A Weekend at the Brucker's

A Fourth of July Photo

A late entry that I really like from the camera of Vanessa Contreras.

Over the past two weeks things have been relatively calm in Camarillo. The highlight was a trip to Newport Beach to visit our college chums Loren and Sandy Brucker and their family for a beautiful water weekend.

 Jacob was styling!

Jack Brucker, Jacob and Laney Brucker

by tranquil Balboa Bay

Jack and Laney are the Brucker's grandchildren.

Pay no attention to the man buried in the sand by his son.

 Madonna and Child

a.k.a., Vanessa and Jacob

After a quiet Friday on the Bay side of the Newport Peninsula, on Saturday we all headed to the Beach!

 The Pacific Ocean

 Ruby's Restaurant on the Balboa Pier

 The Usual Suspects

Sandy, Laurie and Loren

Ryan Brucker holding his daughter Laney

and Mike Contreras

That is Jack frolicking in the surf.

Jacob discovers the illicit beer cup

 Jack shepherding Jacob

Generations

Mike, Laurie, moi and Jacob

By the end of the day, Jacob had developed a very healthy respect for the power of the Pacific Ocean.

 Tug Boat

On Sunday, the group opted for a self-guided cruise of Balboa Bay.

But not on a tug boat.

 We would rent a craft here

 Fun Zone Ferris Wheel

 Frozen Banana . . . YUM!!!

 Jacob hitching a ride on Papo

 Discovery

Jacob at Sea

 "What do you mean can I swim?"

 Bromance #1

Mike and Ryan

Bromance #2

Jack and Jacob

Like Fathers, like sons.

The Legendary Balboa Ferry

Doing it Three Cars at a Time

 Our Crew

I like him

Foie Gras?

Proud Grandparents

MAN OVERBOARD!!!

Jack jumped ship just before we returned to port to join his cousin Mia on the paddle board.

These were THREE OUTSTANDING DAYS!!!

Two Weeks in California

With jet lag now firmly in my rear view mirror, let us take a look at what has been happening the last few weeks in the sleepy southwest corner of the USA. 

Jacob became FC Barcelona's newest fan

Sarah Gardner and Laurie at our

niece Amy Hicks' Wedding Shower

on June 29th

Cousins and sisters at the Wedding Shower

Laurie Contreras, Gayle Hicks, Amy Hicks, Sarah Gardner, Vanessa Contreras and Lyndsey McKenzie

With Jacob while the ladies were having

a ton of fun at the Wedding Shower

Sunday Brunch

Laurie and I had a ball with that rascal David Lassen at The French Bulldog in Camarillo on June 30th.

Bloody Mary with a Bacon Slice

The French Bulldog makes powerful, heart clogging drinks as it turns out.

California Lutheran University's

production on an outdoor stage of

the Bard's The Tempest was a treat

on June 30th

Jacob on the Fourth of July

at Camarillo's Aquatics Stadium

"Beer me woman!"

Jacob and his proud Poppa, Mike

Concentrating on the proper techniques

of his next dive, the Triple Lindy

Life is GOOD!

Kevin and North Las Vegas

July 5th-8th

Nice Flip-Flops

"I'm handsome and I know it!"

A boy and his English bulldog Blitz

July 7th was my 66th Birthday

Papi and Kevin

Kevin and Artie

Fried Chicken Benedict at

Hash House A Go Go in Las Vegas

A healthy breakfast for the long drive home.

I have not owned a car since I left California to coach the Thun Tigers American football team in Switzerland in January of 2012. It was about time to purchase one.

What I wanted

 What Laurie let me buy

We got a great deal on a low mileage 2012 Honda Civic LX at the CarMax in Oxnard on Thursday, July 11th.

It matches my T-shirt.

Thursday was also a day of 7-on-7 for our Newbury Park JV football team as we travelled to Moorpark H.S. to play the host Musketeers, the Valencia Vikings and the Camarillo Scorpions.

 Offense Lining Up vs. Valencia

 Panther QB Erich Wuesthoff

launching a Bomb

CB Kyle Popok in coverage

We played three 40 minute running clock games and saw a ton of improvement from our young team.

We are on the right track!

This weekend we are heading to beautiful Newport Beach, California to visit our college roommates Loren and Sandy Brucker. It bodes to be a fantastic three days indeed!