Another Birthday and the Santa Barbara French Festival

Last Monday was my 67th birthday and we were invited over to Mike, Vanessa and Jacob's apartment for some pool time, Mexican food and dessert.

Jacob and I walking to the pool 

Face-to-Face in the pool

He saw right through my disguise

 Stand TALL Jacob

After a good hour in the pool,

it was back to the food fest

Burritos from Taco de Mexico were a BIG hit followed by . . .

Laurie's red velvet birthday cupcakes

A little quality time with Jacob

before the cupcakes

Laurie and Mike having some

quality time as well

 Jacob helping me blow out the

birthday candles

The cupcakes were delicious!

Vanessa loves Paris

Laurie and I love all of France as it turns out.

Takle me with you Papo!

It was a good day, thanks everyone.

On Friday night we joined our friends from our University of Washington days, Mike and Susan D'Antuono and Paul and Joanne Sabolic for the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce's Annual Gala to install their new officers for the upcoming year.

I didn't take any pictures but we had a great time!

Saturday we headed over to Rio Mesa H.S. to watch a little bit of their annual 7-on-7 Football Tournament and Linemen's Challenge. 

St. Francis vs. Simi Valley

St. Francis TD!!!

Good stuff as I am a St. Francis alum.

After an hour watching the games at Rio Mesa, we were off to Santa Barbara to experience their 26th Annual French Festival held at Oak Park.

This must be the place

 The Schedule of Events

 CanCan Dancers

Anybody see Toulouse-Lautrec?

OH YEAH!!!

Long Line Here

No line here but . . .

 A hot dog stuffed into a half

baguette, FRENCH STYLE!!!

 At a FRENCH Festival?

 Now we're talking!

Edith Piaf is IN THE HOUSE!!!

 Like we have to be talked into this

Lavender = No Scorpions in the house

Not a bit like the one in Paris

OUI!!!

Baguettes from the Normandie Bakery & Bistro in Los Angeles.

Not bad.

Another French band

Here is some of their work

Sunday was spent watching the World Cup Final as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in OT at Brendan's Irish Pub in Camarillo with Laurie and our bartending friend Cyndy Murphy.

The Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame, Chef Jacob and Max Turns One

It has been almost a month since my last post and Julien Urgenti from Lyon has been pushing me to post something new about our slow paced life in sunny California, so here goes.

32nd ANNUAL

VENTURA COUNTY

SPORTS HALL-OF-FAME

INDUCTION DINNER

On June 8th, we met at the Ventura Beach Marriott Hotel to induct five new members into our county's Sports Hall-of-Fame. One of those five was a very dear friend of ours, Rick Scott.

Rick Scott

Rick was a legendary figure in Ventura County as a former player at California Lutheran University, as a basketball official, as an assistant football coach at Newbury Park H.S., Moorpark College and Rio Mesa H.S., and as a head football coach at Hart H.S. and Buena H.S.

He was also an amazing character and a loyal friend.

It was Rick who made me promise to go coach American football in Europe with him once we retired as teachers. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to retire passing away suddenly of a heart attack back in 2004.

I was honored to speak on

Rick's behalf for his family

With Rick's Wife Sherry
and his Daughter Megan

Coach with Rick at
Buena H.S. in 2003

Babysitting Chef Jacob

Let's Make Cupcakes!

"O.K. Gigi!"

Almost Ready to Bake

Cooking is Fun!

They are HEAVENLY!!!

Grandnephew Max's
First Birthday

Our niece Lauren was excited

She had Great-grandma's House
spruced up for the occasion

Can we eat this?

MAX!!!

Jacob, Ducks and a Fountain

They have a pool at
Great-grandma's House

Jacob swimming with Mike

Is this a U.S. Naval Air Station?

With my sister Linda

Proud Papa Lorenzo BBQing

Good looking/tasting cake

NOW we're talking!!!

Vanessa with Max and Jacob

Cuban Rocking Chairs

MUCH better now!

Two Moms
Lauren and Vanessa

Linda and Jacob

Nice Hat

Santa Monica Mountains Hike

 Mike overlooking the
Pacific Ocean

After our morning JV football practice last Thursday, Mike talked me into this wee, vertical stroll.

It was hot and I was definitely not in tip-top shape for it but the views from this area that was burned badly a year ago were worth it.

Lily Todd's Birthday

 Ventura's Clubhouse Fun Zone

I taught with Lily's father Ben for several years at Rio Mesa H.S.

I was also the person who officiated at Ben and Krystal's wedding several years ago. Today we celebrated their daughter's third birthday.

Mike and Jacob having fun

Jacob loves cars

Downhill Glide

"Hey Lily, want to race?" 

With Ben Todd, Mike and
Brian FitzGerald

Lily enjoying the singing

Ben, Lily and Krystal

Season Eighteen
Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival

This was our fourth consecutive
Summer attending the Festival 

 Tonight's Play:
Twelfth Night
or, What You will

You have to eat!

Laurie and I were joined by Brian and Koreen FitzGerald for a fun evening with the Bard.

The CLU Outdoor Stage
was ready

So were the croaking frogs that inhabit the small creek that runs behind the stage.

The USA was eliminated from the World Cup in Brazil today by Belgium 2-1. On to Russia in 2018!

Reading Is FUNdamental

This was the third book that I have read by Mosse and her interesting viewpoints on the magical, mystical Carcassonne area of southern France.

No, it is not Provence.

Short Stories

This book was full of good and not so good offbeat stories from Hammett's days as a pulp detective magazine writer.