Sofuku.

My best friend in Cali (Maria) plays this. Maybe she's given it up. I do this now and then - no plan, no rhyme or reason, no methodology. I start with "1" and go across and see how far I can get. 6 rows completed...as far as I've gotten. Even though it's all wrong.

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TGIF! presents..."Love Street" by The Doors!

For Tatjana & Miroslav and Donovan & Maria and Lav and Grace & Gwyneth. Thanks for taking care of Nino Jeff. I will never forget it.

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My goddaughter's taste is impeccable.

For going on 2? Obviously the McCann-Glover clan know Nino Jeff's tastes. Thanks to Gwyneth (goddaughter) and Grace and Donovan & Maria! SKOL FAVRE! SKOL VIKINGS!

Now where will I display these?

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"Cali's a great place to visit!" Tujunga Canyon hike.

When Jas and I arrived in California on June 19, we made a beeline for Donovan and Maria's place in Tujunga. It's northeast of Pasadena in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. You may remember the Station Fire in late August 2009. That's the area. It reminds me of Topanga Canyon but more desert-like. Noted residents of Tujunga include(d): Dorothy Gish (actress), Paul Walker (actor), The Smothers Brothers, A Martinez (actor), James Horner (composer) and Jaye P. Morgan (retired popular American singer and game show panelist). And, of course, D & M and Grace (3 years) and my goddaughter, Gwyneth (2 years in January).

After a few beers and hugs and kisses, Jas and I set off the next day for a 3-mile hike into one of the canyon trails. I've hiked this route before - but not this far. Click on READ MORE! to follow along on our hike.

One of the nicer homes on this particular canyon road.

Gigantic millipede.

Gigantic snake.

There are a series of these - I forgot what they're called. They help keep the water back should flooding occur. This one was built in 1969.



The wash.

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Kids say the darndest things #3. Grace McCann Glover and The Beatles.

My best friend's in California - Donovan and Maria - are HUGE Beatles' fans. So is Nick in Cedar Rapids. So am I, actually. The other day, my goddaughter's older sister, Grace (she'll be 3 in July), said to her mommy (Maria):

"Sometimes when we don't feel our best, we should watch The Beatles."

Guess that's a thumbs up for the "Yellow Submarine" DVD. Wonder where my copy of "Yellow Submarine" is?

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Separated at Birth? Johnny Depp & Elijah Wood in "Alice in Wonderland".

Donovan & Maria and I were talking about Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" (coming out early March) and Maria said, "oh, that's Elijah Wood (in the lead role)." D and I were sitting in the front seat and we turned to each other. "Ahhhh...no. It's Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter." I bet Maria $10. She was soooo confident. 'Til she checked Imdb.com.

Truth be told, I can see where Maria thought Wood was Depp.

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Fried walleye. Better than sex?

Is it? Is it really? You'll just have to make it and find out. We prepared it last night for dinner. Donovan & Maria LOVE my walleye. I think this was from our May 2009 catch. Tasted as fresh as the day we caught it.

Fried walleye

6 walleye fillets
4 eggs
1 pack of Ritz Crackers
vegetable oil
seasoning salt
6 red potatoes

Cut up potatoes. Fry over medium heat with oil and a little wine. Relax. Make yourself a Brandy Old-Fashioned sweet, have a smoke and listen to Gordon Lightfoot’s "Ponyman". Beat eggs. Crunch crackers until fine. Cook oil in large skillet over medium heat. Take another break while oil gets hot. Dip fillets in egg, then in breading. Place fish in pan and fry until golden brown and flaky in center.

Grab another drink and enjoy the best fish you’ll ever eat.

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SplenDISH!

Our favorite breakfast nook - Dish - in La Cañada Flintridge, adjacent to Tujunga, where Donovan & Maria & kiddies live. Click on READ MORE! for more fun pics of us eating!

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"On my a-wayyy to sunny Cali-for-ni-a..."

"On my way to sunny california

On my way to spend another sunny day

Water, water get yourself in the cool, clear, water

The sun shines brightly down on penny’s place

The sun shines brightly down on the bay

The air’s so clean it’ll just take your mind away

Take your mind away

Take your mind away"

- "California Saga", The Beach Boys

Wanna give a listen?

Need to visit my goddaughter, Gwyneth, and her sister, Grace (and mommy and daddy). Wine tasting in Santa Barbara and the Santa Inez Valley. Theater at The Geffen & Hollywood. Old friends. Sun. :)

(If you click on the above link to listen to that BB tune, it'll open in a new window. You're gonna have to pause the music on my blog.)

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Happy Birthday Maria & Gwyneth!!

That's right...mommy and my goddaughter share a birthday. And this is Number 1 for Gwyneth. Can't wait to see them in February. Yep...headed back to Cali for 10 days in the sun. And to fulfill my promise to Maria that I'd visit Gwyneth at least once a year.

Look at my my goddaughter....cutie. Takes after her godfather. WHOOO!

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Christmas Trees from Scott & Ask, Kazar's & McCann-Glovers.

Scott & Ash in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

The Kazar's in Wheaton, Illinois.

Donovan & Maria & Grace and my goddaughter's tree in Tujunga, California.

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Dave & Buster's birthday celebration in Arcadia!

Above: Donovan, Monica, Jay and Susie. Foreground: Maria.

We celebrated my b-day Saturday evening at Dave & Buster's - the adult version of Chucky Cheese's. It's adjacent to Santa Anita track (horses) in Arcadia - where Seabiscuit set all the racing records. Donovan & Maria are my best friends in Cali. Jay & Susie are Grace's god parents (D&M's oldest) and Monica and I are Gwyneth's god parents.

Never been to a restaurant with a security check-point like they have in airports. Apparently there had been a shooting there. Nice.

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Separated at Birth? Cindy Loo Who & Maria McCann.

Cindy Loo Who and my best friend in California, Maria McCann, at 6 mos.

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Angeles National Forest Fire.

30,000+ acres burned already. 15 or so structures gone. 3 people burned (2 idiots who thought it was safe to hide out in their hot tub in Tujunga Canyon). 2 fireman dead.

My birthday weekend turned out to be one in which my friends - Donovan and Maria - were on pins and needles about whether their home would be safe. They live in Tujunga, which is in the heart of where the fires are raging. Because of the smoke and ash in the air, we've been camped out at Maria's parent's home in Arcadia (today you can now smell the smoke there). Maria's father is a retired LA fire chief so the man knows something about fire. Donovan and I packed up whatever irreplaceable valuables we could from their home yesterday just to be safe.

I snapped this picture of Grace's hula hoop amidst the ash that has reigned down on the town. Poignant to say the least.

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Don't think of a monkey!

A collection of primates found in the McCann-Glover home in Tujunga. That line - "don't think of a monkey" - is Donovan's.

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