super chips and dips day

Celebrated my 63rd birthday two days ago, and had a very good day. I went swimming and for symbolism was going to do 63 laps, but for reality 60 was enough for me. It was a good day and I received calls from family and friends and that is always a good day.
I recently returned from a brief visit to the Central Coast and had an absolutely fantastic time as I  always seem to have when in that area. This was the first train ride I had taken since the late 70s, and it was a very good ride on Amtrak. Total cost for the round-trip was $128 from Tucson to San Luis Obispo. Pretty amazing low cost and since Amtrak has a 62-year-old age designation for seniors it was even less. Not sure but I believe it is like 10%.

The trip out was much smoother than the trip back, and I was not able to sleep as well returning. Then on the day that I did leave a left at 1130 at night I had swam 60 laps and walked 3 miles in hopes of tiring myself out so that I would sleep. There was a four hour layover in Los Angeles, and I arrived in San Luis Obispo the following afternoon where my friend Cynthia picked me up. A lot of my time was spent at the beach in Grover as well as Pismo, and did make a trip down to Morro Bay enjoying myself there as always. I will attach a video that I took from the top of black hill. Black Hill is an extinct volcano in the chain of volcanoes, seven sisters that extends from Morro Bay toward San Luis Obispo.

I will be going over to visit my son and grandson and his girlfriend and her family for the Super Bowl, but I'm certain I will not stay to watch all of the game. Trying not to be a fuddy-duddy on the subject, so will refrain the comments about the extravagance of this particular day. I'm certain if it was a celebration of my birthday I would not be as critical but since it is alleged professional sport seems a bit over the top. Guess I didn't refrain my comments all that well.

I haven't been as diligent in my Journal 2011 dictation, but at least have maintained some semblance of recording my thoughts even when there's not anything earth shattering going on in my life. Having had my share of earth shattering experiences I'm not complaining.

Recently was able to set up my older laptop to be able to utilize the  internet connection with my other lap top. Geek stuff but you would think that I had figured rocket reentry for Nasa.

February 7

I did not finish this entry from yesterday and of course have lost my train of thought for this particular blog. Losing trains is not that uncommon for me. At least I did find the one to and from Central Coast and as I said sure did enjoy my visit there. I'll attach a few videos to this entry and then write some of my grandson that I call G-man who I was able to spend some time with yesterday.

Reminder of why I appreciate being warm.

 The following is an excerpt from a writing that I have yet to publish but I'm currently organizing for that purpose. With the cold weather that a lot of people are experiencing, myself included although currently in Arizona I was reminded of an experience in my life that makes me appreciate the comfort of a warm home and my grandmother's quilts.

I had been walking from San Diego starting on the first day of the year 1980. I thought I was good at hitchhiking till this trip and after a day on the road had only made it to Gila Bend AZ.  It was cold and I walked through the most of the first night out of San Diego. A friend had given me a ride to the highway. I had been staying with this friend but felt that I was imposing and wanted to get back to Texas, Houston to be specific because I felt that I belonged there. I had left with a large suitcase and summer type clothing since it is not that cold in San Diego. By the first night in Gila Bend I was miserable and could not get warm. I checked for missions or shelters but could not find one so continued to walked through the night.  I had not slept and by approaching night fall of the second day on the road I had only managed to get a ride to Lordsburg New Mexico. I could go no further and when I walked under an over pass just outside of Lordsburg I decided to spend the night there. The following hours seemed long as I tried to get into the large suitcase I had with me. I had no money , and no warm clothing  and didn’t sleep through that horrible night. At first light I was shivering as I stumbled down to the highway to try to continue my trip to Houston. I had just gotten down to the road side when a man in a pick up truck stopped. He opened the door and asked if I had spent the night under that bridge and in stammering speech I said yes sir I did. He said what are you doing out here and I replied trying to get my ass back to Texas where I think I belong. He then asked if I drank and I said yes and he said reach under the seat and get yourself a shot of whiskey. I did but was still shivering. He then asked if I smoked and I said yes. He said get yourself a pack of cigarettes off the dash . This man then introduced himself to me. I forget his name after all these years but he told me he was the sheriff of Lordsburg and was on his way into work. He said he would drop me off at a good exit and go into town to do some paper work. He then said when he  was finished he would return to see if I had gotten a ride and if I had good luck to me and if I had not he would take me to town for breakfast. Then he asked how does that sound. It sounded very good to me and I thanked him very much for his kindness and got out of the truck at the exit still shaking but starting to warm up with the whiskey and the sun. On the way the radio said it had been 25 degrees  that night in Lordsburg. I waited for no more than five minutes when a car with two brothers and a friend of theirs stopped to give me a ride. They were going through Houston and would take me the entire way there. I thought often of that sheriff and his kindness and how he could have taken me to jail for vagrancy but instead showed the  compassion that he did. Years later I tried to contact him through the Lordsburg chamber of commerce and did get a letter off to him, or who they said was the sheriff during that time. I never received a reply and  that is not important but will always hope that he did get my letter of thanks from those many  years past when he lifted me instead of putting me down.