The Catalina Wine Mixer

Well we didn't go to Catalina for the wine mixer but we did take a trip over on my vacation and we had a great time. We were the first in line to get on the boat and got the best seats on the top level of the boat. We saw a lot of dolphins on the way out to sea and it was a little overcast but that burned off as soon as we got there. It was a beautiful day but the water was really choppy so we had to hold on. When we got to the dock we saw one of the crew trying to tie down the boat and a big swell came in and $&!#whipped the poor guy so bad they had to call the paramedics. After that excitement we took a look at the guided tours available and I about $&!# my pants when I heard the price so we decided to rent a golf cart and take our own guided tour. After the tour we had lunch at a cute little Mexican restaurant then headed to the beach. After my photo shoot for mommy in my new trunks that are 2 sizes too small (They were on the wrong hanger in the store and mommy already cut out the stupid mesh panties they put in trunks so I couldn't return them) Mia and I jumped in the water. I always thought that since Catalina was so close that the water would be as ugly as it is at the beach here but I was greatly mistaken. The water was so beautiful and clear that I opened my eyes under water forgetting that it was indeed sea water and it burned like hell.
After the Catalina adventure we set out on another adventure that we have been wanting to do since we moved to Riverside and that is to climb Mt. Rubidoux. It was actually a lot easier than I was expecting, though the picture of my sweat soaked shirt might say other wise. It was a little less clear than I was hoping but it was beautiful and we could almost see our house from the top.
Continuing on this action packed vacation we went to Laughlin to hang out with my cousins Kim and Forrest and pick up Great Grandma to bring her back home with us to catch a flight to Uncle Kens house in Minnesota. It was Grandmas birthday so we took her to dinner at the finest restaurant in Bullhead City.....Hibachi Grill. It was actually a terrible Chinese buffet (Because I know my Chinese buffets) but grandma loved it anyway. On the way out of town we stopped in Needles and had breakfast at the Giggling Cactus which was pretty good so that hopefully made up for the Chinese buffet. I really don't even like going to the river because it's freaking hot, I don't gamble and I'm not into water toys but the rest of my family is so we go just to spend time with them. I was a little worried about this year because we were just going with Kim and Forrest and they only have a boat that we usually have to swim out to and climb aboard. Isella wasn't too worried about it but I was not looking forward to looking like a sea lion trying to climb aboard while holding on to my trunks and sliding around because of all the sunscreen you have to wear when it is 113 degrees. Anyhow, it worked out great because Forrest is the man and was kind enough to pick us up on the dock in the marina then he found a nice cove that had sand instead of rocks so he was able to drive the boat right up on the shore and I could step right off the boat. So the crisis was averted and my trunks were not an issue after all (See the first paragraph, those trunks were going nowhere 😂)
Sounds like a lot of action for a short vacation but we actually went to Universal Studios, drive in movies and aside from the adventures I actually got a few projects done around the house. It was definitely too short but I'm thankful for every minute I get to spend with the family that God blessed me with. Sadly, Michelle had work and school so she wasn't able to go with us which was a bummer but I am glad that Andrew was home to keep an eye on her 😉. 
I hope we are able to squeeze in a few more adventures before the girls go back to school and with Sophie and Mia in high school now the time of them going on their own adventure without me is rapidly approaching 😢

Graham Clan in Catalina



Us taking our tour of the island

 

DAMN! mommy looks HOT! (Sorry girls but it could be worse....I could have posted my photo shoot in my speedos)

  

Graham Clan conquering Mt Rubidoux

 

Sophie's too old to hold daddy's hand anymore (Sad face emoji)

 

You still owe me $5 for losing this bet Mia

Hang in there Dad and Bear

Got word a few weeks ago that my dad has cancer. I can't pronounce the type but I know he has it in his bladder and pancreas. Dad is definitely a man of few words so when I talked to him he didn't seem to know much more than I did so auntie Veronica has been giving the family updates. Dad is also a man of few emotions, although Veronica did tell me that he cried when they towed his old work truck away to the junk yard 😊 Dad didn't seem to be too worried about it and we actually shared a good laugh when he told me the story of what made him go to the Dr. in the first place because he had an accident at work and he was just happy that being a parking attendant at Anaheim Stadium that he has to wear a brim hat that perfectly covered everything up. I'm glad that dad has a good attitude about the diagnosis and I know that will help him fight the good fight.


Also got word a few weeks ago that our longtime equipment man at Anaheim HS was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. Barry, who we all call "Bear" was the equipment man when my uncle played football at Anaheim in the early 80's, when I played there in the 90's and as long as I coached there. Barry's sons were the ball boys for the teams I played for and after they came back from college I coached with his oldest son Andy for 10 years. Barry just retired a couple years ago so I really hope he beats it and can enjoy his retirement, he deserves it!

This is me and Bear at coach Torres' retirement party a couple years ago and I look like I'm 8 months pregnant. Sadly, I don't have a single picture of me and dad. Apparently he is a man of few pictures too. 😊