THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ...

is located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. As I mentioned last week, Cliff and I drove up there last Tuesday, a distance of about 40 miles. The site had been completely torn down, rebuilt, and reopened about a year ago. Now there is underground parking, and a completely revamped academy.

So early that morning we drove up I 280 and into the City.






This is a shot of the interior of the central part of the building.












This is a geode, a hollow rock with crystals lining the inside wall.


















My, what big teeth you have, Grandma!
















Obviously, a (former) dinosaur.








This the rain forest, as seen from the outside the dome. Inside it was warm and humid.














Pond inside the rain forest.














Rain forest example.












That’s a live parrot, as it would be found in a real rain forest.

















This bush has butterflies on it. Can you make out any? If not, go to the last photo.

















There is one butterfly at the upper left, and another at the bottom just right of center.











There is much more to be seen here, but we didn’t have time. I know there is an aquarium and a planetarium. Another time.

Humor:

NEW ELEMENT FOUND!

The recent hurricane helped prove existence of a new element. In early October, a major research institution announced discovery of the heaviest element known to science. The new element is named "Governmentium". Governmentium (Gv) has one neutron, 88 deputy neutrons 25 assistant neu-trons,, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton like particles called peons. Since Gv has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Gv causes one reaction to take over 4 days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second.

Gv has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Gv is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as Critical Morass. When catalyzed with money, Gv becomes Administratium (Am) - an element which radiates just as much energy as Gv since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

BLACKOUT

There I was, minding my own business yesterday afternoon, when all of a sudden the power went out! It was about 3 p.m., and Cliff called to me to ask if a circuit breaker had tripped. I said that was possible, though we didn’t have that much going electrically. I suspected it was more widespread, and with cell, phoned a couple of neighbors. “Your power out?” “Yup.” Waited a while because sometimes it is just momentary (even if all the electric clocks have to be reset.) Momentary, hah! Called P G & E (that’s Pacific Gas and Electric, for you non-Californians) to check on the status. “We’re having an equipment problem. Call back in an hour.” Tried again later. “We don’t have a status update yet”. I said to Cliff, “Let’s get out of here and get some dinner.” And so we did.

Well, here it is, a hot Friday night, and everybody and their uncle are out for dinner. “How long is the wait?” I asked. “Forty minutes.” By then it was nearly 7 o’clock, but they did take us 30 minutes later. Dinner was good. It was close to nine when we finally left the restaurant, and as Cliff headed the car for home, I picked up my cell phone and called P G & E. Again. Gave the pertinent information, and asked if the power was back on. “You don’t have any power?” the rep asked. “I don’t know. I’m not home.” “Oh. Yes, you should have power when you get home. Seems the power returned jlust minutes after we left for dinner.

And so it was. As we pulled up to the mobilehome park, lights were blazing, and when we got home, the temperature was a relaxing 72 degrees. That water cooler really works. Still, I slept most of the night on top of the blankets.

Okay, time for fun:

SOUTHERN ENGINEERS
Bubba and Ray (Tennessee mechanical engineers)
were standing at the base of a flagpole, looking up. A
woman walked by and asked what they were doing.
We're supposed to find the height of the flagpole," said
Bubba, "but we don't have a ladder."

The woman took a wrench from her purse, loosened a
few bolts, and laid the pole down. Then she took a tape
measure from her pocket, took a measurement, announced,
"Eighteen feet, six inches," and walked away.
Ray shook his head and laughed. "Ain't that just like a
woman! We ask for the height and she gives us the length!"

HEALTH UPDATE

Wednesday night I did not sleep well at all, and by Thursday afternoon I was O U T . Slept it away. Last night was somewhat better, and I don't feel drugged this morning.

The good news: I've been off the morphine since last Sunday, which does wonders for my inner plumbing. My chiropractor suggested I could use some physical therapy, so when I saw my M.D., I mentioned it. He recommended, and wrote a prescription for an M.D. physical therapist. I went for the first time Wednesday afternoon. I really like this guy. Having seen many PT's over the past quarter century, I can appreciate how good this guy is. He's a bit laid back and relaxed, and doesn't push me to do things I cannot because of my left side paralysis. Not that he didn't give me a pretty good workout!

