October at Alamo and Loft and Beach and a bit of November

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Department of announcements (1): Truism: Progress was okay in its time, but now it has gone on for far too long (O Nash). THB's version: nothing has been going on for so long, there's not much of interest to publish. Thus Travels of THB is going on hiatus (with the exception of the annual book list) for a while. 

Department of announcements (2): Mr Inappropriate may finally be able to wear that large  L on his forehead. Well earned, DJT

            

Department of announcements (3): THB thought the Alamo rental house was staged. Click on the link, it should open a new window

Coming Soon

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                    DB decides it's time to up the ante on the "cute" contest, adds "Sandy" on Nov 2

Department of Health, Part 1: DJT gets ready for the first debate and he and none of his team are wearing masks as they prep in the debate hall. Was he a super-spreader by then? Inappropriate: DJT, he's still and forever always inappropriate, just more-so as time moves on (cue the salute from the White House or his joy-ride with the Secret Service as he takes a break from his hospitalization)

Department of Health, Part 2: after 30+ months, THB's Necrotizing Myositis med, methotrexate, has failed to keep his condition under control so now it is back to prednisone and something other than injections: Imuran. One pill in the morning and then some labs and an in-person visit. After two weeks THB is now up to two Imuran pills a day and still on prednisone. And, as usual, THB feels fine

Department of Health, Part 3: THB visits the retina doc every 4 months, his macular degeneration is still dry form (no cure, just vitamins) and has some signs of going to the wet form with blisters on his retina. With wet form,  you get monthly shots in your wet eye(s) to try and hold off having a huge blank spot in the middle of your vision for as long as possible.  As of now, on some words and about all numbers one or two characters at end slide under the rest; e.g,. "can't" is now read as "can" and 8 digit phone numbers are in vogue

Interestingly enough, THB's distance vision is great (20/40 or better) because of cataract surgery 6 years ago, and his reading is fine with glasses on

THB's eye doc is being cautious, tapes down the top of his mask! Would DJT approve?

Department of Humor: two people are discussing climate change. First one: in a billion years the earth will have spiraled closer to the sun and life as we know it here will be over. Second one: wait, what did you say??? First one: in a billion years...Second one (interrupting) phew, for a minute I thought you said in a million years.

Department of Cancellations:

• Colombia and Mexico City in November: two of the three airlines have changed their schedule for our flights and thus THB and DB are getting a refund; AA has come through, UA has not. Awaiting news from Interjet, that is last remaining outstanding travel $$ left not credited or refunded.
• Tokyo O's 2020 ("now"  in 2021): Japan has announced they will give ticket refunds to anyone in Japan requesting one. THB can't see going to a baseball game next year, even with limited attendance. Will he go to Japan (almost no cases now, super-safe)?
  

Pics by Category

Beach Scenes

                        Just off shore, this fishing boat is attracting lots of birds

Point Lobos State Park: one of the top 5 scenic walks in the world; THB and DB do a half loop, to the south. North half is just as pretty, we're saving it for another day.

                            Light is just right to magnify the numerous cobwebs in this meadow

From the continuation of our hiking along Pacific Grove coastline: spectacular on Oct 28

 

Sand City Event: Mural festival art show

We attend the show a week or so after the  "opening" and nobody is around

Alamo pics

as seen on the Iron Horse trail: a large menagerie spread out up the backyard

Almost no graffiti on the IHT, this spot has been mostly painted over

It is pumpkin month

Are these pics lined up along the fence freebies? 

                                            Absentee voter, apparently not saying for which candidate

                                                                                        Le Chateau

Avec le vineyard

                                                                                            Another clue?

    

                                         A decorated gate / easement leading up to a house for sale: $19Mil

Food and Dining

                                                                       The San Pablo  Arizmendi is in holiday spirits

      New pizza place 1/2 mile from loft, June's. They only make 40 a day, by reservation only

        $27 for the margherita, $30 for the daily special. Huge and terrific

                                                Monster Pho E-ville has outdoor dining in a bubble!

                                                                                        Safer?

                                            Twins have an indoor dining area....safer?

Twins Pics

                                                                                C on the noodle

                                                                      A coaching J on the noodle

                                                                       Note the large white pumpkin

                                                                Where did it go??

                                                                                            Joy riding

                    The twins turn three and the hit presents are cameras; note C is taking selfies

                                                                    Where is the picture?

You have to turn the camera around, J is taking grandpa's picture

                                                            Okay, I got it now, thanks sistor

                                                    C in a sophisticated "do" put in place at daycare

                                                        Some other twins (not C&J) on PG surfing beach

   

                Do you think it is easy getting a pic of all three in the air at the same time? THB settles for best two out of three

                                                                                    Artists at work

                                        Street art: passe'; Mural art: ovah; Door art: all the rage, da bomb

Sunsets, Sunrises, and Moonsets

First time in Alamo we've seen a moon clearly in 2+ weeks

                                                                                                     A hint of a sunrise

                                                                        Sunrise Oct 28 at MDC

Pedestrian Bike Bridge project in E-ville, next to S-W project

                                            mid October

Sherwin Williams Project in E-ville

Artist view of project, perspective is from top of the loft building, and we'll have a park right outside our windows

                                                            Drone view taken in mid-October

Culvert repair on MDC road: COMPLETE!!

Miscellani

                          How to survive during a power outage

                            Get yourself a chargeable battery (complete with solar panel); unfortunately not powerful enough at the beach to keep the internet up and running (we'll have to use the phone as a hotspot)

                                                  THB in new sweatshirt; it's been cool in the mornings in Alamo

Sheep(r) Drop: Proceed With Caution