No Air

We are having a 3 day heat wave here in Nipomo, CA. It will be a scorching 86 degrees today! We could die because we don't have air conditioning. No one has air conditioning here. If we were a bit closer to the ocean, we would get a breeze, but we are inland about 9 miles. There are some hills between us and the pacific, so it's a bit warmer here than along the coast.

The locals tell me that it doesn't get hot here often. It is normally from 50 to 70 degrees here. I think its a good time to go to the beach!

Beer, Beach Bums, and a Garden

I have been anticipating my latest batch of homebrew beer for about a month now. I finally had my first taste. Yummy, if you like the beer a bit bitter or hoppy. This was a Pale Ale that I added a little extra hopps to. I think my obsession for making beer is almost as bad as my obsession to drink it.

I took Sarah to school today. I went fishing in San Luis bay near Pismo Beach. I caught nothing. I picked Sarah up. On the ride home, Sarah said, "Well you are an official beach bum now, since you fished while I went to school." Being married is hard!

For dinner tonight we had a pasta dish with fresh cherry tomatoes from our garden and basil from the neighbor's garden.

Since we have a back yard now, we also have some fresh herbs. We have two giant rosemary plants. Pictured below is the tomato plant and the rosemary bush behind it.

Our back patio...

Polyclonal Antibodies and Monty Python

I have been applying for jobs for the last month or more. I have submitted at least 40 applications to various companies and headhunters in the area. So, I was surprised when I got a call about a job. The place was Santa Cruz Biotech. I didn't remember applying there, but I took her word. The person on the other line wanted me to come for an interview. The next day, I dropped Sarah at school and went to the interview.

I drove through a industrial complex and found the building. An orange cat greeted me on my way in. I filled out some paperwork and waited. The interview was very casual and went well. I asked what the job was and she replied, "Purification and analysis of polyclonal antibodies...conjugation of peptides...siRNAs for mouse, goat, and human..." Uhmm, ok so why was I here again? I have no experience with biochemistry. The interviewer said that I would be trained and I did not need more experience than I already had. Good, since I find it hard to come by. I asked for a tour of the lab. It looked nicely familiar and the dress code was very casual, like the interview.

On the related subject, job hunting, I took the CBEST exam today. It is the nationwide exam for teaching. With a degree and the exam passed, I can substitute teach. To become a full-fledged teacher, I would have to spend one year in school to become California credentialed. I wanted the option of teaching so I would have another source of income, at least until a permanent job opens up.

Anyways, the point is that I took the 4 hour test today. It was not difficult. I would say freshman or sophomore in high school level. The test had three types of tests: Reading/Comprehension, Math, and essay questions.

One of the questions was about a monologue from Monty Python. Have you ever seen the Cheese Shop skit on You tube? [click on the video below to watch it (5 minutes long)]



Seriously, the question showed about 10 lines from it, then asked what I thought the customer would do after all this back and forth talk. The next question asked what I thought the purpose of this skit was. These were multiple choice questions, so no thought was actually needed, but it sure made me smile.

The exam took me three and a half hours and I believe I did well. I wont know for four weeks.

If I pass and become a substitute teacher, the first thing I will do is show the Cheese Shop skit and say this is all you need to learn today and then walk out.

My Precious

If you didn't know, I lost my wedding ring on the honeymoon.

I searched and searched for the same ring, but to no avail. I originally got my ring at Shane Company in Roseville, CA. I went back to Shane Co. and they did not have one. When I asked if they could order me one, they said they didn't know where or how to. I left frustrated. A couple days later, after searching for a similar ring, I had to vent my frustrations to someone. I went to the Shane Co. web site and submitted a complaint about the way they keep track of inventory regarding reordering a ring they sold.

Later that day, I received a phone call from Shane Co. They wanted to know what happened and how they can fix it. So I told them I needed a ring I lost and they said they would figure it out. They did. The manager of the Roseville store called me and said he is having the ring made for me. That's it. I have my ring again.

Sarah's B-day continued

Here are pictures of Sarah's birthday celebration:

Sarah's 25th Birthday!

PARTY HERE!!!

Sarah turns the big 25 today. My young wife is going to live it up today...as soon as she gets up from her after school nap!

So, here is what's going on now:

I got the cake making supplies, gifts, and champagne. Sarah got home at 1pm from school today. As you know, professors make people sleepy, so she didn't fight it and took a siesta. While she slept, I was down stairs baking and decorating the cake with Blackberry the cat.

I was inspired by the television chefs to make a cake that people can only dream about. However, I think I may have lost something when I purchased a Yellow cake with fudge swirl Betty Crocker mix at the store today. So, I mixed it up, threw it in the oven and BAM!, it was ready to set for an hour and cool. A good time to get the mail and pet the cats.

Like I said before, I was inspired to make a great cake for her. I wanted a double decker cake. I think I knew how from a story that Sarah told me of her dad making them in a similar way. I took the cake and cut in two, put a layer of frosting in the middle, then applied the top.

(It looks like the cat made it doesn't it?)

I then, trimmed the edges and took to frosting the entire cake with the remaining chocolate fudge frosting.

I added some decorative icing to it, then some candles...

I will post pictures of our celebration later tonight.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

The New Life

Sarah and I have been here, in Nipomo, now for 2 weeks! We have been grumpy roommates as we unpack. I think that the fishing rods should be at the front of the office closet. She thinks that they should be in storage! The cats want all their toys out on the stairs. We want them out, but NOT on the stairs. Below is a picture of our little townhouse. We are in the one on the right side where our cars are parked. We have down and upstairs.

Well, things have mellowed out now. Our place is taking shape, something like a home.

We have mostly unpacked. Sarah has been attending classes for her MBA. We filled a storage unit with the crap we aren't sure why we even have it. One of the couches did not fit in the house, so it also went into storage.

I have been looking for work. It sucks. I have submitted many applications by both the Internet and in person. The person to person contact is so valuable, but is not always possible. The best prospect right now are from staffing agencies. One position is a lab tech and the other is a technician at the local nuclear power plant. I have had trouble staying motivated, but I keep going out and talking to people, which really helps keep me going. I just got done taking a skills assessment test for a professional staffing company. Now that sucked. It was easy in theory, since the subject was Microsoft Word and Excel. I am proficient in these. The test itself, however, was a different story. They used a program that pops up in your browser and mimics Excel or Word. I say mimic because it was full of bugs and every time you hit made an error, like selecting copy instead of cut, you have to start over on that question. Don't get me started.

On the plus side. I have time to contemplate where I can go fishing, surfing, and 4-wheeling.

Wish me luck...

The trip and unpacking

We packed the Uhaul FULL!

Then we loaded the Jeep and hit the road...



The drive was actually smooth, but we sure were tired. Th next day we started to unpack. Below is Sarah working on the kitchen.

The cats settled in and got some rest.

Home

We are now in our new home in Nipomo, CA. We arrived yesterday at 9pm. We have loaded it all into the house and now we have to unpack. Moving sucks! We are fine and everything here is great. We are eating Dominos Pizza tonight and relaxing a bit.

Here we go on our latest adventure...

[pictures to come]

MOVING on Monday to Nipomo,CA

It is here...on Sept. 15, we are moving to Nipomo, CA, south of Pismo Beach on hwy 101. We are all packed up and ready to go.

Sarah and I will be moving to the city of Nipomo,CA.

Moving Again!

The cats, Sarah, and I are moving again!

We are staying within California, but heading south to the San Luis Obispo area.

(click on map to enlarge)

(click on map to enlarge)

Sarah will be going to school and I will go surfing every day. Wait, never mind, my wife told me I can't go surfing in the "Red Triangle." The "red traingle" is an area on the coast of California that great white sharks are common. Since there are seals, sea lions, and other shark food, then that's what we get.

For the lastest wedding pictures go to
http://1tom2go.googlepages.com/picturehome

With this ring I thee wed...

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"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love..."

My brother in law, Mike, told me after the wedding ceremony that he never takes his wedding ring off. He has only taken it off one time. He told me to never take it off.
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"I will forever wear this ring... "

So... Sarah and I are snorkeling in Maui...on our honeymoon.

Sarah and I decide we are done and head in towards the beach.

I feel my ring slide off of my finger as I'm swimming.

I look down to see if I can see it fall. I don't see it fall. I catch a glimpse of something shiny on the sand below. I dive down about 15 feet to the bottom, but I can't see it. I get air and continue diving until I realize it's gone. The current in the water keeps moving the sand around. After a few minutes, I know I will have to tell my new bride, who was smart enough to take her's off before swimming, that I lost my ring.