He gave me some 7 exercises to do daily at home, to which I added the two from my chiropractor, plus one other, for a total of 10. Now I've had two successive days of exercise -- a near miracle for me.

***

This video isn't funny, but it is certainly quite fascinating. Sand painting. Enjoy!

I'M BACK, I'M BACK

Don't know if I'd mentioned that I'd be away Monday, Tuesday, and most of today, Wednesday. Termites were discovered, and first thing Monday morning they were out here tenting this place. Cliff had either bagged everything edible, or removed them from the site. Then we boarded the birds at the vet's, and he and I went to a local motel. It was all right, as motels go, so obviously we survived.

Tuesday we drove to San Francisco to see the newly rebuilt California Academy of Sciences. It is most impressive, and I took a few photos, and then found out that flash photography was not allowed. And I couldn't figure out how to not flash. Gotta read the instructions. I will post the few shots I did take once I load them onto the computer.

We got back in time for me to go to the local library. I'm not a tv watcher, and wanted something to read. That was Tuesday, and Cliff took it back today after I'd finished it. Yeah, I read fast. Our local library was rebuilt anew about 10 years ago -- they just celebrated their tenth anniversary. Since I had the camera with me, I took some photos there, from which I will make a posting one of these days.

How about a bit of humor:

An insect was buzzing around the music room where the students were trying to practice. Finally one of the students was able to swat the creature. “Was that a bee?” asked a fellow musician. “No, bee flat”.


***
THE PRICE OF POPCORN

For the first time in many years, an old man traveled from his rural town to the city to attend a movie. After buying his ticket, he stopped at the concession stand to purchase some popcorn. Handing the attendant his money, he couldn't help but comment, "The last time I came to the movies, popcorn was only 15 cents."

"Well, sir," the attendant replied with a grin, "You're really going to enjoy yourself. We have sound now."

THE WONDERS OF PHOTOSHOP

“Digital touch-ups - often extreme - are standard procedure”.

That was the subhead in a newspaper article a short while back. “My belief”, says Scott Kelby, president of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, “is that every single major magazine cover is retouched.” The article goes on to say that while many laud the abilities of Photoshop, there are those who say that it contributes to the culture of perfection. Apparently the sculpting of models’ figures is quite common.

Well, maybe so. I have news for you. (Or as the mama gnu said to the papa gnu, “I have gnus for you.) Every photograph you have seen on my blog have been run through Photoshop. Many, perhaps most, have simply been cropped, but even that can make one cropped photograph look quite different from the original.

I change the brightness to a level I prefer, and lighen or darken shadows. I do not, however, “sculpt” other people’s bodies. I often remove the glare from eye glasses, and I will, on occasion, delete or coverup things in the background that I find annoying. Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what I do:


Here is the original photo of pepper and chipper.

Now look at Pepper as well as the bars in the cage in this enhanced photo. Can you see the difference?



This next one is very obvious. This is the pic of the ice cream social tables as it came out of the camera.

And here is the enhanced shot I used. No need to ask if you can see the difference.



Non- photoshopped humor:
THE GIFT
A husband walks into Victoria Secret to purchase some sheer lingerie for his wife. He is shown several possibilities that range from $250 to $500 in price; the more sheer it is, the higher the price. He opts for the one that is most sheer, pays the $500 and takes the lingerie home. He presents it to his wife and asks her to go upstairs, put it on and model it for him.

Upstairs, the wife thinks, "I have an idea. It's so sheer that it might as well be nothing. I won't put it on, I'll do the modeling naked, return it tomorrow and keep the $500 refund for myself." So she appears naked on the balcony and strikes a pose. The husband says, "Good Lord! You'd think for $500, they would at least iron it!" He never heard the shot. Funeral on Thursday.

TERMITES

We got ‘em -- unfortunately. Today is Friday, August 21. Next Monday and Tuesday we are oudahere, birds included, while they tent this place and gas all the critters. So I won’t be anywhere near the computer for a few days after a Saturday posting.

Humor, real and imagined --

I dunno, this might offend some, but it really happened. This morning when Cliff got me up, I said to him that it wasn’t his fault, but I was both grouchy and grumpy.
CLIFF: What are you gonna do, vote Republican?

