tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139371032024-03-07T15:24:21.389-08:00Pete's BlogA few thoughts and photos from a fortunate husband and father. About stuff I like, things I find funny, and the occasional current event. Visit <b><a href="http://petecodella.blog/">my new personal blog</a></b> for current info.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-42178206992917911432011-05-25T15:23:00.000-07:002011-05-25T15:23:31.859-07:00Hogle Zoo with the Meadowbrook Elementary School kindergarten<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/njeRdWDhAA" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MH0w9lpGXdk/Td155-XyGeE/AAAAAAAAA30/VJ4_yB6nQ28/s160-c/HogleZooWithTheMeadowbrookElementarySchoolKindergarten.jpg"></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-79087431086985083382010-08-04T20:20:00.000-07:002010-08-05T07:05:58.500-07:00Converting a Jenn-Air barbecue grill from natural gas to propane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYOT7qP-j3wCM09Jc2G0h2FUxDjxN2PPAG-3pKGo8whDwe3WH6W1ViH0THa5rFlE6PIaSx6M01UoRz1jTFnMtukrsIV50_4RFXoSnlPpb6vdMrPi2f0ZpWrpVMNLJLgj8AmKZ/s1600/jenn-air-barbecue-grill-01.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYOT7qP-j3wCM09Jc2G0h2FUxDjxN2PPAG-3pKGo8whDwe3WH6W1ViH0THa5rFlE6PIaSx6M01UoRz1jTFnMtukrsIV50_4RFXoSnlPpb6vdMrPi2f0ZpWrpVMNLJLgj8AmKZ/s320/jenn-air-barbecue-grill-01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501772677286034098" /></a>It’s been a while since I’ve updated this Blogger site and because I believe this story will have broad appeal, I’m going to use this blog to share my experience with converting a Jenn-Air barbecue grill from natural gas to propane gas.<br /><br />Usually though, I’m blogging on my newer family blog, located at <a href="http://p2.codella.info" target="_blank">Codella.info</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">About our Jenn-Air Barbecue Grill</span><br /><br />First of all, let’s clarify the name, brand and components of the grill.<br /><br />Although it boasts the Jenn-Air name (sometimes spelled Jenn-Aire), which makes it more marketable, it’s actually not made by Jenn-Air. I wish I knew that before I bought it at Lowe’s a few years ago.<br /><br />The grill is manufactured and serviced (and I use ‘serviced’ very loosely) by <a href="http://www.shopnexgrill.com" target="_blank">NEXGRILL</a>.<br /><br />The grill has four large burners, a rotisserie, a warming rack and a side burner. In our experience it’s well suited for cooking for large groups of people.<br /><br />It also has workspace on both sides of the grill and a two-door cabinet below the grill for storing barbecue tools, etc. It’s on a nice metal cabinet, on wheels and easily moves on solid surfaces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1YwoI7dU9l04S8P8TsD_ujUkcYxX44wAiU1j3E4om02EzTSMxHYsNqkw02XVhFqYIJytTkT_dCjY3Tn9v5-UmSIlFT_LDSg1htnHxGx_gLRsOR7nThXeiPTCB_bMW2abQGeh/s1600/jenn-air-barbecue-grill-02.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1YwoI7dU9l04S8P8TsD_ujUkcYxX44wAiU1j3E4om02EzTSMxHYsNqkw02XVhFqYIJytTkT_dCjY3Tn9v5-UmSIlFT_LDSg1htnHxGx_gLRsOR7nThXeiPTCB_bMW2abQGeh/s320/jenn-air-barbecue-grill-02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501772681667211906" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">About our Situation</span><br /><br />We moved in June to a home that doesn’t have a natural gas stub-out in the back yard (our previous home did). We received a couple bids to install a natural gas stub-out and decided it was just too expensive to warrant the project. Plus, if we moved again, we could still be in the same situation with a nice barbecue grill and no way to use it.<br /><br />So, we decided to take our Jenn-Air barbecue grill and convert it from natural gas to propane gas.<br /><br />This process, however, was not simple or easy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90giYv1aK596C7IDLOImWBgJv7VjRCCOZuWqiNMcHvfUB4VH23knzqrA9A0LsD1Hmfc5IyheyXCRv0u80Vy5W8eIuLttT_y7t3_RytXsCE_8RX7QhYXHaihmy_SbUUof_H-Cm/s1600/jenn-air-barbecue-grill-03.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90giYv1aK596C7IDLOImWBgJv7VjRCCOZuWqiNMcHvfUB4VH23knzqrA9A0LsD1Hmfc5IyheyXCRv0u80Vy5W8eIuLttT_y7t3_RytXsCE_8RX7QhYXHaihmy_SbUUof_H-Cm/s320/jenn-air-barbecue-grill-03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501772685350928418" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Converting a Jenn-Air Barbecue Grill from Natural Gas to Propane</span><br /><br />I searched online for an article on converting the Jenn-Air barbecue grill from natural gas to propane gas. I mostly found customer complaints about how difficult the process was and the fact that the grill isn’t a Jenn-Air product.<br /><br />I called the 800 number provided in the Jenn-Air barbecue grill owner’s manual: 800.554.5799. Calling NEXGRILL only resulted in a giant runaround.<br /><br />Finally I determined to take the grill to a local barbecue specialist. This was no easy feat as the grill is quite heavy and requires several men to load it into a pickup truck. But it was a good decision.<br /><br />I’ll tell you right now that the hero in this story is Salt Lake City barbecue specialists <a href="http://www.casualbbq.com" target="_blank">Casual Barbecue & Fireplace</a>. The owner, Keith Deppe, was incredibly helpful.<br /><br />First, he located this article on <a href="http://bbq.about.com/od/gasgrillreviews/gr/aapr032205a.htm" target="_blank">About.com</a> written by Salt Lake City outdoor cooking expert, Derrick Riches.<br /><br />Keith tried several times over the course of a week to get the propane gas parts shipped from NEXGRILL so he could convert our Jenn-Air grill. Finally he decided they weren’t going to help so he used his own parts and converted my grill for about $200 (parts and labor).<br /><br />I dropped the grill off on Tuesday and had it back on Friday.<br /><br />I was glad to pay for Keith’s expertise and to finally get the job done. Had I tried to do it — which my wife insisted I did not because she was concerned I would end up blowing up the grill, our home, or perhaps myself — I’m sure we still would not have a working grill.<br /><br />As it is now, we have enjoyed delicious barbecued steaks, chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner, both for our immediate family as well as for my entire family — parents, siblings, spouses and all the cousins.<br /><br />We’re so happy to have our barbecue grill back.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What I Learned</span><br /><br />I learned several things from this experience:<br /><br />Don’t be fooled by big fancy barbecue grills offered at relatively inexpensive prices at large home improvement warehouses. Even though I paid what I consider to be a lot for the grill (less than $1,000 but more than $750), it was less expensive than comparable grills that range from $3,000 to $6,000 at most barbecue specialty stores.<br /><br />Call ahead and find an expert to help. Keith Deppe at Casual Barbecue & Fireplace was very helpful.<br /><br />Stick with propane. Although using natural gas can be convenient and less expensive, not having access to it when you move to a new location is a pain.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-61868019721907064582007-06-01T19:42:00.000-07:002008-10-19T15:15:04.469-07:00A new Codella BlogThis week I’ve been working on a new endeavor for my extended family, the Codella Family Blog.<br /><br />We’re working through some formatting bugs, but the site’s up and running.<br /><br />The Codella Family Blog will be a site where each member of the family can post articles and photos. It’ll be a fun collaboration of narratives from the lives of four couples: my parents, Vickey and me, my sister and her husband, and my brother and his wife.<br /><br />It’s still a work in progress but if you care to read my posts, that’s where they'll be from now on - unless I decide I need my independence again.<br /><br />So, for now, thanks Blogger.<br /><br />And we’ll see you on <a href="http://www.codella.info">The Codella Family Blog</a>.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-54787260000888484912007-05-28T12:53:00.001-07:002008-12-09T01:19:54.525-08:00Memorial Day 2007We made a visit to the cemetery this morning, Bunkers Eden Vale Memorial Park in the northern part of Las Vegas, to pay our respects to my grandparents, Angelo and Elenora. Vickey and I commented that the facilities look better now than they did the last time we visited.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunfeL92RId_C76kjqC1XABE0itweqLQ353PwPHJelEiDuARtW9FKJkGd8_AM-Ufqamo-IBGcn66K36n3AOoXwwJD-vNk5h70ucX0r97KrCSJYK6i7IbVbHwbemFs0Qc_o60dW/s1600-h/memorial01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunfeL92RId_C76kjqC1XABE0itweqLQ353PwPHJelEiDuARtW9FKJkGd8_AM-Ufqamo-IBGcn66K36n3AOoXwwJD-vNk5h70ucX0r97KrCSJYK6i7IbVbHwbemFs0Qc_o60dW/s400/memorial01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069702274439836322" /></a><br />We removed the old, weathered flowers that were there and left some new silk roses. We had some flowers for grandpa too, but there was no vase to hold them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaYoLUFnDuAaSlG_D0KKnhURQMmd09nWFzhsEalD4S4D7N17gQtRVtj5vzU2zcRIhaKqOY822_zvEVViLyoJXBDAbDreXgtNcE7Ft-fbGz3AFJ-6VG-xrg8Dvsi6-S8JqDEvC/s1600-h/memorial02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaYoLUFnDuAaSlG_D0KKnhURQMmd09nWFzhsEalD4S4D7N17gQtRVtj5vzU2zcRIhaKqOY822_zvEVViLyoJXBDAbDreXgtNcE7Ft-fbGz3AFJ-6VG-xrg8Dvsi6-S8JqDEvC/s400/memorial02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069702283029770930" /></a><br />Last week when my dad was here I learned a new favorite expression often used by my grandpa to my dad: “Anyone can party all night in Las Vegas, but only a real man gets up in the morning and goes to work.” I guess my grandpa used to say that to convince my dad that sleeping the day away wasn’t the manly thing to do.<br /><br />We took a couple minutes of video at the cemetery before the camera tape ran out. I’ll post that sometime this week.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-54548540960655696152007-05-26T17:37:00.001-07:002008-12-09T01:19:54.662-08:00A night with Anita BakerI’m part of a couple Vegas show tickets clubs: <a href="http://houseseatslv.com" target="_blank">House Seats Las Vegas</a> and <a href="http://vegasseatfillers.com" target="_blank">Vegas Seat Fillers</a>. It’s a great way to get comp tickets to Vegas shows. The only thing is you have to be spontaneous and willing to jump on last-minute opportunities.<br /><br />As a former performing arts producer, I understand the value in having a full house. That’s just what these seat filler organizations have capitalized on. They make arrangements with the individual producers to get free tickets to help fill the house. Besides, there’s plenty of mark-up in Vegas show ticket prices to more than accommodate for a few comp seats.<br /><br />So, yesterday we had the opportunity to get tickets to see Anita Baker at The Joint at the <a href="http://www.hardrockhotel.com" target="_blank">Hard Rock Hotel & Casino</a>. I seized the chance early yesterday morning, as soon as I received the notice they were available. Anita Baker is one of my favorite vocalists.<br /><br />I informed Vickey and my folks that we were going to a concert and to make arrangements for the kiddies. I figured it was a terrific opportunity and would be a good memory for my parents' visit. And boy was it!<br /><br />First off, thanks to Ellen for being willing to bring her girls over and hang at our crib while we were out partying.<br /><br />I went to the Hard Rock about an hour early to pick-up the tickets and secure good seats in the general admission seating area. I managed to get seats at the back of the first section at the Joint, about 30 feet from the stage. Vickey and my folks joined me in time for the comedian opening act. He was okay.