Before Stepping Forward, A Little Look Back

I waited before posting most of these pictures but let's mark how cool this year was in many ways because of fun times with Perry, wonderful Amelia, and on Christmas Day, a little Ruby.

Mike's super cake (one of many)

for the eyes and the cheeks. (like her cousin, smiles are the norm)

in Santa Cruz, more later...

Cai took Dexter and I (and Mike) to a Warriors-Kings game. Her work has a spot in a room above the game with incredible food options. This is just the dessert table, between refills. I'm sure room veterans can tell who the guests are by whoever takes home a  popcorn bucket filled with macaroons and cookies (me). Oh yes, the Warriors won by a large margin after a slow start, with Stephen Curry scoring 17? points in just three minutes.

We Like Our Neighborhood!

           Stepping into December with the big construction project next door, we can take a moment or two and appreciate where we are.  Yes, we are going to lose sunlight- how much it's hard to determine at this point but we'll have solid neighbors providing safety and rescue personnel for the boys to look up to. On the other side of us is a friendly family with similar sensibilities, Kelly and Peter and their boys- they arrived in October. next to them are Linda, her daughter and big dog, the quirky bearded George and Rick next to, and rounding out the corner are Roy and Erin.  It's a nice bunch, a solid community. We love being here.

             Some rain has landed but the area still waits for a renewal that water from the skies can bring. On this one morning it made for a pleasant respite sitting in Bicycle Coffee in the Oakland warehouse district. Additionally just a short walk from our home is now a sweet little outside cafe along the water.  A mile and a half from us near the beach by Kathy and Bob sits a great Peregine Falcon flying from the top of light fixture to light fixture in search of something to munch on I suppose. Impressive. We've got the transport + commute options down, and O's school is a bike ride, even an easy walk away.  Hoping for a market that is of the quality of Le Beau in our old neighborhood, and we'll be really set.

                I'm learning how to do some home projects/repairs (wouldn't exactly call my efforts seamless or professional quality but very functional!) and not many people can be as proud for changing one sink washer as I can. But I can.

           

           

And for Oliver's ego, here's a picture of Ollie making a particularly spectacular catch. It's amazing what can happen if you just close your eyes and hope. So kids, keep hope alive!

Currently the World's Climate Change Conference is in session. Let's see what comes out of this. Maria and I talked about looking into the possibility of installing solar panels sometime next year (after the construction project next door is complete and seeing what our good city allows)

Thanksgiving in Alameda

   Hosting in Alameda 2015!  With a big family, the mix of us all always makes for a dynamic and fun bunch. Plus a little of the unknown factor providing intrigue + Maria's determination to create the event, and we were set to go.  Mom and Dad Dempsey were willing and with last week's Disneyland journey, it's been a nice round of family time.  Maria planned really well, set her menu, got everyone that was coming slotted in with menu items, and I just did whatever she instructed me too.  Mom, Dad, Eileen, Woody, Jeremiah, Tom, Sam and Bella, Stacey and Lila, and my brother Mike would stop by before dinner.

    Neighbor Linda was ever kind to volunteer a table and chairs, and even stopped by during the day to drop off some donuts, which Maria found especially neighborly and touching.  The boys pitched in and we had the place set up nicely.  Mike stopped by earlier and everyone landed within 5 minutes at the 4 o'clock hour.  Amazing.  I probably should have noted the expected arrival time as this was when Mike, Oliver and I were about to go to Kathy and Bob's to pick up their coffee maker. We stayed, Mike visited, I helped (and watched) Maria perform her magic in the kitchen. At one point we might have had 10 people in our kitchen- such a scene.

    Vegetables are always the king in my mind at Thanksgiving and this year, no different. The only day of the year that I overeat (or maybe it's just eating a lot of starches), Maria even providing  vegetarian gravy options for the mashed potatoes.  Molly's pies, food brought by everyone, easy. Oliver appreciates the apple cider (Mike, Grandma). Not much drinking otherwise.  We'll be handing out beers over the next week I think. Stop by for a beer if you're reading this.  Jay made some New Zealand dessert beverages (sweetened toffee coffee crunchies).  Leftovers for awhile. No complaints here. Maybe next year?

     

after everything party (rest)

photo by John Dempsey
(ps: that's not my plate of turkey!)

   

 

Josh and Jackie's Birthdays. Surprise for Josh. Meeting baby A. Grand. Delightful.

anticipation of a wet ride. Also O's faves are the Tower of Terror (inspired his viewing of the Twilight Zone), and Big Thunder Mountain, especially at night

view from room 206,  Hotel Pepper Tree, Recommended.

There she is!

Mickey with a plan

mission accomplished

Happy Birthday Jackie

Oliver's digestion

Clarke and Eric

we did well considering how many of us in attendance. a laid back group

Cars ride and Indiana Jones were very enjoyable too

Tomorrowland conversion to Star Wars. We benefited from a quiet opening of Space Mountain to Hyperspace Mountain (darker, music and scenes from the first movie)

new Disney attraction: Reality World

Winner: Home Run Pillow just 3/8 balls in the hole. Somehow apparently not often accomplished.

Goodbye old friend (especially before they gussied you up with shows)

shoplifters will be prosecuted as well as anyone posting any unauthorized Star Wars videos on YouTube

hey! a lot of my wishes from way back when came true

well, he looks happy

Josh showing us and his audience how he can fly. These are his days to do so, and doing it well..

Jackie's surprise for Josh turned out well and no one gave away the secret. We liked our Hotel Pepper Tree, not really close to the park but quiet with kitchen, and nice grounds.  For us renting a car was the economical and kind of fun choice. We got a comfy Chrysler and I drove most of the way down (Point Reyes was good training) and Maria drove all the way back.  Meeting up with everyone was easy as somehow we walked into Disneyland at the same time. Warm weather on Saturday, cooler on Sunday.  Easy crowd to be with, and we always enjoy getting soaked on the Grizzly Peaks river rapids ride. It was chosen again on a cold Sunday night with Dexter and Eric. Some might refer to us as idiots, and we might agree.  

Food choices at reasonable prices, even vegetarian options can be found in the parks with a little diligence and searching (nice pasta plates at a diner near Space Mountain, veggie skewers at Bengal Barbecue, even the French Market had some options. While it's good that you can get a decent cup of Starbucks in the park, to accommodate the company the Main Street down home store was removed and replaced by a Starbucks. That store previously had an old time feel to it, with a coffee stand in the middle of it that was never very busy and while the coffee was just okay, you could always get free refills. Now there's a line that wraps around in the store, out the door and around the corner. Bleh.  Some small touches are being traded in for a larger corporate share (Star Wars land, conversion of Tomorrowland to a complete Star Wars merchandising center, coffee example, quiet places- the old art center that was up near the Tree House) but still a place with a vision realized, no doubt.