January 3: Our first REI Fresno used gear sale. Wasn't all THAT great!
January 3: Drive to Mariposa. What a remarkable little town.
January 4: Rain. Almost an inch.
January 5: My first Vietnamese pho with rice noodles and chicken.
January 5: Gas $1.879.
January 7: Gas $1.899.
January 7: The traffic lights go up at Kelshaw Corners.
Januray 10: White out, brown in...rice that is...organic brown rice...short grain and basmati.
January 11: Gas $1.999.
January 12: Gas $1.979.
January 14: White rice is out for good. Brown rice is in!
January 15: The dentist.
January 17: Road trip to Grass Valley. Stayed at Yuba City.
January 18: Bass Pro Shop. Our first visit. Pinch me I am in heaven!
January 20: Gas $2.079.
January 21: Papou and Nana's 53rd anniversary. We have an Italian dinner at Nativos at Chukchansi Casino. Comped! Food tastes better when it is free!
January 30: Gas $2.099.
February 1: Watched that "game" between the Steelers and Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, at Basecamp.
February 2: Applied for our passports. Four to six weeks for delivery.
February 2: Gas $2.129.
February 6: Gas $2.169.
February 9: Gas $2.239.
February 10: Two years since we "met."
February 11: Pam experiences sciatic problems on her left side.
February 13: Gas $2.299. Snow in the foothills.
February 13: Received both of our passports in the mail.
February 15: Drove to North Fork and then on to Mariposa to look at real estate.
February 16: Windy and rain. Rained all day.
February 17: Gas $2.259.
February 18: Amgen Tour of California comes to the Sierra and ends at Clovis.
February 23: Gas $2.199. Ah, the sign of spring when oil is not used for heating.
February 24: Gas $2.179.
February 28: Definitely a sign of spring...weeding. Constructed compost box.
March 1: More weeding.
March 5: Gas $2.149.
March 7: Hiked the Squaw Leap loop. 7.68 miles. 2:58. California wildflowers abloom.
March 8: Planted blackberry bushes.
March 9: Gas $2.129.
March 12: Gas $2.099.
March 21: Gas $2.169. Whoa!
March 22: Rain. An inch of it. Throw in some sleet and high winds and brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
March 24: Gas $2.139.
March 26: I drink soy milk for the first time.
March 26: KFJK, aka 105.9 Jack FM, goes talk format and becomes KMJ 105.9.
March 26: Gas $2.169.
March 27: Gas $2.199.
March 31: Gas $2.219.
April 3: Gas $2.239.
April 4: Escondido and San Marcos.
April 5: Gas $2.299.
April 6: First scorpion kill of 2009. On the ceiling above the front door. It was a big 'un!
April 6: First grasscutting. The front yard gets a mow and a trim.
April 9: Gas $2.269.
April 18: Drained the spa and did work on the steps.
April 19: First confirmed rattlesnake kill of 2009. By the garage door. Discovered by Jingles, the Wonderdog.
April 25: The step project is complete.
April 26: The terrace gets a trim. No longer is there growth in the road.
April 27: Second scorpion kill. On the dining room ceiling. My wife noticed it. Used a spatula to "split" it instead of "splat" it.
April 29: Gas $2.299.
May 2: Gas $2.329.
May 7: Gas $2.359.
May 8: Gas $2.399.
May 11: Gas $2.419.
May 13: Gas $2.439.
May 14: The Fresno SSA office on Shaw and West closes for the last time.
May 15: The Fresno SSA office on Shaw and West is closed to the public.
May 15: Gas $2.499.
May 18: Gas $2.529.
May 18: The "new" Fresno SSA office on Locust and Palm is open to the public.
May 21: Gas $2.579.
May 23: Gas $2.599.
May 23: Sonora Pass and Bridgeport.
May 24: Bodie Historic State Park and Tioga Pass.
May 25: Photo "oops." Lost all photos taken over the Memorial Day weekend and more. Oh well. May 26: Gas $2.639.
May 28: Gas $2.669.
May 29: Gas $2.699.
May 30: The Eastern Sierra Drive: Yosemite National Park, Bodie, Bridgeport, Sonora Pass, Lee Vining. I get a warning for speeding in Tuolumne Meadows.
