'Dangerous Island'

Many, many years ago when I was a grade school student at St. Maurice Catholic school I discovered a book titled "Dangerous Island" in the school library.  It was a favorite of mine, along with the Tom Corbett - Space Cadet series (I bought four of the eight Space Cadet books on Ebay over a decade ago for young son.  He thought they were boring,)

Over the years I occasionally thought about "Dangerous Island" but although I enjoyed it as a kid I couldn't even remember the actual title of the book.  Over President's day weekend the Missus and I traveled to Yucca Valley to visit Joshua Tree national park and in an antique store in Yucca Valley I saw the book from my childhood sitting on a table.  I recognized it immediately and pounced on it, scooped it up, and bought it for the bargain price of $5!

The book was published in 1956 and was a 'Weekly Reader' book selection.  The copy I purchased is in great shape.  I'd like to loan it to Ladybug my granddaughter who is an avid reader just as I was at her age.  I imagine it is dated and corny and probably not even at her grade level but perhaps she will find it as much fun as I did when I was a grade schooler and dreaming of adventure so many years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Island-Helen-Mather-Smith-Mindlin/dp/B0007E4IL6

The Missus goes roller skating!

The Missus' school held a skate night at the roller rink one valley over from our happy little valley so off we went.  I watched and the Missus skated.  I have absolutely no sense of balance and I can't even stand on roller skates let alone move in any sort of controlled manner.

The most amazing thing was not that there is still an operating roller rink but that when the rink was opened to the public after the school's private party was finished there was a mob of teens waiting to get into the rink!   And, they had their own custom roller skates too.  Who knew that teens still skate!

I remember the old Ardmore boulevard roller rink by my house back in the dark ages.  It was a happening place until gang fights started becoming a regular part of the skating activities.  This was after I had moved on of course.  Back in the Mayberry days of my youth kids roller skated at the rink and didn't stab each other

the Missus getting ready to rumble on her skates!

Having fun!

New Year's shooting expedition

A semi-tradition for Citizen Grouch and his kids is a trip to the shooting range over the Christmas-New Year's holiday.  This year the Grouch sons made the trip with me to the local range.  The weather was great and the boys had a fun time.  It is nice sharing a common interest with my young men.

The Grouch young pistoleros

Young Son chose the long barreled .22 pistol to demonstrate his steady hand and keen eye.

Older Son showing his skill with a handgun

We see the Rose Parade!

One of the Missus' friends offered to take us with her and her husband to see the Rose parade on New Year's day.  We are not ones to turn down a fun adventure so we enthusiastically accepted.  We had to rendedous at the departure point at 0430 in the morning on New Year's day.  

 We rode on a motor coach to the heart of Pasadena by 0600.  Since it was only 35F outside and still dark we stayed on the coach until the sun peeked over the mountains .

Once we could see to walk we headed for our seats on the grandstands overlooking the parade route.  Did I mention it was very cold?  We are all so bundled up we could barely move!

The parade route was jam packed with revelers and parade viewers.  our bleacher seats gave us a great view but because everyone was so tightly packed in, if someone needed to leave their seat, everyone between them and the exit had to get up and move out of the way.  I'm afraid it was a bit too crowded for me.

It was lots of fun seeing the parade up close and personal.  I marveled at the bravery of the marching band members in their costumes more suited for a 70 degree day rather than 40F!  My favorite marching band was the all girl high school from Belgium in their sailor outfits complete with red pom-poms on their sailor hats!  Very jaunty.

When it was all over we fought our way back to the bus and in short order we were back home, exhausted but happy to have seen the fun.

Our magic carpet to the parade

Some of the many people who camped out on the parade route for a couple days before the show.

Up in the bleachers, waiting for the fun to start

Sure is crowded up here!

A flyover from a B-2 to start the parade.  What a sight!

The Missus and our friends being very brave in the cold waiting for the parade to start

Some of the crowd on the parade route before the official show started.

The parade is finished for another year.  Time to go home!