We had invited some of her old friends from Camino Hills.
Her son Dennis had come to California for the occasion.
About Me
- Richard
- I am retired and like to travel by motor home across the United States and Canada. In the winter I hope to spend more time with my WIN (Wandering Individual Network) friends in the California and Arizona desert. I know my trip reports are having too many details, but I am writing them for myself, if anybody else enjoys them, that is fine too.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Jean's Birthday 2012
Today we celebrated Jean's 89th birthday. There were times when we thought we lost her, but she recovered and had a good time today. She will not remember much in a few days.
We had invited some of her old friends from Camino Hills.
Her son Dennis had come to California for the occasion.
We had invited some of her old friends from Camino Hills.
Her son Dennis had come to California for the occasion.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Wild West Fest 2012
The Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad had their Wild West Fest today.
There were Native American Dancers and pony rides for the children. Crafts and storytelling were also part of the festivities.
The ranch is a beautiful place for walking.It was Leo Carrillo's hideaway. It was a working ranch with 600 head of cattle. Some of his Hollywood friends came down to Carlsbad for riding and branding the animals. In two months the film series will start at the ranch.
The ranch is a beautiful place for walking.It was Leo Carrillo's hideaway. It was a working ranch with 600 head of cattle. Some of his Hollywood friends came down to Carlsbad for riding and branding the animals. In two months the film series will start at the ranch.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Gene's Celebration of Life
Today we went to another Celebration of Life event. A few days ago Gene, a former neighbor and friend, died.
After the service we were invited for lunch at my old house. Actually only a small part of my old house is still there. The new owner is a contractor and tore most of the house down and increased the size. The inside of the house is beautiful.
Doreen and I had planned to have lunch at a restaurant after the service. We did not know that Grant and Janet, Gene and Dixie's neighbors, served lunch. The food was delicious and plenty of it.
The older I get the more of my friends leaving this planet. Some of my friends are older than I and their health is not so good anymore. Gundel died this year and she was about my age.
We are not traveling this month. Our neighbors are on vacation and Doreen takes care of their two cats. Our neighbors take care of our mail and the house when we travel.
I finally have my 2009 income tax problem behind me. It took over a year and a lot of letters back and forth until I got it right. I had changed my IRA to a Roth IRA in January 2009 and thought that I did not have to pay taxes on the money I had paid taxes on already. I received a letter last January from the IRS that I owe them $6,500 more. Since I thought I was right I wrote a letter to them but did not include a check. The next letter informed me that I owe $ 8,500 now, for penalty and interest.
The next day I sent them a check. Now I tried to explain why I thought I was right. I went to the San Diego IRS office. They could not help me. The telephone number I was given on every letter did not work. Letters went back and forth but I did not get any closer. I went to income tax people but they did not want to help me either.
I finally started from scratch and did an amended income tax return for 2009. I learned a lot doing this. I converted my IRA because the stock market had hit a low and I would have to pay lower taxes since my account had shrunk. I started to pay quarterly estimated taxes right away to avoid interest charges. I estimated that I had to pay about $ 25,000 on the tax deferred amount and I was almost correct. The form I forgot to file wanted to know how much the IRA had grown by the end of 2009. It had grown quite a bit.
When I was finished I owed about $ 2,500.
When the IRS received my amended 2009 income tax forms they sent me a check of about $ 4,500. I could have avoided a lot of worries and headaches if I had done my taxes correctly in the first place. I think I will never have a complex income tax like that again.
Now I wish I could fix my blog. Since I had to change to Google Chrome the layout of my blog changed and I can not get it back to the original layout. I was able to put two pictures side by side before.
I am also happy because I finished my autobiography on the blog and had a book printed. It is actually the second book. After I read my first book I remembered more. The same thing happened now after I read the second book. Now I will wait a few years and write down new things when I remember them. Sometimes I wake up in the night and remember what happened many years ago. I then go to the office and make a note of it. The notes are getting bigger.
After the service we were invited for lunch at my old house. Actually only a small part of my old house is still there. The new owner is a contractor and tore most of the house down and increased the size. The inside of the house is beautiful.
