Crunch Time

Aloha Everyone,

Now that Honu is checked out and ready to go on the road, J.J. and I are preparing ourselves for winter weather.

Buying thermal underwear in California is not easy. Not too many choices in terms of styles and colors. 

Our plan to wash our clothes prior to leaving didn’t work out. ESA (Extended Stay America) laundry room is closed. Luckily, our alternative plan of taking it to lavandería worked. Our clothes will be washed, folded and ready for packing tomorrow at noon.

Today is the last day of the Godfather Trilogy on TV. Our favorite is part II where Don Vito Corleone traces his roots to Sicily.  Godfather is based on Mario Puzo’s novel. Story of a powerful Italian-American crime family.

Great acting by Al Pacino and Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire who played Connie Corleone.

The movie, like the story, is a family business.Talia Shire, an accomplished actress, is the sister of the director Francis Ford Coppola and Sofia Coppola, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, played the daughter of Michael (Al Pacino) and Kay (Diane Keaton). Without looking at the tv screen, soaring music helps visualize scenes.

Aloha -- Cathi

Honu is Fit to Travel

Aloha Everyone,

After our return to Los Angeles J.J. found out that Honu’s brakes weren’t working properly. He spent the next 4 days contacting repair shops and making alternate plans.

Today, Honu was towed to a brake repair shop. After two hours of investigation, Honu was declared in good working condition.

Apparently, while installing a new washer tank, either a sensor or brake related hose got knocked. It was reinstalled and everything is fine. We are very happy to have found an honest repair shop. They had spent an hour checking brakes and all 6 tires, and there was no charge. The only cost was $125 tow truck fee to take Honu to the repair shop.

Looking forward to our South Dakota trip. Departing on Thursday the 7th to renew J.J.’s driver license.

Aloha -- Cathi

Karl Strauss Microbrewery in Carlsbad

Aloha Everyone,

Wonderful reunion with our daughter-in-law at the Karl Strauss Microbrewery in Carlsbad. The service was excellent and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch.

It’s been over 3 years since my sister and our daughter-in-law saw each other. They had lots of catching up to do including sharing photos of grandchildren.

The weather was bad. Except for a few short stretches of the freeway, it rained. Sitting in the rear seat behind the driver, I had bad motion sickness. J.J. and I were able to get a large shoebox full of mail and magazines from our daughter-in-law. It turned out to be a productive day. Happy Girls Day!

Aloha -- Cathi

Caught Up With Sleep

Aloha Everyone,

Woke up to the wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee. It was passed 6:30 am. Last night, with a couple of options to explore regarding Honu’s brakes problems, I felt more optimistic. 

J.J. and I  will be meeting our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter tomorrow at the Karl Strauss Microbrewery in Carlsbad for an early Girls Day lunch. My sister is joining us. We are expecting good driving condition. Her car app is showing 1 hour 55 minutes driving time. Our ETD is 8:30 am.

Cogir of South Bay in Torrance is marketed as Premier Senior Living. J.J. and I haven’t visited the facility though the 4-story building built over the past few years is blocking our view. $5,745 per month advertised fee is on the upper tier of this type of facilities.

Rapidly changing weather. Within a matter of 30 minutes, the blue sky darkened. Buds of Indian Hawthorn are opening reminding us that there’s seasonal changes in California. Cherry red color of Winterberry attracts birds but they are poisonous to humans.

Aloha -- Cathi

Active Day with Potential Solutions

Aloha Everyone,

We gratefully accepted my sister’s offer to spend the day to run our errands. Jason at Walmart Pharmacy is very reliable and he quickly filled all our prescriptions for the next 3 months.

Picked up bento lunches at Mitsuwa Supermarket then to Trader Joe’s to purchase veggies, fruits, milk and other items we will need for the coming days.

With a help from our friend Dan, J.J. was able to arrange for another tow truck for Monday morning and have an appointment with a brakes repair shop for Honu.

Tomorrow, J.J. and I have a day for catching up and to relax. 

Aloha -- Cathi