OklahomaBasham: 2008

Andrew and Ian could not contain themselves. at 6am they were raring to get down to the beach. We strolled down the hill a short 10 minute walk to the ocean stopping just long enough to get a chocolate croissant with cafe au lait (hot chocolate for the boys)at Petit Casino. Ian had his heart set on a donut but managed to choke down the chocolate croissant. At the beach it was mostly surfers in their full wet suits floating like seals in the waves. That told me that it was too chilly to get in the water. This did not stop Andrew and Ian from begging me to go back to the house and get their swimsuits. We came back long enough to get Cherie a spinach, cheese, tomato omelette at GOOD Stuff and then it was back to the beach. I love walking the short distance BUT Ian was convinced he would die if he walked any more so we drove back and lucked in to a good parking spot. Andrew and Ian played in the waves as i enjoyed simply sitting on the sand listening to them laugh.

I called Dewayne in Oklahoma to learn the high was in the 40's. He got see Samia and said she is busy working and soon to go back to Beirut to remodel and market an apartment building her dad gave her.

Stephanie and I talked about Christmas plans and getting Chris to dress up as a cowboy in Tulsa and ride a mechanical bull.

The rest of the day was spent laying around doing nothing. :)

watching Dirty Jobs and how Tilapia eat poop for the striped bass and they both get sold to market.

That night we went to JAPONICA and ate sushi with Larisa, Amy, Mike, me and Jennifer.
The food was great. Atmosphere was really nice too.

There were some interesting stories at dinner:

Mike has a new girlfriend Liz. She sounds like a good fit for him. Sadly she is having to deal with a stalker. Mike also told us about his old high school teacher that took him to a Dodgers game and tried to get a kiss at the end of the date. He could not understand why she wanted to pick him up at the end of the driveway so the parents did not see. Must have been that he was 17. She also asked him the come and paint the house and did not work out as SHE planned since he brought his buddies to help out.

I told my story about my old english teacher Macala Knight and how she hooked me up with her daughter to go with me to a concert. Although no real confirmation, I felt as if she may have been trying to teach me more than English.

Amy told us about Tony and how he has Chad FANTASTICO qualities and may be the one. Her was at the family cabin in BIG PINE and could not make it. She was a bit frustrated about him wanting her out of debt. Did not make since to her since teaching is a recession proof job. I really liked her story of her friend ED she met at the bar in Big Pine. Turned out ED drove a hay truck for a living and was quite a character. Ed got mad about a black man that previously dated his girlfriend and beat her up. So he proceeded to break the guys knee caps with a baseball bat and left him in the middle of no where.

Jennifer's big story was of a previous night at the BULL PEN that involved a couple in their 50's. I guess the acts displayed by this couple were not PG -13. The scene caused Amy to put her head under their table not to look. What happened was the guy in the pink polo golf shirt had old girl in the jean mini skirt dance on his leg until her jeans skirt was up so high that you could see her G String. and you can figure out the rest. Jennifer did mention that there faces were real red from the booze.

Larisa told us about her new man John Carlo from Trieste Italy. Sounds like a real funny guy.

Last stop was at the Bull Pen. This was a great little bar/restaurant that has been there since the 70's or 80's based on the decor. the South Bay Rockers were playing and it was nice of RUDY to let us in thru the back door. We ran into Jennifer's old boss Linda and her sister Robin and Linda's beau Rick Graham. Rick was alot of fun to talk to. Turned out he owned a bar in Greely Colorado called The Dugout and was having fond memories of how the BULL PEN reminded it. I really enjoyed the band. They played everything from Van Morrison to Commodores to Aerosmith. There was this one guy I called Sportcoat Steve. Rick said he always comes in looped and never remembers your name. Turns out he was in internet consulting and went to Memorial High School in Tulsa. The funny thing was this lady walked in that was every bit of 7 feet tall in flats. Sportcoat Steve so intrigued he had to leave in mid conversation to introduce him self. I guess he fancies himself as the local Mr. Goodbar said Rick.