<br /><br />Once Anita Baker took the stage, around 9:30 p.m., the show was off and running. This is a low-resolution image captured by my mobile phone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_mtfhlTkiJ9Dl-EbxDVK5MRmx0mY8O9pDhii9j9jNpkhgOlVwEchAyzQTwl61THY5_LJmkmK98skw-i3wo0Ef74_dONpB8ssmwf7C6Tiwf3Qo41gmemfB7V49hPC6lvnggur/s1600-h/anita-baker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_mtfhlTkiJ9Dl-EbxDVK5MRmx0mY8O9pDhii9j9jNpkhgOlVwEchAyzQTwl61THY5_LJmkmK98skw-i3wo0Ef74_dONpB8ssmwf7C6Tiwf3Qo41gmemfB7V49hPC6lvnggur/s400/anita-baker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069034364075635346" /></a>She was a bundle of energy. I’m not certain if I’ve been that impressed with a singer at a live concert. She was really spot on, on everything. I’ve been to a dozen or so concerts and for the singing, I think I can say Anita Baker was the best.<br /><br />My critical mentions?<br /><br />First to The Joint, for cable tying small folding chairs together for the seating and making the space between rows so small. My 34” waist could barely be comfortable on the seat’s surface area. There was a guy on the row in front of us that took up two chairs, easy. And the people next to him just had to suck it up and be squashed.<br /><br />Second, to the production of Anita’s show. She was calling off instructions to the lighting and sound engineers pretty much throughout the show. It didn’t bother me as far as the songs go, again because she was just about vocally perfect. But without the stage direction the show would have been better.<br /><br />Also, she was in command of the musicians, waving her arms and signaling the end of songs, transitions and the like. She let on that this was pretty much her first gig with the band, that she had pulled musicians together from Vegas and other parts of the country to play the concert. But that was even more impressive to me.<br /><br />Musically, her show last night was a solid 10.<br /><br />She was terrific in her interaction with the audience, dedicating songs, answering call-outs and even singing happy birthday complete with back-up vocalists who joined in on cue.<br /><br />The evening, although much later than I’m accustomed to, turned out to be a highlight. It was a wonderful 100 minute concert. We all left very impressed with Ms. Baker. And my parents left with a better knowledge of Anita Baker and her music. They recognized a few of her songs as she sang them last night, they just didn’t know beforehand who Anita Baker was. Vickey helped them yesterday afternoon by playing part of the Rapture album for them.<br /><br />Anita Baker admitted to the audience that at 49 she felt too old to be singing and dancing around. She also admitted that she loved her job and thinks it’s the best one in the world. One couldn’t help but agree that she loves music and it loves her right back. She was stellar.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-48685943249911887242007-05-24T09:42:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:19:56.055-08:00Eliana's spring dance recitalEliana's dance recital was last night. Here's the complete video, courtesy of yours truly and You Tube.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CBo6xySOqlE"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CBo6xySOqlE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Here are a few photos from last night’s dance recital. These were taken as final preparations for the show were underway.<br /><br />Grandpa and Grandma Codella with Eliana in the parking lot before the recital.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSZkLX-Fu81hKAMsztwz0R-33bSHpJql3CBIp-TUlICdKsuGI4A-vwqAmICZF6GVPvN7Y-JrviXCjr6mDFfnud6117NV86K0XT3tYoovQoML9du42mJKrRUeTNAHOehefH20M/s1600-h/e-dance070523-01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSZkLX-Fu81hKAMsztwz0R-33bSHpJql3CBIp-TUlICdKsuGI4A-vwqAmICZF6GVPvN7Y-JrviXCjr6mDFfnud6117NV86K0XT3tYoovQoML9du42mJKrRUeTNAHOehefH20M/s400/e-dance070523-01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068169022654771682" /></a><br />Showing off on stage before the recital. Think she's comfortable up there?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ary6jcVPx0kpLy3XKEQTFaSYfRDZP5FWYtGCowSPZcPiDnx2QidrnVSNdwouVMt9iRMoCHQDBGt3I6tiRKxL6cCibTuMTuqAsaWzhwFw-CkpIm03cZ6UgKi1-MvCx4wDcNM5/s1600-h/e-dance070523-02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ary6jcVPx0kpLy3XKEQTFaSYfRDZP5FWYtGCowSPZcPiDnx2QidrnVSNdwouVMt9iRMoCHQDBGt3I6tiRKxL6cCibTuMTuqAsaWzhwFw-CkpIm03cZ6UgKi1-MvCx4wDcNM5/s400/e-dance070523-02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068169026949738994" /></a><br />Green room and make-up all in one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqym2ugOn64W7hrZlQyAafD6Y9GGU3G16dB5LpHGWKJWojagBME3GDq6PkeNorJ-g-78wThr_v8g7z0PmN6fuSP5RNRG6CcJaIuZxVw1P_t4qSkBVxaX6iM_pb_s30dnkwvdW3/s1600-h/e-dance070523-03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqym2ugOn64W7hrZlQyAafD6Y9GGU3G16dB5LpHGWKJWojagBME3GDq6PkeNorJ-g-78wThr_v8g7z0PmN6fuSP5RNRG6CcJaIuZxVw1P_t4qSkBVxaX6iM_pb_s30dnkwvdW3/s400/e-dance070523-03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068169044129608194" /></a><br />With her friend from dance class.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_-b97-trSpxOaTfWUQrNVPyuONXrxCofRJ7FfUu5xV1pHk7jqJ2EX5Qrj0npFMoSY7xPFPCEXTtgcxYEy4AXb-1GL7Ehvrk9x-kZSJBdYfW4UcvPm57PCpLFvvORpq_Yqo_Z/s1600-h/e-dance070523-04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_-b97-trSpxOaTfWUQrNVPyuONXrxCofRJ7FfUu5xV1pHk7jqJ2EX5Qrj0npFMoSY7xPFPCEXTtgcxYEy4AXb-1GL7Ehvrk9x-kZSJBdYfW4UcvPm57PCpLFvvORpq_Yqo_Z/s400/e-dance070523-04.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068169052719542802" /></a><br />With Ms. Lori, her dance teacher.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8M_2qeX_y9Q3cOa_IlTuEwpeW62EKHpgudjTTXR8Ke2Bpmh9G4zulqTt4vf-FEEkc4GBK0sxnhDe9TJZvCCqR873Nm5VRQvPPnKHuBho2PW08DylNlyO-rtbj2QbcfQMdOeE/s1600-h/e-dance070523-05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8M_2qeX_y9Q3cOa_IlTuEwpeW62EKHpgudjTTXR8Ke2Bpmh9G4zulqTt4vf-FEEkc4GBK0sxnhDe9TJZvCCqR873Nm5VRQvPPnKHuBho2PW08DylNlyO-rtbj2QbcfQMdOeE/s400/e-dance070523-05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068169052719542818" /></a><br />Eliana with Sarah Coglianese.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSx0_gAwXXxpHihvkU7lGi4HlRkFmqTEGQDfTlL-ddcGCDYtCpDwwtWbmvnMIJJI9FOW1-aJN334ek_JA4c6w14lD5ddzCTQroxz0fVv0_6AvBi_Q4bP9RSCApk3do8YEhbSm/s1600-h/e-dance070523-06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSx0_gAwXXxpHihvkU7lGi4HlRkFmqTEGQDfTlL-ddcGCDYtCpDwwtWbmvnMIJJI9FOW1-aJN334ek_JA4c6w14lD5ddzCTQroxz0fVv0_6AvBi_Q4bP9RSCApk3do8YEhbSm/s400/e-dance070523-06.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068169168683659826" /></a><br />And here are some shots from the performance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Sn4uL8xYB_VNhdb0keoVVIqUpFRD1SYEoSphs0vq7wMkeWnk-puCqhDG7su3UAo0xWNw5NB3klBboL4lUW5p5hfp_GNKXunBDTKM5p0rKG9a7rJPNBarTN3Zp-FrQb_X7Zpm/s1600-h/e-dance070523-08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Sn4uL8xYB_VNhdb0keoVVIqUpFRD1SYEoSphs0vq7wMkeWnk-puCqhDG7su3UAo0xWNw5NB3klBboL4lUW5p5hfp_GNKXunBDTKM5p0rKG9a7rJPNBarTN3Zp-FrQb_X7Zpm/s400/e-dance070523-08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068197644316832338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8N11qJspYnokJFJ8kZHfxCOaTheBGbFdhqtC4wyvDE_wYKK0QO-dWhRactYvhlW5QvzsliGl8fERLWZ-qgfbLB-rdxVO9xdD0l7Dt76swBrEbQD9LeTaavq5W45-4GgKHs85/s1600-h/e-dance070523-09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8N11qJspYnokJFJ8kZHfxCOaTheBGbFdhqtC4wyvDE_wYKK0QO-dWhRactYvhlW5QvzsliGl8fERLWZ-qgfbLB-rdxVO9xdD0l7Dt76swBrEbQD9LeTaavq5W45-4GgKHs85/s400/e-dance070523-09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068197648611799650" /></a><br />Eliana’s kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Gupton, was gracious enough to accept Ellie’s repeated requests that she attend the performance. Now that’s going above and beyond. Thanks, Mrs. Gupton. It meant a lot to Ellie to have you there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jbfZ1KwIi18x5YzTcuAdYZpKLXukGxw-4mNiXL9Dhj4xhUivXXtm6AeGCzBb6vDRkg1HxnW5e4QopVK25iCTOxkMf-5zMEmEILsRIc-0pxQRsFXsQZEnhTimbV5aj79W1GTm/s1600-h/e-dance070523-07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jbfZ1KwIi18x5YzTcuAdYZpKLXukGxw-4mNiXL9Dhj4xhUivXXtm6AeGCzBb6vDRkg1HxnW5e4QopVK25iCTOxkMf-5zMEmEILsRIc-0pxQRsFXsQZEnhTimbV5aj79W1GTm/s400/e-dance070523-07.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068197640021865026" /></a><br />The recital included about 35 different numbers from Ms. Lori’s 250+ students. It’s an ambitious program sponsored by the City of Henderson. And isn’t it amazing that Ms. Lori has been doing this for dozens of years and can remember all her student’s names?<br /><br />We talked Ellie into leaving a bit early, before the finale number, so we could go home and watch the <i>American Idol</i> finale. Way to go Jordin!Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-58922188306443895432007-05-19T10:51:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:19:57.296-08:00Preparing for the spring dance recitalEliana’s dance class has been busy with preparations for next week’s spring dance recital at the Henderson Pavilion.<br /><br />This year’s costume is a bit more risqué than we’d like, but certainly true to a Vegas dancing girl.<br /><br />Here are a few photos taken at home and at dance practice during the photo shoot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiVpVxCTLg2w4sspX-D1nEcxs8GBAEXset3-WctKa5IzcEz9ytxV5NSSH2JMyQfQ80HA2HWyaKznQOwQQYzTJ5Lh2fFXgLLS7Cnar1sAifQpMD5u1o8ugub93bUtUWylget5s/s1600-h/dance0705-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiVpVxCTLg2w4sspX-D1nEcxs8GBAEXset3-WctKa5IzcEz9ytxV5NSSH2JMyQfQ80HA2HWyaKznQOwQQYzTJ5Lh2fFXgLLS7Cnar1sAifQpMD5u1o8ugub93bUtUWylget5s/s400/dance0705-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066332949905535362" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMZyYAY4FCK_DKw1Habv-GG931x5OqGQ8EBjsypl_Rvt96zf_GEUumYqKKkuRpR-FM6NLu2PcZjHsE__IZs0riyDm3GNPvrVHc1XsUIUfleSVaX76p3zHol74E0_ti5YfKMdO/s1600-h/dance0705-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMZyYAY4FCK_DKw1Habv-GG931x5OqGQ8EBjsypl_Rvt96zf_GEUumYqKKkuRpR-FM6NLu2PcZjHsE__IZs0riyDm3GNPvrVHc1XsUIUfleSVaX76p3zHol74E0_ti5YfKMdO/s400/dance0705-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066332954200502674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ1OXzN8-WL3t0izgq0ndSe7ORx5F62114UtyBFKaHJlF-rzXpoZZsS1PQC9g8y-XLKmwG2kQ6TOaqenIqKIHyzy6jzbNSFcIGi-05sME_snbTAr3qGQ62zCLmtg98Njpg-f-/s1600-h/dance0705-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ1OXzN8-WL3t0izgq0ndSe7ORx5F62114UtyBFKaHJlF-rzXpoZZsS1PQC9g8y-XLKmwG2kQ6TOaqenIqKIHyzy6jzbNSFcIGi-05sME_snbTAr3qGQ62zCLmtg98Njpg-f-/s400/dance0705-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066332962790437282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvNYgM_-mAIQ8h0xuc-pQhjRfW8JQwkXLd3J0yqrAkYOBcJMUE4I-VflCvgjNJAdVZpTt9LdW9f_rrpJ3l1FUBqlRPWdZWOYFUK79eafxKAFX8EYMzokdmpkPWPu2vWV-9QM1/s1600-h/dance0705-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvNYgM_-mAIQ8h0xuc-pQhjRfW8JQwkXLd3J0yqrAkYOBcJMUE4I-VflCvgjNJAdVZpTt9LdW9f_rrpJ3l1FUBqlRPWdZWOYFUK79eafxKAFX8EYMzokdmpkPWPu2vWV-9QM1/s400/dance0705-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066332967085404594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25xzxGVwK-GIlRfU6fn2ZDPHuXxsAAJ7RQMkCVTLiipojlfTmbPVD0ViCt8jJWQOo4nQ9lsQOQ1ImGGkpz8M8_gK5s5xoV1cvNFkxjf1Ypjjg4tpciENy0ba9zca-DBmocwwj/s1600-h/dance0705-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25xzxGVwK-GIlRfU6fn2ZDPHuXxsAAJ7RQMkCVTLiipojlfTmbPVD0ViCt8jJWQOo4nQ9lsQOQ1ImGGkpz8M8_gK5s5xoV1cvNFkxjf1Ypjjg4tpciENy0ba9zca-DBmocwwj/s400/dance0705-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066332971380371906" /></a><br />And finally, here’s Dominic watching the dance rehearsal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Vrx_Hk7B2Vjp4HN8IwJ692RZHt_tzhqlMc9cER9K6amIJJZWF347Eg9_LMDIFmRc-_8K2GdqCiYe6_z5ic96B0aTfaFEzI6FQ7-sLltr8C1pTvQvkRjpIYoEvpyoe9exGo9S/s1600-h/dance0705-DJC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Vrx_Hk7B2Vjp4HN8IwJ692RZHt_tzhqlMc9cER9K6amIJJZWF347Eg9_LMDIFmRc-_8K2GdqCiYe6_z5ic96B0aTfaFEzI6FQ7-sLltr8C1pTvQvkRjpIYoEvpyoe9exGo9S/s400/dance0705-DJC.