***

THE NEW MATH

Three elderly men are at the doctor's office for a memory test. The doctor asks the first man, "What is three times three?"

"274" is his reply.

The doctor rolls his eyes and looks up at the ceiling and says to the second man, "It's your turn. What is three times three?"

"Tuesday," replies the second man.

The doctor shakes his head sadly then asks the third man, "Okay, your turn. What's three times three?"

"Nine," says the third man.

"That's great!" says the doctor. "How did you get that?"

"Simple," he says, "just subtract 274 from Tuesday.

HEALTH UPDATE

Well, I seem to be coming along -- s l o w l y. My chiropractor came to the conclusion that currently the pain in my right leg is due to a tightening of the thigh muscle. He suggested I use my massager on the sore spots, and that does seem to reduce the pain, if not eliminate it. I’m still not able to stand up from a sitting position, and son Cliff does an admirable job of lifting me. Once I’m on my feet, and be sure of my balance, I can move slowly, but surely, in a straight line. Making turns are a bit tricky, but doable.

Humor:

HUNTING FLIES

A woman walks into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"Hunting Flies"

"Killing any?"
"Yep, 3 males, 2 Females."
"How can you tell?"
"Three were on a beer can; two were on the phone."

AT HOME, PART 2

The coach we bought was plain vanilla, something like this one. It did have a refrigerator and kitchen disposer. Now this was an aluminum sided residence, and when it rained, we sure knew about it. Clang, clang, clang.

Over the years we made improvements. One of the first was a foam roof on top of the metal. That sure made things a lot more quiet. We also added earthquake bracing. When the ’89 quake hit, I was in my bathroom, and when things started shaking, I just sat down on the floor. The only thing that happened was the medicine cabinet doors opened, and a few items fell out. Then it dawned on me that I was sitting in front of the glass shower doors. Ulp! They didn’t break. The bracing really worked.


The next big project was when we had the den enlarged, and added a screened porch to replace the little landing and steps at the front door. The porch added eight feet on the side of the coach, so we decided to push the den wall out to meet the edge of the porch.








The arrow shows where the den used to end.









In addition, we had the contractor add a big closet that extended all the way to the window of the bedroom.









Additionally, a door from the den to the porch was installed.









Finally, we had vinyl siding put on top of the aluminum. This was much prettier, and made our home much warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.







You can see that the porch siding was a different color.












We were pretty pleased with the results.







Now let’s have a look around inside.



Here's one side of the kitchen on the right,










and here is the other side.







The birds have their respective cages on top of the counter in the dining room.









The big couch in the living room.




The den is where I spend most of my time.

My desk is usually this messy.







Book shelves above and to the left of the desk.





In that space created when we had the den wall pushed out is where all my computer equipment is located. That's the printer.











And there is the monitor and keyboard. You can barely see the computer itself. It's that bit of shiny gray on the right center. Over on the left is my laptop, which is sitting on top of the scanner.

And that's what there is to see.

How about something funny --

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

A contestant Sally, on 'Who Wants to be a
Millionaire?' had reached the final plateau.

If she answered the next question correctly, she would
win $1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket
only the $25,000 milestone money.

And as she suspected the Million Dollar Question was no
pushover.

It was, 'Which of the following species of birds does
not build its own nest but instead lays its eggs in the nests of
other birds? Is it:

A) the condor

B) the buzzard

C) the cuckoo

D) the vulture

The woman was on the spot. She did not know the answer.
She had used up her 50/50 Lifeline and her Ask the Audience Lifeline. All
that remained was her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline.

She hoped she would not have to use it because......... Her
friend was,........ well, not terribly bright.

But she had no alternative. She called her friend and
gave her the question and the four choices.. Her friend responded
unhesitatingly:

'That's easy. The answer is C: the cuckoo.'

The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast.

She considered employing a reverse strategy and giving
any answer except the one that her friend had given her.

And considering her friend wasn’t that sharp would seem
to be the logical thing to do. But her friend had responded with such
confidence, such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be
convinced.

Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, 'C: The
cuckoo.'

'Is that your final answer?'

'Yes, that is my final answer.'

'That answer is Absolutely correct!

You are now a millionaire!'

Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her
family and friends, including the friend who had helped her win the
million dollars.