Doreen and I had planned to have lunch at a restaurant after the service. We did not know that Grant and Janet, Gene and Dixie's neighbors, served lunch. The food was delicious and plenty of it.
The older I get the more of my friends leaving this planet. Some of my friends are older than I and their health is not so good anymore. Gundel died this year and she was about my age.
We are not traveling this month. Our neighbors are on vacation and Doreen takes care of their two cats. Our neighbors take care of our mail and the house when we travel.
I finally have my 2009 income tax problem behind me. It took over a year and a lot of letters back and forth until I got it right. I had changed my IRA to a Roth IRA in January 2009 and thought that I did not have to pay taxes on the money I had paid taxes on already. I received a letter last January from the IRS that I owe them $6,500 more. Since I thought I was right I wrote a letter to them but did not include a check. The next letter informed me that I owe $ 8,500 now, for penalty and interest.
The next day I sent them a check. Now I tried to explain why I thought I was right. I went to the San Diego IRS office. They could not help me. The telephone number I was given on every letter did not work. Letters went back and forth but I did not get any closer. I went to income tax people but they did not want to help me either.
I finally started from scratch and did an amended income tax return for 2009. I learned a lot doing this. I converted my IRA because the stock market had hit a low and I would have to pay lower taxes since my account had shrunk. I started to pay quarterly estimated taxes right away to avoid interest charges. I estimated that I had to pay about $ 25,000 on the tax deferred amount and I was almost correct. The form I forgot to file wanted to know how much the IRA had grown by the end of 2009. It had grown quite a bit.
When I was finished I owed about $ 2,500.
When the IRS received my amended 2009 income tax forms they sent me a check of about $ 4,500. I could have avoided a lot of worries and headaches if I had done my taxes correctly in the first place. I think I will never have a complex income tax like that again.
Now I wish I could fix my blog. Since I had to change to Google Chrome the layout of my blog changed and I can not get it back to the original layout. I was able to put two pictures side by side before.
I am also happy because I finished my autobiography on the blog and had a book printed. It is actually the second book. After I read my first book I remembered more. The same thing happened now after I read the second book. Now I will wait a few years and write down new things when I remember them. Sometimes I wake up in the night and remember what happened many years ago. I then go to the office and make a note of it. The notes are getting bigger.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Cinco De Mayo 2012
5-6-12
We had a wonderful time today at the Cinco De Mayo celebration at the Old Town San Diego State Park. There were dance contests. Dancers in colorful costumes danced traditional Mexican dances.
Old Town State Park has some very good Mexican restaurants.
At 2:00 PM the Escaramuzaa Colondrinas, a female equestrian group, entertained with spectacular formation riding with music and rope tricking.
A male rider rode a dancing Andalusian horse.
There was plenty entertainment, Mexican food and wares for sale.
We had a wonderful time today at the Cinco De Mayo celebration at the Old Town San Diego State Park. There were dance contests. Dancers in colorful costumes danced traditional Mexican dances.
There were two main stages and several smaller ones.
Old Town State Park has some very good Mexican restaurants.
At 2:00 PM the Escaramuzaa Colondrinas, a female equestrian group, entertained with spectacular formation riding with music and rope tricking.
A male rider rode a dancing Andalusian horse.
There was plenty entertainment, Mexican food and wares for sale.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Junior Seau's Memorial
5-5-12
The San Diego sport fans experienced a big loss this week. Junior Seau, the former Charger football player, committed suicide. He was one of the most beloved persons in the San Diego area. He grew up in Oceanside and was living there.
The Boys and Girls Club in Oceanside and other institutions benefited from his generosity. Today we took a ride along the ocean and also came by his house. Many people left flowers and banners and pictures in front of the house.
From his house one can see the Oceanside Pier.
At the beach in Carlsbad Doreen and I went for a walk. It was a beautiful, sunny day.
The San Diego sport fans experienced a big loss this week. Junior Seau, the former Charger football player, committed suicide. He was one of the most beloved persons in the San Diego area. He grew up in Oceanside and was living there.
The Boys and Girls Club in Oceanside and other institutions benefited from his generosity. Today we took a ride along the ocean and also came by his house. Many people left flowers and banners and pictures in front of the house.
From his house one can see the Oceanside Pier.
At the beach in Carlsbad Doreen and I went for a walk. It was a beautiful, sunny day.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Guajome Regional Park 2012
4-16-12
We are at Guajome Regional Park in Oceanside, California with the Convair Camping Club. The park is not very far from our home.
At this outing Doreen and I and Chappy and Dottie are the hosts.
For the evening meal we had heavy hors d’oeuvres. Jon started a nice campfire after we ate.
4-17-12
On my early morning walk I went to the pond in the park and saw two strange trees. Upon closer inspection I noticed they were telephone antenna towers.
Doreen left at 9:30 AM to see an optometrist and, after getting a prescription for new eye glasses, visit Jean Sinclair who is in the hospital again . She fell and hurt herself.
I went with the group to the GIA. Doreen and I have been there several times but I wanted to see the traveling collection of eggs made of precious stones.
The GIA is a teaching facility and also sets the standards for diamonds and other gem
stones.
After this visit we stopped at the nearby flower fields.
From there Dottie, Chappy and I went to Costco and had hot dogs.
For dinner Doreen and I had prepared beef rouladen. We had made them several weeks ago, in three batches.
It would have taken too long to make fifty rouladen at the park.
Other people brought red cabbage, mash potatoes, hot German potato salad, green beans, dessert and green salad.
It was a feast and everybody was happy.
The weather is fantastic and this evening it was warmer and the group stayed longer at the camp fire.
4-18-12
In the morning we went to Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps Base, and picked up our passes for Red Beach.
The afternoon was time for taking it easy. We had again a lot of good food for dinner.
This was a wonderful outing.
We are at Guajome Regional Park in Oceanside, California with the Convair Camping Club. The park is not very far from our home.
At this outing Doreen and I and Chappy and Dottie are the hosts.
For the evening meal we had heavy hors d’oeuvres. Jon started a nice campfire after we ate.
4-17-12
On my early morning walk I went to the pond in the park and saw two strange trees. Upon closer inspection I noticed they were telephone antenna towers.
Doreen left at 9:30 AM to see an optometrist and, after getting a prescription for new eye glasses, visit Jean Sinclair who is in the hospital again . She fell and hurt herself.
I went with the group to the GIA. Doreen and I have been there several times but I wanted to see the traveling collection of eggs made of precious stones.
The GIA is a teaching facility and also sets the standards for diamonds and other gem
stones.
After this visit we stopped at the nearby flower fields.
From there Dottie, Chappy and I went to Costco and had hot dogs.
For dinner Doreen and I had prepared beef rouladen. We had made them several weeks ago, in three batches.
It would have taken too long to make fifty rouladen at the park.
Other people brought red cabbage, mash potatoes, hot German potato salad, green beans, dessert and green salad.
It was a feast and everybody was happy.
The weather is fantastic and this evening it was warmer and the group stayed longer at the camp fire.
4-18-12
In the morning we went to Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps Base, and picked up our passes for Red Beach.
The afternoon was time for taking it easy. We had again a lot of good food for dinner.
This was a wonderful outing.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter 2012
4-8-2012
Today we celebrated Easter. Doreen’s daughter Sandra and her son Reggie and his wife Leslie were here.
I picked up Jean from Brookdale and we had a wonderful salmon dinner.
Sandra brought two baskets with candy and chocolates. Leslie and Reggie are on a special diet right now and they can not eat sweets. I do not have this problem and will eat my share.
Today we celebrated Easter. Doreen’s daughter Sandra and her son Reggie and his wife Leslie were here.
I picked up Jean from Brookdale and we had a wonderful salmon dinner.
Sandra brought two baskets with candy and chocolates. Leslie and Reggie are on a special diet right now and they can not eat sweets. I do not have this problem and will eat my share.
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