WizBlog

Old Salt Comes Home - Part 1

We felt honored and humbled to be a part of today's OpLove homecomings.
A little about the ship -


Lead ship of its class, supercarrier USS Nimitz  - nicknamed "Old Salt" - is one of the largest warships in the world and is the flagship of its battle group.

Stats
Commissioned: May 3, 1975
Propulsion system: Two nuclear power plants
Main engines: Four
Overall length: 1092 feet (over 3 football fields long)
Overall width: 252 feet (1 football field wide)
Accommodations: about 6,000 persons

Facts of interest
- Nimitz reaches over 23 stories high from the keel to the top of the mast
- Four distilling units make 400m000 gallons of fresh water a day
- Food Services Department provides 18-20,000 meals per day
- Nimitz Post Office processes more than one million pounds of mail per year
- 5 full time dentists, 6 doctors, 53-bed hospital, 3-bed ICU

Silently the gray behemoth glides into sight, revealing itself from behind the bow of the USS Ronald Regan, resting at pier-side for maintenance, whose number 76 refers to the hull number of this great warship named for a great President whose service as Commander in Chief provided the strength still needed for peace today.



The rails are tightly packed, mostly with white uniforms and waving white hats. From first sight of the carrier's bow, the sound of the crowd's clapping, whistling and cheering grows to a deafening roar. They're home!

 



Slowly the gigantic Nimitz navigates its last turn and pulls alongside the dock where thousands of family, friends and loved ones cheer and shout, fly balloons, wave signs, banners and American flags, and connect with those aboard by cell phone.

 


For a 27-1/2 year Marine Naval aviator, having flown countless take-offs and landings on similar carriers, this is a heartwarming nostalgic occasion for our Colonel Paul e Wogg.

An info email from a few days ago explained that debarking would be in categories - first would be lottery winners for "First Kiss" places, then daddies whose babies they'd not yet met, followed by 5% top performers, dodge ball tournament winners, then officers and enlisted sailors.

The first of several gangways lowers. Excitement heightens. And off they begin to stream.



Tomorrow - Part 2: The Loved and The Loving

Whoops - little correction

Anyone think it was odd that Nydia could be married to two men? Urg ...
(sorry, Nydia! :P)

Next weekend we'll be joining Yomara and two sons at their daddy's Camp Pendleton homecoming.

Neighborhood offer - Nellie Gail & Moulton Ranch

Looking for that one perfect picture for your holiday cards?
Love to give the gift of photos that melt grandparents' hearts?
Want to get your holiday shopping done *before* the Holiday rush?
Our lifestyle photography is the perfect solution!

Check out the special offer for our Nellie Gail & Moulton Ranch Neighbors -

Who
Residents of Nellie Gail & Moulton Ranch (Laguna Hills)

What
A two-fer! With your Wizzy lifestyle photography session you will receive one FREE package of our custom-designed holiday cards with every one you purchase. Click HERE to see our holiday card gallery.

When
Offer good through October 21st

Where
Home, beach, trail, park - location of your choice

Click HERE to peek at our website.
Then call us today at (949)215-4641 or email wizzy@wizzyandfriends.com to schedule your session! Our remaining available pre-holiday appointments are booking fast - and we'd love to meet new neighbors.

A few card samples. Designs exclusive to Wizzy & Friends.

OpLove update

Remember our sweet Marine, Sgt. Sam - and his cutie new wife, Miss Jennifer? 


We're excited to report he's on his way home to San Diego! It's gonna be a long darn float from there to here, but we're counting down the days.

More good news - many more of our brave troops are headed home. In fact, we have two homecomings in the next 10 days! Lotsa work and time, but so, so rewarding to our hearts.

Tomorrow, Navy guy Nick will be returning to North Island/Coronado (San Diego) on the USS Nimitz to the loving arms of his sweetie, Nydia. Early tomorrow morning 5000 sailors will be pouring off the ship to the hugs, kisses and tears of joy of their loved ones. Wish us luck - it's expected to be quite a crush!

And the following Sunday we will be at Camp Pendleton's pardade grounds with wife Nydia and their two young sons for Marine Sergio's homecoming.

So much joy! We love the caring messages our readers send us supporting our troops - we're so proud.  Photos coming soon -

Crystal Cove Cottage Community | Part 1 of 2

Very, very occasionally we need a business break to soothe our souls.
A few weeks ago the weather was too perfect to stay inside.
We found these photos this afternoon and wanted to share with our readers.

Midday, midweek found us cruising up Pacific Coast Highway, windows and sunroof wide open to let in the warm 75 degree day while we sang along with Cher, "Gyyyypsies, Tramps and Thieves ..."

From Dana Point, through Laguna Beach, and up to Corona del Mar to the Crystal Cove Cottages. We hadn't been there since the start of the renovation about a year ago, so we ventured up the coast to take lunch at the new restaurant at the cottages - between Laguna and Newport Beach.

Parking in the lot on the upside of PCH, we walked to the end of the lot, down into the natural California chapparel on a narrow path, under the highway through this tunnel, and out the other side, emerging in the cottage community.

These cottages were built nearly with cardboard and bubble gun, but are highly beloved and offer great photo ops. This is one of the couple dozen abandoned, dilapidated structures th scheduled for renovation over the next few years.


We thought the turquoise corrugated tin roof was quite sumthin' !
 