'Jeni, I just do not know how to thank you, ' said
the contestant. 'How did you happen to know the right
answer?'

'Oh, come on,' said Jeni 'Everybody knows
that cuckoos don't build nests. They live in clocks.'

AT HOME

It's after 6 p.m., pdt - somewhat later than I usually post to the blog. I've been feeling a little rocky today, and spent a fair amount of time today napping. As a result, the topic I want to cover will now be done in two successive days, as I don't have the energy to do more.

Okay. The title is AT HOME, meaning where I live. Initially I was just going to show a bunch of photos, but decided to expand the story by going back to the beginning. (Small joke on the side: you knew of course, that the bible starts with a reference to baseball -- In the big inning ...).

Amalie and I were married March 21, 1970, and we lived in an apartment in the town of Belmont, which is about 40 miles south of San Francisco. One Saturday in late January, '71, I had a bit of business to conduct in Marin County, which is north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Amalie said she wanted to go with me, so off we went. It just so happened that an elderly couple friends of mine lived in Santa Rosa, which is near where I had to go. So after I finished my work, I called my friends to ask if we might drop by for a visit. They said they would be delighted to have stop by.

Turns out they lived in a mobilehome park, and when we arrived, we were most impressed both by the park, and the coach itself. It was late afternoon, and our friends insisted we stay for dinner. By the time we had eaten and sat around chatting, they then insisted we stay overnight rather than drive back in the dark. We agreed, and the following morning they fixed us breakfast and sent us on our way.

Am and I both thought that since we didn't have a lot of savings, it would be a great idea to see if we could buy a mobilehome in our area. And so it was that one Saturday in February, 1971, we ambled down El Camino Real looking for mobilehome dealers. There were many, and the sales personnel were most happy to show us around, and flood us with literature.

There were basically four sizes of coaches (as they were then called) -- single wide, 10 or 12 foot, or double wide, 10 or 12 foot. We quickly came to the conclusion that the single wides were too small, and the 12 wide doubles were too expensive for our pocketbooks. Add to that the fact that we had bought a king size bed (I still have it), and that had a way of limiting our required floor plan. As a result, none of the coaches we saw suited us. So at the end of that day on that first Saturday, we drove back to our apartment with a whole mess of literature.

The following day we spread all these pamphlets out on the living room floor, and from that, we drew a double wide, 10 foot coach floor plan that we felt would fit our needs. The following Saturday we headed down the freeway toward San Jose (Do you know the way to San Jose?...) and swung off at Mountain View. And as we headed down this elevated stretch of highway, I saw a mobilehome park off to my left. So I exited at the next off ramp, and tried to find my way back to the mobilehome park I'd seen. We saw one just a half mile off El Camino, pulled in, and stopped at the clubhouse. The manager there told us that there were exactly two double wide, 10 foot spaces left, and they were being rented by a dealer farther down El Camino so that when they sold a coach, there would be a place to put it. So there we went.

Naturally, the sales person was delighted to see us, and when we showed him our floor plan, he said, "Follow me." And he took us to a coach there on the lot that was virtually identical to the plan we had drawn. Of course we wanted it.

The next step was to find financing, which turned out to be not too difficult. No 20 or 30 year loans, though. They would only loan for 10 years. But the loan payments plus the pad rent was within our means, and so it was that this coach became our home.

(Tomorrow: conclusion)

Humor:

Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.

The irony of life is that, by the time you're old enough to know your way around, you're not going anywhere. (Tell me about it!).

God made man before woman so as to give him time to think of an answer for her first question.

I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

Every morning is the dawn of a new error.

The best computer is a man, and it's the only one that can be mass produced by unskilled labor.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Yesterday we held the event of the month, our Ice Cream Social at the park club house. And when I say “we”, I mean it was a good size, helpful crew that turned out to help with what everyone said was most successful (as well as tasty) event. The weather, as well, was most cooperative, with temperatures in the low 80’s.

I had intended to get photos while the function was in progress, but we got so busy that I didn’t have the time. Next time I’ll have to designate a photographer. However, I did manage to get a few shots in before people began pouring in the door.

I had said I wanted individual tables for our guests, instead of the long tables used for dinners. This shows the tables ready for use, as set up the previous day by several efficient ladies.



That same day Cliff and I went shopping. We bought ice cream ...