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066333104524358098" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-90889081616278407522007-05-19T09:47:00.001-07:002008-12-09T01:19:57.673-08:00A flat tire in Salt LakeOn Saturday as we were headed to Gordon and Murriel’s to sleep (they were away in South Carolina visiting Vickey’s sister, Rachel, and Kevin, but they let us sleep at their place while were in Salt Lake because my parents and sister’s family were occupying all of Brian’s spare rooms), just before we entered the freeway, a car pulled up next to us and kept honking and waving at us. I finally rolled down my window and they told me my back tire was flat.<br /><br />I was able to steer to the right side of the road and pull off on the feeder road. Sure enough, the back driver’s side tire was completely flat. The rim was riding on a doubled-over tire. And I hadn’t even felt it until after the other car’s passengers told us it was flat.<br /><br />I called our insurance emergency roadside assistance number and just about an hour later we had the spare on the tire and were ready to go.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mPeltWxM-XHhQ0hdAmOJh9z7EVO3hpI8SgcH_ACHnf_us2O9YC9x-iqNQvwyFMRm3axBOS1O3rsAGIsxf3a7T9nTeQR99u6q7ne3UyEcMAB9bUQLzD8n92zWBlU17al07heL/s1600-h/flat-tire070511.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mPeltWxM-XHhQ0hdAmOJh9z7EVO3hpI8SgcH_ACHnf_us2O9YC9x-iqNQvwyFMRm3axBOS1O3rsAGIsxf3a7T9nTeQR99u6q7ne3UyEcMAB9bUQLzD8n92zWBlU17al07heL/s400/flat-tire070511.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066314455776358770" /></a><br />Eliana asked me why I didn’t change the tire. Once I saw the equipment the guy had who came from the insurance call I was easily justified. If I drove around with the right tools, it would be a piece of cake. And if no one else could help I certainly could do it. But when your insurance takes care of it, why not?<br /><br />At any rate, we left Brian’s home around 7 p.m. and got to the Snows in Holladay after 9:30 p.m. The flat tire set us back an hour plus.<br /><br />Then the problem became finding a tire shop open on Sunday, Mother’s Day. It took me a couple hours to find one that was open and had the right size tire for our car. Our tire was cracked along the tread, so there was no fixing it.<br /><br />We ended up paying more than expected for a spare, but the way we look at, now we’ve got one new tire and when it comes time to replace all the tires, we’ll only need to buy three more. Then the spare can go back under the car.<br /><br />We could have risked it and drove to Vegas Sunday without a spare, but Vickey had a close call Saturday afternoon and had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a teenage driver who sped right through a stop sign (I was at my brother’s with the kids). So we weren’t certain if that could have caused the flat and/or if another one may happen.<br /><br />Between the flat and Vickey’s near accident, we had two nearly disastrous auto incidents last Saturday. We’re grateful no one was injured and we were able to fix the situation without too much inconvenience.<br /><br />We are sorry though that we didn’t get to enjoy a Mother’s Day barbeque with the Archambaults and Snows (my dad’s sister and her family, and Vickey’s brother and his family) in St. George. We had to drive straight through to Vegas in order to pick-up Tank from our friend’s home before it got too late.<br /><br />For the first time, the Swans watched Tank while we were out of town. He’s our neighbor (they live in the subdivision just to the north of us) and home teacher, and went above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks, guys!<br /><br />Tank actually did better at the Swans than he has ever done at the kennel or the dog sitter’s. The last two times he was at the dog sitters he “attacked” a little dog, so he was uninvited. We don’t know what happened, but he was quarantined there and she told us she couldn’t have him back and endanger the other dogs.<br /><br />Luckily we haven’t ever seen Tank attack anyone or another dog. We’ve seen him attacked by another dog (a neighbor’s rottweiler), but that’s another story. I’m not saying he’s not capable of it. Just that he hasn’t done that around our family. We do believe however that if a stranger came in our home unannounced he or she would have a difficult time getting away from Tank.<br /><br />Tank and Rascal, the Swan’s dog, seemed to get along fine as long as they weren’t fighting over doggie treats.<br /><br />Here’s a photo of Tank from a recent camping and hiking outing. He was so excited, winded and exhausted. Look at that long tongue.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EbOvUfW5CEJzryPQdf0M1qetUveWtxOc1wj0g6zj6nYrgUNWtegnQ48IftMqdwmMIK6dcNSMQWhafKmSVI0cqmTIkes5ALZyRfPEP5vb3sJ3QSdpvnLCkF2vtj-SG8UJfIk_/s1600-h/tank0704.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EbOvUfW5CEJzryPQdf0M1qetUveWtxOc1wj0g6zj6nYrgUNWtegnQ48IftMqdwmMIK6dcNSMQWhafKmSVI0cqmTIkes5ALZyRfPEP5vb3sJ3QSdpvnLCkF2vtj-SG8UJfIk_/s400/tank0704.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066314451481391458" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-49033013486804650442007-05-19T09:19:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:19:58.387-08:00A visit to Leatherby’s – an old fashioned ice cream shopLast Friday night the whole family went on an outing to <a href="http://www.leatherbys-slc.com" target="_blank">Leatherby’s Family Creamery</a>. And what an outing it was. We figured each of us ingested enough calories to account for our daily caloric needs for at least a week.<br /><br />But it was sure fun! Here are a few photos.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZBUYwUjZ38YNJE8gUWIPQfo2Uy-W5PfDzD10QVASLEkMxSTQyOhHY1fXXPj12w6To7qVUbreKqeja43cp5LoyDCQDLJuryK2PXES5JWTZwfh4Iy5VvUIDDqIdXAaqKjStEq5/s1600-h/ice-cream01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZBUYwUjZ38YNJE8gUWIPQfo2Uy-W5PfDzD10QVASLEkMxSTQyOhHY1fXXPj12w6To7qVUbreKqeja43cp5LoyDCQDLJuryK2PXES5JWTZwfh4Iy5VvUIDDqIdXAaqKjStEq5/s400/ice-cream01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066307811461951778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4sWUSV7vQxZ20M-MVP0LXwU0c02EYWeGB8kX6au-aDIMRhKtCSTUOjzRKADpAf97eDTuzhyphenhyphenEMKu_ZP65Hsm9KusXAQqvSYksyaWCaW4cDIRaxp08mCwkVCHQaKyQ-ErvAJy_/s1600-h/ice-cream02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4sWUSV7vQxZ20M-MVP0LXwU0c02EYWeGB8kX6au-aDIMRhKtCSTUOjzRKADpAf97eDTuzhyphenhyphenEMKu_ZP65Hsm9KusXAQqvSYksyaWCaW4cDIRaxp08mCwkVCHQaKyQ-ErvAJy_/s400/ice-cream02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066307820051886386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ut4OmBk5CN5tgzG29K4A2o7LSnv8rp1FIsL9i9QdjC5h1OvOsoHIrxxIRx3O6XFuVQ5U7XtvvgeP-eN1ezvsorWKxM_guqOPjVNIBaLIE7yaWIAh1Lr2fIrm95g_cgB0qb4s/s1600-h/ice-cream03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ut4OmBk5CN5tgzG29K4A2o7LSnv8rp1FIsL9i9QdjC5h1OvOsoHIrxxIRx3O6XFuVQ5U7XtvvgeP-eN1ezvsorWKxM_guqOPjVNIBaLIE7yaWIAh1Lr2fIrm95g_cgB0qb4s/s400/ice-cream03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066307824346853698" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S1muFu8zyCDejq8-eqXFZC5q7bOP-VW-4JFxWqTYKgsp7vT0NH7t5TJxz7jbZQDutWDAbV49UmDtMazDtti68r43QSpd4_rVAAJQppZqcJ0fmr76gyWsJn5FbD1lKmVOOMPl/s1600-h/ice-cream04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S1muFu8zyCDejq8-eqXFZC5q7bOP-VW-4JFxWqTYKgsp7vT0NH7t5TJxz7jbZQDutWDAbV49UmDtMazDtti68r43QSpd4_rVAAJQppZqcJ0fmr76gyWsJn5FbD1lKmVOOMPl/s400/ice-cream04.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066307832936788306" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-91358439611531886492007-05-18T09:14:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:00.118-08:00Play day at Brian and Melissa’sLast Friday was play day for the cousins. It was a full day of hanging out with the Codella family. The kids played outside. The adults filled up water balloons (with barely a 50% success rate). And the grandparents took several naps. What a perfect day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjsd9_DR0reylerjgRqh0HlrXlK_XKHxKxXE0gJQiTuvjv1G93_kby3he3bLSrrtfLT4u8-e0ZF5Zs7SB8r-B6hXkYHIpjCTQEuq90porfk3dpl0GdpXKIDKF4a598hP8Wp91/s1600-h/070511-01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjsd9_DR0reylerjgRqh0HlrXlK_XKHxKxXE0gJQiTuvjv1G93_kby3he3bLSrrtfLT4u8-e0ZF5Zs7SB8r-B6hXkYHIpjCTQEuq90porfk3dpl0GdpXKIDKF4a598hP8Wp91/s400/070511-01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065935064135233634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-0Fj32Yn2pV2E1-ejP9wyDCUhW5lgYi_1cfqEH5wXIi3fgFI6vYaOMaq0dbnKqlS0UOirt2l7D6L3Lc-3l0Oib4usjSF759vfgvC14MWj8k3vsZChvMKHivrQZTVC26A9KUj/s1600-h/070511-02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-0Fj32Yn2pV2E1-ejP9wyDCUhW5lgYi_1cfqEH5wXIi3fgFI6vYaOMaq0dbnKqlS0UOirt2l7D6L3Lc-3l0Oib4usjSF759vfgvC14MWj8k3vsZChvMKHivrQZTVC26A9KUj/s400/070511-02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065936734877511794" /></a><br />How does dirt taste, AJ?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCXfproxwXBjTi4ZnBwOElm9RO796O-mlrOGgzpMYLAvUZjWSV2o9Qoi_zLLtddzcLqO-Id5Fa6ApP3g1yVkFyPV3cZCq3aV-uhbaLc5HRcXVCgo8jPR9_tJXqCuXdYSeXdJy/s1600-h/070511-03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCXfproxwXBjTi4ZnBwOElm9RO796O-mlrOGgzpMYLAvUZjWSV2o9Qoi_zLLtddzcLqO-Id5Fa6ApP3g1yVkFyPV3cZCq3aV-uhbaLc5HRcXVCgo8jPR9_tJXqCuXdYSeXdJy/s400/070511-03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065936739172479106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhqqoXtUbA5QEJzOc8sBpF74lYUyt34NvhyphenhyphenT4_5jZCwZDK0691jcD4qq-H-CxUNBhxjNhmJmS6nSUnJG9agk4b0R-_GhyWhvL7O8WQ3eijEUPlEjOVoK1PIDbQEUHXfD5r7Gw/s1600-h/070511-04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhqqoXtUbA5QEJzOc8sBpF74lYUyt34NvhyphenhyphenT4_5jZCwZDK0691jcD4qq-H-CxUNBhxjNhmJmS6nSUnJG9agk4b0R-_GhyWhvL7O8WQ3eijEUPlEjOVoK1PIDbQEUHXfD5r7Gw/s400/070511-04.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065937593870971026" /></a><br />They hooked up the hose to the top of the playhouse slide, slid down and kept going on the slip and slide.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIrEnBDPnDkhHK3YyxbxNQQrRRO7dc85EK5t__YdtTKSUb_LJLFN8yU5TAa_0sQurh6uHVOLtrKGgMo9tViGfzBj4xBlP_XwY93XHlWQwBtfO3h5Pzx9ngiXaamDQ2a5-ZWad/s1600-h/070511-05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIrEnBDPnDkhHK3YyxbxNQQrRRO7dc85EK5t__YdtTKSUb_LJLFN8yU5TAa_0sQurh6uHVOLtrKGgMo9tViGfzBj4xBlP_XwY93XHlWQwBtfO3h5Pzx9ngiXaamDQ2a5-ZWad/s400/070511-05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065938293950640290" /></a><br />The water in South Jordan is just a tad colder than it is in Henderson, isn't it Ellie?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xXAnarKNolTZxK3I6vLX8r-Db38Jbf_7n_QfLaTafI7Lak8-2G-37SuEeH6DGjEGORVhuB7eyAvNmxVWr0FD7fCcG2gUujw62c3H9FaS5Lba_4wW_SULsQn1Dki1ADwZvEOq/s1600-h/070511-06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xXAnarKNolTZxK3I6vLX8r-Db38Jbf_7n_QfLaTafI7Lak8-2G-37SuEeH6DGjEGORVhuB7eyAvNmxVWr0FD7fCcG2gUujw62c3H9FaS5Lba_4wW_SULsQn1Dki1ADwZvEOq/s400/070511-06.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065938298245607602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT8EqgGy8FjWIf6ECU13y2Yn6EJqVfMNculknwyn44Nmqjlp31L065hZ-YmYQWfS69cE7_j4nojZLss0gxtCrSXaa9jfWMyUekQQO3imorlYXEZmnJRIR18nwuEnrwspvSaaU/s1600-h/070511-09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT8EqgGy8FjWIf6ECU13y2Yn6EJqVfMNculknwyn44Nmqjlp31L065hZ-YmYQWfS69cE7_j4nojZLss0gxtCrSXaa9jfWMyUekQQO3imorlYXEZmnJRIR18nwuEnrwspvSaaU/s400/070511-09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065939646865338594" /></a><br />The water balloon fight. Ellie thought it was great . . . until she got hit in the back with a water balloon. But she got over the shock and did her best to get even.