May 31: Lee Vining Creek, Yosemite National Park.
June 1: Gas $2.739.
June 3: Gas $2.799.
June 5: Gas $2.859.
June 5: Rain and plenty of it. Three-quarters of an inch. Plus lightning.
June 5: Papou's 76th birthday.
June 7: Chilnualna Falls. 11.2 miles. Four hours and 12 minutes.
June 13: Gas $2.889.
June 15: Gas $2.929.
June 24: Gas $2.899.
June 25: Jingles missing. Coyotes.
July 3: Four Mile Trail (Yosemite National Park). 9.2 miles / 5:45:00.
July 7: Gas $2.829.
July 13: Gas $2.799.
July 14: Anniversary #2 at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Fresno.
July 16: Gas $2.759.
July 18: Our first Major League Baseball game at Oakland versus Angels.
July 19: Japan bound.
July 22: Fuji-san summit at 6:15 PT (07/23/09 10:15 JT)
July 31: Return to the U.S.
August 1: Gas $2.859.
August 1: JayMi moves in.
August 3: Gas $2.899.
August 5: Our good friends, Dave and Jane, celebrate their 20th anniversary.
August 6: Gas $2.949.
August 7: New member of the family: Toby. A two-month old papillon/chihuahua mix puppy. A gremlin.
August 8: Gar(b)age Sale Part 1. The "b" is silent.
August 9: Gar(b)age Sale Part 2. The "b" is silent. The rolltop desk is finally gone after 20 years.
August 10: 911 call. Mom falls on her face and suffers a bloody nose as she tries to maneuver over the grill in the bedroom door that keeps Toby in. No broken nose, but quite a scare. It was a good thing Pam and I were there.
August 12: Gas $2.989.
August 15: My wife's birthday. Happy birthday, my love!
August 21: Drive to Aspen Grove to camp. At first, it was Porcupine Flat. Serendipity.
August 22: Mono Pass. 10 miles. Four hours and 45 minutes. Beautiful hike.
August 25: Gas $2.959.
August 26: Big Meadow Fire. "Prescribed burn" that got away.
August 30: Screens doors are put up by the den and front door. Let the breeze in!
August 31: Gas $2.999.
September 2: Off to Aspen Grove via Bridgeport due to the Big Meadow fire in Yosemite National Park.
September 3: We go a fishin'. Pam gets a 9-inch brown trout in Tioga Lake.
September 4: Fishin' Part II. Pam lands a 15-inch rainbow trout in Lee Vining Creek by the dam. September 8: Gas $3.059.
September 9: My good friends and former softball teammates, Bob and Jayne, celebrate their 20th anniversary.
September 9: 09-09-09 Oh my. What happened on 06-06-06? Not a damn thing. Then there was 07-07-07. Then, 08-08-08. Coming to a calendar near you...10-10-10, 11-11-11, and 12-12-12. Wait! There's 12-21-12!
September 9: The palm tree eyesore gets a trim and the dead oak tree in the back ravine is felled. Good firewood.
September 10: Gas $3.099.
September 14: A "good soakin'" rain falls early this morning. Nothing like the smell of rain.
September 14: Gas $3.129.
September 22: First day of fall. 100°!!!
September 23: Gas $3.079.
September 26: The first of three bathroom faucets installed in the main bathroom.
September 27: The other bathroom faucet installed and one in the other bathroom.
September 30: Gas $2.949.
September 30: Renewed my driver's license.
September 30: Nana's 79th birthday.
October 3: Purchased a coffee grinder and a Savage .270 Winchester rifle.
October 3: Coarsegold gets a traffic light. Just like Lone Pine...the only traffic light.
October 4: Painted the wrought iron fence in back only to quit due to a faulty sprayer. To be continued...
October 4: Snow in the mountains.
October 5: Paperwork for the Savage .270 WSM Model 11FXP3 is filled out. The wait for 10 days begins.
October 6: Gas $2.919.
October 7: Gas $2.899.
October 8: My renewed license arrives. I look a little "cheeky" in the photo. More "platinum highlights," too.
