A Visit to Marina Park in San Leandro

On Christmas Eve, the kiddos and I were in San Leandro and we decided to take a visit to Marina Park. Up until the kiddos were about seven and eight. Since, I lived near there,  I would take them there almost every weekend to play, run around and enjoy nature.

We haven't been there for a while, I moved away, they got bigger and more busy with there lives, etc. We were over that way and decided to take a visit. It is still the same and I miss going there. It is still a beautiful place to spend time.

The big kids playground structure

Love the trees at the Park

The field at San Leandro's Marina Park

The view at Marina Park in San Leandro

It is a traditional park in all senses, but since it is on the San Francisco Bay, they have a lot of trails that you can walk along and see breath taking views of the Bay:

The shoreline

Moss covered rocks

Driftwood

The San Francisco Bay

One of many workout stations at Marina Park. You can workout using machines there and have great views

The sun setting on the Bay

San Leandro Marina Park is a gem. I forgot how much I missed the views of this great place. I need to go back.

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to say Merry Xmas to anybody who has every stumbled upon this prose that I have tried to write and pictures I have tried to take.

A Neighbor's Yard

Christmas Raiderettes

And I hope in quoting the late great Don Cornelius-May you find "Love, Peace and Soul" under your Christmas Tree.

Saw this Santa at a Tibetan store in Haight

MERRY CHRISTMAS and thanks for reading this.

A Few Xmas video's that I like

Trying my first loading of videos on to the blog. Hopefully people can see them. These are my favorite Xmas video's that I enjoy

And my favorite of all time:

A Visit to Tom's Christmas Tree Lot

Tom's Christmas Tree's -Hayward

The last couple of years I have to be dragged kickin and screaming, but I usually break down and buy a Christmas tree. I go to this little place on the Hayward-Union City border called Tom's Christmas Trees. It a good little place with good trees and good prices. Also, Tom and his staff are really nice and always willing to help:

A view of Tom's Christmas Tree's lot

A frosted tree

The peace wreath was made by Tom himself-I think it is cool

A semi Charlie Brown tree

The tree I bought (with the yellow tag)

What Have I Done This Year

From my record collection the original EP-Do They Know It's Christmas (1984)

This time of year is a time of refection for me. I take a look at what I done for the greater good for the world at large. I guess it is because the so-called holiday season as been a mixed bag for me. Growing up I really did not have anything and that that first day back to school was always a drag knowing that I had to make something up because my mom did not have any money to buy me any presents and did not believe in giving me any. When I was married to kiddo's mother, the holiday season was a really strange time. I dreaded to going to her family's deals. I was put off by the fakeness of the backslapping and such. If you do not talk to me all throughout the year then because it is the holiday's, you are going to talk to me. I do not think so.

I guess I have found a balance as I am getting older. I try to be myself and enjoy it is for what it is. Watching my own two grow up, I haven't put any of the head trips on them, that were put on me. I am happy that they know and understand the words to "Do They Know It's Christmas" and know that they have a pretty decent life compared to a lot of people.

Homeless Sleeping inside Powell St. BART station (above and below)

So, at this time of year I try to think of things I have done to help people. Maybe giving a sandwich or a food item to a homeless person, paying the bus fare of somebody who does not have the fare, giving an extra BART ticket to somebody who needs one, listening to somebody in their time of crisis, donating clothes that I do not wear to a shelter, giving a coat to the One Warm Coat Drive. Stuff like that. Even though I try to do that stuff all through out the year, I feel that I sometimes do not to enough. I do not know. I guess that doing something "However Small" is better than doing nothing at all.

A Salvation Army kettle

I guess I will try harder to help mankind in my ways and I give a little more spare change to causes that help mankind. It is the least I can do.

Slot Machines Gone High Tech

Gone with the Wind slot machine

Been finding more pics from Vegas in my files-so I have a couple more blogs from the trip-Sorry. One thing I really noticed is now nice the slot machines have become. They have gone from simple things:

A slot machine from back in the day:

to these high-tech super flashing lights and everything. A lot of them now are based on something and are tied-in to a movie, TV show or a person. I too some pics of the ones I liked in the different casinos:

A Jaws slot machine

May the Force Be With You in playing

Hey, Hey There The Monkees

It is the King of Pop

It's a bird, It's a plane, it's a slot machine

Who are going to call....

Grease is the Word

The Dark Knight takes your money

Off to see the Wizard

Slot machines have become more sexy over the years to make it easier for them to take your money.

Images of the Season

A Holiday Cable Carf

Bah Humbug. I am not a fan of the so-called Christmas season (too many crazies doing crazy things), but I have captured some images walking around:

A Christmas Tree in a Mall

Saw this lighted raindeer  while shopping

Saw this tree in a lobby

Outside the Venetian Hotel on the strip

Hanging Decorations

Me during this month