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojgIv7FApZLnQgfvDS-HNYGeRONNGNpRP7zy43mVgIxyDVNuZrMUnF_UoA2zt9R98ZspfN6uNFz8cGwIYeJyx8weKFh_z-SczxuYQP9kNl9BHNiK-8wCt-PyR3FZx6kNZ2R0v/s1600-h/070511-10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojgIv7FApZLnQgfvDS-HNYGeRONNGNpRP7zy43mVgIxyDVNuZrMUnF_UoA2zt9R98ZspfN6uNFz8cGwIYeJyx8weKFh_z-SczxuYQP9kNl9BHNiK-8wCt-PyR3FZx6kNZ2R0v/s400/070511-10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065940819391410418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2XFkg-7SbJlITMgN8mM9egGUonSe6a4h1oikxl5mwm7VSBQB-nnzHe7jKdABDNa1oDETQFh-4XH79UP2RfFJpiQ1irU1MjqRea-NCxAXKT1ssW2eoIyMfZpaDYIdQs8gz_qv/s1600-h/070511-11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2XFkg-7SbJlITMgN8mM9egGUonSe6a4h1oikxl5mwm7VSBQB-nnzHe7jKdABDNa1oDETQFh-4XH79UP2RfFJpiQ1irU1MjqRea-NCxAXKT1ssW2eoIyMfZpaDYIdQs8gz_qv/s400/070511-11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065940823686377730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVaJWldXTQcatHl-0CNb0EFVS-9Fi2rOFGT5hvccPEPFRfLlVKRaFXjswfzyLfrqna5R106McomdXSIEABr3HhB2cZIvbjYpg-pO3uglP19kv8HnnamaIXhb5ylKXPyw9wXFM/s1600-h/070511-12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVaJWldXTQcatHl-0CNb0EFVS-9Fi2rOFGT5hvccPEPFRfLlVKRaFXjswfzyLfrqna5R106McomdXSIEABr3HhB2cZIvbjYpg-pO3uglP19kv8HnnamaIXhb5ylKXPyw9wXFM/s400/070511-12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065940827981345042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH9CtZhMY3LvEO6GgZkcZWnS63rt4VM7JLGXvGhPfjQWCbo_y0JkpGLE1tRUHuiK4zbAarSsfkcpl96_SepQgAwFpajRJA0szDduxFaoleuaSxwLy4c1VY7M9N5vB20OyIouP/s1600-h/070511-07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH9CtZhMY3LvEO6GgZkcZWnS63rt4VM7JLGXvGhPfjQWCbo_y0JkpGLE1tRUHuiK4zbAarSsfkcpl96_SepQgAwFpajRJA0szDduxFaoleuaSxwLy4c1VY7M9N5vB20OyIouP/s400/070511-07.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065939170123968706" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuVPwKlCNO0NHcR5JGjXl_NeynpkHbkG_tQOJtulT-X7I6cM0-5DWmwZ8PDuJiJVdljZan1JvC7zC2qS0VgWeX-nXvoXdJvHP0BcEwnYLCP0ideTV1d6HrZ_Uc1r79k-aWUkZ/s1600-h/070511-08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuVPwKlCNO0NHcR5JGjXl_NeynpkHbkG_tQOJtulT-X7I6cM0-5DWmwZ8PDuJiJVdljZan1JvC7zC2qS0VgWeX-nXvoXdJvHP0BcEwnYLCP0ideTV1d6HrZ_Uc1r79k-aWUkZ/s400/070511-08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065939174418936018" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-15055204856606689972007-05-18T08:46:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:00.440-08:00The traveling duoEliana and Dominic were good travelers during last weekend’s excursions. Here they are watching and listening to a new movie Vickey got from the public library for the trip.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5I-7UNA1tjZcL6kxUaVH2RwDTvRfWfXmNW63YZqsHpQE5NSuyLZbjgZLU8WQpUuZARUXfZ3FZkUEGQza8C30sZmFx8Gs7VENkOWIFg3no48NacUOPDpKA11qp4krN3ViNrzHZ/s1600-h/car-ride-emc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5I-7UNA1tjZcL6kxUaVH2RwDTvRfWfXmNW63YZqsHpQE5NSuyLZbjgZLU8WQpUuZARUXfZ3FZkUEGQza8C30sZmFx8Gs7VENkOWIFg3no48NacUOPDpKA11qp4krN3ViNrzHZ/s400/car-ride-emc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065933891609161810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe3K4Sa3hSWv09uk9O_mWM8GWsXF9NWtrM8lI3RHZdpvdzIQZ-GEHVH_QikFdsKUeP4aiYM5KBu8aczEHlbUpBoSK918CSUY4JruvJ8oUjTbsEN2VdvureHNP3lxCN0u2li-_/s1600-h/car-ride-djc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe3K4Sa3hSWv09uk9O_mWM8GWsXF9NWtrM8lI3RHZdpvdzIQZ-GEHVH_QikFdsKUeP4aiYM5KBu8aczEHlbUpBoSK918CSUY4JruvJ8oUjTbsEN2VdvureHNP3lxCN0u2li-_/s400/car-ride-djc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065933887314194498" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-15886581309530061172007-05-16T06:49:00.000-07:002007-05-16T13:39:12.543-07:00What about Pete?<em>A brief history of my life experiences prepared for my friends on the <a href="http://www.prsalasvegas.com" target="_blank">PRSA–Las Vegas Valley Chapter</a> board of directors.</em><br /><br />Born in Cedar City, Utah while my parents attended what’s now <a href="http://www.suu.edu" target="_blank">Southern Utah University</a>.<br /><br />Spent my childhood years in Logan and Smithfield, Utah while my dad attended <a href="http://www.usu.edu" target="_blank">Utah State University</a> to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry.<br /><br />Went to elementary and middle school in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston.<br /><br />Won best of show in my 6th grade science fair for a project that measured a person’s reaction time. Part of a bowling league; won dozens of trophies for my bowling accomplishments. Frequently went water skiing with my best friend’s family at Lake Conroe. Participated in Cub Scouts. Received regional band honors as 8th place trumpet player. Participated in summer band camp at <a href="http://www.shsu.edu" target="_blank">Sam Houston State University</a> in Texas.<br /><br />Attended <a href="http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/nhs" target="_blank">Niskayuna High School</a> in upstate New York, the tri-cities area (Albany–Schenectady–Troy). Upon graduation received the John Philip Sousa Band Award and Medal of Excellence. My parents still live in Niskayuna; my dad works at GE’s <a href="http://www.ge.com/research/grc_3_1.html" target="_blank">Global Research Center Headquarters</a>.<br /><br />Participated in <a href="http://www.sloctheater.com" target="_blank">community</a> and high school theater, high school band, jazz band, orchestra and show choir. Received an <a href="http://www.scouting.org" target="_blank">Eagle Scout</a> award.<br /><br />Attended <a href="http://www.byu.edu" target="_blank">BYU</a> in Provo, Utah as a freshman on a vocal performance scholarship—music, dance, theater major.<br /><br />Served a two-year mission for the <a href="http://lds.org" target="_blank">LDS Church</a> in Utah and Idaho.<br /><br />Returned to BYU and performed with the <a href="http://music.byu.edu/ya" target="_blank">Young Ambassadors</a>, a musical theater review company. Toured throughout the U.S., Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Spain, Morocco and Tunisia. Received full-tuition scholarship for serving as the ensemble’s president for two years. Worked as a music department administrative assistant for four years. Now serve on the <a href="http://www.yaalumni.org" target="_blank">YA Alumni</a> board.<br /><br />Changed my major after three years to communication studies with a minor in business management. Received a B.A. from BYU.<br /><br />Co-founded and operated for two years an entertainment production company—artist management, booking and music production—called Diamond Productions.<br /><br />Worked for a Salt Lake City talent agency doing TV commercials. Toured the west and southern U.S. with <a href="http://www.michaelmcleanmusic.com" target="_blank">Michael McLean’s</a> <em>Celebrating the Light.</em> Worked at Health Benefits America in Salt Lake City as an insurance provider customer service representative shift manager.<br /><br />Moved to New York City where I auditioned for Broadway shows and worked as an evening desktop publishing manager at the World Financial Center headquarters of Merrill Lynch. Performed in a dinner theater production of <em>Damn Yankees</em> and received my actor’s equity eligibility.<br /><br />Moved to Jackson, Wyoming for summer stock theater at <a href="http://www.jhplayhouse.com/index.html" target="_blank">Jackson Hole Playhouse</a> to play the romantic lead male role in <em>Calamity Jane.</em><br /><br />Worked at BYU’s <a href="http://www.pam.byu.edu" target="_blank">Performing Arts Management</a> for three years. Traveled as tour manager with BYU student performing groups around the U.S., Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.<br /><br />Met and married my sweetheart, Vickey.<br /><br />Moved to Las Vegas and began working for a public relations agency. Also began serving on the <a href="http://www.byualumnilv.org" target="_blank">BYU Alumni Association–Las Vegas Chapter</a> board of directors. I’m the current vice-chair.<br /><br />After three years of teaching school in Vegas, Vickey finished a 10-year teaching career. She now works as an independent sales director for The Pampered Chef; see <a href="http://www.PamperedChef.biz/vickey" target="_blank">PamperedChef.biz/vickey</a>.<br /><br />Our daughter, Eliana Marie, was born at Sunrise Hospital. She’ll be six in September.<br /><br />Opened <a href="http://www.codellamarketing.com" target="_blank">Codella Marketing</a>.<br /><br />Worked at <a href="http://www.venetian.com" target="_blank">The Venetian</a> in the evenings as a part-time singing gondolier for six months.<br /><br />Went to work at an ad agency as its director of public relations.<br /><br />Served as the Public Relations Society of America–Las Vegas Valley Chapter president in 2005 and received my <a href="http://praccreditation.org" target="_blank">APR</a> in December of that year.<br /><br />Re-opened Codella Marketing and located its office in the southwest at Durango and Tropicana.<br /><br />Our son, Dominic Joseph, was born at St. Rose Siena Hospital. He’ll be two in July.<br /><br />Currently serve on three PRSA boards: assembly delegate for the LVVC, <a href="http://www.prsawestdist.org" target="_blank">Western District</a> director-at-large and executive committee member of the <a href="http://www.prsa.org/networking/sections/ipa" target="_blank">Independent Practitioners Alliance</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Hobbies and What I Enjoy</strong><br /><br />An active participant in music at church, serving as choir director, choir member and last year, performing in a musical.<br /><br />Woodworking—I have built bedroom furniture sets for everyone in my family.<br /><br />Home improvement and interior decorating—I painted and installed moulding in every room of our home, installed closet shelving, re-designed our landscaping and hired a crew to do the work.<br /><br />Weight lifting and exercising.<br /><br />Outdoor recreation—camping, hiking, rollerblading, street skiing (when our 80 pound weimaraner, Sir Tank Thunderpaw, pulls me on my rollerblades as he runs around the neighborhood).Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-63534364870267275172007-05-15T21:44:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:01.196-08:00Kennecott parkBy the time we made the pilgrimage from Richfield to my brother Brian’s home in South Jordan, we were a bit stir crazy. So we took the kids on an outing to the old Kennecott community park. It’s only about 10 minutes from my brother’s home.<br /><br />Here are Dominic, me and my sister, Angie.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzV7WSsViUvH1_eycF7-H6BDGJYajL1-S0bUr6Pgmqirnik5FrJfl75EsHYuaW2bLo85nUq38bIfqMf3OrMi_TQInSwkYeU0lOkpv0BcfwEe47MnCbTrtNqlj6ENo1-6AG-Q4/s1600-h/070515-10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzV7WSsViUvH1_eycF7-H6BDGJYajL1-S0bUr6Pgmqirnik5FrJfl75EsHYuaW2bLo85nUq38bIfqMf3OrMi_TQInSwkYeU0lOkpv0BcfwEe47MnCbTrtNqlj6ENo1-6AG-Q4/s400/070515-10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065015159449841634" /></a><br />Eliana enjoying one of the toys.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrxS-GF9OF712koVkkd_F4pFozjr-rM0M5r3HTRvqrOZW6-EyTnxbUhO8SELa8C3w8-ak2DuPSUlRdsbcQQiC6OBa-0pxWcouUXS-m3s4XWPICcxfp5owFSu3RFx6bqsJ_MYc/s1600-h/070515-11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrxS-GF9OF712koVkkd_F4pFozjr-rM0M5r3HTRvqrOZW6-EyTnxbUhO8SELa8C3w8-ak2DuPSUlRdsbcQQiC6OBa-0pxWcouUXS-m3s4XWPICcxfp5owFSu3RFx6bqsJ_MYc/s400/070515-11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065015163744808946" /></a><br />My brother-in-law, Vinny, and his son, Vance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFNf_DQM0WtFX_rGKYx-J_EZcI1u7EIcJ99IearvVmdP57ivIKTWXrCBmoeZxCSwkZJwz4nQCN3pGwOXdVDBX49839rw9nGmUQfwvyXAyacgl2VXL6Mygp3g0QZbBm2cBrGCq/s1600-h/070515-12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFNf_DQM0WtFX_rGKYx-J_EZcI1u7EIcJ99IearvVmdP57ivIKTWXrCBmoeZxCSwkZJwz4nQCN3pGwOXdVDBX49839rw9nGmUQfwvyXAyacgl2VXL6Mygp3g0QZbBm2cBrGCq/s400/070515-12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065015163744808962" /></a><br />My nephew, Luke.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZYImVWBqcUfQCuBwxJHH-l4FQCEFU3eJ4TfckapU1rz5XYuMRrqhTiHb-Fn4_5K9lGXcwueCX9ce8z9IcQl2JZuyEaWAYKGlUtBIofLAA89SGd_WDxzGKaaRGrd8bLKSZpwn/s1600-h/070515-13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZYImVWBqcUfQCuBwxJHH-l4FQCEFU3eJ4TfckapU1rz5XYuMRrqhTiHb-Fn4_5K9lGXcwueCX9ce8z9IcQl2JZuyEaWAYKGlUtBIofLAA89SGd_WDxzGKaaRGrd8bLKSZpwn/s400/070515-13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065015168039776274" /></a><br />My nephew, AJ.