, as most of them were European countries. Little huts with tid-bits of that specific country displayed in each, along with traditional treats and travel books. I was impressed.
Also for the first time, the Hall of Sports Champions from San Diego... including a live large mouth bass in a tank by the pictures of sports fishermen. I stopped in the Museum of Photography again for a new exhibit on portraits, and again to the San Diego History Museum for a look at the paintings. But they also had a new permanent exhibit... a big collection of photographs was donated by the family of a local studio for black people back in the 1960's. Interesting to look at!
And for the first time the Model Railroad Museum. This I paid $2.50 for, but I didn't mind. :) They had several models of downtown San Diego and the surrounding country from different periods... first the 1930's, then moving on through the 60's or so. The even had a couple different models of El Centro... one with a working drive-in theater, playing Laurel and Hardy. lol
Dinner was a modest half sandwich and a lemon bar at the cafe near these last three things. And as I was leaving the park I thought again how I wished I had my camera, with all the interesting clouds and lovely light... and while driving back I decided to come back with them. I loaded the best onto Facebook as I talked with Mike back on base.
What a day.
Jp
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Retro-Posted, Again
Just another Liberty Weekend post... for July 22, 23. It's practically the only time I have to myself these days (when I'm not falling-over, tired). :)
Friday afternoon I spent nearly my last 40 dollars. :) I'm not actually broke... I'm just not giving in to the temptation of tapping into the savings account. The buck needs to stop somewhere. :)
I went out to see Captain America on opening day with Matthew Ferry, my friend from A school. He's going through the electronics course I did in Great Lakes, so it's fun remembering when he mentions how it's going. Captain America was so much fun! A good old-fashioned American kid making it big through a scientist's breakthrough, muscle-enhancing procedure. And then he beats up on "Red Skull" a genetically-altered Nazi who is about to destroy the world. I loved the Forties feel... and how he finally enlists at the NY World's Fair. The storyline flows really well; they don't over-do anything, and there's not a preachy message either. Tommy Lee Jones is in it too, and I always like his movies.
I had popcorn and a lemonade, so I was out over $20 by the time I sat down to the movie. We had pizza at the food court outside afterwords, and then we dropped by a sporting goods store after that... he needed PT clothes and I found little flashlights (especially for working in dark spaces aboard ships). I probably wouldn't have gotten them if I had checked my bank account. You see, this week I absolutely couldn't wait one more week to buy honeymoon plane tickets... lol! I can't wait...
So on Saturday (the 23rd), after I slept in til ten-something, did my laundry and ate Frosted Mini-Wheats as I watched "The Americanization of Emily" from 1962 (James Garner, Julie Andrews). A funny, dramatic, semi-anti-war romance that made me love it, even though I didn't agree with some of the 60's philosophies involved. I finished it up to the last second I could wait before needing to head to The Old Globe for the one-man show about Leonard Bernstein. I barely had time for the Caprese sandwich in their courtyard, but I fit it in. A new play by the same guy who did "Gershwin Alone". Lots of singing, piano-playing, and reminiscing about family and career. This one opened with a TV show of the real Bernstein, projected on a huge curtain that back-dropped the stage, teaching the fundamentals of conducting. I thought about my band directors throughout the play. :)
Afterwords, it was only about 3:30... so I thought I'd look at the new exhibits at the San Diego Art Museum nearby. They had a big collection of Spanish painters, and a bunch of turn-of-the-century American furniture/interior designs. Very fun to look at, but as it turned out, free as well! I had heard briefly from my roommate about free Balboa Park museums for Active Military until Labor Day... and it was true! The only thing that startled me was the failure of my credit card in the store... I had to buy that cute little coin purse embroidered with blue birds with cash! On the way home, I decided to try out Five Guys and had a large hamburger and fries before getting on chat back on base.
Jp
Friday afternoon I spent nearly my last 40 dollars. :) I'm not actually broke... I'm just not giving in to the temptation of tapping into the savings account. The buck needs to stop somewhere. :)
I went out to see Captain America on opening day with Matthew Ferry, my friend from A school. He's going through the electronics course I did in Great Lakes, so it's fun remembering when he mentions how it's going. Captain America was so much fun! A good old-fashioned American kid making it big through a scientist's breakthrough, muscle-enhancing procedure. And then he beats up on "Red Skull" a genetically-altered Nazi who is about to destroy the world. I loved the Forties feel... and how he finally enlists at the NY World's Fair. The storyline flows really well; they don't over-do anything, and there's not a preachy message either. Tommy Lee Jones is in it too, and I always like his movies.
I had popcorn and a lemonade, so I was out over $20 by the time I sat down to the movie. We had pizza at the food court outside afterwords, and then we dropped by a sporting goods store after that... he needed PT clothes and I found little flashlights (especially for working in dark spaces aboard ships). I probably wouldn't have gotten them if I had checked my bank account. You see, this week I absolutely couldn't wait one more week to buy honeymoon plane tickets... lol! I can't wait...
So on Saturday (the 23rd), after I slept in til ten-something, did my laundry and ate Frosted Mini-Wheats as I watched "The Americanization of Emily" from 1962 (James Garner, Julie Andrews). A funny, dramatic, semi-anti-war romance that made me love it, even though I didn't agree with some of the 60's philosophies involved. I finished it up to the last second I could wait before needing to head to The Old Globe for the one-man show about Leonard Bernstein. I barely had time for the Caprese sandwich in their courtyard, but I fit it in. A new play by the same guy who did "Gershwin Alone". Lots of singing, piano-playing, and reminiscing about family and career. This one opened with a TV show of the real Bernstein, projected on a huge curtain that back-dropped the stage, teaching the fundamentals of conducting. I thought about my band directors throughout the play. :)
Afterwords, it was only about 3:30... so I thought I'd look at the new exhibits at the San Diego Art Museum nearby. They had a big collection of Spanish painters, and a bunch of turn-of-the-century American furniture/interior designs. Very fun to look at, but as it turned out, free as well! I had heard briefly from my roommate about free Balboa Park museums for Active Military until Labor Day... and it was true! The only thing that startled me was the failure of my credit card in the store... I had to buy that cute little coin purse embroidered with blue birds with cash! On the way home, I decided to try out Five Guys and had a large hamburger and fries before getting on chat back on base.
Jp
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