Happy 2021 and The Noe Valley Bakery

 

I was thinking about what kind of blog I was going to do for a New Year's blog and then a friend took me to the Noe Valley Bakery in San Francisco. We had to wait in a short line but when we got in there, it was really cool and a new learning experience. Kind of like the year 2020. To most people 2020 was a downer but (at least in my view) but I was able to learn so much about myself and try new things on this blog. Also in my professional life. I am a teacher and having to learn all the technology was intimidating (I am an old man and very old school). Again, I got lucky because I taught summer school and was able to screw up and learn in an environment that was low pressure before the real school year started. I got a huge boost in confidence and have been "building more of the airplane while flying it at the same time"

I wasn't able to go to the events like usual because they were cancelled but then I was able to see other things like murals, more nature and able to share my own little weirdness. I learned so much and was able to enjoy new experiences in the world.

As the lyric from "Beauty and Beast" says: "Bittersweet and strange, learning you can change."

Again, I thank everyone for stopping by this little blog here. One accomplishment was that I went over 500,000 hits or views on this blog since I started seriously in March 2012. I want to thank everyone who has visited this little space of mine:

Even though I wasn't able to do a bunch of things in 2020 (I so miss going to A's games), I think going through this experience (and still going through it) was so beneficial to me as person. I am still here, my family and my friends are still here. My spiritual side has grown and I am learning how to be truly happy:

I got one of these bad boys and it was so good.

My heart goes out to all those who are struggling and have been affected by COVID and have lost love ones and friends to this horrible virus. I pray that this vaccine works and people can get back to work, kids can go school and people can hang out with their friends again. All the normal stuff that we took for granted:

I hope everyone has a blessed 2021 and I wish you as Don Cornelius used to say on Soul Train- "Peace, Love and Soul" in 2021. 

My Secret Favorite Winter Sport

 I am born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and have basically lived in what as known as the East Bay all my life. We are far away from curling as you can be. Anyway,  whenever the Winter Olympics happen I am always watching curling more than any other sport and it has become a joke in my house. 

Over the the years people have bought me curling stuff and it has become my favorite winter sport and one that I keep secret. 

Someone bought me replica drawings of some the original curling stuff:

And you always need to have a curling t-shirt and hoodie:

Driving the Virgin River Gorge

 

In November, I got to drive through the Virgin River Gorge on I-15 going from Las Vegas to Cedar City, Utah. To be honest, I didn't drive on the way there as I asked to be a passenger so I could take pics as we were going through the gorge. 

The Virgin River Gorge is located between St. George, Utah and Beaver Dam, Arizona. The drive is about 12 to 15 miles long and so very beautiful:

It was just so beautiful to drive through and I happy that I was a passenger and could take pics of it. The Virgin River Gorge is one of the most beautiful places on Earth in my humble view.

Music Monday: See You Later 2020

 Music Monday: 2020 was a year like no other. With the COVID-19 Pandemic and everything else going on. But the music never stopped. One thing that was cool was that musicians still found a way to get their music to us. It might be in a different form but I enjoyed it. The first three videos are groups doing it from home:

The guys from Modern English singing "Melt With You" from home:

Toto with their hit "Africa"

And the Go's- Go's with their new song "Club Zero":

And I loved this version on "Never Surrender" by Corey Hart. It reminds us that we need to fight on everyday and just do our best:

This video version of this song kept me smilin all the time. Being a child of the 80's:

And we all have to remember the words of this great Jennifer Nettles/Jon Bon Jovi song:

Sorry if I used these before but I feel so strongly about the messages these songs and video's are saying. Even though 2020 was a total downer of a year, we can still celebrate life and being kind. Just my simple view on things. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all those who came by for a least one read of this blog. I thank you and send you blessings for 2021. 

Happy Christmas to All

 Happy Christmas to all and Thanks for coming to my little space on the internet. I am sending prayers and positive thoughts to all that come by here. Please be safe, be well and stay healthy this Christmas season. 

This Christmas may seem different but we should remember the spirit of the season and what Christmas really means.  So I am putting a wrap on this Christmas season. Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night. 

Peace in the Fog at Lake Yosemite

 

I had never been Lake Yosemite in Merced. It is man-made reservoir and owned by the Merced Irrigation District. It water is distributed to the local growers in Central Valley. It was a beautiful place (and no one was there) and the fog added to peacefulness. 

It was just so very beautiful and peaceful with the fog and silence. 

Smiling for Christmas Season

The Christmas season of 2020 has been an interesting one. We are on lockdown here in the San Francisco Bay Area and they are talking about extending it through January. People are struggling and our nation is struggling but you know what we can still laugh, we can still smile and we can still wish people the best and think positive thoughts for our fellow man. We can wish and thank all the essential workers who have kept this nation going through COVID. We can celebrate each other and celebrate life. This is about the  Christmas stuff I found interesting and made me smile this Christmas Season:

Saw this is an Alley

Saw this in Krispy Kreme

I took this on a walk and loved the artistic value 

And I saw this tree and this sign. It has two things I care for dearly- Our Troops and Sailors and baseball:

I am not much of a decorator  for Christmas or someone who gets into the holiday dressing mode but I did do one decoration in my office/teaching space and I did do a little dressing up for the last day of teaching via ZOOM before the holiday break (My students thought I had lost my mind and thought I had two Hot Cheetos on my head):

A little astray but that is me

Hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful Christmas or had a Happy Chanukah. Godspeed to all and remember we can smile during this Christmas season. It is cheapest thing we can do.