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XH94OoADZPPayQJlLAvtRL7MUGYVhXlLakum8mVJ9fJZwedmj0OMU63IMBFtYShfaQtZizmGvdmdSrS5qhlni9wJWG7uDYejaawEzyUg_TQl0NWGH5X8zSZEPme1pSYDiEgE/s1600-h/070515-14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XH94OoADZPPayQJlLAvtRL7MUGYVhXlLakum8mVJ9fJZwedmj0OMU63IMBFtYShfaQtZizmGvdmdSrS5qhlni9wJWG7uDYejaawEzyUg_TQl0NWGH5X8zSZEPme1pSYDiEgE/s400/070515-14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065016538134343730" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-32225154131141049922007-05-15T20:56:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:02.657-08:00Family time in RichfieldA positive effect of Lynn’s passing was the opportunity for our extended family to come together. We haven’t all been together for several years.<br /><br />Here are a few photos from our adventures together in Richfield.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdXV6s3HvCkJLoHm2fysdW3tRd0x8EAMT1O3a9edgpKiWbCyXe4VLsIsbDwcWHH0jY0tSpQqWH3TwTPTEq1VqzXeZPC951vzz99fvBbKoN_oEHvdWF_MmpMOLWPF5a6qsD1k9/s1600-h/070515-01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdXV6s3HvCkJLoHm2fysdW3tRd0x8EAMT1O3a9edgpKiWbCyXe4VLsIsbDwcWHH0jY0tSpQqWH3TwTPTEq1VqzXeZPC951vzz99fvBbKoN_oEHvdWF_MmpMOLWPF5a6qsD1k9/s400/070515-01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065002665389977474" /></a><br />This is Vance's first popsicle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsRJcy3ySwKqbRbXrZF9lTh8QG9sGFT-KgB-N1ntds58C-S-pf_Jr4GxUnycE8KR5dBnMen7i11lcN1DrCOYY0b1rhckydjTK1wVbi4KIRm-Wx9xvD9MXPDGQbpgOIKAtH4lh/s1600-h/070515-02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsRJcy3ySwKqbRbXrZF9lTh8QG9sGFT-KgB-N1ntds58C-S-pf_Jr4GxUnycE8KR5dBnMen7i11lcN1DrCOYY0b1rhckydjTK1wVbi4KIRm-Wx9xvD9MXPDGQbpgOIKAtH4lh/s400/070515-02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065002673979912082" /></a><br />Mom and dad with Aunt Pauline (widowed from my mom’s oldest brother, Owen).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsANzxsAQqTY9z-TtiUUZsrUwzyisOeXEnZo_APIDDSRoBiEXRIbwpHkNdaKw6pmPw8wyd66xx5unFdXf6wkBfvMC0DwoCFAhEa0xBXVQ5gHj_pt3cRGPdFAyh9TYBQtdx6E5/s1600-h/070515-03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsANzxsAQqTY9z-TtiUUZsrUwzyisOeXEnZo_APIDDSRoBiEXRIbwpHkNdaKw6pmPw8wyd66xx5unFdXf6wkBfvMC0DwoCFAhEa0xBXVQ5gHj_pt3cRGPdFAyh9TYBQtdx6E5/s400/070515-03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065002678274879394" /></a><br />Vickey with my sister-in-law, Melissa.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj648NrXbnOVytY6eYXjbbgOBQdpXkau1MqqumceXgd1UzYxT8mEGvcG9UD10e1gU4JpbT5gXnz5eDICYN_GQBFdSh0G5AeZrZ36fRLSeD23C8ww2miuutkr_4SiKFALGu9FcP1/s1600-h/070515-04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj648NrXbnOVytY6eYXjbbgOBQdpXkau1MqqumceXgd1UzYxT8mEGvcG9UD10e1gU4JpbT5gXnz5eDICYN_GQBFdSh0G5AeZrZ36fRLSeD23C8ww2miuutkr_4SiKFALGu9FcP1/s400/070515-04.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065002682569846706" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z2JtXThJzyHMA4SRi8d1zSKHXXh0WphMQCJE55-9iXJScLfKv_cT2OuuFy05Lifwz5HXZVipogOrRf4HCF7XKkTxQnutQYlPA7z731JdhyKk4U7uQBJR0f1ioAMbdLgfUjHt/s1600-h/070515-05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z2JtXThJzyHMA4SRi8d1zSKHXXh0WphMQCJE55-9iXJScLfKv_cT2OuuFy05Lifwz5HXZVipogOrRf4HCF7XKkTxQnutQYlPA7z731JdhyKk4U7uQBJR0f1ioAMbdLgfUjHt/s400/070515-05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065002686864814018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hqGtjORWc182HVUDe1v190AhmRhvH5CS6tg2_msxUGPRFMd4iFZXIPxLIMZxvxyePrgu7H2GbUC9W1OsNkjQj3iNoO-nEqloDS2xi5fuSzCWyzDJvgeajX64DsdmaAFJKVwf/s1600-h/070515-06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hqGtjORWc182HVUDe1v190AhmRhvH5CS6tg2_msxUGPRFMd4iFZXIPxLIMZxvxyePrgu7H2GbUC9W1OsNkjQj3iNoO-nEqloDS2xi5fuSzCWyzDJvgeajX64DsdmaAFJKVwf/s400/070515-06.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065002781354094546" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-32453165676936325812007-05-15T17:26:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:03.700-08:00Photos from the Richfield CemeteryHere are a few photos taken as we paid our last respects to Uncle Lynn last Wednesday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jJ6QOUlmoo8ZCLSYK_iYSBLvMsu0CT507QUygqt4X1JrqsaeUcpzUAaHYF00tp86nhuRW_ONlbOovZ6TvhG0QiDk3w_iIn7X8bZMv8aQ5DEbANYIM0W0fW9VMNgKFPfSnTR9/s1600-h/lynn01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jJ6QOUlmoo8ZCLSYK_iYSBLvMsu0CT507QUygqt4X1JrqsaeUcpzUAaHYF00tp86nhuRW_ONlbOovZ6TvhG0QiDk3w_iIn7X8bZMv8aQ5DEbANYIM0W0fW9VMNgKFPfSnTR9/s400/lynn01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064948669061132066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvocjiDiD7W19qsDVldoCcafWkHuoW6UA_HU84VFtdYMIYqKOVsxYjKCBF_N9y7ywezRKhH0AjWz_0A-SmPIGnakO0PZ5_UEG3Vf04YtswYkM4knqEk5KNGAfDJp0Tu8t_CfiG/s1600-h/lynn02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvocjiDiD7W19qsDVldoCcafWkHuoW6UA_HU84VFtdYMIYqKOVsxYjKCBF_N9y7ywezRKhH0AjWz_0A-SmPIGnakO0PZ5_UEG3Vf04YtswYkM4knqEk5KNGAfDJp0Tu8t_CfiG/s400/lynn02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064948673356099378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkNmrHT5XMRb2k45EzOXJcm__WgY8He63F4B5KT3Zu33a5TQJea5zTMVKnTLNyHhXOAJapj5nRSpX2ERdfqg2AIbMhTdHtIo0aKdtOAZV3MIuazCU1FVgEKOL1gjOcTm2U1o6/s1600-h/lynn03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkNmrHT5XMRb2k45EzOXJcm__WgY8He63F4B5KT3Zu33a5TQJea5zTMVKnTLNyHhXOAJapj5nRSpX2ERdfqg2AIbMhTdHtIo0aKdtOAZV3MIuazCU1FVgEKOL1gjOcTm2U1o6/s400/lynn03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064948677651066690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS4UHQcS9MndYjHAGnD3aFHjIJf8IJgPNmB7qxCosvreEz7hhrWaxyfQUjn0a2UYY-y5SJcZkoelauoQNgueTcUIFMfHbrNuQTGTq9dXKoPVJbPEYllO3tCtx36tDvhR80zVS/s1600-h/lynn04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS4UHQcS9MndYjHAGnD3aFHjIJf8IJgPNmB7qxCosvreEz7hhrWaxyfQUjn0a2UYY-y5SJcZkoelauoQNgueTcUIFMfHbrNuQTGTq9dXKoPVJbPEYllO3tCtx36tDvhR80zVS/s400/lynn04.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064948686241001298" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qqDucg4M81_icyXcKkJTn2eC9WRFuDiO2fcxeYrmGg86uqjLASXpPYhyphenhyphenLd6xNyEiV13XxOHdrgEuxZuUUGWhlBicu1HDZrfBGdxUX1MzjMz7X1DKtV2o19wrUAC4G99_EgKM/s1600-h/lynn05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qqDucg4M81_icyXcKkJTn2eC9WRFuDiO2fcxeYrmGg86uqjLASXpPYhyphenhyphenLd6xNyEiV13XxOHdrgEuxZuUUGWhlBicu1HDZrfBGdxUX1MzjMz7X1DKtV2o19wrUAC4G99_EgKM/s400/lynn05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064948806500085602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMtQr9o5lvbiQKgZN6HRmzNcMpaJdPG4u3I_5FbbW1u17qugncbAwAPrxlXnqzcokSJCzjFUt6TvjbnnOnlbq_ly54w-6BarLNfgOQhjI2D1CaTj7h-V0uMfquCE1hLSdRI1s/s1600-h/lynn06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMtQr9o5lvbiQKgZN6HRmzNcMpaJdPG4u3I_5FbbW1u17qugncbAwAPrxlXnqzcokSJCzjFUt6TvjbnnOnlbq_ly54w-6BarLNfgOQhjI2D1CaTj7h-V0uMfquCE1hLSdRI1s/s400/lynn06.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064948810795052914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgZCQXowVFW807iAWyTZrOqO3sfVA2Lg3D8aReOdCY-V3vxGkh4KSnnlD9P0hHbCkisROpBpIaaGoeNmdPyEzA1c7wsxrdQljcPmq_p3syumdQing6tniBexgkpI20SOBmu6B/s1600-h/lynn-our-family.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgZCQXowVFW807iAWyTZrOqO3sfVA2Lg3D8aReOdCY-V3vxGkh4KSnnlD9P0hHbCkisROpBpIaaGoeNmdPyEzA1c7wsxrdQljcPmq_p3syumdQing6tniBexgkpI20SOBmu6B/s400/lynn-our-family.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064948660471197458" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-15451793897629316062007-05-12T15:13:00.000-07:002007-05-12T15:16:57.425-07:00Uncle Lynn’s funeralOn Tuesday evening we traveled to Richfield in preparation for Uncle Lynn’s funeral on Wednesday. We arrived late but had a pretty restful night at the Days Inn. The next morning I practiced the song that was requested of me by Uncle Lynn, <i><a href="http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/music.htm/hymns.htm/prayer%20and%20supplication.htm/124%20be%20still%20my%20soul.htm#JD_Hymns.124" target="_blank">Be Still My Soul</a>,</i> and the family prepared for the funeral.<br /><br />The service was very nice, with a few friends and both of Lynn’s children, Steven and Lisa, providing remarks. The family prayer at the conclusion of the viewing was offered by my dad.<br /><br />Lisa reminded us of some of our favorite “Lynn-isms.” One of my favorite: whenever you’d visit his home, he’s say, “Come here, I’ve got something to show you.” Inevitably he’d pull out a polished stone or some other little treasure he had been working on, or a newspaper article with some interesting little tidbit to read about.<br /><br />Lynn always made people feel comfortable and at home. I think that’s part of the reason there were so many people at the funeral Wednesday.<br /><br />The graveside service was also nice with military rites accorded by the V.F.W. Sevier Post No. 5050. It was neat to see a military send-off like that. I hadn’t witnessed that before.<br /><br />I got the impression Lynn represents an era of the past. He represented our country as a soldier. He was a true officer and a gentleman. The serviceman photo of him displayed at the funeral was really amazing. He looked so young and vibrant. Since my mom is the youngest of the siblings, I haven’t known my aunts and uncles when they were young. In fact, one of my cousins is older than my mom.<br /><br />At any rate . . . saying goodbye to Uncle Lynn was difficult. I got a bit choked up during my song. It was weird going to Sarah’s home that evening for dinner and not being welcomed by Lynn. Death certainly is a reality of life. It’s ironic that there are such strong opposites. I suppose that’s how we learn.<br /><br />As promised earlier, here’s a link to <a href="http://www.richfieldreaper.com/articles/2007/05/11/obituaries/jensenlynn.txt" target="_blank">Lynn’s obituary</a> in <i>The Richfield Reaper.</i><br /><br />He was a fine example and will be missed by those he left behind.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-36339553869215475792007-05-07T22:00:00.000-07:002007-05-07T22:01:42.364-07:00San Francisco postscriptI meant to relate this story from our family vacation to San Francisco.<br /><br />While we were driving on Saturday or Sunday (I can’t remember which day now), Eliana was entertaining herself by singing.<br /><br />As part of her dialogue, she continued, “And now for our next selection: <i>I don’t want to be part of this family any more.”</i> Then she started singing the lyrics, “I don’t want to be part of this family any more…”<br /><br />I had to interrupt her at that point to ask if I heard her correctly. I just started laughing. Then we had a little discussion about why she was singing that song. She couldn’t really justify it. No doubt she was annoyed by something. She’s kind of particular, that one. I think she got that from one of her parents, but I won’t say which one.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-91817966101697288922007-05-05T10:28:00.000-07:002007-05-05T10:35:09.231-07:00Uncle Lynn's obituaryThe following obituary was created last night by my Aunt Sarah, cousins Steve and Lisa, and their families. We invited their families over for dinner so they didn’t have to worry about food last night. Today many of them are headed to Richfield to continue preparations for Uncle Lynn’s funeral next week.<br /><br />The obituary will be published in <em><a href="http://www.richfieldreaper.com" target="_blank">The Richfield Reaper</a></em> and I’ll link to it once it’s printed.<br /><br /><hr /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Lynn C. Jensen</strong><br />1930 – 2007<br /><br />Lynn C. Jensen died in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 3, 2007. He was born in Richfield, Utah on June 13, 1930 to Vance Vernal Jensen and Myrtle Coffin. Lynn graduated from Richfield High School, class of 1948, then enlisted in the National Guard and later served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He married Sarah Hilda Gates on October 11, 1952. The couple was sealed in the LDS Jordan River Temple on November 11, 1982.