Santa Barbara, 04-24-06

Time for another post, I’m lucky enough to be sitting up in wonderful Santa Barbara, some 140 miles north of Irvine. We have a vendor up in Goleta, sister city to SB. I usually go up twice a month, and I hang at Hotel Mar Monte, right on the beach. Life is good!!! Unfortunately, I’m alone, but the family is watching American Idol anyway, and I’m only moderately interested this year. American Idol is a true phenomenon, the highest ratings of any networks right now. Of course, it fits with the American Dream, get discovered, and get rich overnight. The rest of us have to work for a living!! It could be worse, I could be in Illinois, or some other godforsaken place with snow!!!! No snow for this boy, unless Bush or the next president decide to invade Iran, and institute the draft again. No matter how patriotic I am, my boys will not die fighting for oil, if that’s the case, I will pull a Rolf Andersson, and get my ass back to Svedala so fast it will make your head spin!! Enough of morose predictions, life at the present is fabulous, I had a three-day weekend, took Friday off, and went down to Sea World in San Diego. Had a great time, hanging with the family. Chelsea, my 17-year old, had a somewhat rare moment when she enjoyed being with her family, so we enjoyed the moment. She is getting independent, but what can you expect!!?? She is 17, she has a car, a job and a horse, great friends, and a life of her own. It just freaks me out, just a week ago she was a year old, and sitting on a swing, wanting me to push her for hours!! Where did the time go? Saturday, a little jogging, walking and bike riding, and spending time with the boys. Sunday, more of the same, but I truly love it!!!
Boy I’m stuffed, I usually eat too much when I travel, nothing else to do. Just stuffed my face with a great seafood pasta, but if I had a choice, I would much rather spend the time at MacDonald’s with the family.
Dad is sick, he has been in and out of the hospital since new-years, he gets a little better, go home, get sick and back in the hospital. On Easter, I though he would die, I called him at SOS, and he did not even know what day it was. He’s 69, too young really, but he never took care of himself. Smoking, drinking, fatty foods, and I don’t think the man ate a vegetable or a piece of fruit in his whole life!! Now, he is again a little better, apparently they are sending him to Dalen’s hospital, for rehabilitation. I hate to be reminded of the inevitable, but it gives me a reason to take care of myself. Walk, jog, ride my bikes, try to eat sensibly (oh how I love those fatty American meals!!!), and stay connected with life, and stay interested and curious. Also, I plan on working until I die, I simply don’t believe in retirement, just a step closer to the 6’ hole in the ground!!
Me and the boys in the band have another gig at the Brit club, last gig was a lot of fun, and again it keeps me connected to life, and who I am.
I took a jog on the beach before dinner, life is truly good!!! A great view of the Pacific, the palm trees, the sunset, a man cannot ask for more (well, the family could be here, that would be complete). Again, life in SoCal continues to be very good, I count my blessings every day, a wonderful wife, three great kids, the sun, the beach, and most of all my health!!!!
Until next time, have a great time, I know I will!!!!!

PL

So, it’s time again for a post, I owe my wonderful friends back in Sweden another update, so here it goes!!! Today is Monday, April 10, 2006, and I’m sitting in a hotel room in New Hampshire, clear across the country from my beloved SoCal. However, life is good, we are staying at a very nice hotel, and we are eating very good!! We have a vendor here in New Hampshire, and we are doing a little business visit, but I will be home on Wednesday. There is nothing better than when the airplane wheels touch down back at John Wayne airport in Orange County, and I can see palm trees again!! Also, I miss the kids and Kathy something fierce when I travel, but when the job calls for travel (and the bills gotta be paid), I get on a plane and go. So, what has been going on lately? We had a great gig with our oldies band on Friday the 31st of March, at a little crazy club called the British and Dominion Social Club, in Fountain Valley. The gig went surprisingly well; I haven’t been on stage since playing with Janne in 1986, Randall (rhythm guitar and vocals) has never played with a band before, Mick (lead guitar) haven’t been on stage since 1975, and Robert (bass), last gig was in 1968!!! So, needless to say, we were a bit rusty, but the audience had a great time! So, I will keep you all posted on the comings and goings of our band (BandAge), and how it all transpires. So, more crazy stuff; On Sunday the 2 of April, I was at the skate park after a bike ride, when I got a call from the Irvine fire department. Kathy had been up on a ladder outside trimming a tree, and the ladder wobbled, and down she went. Luckily, she did not hit her head, but she did break her arm. So, a few pins, a few yards of titanium wire and a few rubber bands later, she now has an enormous cast on her right arm. Poor thing, but the doctor says she will be as good as new in 8-12 weeks! I’m trying the best I can to help, doing the house chores and stuff, and generally trying to being the best husband ever (not an easy job!!). So, what about last weekend you say? Well, I had Friday the 7th off from work, so I spent pretty much the whole weekend with the family, riding my bike, doing a little jogging and taking some long walks with our wonderful great dog Sidney, a border collie mix that we got from the Irvine Animal Shelter. She is soooo smart, but she has pretty much destroyed the whole back yard (but we love her just the same). The weekend weather was great, just a few high clouds, and about 65-70 degrees F. On Sunday we went to the horse show, this is for show jumping, and what Chelsea likes best. All in all, a wonderful weekend, and life could not be better!!!!! I know I drive you all crazy with my rantings from SoCal, but life here is truly great, the weather, and my wonderful and wondrous family. By the way, where else in the world can you see 10 Ferraris driving around on the streets just in one weekend (not to speak of every other car that is made anywhere on the planet, if you are in to that sort of thing). So, my life could not possibly be better (well, more money of course), the sun is shining, and the palm trees are gently being rocked back and forth by a mild breeze from the Pacific. My God, Life is GOOD!!!

Ta Ta For Now