Memorial Day Weekend

B-17's, WWII.

"In 1943, it was estimated that 1/3rd of all B17 crews would not survive the war and the huge losses sustained in daylight raids nearly caused an end to such raids."

"The bombing raids on Germany by the 8th Air Force and the RAF’s Bomber Command, took the heart out of Germany’s industrial production. By September 1944, Germany had lost 75% of its fuel production. Out of the 1.5 million tons of bombs dropped on Germany, the B17 dropped 500,000 tons. The 8th Air Force had fired 99 million rounds of ammunition during these flights and it is thought that 20,000 German planes were destroyed. In total, over 12,000 B17’s were built in the war and nearly 250,000 Americans experienced flying in them. 46,500 were either killed or wounded. However, the part played by the B17 in the European theatre of war was of great importance."

--ref.
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/b17_flying_fortress.htm

My uncle was a ball turret gunner (B-17) flying from England to targets in Europe. He was shot down, imprisoned, but then liberated as the war neared to a close. He is no longer with us now, but yet he is.

His name was Albert Jr.

May God Bless all of the brave mean that served, especially those that gave the ulimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

--Dan

More Big Bear

Dan

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Rachel

The lake near the dam, or the dammed lake, whichever you wanna use. Watch my language, Dan! The "line" is a log boom typical of lakes that seek to protect the dam "zone" from surface stuff.

"Running" around the lake at Big Bear, California today, Sunday, the 20th of May. Some pictures were taken by the small inlet known as Boulder Bay, while there is also a photo taken from near the dam.

Notice I decided to drive the hybrid up there yet another time. That car was registering well over 50 miles per gallon on the way back, since it was mostly running on the battery from rolling down 6,000 ft. of mountain!

Click on the images, they fill out nicely.

--Dan L.

Friday evening at Big Bear

This "window picture" is looking outward from inside of a chapel right past the altar with the big candle.

Me and my Dad, 1960's.

I plan to take more Big Bear pictures on Sunday.

--Dan

Happy Mother's Day

My wife, a Mom, in the often snowy and mountainous Wrightwood, California, near our home.

Hey...how many SG's does it take, Pete?

--Dan

California's Catalina Island is on fire

The town of Avalon, Catalina Island, California.

Catalina is a fun place. The little island is located about 25 or so miles off the coast of California's beach cities of Newport Beach, Long Beach, etc.

I hope they do OK, there.

Our little family went there about 4 years ago...it was fabulous! I hope it remains equally fabulous after the trauma.

--Dan

A lot happening at the house...

We have overflowed toilets, medical procedures for many of us, very hot weather, many other unmentionable serious stuff...so many people in need...

This IS the place to be, apparently!

We used to be a simple family, us...

This photo was "us", back about only 7-ish years or so..,

I am the only man here, except for the recent grandboy...

Sigh...

--Dan

Life

...an old story, and it will be happening long past my lifetime, I am sure. We are terribly frustrated with many "offspring events", here, at the house. We are stubbornly waking up every day, and tiredly going to sleep every night, just as always...in spite of all.

Hey!..

A very fun picture above...

I really, really miss these guys. Do YOU know who they are? Yes, this is a test!

--Dan

The way we were

Our house was built in 1986. I was there as it happened, and this is my wife, Cruz, with all the anticipation in the whole wide world, standing by our car. She was already a Mom, and we needed a house. We are still in that house now, though it has grown walls.

This photo was scanned at a higher resolution the some of my previous ones, so it looks quite better when you "click" on it.

--Dan

And the beat goes on...

I understand that this photo is Pete Townshend with his brothers Paul, and Simon.

I saw this on www.thewho.net . I did not see a reference to any copyright, and I cannot tell who is connected to it. I place this on my blog with the reference to www.thewho.net , because I have no idea where this photo originated. It is on the net, and I cannot trace it to give credit. I love this photo, and you may also like it as well. Go to the website...it is really a great site!

--Dan

The Mother Load Gold country of the Sierra Nevada has a wealth of interesting places

I was traveling through the famous California "Mother Load" gold country in 1984, while on our wedding honeymoon, and this photo happened. It reads: "Perfume Palace". It was a restroom at a gasoline station. They were proud they had a flushing toilet. Yes, it was marvelous.

--Dan

Some more history

North of the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, this five acre section of Louisiana near New Orleans was a longtime home of my Mother's parents. In fact, her Dad built it! I spent a lot of fun times there, but mostly in the very humid summers and warm bayous.


Many bugs, "skitters", and a host of snakes and alligators are but a few of the charms of Louisiana. Lightning in the summer, freezes in the winter, it had a lot of character for sure. Home grown water pumping, personal dump, target shooting in the woods beyond, it was great for us kids in the 1960's, and into the 1970's.