<br /><br />After the army, Lynn attended barber school in Salt Lake City and worked several months at Steele Barber Shop in Salina. He worked for UDOT for nearly 30 years, retiring in 1983. He operated Jensen Pavement Striping which later became Sunrise Highway Painting from 1983 to 1996.<br /><br />Lynn was a member of the Richfield Kiwanis Club and Southern Utah Off-Highway Vehicle Club where he served as a trail guide for more than 10 years. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities. He loved hunting, fishing, ATV riding, gardening, spending time at his Fish Lake cabin, woodworking, collecting and polishing rocks, and especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great granddaughter.<br /><br />He is survived by his wife, Sarah; his children Steven Jensen (Judy) and Lisa Anderson (Don); four grandchildren, Amanda (Ariel Araujo), Jason, Maria and David; and great granddaughter SaraLynn. Survived by siblings Julia Oldroyd (Frank), Kathy Barney (Blaine), Russell Jensen (Diane), and Madeline Codella (Peter); sister-in-law Pauline Jensen and brother-in-law Sylvan Staples. Preceded in death by his parents, brothers Owen and Dane, and sisters Betty and Marjorie.<br /><br />Funeral services will be held May 9, 2007 at Richfield 2nd Ward at 1 p.m. Viewing will be held May 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Magleby Mortuary in Richfield and prior to the funeral services at the LDS chapel from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Internment in the Richfield City Cemetery.</span>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-31640126884691595032007-05-05T10:20:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:04.747-08:00A day at the parkYesterday Vickey and the kids spent a couple hours with our friends, the Nelsons, at the park. Here are a few photos from the outing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDJwvr8IKB1p4mmI11n2XdJ6ylPqWQOzRv2qdIfQUqMj1BLoN86GkdsnHOFJzZDOfjoAiqr2LjDB6amAFNMUgKSwbxD4qzbmThDvaygtZYkazLJDPPq3rjXbKFcIpd0AwxqR8/s1600-h/emc070504portrait.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDJwvr8IKB1p4mmI11n2XdJ6ylPqWQOzRv2qdIfQUqMj1BLoN86GkdsnHOFJzZDOfjoAiqr2LjDB6amAFNMUgKSwbxD4qzbmThDvaygtZYkazLJDPPq3rjXbKFcIpd0AwxqR8/s400/emc070504portrait.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061129284241786066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI9qMfheie-JWqRwbaKXX0Q-TNwwDXvZNWbSLWHXujdei5dmmqaawkAEgmLzWryif0ci87SoDX9tV6j4WO_o1kbsQkaGWoE-XF6PCWeEVKKHOeC_yljeeq8huldb8UMx6KbAp/s1600-h/park070504A.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI9qMfheie-JWqRwbaKXX0Q-TNwwDXvZNWbSLWHXujdei5dmmqaawkAEgmLzWryif0ci87SoDX9tV6j4WO_o1kbsQkaGWoE-XF6PCWeEVKKHOeC_yljeeq8huldb8UMx6KbAp/s400/park070504A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061129284241786082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnNQn1aqU9RViP48eVgVaTyRDl07u56qLXMmLCl_gHmUnVJgDNE5CTz2xVs7XM7q2VmLsMeIXjWqPI-dVHHyXZbDvo-RqxZtAl1qHA_SZQNR1GuIti-80FQie59uEcsHs9VLl/s1600-h/park070504B.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnNQn1aqU9RViP48eVgVaTyRDl07u56qLXMmLCl_gHmUnVJgDNE5CTz2xVs7XM7q2VmLsMeIXjWqPI-dVHHyXZbDvo-RqxZtAl1qHA_SZQNR1GuIti-80FQie59uEcsHs9VLl/s400/park070504B.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061129288536753394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9TlF059yPuw8wHSWQug8X2rIgyBwc4FCLGaCCim5-76bMvjiAmtleDQUAPdrS8ylvne7dV8FpaS6Z1n3ncx8pmX6k9F-vAdm_zsBdYXbUfa5rpoKvRED8tvB87QT8nj4WBd9/s1600-h/park070504C.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9TlF059yPuw8wHSWQug8X2rIgyBwc4FCLGaCCim5-76bMvjiAmtleDQUAPdrS8ylvne7dV8FpaS6Z1n3ncx8pmX6k9F-vAdm_zsBdYXbUfa5rpoKvRED8tvB87QT8nj4WBd9/s400/park070504C.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061129288536753410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE70dJCTstnAk7iL1wliq2_NemO0DtR1lhmXrdkH4Qsk0apU920JcrdjV52oZMx4U2ScLYwFklbE4btTx-funnzhJI0v8zIMHZ7rbGD6esd_nj1UufgIThPbp3FX5hufKdXs3/s1600-h/park070504D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE70dJCTstnAk7iL1wliq2_NemO0DtR1lhmXrdkH4Qsk0apU920JcrdjV52oZMx4U2ScLYwFklbE4btTx-funnzhJI0v8zIMHZ7rbGD6esd_nj1UufgIThPbp3FX5hufKdXs3/s400/park070504D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061129292831720722" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-57738031433539655692007-05-05T10:10:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:05.147-08:00Jungle gym DominicDominic has learned from his sister that he can take the pillows off the family room couches and then pounce on them.<br /><br />It doesn’t really matter how many times his parents ask him to leave the cushions alone. Both he and Eliana love to pile them up and take a running dive into them. Or they just climb up on the furniture and jump.<br /><br />This is kind of like telling the kids not to eat in the family room. It’s one of those things that it just doesn’t matter how many times you tell them, they don’t listen.<br /><br />So, if we’re ever headed to the hospital for stitches or to repair a broken bone, there’s a good chance the accident occurred while roughhousing, against parents’ wishes, in the family room.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOIwAuJ4Nkx1HQ1Z5AZ2B6CRobx-Xr51smKbgkP0NHCHSSE3XXzvfJ4OPXZ_pD0LycSxhs_HEjnJxiDEhU03S63hX7ZBc8r1T19gVclJM2elQRxznf4Ph3p8F3Cuy6sZ_yNot/s1600-h/djc070504B.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOIwAuJ4Nkx1HQ1Z5AZ2B6CRobx-Xr51smKbgkP0NHCHSSE3XXzvfJ4OPXZ_pD0LycSxhs_HEjnJxiDEhU03S63hX7ZBc8r1T19gVclJM2elQRxznf4Ph3p8F3Cuy6sZ_yNot/s400/djc070504B.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061125216907756738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iIgn5tIe2zrg-mgP4wmb4uU-gTvq3TiJ-ePR2NjcCq4aGRnQpjYYNi2chnA0uw1ZZctHG8IhTQr7uUXW4dhR3YnHH9MDlYPUVqtUU597HpbxWJzwVrGSwiY7XPbRN7TiCein/s1600-h/djc070504A.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iIgn5tIe2zrg-mgP4wmb4uU-gTvq3TiJ-ePR2NjcCq4aGRnQpjYYNi2chnA0uw1ZZctHG8IhTQr7uUXW4dhR3YnHH9MDlYPUVqtUU597HpbxWJzwVrGSwiY7XPbRN7TiCein/s400/djc070504A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061125212612789426" /></a>Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-9074806988849794552007-05-05T10:02:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:05.502-08:00Manic SundayThose of you with young children know how things in the morning sometimes just don’t go according to plan.<br /><br />I was at a leadership meeting last Sunday morning while Vickey was dutifully working to get herself and kids ready for church (she does this each week as I always have a meeting before the family goes to church).<br /><br />I came home to find Eliana in the family room, ready to go. But Vickey and Dominic were nowhere to be seen. Come to find out, while eating his breakfast just a few minutes before Dominic decided to play with his food instead of eat it.<br /><br />Here’s the damage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYvnp-lb6-pYxiSk0z2-FXQ2os9NONNbJlKjZgZ5Xrp1fioFfGKTNu5I168AP4-KOezbzwNKQrkLxAuT9WQr9bl3_uUcGnzIeaQcCudKaD5LTA7Vt6RjsH2KoU2xYFCyeOt91/s1600-h/djc070429B.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYvnp-lb6-pYxiSk0z2-FXQ2os9NONNbJlKjZgZ5Xrp1fioFfGKTNu5I168AP4-KOezbzwNKQrkLxAuT9WQr9bl3_uUcGnzIeaQcCudKaD5LTA7Vt6RjsH2KoU2xYFCyeOt91/s400/djc070429B.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061123301352342690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDdq_VBZsQAj9MgnpRZLbWXjd4345FY3vqzubYiLMKfsSMgH8HJASFvmWa8S9yFWzJvI1olamxC0R2mFvDPZKMZaPg9KPO6m1y50PetvK1Z81KVQmuLh0DDGvkOtfnP66erSl/s1600-h/djc070429A.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDdq_VBZsQAj9MgnpRZLbWXjd4345FY3vqzubYiLMKfsSMgH8HJASFvmWa8S9yFWzJvI1olamxC0R2mFvDPZKMZaPg9KPO6m1y50PetvK1Z81KVQmuLh0DDGvkOtfnP66erSl/s400/djc070429A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061123297057375378" /></a><br />Vickey was upstairs bathing and dressing Dominic then jumped in the shower to get herself ready with only 20 minutes left before church started. Amazingly we made it to church only a few minutes late.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-57520590334431075352007-05-05T09:49:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:06.238-08:00San Francisco, day 4On our final day in San Francisco we decided to be adventurous and seek out what everyone told us was “the best breakfast in San Francisco.” It was a small coffee shop called <a href="http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/863575" target="_blank">Dottie’s True Blue Café</a> about seven blocks away from our hotel.<br /><br />We walked with the kids in the brisk morning air for what seemed like 30 minutes. When we got there we found a long line of people waiting to get in (or course, it was a Sunday morning). Since we were committed to having a real San Francisco experience, we stuck it out, for about an hour (what were we thinking?). Vickey had to run to the corner grocery store to purchase a box of Frosted Flakes and some yogurt drinks for the kids, and I had to go on a couple walks with Dominic to keep him occupied. They weren’t really willing participants in the waiting-to-eat-breakfast line (and can you blame them?).<br /><br />Nevertheless, we endured and enjoyed a very fine breakfast. I don’t know that I was overly impressed, but it was certainly good. At least we can say we’ve eaten there. Kind of like I can say I’ve gone up the Statue of Liberty. It’s worth the experience, once.<br /><br />We managed to get a late check-out out of the hotel which gave us a little more time for our breakfast outing. Once we were back at the hotel we packed up and headed to the car at the nearby public parking garage (by the way, parking in the city was mucho expensivo). Here we are going across the crosswalk to the parking garage, each of us with our luggage in tow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAe6ECuBDOpl91LmuPUk1zMRwEV1jPmtAq-cFsE-U7ve43-fOqQENPT7yyJuFF1wuVVwTIjDZl7seTMzA6SeYn1bY5mvVThVSxkYICIXkboeABlsMg_etf3ac3dujZTXDVRhM/s1600-h/day4-crosswalk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAe6ECuBDOpl91LmuPUk1zMRwEV1jPmtAq-cFsE-U7ve43-fOqQENPT7yyJuFF1wuVVwTIjDZl7seTMzA6SeYn1bY5mvVThVSxkYICIXkboeABlsMg_etf3ac3dujZTXDVRhM/s400/day4-crosswalk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061120621292749906" /></a><br />On our way out of town . . . well, it was really across town but we wanted to make one more stop there . . . we stopped at Boudin’s Bakery to purchase several bag-fulls of sourdough bread to bring back to Vegas. Here’s Eliana the next morning in the Bakersfield hotel room with her sourdough teddy bear, affectionately named Brittney.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUMguQYJV-L6BhvYd06XmOua1WNdM0t_TgKPuw2Lm1V2nKt_RXKIR-zm7qxdvJcdtoBWfI3qq7vDIkrv_3M8THC0XUSRVcgpK6xjyNYneOPxeQhmEZenATVeaB6xc8hjhgdej/s1600-h/day4-sourdough.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUMguQYJV-L6BhvYd06XmOua1WNdM0t_TgKPuw2Lm1V2nKt_RXKIR-zm7qxdvJcdtoBWfI3qq7vDIkrv_3M8THC0XUSRVcgpK6xjyNYneOPxeQhmEZenATVeaB6xc8hjhgdej/s400/day4-sourdough.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061120625587717250" /></a><br />When we were at <a href="http://petecodella.blogspot.com/2007/04/san-francisco-day-three.html">Boudin’s</a> we were so impressed with all the shapes and sizes of bread, so Vickey had to get a fun shaped loaf for Eliana.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3NKBOwWL0wcWvWuRp7KDfbHHSlBo82PdCMKRDcvL2iusmHqodGEQWcC1qmNRF1OXHMNRNDUg3-jtYwuscPbI0mxKDvPPmT5i6pvZPc0Md6_VwITvCvEElvi0r95u9JKVjPGO/s1600-h/day4-sourdoughB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3NKBOwWL0wcWvWuRp7KDfbHHSlBo82PdCMKRDcvL2iusmHqodGEQWcC1qmNRF1OXHMNRNDUg3-jtYwuscPbI0mxKDvPPmT5i6pvZPc0Md6_VwITvCvEElvi0r95u9JKVjPGO/s400/day4-sourdoughB.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061120616997782594" /></a><br /><br />We stopped in Livermore to spend a few hours with my old college roommate, John, and his family. It was great seeing him, Samantha, and their three girls. I remember when Caitlin, their oldest, was born. It’s strange to think that she’s 14 now, and nearly as tall as me.<br /><br />Here are some photos of Eliana with the Theler girls, Abby, who shares Ellie’s same birth year, and Alisa, who’s a few years younger than Caitlin.