October 10: Begin "road trip" to Sonora, San Andreas, Jackson, Sutter Creek, Volcano, Angel's Camp.
October 11: End "road trip" to Copperopolis, Hornitos, Cathey's Valley, Mariposa.
October 12: Paint is applied to two-thirds of the wrought iron fence.
October 13: Gas $2.859.
October 13: First major storm to hit the Dutch Oven. Over 2 inches of rain fell at Basecamp Dragonfly. Snows above 8,000 feet. Our daugher is involved in a small auto accident by running over something in the road, but is OK. The car didn't fair too well. Whatever she hit, it did a number on her car.
October 15: The Savage .270 WSM Model 11FXP3 is ours. The wait is over. We nickname the rifle, Libby, short for Liberator. Goodbye feral pigs.
October 16: Gas $2.799.
October 17: Wire mesh put up by the wrought iron to keep Toby in and the varmints out of our backyard.
October 17: Marlin Model 981T .22 rifle. We nickname the rifle, Freida, short for Freedom. Goodbye wabbits.
October 18: The wrought iron fence project is finally completed.
October 18: The felled oak tree on 09-09-09 is cut up for our stove. Just gotta haul it out of the ravine.
October 21: Got JayMi's car back. That was quick.
October 22: New wipers for the car. No more, "Skreeeeeeekuhkuhkuh,skreeeekuhkuhkuh."
October 22: New guitar case and guitar stand for the acoustic Epiphone.
October 24: Libby is fired for the very first time at 2:39 p.m. and then at 2:41 p.m.
October 25: Swamp cooler covered.
October 26: JayMi's 25th birthday. Happy birthday, JayMi.
October 26: New front door lock.
October 27: Pick up "Freida" in Oakhurst's Sportsmen's Den.
October 28: Macy's opens up where Gottschalk's once was in River Park Shopping Mall. Wifey pooh very happy.
October 28: My first visit to a holistic dentist. Dentist says my "gold crown" emits a lot of electrical charge.
November 1: My bro-in-law's 50th! Happy golden birthday, Boyeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
November 1: Spa water changed. Sun shades taken down.
November 5: Gas $2.759.
November 6: Last day of carpooling as my wife goes "north."
November 9: Solo for both of us.
November 12: More rain.
November 13: Gas $2.739.
November 14: Wedding of one of the SSA co-workers.
November 15: Chainsawed one of the woodpiles.
November 17: The atrocious dinner table and chairs are "dumpsited."
November 21: Hunter safety education course.
November 21: Kiss concert at the Save Mart Center.
November 22: Shooting with TheOS and my wife's boss, Bernie.
November 25: My iliopsoas flares up while loading up the birdfeeders.
November 28: The Christmas lights go up.
November 29: 1,354 cookies are baked.
December 2: Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert at the Save Mart Center. Our first concert. Awesome! Section 123, Row M, Seats 1 through 8. The whole family went!
December 5: Freida fired for the first time at 2:41 p.m.
December 7: Gas $2.699.
December 7: Snow at 1,500 feet!
December 8: One of the pipes to solar collectors freezes and bursts.
December 9: Uncle J passes away. My only American uncle gone.
December 11: Rain...and lots of it.
December 11: Christmas luncheon.
December 11: Gas $2.739.
December 12: More rain.
December 13: Got the Christmas tree.
December 14: Five years.
December 15: Gas $2.769.
December 21: My BroIL's fiancee, AllA, arrives from the Ukraine.
December 25: Our third Christmas. No REI!
December 27: I exchange the identical gifts I received for new items.
December 28: Papou takes a "header" into the ground. ER visit. Bruises and scrapes.
December 29: Gas $2.799.
December 29: Papou is admitted to the hospital due to the severe pain in his right shoulder that is broken in several places.
December 31: Gas $2.839. Weight 208. Five scorpion kills. One rattlesnake kill. What a great year. One other thing, not even a cold or flu all year.
December 31: Papou spends NYE in the hospital.
What happened in the world in 2009.
Our 2009 Resolution: Have fun
And what did we do?...
We definitely had fun in 2009!
Our New Year's resolution for 2010?
Have fun...and eliminate the white spaces on our weekend calendar!
