2001 A Space Odyssey / Grandpa Chats With Ruby

I remember seeing this movie way back in 1968 when I was in college and feeling amazed at what was to come in our future.  I remember predictions of "picture phones" and what they may look like.  It's still hard to believe that we can communicate instantly with voice, text and images  via our iPhones, iPads and iMacs.  (Notice, I'm favoring a certain brand here.)

Tonight I got to "chat" with Ruby online via Skype.  I like to feel that we "connected", at least in a pixelated way.  I will know for sure when I get to visit her briefly at the end of August.  I'm sure she will recognize me and say, "Hi Grandpa Rich!  Walk me!"  Joe and Joy are enjoying her to the max.  I don't think I would ever not hold her!  At least when she is this young.  It all goes way too fast.

OKaaaaaayyy Lampy!

I received this picture message on my cell when I got out of work today.  Hey Pinocchio!  Say Hi to Lampy for me!!!

An Epic Journey

 I walked downtown this afternoon, to BayWalk Muvico to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.  It's hard to believe how long Harry Potter has been in our lives.  My daughters Mia and Gina were in elementary school when they read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when it was the only book.  I remember thinking, "who's Harry Potter?" Well, shortly after, I was hooked!  Like them, I eagerly awaited each new book and each new year at Hogwarts.

It's cool to see how the actors have grown and matured as each movie came out.  It was so much fun to read each "year" at Hogwarts and then wait anxiously for the movie to premier.  I'm still amazed that it has been done so well, has gotten so many, young and old, to enjoy reading again, and to keep our interest over a string of many years.

I thought this last chapter was amazingly done for the screen.  Truly an epic!

Good?  Bad?

I hated to see Hogwarts decimated so much after growing darker and darker with each year's passing.

The bad guys . . .

Good to see Neville transform!

Go Neville!

 She has been wanting to do this!

Oh yes . . .

And another journey begins.

Mia Visit Day 5/ Adele Gina Visit Day 3

Mia and I started the day with a walk over to the Bay and then headed down towards the beach.

It was a beautiful morning but that sun was VERY warm, and you could feel the humidity more today.

 OK, Dad!  Enough!

Kind of like getting all your duckies in a row?  The  queue to see 'Captain America' at BayWalk stretched all the way to the North Shore Beach.

 Snapped a few shots along the way as we headed back up North Shore Drive.

 The moon over the Sistine Chapel.

Heading over 14th Ave NE.

Love this house.

We headed over to Ybor City to have lunch at Hamburger Mary's.

The Girls meet Mary.  Oh no you dinnint!

Gina & Adele - both Buffalo Burgers

 Mia - Barbra Q burger;  Rich - Big Kahuna Hawaiian burger.

Souvenir Mary glasses

 Mmmmmm!  Good fries!

*SIGH*  They just left.  :-(

Tonight we waited out the passing thundershower, played "Fact or Crap" and ate cookies.  Now my place seems very empty again.  

Mia Visit Day 4 - With Adele and Gina Too!

We decided to head to Fort DeSoto this morning, to spend a couple hours at North Beach there.  Gina rode shotgun while Adele and Mia and Willy rode in the back seat.

 The water was calm and beautiful.  Lots of beach days this week!

Mia decided to set Willy free!

 Adele and Willy.

Adele and Mia with attitude!

Our homestead on the beach.

 Willy with his adopted family.

 Keeping it real.  Our Super Big Gulps.

 Enjoying the sun and water . . . gathering clouds in the background.

Love the cloud formations.  Big sky here!

We joined Pete, Joe, Alan and Phil for dinner at Acropolis.  Tried to capture the dancing wait staff, but too quick for the camera!  Flying napkins and clinking plates too!

Zills a clinking too!

 My dish . . . fish . . . crisp coating . . . and all the fixins'

Enjoying our entrees.  Mia, Gina, Adele and Phil.

 This side too!  Alan, Pete and Joe.

One of our gracious neighbor diners snapped a picture for us!

Dad and his girls.

Leave it to the Gabriel Girls to get the party started!  After standing near the dance floor for a while, and no one dancing, the girls headed out and within 2 seconds, the floor was awash with dancers!

 On the way home we decided to stop for a treat at Yogurtology over on 4th St N.  So much to choose from!

Our delicious treats!

Yummers!  Then home to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.  Another fun day with the girls!