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXtzpqdxDdjcLYOoCYyuWvFaBwREO_hm5s6Bfu_pclV9kWxY_HhAGhxn4eCi4wIW3okqnUOvczgRn4k9qa-Rm5II4SP7F4OyVaU-3qT-_eFREANuxHJ1O0WpyCnNK_JguaXdN/s1600-h/day4-e&a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXtzpqdxDdjcLYOoCYyuWvFaBwREO_hm5s6Bfu_pclV9kWxY_HhAGhxn4eCi4wIW3okqnUOvczgRn4k9qa-Rm5II4SP7F4OyVaU-3qT-_eFREANuxHJ1O0WpyCnNK_JguaXdN/s400/day4-e&a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061120621292749922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEr1aqq30g29XD6RqP1EAf2N37H_4GprhX6AYQGGsdG2csqkD-j9bWxz4CcmFLUuEPKMAEtXaQJWCDSGkn-Ilsc8g5LDcuSfl6Jj6MdpgNgryG6jqKLsY6qS6gP9yRE1YgKd-/s1600-h/day4-e&thelers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEr1aqq30g29XD6RqP1EAf2N37H_4GprhX6AYQGGsdG2csqkD-j9bWxz4CcmFLUuEPKMAEtXaQJWCDSGkn-Ilsc8g5LDcuSfl6Jj6MdpgNgryG6jqKLsY6qS6gP9yRE1YgKd-/s400/day4-e&thelers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061120625587717234" /></a><br />Thanks for treating us to lunch, Sam. It was great being in your home and catching up with you guys. (And sorry if I misspelled your girl’s names.)<br /><br />We returned to Vegas late on Monday after making a few stops along the way. In fact, we stopped at our favorite Primm shop — the Williams-Sonoma | Pottery Barn | Hold Everything outlet — only to have Dominic pick up a ceramic platter and throw it across the store. Yes, we reluctantly had to pay for it. Then I took it out of his hide (just kidding).<br /><br />We had a great family vacation in the City by the Bay. It seems like we crammed a lot of stuff into a few days. We’re sure glad the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/29/BAGVOPHQU46.DTL" target="_blank">I-580 bridge</a> was still in tact when we were traveling. It collapsed just one week after we drove over it.<br /><br />Thanks to Vickey, our Pampered Chef superstar, for earning the trip!Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-64709121423807880822007-05-03T10:05:00.001-07:002007-05-03T10:07:02.663-07:00Uncle Lynn goes to his eternal rewardWe received word today that my Uncle Lynn died early this morning. Loyal blog readers know he suffered a heart attack on March 29 then underwent quadruple bypass surgery on April 3 (<a href="http://petecodella.blogspot.com/2007/04/uncle-lynn-bionic-man.html">read my earlier post</a>).<br /><br />While it appeared Lynn’s heart was fixed, he got pneumonia a week or so after surgery and steadily went downhill from there. He has been on a breathing machine with a feeding tube for two or three weeks now.<br /><br />Those of us he left behind will certainly miss him, especially his wife, children and their families. We’re grateful that his mortal suffering is over. He lived a good, long life.<br /><br />Godspeed, Uncle Lynn!Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-3058814481113418952007-04-27T20:55:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:09.368-08:00San Francisco, day threeAs we awoke in the hotel room Vickey took a photo op with the two kids still lounging in bed. Of course Dominic had moved from his crib to tickle Eliana and wake her in her rollaway bed. They look like two little happy angels, but they were being quite devilish this morning. Nothing like long days and a nice long night’s sleep to help kids rejuvenate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAq-phyyT3Wj1wv-CE-JvjaPRDuH7FFnZnOeVMUiUihW8OlZ1pT3vOFZVaUCxS5mh6R7g72JenLFcH4WFjLnotGSjkgcDSjbVgLeoxlwGIN4tz0x5Ev1t82P3rheP1Knc-3htH/s1600-h/ed-hotelbed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAq-phyyT3Wj1wv-CE-JvjaPRDuH7FFnZnOeVMUiUihW8OlZ1pT3vOFZVaUCxS5mh6R7g72JenLFcH4WFjLnotGSjkgcDSjbVgLeoxlwGIN4tz0x5Ev1t82P3rheP1Knc-3htH/s400/ed-hotelbed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058332062236214322" /></a><br />After The Pampered Chef buffet breakfast Vickey took Eliana on a San Francisco cable car ride. Ellie loved it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKAWxd_4j0zMgAop0Sw-tr8VFjjb9AB5wEa7YrIjApCEbGoq9SajD9icghbW3ns_ScHFj97AbYC2OBE6yNsq1s-HRI_SmjUoeucwn460VgUnbYaQ7eE1Cj6ekKFfVpSOkL5Xn/s1600-h/e-streetcar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKAWxd_4j0zMgAop0Sw-tr8VFjjb9AB5wEa7YrIjApCEbGoq9SajD9icghbW3ns_ScHFj97AbYC2OBE6yNsq1s-HRI_SmjUoeucwn460VgUnbYaQ7eE1Cj6ekKFfVpSOkL5Xn/s400/e-streetcar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331937682162722" /></a><br />Dominic and I ventured out in the Sequoia navigating the city’s confusing one-way streets to get to Fisherman’s Wharf. The four of us met up there and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at <a href="http://www.boudinbakery.com" target="_blank">Boudin’s</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfyrVujU29MAkmRMGUcq5T4pA7KRNvgAclEQbBiGVyaK1WHXkFrnLTSwINl23GLGTAPUuw8x-5NIYFrEVrLxTcidqvkxPGLvIUoYrkdQKhWrg0z7N8tgQG8_1DXagzY4oOd7F/s1600-h/e-wharf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfyrVujU29MAkmRMGUcq5T4pA7KRNvgAclEQbBiGVyaK1WHXkFrnLTSwINl23GLGTAPUuw8x-5NIYFrEVrLxTcidqvkxPGLvIUoYrkdQKhWrg0z7N8tgQG8_1DXagzY4oOd7F/s400/e-wharf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331937682162706" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLEnsNsTeqPuNkOVB_Rg9_I9XDPN_qs8iYq24kPB7bLGsgAAFvyPyuKW7Y51sV-G05Mp-kA0Xs58SBpW5TbOTOB_DAXesFR8-5LfVxC34wGxLKWxCQGyIUgJpdC4Bf5pXXV_M/s1600-h/e-boudin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLEnsNsTeqPuNkOVB_Rg9_I9XDPN_qs8iYq24kPB7bLGsgAAFvyPyuKW7Y51sV-G05Mp-kA0Xs58SBpW5TbOTOB_DAXesFR8-5LfVxC34wGxLKWxCQGyIUgJpdC4Bf5pXXV_M/s400/e-boudin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331929092228082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G-_Qk8OoUoeTJ2iCDByq8xYFkjaqVvXVYrZ1Zyy55sk63Tn2izb6UBpNwJz0MPq5pVI5nqEQ1p8LMw1oS6PojYQUnaXDHKg2bG6tNnz2dQ70UevmqWL7SoRXEnxnTw2B7PdQ/s1600-h/e-d-crab-hats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G-_Qk8OoUoeTJ2iCDByq8xYFkjaqVvXVYrZ1Zyy55sk63Tn2izb6UBpNwJz0MPq5pVI5nqEQ1p8LMw1oS6PojYQUnaXDHKg2bG6tNnz2dQ70UevmqWL7SoRXEnxnTw2B7PdQ/s400/e-d-crab-hats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331929092228098" /></a><br />After lunch we did the sightseeing thing, from <a href="http://www.fishermanswharf.org" target="_blank">Fisherman’s Wharf</a> to <a href="http://www.pier39.com" target="_blank">Pier 39</a> to <a href="http://www.ghirardellisq.com" target="_blank">Ghirardelli Square</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25KPcGuC8_FysFp1IHQerHjcA9WMKi6YrQZ12SDaN2pno4-WCAUYxLFM4-YxbZJWFMpJMUa4mHAseWD9DURlSxzio31d6YfY7RpeY4HtEAHf8pO8_cVK2YK-wUeCVNQamOVny/s1600-h/e-st-performer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25KPcGuC8_FysFp1IHQerHjcA9WMKi6YrQZ12SDaN2pno4-WCAUYxLFM4-YxbZJWFMpJMUa4mHAseWD9DURlSxzio31d6YfY7RpeY4HtEAHf8pO8_cVK2YK-wUeCVNQamOVny/s400/e-st-performer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331924797260770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWhWqoSJUPGdF58E5YpXAC73Tf14uLtK0-0K8B1lQGMaIV1KQXfz-Td8XakuKY4L5_4zVHNaWP4MD2klXwchFj7ngH-UqK1s63in_vVUIoURPqSFu0Q0uJdTN8lGx5DHhsZ8B/s1600-h/p-e-d-ghirardelli.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWhWqoSJUPGdF58E5YpXAC73Tf14uLtK0-0K8B1lQGMaIV1KQXfz-Td8XakuKY4L5_4zVHNaWP4MD2klXwchFj7ngH-UqK1s63in_vVUIoURPqSFu0Q0uJdTN8lGx5DHhsZ8B/s400/p-e-d-ghirardelli.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331375041446802" /></a><br />The kids and I rode on the second story of this carousel at Pier 39 (this was about 30 minutes before it started raining).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB6nSC7RWy9O78vE_dkGTzIK-EvVOEoHb81c9wUx2kgV_ZA8XLeSGp-M6Ud2L2MGtwG_gJR0uQJopvXTDEzPPdnUF1RvTgk6xNQghNq06I76j23wI8H3-kTPhQ05VYMArFzyL/s1600-h/ped-carousel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB6nSC7RWy9O78vE_dkGTzIK-EvVOEoHb81c9wUx2kgV_ZA8XLeSGp-M6Ud2L2MGtwG_gJR0uQJopvXTDEzPPdnUF1RvTgk6xNQghNq06I76j23wI8H3-kTPhQ05VYMArFzyL/s400/ped-carousel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331387926348754" /></a><br />Vickey and Eliana got lost in a candy shop. Ellie and Dominic played in the arcade. Ellie left with a handful of prizes in exchange for the tickets she won ($5 for what was worth about $0.25 . . . but I suppose the time together makes up for the rest; it was fun to see how excited she was in the arcade).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJnWapH3ppq_VKg0dQRwmgC2efaiZ6UcXYfg9eFFBRF1aXZ9cBlMwATEKl75qzL0OMOiZBTZdMDeb5f8KK3lxGu5T83VaZADrpZ-gGD1EtSE5yD0SuZkBeTJGzxJShVBWrj-7/s1600-h/e-taffy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJnWapH3ppq_VKg0dQRwmgC2efaiZ6UcXYfg9eFFBRF1aXZ9cBlMwATEKl75qzL0OMOiZBTZdMDeb5f8KK3lxGu5T83VaZADrpZ-gGD1EtSE5yD0SuZkBeTJGzxJShVBWrj-7/s400/e-taffy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331379336414114" /></a><br />This photo has <a href="http://www.alcatrazhistory.com" target="_blank">Alcatraz</a> in the background (you can click on the photo to enlarge it).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirscDfLqwLOSUfTjUSsObU3JGs82NFyM8awhpRiStjXKbrr9sHdkXUAnOT42xUlPObw93zWBAfD5vtxZYuVrR1MFt5UuolahFUL1JfLEJxpG4__eNVpkc1_Jr7mrcfCTPX9_eK/s1600-h/family-pier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirscDfLqwLOSUfTjUSsObU3JGs82NFyM8awhpRiStjXKbrr9sHdkXUAnOT42xUlPObw93zWBAfD5vtxZYuVrR1MFt5UuolahFUL1JfLEJxpG4__eNVpkc1_Jr7mrcfCTPX9_eK/s400/family-pier.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331383631381442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW6wXO6m4JejRoZG0NsfnFp8-U-eBKkfcza6s9rmqDOD1DDY5Ao5wGH1dT8oWPDG_QB2VmNxPP_Jy84qdZFF1X-fML_UrbhJVctlt1ms5d9MioVCpdhZJTDmKCY1eg0gos4CR/s1600-h/p-e-sea-lions.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW6wXO6m4JejRoZG0NsfnFp8-U-eBKkfcza6s9rmqDOD1DDY5Ao5wGH1dT8oWPDG_QB2VmNxPP_Jy84qdZFF1X-fML_UrbhJVctlt1ms5d9MioVCpdhZJTDmKCY1eg0gos4CR/s400/p-e-sea-lions.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058331383631381426" /></a><br />We even drove down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_Street,_San_Francisco" target="_blank">Lombard Street</a> which was pretty close to Ghirardelli Square. I'd hate to be a resident on that street.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Y5EbY8oQDIvuq9t0fJPfKBkGw4jVsaOrpJN8kC7EEjtQuSgxrMKTxXIVumzOahALV2zrgK2fiixfQkYblsZJ5KAr7s7G3zCYRQ64bv1PFsTYDvFKv_1xV0Bs3bNl7Ul9hRM/s1600-h/lombard-st.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Y5EbY8oQDIvuq9t0fJPfKBkGw4jVsaOrpJN8kC7EEjtQuSgxrMKTxXIVumzOahALV2zrgK2fiixfQkYblsZJ5KAr7s7G3zCYRQ64bv1PFsTYDvFKv_1xV0Bs3bNl7Ul9hRM/s400/lombard-st.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058330924069880706" /></a><br />Eliana and Vickey spent a lot of time at the seashell store at the pier. Here’s Ellie showing off her new collection. (Ellie says: “Thanks, Grandma Snow, for the spending money.”)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm_LjN4T_Nz9olE4583xWxeo0I_iQVpJDi7WUUZMCejRw3s_Xy5eESBeQIN5WwVenZvFjPMpTltKWoHi0UTiEY06NNslF6ITAOLxbMpD6lHN-LVvL-aTSbRUvvO5QZEmsKYpJ/s1600-h/e-starfish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm_LjN4T_Nz9olE4583xWxeo0I_iQVpJDi7WUUZMCejRw3s_Xy5eESBeQIN5WwVenZvFjPMpTltKWoHi0UTiEY06NNslF6ITAOLxbMpD6lHN-LVvL-aTSbRUvvO5QZEmsKYpJ/s400/e-starfish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058330924069880690" /></a><br />We made it back to the hotel in time to freshen up, get dressed up and attend The Pampered Chef farewell banquet. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPguOizpkxBhVO7HuAdD7ew-pj8jboH0mfKOGlrDSLuv63DoqhLiHy-ygVCTUdQCyk3rOIq9nYR89NqBTDXDEYqQWYZKKaGeTQ0O835_pYXPGrSJz4-EfsF3PYqPKLjSRJiP2e/s1600-h/family-tpc-dinner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPguOizpkxBhVO7HuAdD7ew-pj8jboH0mfKOGlrDSLuv63DoqhLiHy-ygVCTUdQCyk3rOIq9nYR89NqBTDXDEYqQWYZKKaGeTQ0O835_pYXPGrSJz4-EfsF3PYqPKLjSRJiP2e/s400/family-tpc-dinner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058330919774913378" /></a><br />We were treated to a good meal, Chinese dancers as entertainment, and a monogrammed Chinese fan for both kids.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8IPCrb_yrWDa0Mji4lkkX0BAQpqxBRLkWb3KUazyFquLAvAVcGwfIsLuvvnmYKAqy3L8NhROLuVBj4wwSbMwoqFgi680_IyojrNe9QAopMd2sOlIvxz1Ps89fCNHOCYA5-9Q/s1600-h/dessert.