Happy Birthday to Me

What a great week this has been. Last Tuesday we traveled from the "real strange" RV Park in San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles -- and got to see Josiah and Lilly. Our plan was to store the RV at the Marina Church where Jana and Korak attend and live in their back room. But the area where we would store the RV is rented out to the school district so we couldn't get in there until Saturday morning. So we camped at Dockweiler RV Park near Playa Del Rey -- about 6 miles from the kid's house -- until Saturday. So this what we did. The RV is now at the church and we are Korak and Jana's.

But we had what I call a "typical" welcome to LA Tuesday night at Dockweiler's. We watched a program on TV, turned it off at 11:00 and went to bed. I had just drifted off to sleep when Joyce woke me up, "Gene, there are police out here." I looked out the window and decided to get dressed. Right outside our RV was a fire truck, an ambulance, and enough police to hold a convention. I went outside and they wouldn't tell anything but wanted to know if I had heard any noises. Answer: just the lady next to us slamming the door to her RV a couple times. The police were very interested in a car parked in front of an RV two spots down from ours. I noticed they were working with someone in the ambulance, then drove away. We went back to bed and finally asleep. A couple days later I found out a man committed suicide (or tried to; he was barely alive when the ambulance took him away).

Thursday was my birthday. Ginger and Jana gave me a gift certificate to a day spa. I didn't even know men went to those things. This was in downtown Santa Monica -- what I would consider rather plush. It included a 25-minute massage, and as much time as I wanted in the hot tub, steam room, sauna, relaxation room and shower. I stayed there about 4 hours. They had white robes to wear around, cold wash cloths by the hot tub, lots of towels, bananas and apples to eat, magazines to read, and no one to hurry you along. It was a very good time. While I was in the area I walked down to Borders and bought a map book I wanted, and then had lunch at Barney's Beanery on the 3rd Street Promenade. Great birthday.

Wednesday was Josiah's school program -- pictures and a brief description are on the following blog. Friday evening was his and Lilly's Awana program. They attend at a nearby Baptist church. Today we attended worship at Marina Christian Fellowship. In fact, I went to both services (does that make up for not going to church last Sunday?) I went with Korak to the first service then Jana, Joyce and kids came to the second service so I stayed for that also. After, we went to Soup Plantation for lunch. This is my favorite restaurant. All they have are salads and soups (plus some breads). Great place.

A word about the weather. While the rest of country is digging out of snow banks, we are enjoying nice sunny weather. In Ginger's part of Oregon, they are having snow and ice. In the Grants Pass area it also snow -- but not as much. I think we got out of town just in time. But the temperature here is cold -- maybe I better say, cool. In the 50s which is cool for southern California. However, tomorrow it is supposed to rain and then rain again on Christmas. So, enjoy your white Christmas while we enjoy our wet one. Merry Christmas everyone.