The Great Blur with some Slow Mo'

I am sitting here looking out into the Pacific Ocean from our room on Maui.

It's our Honeymoon.

It was only two days ago I was standing at Paradise Ridge Winery, waiting to be married.

The groomsmen and I were standing around, waiting for the ceremony to start. We had our tuxes on, standing on a walkway that led up to the main area. We made jokes we hoped the minister didn't hear, threw some rocks at a light, and looked for signs of Helen, the bride's mom, to be seated (which was our cue to go).

When Helen was seated, it all became blurry and surreal. I stood there in front of everyone. I looked down the aisle and up the stairs to where Sarah, my bride, will be coming from.

When the string trio starts playing Here Comes the Bride, everything slowed way down, even slower than Baywatch. She appeared at the top of the stairs in the most incredible dress and beautiful hair. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She slowly walked the stairs on her Dad's arm. Next thing I know, her dad is giving her to me. He didn't play any jokes, he just gave her to me.

Then things started going fast again. Before I knew it I was holding the ring trying to figure out which hand to put it on. A nice kiss and it was all over. We walked out smiling and ascended the stairs.

We were rushed out for pictures. Sarah, was the incredibly beautiful centerpiece to the photos. I can't wait to see the pictures.

Since I am a social kind of person, the next part was he funnest. Sarah and I couldn't believe that almost everyone we invited showed up. Because of this, we had the greatest reception dinner and dancing we ever could have planned (or did). I danced with so many people. I hugged and talked to people I hadn't seen for years. Sarah and I would never have wanted to do it with out all of our family and friends.

The night finally died down some, and left in the limo.

Back here in Maui, everything has been awesome. The flight here was comfortable, since we got a honeymoon upgrade to the seats with more leg room.

When we arrived, we picked up our convertible to cruise the island in.

When we arrived at Napili Kai Beach Resort, we were giving a complimentary honeymoon upgrade, to the nicest room they had. When we look out the window, I only see the ocean and the island Lanai.

So after a 16 hour nap, we officially started our honeymoon with breakfast on the beach.

Going to Maui! See you if we come back!

Our Weddding is near!

15 days until Sarah and I tie the knot!

We have everthing planned and ready for a GREAT evening in Santa Rosa.

I love my Bride-to-Be!

Some nice meals...

I have been trying to eat better lately.

Part of this comes from me liking to cook. I like the simple meals the most. Below are two 30 minute meals that I made.


The first is lobster ravioli's with a chardonnay cream sauce and a side of salad.



The meal below is angel hair pasta with meatballs and a fresh tomato and garlic sauce with salad on the side

Taking Dad on the Rubicon Trail

This last weekend, my Dad and I drove through the Rubicon 4 wheel drive trail. We packed up the Jeep and drove up to the trail in the Sierra Nevada's.



The Rubicon Trail is located in Northern California near Lake Tahoe in the Eldorado National Forest. The beginning of the trail is near Loon Lake and ends on the west side of Lake Tahoe at Tahoma. The trail is 12.9 miles long, and the average driving speed is about 1 miles per hour, so we did it in 2 days with one day for hiking, etc.

Below are pictures of our journey...

Brew Bottled

My homemade brew has been fermenting for just over 2 weeks. It is now ready to bottle. I added a little sugar to get the carbonation. These bottles should be ready to drink in a few weeks...if they don't all explode!

Making Beer

I recently got a beer making kit, called Mr. Beer, to try my hand a making beer. I mixed up the water and corn solds and brought it to boil.

I added the malt and hops and boiled for a bit.

The hot wort solution goes into an cold water bath to quickly cool it.

The wort was poured into the fermintation keg where it will sit for about 2 weeks.

Blackberry the cat likes the smell of the new beer.

Hmmm, this smells yummy...

Oh boy...I feel dizzy...good...but so dizzy...

I think the cats are tired now...


I'll keep you all posted on the rest of the beer making story.

Cat video::

Here is Zoe and Blackberry playing. Just click on "PLAY" below:

Sking at Squaw Valley

Sarah and I went skiing this last weekend at Squaw Valley Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe, California. We had a great time.