I took this photo in the winter of 1984. It was to be the last time I ever embraced my Grandparents, my Mom's Mom and Dad. We all knew it would be the last time around.

The property is long since gone from our family now. The Grandparents are long gone home to Our Maker, and I doubt it (the house and all) still exists, especially after Hurricane Katrina.

My oldest brother lives near there, still, and is doing OK. More family is in New Orleans, but many had to leave forever. The homes were utterly destroyed.



My Grandfather, Daddy of my own Mother, he was born in Villa Hermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. His family was originally from Spain. He spoke the Spanish version of Spanish, not the Mexican variety. He was born in January of 1900, so we always knew how old he was! We called him PaPa, or Paw Paw, from our youngest days of trying to speak. His name was Victor.






MaMa, or Maw Maw, she was from an Italian family. She wa the sweetest thing to grace anywhere...my Grandmother, Mother of my own Mother. She was near in age to my Grandfather. Her name was Irma.

By the way, all photos are December, 1984, by me.




My wife, Cruz, out in the back of the house. It is in the morning, and you wore anything you wanted to, since there were no neighbors for a long way down the road and through the woods.





My oldest Brother, Frank, standing next to my wife, Cruz. In the back is my youngest sister, Ann, and her husband, Barrett. We are in my Brother's liquor store that he used to be part owner of, in Mandeville, Louisiana. Frnak was born in '48. He is the one that still remains in that area on the north side of the huge lake.


--Dan

Friday's venture

Root Canal!

I grabbed this picture off the internet somewhere. It's just so fun. I've had one before, and it was simply living hell for almost two years, three different dentists, and about ten visits. Yes, that was for ONE root canal. Now I am in the midst of this next one. It's been a bit better, but still a pain.

Otherwise, I love life. The grass is green, still.

Oh, and I am working on a Meez. I mostly wear brown clothing stuff. The photo, used somewhere on my blog before, is a comparison.

--Dan

Photos just flow

I took this photo of some of us building an igloo during the spring of 1975. Yes, it's in California. Location: Mt. San Gorgonio.

My good old Jeep, a 1973 CJ-5. I had this Jeep in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Photo taken in Alta Loma (now Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).

Me, Dan, left, my brother Steve is the other guy. Yosemite Falls trail, winter, late 1970's, Sierra Nevada, in Yosemite National Park.

My daughter, Marion, with my Fender acoustic, Spring, 2007.

My Dad and Step-Mom, Orange, California, 1990's (?).

--Dan

Us

Me and my own sweet wife, Cruz, in our front yard. The house behind, in the photo, has those folks related to the Frank Zappa family. The other side, not seen, is Allen's garage.

Cruz feeding ducks near Morro Bay, California, 1980's.

Dan feeding the same ducks.

Dan, Ping Pong (Table Tennis), April, 2007, Allen's garage.

--Dan

The Method -- I get a shot a this

THE METHOD

ref.:

www.lifehouse-method.com

--Dan

California

Pretty funny stuff, Arnold.

This is me a few years ago in the area near Mt. Whitney, southern Sierra Nevada mountains, on a November 1st. I was with my daughter, Marion, to visit the WWII Japanese detention camp near Independance. That was not pretty funny stuff.

--Dan

Last Saturday, in Allen's Garage

Allen plays Dan's SG. The humbuckers allow for "Cinnamon Girl", Allen playing Neil Young's song.

--Dan L.

The Risen Jesus

One of the women encounters the risen Jesus.

Happy Easter!

--Dan

Table Tennis....ping pong

Allen's garage, first week of April, 2007. Marion (in dark sweater), Rachel (with glasses at the right side, playing against Marion), Violet (Allen's daughter, the little one), and Allen. The garage was rolling.

The first photo is from the earlier in the week, the second photo was Wednesday. The third photo was Thursday night, as Allen was saluting KLOS radio disc jockey Jim Ladd, for playing a great Led Zeppelin set.

--Dan L.

Grand Canyon

My best recollection places this photo of me, Dan, on the Tonto plateau of the Grand Canyon (Tonto trail between Kaibab and Grand View), in December, 1980. It was to be the only truly sunny day for that whole week in the canyon. No, we were not riding mules, just my backpack. It was about day three of six. It was my second trip of this sort in about a year. I am not looking real happy, likely due to the intervention of the camera, though at my request, no doubt. I really was thrilled beyond belief. Remember, it is winter, and though looks warm and dandy, was actually chilly and just below the winter snow level where we sometimes slept in the snow. You can see the river, the Colorado, far below, but don't forget that the Tonto plateau is merely half way down, and thus puts this photo in perspective.

The trip we took covered what is commonly known as a loop, which involved a car shuttle, since we did not exit where we began. The entire trip was about 40 or 50+ miles in the six days over very rugged and steep terrain. I was very used to such things, so it was most pleasent for me. I will cherish those times forever.

--Dan L.