That's vanilla, and

















this is chocolate. (We were told that a local store sold ice cream in gallon containers. These turned out to be five quart.)










and toppings ... dark chocolate, strawberry, pineapple, caramel, cool whip, maraschino cherries (two of each), and toothpicks (for the cherries).



When we came back, the Table Ladies said we didn’t have enough toppings, so I scootered back down to the store to pick up some additional. More on that later.

Several residents brought in cookies and cupcakes that were added to the toppings table. No lack of sugar there. About 10 - 15 minutes before the 2:30 official start, folks started drifting in, so I gave our servers the go ahead to start scooping. It wasn’t too long before some folks came back for seconds, and I gave the approval for that. At the end, after about 50 servings had been made, just a little bit remained at the bottom of the containers. I never did know what happened to that. As for the toppings, we had lots left over. We ended up giving away most of it. When it was all over, many people pitched in, cleaned up the mess, folded up the tables and put them away, and we left the place in decent condition. All done in less than two hours.

Humor:

HOUSEKEEPING TIPS

Always keep several get well cards displayed so if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you've been sick and unable to clean. You can also keep a vacuum cleaner in sight so drop-in visitors will think you are getting ready to clean house.

NESTING TIME

I had mentioned in a previous posting that while we thought Pepper was a male when we first acquired her, and that when she laid an egg some seven years later, we had to admit otherwise. Now she lays eggs every now and then, but this last time she added a new twist.










Some years ago she would climb into a waste paper basket, and find herself unable to get out. So Amalie and I decided to make that particular basket hers, and we put in a ladder so she could get in and, more importantly, out.











Now here is Pepper’s twist -- she uses the bottom of the basket for her nest, even though she lays the egg in her cage. The vet suggested we put the egg at the bottom of the basket and let her sit on it. Obviously it won’t hatch because it isn’t fertile. After a while, the vet told us, she would get tired of just sitting there with no results, and give it up.











For about the past week she had been spending most all of her time on her “nest”. Then yesterday she gave it up, and she was all over me -- again. Welcome back, Pep.











Fun time: It has heated up around here.

IT’S SO HOT THAT…

The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

The trees are whistling for the dogs.

The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Hot water now comes out of both taps.

You can make sun tea instantly.

You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

The temperature drops below 95 F and you feel a little chilly.

You discover that in it only takes two fingers to steer your car.

You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

The cows are giving evaporated milk.

ALL HUMOR DAY

Let’s just have a good laugh today!

WHY COMPUTERS SOMETIMES CRASH!
(Per Dr. Seuss)

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, and
the bus is interrupted at a very last resort, and the
access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,
and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the
trash, and your data is corrupted cause the index
doesn't hash, then your situation's hopeless and your
system's gonna crash!

If the label on the cable on the table at your house,
says the network is connected to the button on your
mouse, but your packets want to tunnel to another
protocol, that's repeatedly rejected by the printer
down the hall.

And your screen is all distorted by the side effects
of gauss, so your icons in the window are as wavy as
a souse; then you may as well reboot and go out with a
bang, 'cuz sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang.

When the copy on your floppy's getting sloppy in the
disk, and the macro code instructions is causing
unnecessary risk, then you'll have to flash the memory
and you'll want to RAM your ROM, and then quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your Mom!

***

The Quaker farmer was in bed one night when he heard noises downstairs. He picked up his rifle and stepped out on the landing just in time to see a burglar stuffing things into a sack. “I wouldn’t hurt thee for the world, my friend”, said the farmer, “but thee standest where I am about to shoot!”

***

Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only need two tools - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You get another chance.

Be really nice to your family and friends; you never know when you might need them to empty your bedpan.

HEALTH NEWS

Not much improvement on the right side. Bothers me at night, and a not very noticeable dull ache during the day. I’m trying to do better with the exercises. I know, I know. Get with it, Meyer.

The chiropractor sold me some pills that are supposed to increase my muscle mass. Probably will take a while. From mess to mass.

The good news is that the bones in my left foot are healing nicely. The swelling is almost all gone, and the best news is that I am able to put a shoe on that foot. That means I don’t have to wear that boot, which means that although I don’t walk well, now I do walk better. Much better!

