Riding in my pickup

Me giving Teo and Troy a ride to my house last Sunday morning.  It was a good day!

New Cell Phones

 Due to an unfortunate accident at last weekend's concert,  we needed to get my wife a new cell phone this week.  And while we were there, we decided to get one for me also.

We both had the Samsung S4 (right) and upgraded to the Samsung S6 Edge for my wife (center), and the Samsung Note Edge for me (left).  We're still getting used to the new phones, but think we're gonna be very happy.

Alice in Chains at Pala Casino

 We went to see Alice in Chains at the Pala Casino last night.  We were in row 21 and settled into our seats early.

 As dusk fell, the show as about to begin...

 They really did put on a great show, and they had many more songs we knew than we realized.

 I would say my favorites were Rooster (a clip is below), Man in the Box,  and No Excuses.

 Videos of each are included below.

The setting at the casino is great,  right beside the pool.

July 4th Pool Party

  We went to Jim & Roxy's annual July 4th pool party and had a great time!  Here are Troy and Teo poolside.

 Troy in the pool!

  Teo chillin.

 Dave, Teo, Troy.

 The other kids practicing their Australian Stance.

 Teo drying off.

 C'mere, grandpa.

 Teo, Nikki, Shevaun.

  Bob.

  Jim and guest.

Splash!

  Dave.

 Sword fight!  OK, noodle fight.

 Our gracious hosts Roxy and Jim.

Mr. Turtle winding down the evening.

July 4th Movie

Good Places To Eat in San Diego This Month

Coronado (5 miles west of airport)
Il Fornaio - Excellent Italian food, close to San Diego bay
Peohe's - Great view of San Diego and the bay, great food, 70s decor
Sheerwater at the Hotel Del Coronado, overlooks Pacific Ocean from Victorian era hotel


Gaslamp (5 miles south of airport)
Strip Club Restaurant - cook your own steaks - fun atmosphere
(any random restaurant in Gaslamp - sit out front and watch the ppl walk by)

Little Italy (1 mile south of airport)
Mimmo's - Excellent Italian food, sit out front watch the activity, lots of fun

Kearny Mesa (5-10 miles northeast of airport)
Butcher Shop - reported Mob hangout, classic steak house,  superb steaks and atmosphere


Solana Beach (15 miles north of airport)
Crush - fun place, great food, close to ocean


San Marcos area (35 miles north of airport, 5 miles from our house)
Stone Brewery - Excellent food, top notch wine and beer,  Spectacular setting, really something!
Carmela's - Excellent Italian food, classic setting, great service, very well known in north SD county
Old California Mining Company - In restaurant row, great food and wide variety,  nice atmosphere

Fifty States of Gay

In 2008, Proposition 8 was put on the California ballot to outlaw gay marriage.

I voted against Prop 8.  I wasn't really active on the topic before the election...until I drove up my street one evening and found that, during the day, many neighbors had placed signs in their yards..."Family First - YES on Prop 8".

That did it.  I decided to add my viewpoint to the rear window of my pickup and park it in front of my house every day.  The photo shows how my truck looked in October and November 2008.  On the weekend before the election, I stood on the corner of a major intersection here in town for two days, holding a "No on Prop 8" sign with several other people.  The day before the election, I bought an extra tank of gas and drove San Diego freeways with my truck for a few hours.  I heard many horn honks and saw many thumbs-up - it was fun!  But we lost the election.  Christians had gone door to door and filled their sheep with fear.  Prop 8 passed.

When I woke up the morning after the election, I noticed someone had slipped something under my front door.  I picked it up - it was a Christian bible pamphlet.  One of my neighbors took it upon themselves, in the middle of the night and under the cover of darkness (truly a chicken-shit mode of operation, but the way), to walk over to my house and leave that "we succeeded in making non-Christians live by Christian rules - you will assimilate" reminder for me.  What wonderful people!

It was at that point I knew I could no longer be silent.  Being a life-long atheist/agnostic/non-believer - whatever label needs to be put on it - I had kept my mouth shut in what was at the time an overwhelmingly Christian population.  But no longer.  If the Christians feel the need to force their discriminatory beliefs on everyone through law, then I will take the opportunity to point out the lunacy that is Christianity (and religion in general) at every turn going forward.  I've now stayed that course and plan on continuing to do so until my last breath.  At which point I will expire and go to neither the mythical heaven nor hell.

But seven years have now passed and the US has truly shown what a great country it is.  Perceptions change, unethical laws eventually get nullified, and the world gets a little better with each passing day.  The youth of today are truly awesome people and I bow to their ability to see things as they really are.  Today, the world has become just a little bit better once again.  Thank you, SCOTUS!

My only regret: Ireland, Mexico, and a few other countries beat us to the punch of granting the right to marry to gays and lesbians.  America, you're losing your edge.

And one more thing - those that insist on posting their religious viewpoint on Facebook will find that I'll meet them post-for-post with my religious viewpoint.  Hey, you started it!  Thank you.

Do I have strong opinions on the topics of religion and gay marriage?  You betcha.  Now you know why.

Foo Fighters - Keepin It Clean

I think I've liked everything the Foo Fighters have ever done - their songs, their videos, even the way they go about their lives.  Just very very fun folks.

Found this video of the Westboro Baptist Church boycotting their concert this year...and Grohl and the boys had a very fun reaction.

But reading deeper, I found out this wasn't the first crossing between the FF and WBC...WBC boycotted a 2011 Foo Fighters concert, with even funnier results!!

I know, I know, WBC does it all just for the attention so this plays into their hands...but it is fun the way the FF point out to the rest of the world where they stand and how they can't be ruffled.  Cheers, boys!