March 2005: Santa Barbara

Back in March of 2005 we went on a vacation to Santa Barbara with our friends Daxa and Ashwin (Michele's schoolmates from college). Paul managed to lose the files and then found them (though he still can't recover alot of the MPEG's he shot on the trip). Over the years we've gone on numerous trips with them and always had a great time.

We consider Santa Barbara one of the most beautiful cities we've ever seen. It's terribly expensive to live there, but Paul would be willing to live in the streets there...because it really is gorgeous out there.

We arrived in Los Angeles, drove up the coast (well as far as we could go) and stayed at the Casa Del Mar (a 21 Mediterranean style inn only 1/2 block from the beach). Here's some pictures of where we:

• saw the sights in beautiful Santa Barbara
• ate at Fat Burger (perhaps the greatest burger joint...in the WORLD...Magic Johnson owns a few franchises)
• introduced Ashwin/Daxa to Chipotle
• went to reenact "Sideways" at the Firestone Vineyard (remember that silly Bachelor show?). Note: This vineyard was in the movie.
  
• had a great time at Universal City
  

Aswhin, Daxa, Paul & Michele on the West Coast

Some birds on the coast.

Casa del Mar...where we stayed a few nights....
...the room didn't have the flat-screen tv when we were there!

Ashwin & Daxa...
...is she hugging him for what he just bought her inside?

Paul and Michele on hills overlooking Santa Barbara

Daxa and Michele at an old Spanish mission in Santa Barbara

Tour guide, Ashwin, and Michele reading the map.

Paul is convinced these trees grew this way by chance and chance alone.

Fatburger...Paul's Mecca for hamburgers!!

2 things that make Paul happy: Michele & a Fatburger

The beach at Santa Barbara.

Daxa & Michele on State Street in Santa Barbara

Paul & Michele

Universal Studios...Ashwin, Daxa, Michele & Paul

Daxa & Michele overlooking what must be Los Angeles from Universal Studios...
....is that an overcast sky or just smog?

Paul & Ashwin unsuccessfully audition for the movies....
...All right Mr. De Mille, we're ready for our close-up!

Daxa always exceeds the requirements.

It's a fake backdrop...right?

Life imitates art...

...or is it art imitating life?

The vineyard, but no "bachelor" in sight...
...is that because we didn't see him...
...or because he is now married and thus there is no bachelor in sigh?.

Vacationing w/Ashwin & Daxa is always a barrel of fun.

Paul is the luckiest ex-bachelor around.

Paul & Aswhin dream of their own vineyard.

Ashwin & Daxa at the Firestone vineyard...
... Ashwin is a very lucky ex-bachelor too!

Daxa & Michele...sweeter than wine.

Where you'll find Paul & Michele if they win the lottery.

Sammy and Santa 2008

Christmas is near and thus it became time for Sammy's yearly photo-op with Santa. This is the third year he's been photographed with the same Santa (there is only one Santa, isn't there?). Click here to see Sammy with Santa in 2006 and here to see him in 2007. Click here to see all the Sammy/Santa photos on one page. Note that in all the photos Santa has the same socks on ...let's hope Mrs. Claus is washing them between years.

Sammy and Santa 2007

On Christmas Eve we went to the mall and just happened to see Santa Claus. Sammy wasn't too thrilled with seeing him, as he had to do all of Santa's work this year. But Sammy indulged Santa's request to have a photo taken with him.

For a quick flashback, here's Sammy's photo with Santa last year. How much Sammy has grown!

Santa and Sammy...

How Sammy's Santa Photo Became His Mug Shot...

While doing some cleaning today while Sammy is napping, I came across this photo we had misplaced from this past Christmas.

Minutes after this photo was taken last December at the mall, our son Sammy made an escape attempt. When attention was momentarily diverted, he dashed into the crowd. Mall security was called in and shop attendants from all stores manned their entrances. When asked for a recent photo of Sammy, guess what security was given?

The fugitive was eventually found a couple of football-field lengths away at one of the exits/entrances in about 10 very tense minutes.

People who approached Sammy said his reply to where are your parents: "Visiting with Santa." Sammy eventually told us that the reason he stopped at the door is because he's not supposed to go outside without one of us holding his hand. Apparently, we had neglected to tell him that he was not to dash away on us at the mall immediately after having his photo taken with Santa.

The suspect was released to the custody of his parents, convicted, and sentenced to an appropriate punishment. He is now on probation.

Note: Check this link to see blog entries with Sammy's Santa photos through the years. It's always been the same Santa guy.

Sammy D

aka

Sammy the Fugitive

Sammy and Santa 2006

A short while ago, Michele went to the mall to do some Christmas shopping. Upon seeing Santa there, she rushed home. We bundled up Sammy and drove him the 4 blocks back to the mall where he had his picture taken with Old Saint Nicholas.

Santa and Sammy had quite the conversation, but we aren't sure what was said since we were out of ear-shot. But they whispered to each other, laughed, and smiled.

Sammy and Santa...
...notice Santa is a snazzy dresser like Sammy's Daddy.

Sammy and Santa 2010

This year Sammy told Santa he wanted (verbatim): "The Playmobil *EVIL* Black Knight."

Santa was here...

Shh...Sammy is still asleep...

Santa was here...
...Sammy's "big" present is in the bag with all the snowmen on it...
...as Sammy's trains rumble by...

Christmas 2007: There's a New Sheriff in Town...

This year Santa brought Sammy a spring rocking hose. He seems to be quite partial to horses. Our house was the last one in the neighborhood to be visited by Santa this Christmas this morning...as assembly took him quite a while. We'll post some video in a few days (or so). But here are some Christmas day photos of Sammy and his new steed.

Sammy climbs on his mount...

His horse is not yet tame/broken and takes off on him...
...but Sammy laughs in the face of danger...
...hang on Sammy, we've grown quite fond of you!

After a few minutes (and miles) his horse is now tired and tame...

Sammy smiles to the gentry as he passes by...

Quick as quick can be...

Today we went to the "Festival of Trees" at the Mayo Civic Center. It is a yearly fundraiser for Hiawatha Homes. Sammy enjoyed seeing the trees, though the Gingerbread Man scared the living daylights out of him.

Some of the trees...

Sammy solidly shaking Santa's shaker...

The Gingerbread Man who scared Sammy...

A local baker was finishing a large Gingerbread Men...

That's a big cookie cutter...

Rochester is a little city of big things...
...medical clinics...
...corn-cob water towers...
...and now World Record Gingerbread Men...

The Rochester Accordion Club playing Silent Night...

Sammy with Mrs. Claus...

Sammy making his own Gingerbread Man...

Paying attention to detail...

The finished work of culinary art...

Quick as quick can be you'll never catch me...I'm the Gingerbread Man!

Our Little Man...

In addition to the "Santa" portraits we had taken of Sammy, we also had a few shots taken with him wearing his lobster sweater (from L.L. Bean). Most everyone would agree Sammy gets his great looks and personality from his mother.

We call this his "anchorman" pose...

Sammy hams it up for the camera...