Let’s have some humor. I hope this “cartoon” doesn’t offend anyone. I thought it was very funny:

A new world’s record in the high jump was set yesterday at the beach in the south of France.The attached picture was taken just seconds before the jump took place.

EMBARRASSING MOMENT

Some years ago I was teaching a late afternoon accounting class at San Jose City College. There was one chapter about income taxes and the IRS, and in covering the material, I made some pretty snide remarks about said Internal Revenue Service (Eternal Revenue) (Infernal Revenue).

I made it a practice to get to the classroom about 20 minutes early so I could set up equipment and check over my lecture notes. At the session following Taxes, one young lady student arrived shortly after I did, and we started chatting. “Are you coming from work?” I asked. Yes, her employer let her leave early for the class. “That’s nice,” I said. “Who do you work for?” Her response: “The IRS”, she said with a perfectly straight face.

Gulp. Aaarrghh. Glmmphh... And I tried to make some sort of apology for the remarks I’d made the previous session. “Oh, no”, she said. “What you said was correct.”

Talk about getting let off the hook... Or, getting the scoop right from the horse’s mouth!

Humor:

THE LAWNMOWER

When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But somehow, I always had something else to take care of first--the truck, the car, fishing--always something more important to me.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a few minutes. When I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. "When you finish cutting the grass," I said, "you might as well sweep the sidewalk."

The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.

THEATER

Last Sunday Cliff, another friend and I went up to Foothill Community College to see their production of


Although Foothill is only a two year institution, they have an absolutely remarkable Theatre Arts department. Amalie and I had been going to their summer musical productions for many years, and we have never been disappointed. The acting, singing, set design, lighting, costumes -- everything is really top notch. I took my camera with two purposes in mind. One was to give you a look at the campus, and the other was (hopefully) to get a few pics of some of the cast. Mission
accomplished.



The brains behind these theater productions is Jay Manley. I took this pic while he was standing on the stage and I was halfway back in the darkened theater.










This lovely young lady plays one of the ushers in the musical, and here she was helping with the ushering at intermission.


















This young man plays one of the effete gentlemen in the play. He was also doing usher duty, as did many others in the cast.













This is Gary De Mattei, who played the lead, Bialystock. He was the one Actors Equity in the production, and he was outstanding!



















This is Tim Reynolds, who played Bialystock's accountant and sidekick, Leo Bloom, in the story. Tim lives in this area, and acts in many local productions. Interestingly, he is an accountant in real life.



















Intermission, and people lined up outside for refreshments. There was a funny line in the play after intermission: In act one, Bialystock and Bloom hire Ulla, a beautiful, tall, statuesque blonde. And in act one Bialystock's office looks dark and dirty. As the curtain rises after intermission, the office is now a pristine white, and Ulla is up on a stepladder with a paint roller completing the job. Bialystock and Bloom come, are startled by the looks of the office, and Bialystock asks, "When did you do this?" Ulla answers sweetly, "During intermission."




Okay, let's have a look at the Foothill campus. This is the new Student Center.







The campus sits up on a hill. Here is a view that takes in part of the football field.













Outdoor events are staged here.














Pathway to the theater. That's a classroom straight ahead.













More classrooms on campus.












And funny time:

ALERT...MISSING GRANDMA
Have you seen this person?
Please Call Grandchildren!

Grandma's on the net again, the kitchen's not her home.
She used to make us cherry pies, and call us on the phone
She would talk to us for hours; now she leaves us all alone.

We miss her homemade biscuits, and I'll make this little bet,
If you want to contact Grandma, you'll have to surf the net.

Grandma's surfing on the net, you bet,
She is surfing on the net.
We've been calling her all morning, and we haven't got her yet.
She's on the E-mail network, with her electronic friends...
If you want to talk to Grandma, you'll have to surf the net.

She's never surfed at Malibu, or caught a wave at Waikiki,
She's never seen a surfboard: hang ten doesn't mean a thing.
She's never met a beach-bum--Moon Doggie is just a pup.
But when she heads for her computer, you know the surf is up.

Grandma's getting older and her eyes are getting dim
Her random access memory, is half of what its been.
When Grandpa comes to call on her, She'll say I can’t go yet.
He'll have to wait for Grandma, cause she's surfing on the net.