Woggy's "hood ornament" pose -







Residing in one of the renovated cottages, The Beachcomer Restaurant is nestled at the base of the beachfront cliffs, with a stunning panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. While most tourists feel compelled to eat outside, we decided to enjoy a rare Guilty Pleasure - hamburgers & fries - at an old-fashioned diner booth just inside the door - it was too hot outside (75 at the beach is HOT).


What a glorious day! 

Check out the menu, especially the photos: Beachcomer Restaurant menu . Then see below ...

This was taken in front of Wizzy's grandparents' home on Lido Isle, just a couple of miles away from Crystal Cove. Her brother was born in January 1950, so that make this summer 1950! That makes Wizzy 4-1/2, dad 27 and mom 25.

This is how Wizzy spent most summers, clear through about 15 years ago - just chilling at the beach, no sunscreen. Well, she did start wearing a top at about age 5. <wink>



Edited to add for your entertainment - the rest of the Crystal Cove Adventure (includes a fun WizWog video - and a nostalgic musical slideshow). Grab your fave beverage, relax for a few, and enjoy!
Part 2 of 3 - Crystal Cove Adventure 
Part 3 of 3

Sugar and Spice

New walker  Miss Hailey just wanted to explore. She was a perfect lifestyle toddler. Her boundaries were the yard fences, so we just shot her being a busy, curious one-year-old while mom made sure she was safe.

What gorgeous blue eyes - and we loved her girlie-girl pink bow.




Occasionally concerned parents will ask, "What happens if my child won't look at the camera?" Well, that's just fine with us - because it gives up the perfect opportunity to spend time with kids and capture them being just who they are in familiar surroundings. We try hard not to direct them too much - after all, if moms and dads wanted that posed look, they'd go to those chain studios, right? *wink*



Ah, the joy of a simple life where even a crack in the sidewalk is fascinating.

Autumnal equinox

for September 23 (oops, missed it by a day)
A few profound seasonal thoughts from Chinese author and inventor, Lin Yutang -

"I like spring, but it is too young.
I like summer, but it is too proud.
So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower,
Its colors are richer,
And it is tinged with a little sorrow.
Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring,
Nor the power of summer,
But of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age.
It knows the limitations of life and it is content."

For our non SoCal friends and readers, it's no secret we don't have much of a Fall here in the O.C. A few cool days, a few trees - especially our liquid ambers - which display gorgeous traditional Fall leaves, and football. The WizWog family knows it must be Fall when we have to wear long sleeves at Cirina's 11pm walk.

So when we travelled to speak at our dear friends' (waving - hi Trish, Dinah, Kay & Karen!) Retreat in Appleton, WI - and then, oh yes, get married the day after the Retreat - we brought home these digital memories. No matter where we go or what we do in October and November, we'll always carry Appleton's Autumn in our hearts.



Our walk along the Fox River -


 

Paper piles and silly treasures

Paper piles. Anyone else notice they seem to multiply overnight? Running a small business, it's amazing how fast the piles increase in number and grow tall! Sifting through a pile from the summer, I uncovered something that gave me a chuckle ... again.

Folks go to the County Fair for lots of reasons - the animals, the exhibits, the competitions (maybe we'll enter photos next year), the rides (of questionable safety), and even the food - ?? Fried food on a stick seemed to be the theme this year - fried pickles, fried corn dogs (our fave), and, amazingly enough, deep-fried Twinkies - yikes!

Truth is, though, the real reason for our annual fair outing is the photo booth. The process is unpredictable (timing of the four shots seems to be random), and the picture are predictably awful. But we laugh crazily every year, mooshing two adults into a teensy booth and trying to seat both of us on one round stool about 8 inches in diameter. We can't wait til next year!

From the Orange County Fair, Summer 2007 -

First "cool" evening of season

OK, for our WizBlog friends anywhere outside of southern California, try not to laugh too hard. But today was the first time in months we've actually worn long sleeves. And this evening, it got *all the way down* to under 65 degrees. To us, that's a Cold Spell - hee hee.

So here it is - one of our Official Cool Weather recipe faves. Simple, delicious, tummy-warming. Yum-O!

7-Can Soup
2 15.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 can Veg-All (or other mixed veggies)
1 can chili, without beans
1 can chili, with beans (we love Hormel for both)
1 can tomato soup
1 can corn
1 T sugar (cuts the tomato over-kill)
Mix all ingredients (do not drain) together. Bring to a boil. Simmer 15-20 minutes.
Serve piping hot with Parmesan bread (we use La Brea Rosemary & Olive Oil, butter lightly, sprinkle with Kraft grated Parmesan, broil til brown)

Variation - turn into Taco Soup
Add 1 small can chopped green Ortega chilies (mild)
Substitute one small can of tomatoes with 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes
Substitute the other can tomatoes with 1 can diced stewed tomatoes
Add 1 package taco seasoning mix + 1 package Ranch dressing mix

Leftovers keep well up to 5 days in refrigerator. They also freeze, thaw and reheat well.
Enjoy! 

Golden Companions - It's the Small Things

Silhouettes produce an interesting phenomenon. Have you ever noticed that when you can't see details, and only an outline is visible, sometimes it actually gives you a clearer picture of what you see? We have decided it's because it allows one to mentally fill in the details based on one's innate intuition and experience.

Our home is surrounded by equestrian trails more foot-friendly than sidewalks for Paul's frequent runs. The elliptical machines as 24 Hour Fitness keeps my fitness level (and feet) happy, so this evening I walk behind as P and cirina run to the top of this hill. When they pause for me to catch up, I expose my shot to capture their loving bond.

George Eliot must have known how much we love our Golden girl, when he wrote, "We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment."