Hair today, gone tomorrow!

 

Grace (oldest) and my goddaughter, Gwyneth...beauty stylists! In order: caught, pictured proudly with evidence, and finally, mommy "the cleaner" comes to the rescue. Oh yeah - this happened the day before school began in California.

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The McCann-Glover's...Tunjuna, California!

My goddaughter, Gwyneth (left) and Grace and Donovan & Maria.

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Lost photo of Nino & the little chid'rens!

Thank you, Maria. Me with my goddaughter, Gwyneth (on my lap) and Grace. Look at how good he (me) is with the children. This is a couple years old - I think. Maybe a year old. They grow up so quickly, don't they?

GRACE! You pay attention when Nino's showing you videos! (Sorry)

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Funk Soul Bro. West Coast Style.

NFL Wildcard Saturday. The Seahawks (7-9) upset the reigning SB Champ Saints and the Jets upset Indy. We we rooting for the underdogs (since the Vikings and Broncos aren't in the playoffs) and things got a little crazy at the McCann-Glover home in Tujunga. I just let the camera record the spontaneity. That's Jay & Susie and their two boys in the fray.

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Makin' a tent!

Grace (foreground) and goddaughter Gwyneth playing in their "tent" in Tujunga.

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"Cali's a great place to visit!" A literal Grace.

Grace (age 3) "reading" Winnie the Pooh.

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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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"Kids say the darndest things."

"Kids say the darndest things." - Art Linkletter.

They write the darndest things, too.

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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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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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Surf's up in Tujunga!

Grace and Baby Gwyneth enjoying some well-deserved pool time in Tunjunga yesterday afternoon.

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Happy 2nd Birthday, Grace!

That's Grace and I a year ago in July. And that's Grace (below) about a month ago.

I'm in Tujunga today celebrating Grace's birthday with her family. It's a beautiful day here in Cali - I'm with friends and my goddaughter Gwyneth and, of course, Grace. Happy Birthday, baby.

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Welcome to Glover's Le Orangiere in beautiful Tunjunga, California.

Football Sunday. While Maria and Baby Grace slept, Donovan made us each a lovely turkey sandwich, as well as the crackers with a provolone cheese and artichoke bruschetta spread. I thought I was eating out. Impressive, Donovan. Glad I ate it BEFORE the Jets blew the game today.

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Head up my ass weekend.

I've never had my head so far up my ass (well, not as far as Packer management these days) as I did on the 4th of July weekend. I get home from my friend's home in Tujunga and realize I left my briefcase there; I needed it as they were leaving town and there was no way I could wait until they returned. Now I have to turn around and go all the way back to Tujunga (30 miles) and come back home because I have to run out to Hollywood later that night.

Above: My George Constanza wallet. I'm on my way home from Hollywood later that evening and I have this weird feeling near my right butt cheek. No wallet. Left it in Hollywood and I'm 2 minutes from home. Now I have to go all the way back to Hollywood to retrieve my wallet but can't get there for two days.

Once home, I see that I have one bar left on my phone...but I can't find my cell phone charger. I packed it to go to Tujunga but never used it there. So where did it go? A new charger costs as much as an upgraded GoPhone. So I need to get the upgrade phone - but I can't purchase the new phone with no wallet and no credit card.

I got my briefcase back. I got my wallet back. Never found the phone charge so I purchased the upgraded GoPhone (see above). If you find my head, please tell me so I can come over to YOUR home and retrieve it.

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My 4th of July Weekend (two weeks later).

Happy 4th of July! I spent the weekend at Donovan, Maria and Baby Grace's home in Tujuna (near Pasadena). On the 4th, we drove out to Jay and Susie's in Pasadena and ate and drank with their children, Wyatt and Owen. Wyatt and Owen didn't drink - they just played. Beautiful day. Excellent time. Susie and Maria are best friends from high school. Good people. Jay and Susie, that is. You already know D & M and Grace are A-Number 1 in the Ircink book.

The 4th of July - in the Ircink family - is like Christmas. It's a big deal. Being 2000 miles from home, it's extra special when I can spend this holiday with people I love. Yeah know the 4th was two weeks ago, but I 've had lot on my mind and am just getting to the post. Come on - see what the rest of my 4th was like...

(WAIT! There's more...)

Let me back up a day. Thursday night, I met my friend Anja, who used to work with me at PorchLight, and her friend Nancy at the Santa Monica Pier for the Pier Summer Twilight Dance Series: One Hawaii. Keali'i Reichel, Hawaii's top selling touring act and Na Leo were featured. That's Na Leo below. I've been wanting to get a shot of the famour Santa Monica Pier sign for 10 years.


After the Hawaiian concert we spent $10 each at the Arcade. Galaga, the classic video game introduced in 1981 (the year before I graduated from high school), is one of the few I actually ever played.

IRC. 4th highest score...for now.

I found this deer shooting game that I sucked at (I bow hunt). Funny to see Oneida County, Wisconsin featured on the game - that's where we go for our annual walleye fishing trip in May.

Is this the Zoltar featured in the movie, Big?

SKEEBALL! Classic arcade game.

Nancy, a close friend of Anja's who I've known for a while (but hardly ever see), playing her favorite game. Nancy's from LA and said this game (and much of the arcade) looks exactly as it did when she was a kid. Makes me wish I saw Nancy more often. Good people.

Anja playing Wack-a-Ted-Thompson - I mean, Mole.

Back to Jay and Susie's on the 4th. Here's the brew provided by Jay - Spaten Oktoberfest. Wickedly strong stuff. I was feeling it after 7 of them. ;)

Jay with Wyatt. Or is that Owen. Owen...I think.

Wyatt and Grace. Wyatt, right?

Grace in her new pool. It spurts out about 10 jets of water like a fountain. Isn't she adorable? I told you that I'm going to be her sister's Godfather, right? Gywneth. Yes. I am going to be Gywneth's godfather.

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