SEBlog » photos

National Train Day

jeff — Sun, 09 May 2010 05:18:35 +0000

Well, another holiday has come and gone. Did you all have a joyous National Train Day? I do hope so. Ours began at Union Station, appropriately enough, where they had tables set up with loads of brochures for Amtrak lines as well as Metrolink and Metro. As we were watching the “opening ceremony” some workers came over and asked if Sebastian would like to help kick-off the event by coming on stage. After some hesitation (and a little prodding by me) he agreed and we were escorted back to the area behind the often disused ticket counters in the main all where he was fitted with an engineer’s cap and directed on what he and about 15 other kids would be doing on the stage. I didn’t pay too much attention as I was within spitting distance of HUELL HOWSER! And yes, he is just as enthusiastic and friendly when the camera is off. After he made a brief speech about how rail travel truly is part of “California’s Gold” the kids took the stage and made a few laps in a train-like fashion before exiting and returning their caps. On our way back out to the main concourse we finally got to say hello to Huell and shake his hand. (He asked Sebastian his name and told him to enjoy the trains. Later in the day Sebastian admitted that he wanted to tell him that we watch his show but was too shy.) That made my day…

Next came the USC band who played 2 songs that sounded vaguely familiar and we wandered out amongst the Amtrak propaganda. The second most exciting part for us (after Huell, of course) was going into the old Fred Harvey restaurant on the northern side of the station. It has been closed for years though I think it may still be available for rent but isn’t often open to the public. It is a great space and fun to see a part of the station we’ve only peered at through the windows in the past. Then came more ephemera gathering and Sebastian got to try on a Metro train conductor’s hat and meet Cisco, an Amtrak K-9 officer. We considered going on a tour of a train but the line extended from the start of the tunnel to track 7 or so and we figured we’d seen it before. So we, appropriately, hopped a train to Pasadena for lunch at Chipotle and groceries at Trader Joe’s.

Between the two necessary stops (food and, well, food) we went to Borders and browsed and finally gave into Sebastian’s desire to get a “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book. He’s been looking at them for a month or so since a classmate brought some to school and, well, we’re suckers. He started reading it as soon as we left the store and even tried to make us sit down after Trader Joe’s so he could read his book. As we had perishables we denied that plea but he read at the bus stop, on the bus ride home, at home until dinner, then after dinner until bedtime. It’s a little over 200 pages and he’s over halfway through. Granted there are some drawings and such, but the TV has been off all night and it’s been nice and quiet here. Maybe we should’ve given in earlier…

So all in all it’s been a very nice day. Happy National Train Day!

Lego fun

jeff — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:34:52 +0000

Here’s Sebastian showing his newest Lego creation:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

jeff — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:58:12 +0000

Short and sweet: photos are up!

School!

jeff — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:15:18 +0000

Just a quick post to say that the photos from Sebastian’s first day of first grade are up, along with some others from the past week or so.

Sebastian posing outside of school

We made it just in time for announcements after a scramble to get all the supplies packed and ready, so sorry there aren’t more. You’ll also see a few shots from last Friday when Sebastian joined me for a fun-filled day at work. He was a great companion and we even put him to work in the warehouse. I don’t know that he’ll want to follow in my footsteps but let’s be realistic – neither would I.

Then & Now

jeff — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:33:40 +0000

What a change 4 and 1/2 years makes…

Happy Birthday, America!

jeff — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:35:25 +0000

Sebastian says: “The fireworks were cool!”

I would have to agree. The show at the LA Coliseum is an hour long and has an amazing finale. AM & I were talking and neither of us can remember anything so grand from our childhood experiences. They started abruptly with a small, short barrage of the loud variety and I thought Sebastian was going to demand to leave immediately. But he stuck it out and by the end he was having a great time. Below is the grand finale of the event — not the best quality of video but you get the picture:

And there are some new pictures up, too.

Trip to the pits

jeff — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:36:38 +0000

We made another trip to the La Brea Tar Pits yesterday and had a good time poking the tar and looking at the fossils. The helpful excavators working on project 23 directed us to an exceptionally gooey deposit that was bubbling up with the sticky stuff and AM & Sebastian were fascinated by it. That isn’t to say that I wasn’t, only that I tend to be a little clumsy and didn’t want to get too close, lest I become the latest victim of “the the tar tar pits.”

There are some photos of our day here and we’ll have some more this week as Sebastian is graduating from kindergarten TOMORROW! Check back soon!

Xmas break

jeff — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:39:42 +0000

Well, Sebastian’s break from school has officially begun! The school had a Christmas pagent on Thursday night. Each class performed a song and dance with costumes and all. The kindergarten song was “Mi Burrito Sabanero” and they were all so damn adorable!

I can’t remember any xmas performances that I participated in during school — did we not have them or am I blocking them from my memory for some reason? Anyway, enjoy the pictures and we’ll update again soon!

Spiders… beware!

jeff — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:18:50 +0000

We made the trek to the spider pavillion at the Natural History Museum yesterday and I must say it was impressive. The crowds were much lighter than at the “Pavillion of Wings” exhibit, due both to a USC game at the stadium next door (I imagine, at least, that parking is at a premium around Exposition Park during USC football) and to the inherent “ewwww” factor normally associated with spiders. An interesting factoid, though, is that there are about 40,000 species of spiders in the world and only 28 are considered “potentially dangerous” to humans. Still, I wouldn’t want this crawling on me:

Ugh

A new chapter…

jeff — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:44:19 +0000

Sebastian started school (officially) this week. The kindergarten & first grade classes only went for half days to ease into the routine and they start the full days on Monday. AM & I went together to drop him off on Tuesday (the first day, what with Labor Day and all) and he looked absolutely dapper in his formal uniform – white shirt, black tie, navy vest with the school crest, blue cords, black shoes – and didn’t shed a tear. I was a little torn about that, but suppose that I’d rather he be excited than scared, so good for him.

Last night was the “Back to School” night at the school: a time for parents to be introduced to the faculty & students and to tour the school. After an uncomfortable (though informative) hour in the non-air-conditioned auditorium we went to the 2nd floor to see the new computer lab and then back down to Sebastian’s classroom to spend time with his teacher. All in all the night reinforced our decision to send Sebastian there – the school is clean & well-maintained, the faculty & staff friendly and caring, the parents involved. Thank goodness.

There are some new photos up of the first day as well as from our trip to the Peteresen Automotive Museum last weekend. Enjoy and take care…