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8IPCrb_yrWDa0Mji4lkkX0BAQpqxBRLkWb3KUazyFquLAvAVcGwfIsLuvvnmYKAqy3L8NhROLuVBj4wwSbMwoqFgi680_IyojrNe9QAopMd2sOlIvxz1Ps89fCNHOCYA5-9Q/s400/dessert.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058330919774913362" /></a><br />After the meal Eliana and Dominic were the first ones on the dance floor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd5pOhg5avkvtKwQB21GyoIruzucyG50S8R-oQ24BAhUHbBnrOMEj-uRUgjhS1DNK4hWkpl4UXr8LtAtye7jcZhC4HzlZickCL7AiN_zC3y786I4tgahZp_hIe8bXtwt8SS5i/s1600-h/e-dancing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd5pOhg5avkvtKwQB21GyoIruzucyG50S8R-oQ24BAhUHbBnrOMEj-uRUgjhS1DNK4hWkpl4UXr8LtAtye7jcZhC4HzlZickCL7AiN_zC3y786I4tgahZp_hIe8bXtwt8SS5i/s400/e-dancing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058330915479946050" /></a><br />Dominic was a handful during the meal. He and I spent some quality time together out in the hallway and riding the escalator. I even made a special trip back up to the hotel room on the 15th floor to get his binky. And yes, as you’ve seen, we kept the pacifier in play in anticipation of our trip (the doctor recommended we go cold turkey several weeks ago.) Dominic’s still not weaned. Then again, neither is thumb-sucking Eliana at five-and-a-half.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937103.post-67024842706157417152007-04-24T22:24:00.000-07:002008-12-09T01:20:11.282-08:00San Francisco, day twoI should mention that we were in San Francisco because during the 2006 calendar year Vickey earned an all-expenses-paid trip for the family through <a href="http://pamperedchef.com" target="_blank">The Pampered Chef</a>. Way to go Vick!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rZN3aT42rRq_flJjms1ZPNYiP61BTmXoQcUVG57BA_PplrbbHx3VaJNgDfa41Jc9CrnWqKSOS-yW_E4YVM61OGmi41XBCm9Fca-P4UCaZnG-Cyk4J4dzadAGXLK9vUFxlU3c/s1600-h/shoeshine.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rZN3aT42rRq_flJjms1ZPNYiP61BTmXoQcUVG57BA_PplrbbHx3VaJNgDfa41Jc9CrnWqKSOS-yW_E4YVM61OGmi41XBCm9Fca-P4UCaZnG-Cyk4J4dzadAGXLK9vUFxlU3c/s400/shoeshine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057232713817195202" /></a><br />On Friday we joined a Pampered Chef excursion to <a href="http://www.visitmuirwoods.com" target="_blank">Muir Woods National Monument</a>. Along the way we toured parts of downtown San Francisco while our tour guide lectured us. One of her lectures was, “I’m not going to compete!” (meaning we needed to be quiet and listen to her well-rehearsed remarks, or get off the bus). It was cute in a mind your senior citizens sort of way (she was an elderly woman who just said it like it was).<br /><br />Of course we stopped at the <a href="http://www.goldengate.org" target="_blank">Golden Gate Bridge</a> for a photo op. Our family was the last back on the bus after the 20 minute stop, so I made a point of ensuring our timeliness at the next stop (I couldn’t help it, it was the old tour manager in me).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6IE46U9MoA5t_PY-8o1VuX-ov0cl9HWOxe5xnY_wFRW9BPFZIpfFg3Zuac8fGnE4-1F2K6p8T3QRRD-ZJaSmUVhbjuGR0j1bj2GPkTEPjWxbVjwVxLDEW5zJsrqOjTtCC8LJ/s1600-h/goldengate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6IE46U9MoA5t_PY-8o1VuX-ov0cl9HWOxe5xnY_wFRW9BPFZIpfFg3Zuac8fGnE4-1F2K6p8T3QRRD-ZJaSmUVhbjuGR0j1bj2GPkTEPjWxbVjwVxLDEW5zJsrqOjTtCC8LJ/s400/goldengate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057232709522227890" /></a><br />We had about an hour at Muir Woods. The environment was remarkable. The crisscross bus ride at the back of the bus was about enough to make me motion sick, but once we were there it was like being transported to another world. The woods were thick and lush. The smell was fresh and earthy. The temperature was moderately cool in the shade and warm and sunny in the light. It was really amazing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C7jDf-zNTYWm9EmFXBBVPkJFnsli5GA993RnP06VEMOifk20B5c2n4j3RNT-tkSdJtF_UhUQ_5uaqu5u_jYjdW8Pgpe2ViUt8_A4-V6eEsvyauOH9DaHFWHf8yOcVU49aGwQ/s1600-h/mw1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C7jDf-zNTYWm9EmFXBBVPkJFnsli5GA993RnP06VEMOifk20B5c2n4j3RNT-tkSdJtF_UhUQ_5uaqu5u_jYjdW8Pgpe2ViUt8_A4-V6eEsvyauOH9DaHFWHf8yOcVU49aGwQ/s400/mw1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057234470458819330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODYt5Yqx2nzel1ZMNUJHhYANRuMYQdA6JCyR9jcQOOKaaiEdTVzCCLAg4WACYif_CIJfgk-70moClgN9YmXaMr-USJzWMVvD6wCm_HmVIP_4VCcIuZr3HF4-5qE1x2MLuIJN9/s1600-h/mw4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODYt5Yqx2nzel1ZMNUJHhYANRuMYQdA6JCyR9jcQOOKaaiEdTVzCCLAg4WACYif_CIJfgk-70moClgN9YmXaMr-USJzWMVvD6wCm_HmVIP_4VCcIuZr3HF4-5qE1x2MLuIJN9/s400/mw4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057234479048753970" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQFpUG2owuhFjRr8dtXWFpiTdwBk9b686hZLAd2TY6E13YNxSGf2EcawfSrfUAYbXAtFzOeEcvHGg9_yHqm2sOK_1MPhbx7qFMttYrWdhQST68TwDTfxpxaDYaLTHs71bKojX/s1600-h/mw2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQFpUG2owuhFjRr8dtXWFpiTdwBk9b686hZLAd2TY6E13YNxSGf2EcawfSrfUAYbXAtFzOeEcvHGg9_yHqm2sOK_1MPhbx7qFMttYrWdhQST68TwDTfxpxaDYaLTHs71bKojX/s400/mw2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057234474753786642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz43BWMUskOyDkHKAwXsyi1LvV98ZRUbV_S7qRgl_UAhICjHgi24Rzi2TP972knJ_3J2UDK_ran75Cdt_nplzwZf8d63bE0Ao7iwvTLMvuynLAbd8Iw5PZ1l4e7A6LNPQ0UsXe/s1600-h/mw3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz43BWMUskOyDkHKAwXsyi1LvV98ZRUbV_S7qRgl_UAhICjHgi24Rzi2TP972knJ_3J2UDK_ran75Cdt_nplzwZf8d63bE0Ao7iwvTLMvuynLAbd8Iw5PZ1l4e7A6LNPQ0UsXe/s400/mw3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057234474753786658" /></a><br />At the end of this stop our family was one of the first back at the bus, arriving even before the bus driver did. I think Vickey was disappointed she missed out on 10 minutes in the woods while we waited to board the bus.<br /><br />As soon as the door was open Eliana grabbed me by the hand and said, “Come on, dad. You said you wanted to be the first one on the bus.” I was a bit embarrassed thinking our fellow passengers may have looked down on my competitive spirit. I replied, “No, Eliana. I just said I didn’t want to be the last one on the bus. There’s a difference.”<br /><br />Ah, the perspective of a five year-old.<br /><br />We drove to Sausalito where we were given instructions to grab a bite to eat and be at the pier in 60 minutes in order to catch the ferry back to San Francisco. It was a tall order but we did our best. In fact, we were quite pleased with our lunch choice. Instead of opting for the burger joint praised by our tour guide (because everyone was going there, duh), we found a cozy joint on the pier. The proprietor/cashier/chief cook and bottle washer took our order (Vickey didn’t like the fact that he handled our money and our sandwiches) while we sat on the pier and Dominic repeated “B” over and over (that’s his word for ‘bird’).<br /><br />We even managed a stop at our favorite tourist t-shirt shop, <a href="http://www.crazyshirts.com" target="_blank">Crazy Shirts</a>, and at the local ice creamery.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7lrkKukArPTyWEbUR3-ruZn6cXzlTi47CKFuCW5i_rpW7p6tsL7hyVVGGFvjmzs7FpUQX2C1CJrc2oq-MmcdX_VWNNwdWUwzjDWkuZvsePvYUrlcHGHr49DUbOijWG4Ha30_/s1600-h/pier1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7lrkKukArPTyWEbUR3-ruZn6cXzlTi47CKFuCW5i_rpW7p6tsL7hyVVGGFvjmzs7FpUQX2C1CJrc2oq-MmcdX_VWNNwdWUwzjDWkuZvsePvYUrlcHGHr49DUbOijWG4Ha30_/s400/pier1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057232705227260562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Cgj3oDIXXEdPReWR9MHUKYCmqojwoFMQGOP2x_d41m0Eh6asVRXIEdfdIraD6GMgmVo848HkR1di8U72XtnzbDcDgRgF89Rh0fxTFke5Mx1scujWOnh99Nm2JQw76v-OVAy-/s1600-h/pier2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Cgj3oDIXXEdPReWR9MHUKYCmqojwoFMQGOP2x_d41m0Eh6asVRXIEdfdIraD6GMgmVo848HkR1di8U72XtnzbDcDgRgF89Rh0fxTFke5Mx1scujWOnh99Nm2JQw76v-OVAy-/s400/pier2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057232709522227874" /></a><br />En route on the ferry we passed close enough to Alcatraz to read the disintegrating old fashioned signs warning boaters of impending imprisonment if they tried to help a convict escape.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1qJZ-Egz_19l6cEANUsqk1I-rcoX6lB0gaE7UmEieYaTU6e_-eN9_oJI9Xj-SvNy1KJTeznAiD2VvZFmHwfG5pi3G3aS6Qgq_MvrIwwAp3I-Orq5tnOMtS19n1HBO13qUqKr/s1600-h/ferry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1qJZ-Egz_19l6cEANUsqk1I-rcoX6lB0gaE7UmEieYaTU6e_-eN9_oJI9Xj-SvNy1KJTeznAiD2VvZFmHwfG5pi3G3aS6Qgq_MvrIwwAp3I-Orq5tnOMtS19n1HBO13qUqKr/s400/ferry.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057234101091631826" /></a><br />Upon re-boarding our bus and returning to the hotel Dominic and I took a well-deserved nap. Vickey and Eliana racked up the tourist points by going back to Yerba Buena Gardens for a game of bowling and playing on the playground slides for a couple hours. (Ellie had a few turns on the slide the night before but it just wasn’t adequate, don’t you know.)<br /><br />Following their return we loaded up the car and headed out to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks,_San_Francisco,_California" target="_blank">Twin Peaks</a>. What a stunning view, which on this particular evening was accompanied by an incredible wind and coldness.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtb6agXwJnZJlW16IOg5yRGx_Iw1H0d8E3WWbPZBOQtEH8lssPjsJpKacO_MzswMOtgL9B2bfGyKtL-_HiSrEBc6-LaQ8oNh8rmaIgj23oZNdFdRnlN1mVkcmvMATVaXZmy_jV/s1600-h/twinpeaks1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtb6agXwJnZJlW16IOg5yRGx_Iw1H0d8E3WWbPZBOQtEH8lssPjsJpKacO_MzswMOtgL9B2bfGyKtL-_HiSrEBc6-LaQ8oNh8rmaIgj23oZNdFdRnlN1mVkcmvMATVaXZmy_jV/s400/twinpeaks1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057234101091631842" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_l8LefWSAnt1O8-SZn3aXGS-cVoMobQKt59o-Xqj7_ZrFBQpSPoY9AW11cWnLvVs6c1c_eCNq4Rt8AyYiuF28T1vsuyT2f_oWcMdcvA1SBX1F54MkJLd47r_qoxQ3ZGlT5_PL/s1600-h/twinpeaks2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_l8LefWSAnt1O8-SZn3aXGS-cVoMobQKt59o-Xqj7_ZrFBQpSPoY9AW11cWnLvVs6c1c_eCNq4Rt8AyYiuF28T1vsuyT2f_oWcMdcvA1SBX1F54MkJLd47r_qoxQ3ZGlT5_PL/s400/twinpeaks2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057234105386599154" /></a><br />After that—because we weren’t ready to throw in the towel on our first full day in the city—we headed in to <a href="http://www.sfnorthbeach.org" target="_blank">North Beach</a>. The restaurant we hoped to eat at was full with an hour wait. Eliana and Dominic were both on the verge of hunger collapse so we found a public parking spot and grabbed a table for four at the first available decent looking Italian restaurant. I think we were seated around 8:30 p.m.<br /><br />I can’t remember where we ate, but it was good. I think Vickey and I were most impressed with the kids’ spaghetti with meat marinara sauce. Still, the whole meal was quite good. We sat right by the kitchen and most of the staff played with Dominic who, in his usual way, ate with gusto leaving nary a corner of his face and hair free from the food on his plate. Ellie sat cuddled with her blanket after a meltdown. She and I watched <a href="http://www.andreabocelli.com/2006/newsportal.html" target="_blank">Andrea Bocelli: Under the Desert Sky</a>—a concert performance from last year’s <em>Stars on the Lake</em> concert series filmed just a few miles from home at <a href="http://www.lakelasvegas.com" target="_blank">Lake Las Vegas</a>—on the restaurant’s TV.<br /><br />It was a truly Italian experience—dining, entertainment, environment, etc. In fact, Vickey took Eliana to the restroom (and so did I, but that’s another story) and while they were waiting in line, one of the servers goosed one of the patrons as he walked by. She was surprised, then laughed. It was a very forward, unapologetic, non-politically correct thing of him to do. Sometimes that’s just refreshing to witness.<br /><br />After our late dinner we headed back to the hotel room with two very tired kids who were real troupers. We were all out like a light as soon as we hit the sheets.Pete Codellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643457032113218662noreply@blogger.com0