We have a family tradition of going to church Sunday morning followed by going out to breakfast/brunch.

When you have a birthday, you get to choose the restaurant-anyone, your favorite. And you choose anything on the menu.

Of course, when the kids were kids, this was a very big deal. They felt like a King.

Sean had a bithday in Sept. However, his choice was the Empress Pavillion for dim sum. Unfortunately, he has Senior Design on Sunday and had to hurry to school on Sunday. You don't hurry dim sum!


This Sunday was his first Sunday off, this being a Holiday weekend, so off we went to Chinatown.

We got in without a wait! Usually, a minimum of 1-2 hrs is the wait. And we got a seat near the kitchen, usually in most restaurants not desireable, but not for dim sum.

The hot dishes come out of the kitchen and you just ask what it is and either order it or pass it until something you want comes by. This was pot stickers! A winner!




We had tea, rice, pot stickers, chinese broccoli, a chicken noodle thing, a shrimp and pork dumpling, ooh so good, scallop dumpling, it was so wonderful and fun!












Don't these look yummy!!












Grandma at Sunday brunch is another family tradition added about 10 years ago. She was having a great time!













Thanks Sean! This one's a winner!

I was just getting ready to post and WOW!! What was that?? Oh yeah, the space shuttle just landed at Edwards Air Force Base and broke the sound barrier! Cool, everyone in So. Cal. was just reminded of that!

Sunday I tagged along on Taylor's photo shoot. We had just had brunch nearby and he planned on the shoot because of the cool telephone booths.

Terry was the subject and had brought along his coat and hat for the shoot. There was a technical aspect, but my take was "old time" black and white.








Taylor set up and Terry got into place. There is glare on the glass (I'm definately not a photographer), but Terry is in the booth.












A few more adjustments. . .


















Terry waits in the booth. . .











Taylor sets up the shot. He's taking a shot from inside one booth into the other. Has something to do with focus and non-focus.
















Isn't it great!

They were getting a few stares from onlookers.













Propped open the door for light. . . then he had me shield the light from behind with his sweatshirt. . .

Realizing all 3 of them had the Veterans Holiday off, the downed gutter was a priority.

Even my work called and asked me to switch days and so I was off too.

Early, the work began with all three of them on the roof getting acclimated to the height.




In no time at all the real work began in earnest.


You can see all the teaching going on as Terry instructs his students in the basics of home repair. Never miss that teaching opportunity!






Taylor quickly learned what his carpenter pants were designed for!










Finishing up on the second story roof, Taylor now well acclimated to the heights, puts the final screws and nuts in the gutter to secure it in place.

Good job, well done!!

Sean made the college newspaper with his senior design project: The Linbot. The picture shows him in between 2 other engineering students. He is at school mostly 6-7 days a week now 9-12 hrs a day with classes and the project. This is his group design and he's also got a solo project I haven't seen yet. Check it out here in the paper:

http://sundial.csun.edu/introducing_the_linbot

I went out to the store to pick up some things and decided to buy a newpaper. There was a few other people waiting behind me to buy a paper at the machine. I went into the store and the first thing I hear is someone asking "where are your newpapapers?". Then, I see a few more shoppers with newpapers.
I get out to the parking lot and see a few other people with papers in their hands! Wow!

You probably can't see, but I was the 38th voter, Sean the 86th, Taylor was the 88th, and Terry the 203rd voter in our little garage precinct. No lines, I think we had about 10 people when I was there this morning. It was about 5 doors down the street from us. By the way, did anyone get their Starbucks coffee?? Taylor got his.

I've never had this happen breaking in new walking shoes. Fifteen years of walking and replacing shoes and I'm stumped. Old shoes on the left, new shoes on the right; I keep the old ones in case the new ones don't work out. I've had that happen and out they go or to the garden or painting shoe. Never had a pair like these: first day walking: perfect. Next day: a blister on top of my 3rd toe. Went back to my old shoes for a couple days. Blister healed. Next time with the new shoes: blister on my heel. Almost ready to ditch them, but something tells me they will work. A couple more days with the old ones, blister bandaid in place. New shoes are perfect again. Stay tuned. . . anyone have a similar experience?